Alpha, beta, gamma

 ALPHA -BETA-GAMMA

By Mamta Sarda

If Ranbir Kapoor in animal is alpha... then ...should I call... Shahrukh Khan heroes..a beta ..and Amol palekar heroes a.... Gamma?

Ranbir Kapoor in the movie animal says ..."there are two types of males... Alpha...and ..then likes of Arvind ....Alphas  are strong, musculine ,assertive ,protective... while non Alphas.. who lack these qualities ...take help of poetry and... promise their girls ..moon and stars to impress them..... Whom  would you like to marry ?"

*Rashmika ...without much after thought ...replies.." Alpha...*"

*Ohhhh...Is her choice correct*?

             Characterization of Ranbir Kapoor in animal has not gone down well with many feminists and I am one among them.

Alpha male ...here if we stick to the image of Ranbir Kapoor in animal..... is strong ....head strong ..confident, assertive ,...achieving.. whatever he wants ....always having his own way.... not heeding to anyone..... imposing his wishes on others..... and in the process giving a damn to other's   feelings.

Always assuming he is right... justifying that ..what ever he does- he is doing for others ....even though ..it is hurting others or unaceptable to others .

      So if Alpha male is like Ranbir Kapoor in animal ...then I hope... many girls would think twice before marrying an Alpha .

It is true that Alpha are strong headed ...think with brain... rather than with heart ..so less on feelings... at least soft, tender feelings ...giving least importance to feelings of their partner not caring for or displaying small gestures like gifting a flower or holding hands which a girl may earn for

Alphas are generally superior.. successful ...they think of themselves as second to none.

He  being a boss in the outside world ...carries the same image in his own house .. won't like to take instructions ...advice ...a word of wisdom from others at home. 

Instead he will set up his own rules... for others to follow. He being a leader ...will tend to lead and guide his partner ...and so according to me ...a girl may loose her identity ....in the shadow of her Alpha partner.

     In total contrast to the Ranbir Kapoor in animal ...is my favourite hero ....a hero of total different genre... Amol palekar .....o ....such a soft ...innocent guy.

Amol palekar heroes are... realistic, relatable ...common... a guy next door ...modest ,honest ...soft spoken .He is diligent ... disciplined ...simplicity will be his most important trait .

He cares for other's feelings ....finds happiness in simple things. He is down to earth... shy looking for... or... almost begging for love... but at the same time ...he is not stupid. He may use his wit and nerves to win the situation rather than muscle and money .

...and his innocence and purity is always in his armour ..that will make any lady to loose her heart.

Amol palekar heroes are generally not so romantic ....generally hesitant to even hold hands ...but will always be thinking of his lady love as his ultimate goal ...his queen... bowing in front of her wishes.... her feelings will be his supreme priority.

 In order to woo her, he will do so many simple things. To impress her...may change his dressing sense..or may  change his habits to please her...and in the process may under go a total reform himself.

 Once he wins his love ..he will be happy with his simple life.. as for him ..his love is his queen ..and his family ...is his kingdom.. or may say.. it means the whole world to him.

    *So if Ranbir Kapoor in animal is one extreme ...and Amol palekar heroes are ...other extreme.. then I think.. Shahrukh Khan heroes.. fit  somewhere in between these two extremities*.

  Shahrukh Khan is a perfect combination .

He is charishmatic , sometimes may be naughty ....even a brat ( but not spoilt)...but  most important of all..a great romantic.

 He has his own killer charm... he can cast a magic spell with his eyes... and the girls get smitten by his smile. His wit and humour is his special armour ....so with this external characteristics.... it is not difficult for him ...to win his lady love ...but internally also he is emotionally intelligent... Treats his women exceptionally well... cares for them .

He won't win just buy promising moon and stars ....but  at the same time ..he is determined to go to any lengths to win his love .As his lady is already with him ...he may have  to win a battle with the world... generally ...the girls father ...and his ways to win the battle... maybe sometimes complex ...sometimes rebellious.

   When Ranbir Kapoor called himself Alpha .... a thought came to my mind ...then ...what should be beta and Gamma ... what are betas and gamma like ?

if Ranbir Kapoor in animal is alpha... then should I call Shahrukh Khan heroes as beta... and then Amol palekar heroes  Gamma?..

    Who among these will be preferred by any girl in general? 

*Do the girls find Shahrukh Khan a perfect combination or... say ...a mid between two extremes... and is that the secret why girls swoon  over Shahrukh Khan heroes*?

Will they choose beta (Shahrukh) over others ...as they won't like to be overshadowed by an alpha ...and at the same time ...may not always be impressed with a simpleton gamma.

*Disclaimer : Description of males is only according to the depiction in Hindi movies and may not be fit in real life*

Mamata Sarda

सृष्टीचे संगीत पाऊस ममता सारडा

" सृष्टीचे   संगीत   हा पाऊस"

    .                           ममता सारडा

"वैदर्भी , आता तुझा सहावा महिना सुरू होईल , आमच्या राणी चे सगळे डोहाळे पूर्ण झाले की नाही ...?आणखी काही हवं का आमच्या लाडकी ला ?  "माझ्या सासूबाई मला विचारत होत्या.

"आई , माझे सगळे डोहाळे पूर्ण झाले आहेत  ,आईस्क्रीम खाऊन झाले , आंबे, उसाचा रस , लस्सी,  पन्हे , टरबूज, सगळे झाले ,  आता ..बस , एकदाची ही गर्मी जाऊदेत आणि छान मस्त पाऊस यावा... मग मला छान पावसात चिंब भिजायचंय.."

"असं ..तर,.  आमच्या सुनबाईला आता पावसाचे डोहाळे लागलेत."

मी विचार केला... खरच ...आता मला पावसाचे डोहाळे लागलेत की काय ? पाचवा महिना फारच कठीण गेला. आता पाचवा संपून सहावा महिना लागत आहे आणि पूर्ण विदर्भाला, महाराष्ट्राला, संपूर्ण धरतीला पावसाचे डोहाळे लागलेत

धरतीने स्वतःला सूर्यकिरणात भरपूर तापवून घेतलंय .सृष्टीचा कण न कण होरपळून निघालाय...आता नाही हे सहन होत ...बस ...एक पावसाची सर येईल आणि हा ग्रीष्मदाह संपेल. तळपत्या सुर्याने सर्व अंगाला भेगा पाडल्यात.. अंगावरचा कोरडेपणा आता जीवघेणा झालाय ..आता अंगावरचा रोम-न-रोम पावसाच्या पहिल्या स्पर्शाला आसूसलाय.

पावसाच्या सरींनो ...,लवकर या.... थंडगार तुषारांचा जमिनीवर शिडकावा करा .....तेव्हाच आता हा शुष्क पणा जाईल ..

दाह जाऊन अंग थंड होईल.

 मातीच्या सुवासाने वातावरण दरवळून निघेल ...

"अरे ,...हे काय ...!  माझ्यात धरतीचा प्रवेश झाला..,... की ....मी धरतीत एकरूप झाले...,?"

 माझ्या आणि धरतीच्या भावना एकच... माझ्याच काय .... पूर्ण महाराष्ट्राच्या   याच भावना

  आम्ही सर्व .....मी ......ही धरती..... माझा संपूर्ण विदर्भ ., महाराष्ट्र .....पावसाची आतुरतेने वाट पाहतोय.

नुसत्या पावसाच्या कल्पनेने माझे अंग शहारून गेले.... माझे मन मोहरून गेले ...

केव्हा येईल पाऊस ...,?

एके दिवशी उष्मा अचानक वाढेल..

 " काय ही गर्मी... !" अशी तक्रार सुरू असतानाच अचानक संध्याकाळी आभाळ भरून येईल आणि सर सर सर.... सर सर सर..... पावसाला सुरुवात होईल.

किंवा असे पण होईल ....नुसते आभाळ भरून येईल..... आता छान जोरात पाऊस येईल असा विचार करणार आणि पावसाची वाट पाहत बसणार... तो काय आभाळातून नुसता क्षणापुरता हलका वर्षाव होईल... अगदी अंगणात सडा पडावा तसा... आणि कशी जिरवली.... असे म्हणत वाकुल्या दाखवत ढग निघून पण  जातील.

पण एकदा का पावसाला सुरुवात झाली की मी रोज हातात कॉफीचा मग घेऊन खिडकीत उभे राहून पावसाची मजा पाहणार .

पावसाच्या पण किती तऱ्हा... किती नखरे ...!

कधी कधी पाऊस एखाद्या साध्या बुजलेल्या मुली सारखा थांबत थांबत पडतो... एकदम पडू की नको.. असा! कधी एखाद्या चंचल ललनेप्रमाणे  हवेसोबत अवखळपणा करतो. पावसाच्या धारा कधी इकडे.. तर कधी तिकडे ..अशा दिशा बदलतात. असे वाटते पाऊस आणि वारा यांचा पकडापकडीचा खेळ सुरू आहे.

कधी पाऊस ईतक्या जोमाने... इतक्या त्वेषाने... येतो की  खिडकीवर., छपरांवर ...,टिनांवर.. होणारा टपटप आवाज घोड्यांच्या टापांचा ची आठवण करून देतो...

 कधी त्याचा आवेग इतका जास्त असतो की असे वाटते मेघराजाने धरतीवर  आक्रमण केले आहे.... त्याचे जल सैनिक गल्लीबोळात घोडदौड करीत आहेत ....त्यांच्या वाटेत येणाऱ्या प्रत्येक अडथळ्या सोबत त्यांची धुमश्चक्री सुरू आहे...

 कधी कधी मेघ अतिशय उत्साहात भरपूर पण एकदम शिस्तीत, एकदम सरळ रेषेत वर्षाव करतात... मग हळूहळू तो उत्साह कमी होऊ लागतो ....भरपूर वर्षाव केल्यानंतर जणूकाही त्याला थकवा येतो आणि मग मृग धारा 

आळशी...पणे ,कंटाळवाणे ..झाल्यासारखे हळूहळू खाली येतात.

कधी आभाळात एक संथ पणा असतो ...हलके काळे ढग.... हलका वारा आणि पाऊस हलके.. हलके.. संथपणे ....बेफिकिरीने ...पडत असतो .....जसे काही पाऊस चाळणीतून चाळल्या सारखा सांडतोय.

 पण मला कोणता पाऊस आवडतो सांगू ...या सर्वांपेक्षाही वेगळा असा एक पाऊस ...

कधी जास्त वारा.. आणि कमी पाऊस... याचा मजेदार मिलाप होतो आणि मग जलबिंदुंचे तुषार कारंज्याप्रमाणे  माझ्या चेहऱ्यावर उधळतात. .. तेव्हा मला पावसाची खरी मजा येते आणि मग बेछूट होऊन कोणतेही बंधन न ठेवता अंगणात आपसूकच पावलं वळतात.

 मनाचा मोर तर आधीच न्हाऊन निघालेला असतो सोबतच संपूर्ण तनावर पावसाच्या धारा झेलण्यास रोम रोम आतुर झालेला असतो आणि मग पावसात मनसोक्त नखशिखांत भिजण्या शिवाय गत्यंतर नसते.

तहानलेल्या या धरतीला आता चिंबचिंब भिजायचं

 पहिल्या पावसाच्या थेंबांनी इतकं

का लाजायचय 

आणि मग आधीच काळजात गुणगुणणार्या   ... हृदयात जपून ठेवलेल्या...  पाऊसगाण्यांची   वाट उत्स्फूर्तपणे  मोकळी होते

पावसाची गाणी....

 ..मधुर ..धुंद.. भिजलेली.. चिंब गाणी...

खरेच पावसाची धुंदी अशी की एक सामान्य माणूस ही कवी होऊन जातो तर मग जे आमचे महाराष्ट्राचे नामवंत कवी आहेत त्यांनी तर पावसाला असे काही अलंकृत केले आहे की त्याला काही तोड नाही.

यात अग्रक्रमी येतात ते बालकवी आणि  एकदम लहानपणी वाचलेल्या त्यांच्या या ओळी...

"श्रावण मासी हर्ष मानसी

 हिरवळ दाटे चोहीकडे 

क्षणात येते सरसर शिरवे

 क्षणात फिरुनी ऊन पडे"

लहानपणी ही नुसती एक कविता होती पण कोणास ठाऊक  त्या अजाण वेळी सुद्धा ..काही समज नसतानासुद्धा.. खोलवर .. हृदयात घर करण्याची... कोणत्यातरी कप्प्यात दडून बसण्याची क्षमता त्या ओळी मध्ये होती. आणि आज पावसाचे विविध रंग पाहताना आपसूक त्या ओळी बाहेर येतात कारण प्रत्येक ओळीतील प्रत्येक शब्दाचा भावार्थ मी प्रत्यक्ष अनुभवत असते अक्षरशः जगत असते आणि बालकवींच्या सुंदर शब्दांचा खरा अर्थ आज कळतो.

अशी कित्येक पावसाची गाणी कित्येक महान कलाकारांनी अजरामर करून ठेवली आहेत कारण या पाऊस गाण्यांमधून 

पाऊस कधी रिमझिमतो 

 पाऊस कधी बरसतो

कधी पाऊस कोसळतो

पण सर्व कवींना आपल्या आवेगात घेणारा , सर्व सृष्टीला आपले वेड लावणारा हा पाऊस.. धरतीवर इतक्या सहजासहजी आपल्या कृपेचा वर्षाव करत नाही. त्याची विनवणी करावी लागते ..मनधरणी करावी लागते.

पावसाची वाट पाहणाऱ्या तृषार्थ धरणीचे वर्णन करताना केशवसुत म्हणतात.

" ग्रीष्माने तपली धरा 

करपली हि काय की वाटते 

चारा व्यर्थ गुरे पहा हडकती

नेत्री धुळे दाटते"

शेतकरी बंधूंना तर अक्षरशः डोळ्यात पाणी आणून आळवणी करावी लागते.

 जेव्हा दीर्घ प्रतीक्षेनंतर काळ्यासावळ्या  ढगांची गर्दी दिसते तेव्हा त्या ढग दाटी मध्ये बालकवींना विविध रंग दिसतात.

"व्योम पटी  जलदां ची झाली दाटी,

 कृष्ण कुणी काजळीच्या शिखरावाणी;

  नील कुणी  इंद्र मण्यांच्या  कांतीहुनी

 गोकर्णी मिश्र जांभळे जसे कुणी "

पण इतके विविध रंग लेऊन सुद्धा कधी कधी ढग हुलकावणी देतात, फसवणूक करतात ..तेव्हा संयमाचा बांध सुटतो.

 म्हणून कवी आरती प्रभू म्हणतात,

  " जमते आहे ढगात पाणी ,

अजून परंतु  ढगची फुटेना,;

आणि विजेचा जराजराही 

त्या पाण्यातून देठ तुटेना!"

शेतकऱ्यांचा टाहो ऐकूनही सावळ्या आभाळाला पान्हा फुटत नाही... तेव्हा परत आर्जव करावा लागतो ,

"झंझावात यावरी बसूनिया 

या पश्चिमाब्धी वरी 

लाटा झोडीत, गर्जना करीत  

ये बा मेघराजा तरी!"

कवी मंगेश पाडगावकर सुद्धा आपल्या परीने विनंती करतात ,

"या मेघांनो ,आभाळ भरा,

 या धरतीवर अभिषेक करा;

विहंगांचे मधुगान हरपले,

  या मातीचे श्वास करपले ,

वाहू दे सुखाचा पुन्हा झरा 

सुकून गेल्या वनावनावर,

 संचित झाल्या मनामनावर 

करुणेची  संतत धार धरा!"

शेवटी ना धो महानोर आभाळाला दानशुर होऊन सढळ हाताने मदत करण्याचे आवाहन करतात ;

" या नभाने या भुईला दान द्यावे"

पण हे काय ....काय हे मेघराज.. जितकी त्याची आळवणी करावी तितका त्याचा अहंकार वाढतो आहे,..  दिग्गजांच्या विनंतीलाही  तो बदत नाही आहे ...

पण ..शेवटी.. मेघराजा झुकतो तो निर्व्याज निरागसते पुढे ..जेव्हा कोवळी बालके अंगणात  फेर धरून म्हणतात..

" ये रे ये रे पावसा..... "

आणि मग 

त्याला निरागस बालकांचा हट्ट मोडवत नाही  आणि त्याचा अहंकार गळून पडतो.

"तुला देतो पैसा "...

या आमिषाला मात्र बळी न पडता फक्त छोट्या बालकांची गंमत करावी.. त्यांच्यासोबत खेळावे... म्हणून तो धावत येतो., तर काय... ही बालके "पैसा झाला खोटा ..".. म्हणून त्याची टिंगल करतात.

शेवटी काय.. तर सृष्टीला.. धरतीला जे हवे होते ते साध्य झाले.

तृषार्ध धरती पहिल्यावहिल्या पर्जन्य राजाला..  कवेत घेऊन.. प्रेमाने कवटाळते.. मृदगंधाची ..सुवासाची अत्तर कुपी शिंपडुन त्याचे स्वागत करते.

आणि मग कवी वा रा कांत म्हणतात "गिरी शिखरांवरुन.. .

    सोगे सुटले ढगांचे"

आणि मग काय पहावे ..धरती आणि पर्जन्य राजाची.. अशी काही मैत्री होते की या मैत्रीच्या अनेक रंगांची ..अनेक रूपांची उधळण होते.

कवियत्री पद्मा म्हणतात,

" आषाढातील पाऊस उंच लयीत पडणारा,  कोसळणारा ..,झोडपणारा.. कधी हळूच  कुरवाळणारा.."

मग धरतीच्या मैत्रीखातर मेघराज अधिकच दानशूर होऊन आपल्या खजिन्याची लयलूट करतो आणि पर्जन्य धारांनी सृष्टीचा कायापालट करतो... डोंगरमाथे हिरव्या पाचू प्रमाणे चमकू लागतात.. काळ्या मातीच्या उदरातून इवलेसे कोंब जन्म घेऊन वाऱ्यासोबत डोलू लागतात. ..वसुंधरा ही मग आपल्या पर्जन्यमित्राच्या पाहुणचारासाठी स्वतःला... निसर्गाला सजवून घेते.आणि त्याच्यासाठी पायघड्या घालते.

 बालकवी म्हणतात ,

हिरवे हिरवे गार गालिचे ,

,हरित तृणांच्या मखमालीचे"

ऊन पावसाच्या पाठशिवणीच्या खेळात अवचित दर्शन देणारा सप्तरंगी इंद्रधनुष्य धरतीच्या शृंगाराला पूर्ण करतो.

 मंगेश पाडगावकर म्हणतात,

 "निळ्या निळ्या घुंगरांनी खळाळले रान,

 ओथंबल्या आभाळाचे ओलावले भान, 

काळ्या काळ्या कपारीत कल्लोळ दुधाचा,

एकाएकी कोसळला पाऊस मधाचा,;"

कधीकधी पावसाचा उन्माद बेधुंदपणे वाढतो आणि विजेसोबत नृत्य करू लागतो 

 त्यातच कवी सुरेश भटांना उन्मत्त शृंगार दिसतो.

 

 "काळ्या  काळ्या मेघां आडून

 क्षणभर चमकुन गेली बिजली;

 जणू मोकळ्या केसांमधून

 पाठ तुझी गोरी दिसली !"

पण जर या उन्मादाचे   रौद्र रुपात परिवर्तन झाले तर कवी नारायण सुर्वे मेघराजाला  हटकतात ,

" तुझा  उन्मत्त गडगडाट 

हाकवित आणतोस 

किरमिजी राखी रंगाचे 

गुबगुबीत कळप ओढताना

 आसूड  कडाडतोस 

उगारतोस गिलोटिन विजेचे "

असा हा वर्षा ऋतू .. चिंब धारांचा.. रंगीत इंद्रधनुचा... भिजल्या धरणीचा.. हिरव्या आशा पल्लवीत होण्याचा..

 असा हा पाऊस...

" सृष्टीची कविता हा पाऊस

 सृष्टी चे गाणे हा पाऊस;

 सृष्टी चे संगीत हा पाऊस

 सृष्टीचे जीवन हा पाऊस!"

ममता सारडा नागपूर

7387895611

Three Letters by MAMATA SARDA

THREE LETTERS

I Miss You

                                                                                                                        15-7 2012

My dear Son , 
 No work to do  on Sunday evening ,. It’s raining outside. 

 Had coffee  in evening,  papa having slight cough and headache so taking rest .

Just thinking about your future ( u know what do I mean ) and then going back to past…to  your childhood days

 You say u don't have any good memories of past but we do , specially your father, have many . He says as a child he loved u much much more  and used to take u to every park in the town  on every Sunday ……but the way every person shows his love keeps on varying .. his too much of love turned in to over protectiveness and  I suppose  my concern for your well being circled around in making you bright student.   

           Our financial conditions did not allow us to pampering but see the brighter side.. that made you quite a sensible person and if u compare yourself with others    you are too good in all respects ( like far far  far away from spoiled brats)

                       Regarding wasting your time in unnecessarily  studying and studying without any fun .. I agree u should have enjoyed a bit more .. but still u are today what u are only because of your academic sincerity  and performance .U  may think scoring marks in athwale was useless    but that was the process of moulding and shaping your intelligence and that is why u studied in and topped Georgia Tech   . Now its time to enjoy the fruits of hardwork u have put in to achieve what u  wanted. But as I have said earlier  always be grounded and be good to others. 

 That's enough for today  

                            How is your life going on in USA ?. Are you happy ? Be cheerful , share your feelings with someone .. if no one then  I am always there for u..

                                                                                                                           .. mummy  

  

Dear Amitabh Bachchan

                                                                                                                 20 - 5 - 2013

Dear Amitabh Bachchan,

My son is such a huge fan of yours that he was hesitant to go to USA to take admission in Georgia Tech University as it would mean putting an end to his dream to participate in KBC.

Now having finished his studies ,I reminded him, “come home , KBC is still going on , Don’t you want to meet the legendary man Amitabh Bachchan? “

Waving in air and laughing carelessly he says, “Here it’s heaven mom. What’s there apart from Amitabh Bachchan“

Dear Amitabh sir,  he is such a huge fan of yours that he would definitely come back , come to homeland , come to me only if you call him.

I want you to tell him “ if a neighboring  aunty is too beautiful , would a child love that aunty more than his mother ?

What if you are enjoying all the luxuries there in USA , it’s just like a luxurious hotel without your dear ones and how long one can be happy in a hotel..one’s real happiness is at his home .. however small it may be . “

How I wish I come to the sets of KBC and when you ask “ Mataji , aapki   kya ichcha hai ? “.. without wasting a moment I would wish , “Bas , US se dekh rahe mere bête ko Hi kar dijiye aur kahiye “bête , ghar aa jao , hum sab aapka intajar kar rahe hai . “ Bas aapse mere bête tak yaha sandesh pahoche isiliye mai yaha aai. “

Dear  Amitabh sir, my son is such a huge fan of yours , I am sure , he will definitely obey you and come back .

                                                                                                                                            A mother

Where Mind Is Without Fear

                                                                                                                                            15- 3- 2016

My Dear Son ,

How are you ? We are fine here .  The span of six years you being away appears long , though you visited us every year.   I vividly remember those days of your arrival when I kept looking at the door from where you would appear and hug me & also  everytime  you left , how I wished to hold you close & not let you go.

         Son , ..now I think …  your decision of going to USA was not only practical but also a wise one. .but  now a days..many times .. you talk about returning to India.

But .. my son ….wait a while….hold back for now . come to India only when India awakes to become a place where

Where mind is without fear

At this moment just something is not right and all is not well… Let … let when I heard  a  Banglore news of a 4 year old daughter of a software professional ( like you )  falling in an open drain and dying , I shivered as face of our khusboo flashed in front of my eyes.

Here , my son .. children fall in pits regularly . Frequently kids are attacked by stray dogs ...... unfortunate but true.

No one is bothered about such issues even if human life is at stake  but they do bother about what you eat and what you wear .. as now they feel  culture and religion is at stake..

 So my son … come to India only when it becomes a place

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection and safety.

      In our house many times we don’t have water for a week . Frequency of water shut down notices is increasing. Do you know ..in Marathwada ..water is supplied only twice a month?

If this is not enough , you don’t get pure air to breathe in cities like Banglore and Delhi. Instead of acting on factories and other pollutant sources they ask common man not to drive on particular days . It is always the common man who has to bear the brunt . Instead of acting on criminals , they choose the softest target “common man” … “the mango man “

Once I thought , we the common man lack courage . We must exercise our right to demand our rights. So I went to university office like a brave lioness to   demand your degree certificate ( we were not getting it even after three years of declaration of results and your career was at stake for the want of degree certificate). Do you remember what did they  say, “You can not get the certificate as our printing machine is out of order .” How funny ! I became furious , I quarreled , I argued but I was attacked back . I had to return like a wounded sparrow with bleeding heart.

        Such is the plight of common man .Whenever  someone raises his voice ,a “Mr Nobody” comes and kills that voice . You know well who were Dabholkar , Pansare, Manjunath , Styendre Dubey …..

 Despite this a ripe mango man decided to unite all common men . Hopes were raised and he was hailed as “……aandhi……aaj ka Gandhi ……..”. But what happened ? . They put all mangoes in mixer including that ripe mango ….. squeezed….. prepared mango shake … and … gulped down……….now seating on chairs …….moving their hands on  … mango shake filled tummies.

   So my son … here … unlike in your US …common man has no rights…, he has only taxes to pay and only rules to follow .

                 

             The common man  can only  keep wondering about, rules, law, justice ….as the law  can not find … “who was driving the car ? “  ;  … as they say …”No one killed Jessica……” ;  as offenders flee the country duping the whole country of crores of rupees and police keep on beating the bush ( common man )

           

But in general ,there is no denying of the fact that crime is increasing because many a times , it turns out that  ….protectors are predators … law is twisted ….and ….courts are helpless.

                                        So my son …. Hold back …. Come only when ..India becomes a place where

Where mind is without fear

Where words come out from the depth of truth

Where tireless striving stretches its

Arms towards perfection

Where clear stream of reason has

Not lost its way .

                                     ( for now stream of reasons for Vyapam , Herald , Ishrat has lost its way . )

  My son… looking at the ongoing protests for reservations , I don’t think any seat will be left for our Khushboo if you come back . ……….I still remember your face seething in anger as you were denied the seat in a college being open caste .and the same seat was snatched away by your wealthy friend who scored 20 marks less than you but had his particular caste in his armour.

    So my son … come back only when ….the day arises when your credibility not the caste becomes stepping stone to your success. Come back when India awakes to become a place

Where people forget low caste …high caste…but recognize only one caste …..caste of humanity.

Where the mind is without fear

And the head is held high

Where knowledge is free…….( free  of caste if not cost )

Not only caste but issues relating to religion are also making our environment turbulent . For so many years , I had a strong belief ( still it is ) … that 99.99% Indians have nothing to do with Hindu-Muslim issue. The simple people do not want to make their  complex lives more complicated by adding hindu-muslim problem  to already existing long list of routine problems. There are numerous examples of Hindu-Muslims happily coexisting and helping each other..

    But  suddenly those remaining 0.01 % of Indians (?) are raising their voice so loudly that they make it appear that it is the voice of many.

                     If someone comments something ,….earlier ,..eyebrows used to be raised ….

                                …now…a..days …my son daggers are drawn ….

All this makes us uneasy ..we can’t relax peacefully inside our homes as loudspeakers outside are spewing venom.

     So my son…. Hold back …let this uneasiness  receed…..come back only  when India awakes to become a place        

Where the world has not been

Broken up into fragments

By narrow domestic walls

I pray .. Oh God ..make my India a place

Where I want  my son to return

Where mind is led forward by thee

Into ever –widening thought and action

Into that heaven of freedom

My Father

Let my country awake

                                                                                                                       MAMTA

               Poem courtesy : Where mind is without fear by Rabindranath Tagore

                              Live in relation : tasting or testing

I was enjoying ice-cream with my son in an ice-cream parlor in Sunnyvale, California. As it was first time that I was seeing the world outside India, I was very much curious about everything.

Soon there entered a family of 7 to 8 people. A youth among them, came to the counter and asked for tasting the ice-cream. Gladly he was obliged with tasting spoon and he tasted at least four to five varieties of  ice-cream before deciding upon one to choose for himself. Needless to say, every member  of the group followed the same procedure before putting order of ice-cream of choice.

I was quite amazed to see all this & told my son ,”so  much of tasting,  that too only for ice-cream!”

My son replied ,”Oh  , then you must see farmer’s market here.” Next morning we went to farmer’s market in San Hose . Farmer ‘s market was similar to that our sabji mandi  sans any filth  & chaos , any kind of shouting etc.

The farmer’s market was full of life buzzing with people’s activity. In front of every shop there was a big table where samples of fruits were kept for tasting. People were visiting every shop, tasting pieces of apples, oranges, peaches to their heart content before making any buy. It was evident many of them were simply enjoying free samples without any intention of buying . I was dumbstruck to see huge quantity of fruits that was simply being offered as'sample tasting ‘    

My son explained. People want to assure themselves before they buy anything. And this is applicable not only to the food products but to almost everything. For example, if you buy any toy or a mixer take it home , test it , use it for one month and if you do not like it ; you can return the product and your money will be fully refunded .

“Oh my God!  a mixer can be refunded even after using for one month?”

So this is  the culture here. ‘Taste it or test it  ;keep it only if you like it’

Hmmmm---- that’s why the same attitude can be seen when it comes to  choosing life partner for these people. In fact, the concept of live in relationship must have come into vogue in these western countries  out of this same psychology.

 Date the partner , test the partner , even ‘taste the partner’.Marry only if you are really satisfied or else move 

                              Live in relation : tasting or testing

I was enjoying ice-cream with my son in an ice-cream parlor in Sunnyvale, California. As it was first time that I was seeing the world outside India, I was very much curious about everything.

Soon there entered a family of 7 to 8 people. A youth among them, came to the counter and asked for tasting the ice-cream. Gladly he was obliged with tasting spoon and he tasted at least four to five varieties of  ice-cream before deciding upon one to choose for himself. Needless to say, every member  of the group followed the same procedure before putting order of ice-cream of choice.

I was quite amazed to see all this & told my son ,”so  much of tasting,  that too only for ice-cream!”

My son replied ,”Oh  , then you must see farmer’s market here.” Next morning we went to farmer’s market in San Hose . Farmer ‘s market was similar to that our sabji mandi  sans any filth  & chaos , any kind of shouting etc.

The farmer’s market was full of life buzzing with people’s activity. In front of every shop there was a big table where samples of fruits were kept for tasting. People were visiting every shop, tasting pieces of apples, oranges, peaches to their heart content before making any buy. It was evident many of them were simply enjoying free samples without any intention of buying . I was dumbstruck to see huge quantity of fruits that was simply being offered as'sample tasting ‘    

My son explained. People want to assure themselves before they buy anything. And this is applicable not only to the food products but to almost everything. For example, if you buy any toy or a mixer take it home , test it , use it for one month and if you do not like it ; you can return the product and your money will be fully refunded .

“Oh my God!  a mixer can be refunded even after using for one month?”

So this is  the culture here. ‘Taste it or test it  ;keep it only if you like it’

Hmmmm---- that’s why the same attitude can be seen when it comes to  choosing life partner for these people. In fact, the concept of live in relationship must have come into vogue in these western countries  out of this same psychology.

 Date the partner , test the partner , even ‘taste the partner’.Marry only if you are really satisfied or else move to the next one. So live in relations are like Testing and Tasting before making any decision.

Am I right  or this analogy is a bit too much ?