Ganagot: Memoirs of people in my life

Memories associated with PL and Ganesha go hand in hand thanks to dramas, cultural agenda and non associated childhood memories. So when this space had to be rebooted let me revive this with completion of planned series of Ganagot: Memoirs of few real people in my life who made a special mark. Let me take first step after reboot to complete an unfinished agenda.

Banyakaka

If any living person can come close to Haritatya in my life it could be Banyakaka. As PL said he doesn't remember the day when Haritatya started coming to his house, even I don't recollect since when Banyakaka started frequenting my house. His name is Prakash Khadilkar. He lives in my same lane where we used to stay in childhood in heart of Sadashiv Peth Pune-30. As we all know this address is epicentre of what is called as Marathi culture which includes art, drama, music, sports  and society. Money, Business and political clout were the only part missing till mid nineties ( post liberalization era). I am talking about my early conscious  life from late seventies till early nineties till I left for hostel. There were exceptions like Chitales, Gadgils, Desais, Patankars but very few who did well in business. Laxmi Rd and east city Peths were the bastion of hardworking Gujarati and Marwari owners. After nineties though Sadashiv Peth saw migration to western suburbs (mainly Kothrud, Baner, Aundh, Sinhagad rd while it turned into an educational hostel and wholesalers hub. So if Pune 30 was epicentre Banyakaka was the perfect sample of this culture. By profession he is publisher of Reference books in culture, politics, science, music, sports. His father was ex army person who wrote a great encyclopaedia on classical music (he himself played bulbul tarang). He has an elder brother in same setup. His mother was hard core devotee of religion and very enthusiastic person. May that enthusiasm rubbed on Banyakaka.

He used to be part of our family as most of week evenings he would drop in and spend lot of time on various discussions on various topics including cricket, politics, drama, literature .  This part of culture is lost now where people turn up unannounced. Sometimes those were great habits on a hindsight. These discussion i  think helped me remain aware on various issues with facts and figures which later translated into some quiz wins at school/college/corporate/social level and later as well remained large part of my persona. Out of all these memories most vivid memory remains is WC83 win. Right from day1 of world cup i don't know how he predicted that we will win world cup. I still remember him saying 'World cup Dari ala' ( here comes the world cup at our doorstep). I still remember we call glued to Radio set on BBC when India were 15/5 vs Zimbabwe. He still was hopeful that Kapil is still there on crease. And rest as they is history. We saw Greenidge wicket but then after that there was a news break on DD. We all felt WI will easily win. He said by the time news break got over they would be 5 down. so it was. Maybe he claims to know astrology that's what may have helped him know but knowing thin premises of astrology I doubt. He is also big believer in horoscope. He came with all funny predictions which could be interpreted anyways. He was big source of education and guidance for the believers in my family. He used to know future cricket program even when we didn't have cricinfo. I still remember him feeding me with underarm bowling inside our house with side of a table as stump.

Just like Haritatya,  he used to be away for few months thanks to his travels across Maharashtra for publication. He used to carry shabnam bag as typified by Journalists. He used to volunteer like Narayan for each family function. 

He was our entry point and reference to discuss everything on poiltics. Being part of right wing he is active member of BJP (jansangh earlier). He published books on Atal Bihari Vajpayee, scientists, saints and various books which had reference value. He has good friends circle in  politics, literary, drama and cinema sector. why he chose to be  bachelor (like my uncle  who is his friend) is still a question which never got any answers when i was young and after that never thought of asking him so when i grew up.

We  keep on meeting on various festivals and functions. We have a small group of my uncles , one of my cousin who meet few times. Wishing him good health and success for him.

The last but most important fact he tought us was habit of reading. He used to gift me and my sister with variety of books. Once he took me to book shop on my birthday and asked me to choose books. even last year when i invited him for house Diwali, he got me very good books. That inculcated habit of reading for me at very young age. Imagine yourself to do same to nephew of your good friend. We have lost that aspect of family friend where each friend of member is part of extended family. Life was so simple those days.

Tambolikaka

Just like Banyakaka, he was family friend a specie in extinction in modern life. He was classmate of my father. He was part of family. He was the most entrepreneurship oriented person i met in childhood. Though i never did understand then what he actually did. Did got to understand that when i ventured. He was out and out sales/networking guy. He did things where he was involved for trading/representation to sell /buy any item under sun, Such was the enthusiasm that at the advent of IT he even ventured there.  He gave me lot of tips when he knew about my venture. He was the person who visited US by boat, used to make international calls, buy videogames. And during those days it was superman like image which i had for him. He was the first one i knew who enjoyed chicken and chinese.

He used to walk at 6 am in morning when we housed in small home veryu asleep. He usee to sit and chat with father till he had 3 rounds of tea. my father and him were opposite poles so the friendship.

He was part of family in thick and thin. He advised us when needed and had an aura of wisecracks which could be very apt yet funny. Largely built he had strong averse for anything in haste and physical labour. He  was the first one whom i knew whio used to hire driver and car as and when needed

 Once he went to Buffalo to visit his son. All in the family were excited to see Niagara falls. he said ' lets drop  the plan, and rest at home. Whats there to see. Water will falls anywhere in the world from top to bottom'.

Avid tea follower was once frustrated in Punjab during his son's wedding with Punjabi girl. The girls family being from Punjab served him lassi at 8 am. He awaited till 10 and there was another lassi. He got frustrated and said  'please for god's sake serve me tea'.

Thorough gentleman has social side too, with his networking he did charities which i came to know later. He used to have large matrimonial network. Avid follower of drama, his son inherited that aspect from him.

Another memory of his is that he was the first person to take initiative from our  family side after my parents/sister to visit my wife;s place on his own to know her and her family.  He used to fondly call my wife as Rani Mukherjee. He had vast friends network and used to get someone along \even for functions and  normal visit without any qualms.

Now he is no more. We lost him in 2006 due to stomach ailment. Its been decade now , but still wish someone knock the bell at 7 am in morning and ask for tea and say in typical manner : 'Chyaayla'

Reboot

This blog celebrated its completion of 8 years and start of 9th year of existence on the eve of Ganesha Chathurthi. May the lord of wisdom help me render this blog with more creative, relevant and appealing as well as entertaining posts in this year. There has been a huge gap between the posts but now it's time to take a new guard  in a new continent geographically and in the land of dreams.  Time to remove old bugs ( with promise to correct things and giving it back) ,  upgrade the features and  reboot the system.

Catching Up

Lot of people need to catch up with lot of this as we already reach mid feb of new year 2016 which is a leap year. Let's hope we are able to manage that leap.

Firstly Modi government will need to catch up the promised dream of 'acche din'. It should  create jobs by capitalizing on steady economical parameters and low oil bills.  IT should Strengthen and substantiate slogans like Make in India, Start up India, Swatch Bharat , Smart Cities , Digital India and turn them into reality. Time is running out for reforms as markets seems to have lost patience in everything. Of course markets  work differently in this  global interconnected world. But then its high time for taking bitter pill of reforms and cut on subsidies. Not worry about politics and votes. Also need better PR machinery as deployed in 14 to make people sense about performance and governance. Good work done by minsters like Goyal,  Parrikar, Swaraj needs to be highlighted. Past establishment , corrupts and antinational will nevertheless would like to strike back with vengeance but still there are three years and a state lost here will be a collateral damage though we know it can  create problems further in upper houses.  There will be petty politics around emotional issues but Modi government needs to catch up on matters which really matter. This budget is very important.

Same is with Maharashtra state government. It should first decide who is ally and who is opposition.  Maharashtra politics is strange and first time we have seen some paradigm change. so it will take time to be really effective. But priority is correct anomalies and corruption in water distribution.  Make farming more scientific and all weather. Ease of doing business also needs some fine tuning. Planned Urban development and land shark control is priority.

Both at centre and state education policy needs revamp with creation of independent autonomous bodies to control quality and finances.

Pune as city as it heads for elections and having been selected as second smart city, needs  string decision making at executive level. I will put my neck out and say that we should undermine role of elected representatives who have in past failed people.

Indian cricket team also needs to catch up on may thing things apart from actual catching. They need to plan and be innovative to be able to lay its hands on asia and world t20 cups. On tests we need bowling unit capable to take wickets. BCCI is also running out of time to clean itself on everything.

Indian Olympics  Organization needs to really create environment to create winners at olympics levels but with only few months to go for Rio it seems we are running out there as well  unless for some individual brilliance. Time is also running out for euro teams to make mark at euro soccer.

Indian business propelled by relatively stable economy on global scale needs to innovate and capitalize on young populace , skilled work force, vast markets and all other inherent strengths to make it to next level. IT industry needs to focus on SMAC and work on new models with stringent visa rules in election year in US.

Having just listed areas of priorities for India to catch up on issues that really matter. Advice to past establishment is to do away with negativity and be a sensible nationalist opposition moved away from dynasty and naxalism. They still have role to correct government.

On Bollywood , art and entertainment (national and vernacular), let me advice them to catch up on entertaining people or making interesting  and meaningful films/plays/art/literature and leave politics to politicians.  There is lot to catch up.

Same applies to main stream media to be balanced on opinion making else they will become more irrelevant than they already are. Time also for social media to be more relevant.

So hope to catch up with you guys after long break, Its same for this space as well.

Personally also lot to catch up as well on many fronts....

Year of Mauka

This was the year with had a world cup in cricket. And there was an ad campaign by name Mauka. Being truly Indian i don't care about other sports or Olympics so for us this WAS  the year. And if 1/5th population cares for cricket  so let it be. Let  the others recognise same  sport beyond reasons. There was a Mauka  and we lost.

Here for country we have a functional executive  and well meaning one for second  time in  the history of independent India. But there are thought processes which threaten this India story.

This was the year we had opportunity and opportunity we still exist till be believe. so let's keep Mauka on imagination for the next year and help India reach its real place in scheme of nations as we had pledged in school.

On films side it was disaster year with only few films like piku ,queen, katyar connecting chords  and strikes  ad controversies were in focus..

Cricket we have change of guards and there is promise. World t20 will be defining

In the Politics its the last chance for India to decide if it wants to progress or  digress as  it did for last 60 years

Maharashtra also has to come out of regional politics and for that regional satraps should say goodbye...

Pune needs better leaders to hang on to Mauka but then who cares?

World suffered with terrorism again just like India did for last decade and more. ISIS continues to kill and influence. At least all countries address global warming as an issue. China story needs revisiting and world needs open economy beyond visa regimes. Putin emerged taller.

 

Personally things are bound to change and there is a mauka

 

Welcome Back!

Sorry for the long break, these were the times filled with action and drama on personal front.  Cricket seemed to be only content on this forum understandably as this was world cup year and India ended up a tenure across South Africa, New Zealand, England , Australia , Bangladesh and Srilanka finally. It started in Dec 13 after HIS retirement in Nov 13 vs. WI at Wankhede. Now we await the best travelling unit , top ranking test nation in Oct. Transition has not been complete but future has some promise. Virat is at helm in tests and maybe MS will say last hurrah in limited format after end of this season with T20 WC.  We have promising batsman in store like Rahane, Vijay and Pujara. The home leg will be ok and this team has bowling options to travel well. The India vs. Aus series in 01 which we one losing first test transformed and built Team India in the decade of 00 culminating into WC win and test no 1 rank. Same can we said about the victory in Srilanka. But for one session in Galle we would have whitewashed new SL team. But for dogged batting by AB and Faf we could have won at Jo'burg and lost one session due to great bowling by Steyn at Durban. we would have won Adelaide and won in Nz but for stubborn innings from Mcullum.  If doesn't matter but young team India under transition showed  the spirit to fight except maybe last few tests in England (blaming BCCI as team India never has played more than 4 tests abroad in past). world cup was good India and look forward to new season

On usual political front the negativity shown by media will be a case study in Indian politics (even for the world to learn). Main stream media has lost its place in  the scheme of things and they have tried to strike with venom . Starting with Lalitgate, various bans which were there since ages, they never lost any opportunity to blame Modi and his team.  But thanks to social media and its power, there will be a day when their models will be usurped and they will bite dust. Right now only matter of  concern is draught management, growth, inflation and development. We have a great opportunity especially after China crisis to emerge, evolve. Reforms have to happen but anti-nationals won't allow. Only if there is growth it reached last man in pyramid and not because of wasteful subsidies. Nobel prize should be taken back for those who have argued otherwise. i know it's a joke as a statement coming from someone as un scholar as yours truly but how many times one has to bang ones head against left thought which has ruined the world. When rich Arab nations reject refuges welfare economies in Europe have left orientation even now to share the burden. Is oil so important or we have big failure in western liberalism.

Rains have played truant here  and we wish this year's festivities will be in observance of same. Did few ventures to help those affected. On personal side lot things happening thus hiatus on this forum  but hope last quarter is bit relaxed . This is Ganesha time again and this blog started on eve of Ganesha festival in 08 so now completes 7 years . And its itching to do more, write more and better as compared to pedestrian stuff earlier. Happy Ganesha Chaturthi

And on lighter note, as title of this post is based on sequel of much loved film  let me Welcome back Lord Ganesha. The movie was hilarious with one liners and acting of stars like Nana, AK, Paresh Rawal and Naseer. No plot no story but entertainment . Chemistry of Anil and nana is what director wanted , portrayed and was smash hit. Antakshari with ghosts will be cult scene for ages.

Pls remove all obstacles Vighnaharta, again Welcome back

Team of decades

While travelling and waiting to catch my delayed carrier few weeks back, i had penned a thought to compare the Indian test cricket teams for last four decades since i have been watching intently the mass opium sport in India for last four decades. I thought why cannot we filed teams to compete with each other and find out imaginary results.  I have divided teams into 80s, 90s, naughties, and 10s. No doubt few players had crossed the decades, few omissions, but i think you would agree to assumption that i have picked up players based on their peaks of career, number of games played and impact they had on final results. There will be many points of debate. But then instead of 11 i have chosen team of 17 based on roles. You may laugh over this indulgence but it just cost me over 20 mins waiting for my carrier. I think that's a good collateral damage for diehard cricket fan.

Finally there is my own team which can win in India and overseas. Pls comment on that as well.

Coming to subject,  i think team of naughties and eighties will be in finals and third will be today's team. Naughties will win thanks to new techniques and discipline. That's why naughties was golden era in Indian cricket since 1932.

Team of 90s here is the best crop we could find outside the legends in 80s and naughties. Thus its called the dark age of Indian cricket when  if a certain player was out we would switch off TV sets. and you know whom i am talking about.

Coming to team of present, after doing great in overseas i am waiting to see kohlis, rahanes unleash upon opposition in last half of decade in India and away. some promising bowlers also there. We have had the transition after 2nd april 2011 and completed by tough Aus series and WC. Time to rise and rise. My only request is to reign administrators.  Maybe i will pen down my musings on 31st dec 2019.

 

Position in team	2010s	Gautam XI
Opener	M Vijay	Sunil Gavaskar
opener	Shikhar Dhawan	V Sehwag
bat	Cheteshwar Pujara	R Dravid
bat	Virat Kohli	Sachin Tendulkar
bat	Ajinkya Rahane	Saurav Ganguly
bat/ar	Rohit Sharma	Kapil Dev
wk	W Saha	M S Dhoni
fast/medium	M Shami	Zaheer Khan
fast/medium	U Yadav	J Srinath
spinner	R Ashwin	Anil Kumble
spinner	Amit Mishra	Harbhajan Singh
12th/reserve bat	A Rayadu	Virat Kohli
reserve op	K L Rahul	G Gambhir
fast/medium reserve	Bhuvaneshwar Kr	Ishant Sharma
fast/medium reserve	v aaron	V Prasad
spinner reserve	R Jadeja	R Ashwin
reserve wk	N Ojha	S Kirmani

Position	1980s	1990s	2000s
Opener	Sunil Gavaskar	S Ramesh	V Sehwag
opener	K Shrikanth	S S Das	G Gambhir
bat	Dilip Vengsarkar	sanjay Manjrekar	Rahul Dravid
bat	M Azharuddin	praveen amre	Sachin Tendulkar
bat	Mohinder amarnath	Vinod Kambli	Saurav Ganguly
bat/ar	Kapil Dev	Manoj Prabhakar	V V S Laxman
wk	Syed Kirmani	Nayan Mongia	M S Dhoni
fast/medium	Roger Binni	V Prasad	Zaheer Khan
fast/medium	Madanlal	J Srinath	Ishant Sharma
spinner	L Shivarama	Rajesh chauhan	Anil Kumble
spinner	shivlal yadav	V Raju	Harbhajan Singh
12th/reserve bat	Ravi Shastri	Ajay Jadeja	Yuvraj Singh
reserve op	N Sidhu	W V Raman	Akash Chopra
fast/medium reserve	raju kulkarni	Atul Vasan	Ajit Agarkar
fast/medium reserve	chetan sharma	D Mohanty	Irfan Pathan
spinner reserve	Maninder singh	sunil joshi	M Kartik
reserve wk	kiran more	M S K Prasad	D Kartik

Mauka to sabhiko milta hain

Cut to year 1998, when life was different, on right side of 20s , I had seen a movie made by Ram Gopal  Varma named Satya. The film was dark based on the underworld of then Mumbai  and was engrossing . RGV used to make good movies those days. The dialogue which was made famous out of that movie  is title of this post. Reason the Mauka campaign of star sports world cup. These ads were funny and really entertaining. And yes ironically it was Pakistan who lost Mauka by dropping Watson off Wahab. Imagine the much maligned fielder taking the catch, Australia 5 down for 70  chasing  220s at that point. Pakistan then going on to win to meet India in semis. and maybe Dhoni lifting cup on 29th and we celebrating on streets again.... so it's not about having a Mauka it's about grabbing it. so as in cricket so in life. All of us are aware of our 'Maukas': some dropped, some taken. But if wishes were horses....

As predicted here on this forum Australia ; the firm favourites, won the cup. They were the  team which had great batting and bowling . All players chipped in at different occasions. They ended a tough emotional season which started with sad death of Hughes. The cricketing sense prevailed but i have to give credit to changed rules to help southern hemisphere teams with unequal benefit. Spinners were out of equation due to fielding equations. Reverse swing was out due to two balls. Ground  were smaller at least in NZ and big bats were destructive. I am not whining . It's a truth that team with better bowling attacks survived and ordinary batsmen ran away with centuries. Coming back as Sourav says in commentary about team India, yes we performed as per the expectations and nothing more. Given especially the form carried on in Aus tri series. In fact we fought in first ODI vs aus, other was washed away. But surprisingly we lost both games to England the team which could not make it to WC QFs was an aberration. With this team we can beat Pak, UAE, WI, Zim, Ireland, Bangladesh any day any place but the biggest achievement was to beat SA comprehensively scoring 300 and running out AB, Miller. But when it mattered most we fell short of maybe 20-30 runs in semis. If Johnson had not played that innings we would have been chasing say 290-300 but then if wishes were horses we would have had the Mauka, We started well batting but for some rush of blood. Imagine we had Gambhir instead of Rohit (my namesake is the backbone of two world cup final victories) and yuvi instead of sir jadeja. these two black holes in selection finally lost Mauka for us. But then kudos to bowlers who came after smith 100 and throughout WC to dismiss opponents . Hats off to Dhoni.  On other teams, NZ did well and SA faltered without choking. England have lost it.  Associates need more time rightfully . We saw farewells for sanga, mahela, afridi and clarke. Not a great world cup except first semi and few matches involving associates.

And on to carry on topic based on Mauka, this is time we as a country can really materialize with opportunity to take our country into the next zone. Forget ranting of media which has antinational agenda to continue the erstwhile establishment to comeback. Just to prove my point i can cite the game changers in Delhi who were projected by this media. and how they have failed with regressive non agenda which was funded by anti nationals and those  ultra liberal utopians. Also look at media haste to subside Modi wave despite having a functioning government. and what they all have to claim are non issues. Many will argue that even Modi regime is creation of media. I beg to differ as it was expression of aspiring India who was tired of same old establishment taking away all benefits. Aspiring India is the one which believes that by hard work they can make it good for themselves and for their offspring without deserting India. Carry on good work Mr Modi as we need to en cash the Mauka whatever non issues are created by media for its own survival. It's been a good year . Waiting for summer holidays for children to let the masti begin. Tomorrow is IPLs first match. We the perennial fools will be engaged during the summer.

Full & Final

This is world cup time and Team India's fortunes have changed thankfully for diehard fans aka fools like yours truly, ad makers, channels, sponsors, liquor shops, all and sundry. But then as a preview done earlier this is not review which is promised on this space on 1st April which also is  a fool's day.  Idea is not just to discuss chances to reach final or otherwise or  lifting the cup. On eve of Gudipadwa which traditionally has been a time for a  fresh start, why am i pondering on such gloomy thoughts. May be its midlife crisis or whatever. And stimulant is an idiotic mushy ad where in an old guy is having last day at office and a pregnant youngster  who makes it a big celebration thanks idiotically to a mobile service provider.

Memory flashes back  to 1996 on my first job . It was my second week at new job. Life was good and i was at a plan control room of a petrochemical  company which had hired me at one of the best packages those days. There was an old plant operator who was retiring that day. He had joined the plant when plant was inaugurated. The operators were relatively paid well and were well of in and around Mumbai those days. Must have done well in his life. He was emotional as he said good bye to oldies in room and shook hands with me. That day i had a smirk. This guy had spent whole life here. so unfashionable. How can one work whole life time in one setup. Nahi, No, Never.....

Cut to the present from the flashback, life is never dull. Every day is challenge but now whats the difference between that old plant operator and myself who might have faced different challenges than him . Maybe he had different circumstances  which made him do what i thought that day was cardinal crime to be not ambitious. What is ambition? To have good life? Didn't he have one. Now that the time has told lessons to me, I can take an unequivocal stance. Maybe there is someone sitting on a sold start-up at the age of 25 laughing at my choices  which i did in 90s to emulate Infosys's of world than googles.... But then life has been kind and unfair as well. But its been there and done that what was needed. 

At this age, i sometimes wonder what would be my feelings on same date where life (in my case it won't be a company letterhead)  gives you full and final settlement. Or already have i reached that stage. Or its time to take a new guard and hit sixes. and yes there is a confidence of that as well. Hope never dies. Have a great new year ahead. Take deep breath and  take a new start and may we dance on 29th.....(and yes 26th three days before)