HOMAGE TO MAMA

Saturday November 6th struck a huge blow when my dear Choto Mama suddenly left us following a heart attack. It is a divine coincidence that my Dad (they were dear friends) had left us on the same month 35 years ago.
Two unexpected departures within 5 months. Earlier this year on June 8 Shankar Kaka left us. Two favorite Uncles passing away have made 2010 a forgettable year. They became unselfish mentors when Dad left me at a vulnerable age and I owe all that I have become today as a person to them.
Witnessing Choto Mama's life style as a hugely famous Tea Planter had made a lasting impression on my just out of school mind, years ago in Jalpaiguri (North Bengal's tea plantation zone) planting the first seeds of aspiration.
As years went by I realized that Mama was more about being a great human being than a successful planter.
His attitude and zest for life till the end (all of 85 years) could shame many youngsters.
He made his presence felt in the most subtle fashion making you feel wanted even when there was no direct communication for months.
Love, unadulterated affection with down to earth attitude was the secret of his invisible presence in the lives of anyone who was fortunate to be part of his orbit.
Shall always miss your hug but remain comforted by your eternal presence.
Good bye dear Mama.

FANTASY WEEK END

On Saturday 4th September boarded a five seater (actually 6 with the pilot) airplane to travel to the famous Okavango Delta (Google to obtain more information on this interesting gift of nature to Botswana) out of Maun. The flight to the lodge where we headed was forty five minutes away flying at a maximum height of 6000 feet ASL.
This first time experience of sitting besides the pilot and flying in a small craft was both exciting and a bit scary, but the flight was smooth and no different from larger aircrafts. Level of confidence and enjoyment was higher during the return flight!
We landed on an air strip in the middle of no where and parked the craft to board the Land Rover waiting to transport us to a lodge.
The thirty minutes drive to the lodge (also known as wilderness camps) was the most eventful drive ever experienced. We literally drove over sand (Kalahari desert) and waist deep water along the route and over a clumsy looking wooden bridge in the middle of the jungle where you could spot variety of birds and animals.
The lodge was a gem in the middle of no where. The idea of experiencing African Safari cannot be better described unless one spends time at this lodge. Around midnight an elephant chose the immediate vicinity of our isolated cottage to look for food and it was a few hours of noisy activities before it decided to walk past the lagoon facing the cottage.
The cottages are mainly built from natural products collected from the forest and other eco-friendly concepts which included an open air shower (barely covered on three sides not to embarass your neighbour in the next far away cottage!!)with the fourth side open and facing the lagoon without a roof!!
Experienced nature at its best and company of guests from around the world.

BACK IN AFRICA

On July 30 landed at Gaborone in Botswana with touch downs in Nairobi and Johannesburg after just over thirty eight months back home in Bangalore to take up an assignment.
That Africa is an under rated continent becomes obvious no sooner than you step out of the aircraft at destination. The air is pure and oxygen rich. The airports are clean and not over crowded. The people are friendly, greeting and treating you as humans.
Botswana is different from Zambia in many respects but the "African touch" remains the same.
My initial posting is 900 kms away from the capital at Maun where we arrived after ten hours drive on roads which are smooth as butter allowing you to touch top speed of 160 kms/hour on practically empty highways.
To experience the best of both worlds the AFRICAN EXPERIENCE is ideal.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Late evening of 14th July a difficult decision to relocate in India taken three years ago has been more than justified by our loving daughter through her efforts to graduate with a satisfying performance, though our desire to be physically with her during the three years of academic pursuits could not be fulfilled fully as she spent most of the time away in a Mumbai college.
In retrospect – the distance away from home in Bangalore contributed towards her growth as a responsible person.
Mumbai of course gave her a wonderful exposure of college at Sophia and a pulsating city life in general. Despite criticism and cynicism ‘life in Mumbai’ when lived with discretion can be awesome.
It is wonderful to realize that her core group of friends all performed well while enjoying ‘college life’ to the hilt.
Congratulations girls for creating such joy and fun while attaining the objective of good academic performance.
Let your friendship evolve as you separate to commence another journey.
Three cheers. God Bless. Love you.

LEGACY OF LOVE

On June 8 the Nandi clan along with other friends and family lost RAHUL KUMAR NANDI (Shankar Kaka to my branch of the family tree) to a nasty but pain less heart attack in a hotel room of Istanbul in Turkey while holidaying with spouse and four other couples from Singapore.
Family, friends, fun and sharing joy was his trademark.
The void arising from his sudden departure is difficult to fathom. He meant so much to so many all across the world. The memories of wonderful moments he endlessly created during his seventy years three months physical stay amongst us will be cherished for long.
That a hugely successful person with a larger than large heart succumbed to his heart is symbolic in more ways than one for all those who had the good fortune of knowing him.
Only a few great souls leave behind a legacy of love and humility not withstanding stunning personal achievements and fabulous material success.
Good Bye Shankar Kaka. We will miss you for ever.

TERROR WINS?

The Indian Railways have decided not to run trains during the night on tracks passing through Naxal affected areas following the tragic blowing up of a passenger train killing hundreds of innocent passengers.
What a bizarre and meek surrender to terror.
Railways become the first casualty of a State under siege.
The Minister of Railways is so busy with regional politics in Kolkata with civic polls that she has lost the authority and right to remain in office. The PM must sack her immediately and arrest her for dereliction of duty while initiating investigation in her and her party's role in patronizing with the Naxals for political manipulation in Singur and other areas to gain political mileage against West Bengal government.
She is alleging a conspiracy in the polls scheduled for 31st May instead of managing the ministry. Not a word of sympathy or regret has come from her filthy mouth for the thousands affected by a national tragedy.
The dignity and prestige of INDIA cannot be bartered by an individual Minister's whims and lack of involvement in national duties.

MURDER BY AIR INDIA

It was only a matter of time as to where and when innocent passengers will have to pay with their lives to wake up the Government, Minister Patel(usually busy with counting his cash from 'beedi' sales/diversion of aircraft from scheduled flights for daughter's needs/lying for his party boss Sharad etc.) and Air India from deep slumber.
The sorry and shabby state of affairs in the airlines has for long been in the 'accident waiting to happen' mode.
The airlines does not deserve to exist any longer now that the fuse has run out with this tragic "killing" for which the top management along with the Minister and other corrupt officials should be tried in our courts for murder. All the statistics on its operations are pathetic and frightening.
The series of incidents involving the National carrier during the recent months has become an national shame portraying India as incompetent bunch of idiots unable to operate air travel safely.
Just shut down this 'white elephant' or sell it at salvage value to a private operator if the iconic "Maharaja" Brand can be revived.
May the departed souls of innocents who died because of this criminal negligence rest in eternal peace.