Life is easy kya karein

Just when my trees have grown back, they have dug open the roads. In this year, the trees in my lane were chopped off seven times. I mean the branches were brutally cut short. All the people with road facing houses on lower floors, want the trees to be cut away from the balconies. The people who park their cars in the bye lanes as Mumbai does not have enough of parking space , want the branches which grow towards the road, to be chopped off. The cars are more precious than the trees. The Municipal corporation has reasons to cut the trees for road widening projects and the fear that the branches may fall on pedestrians. Mumbai rarely has the wind velocity to cause too much damage but  it hardly takes a phone call to the authorities, to have a tree massacred. Not to forget the Builder mafia, which kills old trees from the roads, if it is anywhere blocking the building facade. A new building called Vidhaata just did that in Khar. The builders also kill the trees in their compound to gene

She came to my house to work. Her neighbour cum relative got her for the job. Neat in a well pinned saree, slim and a sweet genuine smile. We discussed work and pay. She said she is in need of money as the 2000 Rupees she earns is not enough. Her name was Lakshmi. She did not turn up for work the next day at the assigned time. She came later and said to give the job to her mother-in-law, so that the money will come within the family. The mother-in-law, Urmila ben, worked very well and gave me suggestions to do work more efficiently. I was really happy. In the afternoon, she told me to give all my house work to her daughter-in-law Lakshmi. I was more than happy as I liked her smile. I never knew that could be a criteria to keep a maid. Lakshmi came to work, was keen to learn and eager to please. She asked me if I had had a love marriage. Oh Boy! She sure had done her ground work on the company she was joining. She told me that she is a twelfth standard pass which means she has studi

I had taken a taxi to go to fetch the child from a class. This was just before schools shut for  Diwali vacation. The cabbie said he will drop me but won't come back. In Bambaiyya language , he refused the 'return bhaada'.  In the narrow by lanes of Matunga, where cars are parked on both sides, a biker abused him. The cabbie tried to go ahead as he had to return the taxi for the next shift. The biker parked his vehicle ahead of the moving cab. He braked hard and stopped. The biker came to the driver and started slapping the driver. This was not someone holding the shirt collar and threatening. The biker was a huge man in his forties, grey eyes, fat in the belly and specs. We did not know what hit us. The cabbie tried opening his door so he could push the biker away and drive off. This angered the biker and he was now banging the taxi driver's head on the car window. I got off the taxi as I gathered my wits. I ran the other side to pull the man away from hitting my cab

Hindi is such a deep and vast language. I speak very little Hindi in Mumbai. A maid came for a job and was talking fluent English and I was shocked. Mumbai's English speaking maids want to work for the expat community where the work is less and salary is more. The English speaking can get jobs in offices as receptionists and some of them want to work as maids or nannies abroad .  There is a Hindi word called 'Bas' pronounced as the word 'bus' of the English language. This word has loads of connotations . Bas means 'enough'. It also means ' stop'. So 'Bas Karo ab'  is 'Stop it now'. But people in India understand and use 'Bas ' in different contexts. The Hindi belt is using it in interesting ways. When someone asks them "How are you?" "Aap kaise hain?" , the reply is " Bas". It does not mean 'stop' asking me this question or 'enough' of your questions. It means all is well. It al

Speak truth and be damned. Indra Nooyi spoke about how she feels guilty and as a woman you cant have it all, and a debate erupts. The feminists are saying how demoralising it is and blah blah. Every woman journalist, even if she covered the society pages, had her view on how Indra Nooyi's life is. The Pope talked about paedophiles in the Church and the PR machine at Vatican went on an over drive denying what was said by him. They accused the publication which printed it. Which organised religion is without crime? Rani Mukherjee after hiding her relationship with Adi Chopra suddenly wants to go all out and talk about her love, marriage, maids and all the publications want to cover it. All are aware her film is up for release and her non existent career as an actress needs all the Boost/ Bournvita/ Horlicks it can get. Truth sounds like lies to us when certain people speak. Truth hurts  because we have a certain view of how things are or how they should be. Anything contrary and

I was walking in the rain. Some days, I walk because there is no cab in sight. Mahim by-lanes were all green and with newly paved footpaths. No water logging near the pavements or the drains. I was admiring the greenery and the lack of people on the roads. It was sheer bliss, the sound of incessant rain, no strong winds and the dark clouds hiding the afternoon sun. The cars were not splashing any water as the roads had no potholes. This was nature and BMC together at its best. I had had a lovely lunch with my child's school Mommies. The banter was more fun than the food. A friend dropped me across the Arabian sea. I mean we crossed the Mahim causeway from Bandra. I take the Mumbai sea for granted so many times. Then something makes me pause and start admiring its beauty. That moment of pause is when I am awestruck, one more time. Its glorious all the time as we all go about our daily chores but I don't even see it. In a few moments, I realised I was not enjoying my walk i

Yesterday I spent a lot of time in front of the television . I was watching the Rath Yatra at Puri and actually listening to the commentator as he explained the significance of  many of the rituals. Aastha channel was covering Morari Bapu's Ramayan live at Vatican city. Wanted to watch both at the same time. The telly time was, because I was getting bird net put on all the windows. Three workers were working in the three rooms of the house. Kitchen was the only place to go to and the food was cooked. There was a lot of conversation on whether I should put the bird net, what is the costing like, where can I get the best rate, who will do the best job and will they be reliable. Final choice was between two young boys from Uttar Pradesh. One had just started his own business after leaving his job. The other boy worked for a Bori Muslim 'Seth'. The new kid on the block was enthusiastic but little arrogant. He said they do contract all household work like electrical, plumbing,

The sea water logging in Mumbai in non monsoon time, is a strange phenomena. Two lanes away this sea water was gushing in and we were completely unaware. I got the news through friends from Delhi who were suffering severe heat wave.  With 4.5 metre height of the waves, people could not stand the force, I shudder to think how the tsunami waves were. Yesterday 12th June 2014, Vatt Purnima was celebrated in Maharashtra. On this day, married ladies pray to the Banyan tree and tie a white thread around it for the being 'sadaa suhaagan'. Sadaa Suhaagan means the husband is alive and the wife lives with him happily. Savitri prayed for the long life of her husband and got him back from the clutches of Yamraj, the God of death.  Today is Jal Abhishek in Orissa of  Lord Jagannath at Puri.  As it is is very hot in summers in Orissa,  and then on Snaan Purnima which is the full moon day, the Lord spends a lot of time bathing. With the heat and long hours in the water, Lord Jagan

Working in the hotels in the Sales and Marketing department, I had attended lot of corporate, art and social events. Going for these, meeting people, taking their business cards, networking and making contacts is what most of these events were about. We just did it as a part of work which we did not like but could not avoid. Now after years, a friend Monalisa Mukherji invited me for her book launch, a collection of poems written in Hindi.  I was awe struck with the warmth and genuine feel of the space at the venue "Title Waves". These were not people hired by the publicist to welcome you and shove food down your throat. They were real people just like the Kavita written by Mona. No pretense in the launch anywhere. The guest list included Imtiaz Ali, Irshad Kamil and Mita Vashisht. Ritika Sahni who is a friend, singer and runs an NGO called Trinayani, introduced everyone and one could never guess who she was talking about. She had warmth and ease with the guests and the pe

Early morning whatsapp messages were about Gopinath Munde being involved in an accident and is critical. Very soon Twitter was flooded with his passing away. He was just alone, unescorted. He asked for water from the driver. The car did not look so badly damaged. He was declared dead by the hospital after attempts to revive him failed. In the mean time, friends were talking about his sudden death. Why couldn't someone revive him? Was his security not equipped with any first aid skills? Came to know later that there was no security with him. Friends saying acupuncture could have helped him in case of a heart attack. Rural Development minister in the Modi cabinet, he had worked at  grass root level in Maharashtra and in other parts of India. I remembered him during the death of his brother in law Promod Mahajan, who was shot dead by his own brother. Gopinath Munde had handled the family and really supported them. Then at Balasaheb's funeral, I saw him sitting along with the BJ

I do not like Goa or rather I should say I never liked Goa before. I felt the same about Dubai before I went in December. May be it is a good idea to go to places one does not have a good feel about. Its a joy to come back pleasantly surprised. The feelings change and so does the place. Goa reminds me of drugs, booze and a generally decadent lifestyle of the tourists. Rather, I do not like the people who love Goa. Mumbaites run to Goa at every long weekend they get. Lots of Bollywood actors are travelling for every possible break they manage. Had a powerful star wife on the flight. Poor thing came to use the washrooms at the Goa airport. She did not even stop to wash her hands lest she get mobbed. Was never fascinated with Goa in spite of being in Bombay for so many years. We took a trip in the summer after our wedding and realised Goa was not our cup of tea. Well, who drinks tea when in Goa? We were mighty disappointed. Lot of work trips followed for both of us. I have spent many a

I am back to my pet peeve.  Why do we have this language based division of states and community based politics? Shiv Sena's mouthpiece Saamna has written really nasty editorial about Gujaratis using Mumbai like a prostitute. Well, it is more gross than what it sounds here. To think that the man who writes the editorial thinks like this and is not yet arrested for his inflammatory remarks? This is the Maharashtra's obsession with caste based politics. You know when a Maharashtrian meets you, the first question is "What is your surname?" The second question is "Kuthla gaaon" or which is your village? I have been listening to these two questions from the time I have got married and acquired a Marathi Surname. I am in half a mind to tell all these people that my surname is Das, Gupta or Dasgupta. May be the second question will not follow. All people in my Yoga class have asked me these questions, in the train, bus journeys or even in supermarkets this is asked

We had been to Tirupati for Darshan. We were  fortunate to get Udayastanam darshan. We  could sit in the temple for forty minutes for the Morning Puja. Udayastanam means from Suryoday to Suryaast i.e. from sunrise to sunset. This Darshan does not find mention in the official website. At Tirumala, everything is pretty systematic and computerised. Darshans can be booked online. If I try to book for Udaystanam now, my chance in the queue will come after 40 years or so, they say. Lovely weather in Tirumala in early April. Spring had just set in. The flowers were blooming on most trees. The hill top is so clean and so green in spite of the construction of guesthouses and marriage halls for the pilgrims. Its an auspicious place to have a wedding. I thought it was a beautiful place to get married. I have been thrice earlier and I can definitely say that the place has not deteriorated. They have improved it over the years. Thank God and all those people who are working well. Saturday is the a

The new green leaves have come on most trees. An occasional koel sings in the mornings. Mumbai still has lot of old buildings left alone by the land sharks. I noticed them during my train ride in the Central line of Mumbai. Each building had some beautiful old trees. Buildings witness to generation and trees witness to so many emotions. So difficult for the trees and the brick walls to be there and not react. They continue to treat everyone with benign kindness. The Pawar party office at Taikalwadi near Manmala Mandir is on the pavement. They first made an illegal office with Grills and a roof. Then they  started keeping plants in the adjacent area of the pavement. Later the plants got a fencing. Now there is a huge brick wall. I noticed and felt angry and bad. I do not have the zest to call BMC and find out the relevant office and complain. I also fear these political types in spite of living amongst them. I met a vegetable vendor or a bhaji waala carrying 40-50kg of vegetables

Yesterday on my way to back from the supermarket, a lady asked for help to get down from the pavement to the road. I held her hand and she climbed down. She did not look very old or unwell. She had to walk towards a bylane and did not have to cross the road. I walked ahead. When I turned back, I saw her struggling to reach the bylane as the vehicles were taking a turn at that point. I went back and helped her to walk till the end of vehicular traffic lane. She started crying and said sorry for troubling me. She said her husband was unwell, her daughter in law does not talk to her, their flat is under redevelopment so she is staying in a tiny house,she is walking to her daughter in law's house and her husband is not there. She referred to her husband as her 'Mr.' All this said in two minutes. I told her to believe in God and keep praying to him. I turned back and our child wanted to know the reason for the old lady's tears. The lady was just overwhelmed by a stranger&#

There is a parking lot for Garbage trucks which is called Yaan Griha. Every morning when I walk back from Yoga, the whole cross section of five roads is surrounded by the garbage trucks. They are parked in a circle around the traffic island, a circle of orange and green. I think the cab is orange in colour where the driver and the garbage collector sit. The attendance of these employees of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or BMC, takes place at 8am. They are in a bright orange uniform of shirt and pants. The gloves which some garbage collectors wear is green in colour. Every morning the cleaners are cleaning the cab of the truck. The area where they sit i.e. the front go the truck is sparkling. The windshield is shining in the sun after a good rub with water and newspaper. There is a new napkin placed on the driver's back rest. Some cabs light incense sticks or Agarbattis. Some cabs have put a small garland of fresh flowers on the God's idol. Most  vehicles in India have a s

  In the past I have spent all my Holis at our building party. This included breakfast, lunch, playing with colours, games of Housie, Antakshari between men and women, musical chairs and kho kho. Consciously, we told our children not to waste water. The hose pipe used by the gardener, was used to wet all of us playing  Holi. Some people came down only to eat the lovely hot food.Some took food up to their families. It was one day we all experienced lots of love towards each other. The earlier night for Holika dahan, there was lot of attitude amongst the crowd. The Marwaris wanted to pray their way n came down in their wedding finery. The Maharashtrians came in their 'ghar ka kapda' or house clothes. The Sindhis were well dressed. Some Jains boycotted this Puja as they did not believe in all this. Some came for the Puja but did not approve of the timing or waiting for the oldest member of the building to light the Holika. Various inter social dynamics were at play. Some days we

I waited for three whole weeks before writing this post. At one point I did start writing and then wanted to hold my horses. In my heart, I was hoping for a miracle. I was hoping and praying that Randeep Hooda gets his due in the film Highway. He is brilliant in the film. Why doesn't anyone acknowledge that? Being born n brought up in Dhanbad, we saw people like him all the time. The shirt n sweater colours and the muffler were so normal and the colour combinations were so from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Everything about him is so authentic in the film. His dialogue delivery and accent is perfect to the T. I was amazed at the talent house he is. This is not taking away the good work done by Alia Bhatt. That's where the gene pool matters as everyone in the industry is praising her. For me, the surprise is Randeep's portrayal of Mahavir. This is the first film I have seen of  both the actors, Randeep n Aalia. I just remember a bit of him as Sushmita Sen's boyfriend and dri

When we were in school, we always asked each other "Yeh poem 'By-heart' kar liya?" It means "Have you memorised the poem?". Certain phrases stick to my mind forever and it transports me to my home in Jharia and my school at Dighwadih. If something was nice,  people said ' Solid hai". It could mean that thing is good quality, it has good references or if it is food it meant it was pure or unadulterated. It could also mean that the Woman being talked about is voluptuous. If a good looking woman passed by, the men on the road said " Aaj garmi badh gaya hai". This means that the heat has increased today. When I translate it in English, it definitely does not convey the feeling behind the words. I felt  simplicity and experienced the language Hindi in the film 'Queen'. To make an extraordinary film on a character who is so ordinary, needs courage. The director never tried a glam look on Kangana and even did not add an item number. He

Ishq Bulaava is a beautiful melody from the film Hasee toh Phasee. The song is in Punjabi. The picturization and lyrics are so soothing. Like the simplicity in it. Its about love and no sizzling chemistry. There are no heavy words or promises being made in the song. I have been watching it on my Moto G at least a few times during the day. Am yet to figure out if the credit goes to the director Vinil Mathew or the Cinematographer or the singers and the actors. Ta ask your actors to be so subtle is definitely the director's vision. Its not even a blink of an eyelid that the Siddharth Malhotra or Parineeti Chopra enact. It is even smaller gestures like his Adam's Apple moving and Parineeti's tongue curling inside her mouth and little of what we can see through her smile. The camera glides beautifully through the bars which divide the compartments of Ladies First class and second class. Its another matter that Siddharth does get into a Ladies second class compartment as the tr

Someone has discovered that trees are dying in Mumbai, due to the concrete pavements where the cement is poured on the base of the trees too. This was something so basic that anyone would know, is what I thought. Apparently, No. The people here are so disconnected from nature. This tree cutting drive of the BMC and the construction giants is so cruel. To construct tall buildings, the ground is dug so deep that no tree has any chance of survival. The BMC cuts the branches of the trees which come towards the road. This misbalances the trees. The trees always grow with branches on both sides. The buildings block the sunlight and cut away the branches as they fall on the cars parked in the compound. The branches try to grow towards the road where it gets at least 12 feet of open space. The BMC does not believe in letting the trees from opposite sides of the road meet. They have their task of keeping the roads free of any canopy of trees. In addition to this, the trees are not supposed to

I have been travelling by trains, very frequently. The trains have a lot of illegal posters inside. The law prohibits any kind of advertising inside the train compartments. In spite of removing them regularly , these posters keep coming up. One of them is invariably about some 'Baba' who is a self proclaimed healer. It is with a photo of Sai Baba of Shirdi. This man can has cure for health problems, mistress, for solving business problems, for couples not having children, for your stolen goods, for parents whose child is straying etc. This is some black magic mumbo jumbo along with a phone number given. Second poster talks about how the company sells a yantra/ tabeej which will help a woman increase the size of her breasts. Years back, the compartments used to have some numbers to call for a massage. Some even went to specify that they have healthy men and women to give massage from different nationalities. In most five star hotels, there is a city guide in all rooms with p

Saw an elderly couple walking hand in hand in the evening. The roads were dug up. They were on the pavement walking with a smile. I could not figure out who was protecting whom from falling. Just the sense of togetherness brought tears to my eyes. In Hindi, I would have said ' aankhon mein nami chhaa gayi". Hindi is such a beautiful artistic language and has words for all our emotions and relations. I have become an 'angrez', as in we speak English all the time but I hate the fact that I do not express myself, the way I can in Hindi. By the way, Hindi is not my mother tongue. Hindi is our National Language. Born out of Sanskrit, like most Indian languages. Hindi has a musical tonality. The expressions are beautiful. In India, like the food , our language also changes every 100 kilometres. Its varied and rich in texture from the local language the people speak. People living in Maharshtra understand the difference in Marathi of a Mumbaikar, a Puneri and someone from th

Delhi disappoints and how! What is wrong with people in Delhi? What are these barbaric acts for? Who are they showing their machoism and what are they proving? By killing an innocent person from North East, what did you get? What kind of cops are there in Delhi? Why are there no rules in Delhi? Agree that Delhi was the land of Kurukshetra and lot of killing has always taken place there over the years. Apparently the energy of the city is so bad that all become corrupt and angry. By astrological inference, Delhi and Punjab's planetary position is such that it makes them aggressive people. That is why there are more people from Punjab in the Armed Forces than say from Gujarat. Courage and valour are good qualities. Killing your own countrymen with brute force is definitely not. I know so many people in the corporate world, who will take a transfer anywhere in India but not to Delhi. I remember the aggression and sweet talking of my Delhi colleagues vis a vis colleagues from any othe