Gearing up

By next Thursday, there would be festive atmosphere in many parts of India.

Maharashtra, Karnataka and a few other states celebrate the Ganesha festival where people bring home the idol of Ganesha and worship it for anywhere between 1 and a half days to 11 days. There are lot of sweets which are prepared at home and then friends, relatives come over for the celebration. There is a lot of positivity in the atmosphere and I just love this season.

From the time I moved to Bangalore, I see a different picture of celebrations here. They might not seem as grand as the ones in Maharashtra, but the fervor is no less. Everybody is charged up, people are busy cleaning, decorating their houses, children have holidays and they get new clothes. People have so many ideas for decorating the pandal for the Ganesha to sit. It ranges from mere Rs. 100-200 to Lakhs of rupees. Off late, people have addressed social issues in the decorations for the Ganesha festival and when people throng to visit that Ganesha, they also get the message and it creates awareness among them.

This year, we were supposed to travel to Pune for the festival. Pune is a hub for these type of celebrations. Major roads get blocked during the 10 days and there are so many different kinds of Ganeshas to see in Pune, that you get tired at the end of it. But this year, again, our trip got cancelled and we decided to bring the lord of wisdom to our new abode. Who knows, this must be the Lord's demand itself that he be installed in our new house. I am looking forward to the next week for welcoming my favorite God home and I am also going to invite all my near and dear ones for the same.

Ganpati Bappa morya!!!!!!!!!!

Expect the unexpected

Nothing happens in life as we want. You would find every single person complaining like this.

Is it always so?

If I ask 10 people, 9 would reply in affirmation saying yes, that’s right! Nothing happens in our lives as we had expected. I am also one of those 9 people who would happily agree to the fact that they are challenges in every walk of life which we lead and not always things happen as we want them to.

But then what will be the fun if life was predictable and we knew all that was coming our way or saw in advance what was going to happen in our life? We would lose all our strength and vigor to fight it out and just become a character which just follows the script of a serial! Though many of you might argue with me on how we are mere puppets in the hands of god and destiny and how we just come and play our parts here. But also while playing your parts; have you given your 200% to that role? Do you believe in yourself and that role so much that God would be compelled to say, arre iske jaisa to aur koi ho hi nahi sakta!!!

I was waiting eagerly for my rating communication even this year. I was not expecting something great because from my previous experiences, I learnt a good lesson and gave up expecting anything good or bad. But when the news broke to me and I realized that I have done well and have got a good rating and that my work was appreciated, it made me happy and also set me thinking.

There should be chances like these in our lives where something unexpected comes up and strengthens our belief in ourselves and that god and destiny and gives us and the people around us a lot of happiness and positive spirti. So, all what I want to say is that we should keep our hearts open and welcome unexpected things which in turn always have something or the other to teach us!

Pets - Friends for life?

I got to know this interesting story from my best friends' mom, which is a true story.

Someone amongst her relatives is sad and depressed from the past 1 yr. That is exactly from the time, a pet in their family died. Her relative (let us call him grandpa) is almost 75 yrs old and has lot of complications in his health after that.

Yes, it was a dog, a Pomeranian by breed, but grandpa wouldn't call him a dog, he felt it was an insult to call the dog a dog. The dog, Kittu was very much a part of their family and it stayed with them for 9 yrs, which is quite a bit for his breed.

Kittu ate all things which were prepared in the kitchen. He loved coconut and tomato very much. He also loved milk, rice, biscuits and all types of sweets. Grandpa invested in Kittu emotionally to such an extent that now its void cannot be filled by anything or anyone in this world. His relatives, his family have tried so much to cheer him up, but he just doesn't respond and continues to remain glum and sad.

I was very touched with this. Can a human being be so attached to a pet? Even when there is a death of human being in the family, we tend to grieve for some time and move ahead with life. But this person is stuck in Kittu's memories and can't look beyond Kittu. I hope he gets out of this phase and leads a better life.

Dogs are known to be man's best friend since ages now. The bonding of human beings and dogs is depicted in so many Bollywood and Hollywood movies; one which made me cry is Hachi: A Dog's tale, which is based on a true story. Found this from Wikipedia, please do read:

"In 1924, Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo, took in Hachikō as a pet. During his owner's life, Hachikō greeted him at the end of each day at the nearby Shibuya Station. The pair continued their daily routine until May 1925, when Professor Ueno did not return. The professor had suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage and died, never returning to the train station where Hachikō was waiting. Every day for the next nine years the golden brown Akita waited at Shibuya station.

The permanent fixture at the train station that was Hachikō attracted the attention of other commuters. Many of the people who frequented the Shibuya train station had seen Hachikō and Professor Ueno together each day. They brought Hachikō treats and food to nourish him during his wait.

This continued for nine years with Hachikō appearing precisely when the train was due at the station.

Hachikō died on March 8, 1935, and was found on a street in Shibuya.

Hachikō's stuffed and mounted remains are kept at the National Science Museum of Japan in Ueno, Tokyo”.

Richard Gere played the role of the professor and I just couldn't control my tears towards the end of this movie. I was thinking about this movie for a very long time.

What makes pets love their masters so much? Though dogs can't express by talking, they express it through their eyes and actions and their masters mean the world to them. They need only your love and attention, that's it. They are not interested in your money or your professional status. They love you unconditionally. I can't help thinking about my pet dog, Raju, who loved me so much that he didn't allow anyone else other than the family members to touch me, when I was a baby!

I dream of owning a German shepherd sometime in my life. I couldn't spend quality time with Raju. But I want to nurture another dog as a tribute to Raju and thank him for whatever he did for me and my family.

Yaaron dosti badi hi haseen hai

Friend

This word has so many meanings.

1. A person known well to another and regarded with liking, affection, and loyalty; an intimate

2. An acquaintance or associate

3. An ally in a fight or cause; supporter

4. A fellow member of a party, society, etc.

5. A patron or supporter

All I know and understand is..

A new me and a confident me is a result of efforts of all my friends who have been there with me in all the walks of life and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all.

I am the only child, always missed a sister/brother, but not after I started teaching German in the Mumbai university. That was a turning point in my life. I changed into a dynamic and confident person from a very depressed and a sad person who had a negative self-concept. Interacting with my students and seeing the joy of learning a new language on their brightened up faces gave me a new found happiness and changed me to what I am today. I want to thank my first set of students ever, thank you Gajanan Palsule, Madhura Ratnaparkhi and Mandar Kelkar, who were responsible to make me a good teacher.

My friend, Vrishali who was with me studying German during MA helped me financially to enroll for the translation course and I will be thankful to her and her family all my life. When relatives did not stand there for me, she and her mom without any hesitation paid my fees for the course and never ever asked me when I shall return the money. I paid it back when I started doing a job and till then they never mentioned their big help. She is now happily married, with a son, now in UK and I am in touch with her through mails. Good things happen with good people!

I had a group in my school and college too, but then somehow we lost touch and met after a gap of years on Facebook or on mail, but I realized that we all had a different life now and connecting on a very personal basis with them was very difficult. So most of my school and college friends whom I met again more or less now just remain hi, bye friends.

The Marathi e-group which I am a member of and where I met my hubby, Atul, gave me wonderful friends, some are still in touch with me, but many have gotten busy with their own lives and kids which is quite justifiable. Gauri, Priyank, Meenal, Seema and Hrishikesh, Priyank, Vishwajeet - We all had a nice group when I was in Mumbai and we met up regularly to catch up on issues ranging from political to personal. After I moved to Bangalore, though the personal visits were less, we were in regular touch with each other on mails and calls. And whenever I am in Mumbai, I make it a point to meet up with them. It feels so good to experience the gone-by days again with them when life was so carefree and simple.

Bangalore gave me wonderful friends too. Koustubh, Sudhir are from my previous company. Though we have now changed companies, we are very much in touch with what is happening in each other's lives. I know I can count on them even at 12 in the night, when I need any help.

Colleagues, who have become close friends and with whom I share all my personal and professional worries and tensions if any, helped me a lot to come to terms with issues which I took to heart unnecessarily. Aabha Karmarkar gives me a pep talk whenever I need it and I hammer her too when she is low on her mood. Snehal Oke and I share a lot of things in our personal lives, because we have many common things when it comes to our husbands. Tejaswini, who was my shuttle mate, turned into such a lovely friend that I can't imagine a single day at office without her. I do not know how I am going to cope with her not being there in office from next month. I wish her all the best in all that she has decided to do when she will be a home-maker. John Jethi was also in my company who became a close friend too. He is my critic and supporter and he is a strong force behind my writings and my blog. We connect on various topics and seek each other's comments on whatever we express and write.

Thank you all my team mates in Pune, who are there to listen when I have to say something!

Swati Pandit, whom I met in Mumbai for a very short time is a regular reader of my blog and we talk a lot online on different issues and things. We both share a passion for learning languages and we both are foodies. Though she is in Australia currently, I do not think she is so far from me. I just think that she is just a phone call away. Shreyas, who is more a friend to me than my brother-in-law is a very wonderful human being and I often give him gyaan because I am elder to him. He also makes me understand things sometimes from a male perspective, which is a revelation for me.

I thank all you friends for having accepted me as I am. You never judged me on my appearance or my financial background, but you all gave me unconditional love and supported me through my highs and lows. You all mean a lot to me and I would even go to the extent of saying that my life is pleasant and easier because you all are in there. I do not regret of not having a sibling to share my life, because I have you all to share now.

Ajay, Mandar, Milind, Rahul, Deepali, my group from HP (Shankar, Vishnu, Anil, Smitha), Merlyn, Shilpa - Thanks to you too! 

Happy Friendship day to you all!

Though this is not the only occasion when I should tell you how much you mean to me, this is just a token of my love and appreciation!

I dedicate this song to you all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2DqdEzP6iE

Thanks for being there!

Kishore da

Yesterday was the birth anniversary of the legendary singer Kishore Kumar.

94.3 Radio One was celebrating this occassion with great enthusiasm. All day through they played his songs and also what other people had to say about him. There is hardly any music fan in India who does not adore Kishore Kumar.

He was a versatile man. An actor, director, singer, composer, producer, lyricist. But I always liked his singing better than any other quality in him. Yes, he was an eccentric man, married 4 times, was very concerned about being paid for his singing, but he was responsible for creating magic in the Bollywood music. He rendered his voice to many actors. My personal favorite is the combination of Amitabh Bacchan and Kishore Kumar and also Rajesh Khanna and Kishore Kumar.

Who can forget the ever-green song of the movie Don, Namak Halal, Silsila where Amitabh was the hero on screen and Kishore Kumar the off-screen hero? Or the soulful songs of the movies Aradhana, Safar, Amar Prem, Kudrat, Kati Patang which created a chocolate hero image of Rajesh Khanna? Most of his songs are etched in my heart and I like the sad numbers sung by him more than the yoodly yoodly yo ho numbers.

I am listing my best 5 songs in a descending order. This is a mixed list, happy and sad numbers as well are in. It is actually very difficult to choose the best amongst the best, but still I will try.

5.  Saagar Kinaare dil ye pukare from the movie Saagar - Played beautifully onscreen by Rishi Kapoor and Dimple. I like the lyrics a lot and the picturization on the sea-side where the lead pair express love for each other.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjpet9GDWuc

4. O saathi re - This is a haunting number. Picturised on Amitabh from the movie Muqaddar ka sikandar. It has a female version too, but can't match Kishore Da's version. A person who is separated from his childhood sweetheart thinks of her and sings this song remembering her. My heart goes out to him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OssRAVZhsRk

3. Inteha ho gayi - I love this song, especially the later part, when the song picks up when Jaya Prada enters onscreen and Asha Bhonsle pitches in for her. This song again portrays Amitabh's yearning for his lady love and again Amitabh puts life in this song. I feel like dancing towards the end when Asha didi and Kishore da sing together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Foss-Vs54gk

2. There is a tie between

Aanewala pal - What lyrics and what meaning of this song. Amol Palekar on the screen and Kishore da offscreen giving us the essence of life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFRAFHtU-PE

and

Hamein aur jine ki chahat na hoti from the movie Agar tum na hote - I like the purity of this song and the relationship of dedication to each other is beautifully depicted b/w a husband and his wife.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTwCvshBNKU

1. Hamein tumse pyaar kitna - From the lesser known movie, Kudrat. Oh this is one haunting number, which I can listen again and again. Picturized on Rajesh Khanna and Hema Malini. Amazing lyrics and to top it, Kishore Da's voice, no doubt this song is famous and loved even today. This also has a nice female version, but I like this more!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdEs8KexpY8

There are countless songs of Kishore Da which surface time and again and are enjoyed by one and all even after so many years.

A person like him can be born only once on this earth!

Kudos to you Kishore Da!

We all love you!

 

Janani

Mother, Maa, Amma - Let the language be different but meaning is same... I want to dedicate this to my mom who is world to me.

There is a saying - “A good mother is better than 100 Masters". Yes mom you are my master. They say the first school starts from house & the first teacher is MOTHER. YES it is very much true. You are my consolation in sorrow, my hope in misery, and my strength in weakness. You are the source of love, mercy, sympathy, and forgiveness. Mom your hands were always open when I need a hug. Your heart understood when I need a friend. Your gentle eyes were stern when I needed a lesson. Your strength and love has guided me when and gave me wings to fly. Thanks for giving me this wonderful life. You made a decision to have a child – “It’s momentous. I feel it is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” As I grew up with your unconditional bounding, love, care, affection, Mom I stopped seeing you with the eyes of a child, I saw the woman who helped me give birth to myself.  The Smile which brighten any moment, those every hugs put joy in all our days, the love between mom and daughter is very special. You took me under your wings and taught me how to be a woman.

If god asks me what I want, I would say, I want my mother in all my next births. Thank you mom for all your sacrifices. Thank you for showering unconditional love on us. Thank you for all the times you gently picked me up when I fell down. For everything we shares, the dreams, the laughter and the tears

When god set the world in place

When he hung the stars up in space,

When he made the land and the sea,

Then he made you and me

Tejaswini, my best friend is extremely attached to her mother and all these lines and the poetry is penned by her.

Daughters share a very unique and special bond with their moms. Who can understand and explain it better than the daughters themselves? As god couldn’t be everywhere, he made mothers. Mothers cross the highest threshold of pain during child birth and bring their children to this world. Who else can do it?

Mothers have a heart of gold which can melt when the daughter is in pain and can also become rock solid when it is required for her daughter. She acts as a mentor, friend, guide and teaches her daughter how to make the house, where she goes after her wedding into a home.

Daughters can never replay their mothers for all that they have done for them.

I sincerely wish and pray that I and Tejaswini continue this legacy with our daughters, when we bring them into this world. It would be a partial repayment to our mothers.