Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Tribute to My Mom
My mother, Krishna Rani was 67 when she passed away unexpectedly on this day 16 years ago in Rawat Bhata and was consigned to flames on the banks of the Chambal river. It was hard to say goodbye. We wish she had more time, and perhaps during the time she had, we had spent more of
it together. We wish that so much of her life had not been lost to her illness (BP), that things could have been different for her, and for us. While we know that she is at peace and that her struggles have ended, there is the lingering pain and sadness. But even though she is gone, she has left the legacy of her love and perseverance. The ways she touched our lives will remain, and I am attempting to keep those memories alive by sharing them here.
One of the most important things in Mummy’s life was reading & learning. She never got the opportunity to go to college but that did not deter her from learning. She was a voracious reader in her younger days. In fact she mastered alternative medicine (homeopathy & biochemic) by reading at
home and practiced it as a social past time. She loved Marathi literature despite being a Punjabi. She had no formal training in music or theatre but could perform to applause in get-togethers or on stage. She was a Hindi movie buff and an ardent fan of Meena Kumari (the tragedy queen).
Though Mummy was brought up with traditional values and learnt the skills that a woman of her era should — cooking, sewing, knitting and embroidery, as well as love for motherland, she was progressive for her times. She went about doing the outdoor chores on a cycle in the 60s.
Papa being the innovative kind, he made a detachable bar with seat for mom’s lady cycle enabling the family to travel around on 2 cycles, with one sibling on each cycle. The third had not yet arrived.
Being a mother of three diverse boys—Raju, Sonu (me) & Babloo, mummy had a hard time juggling the demands of us all, but she never complained at her unenviable task, nor did she ever turn anyone away—be it family, friends or local faces, wanting to stop by the house for a quick chat. She was a proud and dignified woman who had a passion for life.
Everybody thinks they have a great mom, but as kids, we knew we had a great mother because everybody else told us so. She mothered all our friends who came into the house, even those with perfectly good mothers of their own. Mummy taught us many things as young kids that hold us in
good stead today—good manners, respect and sound moral values. These values have made me who I am and I thank her so very, very much.
Mom was a vibrant spiritual soul, one who literally lit up the room whenever she entered. And right up until she became less able to get around, Mummy was full of energy and always eager to help out, no matter what the problem was. Later in life she was deep into spiritualism and shunned fancy clothes, jewelry & luxury. She was the person most responsible for shaping who I am.
My lasting memories of Mummy are simple: a hard-working, passionate figure of strength who never waned in her support or love of her family, and who soldiered on, even when times were tough.
Thank you mummy for everything you’ve given us—and the warmth we shared during your precious time on earth. God bless you always.
it together. We wish that so much of her life had not been lost to her illness (BP), that things could have been different for her, and for us. While we know that she is at peace and that her struggles have ended, there is the lingering pain and sadness. But even though she is gone, she has left the legacy of her love and perseverance. The ways she touched our lives will remain, and I am attempting to keep those memories alive by sharing them here.
One of the most important things in Mummy’s life was reading & learning. She never got the opportunity to go to college but that did not deter her from learning. She was a voracious reader in her younger days. In fact she mastered alternative medicine (homeopathy & biochemic) by reading at
home and practiced it as a social past time. She loved Marathi literature despite being a Punjabi. She had no formal training in music or theatre but could perform to applause in get-togethers or on stage. She was a Hindi movie buff and an ardent fan of Meena Kumari (the tragedy queen).
Though Mummy was brought up with traditional values and learnt the skills that a woman of her era should — cooking, sewing, knitting and embroidery, as well as love for motherland, she was progressive for her times. She went about doing the outdoor chores on a cycle in the 60s.
Papa being the innovative kind, he made a detachable bar with seat for mom’s lady cycle enabling the family to travel around on 2 cycles, with one sibling on each cycle. The third had not yet arrived.
Being a mother of three diverse boys—Raju, Sonu (me) & Babloo, mummy had a hard time juggling the demands of us all, but she never complained at her unenviable task, nor did she ever turn anyone away—be it family, friends or local faces, wanting to stop by the house for a quick chat. She was a proud and dignified woman who had a passion for life.
Everybody thinks they have a great mom, but as kids, we knew we had a great mother because everybody else told us so. She mothered all our friends who came into the house, even those with perfectly good mothers of their own. Mummy taught us many things as young kids that hold us in
good stead today—good manners, respect and sound moral values. These values have made me who I am and I thank her so very, very much.
Mom was a vibrant spiritual soul, one who literally lit up the room whenever she entered. And right up until she became less able to get around, Mummy was full of energy and always eager to help out, no matter what the problem was. Later in life she was deep into spiritualism and shunned fancy clothes, jewelry & luxury. She was the person most responsible for shaping who I am.
My lasting memories of Mummy are simple: a hard-working, passionate figure of strength who never waned in her support or love of her family, and who soldiered on, even when times were tough.
Thank you mummy for everything you’ve given us—and the warmth we shared during your precious time on earth. God bless you always.
Thursday, November 28, 2019
About Slovenia for a local magazine there
As my stay in Slovenia is coming to
a close, here are my impressions, which have also been expressed to a local
magazine, with translation to Slovene by Andrej.
Eastern Europe...just for the misguided? I
must say that's what I thought before this recent stay in Slovenia. To be
honest, I've never been too thrilled at the idea of going anywhere east of
Vienna. France...Italy...Switzerland...Europe has lots of lovely places, so why
was my company sending me off to some ex-commie hellhole for a one year MBA?
Leaving Delhi on an Austrian Airlines flight, I imagined the horrors that
awaited me: brutish architecture...boiled beetroot at every
mealtime...sour-faced locals waiting to rip-off the poor foolish foreigner at
any opportunity...
Who would want to visit a place
like Slovenia, let alone contemplate living there? Along with scenic
beauty, I like the good things in life: comfortable hotels, nice restaurants,
exotic drinks. But here I was, off on what I considered a hardship
assignment...and to make matters worse, I couldn't find anyone who had heard
about Slovenia or a book on Slovenia, for love nor money.
Well, I don't mind admitting that I couldn't
have been more wrong about a country. Slovenia is one of the most
gorgeous little places I've ever been lucky enough to visit or rather stay for
one year.
Surly natives? I feel ashamed that I thought
that way. The people were polite, helpful, friendly and full of
warmth. As for scenic splendors, well...I found it better than than
Switzerland. The country is tiny, but within its borders are all the things
that most visitors hope to experience on a whistle-stop tour of Europe: a
sunshine coastline studded with lively seaside resorts and ancient maritime harbor
towns...placid blue lakes, Heidi-like meadows, and alpine peaks where you can
ski in wintertime...plus quaint medieval towns where houses are decorated with
painted frescoes. And sitting queenly over everything is Ljubljana, as elegant
a capital city as you could wish for, a sleeping beauty of spires, bridges, and
sculpted dragons that seems lost in dreams of long ago.
Vineyards! Acre upon acre of them, all hanging
heavy with luscious-looking grapes waiting to be turned into my favorite
tipple. Yes, Slovenian wine is definitely great. The countryside of
the Primorska region was pure idyll...a land of hayricks, forests, and
white-spired churches...not an industrial blackspot in sight. Don't get me
wrong, though. While it's pleasingly rural and old-fashioned, this isn't a land
of bowed-back peasants living in bathroom-less shacks.
The infrastructure (roads, railways, and
public transport) is far better than back home in India. Communications are
excellent. Although Internet cafés aren't yet as widespread as in other parts
of Europe or India.
Just about everybody I met spoke a little
English. (And in rural cafés and bus offices where they didn't, body language,
got me what I wanted.) Language wouldn't be a problem if you were interested in
doing business here. Nearly all the professional people I encountered spoke
good English. And maybe you should be thinking of doing business
here. Slovenia is now in the EU, labor costs are far lower than in
the neighboring 'western' countries of Austria and Italy, and the government
has set up a special trade and investment department to facilitate foreign
investors.
-2-
Life though comfortable, there was lot of studying
to be done at ICPE. Ofcourse not as hectic as in India. There were about 25
students in the class from different countries - Germany, Italy, France,
Nepal, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Turkey, Slovenia etc. The classes
were held by Professors from different Universities and different countries.
The classes were interactive and very interesting with lots of practical
situations and humour. They were conducted thru Powerpoint presentations, OHP
and flip charts. We had to also make presentations on current topics.
Diwali (An Indian
festival) was a very unusual experience here. We went for a prayer meeting
conducted by Slovenian followers (about 100 of them) of Guruji
from Pali (near Jaipur). They treated us with lot of honour making
frequent references to hon. guests from India. The prayer meeting was followed
by a potluck vegeterian dinner. They sing the bhajans and kirtans (devotional
songs so well), much better than we get to see in India. There was a fantastic
recital on Veena and Tanpura. I have never enjoyed classical music so much.
Everyone had a lit Diya (candle lamp) in hand for the Aarti (prayer). We were
given diyas (candle lamps) by the slovenians. The followers are all strictly
vegeterians with strong beliefs. The food was good - mix
of slovenian and Indian dishes.
Passing time here was
not a problem despite no Indian papers, no Indian TV and cold coditions outside
in winter. The difficulty was in finding time to study. To describe one
weekend, some group had a promotion campaign at ICPE for their product, guess
what, Slovenian WINE. It was a small gathering of
10 Sloveniancouples ( or would be couples), Big boys and Girls and
ofcourse, us (Residents of ICPE). It began with a power point presentation
about wine making, storing and drinking with question hour of doubts and
clarification. We were even taught the correct method of holding the glass. At
the end we were offered 13 different wines to sample(11 white and 2
red). By the sixth or seventh round we were all feeling quite high and the
others quite steamy. But they did'nt let us go until the 12th round of red
wine, by which time we were all drunk and could not distinguish one wine from
another. It was followed by dinner and then we straight crashed into our beds.
We had a three day weekend of full time studies in the rooms, preparing
for our exam on Monday. The exams were held every alternate Monday. Thank god
they are now over and gone quite well.
On the weekends, in pubs/ bars and on streets,
many of Ljubljana's young-upward-pretty things were there...traffic could
barely move...despite snow, heat or rain…...All the girls looking so
similar…...bare shouldered, tight pants or skirts, bobbed hair left lose (silky
and coloured, like some shampoo ad) .… and oh so fair...and all the guys
looking macho, clean shaven, t-shirts with arms extending to just below
the elbow, a chain around the neck...girls outnumbering guys....jeez, these
yuppies of Ljubljana are a treat to watch.
Overall its been a great experience and we have
loved every minute of it. Our Slovene classmates have made our stay memorable
and we shall go back home to India with many sweet memories
of Slovenia and its people.
Love you all
Harjeet. S. Kalsi
Wedding Anniversary
Celebrating 32 years of marriage with my wife, partner, champion, supporter, and friend Kiran. It feels generous to say that we are happily married for more than 3 decades, because while we have been married for over thirty years, and I am currently extremely happy in our marriage, not all thirty two of the years were completely blissful. I’d be lying to say marriage is easy, but in reflecting on 32 years married to Kiran and having reached this (amazing) middle-aged phase together, it really got me thinking about “why do we work”? As in, how did we build this foundation to succeed independently, while thriving together. Its even more amazing because of the fact that we are two contrasting individuals. In short, we are a totally different set of personalities, as different as chalk and cheese. We think differently and react differently too, because of our innate personality differences. She is good looking, determined, short tempered, go-getter, sophisticated, creative, convent educated with capitalist leanings from a business background with a flair for arguments and I am average looking, peace loving, calm, composed, laid back KV educated simpleton with communist leanings from a salaried background hating arguments. Despite the difference in personality type we share many common interests with high level of compatibility. We often find ourselves thinking of the same thing at the same time.
Our journey and choices are our own, and are certainly not a one size fits all, but here is what I think helped us reach and truly celebrate this milestone together:
● From the very beginning, we had a strong foundation built on common values & understanding. When times were tough, our understanding & values had the strength to carry us through, and I firmly believe friendship with partner is the anchor to a long and fruitful relationship.
● We championed each other. It was never all about me, nor was it about her.
● We parented with the same values. There was no “well papa said this” or “mama said we could do that” – we didn’t undermine one another’s choices in parenting and tried hard to remain consistent in our approach. Because of this, there wasn’t much friction, and as a result, there was less tension in our relationship as parents.
● We prioritized wellness together. What’s more (pleasantly) surprising is that we became more focused on this as we reached middle age.
● We set goals together. While trying at times (especially as you evolve as individuals), we worked hard to develop goals that complemented and supported one another’s goals, so that we could succeed individually while also building on our foundation as a couple and family. I think this is what allowed us to stay “consciously coupled” throughout our marriage, and what has brought us to current state, where we’ve achieved many dreams together and defined so many more.
● We spent time together and I can confidently say we have never stopped “dating”.
● We appreciated that compromise is inevitable in a multi-decade relationship
At the end of the day, it’s about finding a true partner to have a “go at life” with, where love, trust, respect, growth, and adventure can coexist in a way that works best for both. I’m lucky to have found that, and to have celebrated 32 amazing years with a good friend.
Cheers for being a part of the journey.
Renu Khanna HBD
From women climbing the highest mountains in the world to everyday women raising kids and just trying to make ends meet, I know a lot of strong women. For those who are unaware, these are the women who love themselves and are confident of their abilities. They are the few who don’t need validation from other people because they are sure of themselves and what they can give to society. They are fully functioning humans, who are independent and able to do things for themselves. It means they have opinions & beliefs that they stand for and would not settle for less. They embrace their color, shape and size without fear – yes, these are the brave and strong! and Dr. Renu Khanna is one of them at the top of my list.
After all, bravery isn’t reserved for mountaineers or people who run into burning buildings or attempt to stop crime. It’s also found in the acts of people next door that force you to take a deep breath. I know Renu from the time she came as a bride to the ground floor flat in our building. She was different from the usual stereo types and would not hesitate to call spade a spade. I often saw her sitting out in the verandah reading a book and a voracious reader she was. I thought she was reading novels but on hindsight I realized that she was doing serious reading/ research for her M phil/Phd. She was one of the few in those times to take up a job in a male dominated industry (Shriram Refrigeration) and rise to the level of VP in an IT MNC. Those were the days in 90s that she would ride a scooter 50 kms to & fro to attend office in an industrial belt where females were a rare sight. Despite many challenges at home & office, I have never seen her lose cool and always found her positive about life. She can stand shoulder to shoulder with any man worth his salt and who knows this better than Rakesh & me.
Happy b’day Renu. As they say life begins at sixty and what better way to begin than uncorking a champagne. ( I am ok with scotch & soda). Cheers to happy times ahead.
Retirement Anniversary
Can’t believe it's been one year since I retired. Seems like yesterday - time flies. Here’s how the year went by.
The retirement celebrations began with partying every alternate day in the first month. Never knew there were so many well wishers who wanted to see me retired and considered it a valid reason for never ending celebrations. The celebrations are continuing with reduced frequency.
Once I was done with the initial celebrations, it was time to catch up on our travel. Having done most of the popular tourist destinations in the domestic & international circuit during our working days (being a strong believer of work life balance), we zeroed in on South Africa which was in our to-do list. There couldn’t have been a better choice. After a reasonably hectic work life, wild Africa was just what the doctor ordered. The beauty of South Africa is breathed through the smiles of friendly natives, the mosaic of cultures and cuisines, and the complex history that has shaped it. But, most of all, it is the natural splendor of this country that sets it apart. South Africa's landscapes are made up of valleys, mountains, forests, deserts, coastlines, and grassy savannahs that are breath-taking in their
picturesque scale. South Africa is a destination where you can experience it all; from the unspoilt beaches along the Wild Coast to the vibrant nightlife of Johannesburg / Cape Town; the game reserves, the caves of Congo, ostrich farms, the table mountain, seals & penguins of Atlantic ocean to the lush green artificial forests & artificial beach of Sun city. One moment you can be enjoying
the breathtaking view of Mosul bay, the next you’re enjoying a drive along the Garden Route with wine of your choice.
After the SA sojourn, it was time to catch up with friends & relatives. After hosting some relatives and being hosted by others, we were ready to catch up the new year with friends in the tranquil surroundings of Pachmarhi, the queen of Satpura. Situated at 1100 m, Pachmarhi, popularly known as 'Satpura ki Rani' (Queen of Satpura), sits beautifully, embellished by nature and history, amidst the Satpura range. Legend says the Pandava brothers visited Pachmarhi during their exile. This most popular hill station of Madhya Pradesh is a treasure with ancient caves of the Buddhist era residing in harmony with serene waterfalls. It was the perfect place & way to welcome 2019 partying with dance, drink & dazzling performances around a bonfire in the midst of a forest.
The Bhopal – Pachmarhi travelogue is posted separately.
Two months down the line, we were off on a road trip to the temple town of Bhadrachalam. It was a nice drive on Hyderabad ring road on to Vijayawada highway to Suryapet - Khammam - coal belt of Kothagudem and finally Bhadracham by evening. It took about 8 hours with a couple of stops enroute.
We stayed in a hotel close to the temple and hence could do an evening and early morning darshan the next day. Enjoyed the steaming hot idlis and dosas prepared by a muslim couple at a roadside outlet near the entrance of the temple. After the morning darshan we started off to Kunavaram, the place from where the boat ride begins for Papikondalu. The Papikondalu hills & tropical rain
forests are located in the border confluence of Khammam district in Telangana and East & West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh.
We settled in our boat by 9.30 and the journey began. We were offered break-fast which was good (Upma with Masala Vada). As the journey begins, one feels completely cut-off from the world (literally after 30 minutes or so there was no signal on our cell phones) but we weren't bothered. With greenery all around and vast expanse of water beneath, and sand on the banks, it’s a heavenly
experience. Around 1 pm the boat reached Kolluru, where lunch was served. Bamboo chicken cooked by tribals is a specialty here. An hour or so after lunch we were in the midst of Papikondalu mountain range which is a sheer feast to the eyes in terms of its scenic beauty. As the hills become closer and closer to us, the width of the mighty Godavari becomes narrower. In accordance with this view, resembling the middle partition of a woman's hair, it was initially named as 'Papidi' Kondalu- Papidi in Telugu means the middle partition of a woman’s hair. The river narrowing, its twists and turns along with the Papi Hills form a breathtaking visual experience. Small waterfalls, water streams, thick rain forests and other flora & fauna add to the scenic beauty of PapiKondalu. By evening we
were back in Kunavaram and from there to Bhadrachalam by night.
The next day after an early morning darshan we headed for serene & scenic Parnasala, on the banks of Godavari, the place where Sri Rama along with his divine consort Sita and brother Lakshmana stayed during their vanavasa and is also the place wherein Goddess Sita was abducted by Ravana as per the local folklore. After the darshan, we were on the road to Hyderabad and reached home by evening, with a couple of halts enroute.
There were a couple of other short trips in between to other towns / cities visiting relatives / friends and delivering talks to practicing Engineers / Executives.
It remains a thrill till date to tell someone I have retired and watch their reactions. I met a guy at the gym the other day. He asked what I did for a living and told him I was retired. He thought I was taking him for a ride.
I get up early — usually before 6 am, make tea and do my yoga. I read the newspapers at a leisurely pace, which remains one of my greatest pleasures. Ganga generally announces breakfast at nine. It’s a meal that Kiran & I relish most at a relaxed pace that we missed doing all these years except on
weekends. I continue with the newspaper reading post breakfast and then it’s time to Whatsapp / surf the net on my mobile /laptop. There is always the odd miscellaneous task to perform before lunch is announced between 1.30 to 2 pm. The very thought that there is no work to perform after lunch makes it an interesting and engaging affair. The lunch is followed by TV, news or movie on
Amazon prime / Netfix and of course some siesta. I am up & fresh by 4 pm to take the world head on. After some lazing around, it’s time for cycling, gyming and socialising. During summer, it was fun time in the swimming pool before noon or past 4pm. At other times I enjoy sitting in the balcony with my legs stretched and watching the fountain in full bloom in the lawn, guyz & gals having fun in the pool, kids playing & cycling, health freaks walking, few demonstrating their yoga skills…..
Moving over to Aparna Sarovar Grande has added to the post retirement fun. It feels like being in a resort. By the time we are back home after gyming / socializing….. it's time for a light piping hot dinner. As Kiran gets busy with her serials, I get back to my laptop for some writing /surfing…..We get to bed around 11 pm, so get plenty of sleep and don’t need an alarm clock to wake up.
There is a break to the above routine when I go to deliver talks or we go to a mall, shop, watch a movie, or just chill. We enjoy our personal space when I go to deliver talks or she goes for her FICCI events, kitty parties, pooja socializing etc.
Try doing our bit of philanthropy as & when we find an opportunity. It’s been good going until now. Hope the trend continues. Ciao
The retirement celebrations began with partying every alternate day in the first month. Never knew there were so many well wishers who wanted to see me retired and considered it a valid reason for never ending celebrations. The celebrations are continuing with reduced frequency.
Once I was done with the initial celebrations, it was time to catch up on our travel. Having done most of the popular tourist destinations in the domestic & international circuit during our working days (being a strong believer of work life balance), we zeroed in on South Africa which was in our to-do list. There couldn’t have been a better choice. After a reasonably hectic work life, wild Africa was just what the doctor ordered. The beauty of South Africa is breathed through the smiles of friendly natives, the mosaic of cultures and cuisines, and the complex history that has shaped it. But, most of all, it is the natural splendor of this country that sets it apart. South Africa's landscapes are made up of valleys, mountains, forests, deserts, coastlines, and grassy savannahs that are breath-taking in their
picturesque scale. South Africa is a destination where you can experience it all; from the unspoilt beaches along the Wild Coast to the vibrant nightlife of Johannesburg / Cape Town; the game reserves, the caves of Congo, ostrich farms, the table mountain, seals & penguins of Atlantic ocean to the lush green artificial forests & artificial beach of Sun city. One moment you can be enjoying
the breathtaking view of Mosul bay, the next you’re enjoying a drive along the Garden Route with wine of your choice.
After the SA sojourn, it was time to catch up with friends & relatives. After hosting some relatives and being hosted by others, we were ready to catch up the new year with friends in the tranquil surroundings of Pachmarhi, the queen of Satpura. Situated at 1100 m, Pachmarhi, popularly known as 'Satpura ki Rani' (Queen of Satpura), sits beautifully, embellished by nature and history, amidst the Satpura range. Legend says the Pandava brothers visited Pachmarhi during their exile. This most popular hill station of Madhya Pradesh is a treasure with ancient caves of the Buddhist era residing in harmony with serene waterfalls. It was the perfect place & way to welcome 2019 partying with dance, drink & dazzling performances around a bonfire in the midst of a forest.
The Bhopal – Pachmarhi travelogue is posted separately.
Two months down the line, we were off on a road trip to the temple town of Bhadrachalam. It was a nice drive on Hyderabad ring road on to Vijayawada highway to Suryapet - Khammam - coal belt of Kothagudem and finally Bhadracham by evening. It took about 8 hours with a couple of stops enroute.
We stayed in a hotel close to the temple and hence could do an evening and early morning darshan the next day. Enjoyed the steaming hot idlis and dosas prepared by a muslim couple at a roadside outlet near the entrance of the temple. After the morning darshan we started off to Kunavaram, the place from where the boat ride begins for Papikondalu. The Papikondalu hills & tropical rain
forests are located in the border confluence of Khammam district in Telangana and East & West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh.
We settled in our boat by 9.30 and the journey began. We were offered break-fast which was good (Upma with Masala Vada). As the journey begins, one feels completely cut-off from the world (literally after 30 minutes or so there was no signal on our cell phones) but we weren't bothered. With greenery all around and vast expanse of water beneath, and sand on the banks, it’s a heavenly
experience. Around 1 pm the boat reached Kolluru, where lunch was served. Bamboo chicken cooked by tribals is a specialty here. An hour or so after lunch we were in the midst of Papikondalu mountain range which is a sheer feast to the eyes in terms of its scenic beauty. As the hills become closer and closer to us, the width of the mighty Godavari becomes narrower. In accordance with this view, resembling the middle partition of a woman's hair, it was initially named as 'Papidi' Kondalu- Papidi in Telugu means the middle partition of a woman’s hair. The river narrowing, its twists and turns along with the Papi Hills form a breathtaking visual experience. Small waterfalls, water streams, thick rain forests and other flora & fauna add to the scenic beauty of PapiKondalu. By evening we
were back in Kunavaram and from there to Bhadrachalam by night.
The next day after an early morning darshan we headed for serene & scenic Parnasala, on the banks of Godavari, the place where Sri Rama along with his divine consort Sita and brother Lakshmana stayed during their vanavasa and is also the place wherein Goddess Sita was abducted by Ravana as per the local folklore. After the darshan, we were on the road to Hyderabad and reached home by evening, with a couple of halts enroute.
There were a couple of other short trips in between to other towns / cities visiting relatives / friends and delivering talks to practicing Engineers / Executives.
It remains a thrill till date to tell someone I have retired and watch their reactions. I met a guy at the gym the other day. He asked what I did for a living and told him I was retired. He thought I was taking him for a ride.
I get up early — usually before 6 am, make tea and do my yoga. I read the newspapers at a leisurely pace, which remains one of my greatest pleasures. Ganga generally announces breakfast at nine. It’s a meal that Kiran & I relish most at a relaxed pace that we missed doing all these years except on
weekends. I continue with the newspaper reading post breakfast and then it’s time to Whatsapp / surf the net on my mobile /laptop. There is always the odd miscellaneous task to perform before lunch is announced between 1.30 to 2 pm. The very thought that there is no work to perform after lunch makes it an interesting and engaging affair. The lunch is followed by TV, news or movie on
Amazon prime / Netfix and of course some siesta. I am up & fresh by 4 pm to take the world head on. After some lazing around, it’s time for cycling, gyming and socialising. During summer, it was fun time in the swimming pool before noon or past 4pm. At other times I enjoy sitting in the balcony with my legs stretched and watching the fountain in full bloom in the lawn, guyz & gals having fun in the pool, kids playing & cycling, health freaks walking, few demonstrating their yoga skills…..
Moving over to Aparna Sarovar Grande has added to the post retirement fun. It feels like being in a resort. By the time we are back home after gyming / socializing….. it's time for a light piping hot dinner. As Kiran gets busy with her serials, I get back to my laptop for some writing /surfing…..We get to bed around 11 pm, so get plenty of sleep and don’t need an alarm clock to wake up.
There is a break to the above routine when I go to deliver talks or we go to a mall, shop, watch a movie, or just chill. We enjoy our personal space when I go to deliver talks or she goes for her FICCI events, kitty parties, pooja socializing etc.
Try doing our bit of philanthropy as & when we find an opportunity. It’s been good going until now. Hope the trend continues. Ciao
BHEL bids farewell to Mr Kishore Puruswani
BHEL bids farewell to our dear friend Mr Kishore Puruswani, who is retiring from the services on attaining Superannuation tomorrow. Parting is always emotional, and much more, when it is a beloved person who was a part of BHEL daily life over a few decades.. His colleagues will be missing that cheerful face and booming voice greeting them every morning. They will be feeling that void from tomorrow onwards.
The official wording says that he is being "relieved" tomorrow. That is true. After many years of strenuous commute and, now he is getting relief from those strains. No more targets, no more goals, no more KPIs and no more meetings. All there’s left to do now is to unfurl all the happiness that life has in store.
Kishore is an example to all the junior staff, in showing how to rise to higher positions in career by sheer dedication and hard work. He was a benevolent boss to his subordinates and a much sought after man to his superiors. Though his colleagues and staff will be missing his physical presence in the office from the day after tomorrow, he will still be beaming inspiration to all the staff. Though they will personally feel his absence, the organisation will not feel it in the daily routine because I am sure he has trained his juniors well to take the reigns in his absence. As we often discussed, a good boss is the one who always keeps a well trained second line. He always held the hand of his juniors and lifted them up. Hence, there will be a smooth transition.
Got to know Kishore through Satinder during my short stint at Delhi and it was fun knowing him, full of energy, always game for an adventure and ready to lead the pack. Despite going through a difficult phase in life in terms of health, he came out of it holding the flag flying high. He is a fighter & a go getter and that made life comfortable for us during our stay at BHEL Noida GH. He is generous with his compliments and I am lucky to be a major beneficiary. Have shared a lot of philosophy, psychology & life experiences with him during our morning walks in BHEL TS Noida and over cups of tea in his room / roadside tea stalls. His physical height & decibel levels makes him stand tall amongst us.
I had a chat with him this morning to wish him happiness and know his future plans. He was busy enjoying his Sunday with family & friends, so couldn’t get to talk much about his future plans. A man so meticulous, we know, he has made a concrete plan for his post-retirement life and I am sure voluntary service is a part of that plan.
It is said in a funny way that "a retiring man is a full-time job for his wife" and "when a man retires, his wife gets a full time husband without his income". The graceful lady she is, Mrs. Renu Puruswani, will not mind all these quotations and will be happy to have him back in Bhopal all to herself. We had a few occasions to experience her kind hospitality.
Kishore, the main course of your life has been amazing. Now finish it off with a classic dessert. Start listening to your heart... it’s the best gift you can give yourself when you retire. May you have a relaxing new chapter ahead – one where you will have unlimited time enjoying your life. The enjoyment & happiness of course is compounded when you start giving it back to the society. Happy retirement !!!
Rakesh the Magician
Rakesh the Physician
A wonderful human being, a personal friend now, and a physician with extraordinary diagnostic skills, it was he who first diagnosed Papa with a cardiac problem and directed further diagnoses at Global Hospital in the year 2007. He took immediate charge and enabled Papa to live happily with triple vessel disease, for nine more years without a surgery, under his expert supervision.
Here I am raising a toast as a tribute to Rakesh on his 60th b’day. He was the only one that Papa would trust and was comfortable with. He was able to break the distrust and reserve, that Papa had for doctors in general, and it was always a treat to watch him with Papa. Gentle, yet firm and so affectionate and kind in his directions, that it was as though he was a member of our family (of course he is), rather than a professional doctor. He prioritized us despite a waiting room full of patients impatiently waiting to see him and we owe a great debt of gratitude for all that he did for us.
Having donated blood more than a 100 times speaks volumes about his commitment to the human cause. The greatest scientists have tried to figure out the secret to eternal youth, but have always come up short. Rakesh has’nt, just by being himself.
A party is not complete without Rakesh. He is always the first to a party and the first to leave, not any longer though, as Lovina has counseled him over the years, not to be a party pooper or spoil sport. He is known to offer the traditional saunf (fennel seeds) promptly at 10 pm irrespective of the host or stage of the party. He has mastered the art of ringing the bell, be it someone’s b’day or wedding anniversary, the beginning or end of a party.
All credit to Lovina for managing Rakesh for a good part of 60 years and his parents for the other part. Believe me he is not easily manageable.
Cheers to the good times gone by and great times ahead.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Bhopal Pachmarhi New Year Trip
A quick recap of the Bhopal Pachmarhi trip for posterity
Day 1 (27th Dec’18)
AP Sampark Kranti steamed into Bhopal Station at 0805 hrs on 27th Dec’18. Thanks to Bhopal courtesy (read Mahender & Kishore) two cars were awaiting our arrival. We chose the better of the two and proceeded to BHEL GH. Had a sumptuous breakfast of Puri bhaji & bread omelette
before proceeding to HRD for a couple of talks to pad the wallet for the upcoming trip. Renu was kind enough to entertain Kiran and take her around shopping & sightseeing. Had a quiet dinner in the Guest House and retired to bed.
Day 2 (28th dec’18)
Wadhawans arrived next morning and got us out of our deep slumber in cosy beds. After hot cups of tea we found ourselves in the garden of the Guest House taking a walk and admiring the flora & fauna. Suddenly remembered to the annoyance of Satinder that I had to again go to HRD to further strengthen my monetary position for the dream trip. Kinras had called us over for lunch that day. It was typical punjabi hospitality with makai dee roti & sarson kaa saag with loads of makhan, rajma chawal, lauki halwa ……. It was the perfect place & time for siesta but I had to continue the talk at HRD. Mahender & Satinder caught up with old times while Savita, Kirans & Renu continued with what they do best - gossip. Kishore gave me reason to smile by being on duty. Not to be outdone by
Kinras, Puruswanis had called us over for dinner. To keep everyone interested, part menu (Sindhi kadi) for dinner was disclosed the previous day. To the pleasant surprise of Satinder & me, 100 pipers with accompanying snacks awaited our arrival. Steaming hot Appes (Madhu Idlis) were a big hit with all, irrespective of the drink they had. Sindhi Kadi incidentally has no curd in it. It was the first time we tasted it and seemed like a distant tasty cousin of Sambar. Gajrela was the perfect desert in the
cold winter night. We were safely dropped back in GH to retire for the night.
Day 3 (29th dec’18) The journey begins.
Kishore & Renu were to pick us up in the Innova by 0900 hrs. We were ready in time after a buffet b/f of Idlis, wada, Toast etc. They arrived half an hour late which was very acceptable considering the elaborate dinner they hosted the previous night. Obviously they couldn't have started before the maid had done the dishes. The luggage was loaded on top of the Innova and everyone got in i.e 6 grown up people, a few moderately plump, rest of them regular. Kishore the leader took the front seat. The ladies were perched in the middle seat. Satinder & sincerely yours were offered the VIP seats with cushions in the rear. We were told by Kishore that he was planning to pick up hot jalebis & samosas enroute to GH but was rightfully stopped by Renu the well wisher, considering our age & health. Bole sonehaal and we were on the road to Pachmarhi. The first halt was Bhimbetka for tea, which is around 50 Kms from Bhopal. Bhimbetka is popular for its Shelter Caves. The rock formations, man made or natural are supposed to be more than 9000 yrs old and were once under the sea. It is believed that these caves were once abode of Bhima, one of the pandava brothers (Bhim Baithak) during their Agyat Vaas . We picked up the history of the place but did not venture into the caves as we were in
a hurry to reach Pachmarhi. Our next stop was Pipariya, the nearest railhead to Pachmarhi, for lunch. A leisurely traditional north Indian lunch and we were on to the last lap of 60 kms to Pachmarhi. The road to Pachmarhi is very narrow but well maintained and we enjoyed the long ride to the place from Bhopal. I later read that the cart race in Naya Daur was filmed somewhere very close to the highway. The mercury fell faster than the sun. Colours around us changed from brown to green and we knew
Satpura forests were approaching. Pachmarhi was not far. While our vehicle zipped and zoomed through the good roads and twisted and turned through the ghat, we had a good time checking out the scenery of the dense forest. Pachmarhi is actually within the Satpura Tiger Reserve area and if one is lucky, one might see some animals while driving through the forest. We saw some deer and many monkeys. We were put up at ‘Hotel Highlands’ which is an MP Tourism property. The lodging is at the very entrance of Pachmarhi and far from the various tourist spots. The property is good and well maintained with a children’s adventure park. By the time we settled in our rooms in the hotel, it was close to dusk. The ever energetic Kishore was in no mood to relax and prodded the group to take a ride to Rajendragiri hills for a sunset view. There was the added bonus of seeing at a distance, the peak of Chaura Garh, another abode of the lord. The temple is right on the top of a mountain and one can make out its outline from far. There is a paid telescope facility that provides you a closer observation of the temple and trishuls. We were told that 2000 steps lead to the temple and the place is full of tridents (trishuls) offered by devotees. We savoured sweet and tangy boiled ber ( also known as Indian plum) and hot peanuts before returning to our hotel. Our room 304 in the hotel was declared the meeting place before dinner. The glasses filled with black label & Stone dale clinked to raise a toast to announce our arrival at Pachmarhi. The dinner at the restaurant was tasty & enjoyable.
Day 4 (30th dec’18)
After a good sleep at Highland Hotel, Pachmarhi, we were fresh for the adventure that awaited us the next day. The hotel is near the forest, so we were excited to hear the chirping of birds and feel the freshness of the air. Sound was evident enough in the room, but its intensity increased as we walked out of the room. We tried out the children adventure games before proceeding for breakfast. The buffet spread was a reasonable tasty affair. There are two ways to go about Pachmarhi, either you take your own vehicle or you hire an open top Gypsy from the market area. After a long time, I was seeing one of my earlier favorite vehicles, the Maruti Gypsy and that too in abundance. We preferred to hire the four wheel drive, open top Maruti Gypsy rather than take chances with our Innova, considering the steep climbs involved, especially to dhoopgarh the highest point in MP. The first stop was Bison lodge , constructed in 1862, which is the oldest house in Pachmarhi and now houses a museum. This well-maintained museum is the starting point where you pay a fee for local sightseeing excursions that includes Jeep, guides, and permits. While the inside of the lodge houses models, graphs, maps, and pictures of Pachmarhi’s rich flora, fauna, history and places of interest, the outside is adorned with a huge garden where you can sit and enjoy the serenity of this hill station. Stuffed animals like Crocodiles, Lions, and Tigers, etc. are also on display at this museum. Built in the year 1862, Bison Lodge is one of the oldest buildings in Pachmarhi, and used to be the former residence of Captain Forsyth. The next halt was Pandav caves at the outskirts of the town and just at the mouth of Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary, which are a cluster of five ancient dwellings excavated in the sandstone rock in a low hill. Pachmarhi derives its name from these caves which, as the legend goes, once provided sanctuary to the five Pandav brothers. These caves, though Buddhist in origin, are now protected monuments. The garden at the foothills is beautiful and well maintained. There is not much to look at except if you can visualize and go back to the time of the exile of the Pandavas and
know that they stayed here for some time as per local grapevine. You wonder though how the mighty Bhima would have found it comfortable in these small caves.
Pachmarhi has numerous waterfalls & unlike many hill stations, whenever you see a waterfall you will be at the summit of the fall. There are numerous treks from the summit of the falls to their base. So we skipped Silver fall, Angel fall, Duchess fall and chose the most popular Bee fall . It is a high fall and very strong one. By the time water is midway to the ground it breaks into million stinging drops and gives it the name. We only managed to reach halfway down and then stopped over for a natural pedicure.
For lunch, we were dropped at Nandanvan restaurant. All the drivers drop their customers at the same restaurant. The restaurant is located on the four-way road and edge of the forest. So location can be one reason that all drivers chose the same restaurant. However the toilet in the restaurant was not approved by the boss, so we walked out and went to Glenview which had a well spread buffet. Everyone wanted a la carte so we returned to our timed tested hotel Highland for lunch. After lunch and little gossip we were on our way to Dhoop Garh , the highest point in MP (1352 meters from sea level) which is also the highest point in central India. Enroute we also stopped to observe people doing paragliding (parachute-attached-to-a-jeep thing). We enjoyed our second sunset in Pachmarhi sitting on the peak of Dhoop Garh. From the parking lot it was a climb of approx 300 meters to the peak. After another spectacular view of the setting sun, we were on our way back to the hotel. It was a convoy of over 100 Maruti Gypsies travelling along the slopes of Satpura which gave a feel of army convoy on a mission. On reaching hotel It was time to unwind in Room 304 and what better way to do it than clinking of glasses, followed by a satisfying dinner.
Day 5 (31st dec’18)
After the usual morning photo sessions and buffet b/f we set out in our Innova to thank the gods for the year well gone by. The road to salvation isn’t easy and if you have more ounces of flab on your stomach, it becomes more difficult. To reach the temple or rather cave of Gupt Mahadev , a small walk is required through the forest full of monkeys. All guides will warn you of the monkeys and to not carry eatables, but people don’t stop monkeying around and the monkeys do the needful. They believe in snatching, not begging. In fact, all over Pachmarhi, you need to be extremely careful of these monkeys because they can prove to be very dangerous. After about 5 minutes of walking, you come face to face with a huge Hanuman statue painted gloriously in orange. The shrine or Shivling
is hidden deep inside a cave where the passage is so narrow that only 1 person can enter at a time and that too the person needs to walk sideways as there is not enough space to walk straight forward. As the shrine is hidden, it is called Gupt i.e. hidden, Mahadev meaning Lord Shiva. Not far away from Gupt Mahadev is Bada Mahadev. When Lord Shiva was being chased by the demon Bhasmasur he took refuge at various places in Satpura mountains. Wherever he is supposed to have taken respite, stands a Shiv temple. Bada Mahadev is the place where Shiva tricked Bhasmasur into killing himself. The main shrine is inside a 70 ft deep cave that also harbours a pond fed by water seeping through the rocks. There is a big Hanuman temple also in the premises and there is a floating stone brought from Kanyakumari - talk of miracles!! I can’t recall the sequence but we stopped in between at a viewpoint called Handi Khoh also called the suicide point. It is a gorge, straight fall of approx 600 ft., however none of us were in a mood for suicide. Captain Forsyth discovered Pachmarhi from here You get a view of the valleys and the surrounding landscape from this point.
The next halt was Jata Shankar which is another Shiva temple and is housed in the most interesting surroundings. The Lord works in mysterious ways and appears at mysterious places! One has to trek down quite a lot to reach the deity. The mountain walls keep narrowing on you and the air becomes loaded with dhup smoke. On the way one sees (prompted by the guide) amazing rock formations. We saw naturally formed profiles of Ganpati, Hanuman, a lion, a hanging rock and the parapet of entrance to the main cave looked like the hood of a Cobra. The temple is inside a natural cave, where stalagmites, which are basically calcium deposits, have spurned up and look like the matted locks of Lord Shiva, and are worshipped as lingams. Jata means hair and Shankar is another name of Lord Shiva, hence the name Jata Shankar. Water drips from the surface of the rock above.
We had skipped lunch, hence stopped by a way side restaurant for dosas & Uttapams & chai, before proceeding to Pachmarhi lake . It is a lake like other lakes and paddle boats are available for 2 people and 4 people. The lake also known as Nauka Vihar is more of a picnic spot with small games, rides and eating joints at its banks. We were more or less done for the day and returned back to the hotel via the market, where the ladies did a little shopping. After relaxing for a short while everyone came knocking to 304. They wanted to be in the right spirit to welcome 2019. After sharing few light moments, we were off to Glenview for the new year celebrations. It turned out to be a 4D affair - Drink, Dance Dazzling performances & Dinner with a few prizes thrown in and bonfire to keep us warm. After sufficiently shaking our legs & hips, we welcomed 2019 screaming & hugging each other. Before the clock struck one, we were back to the warmth in the hotel rooms.
Day 6 (1st Jan’19)
It was well past dawn when we woke up and realised that the vacation was over and it was time to return home. It was a leisurely b/f before we hit the road for Bhopal. Reached GH at Bhopal before dusk and parted ways with Puruswanis after expressing our appreciation & gratitude for a trip well
planned and executed. The Bhopal hospitality was not done as yet. The Kinras came over with homemade delicacies and savouries for us to carry back. It was a perfect end to wonderful time. Not to be woken in the morning, bid goodbyes to Wadhawans and retired for the day.
Day 7 (2nd Jan’19)
Day 1 (27th Dec’18)
AP Sampark Kranti steamed into Bhopal Station at 0805 hrs on 27th Dec’18. Thanks to Bhopal courtesy (read Mahender & Kishore) two cars were awaiting our arrival. We chose the better of the two and proceeded to BHEL GH. Had a sumptuous breakfast of Puri bhaji & bread omelette
before proceeding to HRD for a couple of talks to pad the wallet for the upcoming trip. Renu was kind enough to entertain Kiran and take her around shopping & sightseeing. Had a quiet dinner in the Guest House and retired to bed.
Day 2 (28th dec’18)
Wadhawans arrived next morning and got us out of our deep slumber in cosy beds. After hot cups of tea we found ourselves in the garden of the Guest House taking a walk and admiring the flora & fauna. Suddenly remembered to the annoyance of Satinder that I had to again go to HRD to further strengthen my monetary position for the dream trip. Kinras had called us over for lunch that day. It was typical punjabi hospitality with makai dee roti & sarson kaa saag with loads of makhan, rajma chawal, lauki halwa ……. It was the perfect place & time for siesta but I had to continue the talk at HRD. Mahender & Satinder caught up with old times while Savita, Kirans & Renu continued with what they do best - gossip. Kishore gave me reason to smile by being on duty. Not to be outdone by
Kinras, Puruswanis had called us over for dinner. To keep everyone interested, part menu (Sindhi kadi) for dinner was disclosed the previous day. To the pleasant surprise of Satinder & me, 100 pipers with accompanying snacks awaited our arrival. Steaming hot Appes (Madhu Idlis) were a big hit with all, irrespective of the drink they had. Sindhi Kadi incidentally has no curd in it. It was the first time we tasted it and seemed like a distant tasty cousin of Sambar. Gajrela was the perfect desert in the
cold winter night. We were safely dropped back in GH to retire for the night.
Day 3 (29th dec’18) The journey begins.
Kishore & Renu were to pick us up in the Innova by 0900 hrs. We were ready in time after a buffet b/f of Idlis, wada, Toast etc. They arrived half an hour late which was very acceptable considering the elaborate dinner they hosted the previous night. Obviously they couldn't have started before the maid had done the dishes. The luggage was loaded on top of the Innova and everyone got in i.e 6 grown up people, a few moderately plump, rest of them regular. Kishore the leader took the front seat. The ladies were perched in the middle seat. Satinder & sincerely yours were offered the VIP seats with cushions in the rear. We were told by Kishore that he was planning to pick up hot jalebis & samosas enroute to GH but was rightfully stopped by Renu the well wisher, considering our age & health. Bole sonehaal and we were on the road to Pachmarhi. The first halt was Bhimbetka for tea, which is around 50 Kms from Bhopal. Bhimbetka is popular for its Shelter Caves. The rock formations, man made or natural are supposed to be more than 9000 yrs old and were once under the sea. It is believed that these caves were once abode of Bhima, one of the pandava brothers (Bhim Baithak) during their Agyat Vaas . We picked up the history of the place but did not venture into the caves as we were in
a hurry to reach Pachmarhi. Our next stop was Pipariya, the nearest railhead to Pachmarhi, for lunch. A leisurely traditional north Indian lunch and we were on to the last lap of 60 kms to Pachmarhi. The road to Pachmarhi is very narrow but well maintained and we enjoyed the long ride to the place from Bhopal. I later read that the cart race in Naya Daur was filmed somewhere very close to the highway. The mercury fell faster than the sun. Colours around us changed from brown to green and we knew
Satpura forests were approaching. Pachmarhi was not far. While our vehicle zipped and zoomed through the good roads and twisted and turned through the ghat, we had a good time checking out the scenery of the dense forest. Pachmarhi is actually within the Satpura Tiger Reserve area and if one is lucky, one might see some animals while driving through the forest. We saw some deer and many monkeys. We were put up at ‘Hotel Highlands’ which is an MP Tourism property. The lodging is at the very entrance of Pachmarhi and far from the various tourist spots. The property is good and well maintained with a children’s adventure park. By the time we settled in our rooms in the hotel, it was close to dusk. The ever energetic Kishore was in no mood to relax and prodded the group to take a ride to Rajendragiri hills for a sunset view. There was the added bonus of seeing at a distance, the peak of Chaura Garh, another abode of the lord. The temple is right on the top of a mountain and one can make out its outline from far. There is a paid telescope facility that provides you a closer observation of the temple and trishuls. We were told that 2000 steps lead to the temple and the place is full of tridents (trishuls) offered by devotees. We savoured sweet and tangy boiled ber ( also known as Indian plum) and hot peanuts before returning to our hotel. Our room 304 in the hotel was declared the meeting place before dinner. The glasses filled with black label & Stone dale clinked to raise a toast to announce our arrival at Pachmarhi. The dinner at the restaurant was tasty & enjoyable.
Day 4 (30th dec’18)
After a good sleep at Highland Hotel, Pachmarhi, we were fresh for the adventure that awaited us the next day. The hotel is near the forest, so we were excited to hear the chirping of birds and feel the freshness of the air. Sound was evident enough in the room, but its intensity increased as we walked out of the room. We tried out the children adventure games before proceeding for breakfast. The buffet spread was a reasonable tasty affair. There are two ways to go about Pachmarhi, either you take your own vehicle or you hire an open top Gypsy from the market area. After a long time, I was seeing one of my earlier favorite vehicles, the Maruti Gypsy and that too in abundance. We preferred to hire the four wheel drive, open top Maruti Gypsy rather than take chances with our Innova, considering the steep climbs involved, especially to dhoopgarh the highest point in MP. The first stop was Bison lodge , constructed in 1862, which is the oldest house in Pachmarhi and now houses a museum. This well-maintained museum is the starting point where you pay a fee for local sightseeing excursions that includes Jeep, guides, and permits. While the inside of the lodge houses models, graphs, maps, and pictures of Pachmarhi’s rich flora, fauna, history and places of interest, the outside is adorned with a huge garden where you can sit and enjoy the serenity of this hill station. Stuffed animals like Crocodiles, Lions, and Tigers, etc. are also on display at this museum. Built in the year 1862, Bison Lodge is one of the oldest buildings in Pachmarhi, and used to be the former residence of Captain Forsyth. The next halt was Pandav caves at the outskirts of the town and just at the mouth of Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary, which are a cluster of five ancient dwellings excavated in the sandstone rock in a low hill. Pachmarhi derives its name from these caves which, as the legend goes, once provided sanctuary to the five Pandav brothers. These caves, though Buddhist in origin, are now protected monuments. The garden at the foothills is beautiful and well maintained. There is not much to look at except if you can visualize and go back to the time of the exile of the Pandavas and
know that they stayed here for some time as per local grapevine. You wonder though how the mighty Bhima would have found it comfortable in these small caves.
Next in the itinerary was Reech Garh where SRK and Kareena had a fight. They were of course playing Asoka and the warrior princess respectively in the movie Asoka (without an H). It is a very unique rock formation in the shape of a small amphitheatre with an entrance, an exit, a central podiumand green room caves.
Pachmarhi has numerous waterfalls & unlike many hill stations, whenever you see a waterfall you will be at the summit of the fall. There are numerous treks from the summit of the falls to their base. So we skipped Silver fall, Angel fall, Duchess fall and chose the most popular Bee fall . It is a high fall and very strong one. By the time water is midway to the ground it breaks into million stinging drops and gives it the name. We only managed to reach halfway down and then stopped over for a natural pedicure.
For lunch, we were dropped at Nandanvan restaurant. All the drivers drop their customers at the same restaurant. The restaurant is located on the four-way road and edge of the forest. So location can be one reason that all drivers chose the same restaurant. However the toilet in the restaurant was not approved by the boss, so we walked out and went to Glenview which had a well spread buffet. Everyone wanted a la carte so we returned to our timed tested hotel Highland for lunch. After lunch and little gossip we were on our way to Dhoop Garh , the highest point in MP (1352 meters from sea level) which is also the highest point in central India. Enroute we also stopped to observe people doing paragliding (parachute-attached-to-a-jeep thing). We enjoyed our second sunset in Pachmarhi sitting on the peak of Dhoop Garh. From the parking lot it was a climb of approx 300 meters to the peak. After another spectacular view of the setting sun, we were on our way back to the hotel. It was a convoy of over 100 Maruti Gypsies travelling along the slopes of Satpura which gave a feel of army convoy on a mission. On reaching hotel It was time to unwind in Room 304 and what better way to do it than clinking of glasses, followed by a satisfying dinner.
Day 5 (31st dec’18)
After the usual morning photo sessions and buffet b/f we set out in our Innova to thank the gods for the year well gone by. The road to salvation isn’t easy and if you have more ounces of flab on your stomach, it becomes more difficult. To reach the temple or rather cave of Gupt Mahadev , a small walk is required through the forest full of monkeys. All guides will warn you of the monkeys and to not carry eatables, but people don’t stop monkeying around and the monkeys do the needful. They believe in snatching, not begging. In fact, all over Pachmarhi, you need to be extremely careful of these monkeys because they can prove to be very dangerous. After about 5 minutes of walking, you come face to face with a huge Hanuman statue painted gloriously in orange. The shrine or Shivling
is hidden deep inside a cave where the passage is so narrow that only 1 person can enter at a time and that too the person needs to walk sideways as there is not enough space to walk straight forward. As the shrine is hidden, it is called Gupt i.e. hidden, Mahadev meaning Lord Shiva. Not far away from Gupt Mahadev is Bada Mahadev. When Lord Shiva was being chased by the demon Bhasmasur he took refuge at various places in Satpura mountains. Wherever he is supposed to have taken respite, stands a Shiv temple. Bada Mahadev is the place where Shiva tricked Bhasmasur into killing himself. The main shrine is inside a 70 ft deep cave that also harbours a pond fed by water seeping through the rocks. There is a big Hanuman temple also in the premises and there is a floating stone brought from Kanyakumari - talk of miracles!! I can’t recall the sequence but we stopped in between at a viewpoint called Handi Khoh also called the suicide point. It is a gorge, straight fall of approx 600 ft., however none of us were in a mood for suicide. Captain Forsyth discovered Pachmarhi from here You get a view of the valleys and the surrounding landscape from this point.
The next halt was Jata Shankar which is another Shiva temple and is housed in the most interesting surroundings. The Lord works in mysterious ways and appears at mysterious places! One has to trek down quite a lot to reach the deity. The mountain walls keep narrowing on you and the air becomes loaded with dhup smoke. On the way one sees (prompted by the guide) amazing rock formations. We saw naturally formed profiles of Ganpati, Hanuman, a lion, a hanging rock and the parapet of entrance to the main cave looked like the hood of a Cobra. The temple is inside a natural cave, where stalagmites, which are basically calcium deposits, have spurned up and look like the matted locks of Lord Shiva, and are worshipped as lingams. Jata means hair and Shankar is another name of Lord Shiva, hence the name Jata Shankar. Water drips from the surface of the rock above.
We had skipped lunch, hence stopped by a way side restaurant for dosas & Uttapams & chai, before proceeding to Pachmarhi lake . It is a lake like other lakes and paddle boats are available for 2 people and 4 people. The lake also known as Nauka Vihar is more of a picnic spot with small games, rides and eating joints at its banks. We were more or less done for the day and returned back to the hotel via the market, where the ladies did a little shopping. After relaxing for a short while everyone came knocking to 304. They wanted to be in the right spirit to welcome 2019. After sharing few light moments, we were off to Glenview for the new year celebrations. It turned out to be a 4D affair - Drink, Dance Dazzling performances & Dinner with a few prizes thrown in and bonfire to keep us warm. After sufficiently shaking our legs & hips, we welcomed 2019 screaming & hugging each other. Before the clock struck one, we were back to the warmth in the hotel rooms.
Day 6 (1st Jan’19)
It was well past dawn when we woke up and realised that the vacation was over and it was time to return home. It was a leisurely b/f before we hit the road for Bhopal. Reached GH at Bhopal before dusk and parted ways with Puruswanis after expressing our appreciation & gratitude for a trip well
planned and executed. The Bhopal hospitality was not done as yet. The Kinras came over with homemade delicacies and savouries for us to carry back. It was a perfect end to wonderful time. Not to be woken in the morning, bid goodbyes to Wadhawans and retired for the day.
Day 7 (2nd Jan’19)
It was a day at our disposal. Kishore had arranged a car to show us around Bhopal and drop us at the station. As we awaited our train at the station, we thanked god for small mercies & a great trip.
Looking forward to the next one
Looking forward to the next one
Monday, November 25, 2019
Ganga
Happy & proud to announce that our house maid Ganga’s daughter Divya has got a job at Cognizant and is joining work tomorrow. Divya can now stand shoulder to shoulder with other boys & girls from more fortunate backgrounds.
Ganga’s story of poverty, motherhood and aspirations could be the story of every house maid in India. She began her journey with us as a house maid about 2 decades ago. She was then barely 20 years old, with one child in arms and another 2-year old toddler. At that point in time she was forced by poverty and an alcoholic husband to contemplate suicide but good sense prevailed and she chose to live and fulfill her dreams through her children. She was extremely nervous when another housemaid from the neighborhood brought her to us. Her whispers made little sense to us and we found it equally difficult to make ourselves understood. Her innocence and situation prompted us to take her on though she was ignorant about household work and cooking. Then began the journey of slowly communicating and coaching her in household chores & basic cooking. She was very inquisitive and a sincere learner. Soon with her hard work, integrity & loyalty, she carved a place for herself in the house.
She was the only one of 9 siblings (7sisters & 2 brothers), who had studied up to class 10 in Telugu medium. Seeing her hunger to learn we encouraged her to read & write English from my son’s primary school books. She soon learned to take phone calls and note down messages and phone numbers of the callers. Those were the days of landline instruments. The callers were impressed and shared their appreciation about her with us.
As years rolled by she got her children, boy Kamal & girl Divya, enrolled in a local school. She was always in doubt whether education would give her children a better life, going by her personal experience of having to work as a house maid in spite of studying up to class 10. We constantly counseled her against such thoughts telling her that
education is the only hope for turning fortunes and also encouraged her to look for greener pastures. She did manage a couple of jobs in the hospitality industry but kept returning, as she found herself more secure and happy with us and that suited us well. Soon she became a part of our family. Our relatives and friends who visited us would always enquire about her wellbeing. Most of them were also appreciative of her cooking and her sincerity.
Through ups & downs of life she managed to get both her kids to complete school with above average performance. She was unsure and confused about sending them for higher education, more so her daughter. We again stepped in and encouraged her to send both the children to college and agreed to support her in this endeavour. Let me clarify that we have done her no favours, for she has paid back by enabling us both go to work without a worry about home. We could leave the house in her total care. She served my parents, more so my father more than any of us. In fact she was inconsolable when he passed away.
We very often become ignorant towards the people who serve as our backbone. They work to make our life easy, but we sometimes take them for granted. We tend to forget that they are human too, with a beating heart, working brain, and emotions. Very often we don’t bother to share their sorrow, their pain, believing they don’t have these emotions. Why? Because we are paying them? But they are paying us back with their hard work and dedication to make our life smooth and easy, despite the challenges that they face every day.
It’s a proud achievement for Ganga that her son has completed Engineering and daughter BCom this year. It was an emotional moment for us when her son & daughter came home with sweets to share their happiness and seek our blessings. We thought it would be wonderful to share their moment of joy with all of you.
This article is a tribute to all house maids. God bless them all.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
School Foundation Day July 2017
It is a very special day at school today, School Foundation Day because, it is the day when our school started its journey 4 decades ago. Today, we reflect on the very early days of the school and how far we have come as a school community.
The school has been successful in creating talents in different parts of the society in the roles of engineers, doctors, artists, actors, and politicians. This achievement is possible only with the capable teachers and the love and care that they show towards the students. On this occasion, we must express deep gratitude to all our teachers who helped students learn not just the lessons from the books but also qualities that make good human beings. The opportunities that they provided helped the students show and develop their hidden talents and skills.
We set aside a time in the busy life of a school year to celebrate Foundation Day so that we do not forget the vision of the people who established it, so that we make new again the vision which has inspired the School for the last 41 years. There were many who have given so much to the School over the years. Today is therefore about remembering all who have served to make the School the place it is today.
Foundation Day is a day of remembrance of what has been achieved over the past years, and a day to look forward to what is yet to come.
The school has been successful in creating talents in different parts of the society in the roles of engineers, doctors, artists, actors, and politicians. This achievement is possible only with the capable teachers and the love and care that they show towards the students. On this occasion, we must express deep gratitude to all our teachers who helped students learn not just the lessons from the books but also qualities that make good human beings. The opportunities that they provided helped the students show and develop their hidden talents and skills.
We set aside a time in the busy life of a school year to celebrate Foundation Day so that we do not forget the vision of the people who established it, so that we make new again the vision which has inspired the School for the last 41 years. There were many who have given so much to the School over the years. Today is therefore about remembering all who have served to make the School the place it is today.
Foundation Day is a day of remembrance of what has been achieved over the past years, and a day to look forward to what is yet to come.
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