13thh & 14th October

On 13th visited clinic of Dr. Agarwal for RCT & filling of one tooth.G.R.Gupta came for his case.Read in an article that guavas and wooden apples were effective against constipation.Visited Medant in Gurgaon to look up ailing Barun.He is stable.Panditji came and did Puja in absence of Venita who stayed back in Gurgaon.Watched CWG closing function on TV.Khyati must be disappointed as i could not get either tickets or passes for her and Silku to witness the Closing Ceremony.As maid had not come and cooked food,got 3 idlis from Sagar Ratan.Retired to sleep at 11 pm.

7th to 10th October

On 7th visited Safdarjang hospital and showed my broken tooth to the dental surgeon. She recommended RCT and filling. Met Vikas at Oberai Hotel over lunch. Vikas said we could meet there next day. I told him not to plan as my experience is that generally we could not keep upto the plan. Let the next get together remain unplanned. He felt disheartened. But I could not help. On 8th visited CGHS for approval of certain tests.At SBI got internet and cell banking done. GR Gupta desired to come to handover his case to me under the Public Premises act. I asked Vicky to assist me in the case. Sh. Gupta will come next day. Missed morning program except regular walk. Got so much absorbed in 20 kilometers walk competition of CWG on tv that the time passed unnoticed and lo !! it was 9.30 am. The commitment of the participants enthused me so much so that I was on a high through out the day. The whole day was spent in watching boxing, athletics, shooting, archery etc. events. On 10th wished and blessed Khyati on her 9th birthday. I had promised to get her passport by her 9th birthday and she got it on 11th. It could not come on 10th, her birthday, as it was Sunday.
Liked reading of the interview of Sam Pitroda, advisor to the PM on publi information, infrastructure and innovation during the week. In the interview published at page 34, supplement dated October 3-9, 2010,of the Indian Express, date 9th October 2010. The substance of the interview is "There is a pattern to the journey because you drive it. You design your destiny. It is not about waiting for somebody else to give you directions. The last time I had a boss was in 1974! After that, I never had one. I did whatever I wanted to!"... His idea of happiness "To get up in the morning and not to have to worry about what to do during the day"...About Karma " I am just one of 7 billion people. One destiny. You do your thing, then you die. Nobody will remember you in any case." About a major challenge... "it is all inside. I am not looking at any motivation outside. And I always do multiple things. So if something gets stuck I drop it and work on something else. It is a journey . There are no destinations."..."I had 2 quadruple bypass surgeries, I have four stents. I had cancer. So my lows have been very intense. But I go to hospital, get it fixed , then I am on the road again, back to normal."....Because you can always look forward to work, you create and enjoy it, whatever it is- building something, polishing your shoes, cleaning the floor, reading a book"..."there is no Saturday or Sunday."
I recommend reading of the interview to all. Retired to sleep at 11pm.

6th October

Completed morning program. Visited center for sight for Venita's eye checkup. We had got the appointment at 1200 hours, but Dr. Dinesh Talwar could see her only at about 1500 hours. Then what is the point in giving appointment? We could just inform that we are coming and whenever our chance comes we take it. In a similar way I was given appointment by Dr. Seth, Head of Cardiology, Escorts hospital for 1400 hours, but he saw me only at 1900 hours, keeping me waiting for full 5 hours. I pointed it out to Dr. Seth and requested him to streamline the system of appointments. He did not take my complaint kindly. Even he hinted me to be seen by his juniors. I said it was not acceptable. I further told him that I had been referred to him by Prof. RK Tandon of Sitaram Bhartiya hospital. He agreed to see me in future too.
I was impressed with the interview of Dr. Sam Pitroda, Advisor to the PM on Public Information, Infrastructure and Innovation, published in page no.34 of 'Eye Supplement of Indian Express' dated October 3-9, 2010. I recommended it to all for perusal. I would give a brief of it in my next blog. Retired to sleep at 2230 hours.

4th & 5th October

On 4th visited Pravesh's clinic in Greenpark Extension. I am told it is being wound up. It is sad. I don't know why Pravesh is closing it. I will ask him one day. Visited SBI , Parliament Street, for work. Could not meet the new AGM. He was calling on his seniors. I remember the comment of Sh.KPS Gill, who was then DIGP, when he noticed that I was calling on my senior officers after joining as Superintendent of Police, Kamrup, Guwahati. He said that it was better you should attend to your work and gradually meet your seniors also. It was not necessary for you to leave your new assignment and spend all your time in calling on only. Got a call from Naresh bhaisahab. He was quite sick for last 10 days, bitten by a phylerea mosquito. Now he is better. On 5th visited SBI,Parliament Street, for work. Also met Mr.Saxena, the new AGM. He was branch officer of Greater Kailash branch of SBI earlier. Appears to be green horn. He has joined this post on promotion. I am sure he will come up soon and give proper customer care service. The post of AGM is more of a customer care nature than of banking.Retired to sleep at 11pm.

30th Sep- 3rd Oct

On 30th visited Ajit Optician for repair to Venita's specs. Ayodhya verdict was given today.There is no reaction to the verdict resulting in law and order situation anywhere in the Country. Plaintiffs and defendants, aggrieved by the judgment ,proposed to file appeal in the Supreme Court. As it is first appeal , it will be admitted by the Supreme Court as a matter of course . The Muslim Law board says that it will file appeal as the judgment is against their Shariat Law. Hindus say that they will file appeal for ownership of entire land. Shombit Sengupta in his writeup in the Indian Express on Sunday 26th Sep says that consistency is important for a steady development. He further says that if we study Picasso or even Shakira, there is a consistency in their art. That is why they have achieved great name and fame.On 1st Oct i forgot to do Tarpan for ancestors.From the Prathma of the lunar month of Ashwin (krishnapaksh)to the end of the krishnapaksh it will be a month for Shradh.It is called Pitra paksh. I returned halfway ,did Tarpan and then started my journey for professional work. Yesterday (30th Sep)it was Saptami and i did Tarpan as usual and in addition Venita gave dry rations to the priest.My father had died on Saptami . Hence this daan to the priest. We give those things in daan which my deceased father liked to eat. Surendier, secretary to RTPS Tulsi adv. Chancigarh informed that Figoglass case is fixed for hearing on 1 Nov. Informed all concerned. I have booked railway tickets to Fathepur .I am leaving for Fathepur and retuning on 30th Oct. We can have a conference in connection with the case on 30th as i am returning early morning . I will discuss with KTS. On 2nd Oct i noticed i am walking faster in the morning walk. I have to complete 4 K.Ms. in 40 min. I completed it within it.I find the metabolism of the body opens up after 3 rounds of the park where i walk, that is, approximately a little over 2 k.ms. I had eaten less and plain food yesterday . When i take a bit of fried food , i find i cannot walk faster . and i complete four kilometers in about 43 mins instead of 40 mins. The junk food is gadd food, according to my late father . It will include puris/kauchris/chhole/bhatore/samosa and similar things. A plain and simple food is dal chapati vegetables and fruits and one could also take as much milk as he could digest. I was invited by Vikas for lunch in Hyatt Regency today. But my wife did not allow me to go. She said you should take full rest on a Saturday.She further said that Vikas was of the age of your eldest son,that how you could connect with him. I told her that i connect with him as i connect with my son. I apologized to Vikas . On 3rd Oct watched the opening ceremony of CWG. I was impressed with prince Charles marrying his present wife, much older to him and formerly, wife of a British army officer. His consistency in love for his present wife is admirable.He should not have married Diana. It appears his marriage with Diana was a royal compulsion . Retired to sleep at 11:45 pm

29th September

Venita's eyes were checked at the Center for Sight. She has been again called after 7 days for a check by Dr. Dinesh Talwar. I asked Dr. Dinesh Talwar as to how long we would keep on coming for checkup and injections. We have already been coming to the center for over 21 months and she had 3 injections in her right eye. It is quite painful. I suggested to Dr. Talwar that professor VS Gupta of Safdarjang hospital had suggested another injection. Dr.Talwar named (I can't spell the name)it and said it was not so good. He further said that Venita might have to come there for her entire life, that she was young (I told him she was 61.He told that at least she could hope to live for another 20 years, if not more) and that she would surely like to keep whatever vision was left in the right eye. I told him whether there was some other technology besides laser correction which he was presently using in the eye. He said there was none. We felt a bit depressed. We would now go to Shroffs, another well known name in consultancy relating to eyes. I also got my eyes tested by Dr. Dinesh Talwar. I have shown my eyes at Venu eye institute earlier besides to Dr. Lalwani of Safdarjang hospital.Venu eye institute and Dr. Dinesh Talwar suggested removal of cataract from my left eye. He referred me to Dr. Mahipal singh, CMD , Center for Sight, a specialist in cataract procedure. Dr. Mahipal Singh also suggested removal of the cataract from the left eye 1st and later from the right eye also.At present it was not necessary to take out cataract from the right eye. It may follow the left eye. Dr.Lalwani however suggested that no surgery was required as long as my vision was alright. He said he would see my eyes again after 6 months to review his advice. 6 months are already over. I will have to show the eyes to him again. In the mean time when I take Venita to Shroffs I will also show my eyes to them. I am told Shroffs are two brothers: one specializes in cataract procedure and the other in retina. I had to pay Rs.800/- to Dr. Talwar for showing my eyes as the permission from CGHS did not cover his consultation.
Due to CWG at DLTA the Center for Sight also had to face restrictions in parking of vehicles. Lot of policemen were there. Thapa had to park the car quite at a distance. We walked about 300 meters to board the car after the procedures at the center. While Venita went to Juri's place to look up her daughter born one year back, I came to the chamber for professional work. Juri is the elder daughter of Sh. Madan Bezbaruah. She has all the qualities of her father and none of his imperfections. 27th September was the 1st birthday of her daughter. She also has a son who is about 4 year old. She is PHD from an UK University, probably London University. I am not sure about it. Her father is my batch mate and a retired IAS officer. Our children and his children have grown up together when they were about 4-6 year old and are quite friendly to each other. Retired to sleep at 11pm.

28th September

On 28th Venita was given another Avastin injection. It is the 3rd one. Quite painful. But there is no alternative. Dr. Talwar said that we have to continue like this to save the eye. Or we can leave it. Then whatever little vision she has in the right eye will go. He called her for a check on 29th. The Center for Sight is located near the Delhi Lawn Tennis club, where CWG are taking place. Consequently in a part of the road near Bikaji Cama place and Safdarjang enclave,there are traffic restrictions and if you jump to the Commonwealth games lane they fine you Rs.1000/- minimum. About 400 people have been so fined in different parts of Delhi for jumping into the CWG lane. Now I am told that they can straight way send you to jail for violating this traffic restriction.I don't know how they can do it without making this traffic offense non bailable. As far as I know no traffic offense is non bailable. Chistya came and gave Rs.10,000/-. I told him to go to Sh. Atiar and give the money to him for filing his case in the court. The case could not be filed for non payment by him for a long time. He agreed to pay the balance of Rs. 5,000/- shortly. He also agreed to pay a sum of Rs. 5000/- to Sh. Kuber as now he has to go to Saket, where his case is transferred from Tis Hazari courts. Earlier it was easier for Sh.Kuber to go to Tis Hazari court from the Patiala house court or High court/Supreme Court. Now the court in Saket in a diffrent direction & he has to drive to Saket, some extra miles.Gave Khyati's photographs to Sh. DM Sharma at Yashwant place. Venita went back home after the Avastin injection. I followed her after professional work in the chamber. Retired to sleep at 11pm.

24th to 27th September

On 24th went to Ajit Opticians for the repair to the specs. The office of DM Sharma is at Yashwant place.Gave him Khyati's form for passport. Venita wanted Dasavatar (10 incarnations of God) for the temple in the society from Lapakshi, which is Andra Pradesh Govt. emporium. These are made on the wood and adequately painted and look good. The entire group of Dasavatar cost about Rs.1,800/-. Bought some banana chips fried in coconut oil from Kerala emporium nearby. Read the review of Keith Jeffry's M16 : The history of secret intelligent service 1909-1949 in different papers. I am appalled to know that Somerset Maughum, Graham Green, Arthur Ransom, were staff members of secret service M16. Comton Mackenzie, Malcolm Muggerdge & philosopher AJ Freddie Ayer were the many exotic characters who agreed to spy for Britain and have been revealed in the book. The book also points out that semen was used as invisible ink. It would not react to iodine vapor. On 25th attended a party in continuation of Babua's birth celebrations at Gurgaon. It had been postponed due to absence of Bablu, who was in Helinski on 15th September, the birth date of Babua. Today he has returned early morning. There were about 25 persons in the party besides 7-8 children. Silku and Khyati, Sunita and her family came. Others were the families known to Neha & Bablu. Babua was extremely excited. He was all the time carrying 3 knives and 2 tiny candles in his hands since morning for cutting the cake and lighting the candles. He got a number of gifts. All the people were from the private sector. I saw Yash, son of Tunu and Gauri for the 1st time. He is just like his father. The snacks were stale and there was an apology of Barbeque. The vegetarian soup was tasteful but had a little more salt. The food was by & large good to eat. I won't say it was delicious. The booking was for 35 persons. But less than 35 came. We had to pay charges for 35 which were a little over 10,000. On the whole it was a lively party. The approach to the restaurant, a little over 2 kms, was in bad shape and bumpy. In fact it is a sorry sight to see bad roads lined by beautiful multi-storey buildings. The cake was egg less. It was cut by Babua with the help of Khyati, his cousin sister. Khyati gave 1st bite to Babua and I gave next bite to him and to Khyati. It was quite tasty. I think cakes with eggs are tastier. Khyati was jumping around. She will be 9 on 10th October. Subhash could not come. Barun and his family did not come. All others invited came except Priyal and her family, a good friend of Neha & her mausa and his family also could not make it. Priyal has bought a house near the restaurant for Rupees 2.5 Crores recently in a posh area. But the road to it is in horrible condition. Silku looked alright. Both Bablu and Silku need to exercise to knockout their fat. On 26th talked to Pilku and Ruchi. Abhishree is going out in a school trip for a week and is being trained to prepare sandwiches and her bed. Pilku is helping her. He was to go to New York and Washington. He has postponed it and in the mean time deputed another officer in his place. Sh. KK Saxena left for Jaipur after a stay of over 15 days with Neha. On 27th attended a musical program in the SSB mess in RK Puram. Thapa is sick. Met Sh. Rao, DG SSB also. Had to postpone appointment with Shroffs, eye specialists, today for showing Venita for a second opinion on her right eye as I could not undertake visit to South Delhi twice. The appointment was in the morning and musical soiree in the evening. Retire to sleep at 11pm.

22nd & 23rd September

On 22nd collected medicines from CGHS. Visited SBI for work. Read the review of "Freedom" by Jonathan Franze. He makes 2 points.
1) American culture is over obsessed with personal freedom.
2) He portrays an America where people are unhappy and spiritually stunted.
I liked the following writeup of Sh. Sunil Jain, in Indian Express, dated September 22nd at page 10,"India has a long way to go, and various systems are in a mess, whether in public health care or education. But let us not be so hard on ourselves by 1st world standards to 3rd-2nd world income." Everybody was critical of Sh.Bhanot of the organizing committee of CWG 2010, when he said that our standards of hygiene and cleanliness may not be the same as those of western nations. But I think he was sounding what Sunil Jain said in his aforesaid writeup. On 23rd collected medicines from CGHS and visited SBI for work. In a writeup in the Indian Express today, it is said that in democracies it is difficult to put certain number of people in one direction & that we are not working on our strengths. Rather we are waiting for China to fail on their weaknesses.
Retired to sleep at 11pm.

17th to 21st September

On 17th visited Escorts hospital to collect Venita's blood report. Except analysis of vitamin-D report from her blood, other reports were given by the hospital. The vitamin-D analysis report would be ready on 18th evening. The appointment with Dr. Anoop Mishra, diabetes expert is to be taken after 10th October to show him the vitamin-D analysis report. Tomorrow is the appointment with Dr. AK Agarwal of RML. Shanti Siddharthan, branch manager SBI, Vikaspuri is transferred on promotion to Jaipur. Her husband is joining a Think Tank in Washington. She will ultimately be shifting to Washington by November end. She was a great help at SBI, Vikaspuri. On 18th Dr.AK Agarwal saw Venita and changed some medicines after seeing the blood report. A minor accident took place on 17th due to short circuit in the Kaff stove. The Indane Gas people came and examined it. They said the gas line was in order and advised to call the Kaff people to inspect the stove. The Kaff technician came to correct the burners. But he could not open it. He said he would come next day. On 19th could not go for a walk as it was raining quite heavily. In the Indian Express dated 19th September at page 9, Shombit Sengupta writes," In all three generational groups there exist all 8 behavioral clusters-low key, value seeker, sober , flamboyant, critical, novelty seeker, techy and gizmo lover. Digital zappers supremely influence everything, so connecting to them is crucial for the future. The compromise generation tries hard to follow Zappers in being trendy but does not quite get there. The retro generation is generally stiff". I don't know in which behavioral cluster/(s) I should put myself. If I can judge myself more or less correctly I am a mixture of value seeker, sober , critical & novelty seeker. I am sure I am not low key, flamboyant, techy or gizmo lover. I can correlate myself with compromise and zappers equally well. I find difficult to correlate with retro generation. It is perhaps because of my service background.
On 20th collected report of Venita from Escorts hospital and medicines from CGHS. Could not bring her insulin injections as I forgot to bring the ice pack with which the insulin has to be carried home. KTS is straining himself too much. I will have to talk to him. I told Mahesh about it. On 21st visited Center for Sight for Venita's Avastin injection. But we had forgotten to bring the injection from home. I requested the center to loan me one on payment and on receipt of injection pay me back. Though they had agreed on a previous occasion, this time they did not. I therefore took 28th for injecting Avastine in the right eye of Venita. I also took appointment with Dr. Shroff for a second opinion on 27th.
I read the review of "Eat, Pray, Love", by Elizabeth Gilbert. It is a beautiful novel, a part of it is filmed in India. The heroin of the film, being impressed by the atmosphere in an Asram of South India where it was filmed has become a Hindu along with her husband and children. The novel followed the discovery of self by the author after her divorce. Retired to sleep at 11pm.