Monkeys at Shimla

Monkeys are known to be predators, pranksters and thanks  to Darwin’s theory of evolution ,our forefathers  too .Looking at monkeys, we human beings consciously or otherwise  try to trace our origin to them , from their  behaviour pattern and movements. They are an interesting topic of study. Many years ago I read an  account by Rudyard Kipling- Monkeys at Shimla – with added interest as  a Shimlaite .Later , I spent  many years as  a resident of   Jakhu Hills ,  a natural abode of monkeys at Shimla .The monkeys at Shimla are a permanent nuisance  and it is difficult for the residents to carry eatables  openly  without inviting trouble for themselves. I for one have always been  in awe of  monkeys as in case one of the simians digs its teeth into your flesh, you have to undergo a  regular  course of treatment  by  vaccination.

With this thing in my mind , I always carried eatables  either in a zipped up bag or even inside an umbrella. And the best way is to pass by without looking at them . The place in Shimla where I live now can easily be called second abode of monkeys but they are a gentler lot  than the ones that we come across on the Mall  and at or near Jakhu   and live in harmony with  human beings . They never seem to be in an attacking mood  and never tinker or mess with things lying outside. I come across  a number of them daily   on my way  to and from home  and just bending a bit to  act as if to carry a small pebble scares them away. Of course, when face to face with an army of monkeys, I  recite  Hanuman Chalisa   mentally , seeking monkey god’s help .

Assembly Elections-2012

At last the elections for  the sixty eight seats of Himachal Pradesh  Legislative Assembly were held on the 4^th of November 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 as the results will be declared only after counting takes place on  20^th December.

Apart from the   massive coverage by the print and visual media , these  elections will be remembered for  the  mud slinging and the slanging 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 scams and irregularities  unearthed 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 “  at once came to mind .
 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 it was interesting to see how  'dil se '  could rhyme with ' phir  se '.
  In exposing others one got exposed itself.One is left to wonder why the so called   “ star campaigners "- including film and TV stars-  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 were canvassing  for  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 the lesser evil.

 It was nice to read and hear about one Shyam Saran Negi   from Kalpa in  Kinnaur District  who became almost a celebrity- TV channels reporting about him and   reputed    newspapers writing articles  about him and  not without reason. He has voted in all elections held since 1952  and  though aged 96 now, age  did not  deter him and his 90 year old wife  from casting vote  and performing this important duty. One hopes that  political parties will learn lessons  for future  and  form  a  government  that is truly for , of , and by the people  and the elected representatives remain accessible to the public  -no matter if  it is the completion of “mission repeat “ or “mission delete“.

No one calls me ' Sir ' !

I am amused to read in a prominent English  weekly  about a former MOS in the Union Government , belonging to the TMC, who when asked what he missed about  the ministry days, said that it was being addressed as Sir………!  His is not the lone example as many others find themselves in the same boat, once they are out of office or position.

One of the many (?)  perks that come along by being in a position of authority or even   while working in a supervisory capacity  is  being addressed as   ‘Sir’   by persons  who happen to be steps below in the  official hierarchy.  Many of the young entrants-  barely in their  twenties or early  thirties -  to the Service to which  I belonged not long ago, visibly look most happy when addressed as ‘Sir’ by   junior colleagues – I dislike the word ‘ subordinate ‘-  much older in age.

‘Unfortunately’      it is rarely that I have been called ‘sir’ by my junior colleagues , to whom even behind my back, I have been just ‘ Sharma ji ‘  .This at times left me  thinking   that perhaps I did not look like one  or simply did not deserve to be where I was. Now when  I  visit my  old offices,  I  am    welcome , am paid due regard  and listened to  carefully and attentively  and enjoy exchanging pleasantries  with my former colleagues . This perhaps is the secret   of being plain ‘Sharma ji ’. In    hindsight , I feel that perhaps they  did not want to have  artificial distance being created  between us as they  considered  me one of them  if not  ‘ their very own ’.

And why should I mind not being called   ‘Sir’ , as I was only a small  cog in a wheel  of the Government  machinery  and did nothing of note  to deserve the honorific  much as ‘Sir’ was  a hard earned knighthood in British India –and is still there in Great Britain- with only a handful of Indian  stalwarts like Sir Chhotu Ram, Sir Ganga Ram, Sir J.C.Bose  and   also  the Nobel Laureate  Rabindranath Tagore in the league , who returned the knighthood, aggrieved over the Jallianwalla   massacre.  

                                                                  

Lata Mangeshkar- Mohammad Rafi

A news item quoting  the legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar as saying that the Late Mohammad Rafi , another legendary   singer had tendered her  an written apology  on differences  over the issue of royalty, when she had refused to sing with him -  is disgusting. Such a  statement   coming in the wake of   Lata Mangeshkar’s  83^rd  birthday, when millions of  music lovers  across the  world   would be greeting her  and praying for  & wishing  for her long life , is certainly  uncalled for , ill timed   and  out of place , as  Rafi  Sahib   bade adieu to this world more than three decades back. I wonder, what points Lata Mangeshkar   was seeking to score, when  the issue  presents Rafi  in a  better light- as he emerges as a fine human being the least materialistically inclined . All he had said that there was no question of royalty  being claimed by  the singer or  the artiste  when he had already been paid .Rafi Saheb was  a loving and lovable person with no rancour or ill will towards any one.How hurt he must have felt when  forced to seek an apology.The reaction of Rafi Sahib’s son is  only natural , as  Rafi  was no less a  celebrity or a  legend  than Lata Mangeshkar  though comparisons seem odious at times .  Together they sang  many  unforgettable duets.

Mirror fast

 A few days back , I read about ‘ mirror fast ‘  being recommended   for  celebrities, especially those , whose looks  matter a lot as far as their profession is concerned. The celebrities would naturally include  film actors, stage artistes ,  media presenters  etc. Fortunately or unfortunately, I have been signing papers and pushing files   throughout my working career  which has had nothing to do my looks. Still age catching up with you is the concern of all ; crow’s  feet , furrowed face, laughing lines appearing all of a sudden are no laughing matter even for a less- than- ordinary –looks   person  like me. I have been virtually  on a mirror fast for quite some years, though, I have discovered the term only lately or may be  this  is a new invention altogether. What with the ever growing and burgeoning cosmetics   and wellness  industry , age does take its toll on all of us , so why not   accept the reality and face old age and fading & sagging  looks  gracefully ! Why run away from the mirror  and observe ‘mirror fast ‘ which is just like burying  one’s head in the sand  like an ostrich !