Glenfiddich 12 and Black label

I recently had an opportunity to open a bottle of this beautiful Glenfiddich 12 while celebrating and though I am more of a black label aficionado, I was pleasantly surprised by the tasting profile offered by this exquisite beauty. 

My go to drink is black label, 'on the rocks'. No dilution and if dilution is needed only in the ratio of 1:1 with plain water. It maintains that peaty note and the body of the spirit remains intact. That strong oak flavour on the nose is really what makes Black Label stand out. Each of the single malts in Black Label have been aged for 12 years minimum in Scotland and the robust flavour profile really shows that. You can smell the whiskies gone inside - the cardhu, which gives it that peaty profile, the smokiness comes for Caol Ila, Clynelish 14 gives it the fruitiness, that sparkle midtaste and that wood-vanilla flavour profile and finally the Glenkinchie. I am yet to come across a bottle of glenkinchie so I don't know what that does in Black Label. 

Now coming to Glenfiddich, when I first tried it, I adopted a similar strategy. Diluted this single malt in a ratio of 3:1, kept on the palate for a few seconds and tried to take a whiff of all the oak and nuts during the aftertaste. I was disappointed. So much hype and for what? Glenlivet 12 had more body than it. But as my friend suggested, I was drinking it wrong. She poured me the drink undiluted and without any ice. For a moment there, I started questioning her sanity but she insisted. For the first time in my life I was drinking an alcohol at room temperature. I soon realised that I had done the ignominious act of wasting a fine whiskey in my previous drink. What I found -
- Nose : Fruity, apple and peaches are aplenty and a strong malty note
- Palate : Mild watery (which made sense why not to dilute), crisp, thin mouthfeel and overall very light.
-Flavour : Definitely vanilla, nutmeg, Apples, Oranges, Cardamom and a hint of wood but very mild
-Finish : Dried oak, vanilla, cinnamon. 
Definitely a complex flavour profile. But the nose is stronger than palate which is really tricky. You'd be fooled to think it would go well with orchard fruit drinks like oranges but you'd only be wasting a fine whiskey. For every drink, I have a go to snack but for Glenfiddich 12, I really don't like to pair it with anything. This whiskey is an art. And it demands your full attention like you're standing in an art gallery and a painting compels you to think about it. An art which is beautiful in itself is good, an art which elicits compliments is great but an art which compels you to engage, look at it from your own perspective, relate with it, is the pinnacle of the civilisational consciousness. Some people do that with their paintings, some with their words and some with their wines. This elixir of an art-form demands a pause, a perspective and an engagement. 

So here's to this artform in a bottle - Glenfiddich 12! 

Public Service Announcement -

Drink responsibly. I am not a drinker by any means. I must have had alcohol this year after a gap of 8 years. And boy, how I have changed over those years! I could seriously drink around half a bottle of Black Label (And I have) and still show up at my hospital without a hair out of place. This time, 2 drinks (30 ml each) and I was already battling a nasty hangover for the next 2 days. Alcohol and my body don't gel with each other anymore. 
Don't drink and drive. 
It's a cardinal sin to indulge in intoxicating substances. No matter what the world tells you.
Don't drink to lose your senses. Drink to appreciate the art, drink to enjoy the fine luxuries of life. And those can only be enjoyed in very small amounts on rare occasions. Beers, cheap alcohols should be avoided. Cheap beers are the instagram reels of the wine world. 

HOPE

 Hello everyone, 

A very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I'll be really short today. Each year brings new joys in our lives and we get a chance to rectify our mistakes and at times, build entirely new resolutions and connections. I personally feel immense gratitude to the people around me for being with me. I personally like to introspect at the end of each year, not to find faults but to appreciate the things I am grateful for. 

This year what I am thankful for the most is HOPE. 2024 was a truly testing time for me but I powered through, showcasing immense resilience and mental strength that emanates from a place of security rather than pressure. There were times when I was at my breaking point, at one time I even got beat up pretty bad. But people around me showed faith in me when even I was unsure of whether I could keep the ship steady or not. This was a sign that all is not lost, that I should still have hope and not give up. 

I forged new friendships that I know would last a lifetime and I strengthened the ones I already had by taking a leap of faith with them. I learnt new ideas and above everything, I found that I still have got the flexibility and adaptability. The things that were bothering me till November, I sort of won over them and miraculously, December turned out to be the best month of this entire year!

But as I said before, hope, is my takeaway for 2024. Hope keeps you going. It is what helps you get out of the bed in the morning and what lets you sleep peacefully at night. Hope is the manifestation of your resilience. It is your spiritual connection. It is simply that slight smile on your face after a long tiring day. Hope is everything!

And for my resolutions for 2025, they are quite simple - to be more ruthless, with myself. To be more mindful, of the things I do and the things I let in. To be more grateful, for this life and what I have and more importantly, what I don't. 

So here's to hoping that 2025 will be filled with hope and endless possibilities!

With love and gratitude,

IHY :)

Of the intersecting lives

Hey there! How have you been? I am going to write this post as a diary. Perhaps a little self introspection would be beneficial for both of us. Among other things I often wonder what if our lives had never crossed paths with each other. Had it not been for that train journey, our trajectories were wildly different. I was engrossed with my own stuff while your plans were unknown to me. I found you intriguing, curiosity swept over me. I wanted to get to know you, and I took it as a challenge onto myself that I will get you to open up to me, almost everyone does, I have a trustworthy face. Do you regret not opening up to me? The end result is the same even now. 

With some people you never feel anger towards them. She was one of them. Despite hurting me in more than a hundred ways, I never did feel angry at you. I can attribute it to your cuteness, your short height which makes you look younger than your age but I think the real reason remains that our paths were never meant to cross with each other. You were nothing but a distraction, a test for me, in which I failed rather spectacularly. It was a test of my newfound strength and a test of my resolve. It was the first real world practical after my training. Miserably failed and learned my lesson but it was a rather expensive lesson to be honest. 

So having learnt my lesson now, I find that my worldview has become dichotomous. I am patient as well as really in a hurry, both at the same time. The numbers are not on my side but when have they been? My thoughts have been either 50 years too young or 50 years too old. See with this blog only. The art of writing is slowly dying. People may write for themselves but what sells and grabs the most eyeballs is vile, mundane, mass produced pieces of paragraphs, world would have been better without. A good writing piece or a novel for that matter, in my opinion, should give you perspective. It is in a short supply these days and mine has been clouded by repeated losses, one after the other. I desperately need a win. It was a lack of perspective that rendered me idea-less for blogs for a long time now. There were some sparks here and there but nothing good could come out of it. 

- until next time, IHY

Unlocking Youth Empowerment through Skill Development in India

In the vast tapestry of India's demographic landscape, one vibrant thread stands out – its youth. With nearly half of its population under the age of 25, India possesses an enormous reservoir of untapped potential. This young population is not only a source of economic growth but also an incredible force for social change. To harness this potential, skill development is an imperative.

India stands at a crossroads, where its burgeoning youth population can either be an asset or a liability. The need for skill development is clear. Without it, the dreams and aspirations of millions of young Indians remain unrealized, contributing to unemployment and social unrest. While India's youth is often portrayed as a demographic dividend, it can easily become a demographic disaster if not provided with the skills to participate meaningfully in the economy. The consequences of neglecting this crucial aspect of development are manifold.

The challenges to youth empowerment through skill development in India are multi-faceted. First and foremost, the education system often emphasizes theoretical knowledge over practical skills. This results in a mismatch between what youth learn and what the job market demands. Many graduates find themselves unemployable due to this mismatch. Secondly, the lack of access to quality education and training, especially in rural areas, exacerbates the problem. The digital divide and uneven distribution of educational resources limit opportunities for many. Thirdly, the informal economy, which absorbs a significant portion of India's labor force, often does not recognize or value the skills of youth, leading to underemployment and poor working conditions.

If these challenges are not addressed, the future impact on India's youth can be grave. Rising frustration and a sense of alienation can lead to social unrest. Inability to secure decent employment can result in a wasted demographic dividend. Moreover, youth without skills face the risk of falling into poverty traps, perpetuating cycles of economic hardship. It is, therefore, imperative to empower the youth by providing them with the skills necessary to contribute effectively to the nation's development.

To tackle these challenges and empower India's youth, various measures have been undertaken. The Indian government has launched initiatives such as "Skill India" to provide skill training to millions of young people. Vocational education and training programs are being expanded, aiming to bridge the gap between education and employment. Additionally, public-private partnerships are being encouraged to enhance the reach and quality of skill development programs. These efforts have begun to show positive results, with an increasing number of youths gaining employable skills.

The link between education and skill development is profound, representing more than just a path to employment. It embodies a philosophical dimension – the idea that education should not merely be the acquisition of knowledge but also the cultivation of practical abilities. As Swami Vivekananda once said, "Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man." It emphasizes the notion that every individual possesses unique talents and potential that can be realized through the right education and skill development. It is not about fitting young minds into pre-existing moulds but allowing them to explore their inherent capacities.

In conclusion, skill development is not just about employability; it is about empowerment and realizing the potential of a nation's youth. In India, where a significant portion of the population is young, investing in skill development is a strategic imperative. As Mahatma Gandhi aptly noted, "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." This profound wisdom underscores the significance of continuous learning and skill development in human life. Skill development is not a destination but a journey toward self-improvement, employability, and empowerment. To ensure that India's youth can live up to their potential, it is not just an economic necessity but a moral obligation to invest in skill development.

Are American problems our problems?

Black lives matter, LGBTQ+, Gun violence, capitol hill seige, MeToo, Jeffery Epstein - I seem to know more about America's problems than ours. Why is that? I am not the one too active on social media nor do I particularly look out for American news. The Indian public discourse is the one to blame. We are being fed American news so much that our own problems seem to have obscured by the seemingly first world problems. Just imagine the stupidity of all this - a country whose 30% population still lives in poverty, whose average road network is still worse than that of Vietnam is talking about BLM on its national news. In a country where majority of youths are dissatisfied with their employment or lack thereof and depression coupled with identity crisis is rampant, we are talking about LGBTQ in our editorials. At the risk of sounding transphobic - I fucking do not care whether a tans person has been called a hijhda by their neighbourhood uncle/aunty. Deal with it ! Our politicians are so mad they will give reservations to trans people if this discourse keeps on going like this. 

There has to be some end to the stupidity of journalists who decide the public discourse. The Delhi Infrastructure is collapsing but there has been no news of it anywhere. We are just fed the Hindu vs Muslim , much on the lines of liberal vs democrat debate in US. The vile and poisonous public discourse is a boon for politicians who have it easy. They Win even local body elections not on the merits of their groundwork but on the perception war fuelled by communal and religious hatred. How does it matter to a remote village in Madhya Pradesh which is dealing with water shortage on what views does an MP from bengal have on Maa Kali? Ofcourse they must voice their dissatisfaction if they're hurt by her immature comments but please explain for once how can this become the entire agenda of an election when more pressing matters are screaming for attention. 

This irony gets to me sometimes. On one hand we want the best professionals with fanciest degrees as the ones providing us services and simultaneously we get befooled so easily by the outright white lies and ridiculous promises like Rs 1500/month and free electricity. Where does the economic sense of people go when Delhi government continues taking out full page ads on fucking non issues, 3 minute television ads on every news channel during the primetime that too and wastes public money to the tune of thousands of crores. This is in a sense buying the silence of media houses on criticism. Whereas even minute details are being asked on policies from union ministers by the super intelligent tv anchors, why do they dumb themselves down when interviewing Mamta or kejri? These media houses are drowning in money yet they keep begging for subscription. And you have to really give it to the news anchors for they have mastered the art of verbal diarrhea - The art of incessant shouting and not even getting a single point across. And yet these bloody halfwits have more power than you or me to get things done. 

Ah these ironies never end. 

Anyhow, thanks for reading. And if you think I am transphobic, then no I am not. I watch lesbian porn. 

Are you the superstitious one?

Hey there! Been a long time since I wrote anything here. But that's mainly because I had nothing to say. With whatever's been going on in the country and so many bloggers cropping up, everyone has an opinion these days, and no one wants to listen. In addition, I think people have progressed to youtube and video content and writing is a dying style of communication. Maybe ours will be the last generation of actual bloggers. I don't think blog spaces will find that many visitors, so naturally revenue through ads shall decline. One exception shall remain - news blogs and health websites.

Anyways, how has your life been post lockdowns? Mine has been topsy turvy. When hasn't it been? But the last 4 months stood out. I was dealing with one problem after another. It was horrendous as well as marvellous. I broke boundaries I thought I never could. But still I don't feel accomplished enough. It's a long way to go, I know but still I should feel at least some pride in my achievements (personal). Maybe because I am a perfectionist and belong to a middle class family, I am hardwired to only celebrate after crossing the finish line and then jump on to the next target. I know I have written this in very vague terms but it's for the best. 

In these last 4 months while I was dealing with my problems I began to sense a change in myself. I had become quite superstitious. I always revelled in the fact that I have a rational mindset and believed myself to be of a headstrong personality. So becoming superstitious all of a sudden was surprising. Was it a symptom? Or was I becoming weak? After months of deliberation I found my answer here on blogger. I created an anonymous blog, without any photo or revealing my identity. I thought anonymity was a super power on internet highway. But in the hindsight I think this anonymity was a shroud to cover up the fact that I was superstitious from the very beginning. I don't post my pictures on social media or flaunt anything, majorly to avoid any jealousy and if you believe in this - Bad eye! 

It's funny how you make stuff up to convince yourself or a better word is - deceive yourself into thinking that your actions are momentary, when in fact, each of your action is a result of your years of hard-wiring and habits. I will try to post more here now that I have some spare time on my hands. 

The Boredom of Vacation

 It's been ages since I have written anything. Partly due to my job profile, it leaves little wiggle room for creativity and partly because of all the cacophony surrounding us these days. I am back in Delhi for good and I literally had a tough time adjusting back here. All the noise, pollution,unhygienic conditions and people, well, they're just mean. It seems strange this is my hometown. I am in between some transitions in my life and as such had an opportunity to relax after toiling endlessly for the past 2 years. You can call it an extended vacation. I thought I'll catch up with some old friends in this time but you know the covid situation. What's even there to discuss anyways? People keep coming and going, what's even the point of staying in touch? I may sound depressed but it's really more of my boredom. I am just not into anything these days in my vacation time. I take pride in being highly creative. I can fix car on my own, do minor electrician/plumber/carpenter stuff and more than that I revel in the artistic pleasure of handmade functional objects. I just love to create. If you build something on your own for example let's say even a small wheel, you'll then be able to appreciate the fact that a lot of effort and mind has been put to good use in the manufacture of that object. You must have seen bevel in woodworks. A seemingly simple and elegant looking edge that needs no second look. You'll be surprised to learn that it takes a mind boggling effort to create such a straight edge.

Bevel used in carpentry

I learnt this through my studies of dentistry. The art of dentistry lies in amalgamation of not just medicine but engineering, material sciences , carpentry, metallurgy and even tailoring. It takes a deep knowledge of all these fields to become a good dentist. Surprised? 

Well, the artificial tooth is made up of ceramic over a metallic base. So there goes your metallurgy and material science. How to put it on is engineering. How it will react with surrounding tissues is medicine. If you have to remove some tissue you'll need to do some surgery and you;ll have to close the wound by applying some stitches which are 

uncannily similar to tailoring. Not everyone, even with a qualified degree is able to comprehend and have a perception as to how intricate this field of dentistry really is. 

That's my whole point. Everything which barely looks complicated at the surface, is so damn complex, it just amazes me how far the human civilisation has come. Someone, sometime had developed an idea that ok I'll just not stick a wheel on a simple rod, instead I'll make a ball bearing first which will then attach to the wheel. Seemingly simple when you look at any car/bike/bicycle wheel but what a great and marvellous piece of invention that is the "bearing"

So I guess that's it for the time being. I hope you didn't get bored listening to one guy go on and on about how simple is really complex!