http://jason19.blog.co.uk/en-UShttp://backend.userland.com/rss092http://jason19.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/f9/c172ff7291b170e0aefa29a8363021_160x200.jpg <p>People in USA----------------<br> Very jovial scene in America was my usual morning walk or evening stroll in one of the sprawling gardens with my grand daughter Kashmira. Jovial I say, because that was happiest period of my life when I met hundreds of Americans going out for work, or their morning purchases or for jogging. In the parks I saw a number of Americans either jogging or baby sitting, playing with their babies or single-mindedly jogging with their water bottles. Many of them going out of the way enquired after me or at least remarked about little Kashmira, ‘How beautiful girl!’ or ‘wonderful eyes the baby has!’ more often than not they were attracted to her black, sparkling eyes. If I was walking alone, they simply smiled or just exchanged pleasantries. In San Francisco there are many Chinese people. But it is easy to know native Chinese from American Chinese. Hundreds of Chinese immigrate and stay in San Francisco illegally and work in many establishments. When I asked my son Amol, he said you can not work here without work permits, but I found a number of Mexicans and Chinese working both in San Francisco and Washington, without proper papers. Some Mexicans and Chinese can not even speak English.<br> Anyway I traveled a lot in both the cities and met Americans in all strata of society. I enjoyed visiting pubs, malls, railways stations, parks and number of places like super markets etc. but I found Americans lost in their own world, oblivious of world around them. Of course they have channel no. 27 a TV without borders which is window on the world. Americans have special TVs on China and Russia and of course free internet with its vast store of knowledge. Americans are most advanced people but common sense wise they no better than Europeans. Many Americans speak with you on their own, at least flashing their smile they utter ‘have nice day.’ Many Americans have said different things to me, I don’t remember them all, but here are some of the sentences. One black American woman admonished me to come in queue by saying, ‘Man, this is San Francisco, not your home, will you stand straight and follow me?’ Another white American woman said on the Clement street, ‘you are a handsome grand father.’ This she said looking at my grand daughter, Kashmira. The one gentleman, obviously drunk, because he was coming out of bar said, ‘are you homeless sir?’ I was taken aback but then I forgave him cause at that time I was wearing most shabby dress. I replied politely ‘no sir!’ then when I had lost my way on other side of Golden Gate park and searching for a stop of no 71 bus, one American homeless woman went out of way and explained to me how to get the stop and remarked, ‘you don’t look like Mexican, from which country you are man?’ I replied vey solemnly that I was from India. She had heard of Indians but she had not heard of India.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/11/21/people-in-america-7424265/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/11/21/people-in-america-7424265/Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:38:04 +0100 <p>Some Old Men.<br> I think writing about some eccentric old men, my number should be first. But like other men I don’t admit to be an old man, so it is obvious that I am writing about other old men. When talking about old men, I remember P. Y. Joshi sir. He was supervisor in our school but his poise and gait was like a swash-buckling hero. Indeed he was hero and he proved that with every step he took. We were students of SSC then and with our half knowledge, we considered ourselves accomplished. We were 16/17 that time and just on the threshold of youth, bursting with enthusiasm. We admired Joshi Sir very much and watched him taking every step in the corridor while boring lecture was going on in our class. Opposite our class was tenth class and girls sitting in the windows were easily being watched by us. For three months, Joshi Sir was observing this when he passed on his rounds. One day he could not stand it any longer and came to us with his long strides and began firing us vociferously. “ What are observing you the girls for, you fools.” He bawled at us with so many expletives. His tirade was halted when somebody tried to explain feebly that we admired him. “ what for?” he shouted again. “ Sir, we admired you as our hero. We admired you for your gait and for your dress. Yes, Sir you are the best dressed person in our school.” Who does not like praise, he grunted some words and left. But this P. Y. Joshi was utter failure on the cricket ground and when it came to organizing cultural programs.<br> Our principal, R. V. Soman was simple khadi clad man so much fond of Gandhiji that our morning prayer was Vaishnav Jan to tene kahiye. A devotional song liked by Gandhiji. When he became very angry, he pinched the cheek of a student and boxed his ear lightly. It looked so funny that the student laughed uncontrollably when out of his office. But all the students respected him for his discipline. Our principal was fond of cricket and had purchased cricket kit to teach the students systematic cricket. The respect he commanded was envious and all other teachers envied him this. Even today, when I come across him while walking in the street, I automatically touch his feet. We are only sorry for we quarreled with him on trivial matter at the fag end of the term. R. V. Soman will be remembered by every student of our batch for the good habits he inculcated upon us. And that too without beating any student. Soman Sir or Ravi as we called him fondly on his back but his pen name was Taimurlung, because of he walked lamely. Of course the last name was used when we were angry with him. We salute you Soman Sir!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/11/12/some-old-men-in-my-life-7355533/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/11/12/some-old-men-in-my-life-7355533/Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:22:34 +0100 <p>Dr.Shri Ram Lagoo------------------------------------------<br> Few will deny that he is a NutSamrat meaning as the emperor of theatre. Dr. Lagoo is for many years in the business of acting and the most versatile actor but more importantly he is a great humanitarian. The green shoots of a tree grow in all direction, run amuck in search of sun-light everywhere. Just to see sun-light they crane their necks and grow aimlessly helter-skelter. Trees grow shapely if those branches are cut in order and beautiful shape is given to them. The man who does this work is called as gardener and the man who guides the society is called as Reformer. Just as the gardener shapes his garden so does the reformer gives shape to society. Thus he is popular actor and at the same time, he is a great reformer nowadays. He is a great visionary and his intellectual capacity is fantastic but in the field of eradication of blind faith, he is comparatively new but not a novice. He is a firm believer in the principle of reform that starts from self help. So he first examined his ideology and to his dismay he found that his faith in the idea of God was basically wrong. Because that idea gave birth to blind faith. I personally do not agree to his idea of not believing in God. He says the very idea of God must be stamped out. God should be retired and the people should forget about the God. It is okey for an intellectual like Dr. Lagoo but in a society like India this is not palatable idea. This not a digestable idea.<br> With due respect to the versatile actor I must say that the man is intelligent and all rounder but he is making mistake when he is professing against the existence of God. In V. Shantaram’s great film Pinjara, Dr. Lagoo played the role a Teacher who falls on evil way due to his infatuation for a female dancer in Tamasha( folk art). In the same way he is falling on evil way when he is opposing the existence of God. No doubt about his sincerity while conducting a reform movement but I feel that he has fallen on evil way again when he professes to disbelieve in God. God’s existence can not be doubted by anybody for any reason whatsoever. God is there for billions of believers but blind faith in religion is the evil that must be stamped out. It is the blind faith that makes people believe in Godmen, Baba, or Mantrics( the people who do the black magic.). In spite of the efforts of thousands of workers working against them, blind faith in society is a growing phenomenon. And the people, who make a living on such people, flourishing. Not only in our society but in advanced countries like USA. Great Britain and China this menace is of frightening proportions. Hope is a great solace to common man and this hope is alive today due his faith in God. So Dr. Shri Ram Lagoo please do not rob us of our only hope, our God.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/11/11/dr-shriram-lagoo-7348975/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/11/11/dr-shriram-lagoo-7348975/Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:50:20 +0100 <p>Barber shops------------<br> Barber community is talkative, they say, they are inquisitive and unnecessarily question their customers on a number of topics. Funny, the questions they ask their customers. Once a barber asked his customer how he should cut the hair, the customer replied solemnly, keeping your mouth shut. Joke apart, many barbers’ jokes are prevalent. Barring some honorable examples, barbers’ profession is male dominated profession in India. It is not so in many European countries and USA. Barber shops in America are managed by young and beautiful ladies. As such the prices of all the operations are very oppressive. There are no beauty parlors in America. Only hair dressing salons and that too predominantly female dominated. American women do not mind their males being touched by other women. Even though beauty parlors are not there, massage parlors are in plentiful. That too manned by women. I don’t know of other places but San Francisco, Los Angelis and San Diego are thriving markets for massage parlors. Massage parlors are two types, one of regular body massage for the health conscious people, and second of pleasure massage types. The second type are nothing but prostitution rings, populated by beautiful ladies normally advertised in loud and colorful manner in the local newspapers. Male massages makers are also advertised with their Sandow bodies for ladies, how lucky!<br> I went to a normal barber shop in San Francisco and Fairfax operated b y ladies. Ten dollars is normal charge for regular hair cutting without extra grooming. This seems to be the standard rate. Like other shops the business hours are displayed outside the shops. I calculated, we Indians have this bad habit, 10*45=450, my God, I will have to pay 450 rupees just to cut my hair! This is outrageous! But there was no way out so I handed my neck to an middle aged lady who promptly took charge of my head and proceeded to play with my head. While doing her job, she enquired after my family and by the she finished her job, she knew more about me than myself. She used so many instruments while doing her job that I looked dazedly at them. I remembered my barber nostalgically back in India, who only uses a pair of scissors and a comb. The shop was spacious but extra-ordinary silent. I began to think about it, and then I found that there was no radio or TV playing there. American barbers are careless about customer entertainment, nor was there any newspapers in the shop. In spite of so many instruments she took half an hour to finish the job. What she was doing with my hair God alone knows. After the hair cut, I perused in the mirror. I must admit one thing, Indian barbers even sitting by the road side, are far more expert that their American counterparts. After paying solid $10, I realized that hair cutting is skill of hand and not of machine.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/11/09/barber-shops-in-america-7335212/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/11/09/barber-shops-in-america-7335212/Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:57:11 +0100 <p>A Donkey’s Marriage---(Gadhavach Lagna)<br> This has been a great skit in Marathi and a great play in our native language that is called Marathi. Z TV has presented this wonderful play in a most beautiful manner. The story is simple. A potter by the name of Sawala Kumbhar is residing in a village. The village is replete with unsocial elements and crooked characters. Sawala’s wife is very charming and sexy so a number of people in the village have an eye on her. As is wont with wives, she is very quarrelsome and loudmouthed woman. Her name is Gangi or Ganga. She is always guarding her husband and pestering him to do this thing and that so much so that he is tired of her and he contemplates suicide. So he goes in the forest where he meets a God man. Sawala Kumbhar talks with the Baba and Baba offers to take him to Heaven( swarga) without dying. He asks Sawala to close his eyes and lo! The next minute they are in heaven, in the court of Indra maharaj. Now Sawala is totally unprepared for all this, is very much shabby and manner less in the company of Gods. As is the habit of villagers, he talks also loudly with them. He is charmed by the Apsaras (the courtesans in the court of Indra). He enjoys the dance of Rambha sitting near Indra. He says loudly that he has done a serious mistake in marrying with Gangi hurriedly. A God Chitrasen holds the hand of Rambha and Indra is red with anger. The God of Gods, Indra curses Chitrasen to take birth on the Earth as a donkey. Then Indra has pity on Chitrasen and tells him that if he marries the daughter of the king of the land, then he would get man’s life again but he would have to spend rest of his life on Earth before returning to heaven.<br> Accordingly Chitrasen is born on Earth as a donkey and comes to Sawala Kumbhar. Potters normally keep donkeys to fetch earth for them turn their wheels and shape earthen pots and the like. Then the king’s young and pretty daughter takes into her head to marry the donkey in Sawala’s possession. Sawala seeing the opportunity to mint money, imposes several conditions for the marriage. Then king also tells Sawala to build a building with seven stories. But with the donkey’s help Sawala builds the mansion with seven stories. At last the grand ceremony of the donkey’s marriage to the princess is solemnized. In the marriage a fight ensues between the queen and Ganga on the matter of give and take. But everything is well that ends well. In the marriage donkey become Chitrasen and looking at the handsome prince, everybody is astonished.<br> The skit is very well written with punches at the right moments. The play is replete with double meaning sentences. The play is also rich in costumes and jewelry and stately sets. Thanks to Z TV for picturing this wonderful play. The star cast is appropriate and the girls very beautiful. We enjoyed the play very much and laughed a lot.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/11/04/donkey-s-marriage-7303711/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/11/04/donkey-s-marriage-7303711/Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:50:29 +0100 <p> In my America trip what enjoyed most is bathing in bathrooms. Swimming in the ocean is not allowed to me or for that matter, in the pools, by my relatives so nowadays I bathe in the bathroom. And by Jove, I liked the system in the states. So I enjoyed bathing very much. In my bathroom in India, maid servant washes clothes and thereafter she cleans the utensils. She cleans the bathroom afterwards but I the same bathroom we have to take our bath. In USA for washing clothes separate laundry area is there. Utensils are cleaned by dishwasher so bathroom is free from these activities. Every building has separate laundry area where there are washing machines and people take their laundry and wash their clothes comfortably. In case of a tower such as Madhura’s, there are several washing machines and dryers. So nearly 15/20 people can wash and dry their linens and they can sit comfortably smoking or reading magazines in the laundry. How easy and convenient! But let us not forget the bathrooms folks. Now you see why I enjoyed every bathing experience there. The design of bathroom is same and universal everywhere in USA. In every home, bathroom is at the entrance or some convenient place. Every lady of the house thinks that it is a peace of jewelry or antic design, so jealously she takes care of her bathroom. That is why every bathroom that I visited in America was spick and spin. In one corner of every bathroom is center piece with large mirror with a small cup board under it. On the center piece is all toiletries arranged nicely including tooth brushes and shaving cream etc. There is wash basin to wash hands and mouth etc. Alongside the center piece is WC beautifully decorated with flowers, of course fake. I nearly fainted when I saw the flowers near WC for the first time. What do the American ladies think we are doing there?<br> The actual bathing area is separated by a curtain or two. In every bathroom is a bath tub covered with two curtains outside curtain is of beautiful cloth and inside is a plastic curtain so water is not spilled outside. Because every inch of the floor is covered by carpet and the ladies take great care the carpet is not wet. In spite of all these arrangements I enjoyed my every bath, gentlemen. This because a tolerable mixture of hot and cold water is readily available from tap or hand springs. Wow, what heavenly experience that gave me. But it’s a sad fact that such bathroom is only one in every apartment, unless the apartment is having two bed rooms with master bed room having independent bathroom. With the single bathroom all ready occupied, anytime emergency situation may arise. It is better to forewarn every member of the family if you are engaging the bathroom for a long time. But such situations are rare.<br> So ladies and gentlemen now you know why I enjoyed my hours in bathrooms. To spread your body in warm water and just closing your eyes soak yourself for hours together, is an experience in itself. It is just wonderful folks! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/10/22/bathroom-singing-7223884/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/10/22/bathroom-singing-7223884/Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:10:19 +0200 <p> Driving in America is a bed of roses provided you observe the traffic rules. Driving is a pleasant experience if you are adept at driving through the traffic. And traffic rules are voluntary but you are observed 24/7 by radar plus cops are there. You never know when a cop is following you in his omnipresent vehicle. When his siren is heard by the culprit, he stops and the cop calmly gives him a speeding ticket, no argument whatsoever. If you are going in a 80 mph or you are going too fast in a slow lane or for that matter for the violation of any traffic rules. At every cross section, you must stop and proceed, signal or no signal. This rule is voluntarily followed by all in cities or towns so that accidents are avoided. Vehicles are not making noise nor they emitting smoke so on highways or in a city the traffic is extremely silent. Most of the heavy vehicles follow European norms of Carbon emission that is why in spite of heavy traffic there is absolutely no pollution in USA. Drivers in USA have commendable restraint on themselves as regards honking, silence zone or no zone. In site of heavy and fast traffic, no horn is blowed though sometimes suddenly lanes are changed. You are expected to be deft in negotiating through the traffic. Wonderful is the word that comes mind seeing all this. That is why the distances are no longer cumbersome.<br> I have two times experience of driving along highways once my nephew drove me to San Diego single handedly, and my son and nephew drove me to Los Angelis. Every time we felt thirsty or hungry, we stopped at a gas station and enjoyed rest. To reach gas station we had to exit on the highway or freeway as it is popularly known in USA. In both cases we had experience of continuous driving for about ten hours with a couple of breaks for rest(rooms). Speed breakers is a concept totally absent on all the American roads. Even in cities like San Francisco with zig zag streets and steep decent or rising streets, no speed breakers are found on the roads. I remembered a slogan on Indian streets, “mental break is the best break.” American drivers stop well beyond the pedestrian crossing when signal turns red. Pedestrian is a king of American roads. If a single pedestrian is crossing in spite no signal they patiently wait and allow the pedestrian to cross the road. I nearly sobbed when I remembered the Pune traffic where they occupy public crossing and drive carelessly down the lanes, or mercilessly drive through the traffic on Pune-Satara road. As if they are in a hurry to meet their end.<br> Driving in USA is a happy experience. There are two giant bridges in San Francisco, Golden Gate bridge and Bay bridge, and both places there are tolls, thousands of vehicles are waiting patiently in queue, but not single horn is blown, nor there is sound of engines running. There is special fast track for drivers who pay toll through their credit cards on monthly basis. Really restraint is necessary for good driving skills.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/10/13/traffic-in-usa-7157865/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/10/13/traffic-in-usa-7157865/Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:19:51 +0200 <p>Rain in Maharashtra----------------------------------<br> When it rains in our town, my mind dances a la My Fair Lady, “ The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain”. Rainy season is special season in India unlike in the west. Rain in San Francisco is never torrential, it is always very slow or lukewarm when the forecast is rains in the afternoon, it certainly rained but one never felt rains in its splendor. Slow drizzle at the most but enough to make everything wet. In India rains come unannounced and fierce. The scramble before first rains is amusing. First rains is invariably accompanied by strong winds and that plays havoc. First the winds start playing mischief and then rains follows with thunder and lightning, just imagine what befalls on the people. Sheer joy! When winds starts blowing little children sing ‘Rain, rain come and I will give you a coin but the coin is fake, in spite rains come cats and dogs’. Indeed, the first rains bring immense joy and happiness in India. Whole nature is thirsty for the rains. Whole nature is covered by omnipresent dust. So the first sound of rain is music to everybody’s ears. Tap tap tap the big drops begin showering they make everybody dance with joy. Irrespective of the fearful dance of thunder and lightning. Not only children but the elders also bow before the God Almighty for His bounty.<br> Time and again I tell many of my friends that rainy season has shifted one month due to effect of global warming. But the poor chaps begin expecting rains right from end of May. Official date of the start of rains is seventh of June or at the most 10th. They say rains have delayed if it does not come in June. We fail to take into account the factor of global warming and its effects on environment. So now the rain in October is not untimely gentlemen. But the rains in October are very fierce taking into account the damage they have done. Moreover the damage is everywhere, in Konkan as well as entire Maharashtra. The worst part is that it has affected standing crops bringing tears to eyes of already beleaguered farmers, as it is rains bring smile to one eye and tears to another. In our state, we have not to reason why, we have but to do and die. This seems to be the policy of Rain God. We want the rains by hook or crook. Jay rains!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/10/07/rains-in-october-7117039/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/10/07/rains-in-october-7117039/Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:04:49 +0200 <p>Chain shops in USA-------------<br> KFC or Kentucky fried chicken, Macdonalds, Tacho Bell or Starbucks coffee shops, Pizza Huts, Papa John’s and many other names included in this category. They are all chain restaurants or coffee shops. It has become almost a tradition in USA to visit such shops and get refreshments within one or two dollars. A Berger is sumptuous food and many people prefer it. But health conscious people are angry at these foods or fast foods. It is alleged that fast food or junk foods help to increase obesity in Americans. French fries are most popular time pass of Americans. Go anywhere French fries preparation is same, Berger, or for that matter hot dog preparation is the same. I don’t have much of experience of eating fast foods, of course coffee drinking habit I picked up here. My my what different type of coffee I drank! I already told you that Starbucks is a institution in itself. Many Star bucks are working 24/7. people do not visit Starbucks only for coffee drinking but they just sit thinking for hours on end. Or work on their laptops or munch on muffins or hold conference with friends, just about anything. In one American coffee mug three Indian coffee cups full included. It is not fashion here to drink coffee lukewarm but they have made habit of necessity. Taking a mug full of coffee, sometimes with straw in it, people go walking or sometimes do anything they like to do. Driving with a coffee mug ensconced in between seats is popular game of Americans. Cold coffee made by many styles is very popular, friends. French coffee, Brazilian coffee, moca coffee and a thousand ways of making coffee are in vogue. Coffee is made immortal by Americans.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/10/04/chain-shops-in-usa-7094395/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/10/04/chain-shops-in-usa-7094395/Sun, 04 Oct 2009 08:07:55 +0200 <p>Shops in USA.--------------------<br> Some three years back I had been to San Francisco and Fairfax in Virginia. The first shop that I visited was Costco. A gigantic shop it was with virtually everything under one roof. They sell from pin to aero plane. There was an expansive hall and in that hall goods very thrown like. Here were big refrigerators, Lcd Tvs, clothes and woolen clothes, toiletries, soaps and liquid soaps, meats, fishes and crabs, milk and milk products, wines, beers and liquors, food products of all kinds and you name it, and it was there. And I soon found out that Costco is there in every city of America. There is no show business here, just plane shop with every kind of goods for sale. Their principle is simple, buy goods on large scale and sell them to individuals. Since they buy on large scale, they get the benefit so that they sell profitably. On highways we met many giant Costco trucks and this shows what a gigantic organization it is! And everything systematic in Costco, people come, take carts and purchase what want, stand in queue for paying their bills, carry their loads in carts to their vehicles and drive away. If toddlers are brought then they are also placed in the carts. This phenomena is observed through out America in any big store, may it be Smart & Final, Macys or Walmart. Another big business I found was Ikea. Ikea has big stores through out the nation. It specializes in furniture, childrens toys, built in kitchens. Ikea is famous for design development. Its simple designs of household materials are astonishing. The store does tremendous expenditure on catalogs and the attractively printed catalogs are popular. The catalogs are placed at the entrance so that any one who visits Ikea has access to them. Every departmental store has its own restaurant, sometimes with tie-up with other food chain such as Pizza Hut.<br> Borders is such a big store for books, periodicals and childrens play things. We used to sit in Borders for hours on end and read plenty of books, it not at all binding on you to buy something. There is a most modern coffee shop where you can enjoy a muffin and coffee. Books are kept on the tables or racks and you can handle them as you please, of course not damaging any book. After your perusal you return to same rack from which you found it. Near the coffee shop many tables and chairs are placed called reading area where lot of students are comfortably reading or using their laptops, munching on the muffins or drinking coffee, how romantic gentlemen! Like her daddy, Kashmira is also very fond of Borders albeit for a different reason. At places, Borders has elevators and it is multi storied departmental store. Walgreens is a chemist’s store and a popular place to get medicines over the counter. Walmart is general store where anything from the glasses to pins are available. Similarly Smart & Final and many others are doing business efficiently. Though the recession has affected them to a large extent but looking at the pomp and posh of them it is very difficult to believe that there is recession in USA.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/10/03/shops-in-america-7088899/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/10/03/shops-in-america-7088899/Sat, 03 Oct 2009 08:14:06 +0200 <p>San Francisco-------------------------------<br> I recently visited a very beautiful city where everything is comely including its population. The city can be described as paradise on Earth. So disciplined and orderly are its people that they are model in themselves. But I should not limit to one city, the whole country, United Of America is well disciplined and orderly. Of course, I traveled to a handful places in USA but what I saw was impressive, no doubt. Clean and wide roads are specialty of America. The highways are five lanes and the raods in the city are three lanes very clean precisely because mechanized garbage collection. With less man power it is a daunting task to clear garbage. What they do of the garbage is a secret I can not fathom. Or where the dumping grounds are situated is also not known. But city is spic and spin. The buildings in the city are well spaced and every building has a backyard. The entrance to every building is a glass door, securely locked so that one needs to have a key to enter. There is electronic device for all who do not have key. They press a button and establish contact with the household, they want to go. The members have a card which they flash to open the lock if they do not have the necessary key. It system in whole of America to have a large mirror as soon as you enter a building. There is a patio and the flight of stairs which one takes to reach the desired apartment. If the building is residential, in the patio there are some strollers. On the side board of the mirror, daily mail is kept by the postman or newspapers. In the whole of America in cities same system prevails. But in small towns people have independent houses with large gardens and garages.<br> In every city on the pavement there are small flowering trees and plants to be taken care by inmates of the building. In every city good public transport is available at nominal cost, if not buses at least metro. So people can commute to different areas of the city. Since America is vast country, the distances are frightening. Our people easily exhausted by long distances they have to cover. The vehicular discipline indeed laudable and constraint of drivers needs to applauded at all times. All vehicles come to a halt instantly when the signal is turned red. You will say this happens in our country also. But in America every vehicle stops at cross section, signal or no signal. Not only that they stop well before the pedestrian crossing. If they find a person crossing they immediately come to a halt, irrespective of the signal. How laudable! It is also decided by general consensus not to blow horn so in spite of tremendous traffic the streets of cities or towns are dead silent. If you observe the rules, you are safe in USA. I traveled by bus frequently in San Francisco and delightful experiences of the MUNI. MUNI is the name of San Francisco municipal bus and tram system. In addition there was BART i. e. bay area metro which is feather in cap of San Francisco. That is why I say I recently visited a very beautiful country, United States of America.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/09/29/viva-america-7063039/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/09/29/viva-america-7063039/Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:50:05 +0200 <p>View from my window 3---<br> Oakland is an independent city with large port area. There the port property is tremendous and large ships dock to the port after crossing Golden gate bridge. San Francisco is a not port but Oakland is port and natural port at that as it is inside bay area, wonderfully protected by bay. I have several times visited Oakland but never made stop in the city. Oakland has crime rate higher than San Francisco lot of young men have murdered there and gun battles are common. But San Francisco tops in crime against women and in general sexual predators are more in the city. San Francisco night life is famous and people from far off come to San Francisco for enjoying night life. Right from our Geary Bulverde the night clubs crowd are seen, and people stand in queue for entry in night clubs. Then several massage parlors and brothels cater to our every need. In addition there are trans sexuals and beautiful and natural eunuchs. Of course I have not visited them but seen the advertisements. Yes in San Francisco the advertisements for such places are openly seen in press as well as while going on the roads. That way the people of San Francisco are quite outspoken. I like this habit of American people, they will deter while calling spade, a spade. This healthy attitude about sex has avoided many cumbersome problems in life, isn’t it, gentlemen?</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/07/18/a-view-from-my-window-6542454/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/07/18/a-view-from-my-window-6542454/Sat, 18 Jul 2009 23:02:03 +0200<p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/06/05/chinese-in-san-francisco-6239862/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/06/05/chinese-in-san-francisco-6239862/Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:39:51 +0200 <p> I don’t know why Indians become mad when elections are declared. And it becomes quite impossible to control them or their desire to contest elections. May it be Sharad Pawar or comparatively lesser known politician. For many this is a golden opportunity to mint money. In every constituency, no less than twenty contestants are there. Then at the time of taking the name back, they support some candidate and get dough. For many workers of political parties, this provides an opportunity to earn money as money flows incessantly in elections. So everybody is happy because everybody gets his share of the pie. Parliamentary constituencies are vast in India. Offices have to be maintain, banners and posters, meetings have to be arranged, errands have to be run, lot many things have to be accomplished. All this requires money and political parties have loosened their purse strings in this period. I have also kept office during parliamentary elections and so I have first hand experienced in this regards. Right from inception to actual election day it is a hectic business for a person who maintains office and supervise the movements of common workers. Common man is not interested in election meetings unless a big gun is addressing like Rahul Gandhi or Sharad Pawar or L. K. Advani. And political leaders are notoriously off the schedule. People do not wait for leaders and definitely not in the sun. in Mumbai to collect crowds at drop a hat is easy as lot of bystanders are there. But in rural areas to collect crowds is hell of business.<br> That is why I call it as great election circus. Because at the end of day there is long list of candidates and their weird election symbols so that even the experts get confused what of layman. There are three things which always amuse me.<br> 1. The selfishness of candidates in pushing the interests of their children. One honorable exception to rule is Sonia Gandhi. Some people will say that she knows her son is going to become prime minister, sooner or later.<br> 2. Without taking into consideration the feasibility, some are eager to declare themselves as the prime ministerial candidates, viz Sharad Pawar. He brazenly pushes himself as future prime minister of NCP and for that matter he goes to any length even joining the third front. He is biggest fool of them all. This shows how power hungry he is and nation is not safe in his hands. Take the name of Telagi and see the change in his demeanor.<br> 3. It is hilarious to hear the promises candidates give to public during election times. Rs 2/- kgs rice is old slogan. Free of cost electricity is new promise that too 24 hrs. Fortunately the candidates do not offer people Allaudin’s lamp. Nothing short of it is offered.<br> I pity the candidates, and the public as well. This madness is greatest at the time of LOKSABHA elections.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/04/02/the-great-indian-election-circus-5875797/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/04/02/the-great-indian-election-circus-5875797/Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:20:54 +0200 <p>Chowk means a square where many roads meet. That way Sata rasta is a famous junction in Mumbai. Nana chowk is in Grant Road area. In my childhood, I frequented Dadar, Mahalaxmi and Grant Road stations on western railway. I owe a great deal of worldly wise ness to my cousin Vilas Koparkar. He happened to be some years my senior and I followed him in many ways. When I overtook him and surpassed him we both did not know. Vilas Koparkar was a handsome man par excellence but he did know his worth. Any other man in his place would have become an actor in film industry or a character artist at least. But drink and to some extent gambling got the better of him. I remember as a child, I followed him to Kennedy bridge, Gamdevi and Opera House area where lot of Mujara girls lived. In the absence of dance bars they provided solace to Mumbai crowds. These girls easily fell for Vilas and they were ready to provide their services free of charge to him. Later for some years my contact with Vilas and Nana Chowk area stopped. Then I graduated to drink in my union activities period and went to far off places, not only Nana Chowk but I frequented the whole of red light area. Of course I went to red light area just for curiosity and to show my power. But my companions seized this opportunity to satisfy their lust.<br> Latif was my friend in Dongri, Shankar was friend in Kamathipura, Subhash in Khetawadi and Shakil was my companion in Kumbharwada. During that period I went to a bar in City-Light area. This was my most favorite place as it resembled Aroma bar in Dadar. On ground floor it was bootlegger’s place, on second floor it was country liquor’s joint and on third floor English bar, suit your pocket. What I liked about this bar was after the drink a beautiful hotel was very near which served high class biryani. In my later life, Arjun replced Vilas or Latif or Shankar. And even later I roamed that area alone fully drunk. The people in those areas knew me and seldom waged quarrel with me. In my sojourn, I met some beautiful damsels and kind-hearted companions. Shakeela was one such girl who without any purpose loved me and shielded me against dangers many times.<br> When I look back on the incidents with nostalgia, I remember many characters I met in that period. Nana chowk and surrounding area has had a profound effect on my personality. I saw Mumbai’s most raw side and most rich side. I went to Leopold caffe in Colaba and roamed Altamout road and Peddar road as also I frequently went to red light area in all its form. I met many places, persons and encountered many incidents which have enriched my experiences to great extent. Nana chowk, Vilas and Arjun have taught me invaluable things in life. Vilas and Arjun have saved me from many nasty situations as I was a head strong fellow in those days. I salute Nana chowk.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/03/29/nana-chowk-5854209/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/03/29/nana-chowk-5854209/Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:42:15 +0200 <p> My daughter Madhura is, just as her name suggests, very sweet and unlike any of her relatives. Ever since her birth in 1978, she has given only satisfaction and happiness to all of us. Only once when she was lost, did she take our breath out. But that was when she was only toddler. Everybody in our home was saying somebody must go and fetch Amol from school but nobody seemed to make any move. So Madhura, such a tiny tot, dexterously and silently went ahead to fetch Amol from school which was just down the hill. In our home, pandemonium broke lose. Everybody started to search for Madhura frantically in the neighborhood. Then somebody told her mother they had seen such a girl going down the hill and all ran in that direction. When lo, the brother and sister were slowly climbing the way to home. Her mommy, with tears in her eyes, clutched her daughter tightly in her embrace. Madhura, on the other hand, was totally oblivious of turmoil she created, she was happy to have brought Amol. Both brother and sister were seen many times, enjoying their Tiffin in the garden on the hill. Such an innocent lot! Madhura then rapidly advanced into adolescence. She became beautiful lass and an athlete, taking part in 100 mts. Races and winning them for her school. Madhura is an all rounder that is why she was selected as a best girl consecutively for two years by PMM Inner wheel school during lX and X std.<br> My most lovable daughter completed her B. COM. Degree from Vaze-Kelkar college in Mulund and went to Pune for further studies. She did her , at Sinhgad institute of technology and joined Tata Motors as a software engineer. Her college days in Pune were perhaps the most memorable because she was always centre of attraction due her bubbly nature. She had perfect match in Mahendra Dalvi. She got married and went to Washington, thanks to her Mahendra. The surprising thing is she got employed in a small company in this period of economic downturn. With sheer hard work and her sweet nature, Madhura soon got the confidence of her employers. And when lot of employees were retrenched recently, believe it or not, her American employer assured her that they will not give her lay off. If worst comes to worst they will ask her to go off for some times. They want to retain her as for as possible. This is the best example of faith in her work. Really I am proud of you my daughter. I wish you all the luck, confidence and regards from you colleagues. God bless you my Madhura and God bless your popular husband, Mahendra.<br> Jason Monks. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/02/25/my-daughter-madhura-5647959/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/02/25/my-daughter-madhura-5647959/Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:25:21 +0100 <p> Byculla area was concerned with my Garlick days. In March 1971, I was employed with Garlick & co which later became Garlick Engineering, division of Empire Dying ltd. As it is I was conversant with Saat Rasta, it is junction in Mumbai connecting many areas in Mumbai, near Byculla station especially Maha lakshmi and Nair hospital. When I was elected general secretary of Bharatiya kamagar sena, I had opportunity to visit our head office. It was Empire dying Ltd. In Lower Parel. Many of my friends lived in Lower Parel, Chinchpokali and Lalbaug area. My first was speech was so impressive that I won over all the staff members and workers of head office. But unfortunately for me I met there many like minded friends who introduced me to many liquor joints and my drinking started. Not that I was starting but my drinking got the better of me. Popular as I was with girls in head office, they soon discovered my habit. They also discovered my temper. Shashikant Shinde was my crony then and he was sort of accomplice in drinking and other activities. He was living in the staff quarters at Saat rasta of Garlick, and I did not hesitate to stay there if I had a drop too much. I know almost every nook and cranny of Byculla and Saat rasta area but of course west side, I seldom went east side. Whenever our union activity called me. I went to Byculla and in the night we enjoyed in one of the bars. Fortunately that time the system of dance bar was not in vogue in Mumbai. But I never mixed sex with drink. One thing at a time was my motto. That kept me away from sex related offences.<br> One bar I remember was opposite to Byculla railway station. Here I went whenever I was alone or in pensive mood. Actually bar was country joint run by aunty but you could have almost anything there, say rum or whisky or gimlet. Plenty of eatables were available with the drinks including barbeque. Here I collected my friends who were unknown to regular friends. All were music lovers and some of them played in orchestras of repute. One boy even sang and played in Shankar-Jaykishan clan. One night I was quite high on drinks when he met me. He offered me to take to a place where Shankar-Jaykishan rehersed. I went with him at the unearthly hour of two in the night. The hall was beautifully decorated with white mattress and curtains. Fragrant incense was burning in one corner. We sat in one corner and imbibed the whole atmosphere. That night neither Shankar came nor Jaykishan but I enjoyed whatever rehearsal they were doing. In wee hours I boarded a bus to Dadar station and came home, still heavy with drinks. Now that joint is not there thanks to Deshi bars or dance bars. Such bars were known as Aunty’s bars and that system is no more in vogue now. Right from Colaba to Mulund, aunty’s bars were popular joints in Mumbai of our time and safe. And mostly these Auntys were Goanese. They served high class Feni—coconut or cashew in addition to rum, brandy or whiskey. Even home made liquor was good quality with them. Drinking was quite safe in those days in Mumbai. That is why I love my Mumbai very much.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/02/03/byculla-mumbai-5498540/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/02/03/byculla-mumbai-5498540/Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:52:35 +0100 <p> Dadar is that place in Mumbai that has singular place in my life’s journey. I don’t know when my fore fathers left a room in Lalbaug area. But since I was toddler I have been going to my Shanta aunty’s home in Dhuru wadi, Agarbazar, Dadar. Then it was on Cadel road now it is renamed as Veer Sawarkar road very near to food technology institute. Agarabazar was then very serene area with fisher folks living and their fish market. I remember to go for a walk with my cousin Snehal holding her hand. I vividly remember walking on Dadar chowpaty or playing cricket in sand there.<br> Those days were like dream. I have vivid memories of Dadar from railway station to its by-lanes like Tayakal wadi. Then slightly grown up I used to walk on Vicent Road from Dadar tram terminus to Sion Circle, a long walk in those days. I remember I used to day dream about my future life and I so engrossed in my reverie that I never know when King’s circle came or Sion came. How different life came to my fortune now. Life is indeed a complexe affair, I have to agree with my friend. Sometimes I visited D. L. Vaidya road to visit my cousin’s Vinod Sule’s home and play with them chess.<br> Then we came to stay at Ambernath. In the period of my union activities, I used to drink lot and sometimes slept at my friend’s place at Kelkar road. We visited Aroma bar on many occasions. In fact Aroma became our rendezvous. In Aroma bar on the ground floor there was deshi bar and first floor was country bar. On second was foreign liquor bar and here G. M. Waradakar was usually waiting for us. He was our boss and under his guidance we scaled many difficult situations in our career. Every evening at six we used to meet and discussed our plans till late into night. No need to tell, I caught late night train to Ambarnath and slept soundly in train or sometimes went directly to Karjat if the train happened to be Karjat bound. Then I visited Dadar bar but there were many enemies there and not day passed without some scuffle. Ranade road was exclusively Babbya’s area but I was friendly with him, so no problem there. Dadar, I loved as my area. My brother in law-Suhas- stayed at Kelkar road above Dadar post office and sometimes I stayed with him and we enjoyed a beer at his joint. My memories of Dadar are bitter sweet memories but that was wonderful period in my life. With my friends I went to Shivaji Park area and Dadar chowpatti. Really there are many places in Dadar to loiter. Dadar of my childhood was romantic and beautiful place. I remember my walks from station to Portuguese church and Sarwakar road. What beautiful and calm that area had been. Then I walked on Gokhale road to Mahim junction. From the very beginning Dadar roads ae spacious and neat either west side or east side. Now Dadar has become a buyers paradise and solid rush on all days of week.<br> Hindu colony area of Dadar is cool area with lovely bungalows dotting Vincent road. Dadar has a niche in my heart that is unforgettable. I will never forget Dadar. Long live Dadar.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/02/02/dadar-mumbai-5489997/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/02/02/dadar-mumbai-5489997/Mon, 02 Feb 2009 07:04:13 +0100 <p> Kalyan is a place, or rather town where I learned many things for the first time. Kalyan is a historic place as well as important junction on Central Railway. Kalyan taught me survival and Kalyan made me fight for my rightful place in this world. In Kalyan, I reached my zenith and in the same Kalyan I tasted the dust. Still Kalyan I love very much as my memory is wedded to Kalyan. My memory goes back to 1948, a year when my brother was born, I was that time four years old. It was pre independence period but strangely free atmosphere prevailed as home rule was granted. Some processions or other were going on and in one such procession, I got entangled and went to an unknown area of Kalyan. I got lost in the crowd and was standing in a corner, forlorn, when a gentleman recognized my predicament. He took me to Tilak chowk from where I found my way to home. That was my first experience of being lost in this world. For some moments I was on the brink of weeping. Four years toddler as I was then. When I remember Kalyan, a kaleidoscope of events unfolds in front of me. I remember Adharwadi a secluded place where there was crematorium. I remember a gigantic well in Adharwadi on that well we learned to swim and became expert. I learned to dive in the water and became an expert diver. I even crossed the Kalyan creek. One trip to Adharwadi daily was must for us when our friend, Sainath came to stay there. Like three musketeers we three became famous in Kalyan. Vijay Pradhan, Sai nath Dawane and I were hand in glow. We bunked school and saw many pictures or went for long walks in and around Kalyan. Those were the days, my friend------------------------<br> I became a professor, in Kalyan in my later years. But my earlier days I never forgot. Then the happiest and most precious thing in my life happened in Kalyan. My son Amol was born, that too in Kalyan. I began to teach in Deshpande classes near about that time and for the first time experienced complete satisfaction. So teaching was my vocation, I learned late in life. While teaching I became a popular teacher and a most versatile one. Strangely enough subjects which I found boring while in college, e.g. Economics, I made easy for my students and entertaining as well. Kalyan offered me varied experiences in dramatics and poetry also. My experiences in Birla college and Mohindersingh college as lecturer, proved to be very valuable in my life. Kalyan has seen my life not only grow but also flower in many respects. I still remember the days I spent with friends in Adharwadi, Machhi bazaar and Syndicate. Kalyan is growing now and becoming more beautiful. Thanks to Kalyan Municipal corp. for making this town into a beautiful city. My Alma Mater, General Education Society’s High school, stands erect and noble in historic Kalyan. I love my Alam Mater and respect her. Long live Kalyan.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/01/19/my-karma-bhumi-kalyan-5404441/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/01/19/my-karma-bhumi-kalyan-5404441/Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:42:01 +0100 <p>-------- Z tv has been doing many new experiments in the field of music and entertainment. Thanks to Z tv for organizing a music show of Marathi music exclusively for the people of different age groups. The present generation is way ahead of elder people, is again proved by the reality show in Marathi of singing competition for children, “Little Champs or L’il Champs” the young singers are marvelous, fantastic and unbelievable. Many of the guests singers who appeared on the show, have their fingers in the mouth by their singing skills and they have admitted that it is Gift of God. As it is Indian singing is difficult process, add to this they are little singers. But those people who consider themselves as doyen of Indian music are dumb-founded by the skills displayed by these young, nay tiny singers. Some of the notes that it is hard for even accomplished singers, these knee deep musicians easily produced. All have agreed that it is heavenly gift to these tiny tots. They are born singers and this miracle is their God gift. The show, mainly on the Monday and Tuesday, has kept millions of people spell bound. It is a situation like Ramayan or Maha Bharata, nobody on the road at the time telecasting the show. Isn’t it wonderful guys? Such command, such mastery on the music is unheard of in recent times. Now five little champs are remaining in the show, 1) Prathamesh Laghate, 2) Rohit Raut, 3) Arya Ambekar, 4) Kartikee Gaikawad, and most tiny member,5) Mugdha Vaishampayan. The program is compeered by famous screen personality Pallavi Joshi, very deftly and with discipline. The permanent jury members are famous singer Vaishali Samant and music director cum singer Avadhoot Gupte. Most Marathi people who have access to Z tv and where no load shading disturbs the schedule, watch the program Sa Re Ga Ma Pa with devotion. Marathi society takes interest in devotional songs and what is popularly known as Bhav-geet, meaning emotional songs of love and allied feelings. Fisher mens’ songs also comprise of Bhav-geet genre of songs. Then a large portion of Marathi songs come from Sant Literature, meaning a treasure trove created by our God men like Sant Tukaram, etc. so we can say that Maharashtrian music is age old and rich in its repertoire. Add to this, this program is a competition. And competition of tiny tots at that. Of course they are divided into two groups, one of seniors, above 10 years of age and the other of children below that age. But competition is competition and there is no special treatment for anybody. IDEA company has sponsored the show and thanks to them for supporting so noble a cause. I am sure last episodes of the show will be scintillating. Everybody who has a ear for good music watches the show. But those without have lately developed a liking for such programs, are watching it. So come folks let us encourage the young ones. Let us wish the young ones best of luck to become Maha Gayak ( great singer ). Three cheers for Idea cellelure. Hip hip hurrah! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/01/15/little-music-wonders-5380056/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2009/01/15/little-music-wonders-5380056/Thu, 15 Jan 2009 07:26:16 +0100 <p> My dad was like a God to me, he was role model for me. Every year on December 22, the shortest day in the year and longest night, I invariably remember my honest father. He died on Dec 15, 1982, I remember precisely. He was suffering from ulcer of the abdomen and he died in the ailment. I loved my father and respected him all his life. His name was Setumadhav but he was popularly known as Seturao all through his life. Well dressed man as he was, he was very particular about his looks. He was employed with Hidunstana Construction Company all his years in the capacity of stores in charge. He became materials manager in his later years. He was expert in calculation of steel and cement consumption and safe upkeep of other goods. He was directly responsible to project managers who were all satisfied with his style of working. My dad also helped lot of people during his working years. Normally my dad was on big projects, say Vaitarna, Rihand dam, Mahanadi bridge work or Farakka barrage works. During the second world war, he was even transferred to Ceylone and Burmah. While in Ceylone he just missed an appointment with death. The truck he was traveling was bombed by Japanese. Fortunately for my dad, he jumped out of the moving vehicle and the next moment it exploded killing everybody on board. The whole camp was bombed and burned by the enemy and my poor dad had to come to Mumbai on a pajamas and shirt. He got married at Mumbai and took his wife to Ceylone. At Trinkomali, that time, everyday the dress rehearsal of bombing was done and my mother and other ladies were very much afraid and some times cried silently. In 1944, I was born that is why I am so quarrelsome they say. A war child!<br> At Mumbai municipality’s project at Vaitarna, I was a regular school going kid in second standard in school. My memory of Vaitarna is crystal clear perhaps because Vaitarna happens to be my most happy period. In Vaitarna my three sisters were born and my dad got promotion. The party he gave on the occasion, I will never forget in my life. On the lawn the tables were laid and children and elders were invited to partake. Everybody enjoyed the good food and the grand company. There was a grand photo session and our youngest sister Pratibha was centre of attraction that night. All my friends and my father’s friends and their wives had enjoyed the party. That was the last day of my dad’s as next day he received his transfer order. He was transferred to a big project on Rihand river, in Mirzapur district. For me my dad was role model and we imitated our fathers in childhood. Of course I did not like his habit of walking with his head down as if thinking continuously. I also did not like his habit of reading while eating his food. Nevertheless, I loved my dad more and respected him even more.. Such an honest, straightforward and silent dad few ever get. I bow to his memory. Dad where are you?</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/12/23/my-dad-5262487/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/12/23/my-dad-5262487/Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:22:19 +0100 <p> Police in Mumbai did not fail in recent attacks on Mumbai but the whole system failed. And it has happened not once but several times. Every time they give some pretext or other. This time however the new home minister admitted the failure of central agencies. Mr. Chidambaram has admitted that Raw, Coast guard. Navy, and Central Intelligence i.e. IB, all agencies miserably failed. We can not blame Mumbai Police only. The system pathetically admitted defeat and they did not know whom to blame. The attack of the Jehadis was so swift and so ruthless that whole system became numb and paralyzed. The manner in which jehadis were moving in Mumbai, it was certain that they had come several times to Mumbai and were familiar with the city. Mumbai police are maintaining that only ten jehadis came by sea rout. But every child knows that they came now by Kubera but they must have had several visits to the country previously and God knows how many times. We are not certain even now, several jehadis must be hiding in our nation dormant, ready to go into action once the signal is given. Shame on us. Everybody in this country is telling us that it is the work of lashkar-e-toyaba. But whatever name they take, deccan mujahidin or any damn, ultimately it is handi work of Al Quayada. In one form or the other, under one name or other Al Quayada is operating in this subcontinent. The dexterity with which jehadis opened fire everywhere and ease with which they moved about only confirms this fact.<br> Another fact was highlighted by these attacks is that if suddenly any aggression is there, how it is defended by our police or para military forces. We have to admit sadly that we can not defend such sudden attacks even in our country. In the best of preparedness we can not defend our people and property. That is why the moral of the people has touched all time low. People are angry and frustrated due to this. The politicians, instead of dousing the fire, fanning the fire. It is sad state of affair. Mr. Arvind Inamdar, former IG, said that people are ready to give money to anybody to stop jehadis. They have no faith in our police or military or navy. God save the king is British saying but on the same lines it can be said that God save our people. We have no defence in our country against jehadis attacks is sad fact highlighted by these attacks on Mumbai. Our systems need complete overhauling, our home land security needs to seen in different perspective. And for that friends, different type of people must be at the helm of affairs. There is no harm in calling back some retired people, real motivated people like Mr. Inamdar or Mr.Y C Pawar. But we cant sleep on the issue now, it is urgent and expeditious.<br> JAY HIND.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/12/08/policing-in-mumbai-5178899/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/12/08/policing-in-mumbai-5178899/Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:46:45 +0100 <p>The tinsel town was dominated by Raj Kapur, Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand. And we were sort of tired of same type of acting and same faces again and agan. For a change we had Rajendra Kumar, who was copying same sort of acting. Suddenly on the horizon came a he man, who caught our attention and fancy. In Ayee Milan Bela we had our he man hero, Dharmendra. He was at once a stud, full of energy and virile. He was replete with manly beauty and his fighting skills, unmatched. We were at once charmed by his beauty and strength. Manly beauty got new dimension in Dharmendra, we just wondered that a man can be handsome and at the same time so powerful. In ‘Ayee Milanki Bela’ Dharmendra played somewhat villainous role. But he was so charming in that even that we fell in love with him. If that was our case, imagine what would happen with young girls. Like famous Guddi many young damsels fell in love with him. But those were days of restraint so his temples, like SRK or Abhitabha were not built. But Dharmendra is real deserving candidate for that honor, I feel.<br> Then came in his career a period in which he was Satyawadi. He portrayed characters in which he loved truth and nothing but truth. Frankly speaking we did not such roles but there was no go. His love affair with Meena Kumari was much talked of gossip in the tinsel town. Phool Aur Pathar became at once popular due to it, in which Meena acted against him. At about that time it was advent of Hema Malini, the ‘Swapan Sundari.’ She was the most beautiful star of Hindi pictures and bursting with youth. No wonder Dharmendra’s eyes fell on her. Their romance became a subject of tinsel town gossip and every tabloid made used of it to the hilt. We were not knowing Dharmendra was already married till then. Dharmendra was married and he got three sons from his first wife. In spite of the fact Dharmendra decided to marry Dream Girl, Hema Malini, the heart throb of millions. It is most fruitful union is proved by the fact Hema gave birth to two girls of exceptional beauty.<br> But Dharmendra’s drinking habit got better of him by the day. I like his acting in Pratigya in which film he became cop. Then his stunt in Sholay is famous. In Sholay, ‘Laga gaya nishana’ scene is most enjoying, I think. He played some of the best comic roles, especially Pyare Mohan’s role in which he outwitted even veteran actor like Om Prakash. Dharmendra has given singular joy as an actor to our generation. He has also proved as family man and a patriot. We wish him long life and good health in his remaining years. He may not be as talented as Abhitabh Bachan or as tech savvy but as a man he has proved his metal. Long Live Dharmendra.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/12/06/our-hero-dharmendra-5170334/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/12/06/our-hero-dharmendra-5170334/Sat, 06 Dec 2008 03:39:55 +0100 <p> Exactly three years ago, Madhura, dreamy eyed girl as ever and Mahen cautiously stepped into family union. The wedlock bound them for life with each other and they accepted willingly this bond of love. How wonderful this whole episode has been and how this beautifully period has passed. We all wish them roaring and happy marriage anniversary. Madhura and Mahendra celebrated third year of their marriage. It is the occasion for celebration as the first three years of marriage are hectic so to say. First of all, the nature of spouse and his/her habits, adjustments with in-laws, and your melting with traditions and customs of the spouse’s family. But in all this test, Madhura and Mahen passed with flying colors. In this hectic atmosphere Mahen got his visa and flew to USA. Then he tried for his wife and called her also. Now both are ensconced in their American home and doing their daily business. It is said that in the first year of marriage, he speaks and she listens, in the second year of marriage she speaks and he listens and in the third year of marriage, they both speak and neighbors listen. So business of speaking and listening is over, I think and both are getting down to real business of life.<br> How similar are husband and wife! It is said that marriages are fixed in heaven and Madhura and Mahen’s marriage is a proof of that adage. They are truly made for each other and snugly fitted into each other’s life. Mahen has a large collection of friends and so does Madhura. Their vast friends circle and due to their hospitality, they are very popular among Fairfax community. Generally it is seen that individuals going to USA are busy with their work or careers. However this couple is exception to the rule. They are always ready to help others. They have played lead role in some of the marriages and become best man and best girl of bride or groom.<br> My little doll has turned into a full bloomed beautiful woman. She is endowed with many virtues. She has got a life partner of equal caliber. Mahen is football player of repute and has been famous personality in Kolhapur from which place he hails and very popular too. I like my son-in-law very much. His computer skills are matchless and he is popular among his colleagues. So marriages are made in Heaven is proved from their example. We wish all the luck to them in their life forever. On this happy occasion of their marriage anniversary, we wish them wonderful years ahead. Long live Madhur and Mahen and God bless them with every happiness. Amen!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/12/04/my-beloved-daughter-madhura-5162823/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/12/04/my-beloved-daughter-madhura-5162823/Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:27:36 +0100 <p>Shiva & Vishnu----------------------------------<br> The two deities in Hinduism that are most revered are Shiva and Vishnu. The people who pray them separately are called Shaiva and Vaishnav. Shaivas respect Shiva and say that He is superior god of all. Whereas vaishnavs profess that Vishnu is superior god of all. This theory is known as Dweit theory in Hinduism. Naturally shaivas and vaishnavas have different methods of worshipping God. Vaishnavas are recognized by U mark on their foreheads and shaivas are recognized by three strips on their foreheads. This difference is more pronounced in South India. The antagonism in shaiva sect and vaishnav sect is so sever in some parts of our country that they appear to be sworn enemies of one another. There are many people in India who agree to existence of God but believe that God does not interferes in day to day lives of people. I am one of them. God has different names in different sects , religions or dharmas. Some call Him Allah, some call Him God and some call Him Ishwara. Similarly in Hindus some call Him Shiva and some call Him Vishnu. Today I undertake to describe the origin of these two sects.<br> Originally there was only vast expanse of water in this world. There was only ocean. On the vast ocean a small leaf was visible and on that leaf a small child was visible. This was birth of Vishnu. Then Vishnu created Devas and Asuras. Devas He placed in Swarga and Asuras He placed in Patala. Devas represented the good virtues and Asuras represented bad virtues. Devas and Asuras went on to churn the ocean to find Amruta the elixir of life. Out of the bowels of ocean fourteen different jewels were found in which poison was first. Shiva came forward and imbibed the poison straight and His throat became blue with it. So Shiva is also known as Neelkantha. Now nobody knows how Shiva was born and who are his parents. It is believe that Shiva is there in this universe even before Vishnu is born. Because nowhere in the scriptures Shiva’s birth is mentioned or His parents are reffered. In fact even Vishnu’s parents are not known as He is seen drifting on a leaf ( by whom? ). So this part is ambiguous in our scriptures. It can be safely said that Shiva is elder brother and Vishnu is younger brother and together they run this universe. The rest of deities, or gods and goddesses are imaginations of worshippers.<br> In Christianity God is not married, in Islam also Allah is alone, but Hinduism Shiva or Vishnu enjoy conjugal bliss. They are having wives and Shiva even has kids. Is this part also an offshoot of imagination of the worshippers. Is God, a male or female? If we say God is male then half the population will rebel against us. These are the questions that perplex my mind and I think about always. Will somebody enlighten me on the topic? Till then I worship Shiva and Vishnu as the only Gods. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/07/13/shiva-aamp-vishnu-4442126/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/07/13/shiva-aamp-vishnu-4442126/Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:18:09 +0200 <p>My real aunty--------------Nirmala kaku.<br> There are some people that are born good, Nirmala kaku was a born good person, kind hearted, a philanthropist in our family. Ever since Nirmala married my uncle Mr. Bhimarao Sarvottam Dharmadhikari, and came into our family, she has introduced many new customs in our family. Nirmala kaku has been very pious from the beginning. All the year round she is busy in one religious movement or the other. Credit must be given to her to introduce the system of establishing Ganapathy in our family. Before that we did not have the system of bringing Gananapathy in our home. If any dispute arises regarding religious matter, the final authority in our home is Nirmala kaku. Our family is one but our establishments became two. My father, the elder brother, Mr. Seturao Sarvottam Dharmadhikari, married Malati and at Kalyan made a separate home as the custom was. Our two homes were no different. Then slowly, slowly as the time passed children trickled in. The first to appear on the scene was I myself, then Dinkar, my cousin brother then Shobha, devadatta, Sulabha, Sudhakar, Surekha and finally Pratibha. So we were four brothers and four sisters. Each born with a separate destiny of his or her own.<br> Credit must also be given to Nirmala kaku for keeping the bonds of family firm in our minds. I remember the Apate wada days. In Apate wada she was in fore front of all religious activities. She loved children like her own son. She always taught good values to us and inculcate on our minds the importance of truth and propriety. Then my uncle’s family moved to Krishna building. It was all together a different world. For the first time here we found ourselves in Sindhi and Muslim neighborhood and to top of it all a Chinese dentist family was our neighbor. So Nirmala kaku was at first little confused but she adjusted to this new neighborhood very smoothly and established rapport with the people laudably. The building resembled Batatyachi Chawl and all the characters were present in this chawl. The chawl is witness to our bitter sweet memories. We lived on the third floor as one family, our solidarity was unanimous. Shah family led our cultural movements and helped in the religious ceremonies of Narmala kaku. The cultural heritage given to us by these people, we can not forget. My kaku is now octogenarian but works her own and she is now president of an educational institution. I salute to my Nirmala kaku for standing tall today amidst various cultural tempests hovering around our families.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/05/22/our-nirmala-kaku-4207394/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/05/22/our-nirmala-kaku-4207394/Thu, 22 May 2008 13:36:52 +0200 <p>Bengoli men and women-------------------------------------------------<br> Like Begoli mishti, Bengoli women are sweet, in looks as well as by nature. Some Begoli men who are persecuted by their wives may disagree with me but I am making a general statement, gentlemen. Suchitra Sen, Rakhee, Sharmila Tagore, most of the leading ladies of tinsel town are Bengoli, and each with unique charm of her own. Probably the effect of Eastern culture is over powering on them. I am a connoisseur of women’s beauty. Bengli women have the best features of eastern culture. By eastern culture I mean Chinese, Philippine and Indonesian culture. They have also picked the best in Indian and that makes them more charming than any other women in beauty. Their fish like eyes and slightly insufficient noses make them perhaps the most beautiful of other women in our country. Most of these women are Indian by color but charming nevertheless. Few of them are white and their beauty is indescribable. Why Indian men are obsessed by white color of the skin is unknown to me. I like them all of any color white. Black, brown or yellow. Bengoli people are in born artist and in that Bengoli women are more of an artists. Just watch E TV or Z TV programs of bengoli language or for that matter of any Bengoli cinema. The great artists of cinematic art such as Bimal Roy, Salil Chaudhari, Uttam Kumar and Mrinal Sen are Bengoli, not to speak of stalwart like Satyajit Ray. Satyajit Ray took Indian cinema to great hights.<br> Politically Bengoli leaders have swayed the Indian mind since pre-independence era. Only the present batch of political leaders in Bengol is lagging behind to some extent. As non of them is a true national leader. The leader of the capability, charisma and poise of Netaji Subhashchandra Bose, was not born again in Bengoli community. He is the greatest, greater than even Mahatma Gandhi, who jealously banned him from Congress. Few of the Bengoli women were in the freedom struggle but mostly they took part in clandestine activities such as running errands for freedom fighters etc. Of late the true spirit of fearless frankness is shown by Taslima Nasreen. She is also a Bengoli woman. Her only mistake has been she erroneously attacked religion. Otherwise she is also a fine artist and great humanitarian. My father was an expert on the Bengoli literature and he used to praise Bankimchandra Chattarji. But according to me Nobel laureate Ravindranath Tagore was great man of letters. His Gitanajli is book of verse unmatched in any language. Read only one poem from the book ‘A Question? It is highly intelligent and beautiful.<br> Jason Monks.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/04/04/bengoli-men-and-women-3993529/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/04/04/bengoli-men-and-women-3993529/Fri, 04 Apr 2008 06:14:58 +0200 <p>Dog menace------------------------------<br> Indians are naïve or indolent or both. Otherwise such a problem could not have cropped up in Indian cities. Simple fact that is overlooked by Indian community is dogs are animals. They have animal instincts and they are liable to attack single individuals or children or women. Children are vulnerable to dog attacks many times and even so called pet dogs attack children. Many times a man or woman taking his or her child to school, sees him off some distance to school. Either he is busy or wants to go market or some such errand. The short distance to school is say a few yards or half a furlong. In that short distance many stray dogs are loitering and child fears that. The frightened child becomes easy prey for dogs. Some old and feeble individuals are going for some work, they become easy prey for dogs. Small children or old men can not defend themselves against dogs. Even single dog bites the injection is inevitable, he may be carrier of rabies. My good friend, a young man of promise, was bitten by a sane dog. The dog was pet dog and well cared for. That friend laughed off the biting incident and treated him with simple bandage. Everybody forgot that incident but after the dog died natural death my friend developed symptoms of Rabies. Rabies spread so fast that with in two days my friend began biting people and was confined to solitary confinement. He died on the fourth day, very bad death. This story I have witnessed. And I have heard such stories in every city, town and country side. God knows how many dogs are biting people and God knows how many are suffering from rabies. So one thing is cock sure and that dogs are positive menace to mankind and the only remedy is kill them without mercy.<br> What is the solution for stray dogs? To all the animal lovers I have an advice. Take these dogs in their homes and take care of them as pet dogs. These animal lovers wag their tongues about plight of these animals,will say how it is possible.If you are not able to kill dogs then you can feed wild animals on dogs. Every city has zoo in them, catch the dogs and feed wild animals on them. Or you can maim dogs by breaking their legs or blinding them. My emotions about dogs are very cruel due to death of a beloved friend. And I personally feel that stray dogs are unnecessary scum that must be gotten rid of. Why we kill mosquitoes or flies or leopards and why not stray dogs? Everyday I see small children afraid of dogs walking down the lane. My heart goes to them and is filled with contempt for dogs. Such a worthless animal as dog creating such fear and hatred. I had been to American cities and towns. There I found no stray dogs on the streets. There are plenty of dogs but they are all well cared for and every man taking good care of his dog. They carried plastic bags and lifted the dog’s faecie promptly. Law does not understands the practical difficulties of common man. But we as human beings definitely can find some solution out this problem gentlemen. It is matter of survival folks. Think, act and do the right thing. Do you want to man to suffer due to dogs? Do you have high ideals about kindness to dogs? Or do you pefer to do away with dog menace once and for all?</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/03/14/dog-menace-3875738/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/03/14/dog-menace-3875738/Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:14:07 +0100 <p>Future of mankind from 2001 to 2030-----------------<br> Gentlemen I am not joking but thirty years of future of mankind is horrific. It is a prophesy propounded by one Swami Dattawdhoota in India. The Swami is seldom seen by human beings and we don’t know if he is living or where he is at present. But this future is published by M/s Vanita Books, Mumbai. In fact the future is from year 2000 to 2300. it is 300 years and this period is selected by the author because it is most turbulent period in human history. The book’s name is Agmyam Vani, meaning incomprehensible utterance or unknown speech. This is written by by a great sage the whereabouts of him are unknown by the publishers. By the language of the book it appears to be written by a simpleton but certainly not the nincompoop. The span of the book is 1998 to 3000 years but I have selected only the first 30 years for obvious reasons. I don’t think anybody would survive beyond year 2030( who is at present 60 years of age). The author has at outset discussed the reasons why prophesy might go wrong. But his reasons are superficial. He has also enumerated some of his prophesies which have turned out to be real. His prophesies about earth-quakes in Indonesia and fires in USA have come true. Similarly his prophesies about Turkey, Afghanistan and China have come true, he claims. So it is interesting to see what he foretells about future of mankind.<br> 1. According to great Yogi, third world war is inevitable. It take place between USA, Briton France, Russia, and many European countries and Islamic countries helped by China. Italy will be super power after 2030.<br> 2. There will be tremendous loss of property and man power in the war and China’s population will be reduced by 80%. Hongcong will gain independence.<br> 3. during this period due global warming and earh-quakes, there will be tremendous loss of man power. New York, Washington, San Francisco, Los Angelis, London and many cities on the sea shore will be wiped out and ocean will cover land upto 20 miles.<br> 4. Israel will be super power in Middle East and will lead for next hundred years.<br> 5. The rule of terror will end in the world and all terrorists will be put to death mercilessly. In fact the scourge of terrorism will totally wiped off from surface of earth and people will breath sigh of relief.<br> 6. the years between 2000 to 2030 is very bad for Asia and nearly half the population will perish and many countries will suffer due to earth –quakes and tsunamis. One good thing will be many nations will be free of bad elements such as corruption and mafia.<br> So these and many other prophesies are there gentlemen and ladies. Most of his prophesies are based on common sense but his prediction of the future of man kind is grim ladies and gentlemen. It is not to create commotion in public minds, that I have written about it but out of curiosity. A comparison with Nostradamus is inevitable, I believe.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/01/11/the_future_of_mankind_2000_to~3559678/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2008/01/11/the_future_of_mankind_2000_to~3559678/Fri, 11 Jan 2008 06:17:52 +0100 <p>Farmers’ Suicides & Dr. Abhay Bang--------------<br> In Maharashtra and some parts of Karnataka, two states in India, farmers are committing suicides and this has assumed serious proportions. Nearly ten thousand farmers have ended their lives in Maharashtra and social scientists are finding the reasons thereof. There is no use blaming politicians for this calamity as politicians have no time to look into the matter. They are busy in grazing or washing their dirty linens shame-facedly or busy in their criminal activities as usual. Politicians in this country is bad lot and the less we talk of them the better.<br> Many social thinkers have come up with many reasons for farmers’ suicides but everybody has forgotten the most obvious. Population Explosion is main culprit in this regard and for this there is no solution. Now you will ask me how this can be the reason of farmers suicides. The answer is simple! Population in this country has increased by geometric proportion. While land has not increased, its productivity has increased. Now one farm of ten hectares was owned by family in 1950. Supposing there were four sons(minimum) in the family. Now they have grown up and each married and everyone gave birth to four children. So there are now 16 children between whom the same farm is divided. The simple logic tells us this dividing game will continue. 16 will become 32, and 32 will become 64 and so on and so forth. But land will be static and population depending on the land will be growing. As a result a small piece of land will be available to the last man and that is not productive. This is what is happening nowadays. The small land has to be sold to first customer and new generation has to move to other vocation and job. Perhaps they have to leave Family and hearth. They have to learn new skills and new avenues and settle elsewhere. This in short is story of farmers’ suicides.<br> If anything goes wrong in this country and people are not able find solutions then blame it on Liquor. And anybody who starts agitation against Drink, he becomes popular. Now Dr. Bang has done exactly that. He says that the liquor is main culprit in this game. As it is Dr Bang is a highly respected doctor and doctor’s opinion in this matter is final. We have seen that the real reasons for suicides of farmers are different. It is less land available for farming, power cuts and many others. Farmers get frustrated due to them. And some of them may be getting the solace in drinking. But drink is not certainly driving them to suicides. And how can be sole reason of a farmer’s suicide? That means all the farmers who committed suicides are drinkers. But statistics show this is not the case. So giving due respect to Dr Bang, we can safely say that drink is not the only reason for farmers suicides. Think about the thousands of people who are making a living on liquor. Think about the thousands of people who moderately enjoy their drink and remain sober. Wine and liquor industry is a great industry of our economic progress. Drink is not bad, but frustration is bad gentlemen!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2007/12/09/farmers_suicides_in_india~3417805/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://jason19.blog.co.uk/2007/12/09/farmers_suicides_in_india~3417805/Sun, 09 Dec 2007 15:19:08 +0100