Mrudula's Space

Asha, police and me

2011-03-10T11:28:00.002+05:30

Last year, I said to my uncle that I am thinking to buy a scooter since reaching my workplace in share rickshaw is quite dangerous as cab drivers put 4-5 people in Rickshaw and drive speedily (The conversation was in Marathi).

My uncle said, it seems Thane police is HATBAL (feeble) against the cab drivers. I said, they are not HATBAL (feeble) but they are HAPTA-ABAL (Weak or passive because of being bribed).

It was just a habit of us to play with words as the language lovers and that time I did not have any harsh opinion about police as today also since I strongly feel that police is a part of a society and most of the people in the society are opting for easy money nowadays. Why to blame police alone? I also feel that Maharashtra Police is still far better than rest of India.

Incidentally, last Sunday, I had been to a well known garden, along with my nephew. Since it was Sunday, the garden was quite crowded especially with tourist from other states. While roaming, I found a child crying out loudly and I lifted him. I tried to console him by wiping his tears and tried all the Indian language that I know. Also, inquired with other spectators. All of a sudden, felt that I should hand him over to Govt. Authority since it is not wise to carry unknown child for a long period. And fortunately, I saw a policeman. I had gone to him and handed him the child and started for the bus. Within a minute or two, a man came running to the police and said that it is his child. And that child also stopped crying since that man said something to that child in his colloquial Gujarati. Undoubted, that man was his father.

The policeman asked the father to come to police station and sign the documents to take charge of the child. And a Young Turks walking behind me said abruptly, “Apane hi bachche ko lene ke liye, gaya bechare ka do sau” (that the father has to bribe Rs. 200/- to take charge of his child). This was something that I wasn't expected.

I ran to the policeman and talked to him and ask him to handover the child to his father. Firstly, he kept on saying that it is a legal process. But at the end, because of my constant polite plea, he handed over the child but I could see clearly disappointment of losing money on his face. He said, “Madam, because of you I am handing over this child to his father. If anything is wrong, you will be responsible”.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

I just read some comments about Asha Bhosale’s remark on the Police on FB and it reminded me these incidents.

(Also, I must mention, while talking to that child, I used Aai, Amma, Maa, Maai and all the known words for mother but he did not respond and the policeman said, "Teri Mommy kidhar hain? (Where is your Mommy)" and the child started crying loudly, Mommy, Mommy. It didn’t strike using the word MOMMY. It seems, I am lagging behind the world).

कोबीची वेगळी भाजी

2010-08-20T20:14:00.004+05:30

जिन्नस

* साखर,
* मीठ,
* ओले खोबरे,
* फोडणी साहित्य,
* अर्धा किलो कोबी,
* आले

मार्गदर्शन

अर्धा किलो कोबीच्या सळप्या (फ्राईड राईसमध्ये घालतो तसे उभे लांबट तुकडे) काढाव्यात.

फोडणी - मंद आचेवर कढईत अर्धी वाटी तेलात प्रथम मोहरी तडतडवावी. तडतडण्याचा आवाज
थांबलाकी लगेच उडिद डाळ घालावी. ती लालसर झाली की त्यात ४-५ पाने कढीलिंब, एक कमी
तिखट मिरचीमध्यात चिरून, अर्धा चमचा जिरे, हळद थोड्या थोड्या वेळाने घालावे.

मग चिरलेला कोबी घालून उलथण्याने हे मिश्रण नीट सारखे करावे. मग अर्धा इंच आले नीट
ठेचूनत्यात घालावे. सोबत चवीप्रमाणे मीठ, अर्धा चमचा साखर घालावी. ५ मिनिटे कढईला पूर्ण
झाकेलअसे झाकण घालून मंद आचेवर ही भाजी शिजू द्यावी. मग झाकण काढल्यावर कोबीला
पाणीसुटलेले दिसेल. मग उलथण्याने भाजी पुन्हा पुन्हा खालीवर करावी आणि कोबी पारदर्शक
दिसलाकी विस्तव बंद करून त्यावर ओले खोबरे पेरावे.

आता भाजी खायला घ्यावी.

टीपा
कोबी अर्ध कच्चा शिजवावा. तो जास्त शिजला तर भाजी छान लागत नाही. मिरच्या २ पण
घातल्या तरी चालतात पण आल्यामुळे भाजी जास्त तिखट व्हायची पण शक्यता असते.

भाजी झाली की ती कढईच्या बाजूंना थोडी वर चढवून ठेवावी. फोडणीचे तेल कढईच्या खोलगट
भागातजमा होते. ही बिनतेलाची भाजी वरच्या वरती काढून घ्यावी व निथळून आलेल्या तेलात
जाड पोहे घालावेत. हे जाड पोहे भाजून, साखर, मीठ, फरसाण, खोबरे घालून खावे.

हीच भाजी पुरीच्या सारणात भरून कोबीच्या करंज्या पण करता येतात. ह्या भाजीत वाटाणे घालणे
ऐच्छिक आहे.

माहितीचा स्रोत
घर

Original post : कोबीची वेगळी भाजी

खाद्यविवेक

2010-08-20T20:10:00.001+05:30

माझ्या एका मावशीला वाटते की तिने अभिमन्युप्रमाणे गर्भावस्थेतच वैद्यकशास्राचे ज्ञान घेतलेले आहे. वेगवेगळी वैद्यकशास्राची पुस्तके वाचणे आणि सतत आहार बदल आणि निरनिराळी औषधे घेणे तसेच लोकांना मोफत वैद्यकीय सल्ले देणे ह्या गोष्टी ती इमाने इतबारे करीत असते. काही वर्षापूर्वी तिला किरकोळ सांधेदुखी चालू झाली. ती बरी होईना. शेवटी तिने नाईलाजाने एका वैद्यांचा सल्ला घ्यायचे ठरवले.

वैद्यांकडे गेल्यावर तिने तिची अद्भूत वैद्यकज्ञानाची पोतडी उघडली. वैद्यांनी शांतपणे तिचे सर्व प्रवचन ऐकून घेतले आणि मृदू आवाजात विचारले, तुम्ही तेल आणि तुप किती खाता?

त्यावर तिने आपण पाण्यात कशी कणीक भिजवतो आणि भाज्या कश्या बिनतेलाच्या करतो हे अभिमानाने सांगितले. तुप खाणे तर तिने केव्हाच सोडून दिले होते. त्यावर त्या वैद्यांनी तिला एकच सल्ला दिला. चौरस आहाराचा भाग म्हणून तेल, तूप खात जा आणि जे सांधे दुखतात त्याना हळुवारपणे तीळाचे तेल चोळत जा. काही महिन्यातच तिची सांधेदुखी थांबली. तेल, तुप ह्या इंधनांनी आपले काम चोख बजावले होते. ही सत्यघटना आहे.

त्यानंतर तिने कणीक भिजवताना गोडे तेल, तीळाचे तेल, एरंडेल, सूर्यफुलाचे तेल, मेथीचे तेल एकत्र घालायला सुरवात केली.

आज बऱ्याच वर्षांनी ही गोष्ट आठवायचे कारण म्हणजे गेल्या आठवड्यात आमचे कुटुंब वैद्य श्री. शेंडे मला सहज म्हणाले, तेलकट खा, तुपकट खा पण तळकट खाऊ नकोस.

त्यांच्या म्हणण्यानुसार पोळी, भाजी, आमटी ह्यात आवश्यक तेव्हढे तेल, तूप नक्की खावे. तसेच चटणीबरोबर कच्चे तेल घेण्याची पद्धत आहे ती पण योग्यच आहे. मात्र तळकट पदार्थ उदा. वडे, भजी इ. जमेल तितके टाळावेत. कारण वडे, भजी वैगरे करताना एकच तेल वारंवार तापवतात, त्याला धूर येतो.

घराबाहेर उपाहारगृह, फेरीवाले यांच्याकडे खाताना सुद्धा शक्यतो मिसळ, पाणीपुरी, भेळपुरी, टोस्टेड सँडविच इ. इ. खावे. याला अनेक कारणे आहेत. १) मुगाच्या पाणीपुरीत मोड आलेले कडधान्य, पुदिना, सैधव मीठ, कोथिंबीर इ. असते. पांढऱ्या वाटाण्याच्या पाणीपुरीपेक्षा मुगाची पाणीपुरी मागवावी. २) मिसळीत तर अनेक मोड आलेली कडधान्ये असतात. ३) साध्या सँडविचपेक्षा टोस्टेड सँडविच चांगले तरी शक्यतो पाव टाळलेलाच बरा. ४) ऐकिव माहिती अशी आहे की अनेक महागडे फरसाणवाले आपले फरसाण एका तेलातून काढतात आणि नंतर ते तेल वडेवाले विकत घेतात. ५) अनेकदा गरम केलेले तेल शरीराला घातक.

माझ्या ओळखीतील एकजण महिन्यातून एकदा रत्नागिरीहून मुंबईला येतात. येताना रत्नागिरी रेलस्थानकावरील एका ठेल्यावर पाव, बटर विकत घेतात आणि ओळखीमुळे तो ठेलावाला त्यांना वड्याची चटणी मोफत देतो. मग हे प्रवासात बटर, चटणी, पाव खातात आणि जोडीला कोकण रेल्वेतील चविष्ट टॉमॅटो सूप पितात.

ह्याचा अर्थ वडे, भजी खाऊच नयेत असे नाही पण प्रमाण कमी करावे किंवा हे पदार्थ घरी करून खावेत. कारण वडे, भजींचा जो मोह टाळतो त्याला जितेंद्रियच म्हणावे लागेल. तुमच्या माझ्यासारख्या सामान्य माणसाचे ते कामच नव्हे.

पण निदान पावसाळ्यात तरी बाहेरचे वडे आणि भजी ह्यांचे प्रमाण कमी करणे सहज शक्य आहे. सगळ्यात उत्तम उपाय म्हणजे भजी घरी करून खावीत म्हणजे वांग्याची, पालकाची, पनीरची, शिराळ्याची, दुधीची, चुक्याची आणि सर्वांत महत्वाचे म्हणजे शिळ्या, उरलेल्या भाजीची भजी असे त्यात वैविध्य आणता येते.

बाहेर मिळणार आहेत का अशी छान छान भजी?

Original post: खाद्यविवेक

अनोखे वंशवृक्ष

2010-08-20T20:09:00.001+05:30

कर्नाटकातल्या हुलिकल गावातील एक दलित जोडपं, तिमक्का आणि तिचा नवरा बिक्कालु चिकैय्या. लग्नाला बरीच वर्ष झाली तरी त्यांना मूल होईना. एव्हाना शेजारी पाजारी आणि सग्यासोयर्‍यांनी तिमक्काला 'वांझ' म्हणून दूषणं द्यायला सुरुवात केली होती. एकाकीपणाची भावना घेरू लागलेल्या या जोडप्याने मग अखेर निर्णय घेतला मूल दत्तक घ्यायचा.

मूल दत्तक घेण्यात काय एव्हढं विशेष. विशेष होते कारण तिमक्काने पालनपोषण करून मोठ्ठं करण्यासाठी निवडली ३०० वडाची रोपटी. १९५० च्या आसपास ह्या जोडप्याने लावलेल्या त्या रोपट्यांनी आता चांगलाच आकार घेतला आहे. कर्णाटकातील राष्ट्रीय महामार्ग क्र. ४८ च्या दोन्ही बाजूला काट्याकुट्या रोवून तिमक्काने जीवापाड जपलेल्या रोपट्यांचे आता डेरेदार वटवृक्ष झाले आहेत. बाजारात सुमारे ८५ कोटी रुपये इतकी किंमत असलेले हे वृक्ष वनविभागाने नुकतेच आपल्या ताब्यात घेतले. त्या बाजारभावाचा विचार कधी न तिमक्काच्या मनाला शिवला, न आज हयात नसलेल्या बिक्कालुच्या.

तिमक्काला नुकताच पंतप्रधानांच्या हस्ते सामाजिक वनीकरणासाठीचा राष्ट्रीय नागरिक पुरस्कार देण्यात आला. कुणाही कृतार्थ आईने म्हणावं तशी तिमक्का त्यावेळी म्हणाली, "त्यांना मोठ्ठं होताना पाहणं ह्यातच माझे सुख आहे".

- मटा १९९५

Original post : अनोखे वंशवृक्ष

देसी अभियांत्रिकी

2010-08-20T20:04:00.000+05:30

१) माझ्या सीपीयू मध्ये जर चुकून सीडी ठेवायची विसरले आणि सीडी प्लेयरचा खाचा (स्लॉट) रिकामा राहिला तर तो इजेक्ट बटन दाबला तरी बाहेर येत नाही. तो सहज बाहेर यावा ह्यासाठी माझ्या हार्डवेयर अभियंत्याने अगदी सोपी युक्ती सांगितली आहे. प्रत्येक सीडी ड्राईव्हवर इजेक्ट बटनाशेजारी एक उघडझाप करणारा छोटा दिवा असतो. त्या दिव्याच्यावर एक बारीक भोक असते. त्या बारीक भोकात सहज जाईल अशी पण टाचणीपेक्षा जरा जाड तार घालायची आणि तिच्या टोकाला किंचित दाब द्यायचा आणि त्याच वेळी इजेक्ट बटन दाबत राहायचे. ती तार हळू हळू आत जाते आणि सीडी खाचा बाहेर येतो.

२)आमच्या इथे एक दुग्धशाळा आहे. तिथे विशाल औद्योगिक शीतयंत्रे आहेत. त्या शीतयंत्रात पाणी भरतात आणि त्या पाण्यात मोठे दुधाचे कॅन ठेवतात. सतत हे वजनी कॅन ठेवत राहिल्याने त्या शीतयंत्राच्या पत्र्याला तळाला बारीक छिद्रे पडतात आणि त्यातून पाणी झिरपते. त्यावर तिथल्या गवळ्यांनी एक सोपा उपाय काढला आहे आणि तो म्हणजे जास्ती चिकटपणा असलेल्या मातीची वस्त्रगाळ पूड करायची आणि ती वस्त्रगाळ पूड हलक्या हाताने त्या पाण्यात सोडायची. मग ती वस्त्रगाळ पूड सावकाश तळाला जाते आणि त्या छिद्रांमध्ये जाऊन घट्ट बसते आणि ती छिद्रे कायमची बुजतात.

असे हे देसी अभियांत्रिकी (Engineering), केवळ आपल्या पैशाचीच बचत करते असे नाही तर वस्तुंच्या पुनर्वापरामुळे आणि टिकाऊपणामुळे पर्यावरणाचे पण संरक्षण करते. कारण एकदा वापरा आणि फेकून द्या (Use & Throw) ह्या विकृतीमुळे पर्यावरण ढासळत चालले आहे.

Original post : देसी अभियांत्रिकी

दही बटर

2010-08-20T20:01:00.000+05:30

जिन्नस

* साखर, मीठ, लाल तिखट चूर्ण, भाजलेले जिरे-धणे भुकटी, चाट मसाला
* बटर
* दही

मार्गदर्शन

घट्ट दही प्रथम थोडेसे पाणी घालून नीट घुसळून घ्यावे. त्यात रुचीप्रमाणे साखर, मीठ, लाल तिखट चूर्ण, भाजलेले जिरे-धणे यांची भुकटी, चाट मसाला घालावे. पुन्हा थोडे एकजीव करावे.

मग कोमटपेक्षा थोडे गरम पाणी करावे, वाडग्यात घ्यावे आणि बटर (खारी बिस्किट कुटुंबातले) एकावेळी २-३ त्या कोमट पाण्यात तळाकडच्या बाजूला बुडवावेत. तो भाग किंचित मऊ झाला असे वाटले की बटर पालथे करून शिखराचा भागसुद्धा मऊ करून घ्यावा.
दोन्ही भाग पुरेसे मऊ झाले वाटले की एक एक बटर दोन हातांच्या तळव्यात चेपून दह्यात घालावा. मराठमोळे दहीवडे तयार. सर्व साहित्य असेल तर हा पदार्थ सातव्या मिनिटाला तयार.
टीपा
१) बटर शक्यतो मध्यम आकाराचे चांगल्या प्रतिचे असावेत (जिरे बटर). २) पाणी जास्त गरम असले तर हात भाजतो आणि कमी गरम असेल तर ४-५ बटर मऊ होईपर्यंत थंड होते. ३) पहिला प्रयत्न मनाजोगा झाला नाही तर नाउमेद होऊ नये. २ ऱ्या -३ ऱ्या वेळेपासून सर्व नीट जमून येते. ४) लहान मुलांना आवडते. पण बरेचदा करू नये कारण बटर मैद्यापासून बनविलेले असतात. मजा म्हणून महिन्यातून १-२ वेळा हरकत नाही. ५) पाहुण्यांना देताना थोडी बुंदी, लाल डाळिंबदाणे पेरून द्यावेत. ६) बटर फार वेळ पाण्यात किंवा दह्यात ठेऊ नयेत. लगेच पोटात टाकावेत नाही तर ते पाणी शोषून घेतात आणि फुगून पानचट लागतात.
माहितीचा स्रोत
घर

Original post : दही बटर

विष्णुपन्त कुलकर्णी (भाग ६)

2010-08-20T19:57:00.000+05:30

विष्णुपंतांचे शब्द प्रांताच्या पाठीत बुक्क्या बसल्याप्रमाणे बसून तो नरमून म्हणाला, "मग आम्ही काय करावे म्हणता?"

"तुम्ही सरकार आहात." पंत ठासून म्हणाले, "हा दुष्काळ निवारा. साथीचा बंदोबस्त करा आणि लोकांना दुष्काळाच्या दाढेतून बाहेर काढा."

विष्णुपंत बोलत होते, लोक ऐकत होते, प्रांत ऐकत होता. सर्वत्र शांतता निर्माण झाली. पंत क्षणभर थांबले. प्रांत काहीच बोलेना.

तो निरुत्तर झाल्याचे लक्षात येताच पंतानी बजावले, "साहेब, हे लोक मढी नाहीत. जो बैल चुचकारून चालत नाही त्याला पराणी टोचून पळायला लावणारे हे लोक आहेत. तलवार त्यांच्यावर काबू करू शकत नाही."

एकाएकी प्रांत चटकन् उठला. त्याच्या रागीट चेहर्‍यावर हास्य तळपले. त्याने पंतांचा हात हातात धरून म्हटले, "आम्ही तुमचे वय आणि दर्जा लक्षात घेतले नाही म्हणून राग मानू नका. आम्ही दुष्काळ निवारण्याची शिकस्त करू."

विष्णुपंत शांत झाले. त्यांनी मुरावर नजर फेकली. मुराच्या सुटकेचा हुकुम प्रांतसाहेबांच्या मुखातून पोलिसांच्या कानात शिरला. मुराची बेडी निखळली. लोकांनी नि:श्वास टाकला. सर्व नजरा पंतांवर स्थिर झाल्या.

तो काळ गेला, तो दुष्काळ गेला, ते विष्णुपंतही गेले. पण विष्णुपंतांचे शब्द अजूनही लोक विसरले नाहीत. कोणीही विसरू नयेत इतके खोल माणसांच्या हृदयांत ते घर करून बसले आहेत. कधी कधी ते कानात गुणगुणू लागतात

- "तुम्ही जगलंच पाहिजे!".

(समाप्त)

Original post : विष्णुपन्त कुलकर्णी (भाग ६)

विष्णुपन्त कुलकर्णी (भाग ५)

2010-08-20T19:56:00.000+05:30

हातापायांची आग झाल्याप्रमाणे पंत चुळबुळ करत सभोवार पाहू लागले आणि प्रांत गोंधळून म्हणाला, "पंत तुम्हाला म्हणायचंय काय?"

"मग ऐका तर" पंत निर्भीडपणे खणखणीत आवाजात बोलू लागले, "साहेब, माझा गाव दुष्काळाच्या छायेत असून लोक कुरडूचा पाला खात आहेत आणि साथीच्या रोगाने घरे बसत आहेत हे सर्व मी तुम्हाला कळविले होते की नाही?"

पंतांच्या सरबत्तीने प्रांत चमकला. तो मटकन् खुर्चीवर बसला. "खरं आहे" तो पुटपुटला.

"मग उत्तर का दिले नाही?" पंत वेड्यासारखे ओरडले.

"उत्तर दिले नाही म्हणून लोकांनी अराजकता माजवावी, लुटालुट करावी हे आम्हाला मान्य नाही" प्रांत खेकसला.

पंत भाला भोसकल्याप्रमाणे बिथरून ओरडले, "मग काय मान्य आहे? लोकांनी कुत्र्याच्या मौतीने मरावे? साहेब, मलाही हे मान्य नाही."

"मग काय मान्य आहे?" प्रांत किंचाळला, "लुटालुट आणि बेबंदशाही?" त्याने चावडी डोक्यावर घेतली.

"ह्याला उत्तर होय!" पंत गंभीरपणे उद्गारले.

"ठीक आहे, करा लुटालुट, आम्ही आरोपींना घेऊन आताच सातार्‍याला जातो" प्रांत डोळे बारीक करून म्हणाला.

त्यावर पंत निर्भयपणे म्हणाले, "जा, खुशाल जा. पण लवकर परत या."

"का, कशाला?" प्रांत चमकून म्हणाला.

"मला, - विष्णुपंताला अटक करायला" पंतांनी उग्र आवाजात तंबी दिली.

"म्हणजे तुम्ही स्वत: लुटालुट करणार तर?" प्रांताने विचारले.

पंतांनी उपरण्याने कंबर बांधली. प्रांतावर करडी नजर रोखली आणि मान उंचावून उत्तर दिले, "साहेब, जर दुष्काळाचा आणि साथीचा बंदोबस्त झाला नाही तर प्रत्येक माणसाला एक तर कुत्र्याच्या मौतीने मरावे लागेल किंवा लुटारू होऊन काही दिवस जगावे लागेल आणि मी कुत्र्या सारखा मरणारा माणूस नाही साहेब!"

(क्रमश:)

Original post : विष्णुपन्त कुलकर्णी (भाग ५)

विष्णुपन्त कुलकर्णी (भाग ४)

2010-08-20T19:54:00.001+05:30

मुराचे पुष्कळ लोक धान्याची पोती घेऊन दूर गेले होते आणि निवडक लोकांनिशी मुरा त्या वेढ्यात अडकून पडला होता. गावकर्‍यांनी पांद रोखल्याचे लक्षात येताच बळी धावत येऊन म्हणाला, "मुरा, गावकर्‍यांनी पांद आडवली, आता?" क्षणभर विचार करून मुरा म्हणाला,"दावण कापून सारी गुरं पांदीत घाला आणि मागनं गोफणीने जोडून वाट काढीत चला."

बळीने दावण कापली. सर्व गुरे पांदीत लोटून मागे दंगल उडवून दिली. वर शेपट्या करून गुरे पांदीने पळू लागताच त्या भयंकर दंगलीने गावकर्‍यांची भंबेरी उडाली. त्यांनी पळ काढला. गुरांचा गळा मोकळा करून मुराने स्वत:चा गळा सोडवून घेतला.

पहाट झाली होती. उषा हर्षभरित होऊन वर येत होती. कितीतरी दिवसानी आनंद त्या निवडुंगात परत आला होता. मशालीच्या प्रकाशात मुराच्या दारात दाणे वाटण्याचे काम चालू होते. पाट्या, बुट्ट्या, शिवडी घेतलेले लोक रांगेने बसले होते. त्यांच्या भकास चेहर्‍यांवर आनंदाच्या छटा उमटल्या होत्या. धान्याचा ढीग पाहूनच त्यांची तहानभूक हरपली होती. मोडून पडलेल्या मानवाला अन्नातील किमया हसवीत होती.

धान्य वाटून झाले. एक लहानसा ढीग शिल्लक राहिला. तो मापाने मोजता येण्यासारखा नव्हता. तेव्हा बळीने मुराला विचारले, " दाणं कसं मोजावं?" त्यावर मुरा विचार करून म्हणाला, "डाव घेऊन डावीने बराबर वाटा, एक दाणा एका माणसाला एक दिवस जगवील हे विसरू नका."

सूर्योदयाच्या आत वाटण्या झाल्या. कित्येक दिवसांची निश्चल जाती घरघरली, थंड चुलींना उबारा आला, तव्यांना झळा लागल्या. घराघरावर धूर घोटाळत फिरू लागला आणि सूर्याच्या कोवळ्या किरणांत दारात बसून पोरे ऊन ऊन भाकरी खाऊ लागली.

तिसर्‍या दिवशी चावडी पुढे बुच्याड लागले. सातार्‍याहून प्रांतसाहेब आले. कैक फौजदार धावपळ करू लागले. पोलिसांनी वेशी दाबून ठेवल्या आणि मुराला अटक झाली. चावडीपुढे तर रीघ लागली होती. त्या गर्दीत तो मालेवाडीचा मठकरी मिरवत होता.

मुराच्या अटकेची बातमी बातमी ऐकून विष्णुपंत धावतच आले. लोकांनी मागे सरून त्यांना वाट दिली; परन्तु पंत चावडीची पायरी चढले नाहीत. ते दारात उभे राहूनच बोलले, "साहेब, काय आरंभले आहे हे?"

"आम्ही गुन्हेगारांना अटक केली आहे," प्रांतसाहेब ओट्यावरून उत्तरले.

"आम्ही या गावचे सरकारी नोकर आहोत हे मान्य आहे का आपणांला?" पंतांनी सहज प्रश्न केला.

"हो खरं आहे ते." प्रांत उत्तरला.

"मग आम्हाला न विचारता ही धरपकड का?" पंतांनी गाव-कामगाराचा नियम पुढे केला. त्यांचा स्वर किंचित चढला होता.

परन्तु प्रांतसाहेब चिडक्या आवाजात उत्तरले, "तसा आम्हाला अधिकार आहे आणि यांनी तर या मालेवाडीच्या मठकर्‍यांना लुटलं आहे."

"पुरावा काय?" पंतांनी चढत्या स्वरात पुराव्याची मागणी केली आणि कमरेवर हात ठेवून प्रांतसाहेब शांतपणे म्हणाले, "मठकर्‍यांच्या धान्याचा माग या गावच्या सीमेला भिडला असून या लोकांच्या घरात भाकरी सापडली आहे."

पण विष्णुपंत खवळून गरजले, "मग मला का नाही अटक करीत? तो माग माझ्याच गावाला भिडला असून माझ्याही घरी तुम्हाला भाकरी सापडेल."

(क्रमश:)

Original post : विष्णुपन्त कुलकर्णी (भाग ४)

विष्णुपन्त कुलकर्णी (भाग ३)

2010-08-20T19:53:00.000+05:30

उरलेले लोक आपआपल्या घरी परतले. मुराने आकाशात दृष्टी रोखून रात्रीचा अंदाज घेतला आणि तो चालू लागला.

त्याच्या मागून ते दीडशे गडी निघाले. निवडुंगात हत्यारे चमकली.

गावाबाहेर पडून मार्गाला लागल्यावर बळीने हळूच विचारले,

"मुरा कुठं जायचं?"

"मालेवाडीच्या मठकर्‍याला लुटाय." मुरा समोर पाहून उद्गारला आणि वादळाप्रमाणे धावत निघाला.

मालेवाडी शांत होती. गुडघे पोटाशी धरून खोपीत बसलेल्या माणसाप्रमाणे ती डोंगराच्या खोदर्‍यात बसली होती. रात्रीच्या रंगात एकरुप झाली होती. गावाच्या एका टोकावर मठकर्‍यांचा भव्य वाडा वाळीत टाकल्याप्रमाणे दूर बसला होता. त्याच्या चिरेबंदी भिंतीवर रात्र टकरा घेत होती.

फार पूर्वी एका उदार राजाने एका पुजार्‍याला मठाची देखरेख करण्यासाठी १४ गावची जहागिर दान केली होती. त्या दानावर मठकरी मठाचा खर्च करीत असे. आजपर्यंत मठाचा पुजारी आणि त्या दौलतीचा मालक होण्यासाठी त्या गावात भयंकर होड लागली होती.

मोठमोठी धेंडे त्या मालकीवर टपून बसली होती. एक दुसर्‍याचा खून करून स्वत: दत्तक जात होता आणि तिसरा त्याचा मुडदा पाडून आपली मालकी प्रस्थापित करीत होता. आजपर्यंत कित्येक दत्तकांनी कित्येकांना वाटे लावले होते. आजही वाड्यात पाच मालकीणी रांडपण रेटीत होत्या.

तिथे पेवांत किडे नांदावेत तशी माणसे नांदत होती. मठकर्‍याच्या चौसोपी वाड्यात प्रत्येक खांबाला एक अशा कैक धान्याच्या कणगी उभ्या होत्या. त्या साखळदंडाने जखडल्या होत्या. जागोजाग चाकर निजले होते. शिकारी कुत्री खुरमांडी घालून बसली होती. अंगणात पलंग टाकून मठकरी निजला होता. तिथे निर्भय निजणार्‍यांच्या घोरण्याने रातकिड्यांची चिरचिर बंद पाडली होती. चौदा गावचे धान्य आणि जीवन पोटात घेऊन वाड्याचा कुसव धापा टाकीत होता.

त्या दगडांना मुराचे हात भिडले. त्याच्या दीडशे लोकांनी नाकेबंदी करून पहिला आडणा मारायचे काम पुरे केले. वाड्याभोवती वादळापूर्वीची शांतता कुजबुजत होती.

एकाएकी लाकडी घाण्याप्रमाणे तो दरवाजा ओरडला. सारा वाडा हादरला आणि मशालीचा प्रकाश नि हत्यारे यांनी मठकर्‍याचे अंगण भरले. दावणीच्या गुरांनी धडपड चालू केली. कुत्र्यांनी वाडा डोक्यावर घेतला. मठकर्‍याने किंचाळून, लाथा मारून गडी जागे केले आणि बोंब ठोकली. " धावा! धावा!"

मुरा त्वेषाने पुढे जाऊन ओरडला, "बोंबलू नगं, न्हाय तर मुंडकं मारीन."

क्षणात सर्व काही पूर्ववत् झाले. उठलेले सर्व गडी पुन: पडून पाहू लागले. कुत्री भुंकत राहिली. कुर्‍हाडीचे घाव कणगीवर पडू लागले. मुक्त धान्याचा लोंढा अंगणात आला. पोती भरली जाऊन ती अंधारात पळू लागली.

मुराला समोर पाहून मठकर्‍याला हरिश्चंद्राला स्वप्नात लुटणार्‍या विश्वामित्राची आठवण झाली. त्याने पळ काढला, तो गावात जाऊन ओरडला, "वाचवा! धावा!"

उभी मालेवाडी उठली, मशाली पेटल्या, हत्यारे निघाली आणि गावकर्‍यांनी मुराच्या मुख्य वाटेची पांद रोखून धरली.

मुराभोवती वेढा पडला.

(क्रमश:)

Original post : विष्णुपन्त कुलकर्णी (भाग ३)

विष्णुपन्त कुलकर्णी (भाग २)

2010-08-20T19:51:00.000+05:30

पंतांच्या मुखातून शब्दाऐवजी निखारे बाहेर पडले आणि मुराच्या अंत:करणात धैर्याचा महासागर लाटा उधळीत उठला. त्याने चटकन वाकून पंतांपुढे हात टेकला आणि उठून गंभीरपणे तो म्हणाला, "आबा, मी जातो."

"जा, उकिरड्याचा पांग फिटतो आणि तुम्ही तर माणसे आहात." पंतांनी मुराला निरोप दिला.

काजळी झडताच ज्योत प्रखर व्हावी तद्वतच मुराचे मन उजळले. त्यात आकाशाला गवसणी घालण्याची प्रबलता संचारली. त्याच्या तरुण पायांत हिंमत नाचू लागली. तो बेभान होऊन विद्युत्गतीने वाड्याकडे निघाला. चिखल तुडवावा तसा तो अंधाराला तुडवीत चालत होता.

ओसाड वातावरणाने मुराच्या गावची मोट बांधली होती. आकाश आणि धरणी यांच्यामध्ये असलेली पोकळी अंधाराने भरून काढली होती. घोंगड्याच्या घडीसारख्या काळ्या जमिनी मढ्याप्रमाणे पडल्या होत्या. त्यांच्या पाठीवरून दुष्काळ सरपटत होता. जणू क्रौर्याने सृष्टी तलवारीच्या टोकावर धरली होती आणि उत्पात आरंभला होता, त्या दुष्काळापुढे माणूस पराभूत झाला होता.

उन्मत्त दुष्काळाने पृथ्वीची शोभा नष्ट करण्यासाठी नभांगणातल्या चांदण्यासुद्धा ओरबाडून गिळल्या आहेत आणि आभाळाचे पोट फुटून अंधार खाली गळत आहे असा भास होत होता.

मोकळ्या जागेतील लिंबाखाली लहानमोठी अशी दोनशे माणसे जमून बसली होती. ती मुराची वाट पाहत होती. या निकराच्या समयी मुरा काय सांगतो ते ऐकण्यासाठी ते सर्व उत्सुक झाले होते. तोच मुरा आला. सर्वांनी गंभीर होऊन कान टवकारले. पटकुरे सावरली, नि:श्वास टाकला.

"काय म्हणलंत कुलकर्णी?" बहिरुने सुरवात केली.

"त्यांनी जगाय सांगितलंय." मुरा म्हणाला.

"पन कोरड्या बोलण्यानं जगता येत न्हाय." बळी म्हणला.

"खरं हाय त्ये." मुरा लिंबाच्या मुळीवर बसून म्हणाला. "पन कुळकर्णी आणि आपुन

एकच हाय. मातूर आमी आधी मरणार आनि कुळकर्णी थोड्या उशीराने मरनार एव्हढंच."

"मग आमास्नी धनी कोण?"

"आमीच." मुरा उद्गारला.

"म्हंजी आमी मराय पायजे" किंवडा सावळा ओरडला.

"न्हाय, जगलं पायजे !"

"विठ्ठला, पांडुरंगा, माझी दोन पोरं घडीची सोबती आहेत. त्यांनी कसं जगावं?" कोंडी हात जोडून म्हणाला."

"सार्‍यांनी जगलं पायजे." मुरा ताडकन उठून म्हणाला. तो घरी जाऊन तलवार घेऊन बाहेर आला.

"पन कसं?"

"केरु, बळी, दौलु, पांडू, सावळा, सादू आनि ज्येला माझ्याबरोबर चालता येत असंल त्येनी एका बाजूवर निघावं."

खवळलेले आग्या मोहोळ घोंगावत उठावे तद्वत दीडशे गडी एका बाजूला निघून उभा राहिला आणि मुरा पुन्हा म्हणाला,

"आमी येईपतुर तुमी मढी पानी पाजून जतन करा. उद्या इथे अन्नाचा ढीग लावतो."

(क्रमश:)

Original post : विष्णुपन्त कुलकर्णी (भाग २)

विष्णुपन्त कुलकर्णी (भाग १)

2010-08-20T19:49:00.000+05:30

- अण्णा भाऊ साठे

कडूसं पडून तोंडओळख मोडली होती. अंधाराच्या लाटा गावाच्या डोकीवर नाचत होत्या. कभिन्न काळोखाने विष्णुपन्तांच्या वाड्याची उंची भुईसपाट केली होती. लूत भरलेल्या कुत्र्याप्रमाणे ओसाड वातावरण कण्हत होते. चोहोकडे नि:शब्दता नांदत होती.

विष्णुपन्त कुलकर्णांच्या वाड्यात विष्णुपन्त आणि मुरा बोलत उभे होते. देवळीत मंद जळणार्‍या निरांजनाचा थरथरता प्रकाश त्या दोघांवर खेळत होता.

विष्णुपन्तांच्या वयाने पन्नाशी मागे टाकली होती तरी त्यांचा धिप्पाड देह दणदणीत होता. त्यांच्या प्रचंड मस्तकावरचे टक्कल, रुंद गर्दन, टपोरे डोळे आणि पल्लेदार गालमिशा यांमुळे पंताना पाहताच ढाण्या वाघाची आठवण होत होती. आज ते गंभीरपणे बोलत होते.

मुरा खिन्न होऊन पंताकडे पाहत होता. त्याने आपले मजबूत हात पाठीमागे धरले होते. घोंगड्याची खोळ घेतली होती. घोंगड्याच्या दशा त्याच्या पीळदार पोटर्‍यांवर निर्जीव लोंबत होत्या. त्याचे तरुण, रसरसणारे डोळे पंतांवर स्थिरावले होते. त्यात चिंता भरली होती. त्याच्या नाकाचा शेंडा घामाने डबडबला होता. रुबाबदार चेहरा काळवंडला होता.

"आतापर्यंत किती माणसे दगावली?" पंतानी विचारले.

"ईस बारीकमोठी." मुरा पुटपुटला. त्याचे शब्द अंधारात चरफडत गेले.

"मग तुझं काय म्हणणं आहे?" पंतानी पुन्हा प्रश्न केला.

मुराने ओठांवरून जीभ फिरवली आणि तो शांतपणे म्हणाला, "भाकरी भाकरी करून पोरांचं चरफडून मरनं आणि त्यांचा हंबरडा आता माझ्याने ऐकवंना. ढेकळावानी काळीज ईरगाळतय माझं." त्याच्या पापणीला प्रकाशाचे कण लोंबकळू लागले. त्याने मान फिरवून आसू दडविण्याचा प्रयत्न केला.

"तसं नाही." पंत समजावणीच्या स्वरात म्हणाले, "धीराने घ्यायला पाहिजे मुरा."

"आबा," मुरा म्हणाला, "भोवळीचा अन् कुरडूचा पाला खाऊन जगतोय; पन जमंना. नुसती उपासमार असती तर पोट बांधून काळीज शाबुत ठिवलं असतं. पन ह्या साथीनं कडेलोट केलाय आमचा."

मुरा थांबला. त्याने पुढचे शब्द गिळून घेतले आणि पंतानी पुन: तोच प्रश्न उच्चारला.

"मग पुढं काय?" पंतांचा धीरगंभीर आवाज घुमला.

"तुमीच सांगा?" मुराने उलट प्रश्न केला.

"मी काय सांगू?" पंत बोलले, "गाव दुष्काळाच्या छायेत आहे हे मी सरकारात कळविलं आहे पण टीचभर चिठ्ठीने उत्तर नाही. मी केवळ मृतांची नोंद करणारा झालो आहे".

"मग आमास्नी धनी कोण?" मुरा वैतागून उद्गारला.

"कोण कुणाचा धनी नाही." पंत चटकन बोलू लागले, माझ्याही भोवती आक्रोश सुरू आहे, परन्तु माझं स्पष्ट मत आहे की तुम्ही जगलंच पाहिजे."

"पन आबा, कसं?" मुरा अधिकच चिडक्या स्वरात उद्गारला.

"जसं जमेल तसं" पंत त्याला पुढे बोलू न देता म्हणाले, काहिही करा परन्तु जगा." त्यांनी झेप घेऊन निरांजनातील वात सारून प्रकाश मोठा केला. प्रकाशाची पाचर अंधारात खोलवर गेली.

"मग आम्ही काय करावं?" मुराने विचारले. परन्तु पंतांचा चेहरा बिथरला. त्यांचा आवाज कडवट झाला.

"ते मला कळत नाही." पंत म्हणाले, "तुम्ही कुत्र्यासारखं मरू नका."

(क्रमश:)

Original post : विष्णुपन्त कुलकर्णी (भाग १)

अवेळीच केव्हा दाटला अंधार

2010-08-20T19:45:00.001+05:30

कवी ना. धो. महानोर हे खरेतर निसर्गकवी पण त्यांच्या कविता केवळ प्रणयरम्य व शृंगाररस युक्त असतात म्हणून वाचणारे व ऐकणारे अनेकजण असतील. हा खरे तर त्यांच्यातील कवित्वाचा अपमान आहे. त्यांच्या कवितेतील शृंगाररसाला नाके मुरडणे जितके चूक तितकेच त्यांच्या कवितेतील केवळ शृंगाररसाचा आस्वाद घेणे अयोग्य होय.

श्रीधर फडक्यांची 'काही बोलायाचे आहे ही ध्वनिफित जेव्हा ऐकली तेव्हा मला ही कविता विशेष भावली. किंबहूना पुढे कित्येक दिवस ती माझ्या मनांत रेंगाळत राहिली. विशेषत: त्यातील दुसरे कडवे. त्यातील करुण रस, विरह यातना मनाला चटका लावून जातात. महानोरांच्या कवितांना ग्रामीण मराठीचा सुगंध आहे. अगदी थोड्या पण अचूक शब्दात ते कवितेचा आशय व्यक्त करतात आणि कविता वाचताना डोळ्यापुढे जणू शब्दचित्रच उभे राहते.

गावाबाहेरील एखादे निर्जन स्थळ, घरच्यांची करडी नजर चुकवून आपल्या प्रियकराला भेटायला जाणारी आपली नायिका - अभिसारिका, त्या नायिकेची वाट पाहत संकेतस्थळी एकाकी उभा असलेला तो प्रियकर आणि उशीरा का होईना पण दिलासादायक असे तिचे ते येणे.

एकदा मी तिच्या डोळ्यात पाहिले,
हासतांना नभ कलून गेलेले

अनेक दिवसांनंतर असा एकान्त मिळाल्याने मोहरून गेलेले ते प्रेमी युगुल एकमेकांकडे भावूकतेने निशब्दपणे पाहात राहतात. हृदयांत, मनांत आनंदाचे कारंजे फुलले आहे आणि यामध्येच बरांच काळ निघून जातो व दिवस कलतो.

पुन्हा मी पाहिले तिला अंगभर,
तिच्या काचोळीला चांदण्याचा जर

दिवस कलून रात्रीचा पहिला प्रहर चालू होतो. तो आणि ती दोघेही भानावर येतात. तो तिच्याकडे पुन्हा एकदा निरखून पाहतो आणि त्याला वाटते जणू आकाशातील चांदण्याच तिच्या तनुलतेला सजवित आहेत.

आणि माझा मला पडला विसर,
मिठीत थरके भरातील ज्वार

हे पाहून तो बेभान होतो आणि त्याचे विषयासक्त मन स्वत:ला आवर घालू शकत नाही आणि ते उत्कट प्रणयाच्या लाटेत वाहून जातात.

ते दोघे संपूर्ण रात्र तिथेच घालवितात. ती त्याला नंतर बरेच दिवस भेटत नाही. त्याला वाटते कि, तिच्या घरच्यांना झाल्या प्रकाराची कुणकुण लागल्याने तिला कोणा नातेवाईकाकडे पाठविले असावे.

कितीक दिसांनी पुन्हा ती भेटली,
तिच्या पोटी कुण्या राव्याची साऊली

आणि एक दिवस अचानक ती त्याला भेटते. मात्र यावेळी ती एकटी नसते तर तिच्या पोटी कुणाचा तरी वंश वाढत असतो.

तिच्या डोळीयांत जरा मी पाहिले,
काजळात चंद्र बुडून गेलेले

त्याची जरी तिच्यांत केवळ शारीरिक गुंतवणूक असली तरी तिचे स्त्रीमन त्याच्यात भावनिकदृष्ट्या पूर्णपणे गुंतलेले असते. ह्यावेळी जेव्हा तो तिच्या डोळ्यात पाहतो तेव्हा त्याला खोल कुठेतरी जाणवते की तिच्या डोळ्यातला तो मोद, ते हास्य घनतमात बुडून गेलेले आहे. ती त्या विरहाग्नीत होरपळून निघालेली आहे.

अवेळीच केव्हा दाटला अंधार,
तिला गळा जड झाले काळेसर....

मनाविरुद्ध झालेल्या अनपेक्षित लग्नामुळे तिच्या जीवनांत जो असमयी अघटित काळोख निर्माण झाला आहे तो शब्दात व्यक्त करणे खरोखरच कठिण होय यमक्या कवी आणि महानोर यांच्यातील फरक इथे जाणवतो. तिच्या संपूर्ण आयुष्याची तडफड त्यांनी अवघ्या २- ४ ओळीत अचूक मांडली आहे. फक्त कोमल, भावूक, तरल मनाच्याच व्यक्तीच ही कविता अनुभवू शकतात.

खरोखरच ना. धों. च्या अवघ्या १२ ओळी आणि श्रीधरजींचा आवाज कुठल्याही संवेदनशील, हळव्या मनाला अस्वस्थ करून सोडतात.

Original post : अवेळीच केव्हा दाटला अंधार

આકાશગંગા, સૂર્ય, ચંદ્ર, તારા ।

2010-07-15T18:54:00.001+05:30

આકાશગંગા, સૂર્ય, ચંદ્ર, તારા ।
સંધ્યા, ઇષા કોઈ ના નથી ।।

કોની ભૂમિ, કોની નદી, કોની સાગરધારા ।
ભેદ કેવલ શબ્દ, અમારા ને તમારા ।।

એજ હાસ્ય એજ રુદન આશા એ નિરાશા ।
એજ માનવ ઊર્મિ પણ ભિન્ન ભાષા ।।

મેઘ ધનુ અંદર ના હોય કધી જંગો ।
સુંદરતા કાજ બન્યા વિવિધ રંગો ।।

- કવિ અજ્ઞાત

शाळेत असताना आम्ही म्हणत असू ते समूहगीत...

2010-07-15T18:23:00.001+05:30

भारतमाता परमवंद्य धरा, मायभू अमुची, कोटी बांधव हे आम्ही ।
आणूनिया पावन सूर सरिता श्रम गंगा म्लानमुखी स्मित कमळे फुलवू ।।
विविध जरी भाषा, भिन्न धर्म दिशा, प्रगति पंथ तरी एक असे ।
येऊ दे अंधार वा वादळी असू दे हवा, चाललो ध्येयाकडे....
मातेसाठी सर्वस्वाचे बलिदान करू ।।
सळसळत्या सोनेरी शेतातूनी कसणार्‍या बाहूंची संजीवनी ।
अमुच्या कामातूनी, घामातूनी, रक्तातूनी, निपजो सुजल धरा, सुफल धरा ।।
निजशक्तिविण आम्हा आधार दुजा नाही ।
अमुच्याच प्रयत्नांची आम्हांस खरी ग्वाही,
मातेसाठी सर्वस्वाचे बलिदान करू ।।

- कवि अज्ञात आहेत. कोणाला ठाऊक असल्यास कळवावे.

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

2010-06-21T07:28:00.000+05:30

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

मन को अति भावे प्रसूनजी के गीत।

2010-06-14T07:39:00.004+05:30

भारतीय चित्रपट उद्योग से जुडे हुएँ प्रख्यात गीतकार महामहिम प्रसून जोशीजी का जन्म उत्तराखण्ड के अल्मोडा में १६ सितंबर १९७१ में हुआ । उन्होने अपने व्यावसायिक लेखन का आरंभ विज्ञापनों के संहिताओं के लेखन से किया और फिर धीरे धीरे वे भारतीय चित्रपटों के लिएँ गीत लिखने लगे ।

उनकी एक विशेषता यह है की उन्होने निश्चय किया के वे कतई प्यार, मोहब्बत, इश्क जैसे घिसे पिटे शब्दों का प्रयोग अपने गीतों में नहीं करेंगे । इस कारण उनके द्वारा रचें गएँ चित्रपट गीतों के बोल न केवल लोगों के द्वारा सराहे गएँ अपितु वे हृदयस्थ हो गएँ हैं । उदाहरण के तौर पर तारे जमीन पर, हम तुम, दिल्ली ६, रंग दे बसंती यह चित्रपट भले ही २-३ साल पहले आएँ थे पर उन चित्रपटों के गीतों को आज भी रेडियो पर बार बार सुनाया जाता हैं ।

हांल ही में मैंने एक पुस्तक में पढ़ा की एक समय था जब हिंदी चित्रपटों के गीतों और संवादो के लेखन में देशज या तद्भव, तत्सम शब्दों उपयोग अधिक होता था । परन्तु बाद में हिंदी चित्रपटों का चलन पाकिस्तान एवं मध्य पूर्वी देशों में बढ़ाने हेतु उनमें उर्दू शब्दों के उपयोग को अत्यधिक महत्त्व दिया गया । इस कारण हिंदी चित्रपटों में हिंदी की विभिन्न बोलिओं का प्रयोग कम होता गया ।

परन्तु पिछले साल प्रसूनजी ने खड़ी बोली और संस्कृत के शब्दों का अद्भूत मिश्रण कर "मन को अति भावे सैंया" जैसा एक हृदयस्पर्शी, अनुठा चित्रपट गीत लिखा जिसने लोगों के मन को छू लिया है । उसमें जो विशुद्ध हिंदी का लहेज़ा है उसकी तो बात ही निराली है ।

इस गीत पर टिप्पणी करते हुएँ मेरे राञ्ची के मित्र और हिंदी साहित्य के व्यासंगी श्री. मनिष कुमारजी अपने ब्लाग में कहते हैं की जब भी हम भावातिरेक में होते हैं तो आंचलिक भाषाओं से जुडे हुएँ शब्दों का प्रयोग करते हैं ।

सच में प्रसूनजी के गीत के शब्दों का जादु मन को उल्लसित कर देता है । 'पुष्प आ गएँ, खिलखिला गएँ, उत्सव मनाता है सारा चमन' यह सुनके अपना मन भी खिलखिला उठता है ।

मुन्शीराम डाकिया

2009-12-01T17:31:00.005+05:30

लेकर पीला पीला थैला,
पत्र बाँटने आता,
यह है मुन्शीराम डाकिया,
सब की चिठ्ठी लाता ।।

सर्दी हो या गर्मी,
पानी गिरता झरझर,
चला जाएँगा नही रुकेगा,
चिठ्ठी देता घरघर ।।

बड़े डाकखाने से आता,
लाता कभी रुपैया,
कभी किताबें दे जाता है,
मुझ को हँस हँस भैया ।।

गाँव गाँव जाता है,
पर कभी नहीं थकता है,
लाता है सब की खुशखबरी,
सब के मन को भाता है ।।

This poem was in my 5th Standard Hindi textbook in 1985-86. Please let me know the poet if you know the one.

काही साहित्यिक भोग

2009-10-14T10:32:00.003+05:30

स्थळ : पुणे शहरातील एक बस स्टॉप.
पात्रे : खडूस ह्या शब्दाखेरीज दुसरा शब्द सापडू नये असल्या नमुन्याचे सत्तरीच्या घरातले गृहस्थ. मी त्यांच्या बाजुला जाऊन रांग धरतो. आश्चर्य म्हणजे रांग नाही. आम्ही दोघेच. काही क्षण ते गृहस्थ मला खालपासून वरपर्यंत न्याहाळतात. मी समोरच्या करांडे टेलर्स चे करांडे एका लठ्ठ गृहस्थाच्या पोटाचे माप घेत असल्याचे सुखद दृश्य पाहण्याचा बहाणा करतो.

इतक्यात कानावर आवाज...

ते उपाख्य बाजी गणेश जोशी : दशभुजा गणपतीचे देऊळ कुठे आहे हो?
मी : काही कल्पना नाही बुवा?
बा.ज.गो. : पुण्यातच राहता ना? (ह्या त्यांच्या प्रश्नावरून ते पुण्यात राहतात हे लक्षात आले.)
मी : हो.
बा.ज.गो. : किती वर्षे?
मी : बरीच.
बा.ज.गो. : काय व्यवसाय?
मी : पुस्तके वैगरे लिहितो.
बा.ज.गो. : म्हणजे साहित्यिक आणि तरीही तुम्हाला साधा दशभुजा गणपती ठौक नाही?
मी : आपण कुठल्या गावाहून आलात?
बा.ज.गो. : मी कशाला कुठल्या गावाहून येतोय? इथेच जन्मलो आणि इथेच मरणार.
मी : ('कधी' हा प्रश्न गिळून) इथेच मरणार कशावरून?
बा.ज.गो. : दशभुजा गणपती ठौक नाही हे सरळ सांगा. आमच्या मरणाची काळजी करू नका. तुम्हाला काही मी खांद्याला बोलावणार नाही.
मी : खांद्याची आमंत्रणं काय स्वत: मृतांच्या सहीने जातात वाटतं?
बा.ज.गो. : हे पहा, तुम्ही साहित्यिक असल्याने भाषाप्रभुत्व हा तुमचाच जन्मसिद्ध हक्क मानायची गरज नाही. मी देखील पुण्याचाच आहे. ज्या गावच्या बोरी त्याच गावच्या बाभळी. पुण्यात राहून स्वत:ला साहित्यिक म्हणवणार्‍या माणसाला दशभुजा गणपती ठौक नसावा? ही तुमची समाजाविषयी आस्था... उद्या शनवारवाडा ठौक नाही म्हणाल, परवा पर्वती ठौक नाही म्हणाल.
मी : तुम्हाला तरी कुठे ठाऊक आहे दशभुजा गणपती?
बा.ज.गो. : ठौक आहे.
मी : मग मला कशाला विचारताय?
बा.ज.गो. : तुम्हाला ठौक आहे की नाही ते पाहायला.
मी : पण दशभुजा गणपतीशी माझा काय संबंध?
बा.ज.गो. : सांगतो. 'पुणे शहरातील ढासळती धर्मभावना' ह्या विषयावर लेखमाला लिहितोय मी. ह्या स्टॉपवर सकाळी सात पासून उभा आहे मी. बेचाळीस लोकांत दशभुजा गणपती ठौक असलेला केवळ एक निघाला. पण त्या देवळासमोर त्याचे ष्टो दुरुस्तीचे दुकान आहे अकरा वर्षे. कधी आत दर्शनाला गेला नाही.
मी : म्हणजे दशभुजा गणपती फक्त पत्त्यापुरता.
बा.ज.गो. : हीच तर ट्रॅजेडी. देवळांचा उपयोग पत्त्यासाठी? एकदा आम्ही विचारले, डॉ. मंजुळाबाई सपाते प्रसुतीगृह कुठे आहे? तर एक गृहस्थ म्हणाला, 'सोमण मारुतीपुढे!' अरे काही सारासारविवेकबुद्धी? अरे निदान प्रसुतीगृहाच्या पत्त्यासाठी तरी मारुतीराया वापरू नका ! काय?
मी : खरे आहे.
बा.ज.गो. : एक साहित्यिक म्हणून तरी देवळात जाणे तुम्ही तुमचे कर्तव्य मानता की नाही?
मी : (देवावर भार घालून) मानतो तर...
बा.ज.गो. : मग जाता का?
मी : दशभुजा गणपतीला जात नाही.
बा.ज.गो. : I'm not particular about this Ganpati or that. (रिटायर्ट म्हातारा भडकला की इंग्रजीत फुटतो.) Any temple for the matter of that. (प्रत्येक 'द्याट' वर पाय आपटून) रोज जाता?
मी : (देवा! क्षमा कर. आपली जेव्हा भेट होईल तेव्हा खुलासा करेन.) हो. रोजच म्हणायला हरकत नाही. बा.ज.गो. : मला 'होय की नाही' चा रकाना भरायचा आहे. हो किंवा नाही.
मी : (Forgive me Oh Lord!) हो. (आता हे खोटे नाही. रोज रात्री गुडकुले विठोबाच्या देवळात काणे भटजी, विठोबा टेलर, सोपानराव हेयरड्रेसर आणि मी वरच्या नगारखान्यात रमी खेळतो. एक पैसा, शंभर पाँईंट. आषाढी कार्तिकीला काणे भटजी पाँईंट वाढवा म्हणतात पण आम्ही ऐकत नाही).
बा.ज.गो. : एक साहित्यिक ह्या दृष्टीने तुमची धर्मावर श्रद्धा आहे की नाही?
मी : श्रद्धा ही वस्तुच मुळी देव आणि धर्म ह्यांच्यावर ठेवायला तयार केली आहे असे माझे मत आहे.

(गोल पोटावरून तळव्यापर्यंत प्यांटीचं माप घेताना समोरच्या करांडे टेलर्सने टेप बेंबीपासून ओळंबा धरावा तशी सोडली आहे. हे मोहक दृश्य पाहायला मला उसंत न देता...)
बा.ग.जो. : तुम्ही सरळ हो की नाही सांगा.
मी : हो. कारण धर्मावर श्रद्धा ठेवायची नाही तर काय मुन्सिपालटी, जिल्हाबोर्ड, बसवाले, हॉटेलवाले ह्यांच्यावर ठेवायची ?
बा.ग.जो. : तुम्ही कृपा करून वाक्याच्या शेवटी पूर्णविराम येईल असे उत्तर द्या. शेवटी प्रश्नचिन्ह नको.
मी : (मुकाट्याने) बरं.
बा.ग.जो. : आता सांगा धर्मावर तुमची श्रद्धा आहे की नाही ?
मी : यथेच्छ श्रद्धा आहे कारण धर्म नसता तर दसरा, होळी, दिवाळी, नारळी पौर्णिमा म्हणजे पुरणपोळी, कडबू, मोदक बघायला सुद्धा मिळाले नसते. सत्यनारायण नसता तर असला शेराला सव्वाशेर तुपाचा शिरा खायला मिळाला नसता.
बा.ग.जो. : तुमच्या बोलण्यात थट्टेचा सूर आहे. धर्म काय शिरा खाण्यासाठी आहे? (इथे बा.ग.जो. नी शीरा ताणून हा प्रश्न विचारला).
मी : शिर्‍याशिवाय सत्यनारायण करून दाखवा, होडी बुडेल.
बा.ग.जो. : तो शिरा नसतो, प्रसाद असतो.
मी : सत्यनारायणाला खारीक वाटता येणार नाही. प्रसाद म्हणून सुद्धा. माफ करा, पण तुम्ही मला छुपे कम्युनिस्ट दिसता. (होतकरू साहित्यिकांस सूचना : अधून मधून अशी टफ लाईन स्वीकारावी. कम्युनिस्ट कसे बिगर कम्युनिस्टांना प्रतिक्रांतिवादी म्हणतात तीच स्टाईल.)
बा.ग.जो. : मी कम्युनिस्ट ? दशभुजा गणपती कुठे आहे हे तुम्हाला ठौक नाही आणि मी कम्युनिस्ट ? मी : (पुण्यात नव्या एका देवाला जन्म देत) झोपाळू नरसोबाचं देऊळ कुठे आहे सांगा पाहू ?
बा.ग.जो. : झोपाळू नरसोबा ? पहिल्यांदाच ऐकतोय.
मी : झोपाळू नरसोबा पहिल्यांदाच ऐकताय काय? अरेरे. प्रश्न आला. झोपाळू नरसोबा सारख्या जागृत देवाचे नाव पहिल्यांदाच ऐकताय हे ऐकून आश्चर्य वाटलं. जाऊ द्या मी नास्तिकांशी बोलत नसतो. सत्यनारायणाला खारका वाटायला निघाले आहेत. (होतकरू साहित्यिक प्लीज नोट : वादाच्या प्रसंगी प्रतिपक्षाने न केलेल्या मुद्द्यांवर जोर द्यावा.) सत्यनारायणाला खारका ? उद्या गोकुळाष्टमीला केक वाटाल..
बा.ग.जो. : तुम्ही हे कोणाला सांगता आहात?
मी : तुम्हाला ! इथे दुसरे आहे कोण? सॉरी, दुसरे कोणी नाही. पूर्णविराम.
बा.ग.जो. : तुमचा काहीतरी गैरसमज होतो आहे. आपण राहता कुठे ?
मी : (मी इथे खरी कसोटी आहे. डिटेलवार पत्ता देऊन गोंधळात टाकायच्या शास्त्राचा अभ्यास असल्याखेरीज ह्या कसोटीला उतरता येणार नाही.) तुम्हाला झोपाळू नरसोबा ठाऊक नाही, बरं रेडेकर तालीम तरी ठाऊक असेल !
बा.ग.जो. : ती कुठेशी आली ?
मी : रविवारात. घाणेकरांच्या कोळश्याच्या वखारीला लागून.
बा.ग.जो. : काढीन शोधून. घाणेकर तालीम...
मी : घाणेकर तालीम नाही घाणेकर कोळश्याची वखार. त्याला लागून रेडेकर तालीम. रास्ते वाड्यावरून खाली या सरळ (इथे खाली येणे ह्याचा हवा तसा अर्थ घ्यावा). तिथे घाणेकर कोळश्याची वखार विचारा. तिथे घाणेकरांना विचारा पापडवाले बेंद्रे कुठेशी राहतात? पापडवाल्या बेंद्र्यांच्या वाड्यावरून गल्ली जाते. तिच्या टोकाला माशेलकर बखळ (गल्लीला दोन टोके असतात ते विसरणे). माशेलकर बखळीत विचारायचे संपतराव लाँड्री कुठे आहे?
बा.ग.जो. : जरा सावकाश सांगा मी लिहून घेतो आहे. आताशा कापडवाल्या बेंद्र्यांच्या पर्यंत आलेलो आहे. मी : कापडवाले बेंद्रे नाहीत पापडवाले बेंद्रे. तिथे सोवळ्यातले पापड मिळतात. मग माशेलकर बखळ, मग संपतराव लाँड्री. (बस येईपर्यंत बा.ग.जो. ना घुमवायच्या बेताने) संपतराव लाँड्रीत सोनार आहेत का विचारायचे. ते तुम्हाला भोरप्यांचा वाडा दाखवतील.
बा.ग.जो. : भोरप्यांचा ? थांबा, जरा सावकाश सांगा.
मी : सावकाश काय सांगा, बस आली म्हणजे?
बा.ग.जो. : बस कशी येईल ?
मी : म्हणजे?
बा.ग.जो. : हा बस स्टॉप क्यान्सल झाला आहे.
मी : काय म्हणता ? बा.ग.जो. : अहो ! पंधरा दिवस झाले हा वनवे झालेला आहे. इकडून प्रवेश बंद. एकतरी बस इथून येऊन तिथे गेली का?
मी : मग मघाशी का नाही सांगितलत?
बा.ग.जो. : वा ! मग तुम्ही थांबला असतात का? आणि काय हो, साहित्यिक असून तुम्हाला गावातले वनवे ठौक नाहीत. कमाल आहे. काय नाव तुमचे ?
मी : (स्वत:चे नवीन बारसे साजरे करत) गोविंद गोपाळ दहिभाते.
बा.ग.जो. : आजच हे नाव ऐकतोय.
मी : मी सुद्धा! (बा.ग.जो. शुद्धीवर आहेत की बेशुद्ध आहेत ते न पाहता मी सटकतो. तात्पर्य : देवावर भार घालून सुद्धा भोग सुटतातच असे नाही.)

लेखक - पु.ल. देशपांडे.

ठकास महाठक

2009-09-27T18:35:00.001+05:30

ठाण्यामध्ये श्री. कखग नावाचे एक मराठी लघु उद्योजक आहेत. त्यांचा कारखाना ज्या उद्योगभवनात आहे तिथे असलेल्या इतर ११ कारखान्यांचे मालक हे अमराठी आहेत. हे सर्व अमराठी मालक सदैव संघटित असतात. विशेषतः कामगारांचे शोषण करणे, चोरून वीज वापरणे, सरकारी कार्यशाळा निरिक्षकाला (फॅक्ट्री इंस्पेक्टरला) लाच देणे, शनिवारी रात्री मद्यपानी मेजवान्या झोडणे ह्या बाबतीत त्यांची मते एकमेकांशी जुळतात. श्री. कखग ह्या गटात मोडत नसल्यामुळे थोडेसे वेगळे पडतात.

तर सांगायची गोष्ट ही की दरवर्षी गणेशोत्सवापूर्वी स्थानिक शाखेतील मावळे त्या उद्योगभवनात येऊन उत्सवासाठी काही प्रोत्साहनपर रक्कम (देणगी / खंडणी) घेऊन जातात. श्री. कखग यांची पद्धत अशी होती की ते इतर ११ मालकांकडून प्रत्येकी रु. १००/- घेऊन, घासाघीस करून, गोड बोलून मावळ्यांना रु. १५०० ऐवजी रु. ११००/- मध्ये पटवायचे आणि चहा-नाश्ता देऊन कटवायचे. ते स्वतःचे पैसे घालत नसत. कारण आपले पैसे केवळ सुरवाणी, जिज्ञासा, हरियाली इ. चांगल्या संस्थांना देण्यासाठीच आहेत ह्या बद्दल त्यांच्या मनात कोणतीही शंका नव्हती.

२-३ वर्षांनी इतरांना ह्या गोष्टीचा सुगावा लागला. त्यांनी सर्वांनी मिळून ठरवले की ह्या वर्षी श्री. कखग ह्यांना पैसे खर्च करायला लावायचेच. लगेच ते कखग यांच्याकडे आले व म्हणाले, "कखगभावु, ह्या वख्ताला गनेश फेस्टिवलासाठी पैसे सर्वानी वायले वायले देवुया. " कखग ह्यांनी मान डोलावली.

सालाबाद प्रमाणे जुलैमध्ये मावळे उगवले. लगेच कखग ह्यांनी त्यांचे चहा, नाश्ता देऊन प्रेमाने स्वागत केले. हवापाण्याच्या गप्पा केल्या. नंतर विनम्र स्वरांत म्हणाले की यंदा थोडी पद्धत बदललेली आहे. आम्ही सर्व लोक आपापले पैसे वेगळे देणार आहोत. हे माझे दीडशे रुपये घ्या.

पण एक सांगतो, इतर गाळेवाले उगाचच मंदीचे कारण सांगून पैसे द्यायला काचकुच करतील. हे काही बरोबर नाही. एऱ्हवी ह्यांच्याकडे पार्ट्या करायला भरपुर पैसा आहे. तुम्ही एक काम करा, प्रत्येकाकडून कमीत कमी अडिचशे घ्या, सोडू नका एकालाही. आपला उत्सव थाटामाटात झाला पाहिजे.

पुढे काय घडले ते सुज्ञांस सांगणे न लगे.

जंगले आहेत सुंदर, गुढ आणि घनदाट

2009-07-28T05:56:00.004+05:30

हिमाच्छादित संध्याकाळी जंगलाशी थांबणे - रॉबर्ट फ्रॉस्ट

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening - Robert Frost

मला वाटते मला माहित आहे, ही कोणाची झाडे आहेत.

जरी त्याचे घर गावामध्ये आहे,
बर्फाच्छादित झालेली त्याची झाडे पाहण्यासाठी इथे
थांबलेल्या मला तो पाहू शकणार नाही.

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

जवळपास कोणतीही झोपडी नसताना असे थांबणे
माझ्या शिंगराला हे नक्कीच तर्‍हेवाईक वाटेल,
(कारण) झाडी आणि गोठलेल्या तळ्याच्या मध्ये ती
संध्याकाळ आहे वर्षभरातील सर्वाधिक धुकटलेली.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

काही घोटाळा आहे का असे विचारण्यासाठी ते
खोगीराला जडवलेल्या घंटेला हलकेच झटका देते.
अन्य एकच आवाज सर्वत्र पसरलेला असतो, तो म्हणजे
हलक्या वार्‍याचा आणि खाली तरंगत येणार्‍या हिमपुंजक्यांचा.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

ही जंगले आहेत सुंदर, गुढ आणि घनदाट
पण मला काही वचने पाळायची आहेत आणि
मैलोगणती जायचे आहे मी (काळ)झोप घेण्यापूर्वी
आणि मैलोगणती जायचे आहे मी (काळ)झोप घेण्यापूर्वी....

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

खेळ

2009-07-25T19:16:00.002+05:30

मराठी भाषा शिकणे व शिकवणे हे दोन्ही कठिण आहे असे माझे ठाम मत आहे. उदा. आमची मुलगी मधील ‘च’ चा देशी उच्चार आमच़ा मुलगा मध्ये पर्शियन होऊन येतो. र्‍हस्व दीर्घाचे ’अनियमित’ नियम जाणून घेताना तर सर्वच मराठी जनांची फेंफें उडते, तिथे अमराठी जनांची काय कथा? इंग्रजी भाषा शिकताना जसे 'का' विचारणे व्यर्थ आहेच तशीच काहीशी स्थिती मराठी भाषा शिकताना होते. असे असताना गेल्या आठवड्यात योगायोगाने काही इंग्रजी माध्यमातील इ. ५-६-७-८ वीच्या विद्यार्थ्यांना अमराठी मुलांना मराठी शिकवायचा योग आला. 'हसत खेळत शिकविणे’ हे माझे तत्त्व असल्यामुळे एक गंमत म्हणून आपण लहानपणी खेळायचो तो ’नाव, गाव, फळ, फुल, रंग, प्राणी, पक्षी, खेळ, वस्तु’ हा खेळ घेतला. आधी मुलांना वाटले की हे सर्व इंग्रजीतून लिहायचे आहे. पण जेव्हा मराठी भाषेतील शब्द वापरायचे आहेत हे कळले तेव्हा त्यांचा विरस झाला. तरी पण त्यांनी नेटाने प्रयत्न करून, दिलेल्या संकेतांच्या आधारे बरेचसे शब्द शोधून काढले. त्यातल्या त्यात नाव, गाव, वस्तुंची नावे शोधणे त्यांना फारसे कठिण गेले नाही. मात्र ‘ह’ अक्षरावरून पक्षी शोधणे, ‘ब’ आणि ‘म’ वरूनफळे व रंग शोधणे, ‘र’ वरून खेळ शोधणे इ. इ. मला पण कठिण गेले. पुलंच्या ‘असा मी असामी’ चा पगडा असल्याने ‘ब’ आणि ‘म’ वरून रंग शोधायचा विचार आला तेव्हा मनात बैंगणी व मळखाऊ असे दोन शब्द रुंजी घालायला लागले. असो.

मला आठवलेली काही फळ, फुल, प्राणी, पक्षी, रंग व खेळ ह्यांची नावे सोबत देत आहे. त्यामध्ये आपणही भर घालावी ही विनम्र विनंती. तसेच काही शब्द मुद्दामच पांढर्‍या रंगात देत आहे. आपल्याला जमले तर आपण आधी आठवून पहा आणि आठवले नाहीच तर मात्र ते शब्द पहायला हरकत नाही.

वर्ण	फळ	फुल	रंग	प्राणी	पक्षी	खेळ
ब	बोर, बदाम	बकुळ	बदामी	बेडूक, बैल	बगळा	-
र	रामफळ	रातराणी	राखाडी, राणी	रेडा, रानगवा रानमांजर	राघू	रस्सीखेच
ह	-	हिरवा चाफा	हिरवा	हत्ती	होला, हळद्या	हुतूतू
म	मोसंबे	मोगरा, मल्लिका	मोरपिशी	माकड, मगर, मांजर, म्हैस	मोर	मामाचं पत्र हरवलं..
ख	खरबुज	-	खाकी	खवले मांजर, खेचर	-	खो - खो
च	चिकू	चमेली, चाफा	चंदेरी	चित्ता	चिमणी	चोरपोलीस
स	सीताफळ, सफरचंद	सदाफुली, सोनचाफा	सोनेरी, सफेद	साळींदर, सरडा, ससा	साळुंखी, ससाणा	सारीपाट
प	पिस्ता, पेरु, पपनस	पारिजात	पिवळा, पोपटी	पांडा	पोपट	पकडापकडी
अ	अननस, अंजीर	अबोली, अर्किड	अबोली, अंजिरी, आकाशी	अस्वल	अडई	आंधळी कोशिंबीर

उपाय सुचवावा

2009-07-08T20:39:00.003+05:30

मी मुंबई मराठी ग्रंथसंग्रहालय (मुंमग्र) दादर शाखेची प्रथम बालविभागाची सदस्या होते व आता सामान्य विभागाची सदस्या आहे.

माझ्या लहानपणी दूरचित्रवाणी नावाचा सर्व मनोरंजनांच्या साधनांना भस्म करणारा असुर फारसा कोणाकडे नसल्यामुळे बालविभाग सुद्धा दणकून चालायचा. मनोरंजनाची अन्य साधने होती पण वाचनालयाला पर्याय ती होऊ शकत नव्हती.

कालांतराने ग्रंथालयाची बालविभागाची बरीच पुस्तके गहाळ झाल्यावर, वेगवेगळे सदस्य क्रमांक घेऊन झाल्यावर यथावकाश मी सामान्य सदस्या झाले. म्हणजे आता मोठ्यांच्या विभागात आले होते. इथे गुप्तेबाईंच्या सारख्या तत्पर व ग्रंथालय शास्त्रातील जणू संगणक असणार्‍या ग्रंथालय सेविका होत्या. पारायणेंसारखे त्यांना पण लाखो पुस्तकांच्यात कोणते पुस्तक कुठे ठेवले आहे, लेखक कोण, प्रकाशक कोण, मुल्य काय हे सारे तोंडपाठ असायचे. त्यावेळी सर्व ग्रंथालय सेविका उत्तम सेवा देत होत्या आणि आजही देत आहेत. तेही केवळ प्रतिदिनी रु. १/- इतक्या कमी सदस्य शुल्कात (ग्रंथालयाचे मासिक शुल्क रु. ३० आहे).

मात्र त्यावेळी माझा सदस्य क्रमांक ९०० च्या आसपास होता. तो दरवर्षी कमी होत होत आता चाळीसच्या आसपास आलेला आहे. बालविभाग तर नामशेष झालेला आहे. प्रौढांचा विभाग बहुतांशी पुस्तकांवर चालण्याऐवजी गृहशोभिका सारख्या मासिकांवर चालत आहे. अंदाजे लाखभर पुस्तके वाचकांची वाट पाहात आहेत. सर्व ग्रंथप्रेमींनी ह्यावर गांभीर्याने विचार करण्याची वेळ आली आहे.

बरेच जण म्हणतात की मुंमग्र ने आता इंग्रजी पुस्तके ठेवावीत. पण इंग्रजी पुस्तके वाचनासाठी ठेऊन मराठीचा वाचक वर्ग वाढेल असे म्हणणे फारसे सुसंगत आहे असे मला वाटत नाही. अर्थात असे होऊ पण शकेल, मला नक्की कल्पना नाही.

आपल्याला काही तर्कयुक्त विचार सुचतो का?

मला एक उपाय सुचतो तो म्हणजे शासनाने फिरते ग्रंथालय निर्माण करून मुंबईत ज्या मराठी शाळा आर्थिकदृष्ट्या दुर्बळ आहेत त्यांच्या दरवाज्यापर्यंत ही पुस्तके न्यावीत तसेच उद्योगजगताला पुरक असणार्‍या पुस्तकांचे संच करून वेगवेगळ्या उद्योगांमध्ये ते तिथल्या चाकरवर्गाला देता येतील ह्यासाठी तिथे लघुशाखा निर्माण कराव्यात. उदा. दर आठवड्याला बँकेत अर्थशास्त्राशी संबंधित वेगवेगळी पुस्तके ठेऊन तिथल्या कर्मचार्‍यांना पुस्तके वाचण्यास प्रवृत्त करणे.

असो. आपणही ह्या विषयावर चिंतन करावे व आपली मते मांडावीत.

माहिती द्या

2009-06-11T15:08:00.006+05:30

मी लहान असताना माझ्या बाबांनी आमच्या घरात टेलिफोन आणला. आमच्या आळीत आलेला तो पहिलाच टेलिफोन होय. मला अजूनही भिंतीवर लटकवलेले ते सुरेखसे चकाकणारे टेलिफोनचे यंत्र आठवते. एक लखलखीत झळाळता रिसीव्हर त्या चौकोनी यंत्राशेजारी लटकत असे. मी इतका लहान होतो की माझा हातच तिथपर्यंत पोहोचत नसे. पण मी आई त्यात बोलत असताना भारावल्यासारखा ऐकत असे.

एके दिवशी मला अनपेक्षितपणे शोध लागला - की त्या अद्भूत यंत्रात कोणीतरी एक आश्चर्यजनक व्यक्ती राहते. तिचे नाव होते "माहिती द्या" आणि तिला माहित नव्हते असे ह्या जगात काहीच नव्हते. ती कोणाचाही फोन नंबर देऊ शकत असे आणि कधीही बिनचुक वेळ सांगू शकत असे.

एकदा माझी आई शेजार्‍यांकडे गेली असता अचानकपणे माझा संबंध ह्या जादुच्या दिव्यातील परीशी आला. तळघरात हत्यारांशी खेळताना चुकून माझ्या बोटावर माझ्याच हातून हातोडी बसली. खरेतर वेदनेने अगदी कळवळायला झाले पण रडत बसण्यात काहीच अर्थ नव्हता कारण माझे डोळे पुसायला (सांत्वन करायला) घरात कोणीच नव्हते.

माझे ठुसठुसणारे, दुखरे बोट चोखत घरभर फिरताना अखेर मी जिन्यापाशी - टेलिफोनपाशी आलो !

मी तडक देवघरातील चौरंग आणायला धावलो आणि तो चौरंग ढकलत टेलिफोनखाली आणला. त्यावर चढून मी रिसीव्हर काढला व कानाला लावत म्हणालो, "माहिती द्या".

एक दोन बटने दाबली गेल्याचा आवाज आला आणि एक किनरा पण सुस्पष्ट आवाज ऐकू आला, "माहिती घ्या". "माझे बोट दुखत आहे" - मी हुंदके देत म्हणालो. ऐकणारे कोणीतरी असल्यामुळे डोळ्यातून लगेच अश्रु बाहेर पडायला लागले.

"तुझी आई घरात नाही का?" प्रश्न आला.
"घरात मी एकटाच आहे", मी रुद्ध कंठाने म्हणालो.
"बोटातून रक्त येत आहे का?"
"नाही", मी उत्तरलो, "माझ्या बोटावर चुकून हातोडी बसली आणि आता खूप दुखत आहे."
"तू फ्रिझ उघडून बर्फ काढू शकतोस का?", तिने विचारले. "हो"
"मग एक बर्फाचा तुकडा त्या दुखर्‍या बोटावर दाबून ठेव", ती म्हणाली.

त्यानंतर मी नेहेमीच सगळ्या काही गोष्टींसाठी "माहिती द्या" ला फोन करायला लागलो. मी तिला भूगोलाविषयी विचारले आणि तिने मला अरुणाचल कुठे आहे ते सांगितले, मी तिला गणिताविषयी विचारले. तिने मला मी नुकतीच बागेत पकडलेली खार फळे आणि शेंगदाणे खाते हे पण सांगितले.

मग एके दिवशी माझी आवडती पाळीव मैना गेली. मी "माहिती द्या" ला फोन करून ही दु:खद गोष्ट सांगितली. तिने ती गोष्ट शांतपणे संपूर्ण ऐकली व मोठी माणसे लहान मुलाची समजुत घालण्यासाठी जे काही बोलतात त्या पद्धतीचे ती बरेच काहीतरी म्हणाली.

पण माझे समाधान काही होईना. 'त्या सुस्वर आणि आमच्या सर्व कुटुंबाला आनंद देणार्‍या आकर्षक पक्षिणीचा असा दु:खद अंत का व्हावा? का तिने असे पिसे झडलेल्या अवस्थेत पाय वर करून पडावे?'

तिला माझ्या दु:खाचे गांभीर्य जाणवले असावे. ती पटकन म्हणाली, "पिंटू, लक्षात ठेव, इतरही अनेक जगे आहेत जिथे गाणे म्हणण्याची आवश्यकता आहे". मला आत कुठेतरी बरे वाटले.

नंतर एकदा मी फोन उचलून म्हणालो, "माहिती द्या" आणि आता तो ओळखीचा झालेला आवाज म्हणाला, "माहिती घ्या". मी विचारले, "स्टेशन शब्द इंग्रजीत कसा लिहायचा?".

हे सर्व घडले भारताच्या पूर्वेला एका छोट्याश्या शहरात. मग मी ९ वर्षांचा असताना आम्ही सुरतेला राहायला गेलो. मी खरोखरच माझ्या प्रिय मैत्रिणीला मुकलो. "माहिती द्या" केवळ त्याच जुन्या टेलिफोन यंत्रात राहात होती. सुरतेत आल्यावर कधीही चुकूनसुद्धा माझ्या मनात आमच्या दिवाणखान्यातील टेबलावर विराजमान झालेल्या नव्या टेलिफोनचा वापर करावा असे आले नाही.

पुढे जरी मी तारुण्यात प्रवेश केला तरीही मी त्या सुखद संवादाच्या मोहक आठवणी कधीही विसरू शकलो नाही. गोंधळलेल्या आणि शंकाकुल मनस्थितीत नेहेमी मला त्या प्रसन्न सुरक्षित करणार्‍या संभाषणाची आठवण येत असे. मला आता जाणवत होते की एखाद्या लहान मुलाच्या निरागस पण बालिश शंकांना उत्तरे देण्यासाठी वेळ देताना ती किती संयत, समजुतदार आणि प्रेमळ असणे गरजेचे होते ते.
नंतर काही वर्षांनी गुवाहाटीला उच्च शिक्षणासाठी जाताना मला कोलकत्याच्या विमानतळावर १५-२० मिनिटे थांबण्याची वेळ आली. मग मी सध्या तिथे राहात असलेल्या माझ्या बहिणीशी गप्पा मारल्या आणि तो फोन संपल्यावर नकळत पुन्हा फोन उचलून विचार न करता सहज म्हणालो, "माहिती द्या".

१-२ दा बटणे दाबली गेल्याचा आवाज आला आणि चमत्कार घडला, मी तोच ओळखीचा किनरा पण सुस्पष्ट आवाज पुन्हा ऐकला - "माहिती घ्या". मी काही ठरवले नव्हते पण सहज माझ्या तोंडून शब्द बाहेर पडले, "स्टेशन शब्द इंग्रजीत कसा लिहायचा?"

२ मिनिटे नि:शब्द शांततेत गेले आणि मृदु आवाजात उत्तर ऐकू आले, "एव्हाना तुझे दुखरे बोट बरे झाले असेल ना..."

मला हसू फुटले. "म्हणजे ती तूच आहेस अजूनही", मी म्हणालो, "तुला काही कल्पना आहे का तुझे माझ्याशी बोलणे हे त्या काळात माझ्यासाठी किती महत्त्वाचे होते ते?"

"तुला काही कल्पना आहे का?" ती म्हणाली, "तुझे माझ्याशी बोलणे हे त्या काळात माझ्यासाठी किती खास होते ते? मला कधीच मुलबाळ झाले नाही. मी आतुरतेने तुझ्या फोनची वाट पाहात असे." मी तिला सांगितले की कशी वारंवार मला तिची आठवण येत असे आणि मी तिला गहिवरून विचारले की परत कोलकत्याला येईन तेव्हा मी तिला फोन करू शकतो का?

ती म्हणाली, "जरूर कर आणि मी नसले तर सरोजिनी आहे का ते विचार". नंतर ३ महिन्यांनी मी काही कामानिमित्त कोलकत्याला परत आलो, ह्या वेळी एक वेगळाच आवाज माहिती देण्यासाठी पुढे आला. मी सरोजिनी आहे का असे विचारले.

"तू तिचा मित्र आहेस का?"
"हो, अगदी जुना मित्र".
"मला सांगायला वाईट वाटते पण सरोजिनी गेले काही महिने आजारपणामुळे आमच्याकडे अर्धवेळ नोकरी करीत होती. ती गेल्या महिन्यात वारली".

मी फोन ठेवणारच होतो पण तो आवाज म्हणाला, "एक मिनिट, तुझे नाव पिंटू आहे का?" मी हो म्हटले.

"असे असेल तर तुझ्यासाठी एक निरोप आहे. सरोजिनीने तो लिहून ठेवला आहे. मी वाचून दाखवते - त्याला सांगा, पिंटू, लक्षात ठेव, इतरही अनेक जगे आहेत जिथे गाणे म्हणण्याची आवश्यकता आहे. मला काय म्हणायचे ते त्याला नक्की कळेल".

मी तिचे आभार मानून फोन ठेवला. मला नक्कीच माहित होते की सरोजिनीला काय म्हणायचे होते ते.
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मी जरी अनुवाद क्षेत्राशी संबंधित असले तरी आता पावेतो कधीही मराठी ललित साहित्याचा अनुवाद केलेला नव्हता. मात्र आज एक प्रयोग म्हणून एक अग्रप्रेषित हृद्य लघुकथा अनुवादित करत आहे. हा अनुवाद करताना थोडेसे स्थानिकीकरणाचे स्वातंत्र्य सुद्धा घेतले आहे. मूळ कथा इथे वाचता येईल. आपल्यापैकी कोणालाही जमले तर मी दिलेली कथा शब्दरचना, विशेषनामे आपल्या कल्पनेप्रमाणे, आवडीप्रमाणे बदलून इथे प्रतिसादात संपूर्ण घालावी व चांगला अनुवाद कसा करता येईल ह्याचा वस्तुपाठ घालून द्यावा ही विनंती.

नृशंस

2009-06-02T17:12:00.002+05:30

माझे वडिल इझ्रायल प्रेमी असल्याकारणाने आमच्या घरात सर्वांत जास्त पुस्तके इझ्रायल, ज्यू, ज्यू तत्वज्ञान, दुसरे महायुद्ध ह्या संदर्भात होती. ना.ह. पालकरांचे "इझ्रायल, छळाकडून बळाकडे" मी अनेकदा वाचले. त्यावेळी मला दोन गोष्टींचा प्रचंड अभिमान वाटत असे - १) जगाच्या पाठीवर भारत हा असा एकच देश आहे जिथे ज्यू धर्मीयांचा केवळ ते ज्यू आहेत ह्या एका गोष्टीमुळे छळ झाला नाही. २) ना.ह. पालकरांच्या लिखाणाची दखल घेऊन त्यांना अभिवादन म्हणून इझ्रायलमध्ये एका रस्त्याला त्यांचे नाव देण्यात आले (लक्षात घ्या की इझ्रायल हा एक आकारमानाने महाराष्ट्राच्या १/३ देश आहे).

त्यानंतर वि. ग. कानेटकरांचे "इझ्रायल, युद्ध, युद्ध आणि युद्धच" हे पुस्तक वाचले. इझ्रायल सारखे एक चिमुकले राष्ट्र जन्मल्याक्षणी सहा क्रुर व खुनशी इस्लामी शेजार्‍यांशी कसा लढा देते व पुढे पण वेळोवेळी अतुट राष्ट्रनिष्ठा, विजिगिषु वृत्ती आणि योग्य राजकीय डावपेच ह्यांच्या जोरावर ते कसे सततच्या लढाया जिंकत जाते ते मूळातूनच वाचण्याजोगे आहे.

मी अनेकदा पाहते की लोक म्हणतात की अमेरिकेचा पाठिंबा होता म्हणून इझ्रायल तगले. पण इझ्रायल जरी अमेरिकेचे सहाय घेत असले तरी ते एक व्यापाराचा भाग म्हणून. त्यात कोणताही मिंधेपणा नाही. अनेकदा इझ्रायलने अमेरिकेला न पटणारे निर्णय घेतलेला आहेत. प्रत्येक इझ्रायली परराष्ट्रमंत्र्याने अमेरिकेला बजावले आहे की इझ्रायलला अमेरिकेची गरज नसून अमेरिकेला शीतयुद्धात मध्यपूर्वेत गैर-इस्लामिक सहयोगी म्हणून इझ्रायलची गरज आहे व अमेरिकेची अर्थव्यवस्था ज्यू धनिकांच्या हातात आहे.

तसेच केवळ अमेरिकेच्या पाठिंब्यावर जर कोणतेही राष्ट्र सशक्त बनू शकते असे जर कोणाला म्हणायचे असेल तर त्यांनी आज पाकिस्तानची अवस्था पाहावी. असो.

पुढे पुढे, इ. ९-१० मध्ये असताना इंग्रजी पुस्तके वाचायची सवय लागली. एनिड ब्लिटन, एरिक क्येस्तनर वैगरेंची पुस्तके वाचता वाचता लिऑन युरिसचा "एक्सोडस" हा पहिलाच मोठा ग्रंथ वाचला. खरेतर ती एक सुरस कादंबरी आहे. मात्र त्यातील प्रसंग हे सत्य घटनेवर आधारित आहेत. कादंबरी वाचत गेले आणि मला तिचे वेडच लागले. तिचे इतके वेळा पारायण केले की कित्येक उतारे तोंडपाठ झाले. सुरवातीला इंग्रजी शब्दांचे अर्थ संदर्भाने कळायचे. मग मी एकदा न कळलेले शब्द लिहून काढायचा व शब्दकोशात त्याचा अर्थ शोधायचा व मग पुन्हा एकदा तो उतारा वाचायचा असे चालू केले. मग ही कादंबरी पुन्हा नवी होऊन समोर आली.

विशेषत: ऑश्विट्झ, ट्रेबलिंका, बिर्केनाऊ वै. ची वर्णने वाचून अंगावर काटा उभा राहिला. युरोप आणि रशियातून ज्यूंचा समूळ नि:पात करायचा ह्या वेड्या विचारांपायी ज्या क्रुरतेने ६० लाख ज्यूंची ह्या छळछावण्यातून निर्मम हत्या करण्यात आली ती वर्णने वाचवत नाहीत. त्यातूनही जे बचावले त्यांची, विशेषत: मुलांची शारीरिक व त्याहीपेक्षा जास्त मानसिक अवस्था पाहून मन विदीर्ण होते.

आज हे सर्व आठवायचे कारण की भारतात सध्या हिस्टरी वाहिनीवर आश्विट्झ विषयी विशेष मालिका चालू आहे. ती पाहिल्यावर मनाला प्रश्न पडतो की कोणाचीही एखाद्या गोष्टीबद्दल, समाजाबद्दल इतकी टोकाची मते कशी काय बनू शकतात? मात्र जर समाजातील काहींची अशी मते बनली तरी त्यांच्या अमानवी आज्ञांचे पालन समाजातील इतर माणसे उदा. आईखमन, डॉ. योसेफ मिंगेल इ. कशी काय करू शकतात?

एखादा डेन्मार्क सारखा देश सोडला तर सरसकट सर्व युरोपीय देश ह्या ज्यूंच्या कत्तलीकडे डोळेझाक करतात किंवा स्वत:ला सुरक्षित ठेवण्याकरता स्वत:हून आपल्या देशातील ज्यूंना जर्मनांच्या ताब्यात देतात. जणू काही ज्यूंचे शिरकाण ही त्यांची स्वत:चीच इच्छा जर्मन गेस्टापो पूर्ण करीत असते. उदा. रशियामध्ये अनेक शतके ज्यूंच्या कत्तली (पोग्रोम) उघड चालू होत्या. रस्त्यात चालणार्‍या एकट्या दुकट्या ज्यूंना ठार मारणे हा काहींचा छंद होता. रशियन सरकारच अश्या गोष्टींना सतत प्रोत्साहन देत असे.
पुढे ऑश्विट्झ सारख्या छळ छावण्या झाल्यावर गाड्या भरभरून ज्यू संपूर्ण युरोप आणि रशियातून आणण्यात आले. फार कमी सहृदय लोकांनी ह्या काळात ज्यूंना आश्रय व रसद दिली. पोलंडसारख्या देशात तर दुसरे महायुद्ध संपल्यावर जे दुर्दैवी ज्यू छळ छावण्यांमधून कसेबसे वाचून परत आपल्या घरी परतायचे ह्या विचारांनी परत येताना दिसले त्यांना पोलिश लोकांनी प्रचंड विरोध केला. हे सर्व समाजशास्त्राच्या दृष्टीने अनाकलनीय आहे.

कोकण प्रवास

2009-04-23T18:19:00.001+05:30

माझे कोकणात पूर्वी बरेचदा येणे जाणे असल्याने प्रवासाच्या दृष्टिने माझ्या काही गोष्टी लक्षात आल्या. त्या इथे नमुद करू इच्छिते.

१) कोकण रेल्वे - हिचे नाव बदलून गोवा - मंगळूर रेल्वे करायला हरकत नाही. कारण गाड्यांना कोकणात थांबे कमी. बर्‍याच स्थानकांवर गाड्या थांबत नाही. काही ठिकाणी तर किमान राजापुर सारख्या महत्त्वांच्या स्थानकांवर तरी ही रेल्वे थांबवावी म्हणून लोकांना आंदोलने करावी लागली. मुख्य महसूल गोवा आणि पुढच्या भागातील स्थानकांवर उतरणार्‍या प्रवाशांकडून. २) एकच रुळ असल्या कारणाने लांब पल्ल्याच्या गाड्यांना प्राधान्य. बरेचदा गाड्यांच्या वेळापत्रकात गडबड झाली की लहान अंतरावर जाणार्‍या गाड्यांना बाजूला ठेऊन लांब पल्ल्याच्या गाड्यांना पुढे काढले जाते. ३) भुसभुशीत जमीन पोतामुळे दरडी कोसळणे, रुळावरून गाडी घसरणे इ. प्रकार घडतात (विशेषत: पावसाळ्यात). ४) बरीचशी स्थानके मूळ गावापासून बरीच लांब. त्यामुळे रेल्वे तिकिट दर कमी असले तरी पुढे रिक्षाने त्याच्या २-३ पट पैसे टाकून आपल्या गावाला जाणे म्हणजे पैशाचा अपव्यव तर होतोच पण रिक्षा मिळाली नाही तर टेम्पो वैगरेने किमान महामार्गाने तरी कसबसे यावे लागते. मगच पुढचे वाहन मिळू शकते. उदा. आमच्या गावाला जर जायचे असेल तर आडवली ह्या स्थानकावर (इथे कोकण रेल्वेच्या काही मोजक्याच गाड्या थांबतात) उतरून (रु. १००) रिक्षाने किंवा टेम्पोने लांज्यापर्यंत (रु. १००) आणि मग एस्टीने किंवा ती मिळाली नाही तर पुन्हा स्थानिक रिक्षाने (रु. १००) गावापर्यंत पोहोचावे लागते. ५) सुट्ट्यांच्या दिवसात आरक्षण मिळणे कठिण. आरक्षण असले तरी बरेचदा गाडीत इतकी प्रचंड गर्दी असते की जीव मुठीत धरून प्रवास करावा लागतो. असो.

दुसरा पर्याय खुष्कीच्या मार्गाचा - बरेच जण स्वत:च्या वाहनाने कोकणात जातात. मात्र सार्वजनिक वाहतुकीने जायचे असेल तर एस्टीने जाणे सर्वाधिक सुरक्षित. कारण प्रशिक्षित चालक आणि बस पंक्चर (मराठी?) झाली तर तातडीने जवळपासच्या आगारातून दुसर्‍या बसची सोय केली जाते. तिसरे महत्त्वाचे म्हणजे चालकांना दारू पिण्यास मनाई आहे. तसेच एस्टी ठरल्या वेळेला निघते. प्रवासी (सीटा) भरेपर्यंत खोळंबा करत नाही. तसेच एस्टिचे जाळे सर्वदूर पसरले आहे. एका ठिकाणी गेले किदुसर्‍या ठिकाणी जावयाची एस्टी संबद्ध (Connected) एस्टी त्याच आगारात मिळू शकते. आम्ही आजही कोकणात जाताना लाल रंगाच्या / एशियाड एस्टीने जाणे पसंद करतो. पण चांगल्या स्वच्छतागृहांचा अभाव हे मात्र एस्टी प्रवास टाळण्यास कारणीभूत ठरू शकते.

कोकणात खाजगी ट्रॅव्हलर्सच्या व्होल्व्हो वाहतुकीने जाणे हे मात्र एक दिव्य आहे. १) गाड्या बेदम हाणणे. वेगाची ऐशी तैशी. १ दिवसात एकच वाहन चालक एकाच गाडीला सहज ६००-७०० कि.मी.चा प्रवास घडवतो. २) अशिक्षित चालक ३) व्यसनी चालक ४) बसमधील प्रत्येक सीट भरेपर्यंत जागोजागी गाडी थांबवणे. ५) नंतर वाट्टेल तशी गाडी हाणून वेळेची भरपाई करणे. ६) गाड्या केवळ महागड्या धाब्यांवरच थांबवणे जिथे अनेकदा जेवण शिळे, बेचव असते किंवा उपलब्ध नसते. ७) अपघात झाला तर प्रवाश्यांसाठी विमा संरक्षण नसणे. ८) क्षमतेपेक्षा जास्त प्रवासी भरणे. ९) प्रवाश्यांशी दादागिरी / पैशावरून भांडणे. १०) ह्या खाजगी गाड्या अनेकदा भंगारातून सेकंडहँड घेतलेल्या असतात. त्यांची पुरेशी देखभाल केलेली नसते. ११) टुकार मराठी चित्रपट भसाड्या आवाजात लावणे.

तिसरा मुद्दा येतो तो महामार्ग १७ वरील रस्त्यांची स्थिती आणि वाहतुक खोळंबा (Traffic Jam) ह्यांचा.
सध्या कोकणातील मुख्य रस्ते नारायणकृपेने चांगले झाले आहेत. मात्र अनेक ठिकाणी ते रुंदीला कमी आहेत. वडखळ नाका वैगरे अशी ठिकाणे आहेत जिथे हमखास वाहतुक खोळंबा होतोच होतो. तसेच घाटात अशिक्षित चालकांमुळे / डुलकी लागल्यामुळे होणारे अपघात, खाजगी वाहतुकदारांच्या बेफाम गाड्या हाकण्यामुळे होणारे अपघात, पावसाळ्यात रस्ते निसरडे झाल्याने अपघात अश्या अनेक कारणामुळे अनेकदा प्रवास ५-६ तास विलंबाने होतो. जो प्रवास एर्‍हवी ८ तासांत होतो त्याला कधीकधी १४-१६ तास सुद्धा लागतात. तसेच पावसाळ्यात कित्येकदा पूर येतात. प्रवास अधिकच अवघड ठरतो.
ह्या सर्व गोष्टींना चांगला पर्याय हा जलवाहातुकीचा ठरू शकतो. कोकणातील मुख्य बंदरांचा सर्वांगीण विकास करणे त्यासाठी महत्त्वाचे ठरेल. १) गाळ काढणे २) व्यावसायिक जेट्टी बांधणे ३) संबद्ध वाहतुकीचा योग्य पर्याय ठेवणे. उदा. गेटवेला अलिबाग तिकिट काढले तर रेवस पर्यंत बोटीने प्रवास करावा लागतो आणि तिच बोट कंपनी पुढे त्याच तिकिटात अलिबाग पर्यंत आपल्या बसने लगेच नेऊन सोडते. ४) वेगवेगळ्या प्रकारची वाहतुक उपलब्ध करणे उदा. सामान्य, जलद, ऐषो-आरामी इ. तसेच वेगवेगळ्या प्रवासी आणि पर्यटन योजना जाहीर करणे. ५) व्यापारी वाहतुकीसाठी गोद्या बांधणे.

ह्या पर्यायामुळे कोकणचा सर्वांगीण विकास होईल ह्यात शंका नाही मात्र त्यासाठी प्रबळ राजकीय इच्छाशक्ती हवी. (क्रमश:)

WHY NEWTON COMMITTED SUICIDE???

2009-02-24T11:46:00.002+05:30

Here is the reason. Once, Newton came to India and watched a few Tamil movies that had his head spinning. He was convinced that all his logic and laws in physics were just a huge pile of junk and apologized for everything he had done.

In the movie of Rajanikanth, Newton was confused to such an extent that he went paranoid.

Here are a few scenes :

1) Rajanikanth has a Brain Tumor which, according to the doctors can't be cured and his death is imminent. In one of the fights, our great Rajanikanth is shot in the head. To everybody's surprise, the bullet passes through his ears taking away the tumor along with it and he is cured! Long Live Rajanikanth!

2) In another movie, Rajanikanth is confronted with 3 gangsters. Rajanikanth has a gun but unfortunately only one bullet and a knife. Guess, what he does? He throws the knife at the middle gangster? & shoots the bullet towards the knife. The knife cuts the bullet into 2 pieces, which kills both the gangsters on each side of the middle gangster & the knife kills the middle one.

3) Rajanikanth is chased by a gangster. Rajanikanth has a revolver but no bullets in it. Guess what he does. Nah? Not even in your remotest imaginations. He waits for the gangster to shoot. As soon as the gangster shoots, Rajanikanth opens the bullet compartment of his revolver and catches the bullet. Then, he closes the bullet compartment and fires his gun.
Bang...the gangster dies... This was too much for our Newton to take! He was completely shaken and decided to go back. But he happened to see another movie for one last time, and thought that at least one movie would follow his theory of physics. The whole movie goes fine and Newton is happy that all in the world hasn't changed. Oops, not so fast!

The 'climax' finally arrives. Rajanikanth gets to know that the villain is on the other side of a very high wall. So high that Rajanikanth can't jump even if he tries like one of those superman techniques that our heroes normally use.

Rajanikanth has to desperately kill the villain because it's the climax. (Big brother Newton is smiling since it is virtually impossible?)

Rajanikanth suddenly pulls two guns from his pockets. He throws one gun in the air and when the gun has reached above the height of the wall, he uses the second gun and shoots at the trigger of the first gun in air. The first gun fires off and the villain is dead. Newton Commits Suicide!!!!!!!!!!

Original post : WHY NEWTON COMMITTED SUICIDE???

Situation 1

2009-02-24T11:39:00.000+05:30

There was a criminal called `Raju’ who was suffering a rigorous imprisonment for 10 years in a jail. Before the eighth year of his imprisonment he escaped from the jail and in order to avoid police he had gone to a tiny village in an adjacent state and started living there in a hope that nobody will recognize him.

He started a small business there. Gradually his business flourished and in a few years he was well-known as a successful businessman. He used to help the village people financially, used to give advises to the people, used to give decisions in small disputes and he also built a temple in the village.

One day a newly married bride called Jayashree comes to this village. She is a simple lady, straightforward, hard-working and kind. She becomes the gem of her family.

One fine day she sees Raju and recognizes him as a escaped criminal. She couldn’t sleep for the next three days due to her conscience ….. One moment she feels that as he became a good person she should not go to police and other moment she feels that as an alert citizen its her duty to tell the police that this is the one who escaped from the jail. Now suppose that you are that Jayashree. What you would have done….. What will be your decision and why? Explain it in few words.

Original post and must read comments : Situation 1

Born to live...

2009-02-24T11:35:00.002+05:30

Don't go the way life takes you. Take the life the way you go. And remember, you are born to live and not living because you are born.

Original post : Born to live !!!

Raju and Jayashree

2009-02-24T11:31:00.001+05:30

Reference: My second last blog `Situation 1’.

When I was doing B.Ed. one day our teacher suddenly presented this situation to us and asked our opinions on it. As we were 100 students, nearly 40-50 students gave their opinions. Few of us asked the teacher her own opinion. And other students remained silent.

The situation given here is called dilemma situation. It is to be given in the classroom and students are asked to give opinion. When students respond to this situation it gradually helps them to increase their power of decision making and moral development as this question and the answers on it by other people stir their mind.

Sometimes students change their opinion hearing colleague’s opinion. It is good in the sense that the teacher could take the student to desired moral development. But teacher must not give her own opinion as a senior figure her right/wrong opinion could affect the students.

On our each opinion teacher asked us some questions but never told her own opinion. Later she told us to repeat the same procedure in regular classrooms when we’ll become the teacher.
My experience of Std. 8th student is that every child has his own ideas/explanation about the situation. They do not talk philosophy but they have certain action plan. They never say let ‘Jayashree’ do it but they say that I’ll do this and that. Lastly I’ll say they have special way of thinking, unusual logic and a capacity to think with totally diverse angle.

Such situations help them for moral development in adolescent which helps them in later years. It also helps them to think about a question with various angles and to respect other’s opinion.

Thanks and warm regards,
Mrudula.

The moral development technique most often used is to present a hypothetical or factual value dilemma story which is then discussed in small groups. Students are presented with alternative viewpoints within these discussions which are in hypothesized to lead to higher, more developed moral thinking. There are three critical variables that make a dilemma appropriate:
The story must present "a real conflict for the central character", include "a number of moral issues for consideration", and "generate differences of opinion among students about the appropriate response to the situation."

A leader who can help to focus the discussion on moral reasoning.

A classroom climate that encourages students to express their moral reasoning freely.

The links :
http://www.vtaide.com/blessing/Kohlberg.htm
http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/affsys/values.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohlberg's_stages_of_moral_development

Original post : Raju and Jayashree

Stay connected.....

2009-02-24T11:23:00.001+05:30

It was a sports stadium. Eight Children were standing on the track to participate in the running event. * Ready! * Steady! * Bang!!! With the sound of Toy pistol, all eight girls started running. Hardly have they covered ten to fifteen steps, one of the smaller girls slipped and fell down, due to bruises and pain she started crying. When other seven girls heard this sound, stopped running, stood for a while and turned back, they all ran back to the place where the girl fell down. One among them bent, picked and kissed the girl gently and enquired 'Now pain must have reduced'. All seven girls lifted the fallen girl, pacified her, two of them held the girl firmly and they all seven joined hands together and walked together and reached the winning post.
Officials were shocked. Clapping of thousands of spectators filled the stadium. Many eyes were filled with tears and perhaps it had reached the GOD even!

YES. This happened in Hyderabad, recently !

The sport was conducted by National Institute of Mental Health.

All these special girls had come to participate in this event and they are spastic children.
Yes, they were mentally retarded.What did they teach this world?
Teamwork?
Humanity?
Equality among all? . . . . . . . . ????

"Successful people help others who are slow in learning so that they are not left far behind."
Stay connected........

Original post : Stay connected.....

Pampered

2009-02-24T11:09:00.002+05:30

The Hicks family of Adelaide, Australia, before going on a long overseas holiday, dropped their Persian cat, Howie, off with their parents, whom lived over one thousand miles away from Adelaide. Months later when the Hicks family returned and was ready to pick Howie up, they found out that Howie had escaped in his second week of visiting.
Howie was an indoor cat who had never even seen a dog, and never hunted anything more substantial than a housefly. The family was heartbroken, and searched for him for a month without success. Having to return to Adelaide, their home was not the same, but they could not bring themselves to get another cat.
A year had passed, when one afternoon they found a miserable looking longhaired cat, with a wounded paw, who was filthy and starved. When their daughter Kirsten came home from school and saw the cat, she stopped, then ran forward screaming out “Howie ! Howie !”. The mother was shocked, could this straggly cat be their pedigree Persian? It was Howie.
In the twelve months it had taken Howie to make the one-thousand-mile trek home, the pampered Persian had somehow forded rivers, crossed two tracts of hostile desert and fought his way through the vast wilderness of the Australian outback. He knew where his home was and neither distance nor danger could keep him from coming back. A trip to the vet, lots of food and love, and soon he looked again like the proud Persian king of his household.

The Link : http://rulingcatsanddogs.com/cat-stories-feline-story-pampered-persian.htm

Original post and comments : Pampered

सुभाषितम्.....

2009-02-24T11:00:00.000+05:30

सुखस्य दु:खस्य कोऽपि न दाता
परो ददाति इति कुबुद्धिरेषा ।
अहं करोमीति वृथाभिमान:
स्वकर्मसूत्रे ग्रथितो हि लोक:।।

There is no one who gives us happiness or pain. The thinking that someone else gives it is totally wrong. The feeling ‘I do’ (I’m the doer) is wrong. Every person is bonded with the `Karma’ of his/her previous birth (Whatever happens with us is an effect of our previous birth behaviour).

सुख या दुःख देनेवाला कोई भी नहीं होता। दूसरा कोई हमें यह देता है, यह विचार गलत है। "मैं करता हूँ", यह अभिमान गलत है। सभी अपने-अपने पूर्वजन्म के कर्मों से बन्धे हुए होते हैं।

Original post : सुभाषितम्.....

The Help

2009-02-24T10:55:00.000+05:30

A man is walking along the street when he is brutally beaten and robbed. He lies unconscious, bleeding.
While he is lying there, a police officer passes by but crosses to the other side of the road, without trying to help.
A boy scout troop does the same. As does a number of pedestrians.
Finally, a Psychologist walks by, and runs up to the man. He bends down and says, "My God! Whoever did this, needs help."
.
- Thanks to C. Buckly and others.

Original post and must read comments : The Help

Wah Wah

2009-02-24T10:53:00.001+05:30

Few days ago I sent a piece of Shayari as a personal message to all. My 360 Friend Mr. Aanand Ghare replied instantly in poetic form only. Just putting it here as a blog before I forget. Hats off to his poetic ability....

-------------Mrudula wrote:

ऐ दोस्त तू भी लिखाकर शायरी,
किसी दिन मेरी तरह तेरा भी नाम हो जाएगा,
जब तुझ पर भी पडेंगे अण्डे टमाटर,
तेरी भी शाम की सब्ज़ी का इंतझाम हो जाएगा ।
(My dear friend, start writing poems and be a famous poet like me,
when people will throw the eggs and tomatos on you, atleast you will have something for the diner)
.
----------------Aanand Ghare wrote:
.
बात मान ली आपकी, बन ही गये शायर । पहुंचे मुशायरे झोलेमे उम्मीदें लेकर ।
झोलेवालोंकी भीड थी, नामुमकिन घुसना अंदर । ना हुवा नाम, ना मिले अंडे ना टमाटर ।

(I followed your advice to become a poet. Went to a concert holding hopes great. Could not pierce through the crowd of hopefulls. Returned home with neither fame nor vegetables. )

Original post : Wah Wah!

आषाढस्य प्रथमदिवसे

2009-02-24T10:39:00.001+05:30

तस्मिन्नन्द्रो कतिचिदबलाविप्रयुक्त: स कामी नीत्वा मासान् कनकवलयभ्रंशरिक्तप्रकोष्ठ: ।
आषाढस्य प्रथमदिवसे मेघमाश्लिष्टसानुं वप्रक्रिडापरिणतगजप्रेक्षणीयं ददर्श ।।

A certain Yaksha who had been negligent in the execution of his own duties, deprived of his powers on account of a curse from his master which was to be endured for a year and which was onerous as it separated him from his beloved, made his residence among the hermitages of Ramagiri, whose waters were blessed by the bathing of the daughter of Janaka and whose shade trees grew in profusion. (1)

That lover, separated from his beloved, whose gold armlet had slipped from his bare forearm(as he became thin due to separation), having dwelt on that mountain for some months, on the first day of the month of Ashadha, saw a cloud embracing the summit which resembled a mature elephant playfully butting a bank.

Original post : आषाढस्य प्रथमदिवसे

Was Dheerubhai wrong?

2009-02-24T10:34:00.000+05:30

Few years ago I read a hand-book by great industrialist and visionary Dheerubhai Ambani named “India a superpower by 2020”.

The time when I read it was totally disturbed atmosphere for an Indian Economy. Everyone was experiencing the shortcomings of accepting globalisation. The economical corruption was on the peak as it is today and the GDP and other indicatory rates were depressing. Moreover the MNCs were trying to buy Indian Market using the money-power by manipulating economical policies.

As I was an Economic’s student I felt that it is a sheer madness to think India as an economical superpower not only within next 2 decades but atleast for next 50 years.

But on June 25, 2006 the world biggest steel company Arselor merged into Mittal Steel which is owned by India Born Industrialist L.N. Mittal. It was a major set-back for not all but for some Eauropeans who were opposing Mittal due to their Racial Ideas.

On the same day Tata Tea, a well known Indian Company baught US-based Eight O’ Clock Coffee Company for $220 m.

Our commerce minister Kamalnath righly pointed out the changing conditions and said that “I’m happy that some countries have realised that globalisation is not a one way street. They are realising that Indians are creating economic activity in their country”.

One can read it about it in detail in June 26, 2006 Economics Times issue. But the most important article in the same issue is “The Year Of The Liger”.

In this article the ET said that Indian Lions are taking over Global Tigers and gave the list of some recent overtakings viz. Beta farm was takenover by Dr. Reddy’s Lab for $570 m in Feb. 06, Sinvest was takenover 33.08% by Aban Lloyd for $446 m in June 06, Terapia was takenover by Ranbaxi Lab for $324 m in May. 06, Docfarma was takenover 22% by Matrix Lab for $263 m in June. 05, Teleglobe was takenover by VSNL for $239 m in July 05, Millenium Steel was takenover by Tata Steel for $175 m in Dec. 05.

Frankly speaking these overtaking are nothing do with current stock exchange index as it is driven by the operators but does make an long lasting positive impact on our economy and I think the India will be the economical superpower by 2015 if the same environment continues….

The question remains : Was Dheerubhai wrong expecting India as a superpower by 2020?

- Mrudula Tambe

Original post : Was Dheerubhai wrong?

A night with unknown....

2009-02-24T10:30:00.000+05:30

A man and a woman, who had never met before, found themselves assigned to the same sleeping room on a transcontinental train.

Though initially embarrassed and uneasy over sharing a room, the two were tired and fell asleep quickly, he in the upper bunk and she in the lower.

At 2:00 AM, he leaned over and gently wakes the woman, saying, "Ma'am, I'm sorry to bother you, but would you be kind enough to reach into the closet to get me a second blanket? I'm awfully cold." "I have a better idea," she replied. "Just for tonight, why don't we pretend that we're married?" ;-) "Wow! That's a great idea!!" he is excited. Next..... . . . .
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . she remarked "Then getup and take it yourself"!!

Original post : A night with unknown....

The best YOGA position

2009-02-24T10:27:00.001+05:30

To forget all the bad and unwanted memories and to gain health...

Original post : The best YOGA position

The ugly truth

2009-02-24T10:15:00.000+05:30

Frendz,
This anti-smoking advert is from Everest Brand Solution, Mumbai. It is shown that the smoke room is a grave-room. It may win a prize but according to me there is a small mistake.
As per my experience usually the active smoker never dies due to smoking but person next to him i.e. The passive smoker must dies because of Cancer, Asthma, and TB etc. I think this is because the smoker’s body cells get used to the toxin.
When I see a newly married couple and husband is smoking I feel that what will be his marriage anniversary gift to his wife, Cancer or TB? I truly feel that smokers do not love their family. There may be passion but not a love in any form.
This situation starts in adolescent. In childhood they know that cigarrate is injurious to health. Many of the children pledge to keep away from cigarrete and tobacco. But in adolescent their bond with family gradually decreases to nil and their friends takeover the control of their mind. Friends become the source of smoking habit. There may be some psychological reason behind it but I haven’t seen the person started smoking on his own or family members are asking a person to smoke. This is a peers’ pressure which works.
Also in movies and advertises it is hammered again and again that smoking is a symbol of manliness. So the teenager feels that smoking is another way to look smart and handsome. Later a cigarette or two once a day changes to once every half an hour. Also the subtropical climate is not at all suitable for smoking.

Some people say that even our ancestors used to smoke Gudgudi/Hukka/Chilim but major thing to be noted here was these smoking habits were usually herbal smoking. The smoke of various herbs was used to intake by the smoker along with the tobacco.

Unfortunately currently there is a heavy increase in girls’ smoking too. Because the cigarettes companies are successful in campegning that smoking helps to maintain diet.

These girls may be happy while smoking but no doubt they are doing terrific injustice with their forthcoming babies.

Original post : The ugly truth

Frendz

2009-02-24T10:10:00.000+05:30

Today there were eight bomb blasts occured in Mumbai by Islamic Terrorist. 190 people are dead and 500+ injured.

The moment I heard the news, I alongwith my brother had gone to nearest hospital i.e. Hinduja and donated the blood. On the streets everywhere people were helping each other by giving water and food, controlling traffic, helping people to go home etc.

I'll humbly appeal every Mumbaikar to donate the blood in nearest Govt. Hospital and to immediately register with www.indianblooddonors.com

Also take atleast 2 friends with you for the donating. The blood is needed highly and blood banks are open day and night next 100 hrs.

Let terrorists understand that Mumbai is with the high spirit and it never stops....

Original post : Frendz

A request

2009-02-24T10:04:00.002+05:30

On 11th July the bomb blasts occured just in our neighbourhood so all of us were watching television. There was a change in victim's numbers every few minutes and there was a contineous flow of SMS to TV channels from the relatives asking the whereabouts of the Mumbai residents.
In that SMS, there was really a good SMS from the viewer which later shown as a ticker by the television channel in a big font. That was
"प्रिय नेताजी,

आप जहाँ कही भी हो वही रहिए, कृपया मुंबई आने की चेष्टा न करें ।
आपके आने से व्यवस्था पे बोंझ बढ़ सकता हैं ।"

which means :

"Dear Political Leader,

Stay wherever you are and do not attempt to come to Mumbai. Because of your arrival, there will be pressure on the system"

Then also some higher level political leaders like Laloo visited the Mumbai very next day and invited the press-conference etc.

It is really poor... Isn't it?

Original post : A request

...calling me coloured ?

2009-02-24T09:51:00.002+05:30

When I born , I black .

When I grow up , I black .

When go in sun, I black .

When I scared, I black .

When I sick, I black &
when I die , I still black.

And u white fella ,
when you born you pink .
when you grow up u white.
when u go in sun you red.

when u cold u blue.
when u scared u yellow.

when u sick u green & when u die u gray.

And u calling me coloured ? ?

by an African child .

Nominated for a prize for the best poem of 2005 .

Courtasy: Bhagyashree Kenge of marathiworld.com

Original post : ...calling me coloured ?

Untitled...

2009-02-24T09:42:00.003+05:30

In 1962, four nervous young musicians played their first record audition for the executives of the Decca recording Company. The executives were not impressed. While turning down this group of musicians, one executive said, "We don't like their sound."
Groups of guitars are on the way out. The group was called The Beatles.

In 1944, Mr. Emmeline Snively, director of the Blue Book Modelling Agency, told modelling hopeful Ms. N J Baker, "You'd better learn secretarial work or else get married."
She went on and became Marilyn Monroe.

In 1954, Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired a singer after one performance. He told him, "You ain't goin' nowhere.... son. You ought to go back to drivin' a truck.
He went on to become the most popular singer in America named Elvis Presley.

When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876, it did not ring off the hook with calls from potential backers. After making a demonstration call, President Rutherford Hayes said :
"That's an amazing invention, but who would ever want to use one of them?"

When Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, he tried over 2000 experiments before he got it to work. A young reporter asked him how it felt to fail so many times. He said :
"I never failed once. I invented the light bulb. It just happened to be a 2000-step process."

In the 1940s, another young inventor named Chester Carlson took his idea to 20 corporations, including some of the biggest in the country. They all turned him down. In 1947 - after seven long years of rejections! He finally got a tiny company in Rochester, New York, the Haloid Company to purchase the rights to his invention an electrostatic paper-copying process.
Haloid became Xerox Corporation we know today.

She was the 20th of 22 children. She was born prematurely and her survival was doubtful. When she was 4 years old, she contacted double pneumonia and scarlet fever, which left her with a paralysed left leg. At age 9, she removed the metal leg brace she had been dependent on and began to walk without it. By 13 she had developed a rhythmic walk, which doctors said was a miracle. That same year she decided to become a runner. She entered a race and came in last. For the next few years every race she entered, she came in last. Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on running. One day she actually won a race. And then another. From then on she won every race she entered. Eventually this little girl, who was told she would never walk again, went on to win three Olympic gold medals!!!
She was Wilma Rudolph....................

Original post : Untitled...

Not me but you...

2009-02-24T09:35:00.001+05:30

Frendz,

It is really a nice thing to be a citizen of the largest democratic country and we are lucky that we are not born in Pakistan where democracy is a fake. But in last many blogs you commented that the Indian politics, government and the politicians are responsible for today's India’s economical, social situation.

What if I say that you are only responsible for this situation? You are the culprit.

When there is an election, on voting day you woke up late. Had a bed-tea. Then Put on the Television enjoyed the news about low percentage of voting (For you news channels are just entertainment channel). Then you talked with your wife how to celebrate the holiday. Whether to go to hotel nearest hotel or to go on a long drive and to enjoy the lunch in a distant royal hotel. Post lunch you had a nice long siesta. When you got up it was already 6 O’ clock. So you started enjoying exit poll results. Then late night you had gone for movie at 9 p.m. to 12 p.m. and lastly you slept happily after a rare pleasurable day.

You were so sure that not a single candidate worth voting for that you don’t even thought about voting. But a slum-dweller nearest your colony was not so sure. He voted instead of you to his favorite candidate in your name because he was getting bundles of Rupees for it. Off-course he thanked you many times for it.

I wonder when people say that in our opinion all candidates are equal to us, some say that we vote only one party for last 20 years, some say that we are going to vote Mr. so and so because he is from our caste or some say that we are living here from last 30 years but our name is not in voting list.

My friend was telling me that the villagers in his village when go to election centre just look for 2 leaves sign to stamp. They don’t even see other signs or other candidates. Its a kind of a tradition in their village.

Surprising really…

There are many foreigners who visit India to understand how ideal elections are taking place in a vast country like India where the population is now 100 Crores +.

I admit that there are some exceptions like Bihar but otherwise it is indeed a special thing to arrange the elections so systematically and so fair. I think it’s credit goes to former election commission Mr. T. N. Sheshan`.

And how many of us are aware that even if we dislike all the candidates there is a provision in Indian Constituency to give negative vote using form 49.

"In a particular constituency, if a voter has dislike to all of the candidates competing there, then he can show his dislike to all of them by registering for 49'O. Steps for doing this: 1. While registering the name by the time of voting, convey the booth officials that "I want to go for 49'O". 2. Register your signature in the 49'O form available there. Done. Now, if the number of 49'O count is larger than that of the winning candidates total vote count, then a re-election is called there.

Isn’t it something good?

I’ll be glad very much if my article will make you go for voting in coming election.

Sincerely yours,

Your alert and dutyful co-citizen,

Mrudula.

Original post : Not me but you...

Population Explosion

2009-02-24T09:22:00.002+05:30

This is basically a cartoon on the motto of Indian Railway. But it forces us to do introspection.
Its high time for India to think about population problem seriously as it already crossed 1000 million +.

We must think what we can do for it as a citizen especially about orphan children.

Original post : Population Explosion

An advertise with less words

2009-02-24T08:38:00.004+05:30

Are we the fish and the glass pot is an earth?

Original post and comments : An advertise with less words

Litterature skill

2009-02-24T08:27:00.002+05:30

Dear All,

Some people say that routine journey is always tidious. But if we start finding the moment of pleasure then there can be many. Daily I spend more than 4 Hrs. in journey. But never once I felt any kind of tiresome experience. I just try to make my journey wonderful. In my company bus I read daily the 2 lines on the door i.e.
खीर चम्मच से खाते है, हातों से नही । प्यार दिल से होता है, बातों से नही ।।
(The sweetened milk is to be drink by the spoon and not by the hands; like that love is to be made by the heart and not by the speech).
These lines make me smile.
Like that :
The other famous lines we usually find on the truck are
सौ मे अस्सी बेईमान फिर भी मेरा भारत महान ।
(80 out of 100 in India are scoundrels then also I'll say my India is great).
Nearly behind every truck there is a line
बुरी नज़र वाले तेरा मुंह काला ।
[The one with evil spirit, shame on you (as shown in the picture)]
Some times there is a long chain of children's name or just the "Life is a blessing of the parents" or just God is taking care of this Car etc.
The best line that I read recently is that "Let's not meet by an accident"
Funny, isn't it?

Original post : Litterature skill

Thimmakka wants to be born as a tree in her next birth.....

2009-01-22T16:16:00.002+05:30

SALUMARADA THIMMAKKA, the woman who planted banyan trees as her life's mission along the Bangalore-Nelamangala highway, is certainly not a household name in the "happening" metropolis. For, she went about her selfless work for 45 years without any fuss or publicity. And, of course, she never called herself an environmental activist, though she planted and painstakingly watered and nurtured some 400-odd trees, along with her husband, Chikkaiah.

Thimmakka is a storehouse of knowledge on environment and knows all there is to know about agriculture. This is not unusual in agricultural communities, where the woman not only takes care of the household but also plays an active part in the entire agricultural process. Ask Thimmakka about trees, and she will name some 25 species in one go, and will also tell you why they have to be planted.

But what egged Thimmakka on to take on the extraordinary task of planting 400 trees?
"I longed to have children, but couldn't. My husband felt that we should make up for it by `parenting' trees. He believed that it was a work of great Punya, and would do us good. He used to tell me it would also fulfil my desire for motherhood. Believe me, nobody ever told us to do this. It's our own thinking that put us on to it," says Thimmakka, explaining the circumstances.
But this meant that Thimakka and her husband Chikkaiah had to walk about three kilometres from their home in Huligal to the highway, along which they had decided to plant trees. They couldn't afford to buy saplings either. So, they cut branches off banyan trees and planted them in a row. During the first year, they successfully planted 10. But their task did not end there. The couple drew water from the village well, trudged the three-kilometre distance, and watered the young plants. "I would carry two pitchers, one on my waist and one on my head, and my husband would carry one on his head." They did this round the year, except during rainy season.
Moreover, protected the growing plants from grazing cattle by fencing them with thorny shrubs. They actually felt like anxious parents, until the plants took root and began to grow! "We planted more, increasing the numbers to 15, 25, and more." Neither Thimmakka nor her husband ever found the need to keep count of the trees they planted. It was only after she got recognition that the Government started counting them.

Life had never been easy for Thimmakka. Her husband had a tiny piece of land on which they grew ragi. It was barely sufficient for them. She worked in fields, carried stones to construction sites, dug drains, besides other backbreaking jobs. All that she earned was taken away by her mother-in-law.

Towards the late '80s, her life grew more complicated when her mother-in-law had a stroke and brother-in-law took seriously ill. "It was a traumatic phase of my life. I had to give them bath, feed them, and even clean their shit," she recalls. After prolonged suffering, both passed away. Soon, Chikkaiah also took ill. Cousins came and took him away on the pretext of nursing him to health, though all the while, they had intentions of claiming the small piece of land he owned.
Chikkaiah also died soon. "I felt I had been stripped off my clothes," she recalls, tears in her eyes. "There was nobody for me, no money, nothing..." Worse still, her dilapidated hut began to crumble. There was no roof over her head and no walls around her. All she had was a gunnysack to lie on. The few vessels that she had, she gave them away to her neighbour. "This Sankranti, it will be 13 years since my husband passed away. I haven't planted a single sapling since then."
It was not as if she was too depressed to continue the task, but just that there were too many practical problems. There was nobody to help her cut branches and plant them, and with what little she earned, it was impossible to spend money on plants as well.

But things did change for her, when Prajavani correspondent N.V. Negalur, realised the tremendous significance of Thimmakka's work. He not only broke the story of the couple's 45-year effort, but was far-sighted enough to write out applications to the departments concerned, both at the Central and State level. Several awards and recognition came her way. "I have a whole lot of prizes, I have no place to keep them. I have put them all in a plastic bag and kept them in the attic," says Thimmakka in a matter-of-fact tone.

Original post : Thimmakka wants to be born as a tree in her next birth.....

The line of fire...

2009-01-22T15:59:00.001+05:30

Vivek Pradhan wasn't a happy man. Even the plush comfort of the First Class air-conditioned compartment of the Shatabdi Express couldn't cool his frayed nerves. He was the Project Manager and still not entitled to air travel. It was not the prestige he sought, he had tried to reason with the admin guy, it was the savings in time. A Project Manager had so many things to do!

He opened his case and took out the laptop, determined to put the time to some good use."Are you from the software industry sir," the man beside him was staring appreciatively at the laptop.Vivek glanced briefly and mumbled in affirmation, handling the laptop now with exaggerated care and importance as if it were an expensive car."You people have brought so much advancement to the country sir. Today everything is getting computerized."'Thanks," smiled Vivek, turning around to give the man a detailed look.He always found it difficult to resist appreciation. The man was young and stocky like a sportsman. He looked simple and strangely out of place in that little lap of luxury like a small town boy in a prep school. He probably was a Railway sportsman making the most of his free traveling pass."You people always amaze me," the man continued, "You sit in an office and write something on a computer and it does so many big things outside."Vivek smiled deprecatingly. Naivety demanded reasoning not anger."It is not as simple as that my friend. It is not just a question of writing a few lines. There is a lot of process that goes behind it." For a moment he was tempted to explain the entire Software Development Lifecycle but restrained himself to a single statement. "It is complex, very complex.""It has to be. No wonder you people are so highly paid," came the reply. This was not turning out as Vivek had thought. A hint of belligerence came into his so far affable, persuasive tone."Everyone just sees the money. No one sees the amount of hard work we have to put in." "Hard work!" "Indians have such a narrow concept of hard work. Just because we sit in an air-conditioned office doesn't mean our brows don't sweat. You exercise the muscle; we exercise the mind and believe me that is no less taxing."He had the man where he wanted him and it was time to drive home the point. "Let me give you an example. Take this train. The entire railway reservation system is computerized. You can book a train ticket between any two stations from any of the hundreds of computerized booking centers across the country. Thousands of transactions accessing a single database at a given time; concurrency, data integrity, locking, data security. Do you understand the complexity in designing and coding such a system?"The man was stuck with amazement, like a child at a planetarium.

This was something big and beyond his imagination."You design and code such things.""I used to," Vivek paused for effect, "But now I am the project manager,""Oh!" sighed the man, as if the storm had passed over, "so your life is easy now."

It was like being told the fire was better than the frying pan.

The man had to be given a feel of the heat."Oh come on, does life ever get easy as you go up the ladder. Responsibility only brings more work. Design and coding! That is the easier part. Now I don't do it, but I am responsible for itand believe me, that is far more stressful. My job is to get the work done in time and with the highest quality. And to tell you about the pressures! There is the customer at one end alwayschanging his requirements, the user wanting something else and your boss always expecting you to have finished it yesterday."Vivek paused in his diatribe, his belligerence fading with self-realisation. What he had said was not merely the outburst of a wronged man, it was the truth. And one need not get angry while defending the truth."My friend," he concluded triumphantly, "you don't know what it is to be in the line of fire."

The man sat back in his chair, his eyes closed as if in realization.When he spoke after sometime, it was with a calm certainty that surprised Vivek."I know sir, I know what it is to be in the line of fire," He was staring blankly as if no passenger, no train existed, just a vast expanse of time. "There were 30 of us when we were ordered to capture Point 4875 in the cover of the night. The enemy was firing from the top. There was no knowing where the next bullet was going to come from and for whom. In the morning when we finally hoisted the tricolor at the top only 4 of us were alive.""You are a...""I am Subhedar Sushant from the 13 J&K Rifles on duty at Peak 4875 in Kargil. They tell me I have completed my term and can opt for a land assignment. But tell me sir, can one give up duty just because it makes life easier. On the dawn of that capture one of my colleagues lay injured in the snow, open to enemy fire while we were hiding behind a bunker. It was my job to go and fetch that soldier to safety. But my captain refused me permission and went ahead himself. He said that the first pledge he had taken as a Gentleman Cadet was to put the safety and welfare of the nation foremost followed by the safety and welfare of the men he commanded. His own personal safety came last, always and every time. He was killed as he shielded that soldier into the bunker. Every morning now as I stand guard I can see him taking all those bullets, which were actually meant for me. I know sir, I know what it is to be in the line of fire."

Vivek looked at him in disbelief not sure of his reply. Abruptly he switched off the laptop. It seemed trivial, even insulting to edit a word document in the presence of a man for whom valor and duty was a daily part of life; a valor and sense of duty which he had so far attributed only to epical heroes.The train slowed down as it pulled into the station and Subhedar Sushant picked up his bags to alight."It was nice meeting you sir."Vivek fumbled with the handshake. This was the hand that had climbed mountains, pressed the trigger and hoisted the tricolor flag.

Suddenly as if by impulse he stood at attention, and his right hand went up in an imprompt salute.It was the least he felt he could do for the country.

PS: The incident he narrates during the capture of Peak 4875 is a true life incident during the Kargil war. Major Batra sacrificed his life while trying to save one of the men he commanded, as victory was within sight. For this and his various other acts of bravery he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra - the nation's highest military award.

Live humbly, there are great people around us, let us learn!

Original post: The line of fire...

My Wallpaper

2009-01-22T15:43:00.002+05:30

This is my current wallpaper. It is really nice. Also it is peaceful for eyes......

Original blog : My Wallpaper

YOUR TIME WILL COME....

2009-01-22T15:38:00.004+05:30

One day I decided to quit... ! quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life..

I went to the woods to have one last talk with GOD. "GOD", I said."Can you give me one good reason not to quit?" His answer surprised me..."Look around", GOD said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?""Yes" I replied."When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good careof them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grewfrom the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothingcame from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In thesecond year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on thebamboo".GOD said."In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But Iwould not quit." GOD said."Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fenr it was seemingly small and insignificant..

But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It has spent thefive years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it whatit needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle" GOD said to me."Did you know, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots?""I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.""DON'T COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS" GOD said.

"The bamboo has different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful." "YOUR TIME WILL COME",GOD said to me. "You will rise high""How high should i rise?" I asked."How high will the bamboo rise?" GOD asked in return."As high as it can?"I questioned"Yes"

GOD said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."I left the forest. GOD will never give up on you.....

Original post : YOUR TIME WILL COME....

Harshness

2009-01-22T15:35:00.000+05:30

When I started learning German I used to catch every foreigner on the street especially Europeans and used to talk with them in German (Poor people! They must have said in their mind: This Deutsch is something special, never heard of it ).

One day I met a French girl in a train and started talking in Deutsch with her. I helped her lot to make her understand the Map and other transport related things. So we developed a friendship. Then she said why did you choose German language to learn and why not any other language e.g. French? Don't you feel German is a harsh language?

I said, "for me all foreign languages are any way strange only, and secondly when it comes to harshness my mother-tongue (Marathi) itself is very harsh".

Many people say that when two Marathi people are talking it sounds like a quarrel. No doubt about it.

But I think for that the geographical/political situation is the main reason. My state Maharashtra is made up of the Lava – Basalt Stones. It is a mountainous region. Life here was too rough. More labour and less earning.

Politically speaking it was the only state which continuously fought against the foreign rulers. Therefore Maharashtra has tasted freedom more and continuous. Therefore the language is rather rough. OTOH if you see the languages in north especially Hindi they are sugar-coated and unnecessary soft. That is because the North people were constant under the rule of one or the other foreign ruler. They have got habit of saluting the rulers. So their language is elastic.
It reflects in Marriage System also. While north Marriages are of 6-7 days long and expensive, Marathi Marriages are hardly 7-8 hours long with low budget. That is because life was full of warfare. Many warriors used to go hundreds of Kms on the horse and used to eat or sleep on the horse only. Only great kings were afforded to have 5-6 days Marriage.

Also the Maharashtra is a land of reformers. All the reforms were instantly took place in Maharashtra viz. Woman education, Widow re-marriage, low budget marriage, cost of the marriage divided in Bride and groom equally, treating boy-child and girl-child equally (No Gender - biasness) etc. Therefore many outsiders feel that the life of Marathi people is harsh specially Marriage system.

(The funniest thing is that I have many friends who speak fluent Sanskrit and who have different mother-tongues. Their Sanskrit speaking tone and words are very much the reflection of their mother-tongue viz. Marathi pronunciation is hard and words are difficult, south Indians use more religious words, Katchchi toning is different, Gujrati will speak to the point and grammatically correct, Bengalis are proud about their speaking etc.)

But overall Maharashtra people are kind hearted, straight minded. You will hardly hear that Maharashtrian Shopkeeper cheated a customer in any manner or Marathi person is standing far away when anything wrong is taking place. The recent train bomb blasts in Mumbai is the best example of it. Within an hour or two Mumbai was on it’s wheel again. Even the trains started working within 2 hours. This is the spirit of Maharashtra.
So what makes a difference how the language is?

Must read comments at Harshness

The Mega Bumper offer...

2009-01-22T15:25:00.000+05:30

Read my all previous blogs and put the comments on it to win fabulous prizes...

1st Prize: A photo of a car worth $ 100000000.
2nd Prize : A box of 41" Color TV.
3rd Prize: A golden opportunity to bye the top technology super-sonic Jet-Boing plane.

Last but not the least.....

The 4th mega bumper offer (worth not missing):
A dinner with me that is also in your house.....

Original post and comments : The Mega Bumper offer...

The Slum Tourism

2009-01-22T15:19:00.000+05:30

As Mumbai (Bombay) is financial capital of India, all the main government tourism offices and tour company offices are here.

Foreigners prefer to visit Mumbai first when they come to India. But unfortunately some tourism companies under the banner of NGOs started new kind of tourism which is called slum tourism. This thing is really hurting me.

Yes, there are slums in Mumbai but is it a thing to be shown especially to the foreigners? Why?

India is a largest democratic country. It is the self dependent and technically highly progressed country. It is thoroughly self promoted country. When America pressurized Russia to not to give Cryogenic Engines to India, our scientist made our own Cryogenic Engines. When America was trying that no country should sell India Super computer technology, Indian researchers made our own Super-computer i.e. PARAM which is selling largely in the global market now.

Even who will forget the two atomic explosions made in Pokhran cheating the satellite technology? No country in the world ever noticed before the explosions are made. Even CIA and other Spy companies were astonished because of it's time schedule and accuracy. It was technically so fine that "International Data Centre", an organization which puts out information based on a large number of worldwide data collection centers, initially classified it as an earthquake some 47 km deep in the earth instead of nuclear explosions. It was an achievement for India.

I still remember an article by one US based NRI just after the Nuck-explosions. He wrote that previously people used to ask him where is India on the world map and he used to say southward to China and now people ask him how India made such a fine atomic explosions that also cheating our spy satellites.

Also as I mentioned in my previous blog India is slowly moving towards Supreme economical power. The Indian companies are taking over the other global companies by sparing trillions of dollars. Recently, Daewoo Electronics of Koria was taken over by Videocon by signing $ 700 million deal which is not a small amount even in financial language.

Not only this but in cultural aspect also India is a rich country. So many religions, so many languages, so different traditions and yet people live together without hating each other i.e. unity in diversity. I remember that Ben Gurion, Israel's first PM said that the India is the only country in the world which never hated Jews because they are Jews. Yes, Indian philosophy is live and let live. No Indian religion is spread through Sword or false monitorial attractions whether it is Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism or Sikhism. People accepted these religions because they like the philosophy behind it.

Geographically also the country is very prosperous. There are beaches, deserts, heavy rainfalls, waterfalls, mountains, rivers, Icebergs, oceans etc.

Thousands of foreigners come to see the temples only which are the examples of the architectural and sculptural Beauty.

Therefore according to me showing the tourist the slum area is a crime. I'm not disagreeing with the truth that there are slums and there is poverty in India. But is the life-style of the slum-dwellers going to change because of this tourism? These NGOs are just making money in dollars by providing such kind of tourism.

Therefore when some news channels interviewed the slum dwellers about it, they rightly replied that the foreign tourists are the Guests to our country so we'll not harm them but we'll not spare the Indian tour operators who are doing this kind of vicious jobs.

Must read comments at The Slum Tourism

A wise sign...

2009-01-13T12:31:00.003+05:30

Original post: A wise sign...

$ 500

2009-01-13T12:28:00.001+05:30

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $500/- note in the room of 200, He asked, " Who would like this 500 note?" Hands Started going up. He said, " I am going to give this note to one of you But first let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the note up. He then asked, " Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air. "Well," he replied, " What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground And started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. " Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air. "

My friends, you have all learned a very valuable Lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $ 500/-. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will Happen, You will never lose your value. You are special don't ever forget it! Never let yesterday's disappointments overshadow tomorrow's dreams.

Original post: $ 500

Die Lampe

2009-01-13T12:23:00.001+05:30

While learning German I noticed that the gender of the Lamp is feminine (Die Lampe). I liked it very much. I felt that the German language is logical like ours. The ancient German people must have thought about it while deciding the gender of the words.

It is a famous say that if a man learns he is literate but if a woman learns therefore whole family learns. Her learning reflects on the culture and the behavior of the family overall.

Many years ago I read a sonnet on the State transport Bus. It was saying that Girl is far better than that of a boy as she enlightens the two houses. One house is of her father and the other is her in-law's house. This sentence touched my heart that time.

This thing stroked my heart's chord again when I read my friend Shail's 360 latest blog. Really one should not ignore woman just because she spends more time for family.

My father always says that the words Buddhi (Intelligence), Shakti (power), Yukti (Plan) are feminine words as women contain these things more.

Yes, Every woman is an image of Goddess Durga provided she look within herself and she trusts herself, her abilities always.

Since Tomorrow onwards Durga Festival is beginning let's pray her again.

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु बुद्धिरुपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमोनमः ।।
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरुपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमोनमः ।।
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु युक्तिरुपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमोनमः ।।

(The Goddess who is living in all beings in the form of Intelligence, Power and Planning, I bow to her again and again)

Original post: Die Lampe

Unity in diversity

2009-01-13T12:20:00.001+05:30

Patna (Bihar): Patna's children, who attend the darul-Uloom Al-Islamia madrassa, begin their day with the recital of the Holy Koran and follow it up with Sanskrit slokas.
Strange? Well what is stranger is that this Islamic school has 40 Hindu students and they are at ease with both the Koran Sharif and Sanskrit hymns.
This unique Madrassa in Patna teaches Hindu students about the Koran and Muslim students about Sanskrit texts.
Says a student Kapil Kumar, "We learn both Hindi and Urdu. That's how we will progress."
The national song, Vande Mataram is recited at this madrassa everyday irrespective of the directives of any ministers. And the teachers of the madrassa are proud of it.
Says a teacher, Khurshid Anwar, "Muslims and non-Muslim students both come here in large numbers. We teach them with love and care."
The non-Muslims students too are happy and do not feel that their space is being encroached upon.
Says a student Wazir Alam, "It's a pleasure to learn with Hindu students."
The parents also don't see any reason why their religious faith should stop their children from learning Islam.
Says Kapil's mother, Malti Devi, "How are Hindus and Muslims any different? The blood is the same."
Crossing over the religious barriers and bridging the divide between temples and mosques, the message children in Patna are giving, if followed by their elders could well help end the communal divide.

Link : http://www.ibnlive.com/news/bihar-madrassa-teaches-hindu-kids/21945-3.html

Original post : Unity in diversity

I should not be alive...

2009-01-13T12:16:00.002+05:30

Dear Friends,

Recently on Discovery I have seen a splendid programme called "I should not be alive". It was showing a story of a couple and their baby.

I'm giving here a story and the link of discovery about it. Do not miss the programme if you have a chance.

James and Jennifer Stolpa

Idaho-bound James and Jennifer Stolpa, along with their 5-month-old baby Clayton, had become stranded in the frozen Nevada desert. They had changed their itinerary at the last minute when they discovered that Interstate 80 over Donner Pass was closed due to heavy snow. Without notifying anyone, the young couple chose to take an unmaintained secondary road in order to bypass Donner Summit. When their pickup bogged down in snowdrifts, they spent four days shivering in their truck hoping for help to come by. None came.

Overnight temperatures fell below zero, and they only had a fruit cake, some cookies, and a bag of corn chips to eat. On the fifth day, they tried walking for help, but after trudging 12 miles through waist-deep snow, the road petered out in rugged wilderness and they had turn around.
For 28 hours they broke trail through the drifting snow. The deep snow made travel extremely difficult. When Jennifer complained that she was too tired to walk, James urged her on.

"We're not doing it for me and we're not doing it for you," he exhorted. "We're doing it for the baby."

Fortunately, James spotted a small, shallow cave in the side of a cliff and they snuggled into its protection. James built a small fire using bits of sagebrush and paper from Clayton's diaper bag, but the warming flames didn't last long. They were forced to spend another cold night in the desert. The following day James decided that it would be best for him to make his way alone along the road back to Vya. James left most of the remaining food and the sleeping bag for Jennifer and the baby. The young man knew that he might not make it and he asked Jennifer to pray for him.

It wasn't long before the deep snow, cold temperatures, and lack of food began to take their toll on the desperate father and husband. For 18 hours James struggled back to the truck. Howling coyotes stalked him, but James's thoughts were concentrated on Jennifer and Clayton back in the frigid cave. He kept telling himself, "I have to make it. I have to make it so they can make it." He reached the relative safety of the truck after nightfall.

The next morning James abandoned the truck and headed west on Washoe County Road 8A. To conserve energy, he walked in his own tire tracks. He pushed on for nearly 30 hours, covering more than 40 miles with little food and no water. The disciplined army private rested by taking five-minute catnaps every hour or so. When he felt too exhausted to go on he repeated his mantra; "I have to make it. I have to make it so they can make it."

Eight days had now passed since their truck became stuck in a snowdrift on Dec. 29. A region-wide search had turned up nothing. No one knew which route they had taken. Finally, on Jan. 6, James was spotted stumbling along by David Peterson, a Washoe County Road Department Supervisor. At first Peterson thought Stolpa was a cow out of pasture. When he pulled up, James Stolpa yanked open the door of Peterson's truck and gave him a big handshake. James was covered with snow, his hands and feet were frozen, but he had made it!

Stolpa had hiked between 50 and 60 miles through the snowbound desert. Temperatures had ranged from four degrees below zero to 42 above. He had survived an incredible ordeal. Peterson quickly drove Stolpa to his house where his wife Ruth tried to thaw James's feet with a hair dryer. (Not Recommended!)

James was able to give searchers detailed information so they could find his wife and son. Rescuers found the mother and child alive in the cave with little food and no water. Jennifer could not believe it when she heard the sound of vehicles approaching. Her prayers had been answered after all.

The aftermath

The following day the young family was transported by ambulance to Reno's Washoe Medical Center, where they were greeted with a media circus. There were more than 50 reporters and photographers stationed outside the emergency entrance. It seemed that the whole world wanted to hear about the Stolpa's miraculous survival story.

Modoc County Sheriff Bruce Mix gave Army Private 1st Class James Stolpa high marks for his fateful choices to save himself and his family.

"They made a bad decision about the road, but they made a lot of good decisions after that," said Sheriff Mix.

He added that the Stolpas should have stayed with their original travel plans and waited for Interstate 80 to re-open, but other choices meant the difference between life and death. First, the family stayed with their vehicle and waited for help. When they finally did leave the truck, they brought a sleeping bag and extra clothes with them. Next they found shelter. Last, when James went for help, he left Jennifer and the baby protected in the cave.

Jennifer kept her baby warm and well-fed throughout the ordeal, and Clayton came through in excellent condition. His parents were not so lucky. Washoe Medical Center spokeswoman Denise Yoxsimer warned reporters "These are people who are very seriously injured, who have been extremely cold for a long period of time."

Surgeon Dr. Louis Bonaldi stated, "Both have fourth-degree frostbite to the toes and parts of their feet." Jennifer did make a critical mistake when she tried to warm her frozen feet inside her sleeping bag. Dr. Bonaldi said, "Because of the pain she put her feet back in the snow. Much as you may want to re-warm your feet in a situation like that the warming and re-cooling makes it worse."

Two weeks later James and Jennifer underwent surgery for their injuries.

The Stolpa family could not have picked a worse time to get lost in that part of the Silver State. Snowstorms dumped 260 inches of snow on Verdi Peak, northwest of Reno, during December 1992 and January 1993. It was the fifth snowiest January in the past 93 years. But although the Storm King had attacked with his full arsenal of cold, wind, and snow, he was unable to conquer the determined survival spirit of a young father.

Jennifer said it best: "He is more than a hero to me. I don't think I could have picked anyone better. He had the courage and the drive to get us out of there. He promised me he would, and he did. He'll always be my hero!"

Link : http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/alive/episode/episode_03.html

Original post: I should not be alive...

Ads taken from shaadi.com

2009-01-13T12:12:00.000+05:30

These are actual ads on a matrimony site. Grammar and spell errors have no place in a profile description as everything is straight from the heart! Disclaimer : I am not responsible if you forget your basic grammar after reading this mail... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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i am simple boy.I have lot of problem in my life because of my luck now i am looking one gal she care me and love me lot lot lot (I don't know why but this is one of my favorites) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My wife should be as 'Shivani' as in Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki and as Tanwerr as in KSBKBT...... (Ok I haven't seen these soaps but I am sure he must be demanding too much,ain't he?) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ i want a girl with no drinks if she wants she can wear jeans in house but while stepping out of house she should give respect to our cast (by not wearing her jeans? What the hell...) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HYE I AM A GOOD LOKING BOY,WHO HAS THE CAPABILITY TO MAKE ANY BODY TO LOUGH.I BELIEVE IN GOD AND ACCORDING TO ME FRIENDS ARE THE REAL MESSENGER OF GOD. THE 3 THINGS I AM LOOKING FROM A GIRL ,THEY ARE 1.THEY MUST BELIEVE IN GOD.2 . THEY HAVE TO LIKE MY PROFFESION AND THEY SHOULD NOT GET BORED WITH ME WHEN I WILL TRY TO MAKE THEM LOUGH. (all of us are loughing{laughing}) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ whatever she may be but she should feel that she is going to be someone bride and she must think of the future life if she is too like this she would be called the woman of the lamp (I am clueless, I feel so lost. Can anyone tell me what this boy wants) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ i love my patner i marriage the patner ok i search my patner and i love thepatner ok thik hai the patner has a graduate ok (I am again clueless but I liked the use of "ok". The person is suffering from "Ok-syndrome") ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HI IAM VERY COOL NUATHER OK MY HOBBY IS SEE T.V AND NEWS OK I HAVE 1 CAR AND 1 BONWL OK MY MOTHER ALSO GOOD OK MY FARUET WORLD IS OK (the "ok syndrome" again) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am pran my family history my two brother two sister and Father&mother sister complity marred (somebody please explain in comments section how to get married 'completely'?) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ iam very simpel and hanest. i have three sister one brother and parent. i am doing postal sarvice and tailor master my original resdence at kalahandi diste naw iam staing at rayagada dist. (actually what is this guy doing? Postal service or tailor.??) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ my name is Rakesh and i am unmarried. pleaes you marrige me pleaes pleaes pleaes pleaes pleaes pleaes pleaes (height of desperation! J ) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Iwant one girl who love me or my mother. she love me heartly or she havea frank she's skin colour 'normal'not a black or not a whitey. IThink the main think is heart if your heart is beautiful then you are beautiful. but iam not a handsome guy or not a good looking. but my Mom say that Iam a good guy. My father already expired . THE CHOICE IS YOUR. bye bye. (uttama purushan) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ iam kanan. i do owo businas.one sistar.he was marred. (No comments) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I AM LITTLE FAIR INDIAN COLOUR. I DON'T HAVE ANY HABIT. (maybe the poor guy meant BAD habits) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ hello i am a good charactarised man. i want to run my life happily.i divorced my first wife.her charactor is not good'. i expect the good minded and clean habits girl who may be in the same caste or other caste accepted ... (but credit cards not accepted..???) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ my colour is black,but my heart is white.i like social service (Zebra..???) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ i'm looking out for who lives in bombay, girl simple who trust me lot should be roman catholic, LOVE ME ONLY. (Now that criterion is a must, isn't it?) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ to be married on jan-2006. working woman perferable (this guy has fixed the marriage date too! But he is yet to find a bride. I wish him best of luck on behalf of all of us. I am sure he will get one soon.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ i would like a beautyfull girl. and i do not want her any treasure. because girl is the princes. (Now she is going to be a lucky girl! Any takers?) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ssc failed three times and worked with privated ltd company which not paying salary at present. (Any takers again?)

Original post : Ads taken from shaadi.com

Treasure of the precious life...

2008-12-30T21:09:00.000+05:30

As I jumped off the building...

* FORWARD THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW AND TELL THEM HOW PRECIOUS LIFE IS * --- "Its Nice 2 BE Important but its more Important 2 Be NICE" ---

Original post and comments : Treasure of the precious life...

FISH STORY

2008-12-30T21:02:00.001+05:30

This was a pretty interesting story from The Sunday Wichita Eagle Newspaper a couple of weeks ago. A resident in the area saw a ball bouncing around in the pond and when he went to investigate, it was a flathead catfish who had obviously tried to swallow a child's basketball which got stuck in its mouth.

The fish was totally exhausted from trying to dive but unable to, because the ball would always bring him back up to the surface. The resident tried numerous times to get the ball out but was unsuccessful. He finally had his wife cut the ball in order to deflate the ball and release the catfish.

You wouldn't believe it if you didn't see the attached photos.

Original post : FISH STORY

Patience and Tolerance

2008-12-30T20:58:00.001+05:30

Good friend is the one who has patience, who tolerates us and accepts us with all our short comings

Original post : Patience and Tolerance

Presence of mind

2008-12-30T20:41:00.001+05:30

John works in a supermarket. A man came in and asked John for half a kilogram of butter. The boy told him they only sold 1 kg packets of butter, but the man was persistent. The boy said he'd go ask his manager what to do.John walked into the back room and said, "There's a bloody fellow out there who wants to buy only half a kilo of butter." As he finished saying this he turned around to find the man standing right behind him, so he added, "And this gentleman wants to buy the other half." The manager finished the deal and later said to John, "You almost got yourself in a lot of trouble earlier, but I must say I was impressed with the way you got yourself out of it. You think on your feet, and I like it a lot.Which place are you from?"John replied, "I'm from Mexico, sir." "Oh really? Why did you leave Mexico?" asked the manager.John replied, "They're all just prostitutes and soccer players up there." "My wife is from Mexico," the manager said.John replied, "Which team did she play for?"

Original post : Presence of mind

Junior Miss World competition

2008-12-30T20:35:00.001+05:30

And the award goes to....

Original post : Junior Miss World competition

Near, far wherever you are, you are safe in my heart and my heart will go on and on and on...

2008-12-29T11:43:00.002+05:30

Dear All,

On Thursday I lost my mother.

She was a thoroughly gentle woman, tender and caring. Every person used to love her and she was always been a symbol of endurance.

She was a genuine Indian woman. She came from simple middle class loving family. Unfortunately she married to the rich joint family and her in-Laws' family was nothing but a political party. All they knew were to play dirty games and to do court cases and police cases for the financial gains. It was very hard for her to digest all these things as her ideas were simple and straight.

Then my parents left that house without taking single penny with them and shifted to a small village. The days were of extreme poverty and the life was painstaking.
We also in our childhood suffered through all these things and became rude due to hardships of life. This rudeness hurt her also many times.

Now recently she was experiencing quite good life. My sister got married and was in California. Now she is settled well in Pune and have two sweet children. My younger brother is a software engineer in Seepz and he is engaged now and was going to get married in May. I was also making quite well. And suddenly death caught her unpredictably. The massive heart-attack was so unexpected that her face and body was calm and every onlooker was feeling as though she is sleeping peacefully.

Last three days I cried like anything. First she was my mother and second she was a good person as well. And with me many of my relatives from my mothers' side cried.

Indeed kind death solved all problems of her life.
झेपेल तेव्हढंच दुःख तो आपल्याला देतो ।
दिलेलं दुःख संपलं कि आपल्यालाच नेतो ।।

(He gives us pain only which is bearable. When pain crosses it's limit, he lifts us to himself. )

Original post : Near, far wherever you are, you are safe in my heart and my heart will go on and on and on...

Laser Flowers...

2008-12-29T11:41:00.000+05:30

The beautiful laser flowers....

Original post : Laser flowers

This is a true story

2008-12-29T11:38:00.001+05:30

The following scene took place on a British Airways flight between Johannesburg and London. A White woman, about 50 years old, was seated next to a Black man. Obviously disturbed by this, she called the air Hostess. "Madam, what is the matter," the Hostess asked. "You obviously do not see it then?" she responded, "You placed me next to a Black man. I do not agree to sit next to someone from such a repugnant group. Give me an alternative seat." "Be calm please, " the Hostess replied. "Almost all the places on this flight are taken. I will go to see if another seat is available." The Hostess went away and then came back a few minutes later. "Madam, just as I thought, there are no other available seats in the Economy class. I spoke to the Captain and he informed me that there is also no seats in the Business class. All the same, we still have one seat in the First class."

Before the woman could say anything, the Hostess continued: "It is not usual for our company to permit someone from the Economy class to sit in the First class. However, given the circumstances, the Captain feels that it would be scandalous to make someone sit next to someone so disgusting." She turned to the Black guy, and said, "Therefore, Sir, if you would like to, please collect your hand luggage, a seat awaits you in First class." At that moment, the other passengers who were shocked by what they had just witnessed stood up and applauded.

If you are against Racism, please send this message to all your friends.

Original post : This is a true story

Lord Krishna (भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण)

2008-12-29T11:33:00.001+05:30

The beautiful photos

Original post : Lord Krishna (भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण)

Forts

2008-12-25T22:27:00.003+05:30

Dear All,

In my last blog I described that my state, Maharashtra is rough, robust, and sturdy & the people are warrior by heart. Here are the pictures of some forts built by great visionary King Shivaji who fought a guerilla war against the enemy who was 100 times higher in number, wealth and human resources using the geographical advantages of the land and the brain. Also he was a kind and impartial king and the people in his kingdom were happy and contented.

These pictures reflect the strength and natural beauty of Maharashtra.

Thanks and regards,

Mrudula.

Janjira Fort

Arnala Fort

Alibaug Fort

Lohgad Fort

Purandar Fort

Raigad Fort

Rajgad Fort

Suvarnadurg Fort

King Shivaji

Original post and comments : Forts

Salute to Mumbai

2008-12-25T17:26:00.000+05:30

Dear All,

On Orkut I received a mail of Mr. Amarnath Verma about his short film on my Mumbai city. It is worth to see.
Here is the link : http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2498116629030232894&q=salaam+mumbai
It will hardly take 2 minutes to see it. Kindly go through it. We must encourage such a young innovative director from small town like Nizamabad, AP.

Thanks and regards,
Mrudula.

Original post : Salute to Mumbai

Hair cutting

2008-12-25T17:19:00.001+05:30

I never experienced the hair cutting in my childhood as my father used to think that girls should have long, thick hairs. But there is different experience for my cousin. She was given a Lolly-pop while the barber was cutting her hair. When the Lolly-pop eating was over, my cousin found herself bald.

What is your own experience?

Original post : Hair cutting

Rangvalli

2008-12-19T18:27:00.002+05:30

Dear All,

Rangoli is a symbol of Indian culture representing colours of life and the peace.

Kindly go through it and exprerience it.

Mrudula.

(Please wait if it takes time to load)

.
.

Original post : Rangvalli

A salute to...

2008-12-19T18:05:00.003+05:30

Dear All,

I live in a tiny village of Mumbai City, Dadar. Yesterday over 1 million people visited it to tribute the great person called Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on his death anniversary.

He was a person who came from poor, downtrodden family which was a victim of casteism because the race of his family was of untouchables.

Overcoming numerous social and financial obstacles, Ambedkar became one of the first untouchables to obtain college education in India. He went on to pursue higher studies in the United States and England, where he earned law degrees and multiple doctorates for his studies and works in law, economics and political science. A famous scholar, Ambedkar practiced law for a few years before he began publishing journals advocating political rights and social freedom for India's untouchables. Leading numerous public agitations, he would become an undisputed political statesman of the Indian Oppressed classes.

He worked hard, earned the knowledge and became a lawyer and first maker of independent India's constitution. It was not a simple job to be an architect of Indian Law system as India is a vast country with many religions, disciplines, faiths, many customs and traditions. Since he came from lowest level of society he was well aware about the problems of grass-root people.

His work was as good as Martin Luther King, George Washington, George Washington Carver and Abraham Lincoln. Because of him today Indian people are enjoying constitutional freedom especially the women and downtrodden people of India.

I'm writing this here proudly because I know his contribution to woman of India in the constitution of India. But unfortunately some people from higher castes, some of my relatives speak sarcastically about him and his followers. This is too bad. We cannot underestimate a contribution of a great person like him just because he is from the backward class.

Some people from my village say that those who visit his memorial create sanitary problem by coming so much in number. I have a question for them. The sanitary problem is harmful to nature but the plastic pollution made by so called higher society is far more harmful and everlasting than this.

It is high time for India to forget the religious, regional & linguistic differences, casteism to bring up the nation. For that let us start from ourselves.

In Yajur-Veda, 4000 years ago it is said that let us come together, let's eat together, let's think uniquely. The Vedas are well-known for their high values. We must follow this idea of universal brother hood.

The link to read more about Mr. Ambedkar : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambedkar

I found myself in one of those 1 million people who saluted Dr. Ambedkar for his contribution to the society and the nation and the mankind as a whole.

Regards,

Mrudula.

Original post : A salute to...

Thodasa

2008-12-19T17:59:00.002+05:30

Dear All,

There was a latest survey about young generation taken by the MTV international, a famous music channel. It was taken in 14 different countries. These 14 countries included in the survey were Argentina, Brazil, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Sweden, the UK and the U.S.

In this survey MTV found that Young Indians are happiest while Japanese youth is the most miserable.

[The links:
http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=123782&catID=7&category=Lifestyle
http://in.today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-11-20T063528Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-276984-1.xml
http://www.stat.columbia.edu/~cook/movabletype/archives/2006/11/immigration_and_1.html
http://hindustantimes.com/news/181_1848976,0008.htm ]

It is really a true thing that youth in a developing country is twice happy than that of developed country.

As far as India is concern I feel that this is because of two main reasons:

1) Religion - The Indian religions are peaceful, gives the message of love and contentness. Because these religions are not spread through sword or destroying the races, the majority people love each other. Overall there is a communal harmony. There is no unsure about life because of next person. Also Indian religions highly respect the others' religions. So there is no hatred for the next person on religion basis.

2) Indian Cinemas - On and average Indian Cinemas (Bollywood) is pro non-violence, optimism, gentle, Humor and light comedy w.r.t to highly sexy, crimeful, fightful abroad movies. Indian Cinemas are musical also. You will rarely find here the movies with violence and cruelty. The movie like "Lage raho Munnabhai" spread the message of Gandhi-ism through the comedy.

Therefore the Indian youth is happy-go-lucky, optimist and enjoys the life.

I read many blogs of the foreigners who are fan of Indian movies and they like overall impact of Indian movies on their life. Though Indian movies may not be technically superb but they are emotionally touching. They teach how to live the life and why to live the life.

I still remember the film "Thodasa Rumani Ho jayen (Let's be some romantic)" few years ago.
The heroin of the movie is Anita Kanvar who is simple looking and plain living. She lives in a small town and thirty years of age. She is skilled in repairing, cooking and other routine activities. But she is slight masculine in her behavior and tough.

Unfortunately she is still unmarried which is a subject of discussion and astonishment for that tiny town. She does not care around their taunts.

That year there is no rain in that village where the farming is based on rain-water. Every common man is worried because of that. The life overall is dreary.

Here Anita also feels that since she is not good looking and she does not have feminine abilities she is rejected by everyone while other girls from that village are getting married easily. The dry, non-raining situation in the village making her gloomier day-by-day as well.

Suddenly one evening Nana Patekar comes at the door. He says that he is a traveler and he wanders village to village. He contains many skills like to fly in the air, to know other's mind, he can make spectacles which see through other's heart, can give medicine on any kind of disease etc. and the rain will come to this village if he invites. For that he will need just 5000 rupees.
As she is very sad she doesn't believe any of his words and rejects his offers. But her father is a positive minded and says that if his 5000 rupees could bring happiness in that village than there is no good thing like that.

Nana Patekar ask them to perform some rituals and through that he changes their mood from sadness to romantic, happy and cheerfulness.

The best thing I like about the movie is a title song:
बादलों का नाम न हों, अम्बरों के गाव में, दिन भी अंधेरी रात हो,
[When there is no sign of the (watery) clouds in the village and the days are also like a dark night]
यही तो है मौसम आओ चले,
[This is the season, Come on,]
तुम और हम, दर्द को बांसुरी बना ले,
[Let's make our gloom a flute]
थोडासा रुमानी हो जाएँ....
[Let's be romantic....]

(BTW This film is very musical and there are plenty of such a sweet songs)

Original post : Thodasa

My favourite most

2008-12-19T17:55:00.002+05:30

In my religion, Hindu according to it's mythology there are 330 million Gods and still the number is increasing as God is the concept for a good soul, an idol. Therefore there are new Gods coming up like Veer Birasa Munda, Saint Dnyaneshwar, Saint Thiruvalluvar, Buddha, Mahaveer etc.

There are many disciples, many faiths, many rituals and many philosophies about God in India. Some worship Lord Ganesh, Some Lord Shiva, Some Lord Vishnu, Some Lord Buddha.

But I like the Sun God the most. That is because you have to go to temple to see the other Gods while the Sun is the only God who comes to your doorstep everyday. Every morning he comes with a smile and a new day.

Also in Sanskrit other name for the Sun is Mitrah (The friend). Indeed he comes to your bed like a friend every morning, tickles you with his soft hands and suggests you to get up and start your day.

The Sun is a bright, strong with unlimited energy. It is said in Hindu Mythology that one who worships the Sun receives the strength to fight every odd. Now it is proved that early morning rays gives Vitamin D and prevents rickets, alzheimer and osteomalacia.

According to great researcher and freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak, the "Arya" were living in Antarctica. Therefore the Sun is the special and most important God in Vedas also.

It is said in mythology that the Sun is an ornament of the sky and it has a Golden Chariot and Seven Green horses. It is a Royale King and he produces the universe and the bio-living habitat. Also he has strength to destroy all kinds of diseases.

When I see the flag of Germany I feel that the black colour in it represents the dark night, orange the early morning before the sunlight and yellow rather golden colour the colour of sun / new day.

There is a famous verse about the sun in our litterature :

The sun in the sky travels everyday with all odds against him, like a chariot with one wheel, seven horses trod by serpents and the driver without legs. Great people don’t depend on their accessories for their achivements.

(Rathasyekam chakram bhujagayamita saptaturangah niralambo margaha charanarahitah sarathirapi. Raviryartevantyam pratidinammuparasya narabhasyah kriyasiddhi satve bhavati mahatam nopakarane)

So true, isn't it?

Original post :My favourite most

Passion

2008-12-19T17:53:00.001+05:30

It is all started in 1992. It was an era of 286 Computer. There was no windows, no MS-office, Tally... nothing but only DOS. The software technology was just a small child.
But there was an .exe file called QBASIC. There were two games that time 1) Snake game - snake eating a dots and lengthening 2) Gorilla Game - A Gorilla throws banana with given projectile angle and dances raising the hands after winning.
Later in 1994 the 386 PC came. Then we started playing Tetris, Pac-man, and Book-worm. These were simple but mind attracting games. The mine-sweeper is still my favorite game.
In 1996 on 486 we played first 3D game called "Wolf3D". The best 3D game ever available free. The technology used was just similar to that of today's 3D games. I was mad for this game totally. I crossed all the 6 floors without using a cheat code. Same time I used to play Prince, Mario, Aladdin, Keen4 etc. But wolf3d was wolf3d.
Few years later the Pentium 3 arrived and 1.44 MB floppy drive to and it was now easy to copy the games from one computer to another. One of my neighbors was used to play Shadow warrior (It is still free on the net to download), first game with multiple modern weapons, too good graphics and animation. We dare not to play that time but we used to enjoy watching it.
The Doom Series was also good but too terrifying. It was something where one must hold his hand on the Heart. It was the game not for weak-minded.
Then the Road-rash, Age of Empires, World War II, Close Combat, V-cops, Heavy-weapons, Duke1 and Yahoo as well as MSN games came. Some of them were free and some of them were with time limits. I played them all. But I never thought of buying them. Because even a $ 10 is for us Rs. 500 in Indian Rupees, fifty times more. Who will buy it?
Now days I play Bejeweled, Claw, Shadow Warrior, Age of Empires, Rubic's games, KChess and Free-spade more. It is a die-hard passion. Once upon a time my mother used to switch off the plugs directly fading up by our computer games playing; now there is no one to stop us. So we play atleast an hour a day, if not possible at least 10 minutes a day. Person who has this habit could only understand the passion behind it as one alcoholic knows the thirst for the liquor of other alcoholic.

Original post : Passion

Simbly Malaylee

2008-12-19T17:34:00.002+05:30

Hey Everybody, enjoy this cool one:- No offence intended!! :) :)

1) Name the wonly part of the werld, where Malayalis don't werk hard? Kerala 2) Why did the Malayali buy an air-ticket? To go to Thuubai (dont break ur heads. its...Dubai ), zimbly to meet his ungle in the Gelff (Gulf). 3) Why do Malayali's go to the Gelff? To yearn meney. 4) What did the Malayali do when the plane caught fire? He zimbly jembd out of the vindow. 5) Why did the Malayali go to the concert in Rome? Because he wanted to hear pope music. 6) What is Malayali management graduate called? Yem Bee Yae. 7) Why did his wife divorce him? Because he was louwing another woman. 8) Who found out that? His aandy. 9) What does a Malayali do when he goes to America? He changes his name from Karunakaran to Kevin Curren. 10) What does a Malayali use to commute to office everyday? An Oto. 11)Who is Malayali's fyamousu eactor and aectress? Geedha, Revadhi, Zilgsmidha end Ambiga.

VEERY VEERY IMBORDANT

Please don't delete this file after reading, at least you should send this.. article to:

10 Malayalis & you will receive cocunod oil

20 Malayalis and you will receive benena chips

40 Malayalis you will receive appams

100 Malayalis and you will get free land near the rice field behind the lungi factory with additional incentive of a whole mondh's supply of cocunud oil and benena chips free ..

Regards,

Govind Nair

Original post : Simbly Malaylee

The mother's love....

2008-12-19T17:32:00.000+05:30

In a zoo in California , a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs.

Unfortunately, due to complications in the pregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny size, they died shortly after birth.

The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery, suddenly started to decline in health, although physically she was fine. The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress to fall into a depression. The doctors decided that if the tigress could surrogate another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve.

After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news was that there were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother. The veter inarians decided to try something that had never been tried in a zoo environment. Sometimes a mother of one species will take on the care of a different species. The only orphans" that could be found quickly, were a litter of weaner pigs. The zoo keepers and vets wrapped the piglets in tiger skin and placed the babies around the mother tiger.

Would they become cubs or pork chops?????????????

Take a look........ you won't believe your eyes!!!!

The original post : The mother's love....

Photography

2008-12-19T11:57:00.003+05:30

In rural India

Original post and comments : Photography

Winter is here...

2008-12-14T10:43:00.002+05:30

Dear All,

My 360 friend Kubi Petra asked me how is weather in India. I told her that as India is a vast country like US, Russia there is a different weather in different regions and therefore different geographical conditions like Icy regions, rain forests, deserts (which I spelt desserts while writing to her), rocky regions, heavy monsoon regions etc.

Then it stroke me that winter is already here in Mumbai. The temperature is too cold ( i.e. 19°C) for the people of Mumbai. Here average temp is from 25°C to 38°C throughout the year. The weather is Humid and hot since Mumbai is adjecent to sea. Specially who comes from the interior part of India find problem to adjust with the sweat. Otherwise the temperature is even and does not change much in the night.

OTOH in interior part of India the weather is odd. Too hot in daytime and too cold in night. And it is dry too. I had not travelled much but was once in Kanshi. The nights there were too cold for me in summer also as I'm heat loving person.

Currently we shiver when cold water comes through the tap. And also shiver to see the temp. in some part of India dropped to 4°C and the foggy nights.

I just can't imagine to go to Gulmarg to enjoy ice skating and other winter sports as well. Because winter in Mumbai also brought tremendous problems to me already. Cracking of the foots, cough, dry skinning etc.

I trully feel that let this wicked winter should end asap.

Looking forward to the spring with the cup of hot filter coffee.

Mrudula.

Original Post : Winter is here...