Three Amazing Videos

While movie buffs are planning to end this year with 3 Idiots, I would like to end this year with 3 Videos that I would like to share with my readers.

Three must-watch, must-listen must-experience videos!

The First Amazing Video – that of Nivedita Hattangadi, an 11-year old girl, playing an instrument called “Samvadini”, which is a modified form of Harmonium. I was fortunate to attend her live performance on Sunday 20th Dec 09 at the Vamanashram Hall, Borivali (W) and talk to her after the performance, when she informed me about her Youtube video.

Click on this link and don’t miss listening to this amazing classical solo Samvadini performance .



Wah! Wah! Chhote Ustad!
Her live performance was really a treat! If I lay my hands on the recording, which I am trying to do right now, I promise to share it with you all.

And now for some fun to wind up the year 2009!

Second Amazing Video -
“Bandra Re” Song conceived, written and sung by Dr. Dilip Nadkarni a.k.a. Baba Calmdev

Dr. Dilip Nadkarni, my childhood friend sang at the Celebrate Bandra Festival. Click on the link!



Urbanites anywhere in India will be able to relate to it, though it is all about the princess amongst the suburbs of Mumbai, Bandra. I am sure you’ll love it!

Dilip is a versatile phenomenon, apart from being an Orthopeadic Surgeon, he is a musician, singer, sportsman, golfer and author!

Why does he call himself Baba Calm Dev?
Do check out his website Calmsutra.org here.
This page will tell you more about Dr. Dilip Nadkarni

Dilip was a national level competitive table-tennis player in his early years. His current passion for golf has resulted in bagging the DSP Merrill Lynch Trophy at the DLF Golf Course, recently. He sees golf as a stress-relieving game. No wonder people at the helm of affairs unwind with golf!

He has written the following books,
“Knee Problem, No Problem”
“Calm Sutra – The art of relaxation” and
“Real Fitness”

Way to go! Amazing Stuff! Carry on, Doc!

Third Mindblowing Video
Finally an appeal to my friends and blog-readers is presented to you in the form of this Mindblowing Blog Song Featuring Wilbur Sargunaraj



Wasn’t that a Simply Grr~ee~aa~t Performance? This song is indeed a prayer in the hearts of all bloggers around the world and the pleas to one’s friends and blog-readers could not be better expressed, could it?
Wilbur, I must say, you did it for us bloggers - A big Thank You!

Season’s Greetings to you all!
And yes, I am singing and dancing - “Please read my blog – Please read my blog – Please read my blog – Please read my blog – in 2010!”

My recent favorites

Here is a list of my recent favorite posts.

In case you have missed reading any of them, do click on the links and read them now.

1. Expert's Predicament

2. Highness in Goa

3. The Giver of Joys

4. The Tweet that wasnt

5. No such thing as a stupid question

6. Magical Treachery - Breaking Codes, Vanishing Charms

7. Mee Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar Boltoy

8. Lest we remember

9. Sulochana-Kaki, The spirited septuagenarian sculptor

10. Just how many - a guessing game

11. Feeling Like Barack Obama

You may find my old favorite posts in this link below

My old best blogposts

These are my favorites, which of them is yours?

My First Short Story

I have been regularly reading Corinne Rodrigues' Blog "Everyday Gyaan" for sometime now.

I found every post of her blog thought-provoking, inspirational and one that motivates the reader towards self-improvement.

So when I got this email recently from Corinne, requesting me to contribute a guest post for her blog, on the subject of "making a choice to be happy", I was at a loss for ideas. I had read several of her posts and knew exactly the kind of posts that her readers would love. But how could i write a post like that, i wondered?

I suddenly felt like a clown in a circus being asked to counsel a wayward mischievous kid in the crowd to behave himself and not do anything remotely funny.

The next thing i read is a message from Jeans on Twitter about the Kreativ Blogger award (that i announced in my last post). Must write...must write...
A short story would be the right way to go about it, i thought.

Do read my first work of fiction - a short story,
"The Chosen One" in Corinne's blog.

I am no great story teller and this being my first attempt at writing fiction of any kind, I sincerely hope you all do like it!

Feeling like Barack Obama...

When Jeans or Jeena R Papaadi who blogs at The Garden City LENS, awarded me the Kreativ Blogger Award, my predicament was no different than Barack Obama’s when he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.


Thanks, Jeans! I will try to justify this award… I promise!

If there is any prize for the number of cartoons that a single event prompted around the world in 2009, it was Barack Obama being conferred the Nobel Peace Prize, that would win - hands down! Click on each of the results of this google-page search below and have a look for yourself!

Google Search Link here

And therein lies the difference! Not a single cartoon of me receiving the award and pronouncing “Now that I have been awarded the Kreativ Blogger Award, its time for me to do something Kreativ”. How about kreating chaos and confusion, wherever I go, does that count, folks?

Again, unlike Barack Obama, who continues to go about his global agenda, increasing troops in the Af-Pak region, I immediately decided to do something creative to justify the award bestowed upon me. Not having written a single piece of fiction – not even a short story, (can you imagine?), I began wondering if the world would even classify me as a writer, let alone a creative one if they had to StumbleUpon my whatnonsanz? “A creative writer! Whatnonsanz!” Must write something creative….must write something creative….

Did I hear someone knock on my door? Hey I was just trying to be creative guys, don’t come over to take my award back – even Barack Obama has been given lotsa time, hasn’t he? And as one cartoonist observed, he has already brokered peace between a black professor and a white cop over beer, hasn’t he? Just hang on, folks, we’re still trying!

Meanwhile I also need to tell you 7 things about myself which you don’t know (or at least I can pretend not to know):

1. I play a musical instrument… didn’t know na? The second fiddle… at home.
2. My only ambition in life was to become filthy rich – I have already achieved 50% success. Already, I am filthy - just need to be rich…
3. Before I could spell “ambition”, I wanted to become a bus conductor - of a double decker BEST bus in Mumbai. Just thought he was the most powerful person on earth!
4. When in need of better blogpost ideas, I put on my Thinking Shoes, unlike most people, who put on their Thinking Caps – I get all my writing ideas during my long, brisk walks.
5. I plan to do research on how shoe-laces manage to untie themselves so that the principles of self-motivation can be applied to humans.
6. I don’t drive. I do drive….people crazy, though.
7. I owe my success so far, entirely to my socks. If you’re confused about which success I am talking about, do read more about it in Srl. 2 above.

Finally, I give the award to the following deserving bloggers for their creative contributions in their blogs:

1. Sakhi, who blogs at “Sakhi’s Laghukatha” for her fascinating short stories, which make you think about the varied social subjects. Amazing us of her creative talent of writing fiction.
2. Corinne Rodrigues, who blogs at Everyday Gyaan, who posts inspiring and uplifting anecdotes, incidents, real-life experiences of her own and those known to her for her readers.
3. Rachana Shakyawar, who blogs at “Humming Today”, and posts thoughtful, information and links about social subjects, while stressing on the need to celebrate life as we live it.
4. Nita J Kulkarni, who blogs at “A Wide Angle View of India” and writes extensively about varied important matters that affect us, through her highly-researched work, loaded with statistical data and her own take on the subject.
5. Manju Joglekar, who blogs at “Of Cabbages and Kings” , posts unusual stories and incidents bringing into focus matters that would otherwise escape our attention.
6. Priyank Thatte, who blogs at “Final Transit” The pictures and travel experiences of this back-packing youngster holds your attention and you’ll almost think you were with him in that journey he describes.
7. Krishnan, who blogs at “Musings & Miscellany”, for posting great stuff which he invariably finds and shares it with us enriching us with every post.

Congratulations, fellow-bloggers, do pick up the award and do all those things, that I just did – except post some whatnonsanz, of course - Do let us know 7 things about yourselves, award it to 7 of the deserving bloggers that you’d like to pass the award and let them know about it as I have done too.

Just How Many - A Guessing Game

Tiger Woods is reported deeper in the woods and even though the world knows about his decision to quit golfing, one observes that whether on the golf-course, or off it, he will face the same question:
“How many holes?”

An ad spoof doing the rounds here;


Jokes apart, we are faced with such questions all the time. Indians are now faced with questions like “How many states?” Just how many states do we need? How many are enough? Promising the creation of Telangana has meant hopes for others too. Gorkhaland, Bodoland, Bundelkhand, Vidarbha, Harit Pradesh….

So just how many states would India have in 2020? According to one tweet, we’re going back to as many as the number of princely states that existed in our country and that could be over 500! What’s your guess?

How about Gopiland? I could be the CM! And if my right index finger, the editor in chief refuses to publish this post by not clicking on the "PUBLISH" icon, let us promise him a separate state!

Someone may plan to write a book titled “2 Many States” to cash in on the popularity of the best-selling book and the most-happening trend that have swept our country. Chetan Bhagat is unlikely to title his next book with that title – reason being….refer Tiger Woods episode. He wouldn’t want to answer too many questions!

So lets play this small guessing game.

In the year 2020, How many …
1. States in India?
2. Tigers left in the world? (Here I mean the four-legged wild cat not the two-legged celebrity)
3. Glaciers left (spared of global warming)?
4. Rivers left in India (spared of contamination)?
5. SEZs would be operational?
6. Malls would be functional?
7. Scams would be under investigation?
8. Scamsters would be convicted and money successfully confiscated for public good?
9. people will still go to bed hungry?
10. states will still continue to neglect some district or town while pampering another, causing more hunger strikes in demand for another state?

We could go on...but how many of such questions are really enough?

Sulochana-kaki, the Spirited Septuagenarian Sculptor

Thank you, Blogadda, for picking my post for the Spicy Saturday Picks!
Readers may have seen our daughter Supriya’s painting in my earlier blogpost here.

If Supriya took a keen interest in painting, we owe it all to her “Sulochana-kaki”, Mrs. Sulochana Haldankar, a kind-hearted elderly woman who lives in our locality. We heard about the art classes, which she conducted in her house from our neighbourhood friends. It was apparent from our first meeting that “Sulochana-Kaki” was extremely talented and loved to teach the little kids residing in our locality, the basics of drawing and painting. Once at her place, she would often forget the time and be at the assigned task for several hours, until we would go over to fetch her home. That Supriya was able to get an "A" grade, both in her preliminary and intermediate arts examination held by the state can be largely attributed to her art teacher!

Sulochana-kaki at work with her portrait painting

It’s been some time now that we hadn’t called on her and we heard that Sulochana-kaki had stopped teaching kids and was busy day and night with her sculpting and painting activities in preparation for an exhibition planned to be held at the Jehangir Art Gallery! It is not often that we come across such spirited septuagenarians, who have so much to do these days, do we? So we called on her last week-end to chat up with her find out she has been doing lately.

The gallery had been booked 2 years ago and it would be another 3 years for her exhibition to be hosted, she informed. Sulochana-kaki, who turns 75 on 17th December this year, is toiling to give shape to some of her sculptures and also on some oil-on-canvas portraits of eminent public figures which some institutions in her village of Malgund want her to do.

It was really kind of her to find time from her hectic schedule and let us know how she had begun her journey into this wonderful world of creativity where her hands would pick up mud and clay and create life-like busts and statues. Fortunate to have been born in a family, which held art forms in high regard, it was not difficult for her to pick up drawing and craft. Her father was a singer and stage-artiste and her mother would encourage her to make decorative articles like cloth-dolls, rangolis, embroidery and so on, on festive occasions. But as was the norm in those days, she married at the age of 16, even before completing her matriculation in 1953. She was not allowed to leave her house for 7 years after marriage, so she had to curb her creative urge to pursue her interest in the field of art.

It was only after an incident that happened seven years into her marriage, that her husband learnt of her artistic skills, when her society organised an art exhibition and she painted a woman offering her prayers to the sacred Tulsi outside her house. This humble work singularly proved to be the proverbial key which opened up the world for her! Her husband took keen interest in developing her special skills and provided her with any art material and also encouraged her to join a 3-year Diploma at the Modern Art Institute at Dadar. After completing this course, she had the opportunity to assist an artist who worked on portraits. She then joined the JJ Institute of Fine Arts and completed her Diploma in Drawing and Painting in 1965 and her Diploma in Sculpture and Modelling in 1970 in which she secured First Class.

“You are a girl, do you really want to sculpt?” everyone would ask her. “Yes, I just don’t want to do the course for some academic diploma – I want to sculpt!” she would reply firmly. In those days, no one had heard about female sculptors apparently. Soon she put to rest the doubts in the minds of one and all when her sculpture, depicting the court scene of Shivaji, won the Gold Medal at the annual exhibition at the JJ School of Art in 1970 and another sculpture, Mother and Child won the Bronze Medal at the exhibition organised by the Sculptors Association at the Jehangir Art Gallery in 1970. She thus became one of the early women to break the clay barrier, if I may say so.

Shivaji Maharaj in his court a classic depiction of the period

The artist receiving an award from the well-known writer, Shri Mangesh Padgaonkar.

Sculpting involves hours of toil, often standing or sitting in the same position, is that not very tiring and does that not stress her out, really, one may wonder. Firstly, she is so deeply immersed in her work that she often finds herself up at it upto 3 am and some times well into the next morning! “One normally does not get tired of doing what one enjoys”, she replies “and for the stress, I do some exercises” she replied. “One should always pursue hobbies that keep one engaged”, she concludes “so today when I live alone, I don’t really live alone I have my hobby which I cannot live without.”


So much was her love for sculpting and painting, that when her nephew suggested her to begin teaching kids, she was not at all inclined to do so. How could she teach such young kids the basics now? But then her nephew had a point – “If you teach youngsters, you will keep the art alive and your students will create beautiful work more than you alone can! Moreover the satisfaction will be immense”, he persuaded.

She liked the idea, and expresses gratitude to her nephew for this suggestion. Besides immense satisfaction and adoration from her students, she has also received support and help from their parents! So it was with a heavy heart that she had to stop the classes when she learnt there was much to do and could not carry on both these activities simultaneously.

Finally it was time to leave so we informed her about my blog and that I would need some pictures I would like to put up with the write-up, and she was kind enough to provide them. “Thanks for all the trouble you’ve taken” she said as we prepared to leave.

Trouble? She also has a great sense of humour, doesn’t she?

Post-script: Must thank Supriya and Amita for joining me in doing this post!

Images of Smt. Sulochana Haldankar's work below:


Goddess Amba Devi with 18 hands her creation that has stayed with her all along!


A Panel of Child God Bala Krishna helping himself to some curds hung high up


Mother and Child sculpture


Lord Krishna playing his flute


An old photograph of the artist in her younger days with her husband along with the bust of her mother.


Swami Vivekananda's Bust and Shirdi Sai Baba
All images posted above taken by me during the visit.

All images posted below are Courtesy: Image Photo Studio, Dahisar (E)

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's Statue


Goddess Amba Devi another image of her majestic creation made with great devotion


A passionate piece of sculpting


Lord Ganesh - intricate and artistic depiction


A statue of Poet Keshavsut - Kavi Krushnajee Keshav Damle Interestingly, the poet never had his photograph taken and Sulochana-kaki had to depend on the sketches of another artist to create this statue to be installed in the memorial behind Bhageshwar Temple. Some trustees objected in doubt of it being really representative of the great poet's looks, but finally accepted it and still stands at the memorial at Malgund.


The Trimurti at Elephanta Caves


Lord Dattatraya


Shirdi Sai Baba Statue


A close-up snap of Amba Devi - so you can notice the detailing!

WORD OF THE YEAR 2009

It's time again for the WOTY!

According to Wikipedia, the American Dialect Society (ADS) began announcing the Word of the Year (WOTY) since 1991.

ADS has been seeking nominations for their WOTY 2009 and the details of the same are available here:

ADS is also inviting nominations for the Word of the Decade 2000-2009 and the details of the same are here.

Meanwhile just have a look into the announcements of WOTY 2009 declared by the Global Language Monitor and New Oxford American Dictionary and the Merriam Websters' Dictionary

Global Language Monitor’s (GLM) WOTY 2009 is
Twitter – The ability to encapsulate human thought I 140 characters

A recent phenomenon this microblogging platform allows users to let others know what they think and do in 140 characters. Beginning with “What are you doing?” Twitter has quickly (and silently) moved on to “What’s happening?” Lots, I would say, considering it made it to GLM’s WOTY 2009!

Twitterati may want to partwee!

New Oxford American Dictionary’s (NOAD) “Oxford WOTY 2009” is
Unfriend - To remove someone as a ‘friend’ on a social networking site such as Facebook.
As in, “I decided to unfriend my roommate on Facebook after we had a fight.”
Going by the comments to this announcement on their blog, it appears that a large number of Facebook users haven’t liked the choice. Because they thin – hold your breath - it is the wrong word! According to them they always ‘de-friend’ whenever the need arises and not ‘un-friend’! One comment goes something like this: Oxford? American! Aaah…!

Merriam Websters’ (MW) WOTY 2009 is
Admonish - "to express warning or disapproval to especially in a gentle, earnest, or solicitous manner."

While the GLM and NOAD have selected new words as their WOTY, MW has surprised one and all by selecting an old word which has been around for centuries!

MW explains its selection criteria thus:
“The latest selection for 2009 Word of the Year comes from the good people at Merriam-Webster. Unlike other dictionary publishers that anoint an annual word, Merriam-Webster bases its winner and runners-up on actual user lookups to its online dictionary and thesaurus. So instead of the novelties selected by its competitors (distracted driving from Webster's New World, unfriend from New Oxford American), Merriam-Webster's choice is an old word that worked its way into current events: admonish.”

Though the word ‘admonish’ is old, the reason why it was the most looked up word has been due to recent developments :
“Extensively looked up after Rep. Joseph Wilson, R-South Carolina, was admonished for houting "you lie" at President Barack Obama during a speech to Congress.”

The Runners up
If you have seen the winners, would you not want to have a glimpse of the runners-up? There could be some interesting words there!

GLM’s Top Words of 2009

New Oxford American Dictionary – the Runners up
Wondering what other new words were considered for the New Oxford American Dictionary 2009 Word of the Year? Check out the list in the link here - and you would like to read the comments section of the OUP Blog too!

Merriam Websters’ Runners-up list here.

Indians should have their own WOTY! What do you have to say?

Blogger Bond Award

So inspite of all the whatnonsanz that has been posted on this blog, it has once again been recognized for having touched the lives of fellow bloggers and been considered worthy of an award! I am deeply honored by the gesture!

This award comes my way from Rachana Shakyawar who blogs at Humming Today
Read her profile here

Humming Today, is an artistically designed website - what with butterflies and lovely thoughts urging one to ‘Celebrate Life’ and smile all the way! The award has been designed and painted by Rachana herself! Lovely award, Rachana. Also some of her recent refreshing posts have made it to the Blogadda Spicy Saturday and Tangy Tuesday picks, which you will find listed alongside on her blog.

So Rachana thought it was time to celebrate the bonds that bloggers share in this post, which tells us in detail why she wanted to award us:
“Celebrate you – the Blogger Bond Award”

Thanks so much, Rachana!

Congratulations for having touched the Century mark in terms of number of posts and do continue to share the irresistible celebratory mood that your blog gets readers into. I am sure your blog will post several more centuries - celebrating life all the way! With your blog, one really doesn’t need an occasion to celebrate, I guess.

Lest we remember...

To all those critics, who kept asking “What have we learnt from 26/11?”, I have this to offer in reply:

1. RR Patil has learnt that making blasphemous statements like “Aise chhote mote haadse hote rahte hain” (such minor incidents keep happening) can get you a much-needed vacation until you get back into action in the same Ministry.
2. RR Patil has also learned that he should speak in Marathi and then blame it on the translators for misinterpretting him.
3. Vilasrao Deshmukh has learnt that striking a deal with Bollywood directors for their next blockbuster adds value to one’s CV and helps you get a Union Minister post while the lay public is pleased with the “prompt action taken”.
4. The public has learnt to take these “smart moves” in their stride. After all, their removal was only to keep their critics quiet - the aam aadmi was only hoping for improvement in the security measures to avoid such breaches in future, weren’t they?
5. We have learnt that we need a common enemy in a foreign land to unite us – even if it is for a short while and even with that we don’t keep united for long..
6. We have also learnt that, soon enough, some of our politicians will remind us of our regional, religious and other affiliations and pit us against each other so that we are engaged in fighting each other rather than how to deal with external threats.
7. Tourism operators have learnt how to capitalise on the incident and promote “terror-tourism” by organising visits to Leopold Café, Taj Mahal Hotel, Hotel Trident and Nariman Bhavan. Maybe they could throw in a visit to Dharavi as a free “slum-tourism” package, popularised by the award-winning “Slumdog Millionaire” (or vice versa)
8. We have learnt that kind souls do set up NGOs and assistance groups to look into the problems of those affected by the terror attack
9. We have also learnt that Government Cheques do bounce!
10. We have learnt to wait for the next anniversary.

We could go on…..So it isn’t that we haven’t learnt!

Now that the first 26/11 anniversary is behind us and we’re done with lighting the candles, floral tributes and joining the peace marches or whatever it is that makes us feel we’ve done our bit for those who laid down their lives, it is time to move on with life. At least until the next anniversary becomes due in 2010. By which time, we may pitch the counter-terrorism ball shorter and not with the same pace or force as this time around.

The first anniversary was also timely – at least for Madhu Koda, whose story receded into the background while the nation paid tributes to the national heroes and the media shifted focus from scams to martyrs and heroes of 26/11. Also, fortunately for scamsters like Ramalinga Raju and Madhu Koda, the nation does not observe any anniversaries of scams! Naturally, since nobody dies – we all continue to live, albeit duped and deprived. How about a “scam tourism package” thrown in, now that we have a portfolio of scams to boast of? Perhaps the only thing that may remind us of a past scam is the next bigger scam! How about a new mega scam around 26/11/2010?

Bloggers' Post-Script: Readers of the blog who have not yet read my interview featured on Webneetech.com may read the same in this link here.

Do read my microblogpost on India-tweets "The other cheek please"

Mee Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar Boltoy

Thank you, Blogadda - for picking this post for Spicy Saturday Posts

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to watch a popular Marathi movie, “Mee Shivaji Raje Bhosale Boltoy”. I quite liked the movie, considering that it presented to viewers, the kind of predicament a typical middle class Maharastrian family living in Mumbai finds itself in, when dealing with members of other communities who have migrated to Mumbai and made it big, while they continue to struggle in their mediocrity and don’t really know how to cope with the aggressively competitive and ambitious “outsiders”, who beat them on their home turf.

Watching this Marathi Manoos taking all insults lying low, Shivaji Maharaj, the all-time hero of the people of Maharashtra, decides that he cannot continue to see his own people suffering anymore. Shivaji Maharaj rides it out to the humble abode of the protagonist and offers to guide him out of the rut that he has gotten himself into due to his own low self-esteem and lack of spirited approach to life and calls upon him to change his own thinking to take on the world in his own terms. He transforms the humble son of the soil, wallowing in his own miseries, into a force that the world reckons has truly arrived.

I have never posted a movie review on my blog. Nor is this post a review of this wonderful Marathi movie, which deserves to be translated into every known Indian language and released nation-wide. This post is about how several Marathi stage artistes, movie-makers, writers and thinkers have done more for the Marathi Manoos than a couple of cousins haggling for vote banks! The work of Pu La Deshpande needs to be translated and made available to every Indian. Movies like Shwaas has made it to the Oscars, but why don’t we find dubbed version of such great masterpieces showing in other states of India?

Every week I watch several young boys and girls singing great Marathi songs in the Zee Marathi channel “SaReGaMaPa - Punha Nave Sapna Swaranche” on Mon/Tues 9.30 pm onwards. Several non-Maharashtrians told me that they too watched all the episodes of SaReGaMaPa including Little Champs, and simply loved that program! What makes them watch a program in a language that they couldn’t understand much, I asked.

“We love the manner in which the judges, Avdhoot Gupte and Dr Salil Kulkarni guide and advise the participants about music, humility and about life! The participants are blessed and it is a rare treat for us – we don’t find this kind of mentoring in any other language music reality shows!”, was their reply!

How very true! In fact, some of the participants, who are non-Maharashtrian, have made it to the top 12. A South Indian, Abhilasha Chellam and a North Indian, Rahul Saxena, are doing a great job for Marathi music and culture! Truly, music has no language barriers – neither have evolved human beings!

When the true-blue proud Maharashtrian and Mumbaikar, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, who completed 20 years of entering the International Cricket arena spoke about Mumbai being a part of India and that he was an Indian first, I thought, he was entitled to his view. He may have done more for Mumbai, Maharashtra and India than the 2 Senas put together have done for Maharashtra. And I am glad that by speaking up against regional divides, which harm the interest of our country, he has just padded up – and will bat for India! One does hope more enlightened writers and thinkers and prominent state figures that truly make Maharashtra what it is today do join in and unify the country!

And to my fellow Indians from other states, I have this to say – Maharashtra is more than a couple of cousins squabbling amongst themselves for the coveted title of the “Grand Saviour of Marathi” – Its much more!

Blogger’s Postscript: This subject has got more attention than it really deserves. This post attempts to say something different. (I hope it does).
After all, I am an Indian Blogger first!

First Book Review of my First "ArTicKles" Book

It gives me great pleasure to announce that a fellow author and blogger, Jeena Papaadi, who accidentally discovered my book "The ArTicKles Collection", while googling for the Bangalore Book Festival (BBF), has posted a Book Review in her blog.

I do thank Jeans, as she calls herself, for this!
Do read the review here

I do hope the copies of my book are sold out before the BBF closes on Sunday 15th Nov 09! The book is available at a specially discounted price of Rs. 100 until 15th Nov 09 at the Pothi Stall in BBF held at Stall No. 288, Gayatri Vihar, Palace Grounds, (entrance near Chowdiah / Bellary Road side) at Bengaluru.

Blogger's Post-script:
Meanwhile what do you think bloggers do when they arent posting blogs? Well, they are posting tweets on Twitter! So get on to Twitter and follow me @gopinathmm and you will be amazed at the fun and excitement abuzz on the microblogging platform.
So when most people were worried about Phyan in Mumbai, tweeple had several views why it wouldnt enter Mumbai "MNS didnt allow it because it doesnt know Marathi" said one,"becoz it does not have a Marathi name" said another. I also found the origin of the name of the cyclone Phyan here.

But now that it is past us, it is safe, I presume to disclose that this Burmese word for berries falling of trees is just crap, it was indeed of marathi origin! Since the rural Maharashtra folks felt that this cyclone was no great stuff and God had just put on the fan sot they kept saying "Phyan", as they always say in rural Marathi, you see... so now you know!

Phyantastic, isnt it?

BBF is on

The Bangalore Book Festival is on since November 6th and will be open until 15th Nov 09. My self-published book, enabled and powered by Pothi.com has been put up in their Stall No. 288 there as I have already announced in my previous post.

Pothi.com has begun posting all the happenings and pics in their blog “Booknomics” here.

Jean, blogger and author of “Tales from the Garden City” has posted some pictures and written about her visit to the Pothi stall in her blog, which can be read here.

Jean also left a comment on my blog that she has bought a copy of my book! Thanks, Jean! Do write a review on the Pothi.com website and/or your blog, once you’ve finished reading it.

All a writer wants, once he completes writing his book, is that his book reaches as many readers as possible. Though some of us have opted for self-publishing our books at Pothi, this does not prevent us from trying to approach established publishers for buying the rights of the book. I forwarded copies of my books to 4-5 publishers till date and they were quick enough to revert with a standard reply, “At the moment, our hands are full, you may try some other publisher”.

Just wondering why Goddess Saraswati did not bless our publishers with a dozen hands instead of just 2 – in which case, wouldn’t they have some hands free for handling my book? Anyway, just take it that this message is just an accepted publishing industry norm for a “rejection slip” to the author. Having collected several such rejection slips from newspapers and magazines, these just add to the tally, I thought.

However, according to this piece, even some best-sellers in the market today have been rejected several times before publishers see the potential in them, citing 14 best-sellers which were rejected more than 15 times (some more than 30 times) before acceptance!

Who would guess that “Gone with the wind” by Margaret Mitchell would have been rejected 38 times, “Carrie” by Stephen King was rejected 30 times, “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” by Richard Bach was rejected 18 times, “Chicken Soup for the Soul” by Jack Canfield was rejected 140 times, “The Peter Principle” by Laurence Peter was rejected 16 times? So you now know how wrong publishers were to reject the book submissions! Chicken Soup for the Soul ended up selling over 80 million copies and was translated in 37 languages once published.

I wonder how so many publishers didn’t find such remarkable books worth the print paper? So authors should not get disappointed by rejections by established publishing houses who can print many copies of our book and place them in the bookstores all around the world, and who knows they may be the best-sellers in the days to come!

So, guys, we have a new platform of self-publishing to get started, but we need to keep trying our luck with established publishers and distributors and of course keep improving on the work in terms of presentation and details – that’s what successful authors have been doing all along.

My Book at the Bangalore Book Festival 2009!

As you all know, I have been doing the write stuff for some years now. Writing involves imagination and as we work upon our skills, fantasies come to us quite naturally. So it happened that I got this idea about self-publishing my first “ArTicKles Collection” early this year. Now writing nonsense is one thing and publishing it in a book, quite another. But thanks to well-wishers and some helpful souls who tend to our fantasies and work to see our creations see the light of day, like Pothi.com, my first book was published in February 2009 and has been available for purchase on the net here.

Soon, I learnt that publishing a book is one thing and selling it, quite another! The book is available on the net, but nobody seems to be buying it! So what’s wrong with my book? I began to wonder.

“Nothing, its just that it doesn’t get the publicity and since most readers still pick up books in the book-store and online purchases hasn’t yet caught up, your book lacks the visibility” said a good friend of mine.

That reminded me about what a very popular author said in his television interview. He narrated an incident about how a young aspiring author once asked him whether he considered himself the best author in the world today, to which he quickly replied “Certainly not the best author, but probably the best–selling author or close to being it”.

That sorted out the entire muddle in my head! For someone who cannot sell a refrigerator to a guy staying in a desert (not an eskimo, take note), no wonder the book doesn’t sell. Moreover, one did not even heed the advice of well-intentioned friends who suggested that I throw in some romantic love stories and garnish it with juicy bits of holding hands while naturally progressing into promiscuity, that would be certain to irk the big-wigs in the several “Senas” and several self-appointed moral brigades of the region. I could’ve just handed over a couple of free samples to their staunch supporters in my region and hoped and prayed for my book to be banned or better still, burnt in public – after which it would become an instant international best-selling success!

Finally, I did none of it!

So I am now happy that Pothi.com, the self-publishing platform has come up with an idea (not as exciting as my friends’ suggestions, though, I must admit) to help sell our books apart from the online bookstore! Pothi has decided to set up a stall in the Bangalore Book Festival to be held in Bangalore from Nov 6th to Nov 15th and signed copies of my first book will be available at a discounted price of Rs. 125/- (Listed price Rs. 140)during the event.

The details of how to get to the Book Stall of Pothi is as follows:

Stall No. 288, Bangalore Book Festival,
Gayatri Vihar, Palace Grounds,
Bangalore
(Entrance from Chowdiah/ Bellary Road side)


So now that you know what my book isn’t about, what are you waiting for? Go grab a signed copy of my book!

PS: Oops, I almost forgot – the book contains some selected “ArTicKles” – humorous, informative, entertaining collection of old published and unpublished pieces,which I promise shall be a great read especially for those who have limited access to the net! It is a great gifting idea for elderly people who read books and newspapers and enjoy some good humor in life!

For those in Aamchi Mumbai or Fascinating Goa, some copies are available for the same discounted price of Rs. 125/- plus courier charges as applicable. If anyone is interested in purchasing my book, kindly write in to my email id which is g_mavinkurve AT hotmail DOT com to be the proud owner of a work of outstanding human fantasy or...er...stupidity!

For those who think they are well-connected (to the internet, i mean), just head to my best posts in my blog here. I have actually improved upon my posts in the book! So do buy my book, guys!

Jab Tweeple Twoot Pade!

Kal Twitter pe saare Indian Tweeple twoot pade the!

All Indian Twittering people were posting tweet after tweet their own contribution to the thread that became the rage on Twitter #unlikelyindianbooks

It was surely a special treat on my special day - I was glad everyone was celebrating and having fun!

I am posting some choice picks that caught my attention from what Indian tweeple posted yesterday below (not necessarily the very best - it was difficult to choose from thousands of them)

The Best of #unlikelyindianbooks

Tweets By @amitvarma'
'A farewell to Arms' by Varun Gandhi.
'Who Moved My Cheesecake' by Adnan Sami.
"On The Road" by Salman Khan. "The Son Also Rises" by Sonia Gandhi.
'Men Are From Toronto, Women Are From Mumbai' - Rakhi Sawant.
'How the Parsis and Gujaratis Built Mumbai' by Raj Thackeray. @Krishashok
"Drink in peace & other punny tales" by Morarji Desai
"The Great Indian Navel" by Shilpa Shetty
"The Interpreter of Melodies" by Anu Malik
"Amar Shonar Nano" by Buddhadeb Bhattacharya
"A Suitable Boy" by Rakhi Sawant
"Meri Rashtrabhasha" by M Karunanidhi

Tweets by @Rameshsrivats
"Attempted yorkers and other fuck-ups" by Chetan Sharma
"Have you seen my stamp collection" by Telgi
"Headache Remedies" by Ravana
“Shoots, Eats & Leaves - The story of Salmaan & a Blackbuck"
“Cocktail Recipes" by Morarji Desai
"Damn. Pluto is out." by Bejan Daruwala
“Eyes wide open" by Deve Gowda
"Tree's Company" by Aishwarya Rai
"Cookbook" by Ramalinga Raju
Lol RT @shubhas: The buck stops here by Salman Khan

Tweets by @Jhunjhunwala
"Being Silent" by Navjot Singh Sidhu

Tweets by @SachinKalbag
"How I Created An #unlikelyindianbooks Meme Monster" by @jhunjhunwala
"A.P.J Abdul Kalam - My Friend, Philosopher and Guide" by K Santhanam
“The Art of Prime Ministership" by L.K. Advani

Tweets by @TheComicProject
"Yeh haath mujhe de de thakur" by Varun Gandhi
"How to talk like Amitabh" - By Sachin Tendulkar
"Mackenna's Gold - By Bappi Lahiri
"Employee Retention" - by Hari Sadu

Tweets by @Vinod_sharma
"A few good men" - by Laloo, Mulayam, Paswan
"Jai Shri Ram' by Karunanidhi
"Main aur meri young bai" by Shiney Ahuja
“From Pizza Hut to Dalit Hut" by Rahul Gandhi
"Bhaichara with gaichara" by Laloo Yadav
“Desperately seeking Sonia" by Amar Singh
"Hens Pecked" by Dr Manmohan Singh
"The bucks stop here" by Prannoy Roy
"Keep mom, give gas" by Anil Ambani
'Dressing up for terror attacks' by Shivraj Patil

Tweets by @gopinathmm _ Hey that's me!
"Consistency and Stability in the Indian Education System" by Kapil Sibal
“Flexibility at WTO negotiations" by Kamal Nath
“The ultimate Self-Yelp Book for Canines" by Maneka Gandhi.
To order call toll-free number 1-BOW-BOW-BOW-BOW
"How to present the news without getting excited" by Rajdeep Sardesai
"How to conduct a talk show without cross-talk" by Vikram Chandra
"Lobbying for a favorable tax slab for the unlisted gender" by Bobby Darling
"How to put the interviewee at ease" by Karan Thapar
"Committed to Industrialising West Bengal" by Mamata Bannerjee
“How to tackle tough neighbours" by Dr. Manmohan Singh
"How to handle sibling business rivalry" by either of the Ambani brothers
“How to build an empire by running an ethical business" by Ramalinga Raju

Needless to say, Twitter kept flashing the message:
“Overcapacity – Too many Tweets to handle – login after sometime”

So folks who are not yet on Twitter, you know what you are missing out!
Follow me on twitter on @gopinathmm

We may have a blast on this microblogging platform like this one again!

Magical Treachery – Breaking Codes, Vanishing Charm

Thank you Blogadda for picking this post!

“Watch the masked magician as he reveals the best kept secrets of magic on the AXN show, ‘Breaking the Magician’s code’” announced an ad in a newspaper, which immediately caught my attention! Amazing illusions of levitation, slicing a person into two parts with a powerful saw, penetration through tough walls, assistants locked and tied up in metal cages vanishing - all in front of our very eyes, had been always fascinating us since our childhood days. “How did he do it?”, was always a question on the minds of people in the audience.

While watching the 'Masked Magician', who was later found to be the well-known Val Valentino, on AXN Channel’s Thursday night show at 10 pm, “Breaking the Magician’s Code – Magic’s Biggest Secrets finally revealed”, one was shocked to see how the skillful masked performer, after presenting several conjuring acts, quickly followed them up with the revelations about the props used, hidden assistants, secret trap-doors, misleading gestures to divert attention, specially designed chairs and tables, that had actually helped deceive the viewers into the amazing effect adeptly handled by the performers. What was unknown to the audience for several years was unfolding right before them on their TV screens! ‘Oh, such a simple thing, after all – how couldn’t I guess that?’, an instant would come to one’s mind.

As *POOF* - the charm of the trick just vanished!

Being part of the Indian magicians’ fraternity since my school days, yours truly had fiercely guarded these secrets for a singular cause – to maintain the charm of these intriguing, enthralling acts which had regaled the audiences and kept them guessing. “Oh, how does he do it?”; “Does he hyponotize us?”; Surely there’s something hidden up his sleeve, isn’t there?” “There’s something special with the wand in his hand, isn’t it?” When asked, I had only one answer –
“It’s magic!”

Raja the Magician performing an act

Being the younger brother of Rajaram Mavinkurve, better known as ‘Raja the Magician’, a popular children entertainer in the ‘80s and ‘90s, I had the privilege to assist him at stage shows and birthday parties. So did I not follow into his footsteps and perform the acts myself? Well, no! While he was adept at his sleight of hands and deceitful ways, my sloppy fingers and slipshod ways were a threat to the entire trade, much before the betrayal of the masked magician. Having learnt this in private performances at home, my brother was convinced about one thing: Before the arrival of the masked magician, the best way to tell the world how it is all done was really to ask me to perform!

Raja the Magician performing an act

The magicians' fraternity was a close-knit one and guarding secrets was a major avowed principle being strictly followed. Naturally, my public performance was out of question. That left me with a limited opportunity to help out by setting the table before the show and ensuring that curious kids don’t rampage the magical stuff, until it was packed up and carried away for the next show. Several friends and kids would coax us to let them know the secrets to these mystifying acts, but to no avail. The only reply would be:
“Hey, It’s magic!”

Rajaram was also good at networking amongst magicians and entertainers all over India (and abroad too). He took active part in the Society of Indian Magicians and was also the President of the organisation for several years. This involved organizing get-togethers, picnics, competitions and such other activities. Sensing my resolve and interest in the subject, one had no difficulty to gain entry into these esoteric events of magicians, hailing from all over India, in which the secrets of acts were discussed, improvements, innovations and new tricks were actually being demonstrated and taking shape.

After his sudden early demise in 1998, due to a massive heart atttack, (he was 45 years of age), my connections with these wonderful performing artists were lost, barring a few who would call up and keep in touch. So I called up some of them recently and wanted to know their take on the on-screen exposes by the “recent” show. I was informed that the Val Valentino had begun exposing these in the US as early as 1998 and was continuing to do so even until 2008, all for the lure of money.

It was amazing, I thought – several Indian magicians were battling to keep their trade from slipping into bankruptcy but hadn’t fallen for the lure to expose the secrets, thereby letting down their own brethren and here is a guy from the western world who is doing it and raking in the moolah! So what was the reaction of the magicians, one wanted to know?

“Well, good performers continue to do well”, I was told. “Most of the folks know that we are only entertaining and want everyone including kids to enjoy themselves. There’s competition from other performers too, but the challenges are being met by being innovative, introducing some new tricks. And moreover newer kids keep coming into this world!”, he said reassuringly. So, they aren’t vanishing any time soon! I heaved a sigh of relief for my good old friends!

No such thing as a stupid question!

Thank you, Blogadda, for selecting this post for the Tangy Tuesday Picks!

“The more important a question, the more unlikely it would have an answer”- A tweet posted by me on Twitter.

Follow me on Twitter! Twitter ID: @gopinathmm

My tweet was posted after several questions were raised by the television news channels after YSR’s helicopter went missing some time ago. “Why do you think so?” Asked a good friend of mine, to which I had no answer! Why do I think so? An important question, I thought! So that’s what I replied, “Too important a question…don’t have an answer”.

Having said that, was it indeed so? I wondered. So let’s look at the types of questions that one is faced with from time to time.

Ten Types of questions

1. “Nobody knows everybody cares” type – Investigation agencies, Commissions set up etc. will investigate these forever, but these mysteries may never be solved Unknowns remain unknowns and as time passes the answers elude us until it becomes impossible to get to the truth. These questions will crop up after every tragic incident and will haunt us until we move on to newer events and newer mysteries. Do people today want to know how Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose met his end? Forgotten, isn’t it? e.g.

a. Who killed Aarushi Talwar? Will he/she ever be brought to book?
b. Was the YSR helicopter tragedy a result of flouting safety norms?
c. Who is responsible for the Thekkady boat tragedy?
d. Will Afzal Guru and Ajmal Kasab be hanged for their crimes?

2. “Nobody knows Nobody cares” types – could be great to write about, though. e.g.

a. Which came first the chicken or the egg?
b. Why did the hen cross the road?

3. “What the experts think” – Important questions which only experts are expected to answer – but there are several experts and each one thinks differently, why not? One wonders whether we do have the right answers, after all? Readers/viewers’ queries are included in this category of questions. e.g.

a. Where will the stock markets go from here?
b. Will the real estate prices rise or drop in the next few months and years?
c. Gold? Dollar? Interest rates? Inflation?

4. “When will you do this?” type of question. More of a command really in the guise of a question. (generally from one’s spouse, but then not always), One may not get a proper answer- and results / actions aren’ guaranteed either. e.g.

a. When are you going to clean up the clutter?
b. When are you going to decide about this or the other?
c. When are you going to finish your work?

5. “What do you think?” Opinion poll kind of questions. As if it matters! You have your say but opinion is often divided so we find the stats on the screen to the Question of the Day at the end of the program. Nobody wins, nobody loses and nobody knows for sure. e.g.

a. Is the change in the educational pattern good or bad?
b. Has the RTI Act helped curb corruption?
c. Will the nth pay commission make Government jobs more attractive?
d. Should Archie marry Veronica or Betty?

6. “Why did you do this?” Tell us why - your reasons for your choices. There may be many reasons, but the one you tell will be the socially popular one – not necessarily the one that tilted the decision in its favor. e.g.

a. Why did you change your job?
b. What made you want to leave the country?

7. “When are you going to grow up and learn?” More a venting of frustration than a question seeking answers. The answer is known: Never - but hopes remain! e.g.

a. When are you going to grow up and learn to think for yourself?
b. When are you going to make up your mind about our new furniture?
c. When will Mumbai be able to tackle the flooding during the monsoons?
d. When will our politicians ever own up responsibility for their lapses?
e. When will we be free from the scourge of corruption?

8. Quiz Questions– Time to show off your knowledge base. You may have an answer here! After all you’ve been working on these trivia haven’t you? e.g.

a. Who is the world’s tallest living man?
b. Who is the oldest living person in the world?

9. A Good question - “ That’s a Good Question!” It could be any awkward question, a question that one was hoping wouldn’t be asked or even one which is so tricky that you needed time to decide how to respond and take a few breaths before you begin to answer, so just say it “That’s a good question!”

10. A Stupid Question – At the end of a training session, we have a Q&A session, which invariably begins thus: “There is no such thing as a stupid question. Ask any question!” So I ask the question and after the Q&A session, he concludes “How can questions be stupid? But people who ask them can certainly be!”

Have I missed out on any other types of questions?
Readers are encouraged to write in with their comments, instead of wondering:
“Whatnonsanz! Why the hell did I have to read such a stupid post?” Or
“Does he have to post such nonsanz stuff when he has nothing to say really?
“What kind of post is this?”
Btw, if you want to know the types of blog posts - do read this post by Shilpa Garg here.

The Tweet that wasn't!

Glad to find this post chosen for the Tangy Tuesday Picks

When I first encountered the phenomenon, I had no inclination to share with the world the answer to their question posed to me: “What are you doing?”! Why would someone want to know what I am up to? How would it help if someone knew that I was racking my brains for the next blogpost while my wife actually wanted me to get up and fetch the plumber. Would my follower come to my rescue? Suggest me an idea or better still fetch me that much-needed plumber and save our family from drowning….???

So it is with this characteristic disbelief in the power of a tweet that I joined Twitter and began telling the world what I was reading, what I was thinking and what I was doing. Thankfully Twitter did not expect me to tell the world what I was not doing! Like not paying attention to what my wife was saying or not paying my bills or insurance premia or whatever-it-is-that-ought-to-be-done. So the world could know about this only from my humor blog and not from twitter updates!

This last week, I was busy reading 140 articles/ columns/ blogposts, each of a length of about 1400 words (not characters) about one tweet from Shashi Tharoor! Each of these 140 thoughtful pieces of labour are worth a read and that is the singular reason of my not posting my thoughts about this tweet all this while.
Perhaps if one were to contest which other tweet posted on twitter since its formation has been so much written about in the print media/blogs/websites other than Twitter, this one certainly takes the cake …and perhaps the Guinness Book record too!

I decided not to post a single word about this much-hyped tweet from the much-admired public figure who is only just stepping into the political waters of India. Unless….unless..unless I really have something different to say from all that has already been said. So here I go and post one without really saying anything at all about the aforesaid tweet.

But it wasn’t long ago that a certain voluminous work of writing which was published by an Indian politician of repute was debated and done to death by the party to which he belonged without so much as reading it! And now it is this 140 character tweet (which I suppose but am not sure) that many have read in full, faced the same wrath as the former for simply using some imaginative colloquial figures of speech! So it is not the length of the text…aha!....that can arouse the sensibilities of the members of the public at large!
(Editor - Readers are requested not to confuse the words length and arouse and members in any other context otherwise unintended by this blogpost).

An answer to a book is a book and an answer to a tweet should be a tweet. So, this post is not an answer to the tweet. So what exactly is this post? Well, I had a nightmare! That the Government of India is planning to regulate and control humour – by forming a Ministry of Humor headed by ….by…by…I couldn’t figure out this guy …because I woke up in a sweat, just then!

To begin with an insertion in the oath: “I shall not hurt the sensibilities of the people of our land by using outlandish phrases, idioms, figures of speech or any kind of grammatical connotations that my countrymen are not familiar with or accustomed to. Nor shall I mock anyone under the pretext of being funny or humorous due to the edge i have over the others due to my knowledge or technological prowess....”
Fellow bloggers may help by supplementing in the comments section!

Going forward, newcomers may be handed out an introductory brief including a few tips compiled by some old timers which goes thus:
To avoid misunderstanding, pandemonium in assemblies resulting in hung parliaments, waste of newsprint, etc., do not use phrases in your tweets, press briefs, media appearances, interviews, like:
1. “barking up the wrong tree” – people may think you called them a dog…worse if it refers to a female fellow-politician, for reasons I am sure you will understand.
2. “his bark is worse than his bite” – for similar reasons
3. “it’s a dog’s life” – in any context for similar reasons
4. “Chewing the cud” or “ruminating” – it will have much the same effect as the well- known “holy cows”
5. “offering gems to swine” – especially intelligentsia coming into politics should avoid this phrase
6. “cleanse the Augean stables” – though it means bring about a reform in some public evil, which every politician must really strive to do, this phrase is banned
7. “ruffle a person’s feathers” – it would amount to calling one a bird or bird-brained depending on which party the offended politician belongs.
8. “a fish in troubled waters” - why not simply say a politician in troubled circumstances, instead of stirring up the oceans with this idiom?
9. “flutter the dovecotes” – though it means disturb the equanimity of a body of people , that is exactly what one will end up doing by using this phrase!
10. “kill two birds with one stone” – you could be tried for plotting a double murder!
11. “beard the lion” – meaning – resolutely approach your superior with a demand – but using this idiom could find your approach road cut once and for all!
12. “riding the high horse” – as in behaving high-handedly - but may be mistaken for reference to horse-trading in politics – using this phrase could cause you nightmares!
13. “a little bird told me” – an inherent risk of a new ministry being set up to investigate the possibility
14. “a white elephant” – to refer to burdensome expense of no value – but may be mistaken to refer to elephant statues and statues of other politicians
15. talking of elephants, don’t even use “Gr8” in your tweets – they may mean ‘Grrr’..for the figure of ‘8’ and might irk the sensibilities of prominent figures like Jayanti Natarajan et al! It is always better to be cautious of such possibilities, you know.

I hope I did have the last word on this one tweet without really saying anything about it!
Could you call something that has been so much written about a mere tweet?

Blogger’s Postscript: If you want to read all the 140 articles about the tweet, try Googling “Shashi Tharoor cattle class holy cow tweet articles columns blogposts” and see for yourself.

I said Googling! Not Go ogling! Damn our sensibilities!

The Giver of Joys

When visiting government offices, one expects a grumpy-faced, never-in-the-mood, fastidious person at the desk. But when you find a radiant, smiling, cheerful person bursting with energy and enthusiasm sitting in his place, one begins wondering whether you have arrived at the right place or not?! It is this very characteristic effervescence that prompts bosses in his office to assign the responsibility of receiving all foreign dignitaries and escorting them around the most prestigious export manufacturing enterprises set up in SEEPZ in Mumbai. He puts all his charm and knowledge into his conversation, interspersing it with historic facts, which perhaps can be attributed to his interest in archaeology.

For someone who always entertained colleagues by singing on-stage at annual functions or every opportune occasion or lightening up the atmosphere with his wise-cracks even on any other work day, it is but natural to be sporting enough to participate in all events be it sports, social gatherings or musical evenings with his broad smile and ‘ready to play along’ attitude.

Having observed various interesting traits in him, which are not so common in many of us, especially those working in the government offices, one is tempted to ask him - what other interests does he have? Apart from being a good singer – he had been singing on stage with many artistes in his younger days with musical troupes and shared the stage and recording rooms with the likes of Sonu Nigam, Udit Narayan et al – he has been a keen sports enthusiast, especially cricket, he tells me.

Udit Narayan with our Good Samaritan

“What else?”, I was tempted to ask. “Social work” he replied.

“Society has isolated some unfortunate people from the others, simply because fate has been cruel with them, and has denied them the opportunity to celebrate festivals and enjoy life as normal beings. They are shunned by literate, knowledgeable, enlightened, educated people into leading a life of a loner. I love to go to such places, like the Homes for the Aged, Remand homes for street children or Hospitals for Leprosy patients, where people sulk in their own misery, lose hope and crave for someone to come and ask them ‘How are you today?’ ‘Come on, it is festival time, let us celebrate!’ They like me coming over to share a few moments of fun and laughter with them. I entertain them so that they forget their woes, even if it is only for short while. They feel that there is someone who wants us to be happy, wants to talk to us, wants to see us dance and sing!”

Some even wanted to begin celebrating their birthday with him! Perhaps they want to live longer only because they know he will certainly come again! Every Christmas finds our good Samaritan disguise himself as a Santa Claus and do the rounds of the Acworth Municipal Leprosy Hospital at Wadala in Mumbai, where the lesser fortunate ones wait for his arrival at every occasion. When word went around how one kind-hearted soul makes them dance and sing at parties, some celebrities and wealthy industrialists wanted to organize parties they just had to have him around! So when he visited the leprosy hospital in his civil dress, on the insistence of a well-known celebrity, who accompanied him incognito, the inmates wanted to know: “Why didn’t you come here on Christmas day? We had a ball here! You should have been here - you missed it all!”

As Santa Claus posing with the leprosy patients


Urging them to dance with him at the XMas party


Oh they are all dancing now!

That was indeed a dilemma – he must have hoped he could duplicate himself with a human copier so that he could accompany himself to the Xmas Party! But that is what we too may hope for – so that we can use such a device to duplicate such benevolent souls to spread the joy around!

On the occasion of the Joy of Giving Week, scheduled to be observed from September 27th to Oct 2nd 2009, I feature this story as a tribute to the Giver Of Joys, Mr. Chandrakant Birhade, hoping to spread the message about how ordinary folks can share their joys and devote some time for a good social cause! It aint only about money.

The Giver of Joy, Chandrakant Birhade, who needs no special week for bringing himself and many others joy in this world!

Let us conclude with the wise words of Mother Teresa, who spent large part of her lifetime in the care of leprosy patients.

'The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted.'
- Mother Teresa

Post-Script: Read about Acworth Municipal Leprosy Hospital, Wadala, Mumbai 400 031 Dr. WS Bhatki, Tel: 24147256 / 24150355

Doing the Write Stuff!

It is not unusual to find oneself suddenly being engulfed in lots of activities!

Just when I decided to begin a separate blog dealing with the intricate, paradoxical, debatable subject of Foreign Trade Policy developments and their effect on trade and industry, I had an old collegemate call on me telling me about the troubles he had to go through in life. The events he described had so many twists and turns that it could put any bollywood blockbuster to shame.

"Write a book on my life events - it will be a hit!" he suggested, "I know you can do it". So I began with a short summary and send it off to him.

Another acquaintance who came out as an enterprising soul, who learnt about my love for writing soon revealed to me some interesting aspects of his life and I said "Wow! I never knew you...." Soon I would want to write about his noble deeds.
"I want the write-up to touch the readers hearts and make them feel like contributing to society, I know you can do that" he says. I hope to do justice, i think as i leave him with promises.

Back at my desk, I find an invitation to write for a new blog, a novel concept in which one has got to write his/her thoughts on a chosen India-related subject in just 140 words! Twitter - 140 characters. India-tweets - 140 words!

What do i do write the twisting-turning story with blockbuster potential?
Write about the kind-hearted deeds of the acquantance? Work on my professional trade-shade stuff?

The next thing that happens i find an email from blogger-friend Sakhi who has published her first book of short stories! Read about it here .

Great work! Congratulations! I wish her and begin wondering whether publishing my book is the end of a journey or the beginning of one? After publishing my First Artickles Book", I have been able to sell 3 copies of my book all in all - one via Pothi.com and 2 personally!

My good friend Anil, who knows everything, tells me, "If you havent praised Raavan or Hitler or Jinnah...nor have you hurt the feelings of this sect or the other...your book has nothing in it that makes it worthy of banning it or better still burning it...how do you expect to...again you're not a Jaswant or an Advani in fact you're not even a Praveen Mahajan!!??..."

I am convinced "I understand..I understand...but I still do hope someone buys it for some laughs it offers and for gifting it to someone who has sparce access to the internet...
Do buy my First Artickles Book!"

That's also when work beckons! Yells out to me and tells me there is some time-bound projects to attend to and all my thoughts vanish. Suddenly I begin to believe i cant do any of the stuff, i wanted to - at least not now - maybe sometime later.

So i wait for this weekend but all i can manage to do is to post my first 140-word India-tweet post! Check it out here.

Proud to be part of India-tweets! Thanks,Vinod Sharma!