Rewind

A dull expected holiday for all.. Yes, Independence day. But I thought of keeping my patriotic spirits high today. So I switched on the television to watch the parade, which was followed by old patriotic songs on Youtube (my sincere gratitude to technology).

It was when I rummaged through the newspaper that my eyes fell on a copy of a newspaper along with the day's issue. There is something about the past, how much ever sad, depressing or gory it may be... it surely does bring back a warm known feeling. The copy was a six page newspaper dated 15th August 1947!

There were lot of interesting articles, of joy .. of relief... of freedom. The Prime Minister spoke... the Viceroy spoke...the articles about celebration (which I imagined to be like the recent Cricket World Cup victory!)  and much more..

But what caught my attention more than anything was the advertisement of those days! Somehow it doesn't do justice to just read it and keep the paper away... hence I am jotting it down here.

"Are You Afraid To Kiss Him... because of your breath?"

He leans nearer, whispering romantic words. But how can you be sure your kiss will please? Are you sure your breath is sweet and fresh? Remember, 7 out of 10 percent have BAD BREATH and don't know it.

So be careful. Use Colgate Dental Cream. Its penetrating foam gets into crevices between your teeth and washes away germs and decaying food particles which cause bad breath, dingy teeth, soft gums and tooth decay. Colgate leaves the teeth thoroughly and beautifully clean - the gums healthy and the breath sweet.

May this day of rejoicing herald lasting peace, goodwill and prosperity to the people of India and Pakistan.

COLGATE - PALMOLIVE (INDIA) LIMITED.
 

'Irony' of Goodness

Irony... the unexpected... your dream comes true just when you realize you are dreaming about the wrong thing!

I don't remember quite well, but I am guessing it was in my first year of Junior College, that I excitedly turned my English textbook to read the first chapter. Though I don't remember the name of the lesson, the thought has stayed along with me since then...

The author elaborates his thought of being good to other fellow beings. More of a Gandhian thought, the author says, how one should be good to people even if they are verbally accusing you. This he says, will help people calm down and in turn they will spread the goodness, leading to happiness all around us. The author finishes the thought by smiling and saying, "Thank you" to the auto driver. 

So that's were it all began. From saying 'Thank you' to the auto drivers.. to giving away my seat to an old couple... to helping someone pick up their fallen vegetables... (Oh! I am just earning the goodness points)

Anyways, it so happened that a couple of things caught my attention and made me realize how numb we have become to 'goodness' these days. In fact, even when people are genuinely good to us, we tend to take it for fakeness (Yes! its earning much popularity these days).

There I was holding my train ticket and walking in search of my compartment, when I turned to look at this old couple. The husband (wild guess) was using a walking stick and dragging himself, holding a small suitcase in one hand, while the wife (guess again) was holding bags in both her hands. They were walking very slowly, stopping now and then to check the compartment number.
Now, seeing them the goodness siren in my head started blinking rapidly, so I turned and asked the old lady, "Do you need some help? I am going in the same train... I can help."
 Of course, she was shocked, but was polite enough to nod a 'no'. I wasn't about to let go, so I persisted.. "It won't be a problem, I can help."
There... I had crossed the thin imaginary line of goodness!
She looked at me, like she suddenly realized my existence, and with a odd glance (which made me feel like a thief) she nodded a 'no' once again.
Irony! .. 

I have been on the other side of goodness circle too.
It was a cloudy and rather pleasant Mumbai day, and moreover I was exploring a part of the city, I had not been to. So when I came to know that I can walk up to my destination in about ten minutes, I wasn't disappointed. I thought, it would be a good walk, and I can check out if there is any bakery on the way. So, I trotted feeling nice about everything and enjoying the road, when I started getting this feeling that I was lost. I did what I always do when I am lost, look for a knowledgeable person and ask him the right way (it always works for me).

So when I saw an auto guy counting his money, I went up to him and asked the way. He stopped counting and told me the way, which I reconfirmed. Finally he told me that he would give me a lift! He put his money back in his pocket and said, "Sit, I am going the same way, I will drop you."
Shocked a little, I stood numb and told him, it was OK, that I can walk. He persisted saying he will give me a lift.
Unlike, the old lady I didn't want to break the goodness circle. So I did take the lift and smiled at the auto driver saying "Thank you".    

Tango with Supermarkets

I have always loved supermarkets!
Though I never understood the real reason behind it. But when one is staying alone in a more or less unknown place, a supermarket can be the best place to get to know the 'crowd'.
Like I know for sure, the ratio of coconut oil to mustard oil sold in supermarket's of Kerala and Assam will differ drastically.
And of course, there is the unexplainable joy of strolling through the junk food section and home accessories section! (Women! I tell you..)


I don't think my reasons stop just there..

There are these young people standing in the corner of each section; prim and proper, hair neatly combed, uniforms tucked, and a plastic 'friendly' smile constantly attached to their lips. Now, don't mistake me, for some of them are genuinely friendly.
I classify them into two categories. One being the "May I help you Ma'am?", whom I never prefer. Somehow they seem more like a pestering kid pulling your dress to buy some toy, than a true salesman. And in the end, out of desperation when you finally put forward a question to them, they blink and excuse themselves never to be found again!
And then there is this other category, who are in a way pestering too, but in a good sort of way.
Their answer to your question will mostly be, "Umm.. I don't know." But then they pop up an instant smile, and say, "Come behind me Ma'am."
Most of the times, you find the things before they do, but then they are their with you making you feel helped.

And there is one more reason why I like supermarkets so much. Because you never know whom you might stumble onto.
Sometimes a kid stuck weirdly between two trolleys, or an elderly couple trying to figure out their food menu for the week. And then there are some sweet annoying knowledge giving people, who tell you that when you use the same cover for muffins and detergent, the muffins might smell like detergent too!

I guess my 'real' reason would be... endless possibilities! 

Prayer

The boy sheepishly looked at his mother and then in his pocket. The pocket that was now bulging out, had a small plastic container filled with soap water. He touched his pocket, and earnestly looked at his mother and patted his pocket. His mother in turn glared and shook her head sideways. His face saddened and he came close to his mother and held her arms. 

Holding a piece of paper and a pen, I started to scribble, and the mother told her son, "Shh! Don't disturb, see she is writing.."

 

God? if there is one like you,

In the moments of silence and in the joyless pain,

I come close to you time and again.

Yet as I wait for you patiently as I can,

Lurking through the darkest nights, 

I stand tired and tanned.

Then, there is just a simple wish or call it a constant prayer,

That come what may I never end the search I have began.

Let me find you in simple things, and not in the comforts I please.

In the eyes of an innocent or curious minds indeed!

Even when I am showered with happiness and riches,

Help me see you behind the doors of the poor and pained.

Give me the strength to find you in spite of experience and age,

Even when I am the oldest of old, remind me I am no wiser

Than the child born today.

Yet in the end of the day when you find me hopeless in vain,

And decide its time now to remove your veil,

I pray to you oh! so sincerely,

That don't consider me weak.

For in your arms I shall merely die,

Otherwise I live!

In the Sister Land...

"Bidya... Are you fine? I had a bad dream about you." 

Thou hast made me known to friends whom I knew not.
Thou hast given me seats in homes not my own.
Thou hast brought the distant near and made a brother of the stranger. 

I am uneasy at heart when I have to leave my accustomed shelter;
I forget that there abides the old in the new,
and that there also thou abidest. 

Rabindranath Tagore

Bombay Lights

A cluttered house...

  Ah! those nosy neighbors...

 A day out in the city...

 With all those endless subjects...

 Including the kids flying kites!

 All in the scorching heat!

Along with the endless horizon...







 And looking out from the window ... I figured it all..

Bombay Lights it is!

A conversation

Earthquake hits Japan on 11th March 2011, followed by a 10 meter Tsunami wave. While I mostly remained numb and nonchalant about the disaster, a conversation that was somewhere buried inside started surfacing, bringing in images I had never seen.

I sit holding my writing pad, in which my datasheets are struggling, for the wind from the sea is hard. I try to concentrate on the couple of fishermen who are playing cards after their days work. I clear my throat and interrupt their conversation,
"So, do you think there has been any change in the fish catch after Tsunami?"
There is the standard answer which most researchers get, "Tsunami took everything from us. Now even the fishes have become scarce. It is all due to Tsunami!"

Gazing into the past one of them started telling me, "You know Madam, just a few days before Tsunami hit the coast of Tamilnadu, I sat just like this with my friends playing cards. I don't remember what we were talking about, but someone asked, which element of nature would be so dangerous as to destroy the earth?"


"I thought for a while and told them, it should be water. The sea which gives life has the strength to take it too. And just after that came this huge wave splashing on us, taking away whatever we called our future. In one minute we lost everything. And everyone called it Tsunami. We came to know it then, that there was something called Tsunami."


"For all we knew is that the sea was our mother. Each day she gave us our food. All we know is the sea. But after the Tsunami we understood her strength. The one that gives us life can take it too."


That respect for the strength of nature from an illiterate yet experienced man, still baffles me...