Saturday, October 20, 2012

Our Beloved Blog!


Good morning, beautiful world! 
This is a very special post, because it's my very first tag! Janu from Memoirs of a Homemaker has nominated our blog, Dreams n Drama, for the Liebster Award. (Liebster in German means 'favorite' or 'beloved'!) Swarnali asked me to answer the questions this time, and I am delighted to do so, especially because we have been tagged by an exceptional blogger like Janu- she is a woman who takes pride in being herself, who makes the most of life and writes wonderful stories! 



  

These are the rules-

1. If tagged or nominated,you have to post eleven facts about yourself.

2. Then you answer eleven questions the tagger has asked you and you post eleven questions for people you are going to tag.

3. Tag eleven bloggers (with no more than 200 followers).

4. Tell people that they have been tagged.


5. No tagging back.
 

*So here goes!*

11 random facts about myself:

# I believe that we all have magic inside us.

# I believe we cannot love others unless we love ourselves.

# When I was a kid, I wanted to be a ninja. I still fantasize about having superhuman strength. 

# I cannot travel without listening to music. It makes me very cranky.

# The lyrics of the song “Tum Mile” sound like a prayer to me.

# I carry a book with me whenever I travel- either to read, or for good luck.

# I am a lot like Monica Geller from Friends- I can be obsessive, paranoid, and surprisingly bossy.

# I find sarcasm attractive; as long as it’s not directed at me.

# I’m everyone’s Agony Aunt by default.

# I once pulled a frog out of my shoe. It nearly killed me.

# I am a literature student and I once asked a friend for his notes. What I needed were notes on Sidney and Spenser’s poetry. What I actually said was, “Can you give me your notes on Sidney Sheldon?” and everyone dropped what they were doing and stared at me.

Here are the questions asked by Janu, and my answers to them-

1. Is feminism overrated?


Yes, in certain ways, it is. I am quite a feminist myself, but I feel like people overdo the enthusiasm sometimes. It's all about equality; the term 'gender issues' includes concerns about both the sexes- not just the female. But once in a while, it feels like what people actually want is to overthrow men altogether. However, speaking of the special treatment women ask for, that might sound contradictory to our claim to equal rights, but then again there wouldn't be a need to ask for special treatment if we were given due respect and privileges. 

When it comes to personal relationships and social etiquette, holding out a chair to a woman and opening doors is something almost every guy brings up, and it's extremely annoying. It does not make men inferior- it makes them charming and gentlemanly. But of course, the pampering has to go both ways, which is something we tend to overlook at times.
   
2. There's a debate that bloggers are not writers - your take on this?
 
Not all writers are bloggers and not all bloggers are writers. That's a fact and there's no harm in accepting it. There are different expectations from each and sometimes it's difficult to be good at both- there is a subtle difference between the two. But of course, one cannot generalize and say bloggers cannot be writers because in a certain sense they ARE- they write, they are read, and they are appreciated or criticized just like published authors are. 

3. One thing you would like to change about yourself.

I wish I weren't such a worrier- I can get obsessive/ paranoid about the silliest things.  

4. Can online friends become 'real' friends offline?

Absolutely! Swarnali is the perfect example! And then of course, there are a number of people I got to know online who are some of my closest, dearest friends. There's something exciting about finding a friend online; and when you finally meet them, it's a whole new phase of your friendship. 

For those who like a little mystery, the way I do, it's a bliss having online friends. It hardly ever gets boring, there's always something new to know about them, and when you discover little things about their personality that you weren't aware of because you hardly get to meet them, it's an inexplicably delightful experience. Also, having an alternate world to escape to, when everyone around you is driving you nuts, can be a major source of relief. 


5. One issue you are passionate about.

Feminism ;-)


6. According to you, what's the greatest revolution of this century? Why?

Bah! I think it's yet to come.


7. A book that has influenced you the most.

There are too many of course, but I recently realized just how influenced I am by The Godfather by Mario Puzo. The notions of filial love, loyalty and friendship, the ethics that the Don represents have been grilled into me since I was thirteen. It made me believe that things can actually turn out well if the right person is granted power in society. 


And this is all the more appealing because it's not a Utopian vision, since Don Corleone isn't perfect himself- he has had his share of sins, and still emerges as a good human being that one can look up to.

8. The one cause you would really fight for.......

Saving the girl child.


9. Beauty and brains......(Complete this sentence.)

can go together, but you'll ultimately have to choose which one you want to focus upon because that is how people will accept you- one aspect will inevitably dominate your personality, which will influence your 'image' in society.

10. A quality you hate in others.

Criticizing people for having nothing better to do.


11. Money v/s Happiness.

Happiness is more essential of course, but while money can't buy happiness, one cannot really be happy if they don't have enough money to at least survive without having to worry about basic necessities and little indulgences.  

So now it's turn for my 11 questions to you!  



I decided to add a little bit of *magic* to this questionnaire so these questions will all be related to the world of Harry Potter. For those of you who aren’t fans- please forgive me; and please do answer the questions because they are all relevant and I've explained the terms used. For those who are- well, you’re going to love this!

Q1. The Mirror of Erised shows us what our deepest desire is. What would you see if you looked into it?

Q2. A Dementor reminds us of our most painful memory. What would you remember if a Dementor approached you?

Q3. A Patronus charm helps us fight off a Dementor; we need to think of the best memory we have, in order to cast the spell. Which memory would you  think of?

Q4. The possessor of the Deathly Hallows becomes master of Death. The Deathly Hallows are the Elder Wand (the most powerful weapon on earth), the Resurrection Stone (which will bring someone back from the dead) and The Cloak of Invisibility (which will make you invisible for as long as you wear it). Which one would you choose, and why?

Q5. In the fourth book, The Goblet of Fire, the mermaids and mermen from the lake in the school grounds take from the champions of the Triwizard Tournament what they would miss most- a person who is dearest to them. Who do you think would be taken from you? [Don’t worry, all hostages are released at the end of the task.] :P

Q6. Which word defines you best- brave, loyal, wise or ambitious?

Q7. An ‘Animagus’ is a person who can change into an animal, and back, at will. A ‘Metamorphmagus’ can change their appearance at will. What would you rather be, and why?

Q8. The Room of Requirement changes into the kind of place that the person needs to be in. What would it change into if you approached it?

Q9. The Philosopher’s Stone can turn any metal into gold, and its liquid form- the Elixir of Life- can grant immortality to the drinker. A Pensieve can be used as a vessel to store your thoughts in. A Time Turner can help you go back in time and change what you want to. Which one would you choose, and why?

Q10. What would you want written on your epitaph?

Q11. Sirius Black and James Potter had a magical mirror each, which they could talk into and see one another in; something that came in handy when they were stuck in different classrooms during detention. (Old fashioned Skype.)  Suppose you are in a world where there’s no technology and only one pair of such mirrors; you would, of course, keep one of them- who is the person you would give the other one to? 


The 11 bloggers I am tagging are-

1) Fabida of Shocks and Shoes

2) Opal  of Girl with a Pearl Earring


3) Sayantini Bhattacharya of Another Part of Me 


4) MSM of Mystical Skeptical Me


5) Radwa Pony Whispers of the Soul


6) Green Speck of Live Your Life


8) Sanghamitra of La Dolce Vita

9) Meoww of Abhilasha 

10) Aditi Ray of My world...my space!! 

11) Tiffany of Tiffany Twisted

Hope you have great fun this weekend!

Cheers,
Arpita


31 comments:

  1. Wow Congratulations!!!

    It was fun knowing you... Harry Potter happens to be my fav too :)

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    Replies
    1. thanks so much, me! ur always the first to respond, with the sweetest comments. people like you really make blogging worthwhile. <3 and OMG u love harry potter- i love you already! :D

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  2. Wonderful answers. Nice to know more about you. Hugs and good wishes.

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  3. oh,thank you!! i am so happy that u liked them especially because you were the one who asked the questions! *hugs back* :)

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  4. Hahaha...I can't stop laughing on the Sidney Sheldon one :D :D How I wish I could see your face then :P
    Hi5 on the agony aunt thingy!! I'm the same!! :D

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  5. hahaha..we are each other's agony aunt too! :P and oh god, u wudv rolled on d floor laughing, had u seen my face. :D

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  6. Congrats Arpita and thank you very much for the nomination. Blessed be.

    ~Sayantini Bhattacharya
    another part of me

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    Replies
    1. thank you, sayantini! and u totally deserve the award! :)

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    2. "blessed be"! ur a house of night fan, aren't you? :D

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  7. Thank you, Swarnali and Arpita!! Those were some really interesting answers; I deserve to be in the 'Sisterhood of Obsessive Monicas' too!!

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    Replies
    1. You're most welcome ,Fab!! And hi5 on that Monica thing...I belong to the same sisterhood!!

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    2. thanks beingFab! and yes, we all belong to the sisterhood of the obsessive monicas! :D

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  8. that was a detailed post! good to know about you :)
    thenotsogirlyblog.blogspot.in

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    Replies
    1. thanks for stopping by! we'd love to know more about you too! :)

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  9. Congratulations dear!...Good to know more about you....Thanks a lot for the award dear!

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    Replies
    1. it's totally my pleasure! i love ur blog- d look of it, ur work, everything! :)

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  10. I loved your answers ... thanks for nominating me :-)

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  11. i would like to say thank you so much i really appreciate ,i apologize for not replying till now as net was off at hom yesterday an its hard to reply through ma mob.God willing will check today once i get home ,really im so thrilled ,you have made my day for choosing my blog :))

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    Replies
    1. oh that's perfectly alright! thanks for getting back to us. :) looking forward to your post!

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  12. well may i know if i have time :)
    as the questions are great but since im not as harry potter fan so i got lost in between :)

    plus i wish u can kindly tell me two things

    first how may i add the links of the bloggers inside the post and how may i have the liebster logo included in z post and also to put it at ma side bar as i cant find a link for taking such logo

    sorry for my many questions as iam not always adding items,i usually write only

    thanks in advance :)

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    Replies
    1. hi! of course, you can take as much time as you want! and if any question does not make much sense, then u can ask me to clarify it! :)

      you've been sent a mail which should hopefully help answer ur questions. if there's any confusion, plz let us know. :) have a great day!

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    2. thanks alot but i havent recieve any !!!
      im sorry for z disturbance

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    3. I've resent you the mail. Do let me know once you've received it. :)

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  13. oh, u dnt have to apologize! maybe the mail didn't get delivered. we'll send it again by tonight, but in the mean time, u can find the logo in google images.

    and to tag bloggers, you can paste the URL of their blog in ur post. do remember to comment on their blog with the URL of ur post about this award- this way, they can know that they've been nominated. :)

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  14. Congrats on the award .. and I liked the reply given to the question on feminism ..

    your set of questions are also good ones .. will hop on to others and see what they replied :)

    Bikram's

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    Replies
    1. thank you, bikramjit! i was waiting for ur response! :) i too am eager to read people's answers to my questions. :)

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  15. OMG!! thnkuu swarnali !! :D :D <3

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    Replies
    1. Hey Aditi...Dreams n Drama is now co-authored by me and Arpita...so the award is from both of us...Congrats, you totally deserve it :D

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