'........the old order changeth yielding place to new......'.....over the years subtle is the change affecting our society .....but a tangible: one must say........the invention of the computer radicalised our way of life...in a way ffwding lot many aspects of our lives.......which was a long awaited fruition.......the Grey & White matter of the modern man is subjected now to newer arena & interpretation.....of  the fast track......of reason & infallibility.....so, whn the Taj came into being few hundred years ago in the dark age of Science in its nascent stage surely certain elements of the Human faculty must have been more dominant than our current mind set...of shortcuts & more in numbers...it was the Vision of the then race which could churn out such a gem of history inciting & instigating a plethora of fine human qualities of poetry, Ragas & pure love.....the precision :stupendous......!!!..... withstanding the ravages of time......!!.....the contemporary demography in the same landmass area as tht were during the Taj. have ushered in solutions techno savvy flogging the already flagging mind....which is now restless prone to diseases......back to basics......in a fine balancing act can wrk wonders for our race to be functioning in harmony......technology is most welcome but not at the cost of creativity & flight of imagination......the ink pen I deliberately used last year with refills frm a bottle manually before the start of consultations soothened my nerves & kept things simple.......for the better part of the year.......the old methods & gud practices have to be referred in whatever ways it refines our motions..& ignites our thougths...!!!!......Welcome frnd  2013 A.D....!!!!!!

........Gud Bye Gud yr......!!!

........as the final curtain call is on for the yr.....its time  to thank the Lord for all the blessings showered & heaped.....its time to thank family & friends in the same breath....& its time to salute those tired,sick faces of Homeland2 ,whose unflinching trust & devotion I received copiously....in having rendered miniscule of a timely service in remoteness......!!!.....its a reflection of satisfaction of promises kept.....& bonhomie......its a time for humble submission & Prayers for those unlucky kids of Gaza & Connecticut.....& prayers & more prayers for reason & Humanity.....Our Good Green earth be exalted & honored thru...'....the viewless wings of Poesy.....' ....Wishing all ....' A Very Happy & Safe New yr....!!!!'

.......the.....homeland 1 Diary......!!!

.....Coimbatore felt warm as we descended from Ootacamund Nilgiris in the wee hrs.....a thriving vibrant Industrial city in its own rt. yet a dissapointing Airport....the nearly 3hrs flt 2 IGIA was listless & boring....until we hit NH8 in the Monterro which Pradip was steering effortlessly with brother in law Sanjeev cocooning little Nanu....this is Nanu & Panu's land having taken birth here....they r original Gurgaonites by virtue of birth rt....we could easily figure out the development of past yr.......now a swanky city.......the only blemish was the News headlines of a hapless girl torn apart......which felt a bad taste in the mouth ....dampening our spirits......as the vehicles whoosh passed.....a price we might have paid for the rapid urbanisation.......in contrast to the Chilly foggy conditions......the warm balmy clime of the islands was a distant dream at least temporarily & subjected us to seek refuge in the warmth of our frndly ,fmly hearths......soaring our spirits as we meet our near & dear ones.....as I undertake sortie aft sortie in a Wagon R saluting Medanta Medicity  umpteenth time.....as I whoosh pass.....while reaching out to fmlys in different sectors ......I  just cannot  help appreciate the City in terms of infrastructure & dev.....!!!!!

.....Aao Tumhe Chand Pe Le jai......!!!!

....jingle bells....jingle bells jingling all the way...Santa Claus is coming along riding all the way...''..aao tumhe chand pe le jai....pyar bhara sapna dikhai...chhota sa Bangla banai ...ek nai duniya basai..''....St.Stephens Ootacamund is stones throw frm our location & tomorrow we r in Merry Christmas mode....!!!...its the day for whn my heart would miss a beat,year aft yr.... as reminiscence as early as 1969 ,where the smallest peg of Red wine & a plum cake portion I used to partake in Carmel Convent.Madhupur, in none the less parlour of the Rev.Mother...Mother Mary with Infant Jesus in arms overlooking.....for full year one used to wait for tht smallest peg nd cake.....my late father ingrained in me tht sense of urgency in wishing the Carmelite fraternity without fail despite the school being in vacation....equal was the warmth of reception by the Rev.Mother whom in school session would hardly get to see & the parlour shrouded in mystery..hence the 25th Dec visit directed by my father assumed  an imp.par excellence..till date the christmas carols with jingle bells make me feel most at home & rooted....hence the St.Stephen's trip tomorrow is all the more imp with Little Nanu & his didi Panu in tow......Archana is  also exposed to Christmas with a Church possibly the only one in town......just diametrically opposite to her native home,across the street where she grew up........I was determined to celebrate Christmas in  the Nilgiris ,this year,dotted with churches.....!!!...its like celebrating Durga Puja in Kolkata.....!!!Doel & Arnav will have their first brush with the festivity....together.....& needless to say I was breathless again satiating their queries......!!!!I would like to wish my Teachers,family & friends a very Happy Merry Christmas as I see the Star foisted in many a house rich...& humble here in the Nilgiris......!!!!!

....Homecoming......!!!

........till the n th hr I was busy meeting people ,txting,& yes shopping too......rain appeared as  soon as we boarded the Taxi for Airport Jetty....luckily it was shortlived...& the ten mt Boat ride was uneventful.........as the AI 266 took off for BLR  we wre all in tremendous Holiday mode & mood.....Bangalore in Dec.is simply fabulous with it buzzing with activity which i thougth far exceeded, with normally wht we witness...the infrastructure looks robust & now cosmopolitan city in no doubts......we feel proud now to be a  small membership to this city having inked finally our new home at Chamrajpet Sub Registry office on 20th instant......much to my consternation ,I found the Sub Registrar seated in the office on time & work done in most professional way......reminded me of just the opposite in my native state....where things have taken the e mode though the underhand transactions thrive......& as the steep climb to 2500mts began on 21st for tht panacea to inhale....we felt a massive unwind frm the lanes & bylanes of MALE;...much to our glee we drove into Ootacamund ,Nilgiris in brite sunshine.!!!....whereas North Bihar shuddered in Coldwave ,here the Hills were cool & pleasant........with jingle Bells in the air.....& plenty of home made chocolates....the children are already begining to enjoy....multiple visits to multiple sites today.......!!!!!

.........Homeland 1 bound......

......the butterfly revisited again today...& the feeling stayed for the better part of the Day.....this happens every year whn the time of boarding AI 266 is near for BLR....morning consultations were more of handing over & in a way distracted....Billal's usual smile was missing & his entourage of patients I disposed in no time....ar matro ekta din dada he chirped...e der je ki hobay...?...Allah Bharosa...!, meaning there is only a day left ..wht will happen to them....I have no answer to his query...may be there are certain questions which cannot be answered..."Ki koaran jai" I replied rather sheepishly....like Billal there were many whose tired face I encountered..."..aray matro beesh din...tarpor toh abar tora chepay dhorbee...ami ki palatay parbo...?...meaning tht its only a matter of 20 days & thereafter I will again be back to the Pied Piper's job ....!!!....the yr long Odyssey at its terminal stage now....the Nokia base model rang incessantly frm far flung atolls & Islands.....I was breathless to explain....there will be a lull... the SMS prescriptions for the needy in God forsaken Islands will no longer reach the needy.....& I am disturbed....remoteness can shake a body....stirr up the soul....as the last mt boarding call will be on.....I am sure till that last moment I will txt any God damn service for which I am destined..!!!...bidding Homeland 2 adieu....!!!  

........retreating Monsoon......!!!!

....retreating Monsoon is here evident frm the direct hit we r taking on South facing Window panes which were hitherto relatively dry....if u want to enjoy Rain....& more rain welcome to "Indian Ocean Heights"... facing the vast blue expanse....the hide & seek of sunny & overcast is a treat to watch...!!!...this is the week of mixed feelings...the impending departure on 18th for Homeland 1...to, the Nilgiris of winter months, interlaced with feelings of departure frm the routine...my trusted clientele...my local frnds...& definitely the vast expanse of the Deep Blue...!!...we bade farewell to my dear frnd Dr Jagdish last eve..& the get together at the " LemonGrass.." was memorable...with direct connectivity to Mumbai,Chennai,Delhi,I am anticipating a flux in tourism frm the western & Northern India not to speak of fresh areas of the South...talking of the South ...X Mas in Ootacamund,Nilgiris is wht we r going to deeply inhale there...the  misty mountain air....the passage  from below sea level to 2500mts is wht I am looking forward with fmly in tow...& lots of trips to schools,churches,temples & spl trip to Wellington where Madras regiment is based....!!

......year ending decibel......

......as the last month of 2012 unfolds......festive mood is in the air here in MALDIVES ISLANDS......as I jot this........the gentle sea breeze is loaded with refrains frm  a street corner today.....people love their music here.....both indigenous & foreign.....the young populace of gay abandon....swinging & swaying to the tunes of the popular numbers....looks a Gr8 welcome change....for political rivalry hogged the limelite :better part of the yr....the birth pangs of an emerging Democracy....!!...interspersed however is this Nokia base model ringing...... frm my faithful clientele.....always loaded with physical complaints & askance .....for solutions.....the rains had been heavy this yr & the Rain God  yet to bid adieu.....with communicable element in full swing......my hands full....as the Sea Breeze is attaining its crescendo in tandem with the refrains of popular numbers....the moonlit Laccadive Sea beckoning us for yet another impending crossing over to Homeland 1.....the schools are in vacation & the Expat populace dwindling.....lucky this time Mumbai,Chennai,Dhaka,Kochi,Delhi routes are having the services of Spicejet & Local "Maldivian"AirBus services,augmenting Air India:the old war horse....& the promo fares are incredibly cheap.....though the peak tourism season is on....!!!

......thru the corridors of Excellence : Prince of wales Medical College...

...Patna Medical College: erstwhile,the Prince of Wales Medical College,provided challenge at all spheres....having rubbed shoulders with the finest brains of Bihar: the land of Jainism,Buddhism,Islam,Hinduism,Christianity & Sikhism,one was exposed to the moisture of Humanity to be imbibed...a teeming populace & a civilisation in a trough....having surpassed the crest decades ago of wht was one of most well administered states just aft Independence...the initial Surgery posting was a real brush with the public....& their wooes....with doc pt ratio abysmal.....felt like a surgeon in demand while doing the rounds at night....the night was ours....the 1991 Death Certificate on the very First day of Duty as an Asstt.Casualty Officer is eked in my memory....two sisters in their teens had Head Injuries frm a RTA at the MG Setu over the Ganges admitted in IGCC of PMCH,....having got a call ...had to examine one: the fatally wounded Post op case....pronouncing death in front of a crowd...& the ensuing wail is vivid...& a momentary flashing thought asked me how technically sound I was to pronounce death...?...the thought passed with the urging duty of issuing a Death certificate....my First one,on the first day & very first call of Casualty duty...& the attendants had no inkling that I was a fresh intern...but the brickwork of this great institution had already exposed me to the History of the greats & current...my emotions,my posture & gait & service on tht certificate never faltered.......











definitely,with our seniors t with all  

.....the Essence of CHHATHH Festival.....!!!!

.....we derive our origins frm Aryans who settled in the alluvial plains.......initially they were nature Worshippers...the Peepul & Banyan Tree,SUN GOD, rivers were highly reverred....Nature provided both succour & inflicted wrath....!!...our ancestors thought it prudent to stay close to Nature.....Idol worship came at a much later age...CHHATH Festivity is documented frm times immemorial.....invoking SUN GOD the Omnipotent & Omnipresent Natural Energy......the river valley civilisation of the Eastern & Northern plains were a cradle to this Pujan...Having born & brought up in the crucible of Pataliputra(Patna) which is Magadh,Mauryan & Gupta ages with River Ganga,Son,Gandak,Mahananda,Bagmati,Burhi Gandak Ajay & Damodar ,crisscrossing this great cradle of civilisation....this River bank festivity assumed importance in terms of reverance & purity....being represented by free flowing water ,soil & Salute to " Jaba Kusum":meaning SUN GOD....people of this region are subjected to this tradition of culture for centuries & I am no exception....the genetic disposition is more inclined to acquiese or should I say our acquired characters....frm all strata rich & poor will celebrate & submit to the Omnipotent representing the SUN deriving energy for well being....its also a tribute to our Mother's & sisters who largely represent & participate embracing the Rigors of Traditional Rituals....it is not the Rituals but the essence of this festival that count.....the streets are cleaner ,spruced up...the River banks bedecked  & all streets lead to the River Banks....the Evening offerings to the setting SUN & Predawn movements the following ..with chill in the pre winter air & equally cool waters all in patient waiting for the Supreme Power to Rise to accept the thougths of reverance,prayers & submission.....!!!!...the atmosphere electric & thougths pure & Holy....the run up to this festivity is stringent & utmost importance is attached to Purity of things used...be it Prasadam...which is highly popular...or Puja items....Hinduism is a way of Life I believe & this festivity highlights this point....for the Eastern Indian People who inherited primarily the Aryan traditions this region were a melting pot for Hinduism,Buddhism & Jainism..in addition to its embracing Islam..however & whatever misplaced  opinion is there for the people here I personally feel them to be highly evolved with heart & brain.... blessed is this land of festivities & Religious Tolerance....!!! 
  

.......the Muezzin's call....!!!

........its now a fortnite of Rains & more rains :with local effects augmenting :"Hulanghu": the S W Monsoon.........Samad is sick &his 12 00Hrs prayer call was embedded in his husky voice which otherwise is robust & a part of Life now....he met me 2days back with constitutional symptoms & is under medication....but being indispensable he is devout in his work ....whatever be it....I wish him speedy recovery....Neil & Wendy in distant America are safe and sound after what happened to the eastern Seaboard ....which we all saw...they are in the Highlands in PA & I was worried about any Blizzard which would come in their way....I was equally worried about our First cousins in Pondicherry where "Nilam" was not very far having a landfall in Mahabalipuram near chennai....I could not connect Arindam though despite best efforts...Rock Cut Pallavan Shore Temple must have witnessed this umpteenth time ever since its commissioning by Narasimha Varman the great Pallava King of Southern India...the old port town of Pumpoohar where Kaveri river has its delta also must have witnessed such Cyclones.......in fact the Cyclone stories of Nellore,Ongole,Chirala ,bapatla,Nagapattinam,Tirupati ,Cuddalore are a regular feature and our Coromandel Express Trips to Madras Central Frm Howrah were often jeopardised .....so when New York was assaulted....it came as a shock.....as to what Nature can be up to....New york was never in doubt as a fullproof city to meet any thing.....but Sandy proved it otherwise....imagine Power outages in New york....it was so similar to  a Hollywood fiction.....But the Heart wrenching scenes especially the burnt out houses of Queen's reminded me of a war ravaged zone....!!!!........here the aftereffects & side effects of "Nilam" is evident & the drainage system of the City has been exposed.....my prediction 3 days of continuous rain will flood this city for sure.....there is already flooding in some Atolls....!!!....as the news frm Homeland 1 keep percolating....now assuming Tsunami like proportions after the latest Salvo of the IAC orienting us to go into a huddle & do a little bit of own research about the KG Basin...which cost the Petroleum Min .the job....!!!!....India was always the " Sonay ki Chidiya..."& the loot of her resources are unabated....at least this is the perception tht is being circulated....firstly it was the Foreign Marauders & now its our own ilk....!!!!...sitting here far far away I can feel the Winds of Changes blowing....a whisper now turning into a Roar......!!!!

....troubled times in Homeland 1.....!!!!

.........the Holy months are mired with incessant news frm Homeland 1 of the establishments there.....!!...having homes in NCR(National Capital Region)....one cant escape frm all news pouring ......I saw Gurgaon coming up.......& the evils that was ushered in addition to the Development of the NCR...this is a city where a Rickshaw driver of modest means would talk of lakhs & crores...I mean the 'Realty' is so infectious here that all strata of the society is affected....this is in addition to the utter flamboyance of wealth of the Novoeau Riche bereft of any proper education or background.....I have visited few schools there & the young fledgling gentry of students are in no way unaffected....so its no wonder that news start percolating regularly of acts of Omissions & Commissions,....since we are a society we cant escape frm any fall out or change...however apathetic one's attitude is one cant deny the sweeping changes of Gentelemanliness, Morality & Conduct.....never was the Establishment so brazen & insensitive as it is of today....the Immature & Myopic views are a laughing stock now ....for full year the Civil Society & Establishment locked horns....in fact its a foolish theory doing the rounds that Civil society or any other pressure group is different frm the political establishment.....its a joke when the print media or electronic whatsoever for the umpteenth time refers to Arvind Kejriwal as politician Arvind Kejriwal...in fact all Citizens are politicians whoever is an eligible voter capable of  putting a thought in the political process of governing the country....in the form of casting his  or her vote......the concept of fissiparous  thought of separate entities of Democracy is flawed....when will our Citizenry be more mature....is a matter of time......India is blessed with a huge landmass of great productivity since times immemorial.....with a huge Human Resource there is no dearth of talent or means....we all need to put in  or chip in with our efforts however small it is...& stop looking at someone to deliver....!!!!!!

.......Ma Durga's Arrival....

.......Morrtay asetechhen Ma....Dukhkho horon Koritay....Ma has arrived....Mahalaya will reverberate in "Indian Ocean Heights" from now on.....we r all up beat....!!!! ...the Puja Marketing just concluded or may be will extend...with me going for it last...just as it happened to my Late Father....one month before Mahalaya we used to arrive in KOLKATA by 8Dn Toofan Exp.with as much thrill  our Little hearts  could hold......!!.....two full days of whirlwind shopping .....close encounter with the maddening PrePuja rush.....the eateries, the theaters nd the Bus & Tram rides....we used to follow up ritualistically...with our parents marshalling us....Sasthi will be a new dress so will be Saptami,Astami nd Navami...and Bijoya Dasami being repeat of the dress worn in sasthi Day....!!!..the Bus & Tram rides were scary nd adventurous in one breath but the seldom Taxi Rides were momentous....the return 6 hr Journey back to Hometown was one of deep satisfaction nd excitement....the adequate DP vacation ...the dew clad fields nd flower collection early morning were routine with occasional football practice in the dew with a slippery laced Futbol which needed extra care to be greased nd maintained for the moisture it soaked....then there were frequent trips to Pandals under construction....such was the abundant resignation ...which is unparallel till date.....with the advent of the Puja barshikis   .....there were lot of hectic activities in reading also to be done.....then the Puja music albums in the form of EP & LP records were an added attraction.....but the best part was the dishes churned out from MaMoni's Kitchen...with the sisters chipping in.....Bijoya Dashami would prove how popular my Father was with host many employees coming to meet us nd Ma had to service full 1week past Dasami...Durga 
puja Festivities were a fillip to our studentship in that we went back to hostels fully recharged......!!!!!!

....Raamaadan & RakshaBandhan....!!!!

......the Holy Months r underway....the air reverberating with chants invoking the Divine...the brother once again ...& the sister yet again donning the Garbs to tie that everlasting bond of RakshaBandhan...today is Doel & Arnav's Day...!!!..with us facilitating ....thick & thin were the vows exchanged...nd should & must withstand the ravages of time...!!!!....I called up Shantidi( Gablooda's sister) who had been tying the Rakhi always & Nupur & Ranju di (my own elder sisters) & sought their blessings & affection....!!.Shantidi's Rakhi was the first to arrive by Post nd on my wrist now...a reassuring symbol of Trust nd Love always & ever.....Archana was in touch with Gablooda & Babloo(both elder brothers)she being youngest in the family...today being Thursday it will be a vegetarian fare at home...we follow Tuesday(Bajrangwali Day) & Thursday(Ma Lakshmi & Brihaspati Deva Day) stead fastly as vegetarian days....the spiritual moorings in the form of rituals keep us stable & on an even keel in  foreign waters....!!!!..the Dec .Holiday trips will be to OOtacamund Nilgiris to visit & inhale the fresh air of Homeland 1...wherein we intend to visit Hebron ,Good Shepherd ,Breeks Memorial & Lawrence Schools to have a feel for the kids...who will inevitably join any of these in near future with me nurturing Bangalore as a transit base  which is currently a transit point to Maldives Islands from Gurgaon...as the clock is spinning feverishly ...we again are upbeat for the rest part of the year having successfully completed the first half with GOD's mercy & bounty......!!!!! 

........remoteness & Life.....!!

......the Thu. day-clinic burst into its seams with Ayatub reporting with a grin....Dada,Bhalo hoye gechi(..I have recovered & well..)...taka anschee..( I have brought money...) "...Bosch ..." I said motioning him to a seat,as i siffed thru loads of Work Permit Medicals finalising them with the final signature..signalling employment clearance for host many into this pristine land....haan ,how r u now?...bhalo ..pat came the reply ,meaning well..!..he had religiously & dutifully come to pay back hospital dues if any...incurred on that fateful day when his abdomen nearly gave way....! ..I followed up his case diligently and finally certified him fit...& told him that he need not pay anything....&  let him know that I appreciated his sense of responsibilty despite steep adversity...God be with U..!!...every passing day Good Lord.! subjects me to stringest test thru the likes of Ayatub's..& makes me feel humble & serve with humility...Trust & Faith r the guiding Angels for the exemplary healing touch that is most wanted here....!!!!

......hurtling down memory lane......!!!!

......when Dr Mrinal called on me last eve..cascading thoughts clouded my memory...!..I was wondering when we last met or what was the occasion,....it is possible that we chatted as before without having the slightest inkling that we would part only to  reconnect after a long gap.. St.Xavier's Sahibganj, being our Alma mater.... there was little formality & as we chatted as if  the intervening period was null & void...he was a wiry,tenacious ,Campion House member,the green shirt & curly mane ,soaked in sweat with a hockey stick in hand is the most visiting image available for churning....when we part we dont have the slightest inkling most of the time about the period of detachment....so when we reconnect the occasion is special...friends of the best seasons of our lives can't be forgotten...however & whatever...!! since Life is short & friendship is investment each one is important & unique...his invitation to us here for visiting UK was heartening ....now that Dr Anindya & Dr Neeraj khetan(Loyola House) is in UK....the land of common history beckons to us evermore....!!

......the last min.patient..

...as I was just signing off for the day..Ayatub entered the clinic writhing in pain...ki holo tor...? I inquired...Dada from last nite I have pain abdomen...his attendants on tenterhooks...looked pensively, as I examined him ...& formulated a management...quickly dispatching him to the ward where the nursing started...the attendants huddled for raising whatever money they could muster for his treatment...Dada....1500/-short..ki koran jai..?..ek kaj kor I replied : 400 taka bed charge de ar kichchu dewar naiii...taka nai bolay chiktsa hobay na...?meaning if u dont have money u wont be treated?
the initial dose of Injections brought a smile on Ayatub;s face his writhing now converted to a whine...Dada..we r grateful to you chirped the attendants all in there mid twenties..bereft of family support these youths are an example of doing for each other in a foreign land...over the years I have been subjected to humility when I see there togetherness & co operation...in adversity all the fine human qualities shine evermore to tide over the crisis.....who doesn't face crisis..? but its the dignity of conduct & fortitude which brings the best in Human behavior...!!! ..Ayatub's clan in extreme hardship shone like a beacon...!! 

....Restore Point....!!!!

It has been a fairly satisfying month professionally....with steady flow & a deeply moving one in having reconnected with peers..some very close to the heart encounters...!..with inputs from home & abroad it is an overflowing cup of joy...! having met friends after 2 decades....! Old habits seldom die hard...& this friendship all at the peak of our careers seem to strengthen  our flagging souls...!
I spent a youthful chunk in Patna from 1980 to 2000 & the city lanes & bye lanes  are connected to the strings of my heart..! I love the city more than any city .....! for the sheer reason of relating to it. Having a common denominator in the form of  Prince of Wales medical College, Patna ( PMCH) where we learnt our basics ,all my friends are in a way connected...our common teachers & common exams..& environment....! no wonder it feels real good to reconnect...!
My family knows full well that my mind is in a flux of  happiness....and the true reason behind it....!

........the Ides of March passed peacefully & all the hullaballoo is over & its back to normal trade &business..with the weather turning warmer to the discomfort zone : the appointment registers are full...meaning hands are full...! Dengue & Typhoid hogged the limelight in my clinic with regular admissions ,Hepatitis & salmonellosis giving a tough fight.....! the referal cases frm the Islands were needing urgent attention..as they were the neglected ones. Its a great pleasure working in Maldives Islands with a plethora of communicable & NCD cases .Throughout the year Fever cases would pour in more so in Capital Male' where the living conditions are congested....! Doel had lived in a remote Tsunami affected Island but Nanu is lucky...the fresh water fish : Koiee, Tangra & Pangash imported frm Bangladesh by enterprising Bangla youth keep us in good stead and I am happy that our roots of origin in Bangladesh(Faridpur & Barisal) have been honored...the age old practice of helping others ,bondage with family at home & concern for their sick brethren is what impresses me most about them...the old world niceties & plenty of time for others' cause  with many dialects of Chittagong,Sylhet,Mymensingh ,Comilla to name a few doing the rounds...!! with as little pay as 120USD per month for a majority, the dignity of their movements are seen to be believed....with the local Maldivians hiring them for peanuts and changing their skyline...!!!..so having a 70% of their clientele & with absolute monopoly ...I learnt how easy it is to formulate management in ur mother tongue.....!

Democracy Juggernaut......!!!!!

As the unfolding of modernity & its modern tools of governance continues unabated in the backdrop of its  past steeped in Isolation......the sleepy archipelago has catapulted itself to the limelight for right & wrong reasons in the last fortnite.The evolution of Democracy with its ugly skirmishes of difference in opinion is all but expected with battle lines clearly drawn.Observing,apathetically, I feel part & witness to the aspirations of this hitherto sleepy society in isolation both geographically and socially in being a tiny populace of Asia.Analogies are accordingly the same as British India having being ruled with draconian measures until the light of Democracy in 1947.In Maldives the remoteness of the Southern Atolls and its constant neglect on the part of the North led to far reaching consequences.After the WWII between 1953 to 1959 the Southern Atoll of ADDU,FUVAMULAH & HUVADHU tacitly supported by the British broke free from the Sultan's MALE' & established SUVADEEV under the leadership of Afeefu & traded freely with Srilanka & India easily as sailing into the laccadive sea directly from their end was easier than treading the treacherous reefs enroute to MALE'.However,the British were reluctant to support further & sided with then PM Ibrahim Naseer(current airport is named after him) who unleashed terror with Srilankan Gunboats and stiffled the fledgling democracy there.And ,the bloodshed was immense to dispense with the Suvadeev flag & testimonials.Afeefu was banished to Seychelles.Till date the southern atolls are wary of their Northern counterpart.Maldives have a history of violence & highhandedness and the populace had to bear the brunt....! Maumoon Abdul Gayoom ruled for 30 yrs and in 2003 the uprising led to reforms and the sowing of current political establishment.Maumoon brought in modernity,but the youth languished &  a Drug addiction sowing affected a fraction of the society.Remoteness impeded development and dependence on foreigners due to lack of infrastructure.Hence,its a feeling of being witness to the ushering in of Multiparty Democracy in 2008 and its gradual evolution is but natural & analogies again are here with its giant neighbour the World's largest Democracy.We also tasted the wrath of Govt .of India during the infamous Emergency period when in 1974 in  one predawn swoop my late father & his colleagues were picked up and booked under the Draconian Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) & Defence of India Rules(DIR) for opposing the Establishment & spearheading the Railway Strike of 8th May 1974.It was highhandedness at its Nadir & that too India a free country already from the British yoke....! The result was devastation in a huge country like India & the fall of the undeclared dictatorship...!  It was a taste of Democracy so bitter yet unshackled finally & India is what its today having learnt from its experience...! 1975  is the watershed year when truly our hard earned democracy was challenged by an Authoritarian ,Totalitarian Govt.Hence,Maldives have no reason to be disillusioned since its a churning phase & evolution for the good.....!!!!! It is at the Poll hustings matters will be decided year after year and its far from being over towards a modern thriving economy...!!!

.....and quiet flows life.....!!!!

Recent upheaval on the political pitch here which had reached its crescendo with change of Guard has met its logical end of better sense in the form of Unity Govt. and promise for snap polls. This tiny nation is in the throes of Democratic evolution where people are just begining to agree to disagree.To agree to disagree is a quantum jump towards Democracy.Its good that these initial hiccoughs are there which will go a long way to strengthen plebiscite. But a tiny nation need to be watchful about its Armed forces & Police which can rebel for a cause and hamper the essence of Democracy.But,the onus of not letting this happen will be with the civilian leadership and any mis step on their path will lead to a repeat of what happened last week.In the evolving scenario of the subcontinent with high rates of dissent amongst common public against elected Govt.,India included, a new mechanism of governance is to be engineered which would encompass Civil,Defence,Police,Civil Society,Industry Captains & prominent NGOs to effect a proper check & Balance.I think gone are the days of MPs & MLAs as the sole arbiter of a Nation keeping in view the degree of taint they carry in as much as unconfirmed reports say 60% of UP candidates this poll year are having dossier in Police stations.Maldives is no exception ,only in that the degree of taint is lesser......!!!!!

......trouble in Paradise.......!!!!!!

....recent developments in MALDIVES have cast a pall of gloom & eclipsed the sunny side of life here.The Democracy ushered in 2008 with multiparty elections brought in a new leader as its President only to be thrown out unceremoniously by the evolving situation last week.There is a new govt.mired in controversy about succession & truth is yet to come out as to what exactly happened on Tuesday the 7th instant.There is no point in going into the merits of the case since these are the birth pangs of a nascent democracy and one must endure the pain for a resounding institutionalised democracy.I am sure these events will further galvanise the strong supporters of Democracy & the Republic will prosper.When leaders falter and become unpopular the writings are on the wall......!The subcontinent politics is fast becoming a politics of self service as is evidenced by the no.of scams in India riddled by clinging to power by hook or by crook and destructive criticism al round....!  the mediocrity of political actors have far transcended the threshold of tolerant limit long time ago & with no signs of respite...!...the love for money & power the two triggers of self grandiosement is it seems engulfed our political & general mindset & also carnal desires both in electronic & print & real life have shrouded all creativity...! All the age old dogmas are stressed & weeded out in a rapid fashion leading to a change in the essence of a civilised society.This yug is definitely the yug of physical material rather than the exalted altar of the intellect.....!
Believe me,the good things of life are not the wealth and enjoyment of it but peace & tranquility of the mind of the higher intellect.......!!!!!! so these skirmishes here look very mundane and wastage of precious time.......!!!!!

.....Sand Dunes to Sand Bank.....!!!!

....last year Nov winters Rajasthan mesmerised us and the visit to one of our own desert trail Thar desert and its dunes were captivating  !!....this year yesterday's AMDC trip  added a new dimension to our sandy experience. Yes ,the Sand Bank trip of Udhafinolhu off the Thulagiri Resort Island was exciting and a different experience altoghether. The 5.30am reporting at MarryBrowne was a sleepy encounter but happened to be very near to my apartment(named "Indian Ocean Heights" by me) and car parking was no problem underneath a streetside tree. Nanu & Doel having been put earller to bed the penultimate day were fresh as figs & were armed with sand toys ,float and jackets and sunglass.The 66 strong party & ten kids drifted slowly into the main sea on time.Kudabandos & Bandos Island Resort fell to our Rt.& Lt.respectively & Thulagiri Resort was visible to the lt after nearly 1hr of swift sail on a bright sunny but windy day...as we approached the turquoise waters near the Udhafinolhu sand bank......the weather turned cooler & lot more windy & the sea choppy....! to our utter chagrin we learnt that since the reef was shallow & rocky there will be a Dinghy transfer....!!!! flashes of Dinghy ride with whole family in June to Maafushi & Biyadhoo for full 2hrs amidst overcast conditions in high seas overclouded my consciousness....!!!....a cursory glance & I could feel what Archana was feeling.....!!!! but we were the first among equals to be transhipped to the sand bank & could feel the cool waters with our bare hands while on the dinghy. The dinghy ride though uneventful was short but were multiple in order to fetch the entire group. The canopy of two were cool relaxing with basic amenities, and a sumptuous breakfast with water body and sport al around it was a memorable day....sand banks are a unique geographical locations and are ever shifting yearly,the lack of vegetation makes these temporary landmass lead to heavy gusts of wind leading to tempering of the Indian Ocean Sun in as much that the canopy within temperatures were too cool forcing me to erect a leeward side canopy of sheets where the gusty winds and the sun rays provided ambient temperature....!!!..this time with Doel shaking of  her fears of the sea ,both Archana & myself were pleasantly surprised to see her interaction with her friends in the reef. with archana,nanu in a raft the sand bank experience augmented by a good lunch was fabulous and reminded me as to what this part of the globe could offer in terms of remoteness & solitude which we all pray & long while in sojourn in big cities.....!!!!!  














7

Back in the Archipelago...!

....the transit in Bangalore,though short was invigorating as we saw our small abode under construction in the suburbs near completion....reminded me of my late father who opted for a small dwelling in Gurgaon in 1992 purely with the visionary thought of relocation ,education of children & grand children.Gurgaon was a small upcoming town and we cherised the small dwelling.My younger brother Neil had his fledgling career and I relocating bolstered by many a relatives following suit.The toil and tears and success we tasted there is history now and we owe this to my late father who showed us the way.So....when Bangalore with its ambient clime appealed to us always in transit to MALE',Maldives, I planned a similar coup for my children in having seen the fabulous educational instititions there....! and just 2 1/2 hrs flight to MLE.Today,Basant Panchami little Nanu's Hathey Khori was solemnised with tropical flowers an Saraswati Bandana.....! with little Doel and Ma Archana as witness.True,being expats away from home we miss the environs but the gaiety remains in our heart and Archana ensures that..Coincidentally ,a distant call to Madhupur with nanu calling my ageing Mother in gibberish ,garnering her blessings was just when she was at Puja there....yes,my sister has never failed to have a Saraswati Puja there as we had left in 1990 in the Railway Quarters....!

Return Journey.....!!!!!!

...the fabulous holidays are in its terminal stage.Laccadive sea is again beckoning us to guide us to MALDIVES yet again welcoming us as unassumingly as it did 5yrs back.The completion of a professional qualification,the trip to the Desert,trip to the land of our choice Bihar/Jharkhand & the chilly winter of the Northern Plains have offered more than we could ask for.....& above all the kids with cousins relatives had a gala time & my trips to Sadar Bzr in BD dose have made up whatever we missed there in the island...!Also,there are sombre moments in  one of our mother's passing away on the 29thDec.Late Gouri Das was our CHHOTO Ma my late Uncle's wife.I am in regular touch with my cousins in Pondicherry in their moment of grief.It was time for me to flip over old albums where we as cousins met in vacation in Madhupur literally every winter...!!May her soul rest in peace...!It is in this vacation I learnt where my true bearings lay.....my old school campus in facebook,my childhood railroad town of Madhupur.I felt extremely energised and embalmed so soothing and felt my roots strongly...!So,this Oct end when we come again for Pujas a major part will be spent in Madhupur and also wish to visit Dehri on sone my wife's native place her school her children must visit...!!!!