Smart Housekeeping- For The 21 Century Woman (A Well Managed Home is a Mirror of a Good Housewife's Personality)

A housewife is very often judged by the way she keeps her house. For her, it's like a temple - a key through which she can ensure the highest level of physical and emotional comfort for her family.

And in view of its critical significance in one's life, it's imperative that your home is managed well - an art every homemaker needs to master.

Smart Housekeeping,

written by a seasoned housewife who is also a professional interior designer, is one such handy help that deals with the subject in a critical and comprehensive manner. Never before, so many tips and suggestions, covering every aspect of the subject, have been put together in a single volume. From interior decoration, time management, organising household chores, cleaning of house and its security, maintaining of gadgets and household articles to household budget, etiquettes for all occasions, first aid, travel and transfer, personal grooming, gardening, it goes on to cover tips on energy conservation and interpersonal relationships, as well.

The author, Mrs Rupa Chatterjee has had her early education in Germany and Japan. After her graduation from the Sophia College, Mumbai, she secured B.Ed. degree from Sambhalpur University, Orissa. At Goa, she had the opportunity of restoring and redecorating the historic Cabo Raj Bhavan. Subsequently, in her capacity as the Honorary Interior Designer, she renovated the Raj Bhavan at both Bhubaneswar and Puri. She has authored several books including a Bengali cook book and a four-city quiz book on Orissa.

Management has become a key element of modern life. Whether in office or factories, commercial businesses or the hotel industry, systems have been developed to ensure the smooth and efficient functioning of any organization. Since this is so, why should the home which is the first and primary unit of organization be left behind? There is a need to organize the home front so that we are able to function efficiently when we step outside its doors.

Why should the home, which is the primary and most important unit of society be left outside its purview? If men, women and children are to reach their work place and schools or colleges on time, they need to be properly clothed, fed and rested in order to perform effectively. Since modern life proceeds at an unrelenting pace and time is a precious commodity, there is a need to systematize our activities.

For centuries, the role played by the homemaker-wife, mother and housewife has not been adequately appreciated. This job receives no monetary remuneration, there are no prescribed working hours and often the housewife downplays her role by saying, "I am just a housewife". This is a sad spillover from the success-driven, money chasing Western norms that are invading our society. In keeping society healthy, happy, well-nourished and balanced, the home manager and home management plays a pivotal role, since she is called upon to be a chef, a financial wizard, an interior decorator, a doctor, a nurse, a psychologist, a wife, mother, daughter-in-law, friend and social worker-all rolled into one!

I strongly believe that the homemaker/housewife plays an invaluable role. For example, the child or teenager who is given nutritious and lovingly prepared food at home, will not be forced to live on a diet of fast food which leads to obesity and also malnutrition on account of the empty calories present in the food. In fact, Dr. Jyoti Sharma in an article entitled "Straight To His Stomach" published in the September 2000 issue of "Woman's Era" magazine goes so far as to say, "What ails Western society is lack of cooking skills" as she noticed that in Frankfurt, Germany, ..."women do not cook there. They survive on canned food, or they buy fast food."

There is much more to home management than cooking although this is undoubtedly an important ingredient in building up a happy home. I have tried to touch upon all aspects that contribute towards the running of a household, which unlike an office is a twenty-four hour, endless assignment. The cycle of cooking-cleaning-washing clothes-washing dishes-ironing clothes-putting them away is never ending. In order to eliminate the twin phrases of 'harried' and 'harum scarum' housewife, I have tried to introduce systems into every sphere of housekeeping so that the house runs efficiently.

I hope this book will be of practical use to both young girls who are expecting to set up house, as well as to experienced homemakers who may also find some of the information innovative. I also hope that this volume will bring a greater understanding and respect for the many hours of continuous hard work that goes into the running of a well-managed household.

**Contents and Sample Pages**