Change at a cost

When I asked for it, I did not know that by the time the request would materialize the situation would be so different. So different, that had I known, I might not have requested for it in the first place!

Anyways, still many factors support the cause for it, and may be it is the best time for it. Now is the time for packing and settling down at a far off place for some months. Hope everything happens smoothly. So uncertain life is of an individual, it does not take a split of a second for the tables of fortune to turn.

I pray for safety of all near and dear ones whom I leave behind, for this journey. I could not be more anxious to return to them and accept their love and affection personally.

Fingers crossed

The results of the general elections are out today, and I am happy that the people of India have been decisive in their mandate this time.

The people of this country have given the present government much more power this time to govern. I hope the allies of the main political party, do not start to act in a self-centered childish manner as they are known to do, say an year from now. These regional parties must rise above their regional level of politics to play a more sensible and matured role at the national level.

It was nice to see the leader of the main opposition, accept the defeat humbly and congratulate his adversary. We have once again proved, the power of our democracy, amid the "crumbling democracies" around us.

The verdict is loud and clear: "We have given you a clear mandate, please please please give us a clean and decisive governance" -- people of India, General Elections 2009.

Achcha hai

Well, was just going through the tracks on my hard-disk, till my ears struck on this one by Ghalib:

देखिए पाते हैं उशाक़ बुतों से क्या फ़ैज़,
इक बराहमन ने कहा है के ये साल अच्छा है.

Though it is never a good thought to provide an "implementation" of such a great poetic work, it turns out to be something like this: "Let us see what abundance the lovers will get by praying to the idols, One brahmin has said that this year is good."

I have heard and read this couplet so many times, but it never struck me so deep before today.

Bongs: The food loving, gourmets

No doubt, the bengali mothers spend most of their time of the day in the kitchens, cooking one dish after the other. The bengali tribe is known for it's love for food. Kolkata is one place, where there are a variety of cuisines available. "Oh! Calcutta" is definitely a must try (esp. for the Delhiets) if you are interested in quality bengali cusine.

The height of the love for food amongst 'bongs' can be judged from the transcript below, which is a sample transcript of a typical conversation between two lovers. Yes, both of them are bengali.

Girl: Ranna shesh holo. (Just finished cooking)
Boy: Ki baanal e, lunch e? (What did you prepare for lunch?)
Girl: Macher maatha aar laau diye sobji, daal, macher jhaal, aamer chaatni aar bhaath.
(Vegie with Fish-head and 'ghiiaa', daal, fish with musturd sause and chilli, mango chatni and rice)
Boy: Bah! tumi to khub bhalo mey. (Bah! you seem to be a very good girl) [The first deviation from 'food' in the conversation....]
Girl: Thank you... Tomar ki khete bhalo laage non-veg e? (What do you prefer in non-veg?) [Back again on 'food']
Boy: Chicken
Girl: Amader biyer pore tomake roj weekend e chicken er dish baniye khawaabo...
[After our marriage, I will prepare a new chicken dish for you on every weekend]
Boy: ummm... good...
...... and so on...

No doubt for them, food forms an essential part of their relationship.
Bon appétit 'bongs'.

Inteha Jagjit Singh

This is the name of the new ghazal album by Saheb (Big Music, Big Music and Home Entertainment). Released after a gap of couple of years, this ghazal album features 8 tracks, and thankfully containing ghazals by various poets.

There are two ghazals by Payyam Sayeedi (remember "ab ke baras bhi" & "hum dosti ahsaan wafa" from yesteryears releases of JS?), and one each by Faragh Roohvi ("dekhaa jo aaiinaah"), Rajinder Rahbar ("tere khusboo mein base khat"), Sanjay Masoom, Aalok Shrivastav, Amjad Islam Amjad ("chaand ke saath kaii dard") and Naseem Ajmeri.

The compositions are good and especially good is the rendition of "intehaa aaj ishq ki kar di" (Payyam Sayeedi). However, age has taken its toll over his voice as is pretty evident in this record. I think, he should now refrain from releasing and recording studio albums. Concerts are still OK, but not studio recordings.

In terms of poetry, "Inteha" is better than his earlier records, though choice of poetry could have been better. A romantic album by Saheb, could not have come at a better time in my life, than at present.

Here is the lyric of "Manzilen kya hain...." (Aalok Shrivastav), the ghazal having the most catchy tune in the album. Again JS outsmarts all other composers, in this very short beher (10 syllable) composition. The beher of the ghazal is Khafiif musaddas makhbuun mahzuuf maqtau with the pattern 2122-1212-22.

Manzilen kyaa hain raastaa kyaa hai,
hauslaa ho to faaslaa kyaa hai.

Woh sazaa deke door jaa baithaa,
kis se poochoon mirii khataa kyaa hai.

Jab bhii chahegaa chiin legaa woh,
sab usii kaa hai aapkaa kyaa hai.

Tum humaare qariib baithe ho,
ab dawaa kaisii ab duaa kyaa hai.

Chaandnii aaj kis liye nam hai,
Chaand kii aankh mein chubhaa kyaa hai.

N.B: This ghazal is ‘hamradeef’ with the famous ghazal by ‘Ghalib’, “dil-e-naadan tujhe huaa kyaa hai”…. I have no doubt, that if “pressed”:) , JS can render both the ghazals in vice-versa tunes.

Pink Panther 2

I have watched all the movies of the Pink Panther series. The ones featuring Peter Sellers as well as Steve Martin. Each movie is fantastic!

Now, the Pink Panther movies never have any basic sense of story and are filled with nonsense comedy. But the way it was acted by Peter Sellers, and now by Steve Martin is just wonderful. Of course one would find many people who would complain of "missing" Sellers, but for me both are hilarious.

It has become a fashion amongst the critics to criticize Pink Panther 2, but I found it as likable as the others in the series. If I find Sellers's dialog "Do you have a rrromm?" funny, then Martin's "AAmburyer" is funny too. Ms. Aish R. B. has done a good job too. Rubbing shoulders with Steve Martin is of course a "big thing" (remember the press conference by Inspector Clouseau in Pink Panther (2006)?) for any artist.

Observations

Well, the travel was a nice change, after a long time. Almost after six years! This gave me a good opportunity to note various kinds of people and their behavior under varied circumstances.

At a "romantic" night a newly wed couple who were on their honeymoon and having dinner on a beach side restaurant I observed the young wife, neatly dressed and her husband. The look on the wife's face was so strange. It was almost blank. The way she held the pizza-triangle in her left hand and munched on a small bit, forcing her lips to remain closed, made the entire scene so mechanically romantic. I hope, I am proved wrong in my analysis. Honeymoons should mean excitement and fun and laughter all through. On the contrary I had the opp. to get acquainted with two middle aged couples. Boy! they had a gala time on the whole trip, their tiny toddlers along with. No doubt, I vouched for the plan, that it is a good idea to go for one's honeymoon, after a certain period of time, say an year or so after the marriage, especially in cases of "classical" arranged marriages in India.

Another individual who left an impression on my mind. This time in the dirt filled road leading to "Traimbakeshwar" temple on Maharashtra's state transport bus. I observed the lady bus conductor. Now, for someone who has ventured not much out of Delhi, a lady bus conductor is in itself a "big thing". But what I noticed, was her smart, middle aged matured look and the way she carried herself during her duty. I really admired her professionalism and efficiency of work.

Just wondering, how it would to have a lady bus conductor on Delhi's blue line buses :). Just contemplate the situation that she is asking an elderly man to step back from the gate. "Arrey taaoo....paache na holey..."