I didn’t mean for this post to be so long, but once started, it was impossible to stop… I had not realised how tempting it would be to include every single post I loved in this Award Ceremony… and how impossible!! The blogosphere is a treasure house!! I know I have still managed to miss some of my very favorite and very regularly read blogs. The last three days were a punishment, I always wanted to add just one more name or link, and then realised this way the AWARD CEREMONY will never begin! So without any editing and without further ado…
OF LINKS AND URLs… a request
Please do add your blog url while commenting, it makes it easier for readers to hop over to your blog. I have also included my blog url to my email as my signature, I wish others did the same specially when we want to share something on our blogs via email, giving a link is of great help.
And now for the formal ceremony…
First my warmest (and now official) thanks to the two who saved this blog from being header-less
Chirag: Chirag has shifted many blogs, and created beautiful headers and taught us how to add a Blog Roll in Word Press (I still haven’t managed it)… His blog showcases his creativity. Chirag also created this arty header, I wanted a header as close to my Blogspot Header as possible, and only Chirag could have done it so beautifully!
Thank You Chirag!
Solilo:-I admire her beautiful blog, her ever changing headers, her originality in presenting ‘house-warming gifts’…err ‘blog warming gifts’ to fellow bloggers, and this beautiful header was a surprise by Solilo 
I grab this opportunity to express my gratitude and delight. Thank You Solilo!
A long overdue formal and official thanks to some of the lovely awards received since the last Awards Night 
I would like to thank….
Mr Balvinder Singh. His blog is amongst the wisest voices in the blogosphere. I can only nod and eagerly agree when I read his posts on politics, religion, tolerance, even parenting. He also writes delightful posts on Army life and his amazing, sometimes absolutely unbelievable experiences
I gratefully thank him for,
1conoclast is known for his courageous posts against intolerance, communalism and violence. He is on a long blog break but I am sure he is celebrating the victory of Democracy over the forces of hate. I sure miss his posts and comments, hope to see him back in the blogosphere soon. I share this award with another blogger, Milind Kher. Thank You for this Statuette 1conoclast.
1conoclast’s World Peace Award 2008
Reema - A blogger who switched from Blogger to WordPress and changes her blog theme frequently , and manages to make each new theme feel like her random thoughts had awarded me this certificate. I thank her for this appreciation I am so proud of Thank You Reema!
(Awarded for- No Jeans for an Indian Daughter in law.)
The Super Blogger Award! Thank You Kislay!
Kislay had announced the Super Blogger Award in a comment and I wondered (half jokingly) about a badge for the award, and to my surprise and delight soon received this via email Thank You Kislay! This really means a lot to me! And if the award can be passed on, you are the Super Blogger I’d like to pass it to!
Kislay’s posts are passionate and heartfelt. I loved his post on The Idea of a Nation the best! In these divisive, intolerant times we should all read and think about what he has written!!
And now a very special award for three very special women…
This award goes to the three wonderful women who took the initiative to create No Gender Inequality - Usha Pisharody, Solilo and Indyeah. I just want to say, I am very proud to be with you, as a part of the NGI team.
Indyeah gave me the Resonance Award Thank You Indyeah! The award means a lot to me but even more precious are your wonderful words that came with this award. An overwhelmed, humbled but very delighted thanks to you!
Resonance Award goes to those bloggers whose posts and comments touch the chords of your heart…
And now it’s my turn to pass the awards !!
It gives me great pleasure to present the Resonance Award to….
Alankrita for her precious, encouraging, objective and simply brilliant comments. One of her comments became a post (each one of them deserves to become a post!) She is the one who made me see there is no need to apologise for being a feminist.
Annie Zaidi for saying, ‘when it comes to the word feminist, “I don’t care how you define it. I am it‘. Here’s what she has to say about how most Indians learn about rape.
Tazeen is from Karachi and her courageous blog lets us see how much we have in common. They have gender issues and fundamentalism, incompetence in sarkari offices, indifferent police… and similar angry tirade against voices that speak up. (From misguided readers).
Ritu for Being a Single Mom along with each one of her other posts. She says she is not the kind of single mom who says, “Mere Karan Arjun zaroor ayenge“, she is the kind of single mum whose sons will warn, “Stop or my mum will shoot!”
Madmomma for Dear Jarnail Singh. (All her political posts actually)
Aparna V Singh “Whom are public spaces meant for? Mostly not for women.” Aparna’s blog is one place which delayed this post… all I wanted was a link, but found unread posts…
Mr J P Joshi: I love his posts on politics and India. His is an amazing, wise voice in a blogosphere full of divides!
Tearsndreams Has only words to dissect if men are from Mars and women from Venus…
Poonam J the wisdom in her posts …and her lovely comments.
Unmana for her belief in individual freedom which automatically includes the rights of women and I truly appreciate her comments on issues that strike a chord with her.
Indyeah (Yes you get your own award too) for ‘Why are you sending me away father?Why?Did I do something wrong?Was it my fault?” (Child marriages in India)
Monika Manchanda for all her posts, specially about her darling prince… but there are some favorites, and one is about how one must learn to live without fear. I found that inspiring.
Solilo for her being a woman of conviction by supporting another woman of conviction! …“The present political parties had made ‘democracy for politicians, by politicians, of politicians’.
Iya for her lovely posts, I particularly loved the post about a young boy lighing candles by the side walk…. we who can overlook street sexual offenses will take serious offense to anything like this in India! Aren’t we so confused!?
Nita for her brilliant, well researced, objectively written posts on every subject under the sun, from premarital sex, to movie reviews, to terrorism, gender bias including blaming of the victims, poverty, elections and all that can be called current affairs. Her blog is the place to go to if we need to stay in touch with the world.
Sraboney has already been awarded the Gem Picker Award – her versatility is amazing. …but I admire her for much more than that. She can be precise, she can say a lot in very few words, her comments are as well written as her blog posts. I admire that immensely. She is a mother, a journalist, a feminist and an amazing blogger. Here’s a post of hers that got me very worried.
Charakan for his clarity, objectivity and research. His posts have often broken some of the myths and lies that we sometimes read in the media. His post on Dr Binayak Sen, The Doctor in Jail without Bail should be read by all…(amongst many others).[Breaking News: Dr Sen has been released on bail on health grounds]
Nimmy – a strong feminist who remains one of my favorite bloggers although she is not blogging anymore, the gems in her collection of posts are a treasure. I hope we see her back in the blogosphere again sometime.
Pixie for ‘He is the one who keeps a hot meal ready when I go home late, …Do I feel guilty that he does so much? NO.
Why? Because I do the very same for him… when the man does the same for his wife – he is either “Joru Ka Gulam” or the lady is very “lucky”!!
Isn’t it but natural for the husband to be equally, if not more supportive of his wife’s career, life?
Sandeep Bansal of Looking Beyond the Obvious for his brilliant, objective political analysis. Including one on why did India manage to stick with Democracy.
Siddharth Singhof Bigot Blog for “I’ll become BJP’s greatest supporter the day they promise (and implement) to build lakhs of toilets around the country, especially for women, instead of a Ram Mandir. One must not play with fire and history.”
Churmuri for ‘‘Fitting finale to five years of foolish opposition’. And ‘Why god’s own Party, the BJP- is in such a mess.’
Quirky Indian for “Freedom of speech and expression can never be compromised. Because once you compromise and give in to one pressure group – however loud or violent their methods, or however hurt they may be – you have opened the doors for everyone else to come in.“
Received from Homecooked and Mandira … Thank You Mandira! Thank You Home cooked!
And to welcome new friends, (and some old ones) the Friends Award goes to,
Imp’s Mom , Liju Philip, Mandira, Stuti Chandra, Mampi , Priyanka, Aathira, Reema, Ritu Harish, amit, Sashu, Aneela Z , Kajal, aneri_masi, Pearl, Tara Bhatt, Biju Mathews , Saritha, Jira (loved her Swallows post and photographs!), Chikki , Unmana, Dhanya, Surbhi, Minal, Krishna Aradhi , OG, Abha , Keatsunshinegirl, Mamma mia! Me a mamma? RDB, Mavin Poonam Joshi, My head trip, Monika,Ansh , Z@ki-R , Devil Incarnate , RDB, freespirit , Spontaneous Mini ,Goofy Mumma , Rashi, D , Piper, R.V , G, Pinku , Sandhya , Varun ,Ketan, Aaarti, Pinku and Winnie the poohi.
And also to some bloggers in my bog roll with sentences for names
Cofffee is my poison I am what I am (Gunmeen) How do we know? Does it matter? Mamma mia me a mamma?
Some bloggers we get to know through their comments more than through their posts! These amazing commentators, they are the ones without whom there would be little inspiration left to write …the Lovely Blogger Award goes to…
Crafty Shines I came to know her through her warm, chirpy, bubbly comments and then went and read her beautiful posts…and her lovely crafty creations!
Abha A feminist, a peace loving, aware citizen, when I asked for advise in ‘Don’t fall in love now’ … I knew just what she as going to say!
Dew drop dreams, Imp’s Mom , Mandira, Mampi , Aathira, Masood, amit, Sashu, Aneela Z ,aneri_masi, Tara Bhatt, Biju Mathews , Saritha, Chikki, Rakesh, Cilla, Keatsunshinegirl, Mamma mia! Me a mamma? Devil Incarnate , RDB, freespirit , D , Kislay, Sandhya ,,Ketan RDB, Poonam Joshi, and Winnie the poohi
Badz who we got to know though her comments is finally blogging – Welcome Badz
Homecooked I would like to pass the award back to you for all your wonderful recipes and your encouraging comments
Pixie for being so clear and confident and courageous in knowing she is right to expect equality.
Alankrita her comments always, but always have me nodding my head in total agreement.
Indyeah … no need to mention her here, everybody knows the Comment Monster 
…the Comment Queen Her enthusiasm and energy is amazing. She is tough competition for…
Hitchwriter who also aspires to be a Comment Monster Hitchwriter’s hilarious comments are a delight, but he can also make us cry when he starts writing his sensitive posts.
Vimmuuu is the funny comments monster 
but he has been challenged by Hitchwriter, who also likes to be the first on every blog. (My job was to warn I have done that, now it’s up to them)
Usha Pisharody these days finds very little time to write and read blogs but her comments are an insight into her mind...I feel I know her better through her comments than even her posts, and through her lovely poetry. Like I knew of her love for dogs and cats, well before she blogged about her fondness for animals
The JKG AWARD (Badge follows soon)
Other JKGs in the blogosphere are also requested to accept claim their award (badge follows)
Quirky Indian’s brilliant, encouraging comments during the Pink Chaddi Campaign- one of the very few men who did. He’s a feminist and and amongst the few men in the blogosphere who include crimes against women in current affairs and News.
Masood can compete with my favorite JKG – Shahrukh Khan… !! Need proof read ‘I miss you’!
Astralwicks. Anish Thomas.
Kislay blogged about sexism in office. And about the hypocrisy double standards we have when it comes to Virginity.
Hitchwriter and Chirag are feminists. JKGs too. Hitchwriter claims that he does not even eat hot hot chappaties now.
Vishesh wondered in a comment, if we notice a girl’s room is in a mess because we expect a girl to keep her room clean? (unlike boys)
Sunder He’s is for saying no to gender inequality.
Rakesh We know him as much through his comments as his posts, and his comment in Dutt rhymes proves he is a JKG.
Chikki For all his posts, his intelligent comments and his brilliant ability to debate. His thought provoking comment got me to write a post about jeans and married women…Thank You Chikki! (And hence Reema’s certificate)
Biju Mathews hope to see you back in the blogosphere soon!
This award came to me from Indyeah.
Thank You Indyeah! It gives me great pleasure to share this award with with these Versatile Bloggers..
Winnie the Poohi can write on anything!! She writes 55ers, poetry, long posts, fiction, posts that touch a chord and posts that can make you smile Her review posts are a brilliant initiative and a what a treat even for those who are looking for nice new blogs to read!
And Masood who can show us what one man can do -if he chooses to. (And he chose). He also conveyed that “the most diverse nation on Earth, with hundreds of languages, all religions and culture, is not only surviving, but thriving.” Proven correct after the election result
Solilo, Usha , Indyeah, Goofy Mamma, Imp’s Mom, Iya, Sahaja, Astralwicks, Swati, Smitha, Monika, Amit and so many more. Remind me if you are versatile and I have not mentionnd you please
Chirag Who can write on technology and politics and religion and feminism with equal ease.
Anrosh for all her thought provoking posts, I loved her post in response to Sagarika’s article on Pink Chaddi Campaign, and recently loved ‘Beyond borders, caste, religion – finding hope and sustenance to live and let live.’ … we need these posts, because sometimes even when we are ready to be global citizens, we refuse to be Indian citizens …
Mampi is missing from the blogosphere… Love her movie reviews, family posts and her hilarious hair styling experience and her comments. And I miss reading her posts while listening to her music…
Abha’s beautiful stories of CubbyR are a lot of fun, but equally interesting, and even more revealing of her wisdom are her comments. I appreciate and look forward to each one of them.
Smitha for all her well written posts, and her opinions. I love the objectivity in her posts, and would love to be able to do that! Here’s a link to one of the recent gems I loved.
Shail for her lovely poetry and funny, delightful glimpses into her life… and also for her encouraging comments on my posts on gender issues. I really feel like clapping after many, many of her passionate comments.
Saritha for her mommy posts and her collections of video, jokes and cartoon clips…
Mr Gopinath for “No “Paraya Dhan” stuff for me. Daughters, not Diamonds, are forever! Needless to say, “I’m Loving It!” (McDonalds)”
Mr Balvinder Singh for “..I did not realize that I had done something very wrong until I reached home. My Mother nearly fainted when she opened the door to let me in. Within minutes our house was swarmed by sympathising neighbours, some of them consoling my mother and few others passing comments in my support.“
Kanagu is a new friend and I love the diverse topics he covers from travel to social issues to current events… my favorite is this one.
Destination Infinity Love all his writing, but my one favorite is ‘Behind the bars’. He is amazingly creative and has the same blog both in WordPress and in Blogspot. I switched to WordPress only after reading his very informative post.
Priyanka for her an unstopable mind.
Thank You Sahaja I loved your words as much as the award!!
And this award goes to everybody on my Blog Roll including you Sahaja … if I comment on your blog, this award is yours Or if you comment on my blog the award is yours
From Sahaja
Thank You Sahaja Truly honored that you thought of me while giving away this award…
This award goes to all the women who refuse to apologise for being Feminists. And who understand what a being Feminists means. Also for all JKGs.(Joru Ke Ghulam) This Garland is all yours if you qualify… read the [link] to see what conditions apply!
CONDITIONS APPLY
I received this award from Homecooked and Mandira. I am delighted to know that they think I blog with a purpose (I do, for more than one purpose, or causes)
I would like to pass it on to bloggers who blog with a purpose, other than the pure pleasure of writing.
Surbhi for “The new and improved ‘desi girl’ has decided she isn’t going to wait for help – she will help herself. She is not the martyr – she is the marauder out to reclaim her life. The knight in shining armour has finally been laid to rest, bless his soul. The change is here, and the change is her. Maa di laadli bigad gayi, so, enna rascala, mind it!”
And to Usha, Solilo and Indyeah for No Gender Equality … this award is for the blogs, and also for the bloggers who work for these causes.
To Roop for Unchahi.
Gauri Gharpure for her wise words all the time. This post about a baby cobra is one amongst the many of her posts I love… and they also make me respect the person behind these posts.
Piper for beautiful posts and one that made me sad but also hopeful … if we can see this maybe others can too… “And today as I wake up, still not out of bed, those eyes..they flash in front of me for one solitary second. And I think to myself.
But He was Born Free. Oh He was Born Free!
No one Should take that away from him, don’t you think..“
Nitwit Nastik for writing against the misinterpretation of religion.
Spontaneous Mini … we share a love for all creatures big and small.
Goofy Mumma for her post on animals rights.(and the Bishnoi people)
Aathira for adding her angst at the way animals are treated to her list emotional atyachaar.
Reema, Piper, M4, Hitchwriter, Goofy Mamma, Aathira, Aaarti, Coffeismypoison, Spontaneous Mini, Usha Pisharody and Corinne Rodrigues for their clear views about the other animals on this planet. For the compassion they have. I am glad I met you
Aneri Maasi for her concern and her causes.
Triple award goes to .…
Devil Incarnate, Sandhya, Pinku, Ritu Harish, RV, Sahaja, Stuti (Welcome!), Gunmeen and RDB.
Mampi who is a dear friend …and although rather busy these days, her lovely posts cannot be forgotten. I loved her posts and her comments both, and miss both too. Hope to see her back, with her frank opinions
Amrutha for “My upbringing in a Hindu mission school taught me to respect others’ faiths and beliefs and not try to convert. My conscience taught me believe in the inherent freedom of the individual to do what he/she deems right. My study of women’s studies taught me that women are disadvantaged. My sense of justice taught me to fight for that equality in reality.”
Aneela for many of her posts specially the recent one (I just couldn’t find this one Aneela) of her concerns about bringing a baby in this world full of strife, I share the sentiment, and so do millions of mothers across the world. I wish all mothers realised how much difference we can make if we realise the power in our hands, if the hand that rocks the cradle also guided the baby that crawls or bounds out of it. And the Tale of two images… just two pictures and they say so much. Will we ever go back in time?
Philip for, ‘Advani has gone to the gym in the morning. My prediction that Advani will NEVER become the PM of India came true… his new found love for exercising…. Unfortunately, there can be no cure for his crooked and power hungry mind.”
Stuti for her beautiful posts that strike a chord. And welcome to the blogosphere
Anish Thomas for “and probably most sensible election after 1977″.
Pearl for her Dev D review, “what I loved about Dev D was the fact that despite characters in the movie that included – one sexually liberated girl and one prostitute all the women kept their clothes on.“
Vishesh for his beautiful, thought provoking poetry and for his brilliant idea of LOL Challenge. And this one has to go to Indyeah too!
Nancy for reminding me of how I was crushed too and how many times, and how I can never make up my mind between George Clooney and Shahrukh Khan.
G for her rolled up jeans… Welcome back
M4 for making me laugh aloud by sharing a moment when siblings stop fighting and thank you (yes, actually thank you!) for giving them each other
Mystic margarita an ENFP Personality type for I am a woman Edited to add: The best of all, What women want, a lessons from Mahabharata!!
Indyeah for making me cry while reading her post about her dad.
Ketan Panchal for - “Also, when one gets too obsessed with their communities their OWN life gets neglected. Is it difficult to understand that all those who resort to violence to prove a (communal) point, apart from harming others, are wasting their OWN lives? Who’ll be able to explain this to them?“
Couch Clown for “Those who claim that religion is not to blame for incidents such as this take heed: if there were no religion, those who advocate and enforce such barbarities would have no power. It is religion that gives them that power“ Hope to read many more good posts from you!
Freespirit for Epitome of womanhood and for SHE WILL BE LOVED.
The Survivor – It’s good to see men speak up against Gender Bias. And the Survivor does that in this post, street sexual assaults from a man;s point of view here.
D for The Apologetic Feminist and her beautiful Indian summer and We are childless so?
Athira Not all can care for the homeless, and those who think it is a good idea have all my respect – foster care of animals is a good idea? And for all her adorable animal (cat) posts
Psych Babbler for posts like this one and for So what…. And for her invaluable comments that add to any discussion.
How do we know for Go Babe go celebrating the victory of the Indian voter while not overlooking Why doesn’t Pappu vote?
DewdropDreams for :”Things happen inside, things happen outside. But the thing that matters most is what she thinks of herself. In Kiniwata, Sarita believed she was worth nothing. Now she knows she is worth more than any other woman in the islands.”
Coffee Angel for her post on the pressures even the very young Indian school children feel to compete and even to lie…and many other posts that make you think, like why doesn’t anyone ask doctors for autographs?
And I join Sandhya in her “laughing and dancing like the zoo-zoo’s of the Vodaphone advertisement!” while I request her to accept these awards for her curent affairs post… love how she picks up a News that strikes her and discusses it objectively. Women’s issue or politics or personal anecdotes, this is one versatile blog.
Mystery for her letter to her Mom….
Mindspace for ‘I try to follow my way of being god fearing and have my O GOD! moments but in my general prayers I by standard only ask “Hey God, pls do good to all”. Dunno if that works but thats how I like it.”
M4 ( Mamma mia! Me a mamma? ) who writes beautifully seriously, movingly, deeply or lightheartedly, for ‘Dear auntyjis of flabulous proportions; with thunder thighs and quadruple bums; sporting cellulite and if “that heart-meltingly beautiful sight wasn’t enough to get me all misty-eyed” …
Astralwicks for ‘The comeback. Aam Aadmi or the Common Man or Woman – was it this much neglected entity who made a quiet comeback?’ And also about what some people do for votes in the name of Lord Rama.
Tearsndreams who writes as brilliant 55ers as her passionate posts on causes she strongly believes in.
Cilla for her posts against gender bias and social sterotypes.
Shilpa Love her clarity when it comes to political issues and gender bias.
Prerna for her brilliant posts on current issues.
I received this award from Indyeah, thank You Indyeah
“Creativity:…resulting from originality of thought, expression, etc.; imaginative: creative writing.”
To some of the most amazing, creative bloggers I have seen, their Headers, their blogs, their posts and even the way they interact with fellow bloggers is creative
And who would I like to pass the Creative Blogger Award to?
The Kreative Blogger Award also goes to…
Tearsndreams, Spontaneous Mini, Goofy Mama, Gunmeen, Chirag, Solilo, Vishesh, Mandira, Monika, M4, Sandhya, Minal and Rashi V, Pinku, Vikas Gupta, Richajn and Homecooked.
Ordinary Guy If his humour posts and the detailed ‘diagrams’ are not creative than nothing is:) He can also swtich to verse with the same enthusiasm – if challenged to respond in rhyme But I also love his serious posts and fiction.
Just call me ‘A’ has the most colourful and beautiful header I have ever seen…
Indrani for her gorgeous photographs…
Crafty Shines, Mandira (another header changer!), Nancy , Reema, Devil Incarnate, Sandhya and D
Amit of Mashed Musings has written brilliant posts that I have gratefully linked to ! Particularly loved the post that came with the information that it was not an email forward
Indyeah Yes, right back to you Indyeah! Here’s to a beautiful, vibrant colourful blog, love those brautiful thoughts and vibrant pink bougainvilleas, colourful bangles, – and of course that gorgeous header by Chirag Indyeah too can weave magic and create moving poetry or long, well researched posts.
Usha Pisharody who can weave magic with words… she is a feminist and I loved her letter to a daughter and can never rave enough about her poem on a daughter she never had… (I will add a link here to both!)
Smita for her creative sidebar and her enthusiastic blogging about the protests after the Mumbai Terror attacks, I still remember reading that post and wanting to join her…!
Hitchwriter His writing is creative, I love the enthusiasm with which he can switch from prose to verse to serious to absolute slapstick humour, not just in his blog posts but also in his delightful comments
Rakesh for writing a post that has made all the guys in the blogosphere switch to writing about humour But on a serious not, Rakesh is amazing in his wisdom, sensitivity and creativity. His hilarious and serious movie reviews are a delight to read, and he was one voice that wrote long ago that all the noise of third front coming to power had no basis, and he too finds it difficult to resist the challenge to rhyme
Vimmuuu (I can never forget his Chaiya chaiya sung in a male and female voices, both his own voices!and the Ghost in the office video – shows Ghosts can be used for humour not just horror.
to be continued…
This badge created by Aritra Chatterjee has been chosen by our honor'ble judge, HRE JKG Kislay Chandra, as the 'Official JKG Badge'.
JKG Kislay also loved this badge and declared it the second official JKG Badge.
When a man says "I make hot rotis for my wife.", he might find himself being called a Joru Ka Gulam.
JKG Vikas Gupta II Vikas's Entry Number 3 touches upon the expectation that a woman must change her surname to her husband's when she is married A man is not expected to make any changes to his name though. Any man who does not insist upon this surname changing (sometimes even the first name is changed) risks being labelled a Joru Ka Gulam.
