The year,2024, that was

The year ,2024, started with   cold,windy  climate with intervening periods of relief.

 We had a 15 days of  family  trip to the land of Pharoes,pyramids and mummies-   Egypt in, Dec. 2023 . It was the premier trip with well planned itinerary,7 nights  cruise on Nile on Dahabhia (the  golden boat) and all 7 star accommodation, in ~ 100  old heritage properties of yesteryears of Egypt.   It was customised  from the  arrival at airport to the  departure. It was guided by the  gentleman pursuing Ph.D in Egyptology.we may not know our last 30  ancestors of our family,but our guide made it sure ,we remember the long  lineage of Egyptian history of Ramses and Tutenkhamen,Nefertiti and Cleopatra . Thanks to our thoughtful  wards for such benefits and making the precious memories to live with. ( Read my story  on Nile cruise on my Facebook wall - the winter on Nile) 

January 6, 7 and 8,2024 were special days as we were celebrating 75 th year of Baroda medical college. The grand function was organised by the  alumni association. Being the coordinator for the exhibition of painting and sculpture,it gave me the opportunity to organize on  large scale ,roping in alumni,current students and Fine Arts faculty. 

In February,we visited  the Dehli  for wedding of  my daughter's  brother - in- law . We met Rishabh and Karnika  there.,we visited few relatives in Dehli before embarking return journey. 

We visited the Hampi,Badami, and coastal Karnataka( Murudeshwar,Gokarn,Udipi)   in  the March along with NRI classmate and his spouse .  It was  conducted by the kesari tours. It was  well planned ,well executed. 

After the tour ,we added Shravan Bel gola ,Belluri and 

 Helabbidu ,ending at Banglore and flying back to   Vadodara. It was great cultural and architectural exposure to Vijaynagar empire of Krishnadev Rai fame, of Hoysala dynasty.  The 58 feet tall,  monolith statue of Gomteshawara at Sharvanbelgola is majestic. 

Summer has set in  ,my games ,tennis and Golf continued along with daily walk with Manjoo. We were preparing for our treking, we keep  climbing 14 floors of commercial building near our home .

Now ,we were planning our trekking in Uttarakhand ,called '  Ali Bedni Bugyal' in the  June end. We were on our own  as 2 member team. After many searches ,we found the yellow bird cafe in Lohajung,our starting base camp for the services during  treking.  . We trusted them and it was paid back satisfactorily in terms of best services,safety, wholly customised .

The trekking was the  marvelous experience and best supported by the trek leader and his team con,helper and pony  caretaker.  We came back happily. ( Pl read my 8 episodes of trekking story in Gujarati on my facebook wall )

The monsoon  has started . It was very heavy and for the first time the overflowed   water entered our home up to 4 inch on 26th August ,2024. . It was nightmare for us and  majority people,damaging property,cars . 

Luckily,no major damage  

and we thank Almighty. 

Diwali and festivities were as usual  fare. We had pooja,lunches and dinners at our home and at  brother's. 

As a tradition,we always have "anna koot "at my home as we derive the  divine pleasure offering the God , the original bestower of all good things . 

My son ,Karan and his wife,Shabana gave us a visit for 8  days, in November. We had a nice time to catch on. Karan,being good cook,delighted us with his  culinary skill. . Now,our last travelling of the year  was  to Hornbill festival and Dzukou valley trekking in first half of Dec. ,in Nagaland. We had wonderful experience of Nagaland, it's people , culture and food. Moderately difficult trek was successfully completed. 

Our Son in law,Rishabh paid us visit  on 15 th December. We had a family get-together at close friend's s son wedding. Rishabh met my both brothers and the rest

 of the  family. 

Now the 2024  is ending and new year,2025 , coming. Our best wishes to all.

On health front,both if us maintained good health during the year without any hiccough. 

My post retirement daily routine is all  well set and enjoying  the every moment. 

We pray to the God for his mercy to all. 

My story will be incomplete if I do not mention the near - miss  incident.

Manjoo in last trekking ,slipped in ravine up to 15 feet but was  held back there due heavy bushes and  growth. Our lady trek leader ,in a split second  rushed to her. 

I shouted from the trek to Manjoo,to get on her feet,she obliged and that was the end of any  possible disaster. She walked back to base  camp and had no injury except  knee pain . 

We are thankful to the God and all of our well wishers for their silent prayers. 

In few days,the year 2024 will end and let us welcome 2025. Wishing you all the year end festivities and welcome to 2025. 

The mouse trap worked again

 🐁🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀

  A mouse entered our house during the recent water logging .

  Because of the water flooding ,it seemed  it  had no other  choice but to go to a  place

wherever it could  find a safe place.

  The next morning ,

My better half noticed that  out of 8  almonds soaked,7  were  missing,the first suspect was yours truly ,being  the known  culprit of midnight fridge raider variety. But my honest   confession of  not guilty  restored my dignity. 

 So the   Sherlock Holmes - in-  residence

 suspected that there must be a  four legged  who had committed these crimes.

And looked for other evidence.

 Yes,

there was a potato and   guava with  tell- tale bite marks   the case was settled,

 the mouse had  entered our home. 

  Our old and trusted  mouse  trap was brought out and  put in action  to catch  the culprit,

 it has performed so well in the past that it will do this time too,tail twisted.

  At night, a piece of  poori with butter  was  hung on the hook of mousetrap ,then   it was placed on the kitchen platform at a  place that  the Mus Musculus 

 can be lured into   the trap.

  Everything other  eatables were  removed from the place too ,so  the culprit had no choice but to go to the trap to satisfy  its' hunger.

Next morning,

  I heard a rustling,rattling  sound from the kitchen, so I reckoned  that the mouse trap had worked . 

  This life is also a mouse trap,  one gets trapped for  assorted baits. 

  Let us  free  the  prisoner  to the  outside world,  so  it can breathe  freely  and so we are... too.

The mouse trap worked again 🐁🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀 A mouse entered our house during the recent water logging . Because of the water flooding ,it seemed it had no other choice but to go to a placewherever it could find a safe place. The next morning ,My better half noticed that out of 8 almonds soaked,7 were missing,the first suspect was yours truly ,being the known culprit of midnight fridge raider variety. But my honest confession of not guilty restored my dignity. So the Sherlock Holmes - in- residence suspected that there must be a four legged who had committed these crimes.And looked for other evidence. Yes,there was a potato and guava with tell- tale bite marks the case was settled, the mouse had entered our home. Our old and trusted mouse trap was brought out and put in action to catch the culprit, it has performed so well in the past that it will do this time too,tail twisted. At night, a piece of poori with butter was hung on the hook of mousetrap ,then it was placed on the kitchen platform at a place that the Mus Musculus can be lured into the trap. Everything other eatables were removed from the place too ,so the culprit had no choice but to go to the trap to satisfy its' hunger.Next morning, I heard a rustling,rattling sound from the kitchen, so I reckoned that the mouse trap had worked . This life is also a mouse trap, one gets trapped for assorted baits. Let us free the prisoner to the outside world, so it can breathe freely and so we are... too.

The mouse trap worked again

 🐁🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀

  A mouse entered our house during the recent water logging .

  Because of the water flooding ,it seemed  it  had no other  choice but to go to a  place ,wherever it could  find a safe place.

  The next morning ,

My better half noticed that  out of 8  almonds soaked,7  were  missing,the first suspect was yours truly ,being  the known  culprit of midnight fridge raider variety. But my honest   confession of  not guilty  restored my dignity. 

 So the   Sherlock Holmes - in-  residence

 suspected that there must be a  four legged  who had committed these crimes.

And looked for other evidence.

 Yes,

there was a potato and   guava with  tell- tale bite marks   the case was settled,

 the mouse had  entered our home. 

  Our old and trusted  mouse  trap was brought out and  put in action  to catch  the culprit,

 it has performed so well in the past that it will do this time too,tail twisted.

  At night, a piece of  poori with butter  was  hung on the hook of mousetrap ,then   it was placed on the kitchen platform at a  place that  the Mus Musculus 

 can be lured into   the trap.

  Everything other  eatables were  removed from the place too ,so  the culprit had no choice but to go to the trap to satisfy  its' hunger.

Next morning,

  I heard a rustling,rattling  sound from the kitchen, so I reckoned  that the mouse trap had worked . 

  This life is also a mouse trap,  one gets trapped for  assorted baits. 

  Let us  free  the  prisoner  to the  outside world,  so  it can breathe  freely  and so we are... too.

Travelogue 2024

ટ્રેકિંગ # ઉતરાખંડ# અલી બેદની બુઞયાલ.

#૧#૧#૧#૧#૧#૧#૧#૧#૧#

ગયા વર્ષના ટારશર મારશર  ના ટ્રેકિંગ સુખદ અનુભવ બાદ આ વર્ષે પણ ટ્રેકિંગમાં જવાનું નક્કી કર્યું .

ઇન્ડિયામાં   ટ્રેકિંગ ત્રણ રાજ્યોમાં થાય છે જેમાં કાશ્મીર ,હિમાચલ પ્રદેશ અને ઉત્તરાખંડ મોખરે છે તો આ વખતે નક્કી કર્યું કે ચાલો હિમાચલ  અથવા  ઉતરાખંડમાં ટ્રાય કરીએ.

 ઇન્ટરનેટ પર  સરચ  કરતા ઉત્તરાખંડની એક સરસ અને જુની ટ્રેક ની માહિતી   અલી બેદની બૉઞયાલ  હાથ લાગી જેના માટે કાટગોદામ પહોંચવું જરૂરી છે.

 લકી  લી ઇન્ડિયન રેલવે સમર સ્પેશિયલ તરીકે મુંબઈ કાટગોદામ શરૂ કરી જે વડોદરા થઈને જતી હોવાથી સરળ થયું ,આવા જવાની ટિકિટ બુક કરી અને પછી આગળનો પ્લાનિંગ માટે ઇન્ટરનેટ એ જ તારો  સહારો લીધો .  બેસ camp Lohjang  કરીને એક જગ્યા જે કાટગોદામ થી 220 km દૂર છે . 

 ટ્રેકિંગની સર્વિસ પૂરી પાડતી કંપનીઓ નો બુકિંગ ફુલ હતું ત્યાં મારી નજર  internet પર એક લોહ જંગ ની એક યેલો બર્ડ કાફે અને પડી અને તેમને અમારી ટ્રેકિંગની જવાબદારી સોપી. 

 ને તારીખ 19 જૂન અમે વડોદરા થી સમર સ્પેશ્યલ મુંબઈ રવાના થયા કાટગોદામ ,અમારો ઉતારો એક  Home stay  હતો આજે મારે થોડી હોમ્સ ડે વિશે વાત કરવી છે તો હોટલના જેટલું જ ભાડું પણ હોટલો જેવી સર્વિસ નથી આપતા જેવી કે સામાન ઊંચકવા માટે માણસ ,લિફ્ટ વગેરે વગેરે અને અમે જ્યાં રહ્યા ત્યાંનું એસી પણ બરાબર કામ નહોતું કરતું અને ઓનર અમને બહાના કાઢી અમને સમજાવતો રહ્યો ઠીક છે 

હવે બીજે દિવસે સવારે અમે make my  ટ્રીપ માંથી જે ટેક્સી બુક કરી હતી એ લઈ ને અમારે 220 km દૂર  Lohjang  પહોંચવાનું હતું. હવે એક ડર  હતો કે કદાચ  ન આવે તો કોઈ લોકલ ટેક્સી કરી ડબલ ભાડું આપી અને અમારે જવું પડે પણ નથી પણ make my  ટ્રીપની સારી સર્વિસ ને લીધે એ ડ્રાઇવર આવ્યો અને એને સમય લાગ્યો પણ પછી અમને લઈને લગભગ 8:30 સવારે અમે Lohjang  જવા નીકળ્યા ગાડી સારી હતી ડ્રાઇવર સારો હતો અને રસ્તામાં એક જગ્યાએ રોકાઈને સરસ નાસ્તો કર્યો જ્યાં ખીણ. સાઈડ ની રેસ્ટોરન્ટ હતી અને બહારની બાજુ વહેલી  સવાર હતી અને આખા વેલી નો નજારો જોવા મળતો હતો. સવાર સવારે ગરમ પરોઠા, ચા વગેરે લઈ અને અમે આગળ વધ્યા. અમે રસ્તાની અંદર Almost  ક્રોસ કર્યું પછી  Kosani  ક્રોસ કર્યું, ગરુડ ક્રોસ કર્યું ત્યાં સુધીમાં તો સાજ પડી ગઈ હતી અને એક જ ઈચ્છા હતી કે રાત પહેલા પહોંચી જઈએ વચ્ચે જીપીએસ બરાબર કામ ન કરવાથી એવું લાગ્યું કે કદાચ રસ્તો ભૂલી ગયા છે પણ ફરી  પણ એ ખોટું હતું અને અમે લગભગ અંધારું તથા પહેલા Lohjang  પહોંચી ગયા અને  પછી મારા ટ્રેક લીડર  Spandan ને ફોન કર્યો અને એ લોકો એ અમને ગાઈડ કરી અને અમારા ઉતારા પર પહોંચ્યા હવે અહીંયા આ  બજાર થી થોડું અંદર જઈ અને પછી ગાડી પાર્ક કરીને પણ લગભગ 200 મીટર ચાલી અને અમારે પહોંચવાનું હતું જ્યાં રૂમ,   કાફે હતું રૂમમાં પહોંચી સામાન મૂકી અને  snacks  માટે પૂછ્યું તો અમે ગરમ ગરમ પકોડા અને ચા મંગાવી, રૂમમાં  ગરમ પાણીની વ્યવસ્થા નથી તો એ ગરમ પાણી આપ્યું અને એનાથી અમે નાહીને થાક ઉતાર્યો અને   જેવું અમારૂ  ડિનર તૈયાર થયું એટલે અમે અમારી રૂમમાંથી ઉતરી અને લગભગ ૪0  ડગલા ચાલી ને કાફે પહોંચ્યા કાફે પહોંચ્યા ત્યાં નીચે બેસવાની વ્યવસ્થા હતી Spandan ,trek leader  ને અમને ટ્રેક વિશે સમજાવ્યું તો અમે સાંભળ્યું અને પછી જમવાનું અમે શરૂ કર્યું પછી થોડી વાતો કરી અને અમે છુટા પડ્યા અને રૂમ પર જઈ અમે લંબાવી બીજે દિવસે સવારે અમે તૈયાર થઈ ગયા અમે એક જ Rucksack અને બે નાના બેક પેક લીધા હતા અને બધો જરૂરી સામાન એમાં લીધો હતો કાફે માં જઈને નાસ્તો કર્યો  અને ટેક્સી આવી ગઈ હતી એ ટેક્સીમાં અમારે  કુલીગ  ઞામ  જવાનું હતું જે 15 કિલોમીટર દૂર હતુ જ્યાંથી અમારો ટ્રેક શરૂ થવાનો હતો.

( ક્રમશઃ)

ABB TREKING ~ BE THE HERO OF YOUR OWN STORY

After successful completion of last year's  trek in Kashmir,i was looking for the  trek no. 2 for  the current year.  It was re testing time for our ligaments ,joints and muscles. 

With the starting of direct train to Kathgodam from Mumbai via Baroda,the access to Uttarakhand  is comfortable journey, so I   was looking  for one in Uttarakhand state.  ( ( U.K. ) 

The Ali Bedni Bugyal( ABB) trek  fitted  the bill  as it suited for its  height ( 12000feet) distance ( 32 km ) , difficulty (. Level lI) andv timing  ( Pre monsoon)

Next step was to find the local  vendor to provide  us logistics. With the help of net,i could find one in thev Yellow Bird Hostel and cafe , located in  Loha gunj,220 km from Kathgodam and the starting point for the  trek. It is being managed by young brigade of S. Sengupta,Ms. Ranjitha and Saurav. 

Our trek was for 3 N/ 4D and covered 32 km with the height gain from 7K  feet to 12k feet. ( App. 400 storied building). Roughly,it was 8 km of ascent,10 km of descent and 14 km of flat walking in bugyals in sum total. 

Bugyal means Alpine  grass lands  on the ridges of mountains ,in Kumaoni language. 

The bugyals  are above the treeline of the mountains and are pasture  grounds for local live stock.

Ali and Bedni are two different bugyals ,lying adjecent to each other. Bedni have Bedni pond ,beside the temple of Bedni mata - the local name for Ma Parvati. 

While bugyals are vast,enchanting eye candy ,the jungle track and trails are mesmerazing,the long oak trees are like   silent monks in deep meditation. 

Moss covered long oak,deodar,fir   and  rodoedendron  trees make  picture perfect  junglescapes and fascinating forests. While in it ,it is  like being showered  by the  forest,the japanese call it SHINRIN YOKU.

Camping for three nights and staying  in a area  less then 30 sg. feet tent( 4 ftx7.5 ft) for  two persons ,  I joked with my better half that thanks to  cramped space ,we came  so close ,after a long time.  

The support system ,consisting of trek leader,a experienced young bengali boy ,a cook ,a helper were perfect answer for our guide, rest,food, recreation and safety.The two mules carried our luggage silently and dispassionately. 

 The trek program 

was customised and curated for us .  

All in all,a great out door vacation, adventure and  feeling of  rejuvenation, restoration and recreation. 

One can see the snow covered peaks of Trishul,Nanda Devi and Chokhamba of  Himalayan range from here on clear day and we were blessed for the same. 

The stories of wildlife during campfire  did scare us  but the tired body won the battle for good night sleep over possible  nightmares.

The rain did play spoilsport but we were lucky enough to escape any  damage. On the first day,we found a house in construction on our trail  for shelter from nowhere  as the heavy  rain plummeted. The ultimate planner ,God,was and is kind to us ,always. TG4LM.

So we made it,what next ?

Posted the link to see the Instagram reel for visuals.

Pl. select the link and press instagram icon in the window. 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8x3gTESy9A/?igsh=Y21jYjBlcjVlcm9l

ARTS, ARTISTRY AND AESTHETICS

Annual display of the Fine Arts Faculty during summer is  the most awaited event in my calendar. Every year ,I enjoy the artistic skill of final year students of UG and PG of all departmens of faculty.   The sheer scale of imagination and physical work is something to be seen to believe. Here there is everything for everyone from just interested to most committed.  The paintings can be abstract,semi abstract, geometrical ,cityscapes,seascape,figurative ,nudes,seminudes . Narrative paintings is like one frame visual tale.

,to be interpreted as per choice.  The crafts of sculpture is also vividly displayed ,in bronze,in terracotta,in multimedia. The installation art is multi media,multi faceted combination ,sometime audio-visual too. The open part of campus along with the cental lily pond is creatively used to enhance the viewers ' sense and sensibilities. The department of   Graphics and  Applied Arts add  their charm too. The varied theme from sublime to sexy to grotesque to lustful are fully exploited to give the strength and  sometime scandals  to  spectacles. 

So ,why not judge for yourself from the clicked images and bid me bye

 

A. Chamkila- movie

Amarsing Chamkila 

Movie review

👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼

This is a must see movie,of course for movie lovers, on Netflix ,directed by Imtiaz Ali  and there are many for many reasons  during this mango season . 😉

The art of story telling through cinematography  is  at its best,like a reading cruising on river with slow pace,so no space or spectacle misses by. 

The story of  musician Amarjit along with his second  wife is  narrated  , partly  in sequence and partly as flashback  . The innovatie use of tech ,using actual photographs  juxtaposed with  reel life make visual narrative a  real and surreal feel. 

The on-screen lyrics of punjabi songs  along with English dubbing make evey song  comprehensive, otherwise one enjoys only tunes  in punjabi song and not the lyrics. 

The background of khalistani terrorism   is portrayed  as the Chamkila becomes victim as so many others during that period ( Famous opthalmologist Dr. Daljitsingh was one of them )

The song and music by A.R. Rehman are catchy .The beautiful pair of Daljit and Parineeti ' s acting caliber helps to elevate the movie from' maybe ' to ' must watch'. 

For discerning viewer,the director has raised few questions of double standard of society, individual freedom and what is right or wrong. 

So enjoy the  potpourri .

Thanks for reading.

A. Chamakila - movie that I liked

Amarsing Chamkila 

Movie review

👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼

This is a must see movie,of course for movie lovers, on Netflix ,directed by Imtiaz Ali  and there are many for many reasons  during this mango season . 😉

The art of story telling through cinematography  is  at its best,like a reading cruising on river with slow pace,so no space or spectacle misses by. 

The story of  musician Amarjit along with his second  wife is  narrated  , partly  in sequence and partly as flashback  . The innovatie use of tech ,using actual photographs  juxtaposed with  reel life make visual narrative a  real and surreal feel. 

The on-screen lyrics of punjabi songs  along with English dubbing make evey song  comprehensive, otherwise one enjoys only tunes  in punjabi song and not the lyrics. 

The background of khalistani terrorism   is portrayed  as the Chamkila becomes victim as so many others during that period ( Famous opthalmologist Dr. Daljitsingh was one of them )

The song and music by A.R. Rehman are catchy .The beautiful pair of Daljit and Parineeti ' s acting caliber helps to elevate the movie from' maybe ' to ' must watch'. 

For discerning viewer,the director has raised few questions of double standard of society, individual freedom and what is right or wrong. 

So enjoy the  potpourri .

Thanks for reading.

Chamakila - movie review and Prayer

Amarsing Chamkila 

Movie review

👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼

This is a must see movie,of course for movie lovers, on Netflix ,directed by Imtiaz Ali  and there are many for many reasons  during this mango season . 😉

The art of story telling through cinematography  is  at its best,like a reading cruising on river with slow pace,so no space or spectacle misses by. 

The story of  musician Amarjit along with his second  wife is  narrated  , partly  in sequence and partly as flashback  . The innovatie use of tech ,using actual photographs  juxtaposed with  reel life make visual narrative a  real and surreal feel. 

The on-screen lyrics of punjabi songs  along with English dubbing make evey song  comprehensive, otherwise one enjoys only tunes  in punjabi song and not the lyrics. 

The background of khalistani terrorism   is portrayed  as the Chamkila becomes victim as so many others during that period ( Famous opthalmologist Dr. Daljitsingh was one of them )

The song and music by A.R. Rehman are catchy .The beautiful pair of Daljit and Parineeti ' s acting caliber helps to elevate the movie from' maybe ' to ' must watch'. 

For discerning viewer,the director has raised few questions of double standard of society, individual freedom and what is right or wrong. 

So enjoy the  potpourri .

Thanks for reading.

############

Chamakila - Movie review and prayer

Amarsing Chamkila 

Movie review

👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼

This is a must see movie,of course for movie lovers, on Netflix ,directed by Imtiaz Ali  and there are many for many reasons  during this mango season . 😉

The art of story telling through cinematography  is  at its best,like a reading cruising on river with slow pace,so no space or spectacle misses by. 

The story of  musician Amarjit along with his second  wife is  narrated  , partly  in sequence and partly as flashback  . The innovatie use of tech ,using actual photographs  juxtaposed with  reel life make visual narrative a  real and surreal feel. 

The on-screen lyrics of punjabi songs  along with English dubbing make evey song  comprehensive, otherwise one enjoys only tunes  in punjabi song and not the lyrics. 

The background of khalistani terrorism   is portrayed  as the Chamkila becomes victim as so many others during that period ( Famous opthalmologist Dr. Daljitsingh was one of them )

The song and music by A.R. Rehman are catchy .The beautiful pair of Daljit and Parineeti ' s acting caliber helps to elevate the movie from' maybe ' to ' must watch'. 

For discerning viewer,the director has raised few questions of double standard of society, individual freedom and what is right or wrong. 

So enjoy the  potpourri .

Thanks for reading.

Channels - movie review and " good reads"

Amarsing Chamkila 

Movie review

👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼👐🏼

This is a must see movie,of course for movie lovers, on Netflix ,directed by Imtiaz Ali  and there are many for many reasons  during this mango season . 😉

The art of story telling through cinematography  is  at its best,like a reading cruising on river with slow pace,so no space or spectacle misses by. 

The story of  musician Amarjit along with his second  wife is  narrated  , partly  in sequence and partly as flashback  . The innovatie use of tech ,using actual photographs  juxtaposed with  reel life make visual narrative a  real and surreal feel. 

The on-screen lyrics of punjabi songs  along with English dubbing make evey song  comprehensive, otherwise one enjoys only tunes  in punjabi song and not the lyrics. 

The background of khalistani terrorism   is portrayed  as the Chamkila becomes victim as so many others during that period ( Famous opthalmologist Dr. Daljitsingh was one of them )

The song and music by A.R. Rehman are catchy .The beautiful pair of Daljit and Parineeti ' s acting caliber helps to elevate the movie from' maybe ' to ' must watch'. 

For discerning viewer,the director 

रात मैं पत्नी के साथ होटल में रुका था। सुबह दस बजे मैं नाश्ता करने गया। क्योंकि नाश्ता का समय साढ़े दस बजे तक ही होता है, इसलिए होटल वालों ने बताया कि जिसे जो कुछ लेना है, वो साढ़े दस बजे तक ले ले। इसके बाद बुफे बंद कर दिया जाएगा।

कोई भी आदमी नाश्ते में क्या और कितना खा सकता है? पर क्योंकि नाश्ताबंदी का फरमान आ चुका था इसलिए मैंने देखा कि लोग फटाफट अपनी कुर्सी से उठे और कोई पूरी प्लेट फल भर कर ला रहा है, कोई चार छोले भटुरे का ऑर्डर कर रहा है। कोई इडली, डोसा उठा लाया तो एक आदमी दो-तीन गिलास जूस के उठा लाया। कोई बहुत से टोस्ट प्लेट में भर लाया और साथ में शहद, मक्खन और सरसो की सॉस भी।

मैं चुपचाप अपनी जगह पर बैठ कर ये सब देखता रहा ।

एक-दो मांएं अपने बच्चों के मुंह में खाना ठूंस रही थीं। कह रही थीं कि फटाफट खा लो, अब ये रेस्त्रां बंद हो जाएगा।

जो लोग होटल में ठहरते हैं, आमतौर पर उनके लिए नाश्ता मुफ्त होता है।

मतलब होटल के किराए में सुबह का नाश्ता शामिल होता है।

मैंने बहुत बार बहुत से लोगों को देखा है कि वो कोशिश करते हैं कि सुबह देर से नाश्ता करने पहुंचें और थोड़ा अधिक खा लें ताकि दोपहर के खाने का काम भी इसी से चल जाए।

कई लोग इसलिए भी अधिक खा लेते हैं क्योंकि उन्हें लगता है कि मुफ्त का है, तो अधिक ले लेने में कोई बुराई नहीं।

कई लोग तो जानते हैं कि वो इतना नहीं खा सकते, लेकिन वो सिर्फ इसलिए जुटा लेते हैं कि कहीं कम न पड़ जाए। दरअसल हर व्यक्ति अपनी खुराक पहचानता है। वो जानता है कि वो इतना ही खा सकता है। पर वो लालच में फंस कर ज़रूरत से अधिक जुटा लेता है। मैं चुपचाप अपनी कुर्सी से सब देखता रहा।

साढ़े दस बज गए थे। रेस्त्रां बंद हो चुका था। लोग बैठे थे। टेबल पर खूब सारी चीजें उन्होंने जमा कर ली थीं।पर अब उनसे खाया नहीं जा रहा था। कोई भला दो-तीन गिलास जूस कैसे पी सकता है? बहुत सारे टोस्ट। कई बच्चे मां से झगड़ रहे थे कि उन्हें अब नहीं खाना। मांएं भी खा कर और खिला कर थक चुकी थीं। और अंत में एक-एक कर सभी लोग टेबल पर जमा नाश्ता छोड़ कर धीरे-धीरे बाहर निकलते चले गए। मतलब इतना सारा जूस, फल, ब्रेड सब बेकार हो गया।

यही है ज़िंदगी।

हम सब अपनी भूख से अधिक जुटाने में लगे हैं। हम सभी जानते हैं कि हम इसका इस्तेमाल नही कर पाएंगे। हम जानते हैं कि हमारे बच्चे भी इसे नहीं भोग पाएंगे। पर हम अपनी-अपनी टेबल पर ज़रूरत से अधिक जुटाते हैं।

जब हम जुटाते हैं तो हम इतने अज्ञानी नहीं होते कि हम नहीं जानते कि हम इन्हें पूरी तरह नहीं खा पाएंगे। हम जानते हैं कि हम इन्हें छोड़ कर दबे पांव शर्माते हुए रेस्त्रां से बाहर निकल जाएंगे, सबकुछ टेबल पर छोड़ कर।

उतना ही जमा कीजिए, जितने की आपको सचमुच ज़रुरत है।

ये दुनिया एक रेस्त्रां है। कोई इस रेस्त्रां में सदा के लिए नहीं बैठ सकता।

कोई इस रेस्त्रां में लगातार नहीं खा सकता।

सबके खाने की सीमा होती है। रेस्त्रां में सबके रहने की भी अवधि तय होती है।

उतना ही लीजिए, जिसमें आपको आनंद आए। उतना ही जुटाइए जितने से आपकी ज़रूरत पूरी हो सके।

बाकी सब यहीं छूट जाता है। चाहे नाश्ता हो या कुछ और...

हम में से बहुत से लोग संसार रूपी रेस्त्रां से बहुत से लोगों को टेबल पर ढेर सारी चीज़ें छोड़ कर जाते हुए देखते हैं। पर फिर भी नहीं समझते कि हमें कितने की ज़रूरत है।

हम जानते हैं कि हम भी सब छोड़ जाएंगे, लेकिन जुटाने के चक्कर में, जो है, हम उसका स्वाद लेना भी छोड़ देते हैं

 राही

 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏💐🌷🌻 few questions of रात मैं पत्नी के साथ होटल में रुका था। सुबह दस बजे मैं नाश्ता करने गया। क्योंकि नाश्ता का समय साढ़े दस बजे तक ही होता है, इसलिए होटल वालों ने बताया कि जिसे जो कुछ लेना है, वो साढ़े दस बजे तक ले ले। इसके बाद बुफे बंद कर दिया जाएगा।

कोई भी आदमी नाश्ते में क्या और कितना खा सकता है? पर क्योंकि नाश्ताबंदी का फरमान आ चुका था इसलिए मैंने देखा कि लोग फटाफट अपनी कुर्सी से उठे और कोई पूरी प्लेट फल भर कर ला रहा है, कोई चार छोले भटुरे का ऑर्डर कर रहा है। कोई इडली, डोसा उठा लाया तो एक आदमी दो-तीन गिलास जूस के उठा लाया। कोई बहुत से टोस्ट प्लेट में भर लाया और साथ में शहद, मक्खन और सरसो की सॉस भी।

मैं चुपचाप अपनी जगह पर बैठ कर ये सब देखता रहा ।

एक-दो मांएं अपने बच्चों के मुंह में खाना ठूंस रही थीं। कह रही थीं कि फटाफट खा लो, अब ये रेस्त्रां बंद हो जाएगा।

जो लोग होटल में ठहरते हैं, आमतौर पर उनके लिए नाश्ता मुफ्त होता है।

मतलब होटल के किराए में सुबह का नाश्ता शामिल होता है।

मैंने बहुत बार बहुत से लोगों को देखा है कि वो कोशिश करते हैं कि सुबह देर से नाश्ता करने पहुंचें और थोड़ा अधिक खा लें ताकि दोपहर के खाने का काम भी इसी से चल जाए।

कई लोग इसलिए भी अधिक खा लेते हैं क्योंकि उन्हें लगता है कि मुफ्त का है, तो अधिक ले लेने में कोई बुराई नहीं।

कई लोग तो जानते हैं कि वो इतना नहीं खा सकते, लेकिन वो सिर्फ इसलिए जुटा लेते हैं कि कहीं कम न पड़ जाए। दरअसल हर व्यक्ति अपनी खुराक पहचानता है। वो जानता है कि वो इतना ही खा सकता है। पर वो लालच में फंस कर ज़रूरत से अधिक जुटा लेता है। मैं चुपचाप अपनी कुर्सी से सब देखता रहा।

साढ़े दस बज गए थे। रेस्त्रां बंद हो चुका था। लोग बैठे थे। टेबल पर खूब सारी चीजें उन्होंने जमा कर ली थीं।पर अब उनसे खाया नहीं जा रहा था। कोई भला दो-तीन गिलास जूस कैसे पी सकता है? बहुत सारे टोस्ट। कई बच्चे मां से झगड़ रहे थे कि उन्हें अब नहीं खाना। मांएं भी खा कर और खिला कर थक चुकी थीं। और अंत में एक-एक कर सभी लोग टेबल पर जमा नाश्ता छोड़ कर धीरे-धीरे बाहर निकलते चले गए। मतलब इतना सारा जूस, फल, ब्रेड सब बेकार हो गया।

यही है ज़िंदगी।

हम सब अपनी भूख से अधिक जुटाने में लगे हैं। हम सभी जानते हैं कि हम इसका इस्तेमाल नही कर पाएंगे। हम जानते हैं कि हमारे बच्चे भी इसे नहीं भोग पाएंगे। पर हम अपनी-अपनी टेबल पर ज़रूरत से अधिक जुटाते हैं।

जब हम जुटाते हैं तो हम इतने अज्ञानी नहीं होते कि हम नहीं जानते कि हम इन्हें पूरी तरह नहीं खा पाएंगे। हम जानते हैं कि हम इन्हें छोड़ कर दबे पांव शर्माते हुए रेस्त्रां से बाहर निकल जाएंगे, सबकुछ टेबल पर छोड़ कर।

उतना ही जमा कीजिए, जितने की आपको सचमुच ज़रुरत है।

ये दुनिया एक रेस्त्रां है। कोई इस रेस्त्रां में सदा के लिए नहीं बैठ सकता।

कोई इस रेस्त्रां में लगातार नहीं खा सकता।

सबके खाने की सीमा होती है। रेस्त्रां में सबके रहने की भी अवधि तय होती है।

उतना ही लीजिए, जिसमें आपको आनंद आए। उतना ही जुटाइए जितने से आपकी ज़रूरत पूरी हो सके।

बाकी सब यहीं छूट जाता है। चाहे नाश्ता हो या कुछ और...

हम में से बहुत से लोग संसार रूपी रेस्त्रां से बहुत से लोगों को टेबल पर ढेर सारी चीज़ें छोड़ कर जाते हुए देखते हैं। पर फिर भी नहीं समझते कि हमें कितने की ज़रूरत है।

हम जानते हैं कि हम भी सब छोड़ जाएंगे, लेकिन जुटाने के चक्कर में, जो है, हम उसका स्वाद लेना भी छोड़ देते हैं

रात मैं पत्नी के साथ होटल में रुका था। सुबह दस बजे मैं नाश्ता करने गया। क्योंकि नाश्ता का समय साढ़े दस बजे तक ही होता है, इसलिए होटल वालों ने बताया कि जिसे जो कुछ लेना है, वो साढ़े दस बजे तक ले ले। इसके बाद बुफे बंद कर दिया जाएगा।

कोई भी आदमी नाश्ते में क्या और कितना खा सकता है? पर क्योंकि नाश्ताबंदी का फरमान आ चुका था इसलिए मैंने देखा कि लोग फटाफट अपनी कुर्सी से उठे और कोई पूरी प्लेट फल भर कर ला रहा है, कोई चार छोले भटुरे का ऑर्डर कर रहा है। कोई इडली, डोसा उठा लाया तो एक आदमी दो-तीन गिलास जूस के उठा लाया। कोई बहुत से टोस्ट प्लेट में भर लाया और साथ में शहद, मक्खन और सरसो की सॉस भी।

मैं चुपचाप अपनी जगह पर बैठ कर ये सब देखता रहा ।

एक-दो मांएं अपने बच्चों के मुंह में खाना ठूंस रही थीं। कह रही थीं कि फटाफट खा लो, अब ये रेस्त्रां बंद हो जाएगा।

जो लोग होटल में ठहरते हैं, आमतौर पर उनके लिए नाश्ता मुफ्त होता है।

मतलब होटल के किराए में सुबह का नाश्ता शामिल होता है।

मैंने बहुत बार बहुत से लोगों को देखा है कि वो कोशिश करते हैं कि सुबह देर से नाश्ता करने पहुंचें और थोड़ा अधिक खा लें ताकि दोपहर के खाने का काम भी इसी से चल जाए।

कई लोग इसलिए भी अधिक खा लेते हैं क्योंकि उन्हें लगता है कि मुफ्त का है, तो अधिक ले लेने में कोई बुराई नहीं।

कई लोग तो जानते हैं कि वो इतना नहीं खा सकते, लेकिन वो सिर्फ इसलिए जुटा लेते हैं कि कहीं कम न पड़ जाए। दरअसल हर व्यक्ति अपनी खुराक पहचानता है। वो जानता है कि वो इतना ही खा सकता है। पर वो लालच में फंस कर ज़रूरत से अधिक जुटा लेता है। मैं चुपचाप अपनी कुर्सी से सब देखता रहा।

साढ़े दस बज गए थे। रेस्त्रां बंद हो चुका था। लोग बैठे थे। टेबल पर खूब सारी चीजें उन्होंने जमा कर ली थीं।पर अब उनसे खाया नहीं जा रहा था। कोई भला दो-तीन गिलास जूस कैसे पी सकता है? बहुत सारे टोस्ट। कई बच्चे मां से झगड़ रहे थे कि उन्हें अब नहीं खाना। मांएं भी खा कर और खिला कर थक चुकी थीं। और अंत में एक-एक कर सभी लोग टेबल पर जमा नाश्ता छोड़ कर धीरे-धीरे बाहर निकलते चले गए। मतलब इतना सारा जूस, फल, ब्रेड सब बेकार हो गया।

यही है ज़िंदगी।

हम सब अपनी भूख से अधिक जुटाने में लगे हैं। हम सभी जानते हैं कि हम इसका इस्तेमाल नही कर पाएंगे। हम जानते हैं कि हमारे बच्चे भी इसे नहीं भोग पाएंगे। पर हम अपनी-अपनी टेबल पर ज़रूरत से अधिक जुटाते हैं।

जब हम जुटाते हैं तो हम इतने अज्ञानी नहीं होते कि हम नहीं जानते कि हम इन्हें पूरी तरह नहीं खा पाएंगे। हम जानते हैं कि हम इन्हें छोड़ कर दबे पांव शर्माते हुए रेस्त्रां से बाहर निकल जाएंगे, सबकुछ टेबल पर छोड़ कर।

उतना ही जमा कीजिए, जितने की आपको सचमुच ज़रुरत है।

ये दुनिया एक रेस्त्रां है। कोई इस रेस्त्रां में सदा के लिए नहीं बैठ सकता।

कोई इस रेस्त्रां में लगातार नहीं खा सकता।

सबके खाने की सीमा होती है। रेस्त्रां में सबके रहने की भी अवधि तय होती है।

उतना ही लीजिए, जिसमें आपको आनंद आए। उतना ही जुटाइए जितने से आपकी ज़रूरत पूरी हो सके।

बाकी सब यहीं छूट जाता है। चाहे नाश्ता हो या कुछ और...

हम में से बहुत से लोग संसार रूपी रेस्त्रां से बहुत से लोगों को टेबल पर ढेर सारी चीज़ें छोड़ कर जाते हुए देखते हैं। पर फिर भी नहीं समझते कि हमें कितने की ज़रूरत है।

हम जानते हैं कि हम भी सब छोड़ जाएंगे, लेकिन जुटाने के चक्कर में, जो है, हम उसका स्वाद लेना भी छोड़ देते हैं

 राही

 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏💐🌷🌻

 राही

 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏💐🌷🌻 standard of society, individual freedom and what is right or wrong. 

So enjoy the  potpourri .

Thanks for reading.

,##########

The Hindu majority of our country has  celebrated  the Pran  Prathishta of Shree  Ram lalla at Ayodhya  on 22 nd  January 2024. 

The newly built magnificent temple, after 500 years history of conflict , have become the great  symbol  of unification  of our  faith, culture , civilization  and now  triumphant  journey. 

Ram and Ramayan   appeal to  the   lowest common  denominator  of our  people irrespective of caste,color,region and language. It is the Nervous system of the land,reaching everywhere ,sensing everyone.Ram is smell everyone recognises,Ram is sound ,everyone loves to hear and Ram is sight,etched so ever. 

But my mind is  remembering   my dear friend, Late Ketan -  Ketan  Mehta from Valsad , Gujarat. He was my  batchmate during MBBS and  MS, starting from the year  of admission,1974.  During first few   years, we did not have much interaction .   He had   taken  a drop in the  final exam of ours in 1978 .

 He would ,now,appear six  months  later. He contacted me for study and clinical  guidance . Many a  evenings ,we spent together  in medical and surgical  wards ," purcussing " each other's   knowledge. It was followed by tea and savoury in the swanky restaurants of the city. Being born with silver spoon in mouth,he introduced me to the fineries of gourmet  dining and  polished living. 

After his completion of  PG and two year fellowship in urology,He  started his surgical practice  at  Surat in 1987,practising as  Urologist . We  had become  family friends , attended each other 's  family ceremonies . 

December, 1992,there was fall of Babri  Masjid  at Ayodhya .  Idols of Ram lalla  were shifted to the  makeshift tents  and whole area was cordoned off  with multiple layers of security.  Stalemate over this situation  prevailed  due to   multitude of litigation and political turmoil. 

In 1998. There was a conference at Lucknow .My wife and I planned to attend. Lucknow is her janmabhoomi and my reward of  good " karma" bhoomi. Ketan eagerly   joined  us  . 

 After the conference, Ketan expressed his  desire to go to  Ayodhya for Ram lalla darshan. Not very enthusiastic ,I  accompanied him. My leanings are more towards  spiritualistic than ritualistic. We went by taxi to Ayodhya ( 127 km) via Faizabad. . 

BY the time we reached ,it was   evening time.  The whole town looked like big garrison with  multiple checkposts . 

 We went to the camp site for Ram lalla  darshan, but it was closed for the day.  There were many  security personnel   guarding the whole area.

 We requested security persons  for the entry   but they refused  and we were  told that it will not be possible and all activities here   are monitored  directly  from the center, Home department ,Delhi. It was okay for  me but Ketan was not the person to take No , easily. So he  insisted to have darshan and asked the security person to  talk to their  seniors ,telling them that the ex-  surgeons of government hospital  from Gujarat ,were  here and; and they are  insisting  on Darshan .The lower rank talked  to the higher one and the higher one  ,still higher.  

 After waiting for 45 minutes, there was a green signal, to my utter disbelief. We walked almost a kilometre of  barricaded  corridor,  and reached  to the site  where idols of  Ram lalla were installed  . By  the time, we reached, there was   Aarti time   . We had a  a great darshan of Ramlalla  in a tent,with melodious   sounds of Aarti going on  with the twilight sky  and it was  out of the world feelings ,. we ,being only bhakts along with pujari. 

It was goosebump ,surreal moment ,and it still is.  Surely, the similar moment occurred in the recent  Pran  Prathishta ceremony   for millions of people when the heart of a newly installed  idol was touched with a golden rod , with  priests chanting shlokas for invocation of ' life'. 

 We  returned  back to Lucknow  the same night with a  once in a  lifetime experience.  I was  wondering whether  we could have had the darshan if Ketan had not insisted and persisted .  

 This is my humble remembrance and  homage to the departed soul   of my friend-  Ketan.Jai Shri Ram .

Ayodhya ,Ram and Ketan

Ayodhya ,Ram & Ketan

@@@@@@@@@

The Hindu majority of our country has  celebrated  the Pran  Prathishta of Shree  Ram lalla at Ayodhya  on 22 nd  January 2024. The newly built magnificent temple, after 500 years history of conflict , have become the great  symbol  of unification  of our  faith, culture , civilization  and now  triumphant  journey. Ram and Ramayan   appeal to  the   lowest common  denominator  of our  people irrespective of caste,color,region and language. It is the Nervous system of the land,reaching everywhere ,sensing everyone.Ram is smell everyone recognises,Ram is sound ,everyone loves to hear and Ram is sight,etched so ever. 

But my mind is  remembering   my dear friend, Late Ketan -  Ketan  Mehta from Valsad , Gujarat. He was my  batchmate during MBBS and  MS, starting from the year  of admission,1974.  During first few   years, we did not have much interaction .   

He had   taken  a drop in the  final exam of ours in 1978 . He would ,now,appear six  months  later. He contacted me for study and clinical  guidance . Many a  evenings ,we spent together  in medical and surgical  wards ," purcussing " each other's   knowledge. It was followed by tea and savoury in the swanky restaurants of the city. Being born with silver spoon in mouth,he introduced me to the fineries of gourmet  dining and  polished living. 

After his completion of  PG and two year fellowship in urology,He  started his surgical practice  at  Surat in 1987,practising as  Urologist . We  had become  family friends , attended each other 's  family ceremonies . 

December, 1992,there was fall of Babri  Masjid  at Ayodhya .  Idols of Ram lalla  were shifted to the  makeshift tents  and whole area was cordoned off 

 with multiple layers of security.  Stalemate over this situation  prevailed  due to   multitude of litigation and political turmoil. 

In 1998. There was a conference at Lucknow .My wife and I planned to attend. Lucknow is her janmabhoomi and my good " karma" bhoomi. 

Ketan eagerly   joined  us  . 

 After the conference, Ketan expressed his  desire to go to  Ayodhya for Ram lalla darshan. Not very enthusiastic ,I  accompanied him. My leanings are more towards  spiritualistic than ritualistic. 

We went by taxi to Ayodhya ( 127 km) via Faizabad. . BY the time we reached ,it was   evening time.  The whole town looked like big garrison with  multiple checkposts .  We went to the camp site for Ram lalla  darshan, but it was closed for the day.  

There were many  security personnel   guarding the whole area. We requested security persons  for the entry   but they refused  and we were  told that it will not be possible and all activities here   are monitored  directly  from the center, Home department ,Delhi. It was okay for  me but Ketan was not the person to take No , easily. So he  insisted to have darshan and asked the security person to  talk to their  seniors ,telling them that the ex-  surgeons of government hospital  from Gujarat ,were  here and; and they are  insisting  on Darshan .The lower rank talked  to the higher one and the higher one  ,still higher.   After waiting for 45 minutes, there was a green signal, to my utter disbelief. We walked almost a kilometre of  barricaded  corridor,  and reached  to the site  where idols of  Ram lalla were installed  . By  the time, we reached, there was   Aarti time   . We had a  a great darshan of Ramlalla  in a tent,with melodious   sounds of Aarti going on  with the twilight sky  and it was  out of the world feelings ,. we ,being only bhakts along with pujari. It was goosebump ,surreal moment ,and it still is.  Surely, the similar moment occurred in the recent  Pran  Prathishta ceremony   for millions of people when the heart of a newly installed  idol was touched with a golden rod , with  priests chanting shlokas for invocation of ' life'. 

 We  returned  back to Lucknow  the same night with a  once in a  lifetime experience. 

 I was  wondering whether  we could have had the darshan if Ketan had not insisted and persisted .  

 This is my humble remembrance and  homage to the departed soul   of my friend-  Ketan.

Jai Shri Ram .

The Hindu majority of our country has celebrated the Pran Prathishta of Shree Ram lalla at Ayodhya on 22 nd January 2024. The newly built magnificent temple, after 500 years history of conflict , have become the great symbol of unification of our faith, culture , civilization and now triumphant journey. Ram and Ramayan appeal to the lowest common denominator of our people irrespective of caste,color,region and language. It is the Nervous system of the land,reaching everywhere ,sensing everyone.Ram is smell everyone recognises,Ram is sound ,everyone loves to hear and Ram is sight,etched so ever. But my mind is remembering my dear friend, Late Ketan - Ketan Mehta from Valsad , Gujarat. He was my batchmate during MBBS and MS, starting from the year of admission,1974. During first few years, we did not have much interaction . He had taken a drop in the final exam of ours in 1978 . He would ,now,appear six months later. He contacted me for study and clinical guidance . Many a evenings ,we spent together in medical and surgical wards ," purcussing " each other's knowledge. It was followed by tea and savoury in the swanky restaurants of the city. Being born with silver spoon in mouth,he introduced me to the fineries of gourmet dining and polished living. After his completion of PG and two year fellowship in urology,He started his surgical practice at Surat in 1987,practising as Urologist . We had become family friends , attended each other 's family ceremonies . December, 1992,there was fall of Babri Masjid at Ayodhya . Idols of Ram lalla were shifted to the makeshift tents and whole area was cordoned off with multiple layers of security. Stalemate over this situation prevailed due to multitude of litigation and political turmoil. In 1998. There was a conference at Lucknow .My wife and I planned to attend. Lucknow is her janmabhoomi and my good " karma" bhoomi. Ketan eagerly joined us . After the conference, Ketan expressed his desire to go to Ayodhya for Ram lalla darshan. Not very enthusiastic ,I accompanied him. My leanings are more towards spiritualistic than ritualistic. We went by taxi to Ayodhya ( 127 km) via Faizabad. . BY the time we reached ,it was evening time. The whole town looked like big garrison with multiple checkposts . We went to the camp site for Ram lalla darshan, but it was closed for the day. There were many security personnel guarding the whole area. We requested security persons for the entry but they refused and we were told that it will not be possible and all activities here are monitored directly from the center, Home department ,Delhi. It was okay for me but Ketan was not the person to take No , easily. So he insisted to have darshan and asked the security person to talk to their seniors ,telling them that the ex- surgeons of government hospital from Gujarat ,were here and; and they are insisting on Darshan .The lower rank talked to the higher one and the higher one ,still higher. After waiting for 45 minutes, there was a green signal, to my utter disbelief. We walked almost a kilometre of barricaded corridor, and reached to the site where idols of Ram lalla were installed . By the time, we reached, there was Aarti time . We had a a great darshan of Ramlalla in a tent,with melodious sounds of Aarti going on with the twilight sky and it was out of the world feelings ,. we ,being only bhakts along with pujari. It was goosebump ,surreal moment ,and it still is. Surely, the similar moment occurred in the recent Pran Prathishta ceremony for millions of people when the heart of a newly installed idol was touched with a golden rod , with priests chanting shlokas for invocation of ' life'. We returned back to Lucknow the same night with a once in a lifetime experience. I was wondering whether we could have had the darshan if Ketan had not insisted and persisted . This is my humble remembrance and homage to the departed soul of my friend- Ketan.Jai Shri Ram .

My Encounters with Government Machinery.

My Encounter with Government Machinery

 (G.M.)

😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉

There are Governments and Government machineries. Behind the Government of the day ,the GM ,which can be invisible ,silent but most powerful in  any form of rulership , anywhere in the world.  The backbones  of G.M.  are   cadre of subordinates ,called clarks, supervised by officers who carry out Govt. Orders, follows by  rules and regulations. In these matters, they have a lot of leeway and freedom of interpretation .  They know how to follow, not to follow and circumvent the rules, they know delay techniques  too. The cleverest  technique is to ask  for the paper not presented and come tomorrow . 

 Due to my misfortune, I encountered two such incidents.

When I got the admission in the MBBS in 1974 Baroda Medical College, one of the requirement of admission process  was  to submit "Domicile Certificate". This was to be obtained from Land Revenue Officer at particular office in person along with one of the parents. This is to prove that one is continuously staying in the state for last three years, so as to be eligible for admission. ( In pre - Neet era,before pan India admissions)  Now, our ancestral  history in Baroda dates back  since 1895. Once upon a time we were big wealthy   merchants of sweets of the city, but due to bad phase , we had downfall and almost bankrupt and could not pay due government  levied income tax. We were listed as tax defaulter and our Firm's name was regularly published in news paper every year in the list of defaulters. 

To survive, my  father   began   his     business   under a   new firm   name  , totally separated   from the   previous   firm's   name,   So   as   to   not  to be  liable   to   pay   the previous  firms' taxes. Not that we do not want to pay,but not possible to, in spite of, selling many properties and borrowing money on  others.

Now the concerned  clerk found out these details from the records ,  almost 25 years old,, that the firm connected with us in past was a tax  defaulter & defaulters  are  not given any certificate or award or reward. I remember Rajkapoor has  to clear all his dues before he could be awarded " Dada saheb Phalke  "award.  I  got worried and my future looked bleak and  I feared that I will not be able to get admission to be   doctor. My hands  and feet turned  cold. But my father ,my hero,was a resilient man. He had fought many  such battles of misfortunes in his life. once I saw him arguing in fluent English in front of charity commissioner for our land.

My  father explained  the whole  situation and technical disconnectivity with the previous firm.  The  clerk got convinced   and   gave us the coveted   domicile   certificate .    I   got   admission   in   the medical college to earn 'Dr' as prefix with flying colours and earned enough Gold  in Gold Medals. My  degree and dowry  both was solved.

 The Second Incident happened in the year 1999. I did my MBBS in 1974 and MS in 1983 & started my practice in 1984 in Baroda.Now   at   the   time   of   admission,   we   have   given   bond in writing  to  Gujarat government for one year of government service post qualification.  Failure   of   not   doing   so   attracted   Rs.   5000/-   penalty.   The Government was not able to strictly implement  this policy though.  I was given government post after my  MS degree which I could not honour.

Now in 1999, I wanted to do  course  in  Fine  Arts,  Faculty  of  Baroda  in  Arts  history  (M.A.)  & Aesthetic.  I filled the form and gave  the entrance exam( I wrote about Picasso).

 One of the requirement was 'Transfer Certificate' from previous faculty, so as to get  that I went to my Baroda Medical College  office to obtain the certificate. The clerk, known to me found out  from my record that I  owe Rs. 5000/- as bond money to Gujarat  Government and unless I pay, I can not be issued  any certificate.This was again 21 years after my passing MBBS .

So I paid happily.   I got the  certificate and attended as a student of Fine Arts at a ripe age of 44. The Rs. 5,000/- of 1978  was Rs. 500 in 1999  on economic fulcrum.  Even the current dean was surprised and I was asked to see him that why I wanted the transfer certificate after such a long gap.He was pleasantly surprised about my passion and mission. 

So   Invisible   Government   Machinery   is   always   there   , it   works silently and wakes up at the right moments to confront one. 

Beware ,there are only two things that are certain  in this uncertain world. 

Death 

 Government machinery.

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EGYPT - DECODIFIED

Egypt - decodified

 The Egypt is the   land ,having history since prehistoric   time , having innumerable mysteries ,puzzles  hidden in its'  river,desert  ,land ,kings ,commons, language ,arts ,sculptures and history.

 One of them is the old pictorial language   called hieroglyphics .It was  the Rosetta stone( photo in post )  with trilingual inscription that solved the meaning of these  lessons of hidden  ancient history. 

 That was the kind of first"  google translate"  of  having three languages, Greek,Coptic and Hieroglyphics ,that opened the way for understanding of great mystery of the  land of Pyramids ,Pharaohs and Papyrus. 

After  the  recent 15 days tour of this  enchanting    land of pharaohs,Nile ,  Nephartari, Nefertity and Cleopatra, I venture  to share my  few impressions. 

 The country ' s geography is amazing. A single river is  running from its  South border  to North border almost in a straight line, and without any tributaries in its course in the land of  Egypt ,having  almost 1000 mile run    and supplying its' bountiful of water ,silt ,all along its bank . From the  bank of river ,up  up to 15 km in the interior all along and each side,it led to develop  the most fertile agricultural land, fruit  orchards and  ,fishing ,papyrus , nurturing  to development of ancient Civilization,as we know today. That is Nile - the river valley ,the all nurturing Aorta of the land. 

While cruising on the river in sail boat ,called Dahabia ( golden boat,photo ) ,I happened to find a book titled " Winter on the  Nile " by Anthony Sattin in the book collection of boat.  It describes the Nile cruise journey in the yearn 1850,  of two  parallel stories of Florence Nightingale  and  Gustave Flaubert,(Novelist )both in their late twenties and pre celebrityhood status ,seeking direction in their respective lives. 

The story  in the book( photo)  and  my journey in the boat  was in sync and a pleasure to read 258 pages of great work of  the author and enjoy his  meticulous research product,in lucid language and as fluid as the river i was floating on,tummy stuffed with falafal and Egyptian bread. 

Delta in its North areas and rest of the country ,being desert  ( 95%)completes the map. .The Suez canal that connect the  Red sea to  the Mediterranean sea  is the biggest toll gate of the world and number one revenue churner . As they believe in Sun God worshipping,they built all towns and temples on East side  of Nile and all funerary sites( Pyramids,tombs )  on  the West side. 

 How evolved  they were is  seen from the stone structures they  built in the form of statues ,Sphinx , temples ,tombs, obelisks and  pyramids. How their craft was evolved  is seen from their the paintings ,figurative art ,motifs,mosaics,bas relief ,

  carvings ,colouring,  jewelleries, furniture and funerary objects.  

 They theorize that  if the God does not exist it will have  be invented and the Egyptian did that too, they invented all  possible Gods ,representing   all celestial

bodies, animals and birds , from  the sun( Ra) and the moon(Amun)God of afterlife ( Osiris )  , cow( Hathor)/ ,dog( Anubis), ,crocodile( Sobek) ,eagle ( Horus) and interwoven in their  folklores,life,politics and philosophy. With the religion  came the priests and rituals.  The power struggle between crowned head and shaven head. 

Their philosophy has strong belief in 

  afterlife which led to the  process of mummification  ,almost perfect as seen from the 40+ mummies resting and residing in the  civilization museum in Cairo.   To save the mummified body along with accompanying Gold, artifacts  ,they built the  pyramid ,the  underground tombs  So that they can sleep peacefully till they enter the afterlife . 

Their methodology was like  putting  mummies in  bank vault  like chambers with valuables ,to be  hidden and safeguarded from thieves. But thieves proved smarter,they found the hidden entry in pyramids and tombs ,into the vault (  sarcophagus) and looted. Only lucky fellow was Tut ankh amun and his 111 kg Gold ,now the proud resident of museum. 

With abundant supply of  skilled men  power,they created the giant   statues,pillars,  obelisks ,temple complexes .They achieved great engineering skill without mechanical or electronic devices of our time.  All these built up  structures  were decorated with  carved  drawings,colors. These carved  stones were like  their  written books ,displaying  various information  on sacred practices, governing, perfumery and history of war . . The name of kings were carved  in " cartouche" ( Oblong space on monument ),and seen in all these  structures   built by 30 + dynasties  and 100+ kings  that ruled Egypt . Thank Ra,i was not school kid in Egypt. 

 From332 BC ,they were 

  ruled  by Greeks and Romans for almost 1000 years and after that by Persians ,followed by Arabs but all these  foreign powers  modified  enough to  basic Egyptian  cultural  and religious philosophy  so they   do not incur  the revolt of the people .The story of Christ is also woven in the land when young Christ along with parents fled and sought refuge here . 

Today ,there are 70% are Muslims and 28 % are Christians ,called ,Coptics .They live     happily because they foster the Egyptian cultural  identity and not the   religious one.   Today it seem ,their password is development ,economic growth and  to remain in  good books of advanced nations.No wonder,the tourism is their second highest economic booster. 

A La  Amitabh Bachchan style ,let me say ,"

Kuch Tho  Din Gujariye  Egypt mein."

Humor in Egypt

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Why I refuse to take dental treatment in Egypt ?

" Because my hidden fear ,that the dentist ' s drill may discover  some  unknown Pharaoh's '   tomb sleeping quietly in  my cavity 😜