This is to announce the death of Ms. Sonali Sokhal, at age 45; in her stately mansion in Eros Garden, Charmwood Village, Faridabad. The cause of death, though still to be ascertained seems to be the result of ‘mindless consumerism’.
The founder of the Shopaholics Club Anonymous and lifetime shopping achievement award winner from both 1 MG and 2 MG road, Sonali Sokhal also held a job as a half-hearted PR consultant. The author of the ‘Ragpickers guide to a Galaxy of Shopping’, Sonali Sokhal, achieved instant stardom and fame with her one day makeover sessions and the Shopping Olympiad.
A true pioneer of the consumer spirit in India, Sonali Sokhal was one of those rare dazzling human beings who made a lifetime’s vocation out of a secret passion and hobby. Though this rare and exuberant side of the deceased did not manifest itself in the early years of her life, Sonali showed an inclination towards consumerism with her initial professional experience. A freelance journalist and columnist, Sonali was among the quirky young professionals, to throw aside the pen for the computer, a sari and diligent status reports, when she joined an upcoming lifestyle boutique PR agency. This could really be called the beginning of the journey for the pioneering spirit, where she received the right exposure to fame, glamour and money and how to run after them, even if none were really hers.
The pinnacle of her success came when a motley group of grateful friends encouraged her to author her first book, and the DT Mall in Gurgaon hired her services as a part time guide for hard-core shopping expeditions. This was the start of a stellar career. The first Shopping Olympiad held at the Regal Mall at Vasant Kunj, in 2007, was the hallmark of a brilliant start with close to 805 shoppers spending close to Rs.5 crore in a two day shopping extravaganza.
Known for her well co-ordinated look, and her favourite matching bags and shoes, Ms. Sokhal was truly an inspiration to the new generation of high spenders and consumers. Brand India was taken to leaps and bounds of spending power thanks to tireless efforts of Ms. Sokhal.
The last six months of her life were plagued by ill health, as Ms. Sokhal had started suffering from severe respiratory problems, due to an allergy to packaging paper. Her knees had also given way, thanks to the countless up and down walks in malls, and an incident of inadequate product variants at a duty free shop in Dubai, had been a personal setback for this giant shopper.
A small diminutive woman, the smart click of Ms. Sokhal’s latest pair of heels had been known to strike both terror and extreme joy in the hearts of store mangers. A regular lecturer at the Indian School of Retail, Ms. Sokhal was certainly looking to scale new heights in the Shopping industry. Her many wardrobes have been put on exhibition and will be thereafter placed on sale by well-meaning friends and relatives. Her shoes will be buried with her, as per the dying lady’s last request.
Ms. Sokhal was married and is survived by son, Aryaman Raj, who at the tender age of 18, is already a big name in the rock music scene of the country.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
What I would like to see on the wall
A wall…..something called ‘throw it on the wall.’…almost like a challenge to say, I am blank…hit me……baby one more time……so that’s me…hitting on my own wall………………btw....throwitonthewall is also a new blogspot by the same name...check it out if you are reading this blog.......!!!!!!!!
Meanwhile.....my wall...........
A complete road map of where my life is going………..
A crystal ball which shows me what happened to school bully who used to beat me up…I hope some wicked witch got her, or maybe she became a wicked witch herself.
All the special moments in the life of all the people I love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The actual thoughts in the brain of my man.
Recipes, reminders, ‘to do’ lists, and all that I need at hand.
Dirt on some people so that I can blackmail them J
A glimpse into my son’s future.
All the rules that I can break without getting caught!!!!!!!!!
What is going on in the lives of all my favourite Hollywood stars, and how they lose weight.
A quiet green space.
A deep blue sea place where I can watch the fishes in technicolour dreams
A personal wardrobe and style planner.
Some evidence that fairy tales are real.
All the beautiful memories of my life.
A reminder that I should be grateful for everything I have, and stop bitching and moaning about life.
Meanwhile.....my wall...........
A complete road map of where my life is going………..
A crystal ball which shows me what happened to school bully who used to beat me up…I hope some wicked witch got her, or maybe she became a wicked witch herself.
All the special moments in the life of all the people I love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The actual thoughts in the brain of my man.
Recipes, reminders, ‘to do’ lists, and all that I need at hand.
Dirt on some people so that I can blackmail them J
A glimpse into my son’s future.
All the rules that I can break without getting caught!!!!!!!!!
What is going on in the lives of all my favourite Hollywood stars, and how they lose weight.
A quiet green space.
A deep blue sea place where I can watch the fishes in technicolour dreams
A personal wardrobe and style planner.
Some evidence that fairy tales are real.
All the beautiful memories of my life.
A reminder that I should be grateful for everything I have, and stop bitching and moaning about life.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
college reunion
I hadn't met most of my old college gang for almost 14 years now, till yesterday that is. In fact, I need to rephrase this, and say, till facebook!
Actually after ten years people are going to look back and remember these times like a miraculous new wave. Something like the time man went on the moon, or the first super computer came into being, or the internet happened, similarly facebook and other similar social networking sites are blowing quiet little winds of change into our lives. Suddenly you come face to face (or book!!!!!) with people you have not seen for the past few decades. And there is this sudden buzz, euphoria, reunion, recap, nostalgia and you have this compulsive desire to connect with people whom you had (to be honest) totally forgotten about!!!!!!!!!!!!
And yes, back to the reunion, there we all were after so many years suddenly in a bursting crowded restaurant with very bad food, and rather bad service, looking across the table and screaming, "Eiiiiiiiiiiiieee".
So how did it go? Apart from the fact that we all have managed to give in to gravity, cellulite, grey hair, blah blah, people hadn't intrinsically changed all that much. And, while we all reminisced about the old days, I felt that some way we had lost those old threads that bind life together. Each had gone through those old life changes; marriages, children, change, loss and gain,without each other. Everyone on the table had lived another lifetime and added more dimensions to their personality.
And yet, as the minutes passed and the food warmed us up, and defences went down, we all went back for a while to those old days when we really were all still waiting for life to happen to us. Yes, there were glaring holes and blanks in terms of the life paths that we all follow, and we have all grown into our own people, found our own niches and grooves. What I took away from there was pride...that everyone had reached somewhere on the goals they had planned, even after stumbling around a bit. And, what hit me was that I could still reconnect with them as adults................on a new platform,.... aside from the fact that we all spent three or in some cases five years of the most formative years of our lives together.
In fact, in some ways facebook has helped us all reconnect with each other's lives. Its nice to see the kids of my old school boyfriend, or the birthday party of an old college friend. You suddenly share each other's lives (maybe a bit too much...like do i care if someone sent virtual flowers to their sister? maybe not!)........you find a common page to connect with old friends, share memories, abuse each other and generally comment in life. Later post porteming the entire episode with a good pal....who had gone through a similar expereince a night before, we both sat and shared a very profound thought........as life patterns get more turbulent, ever changing, and as Delhi schools change children's class sections every few years disallowing them from ever having a solid base of chaddi buddies...maybe networks like facebook help us garrulous evolved primates keep the tribe and clan in place.
Long live reunions, vurtual or otherwise, who knows you might even meet yourself as you were fifteen years ago!!!!!!!
Actually after ten years people are going to look back and remember these times like a miraculous new wave. Something like the time man went on the moon, or the first super computer came into being, or the internet happened, similarly facebook and other similar social networking sites are blowing quiet little winds of change into our lives. Suddenly you come face to face (or book!!!!!) with people you have not seen for the past few decades. And there is this sudden buzz, euphoria, reunion, recap, nostalgia and you have this compulsive desire to connect with people whom you had (to be honest) totally forgotten about!!!!!!!!!!!!
And yes, back to the reunion, there we all were after so many years suddenly in a bursting crowded restaurant with very bad food, and rather bad service, looking across the table and screaming, "Eiiiiiiiiiiiieee".
So how did it go? Apart from the fact that we all have managed to give in to gravity, cellulite, grey hair, blah blah, people hadn't intrinsically changed all that much. And, while we all reminisced about the old days, I felt that some way we had lost those old threads that bind life together. Each had gone through those old life changes; marriages, children, change, loss and gain,without each other. Everyone on the table had lived another lifetime and added more dimensions to their personality.
And yet, as the minutes passed and the food warmed us up, and defences went down, we all went back for a while to those old days when we really were all still waiting for life to happen to us. Yes, there were glaring holes and blanks in terms of the life paths that we all follow, and we have all grown into our own people, found our own niches and grooves. What I took away from there was pride...that everyone had reached somewhere on the goals they had planned, even after stumbling around a bit. And, what hit me was that I could still reconnect with them as adults................on a new platform,.... aside from the fact that we all spent three or in some cases five years of the most formative years of our lives together.
In fact, in some ways facebook has helped us all reconnect with each other's lives. Its nice to see the kids of my old school boyfriend, or the birthday party of an old college friend. You suddenly share each other's lives (maybe a bit too much...like do i care if someone sent virtual flowers to their sister? maybe not!)........you find a common page to connect with old friends, share memories, abuse each other and generally comment in life. Later post porteming the entire episode with a good pal....who had gone through a similar expereince a night before, we both sat and shared a very profound thought........as life patterns get more turbulent, ever changing, and as Delhi schools change children's class sections every few years disallowing them from ever having a solid base of chaddi buddies...maybe networks like facebook help us garrulous evolved primates keep the tribe and clan in place.
Long live reunions, vurtual or otherwise, who knows you might even meet yourself as you were fifteen years ago!!!!!!!
Friday, July 13, 2007
The Power Ranger Monster
"hey mom..........do you think you could be the monster in our power ranger game."
That was the request from my six year old son at his impromptu birthday celebrations yesterday. The theme was Power Ranger Party. Three eager faces peered at me, and I had to relent. The next half hour went away with me screaming and walking tall, and being beseiged by laser guns, power rays, socks, kickboxes, gamma rays and even a sneezing spell.
By the end of it, the power ranger monster morphed back into a 33 year old mommy. And yet, at the end of the evening I heard my son confide in a little pal, "My mum is mean, isn't she?"
Well, exactly my point. The poor power ranger monster aka mommy seldom gets a chance to redeem herself. Kids think she is too strict, dad thinks she is too lenient. Teachers think she is too pushy and other moms think she is competition.
Next on my agenda is the yearly scary event. The annual formal b'day party of the six year old. Meticulously organised, planned, and put down to the last detail. Then there are the little guests. Some who are travelling, others who have fallen ill, and the rest who are coming. With each 'no', my heart sinks a bit......what will happen to all that cake and return gifts....with each 'yes', i worry, 'will they kill each other by the end?'
Well, thankfully by tomorrow evening we will be over the hill, unwrapping gifts, oohing and aahing and feeling happy and satisfied. I will get a sloppy wet kiss for my troubles and will be dead to the world by eleven, aided by the manna for adults-alchohol.
In the meantime, the little tyrant who rules out lives will be taking a decision on what we have to do next year. I just hope we dont have a Harry Potter theme party,cos well, I'm just a muggle!
That was the request from my six year old son at his impromptu birthday celebrations yesterday. The theme was Power Ranger Party. Three eager faces peered at me, and I had to relent. The next half hour went away with me screaming and walking tall, and being beseiged by laser guns, power rays, socks, kickboxes, gamma rays and even a sneezing spell.
By the end of it, the power ranger monster morphed back into a 33 year old mommy. And yet, at the end of the evening I heard my son confide in a little pal, "My mum is mean, isn't she?"
Well, exactly my point. The poor power ranger monster aka mommy seldom gets a chance to redeem herself. Kids think she is too strict, dad thinks she is too lenient. Teachers think she is too pushy and other moms think she is competition.
Next on my agenda is the yearly scary event. The annual formal b'day party of the six year old. Meticulously organised, planned, and put down to the last detail. Then there are the little guests. Some who are travelling, others who have fallen ill, and the rest who are coming. With each 'no', my heart sinks a bit......what will happen to all that cake and return gifts....with each 'yes', i worry, 'will they kill each other by the end?'
Well, thankfully by tomorrow evening we will be over the hill, unwrapping gifts, oohing and aahing and feeling happy and satisfied. I will get a sloppy wet kiss for my troubles and will be dead to the world by eleven, aided by the manna for adults-alchohol.
In the meantime, the little tyrant who rules out lives will be taking a decision on what we have to do next year. I just hope we dont have a Harry Potter theme party,cos well, I'm just a muggle!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
On the beach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The resort I stayed at a recent holiday in Kuala Lumpur seemed to be very popular with visitors from the Middle East. We found scores of families from various areas there, staying at the hotel. Apart from us Indian's of course :) !
The Sunway resort where we stayed had a man-made beach and lagoon. It had a lot of adventure theme parks and a water park with fun stuff to do for everyone. The day we spent there was memorable with the many rides and adventures we had. However, what struck me and cut me deep was a young woman in a Burqua on the beach.
By her body language I could make out she was quite young, and she was accompanied by her husband and two young chilren. The latter three were appropriately dressed in shorts and swimming gear for a day at the water park. The former, however, was covered from top to toe in a burqua and a veil for her face. The only visible area at the eyes was covered by sunglasses. In short, apart from her hands, there was no visible skin anywhere. This lady stood on that beach watching her family frolic in the water for a good three to four hours, at least till the time we were there.
Watching her in the searing heat, surrounded by other women of all shapes and sizes, in varying swimming gear, from bikinis, one peieces, tankinis, cycling shorts to burkinis even, felt odd. In that heat, her ensemble choice did seem out of place. Watching her somewhere sent a shiver down my spine, and perhaps left me thankful of being born in a more liberal country in more liberal times.
While leaving I wondered if she had ever felt tempted to throw off the restrictions and jump into the water. Sometimes the smallest things in life you take for granted make you pause and ponder.
The Sunway resort where we stayed had a man-made beach and lagoon. It had a lot of adventure theme parks and a water park with fun stuff to do for everyone. The day we spent there was memorable with the many rides and adventures we had. However, what struck me and cut me deep was a young woman in a Burqua on the beach.
By her body language I could make out she was quite young, and she was accompanied by her husband and two young chilren. The latter three were appropriately dressed in shorts and swimming gear for a day at the water park. The former, however, was covered from top to toe in a burqua and a veil for her face. The only visible area at the eyes was covered by sunglasses. In short, apart from her hands, there was no visible skin anywhere. This lady stood on that beach watching her family frolic in the water for a good three to four hours, at least till the time we were there.
Watching her in the searing heat, surrounded by other women of all shapes and sizes, in varying swimming gear, from bikinis, one peieces, tankinis, cycling shorts to burkinis even, felt odd. In that heat, her ensemble choice did seem out of place. Watching her somewhere sent a shiver down my spine, and perhaps left me thankful of being born in a more liberal country in more liberal times.
While leaving I wondered if she had ever felt tempted to throw off the restrictions and jump into the water. Sometimes the smallest things in life you take for granted make you pause and ponder.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Why Johnny Depp Rules
It’s a simple answer really………….
Because he is SEXY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He looks delicious as any character. Yes, even as the neurotic bugger in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or in the most defining role, where I fell in love with him, Edward Scissor hands!
I have a feeling it’s because it’s his uniquely androgynous appeal. The man knows how to be both a man’s man and a woman’s man. He has hips that swing, eyebrows that quirk, and eyes that dance. And yes in the latest role that he has immortalized in the three part series, The Pirates of the Caribbean he takes Captain Jack Sparrow to new heights and new depths with élan.
But for me what really works with him is the sensitivity of his face. It acts like a mirror, showing you at various times, not Johnny himself, but the character, from depraved, lustful to damned and hesitant, his face chooses to mould itself to whoever he is. Not to mention that his agility and precision with sword is well………………intensely appealing. The best part is, as I recently discovered in the ‘World’s End’ sequel, even older women like him. His latest fan is my mother who raves about him and assures me he is the cutest guy she has ever met. My six year old son , calls him a ‘Mast Banda’.
As for me……………………well….like they say in the movies………….”I will always remember the day, I met Capt. Jack Sparrow!”
Because he is SEXY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He looks delicious as any character. Yes, even as the neurotic bugger in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or in the most defining role, where I fell in love with him, Edward Scissor hands!
I have a feeling it’s because it’s his uniquely androgynous appeal. The man knows how to be both a man’s man and a woman’s man. He has hips that swing, eyebrows that quirk, and eyes that dance. And yes in the latest role that he has immortalized in the three part series, The Pirates of the Caribbean he takes Captain Jack Sparrow to new heights and new depths with élan.
But for me what really works with him is the sensitivity of his face. It acts like a mirror, showing you at various times, not Johnny himself, but the character, from depraved, lustful to damned and hesitant, his face chooses to mould itself to whoever he is. Not to mention that his agility and precision with sword is well………………intensely appealing. The best part is, as I recently discovered in the ‘World’s End’ sequel, even older women like him. His latest fan is my mother who raves about him and assures me he is the cutest guy she has ever met. My six year old son , calls him a ‘Mast Banda’.
As for me……………………well….like they say in the movies………….”I will always remember the day, I met Capt. Jack Sparrow!”
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Salad Days...........yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It all started with the office party which is of course still to take place in two days. I had promised the 'girls' a long awaited treat of biryanis and bacardi at my place...which slowly evolved into a well............salads, pastas etc lunch. Perfectionist that I am, i whizzed off to defence colony market today to check out some exotic pasta sauces and salad leaves for the day. I usually am pretty happy to open a can of ready made pasta sauce but this time I wanted to simmer the sauces at home, my way. Its not everyday that my work colleagues see this domesticated side of me.
I am glad I went because it helped me pick up everything for my favourite salad in the world. To begin with anyone who hasn't shopped at the defence colony market for food has missed an experience. I will never forget how many years ago a snooty aunt made an uncle drive all the way from Civil Lines to get fish from Defence Colony market. After today I think she was on to something there.
I stumbled on some fabulous rocket leaves, delicately placed in an AC shop and that spurred me to hope that I could make my favourtie salad at home. I do not have the energy to go to INA market, an experience I am saving for those happy days when I will potter around in the kitchen after retirement. My favourite salad in all the world is the Insalata Felix, served at restaurant I promote...........while the salad has actually been named after a pet, it offers the delectable combination of goat cheese, orange, pine nuts and rocket leaves,with a dressing which I will now keep secret!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway after some sweet directions from the vegetable vendors I found imported goat cheese.manna from heaven..........and the shop keeper kindly cut me a wedge from a very formidable looking chunk.
Back home, my maids looked at me aghast as I mixed my favourite salad, dunked it in the fridge to cool and sat and stuffed green leaves unshamedly into my mouth once it was done. Total cost??????????Well rocket costs Rs. 200 a kilo, my bunch came for thirty bucks, cheese that went in would be about 50, half an orange, i'd venture ten bucks, pine nuts worth another twenty bucks, so say about 120 bucks for a salad................cheaper than what you would pay outside and absolutely fresh and delicious..................
As I have happily told the vegetable vendor who gave me his card and promised home delivery to my office (luckily in defence colony too).........he had made a permanent new customer...........
And if the next blog is on shitake mushrooms or perfectly plump asparagus right in the middle of the city...................you will have to pardon me!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am glad I went because it helped me pick up everything for my favourite salad in the world. To begin with anyone who hasn't shopped at the defence colony market for food has missed an experience. I will never forget how many years ago a snooty aunt made an uncle drive all the way from Civil Lines to get fish from Defence Colony market. After today I think she was on to something there.
I stumbled on some fabulous rocket leaves, delicately placed in an AC shop and that spurred me to hope that I could make my favourtie salad at home. I do not have the energy to go to INA market, an experience I am saving for those happy days when I will potter around in the kitchen after retirement. My favourite salad in all the world is the Insalata Felix, served at restaurant I promote...........while the salad has actually been named after a pet, it offers the delectable combination of goat cheese, orange, pine nuts and rocket leaves,with a dressing which I will now keep secret!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway after some sweet directions from the vegetable vendors I found imported goat cheese.manna from heaven..........and the shop keeper kindly cut me a wedge from a very formidable looking chunk.
Back home, my maids looked at me aghast as I mixed my favourite salad, dunked it in the fridge to cool and sat and stuffed green leaves unshamedly into my mouth once it was done. Total cost??????????Well rocket costs Rs. 200 a kilo, my bunch came for thirty bucks, cheese that went in would be about 50, half an orange, i'd venture ten bucks, pine nuts worth another twenty bucks, so say about 120 bucks for a salad................cheaper than what you would pay outside and absolutely fresh and delicious..................
As I have happily told the vegetable vendor who gave me his card and promised home delivery to my office (luckily in defence colony too).........he had made a permanent new customer...........
And if the next blog is on shitake mushrooms or perfectly plump asparagus right in the middle of the city...................you will have to pardon me!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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