Mumbai Meri Jaan!

An acquaintance and financial advisor of mine visited us yesterday. We discussed how irrespective of the beauty of different places across the world, the warmth of India especially Mumbai is incomparable. I realised whilst discussing with her, how much I still love this city despite the overloaded infrastructure, the traffic jams, the crowded trains and some of the state's politicians, who least bother about the people but preach about culture and their attempt to change the names of places, whilst the city's water pipes built by the so called despicable British Empire is still not replaced or repaired adding to the mumbaiites woes. I am digressing from the topic, since my complaints about politicians or their inefficiencies could possibly run into volumes of books. Mumbai has a charm that cannot be expressed but can only be experienced. I have known numerous people including my parents and in-laws who promise that they will leave this city and go back to their respective home towns when they retire. It is almost a decade since they have retired and their promises like that of the politicians remain just that. One cannot think of staying anywhere even in India leaving this terrific city. When I started my career some twenty years back, the city was new to me and taking up a sales job meant travelling across the city. I had no clue how to visit my clients (which were schools, colleges and university libraries). But the mumbaiites especially ubiquitous rickshaw drivers were ever helpful. There are stories of how indifferent the mumbaiites are and how you dont even know your neighbours. Paradoxically, i have seen friends who stay in chawls are so close to their neighbours that they refuse to shift to more spacious flats or accomodation purely because of the love and warmth of their neighbours. This city has given me most happiness, whether it is the joy of my first job, or of making my friends some of whom are the closest, or of meeting my wife or walking along the sea beaches or just welcoming the elephant God, everything about this city is special. What I like the best about this place is that irrespective of the caste, creed or religion, the city's residents stick to each other in times of need and dont care two hoots to the politicians who tries to divide us.

THE MASTER AND THE LORD

I bow down to the master and the Lord for showing the world the dedication and passion with which one should do what one is doing. Everyone from my ten year old son to the milkman, who brings milk to us early in the morning becomes happy and inspired in their respective jobs when they see the exquisite display of batting by the one and only Sachin Tendulkar. Whether it is batting in test matches, or the one day or the T20, the master has displayed his prowess in quickly adapting to changes and mastering the skills of the different formats of the cricketing world. When I was a kid, I admired various players - Sunil Gavaskar, I thought he is brave to face the fastest bowlers in the world without even a helmet, the ability to stick to the batting crease for inexorably long hours tiring out the bowlers and his display of text book style batting. Dennis Lillee was my favourite fast bowlers, as I tried to immitate his bowling style when playing in the pada in Kolkatta. Soon, i was drawn to India's own fast bowler, Kapil Dev with his typical fast hitting batting style. The fact that he captained the first ever world cup win for the country only made him my all time favourite second only to Imran Khan, the handsome and wily Pakistan ex captain. My passion for cricket waned when the news of the match fixing hit the papers. I was disappointed and lost all interest for a long time. The passion in watching the game is again revived only to watch the God of Cricket, the master of the Game, the Lord himself, Sachin Tendulkar playing. As he goes about setting one record or another, whether it is in terms of the maximum runs, the maximum centuries, the highest score in one day, the individual in himself remains humble and simple. This sets him apart and a true idol for all, young or old for this principles, ethics, patriotism and love for his country. Thank you Sachin, God tussi great ho.

Save Our Tigers

What would Calvin be without Hobbes and What would India be without our Tigers. The Royal animal, which is our national animal is on the verge of extinction and our one billion citizens has to rise to this occasion. Please spread the awareness and help in whatever means is possible to save this wonderful creature. Surely, we human beings can learn to co-exist with nature and other co-species. Check the site www.saveourtigers.com to learn more on how you can help.