Fashion spectrum at NIFT

Today I went to NIFT, Delhi and was reminded about my own days at NIFT.

NIFT Fasion Spectrum is going to start tomorrow till 3rd Feb and today I had gone there as a part of a sponsoring company, Malwa. Not as a student. Looking at the busy students, the preparation for the Fashion show and other events, the enthusiasm, etc. all reminded me of of the days when I was at NIFT.

When you first think about these fashion or design institutes, the fashion shows, etc., its simply gets associated with fashion and glamour. A layman would probably have a very rosy picture about the whole thing. Only when you actully go there or get closely associated with these things, you come to know about the hard work and the sweat, the sleepless nights, the endless effort put together behind the glamour and the ramp.

It specially reminded me of my own Design Collection for the final Fashion Show.... and the sleepless nights spent at NIFT re-stitching the garments for the show after I had received the comments from the Jury. If it would not have been for my parents and grandfather who were coming all the way to Mumbai just to see the fashion Show and my final collection, I would probably not have had the patience and courage to re-do the whole collection in the last 2-3 days. many thanks to the 2-3 friends who helped me with my collecteion in spite of them being busy with their own collection as well.

Later on I don't know how many times the thought had crossed my mind if I could have had a second chance to do my Final Design Collection, what all I would have done. But like someone has said.. Time and tide waits for none. And you always don't get a second chance.

Although I am from NIFT, Mumbai, but have always been associated with NIFT, Delhi, more so because we were from the first batch of Knitwear Design and Technology (KDT) at Mumbai. Being the first batch of this course in Mumbai, we faced a lot of teething problems and we used to look towards NIFT, Delhi for solutions.

Looking at the students today, I felt like becoming a student again ! Tomorrow the Fashion Spectrum begins and I wish all the NIFTians all the best and a great time.
http://niftindia.com/

A page from my Diary

SILENCE

Silence.
But words
Echo
Within my heart.
Darkness.
But my eyes
Behold
Several scenes.
Sleep.
But I dream
I am wide awake.
Voices tell me
“You are an eccentric,
You are a fool.”
I listen with patience.
In silence.
In the darkness.
In my sleep.
And suddenly
I get up
And start running
I know not
Why… ?
Where… ?
What for… ?
Probably because I am
An eccentric ?
A fool ?
Silence.
Darkness.
Sleep.


- Seema
Written on 26th August, 1996
B.V.

Child Birth

Happy Birthday Tejal.

I can never forget this night a year ago.

It was not just another winter night.

I was in the nursing home with my mom and aunt. Sleepy, yet sleepless because of pain. The gynaecologist had come and gone. The nurses kept coming and going. Your heart-beats were monitored. We could hear your heartbeats loud? even before we could see you.

It seemed to be the longest night ever. Every 5-10 minutes, there was a sharp pain. I tried almost evrything that I could think of ? distract your thoughts, breath deep, breathe in ? breathe out ? everything that could possibly reduce the pain. But the pain and the night seemed endless .....

The pain kept increasing. At about 3:00am, my mom called the nurse who injected a needle in my arm for saline drops. We kept hoping that you would come to this world soon and relieve me of the pain but the nurses kept telling us that it would take time? few more hours !!

About 10:00 am and I was getting exhausted and trying my best to be patient. The only question I was asking was? how long? how much more time?? Finally I was taken to the ?Labor Room?? and then started another round of efforts to bring you into this world ? more hours in pain.

I asked the nurses and Doctor if I could get something to reduce the pain but I was told how could there be child-birth without pain !! I only wished the medical science in India was more advanced to be able to provide painless child-birth or child-birth with reduced pain !!

All my efforts did not seem to be enough. I tried all my will power not to scream in pain? but I did? sometimes. My will power was diminishing and I finally told the Doctor I could not make more efforts. She kept trying but prepared for the Caesarian as well? but it was not required. At 1:20 pm on 26th jan '05, you came to this world.

I only remember asking if you were a boy or a girl, heard you cry, felt another sort of pain as the Gynaecologist injected me with an anaesthesia while she continued giving me stitches ? and I was unconscious.

When I regained consciousness, I was on the stretcher, being taken to another room. As I tried to open my eyes I saw and heard my father congratulate me.

The ultrasound report and the doctor had told your size was big. You were thin but tall, 3.4 Kg and with a lot of black hair.

The pain was still unbearable because of the stitches and made me unable to sit. When I tried to sit and hold you for the first time, I was again unconscious.

My colleagues, who were also young mothers, had told me that you forget all pain when you hold your baby for the first time. Yes, the pain seemed never-ending ? but just the sight of you, another life, small hands and feet, small fingers? all a part of you? seemed to be amazing.

At this time I could feel what my mother must have felt when she held me, her first baby, for the first time and what probably you would feel when you have your first baby. As many have said - this pain and this feeling is something only a woman can experience... the experience of nurturing a life within you for nine months and seeing it live and kicking and crying after your encounter with pain.

Happy 1st Birthday Tejal on 26th Jan '06

Tejal Kriti - When 5 months old. 28th May '05

Quotes for Self Motivation

Photo by SK, 9th Oct'05

Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.

Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.

Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems.

Don't allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It's there for your convenience, not the caller's.

Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.

Don't burn bridges. You'll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river.

Live your life so that your epitaph could read, No Regrets.

Be bold and courageous. When you look back on life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the one's you did.

Keep a note pad and pencil on your bed-side table. Million-dollar ideas sometimes strike at 3 a.m.

Remember that 80 per cent of the success in any job is based on your ability to deal with people.

Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all that they have.

Avoid sarcastic remarks.

Make it a habit to do nice things for people who will never find out.

Once in a while, take the scenic route.

Always accept an outstretched hand.

Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen everyday.

Stillness of the Night

Photo by SK

The flickering light
The stillness of the night
It all reminds me
How silent
Life can seem to be
Without the ones
Who are close
To our hearts.

How I Wish

How I Wish

My little angel
My little darling
How I wish
You were here
Just right next to me
Or sitting on my lap
Making all worries vanish
Even if only momentarily...
Just with your beautiful smile.

How I wish
I could hold your little hands
Hear your laughter
Encourage your efforts to talk
Take you in my arms
And let you fall sleep.

How I wish
You were not
So far away from me :(