down the chat memories

 


It feels so good to retrieve old chats. They contain memories. Retrieving them is probably an easiest way nowadays to relive those memories. I mean, old photographs are as nice, I accept. especially the candid ones. Talking animatedly on a coffee table, on a classroom bench, at katta, at college cultural events, hogging some chaat item, ganging up against a poor soul in the group, many dinners together, trips we went on, birthday parties, mehendi parties, many moods in somebody's wedding and so on. So many of those memories come back to you.

But there is  difference in those pictures and chats. Chats actually provide you much more than a big vague bubble of that memory. the lines actually remind you of the particular situation, your mood at that time, the emotions you were going through, just that particular day in your life. I just read 3 fantastic chats from my old logs. One is with a very dear friend, who used to stay a block away from me. And there was a time period when we used to be eternally together. Just perpetually, either at his place or at my place or somewhere outside.In fact, some of our friends thought that something might "brew up" between us. point is not that. I read a chat log where he was saying about how his day went, how my research dissertation is paining me, and it ends with him saying that he will come over for a coffee in next half an hour. It made me relive that whole day, in  my memory. Reading that he will come in half an hour also sounded kinda funny, considering how he stays gazillion kms away, in another continent, and hemisphere!

I read another one between me and my very closest friend. She is in particularly bad mood in that. She is having issues with some of our other friends, and its just getting too much for her. She has talked to them about it, which does not bring any relief. She is puzzled, frustrated and outraged.She actually says that she misses me being there :(.   I give her all sorta pep talk, and she eventually feels better, so do I. The chat showed me that my friend was actually missing me, needed a shoulder, and gave me the feeling of inclusion. There is somebody who still wants you and knows your worth. Both of us are married now, stay in different cities and very much miss each other. But it feels good to see that there was a time when we chatted about trivial issues, cheered each other up and actually shared a time-space.

Third is with my Husband. Well, to begin with, I have just too many chats with him, provided he was always away. We eternally had a long distance relationship. So there is a chat in the very beginning of our relationship. It is amusing to read it. We were still kind of formal, did not have all those stupid nicknames, were still talking about how does one react to a situation and so on. There are some references which show that not lot of people know about our relation.  And I say that common friends are going to be amused and shocked when we declare this. Also, how it feels different to have a presence(albeit virtual) of somebody else in life. That initial time just feels so long ago now. We did declare it, we shocked people, got engaged and got married too. Just looong time ago.

It also shows us how we change as persons, how our responses change, our talking/writing style changes, the way we think changes. We are a completely different person in like a decade. It is awesome. And these memories do not make you sad. In fact you relive those days, and feel happy. a warm, happy feeling. I love chats. Anybody up for a gtalk conference? :)

मरण सोहळा!

 

गेले  बरेच दिवस हा विषय लिहावं हे मनात होतं. आज टीव्ही वर दिवसभर बाळासाहेब ठाकरे यांच्या अंत्ययात्रेची दृश्य पहिली, तिथे लोटलेला जनसमुदाय पाहिला. त्या भव्य आणि टेलीव्हाईजड अंतिम सोहळ्या नंतर, त्यामुळेसुद्धा असेल, लिहायला बसल्यावर अचानक हा विषय उडी मारून वर आला. त्यामुळे त्याबद्दल आज काही.
चेन्नई मध्ये राहायला लागून मला आता एक वर्षं होत आलं. सुरुवातीच्या दिवसात शहर अनुभवण्याचा माझ्याकडून मी प्रयत्न केला, अजूनही करते.  हा अनुभव मला पाहायला मिळाला तो अगदी सुरुवातीच्या आठवड्यात. सिग्नलला एका लांबलचक ट्राफिक लाईन मध्ये आम्ही थांबलो होतो, आणि अस्पष्टसे ढोल ताशांचे सूर कानावर पडत होते.  "कमाल आहे, भर रस्त्यात संध्याकाळी ६ वाजताच्या अगणित ट्राफिक मध्ये कोणी कसली मिरवणूक कशी काढू शकतं?"  माझा वैतागलेला प्रश्न. काही वेळ गेल्यानंतर ते ढोल ताशांचे आवाज थांबले, आणि टेपरेकॉर्डरवर जोरात गाणी सुरु झाली. सगळीच गाणी अनोळखी भाषेतली, पण त्याचं धमाल बीट कळत होतं. आपल्याकडे पुण्यात गणपतीत विसर्जनाला साधारण रात्री एकच्या आसपास महत्वाचे गणपती गेल्यानंतर, रेकॉर्ड्स लावून  जो धुमाकूळ असतो, तसं साधारण भास होत होता. मी आणखीनच बुचकळ्यात पडले. आता कुठलाही सण नाही, मग हे कशाचे आवाज असावेत? काही वेळात थोडा ट्राफिक हलून त्या  मिरवणुकीच्या पुष्कळच जवळ मी पोहोचले. मिरवणुकीच्या अग्रभागी लोक फुलांच्या पाकळ्या उधळत  होते. अनेकांचे चेहरे गुलालाने माखले होते. मुक्तहस्ताने तरुण मुलं गुलाल उधळून, माखून नाचत होती. खरं तर त्यातले अनेक जण हे स्पष्टपणे दारूच्या अमलाखाली नाचत होते.  रेकॉर्ड गाण्यांवर अंग विक्षेप करत होते. जाणाऱ्यांना तोंडभर हसून दाखवत होते. मिरवणुकीत बायकाही होत्या, त्या देखील हास्य विनोद करत चालल्या होत्या. आमच्यावर देखील त्यांनी काही फुलं उधळली! हे सगळं झाल्यावर अखेर मागे या मिरवणुकीच कारण मला पहायला मिळालं. मागे  एम्ब्युल्न्समध्ये, नीट सजवलेल्या, अत्तर शिंपडलेल्या-  गाडीत- एक शव ठेवलं होतं!!!!!!!

मी आधी दचकले, आणि  एक पूर्ण मिनिट स्तब्ध झाले. ही सगळी हास्य विनोद आणि आनंदाची उधळण ही अंत्ययात्रेसाठी होती तर. त्या दिवसानंतर अनेकदा हे दृश्य मी चेन्नईच्या रस्त्यांवर पाहिलं. त्याची आता सवय झाली, त्यामुळे दचकायला किंवा स्तब्ध व्हायला होत नाही.  पण दर वेळी ते बघून एक विचित्र फिलिंग मनात येतं. भीती, त्रास, किळस किंवा वैताग, यांच्यापैकी काहीच नाही. कदाचित प्रश्नार्थक भावना. आता ह्या भावानेमागे कारण दोन असू शकतात. एक म्हणजे अंत्य यात्रेचं सार्वजनिक स्वरूप, आणि दुसरा म्हणजे  (ढोल ताशांच्या गजरात!) आनंद व्यक्त करणे. पैकी सार्वजनिक स्वरूपाने विचित्र वाटायचं काही कारण नाही. आत्ताच बाळासाहेबांची प्रचंड मोठी अंत्ययात्रा मी पाहिली. आणि तशा फक्त दिग्गजांच्याच नाही, तर सामान्य लोकांच्या अंत्ययात्रा आपल्याकडेही दिसतात. जितकी माणसं गेलेल्या माणसाने जोडली असतील, तितकी मोठी यात्रा.  बरं राहिलं सार्वजनिक रीतीने आपल्या भावना दाखवण, तर  तेरुदाली सारख्या चित्रपटांमध्ये आपण पाहिलं आहे. त्यामुळे सार्वजनिक स्वरूप, accepted!

माझा हरकतीचा मुद्दा दुसरा होता. कोणीतरी, आपल्या जवळचं गेलेलं असताना आनंद व्यक्त करणं. आपल्याकडल्या अंत्ययात्रांमध्ये, अगदी दिखाऊ स्वरूपाच्या यात्रांमध्ये देखील लोक जास्तीत जास्त शोकाकुल दिसण्याचा प्रयत्न करत असतात. काळे चष्मे लावून आपले भाव लपवण्याचा. शुभ्र वस्त्रांमध्ये दु:खी होऊन वावरण्याचा. कदाचित कोणाच्याही मृत्यूने काही लोकांना आनंद होत असेलही, पण असं त्याचं प्रदर्शन हे आपल्याकडे कमालीचं गैर मानलं जातं. इतर धर्मांबद्दल माझा जास्त अभ्यास नाही, पण हिंदू परंपरेत तरी लोक धीर गंभीर असलेली मी पाहिली आहेत. असं असताना, इथे चेन्नईत हिंदू  माणसाच्या अंत्ययात्रेत हा आनंदोत्सव कसा आणि का?

काही  स्थानिक लोकांशी बोलल्यानंतर मला याचं कारण मिळालं. इथल्या संस्कृती मध्ये असं मानलं जातं, की माणसाचा मृत्यू ही दु:खद नसून,चांगली गोष्ट आहे. कारण त्या माणसाला या ऐहिक जगाच्या तापातून, यातनांमधून, विवंचनेतून मुक्ती मिळाली. तो जर खूपच भाग्यवान असेल, तर त्याची जन्ममृत्यू फेऱ्यातून देखील सुटका होईल, पण निदान या मर्त्य मानवांच्या दैनंदिन कटकटीतून तो सुटला, आणि स्वर्ग लोकाला प्राप्त झाला, त्यामुळे ती आनंदाची गोष्ट आहे. त्याबद्दल  आनंद व्यक्त करून, त्याचं अनेक ठिकाणी प्रदर्शन करून तो प्रकट केला पाहिजे, असा काहीसा तो रिवाज आहे. गुलाल उधळून नाच करणे, मोठ्ठ्या आवाजात संगीत लावणे, फुलं उधळणे, या ज्या ज्या गोष्टीनी तो व्यक्त होईल, असं सर्व करणं हे त्यामुळे ओघाने आलंच. जाणाऱ्या माणसाला सुखाने, मन:शांतीने जाता यावं, त्याला मागे उर बडवणारे लोक राहिलेले दिसू नयेत, यासाठी देखील हे आहे.

हे कारण मला पहिल्यांदा ऐकल्यावर चमत्कारिक वाटलं.कदाचित मृत्यू आणि शोकाकुल वातावरण याची इतकी सवय आहे, की आपला दृष्टीकोन तसाच घडला आहे. नंतर विचार केल्यावर मला ते कारण आवडलं, आणि परत विचार केल्यावर ते परत चुकीचं वाटलं. ते अशासाठी, की ज्या व्यक्ती योग्य वयात मरण पावल्या नाहीत, लहान मुलं, तरुण व्यक्ती, खून झालेल्या, अपघाती मरण आलेल्या अश्या सर्व व्यक्तींना हा प्रकार एकाच मापात तोलतो. अश्या प्रसंगांमध्ये माणसाच्या जाण्याने कोणाला आनंद होत नाही, आणि त्याचे जगाचे भोग भोगून संपले आहेत, असंही नाही. मग अशा आनंद  प्रकटीकरणाने काय साध्य होतं? खरं तर माणूस योग्य वयात-सगळे भोग संपल्यावर गेला, तरी जवळच्यांना दु:ख होतंच. आणि ते झालेलं असताना, ते आतल्या आत ठेवून , सार्वजनिक रूपात हा आनंदोत्सव करण्याची सक्ती/अपेक्षा का?

खरोखर इथले सगळे लोक इतके पारलौकिकाला प्राप्त झाले आहेत, की या ऐहिक जगातून कुणीही गेल्याचा त्यांना आनंद वाटावा? का - बाकी सर्व सण समारंभ उत्सव संपल्यामुळे, किंवा त्यांचा कंटाळा आल्यामुळे हा नवीन प्रकार ह्या लोकांनी सुरु केला आहे? थ्रिल  म्हणून? असं असेल तर हे अजूनच भीषण आहे!

विचार करून सुद्धा मला कुठचीच बाजू योग्य वाटत नाही, पटत नाही, कळत नाही. मला तुमच्या प्रतिक्रिया सांगा. या अश्या प्रकारामागे काय कारण असेल, आणि ते किती योग्य आहे. तोवर जायचे जातील- पाहू- सोहळा- उरतील त्यांचा!

The super-connected syndrome

 

My generation is very unique. We, currently 23-28 years of age,  have seen so many transitions in so many things, which can not really be compared with. We have seen times without and with land line phones, pagers, mobiles, and today's smartphones. We have seen days with only big fat typewriters and no computers, to black and white ones to Pentiums to iMacs and tablets. We have seen days when a concept called pen- friend existed, to today's' multiform social networking. Cable TV came into our homes when we were kids to the satellite Dish to HD and internet TV. In a decade or so, so many things changed. Talking just within the telecommunication industry, so many things changed. And we saw them changing, and we adapted to them as smoothly as fish in water. 

Now most of my peers, 23 to 28, are in jobs which use all these telecommunication tools as a given. We are in a small world, where my clientele ranges from Nagpur to Nigeria to New york. We communicate through Mobile phones. Through internet- through emails, VoIPs. The tools are an integral part of our lives. And hence, the line between our personal and our professional lives have started blurring. I know I am not making a super great observation, but I feel it at work everyday.

Fortunately, I do not work in a team which needs to be in touch with clients from all the parts of the world, all the time. But I have friends and I have colleagues who do. We are constantly on call. or typing that e-mail. or typing a SMS. This does not restrict to work. We have synched our smartphones to  e-mails, so we check mails on our phones, on our way back home. We have laptops so we carry our work home.  the day ends. and we are  back to the same routine next day. 

I get this if one is in a job where life-threatening situation arises. Doctor/Firefighter/police. Or may be a stock broker, where the industry is super volatile and you have to be checking it all the time. May be a MD, whose one call will decide the future for some hundreds of employees. May be a reporter, who constantly needs to check on the updates. But why all? Why does a mere BD manager need to be constantly glued to cellphone or laptop? even at 2 30 in the night? Why does a business analyst need to be glued all the time? Why does an architect need to be always connected? Is their job such that if they do not attend the call at 2 30 am, and attend at 7 am instead, somebody might die? What is that need of staying super connected to all, at all the time? 

I do not get this. And day by day I have started pitying the working personnel. The work life balance is screwed. Some body, who works in an office for decent 8-10 hours, commutes for 2 hours, is denied his or her 'me' time. Leave aside a hobby, there is constant division of time at home, and the immediate affected are family. There is no time for kids, for a pleasant talk with spouse, for exercise, or in some cases even for food.  This might be a global phenomenon. But I see it more in India. I have seen European working conditions, and most of the people there focus on their me time, their work life balance. Once you are off to home, you normally enter your personal life, and can be at distance from professional life. Here, unfortunately in most cases, it is not so. I recently got connected to a client who says on his LinkedIn profile, that being '24 by 7' is his specialty! Taking pride in not having personal life is beyond me.

The worst part of it is that, it infuses unnecessary guilt. If you disconnect on some day, you feel guilty. Or worse, if somebody is not staying connected all the time, the office atmosphere makes him feel guilty about it. I get that it is an outcome of many factors, and there is no chance that it is going to get better in time coming. But I hope there are people like me, who will be in a position to take a firm stand that they will maintain their work life balance as much as possible and do not have to stay super-connected to entire world at all the time.

 Stress tests, anti-depressants, smoking, alcohol, lifestyle deceases, psychologists and divorces are booming for a reason you see.

Tourist's dillema

 

More I think about it, more I am convinced. In process of globalization and all the cities in the world looking the same, the tourists are suffering gravely.
In recent times, lot of these incidences happened where I kept on thinking about what can you see in a particular city, as a tourist. Well I know you do not visit cities as tourists, you go serene landscapes like the north-eastern states, Kashmir or you might go on a temple tour in kashi and Uttarakhand. You generally do not come to visit Pune or Chennai or even Mumbai for that matter unless you are en route some different destination.
But if  you do, there remains a big question on what you wold see. Or make an effort to particularly visit, which you have not seen before. I have one-odd visitors in Chennai. I am expecting two families in November as well. When they ask me what do I see in Chennai, I am dumb. Sure, there is Marina beach. There is a museum (which I have not been yet, but heard it is decent) and there is kapalleeshwar temple. My list ends here. I can not think of anything else and drift our conversation to shopping in Nalli and Pothy's for the rich south Indian silk. Followed by a steaming hot idli or appams and filter coffee. All this generally takes up a day, and most of the people are happy about it.

Problem lies with people like me, who do not  have much of fascination with the beach, Museum might be too boring and shopping only makes me cringe. In fact, the problem is also bigger with young boys, who have no desire to visit temples, silk shops or museums. Not even crocodile bank or zoo. (yes, there is a crocodile bank in Chennai)  What do I show them, where do I take them?

And in fact, if somebody asks me about Pune, I will still be left in the same puzzle. There is agakhan palace, shaniwar wada and Museum. What after that?  All cities have a CCD, all cities have a movie screen and all cities have a mall. They all look the same. All cities have a Thai restaurant (Chinese is passe!) , a roof-top bar, a lunch buffet and a park. Where is the novelty? Where are the things those were unique to a city's life and culture and still serve as an attraction to tourists? I really really enjoy the Tekdi in Pune. But no tourist ever visits a tekdi. Apart from that, it is the same story. Movie, malls, Fancy restaurants and shopping spree. I am planning to visit Bangalore for 3-4 days next week. I searched online for sightseeing destinations, and most of the sites suggested Mantri mall, Garuda mall, and Lalbaugh.  Little more search did get me something else like Banerghatta park but else the same story continues.

I miss the days when all cities used to be different than each other. Look different, feel different, even smell different. Now with the flyovers, the malls, the multiplexes and the fancy restaurants, the uniqueness is gone. I can just go to Bangalore and say it feels like Pune, I can visit Chennai's malls and say it is like Mumbai. Well, losing it's individuality is a characteristic of city and the life in city. may be because of that people have started going to far and more far off places. You can do kayaking, long walks in mountains, hiking, water sports and bungee jumping. At least it is something you do not do in city, you feel good at the novelty value it provides, and you are content with your tourism.  Else Thai restaurants are to greet you in every city, and they will call on you till you believe that malls and food joints are the places to be.

What did a poor tourist ever do?

The professional melancholy

 

It has been a while since I wrote something guys. I wrote about auroville, and then there has been no activity here. Well, generally my blogs reflect my mood in that particular phase of life. Ok, life is too much of a word. It is those particular 2-3 weeks of my life. I have been feeling- well -lack for a better word- melancholic and dull. Actually the dullness reaches melancholy quite often these days.

You know, there are phases in your life. Of course you know. But I do not know how many of you experience these phases in your professional life. For past few days, I have been extremely dull. It might be physical un-wellness- had cough, cold and paraphernalia-    I am on antibiotics. It might be the same old mundane routine. It might be stress. But I keep on feeling that I am not doing anything worthwhile, I keep on feeling extremely bored, i dread going to work every morning, and I am generally lost these days.

I remember, both my previous jobs had given me such phases in around 9th month of that Job. The initial excitement is long dead, you get a good grip of your work. Some tasks are set in front of you. You strive hard to complete it. you fall into a pattern. Then you start realizing that that initial shaky period is over, and the thing you were working hard upon is about to be completed. And there is NOTHING new that is happening around you. I am precisely in my 9th month of this job, and that phase has taken over again.

May be I should talk to my superiors about change of work. Perhaps I should  come up with something on my own. May be I should quit?! May be I should take a break. No clue. There is a hope that novelty value will not deplete any more, and something real exciting comes up again, very soon!

 

ऑरोविल- भाग २

गेल्या  पोस्ट मध्ये ऑरो विल बद्दल थोडं लिहिलं होतं. आज त्याच्याच पुढची काही माहिती.ऑरो  विल मधल्या मातृ मंदिराचा फोटो पुष्कळ लोकांनी पाहिलेला असतो. मातृ मंदिर हा ऑरो विलचा आत्मिक केंद्रबिंदू आहे. त्यात नेमकं काय आहे? ते इतर मंदिरा सारखं मंदिर नाही, किंबहुना कुठल्याच धार्मिक प्रार्थना स्थळा सारखं नाही. ती एक ध्यान करायची जागा आहे असं आपण म्हणू. अगदीच तात्विक शब्दात सांगायचं तर आपला ‘आतला आवाज ‘ ऐकण्याची ती जागा आहे. मातृ मंदिरात आत पूर्ण म्हणजे पूर्ण शांतता पाळली जाते. तुम्ही आत गेलात की वर चढत जाऊन एका आणखी मुख्य खोलीत प्रवेश करता. त्याला इनर चेंबर म्हणतात. तिथे मध्यभागी एक पृथ्वी गोला सदृश स्फटिक आहे, ज्यावर छतातून थेट सूर्यकिरण पडतात. त्यापाशी तुम्ही बसून सुमारे अर्धा तास ध्यान करावं अशी अपेक्षा असते. तिथे भजन करणे, श्लोक म्हणणे, प्रदक्षिणा, लोटांगण घालणे अश्या कुठच्याही धार्मिक गोष्टी आणि हालचाली अपेक्षित नाहीत. हास्य विनोद, गप्पा, टवाळक्या, किंवा उगाचच शांतता भंग करणाऱ्या गोष्टीना पूर्ण मज्जाव आहे. इच्छुकांसाठी मातृ मंदिराच्या व्हिजिट रोज सकाळी आयोजित केल्या जातात, मात्र त्याला आधी वेळ घ्यावी लागते,इतकंच.

मातृ मंदिराचा इतिहास मोठा रंजक आहे मात्र. मदर यांनी जेव्हा ऑरो विल ची संकल्पना मांडली, तेव्हा ही जमीन जवळपास पूर्णतः पडीक होती. १९६८ साली ऑरो विल चं औपचारिक उद्धाटन झालं. भारतातल्या प्रत्येक राज्यातल्या आणि जगातल्या प्रत्येक देशातल्या तरूण प्रतिनिधींनी याला हजेरी लावली. त्यांनी स्वतःबरोबर त्या त्या ठिकाणची माती आणली आणि तिथे ती अर्पण केली. या नियोजित वसाहतीचा भौगोलिक केंद्र बिंदू हा एक वटवृक्ष ठरवला गेला. (सध्या मातृ मंदिराच्या आवारातच हा वटवृक्ष आहे.) या मातृ मंदिराच्या भोवती १२  बागा असतील, आणि अखेर या बागांभोवती एक तलाव असेल, असं डिझाईन देखील ठरवलं गेलं. 

मातृ  मंदिराच्या आवारातला तो वटवृक्ष -सध्या- the banyan. 

पुढल्या २ वर्षात स्थानिक कलाकारांच्या मदतीने या मातृ मंदिराचा ढाचा ठरला. १९७० मध्ये रॉजर अंगर या फ्रेंच आर्किटेक्ट ला अखेर हे काम सोपवण्यात आलं. पुढील अनेक वर्षात त्या ढाच्यात बदल होत राहिले. १९७१ ला जेव्हा बांधकाम सुरु झालं तेव्हा फक्त स्थानिक ऑरो विल च्या नागरिकांनी कामाला सुरुवात केली. पण नंतर मजूर बोलावले गेले. बागांच काम सुरु झालं. नोव्हेंबर १९७३ ला पहिल्या मूळ चार आधार स्तंभांच बांधकाम संपलं आणि मदर चं देहावसान झालं. हे मंदिर पूर्ण व्हायला पुढली ३५ वर्ष जावी लागली. मूळ तो मंदिराचा भव्य गोल पेलणारे खांब, इनर चेंबर, मंदिरचा सोनेरी पृष्ठभाग नंतर वातानुकूलन व्यवस्था,त्या साठी सौर उर्जा संयंत्रे, आतमधली कार्पेट, हे पूर्ण करत करत अखेर मे २००८ मध्ये ते मंदिर आता आपल्याला दिसतं त्या स्वरूपात आलं. अर्थात बागांची कामे अजून चालू आहेत, त्याला काही काळ लागेल. मात्र तुम्हाला आतला आवाज ऐकायची इच्छा असो, व नसो, मातृ मंदिर हे अवश्य बघण्यासारखं आहे, हे नक्की.
कम्युनिटी ही एक ऑरोविल मधली संकल्पना मला आवडली. ऑरो विल मधली नागरिक हे अनेक कम्युनिटी मध्ये विभागले गेले आहेत. आपण सोसायटी मध्ये राहतो तसंच. पण ह्या सोसायटी या साधारण समान आवडी, जगण्याच्या समान पद्धती यावर ठरवल्या जातात. तुम्ही तुमच्या सार्वमताने कम्युनिटीचं नाव ठरवायचं. पण एका कम्युनिटी मध्ये सरासरी १०-१२ कुटुंबच असतात. यंत्र, verite, , aspiration, साधना फॉरेस्ट, अग्नी जात, अशी अगदी वेगवेगळी, आणि संस्कृतीची प्रातिनिधिक नावे या कम्युनिटीज ची आहेत. सगळ्या कम्युनिटी आकाराने सारख्या नाहीत. काही प्रचंड मोठ्या आहेत, (इथल्या मानाने) काही अगदीच २ कुटुंबांच्या आहेत. काही कम्युनिटी चे स्वतःचे हॉल आहेत, कार्यक्रम करतात, एकत्र काही उपक्रम करतात. त्यांनी देखील काही न काही स्वरूपात ऑरो विल ला मदत करावी, असं अपेक्षित असतं. एप्रिल २०१२ च्या मोजणी नुसार ऑरो विल च्या नागरिकांची संख्या होती सुमारे २५००. आणि साधारण ३५ देशांतले हे लोक आहेत! Auroville international ही जागतिक संस्था २४ देशांमध्ये आहे.आणि त्या त्या ठिकाणी ऑरोविल चा प्रसार अथवा मार्गदर्शनाच काम ही संस्था करते.


तुम्ही ऑरोविलला राहता म्हणजे बऱ्याचश्या जंगलात राहता हे खरं असलं, तरी रानटी वातावरण मात्र तिथे अजिबातच नाही! शारीरिक शिक्षण,व्यायाम, कला, आरोग्य सेवा, असे अनेक उपक्रम इथे ‘पीतंग’ कल्चरल सेंटर मध्ये चालतात. आता तुमच्या माझ्या सारखे सामान्य लोक ऑरो विल मध्ये जाऊन राहू शकतात का? तर अर्थातच याचं उत्तर हो असं आहे, हे आपण पाहिलं. मग यांच्या पोटा पाण्याची सोय? तर ती बहुतांश ऑरो विलच्या व्यावसायिक युनिट्स मध्ये काम करून लागते. तुमच्या मुलांच्या शिक्षणाचं काय? अर्थातच ऑरो विल मध्ये शाळा आहेत. एकच नाही, पुष्कळ आहेत. रश्मी त्यातल्याच एका शाळेत सकाळी दोन तास जाते. आम्ही तीही शाळा बघून आलो. आपल्याकडे  टिपिकल प्रायोगिक शाळा असतात, तशीच आहे. एका इयत्तेचा एकाच वर्ग. सकाळी ८ ते दुपारी ३ शाळा. ती मुलं सर्व विषय शिकतात, पण भाषा, कला आणि खेळ यांना काकण भर अधिक महत्व दिलं जातं. या मुलांच्या वर्गात सगळ्या देशातली मुलं असतात आणि त्या सगळ्यांनाच इंग्लिश येतं असं नाही. मग आधी त्यांना इंग्लिश शिकवलं जातं! आणि तरीही नाही समजलं तर रश्मी सारख्या ताई असतातच शंका विचारायला. ९ मुलांमागे एक शिक्षक हे प्रमाण देखील मला अतिशय आदर्श वाटलं. कॉलेज मात्र अजून ऑरोविल मध्ये नाही. अर्थात ऑरो विल ही वसाहत देखील अजून पूर्णत्वाला गेली नाही. मूळ संकल्पनेप्रमाणे अजून अनेक लोक इथे यायचेत, अजून बराच विकास व्हायचाय, सामाजिक, आर्थिक, सांस्कृतिक आणि आध्यात्मिक देखील.


एकूणच तुम्ही मूळचे कुठलेही असा, इथे येऊन राहणं शक्य आहे. आपल्या व्यक्तिमत्वाच्या विकासासाठी, एक वेगळी जगण्याची पद्धत(way of life) अवलंबण्यासाठी, universal town खरंच असू शकतं, हे बघण्यासाठी, तर इथे यावंच इतकं हे ठिकाण वैशिष्ट्यपूर्ण आहे. अर्थात मी मागे म्हणाले, तसं अनेक जण याला दोन दिवस जगायला ठीक आयुष्य, किंवा आदर्शवादी जीवन म्हणतील. असू शकेल. तरी एक प्रयोग म्हणून बघायला हे ठिकाण खचितच उत्तम आहे. तेवढाच आपल्या रोजच्या धकाधकीतून, कामातून, वैतागातून, ‘मजा करण्यातून’, ट्राफिक मधून, आणि  फेसबुक, इ-मेल मधून विरंगुळा. नाही का? ऑरोविल ची दारे कधीही उघडीच आहेत!   



Image courtesy- 
image 1- the Matrimandir- http://www.flickr.com/photos/infiknight/6795440348/
image 2- banyan and matrimandir-  http://whit-intothewoods.blogspot.in/

ऑरोविल!

 

चेन्नईला आल्यापासून पोन्डिचेरी ला जायचं मनात होत. आमचे एक समवयस्क नातेवाईक-कम-मित्र- हर्षद आणि रश्मी- असे औरोवील ला राहतात. ते अनेक काळ बोलावतायत. पण ते काही जमत नव्हतं. अर्थात मध्ये एकदा मित्र मंडळी आली असताना त्यांना  घेउन गेलो होतो- पोन्डी, महाबलीपुरम, वगैरे असे. पण निवांतपणे केवळ ऑरो विल मध्ये जाऊन राहायचा काही योग जमला नव्हता. दोन आठवड्यांपूर्वी एक दिवस मात्र  हर्षद आणि रश्मी ला फोन केला, आणि दुसऱ्या दिवशी परस्पर ऑफिस मधून लाल डब्ब्यात बसून मी औरोवील ला रवाना झाले!
ते ३६ तास फार म्हणजे फार वेगळे आणि सुंदर गेले. चेन्नई ला किंवा पुण्यालाही मी कधी करत नाही अशा अनेक गोष्टी केल्या,पाहिल्या, आणि चित्त प्रसन्न करून आले. ऑरोविल बद्दल बऱ्याच लोकांना विशेष माहिती नाही, केवळ ऐकीव माहितीवर औरोवील बद्दल मत बनवणारे अनेक लोक मला आत्ता पर्यंत भेटले. त्यात ऑरो विल म्हणजे अरविंद आश्रमाचा एक भाग ते एक हिपी लोकांचं गाव असे अनेक समज मला आढळले.  फार नवीन गोष्टी काही मी सांगत नाहीये, पण निदान वस्तुस्थिती ला- एक नवीन कल्पना म्हणून- आहे तसं लोकांसमोर ठेवण्यासाठी  हा प्रपंच.
ऑरो विल ही एक प्रायोगिक तत्वावर उभारलेली वस्ती आहे. किंवा गाव म्हणू. श्री अरविंद सोसायटी ने ते १९६८ साली सुरु केलं.मीरा अल्फास्सा, उर्फ मदर- अरविंदांच्या अध्यात्मिक शिष्या/उत्तराधिकारी/ सहचरी- यांच्या पुढाकारातून त्याची उभारणी सुरु झाली. त्यांनी ऑरो विल ची  आदर्श कल्पना कशी मांडली?
 तर त्यांच्या मते ऑरो विल हि एक प्रायोगिक, वैश्विक वस्ती आहे. (experimental, universal township). या वस्तीत दुनियेतले सर्व स्त्री पुरुष, त्यांच्या राष्ट्, वंश, वर्ण, आणि सर्व राजकारणाच्या पलीकडे जाऊन, एकोप्याने राहतील. या वैश्विक वस्तीने पुढे जाऊन अखेर  मनुष्यजातीची उन्नती साधावी, अशी त्यातून अपेक्षा होती. सुमारे ५० हजार लोकांसाठी ही  वस्ती असावी, ज्यात सर्व देशातले लोक मुक्तपणे राहतील अशीही मूळ योजना होती.. या प्रयोगाला भारत सरकारने पूर्णतःपाठींबा दिला. झालाच तर, युनेस्कोने देखील १९६८ पासून ४ वेळा आत्ता पर्यंत त्याला पाठिंबा घोषित केला. युनेस्कोच्या सगळ्या सभासद देशांना युनेस्को ने हे आवाहन केलं, की ऑरो विल मध्ये वास्तव्यास या, या प्रयोगात सामील व्हा.
आता हे सगळं बोलायला आणि ऐकायला अति मधुर आणि आदर्श असलं तरी एक गाव उभारायचं आणि ते  चालवायचं म्हणजे त्याला काहीतरी योजना आणि पद्धत हवी.औरोविल ला देखील ती आहे. त्याला एक शासन व्यवस्था आहे, त्या व्यवस्थेचे नियम कायदे कानू आहेत, स्वतःची अशी एक अर्थ व्यवस्था आहे, काही मूळ तात्विक मुद्दे पाळावेत अशी अपेक्षा आहे,  मात्र तरीही तुम्हाला हव्या त्या गोष्टी करायचा मुक्त स्वातंत्र्य बऱ्याच प्रमानात आहे.
औरोविल ची शासन व्यवस्था ऑरो विल फाउंडेशन ही एक समिती बघते. ही समिती बऱ्यापैकी भारत सरकारच्या आधीपत्याखाली आहे.मात्र दैनंदिन कामांचे अधिकार, आणि अर्थातच जबाबदारी ही बऱ्यापैकी सामान्य ऑरो विल नागरिकाकडे असते. working committee आणि auroville foundation अश्या इथल्या काही मुख्य समित्या.समितीच्या कामात उतरंड नसते, असं या समितीचा दावा आहे. ऑरो विल च्या नागरिकांपैकी, कोणीही त्या समितीचा हिस्सा असू शकतो, आणि काम बघू शकतो. काम करणारच असा निश्चय मात्र पक्का हवा. पक्षीय राजकारणाला ऑरो विल चा पूर्ण विरोध आहे. तुम्ही राजकीय पक्षाचे सदस्य असणं अपेक्षित नाही. कारण राजकारणाने समाजात फूट पडते असं त्यांचं म्हणणं आहे. त्याशिवाय सर्वात महत्वाची गोष्ट. ऑरो विल मधील सर्व मालमत्ता, जमीन, इमारती किंवा इतर, ही ऑरो विल फाउंडेशन च्या मालकीची आहे. त्यावर कुठल्याही  व्यक्तीची मालकी नाही. म्हणजे तुम्ही ऑरो विल मध्ये गेली ५ वर्ष एक घर बांधून राहत असाल, पण ते घर तुमच्या मालकीचं नाही. त्याची मालकी ऑरो विल ची असते! ऑरो विल मध्ये बरीच छोटी व्यावसायिक युनिट्स आहेत. सर्व प्रकारची. छोटे कारखाने, कन्सल्टन्सी, अभियांत्रिकी उद्योग, हस्तोद्योग, आणि बरेच. ऑरो विल ही वस्ती ही आर्थिक दृष्ट्या स्वयंपूर्ण करायची असं औरोवील चा मानस आहे, आणि त्यामुळे त्या युनिट्सचं तिथे असणं महत्वाचं आहे.

पुढला  मुद्दा येतो अर्थातच पैशांचा. या दोघांनी त्याबद्दल इंटरेस्टिंग माहिती दिली. औरोवील चालवायला लागणाऱ्या पैशांचा काही भाग हे भारत सरकार auroville foundation ला  देतं. शैक्षणिक किंवा इतर विकासकामांसाठी हा पैसा मुख्यतः वापरला जातो. शिवाय ऑरो विल च्या आतली जी व्यावसायिक युनिट्स आहेत, छोट्या कंपन्या, ते त्यांच्या उत्पन्नातला ३३ टक्के भाग ऑरो विल ला देतात. शिवाय देश विदेशात पसरलेल्या चाहत्यांकडून, सुहृदांकडून, NGO कडून देखील पुष्कळ देणग्या येतात. आणि शिवाय हे सोडून ऑरो विल च्या नागरिकांने देखील काही मदत करावी अशी अपेक्षा असते. त्यात रोख रक्कम, वस्तू किंवा काम या स्वरूपात तुम्ही आपली मदत देऊ शकता. हर्षद आर्किटेक्ट आहे. तो तिथल्या एका कंपनीत काम करतो. त्या कंपनीच्या उत्पन्नातला ३३ टक्के वाटा कंपनी ऑरो विल ला देते. रश्मी एका सोलर टेक्नोलॉजी कंपनीत काम करते. झालंच तर ती सकाळी २ तास ऑरो विल च्या एका प्राथमिक शाळेत जाते आणि शनिवारी-रविवारी मातृ मंदिर च्या धुलाई केंद्रात देखील काम करते! समजा तुम्ही ऑरो विल चे नागरिक झालात, आणितुमच्या कडले सर्व पैसे संपले, तर काय असा प्रश्न मी अर्थातच त्या दोघांना विचारला. त्यावर बेसिक गरजा भागतील अशी व्यवस्था ऑरो विल फाउंडेशन करतं असं मला कळलं.
तुम्हाला  ऑरो विल मध्ये येऊन कंपनी काढायचीय-खुशाल काढा. अर्थात त्या auroville foundation ची परवानगी घेउनच, आणि ऑरो विल चं नागरिकत्व घेउनच म्हणा. पैसे गुंतवायला मात्र ती एकदम बेकार जागा आहे. कारण जागा घेऊन त्यावर आपलं मालकी हक्क प्रस्थापित करणे अशी मुळात कल्पनाच नसल्याने, investors ना काही गम्य नाही.
हर्षद आणि रश्मी चं दैनंदिन आयुष्य मात्र शहरापेक्षा बरंच वेगळं आहे. त्यांनी अजून औरोवील चं नागरिकत्व घेतलं नाहीये. त्यामुळे  ऑरो विल ने त्यांना जमीन दिलेली नाही. ते एका वेगळ्या घरात राहतात- खाजगी घरात-भाड्याने. त्यांच्या घरात टीव्ही नाही. बेसिन नाही. पेपर येत नाही. वीज असली तर असते, नाहीतर आनंद. फोने नाही. इंटरनेट चं प्रश्नच नाही.जवळ केवळ टपरी सदृश दुकान आहे. सार्वजनिक वाहतूक व्यवस्था फारशी नाही. झालंच तर मध्यंतरी 'थाने' चक्रीवादळाने तिथे ४० टक्के झाडं पडली.
 पण ते खूश आहेत. त्याचं काम चांगलं आहे. आणि शिवाय त्यांना एक जीवनाचा वेगळा अनुभव मिळतोय. १० ते ५ असं ऑफिस करून ते ५- १० ला घरी येतात. आल्यावर संगीत. हर्षद चं वादन आणि गप्पा. रोज रात्री मेन बिल्डिंग पासच्या थिएटर मध्ये एक सिनेमा असतो. कुठल्याही भाषेतला जगभरातल्या. ते तो अनेकदा बघतात. ओपेन एअर थिएटर ला जगभरातले  नाटक, नृत्य, कविता, साहित्य, चित्र-शिल्प वाले कलावंत- वेडे वर्षभर सादरीकरण करत असतात. ते त्याचा आस्वाद घेतात. आपापली  वाद्ये घेऊन,जवळच पोन्डीचेरी ला जाऊन १५- २० जण जामिंग करतात. मधूनच पवनचक्की वर फिरायला जातात. त्यांच्या अंगणात मोर येतो. ते गडद अंधारात ऑरो विल च्या रस्त्यांवर, जिथे भयाण झाडी आहे, तिथे पायी फिरायला जातात. आणि जगभरातल्या अनेक देशांचे त्यांचे मित्र मैत्रिणी आहेत. त्यात मग येतात मूळचा फ्रेंच असलेला कमाल  ड्रमर सुरेश, त्याच्या ऑफिसातले कोरियन सहकारी, रस्त्यात भेटणारी जर्मन बाई, कामवाली तमिळ बाई, आणि इतर- हे केवळ काही नमुने, जे मला देखील भेटले.
आता यावर अनेकांचं असं म्हणणं असेलच की हे आदर्शवादी आयुष्य आणि अति आदर्शवादी गाव आहे.आहे. किंवा दोन दिवस जगायला बरं आहे. रोज काही जमणार नाही. मी नाही म्हणत नाही. आपल्या त्या त्या वेळच्या गरजा आणि अपेक्षा यावर कुठला आयुष्य चांगलं ते ठरत असतं. त्यामुळे त्यावर नो कॉमेंट्स. ऑरो विल मधलं शिक्षण, कला, विकासकाम आणि मातृ मंदिर यावर पुढल्या भागात..

The arranged marriage to chennai!

 
So in spite of my convenient resolution to write once a week, I failed to follow for last two weeks. Deep apologies! But you see guys, you always find reasons like super busyness in office and having guests over on the one sunday that you get. Whatever, here I am with this weeks post.
I read an aquaintance's blog some days ago, where she had written about arranged marriages. And it's not just to a person. It can be to a place,job,surrounding or anything whatsoever. I liked the conncept, and tried to evaluate it in my own context.
Pune, is and will always be my true love, from bottom of my heart. Going by Filmi concepts- it is that pyaar which happens only once-the true love.It is not as if the other person is faultless, but you do not base your decision on them. You love them in spite of it.

I spent a year and half in Mumbai, and that city to me is like a mad fling, done without thinking much about it. I started the relationship with hate, and soon it turned into love. rather than love, a passionate attraction about city. The zest, the people, the life and the speed of life attracted me, it still does.But I know I will not have that one and half year again in my life ever, and I am happy having some of the fondest memories of Mumbai.
I got married some seven months ago and I came to Chennai fifteen days later.Coming to Chennai was not my plan. Or rather, it was not decided from bottom of my heart. It was an arranged set up. It is like an arranged marriage. You are not in love with the person at first sight. You might also realize that the person has certain faults, and they are going to be there for life. But ultimately, that decision is taken from brain, coz you see that something is going to achieved through this. And well, who does not have faults?

Chennai to me is exactly like a husband from an arranged marriage. I got into it with an open mind, and hoping for the best. I am doing everything to fit into the relation, and still keeping my individuality intact. So I kept on reading about the city in general. I roamed around a lot,went through by lanes, started working here, had a routine set up, kept on talking to people, even learned their language. setting up a house and following a routine is a big part of stabilizing yourself in the city, and I have done it. Survived here through its horribly humid summer, and have got used to weather. I also got my car a week ago,started driving, and feeling more comfortable in the city now.
Like any arranged marriage, there are moments when you re-think about your decision, and there is always some time gone before both get comfortable to each other, have a steady relation and start building a mature relation. I think I have achieved the comfort now, I hope some day Chennai becomes friendly to me, and we start building our relation.
Of course, I keep on missing my true love a lot, but I have made my peace with my arranged set up, and well, I am in a happy space, to say the least! :)

Raju Hirani-need to reinvent

 
The post comes much later than it was intended or expected. I saw a movie couple of weeks back, and it is expected, that I write a review sooner. Nevertheless, staying true to my new resolution of writing once a week, I am writing today :)
I saw Ferrari ki sawari two weeks ago. before entering the cinema hall, I had conversation with a friend- I dunno why, but I think the movie is going to be  LITTLE BORING!  My husband reprimanded me saying do not make assumptions before you actually see a movie. And hence, I entered the theater with falsely assuring myself that movie will be good.
Just that I kept on waiting till the very end credits, that there might be some element in this movie which will really make me laugh/think/entertain. Ofcourse, one can not expect that one single movie will perform all the above mentioned functions, but there has to be something in the movie, which the viewer has to take home. Entertainment/sadness/intense thoughts/confusion/ guilt/ laughter/any other thing. FKS lacked any of these.
I mean, you could appreciate it in bits and pieces. Pieces would be Boman Irani's awesome Parsi bawa, and Vidya Balan's jewellery in her item number, and of course, the red beauty, Ferrari.

Sharman Joshi's attempts are not bad. But the poor guy has over killed, thanks to how his part is written. He seems to be insane after a point. The kid faces same fate. Although, he is a sweet looking boy, with very expressive face. Paresh Rawal is again wasted, with his character in total negativity. And supporting caste is no exception with they playing the parts well, but fundamental flaw is with writing.
I think Raju Hirani has co-written the film or dialogues. I,for one, hated his job in the film. I know Hirnai fans will eat me alive. Do not misunderstand. I myself am  big Hirani fan. Munnabhai is a film which I could watch any number of times, and appreciate small things every time. But that does not mean that he repeats the same things in each and every film. And I am not ready to accept that it's a Rajesh Mapuskar film. It bears too many Hirani touches to believe in that.
How many times do I see a Marathi policeman with some peculiar idiosyncrasy,  who helps the protagonist? How many times do I see an excellent detailing of daily life, with lost sense of reality? How many times do I see a character in sub-villainous roles who suddenly sees sense in the end? How many characters who clap vigorously in the climax scene, wiping their happy tears off? How many 'one last powerful monologue' by the protagonist in the climax scene? I am tired. Hirani style humor is good, but do not overkill,mate. In fact, I am planing to offer Hirani to take me on board as a screen writer for his next film. I really can.

Finally, FKS told me that there exists a person called Rajesh mapuskar in this world. he is noweher to be seen through his movie.  But he gets the credit as director, after all.

Voluntary language barrier

 


Just after I made this convenient resolution to write only once a week, i just let it go and stopped writing. Nope! this won't do.
I had made a draft of some points, and decided that I would post it when I feel the same angst and same feeling of helplessness which I felt when I wrote this draft initially. But I realized that there is a subtle feeling in day today life, and after a point it has now stopped bothering me to a large extent. So I will just make the draft final, what the hell.

I knew about the language barrier when I came to Chennai and I never openly cribbed about it. I learned some basic Tamil to be able to converse on day to day basis, with simple sentences. But I still have experiences which put me into a very agitated mood, and I wonder after a point saying, what will happen to these guys in life? And why is life such?
 I work in a small company of about 25 people. All my colleagues, except a new trainee, are native tamil speakers. Many of them are frightened of me/too scared to talk to/too uncomfortable to talk to. Probably because I speak in English. I have tried telling this for millions of times, with little effect.  I do not speak in English to show off. I speak in English because that's the only common language between you and me. For historical reasons, you do not learn and understand Hindi (and boast about it), and of course we can not converse in our mother tongues coz they are different. Alas, as always my shriek falls on deaf ears.

I went to pondicherry trip with this group of friends from pune. The driver given to us would speak nothing but Tamil he knew little bit of Hindi, and he knew that we are from outside. How that driver troubled us logistically by behaving in most adamant fashion is a different story. But after sensing our inability with language, speaking just in tamil is something audacious!
I see, and I understand that it is happening due to a lack of common language. But that is the whole point of having something called a national language. Plainly refusing to acknowledge and learn it makes no good to anybody. English is a language of world, and most of the tamilians are really OK with basic English. But that does not mean that they will speak in English to help you out.

Point is not tamil, point is the closed mindedness. It does not make their culture or behavior tourist friendly,let alone accommodate an outsider. I think most people would secretly agree that Mumbai is probably the other extreme, but I would prefer that as an outsider. I personally would never dominate over a local language and tradition, but its good to understand whats going on around you,generally. The voluntary language barrier makes you shriek sometimes.
And when asked what will they do if they go to north Indian towns, they say we will never go!

I appreciate the attitude.I really do.  

Resolution changed!

 
Just before going to sleep, I came hurriedly to my PC, remembering that today's post is pending. I had a nice Sunday, relaxing, I even watched a movie. But I do not have the patience to write a full review on that. I have not done anything splendid in the whole day, and I do not have usual thoughts bubbling in my head, thanks to little laid back day today. the big question is-what to write today.
then I met a dear friend online. I told him that I have this new resolution. He asked me why. I said coz I want to maintain some regularity in writing. But I myself accept that it might lead to trashy posts. He then said art does not, and can not have regularity. It was a simple sentence, which was true, and well, most convenient! :D
Jokes apart, I understand that art is not a machine product, and hence, there is a chance that trashy posts might occur. Writing regularly is fine, but I also need to have a topic. Writing about daily rut is I guess reserved for diaries,or it's something that only Big B writes. And while its true that I have to maintain regularity in writing, quality is also of great importance.
hence, the resolution is hanged, and has now become once a week. I will not force myself every day, but I will also not write once in a blue moon. This once a week seems to be a good middle way, and |I intend to continue this. yes!

Sigree

It's just second day and its a question what to write! But I remembered that we had been to SIGREE for office lunch party, and had a fantastic lunch there. It goes like-
blue curacuo for drink, shev puri, chicken tikka, paneer tikka, aloo tikki and fish as starter, lots of salads, maakhni daal, some punjabi veggies and roti, and finally gulabjamuns and ice cream. Oh, fresh fruits too!
It was a pain to go back to office and work, but somehow managed.
btw, today is our six month wedding anniversary, and we are having a nice time :)
that's all for now, will write tomorrow!

The resolutions

 

I finally turned 25 two days ago. Did not feel different at all. But this was my landmark birthday in ways more than one. Apart from being the quarter-life birthday, it was the first after my wedding, first in Chennai and so on! I also received  endless phone calls, messages,   so many posted on FB timeline, some of the collegues also celebrated my birthday, and I received a very real,natural and lovely letter from my father-in-law. Cherry on the top was my parents and sister coming down from Pune, making the quorum full.  I also made some resolutions ( exercise was  not a part of it as that I do regularly.)
First one is a little personal, (nothing romantic!) but the second one is to write. To write at least something on this blog,daily. I want to see if I can actually write as a practice, if I can make a habit out of it. I also want to express various thoughts that frequent my mind daily, want to string them together. I want to have a record of what happened in this one year, and I also want to see if there happen any changes in me during this one year.
I start writing from today. Of course, all posts might not be full length. I might be posting just a line or two, sometimes just a photo or something. But this blog will see my presence everyday. the only risk is this everyday writing comes back biting me, showing how I can not write for too long! But let us hope I find something to spare words about.
Gotta go. have to sharpen my pen. and oh yes,thoughts. :)

Quarter life nearing and so is something else!

 
I always thought it is cool to be a 25-year old. And now that it is coming closer, I think I am feeling it more. It's not a feeling to stay away from, let alone frightening, but it feels different. Mature? Responsible?Independent?
Self sufficient?Liberated? I do not know.
I have made a resolution to follow something from my 25th Birthday. May be writing, photo posting, working out, painting or sculpting.could be anything as random. But I intend to post it here on my blog, and want to make it a habit.
Wish me luck for that,and wish me lot of creativity to be able to do that! :)

More the sun,merrier!

 
 Let us face it. India is a HOT country. recently, I have started seeing many other sub shades of that term, as I have traveled a lot in last 5 years within the country, though here my usage of term hot is directly co related with the sun. The heat, the rising temperatures, the flaming sun.
So what do you do when you face terrible heat around? Some would buy air conditioners, many would resort to traditional anti-summer treatments and some would fly to destinations, to escape the great heat. This summer, I did the same. I flew to a place, where the sun was all shining, with moderate temperatures. Where we could for once, enjoy the  April sunt, enjoyed basking in that light. AND it was not a beach.
Turkey is one place, which I commend one should visit in the scorching hot month of April. I would not talk about destinations in southern hemisphere and how to enjoy that, as it is not a summer time for Aussies and kiwis. It is summer in turkey, and a one that you can enjoy thoroughly as a tourist.

To begin with, the place called Cappadocia, in Turkey  has great landscape. You probably will find no match for the kind of lunar feel it gives. It feels exactly as if you are on the moon. And you will be awestruck by looking at just how many shades can brown give you. The sun is usually up in the sky, for a long time, almost till 8 pm, and it is a boon. Sunlight gives it a kind of lively feel, which would have been a morbid place otherwise.

Going ahead, I would say this is actually a place one can enjoy thoroughly only in summer, as winter would put a snow blanket on it, and would bring it to a very silent and lifeless place, as you can imagine from the photos. The clear skies, with a bright and smiling sun in it put me in the happy mood. And this place kept on showing me unreal locations. Absolute unreal.

Of course, we need not be sad, as Cappadocia offers all what any fun loving tourist would ask for. You would not miss out on anything that you get at other tourist hot spots. There is a wide variety of wines, in fact Cappadocia is known for offering some of the finest wines. There are beers, which include Raki- the local one that you have to taste. There is apple tea for teetotalers and there is this undoubtedly yummy Mediterranean cuisine to look forward too. There are belly dances to be experienced, which originate from this region, and folk music to be heard. To top it all, there is Turkish hospitality, good looking people around, (!)and  a very pleasant weather in spite of all the sun.
And most importantly, it is a young place. the landscapes may be thousands of years old, but the vibe is young. You experience something totally different that you can not at your own place.You get refreshed,recharged. With right precautions like help of sun experts there are no worries about getting tanned in these treeless surroundings either.That's what our trips are for!
So having a couple of days off and enjoying at this location with Elena does sound like a good job to do. Boy, there is a world to see in summer besides beaches. It is high time you realize it. Elena will this summer, and probably when she is back next year, you might want to tag along!
p.s. If Elena is a photography buff like me, Sun is probably the best thing that can happen to her. See the photo above! :)
 

अतिथी देवो भव-commercial edition

 

The idea of going to Turkey struck many people in more than one ways. They said it was out of the box, hippie and cool. The actual trip to Turkey struck me in more than one ways as well. There are just many things to write about, which I hope to formulate and write in coming pages, though this one was one of the most striking ones. 

You find Turkish people to be extremely hospitable. At least, those who are in business of hospitality. We just met Turks who were hotel managers,waiters,guides,shopkeepers,street vendors, immigration officers and so on. I do not know about normal Turks,who are not in the business of travel and tourism, but I will give them benefit of doubt and not talk about them. But you simple can not look over the fact that all the hospitality professionals are living by the name of that sector. And they are doing this in their own unique way. 

Nilay,My tour guide at cappadocia, was one wonderful person. About same as my age, stout, with a striking mixture of asian and europian features, spoke English in her funny accent. We just instantly clicked. She gave us information as it was expected. But she did not stop at that. she initiated discussions within the passengers, spoke personally with me for a long time, we chatted about religion,national spirit,staying away from your parents,university education and what not. She has done her graduation in tour guiding, which I found to be cool. 

Raedire, the cute receptionist at the Gamirasu cave hotel,cappadocia was so hospitable that we almost felt obliged. She would personally come to every table when we had dinner, ask us how our day was, Every time we came back from sightseeing, she would chat with us for 5 minutes. The hotel manager would say Namaste, and also knew the word 'chalo'! Everywhere we went, Apple teas was given to us for free- that's a welcome drink. And apple teas could well be replaced by wine,or Raki- the local beer! 

to top the list, the immigration officer at Istanbul airport saw my passport and asked me if I can speak Hindu!(meant Hindi).The knack to make people felt included, to make them feel comfortable was seen in all these cases, and that definitely means a lot.

The point is that you realize after a while that it is all a part of professionalism. They are being hospitable as a part of profession, as a service that you paid for.  But not once did we feel that this is a paid hospitality. We kept on believing that this behavior is real, genuine and to an extent of it being special favor to us. Of course we knew that  all tourists will be greeted with same hospitality and would encounter same experiences, still the feeling stayed. And after a while that feeling started causing pain to me, made me feel hurt, to realize that this is all paid service, and might be-might not be real, and its definitely non-exclusive. It is a weird feeling where you really appreciate something nice, and realize that you can not get too attached to it!

I really felt that our countrymen who scream ATITHI DEVO BHAV at every occasion, (and still need Amir khan to advertise against troubling the tourists) could take some inspiration. we can not be the professional hospitable gang the next day. But hospitable enough to serve what people paid for. With these thoughts I landed in Mumbai only to be greeted by a half-asleep losy faced woman at immigration counter, who did not bother to check our immigration forms and was pretty foul mouthed with a firang behind me. 

Atithi devo bhav- the invisible edition.