.......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...!!