365 DAYS

Yesterday 15th January 2014 was privileged to add another eventful year to my life on the surface of Mother Earth and remain grateful for this splendid opportunity provided by God's Grace.
The landmark 'events' that come to mind during the course of the 365 days addition to my lifespan during which His Grace shined on me and my dear ones including wonderful friends (not to forget the few guys who decided to remain away by their choice?) have been many and varied.
My shortlist for sharing with the world are:
* Robert - who sought my lovely daughter Tina's hand in marriage on her 25th birthday in February 2013.
* Celebrating my first grand child Neal's maiden birthday in April 2013.
* Flying out (though alone without my loving spouse) to Lusaka to take up an interesting professional assignment and in the bargain meet some wonderful new work mates and reconnect with dear friends - May 2013 onward.
* Setting up a suitable house to be converted as our Zambia 'home' when the spouse arrives - November 2013.
* 'Unique' wedding ceremony in Bangalore of Tina & Robert - December 2013; which provided the backdrop for meeting John & Debbie who arrived all the way from US to Bless their only son's marriage. Two very graceful and good human beings.
* Visiting my daughter's new home in Mumbai while spending quality time with Tina & Robert - December 2013 + January 2014.
* Flying out to Lusaka along with the 'bestest' woman in my life - January 2014.
* Quiet and private birthday celebration while receiving greetings through the day from around the globe.
* Bonus - watching my first grand child Neal grow while spreading joy all around him as each stage of his natural 'growth calendar' so meticulously drafted by Nature unfolds every day. Calling me 'Dadu' is the icing on the 365 days!!

AFRICA BECKONS

Last week on May 21 landed back in Zambia to take up an assignment. It felt good to step out of the aircraft and touch Lusaka's familiar soil after a gap of exactly six years. The terminal building and the facilities at the airport turned out to be deceptive as there was no sign of the vast change and growth that has invaded Zambia. The drive from the airport to the hotel gradually revealed the changed landscape along with the heavy traffic on the roads - the first sign of economic growth that has overtaken the country during the period  I chose to stay away.
Experienced a happy upgrade of important information - while waiting in the transit lounge at Dubai to board the connecting flight to Lusaka I was leafing through the latest edition of the Economist on my Kindle (favorite companion) where I came across an article on Zambia wherein it was mentioned that  Zambia's GDP has risen at an average rate of almost 6% in the past decade, while inflation has dropped from more than 20% to below 7%. Encouraging statistics for me ;>))
The new shopping malls and impressive commercial complexes housing banks and other growth related activities is a very encouraging view for Zambia and Africa as a whole.
My new new assignment is again very interesting and has a lot of knowledge addition value with the usual hand holding activities required by any start up company on the verge of growth. A bit of housekeeping is involved to introduce robust and user friendly systems. The stake holders are very aggressive but decent business people.
Thank you Zambia and Africa for providing another opportunity to contribute in productive professional activities.

HAND OVER

In another three days will board flight back to Bangalore after an interesting assignment based in Maun, Botswana.
The famous Okavango Delta was the back drop of the commercial activities of start up companies which was part of my portfolio and happily the enterprises have systems in place to forge ahead without further hand holding!!
Learning was a major component of the day to day activities so the time spent at my desk was value addition to knowledge about business of which I had no prior exposure.
Home coming is always exciting so look forward to it and hopefully more posts here!!

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.