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Monday 22 June 2009

Good Ol' School Days!

A school is, ideally, a place where you gain knowledge. However true this might be, I have to differ on this opinion. It is actually a place where you gain more than just knowledge. It’s a place where one gains values, culture and a whole load of friends who, like you, are just a bunch of mischief makers.


When you pass out, and on a lonely afternoon, get nostalgic about the school days, the first things that come to your mind are the havoc you had created, how you had played pranks on a lot of people, all the headaches you caused for your teachers. In general, more than marks or anything, how you just had a lifetime of fun with all your friends. I am no exception to this. Often, I think about the extremely illogical things that we all did. It puts a smile on my face! Ah! School!


My school wasn’t that exceptional. It was a sort of school that an average middle class kid from Sadashiv Peth would go to (well, most of my classmates lived in Sadashiv Peth, some still do). The school was called Shikshan Prasarak Mandali’s English Medium School or SPM for short. God knows why it was an English medium school. No one ever spoke in English, including the teachers. If there is one thing that we Sadashiv Pethis are known for is the maaz we do for speaking only in Marathi. The school, which is also located in Sadashiv Peth, totally reflected the culture. So overall, one may think that there is nothing special with that- it’s just like any other school. But what made it special were the teachers that it had, and the friends I had there.


Now as it so happened, our school students were all exceptional, the exception to this trend being our batch। Well, it was notorious. There were only two types people- out and out mischievous (vaatrat) ones like sanmit, bangwa etc, and the hidden (“khodkar mule”) like about 90 percent of us. After we had passed out, our ex-principle(who we popularly referred to as “Kaku”) had told me that she was glad that school was finally getting rid of us as no one was able to handle us! As they say, reputations come on a basis of reality, and true to her words, our batch was actually way too rowdy.



But it is these acts that still remain fresh in my memory-acts of complete stupidity, some beyond the scale of repair, some actual damages, and well of course pranks. Some incidents like Madhushree breaking the latch of the doors between the 10th A and B classes so that all of us back benchers could escape the boring geometry lecture by Shraddha Joshi (Wolly as she was known) are vivid. Another was when I and Ameya Joshi used to sit on the first bench near the window; we were caught 11 times in 1 day throwing paper planes on the playground.


These were just time pass acts, to divert our attentions off the boredom caused by the monotonous drooling of the teachers. But there were more serious incidents drawn up by my batch. In our 8th we had set 3 dustbins on fire (I don’t know how that happened) as a protest for our footballing time (PT periods) getting cancelled- the result, no PT for an entire year. Another was a stone-flinging competition we had in our 7th, when two guys were injured and had to be rushed to the hospital. We were all given severe warnings about our conduct. As if that wasn’t enough, in the same year about twenty five of us (basically nearly all the boys from 7th B) were again “fined” for using politically incorrect language(rather acting like any normal 13 year old kid would- like swearing in the off lectures). I actually remember paying 30 rupees as the fine for that!


But the real fun started when we were in the post Diwali term of 8th. This is because it’s the age that the “jodya lavaa” game starts. No one was spared- including me(anyway,, I was a victim from 6th- so by this time, I was used to it). But now the basic propagators were me, Aslekar, and Pranav Kale. We continued to link people for the next two-two and a half years! I remember my mother telling me once that she had received a phone call from Hemlata miss telling that I was a good boy(?) and that I should not indulge in such activities. I was even made a Prefect that year so that it would knock some sense back in my head. But, I had nothing to lose. My exam results were always good, and I was always amongst the top 3, so the teachers couldn’t tell me off for not studying as well! Well, I was eventually stripped off the prefect badge. But who wanted to be a prefect anyway! (although I later regretted that; I was appointed the NIE monitor and so had to carry a ton of newspaper everyday! Mrinmayi, kahi athavtay ka?)


In 8th, we had our first extremely memorable overnight trip to Bhilavdi. Although I don’t remember it that much now, what I do remember is that Ameya Abhyankar crossed from his room to our room on a 3rd floor parafeet so that he could play cards with us at night. Other more notorious people actually went and locked the room of our vice-principle and class teacher from outside. God knows how they got out, but we received hell for that. In the same trip, three of us unfortunate boys had to share a room with this certain guy deemed by everybody to be a girl (SPMites will know who! We are still scared of him). But we ragged him so much that he eventually went off to some other room!


If 8th wasn’t fun, 9th certainly was. I was in 9th A, Pai miss’ class, and although our class was thought to be as ‘tyatlyatyat sensible’ we had our moments of madness. Pai miss was less of a teacher and more of our friend. We used to crowd around her table, sit on it, fill the attendance register for her(stating that everyone was present), and do loads of masti. She was extremely cool with everything. 9th has some vivid memories. The stand out ones are those when our science teacher actually tied up an idiot who was an extremely mischievous kid to the window by his tie! Yet, till the time the teacher came back, the boy had untied his tie knot and was sitting down, gleaming with a sense of victory. He was thrown out of the class for the rest of the week. Another was when I and Ashwin Deshpande were doing the “Rikishi” dance in front of Wolly by wearing goggles. We didn’t get into trouble, but our goggles were kept in the dangerous items pile in the teachers’ cupboard for a week. We got it back, thanks to Neha J, who was the cupboard monitor, and our friend.


In later parts we had a stay over in school for Diwali. I don’t know why the school invited us of all the people, but im sure they (the teachers) regretted it later. We broke 3 tube lights trying to play badminton with a spoon as a shuttle and the tube light as a net. Later the same evening, while trying to remove and hide the broken tube lights, Ashay tweaked one of the fans, till it nearly fell off. We even nicked pav-bhaaji in the dead of the night. When the peon came to fire us all, people tripped him, and apparently, someone hit him. The night was also exciting. Instead of sleeping, we were playing cricket in the classroom, which broke 3 windows(Waghya put his hand through one). We were again all fined- this time hundred rupees, and all had 3 detentions. Actually the whole year was marred by detentions as all of us used to get a remark for misbehavior for having chalk fights in about every alternate lecture. After a couple of months, much to the dismay of all the teachers, most of the diaries had no further space for remarks! (with Sanmit leading the way for the number of detentions- a record; I guess)


The months of February and March were field days. We had a 6 day trip to Indore, which is just too memorable. I remember every single thing! Right from the fight we had with a chhakka(eunuch) in the train to the night where Sagar jumped off his balcony into Preksha’s to and that certain “juniors” were caught watching what they shouldn’t and that famous song “4 vaajle kombda arawla”. I will devote a separate post for this memorable trip. 9th was just way too memorable!


Unfortunately, I had to leave Pune after a month in my 10th standard. Of all the things that I regret missing in my life, missing 10th in SPM certainly wins the number one place. We had made so many devilish schemes of how everybody would never forget and forgive us, which I was not able to execute! I really had a tough time being away from all the action, all the hungama, all the chaos, all the fun, laughter, and the most important- friends. It’s astonishing how separating you from your lifelong friends actually brings them even more closer. It is such things that make you appreciate the meaning of friendship.


I left, but my batch continued its tradition of creating havoc and confusion and damaging property. Eventually, fed up with these antics, our 10th std class was all demoted to a 6th std classroom, while they were given our classrooms, so as to make our life as miserable as possible. But the real deal was that the principal thought that we should look up to the 6th standard kids as role models for behavior! This had outraged(pissed would have been a suitable word... but then…) one and all, and so as a farewell to school, people broke all tube lights, chairs, tables, blackboards, did significant garfitti on every possible thing etc (as ive heard from very reliable sources). However, there was a twist in the tale. To the surprise of one and all, in the batch of no-hopes everyone managed to pass the 10th grade with flying colours(though no one got a rank in the boards, which I guess was anyway expected), with the school getting a generous 100 percent result. Astonishing considering what the situation was only a year ago!


I had some amazing memories and some amazing friends in school- Kedar, Mrinmayi, Ameya Abhyankar, Anupam, Neha, Madhu, Aslekar, Adwait, Joshya, Dheri, Phodya, Bafana, Gogte, Mugdha, Kale, Khaki just to name a few. Actually, barring a handful of people, everyone was everyone’s friend- that was what was most unique about our batch- Unity. It showed throughout our six years in the secondary school. So although we were known wreckers of property and damage causing elements, what the older teachers (those who taught us) now remember us is for this-Unity. A good finish and at least a positive end to our school days!



This school and these friends will always remain special to me, no matter what happens. Man! I really miss those days! I just wish I were able to build a time capsule and relive those days, for old times’ sake. I will never forget incidents such as Thuse proposing Anu in the cycle stand, or Tejas Joshi keeping a bottle of milk on Nagmani Miss’ table on Nagpanchami, or the fact that he was caught drawing a heart on a wall, or that Ranjeet forgot our national anthem, when he was told to sing it in front of the entire school! There are many of these, but more in another post.


Ah well, with so much said, id better end this post, otherwise I will get way too emotional to do the other things I planned for today! But still, Ah! The school days!

Friday 19 June 2009

शिवराज्याभिषेक

Independence is a hard thing to achieve, especially if you are ruled by those who have what it takes to oppress you in any circumstance. It takes immense efforts to attain independence in such situations. It requires courage, strength, endurance, and to the extreme, even the readiness to give up ones life for the cause. And when those efforts are paid off, the fleeting feeling is altogether different. Rather there is no feeling like that.

Shivaji Maharaj's entire life had been a struggle. A struggle to preserve our lands, our culture, our traditions, and last but the most important- our Dharma. i have obtained an extract from Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare' book Janata Raja. It is about the emotions that were running through the mind of the common Marathi people, after the coronation os Shivaji Maharaj. It is immensely captivating. i have a tear in my eye every time i read it- a tear of joy. Aanandashru as they call it. It gives a vivid image- I feel like i was at the ceremony 350 years ago. Its worth sharing. Those who are proud owners of the cassette series of Shivacharitra Kathan, will find this in the 15th cassette "Rajyabhishek". Have a go through it anyway.




महाराष्ट्रात पुन्हा अयोध्या अवतरली. न्यायाचे, सद्धार्माचे, सुसंस्कृतिचे छत्रसिंहासन पुन्हा प्रकटले. साडेतीनशे वर्षांचे सुतक फिटले . सारी विशण्णता, नैराश्य, दुःख लयाला गेले. सार्या जखमा बुजल्या. सारे अपमान धुऊन निघाले. सर्वत्र आनंदी-आनंद उडाला. नव्या जीवनाचा साक्षात्कार सर्वांस झाला. सर्व संशय व भये पळाली. न्यायासाठी, संरक्षणासाठी, सुखदुःखे सांगण्यासाठी, हवे ते हक्कानी मागण्यासाठी ममतेचे, समतेचे उदार आणि बलाढ्य सिंहासन निर्माण झाले. सावलीसाठी विशाल छात्र उघडले गेले. मुलबाळांस, लेकीसुनांस शेतकार्यांस हक्काने रुसावयास जागा निर्माण झाली. अवघ्यांना आजोळ-माहेर लाभले. महाराष्ट्रात आनंदसंवत्सर उगवले. सृष्टि डोलू लागली. सह्याद्रीला हर्षवायु झाला. स्मुद्रमंथानात देवानांही जे मिळाले नाही असे अपूर्व रत्ना महाराष्ट्राला मिळाले- सिंहासन! समुद्र तळापासून उचंबळला. सह्याद्रीचे सारे जिवलग आनंदाने हिंदोळले

---- आणि सह्याद्रीच्या एक गुहेतला एक तेजःपुंज योगी पुरूष एक हाती कुबडी आणि दुसर्या हाती जपमाळ उंचावीत आनंदाने उसळून गर्जत गर्जत बाहेर आला! अवघा आनंदी-आनंद त्याच्या मुखावर उसळत होता! तो मोठ्याने गर्जत होता ---


स्वप्नी
जे देखिले रात्रीँ। तें तें तैसेचि होतसे
हिंडता फिरता गेलों । आनंदवनभूवनीं
स्वधर्माआड जी विघ्नें। तीं तीं सर्वत्र ऊठिलि
लाटिलीं कुटिलीं देवे। दपिलीं, कापिलीं बहु
विघ्नाच्या उठिल्या फौज। भीम त्यावरी लोटला
भर्डिलीं चिर्डिलीं रांगे। रडविलीं, बडविलीं बळें
खौळले लोक देवाचे। मुख्या देवची उठिला
कळेना काय रे होतें। आनंदवनभूवनीं
स्वर्गीची लोटिली जेथे। रामगंगा महानदी
तीर्थासी तूळणा नाही।आनंदवनभूवनीं
त्रैलोक्य चालिल्या फौजा। सौख्य बंदिविमोचनें
मोहिम मांडिली मोठी। आनंदवनभूवनीं
अनेक वाजती वाद्ये। ध्वनिकल्लोळ उठिला
छाबिने डोलती ढाला। आनंदवनभूवनीं
कल्पांत मांडिला मोठा। म्लेंछादैत्य बुडावाया
कैपक्षा घेतला देवीं। आनंदवनभूवनीं
बुडाले सर्वही पापी। हिन्दुस्थान बळावले
अभक्तांचा क्षयो जाला। आनंदवनभूवनीं
येथून वाढला धर्मु। रमाधर्म समागमे
संतोष मांडिला मोठा। आनंदवनभूवनीं
बुडाला औरंगया पापी। म्लेंछासंहार जाहला
मोडिली मांडिली क्षेत्रे। आनंदवनभूवनीं
उदंड जाहलें पाणी| स्नानसंध्या करावाया
जपतप अनुष्ठाने। आनंदवनभूवनीं
लिहिला प्रत्ययो आला। मोठा आनंद जाहला
चढता वाढता प्रेमा। आनंदवनभूवनीं
बंड पाषांड उडाले। शुद्ध अध्यात्मा वाढले
राम कर्ता राम भोक्ता। आनंदवनभूवनीं
देवालये दीपमाळा।रंगमाळा बहुविधा
पूजिला देव देवांचा। आनंदवनभूवनीं
गीत सांगती सामर्थ्यें। वाद्याकल्लोळ ऊठिला
मिळाले सर्व अर्थार्थीँ। आनंदवनभूवनीं
येथुनी वाचती सर्वें। ते ते सर्वत्र देखती
सामर्थ्य काय बोलावे। आनंदवनभूवनीं


केवढा हा प्रचितीचा आनंद! विरक्त योगी-बैरागीहि आनंदले. सर्वच आनंदले. ऋतु, नक्षत्रे, मेघ, आकाश, वरुण हेहि आनंदले, भारावले, गहिवरले आणि त्यानी आपल्या आनंदाश्रुंची बरसात सुरु केलि.

रायगड पर्जन्य धारंखाली न्हाऊन निघू लागला. आकाशांतून सहस्राविधि कलाशातून जणू देवनृपति इंद्राने वृष्टि सुरु केली. आस्मनात मेघांच्या दुंदुभी दाणाणत होत्या. रायगडाच्या नागार्खान्यतही दुंदुभी दाणाणत होत्या। अवघी राजसभाच गर्जत होती " शिवाजी महाराज की जय!" "तुळजा भवानी की जय!"- काहीच दिसत नव्हते, फक्त ऐकू येत होते! काहीच ऐकू येत नव्हते, फक्त दिसत होते!

Sunday 7 June 2009

Rains, Sur Malhar, and Me- an inner experience.

Summer is on. And its an Indian summer...Back in UK, it feels good o have such weather, but in India, it gets sweltering. Temperatures were regularly above 40 deg Celsius. Hot, even for me to venture out. For one and a half months, Everyone has been enduring this terrible heat wave. These extremely tough conditions bring out the unwavering trust in God. People pray- pray Him to open the doors of the heavens... Send down a torrent of rain- cool down the earth, and renew life. We know this works. God opens the backwaters he holds for 7 long moths. the result? First showers- indeed, the most beautiful, and most awaited ones.


It was couple of days ago, that it first rained in Pune this year. It made my day. Or rather, the evening. I had not experienced a calmer and more peaceful evening than that in a long long time.
The ingredients:
  • Torrential downpour
  • A masterclass of Sur Malhar
  • and food in complete darkness.
The evening started just as any other- tea and biscuits in the veranda, staring at the vast expanse of the lawn stretched in front, and listening to the occasional, yet extremely loud calls of a peacock. Suddenly, an extremely endearing sight. Clouds gathering on the horizon, accompanied by thunder, and significant lightening. It charges you up; at least me.

what followed was simply amazing. i had shifted my base now, from the veranda to my balcony to catch some cool air. thats when it initially started drizzling, and soon, there was a big deluge. the smell of first rains, the rustling of the leaves, the sound of the drops hitting the roof are extremely refreshing. fortunately for me, i was alone at home that day. i could thus, enjoy a peaceful rain. it was already dark, and then, it started getting even darker when the sun started to set. it was then, that i realised that there was no electricity. the sudden downpour had broken or shorted one of the cables in the colony. well, more reasons to celebrate!!



i have never had such a wonderful experience of the rain- i could actually make out five to six different types of splashes-
of drops falling on the tin roof
of drops falling on leaves
of drops rolling of leaves onto the ground
of drops falling in the pools that get accumulated
and of drops falling on the shingled roof.
just to name a few...

After, I dont know how long i had this sudden, as they call in marathi, hukki to listen to any form of Malhar. I had a clip of Sur Malhar by Kishori Amonkar, which i had recently acquired. i played it on my cell phone. those twenty blissful moments are few of the best in my life till now. It was an extremely beautiful bandish.. badrwaa barasan ke. I dont know why i waited so long to hear it. but it was worth the wait. the trickling of rain had made it even more beautiful.

I was in a complete trance. No worries, no noise, just calm... only disturbed by the rustling of the leaves and the occasional lightening flash. Every time i closed my eyes, the "Sa" that was struck was kishori amonkars magical voice was resonating within my body. Music has power- atleast it has enough magic in it, to make us believe that it has powers. whenever the words badarwaa barasana were being sung,i felt that there was an increase in the ampunt of rain for that micro second. it was definitely an illusion- but magical nonetheless.

The absence of electricity had made it even more beautiful. Rain, Music that brings out the flavour of the rain and pitch black- i couldnt have asked for anything more. It was one extremely goosebump giving effect.All this, coupled with the chill that the rain brings and the wind that was blowing really refreshed me- from within. I dont know how long i was sitting outside. but when i finally went in, my parents had arrived, and it was about 1 am. i have never ever had such an experience. it was simply mind blowing. Now, finally, afters years of pondering, i came to realise, why rains are held in such high regard, and why their imminent arrival is so despeartely awaited...

Saturday 6 June 2009

सात

Recently i was reading a book called "Rasayaatra". its a collection of poems by कुसुमाग्रज.
now as it happens, kusumagraj is my most adored marathi poets, along with Savarkar and govindagraj and baalkavi. this book is a beautiful collection of poems from his various works.

there are a number of unforgettable poems. "Columbasache Garvageet", "Swapnachi Samapti", and "door manoryaat". but, as it stands, for me, the best one is "Saat". literally translated into english, it means "Seven", and is a poem about the foolish, yet extremely brave feat of Sarsenapati Pratarao Gujar. it brings upon me an awe and a tear every time i read this poem.
Here i present to you "Saat" by Kusumagraj.


सात

कुसुमाग्रज

वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात!
" श्रुति धन्य जाहल्या श्रवुनि आपुली वार्ता!
रण सोडुनी सेनासागर अमुचे पळता
अबलाही घरोघर खऱ्या लाजतिल आता!
भर दिवसा आम्हा दिसू लागली रात"
वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात!

ते कठोर अक्षर एक एक त्यातील
जाळीत चालले कणखर ताठर दील
"माघारी वळणे नाही मराठी शील
विसरलात महाशय काय लाविता जात?"
वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात!

वर भिवई चढली दात दाबिती ओठ
छातीवर तुटली पटबंदाची गाठ
डोळ्यात उठे काहूर ओलवे काठ
म्यानातुन उसळें तरवारिची पात!
वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात!

" जरि काल दाविली प्रभु, गनिमांना पाठ
जरि काल विसरलो जरा मराठी जात
हा असा धावतो आज आरी-शिबिरांत
तव मानकरी हा घेउनी शीर करात"
वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात!

ते फिरता बाजुस डोळे किंचित ओले
सरदार सहा सरसावुनि उठले शेले
रिकिबीत टाकले पाय, झेलले भाले
उसळले धुळिचे मेघ सात निमिषात
वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात!

आश्चर्यमुग्ध टाकून मागुती सेना
अपमान बुजविण्या सात अर्पुनी माना
छावणीत शिरले थेट, भेट गनिमांना
कोसळल्या उल्का जळत सात दर्यांत
वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात!

खालून आग, वर आग, आग बाजूंनी
समशेर उसळली सहस्त्र क्रूर इमानी,
गर्दीत लोपले सात जीव ते मानी
खग सात जळाले अभिमानी वणव्यात
वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात!

दगडावर दिसतील अजुनी तेथल्या टाचा
ओढ्यात तरंगे अजुनि रंग रक्ताचा
क्षितिजावर उठतो अजुनि मेघ मातीचा
अद्याप विराणी कुणि वार्यावर गात
वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात!