Mission Sawai...

After so many years... This was the first year I managed to go for Sawai Gandharva. It is the 57th yr of Sawai Gandharva this year- a classical music festival in Pune. My mother went there every till she could. I wondered why until now...
Let me tell you a little more about Sawai- as it is known popularly. Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav, is held annually in Pune since 1953 started by Arya Sangeet Prasarakh Mandal and Pt. Bhimsen Joshi. Artist from various parts of the nation are invited to Pune in the second week of December to showcase their talent in Hindustani Classical music. This is one of the best platforms to launch new artist while continuing the tradition of classical music in the society.
Well my mother used to play the sitar. I tried learning but the teacher gave up... Well since she used to play classical music has always been in the family. However, honestly I barely follow anything at all, I decided to train my ear. My first step was listening to some classical music while studying. I enjoyed it... as I mainly listen to Flute and Santoor. Somehow both these instruments refresh me. Next was talking to my friends. A couple of them learn music so they have been a great help. I barely understand the high-fundu music language, but then there is always a first time... right.
Now let’s go to Sawai. So... it was Thursday. After office meeting, a couple of my friends and me decided to go for the festival. They were regulars; I was the “newcomer”. We got the ticket and took our seats. Pandit Jasraj, an Indian Classical vocalist belonging to the Mewati Gharana of Hindustani Classical music was the performer for the evening. (Gharana is a system of social organisation for linking of the musician or dancers by adhering to a particular style of music or dance). And once Panditji (as he is fondly known) began singing you just don’t want him to stop. It was quite funny to start with.
When he started singing, I was sitting and looking around. I could not follow a word and didn’t know what to do. So I began looking around. Interesting people surrounded us (including ourself who had already received a couple of warning to keep our voice low.. anyways thats us). Two girls began dancing. I enjoyed their dance. Some women were knitting sweaters, some children sleeping, some children looking at their parents as though say, “man stop torturing me!!!”, however, 90 per cent of the people enjoying Panditji’s song. I could not make out if all those people were really understanding the rhythm and really understood music while some were just copying the people sitting next to them. Nevertheless, once the atmosphere was set u simply get hypnotised and you are absorbed in that environment. The atmosphere was such that even if you did not understand a word, one could enjoy his singing. Soon I realised that the people were not really copying (may be except a few) but the vibes and the atmosphere was such that you could not help but be one with Panditji. It was magic. And like I said, you don’t want him to stop. The last song by Panditji, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya was simply splendid. We audience we simple left spell-bound in the true sense of the term, never before I had experienced such atmosphere.
Like it is truly said first impression is the last impression. I am definitely going back next year and hope to get a chance to listen to and see some more artists. Hope to by then learn a little more about Hindustani Classical Music. I would urge all those who like me have never been a part of Sawai to definitely try even if u are naive in music... it is worth your time...

Double standards

Recently a friend of mine emailed me Dr. A.P.J. Kalam's letter. As always. Dr Kalam's words ring bells. He has this unique style where every word he says makes you think, probably as ever word of his is honest, true and sincere. In this particular mail he had pointed out how we Indians behave in our country and in other country. And while reading this mail, I was reminded of an incidence that happened on the flight I was travelling while returning to India.
A co-passenger and me, both Indians, both incidentally from the same city in India but with different educational backgrounds started chatting. He was amazed with the thought that geography (my special subject) could help me earn my bread-butter and I came such a long way with this subject and I was amazed at the high level of ignorance this person showed in feeling if you are not a doctor or engineer you are useless...
Well the reaction was not were surprising, had i not got that reaction I would have been surprised!!!.

In India, if you do anything other than medical and/or engineering people do react in a strange, not good strange but awkward strange way, so did this fellow. Why blame him. Well the flight was good and all went well.

As we waited at the airport baggage claim, this person turns to me and says, "now will have to forgo the habit of saying 'Thank-you', 'Excuse me' and 'Sorry', people will think we are mad... " Well I don't know of the people, but I definitely felt pity for him.. He just made me realize how so many "foreign return" students and professionals think!!!
How? How can one think in this way? How can one be so double-faced? How can one have such DOUBLE STANDARDS? Why does one feel ashamed to say these "golden words" to our own country people?

Does saying "thank-you" to your servant degrade you? Are you ashamed of saying "sorry" to an old man on road? Can't you say "excuse me" to a person who is in your way? Is it necessary to physically push that person? Why is it that we can't be polite to our own people?
Dr. Kalam really puts it so well in his letter to Indian...

HE says, "ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY
Lets do what India needs from us."

Salute to Dr. Kalam...

Pessimistic... pests.!!! ???

Well many times you meet new people.. you talk to them.. interact.. etc etc.. The way people think has always amused me.
Some shock me with their optimistic approach while some have depressed me with their pessimistic approach... I appreciate both.. why? Well the optimistic teach me how to think and the pessimistic teach me how not to think...
A friend of mine often says being pessimistic is being safe. Ok! I will agree but to some extend. I feel pessimist lose out on the fun-part of life. Small chats, chance encounters, exciting experiences when things go wrong, its all a part of the game. Also who would listen to people who always go like, "OMG I dont go here coz its too dangerous I might fall I might get hurt" or "My God I am going to make things bad, I can never get this right" or "I won't eat this it makes me fat..", etc etc..

Man! take a chill pill...!!!

A piece of cake once a month does'nt make you fat! One bad experience does not mean a country is bad! Ok you might have slipped once does'nt mean you'll never walk... Come on people... These silly things make life entertaining... I hate control freaks...
Worst come worst what will happen... people will laugh.. ok ur a source of joy for someone... Live your life...
Not in 1/4 or 1/2 tsb or tbsp n measurements but with life itself...

Go out there... do the most freakest thing u definitely know you never will do... Live, live ever moment of the life you are blessed with... be yourself.. be who u r n want to be...

Daddy its your day....

Before I start here’s wishing all the papas’ in the World a very Happy Fathers’ Day. A special day indeed!
For me it’s more of an emotional turmoil... It’s not even a month since my mother has moved out of house- to heaven. It was my father who had to take the tough decision. It’s not the first time he has been subjected to this... it happened 3 years ago too. But this was the final call. What I appreciate most about him is the selfless love he has for my mom. He love since childhood, married her, had 2 children but now had to decide to let her go. The woman he was thinking of was not only his friend but his wife, his partner, a companion and above all the mother of his two children. We two (my brother n me) came 28 yrs later What about him? Married for 27 yrs, known each other for 55 yrs...Thank god I am not in his place n praying never to be in his place ever. How would he or should he or will he decide? However the decision was made.
Could not see her in pain anymore... she too loved him dearly. She was semi-conscious or drowsy due to heavy medication and I asked her “Aai (mom in Marathi my mother-tongue) which was the happiest day of your life?” Without a thought she said it was her marriage. This was the same lady with whom I had gone to spent four weeks out of which two weeks she was she was angry with her husband for not taking her home n giving her medicines. He bared it all, without frustration, without anger, without any disappointment. How many of us can do that with patience for not one day two days but for 32 days....?
He said, “The treatment will keep her alive, she will have a life of quantity not quality. She will hate me even more if I keep her alive for me and the children like this. Let her go doc... I’ll manage”. This one sentence told me how much his heart ached seeing his wife, my mother like this for 3 years. He was dying every second of every minute of each hour seeing his wife uncomfortable. The doctors explained my brother and me the situation and told us their decision. I look at my father and for the first time and last a tear trickled down. Since that day,every passing minute she was going miles away but he managed to be composed and continued to make her as comfortable as possible, he’d been doing that ever since.... Finally she rested in peace when she was assured she was safe beside him.
I may never be able to tell him this, but baba (dad again in Marathi my mother-tongue) we both really love you. Only a man who really loves his wife selflessly n deeply can take such tough decisions. You did all you could do for her, probably even more than any husband would ever do for their wife. She knew this and she said it also. I want you to now enjoy your a life the way you want. You always lived for her and for us but never for yourself. On this Fathers’ day I think what I can give you is your own time for you and our love and care which is always for you.

The boy who fell...

Today a pleasant thing happened. I have a conference next week, for which I am expected to be dressed in formals. Another opportunity to shop. No girl leaves that...
Well Kakes and me decided to go in the morning. Initially we decided lets go to the normal big shops and get a couple of shirts and done walk out... But as we climbed down the staircase, somehow I had doubts, next what plan change... destination charity shops. On the street next to our place, we have this entire row of charity shops, so we decided to get in one after the other. One over, two over, three over and so was our patience. I did get a couple of things but I was looking for some thing different. Finally, we walked into the fourth shop.
Searching the racks, finding our way through the crowd, saying "I am sorry" , "Excuse me please" and a few polite smiles here and there. But what caught my attention was one boy. He too was there to shop. He and his precious bike. His mother was selecting clothes for her and him. He seemed more interested in everyone else around. I waved at him. He was really really cute. Could not resist I said "Hi" to him. No response... I didn't give up. I waved again.. and this time I finally got a smile back. Aahhha.... It made my day.
A nice little toothy smile from a two year old boy... I said a "Hi" to him again. This time he gives me a shy smile and was so shy later that he tried hiding behind his mother and while he did that, he forgot he was on his small bike and he needed to get down before he could hide... and he toppled down...
In embarrassment of being watched by Kakes and me he immediately looked away but not before smiling again...
This made my day... a cute little boy, on his cute little bike, with a cute little smile... who for me is the boy who fell...

Where perfection is unaccepted…

Where imperfection is perfect….
Walking in flat 7, I didn’t know what my one year is going to be like, the only thing I knew was it was going to be different… obvious isn’t first time out of the country, first time I was all by myself for such a long time. But that not uncommon. So many students sail with me in the same boat. However, what is not common is the flat and the flat mate.
Our first few days when in known each other. I could not even pronounce their names properly. I called them by very different names. As we shared the common area of our flat, we decided to share each other’s company. Our first step, our flat dinners.
We came from different parts of the world. Not surprising we stayed at an accommodation for international student. That a huge advantage. It teaches you a lot. Were on one hand we had grown up in different parts of the world on the other hand we went through the same stress and performance tensions. Flat dinners were probably was a way of learning new cuisines but also as we later realized it was a stress buster. We all specialize in something. Kakes is our baker, Remy for “fried rice”, I lin for her health conscious food soups and lovely desserts, Anna for her roasts and baking rice and as of me a typical chat lover, spicy food. The first dinner, was HotPot. Something I had never heard of. Nevertheless, it was the first time I ate fish. It is actually, what it says, a pot that is hot and you boil food in it and have it. Believe me… u actually taste the food and not the spices. Sorry, for that overly simple explanation but it is wonderful. The first experience was memorable. However, slightly tensed. We wanted everything to be perfect. Later we started a routine of flat dinners. Any birthday, craving for a special dish, celebration, each other’s festivals, calling friends over, whatever we think of we celebrate. We jumped and still jump at every opportunity we get to celebrate. If I say, we celebrate life it will be too philosophical but yes it is true in a way. Oh yes how can I forget Antonio… the celebrated member of our flat…. The women know whom I am talking about… 
Yes all this is true… but there is a missing link… this all does not sound all that new… I am sure everyone would enjoy that.
The dinner we had for Chinese New Year was fun. However, there happened something more important. It was Siqing, (our 80% flat mate), who said something and then the picture became complete. Being an engineer, she lived on perfection, exact calculations and stuff… but yes, she is a perfectionist…self-admitted… Kakes is a witness. Having flat dinners was more than just tasting different food. It was more about working with imperfections. The English Tea Party, our carrot cake was a disaster. Instead of sulking and blaming one another, we laughed at it and eat it, finally finished it. (Throwing it was anyways expensive and waste of food). But my point is that, making mistakes is not that depressing at it seems. You can laugh at it. Learn from it. More importantly enjoy it. And… Siqing made us realize, that, it was actually the imperfection of the process that we enjoy. This imperfection made our food tastier.
Imagine a perfect world, where everything was right, what would you laugh at… we would be so boring… I would not be telling you, it took me one hour, to lift a salad tomato with chopsticks ,while Remy and Anna finished not only theirs but even my share of work…
End of it only one thing to say… if you ever happen to come to “Flat 7” remember Imperfection is Perfect !!! Cheers….

A new year resolution...

Resolutions are meant to be broken... But not this year... A new year a new beginning to a new way... Well it is indeed the beginning of the completion of my first resolution... yea yea i know its mid-third month of the year but at least there is a beginning.... Come on first step is always the most difficult...
So what is the this 'completion of the beginning of my first resolution'... well yes... its simple - its BLOGGING...
Never in the darkest of my deadliest dreams did I think I would Blog.. But its good to surprise yourself... isn't...
Well I had this going on in my mind since time unknown.. but never had the guts to take that first step. But today I feel too brave, yes I have done it, my first blog is up.
I am quite enjoying this. I think I should blog more. Let me give it a shot... what say...?
Well I say A New Year, A New Beginning...
Chio