Time Is Up

The time for inequality

Is fast ticking

The bomb can explode

The countdown has begun

With a vow here

And a pledge there

The gaps

In income

Recognition, fame

The gap in life itself

The glaring gap

Has become a crater

Now a time to blow it up all

And create a pristine garden

Out of this battlefield

between equality and inequality

but weren’t the battle bugles blown

a long time back???

(on Iceland taking a pledge to remove the income gender gap  & Oprah Winfrey’s  Golden Globe inspirational speech..)

Evolve - As 2017 Speaks To 2018

Evolve I

Like a butterfly

I left the old

Thick protective covers

The river had to flow

The stifling blocks

That stopped the flow

Didn’t exist anymore

It required a nudge

A great push perhaps

But the flow has begun

The butterfly flits

With eagle wings

That were formed

With the push and nudge

 Evolve II

The petals bloomed

The flower blossomed

The dead leaves were blown

Away with the new winds

The change started

The change is on still

Of new blossoms

And new springs

Of the newness that comes

With each new day

Enjoy

Enjoy the tango

The fox trot

As the moves change

As the change itself happens

The new moves

The new steps

That you learnt

The hard way

Go ahead

Now do them

As if no one

Or even the whole world

 is watching you

Live

live the change

don’t die

as it happens

enjoy the flow

sometimes you drown

take help

come out

and flow again

to reach the shores

and perhaps start

for new shores

with all that is required

to stay afloat

and enjoy the swim

and the travel

 thru all known and unknown shores

The  year that was

To soar

To drop the dead wood

To drag

To climb

Move  ahead

With a sprightly walk

To let go

To complete

And move on           

To start afresh

Many things

To continue

With a few

That’s the trail

That I left behind

In 2017

To start a new 2018

Coherent thoughts on Incoherent Situations ..or Vice Versa

A Few Thoughts

Delete

Delete the memories forever

From your hard disk

That are not required

At least try

Learn from them

And discard

Minimal recycling here

But yes wait

Some you keep afloat

Forever or at least for a while

The ones that drive you

Bring a smile

On Ten years(on comleting ten years in an organization)

Clocked  10 years

Of time

Or is it a celebration of time

 That flew, walked, limped slowly

Of few deaths

Of new lives

Of bare survival at times

Of hands that helped

With kind hearts and sharp minds

A  time of new learnings and insights

The essence of a decade

In these few lines!!

A light take on  Indian parenting(based on an airlines announcement )

Take care of your children and personal belongings

So goes an airline announcement

So are children too your personal belongings

Or do they have a personality of their own

Minus their parents

Or do they cling like baggage to their parents

Till the end of the journey

Hues of Life

To climb

To fall

To swing

To hide

To shine

To go underground

To rise

To walk

To run

To fly

The hues

Change

Like the changing days

On office politics

part one

Who is an ally

Who is a friend

Who is a Brutus

Who is what % of an ally

Who is what kind of friend

Friends forever or situational

Laughter with a hiss

Or a loud ringing kind of laughter

The games change

The rules change

Only interests stay permanent forever

Part two

Do I want to be part ally

Part friend

Sometimes Brutus

And then normal

Holding a turbulent storm within

And yet go around with a serene face

A Literary Nook(Katta) At An Equally Literary Society:Sahitya Sahawas

A Literary Nook(Katta) At An Equally Literary Society That Houses Such Great Minds:**Sahitya Sahawas at Kalanagar, Bandra 

**( translated in Marathi as The Home of Literature)

And Literature and creativity does stay and thrive  there as it houses all the leading Marathi and few Hindi litterateurs.Sahitya Sahawas(SS)society was built more than 50 years back. I can confidently say knowing the richness and refinement of Marathi literature that it would have given at least a few Shakespeares to the world!! I am seen here with a proud SS resident, Ashlesha Athavale(journalist, translator, theatre critic and most importantly my old friendJ) at the society Katta(literally translated as a Nook for general chit chat).Ashlesha has even translated a book on the society- Colony written by Siddharth Pardhe.

Siddharth  grew up at SS as his father was the society watchman.He was mentored by all the society residents and has risen well in life. Siddharth’s brother, Ramesh eventually became Sachin Tendulkar’s PA. BTW Sachin along with the literary greats was another famous society resident( his father, Ramesh Tendulkar was a Marathi Literature professor and writer) before moving out a few years back.More about it here..

https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other//articleshow/15863936.cms

The Katta as a concept and structure is the brainchild of the enthusiastic SS residents like Avinash Gowariker(who is a noted film photographer), Ashlesha etc.The women writers would gather at the society Katta(literally the literary Nook now) in the evening and naturally their talks were around literature , current affairs etc. Avinash's wife the Swedish Indian , Shazia Qureshi Gowariker asked them to write an article each and there came the book –KATTYA VARCHYA GAPPA(ie Talks at the Nook and Raj Thackeray has done the book cover) .Ashlesha’s mother, Anuradha Athavale’s article about her litterateur , journalist and even politician husband , Narayan Athavale( he was briefly a Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai) features in this book. Avinash Gowarikerensured that the Katta is adorned with sketches, poems , paintings of the residents. At the time of clicking the photo a young architect Kshitij Bhende had put up his sketches..Basic amenities were further added to the Katta so the senior ladies could sit comfortably and discuss.More about it on Ashlesha Athavale's blog here

http://naturallymumbai.blogspot.in/search?q=sahitya

I have been  visiting this society for more than 25 years and only now did its greatness dawn upon me.What a unique society-Shaitya Sahawas; fascinating Katta concept with its equally extraordinary residents!! As they say in Marathi- a Bhannat idea!!

The Renaisance of Wonder-Books on Films and Satyajit Ray

The Renaissance of Wonder: On the 62 nd anniversary of Pather Panchali and 60th one of the Apu Trilogy.. I read a few  books written by  both the Master himself and a few others

When you are a  Satyajit Ray fan you just don’t stop at watching his films and documentaries .You want to know both – what went behind making these unique films in India and what was going on in the Master’s mind too..

This piece of information is interesting ( from the book, The Master and I) –Satyajit Ray actually mentioned that he took to films as he realized after visiting the historical Ajanta , Ellora sites that all art forms had reached their peak in India and hence he should take up something which was new and untapped .. Now how many would think like this about their profession or vocation!As they say some are really born great to even think on these lines..

My reading list of the past three months…rather randomly chosen

1.       14 Stories that Inspired Ray- as the title suggests these are stories that inspired Ray’s films from writers as diverse as Rabindranath Tagore(mainly), Munshi Premchand, Ray himself .A very compelling collection translated by Bhaskar Chattopadhyay

2.       Ray’s Biography by Mary Setton which is a detailed chronicle of this illustrious icon’s life and even traces his family lineage

1.       The Master and I-Soumitro Chatterjee’s has written it straight from the heart and describes his experiences and learnings through  his long association with Ray

4.       Speaking of Films- Ray describes in his inimitable style about the language of films and what inspired him to take to films

5.       Then there’s Nemai Ghosh book titled-Manik Da, Memories of Satyjit Ray.Nemai Ghosh was Ray’s photographer extraordinaire

6.       The most endearing one is The Pather Panchali Sketchbook which has Ray’s sketches of all the sets of Pather Panchali.As we all know he was an excellent artist and would sketch his scenes before hand .. talk of a Director’s vision!!

Mentioning a few books here which I read long time back and am sure all Ray films would have either read them or would like to read them (all written by Satyajit Ray except for one)

1.       Deep Focus - It is about how films have evolved  as an art form and the craft of film making.

2.       My Years with Apu- details  the Apu trilogy replete with nice pictures from all the three films

3.       Our Films, Their Films (I don’t know how many times I have read this book)– where Ray again speaks  as the title suggests about the evolution of films in the Western part of the world & how they have impacted Indian cinema; somewhat unique features of Indian films etc

4.       Cinema of Satyajit Ray by Chidananda Das Gupta(Aparna Sen’s father)-I found this to be one of the most compelling books so far on Ray’s films,but can’t get a copy now..

My Impressions -- The 18th Jio Mumbai Film festival @ PVR Andheri Infinity and Citi Mall on 18th October...

Celebrated my birthday @ Jio Mumbai Film festival @ PVR Andheri Infinity and Citi Mall ( as couldn’t find any other day to visit the festival) last week

A very catchy title caught my friend Asmita Sen's fancy and we went to watch the Zambian film –I Am Not A Witch.. by writer –director Rungano Nyoni. The film is a very poignant tale of a young girl who “agrees” to declare herself as a witch based on allegations and superstitions. I am not a Witch has got lot of praise from audience and critics at Cannes 2017 and is the director’s first film. There is an element of surrealism along with stark reality woven in the film. The young witch- christened as Shula has to go with a spindle and ribbon tied to her forever in her new home- the witch commune. As you can imagine she can go only as far as the ribbon can take her.. This is the way all witches are treated in the commune so that they lived a tethered existence and can be monitored. Shula chooses this life as the other option is that she could have converted into (surprise, surprise)- a goat!!

The film takes you thru Shula’s journey from a young child found in the village to the commune where she along with the other witches become frightful objects of veneration and even display to tourists so some easy money can be made-almost as if they were zoo animals. The scenes are fraught with customs and superstitions that are meant to make our young protagonist look supernatural.. At another level the ribbon and spindle that chases her, ties her reminds us of life and its numerous bondages &challenges that hold us back.It also make us think if we have the courage to overcome them else they stay as ribbons and spindles holding us back not allowing us to blossom. But that’s a choice we have to make, isn’t it?

You can watch the film trailer here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOtcU_-KuaQ

Another film which caught Asmita Sen’s  fancy was the Sicilian Ghost another heart wrenching story of the coming of age of 2 children in an Italian village and the Mafioso in the background..

So ended a day filled with witches and ghosts—almost made me think of Halloween.. rather than birthday.. But excellent cinema and indeed some splendid work of art.. three cheers to Asmita for her enthusiasm and to the Jio Mami Mumbai film festival for bringing  great cinema in our lives..

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/22/i-am-not-a-witch-review-magical-surrealism-margaret-mulubwa-rungano-nyoni

At the Mami Filn Festival on 18th Oct, 2017

Coherent Rambling Series-Inspiration, Flow etc...

Coherent Rambling Series

Inspiration

Seeking inspiration

Inside and outside

In  your heart, mind and soul

So that the plan for tomorrow

Can be drawn nicely

With patience, planning, charm and love

Looking at it outside

For fresh views, ideas and insights

Examples that motivate and drive

That’s inspiration for you

Both inside and out

To look at the sameness

With different lenses

To find new meanings and new vision

In the scripting and directing

Of this movie reel of life

God’s selfie

It’s a selfie

Clicked by God

Himself

To showcase his vanity

Look at this wonderful creation

The thunder storm and lightning

The view is indeed unparalleled

(on unexpected thunder and lightning)

Flow

The flow of life

Is after all a flow

We don’t where the

Flow will take you

But you can change the course

Add a new path

After all what were embankments and dams made for?

Sculpture

It’s a sculpture

The chiseling and shaping

Is what gives a finite form

To a mass of clay and mud

Persistent efforts by the sculptor

To get the desired form , color and grace

The efforts, thought and drive

The heart’s desires

The soul’s longing

Inner turmoil, zeal and thought cyclones

All intermingle to create this sculpture

Called life…

Loss and gain

A loss

A failure

A lost cause

All part of the journey

To succeed

To achieve

To soar even higher

Focus

As single minded focus

A plan

A desire to follow it

Thru and thru

A sharp eye on the objective

That’s the fuel

That drives you

Day and night

A calm mind

Despite the passionate activity

The focus only grows

Day by day

With the passage of time

New ways and new solutions Emerge

To complete the goal

Achieve the unthinkable

Which only the focus could bring

Here and now

Here it is and now it is gone

This the play of life

Inspired now

Down tomorrow

Helping hands

And bitter tongues

Sweet and sour memories

Are intertwined on this path

A good laugh hearty one

Followed by a howl, a cry

That’s the play

Of day and night

Of daily life

To emerge out of this play

To accomplish something

Beyond the rules of this play and game

Seems to be the driving force

For every new creation

For every great accomplishment

A piece of sky

My piece of nature

Captured from the framed and caged window

Behind the eager eyes

 caught between

The frame and the bird nets

So much a part of the urban life

Where there are nets and grills

Where will the freedom come from

The freedom to be in the midst of nature

Is nature itself free here

Caught between the high rise, the skyrise

Which aim to even capture the sky

Here I am

Trying to get my piece of sky

My part of greenery

My favorite part of nature

Captured in this camera

Which itself is a modern day wonder

A camera that speaks, thinks and directs

But does it feel..

Does it know the pangs

Associated with a piece of sky that has been forever hidden by the high rise towers

Does it yearn to see the starlit sky at night

Does it know how the flower blooms

Does it feel like breathing in the fresh air from nature

Does it yearn for its piece of sky ?

It’s time to change

It’s time to discard the old

We have heard it many times

But there couldn’t be a better time for it

And the time is now

Move from the survival of the fittest mode

To the survival of the wisest mode

How do you gain wisdom

Can you measure it day by day

Hour by hour

Moment by moment

Know when an insights happens

How does a perspective get formed

How does a thought emerge

Do you learn to watch this process

These patterns unfold

Or do you entangle yourself

In the being fit game

Not knowing where

Your mind is

Along with the soul and body

To be in the whirlwind of the being fit game

Of playing it at times

As you knew no other game

But when the time come

To switch

It’s indeed a game

Yet again

But a game of the mind

Of thoughts, ideas, insights

Of learning  the new

Discarding well both new and old

And re-emerging everyday

Like a water bubble

And yet going

With the flow of time

Of pausing to witness this flow

At times

And getting an idea

Of that unknown facet

How does a thought emerge

How does a perspective get formed

To think and feel

At times think

At times feel

To dive deep

Into the chosen area

Or just fleet thru several

But it’s is a continuous process

Think, feel, learn, unlearn

Change and grow

Move from being just being fit

To being wise

It’s indeed a difficult terrain

To walk on

With no elevators and speeding cars

Only the dusty roads and hilly walks

Where not vehicle goes

Other than the YOU

It is a long journey

To freedom

From trying to be fit

To learning to be wise

From being just fit  at one go

And then lo and behold

Suddenly wise