“Feel Good” Bath – Mysore Sandal Soap

A “Feel Good” Bath

REFRESHING BATHING and LINGERING FRAGRANCE

Mysore Sandal Soap

By

VIKRAM KARVE

I am feeling good. 

Summer has arrived in Pune. 

It is a sultry hot morning – blazing sun, terrible heat. 

Yet – I am feeling good. 

I am feeling good because I have just had a bath with “Mysore Sandal Soap. 

I feel clean and refreshed. 

I smell very nice and pleasant – with the lingering spicy fragrance of Sandalwood. 

I clearly remember my first tryst with Mysore Sandal Soap. 

Way back in the 1960s – we used to travel twice a year – from the “upcountry” – to Pune – for our vacations. 

Those days – Air Travel was a luxury – and – everyone travelled by the Indian Railways. 

Those days – there were no direct trains from “upcountry” stations to Pune (then known as Poona) – and – we had to travel via Mumbai (then known as Bombay). 

So – we came down from the “upcountry” by famous trains – like the Frontier Mail, the Howrah Mail, the Calcutta Mail or the Punjab Mail – feeling all scruffy and weary – covered with coal dust.

In Mumbai – we got off Dadar in the morning – and went to my grand-aunt’s house in Hindu Colony nearby.

The old-style house had a huge spotlessly clean tiled bathroom – and – it was there that I first discovered “Mysore Sandal Soap”

It was a leisurely relaxed bathing experience – the soothing lather of “Mysore Sandal Soap” softening my skin.

And – I would emerge from my bath – fully refreshed – exuding the tantalizing yet subtle lingering fragrance of sandalwood.

Then – after a sumptuous breakfast – we would board a bus from Dadar TT – or catch a local train from Dadar Station to Mumbai CST (then known as Bombay VT) – spend the day loafing in South Mumbai – window shopping, browsing books, a movie and a meal – and then head to Mumbai CST Railway Station – to catch the Deccan Queen to Pune.

Since then – “Mysore Sandal Soap” is my all time favourite bathing soap – and – I truly enjoy the luxurious bathing experience every morning – and – in the evenings too. 

Being an “old timer” – I prefer the subtle lingering natural fragrance of sandalwood – rather than the overpowering synthetic scent of present day deodorants. 

I believe that it is better to maintain body cleanliness and personal hygiene – which prevents body odour – rather than try to mask your foul body odour by spraying your body copiously with strong smelling deodorants and perfumes. 

A nice soothing bath – skin feeling soft and nourished – feeling clean and refreshed – smelling natural – gently exuding the lingering gentle comforting fresh fragrance of sandalwood  – that is what makes me feel good – rather than the present day practice of profusely deodorizing one’s body – till one reeks of artificial overpowering standardized perfume all day. 

Mysore Sandal Soap celebrated its centenary (100 years) last year.

(Mysore Sandal Soap has been manufactured since 1916 when Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV, the King of Mysore, set up the Government Soap Factory in Bangalore) 

Here is a picture of the carton of Mysore Sandal Soap. 

I am sure you have tried out “Mysore Sandal Soap”.

No...? 

You haven’t used “Mysore Sandal Soap” yet...?

Then – you must have a bath with “Mysore Sandal Soap” soon. 

Do have a tantalizing bathing experience with “Mysore Sandal Soap” – especially on a hot summer day – and tell us how you liked it.

Morning and evening – on a hot summer day – have a bath with “Mysore Sandal Soap” 

You will smell nice – you will feel clean – and – you will feel “good”.

You can take my word for it. 

Have a nice day...!!! 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

This is a revised repost of my article on MYSORE SANDAL SOAP written 12 years ago in 2005 and posted online by me earlier a number of times including at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2010/09/mysore-sandal-soap-lovely-bath.html  and  http://vikramwkarve.blogspot.in/2010/09/tantalizing-bath-and-lingering.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/02/refreshing-bath-and-lingering-fragrance.html  and  https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/04/a-feel-good-smell-good-bath.html etc

AM I AN AGELESS WONDER

AM I AN AGELESS WONDER ?

A Real Life Story

By

VIKRAM KARVE

NEW DELHI

1982

In 1982, as a newly married couple, we lived in Curzon Road Apartments on Kasturba Gandhi Marg near India Gate in New Delhi.

Me, my wife, and our puppy dog (a small Lhasa Apso Puppy Dog given to us as a wedding gift) – all three of us lived in our neat cosy one room apartment with a small kitchenette and a lovely balcony high up on the top floor.

One evening, while on her way back home from work, my wife went to the convenience store to buy milk and the shopkeeper told her that her father had already bought milk a few minutes ago.

My wife was delighted at the unexpected visit of her father so she rushed to our house and on not seeing her father around my wife asked me, “Where is Daddy?”

“Your Daddy? He must be in Pune,” I said.  

“No. Daddy has come here,” she said.

“Who told you?” I asked.

“The shopkeeper,” she said.

“Let’s go down and ask him,” I said.

So we went down and asked the shopkeeper who pointed towards me and said, “He took the milk. I thought he was your father.”

“He is my husband,” my wife said, pointing at me.

“I am sorry, Sir, but I was really mistaken,” the shopkeeper said apologetically to me.

Then the shopkeeper smiled at my wife and said to her, “Madam, you look so young, like a schoolgirl, so I thought he was your father.”

It was true. When we were married, my wife looked very young, just like a schoolgirl. She was 21 and I was 25, and though the shopkeeper hadn’t spelt it out in so many words, I did look a bit older than my 25 years, with my “healthy” built and my formidable beard.

Unlike the so-called “metrosexual” men of today, I like to be who I am, so I don’t believe in “cosmetic engineering” – I believe in the “old-mould” idea that a man must look like a man, tough and manly, and though hygiene and grooming are important, there is no need for a man to be excessively obsessed about his looks, and whereas having an appropriate dress sense and wearing good quality clothes is a must, there is no need for a man to “deck up”.

That’s why when the first strand of grey hair appeared on my head when I was in my forties, I never used hair dye, nor did I colour my copious beard when it started greying.

Of course, I must say here, that my wife too has a natural look and she hardly uses any cosmetics and nor does she colour her hair.

The fact of the matter was that my wife did indeed look much younger than me. Period.

So when a pretty young girl called me “uncle” I did not mind it much.

Thirty Years Later …

PUNE

2012

This happened a few days ago in Pune.

My wife was getting off an auto rickshaw. The fare was 52 rupees. She gave the auto-rickshaw driver a 50 rupee note and was desperately searching in her purse for a two rupee coin when the auto driver said magnanimously to my wife, “Never mind Ajji – it is okay if you don’t give me the two rupees.”

Now, in Marathi, the word AJJI means GRANDMOTHER.

I cannot begin to describe the emotion I felt when I heard this.

And just imagine, the pretty young girls still call me “uncle”.

VIKRAM KARVE 

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2012
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Did you like this story?
I am sure you will like the 27 fiction short stories from my recently published anthology of Short Fiction COCKTAIL 
To order your COCKTAIL please click any of the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-8191091844?affid=nme
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-karve.html

COCKTAIL ebook
If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the links below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925

Foodie Book:  Appetite for a Stroll
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9mr2o

About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

  

PUNE FOOD GUIDE - MY FAVORITE ICE CREAM

EATING OUT IN PUNE

MY THREE FAVOURITE ICECREAMS

By

VIKRAM KARVE

My three favourite ice creams in Pune

1. DAHI ICE CREAM AT GUJAR MASTANI HOUSE SATARA ROAD (NEAR CITY PRIDE MULTIPLEX)

I simple love this unique sweet sour and spicy ice-cream which you do not get anywhere else. The ice-creams here are freshly prepared in churners. Dahi means Curds and with every bite, as you roll the ice cream on your tongue, you can feel the flavour of curds release itself.

The first time I tasted Dahi Ice Cream was at Bua Ice Cream Parlour, but that was many years ago, and Bua Ice Cream Parlour has vanished into oblivion.

So, whenever you go for a movie to City Pride Multiplex on Satara Road don’t forget to taste this inimitable ice cream.

2. AMBA (MANGO) ICE CREAM AT GANU SHINDE LAXMI ROAD

Another all time favourite from my childhood days, Ganu Shinde’s Mango Ice Cream is matchless. You taste it and tell me whether you have ever had a better Mango Ice Cream.

3. TENDER COCONUT ICE CREAM AT NATURAL ICE CREAM PARLOUR WAKAD HINJEWADI ROAD

An exceptional one-of-its-kind Ice Cream from the famous Natural Fruit Ice Creams of Juhu Mumbai, I simple love its distinctive texture and alluring flavour. An all-time favourite of my wife, my canine daughter Sherry loves it too. Once Sherry was fast asleep quite far away and my wife decided to have some Tender Coconut Ice Cream. At first, Sherry’s nostrils twitched while she was in deep sleep, the she “woke up” and almost sleep-walked to where my wife was sitting and “begged” for a lick of this delicious ice cream.

Of course, my all time favourite is Green Chilly Ice Cream of Bachellor's Opposite Chowpatty in Mumbai, but you do not get Green Chilly Ice Cream in Pune.

Dear Reader - Which is your favourite Ice Cream? Do tell us.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2012
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Did you like this blog post?
I am sure you will like the stories in my recently published book COCKTAIL comprising twenty seven short stories about relationships. To order the book please click the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-8191091844?affid=nme
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-karve.html

COCKTAIL ebook
If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the link below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925

About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and he is currently working on his novel. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts. 

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com

Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve

Vikram Karve Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve

Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm

Email: vikramkarve@sify.com        

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

  

EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SPEAKING Part 3 - HOW TO DELIVER A GOOD LECTURE

HOW TO DELIVER A GOOD LECTURE

The Four Aspects of an Effective Lecture

By

VIKRAM KARVE

The lecture is still the most frequently used method of instruction. 

Even if you are not a teacher, in your everyday work you may be constantly using the medium of speech to convey a message or instruction or for informal training or motivational purposes. 

How well you put across your ideas depends to a large extent on now well you have mastered the elements of good public speaking.

An important pre-requisite of a good lecture is that it must be carefully prepared to the extent that you have a firm mastery of the topic you are going to discuss and a clear conception in your mind of how you are going to present the subject.

A good lecture has four simple requirements:

1. MESSAGE

The first characteristic of a good lecture is that it must have a message. The lecturer must have something to say and what the lecturer says must be worth saying and worth listening to. 

You must clearly bring out the importance of the topic and why the audience needs to hear you and unambiguously state your message so that the audience understands what you want to say.

You may have heard Aristotle’s dictum on rhetoric:

"Tell them what you are going to say, say it, and then tell them what you told them."

So, to get your message across, thus is what you must do:

Tell the audience what you are going to tell them

Tell them

Tell them what you have told them.

2. NATURALNESS

The second attribute of a good talk is naturalness. 

Remember, the audience wants to hear YOU so make it your own lecture, your very own talk – speak in your very own natural style, don’t try to copy someone else.

3. SINCERITY

The third feature of an effective lecture is that it must be sincere. 

The audience must be convinced that you believe in what you say, so make sure you talk sincerely and clearly demonstrate that you believe in what you are saying. 

Remember, you cannot fake sincerity so the only way to succeed in giving an impression of sincerity is to be sincere. 

And suppose you do not believe in something or are not fully convinced about a topic. 

Well, why talk about something you do not believe in? 

As a Teacher or Speaker you must be true to your conscience and you must not live a lie and say something you do not believe in. 

Remember the saying of Mahatma Gandhi:

What you think, 

what you say, 

and what you do 

must be in harmony.

This must be evident to the audience.

4. ENTHUSIASM

Finally, last but not the least; a good lecture must radiate enthusiasm. An enthusiastic speaker is one who displays great eagerness to have his or her ideas understood, believed and put into practice. You should be passionate about what you are speaking about. If you want your audience to be enthusiastic about listening to you, radiate enthusiasm yourself while speaking.

So, in a nutshell, before you deliver your next lecture, keep these basic four principles in mind (message, naturalness, sincerity, enthusiasm) and you will deliver a great lecture – you can take my word for it.

All the Best – May you become an effective communicator and deliver excellent lectures.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2012

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. 

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Did you like this blog post? 

I am sure you will like the 27 short stories from my recently published anthology of Short Fiction COCKTAIL
To order your COCKTAIL please click any of the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-8191091844?affid=nme
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-karve.html

COCKTAIL ebook

If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the links below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925

Foodie Book:  Appetite for a Stroll
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9mr2o

About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com      
vikramkarve@gmail.com

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.