Vijay, the Gentleman

Recently stricken by a severe personal loss, I feel obsessed with morbid thoughts assailing my mind or rather getting the better of me.

This day two years back we lost Vijay, a dear friendly neighbour an ex- Navy and Merchant Navy officer. A bit younger to me, he was a thorough gentleman, not much given to talking .A person fond of tending flowers, he gave me quite a few saplings to plant. The pictures of most of those flowers have been posted by me on FB and have drawn appreciation from my friends.

I acknowledge my gratitude to my dear departed friend and wish him peace and happiness wherever he is gone !

स्मृति शेष तेज राम शर्मा

स्मृति शेष

तेज राम शर्मा (25.3.1943- 20.12.2017)
असमंजस में हूँ कि उन जैसी शख्सियत को किस रूप में याद करूँ !
संक्षेप में कुछ इस तरह –
मार्च-अप्रैल 1976- भारतीय वायु सेना में कमीशन हेतु SSB के समक्ष साक्षात्कार हेतु प्रस्तुत होने के लिए मेरा देहरादून जाना हुआ। उनका आग्रह कि वापसी में अमृतसर आऊँ जहां वो उस समय सेवाएँ दे रहे थे। मैं अमृतसर आया और दो सप्ताह से भी अधिक उनके साथ रहा। वाघा बार्डर समेत जो कुछ भी अमृतसर में दर्शनीय था , उनके सौजन्य से देखने को मिला। स्वर्ण मंदिर, जलियाँवाला बाग़, राम तीर्थ, ब्यास स्थित डेरा बाबा जैमल सिंह, वेरका मिल्क प्लांट सब कुछ उनने दिखाया।ब्यास डेरे में तो एक रात भी काटी। खाली समय में उनके पुस्तक संग्रह से प्रेमचंद और शरतचंद्र के उपन्यास भी पढ़े ।
मई- जून ,1977 मेरी बैंक में नयी नयी नियुक्ति हुई थी और मुझे नियमानुसार agreement का प्रारूप तैयार करना था व कुछ औपचारिकताएं पूरी करनी थी। शर्मा जी जो उस समय SSPOs शिमला के पद पर तैनात थे , ने न केवल औपचारिकताएं पूरी करवाईं बल्कि मेरे guarantor भी बने । यों तो मुझे शिमला की ही नियुक्ति मिली थी , पर एक दिन का विलंब मेरी ओर से जॉइनिंग में हो गया था और इस बीच कोई और बाज़ी मार गया था और मेरे स्थान पर शिमला में पदस्थापित हो चुका था । परिणाम स्वरूप मुझे सोलन जाना पड़ा । इस बीच शर्मा जी मेरे शिमला स्थानातरण के लिए प्रयत्नशील रहे और मात्र 11 महीने बाद मैं शिमला आ गया । मंशा ये थी कि शिमला में रह कर मैं साथ साथ किसी प्रतियोगी परीक्षा की तैयारी करूँ । एक बार नहीं बल्कि कई बार उनने मुझसे यही कहा “ You can make it with a bit of hard work !” पर मॉल रोड की मटर गश्ती के बीच मुझसे अपेक्षित hard work न हुआ और मेरा I.A.S अफसर बनना दिवास्वप्न बन कर रह गया.

खैर समय बीतता गया और वे भी स्थानांतरण और पदोन्नति पर अन्यत्र चले गए पर साल में एक बार उनके शिमला आने पर मुलाकात का सिलसिला जारी रहा ।
कुछ वर्षों बाद जब मैं सरकारी सेवा में आया तो मुझसे अधिक प्रसन्नता उन्हें हुई। इस बीच मेरे विवाह की बारी आयी तो संबन्धित पक्ष से बात चीत के माध्यम भी वही बने क्योंकि उनकी उन लोगों से पुरानी जान पहचान थी।
यों पढ़ने में मेरी कुछ रुचि पहले भी थी पर हिन्दी के श्रेष्ठ साहित्यकारों मसलन हरिवंशराय बच्चन की रचनाओं से मेरा परिचय उनने ही कराया। कई बार तो उनके द्वारा खरीदी गयी किताबें हम दोनों ने साथ साथ पढ़ीं । विष्णु प्रभाकर रचित ‘आवारा मसीहा’ व श्रीलाल शुक्ल रचित ‘राग दरबारी” के साथ साथ बच्चन जी की आत्मकथा के चारों खंड उनके सौजन्य से ही पढ़े। अङ्ग्रेज़ी में Nirad Chaudhri की Autobiography of an Unknown Indian , Dr. S. Radhakrishnan की Glimpses of World Religions, Raja Rao की Kanthapura, Lin Yutang की The Importance of Living जैसी पुस्तकों से परिचय उनने ही करवाया । शिमला में अपनी पोस्टिंग के चलते उनने हिमाचल विश्वविद्यालय से एम.ए. हिन्दी की परीक्षा पास की व इलाहाबाद के कार्यकाल में वहाँ से साहित्यरत्न किया।
शायद बहुत कम लोगो को ज्ञात होगा कि 90 के दशक के उत्तरार्द्ध के वर्षों में उनके लिखे कुछ ‘middle’, The Tribune में भी छपे पर भाषा के मामले में हिन्दी उनका प्रथम प्रेम था , और वो हिन्दी भाषा के प्रति ही समर्पित रहे ।
हिन्दी भाषा के प्रति अगाध प्रेम व हिन्दी साहित्य के प्रति अनुराग के चलते अपने इलाहाबाद के कार्यकाल में वहाँ रहने वाले लगभग सभी साहित्यकारों से उनने भेंट की । मेरे साथ बातचीत में महादेवी वर्मा, और पी.डी. टण्डन से हुई मुलाक़ातों का ज़िक्र किया ।बाद में पता लगा डा. रामकुमार वर्मा से भी वे मिले थे। महादेवी वर्मा के प्रति उनमें विशेष श्रद्धा का भाव था व उनके विषय में ‘यथा नाम तथा गुण’ वाली बात उनने मुझसे कही थी ।
अभी 21 दिसम्बर को शिमला – सुन्नी- लुहरी मार्ग पर पंदोआ में सतलुज के बाएँ तट पर उनके नश्वर शरीर को पंचतत्व में विलीन होते देखना एक पीड़ादायक अनुभव रहा ।
यों हम सब की नियति यही है पर फिर भी..........!

Tej Ram Sharma

Memory remains !

Tej Ram Sharma ( 25.03.1943- 20.12.2017 ) a known name in the literary circles of Himachal Pradesh, with a number of Hindi poetry collections to his credit, an Indian Postal Service Officer of 1967 batch who rose to the top position of Member, Postal Services Board in the equivalent rank of Special Secretary to the Government of India, and above all a fine humble , polite, down to earth gentleman.

A friend , philosopher & guide and despite the age difference of only 11 years between us, a father figure to me , always caring and doting !

Adieu , Sharma ji , the void left by you is difficult to fill. Life and things are not going to be the same without you !

THIS DAY LAST YEAR

Somehow I am in the habit of making it to a place much before time and my bitter half is often peeved with this craze of mine as she just wants to be there in the nick of time. Last year this day we left in a Taxi for ISBT Shimla to avail Volvo night service for Delhi to further catch Air India flight to Gaya. True to my habit, we started much earlier much to the annoyance of my wife. As we reached the ISBT , my wife prepared to make payment to the Taxi driver- she literally holds the strings-, the Purse was not there.In haste, we had carried other bags but left the purse behind .Fortunately we had left the keys with a neighbor .My habit of saving the mobile numbers came to our rescue. I made a call to the young son of the neighbor and we requested him to unlock the house and bring the purse to the road head.Thanks to my good habit, ironically perceived bad by my wife, we had sufficient time to drive back and get the purse delivered to us, to proceed back to the Bus Stand and board the bus.For the first time my wife endorsed my habit of reaching a place well in time .

Strange ways of Fate

I am taken twenty years back in timeline, June, 1997 to be exact.

I was just 6-7 months into my second tenure in Kinnaur , though this time at the district Headquarters.

This fateful day the driver attached with me suddenly came with the sad news that CMO's vehicle has fallen and washed away in the Satluj. I made some inquiry myself and found that the news was true.It so transpired that the CMO along with a photographer was going to attend a medical camp when a speeding truck coming from the opposite direction hit the Jeep and the Jeep plunged into the river.A very sad incident .Only a few days back the CMO had celebrated the 13th birthday of his daughter and I had attended the birthday party along with others and now he was no more The driver and the photographer too had met their unfortunate end.The driver of the truck was arrested and the truck impounded.

I did not personally know the Jeep driver and the photographer but was told that both were quite young. The photographer ran a shop by the name of Yog Studio and also doubled as a stringer for a news paper. The newspaper had covered the news along with his photograph.Subsequently the bodies of all the three were recovered rather late at different long intervals.

Days and months went by and the incident became old .

Some personnel of the Police department,Punjab were invited to impart Yoga training especially to the local police personnel and I also attended the camp once.

After the conclusion of the camp, the visitors were taken to a village for sightseeing and the younger brother of the deceased photographer, who now was running the studio volunteered to take them in his vehicle. As they were coming back from the village , the car accidentally rolled down from the road this time due to error of judgement while driving at night.

The news was broken by the S.P. on telephone early in the morning . The home guard and police personnel were pressed into service to bring the bodies to the headquarters. As it happens in such cases, the bodies were handed over in coffins to the wailing next of kin and transportation was also arranged by the Administration besides providing immediate relief to the next of kin.

The two accidents haunt me to this day . Two brothers besides others had lost their lives in these accidents.

Angithee-II

Taking yesterday's narrative further, Angithee, the perennial mainstay of Simlaites required sufficient quantity of coal stored and kept handy. A regular purchase and delivery of coal at home was ensured to avoid inconvenience of any kind. One had to be more cautious during winters as we used to have heavy snowfall those days. Two Khan brothers namely Moideen and Sultan regularly used to bring coal to us from Best Coal Company opposite Victory Tunnel. Sometimes Moideen in anticipation of snowfall would bring coal on his own volition and payment for the same would be made later.Such was the trust people had in one another and not without reason.

Only once we were caught unawares in winter due to a sudden heavy snowfall. Even then the two brothers making their way through three feet of snow got us two maunds of coal. I remember my mother serving them hot Parathas and tea while making them sit around the Angithee. God bless their souls !

Once coal had reached it had to broken into small pieces and put in a box. We as children used to lend a helping hand by carrying the broken pieces in a Tasla a number of times to put them in a huge wooden box kept for the purpose. The coal powder that came along was called 'keri' .It was mixed with clay and made into balls which were left to dry. That would supplement the coal as fuel.

Once in my teens, I remember breaking the coal many a time with a small hammer.

Manual labour was involved in all big and small activities . There was no need for gym etc as lot of exercise got done doing work manually... ..

Angeethi

In these days of LPG and other gadgets easily available and affordable, I am amused when a stay at home homemaker complains of being overburdened with daily household chores.I am reminded of my own growing years as a child when the day would start early in the morning with preparing Angeethi for cooking and water heating purposes. The Angeethi was a device made of a tin canister or an old metal bucket, which was got fixed with a spiked net placed inside at middle height to hold fuelwood and burnt coal. The bucket already had a handle while the canister had a bent metal seekh with the ends fixed on two opposite sides.A rectangular opening was kept at the lower half to insert wastepaper for burning and also to take out ash. The upper half was had a thick layer of clay with three or four lumps made on top to hold cookware and utensils.

After the day was done. the Angeethi was emptied of burnt coal and ash was kept ready to be lighted the next morning. Some finely cut fuelwood was put inside from top and some soft coal was put above. Some wastepaper was inserted at the bottom which was burnt first if all for the fuel wood to catch fire.

The angithee had to be periodically filled with fresh coal to keep it going. Every morning, passing through any residential area, one could see smoke rising out of the angeethis left in the open for burning.

Surprisingly, air pollution was not much of an issue then, maybe due to sparse population and absence of an alternative as Angeethi served both the purposes of cooking as well as keeping warm in chilling snowy winters.

Sitting around the well lighted angithee was a favourite pastime in winters, also sometimes taking parched moongphali..

Salil Chowdhury

Today is the birth anniversary of Salil Chowdhury, the renowned music composer for Hindi, Bengali and Marathi films.Besides this he was able to play flute, piano and dilruba with ease . He was also an accomplished Bengali poet.

Making his debut in Hindi film music in 1953 with Do Bigha Zameen, Salilda went on to compose for other notable films like Naukari, Jagte Raho, Musafir, Madumati,Parakh, Kanoon,Usne Kaha Tha, Kabuliwala, Anokhi Raat,Ittefaq, Sara Aaksh,Anand, Mere Apne, Mausam,Chhoti Si Baat and many others.

He was a recipient of Best Film Music Director Award and Sangeet Natak Academy Award.

Our humble tributes !

Lala Lajpat Rai

"Every blow on my body will prove a nail in the coffin of the British Empire. "

Today is the death anniversary of Punjab Kesri , Lala Lajpat Rai, the great patriot and the revolutionary who belonged to the well known triumvirate Lal- Bal- Pal . He galvanized the people abroad especially in America and garnered support for the Indian Freedom Movement.The entire period of the first World War was spent by him in America in working for the Indian Independence.Back in India in 1920, he continued with the activities. He got beaten mercilessly by the police while leading a procession against the Cripps Mission and subsequently died after a few months this day in 1928.

His words quoted above proved prophetic with the killing of Saunders by the revolutionary, and the subsequent revolutionary activities carried on by Bhagat Singh and his associates Sukhdev and Rajguru ....and many others like Chandrasekhar Azad.

Lala Lajpat Rai's pivotal role in the Indian Independence Movement is unforgettable.

Our humble tributes to the great son of India !

A MALEFACTOR

A MALEFACTOR is a short , rather a very short story by Anton Chekov. 

Denis Grigoryev , an “ exceedingly lean little peasant in a striped hempen shirt and patched drawers” is presented before a magistrate to stand trial. His crime is that one railway watchman Ivan Semyonovitch Akinfov has seen him engaged in removing a fastening nut from the railway line. The description given by Chekov of Denis is of a poor man , hardly of presentable bearing who occasionally removes nuts from a railway line to cast them into weight used in a fishing line. The poor peasant is innocent to the point of admitting the ‘crime’ unmindful of the consequences and the reader is amused to go through the Q & A sequence between the accused and the Magistrate. In common jurisprudence, the admission of a crime by an accused is ground enough to order his punishment under the Law of the Land , without requiring any detailed procedure to be followed but in this case the justice appears to be incomplete. After a brief summary proceedings Denis is sent to prison as a punishment, though there are other accomplices as well named by him. Thus no argument or plea made by him prevails. 

Even to a layman, the removal of a nut from a railway line which may result in accidents happening and the death of many innocent passengers , is a crime that should not go unpunished. During the course of trial, the accused Denis refers to “We people…….The Klimovo peasants , that is” , which shows that besides him many others are engaged in the same criminal activities . Ends of justice would be fully met only if they are also hauled up and are made to face the consequences. Besides,all those who use the weights so made out of the nuts are also equally answerable as they are not ignorant as to from where the iron for making them comes from. The story , which probably is the depiction of a real life incident raises many questions and reflects upon the Justice system prevailing at the time.

‘Justice should not only be done but should also appear to have been done’ is the message put forth by the story.

विनोबा भावे

भूदान आंदोलन के प्रणेता, स्वतन्त्रता संग्राम के सेनानी, महान गांधीवादी भारत रत्न विनोबा भावे की आज पुण्यतिथि है।उन्हें रेमन मेगेसैसे पुरस्कार से सम्मानित
प्रथम व्यक्ति होने का गौरव प्राप्त है ।

1983 में उन्हें मरणोपरांत भारत रत्न से भी सम्मानित किया गया था ।
भारतमाता के इस महान सपूत को हमारी विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि !

जयशंकर प्रसाद

धरा पर झुकी प्रार्थना सदृश
मधुर मुरली सी फिर भी मौन
किसी अज्ञात विश्व की विकल
वेदना दूती सी तुम कौन.........
हिन्दी साहित्य के महान साहित्यकार जयशंकर प्रसाद की आज 80वीं पुण्यतिथि है। हिन्दी कविता के छायावाद स्वरूप के चार प्रमुख स्तंभों में से एक , प्रसाद जी महाकाव्य ‘कामायनी’ के रचयिता के रूप में अपना विशिष्ट स्थान एवं पहचान रखते हैं। एक कवि के साथ साथ वह एक नाटककार, कथाकार, उपन्यासकार व निबंधकार के रूप में भी जाने जाते हैं ।
47 वर्ष की अल्पायु में इस संसार को अलविदा कह कर चले जाने वाले पुरोधा को हमारी विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि !

Cornelia Sorabji

Again thanks to google Doodle today !

Today is the 151st birth anniversary of Cornelia Sorabji , the first woman graduate of Bombay University, the first woman to study Law at Oxford University, the first Indian woman to study in a British University and the first woman Advocate to practice in England and India.She was also a social reformer and a member of a number of such institutions.

She died on July 6, 1954 at London, U.K.

Our humble tributes !

Salim Ali

Today is the birth anniversary of Salim Ali , a renowned ornithologist and naturalist. He was an avid bird watcher and did extensive and systematic survey of birds at a number of places in India and made a pioneering study of various species and their behavior and habitat and came up with various books on the subject. He is credited with the formation of Bombay Natural History Society and the creation of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. He co-authored the ten volume Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan, along with Sidney Dillon Ripley , which is considered a classic.

It is interesting to note that Salim Ali , who as a youngster went about hunting and killing sparrows became their preserver , later in life. However even during his hunting sprees also, he made useful study about sparrows. His visit to Burma in connection with the family business brought him more in proximity with nature and forests. Back in Bombay, he , along with Commerce and law studies , pursued Zoology also. He went to Germany also and conducted studies in ornithology along with some experts there.

Many species of birds bear his name as also some Parks and Institutes. 

He was a recipient of Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. 

Our humble tributes !

TWO OLD MEN

TWO OLD MEN is a popular short story by Leo Tolstoy.Two old men namely Efim Tarasich Sheveley and Elisha Bodrov who live in the same village have long back taken a vow to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem but somehow have not been able to keep it so far.Efim apparently is a rich man , serious natured, without any vices and always remains busy with domestic affairs. Elisha though not as rich as Efim is not poor either and is of a cheerful disposition.

One day Elisha proposes to Efim that together they proceed to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage to keep the vow taken long back and to have God's grace.Efim , involved as he is in his domestic affairs expresses his inability inter alia for the reason that he is short of money as he has already spent a lot on the construction of a new hut.But Elisha by his strong persuasion brings him round and they decide to go.Both arrange money, make necessary preparations, equip themselves with suitable dresses , shoes and necessary items , not without leaving instructions to family members to run the household.They start the long journey on foot.

They stay for the night at different places. At some places they find hospitable people who welcome them at their homes and entertain them with food etc.Efim is a fast walker and Elisha finds it difficult to keep pace with him.At a place Elisha feels a desire to have a drink and tells Efim to keep walking . Efim continues to move alone hoping that soon Elisha will catch up with him.Left behind, Elisha knocks on a door not once but many times but there is no response. At last he opens the door and enters inside.What he sees is simply appalling. This is a family of 5-6 members, literally awaiting death by starvation. Failed crop and famine seem to have taken toll on the kids, the young and the old. There is not even a drop of water in the home , not to speak of anything to eat.

Sensing the difficulty the poor family is in, Elisha opens his bag , takes out the loaves of bread, fetches water from a nearby place and feeds them .He also prepares porridge for them . With food entering their starved bodies , they slowly regain strength and are able to speak. Their plight moves him. He purchases sufficient food items for them, repays their debt to redeem their small piece of land ,buys them a horse and some implements. Seeing that they are on their own and are able to work and fend for themselves, he leaves the place silently without telling his name etc.

Having spent the money on these noble deeds, with money left only sufficient for return journey, he drops the idea of proceeding further and undertakes the back journey.

Reaching home after some days he is welcomed by all. The family members have looked after the household well and everything is fine and in order.

When asked about early return, he cooks up a story that his money got stolen.

Efim on the other hand continues alone also thinking of Elisha and hoping to meet him. Continuing the journey on foot, after many days he reaches at a place from where he boards a ship .The journey is not so smooth and literally the passengers sail through troubled waters.Meanwhile Efim had found a companion,a pilgrim who had purportedly lost his money. He had now become dependent on Efim who only half believes him, worrying all the time that he might steal his money.

Finally the ship reaches Constantinople and they disembark.Efim visits many holy places and on two three occasions finds Elisha,sitting in the front row with his back towards him. Despite efforts to meet him , in the rush and crowd of people,Efim is unable to trace him.

Having visited all places of pilgrimage, Efim proceeds on back journey. Per chance , on return journey he happens to stay at a home where he receives warm welcome and hospitality. The family tells him about a noble soul who had helped them enormously and seen them out of trouble.The description of the man resembling that of Elisha, it takes Efim no time to judge what he had seen at the holy place.

At last Efim also returns home but things at his home are not as good as he had left him.When the two old men meet again and Efim tries to broach the topic, Elisha changes it and the matter remains a secret between them only.

Efim knows that Elisha's pilgrimage has been better.

A wonderful story !

Anasuya Sarabhai

Google doodle today informs of the 132nd birth anniversary of Anasuya Sarabhai, the pioneer of Women's Labour Movement in India. Born in 1885 at Ahmedabad, in a rich industrialist family, she lost her parents at the age of nine and together with a brother and a younger sister was brought up by an uncle. She was married at the age of 13.

In 1912 she was sent to England to study medicine but simply put off by animal dissection which was against Jain beliefs, she instead joined the London School Of Economics. She was greatly influenced by the Fabian society. Returning to India, she started the Women's Labour Movement and took up the cause of women textile workers and weavers and as a result of the hunger strike undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi, an increase of 35 percent in wages was obtained. In 1920 she founded the Ahmedabad Textile Labourers' Association.She also mentored Ela Bhatt, who founded the SEWA.

She was the aunt of Vikram Sarabhai, the eminent Physicist.

Blessed with a long life she died in 1972.

Our humble tributes to the remarkable lady !

HIMACHAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS-2017

At last the periodical  ritual of  voting  for election to   the sixty eight seats of Himachal Pradesh  Legislative Assembly took place  today, the 9^th of November by and large peacefully,thanks to meticulous directions and instructions issued by the  Election Commission of India and the elaborate arrangements made by the state for the  smooth conduct  of this quinquennial exercise. However there is a long wait for the contesting candidates who may sit with fingers crossed as the results will be declared only after counting takes place on  18^th December  when the cat will be out of the bag.

Apart from the   massive coverage by the print and visual media , these  elections will be remembered for  the  mud slinging and the slandering game played by the parties in the fray. Somehow there was grist for every mill  and the  political  parties were on the defensive  due to lapses and irregularities  unearthed  and talked about at this crucial time. Many idioms, phrases and proverbs  learnt during schooldays , but long forgotten  due to disuse like  “the kettle calling the pot black” ,  “ sweep before your own door “  & “the devil quoting  scriptures”…..came on the tip of the tongue, effortlessly and  spontaneously  seeing what was being uttered by the campaigners and supporters. 
 During the election campaign, one saw rare ingenuity in slogans  devised by the parties ; it is another matter that the slogans  and claims  seemed   hollow in view of the ground reality . However this time  not much of  ‘dil se’ or ‘phir se’ was heard, the ball being left in the court of the voter. .
  In exposing others one got exposed itself.One is left to wonder why the so called   “ star campaigners "-   from the other states  with little knowledge of the state or its problems are thrust upon the  public. They had nothing new to say or offer   except  blowing the trumpet of the party ,  they belonged to and  were canvassing  for , repeatedly counting  policies and ‘successes’ and deriding the opposite party.   At every point  one felt that the voter had no choice  except to choose what to him or her  appeared   worthwhile, irrespective of what was being  promised .

The introduction of  VVPAT at the polling stations is a welcome addition.

 Again this time also  one Shyam Saran Negi   from Kalpa in  Kinnaur ,  ‘first voter of  India’ who  has voted in all elections held since 1952 found  some mention as having turned a centenarian. Some special arrangements were reported to have been made to take him to the polling booth to  enable him to cast his vote.Today itself he was shown on the TV screeen  with a message for voting.  As reports have poured in, he cast his vote this time also. The elections apart from affording  an opportunity  to the voter to exercise his choice, also contain a lesson to  parties and the Governments that they need  to perform to  lay their claim for future governance. One  also hopes that when the New Assembly gets constituted ,   the elected  Members will be accessible to the people . 

Raja Rao

Today is the birth anniversary of Raja Rao, the doyen of Indian writing in English . Together with Mulk Raj Anand and R.K.Narayan , he constitutes the formidable triumvirate of Indian writers, writing in English and among the first being published abroad. 

His novel ‘Kanthapura’ written in 1938 was an epoch making work, being the first major novel written in English. It is a microcosm of the Indian village life in all its evils and idiosyncrasies. Kanthapura , a small nondescript village beset with social evils like untouchability, and blind faith , under Gandhi’s influence plunges itself into civil disobedience & non cooperation movements and becomes a model of passive resistance and non violence .The Gandhian way is propogated through hari katha, the traditional narrative mode. The events unfolding also show woman power asserting itself and working in tandem with the male residents of the village. In a way the novel also comes across an encapsulated story of struggle for Independence . 

In ‘Serpent and the Rope’ Raja Rao juxtaposes the illusion and the reality , the two important ingredients of Indian Culture and is a journey in search of spiritual truth in Europe and India. 

Raja Rao emerged as a nationalist novelist , despite the later part of his education being in Paris. He was deeply influenced by Gandhi and Gandhian ways and thought find a prominent place in his ‘Kanthapura’ and other writings as also his short stories. He also wrote a biography of Gandhi, called ’ The Great Indian Way: A Life of Mahatma Gandhi’, 1998. 

Besides ‘Kanthapura’ and ‘The Serpent and the Rope’ he wrote three more novels , namely

‘The Cat and Shakespeare: A Tale of India’, ‘Comrade Kirillov’, and ‘The Chessmaster and His Moves (1988)’

Besides many collection of short stories, his non – fiction works include ‘Changing India: An Anthology (edited with Iqbal Singh),Tomorrow (edited with Ahmed Ali),Whither India? (edited with Iqbal Singh) and ’The Meaning of India, essays’

He was a recipient of Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and Sahitya Academy Award.

Our humble tributes to the celebrity Writer !

Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee

Today is the death anniversary of Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee , OBE, the first Chief of Staff of the Indian Air Force. Commissioned into the Royal Indian Air Force in 1932, he saw action in the NWFP and the Second World War and commanded a Squadron. For his meritorious service, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire.Post independence , he was recruited in the Indian Air Force and rose to be the Chief of Air Staff in 1954.

He was the first Indian officer to command a flight, a squadron and finally the Force itself. Besides OBE, he was also the recipient of India General Service Medal,India Service Medal and Indian Independence Medal.He is also called the Father of Indian Air Force.

He died in Tokyo in 1960, aged 49.

Our humble tributes !

Sitara Devi

Today is the birth anniversary of Sitara Devi, a Kathak proponent and an eminent danseuse. Born this day in Calcutta on Dhanteras day in 1920,she was named Dhanalakshmi. She was initiated into dancing by her father and started performing on stage at a very young age. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore seeing her perform on stage named her Nrityasamragyi, a compliment and a tribute to her dancing talent.International acclaim came to her when she performed at Royal Albert Hall, London and the Carnegie Hall New York in 1967 & 1976 respectively.

She also appeared in some Hindi film performing dance numbers.Known and celebrated as Kathak Queen, many awards and honours came her way.

She was a recipient of the coveted Sangeet Natak Academy Award and Padmashri.

In later years when she was nominated for Padma Bhushan award, she declined it calling it more an insult than an honour.

She died on 25th November, 2014 aged 94.

Our humble tributes !

One year of Demonetization

The announcement of the government decision to demonetize Rs 500/- & Rs.1000/- currency notes his day last year- Notebandi in common lingo - took everyone by surprise. A day or two before I had withdrawn some amount which was all in 500 denomination , to pay for the new dining chairs. My wife too had some amount -bigger than mine- in Rs.500 notes withdrawn for some Diwali purchases, which could not somehow mature. Put together , the amount formed a fraction of the 'dreaded' or the 'accursed' amount of Rs. Two Lakh Fifty Thousand . However the notes were deposited in the Bank standing in a queue for 2-3 hours on 10th November, the very first day at the same time exchanging the amount in new currency restricted to the limit of Rs.4000/- per person. Up came some Facebook posts boasting by some friends that they had no Rs.500/- or Rs.1000/- note with them that needed to be deposited, making others feel guilty of the 'crime' of possessing them.It took quite a few months for the things to come to normal for a person like me , but the impact on the public especially small traders, labour class and those having big functions like marriage in the family was enormous. 

Compare this to the 1978 demonetization of Rs 1000/- notes, it was a smooth transition , without creating any ripples or flutter and the Government of the day did not introduce currency of this denomination for years together.

WHERE LOVE IS, GOD IS

In school we had an English poetry collection prescribed as a text book in Class X. The first poem in the book was 'Abou Ben Adam' by Leigh Hunt . The poem carried a beautiful message that Love for mankind is the love for God which surpasses all kinds of rituals and worship of God in fulfilling one's life.

A few days back, I read the short story ' Where love is, God is' by Leo Tolstoy, extending the same idea further.

The story is about a cobbler named Martin Avdeich, a sincere worker who while doing his job with perfection is honest to the point of not taking up something he cannot finish on time.Fate had not been kind to him as he lost all his children while still infants and his wife except a three year old son. As he decides to keep his son with him only instead of sending him to live with his sister, after some days this only surviving child also has fever and dies.

Martin Avdeich, all broken and shaken is advised by a pilgrim of his acquaintance to read Bible. Martin purchases a copy of Bible and starts reading it on holidays. Soon it interests him so much that he starts reading it daily, even at night in the light of a lamp.One day he comes across the story of a Pharisee that invites Jesus to his house and there a lady washes Jesus's feet with her tears.This incident as related in the Bible haunts him so much that he hears God telling him that He would visit him.

Next day he invites Stepanich, a worker who is shoving snow outside. He serves him with warm drink and tells about Jesus. Next he finds a woman with a child . The woman is equipped to bear and face the cold . Martin gives her warm clothes and some money. 

The same day he settles the matter between an old woman and a boy after he finds that the latter has stolen something from the woman.

It is only during the night that God reveals to him that He had visited Martin in the garb of Stepanich, whom he had served drink, the woman whom he had given clothes & money and the old lady whom he had helped.

Thus the story has a beautiful message that serving humanity is the best way to worship God.

BHAI MARDANA

I have written before about Gyani Balkar Singh,our Punjabi teacher in school, who taught and told us many things beyond textbooks.

During one of his lectures in the class, he told us about BHAI MARDANA, who became a disciple and companion of Guru Nanak during the Guru's journeys through India and Asia.

It is common knowledge that Mardana was born to Muslim parents who lived in Rai Bhoin Di Talwandi the same place in today's Pakistan where Guru Nanak was born. As for the name Mardana , there is an interesting anecdote that our teacher told us. The mother of Mardana remained sad and worried as all her children died sooner or later. It is said that she used to call this son also Marjana, as she believed that he would also die like his other siblings because of a curse that was purported to have befallen the family.It is said that Guru Nanak asked for her son to be given to him to which the mother agreed. Guru Nanak named him MARDANA which when split sounds Marda- Na which means 'won't die'. The family was thus saved from the curse of early deaths . Mardana not only became the first person to enter the Sikh sect, but also lived long and into his seventies.

Wikipedia also has the same story albeit with some twist. However the basic fact remains the same.

Reshma

Today is the death anniversary of Reshma , the singer.

“Char dina da pyaar o rabba, badi lambi judai………”

When folk singer Reshma from across the border lent her beautiful voice to this song for the Bollywood flick “Hero “ in the eighties, this came as a whiff of fresh air as the singer’s voice apart from timbre had a folksy charm to it. The song became and is still popular after more than three decades down the line. Reshma’s had become a household name for every music lover.

Thanks to YouTube, many a time I have listened to a captivating duet by her and Pervez Mehdi-

“ Goriye mein jana pardes ………….” .

Both the singers come out at their best in this composition and literally it transports me to another world. Reshma, who always was soft spoken , and to hear her voice rising to a crescendo when singing is indeed a wonderful experience. Again that earthy/ folksy charm comes to the fore.
Our humble tributes to the great singer.

Major Somnath Sharma PVC

Today is the 70th death anniversary of Major Somnath Sharma PVC, who laid down his life while fighting the Pakistani infiltrators .

The young officer aged 24 became the first Param Vir Chakra awardee.
Our humble tributes to the brave soldier !

Prem Nath

Today is the death anniversary of Prem Nath the popular Bollywood actor. In a career that spanned almost four decades, he made his debut in the film Daulat ke Liye and went on to act in films like Aag, Barsaat,Hindustan Hamara,Sagai, Awaara,Badal, Aan, Aurat ,Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sikander-e-Azam, Baharon ke Sapne,Amrapali,Teesri Manzil , Shor, Bobby and many others.

Our humble tributes to the popular actor !

Prithvi Raj Kapur

Today is the birth anniversary of Late Prithvi Raj Kapur, the doyen of Hindi Cinema and patriarch of Kapur family, whose fourth generation is now in acting . Prithvi Raj Kapur was not only a great actor but also a great theatre personality , a founder-member of IPTA and the founder of Prithvi Theatre.A highly talented actor, he acted in silent movies also.He had a supporting role in the first talkie Alam Ara.

His role in Vidyapati brought him accolades and later his role in Sohrab Modi's Sikander catapulted him to fame . He is remembered most for his stellar role in Mughal-e- Azam, the block buster movie of the times and his role in the film Harishchandra Taramati was also highly appreciated. He had the lead role in Punjabi movies- Nanak Naam Jahaaz hai & Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansaar and left a bench mark in acting.

He was a recipient of Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Our humble tributes to the legendary film and theatre personality !

सदाशिव अमरापुरकर

बतौर खलनायक अपने सशक्त अभिनय से दर्शकों की भरपूर 'गालियाँ' बटोरने वाले प्रतिभासम्पन्न कलाकार सदाशिव अमरापुरकर की पुण्यतिथि पर उन्हें हमारी विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि !

Richard Brinsley Sheridan

Today is the birth anniversary of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, an Irish playwright, satirist and a parliamentarian . Known mostly for his satirical and humorous plays - 'The Rivals' and 'The School for Scandal' he created an immortal character like Mrs. Malaprop who makes use of wrong words with almost similar sounds. Malapropism became an accepted figure of speech.

Our humble tributes to the playwright !

Swami Dayanand

Today is the death anniversary of Swami Dayanand Saraswati , a Hindu Religious leader . He is known as the founder of Arya Samaj, an order based on Vedic teachings.His book 'Satyarth Prakash' is a treatise of sorts.
The DAV educational institutions named after him have countywide presence and have done a lot in the field of education.
Our humble tributes to the great Religious leader & a social reformer !

V.Shantaram

Today is the death anniversary of V.Shantaram, the iconic film director, producer and an actor. Known mostly for his film Doctor Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani, and Do Aankhen Barah Haath,he also made classic films like Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje, Navrang,Amar Bhoopali, Pinjra and Duniya Na Mane.He also produced the films Geet Gaya Pattharon Ne and Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli.

He cast his wife Sandhya in Do Aankhen Barah Haath & Navrang and his daughter Rajshri in Geet Gaya Pattharon Ne.

In fact his production house is known as Rajshri Productions.

His films Amar Bhoopali and Do Aankhen Barah Haath won international acclaim as well.

He was a recipient of Padma Vibhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

He died this day in 1990 aged 89.

Our humble tributes !

James Boswell

Today is the birth anniversary of James Boswell, the Scottish biographer. He is best known for his biography of Samuel Johnson, one of his contemporary authors.This biography written by him apart from being a classic of English literature is a benchmark for biographers to follow so much so that every Great person is said to feel the need for a Boswell to document his life and times.
Our humble tributes to the outstanding biographer !

Kamladevi Chattopadhyay

Today is the death anniversary of Kamladevi Chattopadhyay, the Indian Independence activist, and a promoter of Indian Handicrafts,handlooms and theatre.She did pioneering work in women empowerment through financial independence and cooperative movement.The institutions like National School of Drama, Sangeet Natak Academy, Central Cottage Industries Emporium and Craft Council of India , to a larger extent owe their existence to her vision.

A recipient of Ramon Magsaysay Award, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, she died this day in 1988 aged 85.

Our humble tributes !

Sister Nivedita

Today is the birth anniversary of Sister Nivedita alias Margaret Elizabeth Noble, a Scottish -Irish teacher, social worker .She met Swami Vivekananda in London in 1895 and became his follower.She came to India and founded Ramakrishna Sarada Mission and Sister Nivedita Girls' School.

Nivedita was the name given to her by Swami Vivekananda who initiated her into Vedanta. Under a vow of celibacy, she made social service her life long mission and did pioneering work.

She wrote about a dozen books including Kali , The Mother and The web of Indian Life.

Our humble tributes to the great Lady !

श्रीलाल शुक्ल

प्रसिद्ध हिन्दी उपन्यास 'राग दरबारी' के रचयिता व ख्यात नाम व्यंग्यकार श्रीलाल शुक्ल की आज पुण्यतिथि है। राज्य प्रशासनिक सेवा व भारतीय प्रशासनिक सेवा के अधिकारी रहे शुक्ल जी ने , उपन्यास, कथा ,आलोचना, निबन्ध एवं व्यंग्य विधा की विपुल सम्पदा से हिन्दी साहित्य जगत को समृद्ध किया है। 

साहित्य अकादमी एवं पद्मभूषण के साथ साथ अन्य कई पुरस्कारों से सम्मानित इस महान साहित्यकार को हमारी विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि !

R.K.Laxman

Today is the birth anniverary of the legendary cartoonist R.K.Laxman. His drawings of the common man , the crows and the cartoon strip 'You said it' can never be forgotten. In fact the cartoon strip adorned the pages of Times of India for five decades.

A younger brother of the noted author R.K.Narayan, he also drew sketches for the cover of his books and novels.
Apart from drawing cartoons and sketches,he wrote novel and travelogue as well.
He was also a recipient of Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Ramon Magsaysay Award .

Our tributes to the genius !

JEEWAN

Today is the birth anniversary of JEEWAN ,the Bollywood actor. Born Omkar Nath Dhar this day in 1915 in Srinagar , he was a Kashmiri who remained active in films for five decades i.e. ‘40s through ‘80s.He had acted as Narad Muni in almost 60 films and in a radio program presented by him and dedicated to army jawans he had stated that God dare not send him to hell as he had chanted Nayaran Narayan thousands of times.

His very presence in the cast would guarantee that some sinister designs were a part of the storyline .He was also the most hated villain of Hindi Cinema which is a tribute to his acting talent. Almost all the films he acted in were hits. .

Our humble tributes to this marvellous Actor !

Shafi Inamdar

Today is the birth anniversary of Shafi Inamdar, a film and TV actor.He started his film career with film Vijeta and also worked in Ardh Satya. A versatile and talented actor, he also gave memorable performances in films like

Aaj Ki Awaz, Awaam, Anokha Rishta, Amrit , Nazrana.

Jurm,Dada Suhaagan, Kudrat ka Kanoon , and Love 86. The TV serial Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi , Teri Bhi Chup Meri Bhi Chup, and Aadha Sach Aadha Jhooth in which he worked also became very popular.In 1985, he was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor award for the film Aaj Ki Awaaz.

He died on 13 March, 1996 aged 50.

Our humble tributes !

अशफाक़ उल्लाह खान

महान क्रांतिकारी व स्वतन्त्रता सेनानी अशफाक़ उल्लाह खान की आज जयंती है। उल्लेखनीय है कि शहीद अशफाक़ उल्लाह खान को शहीद राम प्रसाद बिस्मिल व शहीद ठाकुर रोशन सिंह के साथ एक ही दिन यानि 19 दिसम्बर 1927 को फांसी दी गई थी।

हँसते हँसते मातृभूमि के लिए मृत्यु का वरण करने वाले इस देश भक्त की स्मृति को

कोटिश: नमन !

Swami Ram Tirth

Today is the birth anniversary of Swami Ram Tirth also known as Swami Rama, a teacher of Hindu religion and philosophy. Born this day in 1873 in Gujranwala of undivided Punjab, he lost his mother while some days' old. He was brought up by his elder brother.A brilliant student, he passed his M.A. in Mathematics and landed a job as Professor in Government College Lahore. A chance meeting with Swami Vivekananda at Lahore in 1897, resulted in his inclination towards Vedanta .

He quit his job, left his family and became a Sannyasi in 1899.On a travel sponsored by the Maharaja of Tehri,he went to Japan to teach Hindu philosophy particularly practical Vedanta and then to the United States to pursue his teachings like Swami Vivekananda before him. An advocate of youth education, he helped institute many scholarships for education of Indian youth abroad.He also advocated women education .He returned to India in 1904 and sometime later withdrew from public life and went to Himalayas. He started writing a book also but the project remained incomplete as his soul left the mortal body on 17th October, 1906 while he was just five days short of completing 33 years.

Our humble tributes to the Noble soul !

Nain Singh Rawat

Google doodle informs that today is the birth anniversary of Nain Singh Rawat, the 19th century explorer, who explored the Himalayas for the Britishers. He mapped the trade route through Nepal to Tibet and was also the first to map the location and altitude of Lhasa. 

Today is his 187th birth anniversary .

Our humble tributes !

YASH CHOPRA

Today is the death anniversary of YASH CHOPRA, the noted film producer and director of Hindi Cinema. A younger brother of the iconic Producer / Director B.R.Chopra, he started as an assistant to I.S. Jauhar. His maiden directorial venture was B.R.Chopra's Dhool ka Phool which became a box office hit. Another movie Dharamputra also was popular at the box office. To him goes the credit of directing Waqt , the first multistar movie of Hindi Cinema.In 1969 he directed two more movies for B.R.Chopra namely Aadmi aur Insaan & Ittefaq, the latter without any song.

Starting his own Yash Raj Films in 1971, he gave many hits like Deewar, Kabhi Kabhi, Silsila etc. Passing through a lean phase in most part of the '80s, success came to him again with Chandni, a heroine oriented film with Sridevi in the lead.His 1991 movie Lamhe despite having all the merits of a good movie, did not do well at the box office.He was also associated with the movies Noorie, Dil Toh Paagal Hai, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge , Trishul, Kala Patthar,Vijay, Faasle, Darr, Parampara, Veer Zara and many others.

Many awards and honours came his way. 

He died this day in 2011 aged 80.

Our humble tributes !