Kadak Paav of Mumbai

Holi-day adventure, which can be performed on any other holiday when in Mumbai. Sincerely work through whole day at your study table. Wait till 5 pm. At 5 go down to the bakery at the corner and stand in the Q. Relish your eyes on the view of hot soft as well as crispy paav being taken out of the furnace and put into the cane basket. Crispy Paav are in fact called a s Kadak Paav in Mumbai's lingo. The are crispy (Kadak) outside and very soft inside. At your turn, buy crispy repeat crispy paav. Don’t commit the mistake of buying soft paav, which are soft all in and out. Now run back to home. As soon as you reach back, open the paav half way by your fingers and apply 'permissible' amount of Mumbai’s most popular brand butter. Permissible is the right word because remember-you are at home J. Wait for few seconds to allow the butter to percolate deep inside the paav. Now close your eyes, open your mouth and take the first bite of warm paav…..go on and on….. till the last one. The interval of time between first and last byte is called as moments of instant Nirvana. Aamen! J All those who are interested in such Nirvana are cordially invited. Only pre-condition : obtain appropriate “permissions” before coming. J

Jumma........and emotions!

Jumma....nay....Jumme ki shaam....tonight in Aurangabad. Jumme ki shaam in Aurangabad and Mumbai are two different but unique experiences. Jumme ki shaam in Aurangabad is an 'experience' by itself! Roaming in old city on my old scooter and becoming nostalgic about all the things aged old....the 52 gates and 52 "puras"........yes! in fact "aged" old city I mean to say ..........that brings tears in my eyes. My life divided between Mumbai and Aurangabad makes me more and more emotional about the old city of Aurangabad and Mumbai too. The city where I really belong to....and the other city I emotionally belong to....I would not name them in any manner whatsoever.....in either way or in any way..... Because that is very very difficult!!! Almost impossible; I would say!!!

Our Weekend Spots

And now shooting of the film "Ajanta" has commenced at Ajanta valley starring Sonali Kulkarni playing the role of Paro and one foreign actor playing the role of the British Colonel. Exactly at the spot from where you can view the astonishing view of whole of Ajanta caves as a horse shoe. The relatively unexplored spot enjoyed by me, my wife and kids since 1997 i.e. the year when we bought our first car and hence could frequent that relatively unknown view point. Only last week, shooting of another film commenced near Daulatabad Fort starring Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor at the lake which is our fav. weekend spot for years. I have even posted several pictures of myself and my family at that spot on orkut/facebook since years. The moral of the story : Bollywood NOW realized the beauty of our age old weekend spots!!! :) Amen!!! :)

In fact, the Ajanta valley.........which my mother liked so much.....but was unable to visit often because we did not have a car for long. When I bought a car for the first time in family in 1997, she was the person who enjoyed the most of Ajanta Valley making me drive her down there on many weekends. Missing you mom now.....I lost her about 10 years ago in March, 2002.

Sahir....

It was amazing to find the Diwan of Sahir Ludhiyanvi in a shop at the mall at Aurangabad. These malls have made great changes in our lives. Many forgotten things are resurfacing suddenly in front of you on the book shelf and putting you in dilemma. Grabbed the Diwan of Sahir yesterday which I was in search since 1985's!!! His most well known is..........kabhi kabhi mere dil main khayaal aata hain......For me that is his preliminary......there are many more which are ultimate in the depth of his imagination and the level of the language (Urdu) too. This vacation is devoted to Bhagvad Geeta + History of Sikhs + Sahir. May God Bless me!

My Chilling Dilli

Dilli now at 3.5 degree C!!! Chilling Cold! Real Fun. Missing "my Dilli" very much. Remembering all that early morning fog at Lodi Gardens, mid morning warming sun at India Gate Circle, setting sun in the evening at Janpath and CP, Andhra Meal at Andhra Bhavan for lunch, pucca Punjabi dinners at old Dilli dhabas with steaming tikkas and rotis directly from tadoor to your dish and daal still cracking with tadka of lal mirch! Divine!

शहीद का मकबरा..

शहीद का मकबरा..

कंटीली झाड़ियो के पीछे,
एक चबूतरा नज़र आता है,
कुछ कुत्ते इस बौराई दुपहरी में,
यहाँ डेरा डालते हैं,कुछ मवेशी भी,
सुस्ता लेते हैं कभी कभी...
कहने वाले कहते हैं की ये,
चबूतरा नहीं,मकबरा है इक फौजी का,
पैसंठ या शायद बहत्तर की लड़ाई में,
इसे भी देशभक्ति के जूनून ने,
ये ईमारत इनायत कर दी..
नाम भी तो मालूम नहीं किसी को
इस शहीद का,
सभी चबूतरे वाला फौजी बुलाते हैं इसे,
सावन के आखिरी दिनों में,
जब बरसातें इस मकबरे को धुल देती हैं,
यहाँ एक मेला भी सजता है,
मगर वो फौजी अब भी बेनाम है..

जाने ऐसे कितने चबूतरे छितराए पड़े होंगे ,
बिना नाम,ला-शक्ल चबूतरे,
जहां मेले भी सजते होंगे वक्त बेवक्त,
मवेशी सुस्ताते होंगे और शायद,
कोई बेवा उस मकबरे को,
अपने आँचल से बुहारती होगी अब भी..

Grand old man of SSP

In today's news paper, I came across a news item saying that Sardar Khushwant Singh declared his retirement from writing. He is 97. I am great admirer of him. Reading his various writings since last 34 years i.e. 1977, the year I went to Mumbai to study engineering.

A lawyer by training, great scholar of History; in particular history of Sikhs, Urdu Poetry, English literature, smart and minute observer of social circles of Delhi and Mumbai, son of legendary Sir Sobha Sing who actually built Lutyen's Delhi and finally a resident of SSP. Above all, the naughty but honest grand old man of Indian literature. He is honest to core. What he feels, whatever occurs to his mind, he honestly and frankly writes down for all of us to read.

It is because of his writings, that I became so curious about Urdu Poetry, History of undivided Punjab and SSP. Because of his writing, my interests went on developing and ultimately I landed in learning to read and write Urdu and reading volume after volume on history of Punjab and Sikhs. By learning to read Urdu, my pleasure in reading Ghazals and also their understanding multiplied.

I collected each of his book. The latest "Sunset Club" is really naughty one. But I could enjoy it thoroughly because entire book is set on Lodi Garden, SSP and Khan Market area of New Delhi. The area, in which I live in New Delhi since last 5 years or so whenever I go there. Morning walk at Lodi Garden is like a dream, a dream gradually unfolding in thick fog! The breakfast on return to Ambassador Hotel is another heavenly experience. The evening is made cheerful by stroll in Khan Market. During last 5 years or so, I never stayed elsewhere but in SSP! The experience is such divine! The colony was built by his father; Sir Sobha Singh and is named after is grand father; Sujan Singh. Khushwant Singh spend major part of his life in SSP and that might be one of the secret of his long, healthy life!

Khushwant Singh is the grand old man who contributed greatly to the pleasures I enjoy; namely Ghazals and History of undivided Punjab and of course his own books. I shall greatly miss his writing and shall miss him because his writing is so lively.

On this occasion, I wish him happy and healthy retired life. You really worked hard and long Sardar sahib! mera sijda kubul farmaiyega.