Posts

Moments in History

This is not a blog post. But, I felt I had to say something about the recent movements for Democracy in the Arab world. First Egypt and now Libya and Bahrain. Time's up for dictators? I surely hope it is. The iron-fisted rules can't withstand the twitter attack....

Sisters!

Sisters can be pest, Sisters can be best! I know it's a BAD RHYME and not even a verse. But that's what sisters are - pest and the best. I was a pest for my elder sister. We both love chocolates and as a kid I was always searching her bag for toffees, chocolates, Dairy Milk in secret zipped pockets and finishing them up. I was always prying. I was always nosy. I was her shadow. She is elder to me by 9 years - a decade apart. No wonder I was like a spoilt brat rather than a sister she could depend on. Whatever talks I had with friends have told me that one sister is equivalent of a samurai army, ready to slay the person who troubled their baby. Am I glad that I NEVER had to face a class bully or 'well-meaning'  teachers never came in my way! But I wonder what happens to the eldest girl? Whom does she turn to in difficult time? I never bothered to stop and think until today. Whom did my sister go to when she needed to sob or ached for a pat on the back? For me,

All Ears

I don't eavesdrop as a rule. I think it's slimy and creepy. But sometimes when you hear some interesting tidbits, you don't turn away, right? I have reproduced some tidbits with extra spice. All ears? A not-so-old lady (despite what she says): OMG.....I am soooooooooo sorrrrrrrrrrry dear. Sooooooo sorry to let you down dear. I keep forgetting...old age. I will get in touch after I am back from my holiay. Ta-da! A woman (girl perhaps) wearing a plain, lose salwar suit. Hair unkempt: You know what...the other day... xxxx channel aired the interview I conducted with of Shankar-Ehsan-Loy. My uncle called up after he watched the broadcast and said, " Tuzhe sasarkadche sahishnu ahet bagh. Bagh...mahercha adnav lavayla manai karat nahit. Sahishnuch te!" All this about the sasar ....and not a word about the interview, Hrrrrrrmph. Roving Eye: See, here comes the 'Company Clown'. My God...she is so FOOLISH. Thinks no end of herself. But, humein andar ki baat

Aai's garden

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These photographs are of my mother's garden - her favourite flowers, trees and her final resting place. This is how it looks like in her absence. I have tried to capture various corners of the garden.

Missing Ms Jingle Jangle

Is it Saturday today? Why is there a pin-drop silence then? The usual background voices/sounds are missing...and I have realised it now. I can't see Miss Jingle-Jangle's head bobbing over her work...nor have I met her at our favourite destination – loo. Our paths cross there almost every time of the day when I go to relieve myself. Our paths cross...but we never ever smile. In case I miss meeting her, I can always tell if she was there before me – the overpowering fragrance of her perfume and spilled water near the washroom. Reminds me of Archimedes's 'eureka' experience. (I am being wicked!) Well....Miss Jingle Jangle's braying irritates me most of the times. She is forever on call. “No....no. I need you to book Mr....X and Y on this flight. He will be returning back on...” Her favourite topic though I can guess sitting on the other side of the aisle is, food. “ Nahi..nahi sweet dish toh jaruri ahe. Hum log neeche gaye 5 min, 5 min karte rahein. Humnein t

The Santa Lady

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This is a story I did four years earlier. Visit Kamala Dutta's house if you want to meet Santa Claus. He is there in all shapes and sizes. Lovely photographs too. Will upload in some time. --- Where does the Santa Claus stay? North Pole? Not really. More than 1,200 Santa Claus’s of varied shapes and sizes jostle for space in Kamal Dutta’s house. Santas made from tooth pick, sand, rangoli, wool, wax, ceramic plates, bottles, keys, pots, mugs, tiles, egg shell, coconut, pencils…whew. You name it and she has it! Every Santa, Dutta has bought or made, is proudly displayed in her showcase’s, while others are neatly packed away into cartons and boxes. Pulling them out for inspection and putting them away is such a difficult task that 76-year-old Dutta just showed us a ‘glimpse’ of her collection. Ask her how many Santas she has in her collection and Dutta says, “I stopped counting after I reached the total of 1,200. It’s not a numbers game for me.” A librarian by profession, Du

Old and New

I happened to be in Sadashiv Peth yesterday. The landscape/skyline has changed. Old crumbling wadas (there are a few left) are now sandwiched between apartments, buildings with fancy names. I was walking home so I decided to do a random check – to spot buildings/stores which I frequented to when I was staying in the hostel. Yup, Shabdali was there. The owner looking unhappy...(was he threatened by the new, swish, swanky, modern stores off the block?) I went to Shabdali often to buy Teens Today, Tinkle, Outlook and India Today. On the opposite side, there used to be Calyx – a card shop. Now there's some electronic store there. I took a turn to the Madiwale Colony. My friend's house is still there. I didn't drop in to say hello. She is in US now. Then another left turn and I came to Swami Samarth Math. I liked being there. I used to stay as a PG in a house which had its back to the Math. Now, the house has been razed down. Another apartment has come up. At that corner