With a feeling of euphoria and in an expansive mood we came out of the Air Conditioned Noida Golf Course Pub, after an enjoyable evening of dinner drinks and entered a different world: a full moon in the sky, the emerald green, greens and the freeways bathed pale, a pleasant mildly cool breeze caressing us and lingered for a while, we had a meet to welcome Maliks, common friends, on a short visit from USA, still talking of past with feelings dipped in nostalgia.
Earlier with the tables cleared, the Kulfies and Gulab-jamuns, slowly savoured, we had lingered at the table and later we had lingered at the car park, hands extended, with the feeling of bonhomie, but reluctant to bid goodbye, unconsciously, trying to hold on to the magic of the evening as long as possible.
Combine of the moon and the cool breeze, unusual for this time in the world of Noida, brought back the magical memories of the legendary Malwa nights: the vast landscape lit by the full moon in the sky, stretching far towards the Bercaha lake; back in time in Mhow and in the company of my late wife. Also evocative of similar night of Dawars at Tezpur, the airfield area, spread as far as eyes could see, suffused with the pale-white moon-light, the tall reed like grass swaying in the mild breeze with the white plumes shining silver reflected by the full moon, high in the sky on a winter night was an ethereal light. The sight, the peace and quiet of those special nights provided, though a sheer magic, no compensation for all the pain of separation from the family some 2000 Km away in Dehradun.
I came home, parked the car, changed and came down to the park below. It was now past twelve in the night, the moon, and now high in the sky, was still bright, the breeze also blowing and the park suffused with the same evocative pale-white moon-light, alas, the magic that I had come down in search of was missing and so was the company and the companion.
Brig Lakshman Singh (Retd)
Showing posts with label Literature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Literature. Show all posts
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Gist of Life
1. ATTITUDE IS WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT...
SOLDIER: SIR WE ARE SURROUNDED FROM ALL SIDES BY ENEMIES.
MAJOR: EXCELLENT! WE CAN ATTACK IN ANY DIRECTION.
2. EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL WHO INVENTED THE TELEPHONE, BUT HE NEVER MADE A CALLTO HIS FAMILY, BECAUSE, HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE DEAF. THAT'S LIFE "LIVE FOR OTHERS" .
3. THE WORST IN LIFE IS "ATTACHMENT" IT HURTS WHEN YOU LOSE IT. THE BEST THING IN LIFE IS "LONELINESS" BECAUSE IT TEACHES YOU EVERYTHING AND, IF YOU LOSE IT, YOU GET EVERYTHING.
4. LIFE IS NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ACT TRUE TO YOUR FACE... IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO REMAIN TRUE BEHIND YOUR BACK .
5. IF AN EGG IS BROKEN BY AN OUTSIDE FORCE... A LIFE ENDS. IF AN EGG BREAKS FROM WITHIN... LIFE BEGINS. GREAT THINGS ALWAYS BEGIN FROM WITHIN .
6. IT'S BETTER TO LOSE YOUR EGO TO THE ONE YOU LOVE, THAN TO LOSE THE ONE YOU LOVE ... BECAUSE OF EGO.
7. A RELATIONSHIP DOESN'T SHINE BY JUST SHAKING HANDS ATTHE BEST OF TIMES. BUT IT BLOSSOMS BY HOLDING FIRMLY IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS .
8. HEATED GOLD BECOMES ORNAMENTS. BATTED COPPER BECOMES WIRES. DEPLETED STONE BECOMES STATUE. SO, THE MORE PAIN YOU GET IN YOUR LIFE THE MORE VALUABLE YOU BECOME.
9. WHY WE HAVE SO MANY TEMPLES, IF GOD IS EVERYWHERE? A WISE MAN SAID: AIR IS EVERYWHERE, BUT WE STILL NEED A FAN, TO FEEL IT .
10. WHEN YOU TRUST SOMEONE TRUST HIM COMPLETELY WITHOUT ANY DOUBT... AT THE END YOU WOULD GET ONE OF THE TWO: EITHER A GREAT LESSON FOR YOUR LIFE OR A VERY GOOD PERSON.
SOLDIER: SIR WE ARE SURROUNDED FROM ALL SIDES BY ENEMIES.
MAJOR: EXCELLENT! WE CAN ATTACK IN ANY DIRECTION.
2. EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL WHO INVENTED THE TELEPHONE, BUT HE NEVER MADE A CALLTO HIS FAMILY, BECAUSE, HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE DEAF. THAT'S LIFE "LIVE FOR OTHERS" .
3. THE WORST IN LIFE IS "ATTACHMENT" IT HURTS WHEN YOU LOSE IT. THE BEST THING IN LIFE IS "LONELINESS" BECAUSE IT TEACHES YOU EVERYTHING AND, IF YOU LOSE IT, YOU GET EVERYTHING.
4. LIFE IS NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ACT TRUE TO YOUR FACE... IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO REMAIN TRUE BEHIND YOUR BACK .
5. IF AN EGG IS BROKEN BY AN OUTSIDE FORCE... A LIFE ENDS. IF AN EGG BREAKS FROM WITHIN... LIFE BEGINS. GREAT THINGS ALWAYS BEGIN FROM WITHIN .
6. IT'S BETTER TO LOSE YOUR EGO TO THE ONE YOU LOVE, THAN TO LOSE THE ONE YOU LOVE ... BECAUSE OF EGO.
7. A RELATIONSHIP DOESN'T SHINE BY JUST SHAKING HANDS ATTHE BEST OF TIMES. BUT IT BLOSSOMS BY HOLDING FIRMLY IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS .
8. HEATED GOLD BECOMES ORNAMENTS. BATTED COPPER BECOMES WIRES. DEPLETED STONE BECOMES STATUE. SO, THE MORE PAIN YOU GET IN YOUR LIFE THE MORE VALUABLE YOU BECOME.
9. WHY WE HAVE SO MANY TEMPLES, IF GOD IS EVERYWHERE? A WISE MAN SAID: AIR IS EVERYWHERE, BUT WE STILL NEED A FAN, TO FEEL IT .
10. WHEN YOU TRUST SOMEONE TRUST HIM COMPLETELY WITHOUT ANY DOUBT... AT THE END YOU WOULD GET ONE OF THE TWO: EITHER A GREAT LESSON FOR YOUR LIFE OR A VERY GOOD PERSON.
Friday, July 3, 2009
A 21 Salute to Raj Chatterjee
Dear Friend,
I am an avid reader of 'middles' by Raj Chatterjee, and I had always wondered why he had not published an anthology of his writings in the form of a book. Last week, I saw on the Internet that a collection of his published pieces has been brought out by Penguin under the title, "The Boxwallah and the Middleman" To my surprise, the book was not available in any bookstore here in Chandigarh. Old Thomas came to my rescue, and against his credit card the book was shipped from Bangluru to me within 48 hrs.
What followed was an enchanting six days of reading and re-reading his 550 word stories told in an inimitable manner. The book was un-put-downable. It took me away from the humdrum of pensions and their iniquities/inequities. Suddenly, life seemed less serious. After a long time I read this form of prose. I think the world is the poorer ever since PG Wodehouse went off the scene. No on reads him any more, and old "Jeeves" has passed into the pages of history.
I have, nonetheless, been glancing at all the mails emanating from the veterans on their suggestions to 'rationalize' pensions and thus resolve anomalies. Some of the tables amuse me rather than educating me. I really wonder whether any one of us oldies (me included,of course) can create a table which would satisfy every body. Old Raj Chatterjee would have put it in the following manner:
"I have authentic information to believe that the government has decided to withhold the issue of the revised instructions on pensions until all associations of the ESM have had a fair opportunity to present their case, along with the suggested tables. This is to ensure that no one is denied an opportunity to have his say in the matter. Indeed, the government is indebted to the author of the suggestion that all past pensioners be given a 3% rise every year. This would reduce the immediate burden on the exchequer and also give the pensioners something to look forward to. Indeed, since this is an 'increment' it should be linked with the performance of the veteran during the year. Therefore, every pensioner would be required to prove that he has been a gentleman all through the year. With the 'life certificate' the veterans will be required to produce a certificate from all the members of the family and the neighbours that he has conducted himself in a congenial manner during the year. Of course, the document will need to be certified by an appropriate authority"
I think Mr Raj Chatterjee has a valid point. This mechanism will improve the image of the old soldiers and also keep tempers in check.
My hero took pre-mature retirement from ITC in 1964 and receives no pension. OROP means a lemon to him. He has survived since then on a regular regime of churning out words. And he has not starved!
Cheers!
Maj Gen Surjit Singh
I am an avid reader of 'middles' by Raj Chatterjee, and I had always wondered why he had not published an anthology of his writings in the form of a book. Last week, I saw on the Internet that a collection of his published pieces has been brought out by Penguin under the title, "The Boxwallah and the Middleman" To my surprise, the book was not available in any bookstore here in Chandigarh. Old Thomas came to my rescue, and against his credit card the book was shipped from Bangluru to me within 48 hrs.
What followed was an enchanting six days of reading and re-reading his 550 word stories told in an inimitable manner. The book was un-put-downable. It took me away from the humdrum of pensions and their iniquities/inequities. Suddenly, life seemed less serious. After a long time I read this form of prose. I think the world is the poorer ever since PG Wodehouse went off the scene. No on reads him any more, and old "Jeeves" has passed into the pages of history.
I have, nonetheless, been glancing at all the mails emanating from the veterans on their suggestions to 'rationalize' pensions and thus resolve anomalies. Some of the tables amuse me rather than educating me. I really wonder whether any one of us oldies (me included,of course) can create a table which would satisfy every body. Old Raj Chatterjee would have put it in the following manner:
"I have authentic information to believe that the government has decided to withhold the issue of the revised instructions on pensions until all associations of the ESM have had a fair opportunity to present their case, along with the suggested tables. This is to ensure that no one is denied an opportunity to have his say in the matter. Indeed, the government is indebted to the author of the suggestion that all past pensioners be given a 3% rise every year. This would reduce the immediate burden on the exchequer and also give the pensioners something to look forward to. Indeed, since this is an 'increment' it should be linked with the performance of the veteran during the year. Therefore, every pensioner would be required to prove that he has been a gentleman all through the year. With the 'life certificate' the veterans will be required to produce a certificate from all the members of the family and the neighbours that he has conducted himself in a congenial manner during the year. Of course, the document will need to be certified by an appropriate authority"
I think Mr Raj Chatterjee has a valid point. This mechanism will improve the image of the old soldiers and also keep tempers in check.
My hero took pre-mature retirement from ITC in 1964 and receives no pension. OROP means a lemon to him. He has survived since then on a regular regime of churning out words. And he has not starved!
Cheers!
Maj Gen Surjit Singh
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
