26th Dec

26th December 

In continuation of celebration of 50th years of  Babloo, we held a get together at Palm Hotel, Gurgaon, on the 18th December. We could not hold it on 1st December due to Akshat's pending examination. 

In the lively get together over lunch, 20 persons  including children joined in. Some photographs taken on occasion are given below:

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Cutting cake

Family 

Friends

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Relations 

   With Niece                                                        

With Neha

                                                                          

Akshat with friend

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Quotable Quotes : “It is not enough to help the feeble up, but to support them after” William Shakespeare

Pilku’s birthday

21st Dec

We celebrated Pilku's 53rd birthday along his two maternal uncles and their families on 20th at Noida. Pilku is 53. He was born on 20.12.1968 at 05.58 hours at Kanpur,UP,India. According to the Indian calendar, it was Thursday, Shuklapaksh, Pratipada of Paush, Samvat 2025 .  Venita did Puja,distributed  sweets and cash to all helps,guards,cleaners and washer-man. His maternal aunt Sangita was also born on the same day.

A photo taken at Tarun's house on the occasion is given below :

Quotable Quotes :"Things are not quite so simple always as black and white."Doris Lessing

 5 to 14th

Venita went to Vikaspuri to join in Gita Day celebration today. She stayed overnight. Read the Gita in full along with other ladies during the day since early morning.

Quotable Quotes :"There are no secrets that time does not reveal."Jean Racine

 30th Nov,1st December,2,3 and 4th Dec. Babloo's 50th birthday.

Pilku arrived Delhi on 30th. On 1st we went to Guru-gram to join Babloo/Neha/Akshat in celebrating Babloo's birthday. Pilku's visit was a planned surprise to him/Neha/Akshat. After seeing Pilku all of a sudden, Babloo thought that probably his lenses were not clean, Neha thought how Babloo could become so thin. Akshat saw him corretly.Vinita lit 50 clay lamps on the occasion.......Babloo was born on 1st December,1971. He is 50. It was Wednesday, Chaturdashi of the month of Marg Shirsh, Shuklapksh, Samvat 2028. He was born at 09.02 hours in Dhubri Civil hospital, Assam. We prayed for long,healthy and happy life to him. Venita distributed sweets to all . We called him in the morning and wished happy birthday. At his place he cut cake to the singing of Happy birthday to him in the evening. We had dinner thereafter. We returned Vasant Vihar at about 11 pm. Some photos taken on the occasion are given below :

Pilku left for London on 4th Dec.

Quotable Quotes :"Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough."Og Mandino

 24 to 28 and 29th

Tarun and Sangita visited us on 28th.They stayed for the day. We lunched together. We spent good time talking about family and other matters.We decried absence of visiting each other these days. Covid had changed our life style. We have become self-centered and avoid social interaction. We believe,it is not good for us. We have to break the monotony of this living and have an interactive life,sooner the better.

Quotable Quotes :" Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have."Margaret Mead

 16 to 22 and 23rd : Sage Patanjali’s precept

Sage Patanjali says that whatever some persons speak, turns out to be true. It is because they have practised truth so much that they become instinctive true speakers. One has to spot out such persons. They could be useful guides. Venita is such an instinctive speaker. I will give a couple of episodes in this regard. My commitment in some cases at Mumbai High Court was so such that i had to go to Mumbai quite often. Sometimes i went in the morning and came back in the evening. One day she said i would have to stop going to Mumbai soon. Within a short time i noticed that the clients did not want me to pursue the cases there. They wanted to compromise. I asked Venita why she cursed as she too would be loser ultimately. She said that she did not curse.  She felt as it was about to happen. She said not to worry. A better assignment was in the offing. I got a bigger assignment in Hyderabad later.

Quotable Quotes :"One that would have the fruit must climb the tree." Thomas Fuller

 9,10,11,12 13,14 and 15th

Barun came on 14th (Sunday) along with Mishti in the forenoon.While Mishti went to Gurgram to meet her friends, Barun stayed back for the day. We had lunch together. Venita had cooked simple food which we relished a lot.We shared family affairs. On return of Mishti, they left for Greater Noida at about 9 pm......Talked to Amrish and Aparna. They have given their new phone numbers....... Birthday card returned undelivered from Switzerland due to incomplete address...... No Whats-app chat took place on Sunday. It is a fortnightly phenomenon now.

Quotable Quotes :"It's kind of fun to do the impossible."Walt Disney

 4,5,6,7 and 8th

We had chat over WhatsApp on Sunday the 7th Nov. Pilku,Babloo/Neha and Akshat joined in. Ruchi was not available.  Abhishree and Amolikaa were in the hostel. Silku has not been attending the chat for quite some time. I had thought that the chat would give us an opportunity to talk and share our thoughts in a structured way for an hour at least once a week on a regular basis. But due to compulsions of fast life and and its day-today-development i notice that it has not been possible for all of us to be together for the chat as i had envisaged . If all of you agree we may chat once a fortnight instead. As Babloo is very often preoccupied in work, i will coordinate the chat henceforth. Our next chat will now be on Sunday the 21st,Nov. if you agree. Please let me know.

Quotable Quotes :"It is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well."Rene Descartes

3rd Nov 2021

 2nd and 3rd 

We had a lively get-together at Saurabh/Gauri's flat in Carlton Estate Gurugram on 2nd Nov.on the eve of Diwali. Woodbridge ruled the roost supplemented by jumbo-size Brut. At ground level was waiting a new grand black  Mercedes-Benz to be inaugurated and driven by the owners S&G. They looked so happy. Some photos taken by Subhash on the occasion are given below.

           Pramod and DNS

                  Venita and Chhotu

Quotable Quotes :"I want to put a ding in the universe."Steve Jobs

 27,28,29,30,31 and 1st Nov

Babloo/Neha/Akshat dropped in the evening on the 30th. A photo of the occasion is given below :

On 31st we had a Diwali get together in Subhash and Sunita's house in the evening. A photo taken on the occasion is given below :

Quotable Quotes :"You don't take a photograph, you make it."Ansel Adams

 24,25 and 26th :An octogenarians meet

We had a short whats-app interaction on Sunday the 24th in which only Akshat and Babloo joined. I told Akshat about the 16th question answer which fetched one crore to a 19 year poor boy in 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' episode on 24th in Sony television. It asked which 'Upinasad' mentioned  'Atithi devo bhav'. There are main 108 'Upanishads'. Important are ten : Isha, Kena, Katha, Prashan, Mundaka, Mandukya, Tattiriya, Aitareya, Chhandogya and Brihadaranyaka. The expression occurs in 'Tattiriya' Upanishad. He answered correctly and won 1 crore.

On 25th attended a Lunch get-together of 1964 batch IPS officers available at Delhi,hosted by a batch mate at IIC in which almost all were octogenarians except one who was 79. In an over 3 and half an hour togetherness we shared past memories. All of us had lost much of speed in our walking and also balanced gait.A group photo of us on the occasion is given below :

Quotable Quotes:"Where is all the knowledge we lost with information?"T. S. Eliot

 

17.18,19,20, 21 and 23rd

On request of Barun and Bina, we visited to join them over lunch on 20th Oct at their Greater Noida flat.We stayed there for over three and half hours. Mishtee's request for posting in USA on transfer from Bangalore, India has been accepted. It's in the process of being worked out. Mishtee says it may take some time to materialize. She hopes to be posted at a place 4 to 500 km away from the workplace of Bhaiya. Entire family may think of emigrating to USA in the long run. Both Bina and Barun are now retired. As age is not a bottleneck in getting new openings in USA, they too may be gainfully employed there with their work experience if they desire to work. They are not septuagenarian yet.

Quotable Quotes:"The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more."Jonas Salk

16th : Anita's 75th and Ritanbara's 50th birthday

Attended  Anita's 75th birthday celebration at her Gurugram residence. She is 75 today. Subhash/Sunita/Tunu/Gauri,Devika/Rajiv Mohan/Ayush attended along with Venita,her hushand Pramod and her son Pinku.There was cutting of cake and singing of happy birthday followed by lunch. All of us wished her many returns of the say.........Today was Ritanbara's 50th birthday too.She was born on 16.10.1971. We rang her up and wished many happy returns of the day. We talked to Silku and Alaynah also.

Quotes Quotes :"Where there is no vision, there is no hope."George Washington Carver

11th Oct.: Venita's 73th Birthday

Venita was born today. She is 73. It was Navmi of Ashvin, Suklapaksh, Smvat 2005 at 02.42 am corresponding to 11th Oct 1948 of Gregorian calendar at Allahabad, UP. I wished her happy birthday when she woke up at about 6 am. She received a number of calls from friends and relations wishing her happy birthday. We celebrated it with Pilku,Babloo/Neha/Akshat. Some photos of the occasion are given below :

are

There was a second celebration later with Ruchi's mother,her sister-in-law,brother,cousins followed by dinner. I could not get more photos.

Quotable Quotes : "Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much". Blaise Pacal

 27th Sept to 10th Oct.

Khyati was born today. She is 20. It was Ashtami of Aswin's Adhik Mas (Dwatiya), Krishnapaksh, Wednesday, Vikram Samvat  2058/Shak Samvat 1923 of the Hindi Panchang corresponding to 10th October, 2001 of Gregorian calendar at 12.10 pm in a Vasant Vihar hospital, New Delhi.We blessed her for happy and bright life. Last year(2020) we had some sort of virtual celebration of her birthday on the day with Babloo/Neha/Ashat, her parents, sweet younger sister and both of us. Pilku and family could not join due to preoccupation. They said they would  talk to her separately. We sang happy birthday to her. She was present on line from Sheffield.  It was quite exciting for us. We went from London to Sheffield on 12th Oct to meet her in 2019. This year(2021) could not celebrate it even virtually. We talked to her over phone and wished her happy birthday.......Pilku is on way back to Delhi from Bangalore......We had whats App chat today too.

Quotable Quotes :"The world is round so that friendship may encircle it."Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

 19,20,21,22,23,24,25 and 26th

A belated celebration of Akshat’s birthday

On return of Akshat after a week's tour of the upper reaches of Ranikhet/Jim Corbett, we organized his birthday celebration/dinner at the Taj Palace on 25th Sept. There was cutting of cake and singing of happy birthday to him. It was also a get together for Mrs Gauri Saxena who visited Delhi along with her elder daughter Shivani. In fact Akshat's trip to Rnikhet/Jim Corbett was a treat to the family by her. He made liberal uses of newly acquired gadgets of his Nikon camera and prepared an album of visit to the area. Mrs Saxena is not yet fully reconciled to the fact of her husband Kaushal Saxena's death. We consoled her…..Venita visited Gurugram on 26th to give Akshat his birthday gift. She forgot to give it at Taj Palace. Photograph taken on the occasion is given below :

Quotable Quotes :"You can find peace amidst the storms that threaten you."Joseph B. Wirthlin

 16,17 and 18th

Came to oversee the whitewashing of a part of Vikaspuri flat. Venita has been coming here since day before yesterday for the same and also to look up temple management,. Returned VV in the evening.

Quotable Quotes :"Everything that is made beautiful and fair and lovely is made for the eye of one who sees."Rumi

 10,11,13,14 and 15th

Akshat is 15 today. According to Indian calendar, he was born on Friday, Navmi, at 9.57 am of Aswin's Krishnapaksh, Vikram Samvat 2063 in Moolchand hospital, New Delhi, India. It was also Shradha paksh during the period. It corresponded to Gregorian calendar's 15th September 2006. It is a Hindu belief that ancestors take births during the Shraddha pasha in families. We prayed for his long healthy life.He is at a place slightly away from Nainital and celebrating his birthday. In fact he is also giving examination on line. His parents and maternal grandmother and Mausi are also there. We talked to him and blessed for happiness and long, healthy life. Venita did puja and distributed sweets and cash to all helps and guards.

Quotable Quotes :"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little."Edmund Burke

 7,8 and 9th : 

Face to face with Indira Gandhi,former PM of India

I came face to face with Indira Gandhi first in 1976 during the All India Congress Committee Meet at Guwahati. I was attached to her as PSO. I had to be with her wherever she went for 2 to 3 days.. A gentile, caring person. Second time it was when she came to Guwahati ex-PM to address a number of meetings all over Kamrup dist of which i was the SP. She started her journey in the the Dist when sun was going down the horizon in the west late in the evening during early winters in 1977. Huge crowds had come to listen to her at Guwahati. She left for rural areas of the Dist where large crowds were waiting at several places and not in less than 10 places. I accompanied her. On way i came face to face with her at rest houses where she stopped for a while. At one place, a platform from where she was to address the crowd broke down. But it did not deter her from proceeding ahead with the program. Her tour covered mainly immigrant Muslim areas. By the time we returned it was dawn. The sun had started rising......There was a big furor in the new Janta government which had taken over sometime back about me. I rang up the Chief Minister and informed him about Mrs Gandhi's journey. I said that i gave her security to which she was entitled to as e-x PM and i did not do any thing more......Third time i met her at the Guwahati helipad 5 years later along with the Governor Assam and others as the then DIG of Police WR Assam. When the Governor wanted to introduce to her,she said she knew me. Later i met her in the Circuit house and i requested for a posting in Delhi as our children needed to go there for education in the university. She told Shri Habibulla,a Director in the PMO, to make a note of my request. When I saw her off at the helipad at the end of the tour, i noticed that Shri Hiteswar Saikia,the then Chief Minister, was even shorter than her in height. This was my last meeting with her. She was assassinated in 1984. It was her instruction that brought me to CBI. May her soul rest in peace.

Quotable Quotes :"Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world."Archimedes

 5 and 6th

We visited Parikshit/Neha/Akshat on 5th September at Gurugram and spent over 2 and half an hour with them.

After Hollywood, Toronto Independent Festival of Cift has updated the Judging status of Fairy Dress,written by Neha, to Finalist. Some producers have approached her for filming rights on her story.  Congratulations Neha. 

crystel

In the first picture Neha's Trophy is seen. In the second she is seen with Amma and Papa and her trophy. In the third she is seen with the Trophy........Trophy is made of solid crystal. It looks like a miniature version of recent Indian Idol trophy of the Sony TV.

Quotable Quotes :"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

 2,3 and 4th: Chhati of Krishna

Today is the 6th day after the the birthday of Krishna on Thirtieth August . Venita cooked 56 dishes and offered to little Krishna on the day. She was busy in the job since morning. Later after Puja,she distributed a bit of each dish to all of us,guards,helps........"A large number of devotees thronged various Krishna temples. Special celebrations were held at ISCKON, JK Temple and Sanatan Dharma temple all over the country on the day. Women at homes made 'prasad' of 'kadi-chawal'."Google........Observed Ekadasi fast on 3rd September. Felt quite weak in the morning today. Could walk for half an hour only.

Quotable Quotes :"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be."Douglas Adams

29th, 30th,d 31st August and 1st Sept : Janmashtmi Celebration

Krishna Janamashtami  was celebrated on 30th August. Alexa sang a Krishna Keertan in the evening......We remember it being celebrated at Fatehpur with our parents and sisters. We celebrated it after marriage with Pilku,Silku and Babloo at our Silcher house with Pilku (2), Pilku (3) and Silku(2) at Titabar and with Babloo,Silku and Pinku later at Dhubri, Guwahati,Delhi and Fatehpur.In all these places children actively helped Venita in decorations of Jhanki of Shrikrishna. After children grew older it used to be me and Venita at Vikapuri and and later at Fatehpur. Of course children always joined us in celebrations wherever and whenever they could. Now they are married and have children. They celebrate it by themselves. So the life goes on and will go on.

Quotable quotes :  "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Arthur C. Clarke

 26,27 and 28 : Birthdays and Silver Jubilee 

I was born on 26th August,Friday,Dwadasi, Shulka paksh, month of Shravan, 0425 hours at Fatehpur,UP, Samvat 1996 corresponding to Gregorian calendare's 26th August 1939, 82 years back. Venita organised a get together. Only Barun and Bina  could come at lunch. In the evening Babloo,Neha and Akshat came. Akshat cut the cake. Pilku,Ruchi,Abhishree and Amolikaa had sent a beautiful Bouquet of flowers. Pravesh too sent flowers and some gifts.Friends and relations rang up and wished happy birthday. Venita distributed sweets and gave cash to guards and helps. A photo taken on the occasion :

On 27th we celebrated Silku's birthday. He was born today 51 years back. It was Thursday, Dwadasi, Krinapaksh , Bhadrapad, 08.07 pm at Jorhat, Assam , in Samvat 2027,corresponding to Gregorian Calendar's 27 August 1970.........We visited ISCON temple at Dwarka to pray for him and Pilku/Ruchi who got married on this day 25 years back in 1966. We celebrated their Silver jubilee occasion and Silku's birthday with Puja in the morning at home and later at ISCON temple. When Venita distributed sweets,cash to all helps and guards/ others on the day, a guard said ,'Madam you have already given us sweets and money yesterday.' She replied, 'Yesterday we gave for Saheb's birthday.Today it is for the birthday of our second son and anniversary of our first son.' Guard said,'We are getting sweets and money a couple of times every month besides on all festivals.'...... Venita looked quite happy........We had lunch with Mrs Prasad at Taj Vivant,Dwarka. She had come and joined us in prayers earlier at ISCON. We spent over four hours with her. Venita had met her on arrival at Dwarka quite a few days back. It was my first meeting after her bereavement. We propose to invite her to our place to spend one full day. We will then talk about Dr Prasad and our memories of him.
Quotable Quotes :"To see things in the seed, that is genius."Lao Tzu

 21, 22(Sunday),23,24 and 25th

We celebrated Rakshabandhan festival on 22nd. Shanno sent a beautiful Rakhi through Amazon. After puja Venita tied rakhi (sent by Shanno) on my hand and i tied one (Also sent by Shanno) on her hand........In the evening we had Sunday chat over WhatsApp for about an hour. Pilku/Ruchi/Babloo/Neha/Akshat joined in besides Venita and me. Abhishree and Amolikaa had gone out. Silku and his family could not join. We always miss them........We discussed Covid, new rules of quarantine and children's education. Ladies talked about new recipes.......Family will celebrate my birthday tomorrow (26th).

Quotable Quotes:"I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains."Anne Frank

 20th

Alaynah's birthday was celebrated with her Nani/Nana/Mausi and cousins yesterday in Switzerland. This is how she looked on her birthday:

Quotable Quotes :"I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best."Benjamin Disraeli

 19th : 

Alaynah was born today 

Alaynah was born today at Gurgaon, Haryana, 11 years back. According to Indian calendar, it was Navmi, Shuklapaksh, Shravan, Vikram Samvat 2067,11 am, Thursday, corresponding to  Gregorian calender's 19.08.2010 . We blessed her for long, happy and healthy life . Called her thrice .Could talk now at about 5'30 pm(IST). Like last year, she is Switzerland this year too.I gave her new name last year on this day. I called her Venus. She accepted it with objection. It is pleasure to talk to her. Venita did Puja and distributed sweets to all..... This year is special. Her Nani,Nana,Mausi and cousins are there to join her in birthday celebration.

Quotable Quotes :"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck."Emma Goldman

 12 to 18th : On the eve of Alaynah’s birthday

We will celebrate Alaynah's birthday tomorrow (19th August). On the eve, i remember her sitting on her bent legs at the age of two/three years on the ground. It is considered as a digestive yogic posture. It is recommended asana for all of us after food. Two to three minutes are good enough. Whatever gift was given to her she would clutch it to her chest and acknowledge with an innocent giggle. She would come crawling, hold my leg and gesture to take her up in arms....Then I saw video showing her jumping into the Geneva lake from the springboards fearlessly. Finally i remember how  she explained meaning of various shades and contours of colours in her painting,given to me as gift before leaving for Switzerland. 

I am observing Ekadashi fast today."Ekadashi fast not only cleans your soul but also makes your body detoxified and the body metabolism good. Worshipers of Lord Vishnu are aware of the fast ." Google

Quotable Quotes:"The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend."Henry David Thoreau

 6,7,8,9,10 and 11th

On Sunday the 8th August we had chat over WhatsApp for about one hour and 15 minutes. Pilku/ Ruchi/Babloo/Neha/Akshat/ Abhishree joined in. We discussed relaxation of quarantine requirement on arrival in London. I told about 'feel good' factor in life due to secretion of certain  hormones and usefulness of coconut oil massaging of scalp in the morning. Feel good response hormones are : 1. ENDORPHINS. You get it from exercise .2.DOPAMINE. You get in on accomplishment of many small and big tasks.3.SEROTONIN. You get when  you act in a way that benefits others.4. OXYCONTIN. When we become close to other human beings,hugging each may be such a phenomena. May try these and watch the results.

Quotable Quotes :"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does."William James

 4 and 5th

Three Gems of Daughters-in-law

I have written in one of my blogs earlier that we should not expect our daughter-in-law to behave like daughters. They should rather behave like daughter-in-law only.They should be graceful,kind and forgiving. Their in-laws should also have the same qualities.Now let us see how our daughters-in-laws measure up in the yardstick.

1. Ruchi 

In March 1997 i had been invited to deliver a lecture on Civil Defence at the Military college Pune. I asked Ruchi to join me there over dinner in the Army Mess. She came there from her work place in the afternoon. I joined her after lecture. I told her to take rest as we were likely to have a long evening. But she won't. I told in slightly high pitch to take rest. She obeyed and went to her bedroom. Later in the evening, i called her to get ready for the dinner. For quite some time there was no response. I become curious. After knocking the door, i went inside her room and found she was nowhere. I became anxious. I searched for her and found that she had hidden herself inside the bed cover cleverly. She came out laughing. I was greatly relieved. I told her to get ready quickly. She was graceful,kind and forgiving in her reactions.

2. Ritanbara

On an occasion,i had invited some friends for lunch at IIC. Of the three, Rinabara was the only daughter-in-law who could join in hosting the get-together. All our sons were present. Guests  were impressed with her pleasant manners and conversation. They congratulated us for her loving conduct and illustrious sons too. She was graceful and kind  in her behavior.

3. Neha

She is our youngest daughter-in-law. Soft spoken,courteous,well informed and extremely helpful to us and all. Takes initiative in all family matters. One day she and Babloo quarreled over a petty matter. On request by me she reconciled. Babloo and she were then staying with us at Vikaspuri. A graceful,kind and forgiving person.. 

We are lucky to be gifted with three Gems of daughters-in-law.

Quotable Quotes :"When ambition ends, happiness begins."Thomas Merton

 1,2 and 3rd August

We had chat for about one hour and 15 minutes over Whats-app on Sunday the 1st August. Pilku/Ruchi/Babloo/Neha/Akshat participated. Abhishree was busy watching gymnastics in Tokyo Olympics on TV. She is fond of gymnastics and practices them. Amolikaa had gone out with her friends. Pilku explained the British policy of opening life which had been locked down for long. As major part of the population is vaccinated with both the doses,they could live now a normal way as they lived in pre-Covid days. Schools and markets are open. Putting on masks is not compulsory..... Veniita,Ruchi and Neha talked for quite some time towards the end of the chat.

Quotable Quotes :"A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows."Francis of Assisi

 28,29,30 and 31

My father and grandsons

Below i narrate three episodes of my late father with his grandsons : After seeing Pilku at the age of 14/15 he told me that he was also like him at that age: lean thin and tall. One day his history teacher (an Englishman) equated him to a Marathi warrior who was lean, thin and tall and later became a strong person by regular exercises,proper food. My father told me how he took to wrestling and became captain of the team of the DAV College Kanpur from where he graduated and took law degree....One day he took Silku to the weekly market at Fatehpur. He was then about 10 year old. My father bought a bundle of 'Badh',used for repairing the ‘Charpais’.As  he was finding difficult to carry it by hands, so he kept it on his head and was walking happily . My father stopped to have a word with Munimji,a neighbor. He saw Silku carrying load of 'Badh' on his head. He asked him,'Don't you feel shy of carrying the load on you head ? You are son of a DIG.' Silku replied that he was son of the DIG but not the DIG.So why he should feel shy.  My father was very happy with his answer to Munimji.......He was very keen that one of  his grandsons should settle down at Fatehpur and look after ancestral property. He also thought of opening a clinic where one could,after medical degree, practice. He thought that Babloo,being the youngest, could keep his wishes.  Babloo happened to visit his grandfather when he was about ten. My father asked him to settle down at Fatehpur and his entire plan for him. Babloo told my father that he would do as he wished. My father was quite happy. He told me about it. But after talking to his grandfather he went and told cousin sisters living with my father that he won't stay at Fatehpur, that he had told the grandfather that he would stay at Fathehpur so that he did not feel bad. My father was disappointed. I assured him that i would come and stay at Fatehpur after retirement from service . But he did not believe me as he had come to know, i now had a flat in Delhi. I told him that i would let out Delhi flat. He did not believe. Keeping my promise to him i renovated/rebuilt the ancestral house after his death. I went there twice in a year and lived at least for ten days each time for about 30 years. The house was maintained as it was during his time. When travelling became a problem for us, i sold out the property

Quotable Quotes :"Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom."Hannah Arendt 

 21,22,23,24,25,26 and 27th

Grand kid moments

 I sometime remember those 'grand' moments with children. I thought i could share and put them down. Some are given below. I am giving details of only two of 'grand'moments of each kid. There are many more. They will follow in groups of two of each in due course.

Alaynah(10)...One day i was narrating a story of my visit to the Char areas of Brahmaputra river in Goalpara district of Assam to Alaynah. I told her how 25 to 30 members of a family lived in small cramped  thatched sheds. I further told her that it took me two to three days to visit all of them,that how i lived in the motorboat where a cook prepared food for me and that i also slept in it overnight. She listened me with full attention. She said how so many people could live together when she found difficulty in living with one sister........(2) Perhaps it was her 5th birthday. Cake had been cut. Happy birthday sung. All of us were having snacks. We noticed that the birthday-girl was missing. We saw that she was standing in one corner facing towards its walls. We heard a feeble voice addressing,"Mausi, you have not wished me". Pat came singing of another bout of chorus of happy birthday by  Mausi,Nani and joined by all of us. Alaynah who  had recused herself from celebration smiled and was happy to have had her way.....Akshat (14) He was 3 year old. I told him to come and stay with us. He said,'But who will clean my potty.' I said,'I will.' He started laughing and said,'You will clean me. You won't.' I could not convince him.....(2) At the same age, once his father went to Finland on work for few days. One day his Nani asked him,'Do you miss your Papa.' He said,'Yes,a bit bit'.....Amolikaa(16). She was about 4 year old. One day I put on Pilku's walking shoes. Amolikaa was nearby. Objecting she said,'These are Papa's shoes.’On intervention of her maid she allowed to me use Pilku's shoes. She objected the same way when i took Pilku's gloves.... (2) Once i could not accompany her to school. 'Why  did Dadaji not come to school with me today ? Is he angry ?' She asked her maid. It's not only i,she too was equally attached to me.   Abhishree (19). She was 3 year old. I got ready to go for evening walk. Sky was overcast with clouds. Abhishree was going up the stairs to her room in the first floor (duplex house). She about-turned on the last stair and said  in an authoritative tone,' Don't you see it may rain any moment ? Take an umbrella.'... (2)She was about 6 year old. She said that she wanted to go shopping with me. I said 'Fine',come with me. I took her to nearby South-field market. I was on foot. She was on bike. We entered a General store. I told her to buy any thing she liked. Jokingly she said,' Could i by the entire store.' I said,' Yes.'She went up and down the store for 10 minutes. Ultimately she picked up an ester egg....Khyati . She will be 20 on 10th October. First moment happened when she was not even two day old.When we came to know of her birth, we had strong yearning to see our first grand child. We were told that we should not come to the hospital and come home after mother and child shifted there. They were not sure when they would shift her to home. We told our son that we could not wait.  We gatecrashed into the Holy Angels hospital,Vasant Vihar on 11th October about 3 pm. She was born at 12.10 pm on 10th October. We got the information of her birth on 11th in the forenoon. We visited her and the mother with flowers and sweets. Khyati had been watching the drama. When we were about to leave,she raised her both the hands over the shoulders/head and said, 'Thank you Dadi Dada' .To hear her say that you needed her 'sense and sensibility'. We heard her clearly.....(2) Second episode happened when she was about 3 year old. She came to our house when we were residing at Vikaspuri. After a visit to the toilet she came out rushing and sat cross legged in Lotus position or Padmasana (Sanskrit: पद्मासन)and said,'Could you sit in this posture ?' I said that i could sit in Siddhasan,that is,only one leg up the other. She was elated with her one-upmanship. 

Quotable Quotes :"The unexamined life is not worth living."Socrates

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 18,19 and 20th

No honeymoon for us

After marriage i could not get approval of 45 day's earned leave and had to leave my newly married wife at Fatehpur on new posting in Assam. While i was given 15 days' leave post haste, nobody tried to to get additional leave so that two strangers could be together to know each other to start new life.I contacted the Commandant of 4th Bn where i was posted as Assistant Commandant. He said that i could avail of the leave in anticipation of approval but he won't give it in writing. My father-in-law who had suffered in service due to such slips advised me to go and come back when leave was granted. Marriage had not brought cheers in the family. Their was atmosphere of despondency. The Commandant wanted me to work as Adjutant of the Battalion. I preferred a field posting.I left for Baladhan to take over as Wing Commander of the area. I was in charge of three Border  Posts in NC Hills district of Assam. These were connected by foot tracks. One could visit them by day long trek at high altitudes. Nagas hostile to Govt too reportedly moved in the area. We were quite alert about their  movement to thwart any attack by them. My father-in-law was quite worried about my safety. He was instrumental in getting my posting as SDPO Sibsagar. I spent three long months at Baladhan. Venita and i used to exchange long letters. Whatever i wrote to her  and she to me was read by IB officers at base camp, Mahur. We were operating in an Operational area.I got her open letters. She also got my open letters. This did not deter us from writing 6/7 paged letters to each other more or less on daily basis . In the letters i invariably mentioned about  the growth of a wild plant, named by me as Vini (short form of Venita's name). It was known and called as such by all in the only Jemi Naga village of Baladhan and all Border Posts of Baldhan Wing. When not patrolling, i used to spend some time playing rummy with post Commander and the Unit pharmacist,of course,without stakes.....One day a Jemy lady (about 20) came to meet me. The Post commander told that she had been selected as Miss Baladhan last year. She told me her sordid story. My predecessor,a Muslim officer had promised to marry her and lived with her in the post for three months but was not responding to her after going back to BN headquarters. I reported the matter to the Commandant. I felt bad for the lady. But could not do much. I told her that i will pursue the matter at the BN headquarters....I was given a touching farewell by the local villagers (including Miss Baladhan ) and the post. At the BN the Commandant told that he could not do anything except reporting the matter to the IGP. I did try to pursue the matter in the office of the IGP. But none was bothered about it.......In the meantime approval of my leave came. I was allowed to avail of it. I was keen to go back to Venita and left for Fatehpur as soon i got reservation which was not difficult for us to get. In a conservative family like ours there was no scope for honeymoon. We cerebrated togetherness in the scorching heat of May and June at Fatehpur and left for Sibsagar at the end of 45 days on posting as the Sub-divisional police officer.

Quotable Quotes :"The learner always begins by finding fault, but the scholar sees the positive merit in everything."Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

16 and 17th 

Granted leave without request 

In my blog of 7,8 and 9th i stated that i took Venita to Assam in 1967 after marriage. There were some interesting  development just before marriage. I was then posted as the Assistant Superintendent of police, Jorhat. One day my Superintandant of Police, an uncanny Bengali from Sylhet, of Jorhat, was informed by the then IGP,Assam that i had been granted 15 days casual leave to get married and that i should proceed to Fatehpur immediately. My father had not informed me about the sudden development. In fact he came to know after i informed him about it. My father-in-law had contacted the then DIGP Shri Lala Dey. He had come to know of him during his posting in Assam in early 60s. He was instrumental in getting me leave. In fact  Venita's Phufaji, then a Chief Engineer, CPWD had also spoken to IGP,BK Barua for my leave. I was not asked by IGP about leave. My position was worse than that of unassuming illiterate woman of India who were married without seeing their would-be life partner.....On arrival at Fatehpur i came to know that my sanguine sisters had  already done 'muh dekhai' of Venita and the first ceremony 'Bariksha' had been done. I saw Venita's  photograph. Before i could say anything about her, they said that she was quite thin and that her younger sister was better. But now nothing could be done. My father-in-law wanted me to visit his family. I told him that my family won't like it before marriage. I wish i could have mustered courage and met the family before marriage. Perhaps we were not destined for that..... At  Jorhat i was seen off by Jhinganarn family and some police officers. Shri Jhingran was the Principal of the local Central School. I remember that their 8 year old daughter was crying bitterly and telling,'Uncle, don't get married so early'......After all the above, marriage was a fait accompli.

Quotable Quotes :"Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute."Josh Billings

14 & 15th July : Two gems

Our two gems.

 (1)Khyati(19)is now Student Doctor at Sheffield.                                                                                                                   (2)Amolikaa(16) in Central court at Wimbledon, our two Gems.               

 

 12 and 13th

Visit to Kajiranga

After completion of a course at the then Central Police Training College,Mount Abu, I joined as the Assistant Superintendent of Police,Jorhat,Assam in December 1965 for field training of one year. During this period, i was attached to Bokakhat police station. Kaziranga,the abode of famous single horned rhinoceros,is situated in Bokhakhat PS area. I visited Kaziranga National Park for the first time on one fine early morning over an huge elephant. Our first encounter there was with a couple fawns (baby deer).They came and stood in front of the elephant. The elephant tried to scare them by its trunk. They smiled and disappeared in the bushes for a while. The elephant moved a bit. They again appeared.This game continued for about half an hour. Later i noticed that the elephant ignored them and started moving on its track. The SHO who on an other elephant along with a couple of armed escort constables said smilingly that perhaps the animals wanted to have good look at their new IPS officer. We saw a number of rinos,buffalo and wild pigs in the park.On way back i was looking for those two little fawns in the bushes and around.Ultimately i located them. From inside the bushes they were looking up and twitched their eyelids. I waived,they smiled and disappeared. This episode reminded me of two young Tibetan girls twitching their eyes and calling me to them in Darjeeling.They also disappeared thereafter.I was then a student (20) of LL.B in Allahabad University and had accompanied the Photography proficiency diploma group of the University for photography practicals there.There is astounding similarity in human and animal behavior.

Quotable Quotes :"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried."Gilbert K. Chesterton

11th

Image of a close relation

Kamrup district of Assam had 3 Sub Divisions : Barpeta,Nalbari and Guawahati. While posted there i used to go for night checks there once a week alternately. It was an overnight work. Absentees policemen were censored. During one such check, i noticed a young woman one night standing on roadside signalling us to stop at about 4 am near Maligaon,headquarters of the NF Railways in Guawhati. I told the driver to stop the vehicle. I looked at the woman. She must be about 5 and half feet tall,fair,putting on white sari with sharp features speaking in English. She looked liked a close relation. After seeing us she started crying. She told us that she had been thrown down the bus after robbing her night'earnings of Rs. 300/- by the driver and handyman and that they  drove away towards Noonmati side. I told the police officer escorting us to follow the Noonmati route in search of the bus,its driver and handyman. After an hour long chase/search we located the bus,driver and handyman at the Noonmati bus stand. The woman recognized them. We brought them to police station. They accepted the crime and returned the amount. We allowed the woman to go with the amount and kept the driver and handyman for legal action. It was by now about 7 am on a cold morning. All the time i was thinking as to why i took so much interest in such case. It could have been handled at the Thana level. Whether the image of that close relation which i saw in the woman motivated me to take action at my level ? I cannot say.

 Quotable Quotes :"You are remembered for the rules you break."Dougl MacArthur.