........Festoon & Placard time here.....!!!!!

......1st week of Sept will witness Presidential Elections here, a huge step for a fledgling democracy.....all preparations r on the way nd 50% in First round will see a candidate win....or else 2nd round in 2 weeks time will be called for....there r four formations here with Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), The Peoples Party of Maldives (PPM),JumhooryParty(JP)& its Coalition & a Coalition of Current President including Dhivehi Raiyetunga Party (DRP)......multiparty elections were held for the first time in 2008....Maldives Islands have all relevant Institutions in place nd people by nd large r oriented nd excited to participate in the elections.....the gud thing here is all activities related to meetings nd rallies r in Evening aft. the days wrk for most people....it doesn't disrupt normal life...but the evenings r long hrs...often late nite.....tru 2 the Idyllic Island atmosphere of sea breeze nd cool atmosphere......!!!!!

....Eid Mubarik....!!!!

.....with festivity in the air....I can already sniff the winds of change,  as to the year,  with Eid in August & Durga Puja in October....these festivities r imp.for the huge subcontinent populace....transgresses all barriers....for the Current Golden moment :its Eid Mubarik frnds!!!.....the mth long obeisance culminating in the Celestial Crescent of hope, joy nd magnanimity....with traffic off the streets the age old practices of meeting nd congratulating each other....the laid back nd thread bare interactions on the way thru the streets...!!!...thru out childhood, my Father being a public figure, people used to visit us on the day with gifts, blessings nd Food packages deliciously prepared....nd my Mother equally reciprocating....being staunch Hindus, never deterred us frm mingling into the festivity a hallmark of our tru ancient civilization.....as the Indian railways of this part ,had a sizeable Muslim employee strength especially in the Operating side with the Loco Running Staff with its Drivers, Firemans, Foremans, Fitters, Shunters.....so whn Azim Driver used to call on us with an entourage ....nd a big "...Salaam walaikum....!!! " .....we r witnessing a regular scene of bonhomie, brotherhood ,mutual trust nd respect...the Trade Union Leader in my father was worshipped like a deity...& Das Babu was a household name in tht community....on Dussehra on Bijaya Dashmi day we wr witnessing the same scene at home with Azim nd his entourage well ensconed.....!!!!.....the Christian community was not far behind, with the likes of Peter Saheb,O'Neil Saheb, Anthony nd Paul Hansda all sr employees intermingling with us on many a festivity....the Church at Carmel Convent nd St.Columbas truly imparted a cosmopolitan culture to the Santhal Pargana Town known for its gud weather,water nd tourism in as many as numerous Resort like Villas dotted the landscape of Madhupur....!!!!....my compulsory invitation @ Panama House on Eid Day to meet Shahid, Sarfraz nd their parents....the sumptuous lunch, the mild mannered warm reception had already beginning to open newer vistas of acceptability,comradeship nd cosmopolitan character, a tool, which has come in so handy,....even far far away....... whn I think introspectively....!!!!

...Close encounter ......with a date......a date to remember....!!!!

.......my mother appeared cheerful today as I rang her up in the wee hrs as Arnav had to seek her blessings on account of his 4th B'Day......the little fellow a gushing rivulet now in terms of his narrative & exploits ...his current aquisition of Toys....Dirghojeevi  hou, Nikhut,Nirogi theko( meaning Long Life,unblemished nd Healthy Life) was her standard wish frm times immemorial percolating on us...!!!....when I spoke of my Late Father's Death Anniversary :also today.....she told me how strongly she feels of His presence in Arnav....reconciling death with birth....loss with gain....!!!....today being a Somwari of Sawan nd a wrkin day the In house celebration & rituals r performed....with coming Friday slated for the party....which he has accepted gracefully....both Archana & Me r Happy ......the Maldives Sun & Breeze in gud stead.....the Children growing up alarmingly.......We thank the Lord for his bounty....& giving us a reason to live.....!!!!