477 Narayan Peth Pune 30

When I climbed up the stone steps of 477 Narayan Peth in Pune, maybe one and a half in numbers, after saying goodbye to Panchmarhi for good, it was 1957 and I was 4 and half years old. Owned by my grandmother from my mother's side it was definitely not a grandiose structure but had its own homely charm. It was rumoured that it had carried on since the times of Peshwas, I doubted, squarely doubted but never tabled my findings, maybe for not wanting to puncture their vacuous pride of phoney greatness, but if it was true then it showed. No design in the architecture even for the formality, storeys were raised, as and when required and more important when the money was available. So the ground floor did not have any semblance with the first and hind part was totally aloof from the front. 2nd floor looked like a distant cousin of ground but definitely step-sibling of 1st floor. Total 3 floors in all, ground plus two, but none was like the other. The number of rooms with their dimensions too was as if, at the cross with each other. Some floors had bigger halls while some had match stick box-like dinghy rooms where sunlight hardly made its presence felt. Out of 15 or 16 rooms, only 2 were with grandeur but the rest were not more than a stable. One on the top floor was decorated with glass bells in different hues hung upside down from the ceiling to use them as oil lanterns. During family or any other religious functions, they were lit using either pure ghee or vegetable oil lamps, as electricity had not come till then According to my mother as far as she remembered, from her age of 7 or so, 477 always had electricity from way back in the 30s, only after Mumbai when all the other cities and towns in province were years away from the new development and were still in the dark. If you ask about 'Tube Light', it made its ugly bright appearance much much later, for the common man may be in the early 60s.
The practice of keeping the tenants on rentals was a done thing. Investing thousands to build one's own house was considered colossal waste,  in cement and mortar. When with a paltry sum of, from Rs 10 only to maximum Rs 40 per month as rent, one could fetch a good house on rent in different 'Peths', why bother to own the house, was the thinking! On Deccan  Gymkhana  beyond the river, bungalows or part were sub-rented at a reasonable cost, though definitely more than the city side, but still affordable for the middle class families with a sole earning member working in government, as he used to get "House Rent Allowance"
Though umpteen such houses were available on rent, many of them in the posh area of western Pune why did my mother choose 477 Narayan, I always wondered till I stayed there, up to 1975, maybe she was having her own reasons.
My grandmother, her mother, maybe, was the strongest one. My grandmother was a woman of substance, solid substance. Though widowed in her early thirties, with 5 children to feed, one stepson and four her own she carried on stoically fighting on every front gracefully. She was absolutely illiterate but her grasp on the situation and the judgement of a person was on the spot, comparable to any of today's MBAs. She helped every one of her relatives by sheer hard work. She was the pillar of strength while managing weddings in the house. She literally used to toil knowing it fully well, 'Because she can not help monetarily, she has to help physically'. She was enthusiasm personified. Years after when my wife along with her friends reached 477 at 10.30 PM, she served all of them 3-course meal within minutes even though she was in her 80s then. She was a master cook in making traditional Marathi dishes, and I would blame her for my dislike for Puran Poli, no, no, no, she used to make excellent Puran Polis but because of variety of reasons, monitory paucity being one, she used to make Puran Polis for every other occasion from Padava, Dashera, Diwali to mundane Mondays in Shravan months. We got so fed up with Puran Polis that vowed never to eat them again!  
Younger years in 477 were absolutely wonderful. I came to know that I have an elder sister, along with uncles, aunts, cousins way too late. As all the relatives from my mother's side stayed under one roof but with separate kitchens, it always was a huge family circus with all the colours thrown in. We used to celebrate all the festivals like Diwali, Rangpanchami [ Holi] and family outings for movies, one-day trips, picnics together. It was really nothing but all the fun.
Later years in 477 turned out to be very painful for me. I spent my formative years in 477, I came off age in 477, which in itself was a very lonely affair, as in the given, prevalent social scenario in the class residing in 477 and alike, the subject was a taboo and was never discussed openly. It was taken for granted that the knowledge about sex comes automatically, to the boys. Not that I faced any grave problems but it was not less than traumatic. I started writing, around the same time. Got many prizes in local magazines for my short stories and poems.
Being extra sensitive, for a boy, I was to face so many things, in later years.
I happened to know another face of my father during the stay in 477 and it was not at all pleasant. In the truest sense, I could not develop any type of relationship with my father, healthy or otherwise during my formative years, because he was never around. Neither my mother was of any help as she was engulfed in her own grievances. Out of the 55 in my class only 3 had working mothers, she was one of them. So she really did not have the time to be there for our needs as she had to handle the household work, the meagre finances, her job singlehandedly. Maybe the ties there too did not develop strong so I was very eager to get away from 477 ASAP.
A point came when I was so desperate about the situation that I tried to end life. Maybe I was destined to face much more in coming years so I was saved but the scars of life in 477 remained throughout life.

Chennai , new introduction.

It was not as if an alien from the unknown frontiers was visiting the unknown territory for the first time, Chennai hardly requires an introduction, nor it was that I was visiting Chennai for the first time when it moulted from Madras into present-day pleasant metro-polis, Chennai.

The change was very very apparent as I had visited, the Then Madras, now Chennai, more than two and half decades last and more than three and half decades ago, when visited for the first. Change is so palpable that I almost fell in love with the city.

The first impression this time around, that mind made was of cleanliness. Coming from a city like Mumbai where ultra poshness goes hand in hand with absolute filth and having faint memories of all-pervading stench from Cooum added by Buckingham canal running through the very heart of the city during the first visit, this was like a shock. Roamed all over the city, took various streets, been through many suburbs but everything looked very neat and tidy flavoured with cleanliness. The shanties and slums were conspicuous by their absence. Even the river Adyar[u] seemed very clean though it is supposed to be polluted.No doubt why it was awarded the title of the best city in India in 2014 by India today and even today it boasts to be one of the ten best cosmopolitan cities in the world! 

In 1982-83 when I visited the city for the first time, 'Lungi' still prevailed as common attire for men and typical 9 yard silk sari worn around in Tamilian fashion for women. Lungis were adjusted by menfolk so frequently mid-street that I sort of became paranoid about anybody touching his, to adjust it. They used to loosen it around the waist, shake it 3-4 times, re-wear by tightening around the waist, once done, came the last, very shocking part, at least for me, then, they used to fold it midway, exposing hairy thick or thin legs, not a sight to fathom, to tuck in folds! Women with thick jasmine bands or any other seasonal flower in their jet black well-oiled tufts were to the core, Tamil beauties! Surprisingly not any more. The man wearing traditional Lungi/ Veshti hardly came by, if by any chance we could spot one, invariably he used to be in his seventies or above. Tamilian ladies, perhaps, have left their nine-yard saris only for either the weddings or extremely religious occasions. In a stay of 5 days, I did not see any lady wearing the traditional attire though maybe, in her 70s or above. Six-yard sari, even a Punjabi dress, [salwar- kameez with dupatta ], like any other lass or woman from other parts of India is the common dress code now. That's the arrival in the mainstream.

Another pleasant surprise was signboards in Devnagari !. No, not everywhere but at a few places where they should be, like IT, Excise departments. The organizations run by the local government or corporation still aver to use Devnagari, but the common man on the street, very loyal to his culture and language, at least does not blacken them! Though a most tourist frequented city why it is still averse to other languages eludes me no end! Common man [ Like taxi driver, Rikshawwala, doorman] on street though proclaims that he knows English, my experience is otherwise. He does not know anything beyond Tamil, which could be detrimental to him or is it, they are still thriving without it, aren't they? For me, I always feel bad about not learning any of the South Indian and/or the Modern European languages. For me, it's always more the merrier!

As I had already visited the city twice before as a tourist, did not bother to visit any of the so-called tourists' attractions but visited memorials erected for C N Anna Durai and Late Hon. Smt. Jayalalitha. The hold she has over the Tamil mind even after her death is phenomenal. The place was thronged by the devotees. I do not understand anything about Tamil politics, but it [ hold ] had to be because of the changes she has brought about in the common man's life, Chennai being the glaring example!

What I envied about Chennai the most, was it's Metro. By 2018, it will have operational Metro network of 45 km including an underground stretch of more than 8-10 km [ which was inaugurated when we were around, on 14th May,], that runs through, beneath the heart of the city, to be precise Chennai central Station. And in my city? Every hurdle is being erected by the ones who are not bothered about a common man who suffers the most or who are not going to use it because of their own opulence!

Today's Chennai is like how a mega-polis should be. Though thickly populated, though having every stratum on an economical basis, though having many many urban problems, it's still calm quiet and extremely safe city for, from toddlers to grown-ups and from girls to women! Can we say the same about our city?

P.S: This is my personal column to express what I feel from within. I don't intend to belittle or shame anybody deliberately or intentionally. Even then if someone feels hurt, I am extremely apologetic to him or anything in general.  

I,Me,My,Mine

Panchmarhi was [and still is] absolutely divine place because much of Gujju consumerism is years away from it, still! And there is a reason for it. All the spots in Panchmarhi are situated far away from the maddening crowd so to devour the real beauty of the nature one has to be literally on his own feet to reach the place, walking. No direct motor-able road so that, you move your heavy posterior just to have a glimpse, eat khakra from the wrinkled paper and throw it away when the task is finished, is not a done thing. It can not be. One has to walk miles to reach fairy pool, now named as Apsara Vihar. Same for Chhota Mahadeo, Gupt Mahadeo or Jata Shankar. Naturally all happy go lucky, merrymaking crowd gets out, actually like in cricket, 'OUT'!

The entire area was under the control of Military so the village Panchmarhi was there but only for the namesake. It was on the other side of the river and one has to cross a smallish bridge on 'Ranee Kund' A lone cinema theatre 'Pearl was in Military area and used to screen popular Hindi flicks for the military men. The night of the viewing was an event in itself. Open trucks in dark green colour used to ferry us from our houses, many a time on such occasions be it a cinema outing, 15th August parade or flag hoisting on 26th Jan. Being on higher rank our family travelled to a cinema hall in Red-coloured car, the model I forget but the 1st movie that I saw in my lifetime, I still distinctly remember, was ' Tilottama'.  The moving frames of hero singing a song for the heroine in an ornate boat, decorated with lots of flowers still linger, sometimes, rest of the details are erased, naturally. Oh, so many memories, I myself even sometimes wonder, how for a lad of just 4 or 5, some still at a younger age, so many things left their vivid impressions, that still could be relived again and again!

I with my wife visited Panchmarhi 30 years after we left it but I could take her to all the places which I was remembering like lines on my palms!

I was enrolled in Preprimary, nowadays called as KG, in Laxmi Balak Mandir just opposite Nana Classes in Sadashiv Peth Pune, after we left Panchmarhi. Quite a distance from my home in Narayan Peth. But many times I repeated my 'Zaria' feat, that is running away from the school to reach home, again at the age of 5 or so.  So Mrs Phansalkar was appointed for the task. She used to carry 3 or 4 like-minded kids in a wheelbarrow type, 4 wheeled pushcart, that was enclosed, almost like a cage. I was a NAUGHTY child no doubt, in spite of all these watertight arrangements I still used to run away from school to reach home to play! One impression of those days is still alive in the back corners of the mind. In a lane between Sadashiv Peth Houd and Umbrya Ganapati Chowk in the by lane on the left side there lived eunuchs. Particularly one eunuch, no he did do anything to me, nor did he come within 100 meters distance from me, I was the one who was curious and used to observe him keenly. I never understood in those days, why he used to wear spik n span clean white male dhoti in the morning though with a neatly tied bun on the top and used to be in complete female attire as the dusk descended. Many years later I read about the clan and still don't know what I feel about them even now, sympathy mostly!

Without knowing the 'A' of Marathi and speaking fluent Hindi, in early years in Pune, we were treated like animals exhibited in the zoo. All the aunts from both the sides used to harass us by making us recite the verses we knew in Hindi. One that was based on me I still distinctly remember.

                              'Nanga Dhadanga, Dhobika ladka

                               Thalibhar Mithaee Chura Churakay Khayee'

I must have recited it ad nauceum.  In those days a toy named 'Toka' was very popular. I was rotund and with full cheeks so I was forced to sit in the pose of 'Toka' in front of every visitor. Legs folded at the knees, hands kept on them with head resting on them in a tilted way, with eyes opened well rounded, exposing your entire iris [Like Ramaya in Bahubali] When I realized the game I started demanding a bribe, which I happily used to get.
She did not teach us anything, never ventured near the school hall, even though she resided in the same premises of school with her only daughter. But she carried a distinct pleasant aura around her that was almost palpable and amounted to simplicity adorned with piousness. Years after when I passed out my secondary board, I came to know that she was the widow of Mr Narayan Apte accomplice of Mr Nathuram Godse. But she always wore her 'Mangalsutra and other married woman's adornments according to the last wish of her executed husband, till her last! Today I feel we were deliberately enrolled in such schools and I am still proud to be a part of them. Gandhism never died, true, but Godse philosophy too Congress could never kill!

I,Me,My,Mine

I think we probably were in 7th grade or so when we were introduced to terms I, Me My, Mine by our English teacher Mr Lanke. Actually, though we had English as a subject from 5th grade, he was the one who made foundations of English grammar solid by getting it mugged from us in a lyrical pattern. So the whole class used to recite after him,'I, Me, My, Mine, He, She, It, They, Them, Their, Theirs' and we automatically learnt it by heart. He had some different rhythm for, He, She, His Her etc, unfortunately. that I don't remember like the first one. 

I, Me, My Mine. In fact, they encompass the whole world. If you omit these, is anything left?

How long I remember being me? 

I was born in Panchmarhi, a beautiful hill station situated in Satpura ranges in today's Madhya Pradesh. In those days it was known as Central Province Central India [CP, CI] to a middle class Marathi couple having an illustrious background. My father's family-owned lands in acres and practically were landlords. Albeit in a different way because my grandfather was a double graduate in that era and was a well-revered figure in the province. My mother came from a family of Diwan Bahadurs where her paternal uncle was BE from Manchester and father was Mamaletdar in British Raj. Unfortunately due to the turns of the events both families had to see bad days because my maternal grandfather died when my mother was seven or around while due to land reforms my father became penniless within no time and we became lower-middle family with just existence.

It's really surprising though I was born in Military Hospital I never had a birth certificate. So whatever birth date was put while seeking admission in primary school stuck with me. It did bother me, but slowly, maybe years after, I made truss with the fact and got over the sense of injustice.

Even though we stayed in Panchmarhi till I was five or so, my memories of my birthplace were[are] very distinct. So much so that, I, in coming years could always visualize the entire topography vividly with details to the last. Our bungalow was situated on the edge of a valley which was densely forested. Visit by the leopard , even striped tiger was a frequent event and stories about somebody caught, always circulated. Our sweeper, I still remember her name, Dhania too was the victim. The bedroom situated on the farthest end of the bungalow, many a time was visited by the serpentine guests and I remember my mother recoiling with fear taking me and my brother, senior to me by 2 years under her umbrage in the front hall waiting for my father to return from his work in the military offices. Another frequent visitor from the jungle was a spider, the species was so big that it could have easily measured up to the size of a closed fist. 'Makdi' was feared for another reason because even a casual touch by it used to give a severe allergic reaction. Eruptions used to be so big that if on the face, they gave disfiguring scars lasting for a long time. I remember visiting a daughter in law from the next bungalow who had to face the ordeal. Her face I still remember was no less than ghastly.

I was a naughty child and though always heard all the stories above, did not fear to venture out on my own. I never liked clothes on my torso [ even today I like to be as near as possible to the mother nature] but as the paths were rough and had a lot of thorny bushes along sides, shoes were must. So once, sans any clothes, even for shame, but with shoes, on to protect feet from biting thorns I had ventured out without telling anybody to have a dip in a small rivulet about a mile and a half from the house, known as 'Zaria'. And of course, there erupted big havoc.' Benurwar's son is missing' was the chant, mostly fearing, whether the boy is taken away by a wild cat or fell off the steep edge in the valley. Totally unaware of the drama that went on for hours I returned home fresh after a nice dip in the water in my birthday suit! Now I don't remember the faces of my parents, but one thing is sure that I was neither scolded nor reprimanded nor had few spanks on my posterior but got a tight hug from both, with tears flowing freely from the eyes.!

I and my brother hardly spoke Marathi, which I find intriguing. Maybe because my father came from the same adjoining area he might be more conversant in Hindi. But it was sure that till the age of 5 for me and 7 for my brother we never spoke Marathi!

Being in military services many daily chores were taken care of by the attendants allotted by the army. So we had Nimbuji who used to bring his buffaloes in the front yards and Benurwars used to get more than dairy fresh milk because he used to milk them in front of us in our own utensils. Lukewarm frothy milk was no less than divine. We had it until we left the place.

I and my brother had personal attendants to look after us. Mine was Halaku while my brother's was Michael. Being Christian Michael was more erudite while Halaku, as the name suggested, came from lower caste so was more submissive but definitely more caring and loving than Michael! Of course, even being high-class Brahman my father, never bothered about such class and caste discrepancies and so I used to happily roam all over Panchmarhi on Halaku's broad shoulders. No ritual of a bath after climbing down from his shoulders. Really my father was way ahead of times in many respects. Religion was only one minuscule from them.

Surrounded by small hillocks and big mountains from all the sides Panchmarhi was more than picturesque. Sitting on the steps taking one to the main hall of the bungalow, was the spot for endless games. Dhoop Gargh was visible while sitting on the steps. on the left hand while bang opposite in front, towards Northwest, was Chaurya Gargh. Dhoop Gargh was nearer and more visible and some sadhus used to reside there.in tents or were they caves ?. The kerosene lanterns they used to light in the evening and night used to be visible from our bungalow and it was game to count them. It was a sight to watch when they swayed on the loft of air but looked eerie if you thought how in the first place, they hanged from nowhere?

To Be Continued As I ME MY MINE

Survival Instincts.

Happened to see 2 or 3 short films by National Geographics, where it was shown how a porcupine making use of its quill-spines gets away from a panther or in another when a lioness is still hanging on the jugulars how bison cow gets away fighting extremely hard and saves her own life at the last moment. Both were mind-boggling as well as eye-openers.

In Human jungle too, the survival instincts of below-average IQ individual are absolutely paramount. For someone, with a higher level of understanding, It's really difficult to survive in the world that largely comprises of averages. As soon as this average world gets a sniff, even the faintest one that you are a bit different, forget about being gifted or plain intelligent, the fangs are out and every method, plan, ploy, politics is tried to show that, how you are not so and you too are having feet of clay like us And If the greatness is accepted, mostly reluctantly, then every effort is made to show that, you are just as equal as jus! Maybe attitude condescending on my part but I am not going to be apologetic about it.

This World is not equal. Take any level, platform, parameter, damn anything we have differently endowed people [! tongue in cheek].

When the one with low intelligence is entwined with another one with better capabilities, all arms of the ammunition are used in the war, if it happens to be between spouses. Cheating, lying, stabbing in the backs, adultery, crying, low-level politics, verbal heart-wrenching duels, nothing is spared. Till the other one really is made into a spineless ball of slime, the parties don't stop. Here the survival instincts of the one with below-average prerequisites, come to the fore vehemently. It's the question of survival so the last word has to be in winning pocket, and they go to any extent to have it. There is no rationale, no remorse, no ethics no manners, no discretion, you name a virtue from the polite civilized intelligent world and its trampled under the feet with glee. 

I have come across many such couples where the intelligent partner is never given due respect. Two different individuals with different capabilities, in all aspects, physical mental, emotional, intelligence come together in a mostly hypothetical artificial institution called marriage and at the word go, they become equal! Unfathomable! Here, it's not the question, who is a male partner or who is the female one! Many intelligent women only because they belong to that gender, are not given the opportunity to show their mettle! Just to give example, many girls from my class of M.B.B.S., are not doing anything because their either spouses or In-laws did not allow them to venture. Similarly, Arts and Commerce graduates are making lives of many professionally gifted people difficult by competing with them to have the last word and just to show that who wears the pants in the house. One with discretion just gives up, but in that case, is it a good marriage?!

The real sport spoilers are the ones who have an average IQ. The ones with ultra-low IQ or differently-abled, are beyond all these humanly emotions, and mental intricacies and they have to accept all the help what normal average world could offer. Superior ones are in a different league altogether and are really not bothered about the world beyond them. They just brush aside the normal world. They don't need to fight for survival, it's there in them! Period. 

The ones those have enough IQ to, at least, understand that they don't have 'IT', do the most mischief. And then all those games, ploys, petty politics, tantrums. Well, I have made, my point. I, when get pulled in to this whirlpool, where do I stand? No answers! Maybe I give up!

Residents continued

1.Doctor: Patient ratio in India is one of the lowest in the entire world. To top it, the Government allots minuscule funds for the health. The one that reaches the actual field is still lesser due to enormous pilferage. As the health schemes by the government are malfunctioning because of these and a variety of other factors, patients have to seek help from the private sector. If we want these patients to come back to 'Sarkari' services, the system has to be overhauled drastically and must be freed from political interference.

2. Due to enormous development in the field, the outgoings have increased accordingly. Thus the investment amounts to millions. The Medical professional who already has spent 15 to 20 years for education/specialization/super-specialization and then investing in crores by taking loans, is not going to run his private enterprise on a charitable basis. By the time when a young Doctor has to go through these and other ordeals, he ceases to be naive principled self. To top it, when google trained self-educated half baked nuts wonder, 'How come you are not having 'X' machine or facilities for 'Y' investigation?' he is bound to lose his cool. Thus when not asked for, investigations are good but as soon they make a hole in the pocket, they become unnecessary, this double standard won't do.

3. If Doctor is God to you, you must have faith in him like you have, in the real [ to be frank, fictitious] one! Already he has been brought under the consumer act, so automatically you become the buyer, thus you can not eat cake and have it too. Either he is a God, so have faith or he sells the commodity so you get what you have asked for. You can not change the stance according to what suits you.

4. As said previously 'Health' is one's own responsibility. To neglect it and then put the onus on the Doctor for treatment is an injustice to the Doctors.

5. All the Medical Colleges run by the private trusts have political patronage. As they are run by the political bid-wigs, they are hardly under the control of the government. Society should rise against them, as these are money-making factories for politicians. 'I have money, so my son will be a Doctor' type of attitude of society must also be abhorred. These guys and gals are going to deal with human lives so the selection to the course must be purely on the basis of merit and not on caste and on 'How much money his guardian can shell out'.

6. Is there any instance, when the resident was being beaten, he was rescued by the bystanders or did any channel at least spell this out? Does not it amount to callous behaviour on the part of media?

7. Rather than discussing these crucial aspects of the problem, to keep on harping on the other aspects of medical profession amounts to backing these goons in their unruly deeds. So-called 4th pillar of the democracy must keep this in mind. In today's paid media this seems improbable.

8. What is happening with the middle class society is, It has the freshest knowledge from West about the diseases, courtesy Google/Internet but it conveniently wants to forget that it costs money. Today's Doctors have Ultra-modern Knowledge from West to be practised in society with African facilities and people with the tribal mindset. If one can afford a cinema viewing in an ultra-modern air-conditioned mall, when single screen cheap entertainment is available, he must also make the provisions for his 'would' be ailments well in advance. And if you can't afford private treatment, you must have faith and patience for the governmental treatment for the reasons cited above.

9. If the common man on the street is going to get affected so badly when these doctors make themselves unavailable, then it is society's responsibility to take care of them. Unsympathetic utterances by the courts are not the news to rejoice.

10. Doctors are part of the same society which itself is not blame-proof. He too is looted by the other factors of the society [ more so, Doctor hai, maal wala hai]. Political pressures at the district levels are absolutely killing. All these political social workers who threaten the doctor of dire consequences if 'their' patient is not cured, run away when it comes to the payment of the bill.

11. In fact, society, in general, requires introspection and a lot of education, to understand what one means by democracy. That every disease can not be cured and every person can not be saved. There are limitations to human en-devour and medical sciences. Man still does not know the human body and the diseases fully.  And whose job it is to educate the common man? In Lok. Tilak and Agarkar's times it was done by socio-political leaders. I don't see anybody of that calibre in today's times. Instead of making the common man erudite, today's leader is more interested in keeping him illiterate and uninformed so that he can get away with his loot.

In spite of having the clear in-discriminatory picture, if some experts still feel that the Patients should not be held at ransom by going on strike, they should come out with an amicable solution. 'To tell them to leave the job,' is not the answer because from where are you going to get doctors to fill up these vacancies. To be frank, everybody knows that without these doctors and Doctors in general, health care and society, in general, will collapse! Even then .....

Residents again

And the cat is out of the bag. CM has cheated poor doctors by giving white lies. Yet another resident doctor gets attacked in Thane. No security provided!

After spending 47 years in the profession, having 2 other doctors in the home, going through the same rigmarole I definitely feel, the malaise is not with the doctors but with the society and the heartless, emotionless government it elects who does not have empathy, not alone for the doctors but for any other segment of the society. They are busy only in saving their own seats.

The recently concluded mass leave[strike] of the doctors was not a win for the government but victory snatched away at the gunpoint. Right from the society to press to judiciary nobody was caring for the just demand of the doctors.

Always the point discussed was the hardships being faced by the patients. But the demand put by the residents,' We want safe working conditions' was totally ignored. Was it really a that big deal?

The entire discussion by all the media strayed away from this basic point and every time what was discussed was, "How the Doctor has estranged from the society in general, and how has he become more money minded and is harassing the ones who consider him no less than a god".Somewhere along the line implying that " Aren't these assaults, the culmination of these factors?" The entire discussion kept going on, on the same lines not allowing the rational one to put his point forward, absolutely one-sided game.

We have to look at this from two different angles because they are different. 

The resident doctors who work in these institutions are young girls and guys hardly in their mid-twenties. After finishing M.B.B.S., a 5 and 1/2 years long course which they get in, after really toiling for years and getting qualifying in the toughest entrance exam securing more than 90% of marks. After going through the ordeals of like another entrance and society made ones, like reservations, they are in the position with most difficulty. It's pertinent to understand that these youths, who have sacrificed their flowery days in junior college for studies, who are mostly from cultured, educated families are not callous or negligent. They face so many hurdles even carrying their mundane activities that it's not surprising that they are exasperated for lack of safety at their working place. A tremendous amount of workload in government hospitals, inadequate hostel facilities, substandard food, lack of sleep, lack of mandatory cleanliness, understaffed departments, they themselves having fewer colleagues to share the responsibilities, but they are/did not fighting/fight for these issues, they are on the roads for their own safety. I feel this must be discussed and dealt with on the war footing.

The patients who visit government hospitals are definitely underprivileged on many accounts along with the curse of illiteracy, ignorance and undernourishment and poverty. The people belonging to this stratum of society are totally unaware of the intricacies of Medical/ Health juggernaut. The paucity of equipment, staff, medicines and the sheer number of beneficiaries, it's just beyond them. After coming to a passe when medical treatment too won't work they rush to the hospital wanting everything" Now, immediately" including results. Unfortunately, class 4 officers being permanent, are not bothered about the urgency of the situation and in many instances, the resident doctor runs from pillar to post to get the things done because he is the "Face" of the hospital and he is genuinely bothered about the patient! And naturally, he is the first one to take the brunt of the ire.

Those who advise them," To leave the job if can't work in the prevailing situation" never go for the treatment to these hospitals but rush to either Hinduja or Breach Candy. And other so-called leaders cum Social workers and ministers too!

"My health is my concern" This basic concept is just miles away from Indians. Now, Immediately, ASAP and FREE is the call of the day. A mob mostly rowdy at the word go enters the casualty/hospital with a single patient and beats up a lone doctor mercilessly and rather than raising the voice for this young doctor who might lose his eye, diverting the topic to how much Doctors earn, is plain dirty politics! To earn the goodwill of masses and just to SELL!

To be continued. 
Many points are taken from article by Dr. Mohan Joshi President IMA branch Pune

sacred thread and much more

 जानवे ह्या प्रकाराविषयी काही वाचण्यात आलं म्हणून हा प्रपंच. 

Gypsium ह्या वनस्पतीचा तन्तुजन्य भाग जो  पूर्णपणे cellulose असतॊ त्याला विणून बनविलेल्या धाग्यांपासून बनवलेली एक वस्तू . एक धार्मिक वस्तू. एक हिंदू धार्मिक वस्तू. म्हणजे जानवे. पण त्याविषयी जे वाचलेले आणि त्याला मिळालेल्या likes पाहून हसावो का रडावे तो कळेना. 

 जानव्याला ९ तंतू असतात 

१. पहिला तंतू  ओंकार . ओंकार हा स्वर  आहे . स्वरयंत्राचा विविक्षित वापर करून हा उच्चारता येतो. ह्यात जीभेबरोबर छातीचे गालाचे स्नायूही वापरावे लागतात.  कुठल्याही स्वराला अर्थ भाषा किंवा परंपरा देते. हि परंपरा नसल्यामुळे शांघाईच्या याँग टॉन्गला वा ब्राझीलच्या पेड्रोला ह्या  ओंकाराचे काहीही सोयरे  वा सुतक नाही. आम्हाला आहे कारण संस्कार .थोडक्यात ब्रेन वॉशिंग त्याच प्रमाणे स्वर यंत्राची हालचाल जरी सारखी असली तरी आणि त्यामुळे येणारे उच्चारण जरी सारखे असले तरी भाषापरत्वे दोघांचाही अर्थ अतिशय भिन्न असतो, असू शकतो. 'जून ' ह्या उच्चारणात इंग्लिश कंठ आणि मराठी कंठ सारखेच स्नायू वापरतो पण इंग्लिश मधला अर्थ हॊतॊ ६ वा  महिना तर मराठीतला अर्थ हॊतॊ निबर. त्यामुळे फक्त विविक्षित स्वरामुळे ईश्वरी शक्ती चेतावते असं मानणं म्हणजेच अज्ञान आहे. 

२. दुसरा तंतू अग्नी बाळगतो. आता अग्नि आणि कापूस एकत्र आल्यावर राखेशिवाय काय उरणार आहे. 

३. नवनाग . आता रानावनात राहणाऱ्या नागासापांचे कापसाशी काय काम, काय संबंध? पण तो आहे त्या जानव्यात . 

४. सोम म्हणजे चंद्र. पृथ्वीच्या ह्या उपग्रहाची जानव्यातील उपस्थिती अनाकलनीय आहे. 

५. पितर . हा जन्म जगताना  समजता समजत नाही  तिथे शेकडो वर्षांपूर्वी वर गेलेले पितर जानव्यात कशाला येतील. एक तर पुनर्जन्म आहेकी नाही ह्यावर एक मोठे प्रश्नचिन्ह, शिवाय  असलेल्या जन्माची शाश्वती नाही पितरांचे कुणी पाहिलेय  

६. प्रजापती: ब्रह्मदेव ४ तोंड असलेला हा देव 'काल्पनिक 'मानण्याशिवाय काही पर्याय आहे. siamese  twins जन्माला येतात पण ती फार काळ जगू शकत नाहीत. 

७. वायू म्हणजे वारा . वाऱ्याची निर्मिती भौगोलिक परिस्थितील बदलांनी होते इथे जानव्याचा काय संबंध 

८.. सूर्यनारायण एक अतिशय  तप्त वायूंचा काहीही ठराविक आकार नसलेला तारा . तो जवळ आला तर जानवेच काय परिधान करणाराही भस्मीभूत होऊन जाईल 

९. विश्वदेव आता हा आणखी कोणता नवीन concept 

सगळाच मानण्या ना मानण्याचा व्यवहार . कुठलाही असंदिग्ध पुरावा नाही. 

हे इथेच थांबलेले नाही. 

४ वेद ६ शास्त्र [ म्हणजे काय]१८ पुराणे १५ कला १२ मास ७ वार २७ नक्षत्रे 

वेद पुराणे हि मानव निर्मित आहेत आणि आधुनिक मान्यतेप्रमाणे त्यांचा काळही  फारसा प्राचीन नाही  . कोणतेही मानव निर्मित काम सत्याच्या, चिरंतन सत्याच्या कसोटीवर उतरूच शकत नाही. कारण त्यात  लिहिणार्याचे चैयक्तिक बायस  येणारच आहेत. वेद अपौरुषेय मानतात. हि संकल्पनाच अनाकलनीय आहे. लिपी नसल्यामुळे ते लिखित स्वरूपात उपलब्ध  नसतीलही पण मौखिक स्वरूपात तर हॊतेंच होते.आजही कोकणी भाषेची वेगळी परिस्थिती नाहीये. भाषा आहेच आहे पण मान्य लिपी नसल्यामुळे देवनागरी आणि रोमन अश्या दोन्ही लिप्यात लिहिली जाते.  जिथे जिथे मानव टोळ्यांनी वसाहती केलेल्या तिथे  तिथे त्यानीं स्वतःची स्वर योजना तयार केलेली जीन हळूहळू कालपरत्वे भाषेचं रूप घेतलेलं . त्यामुळे आफ्रिकेत वेद आढळत नाहीत. किंवा भारतात बनलेले वेद cantonese मध्ये नाही रचले गेले. जिथं स्वरांच्या स्थिरतेचा पत्ता नाही तिथे कुठल्याही  हिंदू रचनेला अंतिम सत्य मानणं नक्कीच चूक ठरेल  

अजून काही गमती. गंमतीच म्हणायला पाहिजेत. 

२७ नक्षत्रे ताऱ्यांच्या ठराविक रचना . त्या आपल्यालाच पृथ्वीवरूनच अश्या दिसतात कारण अर्था अर्थी एकमेकांशी त्यांचा काहीही संबंध नाही. चंद्रावरून वा मंगळावरून त्या   totally वेगळ्या दिसतील . 

१५ कला : बाजारात चौकशी करा आता किती आहेत म्हणून. plumbing ची कला होती का त्यात, आज plumbing शिवाय पान  हालणार नाही. 

पंचमहाभुते : एकदम tribal . पृथ्वी आप तेज वायू आकाश 

एकेकाळी ह्या नैसर्गिक गोष्टी अश्या का वागतात ह्याचा बोध नसल्यामुळे आदी मानवाने केलेले हे वर्गीकरण त्या काळात [कदाचित] योग्य होते, [कारण न्यूटन आमच्या देशात नाही पैदा झाला] पण आता ? ४००० वर likes मिळण्यासारखं ह्यात काय आहे. कि आम्हीही अजून त्या tribal  mind सेट मधून बाहेरच  पडलेलो नाही आहोत  आप म्हणजे पाणी दोन  भाग हायड्रोजन एक भाग प्राणवायू . अंतराळाच्या कुठल्याही कोपऱ्यात गेलात तरी. चिरंतन सत्य ते हे. आता पाणी आले कि त्याचे गुणधर्म येणारच. त्याची शास्त्रीय मीमांसा न करता त्याला डायरेक्ट महाभूत मानायचं आणि तेही आजच्या युगात. हे like करणाऱ्या समस्त बांधवांनो जरा तरी विचार करा
प्रकृती पुरुष पंच विषय ज्ञानेंद्रिये वेगळी कर्मेंद्रियर वेगळी
सर्व डोलारा कंसेप्ट्स वर उभारलेला. आजच्या काळातील वैज्ञानिक निकशांवर एकही तत्व खरं  ठरणार नाही.
शिवाय ह्याला जातीवाचक tone आहेच. कोणी म्हटलंय, काही ब्राह्मणेतर जाती वापरतात, पण सर्वाना अधिकार आहे ?SC /ST वापरतात ? एक मराठा लाख मराठा म्हणून समाज फोडण्याचे काम चालूच त्यात आणखी भर
हे सर्व सोडा आजच्या विज्ञानाने जे सिद्ध केली त्याची कास धरा कारण त्यामागे अभ्यास आहे संयुक्तिक विचार आहे. आणि ह्या बळावर पाश्चिमात्य देशांनी केलेली प्रगती आपल्यासमोर आहे.
पुराणातली वांगी पुराणातच बरीं असं आपणच म्हटलंय

My paintings

Here are my few paintings I would like to exhibit them. Any body having 'Know how' how to go about it.

Me as a voter

Since the times they considered me eligible for voting, that to be exact, 43 years ago, I had been religiously voting in every election held till now, except this one! The candidates whom I voted so far, almost always lost, if got elected by chance, their party lost. So all in all my vote was always wasted. And the change occurred. Winds started blowing in a different direction, and Indian national Corrupt[ INC party], started losing foothold practically in all areas, including lowest level at municipal elections. 

But going by the accounts may be planted news in daily newspapers and mostly, bought electronic media, in this election, the picture was extremely gloomy. Right from the selection of the candidates, distribution of the tickets to whirlwind propaganda [ what else could it be called, the campaign seems to be a very mild word] every party stooped to such a low level of civility that every leader and his candidates[ Henchmen?] almost looked like tartars from the middle ages barging ahead to loot the richest corporation in India. With no bars held, it was, call it 'Tamasha, Nautanki', whatever, of first-order held at a red light area of any city. Abuses were hurled left, right and centre, contrived charges, without any concrete proof what so ever, were made without bothering about the dignity of the person, more importantly, the post they are holding. And like any civilized sober human being, I started feeling,'This is not my game.' I do not want anything out of the normal legal ways from these elected representatives as they never ever represent my class, 'Erudite, educated, well informed and legally well-behaved people.' On the contrary in my profession, even though I am in every which way, on the right foot vis a vis a patient, this rogue corporator is never going to educate the wrongly informed, ill-conceived, semi-literate abusive party worker but is going to instigate him against me!

Though I had made my mind, not to vote, even not to exercise 'NOTA' as I had done in past elections, I did go to the booth. In fact, I could have exercised 'NOTA' again, but really, does it count in a country like India where more than half the population does not understand the meaning of democracy in the first place For 'NOTA' to be effective the electorate has to mature, at least up to some level. 

There was this huge queue of low brow [Sorry, extremely personal opinion] voters jostling to get the voter's number from the clerk. She looked absolutely exasperated. Being a polling officer she had to be compulsorily polite, though every odd one, from party worker to actual voter, who could have been illiterate maid to semi-literate factory worker was trying to bother her from every angle. As usual 'Voters' lists were inaccurate.After waiting in the scalding sun for 30 minutes or so and not getting my number I lost my cool and started venturing homewards. And I got the shock of my life. 

On a big board, the information, personal as well as economic, of every candidate was displayed in bold letters. Out of 14 odd ones, only one was postgraduate, hardly two or three graduates but more than 70% were school dropouts, not completing even 10th!  One was under trial if convicted could be behind the bar for at least 3 to 4 years!

Me, my son, daughter and every child in my near circles, had to appear for dozens of qualifying examinations to get into professional courses. And here to run the profession of the richest corporation of India anybody and everybody is eligible, no qualification, what so ever is required! No wonder nepotism, corruption, bribery is rampant in these institutions and at times the decorum of the house is brought to the level of the fish market!

I could not wait for a second more and for the first time in my life I came back without voting and I don't feel guilty! 

War of Roses with masks !

There was this movie, called "War of Roses" starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, an absolutely disgusting narrative on something like a marriage that could be beautiful, serene and romantic. The relationship between these two individuals goes so sour, that one feeds the other a dish made from the meat of his beloved dog! I just abhorred and cringed.

What the heck, what this relationship mambo jumbo is all about! Over the last 50 years, I have been trying to decipher the code that garners a good relationship but that has eluded me so far. Of course in the tender age, I did not understand the intricacies of the word but I did feel the rejection. Though as kids, we all were at the same level, good looking among-st us were preferred over the darker one and sharp-tongued like me, in simple gestures like distributing sweets or buying cherished things. I went to school without an umbrella or raincoat of my own for years together. Went to school barefoot for a complete one year when I lost my foot-wares while playing at a friend's place. So the game starts very early.

In my own way, I tried to float above the waters utilizing all resources available at my disposal but this relationship bug always pulled me down. I never understood, what leads to a really good, tension-free relationship, may it be with anybody, right from your parents to your siblings, your friends or last but not the least your spouse.

Few myths those got dispelled on the journey though were eye-openers but did not help in any run, short or long.

Transparency, Faith, Open mind, Capacity to forgive, oh so many, in the end, myths only!

Transparency: I have seen many a fool, opening their entire pack of cards in front of their partner for developing healthy co-existence, at the outset One pertinent fact that is forgotten here is, that the other one in the deal, is completely Another Human Being, made from an altogether different mould, who in all circumstances is just not like you and maybe having totally different views on the subject. In fact, in many a case, that other one uses the information as a weapon, subsequently, in the 'War of Roses' which are inevitable in any liaison between two separate individuals.

Same goes for the open-mindedness. You are at ease in certain relationships but that might not be so. You might just come out with whatever you feel earnest but even in close, so-called, relationships words are twisted and you are not even given a chance to explain. Being a physician in a profession for more than 40 years once with an open mind I gave some advice to one who definitely required some psychological counselling. Rather than prodding for the reasons I was labelled and shouted at. There goes the open mind in the air!

And you forgive, feeling that 'That's the end, whatever happened, happened. Let's move on !'

Like Julia Roberts says to an Avant-Garde shopkeeper on Rodeo Drive, Hollywood in 'Pretty Woman'; 'Mistake, Big mistake' In any relationship between two individuals 'Ability to forgive ' is considered as weakness. More so in married couples. So it's always a big mistake. It gives the chance to others who have erred, to commit the same crime again, and this time more blatantly. There is no fear to be caught and if caught, other one is always ready to forgive.  

Faith and respect are next in the line. Bookish words. Absolutely. Faith, something you develop over the years but it takes only a few sentences to shatter it. What has gone in, to erect that monumental edifice of relationship comes down in seconds. And it's so fragile. Breaks even with the whisper of a rumour! In how much earnestness it is proclaimed is also a subject for research. Many times it's just a hollow word thrown on your face without any meaning whatsoever. Respect is a twin of faith, what goes for faith goes 100% for respect too.

Long back I myself had written ' If one wears mask inside the mask what's the point ?'

But unfortunately, the world loves masks. It's a done thing to have a facade. So if you drop your one, even with good intentions you had it! To be successful in any relationship, you must have a million masks, to use one for every situation even with the near and dear ones!
In any relationship, where you have to think twice before saying anything, weigh the words before uttering them, don't feel like saying something discreet, that relationship is not honest, neither transparent nor open, and tell me a single relationship where this game of hide and seek is not played with gusto! Masks everywhere, on each face and if one slips, invariably there is another one beneath that's equally garish and equally unreal!

Play with colors !

Once when I was into it, every thing started looking as if a painting by that great artist above. Colors started yelling in my head to give them escape on the canvas. And I painted painted and painted.

Dusk always brings not only mixed bag of emotions but plethora of colors on the canvas of western skies. I was longing to express that warmth from within on board. But it did not turn out to be that simple as was seen within. I was new to the medium, Acrylic, and it posed many unforeseen problems for me. Though they get dry much faster than the oils, mixing of colors to get the right, rather exact shade becomes too difficult. By the time you are ready to mix, the first  coat  has already gone dry and you are left high and dry ! And mixing with the dried coat is  impossible ! So the balance of time is extremely important. As soon as the first layer of color is about to get dry you have to be ready with another shade, in ample amounts, to start mixing. Here the strokes of the brush are very important. Once you start having another hue, you can not go back to adjust the previous tone otherwise everything gets mixed up and you get a totally different shade you never wanted ! 

Sky posed one, waters posed another problem.All the shades if  not done properly ,look flat .So for the reflections, the waves , the play of colors on the waters I had to use different techniques, thanks to my young teacher, and then it showed what I wanted to. Stormy sea in the background with golden hue, a stretch of sands in between with reflection of setting sun in its all regalia, full with warm colors.! The ghats and the canopies I drew and painted but looked static. To add the play of light and shades to them, made my enthusiasm take a back seat. But temporarily ! After lot of thinking and mixing of the colors I got the correct effect I wanted, but my hands took a toll as I had to keep them steady for a long, long time. After adding the small details I was happy with myself and felt, yes, it does give you inner peace !

The same place , same ghats at different times. I saw it on the frame of my mind and felt I must do it. This was bit easier, as by this time the use of brushes was easier in hands, had got the feel of colors and some more technique. And I was happy with myself. Is it not what you really want ? To be happy with yourself ?

The folds of the cloth worn around the head gave me much headache.Rather than working on it as whole, I went on painting in pieces and got the results I wanted.The old lady is sick so the bluish lips. The eye which is visible shows life, while one may get the feel of other behind the semi transparent cloth of headgear, tried hard to get the effect. Deliberately left to paint the eye of other lady to keep the feel of 'Painting' which I never wanted to be realistic !

Famous sculptor Late B.Vitthal once had taught me that'The colors in the back ground have to come from colors you use to paint the main figures.' I used the tip and the figures stood out. I do not want to go into details of the last one, How is it ? You tell me.

My tryst with colors will definitely continue but what the hell to do with the life around you that's trying to engulf you all the time , how to deal with that journey ?

Tryst with the paints

After decades I took paint brush in hands after a friend practically forced me in to it . On seeing my half finished painting, an Estonian who was residing with us then, commented 'Is it a therapy , that you are painting?' Though I was not surprised it made me think.Yes in a way it was therapeutic.

When you are in mid sixties it's taken for granted that you have made truce with the life and here after, it's going to be tranquil waters , you just have to sail through waiting for your final adieu. But if life behaves that predictably why call it life ! I had to face such a situation where my foundation shook me so hard that it left me  absolutely numb.I was left in such a state of affairs that whatever I lived so far, as if did not matter.Just went down the drain. The values which I cherished for years made me come to a pass where those values seemed redundant, outdated and totally useless. I went on cursing myself for days together and found no answers, from within and from nobody outside and I was like a blind left in the lands of vivid colors and lights. Time heals all wounds but it takes its own time which nobody really has.

And this friend became that torch for me who helped me overcome my hollows, my emptiness that weird feeling in the pit of tummy,with this god given gift of creativity.

I painted in the past too. But then the circumstances were different.It was just a past time then. But now the entire relevance had changed changing me along the way.

This time around I started feeling happy with every stroke I made on the canvas.

First efforts looked juvenile on the board but the subsequent trials started showing on the board that I had envisaged in the mind .  
Years ago I had taken few of my painting to Late Smt. Praffulla Dahanukar, a great artist and more over a great human being , whom I knew through Late B. Prabha another great artist till times immortal. After seeing my efforts in oil on canvas she had said, 'Doc, you have got it in you but it requires a bit of polishing. I'll arrange for a help, you just tell me your timings and he will come to your home to teach you the intricacies of the craft.' In those days spare time hardly came by and I did not want the bindings on my Sundays. I made some excuses and slipped away. What a fool I was !
I did not want to commit the same mistake again this time around. So went on searching for the guides. It turned out, unfortunately that these so called Art schools either consider you absolutely juvenile or ask you to copy . They just do not understand what it means by 'Originality.' After visiting at least 3 to 4 schools I chose the one,nearest to my home, that was singular criterion to choose.Distance from the home ! My instructor was not as senile as me but turned out to be a young nubile college student who understood the need and taught me many techniques which definitely helped.
And thus it started my tryst with Paints yet again with vigor and  vitality !

Demonetization: Some more !

How deeply rooted this corrosion has gone can be evaluated from the news from Nashik. Why FM and RBI categorically kept District Co-Op banks out of scenario becomes amply clear. The farmers who may probably be contemplating suicides till recently have suddenly started depositing money in 1000s. Now from where did this money come? It's a common knowledge that these banks are mostly run by political parties in Maharashtra, without exception Rashtrawadi. Its speculated that this money came directly from the directors. So the heavyweight politico the one, who shared platform in Pune the day earlier with PM, came out strongly against the demonetization very next day. Probably realizing where it's going to hurt, a bit late? It's much deeper rot than seen by the eyes.

These are teething problems for the operation of this magnitude. An educated person must understand it. For the country of 125 crores, the problems are bound to be there, it depends on what shades one uses. I am from the era who saw 2 wars, China and Pakistan. In those days even matchboxes were sold in black. Sugar used to be out of stock for months together. Once even battery cells were on ration. But we survived though scathed but survived. Compared to that these hardships are negligible. English and to a certain extent even vernacular press having vested interests, is exaggerating them with a definite ulterior motive. English press? They WANT to see government in poor light. That's their bread and butter And without being bothered about the real issues they force their own views down the reluctant gullet as the common consensus. Take for example this observation:.

The point is also that different banks are behaving differently and have different denominations of cash with them. Bank managers are taking arbitrary calls because there is a cash crunch. New notes are not being printed at the rate they need to. This is what points to a failure of planning and implementation. For fans, this is a temporary inconvenience. For many who need immediate cash, it's a critical failure.

So let's stop giving anecdotal experiences as representative of some general experience. because for every one you give I can give a counter one. There are enough people facing extreme hardship. let's not trivialize them on the altar of faux nationalism and anti-corruption sanctimony. 

And let's face the fact - this is unplanned, poorly implemented, and shows the government in a terrible light. 

Which fact, what fact, the one these people want to project or the real, real fact? It goes on further:

Intentions without execution is an illusion.

Let's see with deeper perspective. Indian common man was/ is never as disciplined as his western counterpart. For such type of extremely enormous operation the subject has to be erudite to at least some extent, can we expect this from the common man on streets from India? He seldom contributes to society as his civic duty but expects more than 100% from the government. It has percolated deep down due to the failed experiment of socialism, where your jobs were secured  but it did not depend on your performances. The rot is omnipresent. So why the bank employs should be exceptions? After the entrance of multinational banks the scenario has at least improved a bit, but in the times between 'Nationalization of banks' and 'Entry of Foreign banks', it was pathetic. That's real India or India we got in the legacy from Congress culture.

I won't call him Messiah but somebody with different views, thoughts and methods to execute, is on the horizon so let's cooperate. and Yes we have to start somewhere. Can not bury the head in the sand like an ostrich when a storm comes. This and other measure were/ are long overdue and have to be dealt with as early as possible to have a relatively better society, money and other ethics wise. 

This class never likes to bring PM, read Mr Modi in the picture lest they would be labelled as Modi haters so they go around the subject clearly circumventing the fact that ultimately HE is the target! See how they react...

'Why is any comment on demonetization linked to the PM? How does he enter the picture? Is he supposed to do everything? My comment was about messy and unplanned implementation which is someone else's responsibility. Any critique of the haphazard way this has been thrust down our throats is responded with - how I am pseudo, intellectual, higher class etc. '

Surprisingly who so ever came into my contact in my clinic even from the poorest class never cribbed about hardships. I deliberately used to broach the subject. Even maidservants coming from nearby slums for whom many a time I waived of fees because they didn't have enough cash, too did not crib. This entire overdo definitely lands at the doors of the PM because that's the purpose at a higher level and your writings are used for that. Now tell me, hacking of RaGas twitter account is used as a political ploy to avert cashless rather computerized society. Come on which era are we in now. Criticism of democratization, Mamata raising doubts about Indian Army, RaGas and Congress' accounts getting hacked exactly on the dot of time, don't you see a bigger game in this. The entire play is definitely staged to discredit every step taken at the governmental level, though the so-called learned class may understand the intricacies but in finer print read Modi. One can't be that naive.

Why not have little objectivity? This ordeal is going on for more than 3 weeks. Not a single bank looted so far. Queues are mostly disciplined. Banks and staff are working keeping their heads cool. Not a single common man on the street with a hockey stick in his hands, only tainted politicians and that's all over India Similar type but a natural one in the USA and during Katrina cyclone every shop was looted within 3 days. The chaos is only in the mind of English press, opposition and again I'll say pseudos because again the common man on the street is braving it head-on.

Demonetization

I am a consultant physician. And regularly come across hard cash. The heartening note is I always get my full fees even now in hundreds and some times in 2k too. Lately new Rs. 500 notes too are getting circulated freely. And when was the poor keeping 500 and 1000 rs loose change? Did you get 1000 Rs change from ric when your meter showed 100 or so even in pre demonetization era? Their entire transaction in 24 hrs does not amount to that. Those transactions were always in 10s 20s and 50s and why they should be in short supply now. If they are, then somebody is playing big mischief to see to it that the scheme and so the PM is discredited. I had been to busy bank like CBI GHATKOPAR today and my entire work got finished within 30 minutes. Everybody seems to be in a hurry to see this person gone at any cost. So they are cribbing right since his ascendance to the chair. Especially the English press and higher middle classes. Poor on the street is happy for the step taken because he knows against whom this is directed. He himself can never dream of that kind of money so he is ready to face the hardships. Only pseudos have problems. Sorry, no personal offence. For a mammoth and hardly literate nation like India, it was never to be an easy task. If the ones who hoarded the monies would have got the slightest whiff, the whole purpose of operation would have been lost. Just think of Sharad Pawar, Mayawati, all Yadavs and all our local भिडूज् to get to know of this move. I really still wonder, in spite of being on the anvil for the last 6 months or even more, entire political thug society could not even get a faint scent of it. My guess. Otherwise, why should they cry this hoarse? Think of those people, who suffered these type of hardships even more in WW ll for more than 6 years. And within 25 days you give up. Everybody wants these steps to be taken but nobody wants to pay the price on personal front. Imagine, our political bigwigs are fighting for the IT penalties to be revoked for those who were, maybe, are hoarding black money even now. And why not, this could be the first step. More may be in the offing. Have patience. Everybody must be given due time and respect. We had bad governance of 70 years, something is being done to get rid of this corrosion of the Indian psyche for the first time. If you can not help, at least don't be a crab and pull the legs of India lover. I am deliberately not saying patriotic. Immediately the emotions worn on the sleeves come out, especially of intuc class.