Light the Diya & Connect with The Inner Voice On this auspicious day of Diwali as the earthen lamps are lit and the fireworks fill the skies, give yourself a gift of looking inwards to cultivate the spiritual wealth of knowledge and truth such as compassion, forgiveness and loving-kindness .   Light the candle to melt the boundaries of the self Reconnect the self and connect the chords Wisdom of unity is in the word of Lord   The central belief of many religions and philosophies is the existence of a cosmic order or spiritual law in the universe and the need for human beings to live a balanced life in accordance with this law. The aim is to teach us to go beyond the light floating on the surface and understand the mysteries that lies within us and embrace the knowledge to awaken your being. When the inward light is lit and the spirit within is awakened, it is Diwali.   Self-realization and self-reflection have been tau

 Digital Book Release:   I AM ME - IN MY ZONE OF REFLECTION A Collection of Contemporary Poem  By Quddus Mohammed LINK: https://issuu.com/zoneofsilence/docs/i_am_me_-in_my_zone_of_reflection_flip A COLLECTION OF CONTEMPORARY POEMS I am ME with a Monkey Mind I am ME the Obsessive Kind I am ME a Life of Opulence I am ME an Evil Shinto Spirit I am ME Bathed in Love I am ME the Resilient I am ME a Paragon of Virtue I am ME a Paragon of Perfection I am ME a Paragon of Purity A Cup of Chai Desert- A place of Peace POETRY BY Quddus Mohammed ( mquddus59@gmail.com )   BOOKS FROM THE AUTHOR Poetry:   In My Zone of Silence Link: https://issuu.com/home/published/in_my_zone_of_silence_-flipbook Also: Cookbook:    Home Cooking-Recipes for Multicultural Gatherings

Shahi Chicken Methi (Fenugreek) in Cashew (Creamy aromatic chicken cooked in Hyderabadi style with fresh methi herb) Fenugreek (Methi) Fenugreek is a flavorful herb to enhance your culinary creativity. It is a rich source of fiber, protein and iron. It can be a great addition to your daily diet as it helps gastrointestinal issues, and helps cholesterol, lowers blood sugar, increase male libido and helps respiratory problems. Ingredients : 2 lbs.             Organic Chicken, boneless one inch cubed 2                     Red Onion, medium thinly sliced 1 cup.           Fresh Cream 2 tbsp.         Whole Milk Yogurt 1 tbsp.         Ginger-Garlic paste 1 cup.           Fresh Organic Fenugreek (Methi) 1/2 cup         Cashew, unsalted soaked in water 1 tsp.            Garam Masala 1 tsp.            Red Chili powder, adjust to taste 1 tsp.            Turmeric powder 4-6.                Green Chilies, adjust to taste 1/2                   Lime, juiced 1/2 cup.       Cilantro, finely chopped + m

PIYA BAAJ (WITHOUT MY LOVE) Contributor: Prof. Raza Mir QULI QUTB SHAH (Photo from: Wikipedia.com) Quli Qutub Shah (d. 1612) was one of the more celebrated kings of the Deccan, ascending the throne of Golkonda at a young age, and often credited with founding the city of Hyderabad. He is also known to have composed poems in Telugu, which was consistent with his ecumenical temperament. His language reflects a curious mix of linguistic influences, comprising a bit of Turkish, a bit of the local Pali-oriented dialect, some Arabic words, and a lot of Sanskrit as well.   The ghazal I have chosen to represent his work is relatively simple, but as can be seen, this pioneering work has helped establish the stylistic conventions of the ghazal that endure even today, such as the rhyme schemes and the trope of unattained love. This ghazal has been deployed often in popular culture, most notably in the poignant climax of Shyam Benegal’s 1975 film Nishant . The enjoyment of the poem will be

Faith Written By:  Aleya Jung  (Read about Aleya on contributor section) Paresh Bhai looks at me quizzically; I have close-cropped hair, earrings, a tattoo of a dragon on my forearm, dark brown complexion, minimal accent and I am reasonably well built. I correctly assume he cannot place me.  “You from India” he inquires while nodding his head from side to side, I nod in an affirmative. “From Where, Dilli”?  “Bombay” “What cashte” he shoots through gutka infested teeth “No Caste” I reply “Meanz” again quizzically, in utter disbelief, stupefied! “Well I have a Muslim Background,” I say resignedly Paresh Bhai’s fears are allayed. “It is ok to be Mohammedan” he signs off. Among Indians, it is unheard of not having as they say “cashte” I know what they mean, they mean to ask what religion, but are used to saying caste due to its existence that goes back many centuries. I believe my Father had a big row with the authorities at the time of my school admission- he was not allowed to leave the

REFRESHER OF THE SOUL Coolest Watermelon Cocktail for the Hottest Day Ingredients:   4 Cups          Watermelon, chopped s eedless to make 4 cups juice, chilled                          2                    Lime, juiced  (adjust to taste) 4 tbsp           Rooh Afza Syrup 2 tbsp          Lingonberry Juice  (optional)                         Crushed  Ice Garnish         Sprigs of Mint and Lime wedges Instructions: Throw watermelon in a large blender to make a smooth juice Pour the juice through mesh strainer in to a large pitcher Combine lime juice, Rooh Afza and Lingonberry  juice Stir well and add crushed ice - allow it to cool Stir and pour the juice in glasses Garnish with sprigs of mint and lime wedges Tipsy Revellers: Add a cup of Tequila                            Rooh Afza:  T ranslated as "refresher of the soul" Rooh Afza is a concentrated syrup widely consumed in South East Asia. It combines several ingredients popularly believed to be cooling agents, such as rose, fo

FINDING   Me :  IN THE MIDST OF ALL In my zone of silence I enter the inner door of my heart Locked inside the smoky corridors of my mind Bewildered mind wanders far above the dizzying cloud All is dark; the sea never sleeps The rising temperatures strips the arctic fortress deep Drenches the forehead and feet in sweat The fish are stuck between the algae covered mesh As the winds grow loud, body stiffened in flesh Grain of weed entering the veins like poisoned wine Lightning rises in the palms as I unchain the shackles of my mind Inside, there is something smaller that wants to burst out

The Classic Chimichurri Steak of the Andes (Argentina: Music, Tango and the Stunning Charcoal Grilled Chimichurri Steaks)   Things you need 2 lbs.                  Skirt Steak, rinsed in cold water & pat dry   For the chimichurri marinade 1 cup                    Cilantro  1 cup                   Parsley 1/4 cup               Fresh Oregano 4-6                       Garlic Cloves 2                           Jalapeño Peppers (adjust for heat) 1                           Red Onion 1/2 tsp.               Red Chili flakes 1/2 tsp.               Black Pepper 1                           Lime, juiced 3 tsp.                   Vinegar 1/2 cup               Olive Oil                              Salt to taste   garnish                  Lemon & Jalapeno tools                      Charcoal Grill (use lump coal)                              Iron Skillet   Instructions: Marinate the steaks ·        In a blender combine cilantro, parsley, oregano, ga

URDU POETRY IN INDIAN FILM INDUSTRY Contributor: Prof. Raza Mir WOH YAAR HAI JO KHUSHBOO KI TARAH, JIS KI ZUBAAN URDU KI TARAH   Dil na-umeed to nahin, nakaam hi to hai Lambi hai gham ki shaam, magar shaam hi to hai Defeated it may be, but the heart is not despaired Sorrow’s evening is long, but after all, it is merely evening.                       Thus begins a song from the 1994 Hindi movie 1942-A Love Story.   The lyrics of the song are credited to Javed Akhtar, but the verse itself comes from a poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz.   The contribution of Faiz to this film song is entirely unstated, unobtrusive and seamless.   The presence of these lines in the song is emblematic of a highly symbiotic relationship between Hindi film music and Urdu poetry.   The influence of Urdu poets on Hindi film music not only ensured that the language continued to have a performative presence in the linguistic landscape of India, but there was also a reciprocal effect.   Hindi film music transformed