Kgpians Day Out...

We had great time yesterday. A 30 odd group of families with KGP background enjoyed yesterday at Samparc Balgram orphanage near Lonavala. Event was annual picnic organized by IIT KGP alumni association in Pune.

We in Pune and India have been shocked by daylight murders of activists or rapes, falling economy, good for nothing government, corruption etc. There is gloom all over. So we thought why not beat the blues. Every year Pune chapter has annual get together at some resort where we have fun, beverages, poisons and food of choice. We meet, enjoy and then disperse to our own grind. So we thought we could tweak the event to some other format. We brainstormed and felt the only cause that could appeal to all batched from 56 till 13 was the theme of social cause. We had identified, start up mentoring, soft skills, adventure sports, music, films as various alternatives but found them limited to certain age groups. We went ahead with social and decided to have a get together at an orphanage. We were really worried if we can generate response, as it’s not everyone’s cup of tea especially for younger batches.  But we went ahead and felt that any delta which we can create will be positive.

Day arrived after lot of promotion. We were encouraged by 40 odd registrations prior hand.  But we were not sure about actual turn up. Venue was scenic on foothills of Lohagad and Bhaje caves,. And as in monsoons this place is heaven with a big waterfall in form of samparc orphanage. We waited and waited and finally could generate a number of 33 to assemble. And life will never be same for all 33 heads who attended. Purpose of this report is to reach out to all those who could not attend and make point to visit the place at least once a year.

We were welcome by efficient staff and all inmates (Bhaje facility host girls and Chakan facility host boys). The happiness flowing around the resident and the energy was evident. We were served with hot pohas and jilebis for breakfast. As we settled, we had an eye opener speech by founder of samparc Mr Banerjee as how one person can create an impact. From zero to around thousand of orphans all over in places in Maharashtra, Bengal and Gujarat, samparc hosts may. Some of residents have gone in to do MBAs and higher education as well.  We were also presented a slide show explaining how good samparc had done. It’s simply amazing guys!!

We were really enlightened after being informed about samparc’s journey since 1990. Then we explored the ways which we can collaborate. Our group had CEOs and chairmen of Big corporate houses who have the resources and means to initiate the change and help samparc to meet its objectives. Many news ideas like rural BPOs were discussed and alumni pledged that they will sponsor at least few students, visit samparc at least once a year. Few also volunteered to teach as well

Following are action item listed by association

1.       Each alumni to visit samparc at least once an year

2.       Mr and Mrs Kalyan Chakraborty  Chairman To share the digital material for training the trainers on maths and engloish

3.       Mr Maneesh Bhandari to explore with samparc about rural bpo employment initiative

4.       JP da to involve his NGO to help sponsor many girl children

5.       Debraj Dhar and few other volunteered to help children by teaching maths and English

6.       Nalin da will have his independent action at Mahindra

7.       Other alumni also promised help in all above forms r any new ways to help orphanage.

8.       Association to coordinate all above a[part from financial help and it was planned to have another meeting with greater attendance in near future at samparc

We have special mention of Mr Mukhija and Mr Amit Deb from Mumbai who came all the way. We also appeal to Mumbai association to help in our cause as its more active and larger organization in India.

Other chapters also can help. After that, we had a wonderful round to facility, few people ventured out walking till the waterfall. Few interested also had sessions helping have good time in the nearby areas.

It was followed by a wonderful lunch

Few other agenda points were discussed

·         To get help from Mumbai to form formal structure of our chapter. Amit da promised same

·         To hold an AGM in November 13 at residency club Pune. This event will be an evening session with families, cocktails and dinner at urban landscape. Nalinda and Sudhir Bapat to help us in same.

·         Encouraging more participation from 2005 onward batches

We also collected funds for IIT foundation in the context of PPC for Diro movement.  A separate follow up mail will be sent by association to invite contributions from Pune alumni for reimbursing expenses done by few individual alumni approx around 2 Lakhs. Pune chapter is committed to raise 20K for same.

Really guys Pune chapter has reinvented itself after this event. Though we were not in great numbers but we enjoyed the day making in an impact for society and country. We appeal all to be with us in this unique endeavour. Be tuned to this channel for further action, follow-up and details And please be there in numbers for November event at AGM.

We are a part of great tradition, great credentials and great legacy created by league of many extraordinary gentlemen created by an institution called IIT Kharagpur.  Some of these gentlemen have left the shores of motherland. What do we call these gentlemen?  Are they deserters, traitors or for that matter pragmatist or visionaries. Few have stayed back for various reasons and some who have for some vague notion of doing something good for motherland. Are they idealists, foolish or opportunists or losers? Debate is on and divide still exist across US consulates in Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi. But then avoiding this big debate, some moments in life justify your decision to take sides in this ongoing battle since 60s. This definitely was one of them....

Walk of Life: My Wari Experience

Legs are aching. Body is tired. Destination is few kilometres away. It starts raining. Mind is in trance. Will power carries you till destination.  You sleep in temples, trucks, homes or in the open.  That ends today. Tomorrow is another walk, another journey and another destination.  You have to manage logistics of food for your group, or rely on kind donors. You have to manage ablutions sans privacy. You have to face hardships for 20 odd days. This is picture of Wari which you will think is negative. But hold on for a moment. Let me complete my word picture of Wari. The physical discomfort is what makes Wari a super devotional and highly emotional experience.  It is the supreme devotion to ‘Vitthal: the almighty’ that carries you through. The eternal and divine rhythm of ‘Gynba- Tukaram’ drives out pain from your body, gives extreme bliss all through your walk.  Mind and soul search for self enlightenment. At the end of the walk many people experience this bliss , get new perspective of own life for whole year.  This experience is what will bring you again next year. That’s why it is called Wari.

June ended with a win in Champions Trophy promising new dawn in Indian cricket and as we were busy with relief work for Uttarakhand, one of old school friend pinged on whats app. She was asking if anyone is interested to walk from Alandi to Pune with Wari. It started with that and all five friends who gathered that day at odd hour of 3am on 1^st July, were destined to experience Wari this year for first time in our lives. I used to feel Wari to be over glorified show of devotion and devotees gathering for free food for 20 days and enjoy celebrity status during the Wari and after that in their community.  How wrong I was?  The hardships you face cannot drive you here next year and again year after year in most cases in spite of these free food and social status motivations. It has to be devotion coupled with a quest for those religiously minded souls which drives the Wari. And believe me it’s an experience to be a part of that. It was the walk of my life. I used to do lot trekking.  I have walked long distances. I have experienced feel of climbing atop a fort or reaching trek destination. That joy is different from what i felt after taking darshan of Nivdungya and Palkhi Vithoba temples in Pune. These temples are camping points in Pune for the palkhis. I had new kind of real realization and have added few new perspectives. This is something personal and i am sure anyone who has experienced it will know. For those who have not, let me recommend to experience it at least once in life. This experience has made me convinced to repeat next leg of Wari from Pune to Saswad next year. With renewed focus on fitness and self discipline i am sure will make that happen. Vithu mauli will take care of the rest.

We assembled at 3 after my friends driver picked all of us up. We went till Alandi via Moshi. We took darshan of temple and started our walk. It was raining and the mud had created swamps. Wari Trucks and tempos lined one side of narrow road making walk bit tricky and risky amidst darkness. This went on say for 4-5 kms by the time we reached Sai temple. It was bright by then. After that the walk with other Warkaris was comfortable. We had a ringan dance at dighi. It was some experience. Ladies in our group had planned food parcels which kept us energized whole day.

We reached Vishrantwadi for first major break at Joshi wade wale for Tea/Coffee. And you never run of topics and fun with old friends whom you know since your kindergarten for more than three and half decades. After reaching Yerawada, the legs started talking for me. Each step was challenge that’s where the journey really started. I could visualize the whole new bridge to cross and then to reach COEP and then Deccan. Felt like a long ordeal. Friends were motivating. But then they cannot lift you. Only Vitthal can. Felt like abandoning at Deccan where we had lunch at Roopali. But friends convinced to complete whole leg till Nana Peth temples walking whole Laxmi road. It all ended there with logistics arranged to help drive back till home.

Believe me guys this was a walk of life filled with devotion and some new realizations. I will be back next year....

Himalayan Tragedy

Last weekend we had a reunion of our school.  24 years have passed since we all passed X th. But the fun, banter and bonding we had last week were the same as it were 24 years back.   Those were the days.  Summer of 89, the year we passed out was very special. It was a long vacation without any worries. I remember all the indoor and outdoor games played with friends, swimming, a great Mumbai trip, Wimbledon won by Becker vs Edberg, Ashes (though many compare 2013 ashes places same as 89 when Aussies were weak and Pommies stronger), good academic result and admission to junior college of choice, few Sahyadri night and monsoon treks and to top it all a Himalayan Trek . My romance with Himalayas started then. I have already described in my last post here about my latest visit in May 13, so the Himalayan memories are fresh. And then this tragedy struck last Monday.

I had a wonderful experience of Kedarnath in 89. The place is divine. I had a chance to do a Pooja abhishek along with a Gujarati family who had six passes and one of them was unwell. So i filled in. The entire landscape is great with snow capped Kedar dome at the backdrop with the glaciers all around. Then the place had very few dharamshalas and hotels. Things were manageable and pristine.  The entire road from Gaurikund till Kedarnath is narrow with horses, human taxis plying menacingly. We had stayed at Rambada at the half way.  The weather was cold. Our trek started at place called Ghuttu which is on the banks of Bhillangana which meets Bhagirathi. We trekked till a heavenly place called Panwali , then to Trijuginarayan, Sonprayag, Ukhimath, Gaurikund , Kedarnath to Chopta, Tunganath, Govindghat, Ghangriya, Hemkund sahib, valley of flowers, Badrinath and Mana pass was the last destination. This Garhwal stretch was amazing. It’s actually a land of God. But today did it face wreath of God, no it was manmade tragedy caused by nature’s fury.....

Now imagine the situation of those trapped at Kedarnath that night. Imagine if you are trapped at such location due to torrential rains, and gushing Mandakini destroying everything around, amidst landslides, beneath the debris of falling houses, in company of the dead bodies, braving cold, without lights, and no one to help. You either survive by luck or face an insect like death. It would have been a dance of death. Those with their lifelines strong survived rest perished. Some of those dead were lucky to have their bodies found and had cremation. Out of them some got luckier to be identified. Then the survivors had bigger ordeal. They now had to overcome lack of food, water and cut off from world due to landslides and rivers. That is where our civilian disaster management agencies failed. We don’t have any such plan. We are not even prepared. Thanks to Army, many of the survivors had a rebirth. They were evacuated due to tireless efforts of army, air force, ITBP. I do not imagine state of India if these two institutions: Defence and Judiciary would have been weaker. We would have been living in hell like Pakistan. And this must have been the fate of others who were trapped in Hemkund, Badrinath, Gangotri as well. I have not till now heard about places in Kumaou and Har Ki dun where i had trekked. Hope they are doing better now. Many places in Himachal luckily escaped the situation except for Kinnaur. I am so familiar with this region that my heart still bleeds. Those who want to help can contact me offline for what we can do within our capacity.

I used to always wonder how environmentally sensitive places could sustain uncontrolled tourism. Every company in every town in India of all sizes are promoting Char Dham yatra. Imagine the number of tourists coming to the area and support staff needed. Add to that increasing local population and migration due to commercial activities. Then they have to be accommodated.  Now add to that construction work, cutting of trees and hill slopes. Himalayas are the youngest mountains and some terrains are really treacherous. Ahead of Mana where we went, there is a moraine where even if your cough can trigger avalanches. I had a chance to see avalanche there in 89. Now add to that tinker of water beds and construction of dams which has resulted in seismic activity which then have further impacts.

 I am sharing a photo which is claimed to be taken in 1882 for survey purposes by Britishers. It must have been heaven then. Even in 89 we had witnessed places like Tunganath and Panwali which had similar look as in the photo. Earlier people used to stay at Gaurikund, do a single day trek to Kedarnath to return back. Thus only mandir people used to stay there. Such ecological practices are must in the region. Roads are accident and landslide prone.  Ideally only limited vehicles should be allowed on certain roads. Construction activity should have strict control and should follow expert norms. Dams again are a tricky issue and there are debates about them. But feel that at least we should spare Himalayas and its ecology and leave it undisturbed. But then again development vs environment debate is universal and i don’t want to sound like ‘well off’ environmentalist protesting Dams or nuclear plans but would need the power generated by same plants/dams. In Pune also we have people protesting about new roads and tunnels only if they are in your neighbourhood as they want to get disturbed by vehicle noises and pollution.  With these measures the tragedy could have minimized. But i still feel for all pilgrims and locals. There is a thought process that government’s apathy to provide facilities and control as it was matter of majority faith. Had it been minority pilgrimage, government would have moved in with more funds, better management etc. I include Sikh pilgrimage Hemkund to be part of majority pilgrimage. But then which government would not like to milk the cash cow of tourism to its maximum? Let’s not put any unsubstantiated religious arguments as we all know how governments since freedom have went all out to appease the so called secularists starting with Gandhiji till Rahul Gandhi.

But the there is need to revamp our disaster management. We saw how our intelligence, police etc failed to control 26/11. It took army 3 days to flush out the monsters. We saw Government inaction and inefficiency again during various floods, famines and other manmade disasters. Army has been the only saviour which acted. Government in this case didn’t respond for first few days. That could have saved many survivors who died of exertion, hunger , diseases etc.

So lesson learnt are

Let us not damage environment by tinkering with nature

Let us control the tourism activity in such regions

Let there be an efficient and work disaster management body to coordinate such situations

And next lesson is for ugly politicians to stop politicizing relief work. Let all parties unite such time instead of blaming. It all started when Congress which sees red in everything Modi does. He was merely there to help with his efficient govt machinery. The 15000 figure sounds unrealistic but then that was never published by Modi. It was media who claimed that. Some people accuse modi propaganda machinery for that number but after lot of study i never found source of that number. Less said about Pappu and his loyal dogs, is better.

Last lesson is for media. Don’t create circus out of tragedy. Though some instance it helped tracking survivors but please avoid sensationalism. And this lesson is for social media as well.

All said and done is for future, but for now its rescue and rebuilding. Those who want to do something are welcome. Lets unite and fight for the devabhoomi. Please....

First Day First Show

Wait is finally over and here is the grand release.  I am not referring to any film here. I have stopped watching movies on the weekend of their releases.  I need to study reviews, get feedbacks from the brave hearts to decide if I should invest my time, money and efforts to watch any movie. Last few movies which i had to see without my proper due diligence were disasters eg; Jab Tak Hain Jaan, Race2 etc. Here is my salute to the indomitable souls, who have to compulsively hit the first weekend at the cinema halls, especially for the big ticket movies.  Indian film industry should honour these fans if they had any method to track this tribe of people. With internet, network, i am sure there lies a start-up idea. Is anyone listening in the valley?

Coming back to the point, I am referring to many things here;

Firstly Monsoons were released in my town. The pre curtain raisers and paid review shows were amazing. The light and sound show was furious and disastrous to some extent where people tragically lost their lives. Time for us the people to say enough to builders, administrators who are responsible for the hill dredging, tree cutting, bad roads, electricity failures, water logging. Monsoons kept their date with Pune on 7^th and have arrived officially as per IMD. These days no one believes IMD forecasts but then one reads the analysis the day after. Hope this year all drought pone areas get the rains, dams are full and economy is better.

Secondly BJP2.0 was released in Indian political space. Gone are the days of old era of Atal, Advani which took BJP from 2 seats in 84 to power in 1998 riding on Hindutva wave. As declared by SC of India, Hindutva has nothing wrong and its aim to correct past wrongs done by oppressors rightfully, constitutionally and non-violently. It is against no community but towards equality which was victim of wrong interpretation of word secularism though created intentionally earlier by British and later by congress, socialists and leftist’s think tanks. Now BJP 2.0 has unleashed Modi and his corruption free, development agenda which has many takers in National scene. But what congress does is to polarize community by beating the riots bandwagon as its counter modi strategy. And media is always bought on congress line since independence. Thus we see large section of media which used to hate Advani and his rath yatra politics, turn into Advani supporters. It’s always good for Democratic Party to have difference and register it. Whether anyone in congress which supports democracy has right to challenge High command? Lot of questions but then trial by media is only for certain brand of thoughts. And those who chose to oppose central Gandhi-Nehruvian ideology were vilified by media. Starting with Bhagat singh, then with Savarkar, Bose and to an extent Patel, everyone suffered same fate. But then hope BJP 2.0 settles down dissent democratically for the sake of change which people of India deserve.  And finally for those who again start good old debate titled “ But what about justice for Gujarat riots?”, Baba Ramdeo has an equally compelling arguement. If Modi is to be accused of 2002 riots, so has to be Nehru for 1947 Partition riots , Rajeev Gandhi for 1984 Delhi riots, Sudhakar Naik for Mumbai 1992 and finally Tarun Gogoi for 2012 Assam riots. Though agreed one wrong thing should not set precedent for another but Indian politicians are to be blamed across the spectrum for riots at various stages in independent India. There is sinister agenda to single out Modi and 2002. As one of my friend said, all riots are equal but Gujarat riots are more equal. One interesting fact though wanted to share is that after Riots have declined since 1998 when BJP took power  as compared to earlier congress history.

Lastly new India team was released at Champions trophy. Plagued by fixing controversy and vested interests, Team India has only way for deliverance is by winning the Cup. Indian Cricket organization was never transparent and fans deserved more always. But now that media is more active and so are various counter interests, things are coming to light and only thing now can be done better is to create transparent organization, legalizing betting and set new criminal laws to help punish culprits. But the fixing is old as game itself. Not just cricket but every other major money spinning sport have witnessed same. But first day first show was impressive especially fielding. I have never seen Indian fielders running out two south africans in past. Batting was good with new approach by dhawan and rohit. Only worry is seam bowling which always was a problem with exceptions of zaheer, Kapil and shreenath. Let’s hope India goes all the way.

 

Did you like my first day first show review....

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......