Monday, December 1, 2008

Yeh hai Bombay meri JAAN!!

When I am by myself with nothing particular on my mind, my eyes close to block out the worldly light in search of the beautiful light within .. time stands still and my thoughts stray to an ideal moment of love and peace all around me .. with a smile in my soul naturally flowing to my lips as I hold a hot cup of tea in my favourite flowery ceramic mug made perfectly light in its substance and having the sweetness that makes my eyes close with pleasure and as I envision the hot liquid going down my throat, my soul takes in the santoor playing in the background ... my beautiful thoughts, lilt me to wake up to the beauty that awaits me in this wonderful wonderful world ... and I see the world anew with love and peace despite whatever ...

I was born in Visakhapatanam and despite being a Punju brahmin by origin and having travelled the country being an armed forces kid; more than 75% of my 43 rains have been spent in this livewire, fast paced, multi culture, multi cuisine, financial capital of India -- Bombay or newly named Mumbai ... and clearly it is only because of this city and the experinces it has offered me that I am what I am today in mind and spirit. In fact it has given so much to all of its inhabitants like a mother does endlessly, patiently and lovingly providing for all her children may they be of whichever land ... they say it is very difficult to die of hunger in this city as it nurtures you to be a survivor despite whatever!
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ... I was in deep sleep nursing a bad back having taken my food and a pill and gone to bed early and was in the midst of some complicated now forgotten dream when Nu woke me up abruptly at about 11.00 in the night on the night of 26th ... Priya dekho Taj or Oberoi mein aag lagi hai!! My bleary mind started playing logic "Taj and Oberoi burning? But they are so far apart ... how is there a fire simultaneously in both the hotels?"
As my cornea and lashes adjusted to the sudden awakening I turned on my side to look towards the TV, and to my horrow heard what the news channels were rattling away with unabated breath while the images of the Taj burning from the roof unfolded; bullets being fired from a police van at reporters; abandoned baggage covered in blood pools at the CST; salaskar, karakare and kamte getting ready for the kill only to be ambushed a short while later; and above all to know that a group of youngsters had caused all of this unbelievable carnage ... WHY HOW WHAT OH MY GOD !!!! was all that I could sputter as we watched into the wee hours of the morning ... I wanted to scream and do something so much and felt so inept to do anything to bring back peace, blow out the fires, bring justice to the victims and above all bring back life ... this was my ilaka where I spent my youth ... our officers that we probably even know ... My city, my mother, my home and yeah the hotels that are joined to some of the most amazing memories of my life -- was hostage to these jerks who believe they are doing well to please their lords, their god and their religion by massacaring innocent people!!? When I gathered my senses after the first few minutes I tried calling Ankita thinking that she may be one of the victims being a towny ... there was no response from her phone and my heart missed a beat as I thought of all the others that I know living in town - Baman n Pam, Jaya n Chetan n their kids, Vandana and her family and Pooja being the dearest -- I couldnt get thru to anyones phones ... I collected myself and prayed that all was well as my heart sank and tears rolled down my cheeks watching the events unfold ...


Oh lord of this universe help wisdom dawn upon the likes of these terrorists that they cannot ever win your love by doing what they do and are continuing to do ... I beckon thee to bring them and all such outfits across this world to justice! Oh Lord do give more love to all the people who suffered and survived the recent carnage and make their lives ahead beautiful and above all hold dearly all the souls of the people who have died and look after their loved ones who have been left behind...


And albeit these horribly wrong happenings and worrisome thoughts I closed my eyes this morning seeking the wondorous light of an ideal world ... to seek that special moment of wonder that will make me see the world anew once again ... because I am an emotional fool and love Bombay and its people and its cosmopolitan and cultural bhel puri beauty and above all its undying spirit so much .. because I love this great citys spirit for surviving the politicians, the corruption, the terrorist attacks and natures anger upon her ... because this place is home for me ... Bombay is my motherland. Yeh hai Bombay meri JAAN!!

Friday, July 25, 2008

Memories from the past - I


Although this picture is during my early days at Vizag and I look quite pleased as punch in my Papli' lap I don't remember any of this emotion. I am however told by my parents that I was quite a gurgling delight and had a fascination for mangoes at a very early age - to date it is my most favorite fruit.
My earliest vivid memories go back to St Joseph's High School, R.C. Church, Navy Nagar, Lion Gate, Band Stand, trips to the Sea-side and last but not the least Guru’s shop all of them being in the south most part of Bombay in the years of 1968 to 1971 – that was when I was 3 years old. My father Lieutenant Inderjit Sharma was serving the Indian Navy and was posted in Bombay. He was the Captain of INS Nirghat - I remember marching up the wooden gangway of his ship occasionally looking over at the water below and wondering how deep it was and trying hard to catch sight of some fish before I got on board!? Trips to the ship meant my younger sister Mala and me getting dressed in our newest party frocks tailored by none other than my Mum, Chander Rekha Sharma - I have always been Miss Vanity Fair and loved ogling at myself in any reflective surface from the earliest time that I can remember. In particular, I recollect wearing my pink polka dotted umbrella cut dress with a matching hair band holding back my thick black locks on one of the ship visits, with netted self designed socks hugging my skinny limbs all the way up to my knocked knees and shiny white pointy buckled shoes completing the attire.

Papa, Ma, Mala and I would take the bus to Lion Gate or at a later date we would ride on Papas Lambretta Mala standing in front enjoying the breeze while I sat between papa and Mama squeezed and sweaty. On the days we took the bus, on reaching Lion Gate we would walk to Nirghat. Walking to the ship was always a great experience -- we would pass by a fleet of grey blue ships that looked so impressive and gigantic and I would gape up and back at them as Ma or Pa pulled me along and dream of myself sailing off to the high seas on a long voyage across the world; we would catch sight of senior officers that would zip past us in their fancy cars and Jeeps with a flag on their bonnets (I often wondered when my papa would become a senior officer and zip around in a fancy car with a flag); and enjoyed most seeing the several officers in uniforms of different types and color but more often than not in white and on foot saluting my Papa as we walked on - Mala and I would try to copy them and salute back and keep checking with Papa if we were saluting well enough and who was better and that if I could become an officer when I became big!!??

At the gangway of the ship after papa was saluted, the officers in the ship would assemble to greet us as we came on board and shake hands with us. I found that very weird as their hands were always so large and often very tough. My tiny hands kind of got very lost in them :) A visit to the ship also meant yummy treats from the pantry of the ship and drinking the ever favorite coca-cola and gorging on ice-cream.

We lived on the third floor (I think) in M17. The house had 2 bedrooms with built in cupboards and attached bathrooms, a small study, a living cum dinning room, a kitchen and a servants quarter for good ol' house maid Anandi and her drunk husband Ganpath. I loved this home very much and remember playing with my Russian dolls that would close their beautiful big blue eyes if you made they lie horizontally. I loved making my doll lie down and then would prop her to stand and stare at her eyes and would wonder how she was so much more beautiful than me. I loved playing house house with my dolls in the living room.


It was Dec 1971 when ... when papa had gone on war with Pakistan. All of navy nagar and I am told rest of Bombay too was blacked out by pasting black paper on all the windows. We would see ante firing in the dark evening skies and cry thinking that we were surely to get killed by the Pakistanis. One evening I remember Mum taking Mala and me to a neighbours house where we heard a recording of Papas voice where he was telling us he was well and he also sang a song -- I was quite amazed at this and wondered if the neighbours were hiding my Papa somewhere in their house. During the war time Mala and I were making small glasses of sugary juice one evening with the intention of putting poison in them and we had planned to offer the juice to the Pakistanis if they rang our doorbell to kill us. I wonder what would happen if that really happened ... Sigh the imagination of a child!! Papa came home after several days and I remember him having a bandage on his leg. He said he had got hurt in the war? I asked him if the Pakistanis had hurt him and if he fought them with his sword? He had actually just hurt him self while getting down one of the endless ladders of the ship. When I grew up I learnt that Papa was awarded the Vir Chakra for the 1971 war where his ship INS Nirghat and that his ship had sank PNS Khyber... I often wonder about what the families of the officers of that ship must have gone thru when they got the news. To date Papa' name is taken with great honor on every Killers Night that is celebrated on 04 December.


Mummy was a teacher in St. Josephs, R.C. Church and Mala and I studied there too. Our principal in those days was a nun Mother Helen who was the sweetest lady ever. I remember my teacher Mrs. Goese in grade 2 and Mrs. Star in grade 3 who I thought was simply amazing and in my class 3, I made my earliest pals -- Anisa Poonawala, Ramona Dhawan, Sangeeta, Geven, Shola, Seema. I also remember standing 2nd in my class in the 3rd standard and was very happy when Mum showed me my report card.


I also have fresh memories of visiting the shiv temple near the sea and thereafter taking a walk at the seaside; Meena Masi and Bunty visiting our home; Bunty sucking on a piece of orange and then chucking the remnants up to the ceiling -- it took a while and quite some effort to get them off the roof; stealing money from Mum's cupboard and visiting Gurus shop at the corner of K block to eat ball ice-creams.


Trips to Bandstand were rare and undoubtedly the best treat ever! Taking rounds of the park on the horses that stood in line with their respective owners calling out to you for a ride on their special horse. I loved choosing to ride on white horses and felt on top of the world when I was atop the horses back - I felt taller than Mummy and Papa too :) After that would follow a few games in the park with Malee and some yummy bhelpuri in paper cones followed by chilled cocacolas ... this was the absolute highlight!!

When the decision to transfer to Vizag was announced to us I was not sure what lay ahead and was sad that we would not be able to do horse riding and that Mother Helen, My favorite teacher Ms. Star, Guru the tuck shop guy, all my friends including the one who ate worms(??!#@!) would be left behind...

Saturday, January 5, 2008

2008 ala re ala!!


2008 -- its the year of the number 1 people ... the ones I know of are, Farrukh and Gautam ... insha-allah they will both have a great year ahead!!

As December approaches and Nu's birthday is behind us the next big quest that looms large is what we will be doing for New Years ... stay at home, friends place, gymkhana with blazer and gowns, disco, hotel party or go out of town ... somehow the best choice always seems to be out of town!! So it was decided to go to Khandala from 30 Dec - 01 Jan.

29th evening was a flurry of actvity as Rosh returned from her trip to Pondicherry and it was only after she got back home at 10 (she had a BLAAAAAAAST - more about it in another blog) that we started to pack our bags!! By the time we were done with dinner and packing it was past 12 and I willingly snuggled into bed while my mind wandered into dreams of what would it be like in Khandala.

The holiday group was made of -- The 4 of us, Guds and Linnet, Prashant-Archie-Sanju-Aunty and last but not the least Lil Alize :)

We met up at Carter Road and from there jumped into 3 cars (our Esteem, Gud' Swift and Prashant' CRV). We set out at about 9.00 and the first halt was at McDonalds Drive-in where we hogged on some burgers and shakes and moved onto the expressway to halt but once again to fill gas and grab some delicious Vadas. From there it was non-stop to Khandala.

The Heritage Villas owned and managed by Bunty and Alka Anand was a kilometers drive off the main expressway road. The road to the villa was a kachcha rasta and was one helluva bumpy ride. When we finally got there all we saw was 4 tiny cottages and I thought to my self "Heritage!!?? Villas". It is only after alighting and walking around a bit and checking the rooms out that I concluded -- simple, unasuming, clean, in the lap of nature (it is situated at the foothill of a mountain that housed the Karla Caves and adjoins a small village which one passes thru to climb the mountain)... chalega ... actually daudega!! What I liked most about the place was that they didnt boast of too much and offered whatever they did with a homely touch. So here we were, away from the mad rush of Mumbai to spend the next two days together and also bring in the new year ... lets make the most of it man!! That was the spirit that each of us had :)

The kids had a ball as there was a lot of open space to run around, explore and play cricket, lagori, darts etc. Bunty' lil son Jai was the highlight of the place ... he was a really spiky and willing to mix with everyone kind of kid and we all loved him instantly. Bunty and Alka too were very warm. Alkas parents were there too (her Mum' was the Principal of Poddar School and her Dad is a hockey enthusiast and is involved in all the possible hockey matches played on a national and international level as one of the key members) -- it was lovely meeting all of them. The food which was home-cooked was excellent too and we hogged and virtually licked the last morsel off the dishes ...

Our so called NEW Cannon camera was misbehaving all thru the trip and kept blinking at me for new batteries. I tried all kinds of stunts to get whatever pictures I finally got. I think the connection must be lose!? I will need to visit Cannon Shop ONCE again!!

To digest the yummy lunch we went for a walk towards the mountain and ended up doing a 2 hour long cross country walk. On the way we saw and captured some lovely village moments like a tabela with cows chewing away and crapping too, a lady selling wood for the wintery chilling nights, bullock cart, scurries of hens and their chicks, nose-running babies gawking at us, a beautiful water encampment into which we hurled pebbles - Nu and Guds' pebbles were reaching the other end of the water while mine barely plonked into the water a few meters away. The kids also saw some interesting rice seaving and also how bricks are made. By the time we got back we were all exhausted and although we freshened up I guess the walk took a toll on our energies and we retired much earlier than expected.

The next morning was beautiful and the weather nippy while we sipped chaia and marie biscuits and shakarparas (courtesy Archie). After some yummy omeletes and to die-for POHA we dressed and left for Pune which was an hour long drive from Heritage. We first drove into Magarpatta which is beautifully landscaped and very green. Prashant, Archie and Guds got possession of their shop at Magarpatta, while Nu got his haircut, the kids busied themselves by playing hide-n-seek while Linnet and I yapped about several things and Yoga. I suddenly said I want to learn the Surya Namaskar -- so there we were prostrate on the ground doing the 10 different stages of the Surya Namaskar ... all of this was happening in the middle of the builders office reception (of course there was nobody but the receptionist around who looked on eagerly) - I enjoyed the education and believ it or not was sweating after doing just two sets. I believe they do up to 100 of them in Power Yoga sessions!! The paperwork completed and a round of the complex and a quick dekho of the type of flat they have invested in was followed by a lunch at our favorite joint Flags with some Margherittas and delicious HEAVY CHEESY food. Yikes we were bursting at the seems so much that we got off once we got off the highway towards the drive in to Heritage and walked back to burn the over-consumed calories. On the way we got a tutor from the Brick Kiln guy on how they make bricks. Let me see if I can remember ... black mud, red mud, water, hay is all mixed up and put into moulds for shaping. The bricks are then layed out till they dry and then baked in the kiln till they are done. They sell 3000 bricks for a 1000 bucks. I hope I got those figures right!!?

That evening was finally New Years Eve and all (except me) dressed for the ocassion despite the cold -- I of course chose to be well clothed as I CANNOT bear the cold. Spirits were high and Wines, Vodka, Baileys and Tequillas were flowing -- Nu of all the people had 3 shots of Tequilla ... I was expecting him to pass out as he is usually a one beer man ... but he stood thru just fine ... hmmm I wonder how!? Although I have to add that he was behaving quite mad while dancing but then generally he always does behave mad so there was nothing new about that! We'd ordered the grub from Sunny' Dhaba which was yummy and Alka was a gem to loan us her Microwave so that we could eat hot food at whatever hour that suited us. Bunty had organised a deck and I'd recorded some dhisco mhujhic so the evening was gay and merry with a lot of laughter, dancing, drinking and generally having a blast ... all in all yet another GREAT New Years together ... Cheers to all of us and I pray that the year goes well for everyone!!!

Raj Kumar Singh - Being Good, Rickshaw Driver, Mumbai

While getting off a rickshaw saddled with a few heavy bags last afternoon, I heard a sound of something dropping and so turned to look ba...