10th Oct.

Completed morning program. The Goddess Durga is worshiped in the form of Katyaani on the sixth day of Navratri : giver of fruits of  our actions.

Khyatis's birthday is celebrated today. She was born on Ashtami of Aswin's Adhik Mas (Dwatiya), Krishnapaksh, Wednesday, Vkram Samvat 2058/Shak Samvat 1923 of the Hindi Panchang corresponding to 10th October, 2001 of Gregorian calender at 12.10 pm in a Vasant Vihar hospital, New Delhi. Venita did Puja/Havan in the temple early morning and distributed 'halwa' to all who came to the temple and our house.We bless her for long happy prosperous bright and fearless life.  

She enters teens today. She lit 12 small candles for the past years and one big candle for entry into the 13th year of her life. She cut the cake to the singing of Happy Birthday.The event was attended by her parents, paternal/maternal grandparents, Alaynah, Babloo/Neha/Akshat and 10/12  classmates.

We have to ensure that she has good company. Now she will try to find out her identity by 'trial and error, a part of growing up'. We have to guide her in the process as a friend and not as a dictator. We have, however, to assert our authority as parents with love, care and firmly when necessary. We should sometime compromise. Let us not forget that she belongs to a new generation  which is impatient, wants to achieve big, spectacular and is not prepared to compromise easily. I wrote the following blog on Monday July 12th, 2010 :

" Read the write-up of Sh. Shombit Sen Gupta in the Indian Express dated 11th. He says that the present day society has 3 kinds of generations: 1. The Retro (above 45 years), 2. Compromise (between 30-45 years) & 3. Zap 86 (below 30 years). The compromise generation tries to balance the Retro and Zap 86. According to him unless we understand the mindset of Zap 86 we will not be able to sell our goods and they will keep on running to foreign brands. Zap 86 is the generation which has grown after the 1991 reforms and is progressive and future looking. It is difficult to convince them by the mindset of Retro and Compromise generations. We have to understand their concerns, their perspectives and plan our strategies for renovation to sell the Indian products as is being done by the foreign brands." I liked the approach and am in full agreement with him." Although it is written in the context of selling goods in the market, but it is relevant for us today so that we can market our values to the new generation effectively. Khyati belongs to Zap 86. (http://dns-reflections.blogspot.in/search?q=compromise+generation)

Silku got the first copy of his second book  from the publishers today, Khyati's birthday. He has dedicated the book to his 2 daughters. He has written a few lines/words  in praise for his parents, brothers, in -laws and of course his wife in Acknowledgement. I will write a review of the book in the blog when i get my copy.

Retired to sleep at 11 pm.