SushriiShreyaMishraa

"gOING gREEN THIS diwALI!!!"

2009-12-25T09:16:00.000-08:00

The very thought of Diwali floods one’s mind with crackers, vibrantly lit sky, sweets and a reason to celebrate…With the deadlines we have to meet each day, with the cut-throat competition we have to survive and the blind rat race we run each minute to make a place in the world is making us so mechanical that we forget the real essence of celebrating Diwali and it has grown beyond its purpose... It began with the return of Lord Rama from a 14-year exile in the forest after defeating Ravana, or cheering the killing of the demon Narkasura by Krishna...It signifies the triumph of good over evil and dispelling the darkness with light...

In the midst of all the fun, laughter and celebration the fragile state of the earth must be kept in mind and also those less privileged than ourselves…This Diwali was different and special for me…The seeds of concern for the environment which were sowed in my mind inspired me to do something this Diwali…I wanted to spread some awareness about the menace we create in the name of God and Diwali….. Firecrackers are obvious contributors to noise and dust pollution, emitting hazardous chemicals…The crackers we burst not only adds to the problem of global warming but also troubles animals, old people, new born babies and the like…

Inspired by the plantation I did in Pune in August organized by my pageant coach I planned to carry on the drive in Delhi in my hostel (AWWA)….When I proposed this idea of celebrating a no-crackers Diwali and planting trees in a open house meeting in the hostel not many people agreed to it…But eventually everyone agreed and the response was great…Even our strict but affectionate manager agreed to it..Wow!!!That was real relief….All my hostel inmates from 1^st years to PGs cooperated…We collected money and bought saplings....We decided to plant it in the barren ground jus next to our hostel….

All the preparations were made for the special Diwali….Sweets, new clothes, vibrant rangoli, Lakshmi Pooja and yes saplings and trees for the plantation….

We got our hands dirty in the mud…Since it was Diwali we started by planting Tulsi…and then filled the entire place but Gladula,Iris,Star Jasmine, Malta Trees,Neem Trees, and the like…

It was amazing and as rilly a great success with the cooperation of all the AWWAites…Thank You All….AWWA Rocks!!!

"What can you do to save the world????"

2009-12-22T01:15:00.000-08:00

It was like any other day when we were having our class and our pageant coach was taking a ppt on “what can you do to save the world???”…It made all of us think….Saving the world???It was a tough

thing to decide…Finally one of us suggested of planting trees…The alarming increase in the rate of global warming and the untimely change in the weather convinced all of us for it….They say ‘charity begins at home’ so we decided to start in our neighbourhood itself on 27^th of August 2009…

It was really fun cash contribution,deciding what plants were to be planted,making cute green ribbons,and the like….We got our manicured hands into the mud….lol…

But it was an amazing experience planting Ashoka saplings,yellow Alamandas and Impatience flower…It made all of our aware that how jus by doing small things how we can add so much to our society…Today when I see the flowers blooming I feel proud of each of us…Thank you ma’am for making us aware of what we were capable of….

Environment-Then and Now...

2009-12-20T10:02:00.000-08:00

For millions of years, the sun’s energy has nourished thena Earth,generating and sustaining all plant and animal life on the planet. A large amount of that energy bounces back into space and some of it is captured by the atmosphere, maintaining warmth and natural balance.

That harmony has been unbalanced by human beings.Our consumption of coal, petrol, diesel, etc,and other human activity such as mining, clearing forests for wood, even agriculture, generates carbon dioxide(CO2),methane, and other greenhouse gases.CO2 levels in the atmosphere have gone up from 280 parts per million at the time of Industrial Revolution to about

382 ppm currently.

Other gases emitted raise this figure to an equivalent of 427 ppm.These gases don’t allow the sun’s heat to escape sufficiently, hence warming the planet, the atmosphere, the land, even the deep ocean. As a consequence, on an average, the Earth is at least 0.76 degrees centigrade (1.4 degrees F) warmer than it was at the time of the Industrial Revolution. Much of this happened in the last few decades.

Already as a consequence, permafrost-ice that has remained frozen since the last Ice Age is melting. Droughts in the Horn of Africa are most frequent, affecting the poor there. More intense rainfalls(such as the one that hit Bombay a few years ago, in which a thousand people were killed) getting more common, as are intense cyclones, such as Hurricane Katrina.

Islands are drowning and people are losing their lands and livelihood, such as in the Sundarbans
as the sea level slowly gets higher and eats away at the low lying lands;glaciers, including the source of the river Ganga, are receding. The crazy weather is there for all to see - floods in Rajastan, drought in Cherrapunji, snow in Dubai…it’s strange and its all related to global warming. Its been estimated by the WHO that 1,50,000 additional people are dying each year from diseases, which spread more widely due to warming. And 0.76 degrees is only an average. Some areas are warming more. In India for instance it is expected that North India will warm more than other regions.Also,further warming is unavoidable because the gases mentioned above stay in the atmosphere long after they are emitted. Hence the gases we emit now will continue to warm the Earth for generations in the future.

Nature as we have known it and the planet itself is at stake .As someone said,it’s the only one we’ve got..
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Thank you note!!!jus from my heart!!!

2009-11-18T12:25:00.000-08:00

With the South pageant beginning I feel butterflies in my stomach waiting for my chance to perform. Waiting for East pageants to begin. I believe I can do it not because I am the extraordinary but because the kind of people I have met in life, the kind of books I have read, the experiences I have had. With each passing day I feel am growing each minute...The belief in me is growing stronger because of the blessings and guidance I am having now. For that I’m really grateful to god.

Thank you mummy and papa for bringing me into this beautiful world where there is so much to explore, learn and discover. Thank you for giving me the liberty to choose to do what I want to do in life. Mamma your undying faith in God has helped me to fight believe in the same and fight all the odds. Papa your simplicity,satisfaction,determination,strength of character and approach towards life amazes me and inspires me.

Thank you god for creating the opportunity for me to meet someone like Ritika Ma’am.I cannot put into words how thankful I am. Thank you ma’am for all your love and support,care,guidance,kindness,acceptance.You helped me to find the hidden qualities me and make my niche: to make my place in the world. Each time when the day unwinds from one problem to another I think of you and your saying that there is no such thing as bad day or good day, it is you who makes it into one.Your words rejuvenates me and helps me to unwind. You are the best mentor I could ever have. Love you ma’am.A small thank you might not make a difference but still Thanks for everything. You are my Godmother.

Nalini ma’am you are such a cute, innocent and caring soul that each time I’m with you I feel special. It makes my day when you say “bye bacha.All the best!!”Gosh!No one can ever imagine that now I’m so conditioned to it that if I don’t hear it from you a part of me is apprehensive. Your patience, enthusiasm, and desire to grow in life are few things I have learnt.You are a true sweetheart.

Now is my rockstar: Saheba…WOW!!!God has perfect planning for everything in life. Me getting closer to my pageants and she being my room mate helping me each moment I feel confused or doubtful. One has to meet her to believe me. She’s a complete rockstar,superstar.She’s the one who made me realize that there is enough for everyone in this world, you’ll also get your part of share just let life happen to. Each day I learn from her how to fall in love with myself. You made me realize the power of belief and visualization. Thank you baby doll my belief in me now is like the steel you were talking about and I can visualize myself.Saheba the only reason I want time to stop would be the fear of getting away from you. You are an angel, a fashionista,an inspiration. There are days when feel really low on my energy levels and feel drained completely but just the thought of you makes me smile and kick start the day then and there.

A Jewish saying goes like, “Who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure." If this is true then I’m the richest person on this earth. The list will be never-ending because God has been kind to me for helping me find so many friends.Namita has to top the list. It’s difficult for me to put into words because despite of all the competition we are best of friends. Touch wood!!!Eva: I don’t know how I could survive without you in Delhi…Thanks you for bearing all my tantrums and helping in everything that I have done. I cannot dare to miss this opportunity to thank you for helping me with my packing each time…Gosh!!!each time it’s a task for me.Anindita,Ani,Ana whatever you call her she’s my true reality check. She’s the who keeps me grounded with the dream blossoming in my wings.Payal , Diksha ,Shrishti ,Reeti ,Iti ,Sujju,Ramjas,Baba,Kaniska ,Ananya,Shweta ,Batli ,Moxy ,Sumana ,Avnit, Ashima, Varni, Aourko, Vicky,Kanika,Khushboo,Niti,Pratikshya di,ArjuhnJyoti da,Parul,Bindiya,Wasim,Nimisha,Arnav,Siddharth(you have always taught me many things in life…Thanks for being with me!!!), Pearl, Akshita, Vijaya, Varun, Manchali, Everest, Trexy, Tofa,Tabasum, Poly, Tysun,Honey, Cookie,Candy,Oliver,Lucky,Magik,Nano, Cherry,Micheall, Mia,Stiffler,Sharon,Thakur,Romeo,Juliet,Janet,Shelly,Sr.Maurice,All my teachers, all my friends and each one I have ever met thank you. In some or the other way you all have helped me to learn and discover a part of me. I’ve grown with each interaction. Whatever I’m today is all because of you people. Thanks you…luv…J

P.S.I apologize If I forgot to mention anyone but in the hearts of heart I’m thankful and grateful...

"Say hello to dirty li'll pAws!!!"

2009-11-15T09:39:00.000-08:00

It’s not only children who want love but animals also need it. We as human beings at times fail to understand that even animals want the same love and affection as we do. They need nothing but our love, care and acceptance. People don’t mind getting a pedigree dog but ironically would look down and demean even the existence of a stray dog. There is nothing wrong in having a dog of a good breed but why not adopt a stray who needs a shelter, who is so desperate to be loved that would lie down on the ground if called with love, who needs nothing but just our acknowledgement and acceptance into our lives.

They say charity begins at home and I adopted a stray dog on 4^th November 2006 and named her as Honey. She helped me to grow as a human being in life. She made me realize that stray dogs are nothings less than pure breed dogs.

She is as intelligent and courageous as a German shepherd and as playful as a German spitz.It is very easy to maintain her because she is easily adaptable to the climatic changes and hence is healthier. Animals have been man’s best friend for times immemorial. And honey changed the meaning of life to me and taught me how to love unconditionally and selflessly.

Approximately 4 million adoptable dogs & cats are killed each year mainly due to overpopulation. 25-30% of dogs for adoption in animal shelters are purebred. The other 70-75%, of course, are lovable, wonderful mixed-breed pets, just waiting for a chance to be your perfect new friend. Many backyard dog breeders and pet stores who supply the majority of purebreds simply are selling inbred pets without care for preventing genetic problems. Mixed breed pets have less inbreeding, generally less inherited genetic disease, and therefore overall lower vet bills. If you have your heart set on a specific breed, before you check out a dog breeder or pet store, why not adopt a pet from a breed rescue organization? Breed rescues are groups that specialize in a particular breed of dog or cat.

I hope that after reading this article whenever you see a pup or a dog with dirty paws you will not shoo it away with disgust but acknowledge it with love. Next time you think of adopting a dog then let it be a stray because it needs it more that anyone else.Let’s make a difference. Robert Frost once said “Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired”. So Lets spread the message of love and let start adoption as the new way of life...

An attempt to "save and empower the girl child"!!!!

2009-10-01T01:17:00.000-07:00

Has anyone ever thought :

why do female feticide and infanticide still exist in an era that saw the term 'girl power' coined and ‘women empowerment’???

while sex-selective abortion is controversial, even within the pro-choice community, some commentators have championed it as a means to empower women and increase familial happiness…

without a woman one cannot have a mother, a sister, a partner…Irrespective of all this why do people still fail to realize the value of women and give in for female feticide or infanticide???

These questions have been haunting me ; I really don’t know since when…Can anyone ever find an answer to these????Oh!!!Please if you really can , then do tell me….What I could infer was that AWARENESS is the only solution to it…I was so wanting to reach out to people and awaken them to reality and the opportunity was perfect with Pooja Chopra’s-Pantaloons Femina Miss India World-2009 homecoming to Tiara.

My pagent coach, Ritika Ramtri Kumar, suggested of conducting street play and spreading the message of saving and empowering the girl child.We worked upon the script and named our play as “ Its No Sin To Be a Girl” (Ladki Hona Paap Nahin).All the pagent aspirants took upon a role actively.We worked and practiced so as to leave an impact and to help the cause.For Pooja and many others it was not merely a street play but had a deep connection to her and their personal life and struggle of dealing with Female Feticide and Infanticide.

We performed the street play in both English and hindi so as to reach more people.We performed the play in various places like in the front of Bliss Bakery and Café on September 13^thSiddhartha Nagar Slum, Off NIBM Road Kondhwa, Near Suncity Building on September 14th, 2009 ; famous JJ Garden, Camp at 5.30 on the same day.

People appreciated the effort.The most remarkable achievement which we could achieve was , in the slums of Siddhartha Nagar where a 20 days born baby girl was accepted by her family.

They say small little steps are the beginning of a marathon.I hope the sex-determination in the shady by-lanes would stop.I hope a girl child born would bring the same happiness and joy to the family as a boy child would bring.I pray people would not pray for ‘munna rajas’ but for ‘nanhi paris’ as well….

Prayer:Be an Optimist...Be a winner in life!!!!!!

2009-09-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

I want be so strong taht nothing can disturb the peace of my mind.I wasnt to talk haelth,happiness and prosperity to every person i meet...I want to make all mey friends feel that I appreciate their good qualities and strenghts.I want to look on the sunny side of everything,and expect only the best.I want to be as enthusisatic about the success of others as i am about my own.I want to forget the past and press on to the greater achievements of future.I want to give everyone a smile.I want to spend so much time improving myself that i have no time left to criticise others.I want to be too big for worry and too noble for anger...

-Amen.....

Paving the way...

2009-09-07T10:18:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid I always ended up in fancy dress competitions and theme parties with a tiara on my head and a sash over my shoulders. When asked always said “Miss India”.
There was never any dusty place left didn’t address myself as a Miss India. Every foggy window had my name on it. Every beach I visited I engraved my name on its wet sand. But with time and age I became silent about this dream of mine but never let it die. People started forgetting but it started growing stronger within me. It always lived within me. I had BELIEF in myself.

I was quite about my dream until Miss Delhi Times and Miss SPM happened to me. Both of them were like a spur to my long awaited dream which was like a dormant volcano for so many years and was ready to burst now.

I was like a wild horse that had to learn the style of collected canter from free gallop. My spirit was unbroken and I then met my guru-the saviour of my life to hone my spirit ,the pagent coach Ritika Ramtri Kumar.

on my way to live my dream...