MIST ON MY FACE

      The feeling of wind in my hair and drops of water on my face take a different feeling when one is out there at sea. The best thing out in the open waters is even if the Sun is shining bright on your face tanning it a lot, even the mild breeze can give you the comfort. Its been about a year since I felt that salty mist on my lips as I moved inland from the shores but whenever a view of the unfurled sails beating to the wind and the hull jumping over the waves comes across my heart gallops. Why this nostalgic feeling now I ask myself and the reason is the news of a 16 yr old Dutch girl circumnavigating the world on a yacht in one year. Bound in the daily jobs and stuck so far away from the sea makes me yearn for them. Any person who’s been too close to the sea knows that the sea breeze eats into the metals as much it gets into our system. Being on the high seas for over seven years the bonding is bound to get tighter. Not all can take the beating of the waves and the winds in their lives but those who do, they hardly try to get away. Since the day of this addiction to the sea, the thought of owning a yacht or a boat has been a major part of the retirement planning, although owning it and using it surely is going to be a costly affair and all the planning has to be around it. The one thought that crosses my mind most of the times is what’s a seafarer’s life if its away from the glistening waves and misty breeze, but then a sojourn every half year or yearly may give the much needed impetus to keep life balanced and rejuvenated. I dream of yachting in the Mediterranean, sailing in the regattas be it in Mumbai or Sydney or maybe circumnavigating the world albeit not alone, spending lonely days out at sea would be too boring (and scary). As I watch the participants of sailing checking the ropes, tightening the sail props, oiling the rollers onboard preparing for the race my mind settles in a calmness that we sometimes see on the surface of the seas the calmness that later turns into a rush of waves giving a spurt of misty spray on the face. 

I need to get back to my dreaming session with the images of the colorful yachts with their sails opened up lapping all the wind into it and pitching upon the waves of the open blue sea heading into the horizon where one cannot differentiate between the sky and the sea

THE DAY

A Dream Lost or in the Frost !

     The first time I got to see the snaps of Tour de France was in 1999 I was amazed at the number of participants, the cheering crowds and the coverage by all kinds of media. The snaps that I saw took my breath away the videos simply bowled me over. Simple village view outskirts of the French cities were a feast to the eyes along with the people on the road sides cheering for the riders in general and their favourites in particular. Till then my notion of sports that could captivate the general public didn’t include cycling as I had seen a few Olympic events of cycling that had sparse crowds, maybe due to the reason that they were conducted in a closed velodrome where the crowds couldn’t shout and cheer and maybe because there would be ticket fee to just watch the sport. In France during the Tour de France people from all over Europe take time off to be at the venues of the race and outline the whole roads throughout the ten days of it. Although a decade and half back I too used to cycle about 12 kms one way during the morning and evening when I had to oversee the construction work of our house. But then the charm wore out soon as I had to cycle through the busy city roads only and it became just a chore for me. Later as I got sucked into my job the thought got in the back of my mind.

In 2006 as I stepped onto the lovely and serene Andaman islands it took me a little time to savor the beauty and tranquility of the Emerald islands. The good company that I had over there and the trio of Sushant Amrit and Ajay got me to explore the hidden corners of these lovely islands I fell in love with Andaman & Nicobar. Soon as I started getting acquainted with the small place I realized the latent potential that this island has. If Tour de France is set in the country side of France it must be for the simple reason that cyclists would not appreciate to paddle in a city full of vehicles honking n criss crossing. The way to know the clean green view of the islands is to  start off from the Panipat road and after a hairpin bend towards Chatham jetty crossing the mini Zoo of Port Blair. After reaching the slope close to the SCI jetty surrounded by small hotels n houses made of wooden splinters one can surely feel a light breeze coming up the slope and waving hair as if a mother ruffling the kid’s hair. Crossing the Chatham jetty road get onto the road snaking towards Phoenix bay as it leads to the back of Welcome group hotel overlooking at the Indian ocean with North bay light house at a distance. The road is hardly obstructed as this is used by the locals staying there and no one else. As we near the Aberdeen jetty a clear view of the green Ross island lights up one’s heart. The way then connects into the main road in front of the Velodrome near Aberdeen jetty and a constantly changing view of the sea with the Cellular jail reminding of the revolutionaries who fought for the independence of our country. The road well tarred and with footpath on both the sides allows for people to walk n take in the magnificent view of the sea while being away from the edges which get a misty splash of water from the waves. The road from there is a ride to remember with some nice twists n turns till the Corbyn’s cove. It’s a thoroughfare throughout and worth experiencing. Maybe the route is so very constricted that the cyclists would have to take ferries and guard assisted vehicles to cross a few tree lined forest roads that are cool in every meaning, but each halt would be rejuvenating and each course invigorating. If the race could be stretched to the far away parts of the island of Havlock, Rangat and Diglipur it would be a real treat to the people who would participate and real advantage to the locals who would get to work on it and feel special in some way or the other. 

So if India had to have its own version of the cult like cycling event it the first choice should be Port Blair and nearby islands. The island offers appropriate conditions for conduct of such an event. The snaking roads along the beautiful beaches would provide the impetus, the simple people of the island would be very happy to vacate the near empty roads for the enthusiasts who would come from all over India and maybe the world. That would not only give the islands a boost in tourism but I guess the development of the island as a haven for clean sports would be a good idea to showcase India’s green face. I have been dreaming of it and would surely try to make it happen, even though I know its not an easy task and it will need an all out effort. Lets wait and hope for the best.

http://www.aniidco.nic.in/aboutand.htm

HORSES IN THE VANGUARD

A few days back I watched a medieval times war movie King Arthur. Although the movie was all about valor of the knights who fought with him for their freedom. The movie aside I was stuck on some other detail which I had may be missed so long. The kings knights warriors all were brave no doubt, they had their goals and battles but what did the horse have to do with all that? The horses would go into the battles without any motive but to take their rider in and around wherever they wanted to go. The horses could see the oncoming assault but still had to do their jobs without questions and without nudging. The horses didn’t meander away from the path that would take the rider to glory, the horses knew their job was to be with the rider till the end, an end which could be without any one of the two or both surviving the war to be victorious. The horses never saw anything other than the vision that the rider had in mind. Today as we all wait for 30th May for the Lok Pal bill to be drafted, we have seen the real warriors go into the battle riding the wave of support and applause. We now can be like the horses that the warriors ride and be there to see them win the battles or maybe we can be arrows that the enemy fires and bring down the warrior that fights. How many of us have heard the names of horses of the famous Knights, Kings and warriors spread in the pages of history? Do we recollect them when we speak of the courage of these heroes? 

Its upto us to be the warriors who do all the fighting and bring glory to our name or else atleast be the horse that takes the leaders into the battle and help them be victorious. All we need to do is stay there, focused at the view the rider has in mind and do what we do best; to help the rider make his way through the battle and not trample the very dreams that the rider has been planning. 

Whiff of the Wild Flower

The Case of A Situation

Why does it happen that just when something starts to interest us and we start to indulge in it does it all look like it’s a farcical affair. At such times I remember a story that I’d read in my Hindi non detail book, while I was in school. The story goes thus -

In a company, the Labor union start strike against the administration as their pay hadn’t been increased in a long time and they had been facing the brunt of inflation. As it was a long time they had been trying to reason with the owner they were now very irate and had planned from next day, not to allow the gates of the company to open for any reason until their demands had been met. During this time the owner of the company convenes a meeting with his advocate, the labor Secretary and DM of the area. The meeting goes thus:

Owner - This strike has been going on for over four weeks, the production has been halted. Its only the produced goods that has been leaving the company till now. 

Advocate - Now there’s hardly anything left anyway. The last lot will be out by this week.

Owner - But the Union members have pledged that they will follow a complete lock down right till the chowkidaar from tomorrow.

Labor Sect - They cant stop you from using other people. You can surely employ someone out of the village.

DM - Do not under estimate their understanding. They will have made all the calculations by now and spoken to the others around. You can only get people from afar which may burn a hole in the pocket.

Labor Sect - But you cant do that as your company is getting benefits from govt for using the local populace. That would mean you are violating norms.

DM - If the Labor union does something wrong only then you can go ahead with your plans.

Advocate - But they have been very peaceful throughout and don’t seem to plan something of that sort.

Owner - So what can we do? If I try to impel them with my plan of not heeding to them that would be barbaric on my part.

DM - Well, then make them do things without their consent without speaking a word. Put some of your men in their mob, let them instigate the others and do the damage. Once that happens the Commissioner will send his men, a little lathi charge and the men will break away.

Labor Sect - If that can be staged we can tell the Union people that they have resorted to violence they are at fault and the company has the right to take a new way out. 

Owner - So that sorts out everything! Cheers to my company and the best COMPANY that I have tonight.

The conspiracy that they use is when you can not fight them, join them and break them from within. Evil thought one would say, but if put for the use of some good it could be a good tool. But it’s the bad guy who always gets to use it. The latest case would be surely the case of the Lok Pal bill. All the effort that dear Anna Hazare has put is being tarnished. Now as more politicians join the Committee they will pull out all sorts of gimmicks, one case in point is the Shanti CD imbroglio. This is just the tip of the iceberg, there will be more such deceptive acts just to deceive the people of the RIGHT bill or shall we say the right to the correct bill. This bill is being hailed as the Vajrastra made from the very backbone of the people who have lost against the corrupt. But with the impurities that may be added to it in due course of time the weapon may lose its luster and sharpness even before it is ready to use. What we now need to do is make sure the elements needed for the weapon are put into the mould without any adulteration. Only then we can succeed in using it as a fulcrum to usurp the disease called corruption and strike a cord with the process of development in the right direction. Atleast hope wish and pray if you cant do anything else on your own. 

LET THERE BE ENOUGH LIGHT TO BREAK THE SHADY 

WHO HOLD THE MIGHT

The Sum of our Differences

Those were the days, those were the times those were the places…..many times we’ve kept remembering the old times and wishing them to come back. Not for once did we think about the present holding a present for us. We are not made to think so, but when the present is held in front of us, we do scamper towards it like a kid getting his first birthday present and start unraveling it. We play with it till its in our hands, some times enjoy the feeling for a while, after losing it or its broken we crib cry and forget it with time. But, sometimes when the present is so wonderful that all our senses are embalmed in it we cherish those moments for long time to come. The life gives us a glimpse of what is to come so that we can brace ourselves to enjoy it, it simply depends upon us to appreciate it and cherish the moments that be a part of our life.
Me and Roopa are like chalk n cheese, where she will try to point everything incorrect I try to find the right things, where she thinks is boredom I try to show her the fun element and where she finds flavours I try to give her the bland look....all the way knowing that it isnt there and I'm just trying to feel it. But then other times we do get to know what we need to have.
   Yesterday was just one of those lovely gifts that was sprung up on my face and with a surprise which had all the ingredients to be a reprise. With two passes for the Baisakhi eve program I knew there was a fun filled and enjoyable evening in store for us. We did skip the intro by the event organisers and long ear wrenching speeches by all including the others including the Dy Chief Minister. Oh what a sight it was to see an auditorium with so many Sardars and of course sardarnis. Everyone looked so very healthy, yeah so very healthy that my healthy wife looked like a kid. Only my wife can say what I looked like. That thing aside, as we entered and took our seats courtesy our friend Sandeep Singh, the healthy sardar we saw a guy in checkered pants with a purple tee covered with a black velvety jacket holding the mike and people’s attention or maybe the people in splits. The stand up comedian Khayali was making most of the time with his witty one liners and cracking up anyone who came into his sight. Be it the person going away with a kid, he was asked, Bachcha aapka hae ya kisi aur ka? Andhere mae kuch dikhayi nahi deta…. The guy did catch our attention but as we had been waited upon by a friend who had come from Hyderabad for on campus selections at his hotel we left the place. We did know that we would miss a little of the entertainment but the chance to meet a friend meant too much for us. It was like we had been looking for something other than water not as important but different more like looking for a cocktail in Laxmi bar. We reached the hotel where he was staying and asked him to meet at the foyer of the Hotel. We were delighted to see him there and then started all that Hyderabadi talk, his meeting with the auto walas of patna who are not used to carrying a person alone in the passenger seat, (jitne ho utney admi andar is their mantar) unless u are ready to pay atleast triple the amount. Then he told about his escapade with the rickshaw ride through the bustling roads of Patna. As we stepped into the restaurant and took a table in the corner, we could see the mid week weak staff. The small talk got vigorous and more hilarious, the waiters saw that and took advantage knowing that we wouldn’t worry of late service. Harith is one hardcore Hyderabadi, very reasonable guy, quirky and apparent in his views. With the kind of shock he had, being packed off to Patna out of the blue, his words came out quickly and side-splittingly.  While in Vizag we had been enjoying such moments  pretty often but here it was hard as we don’t have many friends and none so witty in words n acts.
As the alcohol kept making me feel light in the head, his words and anecdotes kept lightening my heart and facial expressions. The smile and laugh came out effervescently. The food was sumptuous and as the people had thinned out the service was being concentrated on the three of us. But what now mattered was the good time we spent catching up on some small talk lotsa good feeling and clear thoughts, about a lot of things. The lack of such light and hilarious talk had been making us docile and a little staid. But with the evening turning so very bubbly as we walked out in to the warm weather outside into the night we knew another day stared at us with a promise that not all days would be glum, and even if the days were the evenings would be better. The assurance of something later does clear our minds of doubts, doubts that may sometime cloud over in the unassuming mind.

What may be missing in the two of us is what we get when we see that third person!