Writing about the changing perspectives of our major festivals is one of my favourite subjects. My childhood was spent in Delhi and Janmashtami was celebrated with great gusto and fervour there. A matter of special attraction was the painstaking efforts by households to recreate the scenes of Lord Krishna’s birth in Mathura prison, where Lord’s uncle Kamsa had held Krishna’s parents in captivity as there was a forecast that the baby born to his sister Devaki would be the cause of his death. He in fact killed several children born to Vasudeva and Devaki till the birth of Lord himself when all the guards fell asleep and the gates of the prison opened automatically facilitating escape of Vasudeva with new born Krishna, whom he dropped at the place of Nanda and Yashodhara, the foster parents of Krishna. This story was created with much fanfare, devotion and dedication by the households using simple materials and decorative stuff. Temples would see huge queues for Lord’s darshanam on this auspicious day.

Of course, Janmashtami was celebrated with fervour in all parts of the country albeit in different styles. While Janmashtami at Krishna’s birth place Mathura and where he spent his childhood, Vrindavan, was understandably grand, Mumbai was famous for its Dahi Handi festival, popularised even more by the Bollywood. “Govind aala re ” and “Mach gaya shor ” with iconic stars Shammi Kapoor and Amitabh reprising the role of Govinda are unforgettable.

Like any religious festival, while the devotion, especially amongst the seniors may not have come down, fasting and queues outside temples are still common sights and Mumbai may still be loving its Govindas, somehow our tight schedules, plethora of problems, tensions, competition, ambition and the new world obsession with gadgetry, have resulted in the spirit of the festival waning considerably. We feel by forwarding received WhatsApp messages to our acquaintances, we have played our part in remembering them and greeting them on the festival day. This makes this pure, significant and sprightly festival like any other special day (friendship, teacher’s, parent’s, valentine’s etc.), which we love to take cognisance of in the today’s world ruled by social media. For me, Janmashtami is not merely about Krishna’s birth, but it’s deep rooted philosophy of victory of good over evil and spreading the message of happiness and goodwill amongst the citizenry of this country.

Happy Janmashtami and Jai Shri Krishna to all the readers of my blog.

We Indians crave for foreign destinations. Hitherto, one of the most sought after destinations was US, but thanks to Trump and his idiosyncrasies, the land of dreams no longer retains its numero uno position. Geographies such as Canada and Australia are new places of choice (unless you are Nirav Modi or Mehul Choksi, opting for safer havens like one of the Caribbean nations or tax friendly nations). Of course, places like Singapore, Dubai and much of Gulf house millions of Indians, though these countries have become much more stringent in giving work permits or permanent resident ships.

When we go abroad as tourists, we lament about the lack of cleanliness, discipline, hygiene, road manners and general orderliness lacking in India, but are the hallmarks of almost all developed countries. But when we go there either for long term or permanently, we start missing certain luxuries that are unique to India. No these luxuries are not coffee book cliches such as Indian cuisine, Taj Mahal, Folk Music and Dances, Culture, Mysticism, Varanasi, Moksha etc. Guess what are these luxuries? I have tried to list a few, without which my wife, a foreign travel freak and aspirant to migrate to one of the developed countries, cannot imagine to survive! These are:

(1) Maid, the poor impoverished lady who comes every morning to sweep our homes clean, do our dishes and wash our clothes. For what we pay to her for making our lives so comfortable, she’s is an irreplaceable luxury.

(2) Driver, the Man Friday who drives you to wherever you want, manages your vehicle as you shop around, drops your kids to school and brings them back, opens the car doors for you and do several other odd jobs. I am told valets and drivers are meant for blue blood top elite in western world and the likes of us, the middle class types, either handle our own wheels or take public transport! Our driver, our man Friday has been with us for last 20 years and once he reports in the morning, it’s the end of all our troubles and problems. Where do you get such loyal, hardworking drivers at such unimaginable cost?

(3) How about your local ironman, who takes your washed clothes and returns them duly ironed with immaculate crease? Even most affluent of the people in developed countries have an iron table and a handy iron home to do self ironing!

(4) Many Indian households with both the working members, have Maharaj coming home everyday and cooking most delicious meals! It’s said that meals so cooked are not mere delicacies but is like God’s own gift in the form of Prasadam!

(5) Then there are newspaper boy, milkman, grocery delivery person, kabadiwala, paan wala and a host of such fellows who are there for you unassumingly, but whom you miss when they are not around!

My wife is right! If some organisation wants to hire me abroad, salary is negotiable but absolutely non negotiable requirements are – a maid, a driver, a Maharaj, newspaper and milk delivered every morning at the doorstep and a masseur, who gives full body massage every Sunday morning for 2 dollars an hour!

Languages fascinate me. While Punjabi is my mother tongue and I am proficient in Hindi and English, I learnt spoken Bangla during my work stint in Kolkata. In my early days, I did a one year certificate course in Russian too. Besides, I can read and write Urdu and Gurumukhi.

However, when it comes to the tonal sweetness, ease of speaking and understanding and universality, the erstwhile Hindustani, a simpler version of today’s Hindi, remains unique. This thought specifically struck me yesterday, when I read the Hindi translation of the latest circular issued by Reserve Bank of India. “Updated Harmonised Master List of Infrastructure sub sector ” actually reads as ” Avsanrachna Oop Kshetron Ki Adhyatan Sumailit Master Suchi”. Except for the word Master Suchi, I couldn’t make out of the rest of the terms. I don’t think this was the Hindi we learnt in our schools. Why have we chosen to replace simple words such as “Mushkil/Kathin (difficult), koshish (effort), engineer, doctor, depot” etc. with “Klisht, Prayatan, Abhiyanta, Chikitsak, Aagaar” respectively. If English and other languages have borrowed and are borrowing liberally from other languages, why we are making Hindi so very pure and detached, actually either coining new difficult tongue twisting words or falling back upon Sanskrit for original words?

A good language has to have vast repository of words, representing all nuances and expressions, this repository can be built generously by borrowing good, commonly spoken words of other languages. Engineer, doctor, compounder are fine and so are computer, mobile phone and charger!

While an Indian has increasingly become a global citizen, let’s also aspire to make our Hindi a global means of communication. If it indeed aspires to come close to English and other widely spoken international languages, the way forward may be in simplification and inclusiveness rather than rigidity and ring fencing. After all, what’s in the name – our life giver sun or Suraj whom we see every day is also known as Dinkar, Bhaskar and Prabhakar. Let these remain the theme of grammar being taught in schools or the names of individuals but for day to day conversations Suraj is fine and universally understood.

It seems that the pious festival of Rakshabandhan is losing its relevance. The enthusiasm and gaiety that we saw in earlier days is somehow amiss today. Yes, in the markets like Dadar and Matunga, you see hordes of vendors selling fancy Rakhis, but that underlying spirit is tepid.

We are two brothers and in our childhood, our Aunt (Mausi) who was way younger to our mother and just a little older to my elder brother, used to tie us Rakhi. The tradition continued with our Aunt’s daughter later on following her mother. But it was more about the mood. It was a large family with our mother and Aunt tying Rakhi to their 5 brothers plus cousins tying Rakhi to each other as said above. There were peals of laughter all around with exchange of gifts and sweets, followed by yummy lunch. Preparations for the festival would start much in advance. Sisters were requested to buy a large, fancy and colourful Rakhi. We would then compare our rakhis with each other. ” Mine is bigger; mine is better; mine has a watch built into it” – were commonly heard refrains. Beautiful Rakhis were sometimes preserved for years together. Schools would give an essay on Rakshabandhan as homework and a sketch of Rakhi as drawing assignment.

Then joint family split into smaller units; children grew up and moved to different cities for work. Cousins got married had their own children and Rakhi was restricted to within immediate family between real siblings. Like other festivals, this festival too became more of a ritual rather than the underlying spirit of sibling bonding, celebration of family’s togetherness and sweets .

In an age, where people count calories, are becoming fitness and gadget freaks, are trying to become super fathers and husbands, are aiming for new social and professional rise, the simple fun and festivity of Rakhi has somehow got oblivious. As aforesaid, I don’t have a sister, though on the day of Rakshabandhan I do wish I had one of my own and I would have shown the world that nothing matters more than relationships. Luckily one cousin of mine, who never tied Rakhi to me in my childhood is now my biggest supporter, encouraging me write more and better. On this Rakshabandhan, I dedicate this blog to her!

“All the International financial superpowers should immediately stop dealing with USA”.

This exhortation by Pakistani Foreign Minister has completely caught US off guard and they are not knowing what to do?

“India should immediately refrain from providing safe sanctuary to terrorists.”

This warning by Pakistani President has caused drop dead silence in India.

“Israel should forthwith without further delay end Palestinian occupation and handover territory to them for self rule. ”

After Pakistani Prime Minister’s above statement on an international forum, a special emergency session of Israeli parliament has been convened.

“How Pakistan in such a short span has become a military and global super power?” – I asked my friend Dodo.

Dodo replied, “Five years ago a Messiah had come whose name was Imran Khan! ”

The story ends here.

The above story , though parochial from India’s perspective like all Pakistani propaganda and stories, very aptly captures the hopes and aspirations of average Pakistani, who has been promised a ” Naya Pakistan”. Doesn’t this bear eerie resemblance to India story when Modi took charge 4 years back?

Ex cricketers Navjot Sidhu and Kapil Dev received special invitation for attending the swearing in ceremony of the new Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. It seems that he wanted to keep this event largely apolitical and so special invitees to this ceremony included the members of the Pakistani cricket squad that won 1994 World Cup under Imran’s leadership, apart from the aforesaid two Indian cricketers of great repute. For some reason, Kapil Dev did not make it to Islamabad, though Sidhu seemed to have enjoyed every moment of his stay there.

It all seemed to be a very good starting initiative by Imran till our ever opinionated social media took a great umbrage to the friendly hug shared by Sidhu with Pakistan Army Chief General Bajwa! There are posts on how a congressman Sidhu could choose to hug the murderer of scores of Indian soldiers? To take their wrath out on Sidhu further, this set of self styled patriots and moralists are posting another video on supposedly royal ignore being given by Imran to Sidhu!

The above is an instance of immaturity and intolerance not representative of what India and Indians stand for. If indeed the Government was so sensitive to the acts of a Indian politico and that too one from the opposition, it should have barred Sidhu’s visit or allowed him by explaining clear dos and don’ts! If enmity, Kashmir, border strife are going to be the basis of our future dealings with Pakistan, why Government of India welcomed Imran’s premiership? And if these issues have to be discussed with seriousness, sincerity and willingness on both sides for long standing peace, why such non events are being endorsed by the secular, middle of the stream, moderates of this country? Sidhu went to Pakistan as a goodwill messenger and his hugging Bajwa was a step forward to exchanging this goodwill only and nothing more! He also went there as Imran’s friend on his special invitation and in such a scenario the question of Imran ignoring or giving cold shoulder to Sidhu does not arise, because such things don’t hold water between two friends, especially on such occasions when one has attained new heights of personal accomplishment.

Let’s take pride in India’s tolerance, all encompassing culture and its message of peace and brotherhood to the entire world. Posts of such nature and contents are unbecoming of what Indianness as known to all of us stands for.

I would like to share two thoughts on this 72nd Independence Day. The first one is rather new thinking that is evident from several interested messages on social media. These messages talk about the real freedom that shall liberate us from narrow minded attitudes on regionalism, religion, dietary habits, casteism, sexism, parochialism and such negative isms that are restraining our great nation from an all inclusive progress. The most heartwarming thing about this kind of messaging is that as education and economic prosperity take root in our country, more and more people cutting across segments are supporting such thoughts. It is not confined to a few pseudo seculars, but is being propagated by more and more commoners like us. Violence in the name of caste based reservation, religion, road rage, sexual list, beef eating, rumour mongering etc. are all derogatory and representative of primitive mentality. Can this thought be converted into a nationalist movement of such force that even opportunistic politicians do not dare disturb social fabric of this country?

Second thought is something that strikes me after a little bit of exposure that I regularly try to get to Pakistani media. In India, we celebrate freedom as a positive outcome of prolonged struggle against 200 years of oppressive British rule. We remember our heroes – known and unknown – who sacrificed their lives for the cause of the nation. We also lament the unfortunate partition of this country by remembering holocaust linked to migration of populations from one part of the undivided India to divided India or Pakistan. However, the impression I get from Pakistani version of celebration is that they rather rejoice separation from India more than liberation from British rule. They only talk about the rigid stand taken by their founding father Jinnah against the unified India, insisting on creation of a separate state for Muslim majority. They rather seem to be happy about the prospects of having avoided living in a Hindu majority India. Isn’t this a strange thought? Hindus and Muslims have lived together for centuries in peace and are continuing doing so in Secular India, which boasts of a Muslim population larger than that of Pakistan. We do have Ram Mandir- Babari Masjid dispute, occasional riots, stray incidents of discrimination, but wherever communities live with full freedom, some friction can not be totally ruled out! And is a Muslim majority and relatively more homogeneous Pakistan free from strife or dispute amongst its citizens?

The two German nations got united and two Koreas may unite; unless Pakistan avoids harbouring such thoughts and change its attitude, while unification is an impossible possibility, co-existence in peace will always remain a distant dream!

Happy Independence Day to all my fellow Indians. Jai Hind

I can very well imagine the hope and euphoria that the citizens of our neighbour may be going through at this juncture. The situation can be likened to 1991 when a very raw, reluctant and innocent but extremely honest Rajiv Gandhi was taking over as the Prime Minister of India. To some extent, this hope and expectation was also kindled by Dr Manmohan Singh twice – once while taking over as Finance Minister and then as PM. I think this hope is common to any country and nationality whenever a person of eminence in a field other than hard core politics assumes a public office of such stature.

Having said so, the comparisons above is really not very pertinent as unlike Rajiv and Manmohan, who were pursuing their respective passions almost till the last moment before being dragged into the big bad world of politics forcibly due to prevalent circumstances, Imran nurtured these aspirations almost since he demitted the role of Pakistan cricket team captain after heady World Cup victory.

His PTI has been in the thick of the controversy and his victory is quagmired in the charges of rigging elections with all powerful Pakistani Army support. His main rival Nawaz Sharif was deprived of the level playing field as he was cooling his heals in the prison along with his daughter during the crucial pre polling canvassing period on charges of corruption. His personal life is also not too clean with a spate of marriages ( with one hardly lasting 11 months; this ex wife is not leaving any opportunity to malign Imran’s reputation and image) and the current also reportedly going through rough weather. His love child out of wedlock with Sita White is the stuff that adorns headlines of gossip magazines.

While India may not have any major reason to rejoice as he is not likely to go against the line being towed by hard liners, Pakistan should not lose hope to end her continuous tryst with miseries (power shortage, inflation, terrorism, law and order, international standing, debt burden etc) for the following reason:

(1) Imran is educated, suave, charming and has much broader outlook then any of his predecessors ever had, except may be the founding father Jinnah, who for all his hawkishness, was a liberal at heart.

(2) He is not a mere talker but a doer. Shaukat Khanum Cancer Research Institute, Karachi, promoted by him in memory of his late mother , who expired of cancer, is his great contribution to the citizenry of that country. As I understand, the hospital already has branches in Lahore and another city.

(3) He brings with him certain basic tenets of a sportsman- discipline, fitness, team spirit, camaraderie, temperament, patriotism- all the virtues that today’s Pakistan is badly in need of.

(4) Pakistan is almost on the verge of adoption of Islamic Law (Sharia), which may be just one Mullah away. Imran offers hope of liberalism, openness and modernism.

(5)’Lastly, unlike Musharraf and few others, who hated India in spite of undivided India being their birth place, Imran knows that India’s sport lovers adore his personality and attitude and this should be enough reason for him to use this goodwill to make a positive start.

All the best Imran!

The other day I learnt a new word of Hindi/Marathi outside a train coach – ” Reserved for cancer patients and divyang (having godly body parts) persons”. I liked the word that is representative of progress since the days when we called people with crude and vulgar terms such as langda (lame), bahra (deaf) or andha (blind). In English what started as handicapped became spastic and then differently abled, visually challenged, hearing impaired but I think and readers will agree that “Divyang” takes the cake for its sheer sincerity and sensitivity. It can be loosely translated in English as “God’s blessed ability”, which is extremely respectful and sensitive to the challenge that such persons face.

But this has happened across the use of English language. Problem has become pain point and domain is comfort zone. Transparency became slide, which became presentation then power point and now its trendy acronym PPT. You now leverage strength and not merely use it and derive benefits rather than just taking them! Outsourced agencies are channel partners, head office is corporate office, meeting is brainstorming, housewife is homemaker, home is abode and humble bus became public transport and then Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system! For some reason using the word actress for a female performer has become demeaning and so is respectful Madam (though Ma’am, pronounced with a silent d is alright). Doctor is medical practitioner, lawyer is legal counsellor, banker is financial advisor, radio announcer is radio jockey, host is an emcee, artist is an exponent, peon is an office boy and policeman a cop. Outline is now become contour while future is road ahead. Change has now become disruption while any difficulty is now a constraint.

When the change is the only constant, language has got to change as change is always for the betterment. However, we must not lose human qualities of inclusiveness and compassion and accept not only languages but their different dialects, variants, versions and forms without necessarily looking down upon the users of quaint old language.

In our childhood, we knew of very few days – Republic Day, Independence Day, Teachers’ Day Children’s Day and of course ever popular the 1st of April the Fool’s Day. Then during studies we learnt that May 1 was Internationally celebrated as Labour Day. Fast forward to 90s, when people of my generation were grown up, married and parents of 1 or 2 kids, a new fad called Valentine’s Day started catching up. We regretted and lamented at our days of prime youth when this was unknown. Fast forward this to now and virtually every other day is a special day. There has been World environment day, laughter day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and just gone by Friendship Day.

While some of the special days mentioned at the beginning corresponded to significant events that happened on those dates – India becoming republic, India attaining independence, Pandit Nehru’s birthday to whom children were very dear, Dr Radhakrishnan’s birthday who was an erudite scholar and very old traditional Fool’s day, but what about some of the newly coined special days? Do our parents deserve only one day in a year to be remembered or paid respect to? Should the person we love from the deepest core of our heart wait for Valentine’s Day to be expressed love to or gifted? And above all our friends, who are our lifeline, do we need a special day to celebrate friendship? We are from an era when friends meant family. Friends were there for you at all points of time and with a true friend around, there was hardly need for anything else. He or she would be a partner in studies, games, movies, festivals, family functions and never ever any need was felt to either express gratitude or say thanks or sorry!

However , in today’s parlance when the competition is cut throat, focus is on one’s own well being and progress, personal ambition and requirements take precedence over all relations and friendly hug has been replaced by WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, celebrating one day in a year as Friendship Day probably makes sense.