......Overleaf as we proceed to 2015....GoodBye 2014....!!!!

.....the eventful yr is slithering past.....nd a mixed bag for the Globe.....the Eastern part now its own Bermuda Triangle,gobbling up live aircrafts....to a no trace at all......the annexation of Crimea bloodlessly to Russia.....ending of the Gaza conflict....& ascent of Modi & saffron in Jammu r leading highlights....not to spk of the natural calamities which struck us at regular intervals.....Diseases like Ebola....personally ,the 'Quintessential trip 'to India in July.....the connectivity with frnds nd fmly ....my ever supportive wrk place...& shifting to new res.'PROBAS'at the fag end were significant....2014 is the year whn connectivity with all school nd college frnds reached its zenith....thanking thm for lending me their ears...a brisk exchange of communicados of HTML & Media....in a way was fairly successful in maintaining a bridge.....cementing the foundation.....the agenda for 2015 appears to be al cut out ,now tht the Heart is in place.....the Moorings held tight.....Copious reading nd Voluminous writing to flood the foundations of PROBAS is the agenda....the things which I love most......would like to thank Archana,Doel nd Nanu for being a wonderful fmly...nd tons of Regards to frnds nd fmly.....truck loads of Gud wishes for the New Yr.......!!!!!

..

....Jingle Bells & Tolling Bells....!!!!

....Merry Christmas to Frnds & Fmly....!!!!....as the Bell Tolls at Bethlehem nd Infant Jesus is born....the World erupts in festivity nd Holiday.....ingraining the sermons of universal brotherhood,tolerance nd sacrifice.....as we r on the threshold of another yr....the sermons r all the more relevant for a sustaining peace which we al crave for the Globe ...for the sake of our progeny....as we settle nd crave for a more cosy life ...it seems its a chimaera we r chasing.....2014 is definitely the Nadir of all horrible things tht afflict us...strife...nd more strife....bigotry...intolerance...nd definitely unsafe we l r more now....yet to come to terms to the loss of innocence in Pakistan...massacre of school children....I am dumbfounded...numb...casting a pall of gloom over any positivity we can think off.....must rise frnds frm this morass nd rededicate ourselves for anything good on this auspicious day...Prayers nd more prayers the need of the hour.....!!!.........

quoting John Donne.yet again....

"No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee......" John Donne.....".Unquote".

.....the entry to "Probas"...

.....prelude to 'Probas' our new aboard in Sunny Maldives Isles in the first week of Dec.was turbulent to say the least...The Vastu of our old home made a last ditch attempt to teach us a lesson for ditching & dumping it for good.....in tht the taps went dry in our last & final week stay, as Male' City was plunged into an unprecedented water crisis ,aft a devastating fire gutted the water company panel boards .....never we had seen such a crisis nd never were planned for it....as the C5 Hercules ,& IL76 of the IAF hovered over the Airport with water supplies frm India...we knew we had to brace for grim days ahead....INS Sukanya & INS Deepak al headed nd anchored in the bay with their desalinator plants working overtime...China, US,,Sri Lanka, & Bangladesh pitched in with their ships nd aircrafts nd in no time it was as if Operation Flood was in full swing....there were serpentine ques in the local schools for per head 3 litres of packaged drinking water....on an 8 hrely shift we wud collect nd the potable water for daily needs obtained frm large tanks mobile nd stationed at particular hrs....the children now on school holiday had a task cut out nd needless to say the Kshatrani in Archana stood like a rock marshalling her resources for a smooth run of her show....amidst this  hullabaloo, we shifted to PROBAS nd my trusted clientele ensured a smooth physical transfer....by tht time  the crisis  had stabilized nd we waiting patiently for the Brand new taps of PROBAS to gush out like a spring....our patience paid off nd supply was restored at the 7th day of the crisis...there were cheers nd the resilient populace performed stupendously in discipline in the face of the crisis...hats off to the community here...!!!!....the Old home finally let us go...though Arnav &Doel shed a tear or two before final departure...Arnav's Infancy nd Doel's Kindergarden all spent there...the Eastern Board of Sunrise nd the Western Front Hangout....with the turncoat Deep Blue all etched in Memoriam....all of us in a flux in new home ....believe me....I ensured a similar setting here....the Western Balcony a fabulous Sun Set Point.....!!!!!

......Another day of humble submission .....in all humility....

......feel blessed nd connected today....feel rooted today....as 9thNov unfolds with two beautiful hand made B'day cards frm the Kids.....Arnav a v kind hearted handing me over at the stroke of dawn, Doel pakhi trifle later....thn the debate raged for whr to fix these.....as this will be the last B'Day in the Indian Ocean Heights,as we relocate 100yds yonder more proximal to the School,in an equally fabulous location in December....this, aft a stint of four yrs....had a gr8 time in this bldg with majority being locals....interacting with thm....the new arena is more upmarket...& majority will be Expats white collared.....it was gud we  understood the locals first nd now things r as smooth as cake walk.....to pull on in a Foreign land with fmly is a real life time experience with advantages nd disadvantages.....as the Iru....the Sun will reach its Zenith,its business as usual,the feelings don't change as it was since childhood.....do we really age? is the Query....its just one walk in a time capsule...ur bearings nd moorings r too strong to resist any change....Ma knew...... it was me in the early hrs....same standard line of blessings....the ultimate connectivity of the child with the parent....somethings don't change....some things will never change...ur parents unflinching love nd dedication for  you......thanking all frnds nd fmly for making this  Day.....!!!!

....Worship of the Elements.....!!!!

....as Holy Chathth Pujan in India concludes today,the entire region is in pure ,holy, sanctified spirits....the Great Indian Plain with mighty rivers....the advent of the Aryans....Nature worship.....the Worship of the Elements.....the worship of the Fundamentals......"Iru" is the Sun here...Omnipotent & Omnipresent....the Worship of Sun God marks the festivity.....the mighty River Ganga, frm the Glaciers, emboldened, empowered & enjoined by equally distinguished tributaries like Kosi at Kursela.....the epitome of Purity nd Holiness ...the Spirit of India...."...Mano toh Mey Ganga Maa Hun ...na Mano toh Behta Paani...": meaning consider me as ur Mother Guardian Ganga ever protecting...ever nurturing.....or I am just a free flowing water body....!!!....pure Holi waters of Ganga nd its offering to "Iru"...the Sun...!!!!.....the free flowing river ,the setting & rising Sun...and all other water bodies big or small ....offerings in salutation to the Omnipotent.....no where I can feel the same connect of the Spirit with Nature...as is evident on Chathth  Pujan day......we r born frm the  Elements,Live with the Elements nd wil redefine with the Elements again.....the spiritual connect of our society to Mother universe is no whr so wel defined......Wishing all frnds & fmly all the Gud wishes on this auspicious day.....!!!!

.....the Cattle Trains to Bihar & UP....

....the Serpentine wagons wud stop at MDP Junc.nd we as children goin to school wud never miss an opportunity to see the Livestock being transported...Buffaloes, Cows...wel fastened nd wel fed taking a gud spacious ride in the Wagons of Indian Rlys......in adulthood ,though hvng shifted base to NCR we r subjected to a newer version of Cattle trains , originating frm NCR on the occasion of Festivities,like Holi, Diwali, Eid nd Chhath Pujan...this time its passengers who r being ferried to their respective native places, to re unite with frnds nd fmlys.....mostly other state people of Bihar,UP,WB & Assam.....this is Modern India on the move with Holocaust like trains with people packed like sardines....the Railway system ...much flaunting , miserably failing to rise to the Occasion of this extra Rush....as usual the ordinary citizenry of the country is at the receiving end,since  they hardly can afford a costly ride back home ,which is far far away.....Why,our people shud suffer this way ,even there is a change of Guard in Governance....why, we can't give due respect nd minimum of Honor to our ordinary ,simple Gentry...its a horrifying scene whn u see the General compartments,being boarded .with equally ruthless policing ,in the major terminuses....as if we Indians r worst thn Cattles......the Cattle trains r far more spacious....the recent Chhatth  Pujan rush hv already claimed a life ...a man over run.....year aft year India fails to offer solutions to handle its huge populace ,out of sheer callousness nd lack of missionary zeal to put a fulproof system in place......its time,the Indian Rlys nd its Officialdom & its Saloon Culture, be notified, in  hving failed miserably , mis treating its Citizenry.....yr aft yr to help solve this problem of Rush during Festivities....!!!

...The Lady with her lamps.....!!!!

.......how imp was Riverine clay nd how easily the potter would design nd mould into difft shapes  nd Lamps : Diyas, ofcourse.....Diwali lamps first soaked in water before oiling thm for the 'MongolDwip' of the festival.....coral islands...... chalk and chalk al  around....riverine clay , a far cry here.......the beautiful candles  but won't suffice for the craving spirits of the Expats.....no wonder, the Spirited Desi   in Archana, indomitable, unsurpassed....must hv a Desi Diwali.....hard wrk nd Dough nd paint ...she churns out enough Diyas out of Dough(Ata/flour)...to lit up our Spirits in these Coral Islands....!!!!.....the children had a Children's Diwali nd our mission accomplished....back home while driving past Badshahpur on Sohna Rd. the Gurjar villages nd its potters wil generate abundant potteries, wud stop, load some without even stepping out,decorating our homes nd gardens....how easy it is in the Land of Abundance,the rich soil nd its accessibility at ease....how imp r things nd people whn u don't hv thm around.....!!!!.....nd how for granted our nature seems to be in abundance....!!!.....in adversity ,though ,the finest colors nd lights r exuded....formidable is the human Spirit....!!!!

......The Advent of the Black Goddess Ma Kali on Deepavali......

.....as Shyama Pujan draws near, there will be few pandals of the other avatar of the Black Goddess :Ma Kali, with unconscious Shiv under Her feet of an enact of Ronochondi,Mundomalini , nd spontaneous guilt feeling as seen in the facial expression of the Goddess.....the late nite Nishi Pujan....the air thick with smog of Diwali Celebration of the eve......the streets dotted with MongolDwar of Banana trees auguring Laxmi Pujan for the traders.....splash of color,sight nd sound.....the Eastern India scenario is wel complemented by the more urbane North.....a frenzy for exchanging Gud wishes,gifts , sweets nd crackers of course...the sadar bzr @ Gurgaon is choc a bloc jam packed, with dry fruits, sweets, lights nd Pujan materials overflowing frm the shops to the streets.....this is Delhi wel lit by Diwali lights which the marauder Ahmad Shah Abdali was awestruck even aft ransacking the city.....years of attacks frm the western front nd subsequent subjugation nd colonisation could n't dampen the rich tradition of  Diwali.....as free ,modern India emerges thru evolution...its one large festivity bonding the Nation.....wishing all frnds ,fmly a Very Happy Diwali loaded with all the Gudwishes ,frm across the Isles......!!!!!

...Opportunity ..... not all Lost....!!!

......the Native state of Bihar provided an unparallel of an opportunity....the  rich alluvial plains , agrarian society,a perfect platform of a Great Civilisation...... the Land of Gautam Budhdha, Mahaveer & King Ashoka & Harishchandra, one of earliest Democracies of the world of the  Lichchavis , of tales & Folklore galore....there is no dearth of rich legacy, scattered & ingrained in the air of Bihar....lucky to hv the Opportunity, must say, to be part of the Natural richness of its Environs....a life time not enough to assimilate its fertile offerings....mind the abundance of ingredients stimulating the mind of a richly loaded tradition & culture ,genetically ingrained in language speech composure & deliberations, & philosophical & mystical way of life, heavily relying & backed up by a lineage of well established evolution.....the Ever changing Cycle :  its Avatar....the Current, may appear Dismal.....an Illusion must say...!!...hv to hv yeoman strength to open ur eyes & ears nd all sensations full blast open to feel ,the subtle undercurrent of Glory....the Humanity in full bloom,sensitive & oozing with feelings of an approach far far soothing ,  an indefatiguable potential, ..... its populace, the resilience, the philosophy of calling everyone ur own, relating even to far far distant, giving & surrendering...an ever powerful self defence so provided.....there is something in the soil....the rich soil of tradition & Glory...a fledgling step enough to dilute ur rootlessness...the bondage supreme......as like many....can love no other street thn my own,can love no other terrain thn whr I grew....!!!!.....for my System fails me.....!!!!...Long Live Native land...!!!!

......The Phablet Crash & a Reputation.....at stake....!!!

......as, the Brand new Phablet crashed after hrs of gaming by the kids......there was a pall of gloom.....Nanu & Doel had orchestrated a campaign in june for the ownership of a tablet, which was heroically resisted by me, since thn, until the last bastion of resilience fell today  succumbing to their demand....this morning......their was a tumultuous roar of a greeting whn I presented my long battered credentials to the duo in the afternun with the brand new Tab....the glitter in their eyes were seen to be believed......& I basking in the new found glory of respect nd esteem...alas, it was short lived with the late evening news @clinic tht the Phablet has crashed.....the indiscriminate downloads frm untrustworthy game sites did it in....without a chance for me to install a defence of Anti virus....I realised my folly...... as kids will hv no patience ....I shud have pre stalled it nd presented.....the late evening scenario of arrival frm the clinic was total loss of confidence as the disdainful expressions thrown at me proved to be.....how quickly u can win kids nd how easily u can lose thm....!!!!!.....Friday the Holiday ...the task is all cut & set......hv to resurrect the machine.....just for the sake of hearing the deafening cheers again.....nd in gud books again...truly children r the most innocent nd pure in their feelings....!!!!! 

.....its "KolaKuli" Time now ....as the two imp Festivity co incide....Dussehra nd Eid.....both being National Holidays....got to hug frnds nd fmly....'kolakuli' is the deeply incised word in the psyche...hugging ur frnd nd fmly mandatorily at this pt.of the yr.....with a possible lump in the young throat of Ma's departure on BijoyaDasami...very meticulously sculpted r these festivals of Unity....the tru spirit of the Nation.....we luv our people of all colors,creed,religion....nd wil not miss the opportunity.....as Munnawar short of breath, talked of Sylhet nd festivity,while being examined, it was Shopon who talked of the delicacies being prepared at his native town of Narayanganj, during the Bijoya festivity,of people interacting nd mingling for the common cause of humanity....across the border....not very far & difft.frm us....the barbed fence not a deterrent , across the border trade.....as Shahid & Sarfraz at school wud invite us to Panama house for the Eid Lunch with thm....they wud come in the Eve at home for Bijoya....the Coconut Laddus were their favorite..nd all sorts of short eats served by ma....ma was a bundle of Energy rising tremendously to the occasion....with Azim & his entourage of Loco Running Staff wud call on Bapi, as he was their chosen Leader,enormously Loved & Respected.....there wud be Cooked nd Uncooked parcels of Mutton & Phirni,Dry fruits, pouring frm all quarters....& parcels of Prasadam Bhog,vegetables,Payasam frm the various pandals of the colony.....the aroma one show of unity for the community....the brisk trade on these days kept the traders happy nd needless to say un interrupted power supply raised the Spirit of the small town....!!!...the average happiness index soared during these days....nd as per current reports, seeping & soaking us....it has not changed, but, galloped up in this Digital Era..except Postcard Greetings of Bijoya to far flung relatives nd Frnds is taken over by Apps of communication commensurate to the Modern Times.....!!!!!!

.......a prescription to be followed up........

.....the Recent Train accident at GKP nd Loss of innocent lives in Patna today in a Dussehra Stampede, has cast a shroud on the festivities....., these events r a blotch nd bitter pill to swallow.....India is not USA or Europe or Japan....its also starkingly difft frm its equally populous neighbour China.....whn  handling huge populace expected reaction  is foolproof nd robust.....the Kumbh tragedy of not so long memory...no lessons r learnt....a knee jerk action  nd the aftermath nd its lessons long lost....the abundance of a populace nd complacency......a small nation like Maldives which is dependent on foreign man power for its ever burgeoning demand of growth understands how imp is its limited populace...nd how over guarded nd protectionism is the order.....yes, we r complacent  as we don't understand our real strength......we perish like worms, at the drop of a hat nd consigned to history ...for the vision of a truly Modern India......its Respect nd Protect of her precious Lives..... the only agenda in the scheme of any development.....for any dispensation......   

.....M K Gandhi & Trivia of a Journey......

.....the stimulus was too strong for M K Gandhi Bar at Law ,whn travelling in a First Class compartment reserved for the Whites only in SA,as, he was shown the door & eventually thrown out.....his newly acquired experience abroad & civilized education of Law & Justice overwhelmed him....nd an altogether new persona of Gandhi transformed him....thus began a long journey of Emancipation & Liberation.....tht Gandhi's education was truly complementing his real life experiences of a Turbulent time, initiating both a movement in SA & resolving for its application back home, as he sailed back....nd thus was born the Mahatma....Bapu...our Father of the Nation....!!!....as Modern India today initiates a Cleanliness Drive on his Birth Anniversary....its just a Gandhian thought...a small idea to many yet still so very relevant even in these Modern times, as the propagation of the thought continues.....an Event, a disaster, a catastrophe can stimulate  nd ignite passionately thoughts of Liberation in the truest spirit as Gandhi's path wud prove....tht the mind is Supreme nd the Resolute mind is even more....it has been proved beyond doubt by the likes of Gandhiji....Long Live the Father of the Nation  MK GANDHI....!!!!!

"....Ma & HER arrival....."

"....Mahasasthi ....".....the air rife with expectations....the system of the average likeminded : spirited now.....the advent of Devi Durga Durgotinashini......its time for total unwind & total recall for many......the wee hrs of Mahalaya...the ethereal voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadro nd his ultimate rendition of Mahishashurmardhini.....the quintessential backdrop to the celebration...the triumph of the Good over Evil...the dew clad fields the aroma of the shiuli nd kanthalichampa.....the warmth of the Home & Hearth.....no other festivity evoked ripples of anticipation nd high spirits.....it still persists .....the settings changed now....the spiritedness same......!!!!.....wud like to wish all frnds & Fmly a Very Happy Festivity week.....!!!!!

......the Celebrity Danseuse & her Pulseless Observation.......!!!!!

.....Can't talk of the world, but surely for our Country steeped in Tradition, Rituals & Practices....ancient India her deep rooted practices......still so very relevant in our social order.....rt frm the time of Ishwar ch Vidyasagar, Raja Ram Mohan Roy,....emancipation for the faceless womanhood of yesteryears had started to roll.....the abolition of Sati, introduction of Widow remarriage nd ban on Polygamy......gr8 writers Sarat Ch chattopadhya, Rishi Bankim Chandra, Rabindranath dwelt upon the subject of Widowhood thru their characters, reflecting their times of social injustices.....losing a husband is one thing & being an outcast is another, both trauma entwined & unleashed on the poor widow of a Woman.....resulting in a tradition of pilgrimages,relocation, & Exodus to most favorably, Kashi, Vrindavan, for a far more traumatic tough conditions for these poor women.....unfortunately though with modernity nd emancipation & liberation, the social stigmata persists in a sizeable section of the society....nd therefore the Exodus & Exile continues......hence, the sweeping remark of our noted celebrity Lady MP frm Mathura of which Vrindaban is a part, tht other state widows r not welcome in Vrindavan due to overcrowding nd there r temples in the Eastern States too, is shocking to say the least..!!!!.....I am aghast to note this.....how insensible the remark is......to issue a blunt statement , without silently working thru various State Govts & their channels into the entire Gamut of the problem...let aside the insensitivity....& poor Statesmanship.....it is against the basic principles of Fundamental Rights......!!!

.....the Shrinking World.....of our Times.....

....massive Border built ups....Divisions of Infantry posted at strategic remote locations......the customary unwarranted across the Border Rattle....the scar marks on the walls of both sides......the vitriolic diatribe.....year after year......such is the routine dosage,yielding an addiction of xenophobia, mass hysteria of animosity amongst the neighbours......retarding a normal growth chart of mutual benefit for both the Nations....a mirror image of each other with commonality which is palpable & natural.....the flood scenario now even grimmer the Marauder common again.....with crores of Rupees lost on both sides & population in penury......leave alone the uncertainty of trouble makers fishing in troubled waters......the pathological intolerance ,so supreme, nurtured carefully over the years for sustenance of Powers that be.....we have not learnt any lesson frm our  tempestous Colonial Past.....the Lust for ownership of every square inch of Fallow Land hv relegated plans of mutual benefit ......power generation, Flood Control.......want to shed our bitter past nd SAARC needs to be more thn just a ritual of conferences & rhetoric......if we want South Asia to prosper & bloom.....must think of the Drawing board now not just for the sake of the Border.....but for our progeny....for the thriving civilisation tht we were ...... must think on people to people lines of exchanges of common benefit, robust trade & identifying & thwarting the common Marauder ,......say.......currently the Flood....& those fishermen fishing in Troubled waters for their destructive selfish ends....!!!....to prevent us from Grieving on either side......!!!......for a better Robust tomorrow for the Region.....!!!!

.....the Mangoes frm Pakistan......!!!!

............as Archana served a Holiday Lunch which bore an Undivided India stamp, I thought......with Mangoes frm Pakistan, India gate Basmati rice, & Rui Maach(fish) frm Bangladesh, decorating the Lunch Thali.....the sumptuous fare generating a deep sense of satisfaction & reflection......the morning session of visuals thru GeoTv(Pak), I channel (Bangladesh) ,nd NDTVx24(India), depicting the grim flood situation in the region unleashed by heavy rainfall, in the catchment area nd Rivers in spate & which knows no boundary.....the story of the undivided Topography.......still so relevant as the gushing rivers proved it to be........with floods al around & grim situation in the Northern reaches of the subcontinent......united in grief by the common marauder.......this time the natural calamity........much contrast to the Common Ruler who ruled the region for 200yrs, dismembering it upon departure, with unhealed permanent scar across the divide....how an Expat, with no semblance whatsoever to  the land he captured by force can be a ruler in a foreign land is beyond my comprehension, nd how we were subjugated for centuries is hard to comprehend either......the diametrically opposite clime.....the tropical diseases......the ultimate waterloo for the Sahibs......yet they held on with blemishes far exceeding whatever Gud, ruthlessly colonising the 'lesser mortals'......it was also a gud news today tht Few of India's Antique r being repatriated by the Govt. Of Australia....a welcome gesture......Loot cannot be justified, be it in any form.....the rightful owners must get back their National treasures, scattered thru out the Globe......!!!!!

........Tornado across the Border.....!!!!

......the Tornado across the border have swept  & generated a feeling of Deja Vu......2012-2013, whn, Anna, AAP, Ramdev spectacle all unfolded..... only the setting & Land changed......neighbouring Pakistan was our Land until the British chose otherwise exploiting the disunity & Communal divide amongst the 'siyasatdaans' of those times the stakeholders of the emerging free polity.........'Qaid E Azam': Jinnah was too suave & shrewd a leader to lead his community & ilk, browbeating his Indian counterparts, having been slighted & upstaged a number of times whn he was in Congress, by the so called Brahmnical ,prejudiced Congress colleagues as he alleged.....finally he had his way as he believed nd conducted as "The First among Equals"....!!!....chiselling out a well strategised Muslim League, first which culminated in Pakistan......the First Governor General in him as Pakistan's sole guide to her destiny was the highest point ever as I feel for our neighbour......with Feudal Punjab dominating the Aristocracy, it was a land of stark disparity amongst its plebs....the Rich very rich & the poor very Poor.....tht was wht Jinnah inherited after the divide.....alas, he was alone in the herculean task of rebuilding a Modern ,Vibrant,Economically viable Pakistan.....& Fate wouldn't allow him further as his ill health truncated a Future of his Dream for Pakistan......his legacy was a cropper as greed for Power & Wealth a heady cocktail for the already entrenched Aristocracy of a strong Feudal set up of the Indus valley got the better of the Vaccum thus created & seized the opportunity of crass oppression & subjugation......the situation never changed & as her Eminent neighbour despite shortcomings & shortfalls of a fledgling Democracy with a huge burden of populace grew steadily with strengthening of all its Institutions as Enshrined in the Constitution.....but,winds of changes blowing thru the Great Indian plain couldn't possibly have kept Pakistan aloof...as infectious is 'Inquilab' & as similar are we as possibly a mirror image.....it was a matter of time for a section there to pick up the cudgels.....no matter the methods are now besmirched with violence but tht has shaken the foundation of the State & a clarion call to wake up......& as the 'Khwatins' & Kids also playing a major role it looks like as if the Sleepy Slumberous Society is fast moving towards a change which was long due which has a long tradition of oppression, & robbery of people's Right......Tahirul Quadri & Imran Khan's "Container " warfare against the state is Unique in tht it was unheard of before in a land of Dictators.....however or whatever misplaced are their efforts must say the Oratory of well informed learned Tahirul Quadri & the Fighting Captains spirit of Imran khan to win at any cost is an interesting development, with the act of "Anarchy"enacted in another part of the subcontinent , fuelled by the winds of change which blew thru the Great Indian Plain , in not so far memory.......!!!!!

The rain Coat.......& the Deep Blue & its many Avatars.....!!!!

.....nothing seem to have gone against the Deep Blue in its stellar performance in the past few days......with Incessant Rains lashing the concrete now nearly a week.....the Cityscape is like a ship on the roll....finding it tough to match the Deep Blue in its ultimate best.....its therefore reverence time for Ye Mortals...!!! , the Sun God a distant second & entire Male' City like a water park.....Archana's anticipation & buy of the Rain Coat frm Muzaffarpur is the saving grace as driving is well nigh impossible with gail like condition.....in tht you r taken aback whn a huge wave lash & its resultant bucket full of splash right on your windscreen is unnerving....!!!....whn driving past the Dyked boulevard en route the Hospital....so its Raincoat & Floaters time with back up garments @ Hospital cup board......the rain coat frm Muzaffarpur hv brought in here unprecedented rains.....!!!.....the Rain Coat carried Rain GOD or Rain Ghost its for the Children's story time material, tomorrow, being ,a Holiday....with thm lapping up the details as I will definitely link it up with the River Kosi & Gandak menace currently affecting Bihar, & the purchase  frm the same region....with heavy rains lashing nd Archana's steady supply frm the kitchen it will be one great stint of story telling to the Kids on a Holiday......!!!!!

......Unbridled Freedom.......68th Independence Day.....!!!!

.......sharply at 9am the Flag was hoisted in the Indian High Commission in Male'.....with the National Anthem, National Song,& patriotic songs resonating in the Jam packed premises of the Chancery, couldn't feel less Proud to be a  part of the August gathering with fmly & being an Indian....the Indian Cultural Centre ,Male' Chapter is hosting a programme. tomorrow.....with, the Children , Archana  heavily involved & my Evening Clinic tomorrow is a sure limited edition, for participation.....Indo-Maldives Friendship yr this yr...... the mood is upbeat.....!!!.....freed frm the British Yoke still shud say a Nascent Democracy fast on the track of well institutionalized  Governance....must ponder the Unbridled Freedom we enjoy , must percolate to the General masses for its truest Essence..wht a Country frnds.....the diversity gigantic.....difft.Languages...difft states of unique diversity & physical features of the populace.....all in Unison as the Spirit called India.....!!!....there is so much to learn, absorb, inhale, embalm nd  be Spirited in being an Indian.....the Liberal Unbridled Thoughts tht is Indian.....Proud to be born an Indian......!!!!.....JAI HIND......!!!!

.......Resurfacing of the sub called Yatri1037.......!!!!!

.....feel elated & relieved to be back in touch with you all.....the Indian Mainland trip of a mnth just concluded.....departing 30th June aft a span of 16 mnth meant a lot in terms of reconnecting....though the mnth was a trifle too short to do justice to all...as pressing commitments for immediate extended fmly there mounted with travel fur flung both by air & train.....lucky we managed with due apologies to Sis & Brother in law @ Madhupur, whr we couldn't make it despite best intentions....... since certain commitments @ GURGAON(Haryana) curtailed our precious time....in the same breath wud apologise to dear frnds for the elusive contact.....!!!.....the landing at Bangalore our 2nd home in India on 30th June via Trivandrum unshackled our Indian Spirit & Indianess.....heading towards Cape Comorin the tip of India with wife & children for the first time, where I hv been visiting since childhood frm  1969....having seen the commissioning of Vivekananda Rock & Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam lodge as the only place of stay long time back in late 60's with no Rail contact @ KanyaKumari......the Cape is spl for me as I feel my parents presence nd siblings in every nook & corner ....though dramatically changed now......our 70s & 80's  arrival there by Trivandrum Mail from MAS only upto Trivandrum Central....& thereafter by Road....also remembered the commissioning of the Trivandrum KannyaKumari Railway Route probably 1979 where we were the early birds to avail the train frm TVC......the Granite temples of Kumari Amman & Suchindram & Nagaraja Koil were an ethereal experience for the Children & both Archana & Me holding hands in devotional pray, thanking Gud Lord for helping us there in togetherness.....the Train Journey to Kochi/Ernakulam thru the lush green Coconut jungle.....the backwaters.....the land of rich traditions as every west coast entrant left its hall mark cultural stamp on God's own country Kerala.....the Jew town at Mattanchery...the rivera with Periyar & Arabian sea backwaters with breathtaking lush green & waterfalls dotting & a vibrant city Kochi with its unique cuisine.....the Zuari & Mandovi rivers in spate with welcome rains greeted us at Goa...the Konkan Rly trip to Madgaon frm Ernakulam....& there was Goa ...!!!!....my first visit being as old as 1989......the children enjoyed every bit & Archana was  eloquent abt the pristine locales with lush green paddy fields greeted us every km amidst the modernity......the ten day stay at Gurgaon at Nirvana Country with Sanjeev ,Shweta & Children, parents....it was one beautiful period of unwind & reconnect......for onward journey to Bihar for Muzaffarpur ,Sitamarhi......meeting Ma, Didi, Elder bro nd fmly...& dear Jijaji & Didi(Archana's side) @ Bairgania(Sitamarhi)....the Highways excellent now....reaffirmed the bondage with our native state nd felt as if it was just yestday..........!!!!!!

......the Mnth of February......!!!!!!

......Boys Old Hostel was the hub of all activities pertaining to our On pitch Annual Sporting activities, chiefly Cricket & Futbol.....one of the spacious rooms with tall ceiling nd huge doors & quite cool & dimly lit with Table lamps served our dressing room  just adjacent to the Futbol pitch....ruminating further....wht a mnth of February it always had been...wht a tradition of Sports, Cultural ,Clinical activities before the run up to CFD(College Foundation Day of Feb 25th).......it was an Unusual mnth...with the tightly capped lids of diligent studentship of the better part of yr now,unscrewed & uncocked....out flashed talents, hitherto unknown & out flashed unusual camaraderie of all concerned.....!!!!.....in hindsight must say ,it was an activity mnth, so well a complement , to the demanding curriculum......Futbol & Cricket of the Athletic Society Of PMCH(erstwhile Prince of Wales Medical College Estd. 1925),with Interclass competitions & awards were imp.for many of us.....ours was a rated Futbol team ,with the likes of BABA(Dr Gautam Pandey), & Mithu( Dr Anindya Gupta)...Baba was a striker,deft dribller of the ball nd always spelt danger at the Goal.....uncanny appetite for scoring was his hallmark .....Mithu was a gr8 sprinter nd a bundle of indefatiguable energy, always a 100% giver at the field......had to visit Chhabra sports for many a time to gear up for the Futbol match ,with immediate seniors....I managing the defence with robust tackles.....Baba with his astute dribble fed constantly by us with Mithu , Bansidhar, Michael,Dada,Malto,Pramod ,Amar, Gunjan Murmu,handed out a defeat to our seniors which was hard for thm to digest....the patho block Balcony with the leading ladies of our class of 1984 providing us enough cheers to perform well ,tht particular evening.......!!!!.....Anand was our Mngr nd Chief motivator & his decibel & pitch is fresh in memory.....!!!!!....the certificates of the society & medals a treasure now.....for our Children's perusal..!!!!

.......Unusual Times....!!!!!

.......these r unusual times......extra ordinary times......extra vigilant time......extra effort time......as the Copa Mundial progress....throwing all our routine nd reducing it to smithereens.....9pm Local time I am reminded of the impending 1st Game.....still into harness for the terminal part of the day.....with few challenging cases trickling in nd admitted....its a mixed feeling nd a school boyish urge to escape.....but to no avail....ur Duty nd Dutifulness comes first.....as the 2nd half is halfway thru.....nd all cases disposed to the best of ability....the roar of the Nissan Engine to take me back home is sweet music.....the streets wear deserted look nd negotiating the traffic is cake walk with pockets of motley crowd watching the deliberations in huge screen erected at vantage pts....for all to enjoy.....salvaging the 2nd half live @ Home nd catching up the lost moments r priority....dinner secondary...with the wall lit up nd players come alive.....as if a handshake away.......!!!!....whole Male'City & the Apartment reverberated in Unison, when Campbell & Costa Rica Equalised & found the Net.....!!!!!

....Sinking of the Spanish Armada.....!!!!!

.....the Spanish Armada finally sank by the Dutch.....Arjjen Robben ,Van Persie & Co took the spanish by the scruff of their neck.....torpedoed....nd sank the once formidable side to an obituary.....!!!...having watched Arjjen Robben in 2010.....I had a notion tht he was truly a striker of the old mode.....sheer speed, deft reception of stray balls...but I believe its the speed .....his lightning runs & astounding brakes to wag off the defender before unleashing the net crasher.....reminds me of old days the quintessential hallmark of a striker....one player is enough to destroy the rhythm & Morale of the opposition....the well oiled passing side was reduced to a pedestrian.....to my mind Arjjen Robben has peaked in this edition nd Nederland will definitely be a hot favorite now.....!!!!

....La La La Brasil.....!!!!

.....can't keep myself on hold....as the spectacle unfolds....Croatia-Brazil opener replaced me back to whr my sporting heart belongs.....prior to 1986 Mexico FIFA WorldCup.......the access was thru reading Newsprint  & Radio Commentary of 1982 & 1978 & 1974 World Cups.....1986 Mexico opened my eyes of wht really is the spectacle of the Jule Rimet Cup...!!!...the B/W Konark TV set purchased frm Giridih, only, whn Asansol TV Tower was commissioned exposing us to DD KOLKATA at Madhupur 80km frm ASN.....had to fix up a huge antenna with double booster draped tightly in polythene lest the rain destroy the electronic item....the old fashioned British Bungalow which was our abode frm 1965 to 1990 didnt have requisite staircase for terrace access.....once we r up...... the tall bldg gave us the first glimpse of our neighbourhood....!!!! : "Birds Eye...."......it was one of the rarest antennae of the town....nd no doubt a prized possession.....the Asansol feed was superb nd Mexico 1986 with Maradona, Valdano , Burruchhaga the formidable trio of Argentina, overpowering Karl Heinz Ruminnege & his German team.....set the basic set on fire nite aft nite......!!!......its celebrating time now .....there will be electrifying runs down the flanks......mesmerising free kicks.....incredible saves at goal line....not to speak of defence splitting passes for the Striker to lap it up ,sidestepping the Goal keeper for the far corner of the net....followed by a deafening roar.....!!!!!!.....icing on the cake will be Finals of 12th July @Maracana Stadium .....will witness tht at Home @ Gurgaon,......11th July,..... being our date of landing frm GOA...!!!!! 

.......the mandatory overs.....

......sixteen mnths is a long innings, & as the mandatory overs remain for the imminent Dep. of June30th, across the Laccadive sea , over the Nilgiris to Bangalore.....one can't prevent the Butterfly yet again doing its routine seasonal round in the abdomen ,before any imminent dep....the better part of the holiday evening,is spent discussing Homeland 1 with Sr.Colleague frm India visiting his daughter & Son in law stationed here in the High Commission, a fmly frnd....the incredible heat@NCR cropped up in the discussion, now tht we r more used to the Maritime clime here....but July wil definitely be cooler once we land thr on the 11th, prior to tht a hurricane tour of 10days of TN,Kerala,Goa, frm BLR....the children r upbeat nd we bracing up for a brk frm the mundane......& as usual a pall of gloom surrounds my wrk table with my trusted clientele of MALE' City,wud miss me terribly , not to speak of the spl. customised care,affection,communicability across far flung Islands,.atolls, God forsaken land, & the unreachable,.....hallmark of the practice here....Inshallah will return!!!! ....the refrain now.....to all concerned who care for me....the salinity of the archipelago;.... surrounding it;....... creeping & soaking the roots;....as if trying to find a place for itself in the Expat soul.....how ur roots grow deep under & how deeper r ur roots r put to test upon these seasonal departures......will miss the Eastern Sun....!!....the Turncoat called the Deep Blue....!!!!.....the many faceless, tired , sick people across the table.....day in day out....their service provider with their Unique solutions.....!!!!!

...rendezvous with the Coromandel Coast.....

.........With three generations in Indian Railways , grandpa having served Colonial EBSR & EIR ( East Bengal State Rly & East Indian Rly), with Pa serving ER , my ER association @DNR though brief was satisfying....no wonder the fmly crisscrossed the Nation on vacations & my Father's favorite PASS route would be frm DBRT(Dibrugarh Town )
to CAPE(Kanniyakumari)....with Mining Engineer Maternal Grandpa based in GUDUR(AP), his last posting aft having served in Bhilwara (Raj)& Koderma(Jharkhand)overseeing a host many Mica Mines of Nellore Dist.as his final assignment of 14 long yrs, it was natural for Ma to visit her parents with us in tow on vacations to AP via Madras  yr aft yr......thus began our long affair with the South, exposing us to a difft terrain, culture & of course food......the midnite stoppage of the Madras Mail frm Howrah at Gudur Jn was 2mts & always we were doubly alert in detraining with sleepy eyes lest we get overcarried .....Maniratnam & Venkatachalam were omnipresent at all our arrivals with a white color Fiat taxi to take us to Grandpa's residence full 25kms deep inside.....Taxi fare of Rs 10 was gratefully accepted by the driver...the past midnite arrival @ Nrityakalyani Mica Mines with Grandma & Grandfather eagerly & anxiously waiting for us is so well etched in memory ..ripe banana ,biscuit s & aroma of filter coffee permeated at those wee hrs.....how Happy we were to be thr exploring the mines in the morn...with we kids well known thr with Ramola Amma with a big red bindi nd loaded with gold carrying me in her arms much to my shyness & discomfort since I had grown up well enough since my last visit....the Chichinda (snake Gourd)plantation  nd really abode to snakes & reptiles were a scary part of the bungalow nd Polaiya would carry me on his shoulders much to my comfort.....the APSRTC Bus trip to Renigunta for onward journey to TIRUMALA for BALAJI Darshan & stay for a couple of nites with tonsuring of our hairs :no wonder we three brothers derived our names from Tirumala.....!!!!!

.....Hope & Despair....!!!

......as the new formation took charge of India amidst high hopes, despair & a pall of gloom descended as nearly forty fellow Indians perished near Gorakhpur in a railroad accident.....dampening the spirit.....benumbing & forcing me to a huddle.....the perished were not VIPs but migrant labour force returning back home.....whn u function in a limit with limited means ,u calculate to make ur ends meet.....having left their homes to seek greener pastures , taking the train frm Delhi with hopes nd happiness to reunite with familiar environs of frnds & fmly...their limited quest for happiness truncated abruptly.....blessed with a huge populace & manpower, I thought we r lacking in sensitivity towards a loss of this magnitude.....time to introduce national mourning to drive home msgs tht wht we feel for fellow countrymen.....the New Rly Min. experiencing baptism by fire hv talked of Safety First......its a step which is most imp. now tht the operations r huge & on fast track outpacing the much needed overhaul, Maintenance, research & development .......quoting John Donne.

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee......" John Donne....."....

......the Land of the Golden Dreams....!!!!

......from the Hindukush & Karakorram Ranges in the West .....to the Arakan & Pegu Yomas in the East...& mighty Himalayas to the North....the cradle of civilization so nurtured ,protected frm the cold winds of the Tibetan & Gobi deserts far North , the free flowing rivers inundating the plains with its rich alluvial soil , the impregnable plateau, the Ghats chiseling out a contour of a Civilization with its people so varied yet cocooned & united by this massive topography.....!!!!.....year after year the marauders attracted by this unique land invaded ,fell in love, adopted & became one of its kind....thus flowed prosperity, music, literature, ancient spirituality ,copiously thru out the ages.....& a truly cosmopolitan ,universally accepted culture of acceptance & Liberalism ,hallmark to the Subcontinent..... constricted thoughts & bigotry  foreign & a far cry, for its simply not in the system.....hence all fell to the charm & spirit of the Land so much Blessed in bounty.....!!!.....dismembering the Land & its spirit was a futile attempt, for the Water & Soil ,nurtured by the great rivers were the same,the poets & their paens same....the free flowing music of the bards same....the Rock Solid Ancient Spirit called India....!!!!....Long Live...!!!!!

......people's verdict....

....now tht all the heat & dust hv settled....the moot point is, whether, the democratic system of governance with too much stress on one Leader to lead & deliver in a time frame is out of date , more like the autocratic dispensation of the bygone centuries....leading to fallacies nd frustrations amongst the plebs whn the Leader fails....India needs more decentralisation, in devolution of Power & true Lok shakti (People's Power) should emanate frm the grass roots as envisaged by the Mahatma long time back.....now,its time for the New dispensation to initiate measures to Usher in people's involvement at the grass roots with indigenous, unique solutions particular to tht area....the concept of looking towards a particular Leader or formation ,to deliver the goods by waging a magic wand , by the general public is bad theory, prone to disillusionment ...truly Independence at the grassroots should be our goal in deciding the future of our progeny.....to watch out will be how India marches scientifically ,professionally in every sphere,til 2019,. involving all strata of people....the idea is every Indian child must stand on his feet firm nd not look towards any Govt. or any Leader for solutions.....must inculcate & support such independent thoughts.....

" ....A Train to Quilon...."......the 21 bogey load.....!!!!

......the color green of the coaches with cream color stripes.....the thick lush tropical rainforest & the meandering train to Quilon .....the midnite embarking at an important rail head with palpable excitement....the four berth compartment & a coupe of two berths to accomodate the fmly of seven :three brothers & two sisters....the Electric Loco pulling the train like a giant , the Home , Starter & Advanced Starter signals all Green glowing & egging the Giant with its meandering load to an open thru section....the platforms flash by nd disappear in a jiffy.....propping up on the pillow nd a slight opening of the glass pane window....could see sleepy villages, unmanned crossings as the overhead traction post fly past ,so fast, to defy me a decent counting....but thn the starry nite & the moon .....insufficient for a proper read....as the juggernaut pulls on.....the first rays of Sun thru the windows & the Tropical lush green of the Ghat section welcoming you to a very Gud Morn!!....the rivulets nd streams oozing frm the cracks of formidable granite of tunnel walls with the thick aroma of  Diesel now tht the beast being hauled by a Diesel Locomotive changed at some point at nite for this formidable section.....the underneath equally meandering highway with lumbering & laboring trucks all up against the steep climb.....competing with the train.....ample opportunity for them to catch up whn the Outer Signal is Red....nd the train hissing & panting at a steep bend.....craning our necks ,could count the 21 bogey load rt frm the Parcel van to the LV......!!!!!

......the Status Report...!!!!

......the sight of few passengers alight frm a local taxi nd scampering for cover in rain......the pitter patter raindrops on adjacent terraces , the Golf cap of a mini version of umbrella; the body drenched in fine spray of rain droplets nd an unmanageable umbrella whn the showers r real smart in tandem with the sea breeze now acquiring force.....thts the status here.....the hide & seek of Sun & Clouds at peak now..&..the turncoat called the Deep Blue matching step by step....the color azure, sapphire, pitch black ,emerald all unfolding.....all in abundance & exuberance....!!!!

.....as the gruelling Electioneering comes to an end @Homeland 1....its time for the outcome...the electioneering was petty & personal nd no real issues are debated....with pressure groups like AAP....the new dispensation won't have cake walk for sure....
The moot point is understanding the demography of the country, the rampant heterogeneity ,of different region of different Economic strata...India is a difficult model to govern....with its disparity in delivery system of Health ,Education & Finance....now, is the time to accept the truth of a billion populace with non uniform resource distribution....but its time to Love ur country more, dedicate more, know her more, interact with her more, appreciate her more....for we r a race steeped in History,tradition ,culture & a spirited soul called India..no other place will offer u so much in terms of Re discovery, unraveling mines of information,to satiate the thirst of being an Indian....in our own humble way we will re dedicate ourselves to Nation Building..!!!

......the Sea & the Dangerous Drift......

......as Joshim ,sat in the chair to be examined.....not keeping too well recently.....I felt i had seen him recently in the media.....little nudging & he said ....Dada, Allah salvaged me frm a dangerous drift off the west coast....like many youngster wrkin day & nite on state of the art Safari boats,his last trip had been treacherous & dangerous....the luxury boat capsized nd passengers were in a raft drifting dangerously far far away frm Maldivian waters towards Seychelles as he put it,for a full week......flashing out his mobile he showed me the tale tell events of the disaster till the Coast Guards found thm .....he was v pleased seeing me again & thanked the Lord for his gud luck....far far away frm his nativeland supporting his fmly at home & putting him into risk day in& out,couldn't quiet admire the man's courage & philosophy towards his commitment....day in out Gud Lord subjects me to a rendezvous with the likes of Joshim.....a lesson always to be learnt of spiritedness,faithfulness & commitment frm their ilk.....!!!!

Doel Pakhi : the humming bird : on her B'day...!!!!

2nd Apr'05.....20 past 12 midnite....Doel's arrival, permanently & irrevocably changed both Archana's & mine Lives...as she surreptiously claimed our space & the Pied Piper in her,made us dance to her tune...around her always....!!!...the frnd for life Nanu is an ardent follower of the Didi, in all her acts of omissions & commissions...recalling...as I was taking a stroll with archana,helping her in labor:...the terrace adjacent to her Hospital suite in Arjun Marg,DLF I, Gurgaon....the starry fay above both absorbing & we praying & expecting with all our mights for the little star to be born imminently....tht was by far the most cherished dream walk of Expectation....now like a movie reel unfolding in memory....!!!....tht she was a constant source of motivation & Archana as the main drive force...to explore & test the limits of the border...the early Island years....with Ma taking care of home & the duo....a new bond of frndship forged..exploring the remoteness, chasing columns of ants, butterfly, crabs & Bats after the Days wrk...the whispering winds thru Coconut groves & the Sun shining on us kindly....of swims & picnic in remote beaches of Laam Atoll....even in the remoteness....the B323 Mazda procured at her behest, parked almost every evening on the Causeway linking Islands thru the mighty seas, with her inhaling the lungful of panacea,on the swing, & we watching her grow, in good stead....& as she enters a New yr of Life...the bond thus forged with her far far away frm Homeland persists & a source of constant comfort & support....GOD Bless her in all her endeavours & always be with her....!!!!!  

..........Basics & Fundamentals....Iru : The Sun..

.......the Eastern Study Room window is witnessing unprecedented activities these days, in the Wee hrs, gently surpassing the Western View window of the setting Sun....hitherto, the favorite hangout........with the Muezzin's "Fazir Namaz " call, still very much into the darkness & the Dark Deep Blue Yonder,..... waiting impatiently , like a stallion in harness.........for the impending sun bath of the day,for a hide & seek......of changing colors, of tht, of the Turncoat....day in & day out....!!!....nothing is permanent on Earth....though as much as we say, we hate to change.......& the mundane routine is less thn permanent either.....Early to Bed & Early to Rise is the Mantra now....the late evening signing off & late Dinner, later thn late retirement prevented the Eastern Window access in the wee hrs at Dawn.......now no more, at least , it seems transiently, as the fabulous kickstart to the week with the vision of the Dawn over the Eastern Sky, an altogether, a daily new canvas with splashes of color with the  nascent "IRU":The Sun, blobbing up...the rays bathing the Eastern Window ,the study & igniting the soul at Day break with the vast expanse of the Deep Blue, turning & twisting & rarin ' to go.....!!!!!......the omnipotent SUN represents our Lives as it trudges along its daily pathway in clock like precision ,meticulous, methodical & to a plan.....all tht is Natural is therefore Good,& all tht we stand for Innate Goodness is Natural,,,,,,, for the mental & physical......identifying oneself with the Nature is solace, embalmed with the Sun's first Glorious,Golden Rays, surely is invigorating, rejuvenating......!!!!....& Healing.....!!!!!

.....beware : the Ides of March......

......Julius Caesar never ceased to lose importance as the quintessential curriculum in School......the inauspicious 'Ides of March' i.e 15th Mar.corresponding with Caesar's fall, whn treachery & deceit ruled the roost.....hence, thereafter, the curriculum, spelled an aura of foreboding in this particular mnth.....& it persisted, perenially............MH370 dissapears .....most baffling in modern times......the non cognizance of the stray Blip in military radars & subsequent inaction by F18s @ Butterworth AFbase to chase the misguided is a blunder proving too costly....it has a huge impact .....its time more foolproof system be placed; both Boeing & AirBus need to rethink of the knob which whn turned off keeps the big bird unseen in the Primary Civilian Radar.....I still can't comprehend ,the utility of such a system in a civilian Aircraft.....the pins & needles status has given way to a fear & foreboding as to our vulnerability,as it is apparent once again ......in the "Ides of March...."

.....longawaited Re union....

......as frnds re unite in Patna for the 1984 batch ,can't hide my feelings....after all, a minimum of 8 yrs were invested in togetherness of studentship & camaraderie......8 yrs is long frnds, do not mind the delay of our course completion.....we stuck together longer & definitely learnt more.....I was so fascinated by Patna University with its haloed status nd my Science College tenure ,I was nothing but awe struck....this followed PMCH nd the legacy continued of good environment ,teachers ,nd highly esteemed colleagues....we all developed our existing skills there nd did well.....my idea of PMCH was an institution where I could pick up the very basic tools for eking out a modest ,decent, dignified living, learning the basic trade nd putting it into practice as soon as I passed out....in that extent I succeeded nd never felt short in confidence ever in profession.....in fact, the haloed status aft MDAT, which catapulted me to the Haloed Institute...pitched with all the sharpest brains around....went a long long way in providing the necessary fillip to an ever learning & ever improving career.....after stepping out its been North nd North nd North thereafter, as many of my distinguished frnds hv found similar status in their careers....!!!!.....such is the glory of PMCH & its Environs....proper competitive environment is the rt tonic for growth nd shud be laced with a legacy.....the Riverside blocks, the heritage bldng of wards....the long list of distinguished Alumnus is the rt.arena for an investment of Confidence in Life....come wht may u will shine.....if u hv these credentials.....seeing frnds together in animated deliberations @ meet, gives a deep sense of satisfaction as to the strength of our roots.....I feel lucky wht GOD bestowed in one moment of his unfathomable kindness....!!!!

.......India as seen abroad....

.......the streets r dry, with Rain Gods finally signing out.....o wht a spell of showers 'twas....!!!...nearly nine mths.....the Majlis elections r round the corner......with enthusiasm slightly subdued as compared to the Presidential....hordes of tourists frm EU,Japan ,China,India r pouring in & out ....nd all r in business......the atmosphere healthy.....!!......Emirates set up a large office nd the Mid east traffic is no less....small operators like Tiger Air, with focus on Indonesia & Phillipines r setting up operations.....MegaMaldives are having exclusive flts to Dalian & Shanghai....nd in no time the china circuit is doing well....much to our consternation & discomfort,little Nanu wud tease Doel nd call her Chinese b'cos of her skin color,as the kid wud see hordes of Chinese tourists frm China mainland....Spice jet with flts to Del via Kochi is a suitable alternative for us....though we prefer the BLR route since Bangalore is our 2nd home in India....nd the springboard for our Expat status, now for a long time.....love the City nd Mysore for its ambient weather.....the abandon feeling of landing there frm Maldives Islands is v spl. to all of us.....aft. all its our Land.....!!!!...our own people.....!!!!

......Opening Over.....

.....New Yr generates blistering pace.....the opening spell of the Indian Ocean Tale gets delayed, not du2 bad weather, which is otherwise superb...but sheer paucity of  time... nd as " Rojnamcha ".....the Indian Ocean Diary so close to the heart enters its 5th yr....its time to thank each nd everyone who cares to hv a peek as to this part of the world.....!!!!....its peak tourism now.....as the weather is relatively dry.....Futsal pitches r in full swing nd football's miniature nd often indoor version in full glory here now....people love2play here nd recently AFC challenge cup will be hosted here in May which will promote tourism industry further.....also this is Golden jubilee of Indo-Maldives ties nd recently Dosti week with programmes concluded with fanfare....the new Kangaroo kids bldg for Nanu is lot more spacious nd playful nd Doel's Billabong High nd Nanu's Kangaroo kids are now equidistant frm abode....though now both Archana & myself have to split up pick ups & drops.....its a welcome change....!!!....as usual Times Now nd NDTv 24x7 r hogging my late nite Tv times.....with an imp.election yr back home....hv to keep abreast.....hving left Homeland1 at a later date hv kept us rich in its legacy of thoughts & bondage.....a strong desire to criss cross the subcontinent emanates this New Yr.....looks like a priority now with India so much to offer for our mental,physical & spiritual gains.....!!!