Selamat Hari Raya 2025

Selamat Hari Raya to all my Muslim friends and relatives, with special mention to the Royal Malaysian Police Force and the distinguished luminaries who have been there for my family and me throughout. #Malaysian #PolisDiRajaMalaysia #Malaysia #muslimsworldwide #MalaysianPolice

The Woman You Are Meant to Be

Women must be celebrated for their contributions to humanity. It is more relevant today than ever as we celebrate International Women's Day.

Women are the bedrock of society, and their influence is intricately woven into the very fabric of our existence. They stand as beacons of hope, illuminating paths toward progress and exemplify their traditional roles as mother, daughter, sister and a friend.

Throughout history, women have defied expectations, breaking through barriers that once seemed impossible. They pave the way for future generations to stand out as humans. Their unwavering perseverance and grit have fueled the need for social justice, equality, and peace within their communities. From fighting for voting rights to leading in scientific research, women have consistently pushed the boundaries to reveal their ingenuity and even might, given the circumstances.

In communities, women respond to crisis with kindness and compassion by providing care, comfort, and essential resources during upheaval. Their resilience in the face of adversity is a testament to their unwavering commitment to the well-being of others. They are creators, trailblazers, entrepreneurs, and leaders, driving economic growth and creating opportunities for their nation.

Women have the unique ability to foster empathy, care, and understanding. Their empathetic and caring nature extends beyond their families and transforms the mindsets of communities as they are emulated. 

These days, their voices are louder than ever as they advocate for inclusivity to build a more just and equitable world.

 As we celebrate women for their achievements, let us be committed to supporting and empowering them even more to reach their highest potential.

Happy International Women's Day!

-shobana-

Read my tribute in a poem for Women Everywhere:

Without Compulsion, A Woman Am I.

Have you read my latest book yet? From Skopje to India is a tale of love, learning, adventure and intrigue.

Laugh at and love Majaorie Yakob and read how she adapts to change to be accepted

in India. The link to the Kindle copy is below. The book is free to read on Kindle Unlimited. The paperback edition is available on Amazon. Thank you.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXP4WB4D

Careme

 

Carême

Après son baptême par Jean-Baptiste, Jésus fut conduit par le Saint-Esprit dans le désert pour jeûner et prier. Cette période lui servit de temps de préparation spirituelle et de test avant de commencer son ministère public.

Les catholiques commencent leur parcours du Carême le mercredi des Cendres, un jour solennel de prière et de jeûne qui marque le début de la période de 40 jours du Carême. Ce jour-là, des cendres sont placées sur leur front en symbole de repentir et de mortalité, accompagnées des mots : « Souviens-toi que tu es poussière et que tu retourneras à la poussière ».

Pendant le Carême, les catholiques s'engagent dans la prière, le jeûne et l'aumône. Par la prière, ils recherchent une connexion plus profonde avec Dieu ; le jeûne les aide à pratiquer l'autodiscipline et à se détacher des plaisirs du monde ; et l'aumône leur permet de partager leurs bénédictions avec les pauvres et les nécessiteux. Ces actes visent à favoriser la conversion intérieure, en rappelant aux croyants leurs promesses baptismales et en les encourageant à vivre plus fidèlement selon les enseignements du Christ.

Les sacrifices personnels consentis pendant le Carême, comme l’abstinence de certains aliments ou activités préférés, ont une signification profonde. Ces actes d’abnégation symbolisent la solidarité avec la souffrance du Christ et aident les individus à grandir en humilité et en gratitude. En renonçant à quelque chose qu’ils aiment, les catholiques réfléchissent à leur dépendance envers Dieu et donnent la priorité aux besoins spirituels plutôt qu’aux besoins matériels.

La récompense ultime de cette abstinence est le renouveau spirituel. Elle prépare les croyants à célébrer Pâques avec un cœur purifié, une foi approfondie et un engagement renforcé à vivre une vie centrée sur le Christ.

Lent

After His baptism by John the Baptist, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert to fast and pray. This period served as a time of spiritual preparation and testing before He began His public ministry.

Catholics begin their Lenten journey on Ash Wednesday, a solemn day of prayer and fasting that marks the start of the 40-day season of Lent. On this day, ashes are placed on their foreheads as a symbol of repentance and mortality, accompanied by the words, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" 

During Lent, Catholics engage in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Through prayer, they seek a deeper connection with God; fasting helps them practice self-discipline and detach from worldly pleasures; and almsgiving allows them to share their blessings with the poor and needy. These acts aim to foster inner conversion, reminding believers of their baptismal promises and encouraging them to live more faithfully according to Christ's teachings.

The personal sacrifices made during Lent—such as abstaining from favorite foods or activities—carry profound meaning. These acts of self-denial symbolize solidarity with Christ's suffering and help individuals grow in humility and gratitude. By giving up something they love, Catholics reflect on their dependence on God and prioritize spiritual over material needs.

The ultimate reward of this abstinence is spiritual renewal. It prepares believers to celebrate Easter with a purified heart, deepened faith, and strengthened commitment to living a Christ-centered life. 

What I learned about Varanasi (India's holiest place).

I was researching Delhi, Agra, Varanasi and Calcutta for my book From Skopje to India. For new readers, the book is about a lady's entry into India during the final days of British rule. Majaorie Yakob travelled to the other side of the world from Skopje, the land of the Great Ottomans. 

It's a story like I have never written before. 

Today, I will talk about Varanasi. I had only heard of it as a holy place for Hindus until I read more about the site and was enlightened by the 88 ghats symbolising life and death - they host birth ceremonies to cremation ceremonies. Ghats are riverfront steps leading to the banks of the Ganges River, where rituals are performed to ensure salvation. People of other faiths also visit the holy site and partake in the rituals.

The Ganges is sacred and revered for its personification of the Goddess Ganga, as the goddess offers spiritual cleansing and protection. Bathing in its waters can wash away sins, and dying on its banks ensures a favorable afterlife. 

Please read two pages of the excerpt in my book on Varanasi.

VARANASI: We arrived in Varanasi late in the evening. The journey was tiring throughout due to the bad roads. The scent of incense filled our senses as we entered the city, and the streets were crowded. I was hungry, and my stomach rumbled. Spotting a street stall bathed in the warm glow of a gas lantern, we made our way there. The vendor, a man with a neatly trimmed mustache and a sparkle in his eye, stood behind a small cart laden with golden-brown samosas and crispy-looking pani puri. 

"Namaste, Saab," I greeted him, the Hindi words feeling clumsy on my tongue. Please tell me what you have here. They smell delicious. Though I knew we would opt for the crispy samosas over the pani puri, I asked him just the same. Kincaid stood looking at the savory delights displayed on the cart. We saw bottles of mineral water on the shelves and asked for two bottles. 

"Namaste," he replied, his voice welcoming. "Samosa hai, pani puri hai. Aur kya chahiye?" (There are samosas...pani puri. What else do you need?) 

"Two plates of samosas, please," I pointed to the triangular pastries. "Aur… aapka naam kya hai, sahib?" (And… What is your name, sir?) I asked gaily. 

It was a pleasure to converse in Hindi after such a long time - it brought back memories of Delhi. He smiled as he carefully arranged the samosas on two small paper plates. 

"Mera naam Ram hai. Aur aap?" (My name is Ram. And you?) He was an elderly gentleman with a twinkle in his eyes for us. He was amused that I was conversing in Hindi with a foreign accent.

"Main, Maja hoon" (I am Maja), I replied. "Main is sheher se guzar raha hoon" (I am passing through this city). Ram nodded knowingly while handing me the plate. The samosas were hot and filled with spiced potatoes and peas. "Varanasi bahut pavitra hai," he said as I took a bite. "Varanasi is a very sacred city." "Haan, main jaanta hoon," I replied, savoring the flavors. (Yes, I know.) "That’s why I came here." 

A moment of silence passed between us as Kincaid and I ate the samosas. 

The city sounds were loud around us – bicycle bells ringing, the chanting from the ghats, the chatter of Hindi being spoken by the locals blended with the surroundings. 

"Pehle kabhi Varanasi aaye hain?" Ram asked as he wiped his hands on a dishcloth next to him. (Have you ever been to Varanasi before?) "Nahi, pehli baar hai," I admitted. (No, it's my first time.) "The city is different from what I expected." Ram smiled broadly this time. He was proud of his city, we could tell. 

"Varanasi aasan nahi hai. (It's not easy.) At night, it can be overwhelming. It's a special city where you will find power and enlightenment not found anywhere else.” 

"Yes, it definitely is different. I can feel the enlightenment here already, " I said, accepting that the city felt holy. Kincaid felt the same too and agreed, "The place is chaotic, but a sense of peace lingers here. I can feel it, and it’s indeed special.” 

"Exactly! Life and death exist side by side in this city," Ram said, his eyes twinkling. "You can say, Varanasi is a city of contradictions. Open your heart to it, and you will learn its secrets."

Read the latest review on Amazon:

Doctor G

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest story ever written by Shobana Gomes (5 stars)

Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2025

This book is more than a story. It's an enlightenment. It journals the thoughts and aspirations of a lady

who embarks on a selfless journey.

When she left a trail from Skopje, she didn't understand that it would take her to a land 

as diverse as India.

A little girl at a Buddhist temple told her that the poorest state in India was Calcutta. 

She learnt the Hindi and English languages, fell in love with the tutor and visited the holy site of 

Varanasi before she reached Calcutta. There, a church provided her with a hostel and a teaching job, 

and she began her mission of teaching the poor and destitute. 

The author has written an exceptionally intriguing story that details the British-India giving up their 

role as Colonial Masters and touches with clarity on the views of the locals with understanding 

and compassion. 

Love is a conviction, Majaorie Yakob says when she falls in love. 

A beautiful love story that began in Agra - the immortal land of love made famous by the Taj Mahal. 

Definitely a must-read. Don't miss out on the greatest story written by Shobana Gomes.

 

Read 'The Dominated Era' at the link below:

https://shobanasmusings.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-dominated-era.html

Read my poem, Love is a Conviction here: https://shobanagomes.blogspot.com/2025/02/majaorie-yakob-and-love.html

Thank you for reading!

The Dominated Era

This era is 'the new age', dominated by digital technology and modern ways of living. These technologies have taken control of our lives and left us bereft of the excitement of the olden days. However, the olden days are remembered fondly and not forgotten for the hardships and travails one endured to survive. Writers almost always find inspiration from the grand old eras of our time. 

Someday, when someone asks me, "How and where do you find your inspiration to write?" My reply would be that I remembered, fondly.  Precious memories of the wars of my time, though vague, that strange day when the hailstorm hit our roofs and I thought that the world was coming to an end, as I heard people frantically shouting from inside their houses,  until I plucked up the courage to run outside and pick up the ice that fell down from the skies, only then did my fear recede. I thought then that the clouds had grown so cold that the rain inside them had turned to ice. I looked up at the sky - and it was a snowscape with no traces of blue. Just a long sheet of an iced grey sky, stretching as far as the eye could see. I was used to the blue skies and bright sunny days, so this was strange to me.

I had never heard of weather phenomena or climate change until recently. Maybe I was a little too young then. We still breathed fresh air and walked about freely, unlike now, when the stench of pollution overwhelms, and the fear from our namesakes is so real. What a sorry state of affairs. The hailstorm only hit our part of the world once, and I have never experienced it since. Perhaps, even then, it was a warning to look out for the environment.

There are warnings of every kind that people are afraid to recognise nowadays. The current wars are bitter feuds that are breaking up an educated world. Clubs, hammers and swords are not used in this nuclear age. These days, we have advanced beyond predictability and understanding where weapons are concerned. Over the years, wars have heightened and worsened, and I wonder if it will ever end. Now, the people whom the leaders represent live fearful lives. No one is assured of security or safety anymore. One fight leads to another, and there's never a winner since revenge is always on their minds.

Have a pleasant weekend. Thank you for reading.

Shobana

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Read her new poem here: Love is a conviction.

Here's Booktaster's promotion on Skopje to India. A masterfully crafted book that will stop you in your tracks. 

Booktasters has started promoting my book, From Skopje to India. I love the design, simple yet a story all its own.  Here's the link: https://x.com/booktasters/status/1894077636915159063?s=46. Please read the sample on the Amazon link.

Please read the book, which will take you on a thrilling journey from Skopje and follow the protagonist's trail to Calcutta in absolute charm and awe for the love, beauty and character the book invokes in the readers. Please read the sample on the Amazon link: https://x.com/booktasters/st

You can get your Kindle Edition From Here:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/from-skopje-to-india-by-shobana-gomes 

Shobana

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