Kalamwali Salutes
KALAMWALI SALUTES is a series of stories written in honour of People and Organisations who are frontline warriors helping fight the global pandemic of COVID 19 through the Lockdown.
Asmita Javdekar
Engineer turned Entrepreneur turned into a full time Homebody. Writing is my way of partying with all the crazy emotions in the world.
My parties have no themes or dress codes and you are always welcome to join in:)
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Deepak Bhansali
Words work like meditation for me. I paint feelings through words. My mission is to explore different perceptions of love, life and dreams through expressing day-to-day stories of simple people in a profound way and thereby inspire millions of people.
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Diyaa
A mother of two boys and an artist at heart is what I like to be known as. When they are at their best I squeeze out time to paint and write. The only things that bring out the passion in me and keep me sane besides other little chores. I love writing for kids.
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Kalamwali.com is a global platform, a 'world of words' to read, write, share and discuss literature in the form of stories, poems, recipes, quotes, experiences, reviews, voice uploads and forums.
“Today I am going to offend someone, today I am going to write!” - Kalamwali
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Being a doctor, I was aware that sooner or later I will have to face the enemy but the way the enemy crept upon me was a total shock. I was exercising regularly, eating healthy and taking all the precautions needed to keep the enemy at bay and even if I had to face the battlefield, I thought I would be ready mentally and physically. But I was not ready for the way I got pushed into the battlefield without a warning!
I was on duty on Saturday and was looking forward for the Sunday off but on Sunday morning I woke up feeling feverish and lethargic. I measured the temperature which was not fever by medical definition. I thought it to be common flu as it was a long time since I suffered one so I went about my routine without any worry. Tuesday night I got a message that Saturday I had been in contact with a person who has tested positive for corona virus and all my sane thoughts flew out of the window. I panicked so much that I couldn’t think straight. I packed my bag ready to bolt out of the house in the
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|| A Night to Remember ||
MIA! An absolute gregarious person, she was a dreamer, an achiever, a free-spirited soul that wandered to places and came with hands full. She just knew how to live life in full circles. Would soar from one high to another.
Sometimes with a scratch on the knee. And often a bruise over the head. But rare was a tear in her eye. She knew the true meaning of living life queen size. She was a Queen herself not to a sham kingdom. But a queen of her own soul, queen of her heart.
Recently had she grabbed a promotion in her office and her charm was no minor for her boss to throw a party for all to celebrate her success.
It was a cozy chilling evening of mid-December. The winds were strong and so were the spirits. The company's farmhouse was lit up with shimmering yellow and orange.
The garden was bursting with glee, crackle, and chatter. The soft flowing music was matching the mood of the evening to the fullest.
Mia was encircled with one after the other gang of colleagues high
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Listening with eyes closed
Listening with open heart
Listening with a flawless ego
Listening with empathy
Listening is empowerment
Listening is connection
Listening is magical
Listen to yourself and those who mean to you . Listen to those who doesn't matter to you. Listen to nature and learn to nurture
Listen to Music and folk lores and fables
Listen to caress the wounds and scars
Listen to pains that took you so far
Listen to re learn all that's learnt
Listen to undo all that you have done........
Under the layers of flesh and bones we are all nothing but only one !!
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They will tell you what to eat and when
They will decide the length of your skirt
They will judge you upon the tone of your skin and the paint on your lips
They will assume why you are fat or skinny
If you are successful, probably you are infertile
If you are a home body , probably you ain't competent enough
They say , they judge, they slay ,they will hurry ,they will complain . They will never have enough of you .You will never be enough for them. They will fight for even the last bit of you.
But that's not your burden , girl... You came alone and you WILL leave alone .
Go , Love fiercely ... Dance without those heels.....lift those weights .... Eat the cake....and buy that dress...meet your friend for no reason.... Take time to feel the breeze on your face ...
Walk enough, sleep enough , rest enough . Only so much you can do for yourself . Learn to say NO and re learn to stick by it.
Let's not betray our bodies and minds for we embrace wh
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Smoking a cigar she stood by the street swaying her hips , a tune on her lips
Swirling her heels in graceful abandon
She scanned the crowd for a hopeful acquaintance
The red lips she flaunted was too much a cliche
The make up had caked and the frowns wrinkled .
The kohl smudged over like spilled over wine.
The ladies shyed away as she walked down the streets
The men ogled her in all ways they could . The sagging boobs,muddy heels ,greying and balding hair lines
Some fret, some laughed at her staggering gait
"Old hag", they whispered and whistled as she slouched into the evening bar
The prime of a dancer, a singer, saw such great falls .. she loved many and many loved her but couldn't belong to any .
In search of fame and riches she remembered the days she danced with her soul and spirit . Now the empty womb s throbbing for a child who would hold her hand for one last time
Now the days gave birth to lonely nights where she sat and knit with a br
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The driest Sahara that the rain can't quench , let her thirst pour like the rapids and the floods.
The dilapidated dreams that saw no dawn , let her dream till her soul finds rest.
Are you the bird who left the nest to find the rest..
Who burnt it's wings by the wrath of the sun..
Let the Nightingale sing at the emperor sill..
Let the gleeful music make her free
If you can't bear her heat..
If you can't see her dreams ..
If you can't touch her soul..
If you can't love her scars..
Go shoot her in the head , let her crown fall to the ground ..
Oh .. the fiery fate of life , take one final look , a million forms are spurting out from every drop of blood you shed..
No matter how many swords you sway...
You still cant stop her throbbing heart...
That dreamed , that loved , that yearned , that fought...
That chose to fly above the nest you made...
That chose to fight the rest you tamed .
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Yes. I am an ordinary woman. A woman who doesnt match up to any social standard of beauty. I have a brown skin and I have'nt bothered becoming fair or lovely using any product or foundation or treatment.
I have crater like acne on my face. Marks and scars aplenty from pimples, hormones, sun tanning, stress and even anxiety.
I have dry skin, that needs to be mositurized twice a day so that it doesnt become dry or flaky. Nothing close to the surreal, supple soft skin that women are supposed to have!
My palms, are rough with countless intersceting lines and far from soft! On most occasions they are harder and more rough than the hands of most men and women with whom I would shake hands! (Pre corona times). My nails are brittle and chip easy, seldom looking like the manicured beautiful hands of the women seen in media.
I have cellulite, strech mars and most defintely a figure that doesnt fit the social standards of beauty.
Neither do I have a sun kissed, golden glow on my face when I
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As per the Hindu calendar, my birthday falls on Guru Poornima. To think of it deeply...i wouldn't have whisked my way on Earth on any other day!
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Gu- means darkness and Ru- means Light. A guru takes you from darkness to light. For me, Gu (darkness) itself is the brightest Ru (light)
In the dark cocoon, a butterfly is born.
Breakdowns teach breakthroughs.
Rock bottom is the turning point. Reflection is Rebirth.
Healing requires Hurting.
Even the Cosmos requires Chaos to grow!
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My biggest Guru is Poornima.
The Moon doesn't steal the darkness. It only unveils the beauty of the dark through its light. It is because of the dark sky, that we meet this light. Theres so much than meets the sk-eye!
From Gu, it starts its journey towards Ru. Mindful and aware, learning through each phase. Glowing through each turn and becoming Poorna. And then ever so gently, it starts its journey towards darkness once again, knowing that all growth lies in there.
Gu-Ru is a never ending process in
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" A woman you are
When will you learn?
To speak softly, laugh only little,
Sit neatly, walk garcefully, every breath governed!
You have to be calm and demure
Your words and thoughts and your body impure,
You bleed every month, woman, its a disgrace
Ensure you hide it well and even cover your face!
Its something to be kept safe and secret
Its a curse being a woman - my biggest regret!
This pain and the struggle that comes every month
This isnt the time to pull your bold stunts!
So stay at home and stay within the walls
Dont fly too much lest trouble befalls
Its a man's world we cannot change
Be grateful, for us he drops his sweat!
What makes you feel you can change the world?
There will only be insults and accusations hurled
At you and me for doing a bad job
Unable to do more than sit and sob!
Wake up young woman!
Its time to realise your fate
And learn your place and duties
Before it gets too late!"
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Strength is not a castle surrounded and guarded by the soldiers, strength is that sand castle near the shore that you keep making as many times as the tides wash it away.
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I have received many messages about the influence and impact I had on people, my positivity and the direction of my lifes journey which was inspiring and my instagram posts were looked forward to.It is an extremely humbling process and fills me with tremendous gratitude to each one of you who reached out...I have always believed that though the Giver is great, the true greatness lies in the Receiver.The Giver is giving out the same love, energy, positivity and inspiration but not all are receiving it in the same manner.To some it brings a smile while to others they draw inspiration from it.To some it is nothing more than a scroll and to others a waste of time.You are the eyes through which you see and draw lessons from it."Two men standing in jail. One sees the bars, the other sees the stars"Perspective is everything.It is least about the giver, it is always about the receiver...God gives us everything - joys and sorrows, nature and nurture. But we all derive different lessons, different levels of gratitude f
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An Ode to My Father.
It was bright sunny morning. I was on my usual morning jog to fill my lungs with the fresh morning air. I could hear the soft chirping of the birds and could feel the bright sun. What a lovely morning to start the day with.While I was feeling the nature’s beauty I came across a six or seven year old boy being taught to ride a bicycle. He had blue coloured bicycle and the boy was with silky brown hair and red shorts and white t shirt.His father was middle aged man,neatly shaved in grey tracksuit. The memories of my childhood came gushing by when I was of around same age my father taught me to ride a bicycle. Like any other kid I too suffered many failed attempts. But my father taught me never to give up. He was a picture of patience. He was always besides me with his hand at the back of the bicycle seat again and again, as many times as I needed him to. I clearly remember the day I took off by myself I could feel the wind blowing on my face. So what, if I could not stop properly and