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Rameshinder Singh Sandhu

Articles by Rameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of Life Retracing Texas train journey of a lifetime

As it eventually departed for its last station, St Antonio, I felt it also carried a part of my heart. Instead of just waiting for the destination, I ensured I enjoyed every moment of the journey.

A view of the skyscrapers from the quaint Austin railway station. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Mar 06, 2024 08:48 AM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of Life: Heartwarming hues of winter happiness

As always, dry skin and winter-related peeves become a ubiquitous topic and soon lead to remedies from body lotions and oils being discussed. Thanks to a friend who recently gifted me a rich hand cream made with natural ingredients, every time I use it the fragrance of the forest comes alive.

As seasons change, so do conversations. With winter at its peak, a typical dialogue begins with: “It’s so cold! It’s so foggy outside. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 20, 2024 09:50 AM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of life | Rare year-end gift while wandering in Chicago

Thanks to the rare joy they were enveloped in, it seemed they were flying free and dancing to the music of their heart. Nothing else in the world could have given them so much happiness for none of them stopped or even took a break

From the word go, I could feel the liveliness and lightness in my step. Everyone seemed to be out and about. Large families with children, couples, tourist groups, all bathed in the joy of festivity. (File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 27, 2023 07:24 AM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of Life: Common sense, not so common after all

The truth is, one may have attended the best of schools and colleges but still be oblivious to basic etiquette and civic sense.

Minutes after the early-morning train pulled out of the station, a well-dressed co-passenger, seemingly in his sixties, took out his mobile phone and started watching a movie at full volume. Neither did he care for the time of the day, nor did the repeated glances from other passengers have any effect on him. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 18, 2023 05:00 AM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of Life | A night to remember: Diwali at Golden Temple

After celebrating Diwali with my family, I made my way to the Golden Temple to spend the rest of the festive night doing seva (volunteer service). As expected, there was a huge rush of devotees who had come to pay obeisance. It wasn’t easy to make my way through the rush, but I had already set the intention to volunteer at the community kitchen, writes Rameshinder Singh Sandhu

Every nook of the Golden Temple was beautifully lit up with candles and earthen lamps on the night of Diwali. (PTI)

cities

Updated on Nov 20, 2023 07:38 AM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of Life: Words can make or break, use the power mindfully

There was also a time when my vocabulary never remained dotted with such words. They instead exuded negativity. But a lot has changed, though slowly, as the mind changed, through my long solo trips and ‘practical’ connection with spirituality, writes Rameshinder Singh Sandhu

Every word we use and the topic we pick has a direct influence on every cell of the body, which forms the status of our health, also proved by many studies, writes Rameshinder Singh Sandhu. (Shutterstock)

cities

Updated on Oct 04, 2023 11:37 AM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

An airport fair & prayers to realise ‘phoren’ dreams

There were also many stalls displaying toy planes, which truly were the best sellers as it’s a ritual among devotees here to offer them while praying for their dreams to settle abroad

cities

Updated on Oct 04, 2023 05:02 AM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of Life: Practise compassion to stay calm, happy

“We always have a choice to understand others or simply get provoked by their behaviour,” he said. Hasn’t Greek philosopher Plato said something similar? “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.”

We forget we are unique because of our nature, exposure and circumstances (HT File)

cities

Published on Sep 20, 2023 06:38 PM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of Life: Teacher who walked the extra mile with us

Soon, he figured out places frequented by students and caught them just as they would unsuspectingly step in. He knew where to hide and lie in wait, hence we called him Bond, James Bond.

An English teacher from Kerala, he made the best use of his time and ensured we did, too. Some students found him too strict and prayed for his transfer to another House of the school. Every morning, even before our rouser bell, he would write down two new words with their usage in sentences on our notice board. He could test anyone at any time about the words so we made it a point to take note. (Representational image)

cities

Updated on Sep 05, 2023 07:50 PM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of Life: Calming yet lively essence of gardens in our homes

My aunt at Khasa village, too, has made a garden on her first-floor courtyard, just like the balcony at Butala but she has added a special touch with her creativity, using bottles, broken cups and even piggy banks for growing plants.

A home garden too becomes our living room, especially when the evenings are pleasant. (HT File)

cities

Updated on Jul 20, 2023 12:56 PM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of Life | Valuing the first step to happiness we all seek

When we value something, we end up catching the goodness, and this works for everything, be it health, relationships, career, dreams. Unfortunately, most of us value something only when it is no more with us.

True happiness comes to us only when we possess the virtue of valuing something and it should begin from life’s little joys, the simple pleasures of everyday life, writes Rameshinder Singh Sandhu. (Shutterstock)

cities

Updated on Jul 05, 2023 07:16 PM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of Life: Advertise all you want, there’s no beating word of mouth

But, there’s one form of publicity that beats all: “word of the mouth” – one that not only works best, but is also free

The ritual of noticing ads orients me into a position to a lot about the country. (HT File)

cities

Updated on Jun 08, 2023 12:05 AM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of Life: Do you drop your virtues or hold on to them?

According to spirituality, the more we arm ourselves with good qualities and ensure they remain with us, the better we feel as Abraham Lincoln, the 16th US President, known for his spiritual values once said, “When I do good I feel good, when I do bad I feel bad, and that’s my religion.”

It’s the good qualities in us, from always sporting a smile to being helpful and so on, which hold the power to make us stand apart. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

cities

Updated on Apr 24, 2023 07:06 PM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of Life | Reminiscing simple pleasures of winter

When I’m at my maternal village, my grandmother is ready with her traditional treats from panjiri to pinnis. I, however, enjoy sitting out in the sun with her even more over our never-ending conversations, writes Rameshinder Singh Sandhu

Considering January in play, how could I forget Amritsar’s khajur sweet, a Lohri festival special, made simply of white flour and sugar in desi ghee, which wins many hearts. (PTI)

cities

Published on Jan 18, 2023 07:07 PM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of life | An unexpected tour of the White House

A live band played under the Truman Balcony, which made the experience festive. Though the president’s chopper was absent on south lawn, his car, a unique Cadillac, was parked right as we entered

Her words came back to me as I began planning for my US trip in the middle of last year. I knew touring the White House was no ordinary opportunity (Representational Image/HT File)

cities

Published on Jan 05, 2023 02:03 AM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of life | Church visits down memory lane ring in Christmas cheer

In Melbourne, I frequented the church facing the busy Flinders Street station. In a flash, the church would fill me with the tranquillity I needed and hence there were evenings, when after a hectic day of exploring, all roads led towards it

Curious, the following morning, I was at the church again. As I took a seat to offer prayers, an array of church visits from my globetrotting experience came to mind. (Representational Image/HT File)

cities

Updated on Dec 22, 2022 01:28 AM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of life | Spirituality, the magic lies only in practice

We let go of grudges, hatred, anger and pick the language of love for everyone we meet. Instead of expecting love and respect from others, we become the givers of it

Passengers and crew, including from the cockpit, took turns to pray there. They would draw the curtain but I could clearly hear the prayers. (Representative Image/HT File)

cities

Published on Nov 24, 2022 05:32 PM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of Life: Fall teaches us change is inevitable, beautiful

Little would the fallen leaves ever realise, the beauty they exude even when on the ground. Some seem to have just fallen, others since many days. They end up weaving infinite colourful carpets, making every walk so memorable

Making the most of the fall season in a Chicago suburb. (Photo by the writer)

cities

Published on Nov 10, 2022 05:21 PM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of Life | Joy of langar sewa at Golden Temple

Every time I commence to serve, along with many other ‘sewadars’ (volunteers) holding large buckets filled with everyone’s favourite dal, vegetable and ‘kheer’, I am well oriented that I will also witness an exhibition of human behaviours and an array of food preferences, writes Rameshinder Singh Sandhu

The langar at Golden Temple gives you a glimpse of a world of equality, where several hundreds of devotees from almost everywhere, relish the same meal, sitting together, making a colourful ocean. (Above) Indian vice president Jagdeep Dhankar with his wife Sudesh Dhankhar eats langar during their visit to Golden Temple, in Amritsar. (ANI)

cities

Published on Oct 26, 2022 07:30 PM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of life | Talk less, listen more to master art of conversation

What everyone wants in a conversation is the opportunity to be heard. A good listener will talk to the point and also allow others to talk

After all, this is how moments of auf wiedersehen are – for most of us, when many topics suddenly turn up on the tongue, and we go on, and on (Unsplash)

cities

Published on Oct 06, 2022 03:38 AM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of life | Breathe out the anger, embrace inner peace

As a child, I regretfully recall breaking furniture when my uncle was late to taking me to the village railway station and throwing away my grandfather’s car keys, the moment he joked that he would attend a wedding alone

In the wise words of Gautama Buddha: “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone. You are the one who gets burned.” (HT PHOTO)

cities

Published on Sep 07, 2022 07:38 PM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of life | Independence is in the air, give peace, love a chance

The division has taken place, but every effort must be made to proceed towards love. The creation of Kartarpur Corridor is a big step, which many of us on both sides of the border may have never imagined

Targeting youngsters, the radio station instantly connects one to our neighbour and parted brother. Following it for years, I’ve woven a bond with it. Whenever tuned in, the channel belts out an exciting fare, including songs from the West, besides Bollywood and Pakistan. (Representative Image/HT File)

cities

Updated on Aug 14, 2022 05:44 PM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of life | Near-death encounter that brought clarity

Our flight faced strong turbulence over the Pacific for 45 minutes. Many were praying around me and so was I with hands folded, sometimes holding the seat tight. I sadly wondered how it would be under the ocean

Though we landed safely in Chicago, there were very essential realisations about life at 35,000 feet, which I may have otherwise not realised. (Representative Image/HT File)

cities

Published on Jul 26, 2022 07:34 PM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of Life | Balcony view, vantage point by day and night

The balcony offers a mesmerising sight from 10pm onwards when the traffic begins to ease and stars dot the sky. I love talking to them; it’s a therapy every night before bed as it clears my head, writes Rameshinder Singh Sandhu

The balcony invites me just as dawn is about to crack, to beguile my eyes with morning’s best wonder – the sunrise. I am joined by an array of birds and their songs, lounging on the trees in front, writes Rameshinder Singh Sandhu (AFP FILE/Representational image)

cities

Published on Jul 01, 2022 06:15 PM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of life | Kindness, where happiness of a different kind is hidden

The more we roll out kindness, the better we feel and the better we become. The world desperately needs it. Happiness is also hidden in these gestures

Last winter, as I visited a bedridden aunt in my neighbourhood, she shared how for weeks she hadn’t had her favourite ‘saro da saag’. (Representative Image)

cities

Published on Jun 22, 2022 03:02 AM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of life | Life opens up to those who open up to life

It’s said in Japan people never retire. After their official work life has ended, they continue to do something, especially what they love to do, even late into their 90s

Interestingly, when my maternal grandmother, Swaran Kaur Bal, retired as a government school teacher, she found her way to a radio station, where she became a regular singer of folk songs. (Representative Image/HT File)

cities

Published on Jun 06, 2022 10:46 PM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Guest column| Remembering mother, my perennial lighthouse

With my mother’s passing, our home reverted into a house, mere brick and mortar, a shell of its former self; after all, it was my mother, who had kept us all together

My mother passed away on Mothers’ Day, 2013, but she lives on in our memories. (HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on May 15, 2022 01:55 AM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Spice of Life | From strangers to family on a spiritual journey

At the bus boarding point, there were devotees, young and old, from almost everywhere, and I was the only local but didn’t look like one, for I was holding a camera and a diary

The colourful notice on a wooden board in one of the offices of the Golden Temple, just steps away from its community kitchen, read: Register here for a free tour by bus of historic Sikh temples. The bus departs every morning at 8 and returns the same evening by 5. (Sameer Sehgal/HT)

cities

Published on May 05, 2022 04:35 PM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Mission Green: Go for a tree, wherever you go

Spice of Life: With hands soaked in soil, I told them, “It’s your new home and you will be immensely loved.” I knew with every plantation, I was forming a special bond with the place, too.

My first opportunity was at a college in Faridkot, where I sowed saplings of five traditional trees, such as neem, ber, kikar, tahli and peepal. It was such a fulfilling experience. (HT file photo)

cities

Published on Apr 06, 2022 05:45 PM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

Looking at life through a theatrical lens

Guest Column | Each one of us is always part of some scene or the other; What matters is our contribution to the scene we are in and what we decide to learn from it

The phrase, ‘lights, camera, and action’, always runs through my head whenever I embark on a challenging project. (Representative Photo/istock)

cities

Updated on Mar 27, 2022 02:26 AM IST

ByRameshinder Singh Sandhu

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Rameshinder Singh Sandhu

As it eventually departed for its last station, St Antonio, I felt it also carried a part of my heart. Instead of just waiting for the destination, I ensured I enjoyed every moment of the journey.

As always, dry skin and winter-related peeves become a ubiquitous topic and soon lead to remedies from body lotions and oils being discussed. Thanks to a friend who recently gifted me a rich hand cream made with natural ingredients, every time I use it the fragrance of the forest comes alive.

Thanks to the rare joy they were enveloped in, it seemed they were flying free and dancing to the music of their heart. Nothing else in the world could have given them so much happiness for none of them stopped or even took a break

The truth is, one may have attended the best of schools and colleges but still be oblivious to basic etiquette and civic sense.

There was also a time when my vocabulary never remained dotted with such words. They instead exuded negativity. But a lot has changed, though slowly, as the mind changed, through my long solo trips and ‘practical’ connection with spirituality, writes Rameshinder Singh Sandhu

There were also many stalls displaying toy planes, which truly were the best sellers as it’s a ritual among devotees here to offer them while praying for their dreams to settle abroad

“We always have a choice to understand others or simply get provoked by their behaviour,” he said. Hasn’t Greek philosopher Plato said something similar? “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.”

Soon, he figured out places frequented by students and caught them just as they would unsuspectingly step in. He knew where to hide and lie in wait, hence we called him Bond, James Bond.

My aunt at Khasa village, too, has made a garden on her first-floor courtyard, just like the balcony at Butala but she has added a special touch with her creativity, using bottles, broken cups and even piggy banks for growing plants.

When we value something, we end up catching the goodness, and this works for everything, be it health, relationships, career, dreams. Unfortunately, most of us value something only when it is no more with us.

But, there’s one form of publicity that beats all: “word of the mouth” – one that not only works best, but is also free

According to spirituality, the more we arm ourselves with good qualities and ensure they remain with us, the better we feel as Abraham Lincoln, the 16th US President, known for his spiritual values once said, “When I do good I feel good, when I do bad I feel bad, and that’s my religion.”

When I’m at my maternal village, my grandmother is ready with her traditional treats from panjiri to pinnis. I, however, enjoy sitting out in the sun with her even more over our never-ending conversations, writes Rameshinder Singh Sandhu

A live band played under the Truman Balcony, which made the experience festive. Though the president’s chopper was absent on south lawn, his car, a unique Cadillac, was parked right as we entered

In Melbourne, I frequented the church facing the busy Flinders Street station. In a flash, the church would fill me with the tranquillity I needed and hence there were evenings, when after a hectic day of exploring, all roads led towards it

We let go of grudges, hatred, anger and pick the language of love for everyone we meet. Instead of expecting love and respect from others, we become the givers of it

Little would the fallen leaves ever realise, the beauty they exude even when on the ground. Some seem to have just fallen, others since many days. They end up weaving infinite colourful carpets, making every walk so memorable

What everyone wants in a conversation is the opportunity to be heard. A good listener will talk to the point and also allow others to talk

As a child, I regretfully recall breaking furniture when my uncle was late to taking me to the village railway station and throwing away my grandfather’s car keys, the moment he joked that he would attend a wedding alone

The division has taken place, but every effort must be made to proceed towards love. The creation of Kartarpur Corridor is a big step, which many of us on both sides of the border may have never imagined

Our flight faced strong turbulence over the Pacific for 45 minutes. Many were praying around me and so was I with hands folded, sometimes holding the seat tight. I sadly wondered how it would be under the ocean

The balcony offers a mesmerising sight from 10pm onwards when the traffic begins to ease and stars dot the sky. I love talking to them; it’s a therapy every night before bed as it clears my head, writes Rameshinder Singh Sandhu

The more we roll out kindness, the better we feel and the better we become. The world desperately needs it. Happiness is also hidden in these gestures

It’s said in Japan people never retire. After their official work life has ended, they continue to do something, especially what they love to do, even late into their 90s

With my mother’s passing, our home reverted into a house, mere brick and mortar, a shell of its former self; after all, it was my mother, who had kept us all together

At the bus boarding point, there were devotees, young and old, from almost everywhere, and I was the only local but didn’t look like one, for I was holding a camera and a diary

Spice of Life: With hands soaked in soil, I told them, “It’s your new home and you will be immensely loved.” I knew with every plantation, I was forming a special bond with the place, too.

Guest Column | Each one of us is always part of some scene or the other; What matters is our contribution to the scene we are in and what we decide to learn from it

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