Shravan Masi Harsh Manasi

“ Aghada Durva Phula” meaning a collection set of leaf named Aghada, Durva ie grass type and flowers rang in the month of Shravan in my childhood days in Pune peth areas. Shravan the most auspicious month of Indian Calendar was something special for us in childhood. Today advent of shravan is marked by akhaad or Gatari very ironically. Most of the people even those who had non veg as a part of their staple diet used to desist. Today I don’t agree why non veg could be unholy unless you have qualms about killing a life morally. But then its ‘jeevo jeevasya jeevanam’ or food cycle which is more important. Of course vices are always bad but then life has indulgences. So sacrifice them in shravan. It started with divyachi amavasya or new moon day of light which is also notorious as Gatari meaning night where you end up in drainage. But in my childhood we used to have edible diyas made out of Puran: cooked mix of jaggery and chana daal. They were yummy. Shravan was challenge too taste buds. During old days my grandmother, mother, aunt used to read from a book called kathas. Each day had different stories , in fact more than four of them for new story each day. It was fun in the evenings, when we sand evening prayers name shubhamkaroti. We used to light a lamp in front of god idols. I don’t remember those stories but there was common theme. A pious lady oppressed by family or poverty and divine saviour guest whom she treats with respect and kindness. The lady gets wealth and respect at the end. Then came in festivals starting with Naagpanchami. 

End of an Era: Atal Bihari Vajpayee (25th Dec 1924- 16th Aug 2018)

(25th Dec 1924- 16th Aug 2018)

End of an Era: Will miss you Atalji. I had personal events attended by him in past. Great Statesman, Orator, Consensus Politician, Journalist  Poet, Social Servant, Parliamentarian and PM.

I was 5 years old. It was 1979 Children’s Year. I joined a camp which had swimming coaching for young children. There is a well near the tank which was treated as final test. They had announced a competition. One who jumps firsst in the well (around 20-25 ft jump into water will get a cricket bat and second will get season ball. Many tried , but I finally made up my mind with assumption that someone will rescue me as there weer coaches swimming around in the well. I jumped and everyone clapped. I got the bat. No one else did so I asked them to give me ball as I will jump again. Then it was a ritual that they used to make me jump whenever any guest came. One day there was a guest. Then foreign minister Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He appreciated my jump and patted my back with saying “Jite raho aise hi dar ka saamna karo”

Today I have no words to say as Atalji left us. Those images still fresh. Atalji was multifaceted personality. As a Freedom fighter, social worker, journalist, Orator, Poet, Politician, Parliamentarian, Minister and PM. He was respected all across his journey in above facets.

As a Freedom Fighter, he joined Quit India movement in 1942 and designed few innovative plans to achieve its ends.

As a Social Worker, he chose RSS as medium of service, he did lot of relief work, structured the organization at very young, His social work continued in politics as well.

As a Journalist, he was entrusted task of of organizational publications in Political party and RSS. He did good writing on current issue which continued through his columns in papers, interviews, speeches and so on.

As an Orator, his speeches are archived and shared across social media even today. I remember waiting for him to arrive at local ground to hear him. I was spellbound as other audience. He was mass enchanter. His speeches in Parliament, political rallies, DD releases, UN are still remembered. Though his pauses very used by each stand up mimicry artist but it created some effect.

As a Poet, he was creative, enthralling and his poems showed ways to those depressed, under motivated. It created ethereal effect across life space.

Independence Day

Tomorrow morning we will be awakened by Loudspeakers playing patriotic Manoj Kumar songs, Kids will be getting ready to go to school for flag hoisting,  You may have planned to attend flag hoisting at society or office or any social group.  Some will listen to PM speech and rest. There will be trio-color everywhere. Some might use this opportunity to chill out, picnic, long drives, restaurants , movies and so on. Criticizing the rituals now is cliche.  But what options we the people have to make the relevance of independence day more relevant.

Responsibility of independence should be year round and this day be just left to celebration as mentioned above ideally. Following is checklist for year round activities to mark us a as good citizens of Free India. Mind it that though this column does not want to be didactic and holier than thou attitude but simple practical ways I think I can contribute. This list may be edited, added , deleted as you wish depending on individual thoughts but would like to share mine.

l Do I follow traffic rules all the while.

l I do not encourage corruption in day to day and work related issues by offering bribe to achieve my ends

l Do I maintain my locality and neighborhood clean

l Do I help environment by planting trees, not using plastic (minimal), not dumping waste into rivers, maintaining cleanliness, avoid use of cars, AC, bottled waters , not creating loud volume noises and so on.

l Do I vote?

l Do I participate in any social service activity helping under-privileged?

l Do I treat my domestic staff fairly and provide them with dignity?

l Do I treat my elders respectfully and take care of their needs?

l Am I a right influence for my children and younger ones around me.

l Do I use resources optimally like Petrol, Electricity, Water, Food?

l Have I maintained cordial relationships in family, friends, society , community and nation.

l Do I work hard for betterment of my family , office, country and community?

l Do I follow work ethics at work place?

l Do I pay my taxes correctly?

l Have I pledged my organs for donation?

l Am I keen to seek knowledge by reading, using media tools, observation?

l Am I a good brand ambassador for my country outside India?

 List though may seem long but is simple to follow. Do let me know your views in comments if you have.

If you do this then only you have right to criticize system, politicians and society as most of cloumns will do in tomorrow’s media.

Wish you a very Happy Independence Day.

Whats Up?

We are now in the last leg of Summer after which colorful festival of Fall will set in mesmerizing everyone in this part of world. Starting with IPL followed by World Cup Soccer, Wimbledon and finally India Vs England series which is not going well for India. But certain individuals excel on sports landscape

Kohli ::

This guy now has no peaks left to conquer: part of test team No1 as player and captain. Part of world cup and CT winning team, Successful economically . Role model for today’s  overaggressive youth. But they should also note his commitment, passion and discipline and his hunger to succeed. Though he may have crossed boundaries on aggression but you can understand him as a part of package called Kohli. Master at chasing, going for win attitude, fitness, elegant stroke play across the field. Timing, placement, great defensive technique, running between the wickets, catching and fielding. May he comeback in series with team India lifting the trophy. And finally in same country lifting the ICC WC 2019. Its just an year away.

P V Sindhu ::

Another sportsperson in limelight was P V Sindhu. She won the silver medal after losing her BWF Badminton World Championships final clash to Spain's Carolina Marin at Nanjing, China. She has vowed to comeback and fight. "Never give up, never give in, and when the upper hand is ours, may we have the ability to handle the win with the dignity that we absorbed the loss - Dough Williams", she wrote. Sindhu went on to write that she wasn't disappointed to not have won the gold but was proud of her silver medal. "It brings me an immense amount of pleasure to bring back the silver consecutively 2 Nd year in the BWF world championships. I didn't lose the gold, I won the silver and I can proudly say my silver sparkles." She was trolled for being happy and contended. But I appreciate her resolve, discipline and dedication to her game. I have heard about her long hours of training under guidance of her coach Gopichand, her motivation. Lets hope she wins gold for India at world and Olympics stage.

World ::

Lots of things happening at highest executive levels in US. Be it Russian poll inquiry, trails, tariff war, G7 stance, Meetings with Russia and N Korea Heads, Mexican wall , shutdown, Guns, National anthem, anti press tirades, Nato issues, justice appointment, restrictive policies, list goes on and on. The mid terms will really gauge public mood or will they not?.

Britain is again at loss to manage impact of Brexit. Turkey had elections or so called ones to support hardliner Erdogan. US stance on Syrian pullout has created confusion and rise is violence. Russia after successful World cup came out winner in most of diplomacy, Pak elections created new set of violence in area including Afghanistan. Imran khan as PM will really be interesting.

Is Everything Fair in Love and War?

  

On a gloomy day in August I think six to seven years back, we sat in the conference room of my office, to decide future with our company of an Employee whom I would refer to by the name of Napoleon . This name has a background. Background goes back to battle of Waterloo fought by Napoleon and British/Prussian forces under Wellington.

War Story goes like this:

Both Napoleon and Wellington knew that the wild card of the battle is Blucher’s Prussian Army. Napoleon knew that he will have troubles defeating both the British and the Prussians. Wellington knew as well, that if the Prussian Army does not come to rescue them, they will be defeated.

But Napoleon was faced with a dilemma and forced to make a tough decision. Two days before Waterloo, Napoleon won another battle. But his cavalry and infantry were tired, and the night before the battle, there was rain. Napoleon was faced with a decision to wade his army through mud and tire them during the early stage of the battle, or wait another day for the ground to try out. Waiting one more day meant risking Prussian reinforcement for the British Army.

In hindsight, his decision to wait was what cost him the battle, and the War eventually. After Waterloo, Napoleon never managed to regroup, as the defeat signaled the end of his era.

Coming Back to August day in our conference room. Napoleon was employed in our Admin department who was entrusted to create, supervise and submit time sheets to clients. There were many mistakes after first month of training and there were escalation from clients. We made him work under experienced admin guys but showed no sign of improvement after 3 months. We ask him what needs to be done to improve. But he said he does not have idea and would step down on his own if we want. We consent and there was end of association with Napoleon and my company. His wry smile all the while really made me intrigued and be perplexed as how some people can lose control over one’s life and take it so lightly.

Year passed by. I had an opportunity to buy new house. Shifting house is really a challenge. Lots of things to plan: Interiors, electrical wiring, electronic good purchase and setup, mattresses, sofas, TV sat connection, lighting, landscaping, power backup, security, and most important Internet connectivity. Now as they say there are four basic needs. Food , clothes, shelter and wifi. I had coordinated with a broadband company. The sales guy was supposed to meet me on Saturday. My wife and daughter had a day out with my wife’s friend. So was enjoying solitude with music, reading etc. Them the doorbell rang. I opened the door to find Napolean. He introduced himself as sales guy from broadband. I filled the forms, gave him the cheque and my house was promised to be wired by Monday.

I offered him tea. He consented. Over the cup of tea, I initialed a conversation just like “Chai pe charcha”.

My first question was : “Are you settled in this job and are you enjoying it?”

 Napoleon: “ No, I hate chasing clients and dance on their whims and fancy. After your company this is my third job in an year”

Me: “ so what do you want to do in future”

Napoleon: “No Idea”