पुलंना भेटलेला माणूस

 मे महिन्याचे अखेरचे दिवस  होते'  हे वाक्य आमच्या घरी एप्रिल पासून जून पर्यंत कधीही ऐकायला मिळू शकते. म्हणजे 'पूर्वीसारखे  पुणे आता राहिले नाही हे वाक्य जसे पुण्यात कुठेही आणि कधीही  ऐकायला मिळू शकते तसे    कारण एक की लहानपणी आम्हाला  आणि मग राष्ट्रभाषेत सांगायचे म्हणजे बीस साल बाद माझ्या कन्येला  मे महिन्याच्या सुट्ट्या लागायच्या . जसे म्हणतात की कोल्हापुर अंबाबाई चे दर्शन घेतल्या शिवाय तिरुपती बालाजी यात्रा पूर्ण होत नाही तसे कोकण महाबळेश्वर ला गेल्याशिवाय आमचे मे महिना पर्यटन पूर्ण होत नाही  . तेंव्हा गाडीत बसल्यावर प्रवासाची सुरवात  ह्या वाक्यानेच होते. पु ल यांनी म्हैस मध्ये  'अशीच' सुरवात केली आहे. ' आजच्या आपल्या  अध्यक्षांनी त्यांच्या साहित्यात   'असेच' म्हणले आहे' जसे  मिसेस बेचालवर आणि कंपनी त्यांच्या वार्षिकोत्सवाच्या भाषणात म्हणतात 'तसे'.

पु ल यांना जसा प्रश्न पडतो की ते कोकणात दर वर्षी का जातात तसा  आम्हाला ही प्रश्न पडतो कि आम्ही कोकण महाबळेश्वर ला का जातो. प्रश्न 'पडतो' म्हणजे नानू सरंजामे यांचे नवनाट्य  बघताना मास्टर शंकर म्हणतो तसा नाही.  शंकय्रा त्याच्या वडलांना विचारतो की "पडदा कधी पडणार . म्हणजे दांडी वरून धोतर पडते तसे ". आमच्या मते सरंजामे एकच ज्याला झोपायसाठी ट्राम चा आडवा बाक पण पुरतो  आणि जो हिमालयाची उशी करून झोपतो तो . जो आप्ल्या अंग रक्षकाच्या  जीवावर हजारो कोटी चे साम्राज्य हेलिकॉप्टर मधून शेळ्या म्हणजे तीन चार कर्मचारी  हाकून   सांभाळतो तो नव्हे. पडतो म्हणजे अण्णू गोगटे होतो असे सुद्धा नाही. पडतो म्हणजे पुण्यात दुपारी एक ते चार ह्या वेळेत पडतो तसे म्हणजे आंतु बर्व्या  च्या भाषेत सांगायचे   तर अजगर होतो    असे  पण नाही.  प्रश्न पडतो म्हणजे विध्यार्थ्यांना फोडायला गेंड्या च्या कातडीची की  वेताची छडी चांगली असा पडतो तसा . पु लं प्रमाणे आम्हीही  आमचा शब्द पडून दिला नाही . आमचा प्रश्न म्हणजे ह्या सुट्टीत पांचगणी महाबळेश्वर ला जावे कि दापोली ला हा . आमच्या घरात यावरून भांडणे  होतात. भांडण म्हणजे जसे नळावर दोन काकू भांडतात किंवा बेळगाव वरून महाराष्ट्र आणि कर्नाटक भांडतात  तसे. शेवटी सगळे स्थिर स्थावर झाल्यावर मध्ये गाडी जेंव्हा कात्रज चा घाट ओलांडून शिवापूर फाट्यावर येते तेंव्हा N H ४ वरून आमच्या स्वप्नां मध्ये अजूनही “म्हैस म्हैस” अशी आरोळी येते ..

पु लं ची ओळख करताना एक पात्र म्हणते “आजचे आपले अध्यक्ष महाराज हे फार विनोदी आहेत . ते तुम्हाला वाक्या वाक्या ला हसवतील तरी श्रोत्यांनी त्यांच्या वाक्या वाक्याला हसून सहानभूती दाखवावी . आमच्या वाक्य वाक्यात पु ल आहेत” . मिसेस  बेचालवार म्हणतात  “अमेरिके च्या माती च्या कणा  कणात  शेक्सपिअर आहे”. त्याच अमेरिके मातीतून हे लिहिताना  सांगतो कि आमच्या  घरातील प्रत्येक क्षणा क्षणात पु लंनी दिलेली उपमा आहे .  हे आम्ही आमच्या गळयातील शिरा शिरा ओरडून गर्वाने सांगतो. 

जेव्हा दसरा येतो तेंव्हा बोरटाके गुरुजी ची 'साधू संत येति घरा तोचि दिवाळी दसरा . तोचि दिवाळी दसरा तोचि दिवाळी.. चूप... दसरा अशी आरोळी यायलाच पाहिजे .

कोणी डिग्रीचे पेढे घेऊन आले कि बगुनाना सारखा "हल्ली काय कॉलेजात कोणीही  जाते " हा आमच्या पुणे ३० (मधली आळी, शिवाजी पार्क आपापल्या प्रमाणे समझावे ) ह्या पत्त्या चे नाव राखून  हिणकस टोमणा मारतो .

घरातील मावशींनी केरसुणी आडवी ठेवली कि आमच्या मनात   हा प्रश्न की   “ हीर नाही मोडत?”.

घरात कुठल्या हि फळाचा वास सुटला की म्हणतो  'त्या फळाची वाचा फुटली  ' जशी खुनाच्या किंवा एसटीत फणसाला वाचा फुटते तशी.

घरी नॉन व्हेज जेवायला केले की 'शेवटी काय बगुनाना सर्व धर्म सारखे  ....आम्लेट "

कोणी सकाळी असंबद्ध बोलले की " काय सकाळी सकाळीच का ?"

फेसबुक किंवा सोशल मीडिया वर कोणी आपण काल  काय खाल्ले किंवा आपण कुठल्या विमानतळावर आहोत हे सांगते तेंव्हा भिकाजीपंतांचे 'कुंभार (झुकेरबर्ग ) हो गाढवास तोटा नाही " हे वाक्य कानावर घुमते.

जास्त कोणी अध्यात्मिक बोलायला लागले तर गुरुदेवाचे "यू  आर  यू  इन इन द यू इन थे आय " आठवते

जेव्हा कॉलेज मध्ये आम्ही जेव्हा गर्दीतील काही सुंदर चेहेऱ्यांना प्रभावित करण्यासाठी निवडक पु ल साहित्य  वापरायचो  तेव्हा समेवर सुबक ठेंगणी असायची. 

कॉलेज मध्ये कोणाला  चिडवायला त्याचे किंवा तिचे  नाव घेऊन ' तो अमुक असला  म्हणून काय झाले? त्याला का मन नाही? त्याला का भावना नाहीत? . सामान्य भाषेत सांगायचे म्हणजे तो असेल तर रेडा आणि  ती असेल तर म्हैस. पण पुलकित भाषे चे परिमाण वेगळे आहे.

आम्ही अजून  पण किस्से सांगू पण जसे एखादा पक्का पुणेकर 'बाजरी ला लागलेली कीड' सांगणाऱ्या  व्याख्यात्याला म्हणतो ' त्याकरिता एकदा भेंटू  आपण " तसे आपण भेटू एकदा. 

हे झाले याला कारण एक संध्यकाळ १९८४ ऑक्टोबर  ७ ची. वेळ साधारण  ६ ची . स्थळ टिळक स्मारक मंदिर पुणे ३० . प्रसंग एका आरोग्य दिवाळी अंकाचे प्रकाशन . माझी आई त्या प्रकाशनाशी संबंधित असल्यामुळे पु ल यांना स्वागत करणाऱ्या लोक मध्ये दस्तुरखुद्ध आम्ही जाऊ शकलो. ते आले, बॅकस्टेजच्या खोलीत बसले. आणि आमच्या देवाचे पाय धरायला धावलो. आमचा सखाराम गटणे झाला. चेहेऱ्या वर आमच्या एका रिटायर्ड जज चे गांभीर्य आणून आम्ही त्या बालवयात पु ल यांच्याशी एक दोन जुजबी वाक्ये बोललो. त्यांनी पण आमच्या  बालसुलभ धाडसाचे कौतुक केले. स्वाक्षरी दिली .आशीर्वाद दिला .  तेंव्हापासून आमच्या डोक्यात पु ल चढले .  चढले म्हणजे जसे  नारायणाच्या अंगात लग्न चढते तसे आणि आम्ही भक्तच झालो...

सॉक्रेटिस ला सूर्य पाहिलेला माणूस म्हणतात तसे आम्हाला  पुलंना भेटलेला माणूस म्हणतात (हे आमचे नाव फक्त आम्हालाच ठाऊक आहे .   कारण की ते आमचीच ठेवले आहे).

पु लंनीच सदू  आणि दादू मध्ये म्हणले आहे की  सॉक्रेटिस मानव आहे , सर्व मानव मर्त्य आहे . म्हणून सर्व मानव सॉक्रेटिस आहेत आहेत . चुकलेच आमचे लॉजिक . पण पु ल म्हणतात तसे आपण फक्त नावाचे मानकरी . लॉजिक ठरवणार तो वर बसला आहे (१२ जुने २००० पासून) 

With the hype and the buildup created around P. L. Deshpande Marathi Biopic, its my turn to play tribute to Pu La in my own style. Normally I don’t succumb to any commercial buildup like this movie for but when it comes to Pu La everything else just fades away. It must be the same feeling for all his fans all over world.  I am not an authority to judge his greatness as a Writer or an Artist or a Musician or as an Actor, or as a Narrator, or as a Director of Television, or as a Poet, or as a film/drama Director , as a Dramatist, or even as a as a Fan. I had heard a criticism that Pu La glorified middle class experiences and his style was trash. But that’s the same criticism done by elitists to anything that touches chords with popular choice. For me more than all these facets, I love him as a person. He is a perfect role model to search happiness in everything. He makes you believe that life is beautiful and that this spirit has helped me even in the most severe downturns, forget every other normal and happy occasion.  I wish I were a fly on the walls of his drawing room where he enjoyed sessions of musical and literary happiness with his family, friends and near ones. But I have one thing to be proud of that I am someone who has met Pu La…..

( http://Nayakgiri.blogpsot.com  to read more of such post….)

Year of Crossroads

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

----------Robert Frost

There is a time in everybody’s life when life offers two choices: One right and One Wrong. This is the time to trust your instincts, use available information and experience, assess your abilities, respect your spirit, follow your conscience and keep faith in universal scheme of things. Year 2018 has led us to this crossroad as an Individual, Punekar, Maharashtrian, Indian and as a Global Citizen. We need to take this call in 2019. And it has to be right else we will be going back in time and be labeled either unfortunately as people who took wrong decision or gloriously as people who made right choice.

As a Global Citizen, every country is at steps to take a call where one needs to think beyond Nationalism and think as a part of very closed, interlinked world sharing same concerns.

Take Highway Exit No 18

As we buy planners, calendars and resolve to be resolute on resolutions, there is a sense and sound of a busy highway with endless variety of vehicles running at break neck speed to an observant listener   nearby. Each one has his/her own vehicle trying to reach the destination earlier than others throughout the year. Holiday Season is a small detour to take an exit on this Highway of life, to sit back for few precious moments. It’s the time to refresh with the stimulants, relieve all the pressure and join the fun, observing the endless movement of life. Happy Holidays and 2019.

Brothers in Arms: Tale of Two Soldiers

Brothers in Arms

It was my first month in this new continent. Thankfully it was summertime helping me cope up with the climate which is very much different from India.  Having moved to this city suburb, it was time to search and fix everything starting with a house, vehicle, furniture, electronics and whatever it takes to satisfy the comforts of modern life I was used to in India. One can manage everything except warmth and familiarity of home and of course domestic support. The summer days are really long when sun gods bid you an adieu only after 9 pm primetime slot that too after the display of variety of the shades of illumination reflecting your own shades of emotions as the day progresses.  The day was hectic starting with working on three time zones  ahead at work , followed by synchronizing with existing time-zone followed by ticking off other household list after the working hours. Life without Car in an American suburb is same as life without a two wheeler in Pune both of which are worse than being without a camel in a desert or without a boat in an Ocean. I had gone to a car dealership owned by a contact in distant suburb in the opposite direction of my house to explore some options. Thanks to some work in the office and missed bus timings, I was delayed for more than an hour. I ended my work at the dealership and rushed towards the bus stop which was at 15 minutes’ walk from the dealership to catch the bus which was the last bus of the day at 9 pm having missed 8 pm bus planned.   The walk was a pleasant one as sun was still shining on Uncle Sam’s Empire. The best part about New England suburb towns is the nature and elegant houses which can be very pleasant to the eyes. The locality was deserted especial one of the roads which was wooded with no houses lining it. As I was walking, a SUV going in same direction of my walk, zoomed past and braked to engage me in a conversation.  This does not happen here. I was alarmed. There was a couple who shocked me by asking if I wanted to buy a camera. I found it strange and obviously ignored. They followed me mentioning that they were pickpocketed and needed some money for food. They were not beggars so wanted trade their camera for cash they needed. I told I did not need Camera. Suddenly the male half of the couple got out of the SUV and threatened me with a knife asking me to give me whatever money I had. I was scared and thought about reaching my cell for emergency call. But the lady in car pointed a gun asking me not to do anything silly. I requested them not to do anything as I value my life more than dollars I had. But somehow out of nowhere a car zoomed in from the other direction. The driver of that car assessed the situation immediately and put his car between both of us (guy and me) on pavement and the lady in the SUV and in such a way that the SUV could not move without reversing. I realized that the lady’s gun was out of equation and I could run. I ran a distance to realize the good guy in the car and had neutralized the bad guy in SUV by hitting him on the knife holding hand in such a way that the knife was dropped. The bad guy ran to his SUV, Backed and zoom passed the other car. The good guy noted down SUV number.  He approached me asking me if I were ok. I thanked him for his timely intervention. The guy was 6 ft 3 inch tall, wearing glasses, extremely fit and dressed in black T-shirt and Jeans, handsome just like any hero out of a Hollywood Movie in his late thirties. After taking necessary actions to report to the authorities,  we came out of the Police Headquarters of that suburban Town. He volunteered to drop me off to my house as there was no public transport available by then. While driving he introduces himself as Aaron Albert Ambrose a   Veteran ex-Army Man and an Industrial Contractor. As we started our one   hour journey, he said “Gun Control is the biggest Challenge in this country”.  Was it a Déjà vu?                     ‘’ Corruption Control is the biggest challenge in this country” said Cap SS Sharma to me in the higher reaches of Himalayas five years back.

Monthly Roundup Whatsup: Season's Spirit

Seasons Spirit

December is king of the months. One gets bit reflective on the memories of the year that has almost gone past. Some ambitious ones plan for the next year while some people gifted with sangfroid mind correctly just live in present. But then this is a month to indulge in everything be it food, fun and things you like. And imagine if you throw in all the birthdays in family, anniversary in the concoction goes crazy. So this month let’s forget about G20, Presidential woes in US and France, Brexit, Trade Tariffs, 2019 elections and state elections, forget about Modi’s religion, forget DeepVeer, forget Picnic (Priyanka and Nick), Bank NPAs, Sensex, Caste based Reservations, Eternal problems in Pakistan, Yuti and Aghaadi, Water woes of Pune, Traffic in Pune. So the world is turning in 24 hours as it was and Earth revolving around Sun for another year just like before. Usual sound bites resounding world over. Let’s sit back and enjoy.

For me Cricket (not playing) is not just enjoyment but more than way of life, and Cricket in Australia is special. Itched in the memories are those early morning alarms (though now its late/mid night parties), channel9 transmission, Final Frontier. Audi, Radio Australia pre 90s, Ind Aus rivalries filled with sledging, controversies, players, commentators.  It all started in 81 with me glued to Radio and watching Highlights in the evening with seagulls flying behind square leg umpire. Chappell’s, Lilee, Border were some tough players. And that magic spell from my favorite Kapil Dev. Then there were morning ODIs in B&H trophy in 1985 with colored clothing.  India playing some fabulous cricket and it was great TV experience even on our black and white TV and finally champion of champion Audi ride. The 85-86 tour was the closest we got to win a series down under with rebuilding Australia but for rains. This series was followed by ODI Tri Series typical to Australian Summers which is no longer a feature in Cricket. The longest tour of 91-92 saw rise of young Tendulkar at Perth. But tour was fiasco except one win against Pak in WC which started unbeaten run for India vs Pak in World Cups. 

November Rains: Whatsup Monthly Roundup

November Rains

The change of Season sets a reflective tone all over. As the winter sets in the northern hemisphere, the mixed emotions prevail over somethings that have gone past and somethings to look forward especially as we have reached penultimate page of 2018 Calender. Grey images in the northern part of globe add to the blues as depicted in the great Guns and Roses Song, but same chill add ‘world famous’ romantic and invigorating spirits (Gulabi Thandi) in Pune. Festivities of Ganapati, Navratri , Dusshera and Diwali done and dusted with we now head towards year end festivities after this small hiatus.  

Festivities of Diwali was marked  with the debate on crackers. There is a repeated pattern to kind of stigmatize Indian festivals like Diwali branding it as a source of pollution while same crackers turn into festivities for year end. Dahi handi and Ganpati to create noise pollution while ignoring all political noise, honking, marriage processions etc. Holi being source of water wastage while allowing swimming pools, loose taps to waste water 24 by 7. That does not mean we should not tamper with traditions and improve them but not through consorted agenda to shame these festivals while being silent on such flaws on other festivals. This modernization has to be done by sensible leadership, internal examples and awareness. No court can have any say in matter of faith his unless actual rituals negatively affect human life and well being, safety and legal violations financially. This awareness resulted in less pollution this year. But forget this noise, lets salute Diwali Traditions which ensure creativity through rituals like Rangoli, Illumination. Food and Miniature forts. Diwali also creates awareness of cleanliness. New trends like Diwali early morning events and concerts, Deepotsav, Tourism/Trekking are in thing in Diwali and this Diwali was no exception.

Mention of courts lead to another serious issue which has resulted in creating questions over credibility of this August institution. Apart from Indian Armed forces it was the only institution in India which had respect and which was russet by masses to have sense and ensure that things are above the board  in India. But now with some curious judgments as in Sabrimala, Crackers, and some very frivolous issues, really that credibility is at stake. As a systemic fault this institution is overloaded but that requires sense of prioritization prevail which has not as shown in midnight hearing of Afzhal Pardon, out of turn hearing in Setalwaad bail, and unnecessary delay in Haywood dispute. One feels that all these years we were made to believe in efficacy of collegium system to ensure unbiased judgement but it seems most severe form of manipulation we had been living in past regimes. With new school of thoughts having power in center and most parts of India, these fractures are exposed. With Media in their pockets , past regime had made us to believing in the fairness of system. Only time will let us know but we should have concrete plan to restore the credibility of Judiciary.

Mail That Did Not Bounce

 (This is my humble tribute, mediocre effort and  poor attempt to rever and respect my favorite writers, their style , the central plot, etc . PL  Deshpande and PG Wodehouse are my Idols. Please not that thios is work of fiction and all charatcters are imaginary.)

Today Mr and Mrs Bhatavadekar are the esteemed guests for dinner at our place. I am worried about how I should face them after almost a decade.. Actually I am feeling guilty that instead of being happy and excited about the reunion with someone who had been my best friend during most of my teens and young adulthood. But I am scared about both the past and the  future. Let me take back to the past first to explain root cause of my worries in present and define effects of present in my future.

When I say past , I mean those glorious college days with lots of friends, events, treks, picnics, restaurant food, movies, dramas when in Pune and Infinite fun of hostel life at a remote place. Life was an succession of events as endless like an Ekta Kapoor serial plot where something happens all the time. The most arduous task in life during those days was attending the lectures at 8 am in the morning after waking up at 7 45am squeezing breakfast in between. The most testing times were at the end of each semester where we would attend an event called as End Term Exams. The most bizarre task was to get inside my digestive system the most tasteless, pungent smelling and uncooked food someone can ever eat. I don’t know how I could have survived without  those omelets and Maggie dishes served at Naren Da (made to sound as NOren Da in Bengal) night canteen. The best parts of the life were the summer and winter vacations in Pune.

The past which I referring to was enacted in one of those winter vacations and the protagonist was my best friend Harshavardhan popularly knows at HB pencil. The genesis of this name was his pencil like tall and thin stature and his initials. Harshavardhan Bhatavadekar is a long name and if you add middle name it becomes an infinite loop. His father’s name is Shrinivas. I wonder if he gets enough space on the forms he need to fill in. I and HB met at preschool and had been together like a pillow and cushion till we parted ways after 12 th to different Engineering Colleges. We also had few other boys and girls in our motley group. We had named our group as MTV (empty vessels) as we made lot of noise. We had Prakash the eternal  forgetful day dreamer, Sumedh aka KK Kishore Kumar , Seema the emotional fool, Pradnya the fighter. HB was the joker and they called me scholar for my scholastic skills. I parted the group to join my far off college in middle of nowhere..

As we met in that eventful vacation, I found HB always lost like a passenger waiting for his Departure gate  to be announced at an European Airport. He was very uncharacteristically quiet  like a tap in a house where the water supply is cut due to non payment.  I could not trace the reason. I tried to talk to him but the guy avoided the topic like one avoids karela sabzi in the plate . But I am as persistent as a tele-caller. Sunset is the best time and any hill around Pune is the best place for one to feel more philosophical and feel an urge to open out to someone like one feels an impulse to throw out after smelling rotten fish. But what HB threw out was expression of his love he felt for Seema.

Higher Supreme Court Order

There is a Higher Court Over and above any Man-made Institution. It has decided in favor of all, that there would be no restrictions for anyone to:

Enjoy the Festival with Near and Dear Ones.

Buying Useful things for Self and Near and Dear Ones.

Be Creative in the Decoration, Illumination, Food, and other things during the Festival.

See New and Favorite Places.

Gain Knowledge, Health, Prosperity, Recognition and Self Actualization throughout the Next Year.

Spread Love, Harmony, Peace, Unity, Cleanliness, Discipline and Charity throughout the Next Year.

Help those who need the help throughout Next Year.

Stay Happy

So Please do not Violate this Order. Happy Diwali.