Pain & Bliss
Hi! I am Dr. Shruti and this is my blog. I can be best described as a nonplussed mother, a Luna to her Alpha, a passionate entrepreneur, a novice thinker, a hard-core dreamer, a scruffy poet, a true seeker, and an unusual sinner.
Let’s go through Pain & Bliss together.
Issued in Public Interest – Brevity isn’t my cup of tea 🙂
Why Pain & Bliss?
For one thing, it reflects the duality we are often taught not to acknowledge. We are trained to hide pain and shabbiness (present among us all) and only project the beauty and bliss of life. However, I plan to celebrate the whole spectrum.
Through this blog, I will share the pain and bliss of life. It can be and will be everything that matters to a millennial. Join the roller coaster ride of a forty-year-old with a teenager’s heart (yeah, that’s me!) who scans outer and inner worlds with razor-sharp love and empathy. Yes, you read it right-razor sharp love and empathy! To know what that means, read along!
The Whining In My Heart
This blog is an attempt to structure my thoughts and feelings that someday I hope my teenage daughters will read (I have lost two companions to hormones lately, phew!). But who knows? Maybe I will find new comrades, and that too for life! Welcome to my heart space. I can’t promise awesomeness; I can say it’s big enough to make you feel comfortable. Stay close and stay warm.
The Buzzing In My Head
My headspace is a small den where utter chaos prevails. I have more questions than answers and if you are a keen observer, you will be able to discover bliss hidden behind the pain. Duality lives here in its yin and yang form. I can be anything at a given moment. Generally, I am the book I read, the movie I watch, the podcasts I listen to, the habits I nurture, the lessons I imbibe, the mistakes I make, the truth I stumble upon, or the quotes that influence me. There are always hundreds of channels running in my head. I intend to share a few with the most important voices in my head.
Hop on to discover the ‘Taijitu’ of life with me!
Find my Posts!
Belief – A Poem
The poem explores belief and how much we are tied to it inherently.
The Story of Rage Bait
I had almost pressed enter on a furious reply. Then I paused, and saw the post for what it was: rage bait. Oxford’s Word of the Year for 2025, doing exactly what it was built to do. This is the story of staged outrage, and how to stop taking the bait.
The Story of Awe & Wonder
What’s the difference between awe and wonder? Three stories to explore it: shimmering midnight Alps, Jurassic Park, and a grandmother who put a god in a mango tree.
Unleashing Stories: A Year of Narrative Exploration
Join Shruti’s journey of self-discovery as she embarks on a storytelling adventure, reflecting on life, culture, change, and personal growth.
Solitary Grief
A reflective exploration of grief and the solitary spaces it creates within us.
Choreography & Conformity
When your body wants rhythm but your personality refuses to conform. I joined dance for fitness. Stayed for the life lessons, bruised ego, and missed beats.
90 Days of Analog Living
What happens when you stop scrolling and start listening? For ninety days, I lived a quieter, analog life—writing without publishing, watching stories unfold, breathing deeper. The digital world stayed, but my relationship with it changed. Presence became the real reward.
Am I Cheap?
“Mom, you are cheap, but I am expensive.” I heard my daughter say as we negotiated, while shopping. She for sure is, but am I…? Thus, in this blog, I plan to understand the kind of buyer I am. Kindly bear with me as I explore my perspectives and choices. I am a millennial Indian. That…
I met my younger self for Coffee today.
I was unaware of the latest trending #Imetmyyoungerselfforcoffeetoday until I came across the below quote, which caught my attention and made me ponder. I met my younger self for Coffee today. I lit a cigarette, He left the table. I spoke of money, He spoke of dreams. I showed him my watch, He showed me…
My Kinda Space
I had always been fascinated by stories that took me to unknown, faraway lands. Stories with characters very different from me and my surroundings. You can say it was a good escape, and as a child, I loved my escapes into these wonderlands and neverlands. It was common to find me looking for hidden alleys…
The Good Girl Syndrome
I recently wrote this poem, “The Good Girl Syndrome.” As I planned to publish it on International Women’s Day, I wondered: Who is a good girl? How are these good girls created? A ‘good girl’ is a metaphor for anyone who doesn’t question the world around them, absorbs things as received, and isn’t curious to…
From Organic to Sustainable Farming
I’m sharing a little secret: we have a healer at home. My mother-in-law is an inquisitive soul, always researching something new—whether it’s herbs, Ayurveda, yoga poses, acupressure, meridians, chakras, or yog nidra… the list is long. I’m sure you can empathize with us—her legitimate guinea pigs. Yes, we live together. In our family, health isn’t…
Gandhi In My Life
I was having a conversation with a young Polish at Davos earlier this year. Our conversations shifted to Gandhi and I enthusiastically shared Gandhi’s philosophy that had resonated deeply with me. He instantly said, “Of course being an Indian, he is a local hero with a massive global recognition. I am not surprised you love…
OnceUpon-When the Child was the Father of Man
The civilization has evolved into a continuum of complex systems that are difficult for a single human being to decode. Think of it: can one person have equal expertise in quantum physics, nanotechnology, metaphysics, astronomy, herbology, psychology, art, human anatomy, music, or machine learning in the same proportion? We are in the age of information,…
Genzaburo Yoshino’s How Do You Live?
Book Review By Dr. Shruti Shankar Gaur That’s an interesting title, I thought to myself. I have believed no one can teach us ‘how to live life’ better than the ‘life’ itself. Think about it—school focusses on building scholastic attributes, and family, knowingly or unknowingly, instills values and beliefs. But are those values really worth…
My Long Walk To Freedom
Poem by Dr. Shruti Shankar Gaur written on the eve of India’s Independence Day August 14, 2024 Who can be considered free? Am I free? I had been contemplating for long, With the limited knowledge I possess This is my truth today, Apparently, my motherland might have been free, But I am far from being…
Stepping Into The Unknown
The post by #phdtroubles caught my attention. As I looked hard at the image below, I couldn’t help but agree that it is the correct depiction of a research scholar’s life. And when you are in it, it is super scary and unnerving. I have been there! Looking back, being thrust into the unknown, constantly…
What Are We Becoming?
Have we ever wondered? What are we becoming? This should be the question, That everyone must be querying, To ourselves, not to others, It is imperative to be aware of, The direction we are heading. Did we ever ask? As an individual What are we becoming? As a family What are we becoming? As a…
Sustainability Lessons From My Grandmother
Photo: With my ‘ammaji’ and younger siblings in 1996 Sustainability is a buzz word these days. Strangely, the more I am delving into the realm of sustainability, the more I find myself missing my grandmother. Had she been alive, she would have celebrated her 106th birthday! To me, sustainability as a philosophy, encapsulates the natural…
We Are No Changemakers
I had the privilege to attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meet 2024. Every year #wef annual meeting welcomes representatives of more than hundred governments, all major international organizations, more than thousand forum’s partners, civil society leaders, experts, and social entrepreneurs. For five days, Davos Switzerland nestles new ideas, programs and visions where problems are…
My New Year Wish
Here we are at the brink of a brand new year, yet again, I would say. I always consider New Year as an unopened gift. And, I have always been in complete love with the new beginnings. There’s a magic to it. Having lived four decades, I am aware, the next 365 days are a…
December & Orwell
It’s the last month of the year. A time to reflect, take it slow and prepare ourselves for the newness that life has to offer. But before that can happen, we need to empty ourselves. And that’s easier said than done. Well, I have developed a few coping mechanisms. I have recognized the magic of…
Be Kind
A poem by Dr. Shruti Shankar Gaur The poem was written for RIEDU’s children’s e-magazine The Marshmallow in October 2019. The sky is kind, to support us with an umbrella, The grass is kind, to cushion our feet, The cotton is kind, to thread dress of Cinderella, The tree is kind, to help us make…
Gandhi & Inclusion – Part III
Satyagraha: The Soul Force Gandhi’s philosophy is universally applicable thus, surpassing the time and space timeline. What if the millennial posed questions to Gandhi, today? Will Gandhi’s response have any impact on them? Because, they are born in a completely different era. A world, that has changed beyond recognition due to the technological revolution. As…
Gandhi & Inclusion – Part II
Tear Down The Purdah What is feminism? Google identifies feminism as a noun, which means the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of gender equality. Gandhi’s hallmark had always been bringing ‘everyone’ be it an industrialist or farmer, student or teacher, artisan or weaver, men or women, literate or illiterate – everyone into the…
Gandhi & Inclusion – Part I
Our Shame What is our shame as an individual? What is our shame as an Indian? What is our shame as a global citizen? The shame is that the social evils for which reformers, educationists, and visionaries across generations and continents, laid their lives be it Socrates, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Martin Luther King Jr.…
No One Right Way – My Ishmael
Indeed, there’s no one right way 😊 ‘No one Right Way – My Ishmael’ is based on my unindented thoughts post reading Daniel Quinn’s My Ishmael.
A Reverence For My Teacher
I am a blessed soul. Why do I say so? Time and again, somehow, amazing human beings have entered my life and altered my thought process, thus, impacting life course in numerous ways. Coming September, I plan to pen my gratitude to the four teachers who have shaped my destiny as it is today. I…
Are We Gatekeeping Learning?
Is reading the only way to learn? Are there any other way? What are those?
Follow Your Curiosity
Decode the science of learning. Things that we become curious, attract our attention. This very attention brings the focus and an intent to learn. And without us being aware, our learning journey begins.
Did Newton Discover Gravity or Curiosity?
The article explores igniting the curiosity by evoking boredom using Newton’s story as a premise.
Unlacing The Cultural Labels – Part V
We all have been color coded, Black, Brown and White How can we uncode the colors that shine through our skin? How can we ensure our children learn to love more than hate? How can we ensure the future generation learn to embrace wholeheartedly than discriminate?
Equity & Equality in Education
What will you root for: Equity or Equality? Can they sustain themselves independently? What is the significance of equity and equality from an educational lens? Check out the latest blog. It delves deep to highlight the significance and interdependence of equity and equality from the educational perspective.
The Unfinished Symphony
Unfinished is an unparallel story of courage and discipline by none other than Priyanka Chopra Jonas. In her raw style, she unabashedly evokes the fearlessness of seizing every opportunity and creating a league of her own.
Write Sideways: Always
Do you want to be a Martian Anthropologist? Have you heard the term ‘Alertness to Nonsense’? You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete. If any of the above three sentences aroused any curiosity in you, its time to read Daniel…
The Ant & Grasshopper – Story Retold
Do you recall the fable of the grasshopper and the ant? What if we rewrote the ant and grasshopper story today? Will it be any different? The old story taught us the value of labor and saving for the harsh winters of life. Isn’t the message important? What new message would we like to convey…
Unlacing the Cultural Labels – Part IV
In part IV of the article series ‘Unlacing the Cultural Labels’ written in Cohort 10 Write of Passage, I share my exploration in life revolving around God and religion.
Unlacing the Cultural Labels – Part III
This article showcases an anthropological perspective of the elderly urban population with special focus on gender and region, their struggles in the new age India.
Who am I?
The poem ‘Who am I?’ explores the pertinent question of existence beyond the social labels which the poet refuses to be defined by. The poem highlights the divinity among us all and her promise to celebrate her life holistically.
Unlacing the Cultural Labels – Part II
Do you remember the ant & grasshopper story? Do you know the flaw in the story as part of cultural indoctrination? What does the ant & grasshopper represent in today’s society?
Unlacing the Cultural Labels
I have been working in the field of inclusion and diversity for more than a decade now. The apparent and nuanced socio-cultural biases and prejudices between different sects sadden me. Instead of building a larger table for everyone, we have been successful in building higher walls. Thus, restricting ourselves within the narrowness of our own…
Developing Reading Habit Among Kids
Developing a reading habit among the child is the wish of every parent. However, there aren’t any set of rules that can be applied. Every child is unique and has different temperament, likes & dislikes. Thus, we need to navigate, and experiment as per our child’s frame of mind.
Conceptually Simplifying Disability
I often hear the terms “Disability” or “Disabled” being used without a basic understanding. Such casual conversations bother me. It is important to cognitively understand any term before we absorb them into our vocabulary. This article is a first attempt to simplify concepts. Let us begin by conceptually comprehending the term ‘Disability’. Read the article…
Deal with the Devil
The blog includes a short write up followed by a poem identifying the devil & the divine that we meet in life.
REVERIE
A poem reflecting upon the current life juncture with respect to past and the future ahead.
Providence – A Mashup
Prior to reading Providence, any kind of life story/ biography/ autobiography motivated me. I felt the struggles, empathized with situations & was inspired by the winning strokes. However, for the first time I was reading a life story and jumping “Oh my God! That’s so like me! I used to exactly think like that!”. Reading…
I Have Met God
A poem that explores God as a feeling. God is simple and can be experienced in everything if we are willing to look around.
An Irish Vacation Upshot
My top 5 takeaways from a seventeen days vacation to Ireland or to say the least my lessons from the land of leprechauns…….
Uncovered: George Orwell’s 1984
Reading a George Orwell book is DANGEROUS 1984 is no different. In his typical critique style, Orwell knitted the story of a society in unprecedented times mixing satire, dark humour, and metaphor to showcase fascism as the world of Big Brother, the totalitarian government order where one even breathes only when told to. ‘BIG BROTHER…
The First of Four Agreements – Being Impeccable with Words
The First of Four Agreements explores the first agreement discussed in the book The Four Agreement by Miguel Ruiz along with my life’s journey and experiences trying to be ‘impeccable with words’.
WHERE DO WE BELONG?
The poem explores belongingness as a concept and basic human need.
Time & Again
A Poem on Friendship by Dr. Shruti Shankar Gaur Yet we met again. Year after year, Growing more insane. When we all are together, I can be me, I can blurt out anything, These friendships I cherish, We are no more friends We are a family with different names. Rohit’s cherry on the top, Punit’s…
One for All All for One
A poem on Inclusion This poem was originally written by Anuvrata Gaur in 2017. I haven’t read a more beautiful poem depicting inclusion. Thus, I requested her, if I could use it. She was gracious enough to pass it on to me. I edited it, added few para’s and thus, it became part of my…
The Curious Case of Martha’s Vineyard
The play is written in the backdrop of ‘The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society’ and is weaved using the research backdrop from ‘The Case of English Settlers of Martha’s Vineyard (page 8), Introduction to Special Education by Deborah Deutsch Smith’’. It is to hereby inform that in the play, term ‘Deaf’ is being…
Who is my latest crush?
My latest celebrity crush is the Turkish actor Can Yaman. I love the gentleness of his eyes. Shhhh!!! Don’t tell him. I will be too embarrassed if he ever pops out of the screen. When I asked the same question to my teenage daughters a few days ago, they instantly replied, “Of course, the guy…
The Irish Autumn
A poem by Dr. Shruti Shankar Gaur (written during her Ireland visit in October 2022) If you happen to visit IrelandAnd that too in AutumnColors explodeA hue of blueA Tinge of brownHundreds of shades of greenOrange merged with the redA yellow with the maroonYou will witness the bountyIn its full bloom If you happen to…
Wintering: An Exploration Of The Cold
A Piece by Dr. Shruti Shankar Gaur based on Katherine May’s Wintering I am a summer baby. I love the sun. And I am not much pally with winter. Still, every year winter is forced upon me. I am clueless and rudderless. It scares the hell out of me. Winter is like: my body stops…
From Becoming to Belonging
Michelle Obama’s ‘Becoming’ Book Review by Dr. Shruti Shankar Gaur I picked ‘Becoming’ by Michelle Obama out of curiosity. She is a well-known tabloid face as the ex-first lady of the United States of America. I was intrigued to read the story of the woman behind Barack Obama. She couldn’t be ordinary, I thought. Her…
How to Fly like Jonathan Livingston Seagull?
I picked it from the old shelves; the book was still warm as it was twenty years ago when I had read it as a schoolgirl. This time I read it as an adult, through the reviewer’s glasses. After putting it down, all I could say was, “There’s so much to learn”. Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard…
Duality
I don’t know how others focus On one thing at a time My mind’s all over the place, Ringing the chime. I don’t know how others Feel settled in life The moment I find my balance, I discover a new turn. I don’t know how others Decide on one thing, After all I am always…