Man's Best Friend and First Love

I still remember the day we went to pick up Leo. That day is etched so clearly in my mind. He was the son of my other labrador Bruno, who we lost to cancer. This little bundle of joy was only 6 weeks old, and before I could react he ran towards me and tugged at my shoelaces. He was the naughtiest of the litter and at that moment I knew I was taking this little thing home. He reminded me of a big, beautiful lion with his golden brown coat and massive paws. We thought ‘Leo’ was most befitting for him.

Puppy-like Leo

I always thought of his father as the ‘regal’ one. Leo was a villager compared to him. But now when I look back, Leo was the most regal, beautiful, and selfless dog I have ever known. The vet told us that the only reason he was with us for 14 years was because of the immense love he received from every family member, including my staff. He would have been 15 this October.

I'm trying to recall happy memories of him, and find it somewhat hard to right now. The last one year was a difficult year for both him and us. We could see him growing old, losing strength in his legs and that spunk that he always had. There was this one time my maid told me he broke into a run to chase away a stray dog on the road. I couldn’t imagine this big lump of lard running at 13, but apparently he did. He was always surprising us. 

Leo was a smart and loving dog. You just had to look into those brown droopy eyes of his and the world would be OK all over again. When I lost my beagle Taz a year and a half back, it was one of the most painful days of my life. But the love Leo gave us during that time just made it a whole lot easier. We lost a baby yes, but we had another one to focus our love on. He took all our pain away in no time. 

Leo & Taz. Frenemies

Even though he couldn't walk, I always had that cute face and pink candy nose to come home to. He was the strongest and most resilient of all my dogs. He developed a tumour a few months ago, and I knew it hurt him, but never once did he cry out or let us know he was in pain. He was the bravest of them all doggies.

I always complained to my family about how he never wagged his tail with me, but did with everyone else who came to pet him. I think deep down he took me for granted, and probably anticipated being smothered in kisses soon after, which he detested! He was truly an independent, strong dog who fought to stay alive till his last breath.

His favourite spot

He suffered a lot during his last few days. He had lost sensation in in his legs a month back, but still managed to pull through like a brave soul. He stopped eating 4 days back and we knew the end of his days were here. My mother and I were in a major dilemma about calling the vet to ‘do’ it. My brother was in an exam and my father was out of town. It would have been one of the hardest decisions for us. But he knew. He sensed it, and 1:24pm on the 4th of June, he breathed his last breath. He decided to put us out of our guilt and go on his own terms; as if he knew. 

Now when I come home, I won't see this beautiful golden mass lying there, barking for attention. For the first time in 21 years, our house will be devoid of any barks or whines. It's going to take some time getting used to, and as much as I would love to give a home to another mutt who deserves it, I cannot imagine going through this pain again.

Only a dog lover will understand the pain of losing one. It's like losing your best friend and the one living creature who loves you the most in this world, unconditionally. No matter what you say or do to your dog, he will always love you and faithfully be there. They say a dog absorbs all the karmas and negativity of a family, and in return gives unconditional love. I am truly lucky to have experienced the love of 3 beautiful dogs. They taught us how to love. Even the most cruel man can soften up if he has a dog as a pet.

If I had one wish, I would ask God to give us unlimited time with our pets. After losing my 3rd baby, I feel it's cruel that we outlive our dogs. They give us more happiness than we can ever derive from a human being.

Leo, as much as it hurts all of us to lose you, you're finally free now, running in doggy heaven. Free of the pain and body that was holding you back. That place in my heart will never be filled with another dog or being. The love you gave us was unparalleled. I miss you baby. I hope we can play together in our dreams. See you on the other side. 

In his prime years

3 days before he left us

The Impact Of Social Media In India

The world is changing and India has to keep up. The World Wide Web (WWW) has been present in India for the last 25 years, but social media has only recently picked up over the last 4 years and is growing rapidly. There are more and more online users, and convenience is of the essence these days.

The term ‘social media’ was associated with social networking sites like Facebook, a tool that was used more for socializing with friends and keeping in touch. Emails became a dated form of communication and people resorted to other quicker means of online communication. In 2010 the digital space in India started to grow. People realised that networking sites could not only be used for leisure and fun, but also as a means of business growth. The number of users online also started to grow, with the advent of new cellphone technology like the Samsung Galaxy phone and Apple with its latest technology of iPhones. Easier interface meant easier access to the online space at a just click of a button.

India has seen a remarkable growth in digital marketing in the business sector over the last few years. Tools like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn are now widely being used for marketing products, brand publicity, keeping up customer relations and market research. And best of all- it’s free! Each company has a separate marketing budget for its online marketing, which is allocated for online advertisements on Facebook, Twitter and Google using targeted marketing, i.e. focusing on the target audience for that particular product or brand.

Social media has now become an independent job profile. People are hiring experts to promote their brands and track product performance. “Social media has moved rapidly from being 'purely social' to a 'business tool' as more and more companies are now using the platform to recruit the right people for specific jobs and this trend is expected to grow by about 50 percent this year from 2013, according to experts” (NDTV, Social Networking News). As a result, the employment rate has gone up and digital agencies want to hire young talent who have some experience and expertise in the area.

E-Commerce is also rapidly picking up in India, and people have become more trusting towards online shopping. Social media platforms help promote these websites through Google and Facebook ads, as well as Search Engine Optimization.

Government and charitable organizations supporting social causes are now using social media tools to make an impact and reach out to the masses. By setting up their company profiles on Facebook Pages, they are able to send out the right message to young audiences who are always connected to the online space. The younger generation is very aware and always willing to help out in whichever way they can, which benefits these NGO’s in a big way. For instance, Red paws Rescue, a charitable organization that was started to rescue stray dogs on the street, has over 15,000 followers on Facebook, most of who fall between the age brackets of 20-35. Without the help of social media they would have not been able to help hundreds of stray puppies find homes in Delhi!

Social media has come as a great advantage for the candidates standing for elections this year. During the recent elections of 2014, the Internet has been able to influence and gain the support of young and middle class Indian voters through social networking sites. Known political figures have been in touch with the masses by tweeting updates and relevant information via Twitter. “It was predicted that by 2015, Internet users in India will rise to 330 million, according to a Mckinsey and Company report of December 2012” (Mainstream Weekly, Uniqueness of the 16th Lok Sabha Election).

Thus social media has now become a 24x7 activity for the people. It can be accessed at any time from any place.  A popular platform for sharing information; be it news, politics, the latest trends, celebrity gossip, sports, entertainment, etc. which can be not only shared in our society but also globally. It has become a hub of mainstream information and a new space for dialogue and expression. It is the most popular form of Internet marketing used by brands, celebrity figures, and even the masses as a two-way form of communication and a way of bringing the world together.

New Year Resolutions

Yet another new year. A fresh start. New beginnings. People use the 31^st of December to cleanse themselves of the past, to wipe their slate clean, and to make new vows and resolve to stick to them. It’s like taking a dip in the Ganga river. One leaves behind the old and sheds off all old sins and begins their life anew. In my opinion it’s ok to move forward and not look back, provided you take responsibility for your actions and don’t end up saying “Oh it was all 2012’s fault. That wasn’t me!”

I have given this whole ‘making resolutions’ some real thought. The longest anyone goes to sticking to his or her rules is 15 days, at the most. Whether it is to quit smoking, eat less, exercise daily, etc. Things that you had probably NEVER done that entire year and thought by some miracle you have been reborn with the renewed strength to carry out your new goals. Nonsense! You end up making the same resolutions at the end of that very year!

So what’s the solution? I would say make realistic resolutions. Set realistic goals that you know you can achieve without berating yourself for failing at something you knew was inevitably going to happen. I would also say set goals for the betterment of others, not just yourself. Not “I will be more on time.” “I will not gossip.” “I, I, I!” 

By vowing to contribute to a charitable institution, or helping the poor, or giving back to society in some small minuscule way, you are setting an invisible goal for yourself- being selfless. Being a better person by thinking about others. I am no one to preach! I am as guilty of being the selfish one. But yes, after a lot of self realization I will add this to my list of ‘Good things for 2014’ and will ensure I follow through with it, even if it takes me a whole year!

As we can see around us, the world itself is moving in the direction of self realization and cleansing. When things are at their worst, it only means they will get better. The evil is being sought out and removed, and at least in our country India we’re seeing more unity amongst the people. There is more goodness and strength. People are now realizing that individual actions make an impact.

Ok so now I’m digressing and need to come back to our topic of discussion. What New Year resolutions really are and what should they comprise of?

As I mentioned before, it’s a second chance to mend our ways and leave behind the mistakes of the past year, in hope that we can correct them and move forward. All in the betterment of ourselves, and I hope for our planet too.

My 2013 resolutions looked something like this:

1. Take people at face value

2. Re-evaluate my relationships with people and what to expect

3. Operate from a place of love

4. Keep secrets

5. Don't publicise crushes

6. Don't discuss other people's lives

7. Don't talk about something before it happens

8. Be more attentive when someone is talking to me

9. Be aware, even when inebriated. So you don't need to apologize for anything the next day

10. Accept that you are not in control of everything & there are external factors in play.

The funny thing is I haven’t been able to stick to even one! Which made me re-think that I need to make fewer and more realistic ones to start off my year. And then keep adding to the list as I master the initial ones. That way you don’t feel like a failure and you actually accomplish what you’ve set out to do!

So my 2014 resolutions go something like this:

1. Better time management

2. Don’t just ‘try’. DO!

I figured that’s a good enough start to anything that one would want to accomplish at the start of the year.

Since I don’t smoke, that's already an accomplishment! I debated giving up non-vegetarian food, but I realized it was a highly unrealistic goal! Better to take baby steps and go off meat for 2 days a week. Achieving the smallest goals gives you the greatest sense of accomplishment. Setting high, unrealistic goals makes you end up feeling like a failure.

So go ahead and set 3 resolutions at the maximum for yourself for 2014. 

As I always say, I have a good feeling about this year.. :)