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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

7) Valli of Poetry~Reflection of My Feelings

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