Have you tagged your wallet??

It was a regular Indian monsoon morning, which had it's usual pothole filled roads, traffic moving at snails pace. But I was a bit excited, as the next day was the annual Ganesh Festival and even though it has been a good 40yrs I still feel very excited everytime Lord Ganesh visits my house.

Also it was the regular request from my better half for some more money to do some last minute shopping :), as I was about to leave for the office. Trying to keep my face as expressionless as possible, I walked to the lift with my son in the tow. I withdrew some amount from the ATM, and gave half to my son to give it to his mother and the rest I pocketed it. In a hurry to reach office, I put my wallet in the raincoat. (PS: Always make sure that you only give half of what is demanded, more so if its about money matters :) ).

I drove down on my Hero Splendor to my office with an aim to finish my work ASAP, so that I can go home early. After an hour or so the first signal of fatigue... the trademark yawn, indicated that it was time to have the customary morning pre-lunch tea. That was when I realized that I do not have my wallet......The mandatory search at all possible places was in vain and slowly the thought of having lost my wallet started sinking....

I made a quick check, money about 600/-, but more so my PAN Card, driving license, vehicle's RC card, a credit card and an ATM card.... the thought of procuring all these again itself sent shivers down my spine. I cursed myself for being so careless, but also set about the task of setting in place the mandatory standard operating procedures (sops) to salvage the damage.

There was that mandatory stop at the nearby police station, even though you very well know that it wouldn't lead you anywhere. Fortunately, I had registered my cards under the card protection policy, and placed the request to block the cards with the agency. As I got busy calling the relevant numbers and providing the details, one of the question stumped me "When did you do the last transaction on your credit card, and what was the amount?". Well I am definitely not one of them who would keep such a close track my transactions, although I can easily relate to the transactions I have made once I have the bill in my hand at the end of the month and wonder how could I spend so much money??

Suddenly my mobile started ringing and the number indicated that it was from the most unexpected quarters. It was my cousin from Nashik, who was on the other side. "Kuthes tu?" (where are you?). I was unable to fathom the casual talk she was having with me, when she informed me that she knew the whereabouts of my wallet.....

For a moment I couldn't believe how in the world could she know about it? Well, as it occurred to me later I had written down her number on a piece of paper and kept in wallet and had forgot to clean my wallet once I had stored the number in my mobile phone. That indeed saved the day for me.

It so happened that the person who found my wallet was trying to contact me, but couldnt find any number to call, but fortunately found my cousin's number in the wallet and left a message with her. Thus, she reached me and finally after two three hours of high levels of adrenaline, I could lay my hands on my dear wallet.

I returned to my desk in the office happy at having recovered my lost wallet, and relieved that I need not chase the sarkari babus for all those cards. As I sat down on the chair, re-checking that all was in place, barring the cash, I impulsively tore a piece of paper, wrote my name in block letters and my contact numbers with an hyphen :)

In today's time of Ipad, Iphone and Gallaxies, where we store all our contact numbers electronically, we have lost the habit of maintaining the small pocket diary which would contain the phone numbers of all our friends and relatives. Recollect the heartburn you had when you lost your cell phone or the day when it crashed, and you had to start collecting all the numbers all over again, unless you have backed the data from your cell regularly.

So friends, even though you may be storing all your contact details in your latest model of ipad or iphone, make sure that you atleast put that piece of paper with your contact details in your wallet just in case some kind hearted person wants to return your lost wallet, albeit devoid of the cash :).

Ganpati Bappa Moraya......

What Anna said to me

I was pacing up and down nervously outside the operation theater of the long corridor in the local civil hospital, worrying about the health of the patient being operated upon. It was more than 8 days that the doctor was operating on him and fighting for his life....ignoring the fact that even the doctor himself had not had his food for the same amount of time.

Behind me I could see a huge sea of people with candles, roses, flags, placards etc, shouting slogans and saying prayers.....

Finally, the red light on the top of the OT turned yellow, and the doctor came out totally exhausted but with a huge relief and a broad smile on the face. He gave the napkin he was using to clean his hands to his colleague and smiled and waved at the sea of humanity and said 'Operation Successful....', there was a huge roar from the crowd and people were in tears. The noise quietened in anticipation of knowing more details.

Dr Anna said "Is andolan se jude sabhi logon ko main dhanywaad deta hun. Abhi to maine operation kar diya hai aur patient abhi theekh hai. Lekin abhi bahut kaam baki hai... Agar aap chahate ho ki is patient ko dubara operation ki jaroorat na pade to nichlee baton ka khaas dhyan rakho..."

The literally exhausted Anna then handed over the mike to his personal assistant who began to read from a sheet of paper.

1. While going back make sure you purchase your ticket to your destination and not travel WT(without ticket), and I am confident that you would do so.

2. School and college students who have bunked their classes would put in extra effort to clear the backlog of their studies. This will give you strength to resist any temptation of copying during your exams or looking for ways to leak the question paper.

3. All office goers will put in extra effort to complete all the pending work that had piled up at their desks due to their absence.

Having ignited the candle to fight corruption, please do the following -

a. follow the traffic rules religiously. Do not bribe the traffic constable in case of a violation but pay the appropriate fine and make sure to obtain a receipt.

b. do not barge ahead in any queue but wait for your turn be it a cinema hall, temple, or a bus stand.

c. respect the country's constitution and others right for common resources

d. do not pay bribe for any of your needs

Today, having taken the first step to build a stronger and corrupt free nation lets take the following oath -

1. I shall cast my vote in all the coming elections at all costs.

2. I shall do my homework on all the candidates and vote for the most suitable candidate without being wooed by caste, religion or vote bank politics

3. I shall be vigilant to all the happenings in my constituency and in my neighborhood.

4. I shall not pay bribe to anybody at any cost.

Having read his appeal the PA departed, but Anna made one last appeal to his followers and fans. "Yeh ladaee ka pehla padav hai...har baar operation se kaam nahi chalega.. Agar aap chahate ho ki desh agey bade, tarakki karen... to aap mein se bahut se logon ko politics join karna hoga... Is desh ko imandaar netaon ki sakt jarurat hai. Politics join karo aur desh ke liye system mein rehkar lado. Agar aisa hua toh woh din dur nahi jab Bharat sahi mayane mein ek 'Mahan Desh' kehlayega."

Bharat Mata Ki Jai.....Vande Mataram...

Shouting his slogan he rang the huge bell kept at his table side incessantly....

I woke to find that the alarm in my mobile had started beeping, and realized that Anna had spoken to me in dreams.

However, I got up from my bed folded my hands to pray for the good health of Annaji, and started my day with renewed enthusiasm and vigor to work towards realizing the dream of what Anna had said to me, albeit in my dreams... :)

Things Part of your international travel baggage

I am not an avid international traveler, but based on my experience of a couple of international trips, I make the following recommendations as a compulsory part of your baggage while going out of India.

1. An international adapter. This is an fits all sizes plug which can be used to connect to all electrical points in most of the countries. Since most of our electrical appliances have three-pins, we wouldn't be able to connect any of these in most of the European countries, as they have two-hole connections.

2. It may sound weird, but those of you who use water for your morning cleansing activities, better carry a mug :). None of the toilets there will have the kind of water hoses that we have in our countries. At least I dont feel comfortable, using just the tissue. You can leave it at the hotel, as a memento, on your day of return journey :)

3. A pressure cooker, in case if you are opting for a studio apartment or are going to cook for your self. I found it to be very handy when you come back after a long day at the office, and have to still poke your nose into the various cooking utensils to check if the food is cooked. The easiest way I found was to put all the vegetables along with the rice in the cooker, and let it whistle for 2-3 times. Once the pressure drops, you can have a yummy, self-cooked dinner tummy full :)

4. If you are from Pune, then you must carry at least half kilo of Chitale's bakhar wadi, and few packets of Khakra

5. Not to forget the Maggie noodles which help you make a your breakfast real quick.

Readers are welcome to add to this list.

Sant Tukaram Palkhi – 2010

Come the month of Ashaad (June or July of Gregorian calendar), and I start scanning the local newspapers for the itenary of the Sant Tukaram Palkhi procession.

From my childhood this particular occasion has been an important date for me. When I was still a school going kid, I vividly remember the day when my mother used to cook the bhagar (known as Samo or Moraiyo in English; a variety of rice) along with the gravy made of groundnut paste and other ingredients. That was the day when we were served a gastronomic delight, with variety of papads, and the potato shreds fried to a nicety with some green chillies. Not to forget the various dry fruits that we used consume the whole day along J. Little did we know the history behind it at that time.

History - In the year 1685, Narayan baba, the youngest son of Tukaram introduced the concept of carrying the silver padukas (footsteps) of Sant Tukaram in a Palkhi, proceeded to Alandi where he put the padukas of Sant Dnyaneshwar and go to Pandharpur on the eve of Ashadhi Ekadashi to seek the blessings of Lord Pandurang. This tradition of twin Palkhis went on every year, but in 1830 there were some disputes in the family. Following this, it was decided to break-up the tradition of twin Palkhis and organise here after, two separate Palkhis - Tukaram Palkhi from Dehu and the Dnyaneshwar Palkhi from Alandi. From that time till date, both the Palkhis meet in Pune for a brief halt and then diverge at Hadapsar to meet again at Wakhri, a village nearby to Pandharpur.

Yesterday, I started from the Khadki and took a bus to Nigdi, and took the six-seater autorickshaw to Dehu road. The entrance has a very well constructed and beautifully decorated arch, which was the perfect setting for a great day. I reached Dehu gaon by hitch hiking on motorcycles of the residents of the locality. The tradition that is followed even to date is that the palkhi which carries the silver padukas of Sant Tukaram, is rested on the first day in Deshmukh’s wada which is next to the birth place of Sant Tukaram, and just next to the temple in Dehu.

The next day the palkhi is carried on shoulders from the Deshmukh’s wada to the spiritual guru of Sant Tukaram, Angadshah baba. After the traditional abhang and aarati, the palkhi is then mounted on a rath(chariot) decorated in silver, and proceeds to the next destination of the day, Chincholi, amids the chant of various bhajans, religious hymns, and the famous chant of ‘Gyanba Tukaram’. The rhythmic beat of the mrudang and the cymbals reverberates the whole area, all along the procession.

Its afternoon 2pm and everyone takes a break for the afternoon lunch. The local residents offer the warkaris(people who follow the wari, a fundamental ritual) lots of eatables and other items as a way of seva. The common belief being that serving the pupil of the Lord is akin to serving the Lord Himself. Having happily savoured whatever is offered by residents, the procession now moves on, and reaches to Akurdi, Pune by 5pm in the evening. The palkhi procession is halted for the day and resides in this industrial area of Pune, to allow the devotees to take the blessings of this great saint and poet of Maharashtra.

By this time my whole body has gone numb, and I shudder to think that the warkaris need to cover a distance of about 350KM in 22 days. Oh, didn’t I tell you.... the whole procession is on foot J.