Summer Time

As I see the calendar, we are in the last week of May, suffering from intense heat and looking forward to the respite in form of rains. Kids will enter very last leg of their much celebrated summer vacations. Summer camps are coming to an end. All the releases meant for kids have been watched: be it Doraemon or Chota Bheem or Chintoo. Mumbai Indians have won IPL. Summer kid’s theatre, fairs, exhibitions, circuses have been visited. In our times lecture series like Vasant Vyakhyanmala or talk sessions like Majestic Gappa were also the valid forms of entertainment for even the youngsters. For today’s kids anything to do with gadgets is the ‘in thing’. Now the kids are looking forward to new books (don’t they smell great???), uniforms and new teachers. They also have started missing their school friends.

Some may have had their annual vacations done and over with. Some unlucky souls may not have had a chance to take any holiday thanks to their duties or for some other reasons. For me, it was Himalayas again as a vacation spot. Somehow I have a deep fascination for the mountains described as Nagadhiraj by none other than Kalidas. And I am sure if I initiate Himalaya fan page on facebook and promote it properly, I would have infinite members as fans.  Somehow the fold Mountains, as we learnt in geography, unfold very romantically. First you are in plains, be it at Kathgodham, or Kalka or Dehradun, or Chandigarh, or Pathankot or Rishikesh or Siliguri. Then you have rivers gushing in to plains as manifested divinely at Rishikesh. There is no place as romantic, mystic, and myriad as Rishikesh. You need to add few spices of domestic and international spirituality, making Rishikesh a great experience. You wait for something to happen as you camp in Rishikesh and follow uphill trail. Then you start looking at tall hills covered with trees. As you climb, you start getting scared of narrow roads and traffic. It’s tough to drive here. Then you come across typical British hill stations each typified with a Mall road, a lake or churches, houses. Crowds and commercial touts are the only down side of these popular hill stations. But then the weather is good. Now you get to see snow capped peaks. As you drive uphill you start experiencing different terrains, and finally you end up playing in snow (depending on location and weather). For those on treks, the efforts to climb up and down with own luggage on the back and the hardships to camp at  very basic electricity free rest houses, are worth when you take a look at those breathtaking scenes offered by nature in form of flora, fauna and landscape. And you also need to add to that, a divine sound of river flowing, cold weather, taste of hot tea and maggi to make your Himalayan experience complete. Hope I have chance in next few years again to experience same.

Somehow I feel that odd when I see someone declaring coordinates on facebook/social media about their vacation, dining places, etc. Thus am bit shy of posting my own experience on this blog. But after a long debate, felt like sharing travel experiences here as this is my own space and some of travel experiences can be useful for other tourists.

This year we planned Punjab and Himachal. Punjab leg of tour was bit challenge thanks to weather with temperature reaching 42 deg C. Chandigarh was first stop after driving from Delhi where we landed. City is good as you know it’s the only planned city in India. Some sections of Rock garden were worth the walk in the heat even if it was late evening. And boating at Supna Lake was enjoyed by kids. Then we drove to Amristar and headed for Wagah border. The ceremony is bit hyped as actual parade is only for 10-15 mins. The crowd and heat makes it worst. The crowds are so unruly and grotesque. And I also don’t know why on earth they make a way for a dance floor for ladies dancing on patriotic songs carrying national flag. Only exciting part was seeing Pak side of border and one imagines what would have happened during partition at same spot in 1947. How individual egos of overrated politicians supported by cunning British policies led to mass killings and strife?

But then next day had we had a very good shopping of local merchandise. One really feels for people killed at Jailanwalla Baug and my std Vth daughter was so interested to see that same place out of her history text book. Evening visit to Golden temple was great. One really feels peaceful and divine there.

Then we started HP leg of our tour in Dhualadhar circuit. One starts climbing hills as you drive from Pathankot. This year, I added an experience of driving in mountains thanks to some local logistical support from a good friend who lives there. This time I had luxury of having base camp at Baijnath and driving across Dhualadhar range. Baijnath has old Shiva temple which is very divine amidst the backdrop of snow capped mountains. What an experience this trip was?  Waking up in morning, driving through the divine mountains and visit places, then come back to have home cooked lunch. Again go on drive late evening and end up dinner sessions at house till midnight while enjoying windy nights and chill. Khajjiar or mini Switzerland of India was amazing. The road we took was not the conventional one on tourist circuit where you have to pass Dalhousie to reach Khajjiar. We took rod from Palampur to reach Khajjiar first and reach Dalhousie. The road is narrow and had some close shaves. The road is very picturesque but risky.  The Khajjiar landscape is amazing with peaks, deodar trees lining a very big grass field and lake at the centre of the field. It’s like heaven. Dalhousie is like any typical British hill station. We saw Tibetan influence at Mcleodganj which is at great height. I had experience of Paragliding at a great place called Billing (strange) near Baijnath. Kids enjoyed Kangra Toy train till Jogindernagar. Palampur is also a great place with its tea fields, orchards, forest walk (named after Late Capt Saurav Kalia who was barbarically tortured and killed along with 5 Jawans during Kargil war), bustling market and good hotel joints to spend evenings. Weather was great compared to plains but locals were complaining about heat as well. But then it’s all relative.

I had a chance to see IPL stadium at Dharamshala and was surprised how they could find flat land for the cricket ground. That takes me back to the subject of much maligned cricket league. I saw the play off matches out of compulsion faced by a diehard cricket fan like me even if I did not want to. But then the excitement a as I used to feel previously was all gone. One can guess that what we have seen is only the tip of iceberg and the fixing corruption can be much wider. One also should realize that BCCI is just a private body. Government needs to think hard before it jumps into popular mood of regulating BCCI. It might end up like Olympic bodies for other sports. But then public should not be cheated. So ideal solution is to legalize betting as done internationally and make criminal laws stronger to control corruption. But then cricket is just a sport. I really hope international matches are clean as I look forward to champion’s trophy in June in UK. So it was nightmarish end to mid summer nights dream named as IPL. Thankfully MI won. I supported MI fully in first three editions and MI had the next liked team status after PWI in last 3 IPLs. So there is another feather in HIS cap. IPL will no more be same without HIM as ODIs are without HIM. We the fans look forward to a perfect swan song for HIM in the Tests as well and we all know HE missed bus for ODI swan song on 2^nd April 2011.

This summer we saw ugly face of Naxalism. It’s time for arm chair philosophers, idiotic novelists (like on Ms Goddess of cheap things as described by a good friend), leftists, JNU based media stalwarts, to stop sympathising with Naxalites. It’s nothing about ideology or social justice or lack of development. It’s all about power by means of violence and terror. Government should come up with strong policies, action and resolve. That’s a very high expectation from current regime. What we have seen is that government only ‘denouncing the cowardly attack and blaming state government. Dear Dr Singh do something more. First thing first is call your HM who is vacationing in US. We also saw bad face of religion based terror in UK. How can any religion subscribe to such barbarism? These guys are very much misled....

Meanwhile back in Pune as we landed at airport there was a kind of cheer when captain announced outside temp to be 25 deg C at 8 pm. As the flight had initiated in Delhi, that was big respite. That is the time you realize value of being in city like Pune. I heard that LBT strike is off thanks so some promises. This is now time for we the people to form pressure groups to stop various parties take us for granted and put us into hardships. As i read there are last 30 days to note objects to New Development plan for Pune. So let’s wake up and drive out lethargy created by weather.

Good news is that Monsoon is on time and expected to be good. But then you don’t believe these forecasts and let’s keep fingers crossed. Let’s pray that heavy rains wash away the famine situation and tears all across.

We are all set for monsoons after a long summer and as you know Pune is really heaven when it rains. With its beauty Sahyadris can match only to Himalayas. But then each place is special. Each season is special and so are summers.....

 

Dream Family

Summer vacations test on your patience with Kids.  Kids these days are bored after doing an activity for less than 15-20 minutes on an average. Gone are the days when you gave them a PC and they ended up spending whole day playing games. Now they have played all the games and are bored of silly online games. Forget about reading books as its not fashionable and playing outdoors for lack of open spaces and heat. So on one such summer nights, I had to resort to storytelling for my daughter and her small friend. All the popular stories, either of the royal family descendants like Bhakt Prahlad or Dhruv, or of common men like that honest woodcutter who lost his axe in the well, have a similar thread. After doing hard worship and meditation, god appears and grants the protagonist his wishes. After narrating such stories to the kids, I had a great idea. I have planned to go to Himalaya and am planning to do heavy worship and meditation there. I will face all hardships and ensure that god turns up and grants me my wishes. And I am ready with my wish list along with priorities. These days you have to be prepared. What if god turns up and then I waste my time thinking what to ask for. Also you never know if god will grant one wish or three. So I have prepared ten just in case. I also am prepared with reasoning just in case like your client or boss he asks me to explain why I had asked that type of wish or asks for further detailed reasoning.

The main philosophy of my wish list is the universal fact that you can choose your friends but cannot choose your family. God decides the family in which you are born. Thus I will ask god one basic wish to chose my family and family members.

Thus my first wish is to have a mother in Law like a certain Madam G who could allot me special status at every Indian Airport. I could then form companies with authorized capital of 1 lakh Rupees and then get loans over crores from PSU banks. I could then buy land allotted by Governments. Sell the same at double price. I could get free stakes in few of the largest realtors in India in return of some favours. I will be unofficial king maker and king of the world

My second wish is to have father like Liquor baron certain Mr M. Then I can get birthday present like an Airlines. I can have liberty to own Yatches, Goa beach houses, IPL teams. I will have a permanent supply of poisons from family owned factories. I can flaunt a Bollywood girl friend. I can continue my lifestyle even if my airline is dead amidst loans. My employees remain unpaid.

My third wish is to have uncle like senior nationalistic politician and Maharashtra strongman a certain Mr P. Then I can own half of Pune district lands be it agricultural, NA, Urban. I can be on director boards of several coop banks, sugar mills, dairies, credit societies. Then I can give loans to the directors and convert them into NPA. Then I can use state government funds to bail them out. I can be no 2 in coalition government. I can continue my autocratic style and functioning scaring daylights out of all and sundry. I can get plum ministries like power, irrigation, and finance with strong ‘potential’

My fourth wish is to have aunts (at least two out fours mentioned, I leave it to god) who are chief ministers like certain Ms D from capital. Then I could have got all CWG contracts. Or certain Ms M from heartland where I would have got contracts for building statues, or certain Ms J from south where I could have inherited some family assets, or certain Ms M from East who would have allowed me to thrash my opponents or create hooliganism in elite institutes.

My fifth wish is to have maternal uncle like a certain minister Mr B. Then i can earn crores while ensuring plum posts in ministerial board. I would travel all over India in railways without any need to book any ticket in advance on VIP pass.

My sixth wish is to have brother like senior socialist leader from heartland certain Mr M. Though named soft and silky he can get tough against my opponents. I could earn lot of money from plot allotments in new cities, highways and laptop owners without holding any official post. I could play major role in political stability of central coalition govt. I could have cavalcade of cars when i travel.

My seventh wish is to have should have sister like Ms K from south. I would then own large stakes in TV channels. I will have a 2G applicants buy stakes in my media company at premium rates using the position and ministerial role her party has in telecom.

My eighth wish is to have brother in law like Certain Mr L ex CM of land of darkness as described by Arvind Adiga. Then i can continue my criminal career under police protection of state. I can also get some benefits out of fodder purchase for animals.

Now as for last two wishes i would dedicate them to two mass opium shots: Cricket and Bollywood. Again i leave it up to god to use his discretion in granting these both.

My ninth wish is to have mother like Ms A team owner of biggest IPL franchise and wife of biggest Indian Business group so i can enjoy all IPL matches in owners seats and had a chance to shake hand with GOD in my team and all other leading cricketers across teams. Of course other benefit of being next owner of biggest group will be just a bonus. But just one sub wish is that i should not have similar physic at that age. Though I would like to make a not at this age I can be comparable.

If god has to grant my last wish he also needs to change Hindu marriage act as i wish to have Oh la la Ms V as my second wife. And am sure it will not be a dirty picture to look at. Then I could rule Bollywood and enjoy Bollywood parties.

I am heading to Himalayas for sure and am sending advance notice to God so he can have time to prepare for my wish list. Better preparation is recipe of success.

Statutory Disclaimers:

Please note all characters mentioned above are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is unintentional and coincidental.

God hope you will not get offended by little bit of falsehood in this blog as i don’t want to get booked under article 66 A. And hope my family understands me.

Also note that I do not like those people who are not in power so are not included in my wish list. That does not portray any political belief. I will surely include them if they act similarly when in power.

It’s too dark to see. Show us the light.....

On this occasion of Maharashtra day let me complete my trilogy on Maharaj on this blog. You may be wondering why out of sudden i am repeating again and again on His life and work.

Situation demands someone to respond as he should have.

None of our neighbours respect us as country. China continues to camp 19km inside our LAC and yet claim ignorance. Our citizens are killed in Pak jails and still all that we do is lodge protest. Even countries like Maldives and Srilanka try using Chinese card against us.

US and EU continue to impose restrictions on visa, trade and exhibit protectionism while expecting us to liberalize our economy. I support free economy but would like our leaders to be firm in International trade forums and support our new economy. But who is interested?

Governments are corrupt. Coalgate, 2G, CWG and many more scams continue unabated with government support. People have lost the perspective that it’s their money which is being spent wastefully of politically unfeasible projects like MNREGA, food guarantee etc. UID project is nowhere at the stage where it was expected to be.  People have to spend time and money on getting simple certificates, driving licenses, passports.

Justice is either delayed as in Sanjay Dutt case or skewed as we saw in Sajjan kumar case as well as in reduced jail sentence for Sanjay Dutt. Law is unequal based on who you are.

People don’t have basic necessities fulfilled like drinking water, sanitation, roads, power. Infrastructure is a problem. Irrigation scams have siphoned out money while not producing desired results

Law and order is problem in most of the states. Crime against women, children and senior citizens continue uncontrolled.

Situation was similar before the birth of Shivaji. There was a worst famine. There were many wars as well as family feuds. The unresponsive and tyrannical rulers ruled the roost then and so they are now.

So just like then show us the path. No we are not waiting for any Godot or Avtar. It’s the time we help ourselves inspired by HIS life and work. Let us wow to bring in change on this Maharashtra Day.

Maharaj Punha Jamna Ghya....We Need Maharaj today

In follow up of my article titled ‘My own Maharaj’, I would like to compare today’s events with those in 17^th century. Based on that comparison, I feel that there is a great need for a leader like HIM (Shivaji Maharaj)today to unite all of India against corruption, terrorism and bad governance.

I just imagine what would have happened had Maharaj been born in this century.  HE would have created a glorious army (inclusive of all castes and religions) in India as in 17th century to hold off terrorist backing and corrupt governence of today which I would like to name as Bare Devils. Yes, I would like to call the rulers of today as Bare Devils due of their audacity to do anything under name of power, secularism, Aam Aadmi, and get away with it.  While doing so they bare their brazenness in public. Sad part is that public doesn't care and we get them elected again and again. Please note we are not against federal spirit by naming them  on lines of Delhi IPL team. Here Bare Devils represent the uncontrolled power incumbents have and the target of criticism are the incumbents of power and not some regional boogie. We firmly believe in united India or what we term as Akhand Bharat.  HE (Maharaj) never was a regional satrap as portrayed by past leaders of Bare Devils. HE had a pan Indian ideology and he aimed to protect whole of India from evil. But somehow even after end of Central Asian Empires and after independence from British, same Bare Devils have ruled for most of the 66 years of so called self rule. They have continued plundering of India like Central Asian or British rulers. And still they lack national charisma and appeal to make regional satraps blackmail them in name of coalition. This has fostered regionalism while nationalists get nothing out of system. Most importantly the Bare Devils are so corrupt that they loot India of its resources which are much needed for governance to reach last needy man in pyramid. Please study scams of 2G, CWG, Coalgate etc.

Lets now get back to a wonderful imagination called as ‘if HE was born today’

Let’s start with ground realities of today

HE (Maharaj) would have been held guilty in court of law (thanks to justices like 'Cat'jus ) for violating human rights of government officers on duty i.e. shahistekhan’s cut fingers and afzalkhan’s assassination. Human rights activists would have hounded him for apology. Leftist channels would have endless debates as to how HE is dangerous for secular fabric of India. Some so called wise kings would have joined rulers aiming to defeat HIM in name of modernism in Maharashtra.....and the clan of so called wise kings would have plundered Maharashtra during worst famine. The appointed subhedar of Maharashtra by Delhi would have had to prove his loyalty to Delhi durbar on a weekly basis and would have had a task to control ‘so called’ wise kings just in case...

Meanwhile those who were really trusted to fight for people s right ie opposition are disunited.   Those who had promised change after 45 years of misrule of Delhi durbar cronies in Maharashtra had a chance for 5 years to rule. They did well with expressway and roads, but failed on power, toll and other points. Mainly they failed to remove caste obstacles created by Delhi Baredevils and failed to gain power ever again. Then there were ego clashes wherein ambition of one of the heirs created divide in opposition votes and helped Delhi Bare Devils. Votes are as powerful today as the swords in those times. Maharashtra has been cursed by family feuds since historical times.

Seems like happy days of mughal kingdom are here again....

Maharaj punha jamna ghya.... We need Maharaj today to remove today's Mughals.

Let me elaborate on how even amidst these realities, HE would have defeated all Bare Devils. What Maharaj would have done? And that’s why we need HIM again.

He would have united all castes and religions and created viable alternative and imagination for all Indians.

He would have shown all the egotists and so called modernist their places and won over all opposition and fought the Baredevils.

He would have treated corruption as biggest crime and would have stemmed the rot

Women would have been safer.

Farmers and those deprived of development would have got priority.

There would have been no appeasement based on religion or caste.

Terrorism would have been wiped out from face of India

He valued environment and thus would have taken steps to cohesive development

He would have found new commerce avenues like IT, BT, and helped India ascend in world scenario.

Soldiers of Shivaji have already conquered world in US, UK and rest of world by their contribution economically benefitting India.

List is endless...

Just Imagine. Maharaj Punha Jamna ghya......

My Own Maharaj

When I was a child maybe was not aware of intricacies of Indian society. The entire world was presented to us in form of text books. Experiences at school and around were typical for a middle class non metropolitan (that time Pune at least in core Peth areas was non metropolitan. Incidentally school where I went used to admit people who shared same values and had same background maybe with one or two exceptions.  Real understanding of society came in very late when i went to IIT in 90s.  Also habit of reading helped understand further. With the profession, travel and internet came in realities of global context completing the experience.  So I can say pre 90s time slab for me was other era. One very important thing that has changed in both eras is a conscious attempt made by voices or forces around to hijack the plain unbridled respect, awe, reverence, worship I had for the great wise king Shivaji Maharaj. Not that these efforts of these people have resulted in diluting the same emotion I have for Maharaj in fact the respect has grown comparing today’s leaders. I can guess that many people with background like mine may have similar experience. When I say background I do not want to refer my caste or group this based on region, geography or religion. I just want to refer to people who grew up like me focussing on education to help us grow into international professions, aspired to take up global challenges be it in job or knowledge based entrepreneurship.  Today is Shivajayanti (by Indian Calendar and I had been thinking on these points for long.

Let me start explaining the unbridled reverence, worship, awe, respect I have for Maharaj (I prefer to call HIM like that). Maharaj created a kingdom challenging tyrannical alien rulers who had single handed religious and heinous agenda. His life is filled will continuous struggle and fight with these tyrants. He won every single moment against enemies and created unblemished record based on valour, wisdom, justice, truth and harmony for his subjects. He created example for pan Indian natives to respect own culture, religion and self esteem. He created a kingdom based on loyalty, self respect, self rule and self expression amidst a chaos reigning for centuries.  He stood for equality, respect for women and educated, native farmers and artisans. He created system which stood ground in those hardships. He had vision. The incidences like escape from Agra and panhala, total defeat and annihilation of evil invaders like Afzalkhan, shahistekhan, and many more... show his tact, daring and very intelligent statesmanship and hold over ground realities. Thinking global and acting local: a lesson for even today’s businesses. The long term vision is exemplified by the fact that moment he realized that Mirza Raje campaign was something most sinister threat for Hindavi swaraj that he decided to have treaty of Purandar to deflect direct suffering for subjects.  Going by facts for all the size of army and campaign, Mirza raje was not even able to conquer one fort of Purandar (thanks to bravery of unnamed occupants led by Murarbaji ). On the other hand he took on Afzalkhans and shahistekhans when they had captured much more territory than Mirza Raje. He created loyal supporters like Tanaji, Bajiprabhu, Shiva Kashid, Madari Mehtar, Hiroji, and many more who had believed in his just mission of creating self rule. He had many followers even in Muslims proving his broad vision. He respected enemies and was beyond any parochial outlook. He understood threats of British and other colonists who were mere traders then. No other so called emperors of India (even though they themselves came from central Asia) found these traders as threats. Of course what can you expect from another outside occupier?  Maharaj understood importance of Sea and Mountains for strategic defence. Attacks like 26/11 or 93 bombings would never have happed if his vigilant navy was guarding us today. We don’t learn from History. But what can we do as these is hidden agenda to manipulate history. For those growing up on Raja Shivchatrapati by B M Purandare, it’s something beyond words to express worship we had as a child and we now have as grownups for Maharaj.

Then let me tell you what i earlier meant when i feel my emotions are being hijacked

1.       Drawing Maharaj on caste line: This is the most disrespect we can do to once in a century leaders like Maharaj of for that matter visionaries and legends  like Tilak, Agarkar, Shahu maharaj, Mahatma Phule, Maharshi Karve, Dr Babasaheb  Ambedkar, Savarkar.  These people are so great and it’s very imperative for mere mortals like us to respect them beyond caste, religion, boundaries, and states. These are world leaders and definitely need Pan Indian respect. But today’s leaders based on narrow and selfish interest brand these leaders based on their castes and hidden agenda. I feel some people are making intentional attempt to let people like us realize that we are not needed in worshipping HIM.

2.       Dividing society by his name

Some people are creating needless controversies to divide the society already so divided on caste lines. Certain saints and historical characters are purposefully deleted from history and mention. I don’t care if these characters played role in history as believed and historical research is something which should be left to academics. But what I request is not to divide society creating needless controversies. Maharaj spent his life uniting society (Maratha Tituka Melavava). Aren’t we doing disrespect to his legacy?

3.       Undermining very important aspects of his life, teachings and legacy

a)      Creating false notions about insiders/outsiders and diluting main cause and philosophy his life story is based on.

Now i see secular media, politicians and thought leaders deflecting most important teachings like respect of self, religion, culture and self governance. They just see Maharaj as someone who created justice based kingdom out of subjects. The whole life of Maharaj is based on fighting evil outside tyrants. Please note these existing tyrannical rulers were not people of land but outsiders who had an agenda to rule. They were not any other ordinary ‘unjust’ rulers from native dynasties or local dacoits or misguided villains. Yes and he was secular in true sense as he had many followers from other religion and castes as well. He was champion of creating that self respect and belief needed to carte self rule, justice and benevolent, socially developmental regime.

b)      Highlighting only few  greatness points out of complete 360% projection of his greatness

These days as you see any article describing his greatness revolves around only some points of his greatness. These days’ historical facts like defeat of Afzalkhan or Shahistekhan are no more highlighted.  His vision and valour defeating enemies is not highlighted as it was highlighted when I was child. Only the points like how his kingdom was secular or how he was king of farmers, how he created efficient systems as rulers are the only topics discussed publically. Yes he was a great king, he was king of farmers and he created very deep and detailed governance system. His love for farmers and subjects is incomparable in history. And we used to know these points of HIS greatness even when we were child. And its good that these points are highlighted but his main teachings are diluted while doing that for some obvious ‘secular’ agenda.  But I am not sure our next generation know nuances of all epic battles like that of Purandar, Javali, Panhala, surat will be known with details like what we used to do. That’s why i love the song from film Me shivajiraje bhosale boltoy on battle of pratapgad.

4.       Continuing  with erstwhile prejudices

The leaders in Maharashtra after Tilak in congress mainstream (Please note that Savarkar was never in congress mainstream), have history of genuflecting towards high command.  Right from Nehru, the so called Pan Indian leaders and ill informed and uninterested public outside Maharashtra continue to have jaundiced outlook towards life and legacy of Maharaj. We have seen in past all and sundry and so called ‘mass leaders’ quoting on Maharaj wrongly then apologizing when issues backfired. Even today our leaders fail to highlight Pan Indian cause of Maharaj outside Maharashtra.  Maharaj had pan Indian impact of undermining unjust outside dynasties and which resulted in modern India based on his vision (though in between there was British rule which took up vacuum created by Maharaj’s successful challenge to so called Pan Indian outside dynasties). He did not have time span in life to spread his pan Indian vision (except few kingdoms) to the other parts of India or maybe successive Maharashtrian rulers failed to take on from where he had left resulting in British rule.  Sambhaji raje was an exception wherein he took on four strong enemies and kept them at bay for 8 years with sheer vision and tact. Sadly he was a victim of treachery.  It’s very high time that our leaders of today end these pan Indian prejudices.

Now who are these forces /voices who try to hijack my own emotions for Maharaj from me?  I do not want to pin point neither have any interest in doing so as there are some public faces subscribing to this process or there may be very obvious hidden bigwigs behind these forces.  No idea.  

And I might be wrong as well that anyone apart from me feels like above. But one thing is sure that personality like HIM will not be born again. That’s why he was gugpurush (man of the era), yugkarta (creator of an era).  And these great people are born once in millennium...

Salute to my own Maharaj.......

End Season (discounted) analysis

At the start of season we knew assignments would be easy as we had home conditions compared to 11 and 11-12 where we had 8 tests in eng and Aus. We suffered 0-8 loss. Thanks to almighty when we had transition phase then.  We had young players who were raw and untested and fitness levels where anti athletics like me could have beaten established players.

Indian international cricket calendar has come to an end for 12-13 season. It started with India vs NZ in India followed by ICCt20 in srilanka, India vs England 4 tests in India  followed by T20s and ODIs, antinational pakis playing ODIs and t20s which i boycotted as to protest (as if it mattered) and finally Ind  vs. Aus  4 test series.  So what are the signs based on this season

1.       Dhoni changed his laid back attitude in tests and he was able to shed some heavy weights in test and ODIs (eg VVS, RD in test and Gambhir and Viru in limited overs cricket).

2.       Emergence of new kids on the blocks: Pujara, Vijay, Dhavan, Jadeja, and re-emergence of Kohli, Ashwin, Dhoni and Ozha. These people showed their merit by means of consistent performances and positive intent. Though would have loved Rahane to produce innings of significance in final test as well Jadeja showing more skills with bat. That’s most positive of this season than results as they forebode good outcome. Now only question how this young brigade will cope in SA , AUS and ENG?

3.       Indian bowling esp fast bowling had one answer ie. Bhuvanesh kumar who can be used with desired results in SA, Aus and Eng provided he remains fit. Ishant sharma can be potent force as he has exhibited in those climes. Fitness of Varun, Yadav, and rest remain mystery though thanks to BCCI whims and fancies on their fitness of fast bowlers including zaheer khan. That’s is main thing to be focussed for SA13

4.       Nothing and no one is indispensable including the Master blaster as he is in need to perform as to justify why is not retiring. Though many of my friends would find this meaning sacrilege but already I have documented what HE means to me but as all good things come to an end so be HE and preferably not as risk of team interest.

So while i don’t know implication of yet another jail escape for England in NZ thanks to 10 th wicket and Monty, i assume that India end up as No1 ODI team (confirmed) and no2 (or 3 in worst case) Test team for this season it’s a good start for next season which comprises of Champions trophy in Eng , ODI home series against Aus,  4 test series in SA, 3 test series in NZ. (not counting IPL and CTT20).

Wishing young India brigade all the  best in hostile conditions and wishing HIM to prevail upon non entities and critics who don’t count at all as compared to HIS stature .  It’s time for midsummer night dreams and commercial space for something as inconsequential like IPL but morons like us still will enjoy as compared to shit produced by major popular channels in fiction and news media(as biased as they are clamouring for unproven but convicted celebrity terrorist . Lage raho ‘bhai’ and i mean cricket brethren.....

Another Day in Office

Indian monsoons these days are not like what they used to be fifteen years back. In fact life is not what like it used to be fifteen years back. World two decades ago seemed like a different world, a different planet, experienced by a different human being whose name I still carry on my visiting card as Director of company launched ten years ago by that same human being. That human being also had the same name as written on name plate on new pent house I bought last year, and on registration of my new car which was launched last week by the Car company which itself was launched in India fifteen years back during new liberal era ushered upon in India by now Prime Minister who was Finance Minister then.

I had read in morning paper that Monsoons were receding and some rains were predicted. Day started brightly as usual. It was sunny as I completed reading daily papers with my cursory glances, dropped everyone to their respective occupations in family and reached office.

Day at office was hectic as usual. It started with daily  overseas calls, meetings to plan the work , planning the meetings, monitoring projects,  few interviews to replace employees on notice, employee communication, client communication to explain the most hot issue of change management, supervising the draft  proposal for prospective work from existing client, checking on facebook as to who is doing what, commenting on business political topics, envying those on vacations, knowing who ate which cuisine last night, getting mobile calls from banks and insurance companies who wanted to sell me something which I do not need, celebrating birthday of a young employee joined recently, completing pending client status reports, rejecting offer from friends to 'sit out' somewhere to enjoy the Wednesday evening owing to call late in the night, had managed to take out few minutes while having lunch to speak with spouse while reading economic times.

As the day turned into evening outside, had no clue that clouds had gathered and a clear day turned out into balmy windy and dark evening. I normally have no time to check outside weather but today I had managed to take a glimpse of outside from the glass exterior of my 5th floor office while fetching coffee from the machine which is at other end of my cabin. There are days when I don’t have a single trip outside my cabin loaded with work and meetings. But today felt like having coffee which was very rare on such kind of day.  Thus as days turn into nights, monsoon to autumn, winters to summers, miss out on this daily theatrical show offered by nature. That's what is about life; we miss out many things going for kill, going for something intangible. Of course there are moments of weekends; holidays where you can speak to yourself and detach yourself from happenings around but such moments are very rare these days. These 3G networks don't allow you that as well now days. Even on vacations, you need to check mails, fb, gtalk whatever....

As the clouds roared, I was worried about employees who will man the BPO for the night. Honestly I am not worried about them but about the fact that on such evenings someone or other feels like reporting sick or has some family emergencies.  My poor Ops manager has his own set of problems. I feel for him on such days. Terror is unending as depicted in a beautiful Lata song. Fifteen years back such evening would have resulted in calling group of friends and venture out for a long drive to get drenched, have onion pakodas and chill out. Now I bother about traffic jams, water logging, and power and network outage. I checkout if my family reached home on time which they have.  By the time my night shift staff got settled I decided to go home. It was Eight PM.  I sent my final email, closed my laptop and then again after some discussions finally entered into elevator.

As I enter the elevator, I am approached by Ops manager that six of employees on one major acct have not come and they have month end to finish. Though we have backups but not for six employees on single project. I ask him to call each of them and request them to come when rain subsides. I transmit client pressure to Ops manager. I go back to my cabin lecture him on how client has raised queries last month on some missing line items and how I had to convince him. I don’t want to do that again on first US working day of next month.  Meanwhile I see workload on other client account and nominate those with fewer loads to this job. My head starts wheeling and banging. Ops manager comes in saying 2 people have complied and will reach office soon. I instruct him further on some process contingencies and certain report to be sent on priority and rest to be done upon completion. My headache is accompanied by some stomach butterfly feeling which I attributed to tea I had at six PM. I mailed my US account manager about the plan and then talked to the same guy. Now I am going crazy, I have a vomiting sensation, my head is banging, and I need to leave.

I just mechanically rushed to the elevator and by the time I reach down as I could smell rain and heard its noise. I felt calm.  The head ache was gone, so were the stomach ailments. I entered into my car in the basement by quarter to Nine with fifteen more minutes to go for old songs to start on FM stations. These days I don’t like anything that’s contemporary be it music, movies or anything. Some people call it mid life crisis.

It’s raining heavily by now. Road has a stream gushing from up hill. I tread my vehicle knowing that with the clearance my vehicle has; there should not be any problem. I splash water onto few poor pedestrians who had bad time holding on to their umbrellas. What on earth made these people venture out in rains that too without vehicle? How insensitive you can be looking at world from your eyes. Fifteen years back maybe I would have been at receiving end of the splash and still enjoy it. There is one small lane branching off the main road to take a short cut to reach bypass highway which is my daily route while returning. This lane has some buildings with residents but is kind of deserted and badly lit even on normal days but today it was pitch dark and totally deserted. I put on upper light. Viper is at maximum. Suddenly I see a man dressed in white shirt and tie with a brief case in hand asking for a lift. He was middle aged and looked corporate types.  Normally these days you don’t dare give anyone lift. I have heard about many crime and mugging incidences. I wonder what to do. Should I zoom pass him and leave him to his fate or help him? I slow down. His dress, look and feel helped me feel secure as he sounded a mid level executive of some reputed company. Maybe he got stuck because of his bad luck. The stranger also reminded me of my diseased maternal uncle who used to dress similarly and was of similar age when he used to come to our place till fifteen years back. Those memories flashed and made me press on brake pedal and stop around twenty meters ahead of him. He came near the car and spoke to me in proper English

" Sorry for bothering you, but I was supposed to be picked up by my company vehicle which has broken down and have to reach station to catch night train back to Solapur"

"Can you please drop me to the bus station from where I can catch bus to the railway station?

 Bus station he mentioned is on my way, I nodded.

“Sorry I am wet. Do you have any newspaper so that I wont make your passenger seat wet?"

I think I have few in my dickey. So I said him that they are in the dickey.

“That’s fine I will take them out” he said. I opened the dickey as he goes behind the vehicle. He comes back with an old paper and a plastic cricket bat which my daughter had left during some outdoor picnic.  

That flashed the sentiment of longing for my daughter. Whenever I think of her, there is a feeling which can only be described by something warm, welcome, caring.  It is the same feeling which I used to get when I was a child. It is the same feeling when I saw my parents returning late by few hours when they had kept me with some relative promising that they will return in half an hour. 

 Zooming back to present I thought why on earth this man pulled out plastic bat from dickey.

“You have a kid, he must be missing his bat at home so I thought I could remind you of a small bat in dickey as I am sure it must have been lying there for months if not years”, said he.

 I remember our trip to Mulshi in June. It seems like yesterday and three months had passed and so had monsoons.

I said “Oh thanks maybe my daughter is missing her bat. Will take it home for sure today”

He settled inside and we started the journey

We reach the bypass highway and join the speedy vehicles rushing past. Rain grew stronger

Stranger said “I am Ashish Kulkarni from Solapur.”  Name sound familiar but I knew of at least 500 odd Kulkarnis in Maharashtra and US. This is a kind of name you will find anywhere and any search on facebook or linkedin will generate at least 500 results.

He asks my name, am hesitant, I comply. Asks me about my native village, occupation

I tersely tell him software nowadays you don’t trust strangers, Software is a vast spectrum from 5k earning trainees earning five thousand to VPs earning three crores and above.

“What kind of  Software?  I know computers but my education stopped when windows was just about to arrive. I had taken a course in NIIT for 3 months but learnt nothing but to open lotus   sheet on pc XT. IT was late 97. After that I did not have any opportunity”

I remembered those days when IT was new. Days of y2k, dot coms etc. That was time we jumped into IT, now we talk about clouds, Android, IOS. Lot has happened in fifteen years

Looking at the bat asked me how old is my daughter. I told her age.

Putting down the bat, he said calmly “I came to your house when you were twelve years old.”

I am shocked

“You mean to say you know me. You must be joking”

How the hell he remembered my face after twenty six yrs and after having added at least 60-70 kgs on me in those twenty six years.

Now he tells my school name, my love for cricket, my peculiar habit of mixing rice, chapati and dal to make it faster to eat so I can run out to play

We suddenly are slowed by a bottleneck on highway, bus station is 5 minutes away but traffic will take me 15 minutes for sure and I am with someone I don’t know but who knows me very well.

So I ask him do you know my father or anyone from our family. I was searching for all kulkarnis in my memory. And another clue was solapur.

Yes he said: I know your maternal uncle Kiran Deshpande: kiranmama. Then it struck me that the uniform was from the same company where kiranmama used to work

Kiranmama was someone special.  I was someone nondescript in my family who had no aim but to play cricket on street and watch on television. I never used to score more than 65%. But somehow Kiranmama had special attention for me. He used to tell my family that I had great potential be it studies or whatever I do.  He was my favorite. I used to remember evenings he used to take me out to gardens whenever he came to Pune. We ate snacks forbidden at house. We used to go to his place in vacation. Those used to be best days. As he said, I did well in Xth but surprise came in XII and IIT when I scored big and made good career. His prophecy was correct. As I went to IIT, I used to write letters to him. Yes those days I used to write letters. As I joined my first job after IIT, we partied in real sense as he welcomed me to adulthood. It was so macho to get drunk….

And one fine morning in late 97, I was visiting Pune on a weekend, we all woke up on call in about the accident which happened earlier night and all of us attend his funeral in Solapur then. Kiranmama and one of his colleagues were bumped off by a truck while returning from office.

Suddenly traffic speeds up, I am back to present which is tense.

I asked him “Do you still work Kiranmama‘s office?”

“I don’t”

But then realized that the company was closed in mid naughties, I remember someone from Kiranmama’s family telling me that in 2005.

I wanted to ask him then why is he wearing that company dress.

“Kiran was a good man” He goes on. “I was very close to him. He got me in the company using his good books with the then company GM. We used to work hard when we were bachelors and spend weekends together. Then we got married had children but we has a strong bond”.

“And let me tell you, you were his favorite nephew. He was so proud when you stood in state merit list and got into IIT. He would have been proud seeing your status today”

But then he said “Kiran missed out on seeing his son doing so good in life as you. That should be his only regret after living a good but short life.”

He turns to me and asks “Hope you are doing fine. Do you have any regrets in life?”

Normally I get sick of such philosophical talk. I ignored

After a small pause, he put on his spects. Turned towards me and said in a very deep voice

 “ Let me tell you why I am here. I am here for message, Today is your last day in office, I mean last day in life as well.  “

I braked car to halt as cars behind started honking.

Was it a practical joke?  I could see the bus station 500 meters away. Was that a joke gone wrong or he wanted to be philosophical or was he insane.

Then suddenly I recall my trip in 97, on that night when Kiranmama had died, someone else was critically injured and later succumbed to injuries. I could remember face of small girl who was daughter of Kiranmamas’ colleague and her mom. I suddenly remember name on ICU ward : Kiran Deshpande and Ashish Kulkarni…….

The world started turning around for me. No this can be happening.  This guy is playing some jokes.

I went back to 97. I remembered his face in local papers next day in obituary column. And lightening stuck me. What if he is a ghost and if he is so then am I going to die?

Now his old uniform, his interrupted computer education, everything he said fell in place in time sense of things.

I do not want to die. I have responsibility to my family. I have to play with my daughter. I want to see her grow. I want to see myself retiring nicely. How would my daughter cry when she knew that? What will my wife do? How will my parents take this? 

Office and related matters which mattered most till five minutes back, seemed to be last worry. In fact it never stuck then what will happen to my client, employees? But strangely I stuck me that how my CA will manage wealth so my family will not suffer. What if someone frauds??  . So ultimately it was again about family.  Many thoughts just flashed in few seconds. Whole images about past memories mostly good ones zoomed.  So life is about good memories.

I look at man, he had know it all smile and some serenity.

He said “Son my message has been delivered. Look even we have reached the bus stand “.I never realized that I was driving blindly for last few moments. I halted the car. He simply walked off into crowd of umbrellas near the bus station.

I am dazed, I am sweating, again my headache starts to roll off, and I feel like vomiting,

And there is a big knock on the car door and there was a huge guy in black overcoat asking me to open my door. Was it Mr death? I pass off

I open my eyes,  I am in my cabin, There was crowd outside my cabin, The guy with black rain coat was watch man who was trying to break lock of my cabin. My cell phone had 18 missed calls from wife, parents, office ops manager, office boy.

Later I came to know that I was unconscious in my room all the while.No one realized but my wife upon not knowing my where about called everyone and someone realized that I was in the cabin not responding to anything even after knocking for 5 minutes and thus had called watchman to break open the door locked from inside

Immediately they rushed me to hospital, my BP had shot up 200-140, I missed a stroke narrowly. It could have been anything even paralysis if I was not so lucky.

Month after that I am again in office but still cannot forget face of late Ashish Kulkarni. I have learnt lesson hard way that family matters most. Maybe I was given a warning, a new perspective,   from someone Iike Kiranmama from the other world who loved me so much.

I have taken this seriously and promise to do what I missed.  I will not get hyper on office matters, I will plan my legacy, I will spend more time with daughter and family, I will focus on health. And I will treat every day in office as just another day of fine journey which we call as life.

Just to complete the narrative and very small fact which came upon me few days later. I remembered that on the morning of that fateful day, I happened to accidentally gaze upon the 15^th death anniversary photo published by Late Ashish Kulkarni’s daughter who is now an IT employee of reputed company after being recruited from one of the top engineering campuses in country. Kiranmama’s son also has gone abroad for higher studies.  I imagine how Kiranmama would have enjoyed US visits and success of his son. Wish life is not as unfair as it was to him.

But then this is life. You have to treat it just as another day in office and you will agree that offices are not fair to everyone. Point is what you make out of this extra day in office……

Note: The characters and events depicted are fictitious and any resemblance to anyone living or dead is coincidental. Though issues are real, human and universal…..

Revival

Revival is order of day; be it economy, be it politics, be it cricket, be it society. As we enter second half of the second month of year 2013, which had a bad start in addition to legacy of 2012 which was year of failures.  Somehow many will agree that speed of time flow is incredibly fast in 2013 though it may sound as cliché or for that matter anomalous as wheel of time moves it same speed since the big bang.  But having seen almost 45 days of New Year, seems like 2013 has different properties. 

Government seems to be acting especially against sending strong message to enemies of India irrespective of what lefts, seculars and anti nationals say against Afzal Guru hanging. Noises for Modi as PM have already made an impact so that govt had to take cognisance of it and act. If Modi outside power can create such an impact, what will happen if really he is give n charge in 2014? That for me sounds remote as Indian voters don’t vote by emotions, logic, ideology or development, they vote based on established equations, patterns, cash and demographic vote banks. And Indian media and elites have some agenda to derail Modi and his politics of development. But media is scared and that can be seen in endless debates on secularism and under mining of Modi. The British mindset of ruler and elites in India has not changes even after 60 years of freedom. Our Independence struggle has replaced British with new elite class which has ruled politics, media, society and business. Though after liberalization business in India has been relatively set free and they can have role to play based on what suites them. Government has taken note of public outcry and seems to heed for social media opinions and thus seems to have some decisive plan to defend its urban educated vote base. More interesting will be budget when populist and vote bank schemes which were highlight of UPA 2 will get financial support or will they be diluted on backdrop of reforms. That will clearly be the signal even as step to have Rahul Gandhi projected at PM carries no immediate political gains. Not that all will be revived if Modi is at power. It has to be seen if he can master coalition politics and yet push forth his development card. And here i do not wish to repeat that secular, corrupt and damaging political/elite systems which ruled for last 55 out of 60 odd years will make it impossible for someone well meaning, corruption free like Modi to act in benefit of India.

That brings forth development and economic growth which needs revival. Here 2013 will have to play a major role in defining 2014 and beyond. World economy seems better than 2012 especially US showing signs of recovery. European crisis still looms but some mitigating steps have been taken. Indian 2012 was poor with reduced growth, high inflation, BOP crisis, bad governance, corruption, famine all colluding to have gloomy impact on economy. Govt seems to be irrationally bent upon collecting taxes to narrow deficit sometimes illogically driving away investors. Govt also vacillates on key policies. Thus budget of 2013 will define the direction. Thankfully guidance for IT companies is bullish and we can see better job market further boosting the spending in real estate, consumer markets and auto. Thus we should look forward to PC to take steps to revive economy.

Will Narendra Modi and his development politics as an answer to a better 2014 and beyond....... Only time will tell but his chances are very slim for now. But you never know.

Same is for society. 2013 started on bad note for safety of women.  Though some laws have been straightened but much more need to be done. Issues like female infanticide, khaps, inequality still remain challenge for society. Thus society needs revival

State govt of Maharashtra is busy exploiting draught. Draught relief is proven industry for some. Energy crisis looms and no steps seem to be taken anywhere. Blame the coalition. Opposition is divided now with MNS declining to join any one. Thus this government is safe. So revival in 2014 seems distant.

Education system needs revival as IITs are abused. Govt is playing with students on exams, RTE and some evaluation dictats. Need experts to manage rather than politicos.

Civil society movements need revival and need to align with opposition to make an impact. Somehow hopes with likes of Arvind Kejariwal, MNS seems dying down as individual ego based politics lacks mass appeal.

Pune city needs revival on infrastructure and environment but people at helm are real estate tycoons and anti social elements so chances to develop city and remove corruption remain remote

Finally Indian cricket needs revival after nadir of series loss to England at home. Australia seems lesser challenge than England who had good pace and spin attack along with experience batting. Aussies  batting apart from Clarke and Watson seem inexperienced, also with lack of spinning option could hurt them but Indians should be beware of their young pace attack. But have Indian selectors taken look at larger picture that is future? Starting with captaincy where they don’t seem to have alternative despite Dhonis’ failing as test captain and batsman.  So at least they should groom someone for future by naming him VC; only candidate being Virat Kohli who is only certainty in playing eleven apart from Dhoni and Sachin till he retire. Sachin should be asked about his future clearly up to what time he can play and plans should be to use his experience. Some tough calls are necessary.  Young guns like Rahane, Dhawan, Tiwary should be given chances to cement their places like Kohli and pujara.  So that leaves Sehwag . But Sehwag was needed against aussies. It will be his last chance like sachin. On bowling getting back to Harbhajan was tactical for aussies and i feel he should be played ahead of ashwin. Fast bowling is strengthened by bhuvanesh. So once varun and yadav get fit we may have better picture for future. Let’s hope there is revival there

So during this romantic period of year , lets hope that we see revival.......