If Wishes Were Horses...

...I would be in Seattle right now.
...or in Mahabaleshwar.
...I would have my own house in Shimla or Darjeeling.
...I would have a farmhouse in Konkan.
...I would have a driver sometimes.
...I would have my own room.
...I would be able to write better.
...I would never have to work again.
...it would rain oftener.
..."Zoka" would be reaired. Or at least, I would get the entire series in a DVD set. Check out the title song of that serial here.)
...Patience wouldn't try me so much.
...I wouldn't have had to make this (never-ending) list.

Walking Back To Life

I saw a programme on one of the channels that featured a factory in Jaipur, a factory of the famous Jaipur foot.

A boy of 8-10 years didn't have a leg below the knee. They showed on the programme how they produced a Jaipur foot for him. It was amazing to watch how they made a foot of wood and nylon fibres. The programme informed that the Jaipur foot can be prepared in an hour.

But the best part of the programme was when they put that foot on to the little boy. The moment it was fixed, he started running and my first reaction was clapping and acknowledging the triumph of life over misfortune. It was an exhilarating moment. Something that I won't easily forget. It was wonderful to see the little boy's face illuminated with a big smile.

He had got his life back and it was an awesome feeling to see him walking back to life.

Here's some more information about Jaipur foot: http://www.jaipurfoot.org/

Clicking Away!

Some of my favourite pictures that I clicked...

This one I clicked in the University of Pune. This is a lamp post and I loved framing it with the green background.

I clicked this one on "Tripuri Pournima, " a sacred full-moon night on November 2, 2009.

Taken at Karla. After I saw this photo on a bigger screen did I notice the cobweb. That made it an interesting picture.

 I liked the red and green colours. Nice contrast! And the sharpness of the flower is beautiful.

 This one I liked for the positions of the two trees. Just two trees at either end diagonally in the picture make the frame interesting and characteristic.

 "Terda" Those are the flowers. I don't know the English name for these flowers. But we use them especially in Navratra, so I liked taking their picture.

 I liked this one for the combination of red, blue, and green.

 Loved this one for the little birdie and the timing.

 Liked it for the perspective it offers because of the fence, the playground, and the building.

 Taken from a film camera two years back, I think. I like this one for the vastness of the landscape and the lone farmer in the middle toiling. The arid landscape bring out his efforts in a stark reality.

 I love this one for the inky blue colour of the sky. It is awesome.

 One nice doggy at my place basking in the sun.

 One small lamp in the darkness. I liked this picture that places the lamp so strategically.

That's all that I could find. I think these are enough pics at the moment.

"Preetam Aan Milo"

Have you seen the movie "Angoor"? It is a hilarious movie based on Shakespeare's drama A Comedy of Errors. In Angoor, there is one scene where Sanjeev Kumar tells Deven Varma to sing the song "Preetam Aan Milo" as a code word.

Do you remember different code words that you use? These could be used in daily life as well as in some special occasions.

I remember when we were kids, our parents had to keep us home alone. Our old home then did not have a double door. So, we had some code words. My dad taught me and my sister that it is called "paravalicha shabda." It used to be any simple word. One day, when we were alone at home, he knocked and we actually asked "Paravalicha shabda kay?" He did answer. And when we allowed him in the house, he told us that we shouldn't ask that question. Just ask "who are you?" or a question that is related to the answer. That was my first introduction to a code word.

Have you come across similar code words? I know of people who use code words while talking. For example, some people are given code names which are used while talking in general public. This gives them freedom to talk whatever they want without letting others know of what they are talking. We had named our manager "kawla" for his extra-stringent management. We could talk about him in front of others and have fun at his expense.

"Gondya ala re" was another such code word used by the brave Chapekar brothers to assassinate Charles Walter Rand. There is an excellent film about these Chapekar brothers and the assassination. If you care to read about it, here it is: 22 June 1897.

Can you remember one of the famous code words that we have always heard about? Let me give you a hint...it's an Arabian tale. Can you recall it now? Here's it: Khul Ja Sim Sim. Very famous words!

And all those underworld code words...khoka, peti, ghoda...all have become well-known because of films. Filmwallahs would know these code words. They are usually in contact with the underworld, or so we hear always.

Anyway, so such are code words...fun with words.

Some Things Are Good Old

Some things taste better when they are old rather than when new.

Puranpoli...Majha asa thaam mat ahe ki puranpoli hi masta tupa barobar khavi. Ti dekhil kaal keleli aaj khavi. Kay surmat lagte...ahahaha! Tashich gulachi poli dekhil. Awesome lagte.

Another dish that tastes better when old is "Birada." Mala mahit nahi ki birada he kiti janana mahit asel. Birada he kadvya valancha kartat. Koknatlya lokana sahasa ha prakaar mahit asto. Kadve valanche vividh prakaar banavta yetat. Pan mala tyatla sadha birada hech sarvat awadta. Ani te dekhil kelyachya dusrya diwashi khalla ki kay smacking lagta...slllllrrrrrppppp. Arthat birada he sahasa kelelya diwashich sampta karan jyana awadta, te tar taav martat. Tya mule jar dusrya diwashi milala tar mag tumcha nasheeb joravar ahe asa mhanayla harkat nahi.

Sarva prakarchi "murleli" lonchi jevhadi juni tevhadi changli lagtat. Majhya matanusar ambyachi ani limbachi lonchi sarvat chaan lagtat jast murali ki.

Shrikhanda pan chaan lagta dusrya diwashi. Tyat tumhi toop ghalun kadhi khalla ahe ka? Ekda try kara, masta lagta ekdam. Perhaps tumhala ti chav ruchnaar nahi. Pan toop pan assal gharcha pahije haan, shudhdha gaicha (ashudhdha gaiche kase aste kinwa lagte mahit nahi).

Ani ho, majhya aai ne kelela chicken. Masta lagta dusrya diwashi pan khayla. Tyat jar te thoda dry kela asel ani dusrya diwashi te bread madhye ghalun sandwiches tayaar karun khalle tar mag....aflatoon!

Ajun mala ya kshani tari athavat nahiye. Tumhala athavatay kahi?

The Sound Of Night

On a silent winter night, when you are all curled up in your bed, reading a nice book, have you ever heard the night sounds?

The crickets noisy presence is felt and you wonder what is happening on the other side of the world. The other half of the world is enjoying the day and you are about to tuck it in. As you mark the page and keep aside the book, you will hear the night musician at work.

You will hear the night watchmen whistling and keeping the otherwise silent night lively. You will also hear them making a characteristic "thok, thok, thok" sound with their sticks. Then you will hear some rash ruffians driving their stupid, noisy bikes at full speed. Sometimes, you will hear the siren of an ambulance and you will hope that the sick get medical help as soon as possible. You will hear some dogs howling happily into the night and also hear some other dogs replying back. If you stay near a cowshed (as I do, right in the heart of the city,) you will hear the tinkering of the bells and wonder how long the cows will stay awake. You will wonder if they ever stop chewing cud at least while sleeping.

As you get cosier in your bed, you finally realise that you have got to go to work next day and try to sleep. Just as you are about to sleep, you are awoken by the sudden, violent grunt of your old refrigerator. Cursing the icebox, you drift off to sleep again.

Devalatil Ghanta

Devalatli ghanta....konihi yava ani vajvun java. Jagatlya teen prakarchya lokancha devalatlya ghante sarkhe astitva asta. Ek jyana bara nahi, dusre jyana nokri nahi, ani tisre jyancha lagna hot nahiye.

Jyala kirkol bara nasel, udaharanartha sardi-khokla-taap, athava potdukhi, aslya mansala je koni bhetatil te salle deun jatat... "Tumhi asa kara ratri zopatana garam pani pya." "Tya peksha me sangto, tumhi satat garam paani ghya. Tyane tumhala itka lavkar bara vatel mhanun sangu...mala sardi mhanje kay mahitach nahi karan me gele 20 varshan pasun satat garam pani ghet ahe." Ekhadyas khokla jhala asel tar tyala: "Madh-halad kha." "Kho-go chya golya satat theva barobar. Khokla ala ki lagech tondat takaychi." "Aho, majha aika tumhi, jyesthimadh theva barobar. Hi ghya...majhya kade nehemi javal astech. Kasa ahe kona na konala tari upyog hotoch." "Majhi sardi nehemi vapharyane jate. Tumhi pan ghya ho...ashshi jaate ki nahi sardi bagha." "Meeth-panychya gulnya kara, halad ghalun. Ekdam soppa upay."

Ata evhade sagle salle ani upadesh aikun manus thodach gondhalnaare? Bara tyacha doctor cha pan aushadh chalu astach mhana.

Arthat doctor kuthala changla hya var dekhil charcha hote. "Te koprya varche Dr. Dixit phar changle ahet. Tyana dakhavun ghya ekda." "Aho te amuk-tamuk hospital madhle Dr. Kalashetty-nchya hatala changla gun ahe. Tumhi tithech ja." "Aho, allopathy jaun det. Tumhi asa kara ayurvedic kadhe ghya. Phakta donda ghyave lagtil kadhe. Lagech thanthanit tumhi." "Pan kafa var upayukta asa pahije na...tumhi na homeopathy aushadha gheun bagha. Majhya kade eka changlya doctor cha patta ahe. Me sangto kasa jaycha te."

He sarva hoi paryanta, bahuda tya mansacha sardi-khokla-taap bara houn to kamavar jayla lagla asto. Mala dar veli koni ase salle gheun ala ki pratyek sallya barobar ek ghanta asa naad aiku yeto.

Teech goshta nokri nasnarya bicharya lokanchi. Hazaar loka yeun hazaar goshti sangnaar. "Tujha arja de majhya kade. Majhe ek olakhiche ahet, tyanchya kade pathavato." "Apan asa karuyat, ki tujha arja ek mahititli company ahe, tithe pathavu. Tithun bolavla ki mag pagaracha karu vichaar." "Sadhya kasa ahe, milel ti nokri ghe. Jasa jasta anubhav milel tevhada jasta changla." "Halli manasarkhi nokri milna itka durmil jhala ahe ki tadjod karaylach pahije."

Ase anek tarheche "premal" salle miltat. He sarva aike paryanta nokri milnara manus itka vaitagto ki aadhi pasunach tyachya nokrichi kahihi atee nasatana ajun hirmusun jato ani samjayla lagto ki tyala nokri kadhi milnaarach nahi. Bichara.

Ani tumhi jar tisrya prakaraat modat asal tar mag tumchi avastha pharach bikat aste. Jar tumche lagna hot nasel tar pratyek "premal sallagara" la asech vatate ki tumchi kahi tari chook ahe mhanun ajun lagna jhalela nahi. Mag pahila prashna pratyek natevaik/palakanche mitra vichartat to mhanje: "Mag ladu kadhi denaar?" Khara tar ulat prashna asa vicharayla hava ki "Kuthala havay? Dinkacha ki alivacha? Nahi mhanje apan apli aawad sangitlit tar Chitale madhun aanata yeil."

Bara hya prashna varun bhagat nahi tar lagech, "Kay ga, tujha tu tharavla nahis ka ajun?" Eke kali muline athava mulane swatahacha lagna tharavane he karante-panacha lakshan manle jai. Ata jag kiti badalala ahe he hya prashna varun kalel. Bara ha prashna vicharnarya bahutansha lokancha asa samaj asto ki changla mulga athava mulgi hi bajarat bhaji ghetlya sarkhi sahaj milte ani ti milavne hi ateeshay soppi goshta aste. Phakta kaan ani dole ughade thevayche astat.

Aso! Jevha majha me koni pasand nahi kelela asa uttar milta, tevha lagech pudhche anek prashna vicharnya karta hi loka asusaleli astat. "Patrika jamat nahi ka?" "Atee pharach distat tujhya!" "Kay phoren chach mulga hava kay?" "Tuch aadmuthe pana karat asasheel ani mulana nakarat asasheel!" Ase sarva prakarche vichaar aikayla miltat.

Bara ya sarva prashnana kay uttar dyaycha hyacha neet vichaar kara. Karan jar tumhi ya sarva prashnana "Nahi" ase uttar dile, tar mag tumchi kahihi khair nahi. Karan mag reetsar tumchi patrika tyanchya tabyat jate (tumcha kinwa paryayi tumchya palakancha patrike var vishwas asel tar!) Mag he lok tya patrike cha "study" kartat. Ani mag vividha prakarche todge sangtat. "Asa kar Vaidehi, dararoj Rukmini Swayamwar chi pothi vaach mhanje lavkar hoil lagna." "Me tujhi patrika baghitli ahe. Tyatun me tujha bhagyanka kadhala ahe. Ek chota yantra tayar kela ahe. Te eka korya kagdavar lihi ani javal thev. Nehemi upyog hoil. Ani agdich kadhi nirasha aali, tar ek chotasa shlok deto, to 108 vela mhanaycha. Sarva adchani door hotil." "Me ek yaadi keli ahe jya nusar jar tujhi patrika jamli, tar tya sthala barobar kahihi vichaar na karta 'go ahead.' Kahi kaljich nahi mag." Bara nakki 'go ahead' mhanje kay? Jar patrika julnara gadi ha gunda, badmaash asla tari go ahead bara ka! Ya upar ek nikshun sangna asta..."Me je upay sangat ahe, tyane tota nakkich honaar nahi. Jhala tar phaydach hoil." Than, than, than! Ghantancha satat awaaj aiku yet ahe ki nahi?

Evhada sagla houn tumhala sodnaar nahit. Tumha samor sthalanchi raangach mandun thevtil. "Aho Vishakha cha aai, majhya nandechya javayachya bhavacha mitra ahe. Itka chaan mulga ahe. Smart, handsome, jhalach tar changlya IT companit nokri la ahe. Tumchya Vishakha karta ekdam sajesa. Kadhi karaychi bolni sanga!" "Me kay mhanato, tya muli la ho mhanayla kay harkat ahe tula? Disayla bari ahe. Ani mothyancha aadar karte. Jatana saglyana namaskaar karun geli. Halli asha muli kuthe miltat!" "Bahergaon cha mulga baghayla kay harkat ahe? Shevati kay manus mahatvacha. Gaav kay, savay hote." Mhanje khedegavat padla tari chalel. Shivay nokri nasli navin thikani tari tyachi kay parva tyana, mulga ani gharana uttam ahe na! @$%#$#%$

Ani ho, he sarva jhalya nantar mukhya goshta te sangtat mhanje..."He bagh, he lakshat thev ki aayushyat tadjod karne phaar garjecha asta. Ya na tya karnane tadjod karavich lagte. Tyachya shivay chalnaar nahi. Shevati kay jeevanat sukha javasa evhada ani dukha mana evhada. Dukhkha shivay pragati hot nahi." Ata mala sanga, "tadjod" mhanje nakki kay karaycha? Lagna hot nahiye, tar je sthal alay to jara banel asel, daru pine, cigarette odhana vagaire goshti karat asel tari harkat nahi. Lagna hotay na, tadjod kelich pahije! Asa chalel ka? Kinwa gharche agdich asanskrut vatle ani vagayla-bolayla kahi patle nahit, tari dekhil tadjod keli pahije mhanun pudhe jaycha ka? Bara dukhha mhanje nakki kay te hi ekda sanga. Mhanje mag amhi amchi kiti pragati karun ghyaychi he kalel aamhala.

Hya sarvatun phakta ekach hota, ki hya sarva prakarchya upadeshakana karmanuk milte. Aamhi mhanje kiti mahaan, amhala yatle (aushadha, nokri-vyavasay, sthala, ekunat aayushya) kiti kalte, ani amhala tumchi kiti kalji he sarva dakhavun jhale ki tyancha karya sampta.

Tyat jar chukun tyanchya olakhitun tumhala nokri milali athava tumcha lagna jamla, kinwa agdi tyanni sangitlela upay tumhi tumchya rogavar kelat ani bare jhalat, tar mag "Bagha, me sangitla navhata tumcha kaam majhya kadun nakki honaar!" he aajanma aikun ghenyachi manasik tayari theva.

Tumhi jar ajari asal, kinwa nokri chya shodhat asal, athava (Dev karo ani ase na hovo) "lagnalu" asal, tar majha ek premal salla ahe...Krupaya swatahala bhumigat kasa hota yeil hyacha vichaar atta pasunach kara, jenekarun tumhi aslya premal sallagaran kadun aapsook vachu shakal.