29th Jan.

As i had to go for a conference in NUCI, i could not stick to morning program.But I could go for a 45 minute walk on return in the evening .  I attended two sessions of the conference : morning, headed by former Cabinet Secretary TSR Subramanian and afternoon, headed by CEC Ansari . Did not attend the 4 pm session. Both the sessions were joined in by a group of distinguished panelists. In the morning, they discussed governance and in the afternoon,electoral reforms.
Retired to sleep at 9.45pm.

28th Jan.

Completed morning program.Venita went to Sunita's place at Gurgaon to attend induction of her grandson to learning of his first lesson.She also visited Babloo's and Silku's places.Akshat, Khyati and Alayanah played together in Silku's place. Subhash has sent a memorable photograph of Yashovardhan and Akshat hugging each other today.I am  reminded of a photograph of Tunu and Babloo, I had taken in Shillong in 1977 when Babloo was about 8 and Tunu 3/4,two of them looking at each other with love.I had seen the photograph in Subhash's house when he was living in Asian Games village.
Visited the chamber of Advocate NM Sharma in Bengali Market and discussed drafting of Society's arbitration case appeal.Curiously Shri Sharma suggested engagement of Advocate Shri Tripathi whom i had suggested 5 years back when the award came before the H.C.in the first instance.My suggestion was not accepted by the President and  General Secretary.They selected some incapable Advocates. Consequently we  lost the case.
News of the day :Chetan Bhagat wrote in TOI today in the editorial page that Jaipur Lit.Festival was considered the best in the world at present.He further said that despite Salman Rushied controversy, it went off well this year too.

27th Jan.

Completed morning program.Visited Supreme Court. In chamber from 12 to 3 pm. I need to check my eyes.May be, I have to undergo cataract operation in the right eye also.Venita is busy  in preparations for celebrating Basant Panchmi tomorrow.She has ordered a big garland of white flowers for Goddess Saraswati who is worshiped on the day.
I have to fix up date for arbitration proceedings next week. Spock to Sh.V.P.Singh, Legal Adviser,Scope in this regard Arbitration proceedings will be held in the Scope building.I am the sole arbitrator in the dispute between two parties.
News of the Day :The nuclear capable Agni 4, which can hit targets 3500 km away,was exhibited during 26th Jan.Republic Day parade for the first time. It is potent weapon in India's nuclear armory.It evoked thunderous applause from the audience.I watched the parade on TV from beginning to the end
Retired to sleep at 10 pm.

26th Jan.

Due to the commitment to hoist flag on the 63rd Republic Day in the Society at 8.30 am, could not complete the morning program.Went for a 50 minute walk in the evening, covering about 5 kms. In my brief speech after flag hoisting, I advocated to celebrate Republic Day as we celebrate Holi and Diwali.Criticism is good. But it should not be motivated  by self interest, I said, with ref.to a tendency of some residents in this regard...Bitti left Delhi for Kanpur by Shatabdi at about 4, reached home at about 10 pm and talked to us from there. She was escorted by Sheomohan.
News of the Day.Meredith Alexander, Ethics Commissioner in Mayor Boris Johnson's cabinet, London, has quit on the issue of sponsoring of London Olympics by Dow chemicals in view of its alleged association with  Bhopal gas tragedy....A news report indicates payment for oil with gold by  India to avoid payment by dollars in view of the sanctions by USA and Europe against development of nuclear weapons by Iran...In Norway two kids were taken away from the Indian parents as they were found feeding one year old by hand and allowing it to sleep with them. On intervention by Indian Gov.they have been returned to their uncle.
Retired to sleep at 10 pm. 

25th Jan.

Completed morning program.In chamber from 12.30 to 3.30 pm..
Denial of even video-conferencing to Salman Rushied is widely commented in the Indian press."The Republic loses to the mob"is the headline of a premier news daily.in this connection.India is again heading for ignominious defeat in the 4th cricket test match at Adelaide.
Retired to sleep at 10.30 pm.
..

24th Jan.

Completed morning program.Visited Gita's place in Noida to leave Bitti in her place. Talked to Yash. He replied  all questions I put to him in a quiz.Visited SBI PBB, Area Manager SBIcaps to discuss investment and Samsung Custom Care at Mahendra Park on Pankha road. In chamber from 1.30 to3.30 pm.
  'Karl Marx had once famously said that history repeats itself, first as a tragedy and second as a farce' (Aroon Purie, India today, dated 30th Jan,in the editorial page).
The news of the day :The elephant is a sacred animal for Hindus. It represents Lord Ganesh. It is also the party symbol of BSP at the national level and of AGP at state level. The order of the Election Commission to cover all the statues of elephants has evoked widespread criticism in BSP and in undertones in Congress too. The symbol of elephant is also found in our terracotta images in temples. The adoption of elephant as a party symbol by the BSP/AGP has reference to the respect which is given to the animal.

My experience with elephant is varied. I was travelling to Halflong from Nawgaon along with my two sons, Pilku and Silku in 1981 by road. We came across a herd of elephants blocking the gravelled road, while we were crossing a forested area. The herd had over 12-15 elephants including baby elephants.The driver stopped the vehicle. The escort vehicle which was following us also stopped. The driver of our vehicle closed his eyes with folded hands. Pilku, who was about 12 years, asked me as to why the gun men were not firing at the elephants who could attack us any moment. The distance between the car and the elephants would not be more than 100 meters. I told him that we could not control them by shooting if they attacked us. It was better to allow them to cross the road and thereafter proceed. He further asked as to why the driver of our vehicle had closed his eyes with folded hands, I explained  him that the elephants represented Lord Ganesh to the driver. He was praying to them not to harm us. After sometime the herd went into the forest with its leader going at the end when the last one of the herd had crossed the road.
I remember to have ridden an elephant to a village in Sibsagar district of Assam in connection with the investigation of a case in1967. There were no street/road to the village. It was approachable either on foot or over the back of an animal. The officers preferred elephant as the path to the village was through marshy land. It took me 2-3 hours to reach the village. I was the Sub Divisional Police officer at that time. After this ride I have ridden elephants in Tiger reserves of Manas / Kaziranga to see the wild life. I have also ridden the elephants some more times. But I do not remember the occasions. The last I tried to ride was in a Spice cultivation in Kerala probably in 2006 along with  the grandchildren. I could not stretch my legs enough to ride it. The reason was I had been through hernia operation in 2004.
Jaipur lit. festival ended today.Salman Rushied could not talk through video conferencing.

23rd Jan.

Completed morning program.In chamber from 12.15 to 2.45 pm. Venita and Bitti visited Dilli hat .The pain in the left knee of Bitti is persisting.
News of the day: A Thames Valley university gradate of India.who masterminded illegal migration to USA  via Gautemala through dense forests on the US-Mexican border, is arrested along with his accomplices....Rushdie row is continuing. Those who recited some passages in Jaipur Literary Festival from Satanic Verses are facing a police case.
Retired to sleep at 10 pm.

22nd Jan.

Completed morning program.Bitti came.Ruchi rang up in the meantime. She could talk to her.We talked of Fatehpur and its people for over 2 hours. She has some difficulty in walking. Her left knee is paining.Her face is bright.She is 3 to 4 years older to me.She may be around 76/77 years.She is my elder sister.Her son looks after her like  Shravankumar After marriage she has passed through difficult days.Now her three daughters and a son are well-off.The eldest daughter is not married.She is running a school at Kanpur. Others are married.She has 4 grandchildren.She is worried about the ailment of the son of her youngest daughter.He has deficiency of bone marrow. All possible treatment is being given. He is improving gradually. It will take time for recovery.Doctors have advised patience.We are waiting for the day when he will recover fully and start normal life.
News of the day : In Jaipur literary festival, Steven Pinker, a Harvard Professor of cognitive psychology,said that ours was the most peaceful time and explained it logically...13 more nations are to be on visas on arrival in India...According to a research, an average of 5 lethal attacks with a racial element take place every year in UK.The targets are usually cab drivers or restraunt staff. In the election of Barack Obama, racism took a back seat.The health of the economy was in the forefront...175 persons were killed in Nigeria in terror attacks.
Retired to sleep at 10.30.   

21st Jan.

Completed morning program. Meghalaya day was celebrated today. A lunch was arranged in Meghalay House, New Delhi.It was well cooked.Could meet a number of officers of  Assam-Meghalaya  cadre. Among others, we met Sarvashri KK Sinha, RP Sinha, Rangan Dutta, Ranjan Chatterjee, Gupta, Pankaj Jain, NP Singh, Thakur, Sanjay Srivastava, Singh,Purohit S.B.Singh, all  IAS or IPS.officers and quite a few others. I saw Shri Lapang, former CM and probably Chairman Planning Board, Meghalaya Govt. now. Before i could meet he left.We know each other.We were happy to meet Mrs. Sinha, wife of late JK Sinha, my predecessor  in Meghalaya. Venita also met all. In fact Meghalay Day celebration on 21st January every year is memorable. It  gives an opportunity to us to meet our colleagues of the cadre at New Delhi .
On way to the chamber, Venita stayed back at Dilli Haat. In chamber from 3.15-4.15pm.

News of the day relates to setting of legal benchmark, rules in favor of Vodafone in Rs.11000 crore(over 2 billion $ ) tax battle .
Retired to sleep at 10.15 pm.

20th Jan.

Completed morning program.In chamber from 12.30 to 3.30 pm. Advocate Gaurang gave me the impression of being casual in dealing with the Arbitration case, given by me to him.We will have to guide him so that he makes a good lawyer.Prepared a summery of decisions, taken by us in the meeting of the executive committee of the Society on 15th Jan.Also rearranged the Arbitration file in two parts : main and correspondence.Now we have to fix a date for commencing the proceedings Ruchi informed that she had to go to music school immediately after return from the school.She could not bring Amolikaa over Skype.She would bring children over Skype during the week-end.It is quite cold today.The minimum temperature is a little over 4.5 degree Celsius and maximum 14 degree Celsius.Feb.and March are likely to be quite cold.The cold heralds good monsoon in India, according to weather pundits.
A coup by anti- India officers is s reported to have been aborted in Bangladesh.
Retired to sleep at 10.30 pm.