TERROR IN MUMBAI^ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH LONG LONG...... LONG TIME BACK

After almost three days of holding parts of the city ransom, after the loss of around 300 innocent lives, injuring many people from all walks of life and engaging in a fierce gun battle first with the Mumbai Police and their Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and then with the Marine Commandos (MARCOS), and finally with the Indian Army’s Elite National Security Guard (NSG) commandos, the operation finally came to an end when the last of terrorist holed up in the Taj was killed. What ended at the Taj were more then 160 lives and much beautiful property. The Taj is the pride of the city temporary home to visitors ranging from world leaders to rock stars. Welcoming guests from around the world .At the time of the attack there were Israeli, German, American, British, Japanese, Canadian, Pilipino, Italian, Omani and Chinese nationalities present in the Hotel.
Mumbai came under an unprecedented and dastardly night attack on Wednesday 26th
November as terrorists used heavy duty machine guns including AK47 and grenades to strike at the city’s most high profile targets CST (formerly VT)rail terminus, the much loved five star hotel Taj at gate way and the Oberoi at Nariman point ,hospitals and a popular café frequented by western tourists. The ferocious cruelty and unprecedented nature of the terror strikes in Mumbai pointed to a daring and meticulously planed operation.
After Fifty hours of pitched gun battle at the Taj, a nerve wracking search-and-rescue operation and the death of two of its men in the line of duty, as the dust settles on Mumbai’s tryst with terror the National Security Guards (NSG) or the black cats as they are called because of their trademark black uniform and balaclavas- once again showed why they are considered the country’s most elite commando force. These are the brave men in uniform who finally ended the terrorist’s bloody march. When asked by reporter weather he is relieved that it’s over a NSG commando replied smilingly “yeh saab toh humareliye kuch naya nahin hai” just another day at work?

How does a democracy of a billion plus people respond when a few madmen tear the heart out of its financial capital and shatter its soul? The question has to be asked because it is only adversity of such staggering magnitude that shakes up slumbering nations to turn it into opportunity. It is time therefore to close rank, unite and focus on the greatest threat of our generation, perpetrators of which have benefited from the religion and caste based politics that our politicians practice. Nothing can guarantee that few men intent on killing as many people as possible, and themselves in the process

will not infiltrate one of our cities and not cause bloodshed and panic. But if only all the recommendations of the various expert committees that were set up were followed and had our politicians been following a more zero tolerance towards terrorists the task would be much easier. It seems that this was too easy for the militants or maybe we had such a stupid home minister who goes on live TV, which most likely the terrorist were watching ,and declares that 200 NSG Commandos had left Delhi and would reach the place in some time .Both the major political parties are equally responsible for politicizing terror, one party going out on its limbs to show that it was a minority supporter and the other one claiming to be a majority party casting unfound religious and political doubts and throwing baseless allegations at the ATS and particularly at its patriot and dedicated chief the now martyred Mr.Hemant Karkare.
India is on trial here .Not just India but Bharat as well. But who’s India? India of the secularist or of the Hindutva believer? Of the Akalis or of the Sikhs or of the Buddhists? Of the Christians of Orissa and kerala and Karnataka or their killers? Of the Dalit or the OBC or the Brahmins and Thakurs? Of the Gujjars and Meenas and the Marathi Manoos or the migrants from Bihar and UP who roam the country for their livelihood because their corrupt polity? Are we, the electorate of the “largest democracy on earth” going to just exist as vote bank for corrupt politicians? Are we so fragile so easily manipulated by anybody and everybody? Are we the common man of this great nation to be so defenseless and so mercifully left out on the open to die and suffer from the hands of some madmen while our politicians roam around in their z plus security and who seem to breathe a rarefied air? Who in the whole politics of India today can claim to speak for ALL of India? Sadly and very regretfully not a single person or even not even a single party. There seem to be no longer a Mahatma or a Jayprakash Narayan or Jawaharlal Nehru who can accommodate the feelings, aspirations, pains, the diversity, the sheer magnitude of this great nation of ours. No leader of such a stature whose voice can be heard across the length and breath of our vast country. If a tragedy of such huge proportions fails to bring us together then we have no right to call ourselves a great nation. Can we give our unreserved support to those who are fighting at the risk of their lives in our security services? Can our politicians wake up from their constant bickering and selfishness to come together for the nation? In a country where safety has become a joke I hope politicians go beyond their usual “cabinet meetings and talks and committees” to do something more concrete.
I was in a roller coaster of emotions –anger, fear, sadness and frustration. Anger at the ineptness and hypocrisy of our politician’s. Apart from taking immense pride in India’s democracy we the common people have been absent from any political activism. We have left it to the grubby politicians the knowingly corrupt money grabbing tribe who has left the police under equipped and ill trained. Its they who under-funded the fire brigade that there was only enough water pressure to reach the fifth floor of the Taj. Its they who bullied the police and abused the ATS .The biggest danger now is the slide back into politics as usual. India is unique and it needs a politics to value it .Those that died over the 60 bloody hours deserve no less.
Just a few days before the attack the main opposition party in the central government was aggressively campaigning against the ATS and virtually running a propaganda drive to condemn its chief Mr. Hemant karkare as an anti-Hindu and anti-national officer. Karkare who was known for his upright character and courage as well for his patriotism and who had a long experience in RAW and who strongly believed that terrorism has no colour and creed worked tirelessly and arrested those who were engaged in terrorist acts irrespective of faith .After the death of this brave patriot the chief minister of Gujarat who belongs to the same opposition party which is there at the centre and who doesn’t leave any chance to politicize any terror attack elsewhere other than his own state went to this officers house,inspite of being told by the officers family THRICE yes THRICE that they had no wish to meet anyone , just to make a big tamasha and draw some political capital and announced a cash reward of one crore Rupees .Till a few days ago the party which was lambasting the ATS chief on communal and patriotic lines sends this fellow to the officers home to offer help!!! What can be a higher hypocrisy??? Mr. Chief Minister thank you for your one crore but no thank you please take that money and give it to the Godhra riot victims who have suffered so much and buy some boats to patrol the coastal waters near Pakistan from where the terrorists came .We aren’t fooled by your vote gathering schemes.
But there is hope and pride too as stories of extraordinary heroism by ordinary folks emerge. The announcer at CST station Mr.VD Zende who when two gunmen entered (CST) on Wednesday night and started firing indiscriminately at the people kept his cool and without even wasting a single moment started making announcements alerting people and cops about the firing. He was also constantly alerting the GRP and RPF and informed them about the firing without panicking doing his job effectively thus reducing casualties
Or the South African cricket teams security personnel who took frightened and confused guests out of the hotel. Or the staff at the Taj who went beyond the call of their duty. The sort of service was unnecessary perhaps but it was provided by people whose friends and colleagues were lying dead within meters of where they were and whose own lives were hanging by the thread . I know many of these young guys working in the Taj.Their job is not about procedures its about pride in your job ,pride in the organization you serve and a great satisfaction and belief that come what may your first priority are the guests and that you perform your duty even when its neither demanded nor expected. They might be trained to perform the meekest of service, deliver an ice bucket, and endure rude guests shouting at them for no reason and who are mostly treated with great indifference as if they do not exist as if they weren’t persons at all but now we all know that they were the real heroes
But unfortunately there are far too many stories of sadness, what with so many innocent lives lost so brutally and cruelly .They did not have to die .There will be anger there will be calls for revenge and sadly but surely there will be politics .Instead of coming together as a nation some of our politicians will try and divide us based on our religion, caste, creed, and even the state from where we come from .I really dread, I really really dread, just thinking how various political parties will now use this tragedy to further their careers My pain has been at the sight and plight of my innocent ,vulnerable and completely insecure countrymen facing the wrath of this terror attack and my wrath has been at the complete lack of the authorities that have been ordained to protect us.

Some of the Brave martyrs who laid down their lives in and FOR Mumbai –
ATS Chief Hemant karkare
The last days of Maharahstra anti terrorism squad (ATS) Chief Hemant karkare were probably some of the busiest in his 26 year career in the IPS.Today the entire force from IPS to the constabulary recall the man who stood for them and always led from the front.Karkare was known as a upright officer and courage as well as for his patriotism .He bought in his vast seven year stint in India external intelligence agency research and analysis wing (RAW) to good use in the force .With his long experience in the RAW he strongly believed that terrorism has no color and creed . He worked tirelessly and arrested those who were engaged in terrorist acts irrespective of faith. On Wednesday night karkare along with encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar and additional commissioner Ashok kamte had led the counter attack at the Cama and Albess hospital. They were wearing helmets and bullet proof jackets but were killed in the heavy terrorist firing. Fellow officers describe karkare as a rare example of humility with high thinking and his excellent execution of work

Major Sandeep Unikrishnan
Death is something every soldier has to make a pact with but that doesn’t lessen the suffering of the families who lose their loved ones in the line of duty .One Bangalore family’s saddest thoughts will always be entwined with terror in Mumbai .On Friday Major Sandeep Unikrishnan (31) of the NSG was felled by a terrorists bullet during a flushing out operation at the Taj. Entrusted with the task of evacuating hostages Sandeep was on his way down from one of the hotel floors when he came across an injured constable battling for his life .While trying to shield him Sandeep was felled by a terrorist bullet. He was driven by a desire to join the armed forces from his teens but his parents were opposed to the idea as he was their only son .However he convinced them of his dream of serving the nation rather then working in some office. Soaked in blood and pierced with bullets Sandeep’s body was later found where he lay fighting alone with the terrorists till they killed him

Senior Inspector Vijay salaskar
No probes no allegations no criminal cases against him .Senior Inspector Vijay salaskar never knew what fear was, this in fact was a trait he shared with many of the 450-odd officers from the 1983 batch of the Maharashtra police. The mere name of the encounter cop sent shivers down the spines of gangsters. The officer often liked to watch nature shows on National Geographic. He also enjoyed cycling and trekking .A 9 to 5 job did not satisfy his desire for social service and adventure. He decided to give up a job at the New India Assurance and appear for police exam. Within a year of his appointment he had shot dead a dreaded gangster wanted for many murders .In years to come he became a encounter specialist who was much respected in the police force .A busy cop he took time out to take the family out on a holiday at least once a year to places like Hampi.

ACP Ashok Kamte

On Thursday I saw a boy’s silhouette on TV as he performed the last rites of his father a father every son would be proud of. ACP Ashok Kamte is no more with the Maharashtra police leaving it poorer. A king size life replete with tennis, beret, golden retriever, gym guns and action had a sudden tryst with martyrdom. A kind man with pleasant personality and awesome biceps, a family man who called up his wife at least ten times in a single day everyday and who never gave a second thought to walking into a card shop in uniform and buying a valentine day’s card for her. For many police officials and contemporaries of. Ashok Kamte ACP east region the death of the upright officer is not just a personal loss but devastation to the Mumbai police force itself. On the day that he died he had called one of the policemen at his house to enquire about a wound he had on his leg. When he came to know the treatment would cost Rs.1500 he gave him the amount and told him not to neglect the injury. At every posting this officer who was without a trace of malice or did not say a bad word about anyone made a few friends who became friends for life.
A third generation policeman –his great grandfather was in the police force his grandfather was the first Indian to rise to the rank of the police chief (Inspector General in the Imperial Police of Bombay) and his father was a colonel in the Army. For his daredevilry Kamte was even profiled by the Mans World magazine. Batch mates also fondly remember him as a fitness freak who carried with him loads of gym equipment wherever he was transferred. He was a power lifter and a body builder who had broken three national records in power lifting and won half a dozen gold and silver medals. He had also won a bronze medal in the junior world power lifting championship. An awe inspiring personality he had a penchant to remain fit at any cost. He even excelled in swimming.
A 1989 batch IPS officer of the Maharashtra cadre Kamte was first posted as additional superintendent of police (ASP) of a naxal prone district. He also served in various places as superintend and DCP in Mumbai before being presently posted. He was also the deputy inspector general of the states ATS training school for a short period and was part of the UN mission posted in Bosnia. He was an avid dog lover and had two Golden Retrievers in his Pune house and two basset hounds with him at Chembur where he stayed.
During a communal riot in the interior of Mharashtra he led the lathi charge .The final tally – zero casualty, 112 fractures and no complaints. Interestingly the people of the place simply loved him thereafter. The crowds would flock to catch a glimpse of this imposing and impressive personality whenever he was in the vicinity. His constables saved his pictures on their mobiles for the motivation he provided them. He was a rare officer who even had a fan following. The AK (Ashok Kamte) Fan Club of Solapur had called a bandh to pay homage to their hero.
But beyond all these qualities what stood out most were the man’s undeniable valor, courage and integrity as a police officer that never buckled ever in the face of politicians.
This fearlessness intent of duty made him a hero of Solapur, a city he was called upon to handle as CP at a critical time in 2005.He famously bet a three time MLA for not adhering to time limit for bursting crackers .People turned out in large numbers threatening to immolate themselves if he was transferred out. PRESIDENT PRATIBHATAI PATIL AT kAMTE'S RESIDENCE
Assistant Sub Inspector Tukaram Omble
Tukaram Omble who was asked by his senior to take up position on marine drive on Wednesday after news of the firing met the two terrorist one of whom was captured due to this brave officers. Both the terrorists were armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles and hand grenades while this assistant sub-inspector (ASI) carried just a walkie-talkie. There was no way he could have survived the encounter but before dying he ensured that they did not harm anyone else by not letting go of the AK47 even as the terrorist kept pumping bullets in his stomach .He also ensured at least one of the terrorist was caught alive .

Havaladar Gajendra Singh Bisht The tiny village of Ganeshpur turned out in full strength to bid adieu to its hero Havaladar Gajendra singh bisht the national security guard commando who died fighting terrorists in Mumbai. His mortal remains were consigned to the flames with full military honors on Saturday afternoon with more then a thousand people from his own and the adjoining villages participating in it.
General Manager Karambir kang
On of the saddest stories of the savage siege at the Taj hotel was that of its General Manager karambir kang whose bubbly and chirpy wife Neeti and children (two sons who were 12 year old Uday –who was in cathedral school and six year old Samay) were burnt to death even as he worked tirelessly through the night and the next day to evacuate the hotels guests to safety. In a matter of a day the staff of this century old hotel have seen the interiors gutted the delicate wood work smashed the art panels damaged and the soaring dome entombed in angry black smoke, but they have also seen far worse .Chefs shot in the kitchens, staff and colleagues gunned down and their general manager bereaved in so bitter and sad a way.
Jordan Fernandes
Jordan Fernandes’s dreams to work in a luxurious hotel in the united kingdom were shattered on Wednesday after he was shot dead by terrorists at Kandhar an Indian restaurant in Oberoi .Jordan whom I personally knew and who was employed as a assistant steward was buried on Saturday 29 November, at the Mother of god church burial ground in Naigaon amongst hundreds who turned up to pay homage to this jovial fellow .Jordan who was on duty with some colleagues was serving guests when they heard gunshots.As they attempted to run a guest stopped him and requested Jordan to bring a important file that he had left behind inside the restaurant .He and a colleague returned and started looking for the file when a terrorist came in and told Jordan to set the tablecloths on fire and to turn the gas controls on .when Jordan refused to do so the terrorist fired three shots at him from a point blank range .The terrorist then set the cloths on fire himself and asked Jordan’s colleague to take him to the elevator .Jordan was shot thrice ,one bullet entered through his neck and shattered his right eye . Jordan is survived by his elder brother and his parents. The most saddening part of this is that the day that he died was to be Jordan’s last working day in Oberai as he was to fly to UK on January 15.

^^A MESSAGE FOR THE TERRORISTS ^^
Today I hold on to hope .Hope the striking difference between you and I .Because you had no hope you choose the path you did .Because I had hope I now have a choice to pick .My retribution to you and my resolution to your disease is in the choices I have made today .I choose love over hate knowledge over ignorance integration over isolation compassion over apathy construction over destruction and understanding over force .Just as you did not care if you survived as long as you created terror I too don’t care what becomes of you as long as I supplant this terror. In my last words to you I want you to know that even though you have been successful in victimizing an entire country you have failed because I along with millions of others will hold a kindled flame of hope .Just like only one of you could victimize an entire country it will take only one of us to destroy your disease, …but I am not alone the youth of India the frontier of the largest democracy on this planet is waking up .If its terror that has created you it is our humanity that will give you salvation. You will be given a fair trial by the very same country that you victimized,the taxes of the same people you so brutally killed will afford you a lawyer for your defense. You will be tried by an unbiased judge and in a impartial court and you will receive justice though you deserve none .This is the fuel of my hope ,this is the sanctity of my democracy this is the echelon of my people and this is the beauty of my country India .

My little sweetheart friend …..Pratiksha

Some days back I was talking to my dear friend on my cell phone when she suddenly said “I have to cut the call ...I will call you back in some time”. I said ok and she hung up. About ten minutes later when she called back again I asked her what happened she told me that she had cut the call because they wanted to say their family prayers. I asked her what prayers they recite to which she replied that her young daughter had led them in prayer by saying the Psalm91 .I then told my friend to ask her daughter if she could recite the prayer for me so that I could hear it .I was left stunned when this 9 year old kid who studies in the fourth grade, and has learnt this prayer by heart, recited this prayer very calmly and with great confidence from memory!!!!! I requested her to recite it again for me and while she was doing it recorded the prayer she was praying in my mobile. The psalm91 goes like this...

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation

When I thought and read carefully over these beautiful words from the holy bible the first thought that occurred to me was why do people need to read inspiration books when such and many many more inspirational and motivating quotes exists in the holy bible .Even people who are not Catholic can find great inspiration from just reading some verses from the Holy Bible. Personally I find the book “Ecclesiastes” in the Holy Bible very soothing to read. It has some outstanding poetry and very practical suggestions about how to go about ones life .

Now whenever I feel down I listen to my little friend’s sweet voice reciting this beautiful prayer calmly and confidently and I am filled with a sense of peace and draw comfort from her innocent voice which assures me that not all things are bad and that some things in this world are still so beautiful.

Thank you Pratiksha for this wonderful gift .May the Good Lord bless you abundantly keep you safe and ever smiling .May my mother, the most Holy Virgin Mother Mary, be with you always as you take your small faltering steps of your life . May you never, ever feel lonely because don’t forget, Your Guardian angel stands guard over you and is always there to watch over you as you sleep, play, study and go about your life so cheerfully.

My favorite Hide and Seek

They say all good things in life come in small packages. Well this favorite thing of mine does come in a package. It’s a deliciously chewy, crunchy cookie in a attractive pack and it comes with a funny and catchy name Hide N Seek. Hide N Seek….a game everyone has played for sure, but here my tongue plays this game with the chocolate chips each time I take a bite of Hide n Seek. I take my turn of closing my eyes as the chips hide inside the biscuit and before they can say ‘Ready’, I bite the crisp biscuit and let the chocolate chips melt in the mouth. What distracts me are the chocolate chips hidden in the biscuits.
Hide N Seek is a version of the Chocolate chip cookie. Little chips of chocolate ‘hide’ in the biscuit. With just the right amount of sweetness, these biscuits don’t cloy. It is heavy on the chocolaty flavor, which definitely goes down very well. However, since the taste of cocoa is strong, the sugar lover can be heard complaining that the biscuits are rather bitter. Not true. It’s just very chocolaty, as opposed to sugary sweet. Hide n’ Seek are square shaped biscuits with diagonal ridges and small grooves filled with chocolate chips. Furthermore this chocolate is also blended well with the biscuit preserving the crispiness of the biscuits at the same time. Parle‘s Hide n’ Seek have a different game to play each time that I play it. Here the classic cream from traditional cream biscuits is replaced by solid chocolate chips.

As I grew up, I managed to move beyond Parle-G and Krackjack and the tins of imported “Swiss cookies” regularly bought by my dad for me. In addition to these, there were the biscuits my mother made. She would prepare the dough and then shape them like cookies and bake them in a bakery nearby. These were old fashion bakeries which had a log fire burning and big metal trays where the bread and biscuits were kept to bake.Nowadays there are microwaves to do such sort of things.My mother made whole batches of cookies at one go, what with housefull of cousins and the ever hungry me around. She would fill up a big tin with these biscuits . When any guests would drop by for tea it would be moms cookies to the rescue if there was nothing else.When you had to return an empty plate to the neighbor, empirical practice suggested that you never give it back empty so moms cookies would do the needful again. Dinner is going to take time but feeling hungry?????cookies to the rescue again .If you look at the omnipresent tea or “cutting” stalls that dot the roads of Mumbai, there are some things which are common to all of them. The tea and the dirty glasses aside, another thing would be three or four glass jars. One would be filled with round cookies, one with Toast and one would be slice cakes. These serve as an ideal snack while having tea.

Turning to Hide n’ Seek’….It comes from the house of Parle, a name known for its original products. Parle is always the one to introduce a typical type of biscuits while the other brands follow suit. Parle started as a small scale industry in 1929. It started production of biscuits, which we still enjoy as ‘Parle-G’.Hide & Seek is India's first and only chocolate Chip Cookie, Although the basic difference between a biscuit and cookie is that Cookies are considered to be more Sweet and chewy while biscuits are brittle.Hide & Seek was launched in India in 1998. Although there were certain variants of Hide & Seek like orange flavour, only chocolate flavour survived. Hide & Seek is positioned as a premium snack cookie. The cookie market is estimated to be around 500 crore in the 5000 crore biscuit market. The baseline for Hide & Seek is “Taste itna ki Dil Aa Jaye" meaning your heart will love the taste.

I Started off with Hide n’ Seek’ during my engineering hostel days, carried on after that too and now every once in a while I do give in to its temptations….actually its more then once in a while!!!!! They make for a perfect solution to an after lunch sweet tooth attack. I can’t imagine anything better to do (sleep excluded) other than lying in my bed on a lazy Sunday afternoon reading the newspapers with a packet of hide n seek opened besides…ahhhhhh pure bliss I tell you besides they are filling as well. You can even crumble these cookies on top of your vanilla ice-cream….tastes wonderful. Everyday as I travel to work by train I pass the parle’s vile Parle biscuit factory with all its wonderful smells wafting around in the surrounding atmosphere and I begin my day thinking about the hide and seeks that are baking inside for me ……

Dignity and honor……. even in defeat

Everyone around the world is going gaga over the recently concluded U.S presidential elections and especially over the winner Mr.Barack Obama.He seems to be a fine young man and may make a wonderful president even though he faces a tough road ahead. He also seems to be much more knowledgeable, articulate, humane and approachable then that of his predecessor, the ever fumbling Bush who led his country into two wars and during whose watch America slid into recession and into financial collapse.

But I was more impressed by his opponent John McCain and the way he handled defeat. After the election results were announced this 71year old Vietnam veteran having Cris-crossed campaigning this vast country tirelessly for 24 moths accepted defeat very sportingly and with enormous dignity .I have to admit that initially I did not favor him much and wasn’t impressed by this friend and a fellow republican of Bush. I considered him too old and his views and policies too similar to that of bush.

John McCain who was a held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam for around five years of which two years were in solitary confinement and was severely tortured during this time displayed exemplary courage and valor when he was held as a p.o.w . When his captors came to know that he was the son of the commander of US forces in Vietnam and a very important Admiral they offered to release him for propaganda purpose but he declined the offer as he would only accept repatriation if every man taken in before him was released as well. After this time his torture was increased to such levels that he made a suicide attempt which was stopped by the guards. Due to the various forms of torture that he endured during those days and due to his wartime injuries McCain is permanently incapable of raising his arms above his head.

During the entire campaign McCain displayed and maintained exemplary honor, dignity and a gentlemanly conduct and a man to man respect vis-à-vis his political opponent .In a glowing example of putting his country first before himself and everything else too he deferred and shortened the 2008 Republican National Convention because of hurricane Gustav.He never indulged in personal character mud slinging stuff and what I found extremely surprising was at times he even defended his opponent himself!!!!!!!!!! One particular instance comes to my mind. McCain was somewhere in the U.S on the campaign trail and during his interaction with the audience someone, most likely one of his ardent fans, suggested that Obama was anti-national .McCain swung to his opponents defense and told the guy “No sir I don’t agree with your views, he is not a anti-national, he is very much a patriotic person who loves this country as much as I do, we just don’t agree with each others policies.” This type of standing up for your opponent and more importantly putting you neck on the line for your beliefs takes courage and shows you what kind of a real person McCain is .Even though having gone through numerous horrors and being subjected to immense torture and even after fighting plenty of personal battles he hasn’t let all of these things make him a bitter or a vengeful person. He is dedicated to serving his country as before and as faithfully as he had done it when he was in uniform .I just hope, that our own Indian politicians learn something from this fellow, from his dedication, from his love for his country and start doing something constructively for our people rather then just mud slinging at each other and indulging in corrupt practices and enjoying themselves at taxpayers expenses.

I was even more impressed by McCain when he delivered his concession speech. It showed how much this guy loved his country, how far he was willing to go for his countrymen, and of course how to be a gracious loser. In my book McCain is the real winner in this election .Ending this post with some lines taken out from McCain’s concession speech which touched me for their simplicity and which showed his love for his country….
“….. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly…..A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Senator Barack Obama to congratulate him….”
“…Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country. I applaud him for it, and offer him my sincere sympathy that his beloved grandmother did not live to see this day. Though our faith assures us she is at rest in the presence of her creator and so very proud of the good man she helped raise”
“…….I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together….”
“…..We fought — we fought as hard as we could. And though we feel short, the failure is mine, not yours.”
“……A lost election will never mean more to me than the privilege of your faith and friendship”
“….Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much. And tonight, I remain her servant. That is blessing enough for anyone…”
“…Tonight — tonight, more than any night, I hold in my heart nothing but love for this country and for all its citizens, whether they supported me or Senator Obama…”
“….I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president…..”

MY FIRST AND BEST GURU ...MY SIR .....VASANT PARULEKAR

Whenever I pick a book to read or start something to write, either a poem or some prose or a letter I am almost always reminded of Sir.

It was a sunny Sunday morning during the summer vacations after my fourth standard primary school, about 20 years back, that I found myself standing, with my dad, in front of a tall bespectacled man with kind eyes which radiated wisdom. Peering at me from under those bushy eyebrows, sizing me up, he motioned for me to come closer to him. Seeing my hesitation dad nudged me towards him. As it is I was extremely reluctant in the first place to go this "Sirs" place as dad called him. Sir made me sit near his chair and asked me lovingly in chaste Marathi "baal nav kai re tujhe?”(Son what is our name?).I told him my pet name instead of my real name as I was a little apprehensive and wondering who this mysterious man wearing dhoti kurta is and what is it that he was going to teach me. So from that day onwards I was very lovingly either called “baal” or by my pet name “boney” but which he pronounced “boni”. Sir had apparently helped my dad during his school days by coaching him in subjects in which he was weak. As introductions were taking place sirs wife whom I came to call Madame, during the many years that I would be going there, came out with steaming cups of coffee and some of my favorite jam biscuits for me.....

From that day on started a routine which continued uninterrupted for the next five years. I came to relish these encounters of ours with this wise and learned man. Each day after school I used to go to Sirs house. There was no fixed routine as such to these classes. Some days he gave me some excellent books he had personally chosen for me to read,on other days I was told to write some part of these passages on a white lined A4 sheet of paper to improve my then illegible handwriting. I still remember how he folded the paper sheet from both sides to mark the margins in between which I was to write and was always very lovingly reminded each and every time by him to only fit a certain number of words in a single line so that the handwriting looked clean and attractive to read. On some other day’s Sir read out parts of passages from a novel or some short stories and then encouraged me to write my version of it from my memory. I am still very moved whenever I recall Sir reading to me Sane Guruji’s(a great social reformer and orator) awesome novel “Shyamchi aai”(shyams mother) which chronicles the authors childhood and in which the author speaks so lovingly of his own mother. Sir finished the entire book in about two weeks by daily reading parts of it to me everyday!!!! He was the one who read and taught me to enjoy poetry as it should be enjoyed. He was the one who introduced books by the great stalwarts of English and Marathi literature to me, from Shakesphere, Woodsworth and Hemmingway to karandikar, Vasant Bapat and P.L.Deshpande.

Sir not only developed in me a love for books and languages, Not only did he improve my handwriting from a near illegible scrawling to the neat and tidy stuff I can put down on paper now, but gave me a gift, a talent, developed in me a character, an outlook all of which I will always carry with me for the rest of my life .From him I learned patience, dignity, respect for every human being irrespective of his worth in money. He lived his life on Gandhian principles of simple living and high thinking, always wore the traditional dhoti and wore a khadi kurta on top .Sir never took any fees from me for the entire duration that I went to learn from him .Actually he never asked or demanded fees from anyone who came to learn from him.He was content with what was given to him by the students on their own accord . He never counted his teachings worth in money. He did not open a shop to sell “vidya” the goddess that he so lovingly and faithfully worshipped. There was no board put on to advertise his `classes’ .He did not cheapen nor dirty education neither did he turn it into an industry to be profited from. He followed the age old Indian tradition of the `guru-shishya’ as faithfully as he could in this modern world of ours. What a paramount difference from today’s world that charges huge fees from gullible students to make them mug incomprehensive and stupid things and fill their heads with trash. During the years that I spent with this great man I have never ever seen him get angry!!! I have never heard him speak in a raised voice, never heard him speak ill of others. If any of his students misbehaved his most potent and always working medicine was that he never spoke to that person till he realized his mistake and corrected it.

Sir used to love Indian classical music a lot. Whenever he had some spare time you could always find him either reading a book or listening to some classical music. He used to listen to the music on his small tape recorder which lay by his bedside. Everyday, come rain or sunshine sir took a long evening walk. Sir had no children of his own. He considered all his students his children. He actually did treat them as his own. You could sense the care and love in his voice as he spoke, taught, and guided, each one of us.

Whenever my dad, who worked in the merchant navy, came home on his periodic holidays he visited Sir and they had long winding discussions on various topics. Sir was very fond of my mom who was a teacher .He used to ask her all sort of questions regarding her teaching .He loved the cookies that my mom baked specially for him. So periodically I would carry a fresh batch she made with me to his house. She would also get him yellow bananas and sometimes custard apples both from my granny’s farms. But the one thing that I religiously got for them, especially for Madame was a bagful of various flowers so that she could perform her puja.

Sir’s students ranged from a wide spectrum of society, from doctors and businessmen’s children to those of the peons and one widowed washerwomen’s son who I still remember ate his everyday lunch sitting in Sir's own kitchen ,Fed so lovingly by Madame .The students did not belong to any particular religion too. Hindus, Muslims, Christians all and everyone who came in search for knowledge were lovingly taught and respectfully treated by him. There were no religious, poor-rich or even caste based divides or biases by Sir who was himself a strict vegetarian and a Brahmin by birth.

Even in his death he taught a great lesson. As Sir had no children of his own his last rites (according to Hindu customs the pyre is to be lit by the eldest son) were performed by a Muslim and a Catholic, both of whom were his favorite and trusted students, according to Hindu rites. He himself had told both these students just before he drew his last breath. In a world torn and ripped apart in the name of religion specially in our country, India, were religious fires and communal passions are being allowed to be fanned and where people are being killed in the name of religion, one man abolished these boundaries long, long time back and showed to the world that even though we may profess different faiths, even though we may go to different places of worship, we are children of the same God and that we profess the same religion.......humanity.

Just before Sir’s death when he was admitted in a hospital, my mom and I had gone to see him. I asked him about his health and told him to take care of himself; he just looked at me and smiled, and asked me how my studies were coming along. Upon learning that my engineering exams were going on he gently told me “areee itkya lamb yaychi kai garaj hoti re boni? Mi thik ahe re”(there was no need to come so far to see me re boni, iam fine ).
Before leaving I felt like touching his feet (Age old tradition in India to touch ones teachers or guru’s feet and seek their blessings) Even though he was lying on his bed I just touched his feet and touched the hand back to my chest. Sir just said “are rahude rahude …dev tula sukhi thevo...”(aree let it be ,let it be ,may God always keep you happy)

This..... My first post on Blogger is dedicated to my Sir .His full name was SHRI.VASANT PARULEKAR ....Sir i miss you