20th Sept 2015 - 26th Sept 2015 [Again Sayonara….]

We all sat together at 1306, laughed a lot, eat lunch and celebrated life at 1306 on Maya Chachi’s 12^th  day ceremony. Some gave us dirty looks, as if we were committing a crime. Serious people will object to this, saying, ‘You should consider the feeling of family members who have suffered loss.’ Will keeping the long face, cursing every moment of boredom in mind help the bereaved family member? Or, celebration of life will help? We follow the second route. During death of Dada – Bhabhi – Daddy, we had after our brief mourning, had accepted the inevitable fact of life, had accepted the fact that our elders have lived their life well, so keeping aside hypocrisy had decided to move ahead. This time our number had shrunk. Only few of us were present,  Maa – Manu – Lali. Mummy was not able to come, Shyam Uncle, Ratna, Pushpa Mami and Bal were absent due to various reasons. However, new crop in form of Avi - Akshay – Amar – Ravi was present and learning. Hope this trend continues.  

Thu: This year we planned ‘Ganpati Dharshan’ walk with Amar and family. Ravi skipped the walk as he was aware of heavy rush, ‘dhukam dhuki’. Our meeting place as usual was 1306. And to start the yatra, we started with snacks and kulfi treat. This year, police had not blocked road, so the huge pandals, general crowd, ‘Bhakt Jan’, Buses, two wheelers, cars, vendors, food stalls all were fighting for space on narrow ‘peth’ area roads. Friday to Sunday is holiday. So on ‘Bhajirao’ road, itself we were packed liked sardines. And here Muskan drew my attention to my stupid suggestion that we take Kabir with us! On first opportunity, we turned left, saw some ‘Sadhashiv Peth’ and Chimanya Area pandals. This year we have to skip ‘Dagroo Seth Pandal’.

This brief, as per our past record, Ganpati dharshan walk of 3 hours tired the young generation more. Why? Is it because lack of physical activity? Is it due to comfortable living? Is it because of changing taste?

Dhwani had made an interesting observation. Maybe, it is not an observation but imagination. According to her, Kabir’s response to females is more warmth filled then towards males. His smile is more bright and lively. He prefers female company!      

And people, I ask advice from you, What should I do with my elder daughter? She likes to move around in home, decked like TV serial heroin. It is true, she looks great, but it is kind of risky to be Miss Bhappi Lahri, that also in humble wanwadi, Pune. Thankfully, she steps out without those accessories, I dread the day, when she will go out dressed like this. Have a look. 

Sun: Mummy arranged for 'Satyanarayan Poojaon.'  And she added that we will not make fun of it, a proper, expert, efficient Maharaj will conduct it. So, I was stuck with Pooja in morning. Today being 'Visarjan' day, full office staff was on leave. Hence one day delay for this entry.

by P G Dodeja

14th Sept 2015 - 19th Sept 2015 [Sayonara 1306]

Sun: ‘Choitha’ ceremony of Maya Dodeja was held at ‘Taioram Darbar’, Agarwal Colony. Soon it will be not necessary to hold Choitha in a Hall, which can accommodate few hundred people. Families are shrinking and relationships are shrinking more. Sad ways of the world. Maybe, this trend will change in some way. Today, thousands are connected but not connected. I mean, by ‘Apps’, blogs, facebook etc far of relatives and friends are all connected with what I inform them or tell them. But when we come face to face our senses tell us different story.     

Thu: Today is landmark day in life of Kabir Kashyap Dodeja. He visited for the first time, his great – great grandfather’s residence. This must be unique record in a sense that Lokram Dodeja’s fifth generation visited the same residence, and the residence which still holds the old characteristics, furniture and memories. Bed, writing desk, cupboards all are still in use. Today also, grand old 1306 building stands proudly in its green cloths, majestic and pride of the area. It has grown old, and bit weak, but considering age and neglect in last two decades, it is very healthy. I remember the desire and wish suggested by Hariram Rohra during Dada’s ‘choitha’ in 1988. “We all [5 sons, 2 daughters and BIL] should contribute and convert one room as permanent museum in Dada’s name, with his statue, his hand written manuscripts and published books, and his photographs. Lets pledge that we all meet once a year, sharing expenses and experiences at this place.” Alas, no one heard him. Mind you, his suggestion has after a bitter fight and subsequent break up with him as partner of BKB, secundrabad just few years before.

I sat at the same satee, where my grandfather used to sit after dinner to discuss next day program or gossip about family issues. With Kabir in my lap, I was transported to 60’s and 70’s. I heard Bal, suggesting a Rajesh Khanna’s new movie ‘Bawarchi’ is released. Dada asks who will come, everyone murmurs, ‘I will.’ Dada in his grand style will say, ‘Balaree, count the members and tell me.’ Once family   members are counted, [it would be always in double digit] he will ask Manu. ‘Do the advance booking. Try Neelayam first.’ Thus we three, Manu-Maa-Lali will take our cycles, pedal down, buy the tickets for the evening show, will feast on Kalpana bhel, while returning.

After the movie, and if it is Sunday, Dada will treat us with ‘Dosa’ and chai. His modus apprendi was like dictator. We will all occupy the seats and look earnestly at menu, thinking what to order. While Dada calls the waiter, counting all members, places simple order, ‘One ‘Dosa’ for one person. No options.’  We will enjoy this set back by pulling leg of the member who dislikes ‘Dosa’.

While returning home, Lali said, most probably this was our last visit to 1306. Now we do not have any excuse left to visit our grand parents house, uninvited. A legacy of 65 years ends.

 

PS: I suggest young ones to see ‘Bawarchee’ directed by Hrishkesh Mukerjee, starring Rajesh Khanna and Jaya Bhaduri. This is very entertaining movie, with no romantic angle but lot of feel good moments. This movie taught me how not to ignore day to day happiness and just in morning I came across following line.

Ask yourself seriously – for the promise of an ‘exciting’ future, is it worth losing sleep and giving up on your day-to-day happiness?

by P G Dodeja

7th Sept 2015 - 13th Sept 2015 [ Big Bang Week]

Mon: ManGaon Project: Week started with a bang. My blog is censored on this account due to confidentiality clause. All I can say is this project is go and will start bearing fruit in4-6 months time.

Tue: ENGLISH LEARNING: Again same above mentioned reason for not elaborating. 

Wed:  PLOT SALE 609: Again same above mentioned reason for not elaborating.This project will take three months time to show results.

Fri: 200 Flats Project: Again same above mentioned reason for not elaborating. 75% deal is done. Until and unless no sign on dotted lines, time frame is not possible to predict.

Sun: Chakan Deal: Again same above mentioned reason for not elaborating. Ready 90% from our end, 75% from buyer end.

Thu: Maya B Dodeja dies in Sleep: One more sudden and unexpected incident.

Maya Bhagwandas Dodeja

Daughter of richest sindhi family in 40’s and 50’s. Balchand Pamnani was the pioneer in biscuit manufacturing in India. He was short and looked like Lal Bahadur Shastri in his Dhoti. I still remember him as LBS.  They had excellent bungalow near Shophia College. I learned cycling there only, when I was just 7 years old. This was during Maya’s engagement days. Dad used to pick her up for shopping and for visiting us in Ghatkopar during her engagement period. While waiting of her, I will take one of bikes lying around and glide down the slop, which would touch Peddar road.

I visited Menghraj Bhavan her residence, few times. I will be fascinated by Gangeshwar Maharaj, who was blind by birth, a scholar and running Ghangeshwar Dham Mandir, in Mumbai and big Dharamshala in Haridwar. He lived in one separate area for himself in Bungalow. Pamnani’s were big followers and devotees.

Our Chachi's life was influenced by these two factors in big way. She had limitless stories of her childhood days in Shukkar home and then early days in Mumbai. And she was devoted to Ghangeshwar Mandir also. Pamnani family’s influence had stayed with Ghangeshwar Maharaj’s followers also. We 40 peoples during 1992 trip had stayed in their Dharamshala in Delhi and Haridwar  and had excellent treatment all due to her.

Dad had soft corner for Bhagwan and Maya. His very first original drama was based on them only. It was not flattering presentation, but still Maya liked the attention it generated and used to love his books.  Bhagwan uncle and Maya shifted to Ahmadabad, taking charge of NPM office. Our uncle was most handsome and his friends used to call him 'Prince', more so, his attitude towards life was also like prince. So, one can say that this was 'Prince and Princess' story of our family.

It is credit to Maya that she was able to run home on her own. In ‘miaka’, she had never entered kitchen, and here she was, doing cooking, shopping and taking general care of house. During 70’s decade, I took fathers place in visiting Ahmadabad for office work. I remember, she would thrive on those visits, asking about each and every social activity taking place in Mumbai and Pune. She missed that very much. Ahmadabad was kind of ‘Banwas of 37 years’ for her. Finally after death of Dada and Bhabhi, they shifted to Pune in 2000. And irony of life is, the social activity in Pune had taken downward plunge by then. Lokram Dodeja family had scattered and had very limited connection with each other, some property issues had soured relationships.

We would spend 10-15 days of vacation in Pune during good old days of 60's and 70's. BLD family will always be there during those vacations. My earliest recollection of her in Pune house, is of her in Puja room, working on sewing machine, making pillows, stitching small garments etc. Our granny would keep aside all sewing jobs for her. Maya aunt was very friendly with Bal and Mummy. They would enjoy each others company. I had never seen them even arguing or debating much. They had such clear understanding.  

In early years of her life, it was Bhabhi or Mummy, who would guide her, whenever asked for advice. After Narendra’s marriage it was her DIL who took over home charge and making decision. She just flourished as princess and enjoyed reminiscing. During my last visit, just 10 days back, she told me all about her home in Sukhar, which was purchased from ‘ex-King’. How this was shared by three brothers and their family of 50 members. She even remembered rooms arrangements etc. She was just 7 years old, when she last saw that place! 

 What a life. She lived 7 years in 'Mahlat' of Sukhar with 40-45 family members, 16 years in Poshest Bungalow on Peddar Road with maybe 20 members family, 37 years in Simple flat in Ahmadabad making her family of two into 10 members family over the period of 37 years, and final 15 years in Huge Bungalow in Pune from where she left for final journey, very peacefully in night!

 

by P G Dodeja

31st Aug – 6th Sept 2015 [Mkhan Chor Week]

 

30^th Sunday: Kashyap’s birthday is normally a unique day. It is kind of ‘Vidhi Ka Vidhan’. However, for last two three years I have tried to keep it low key from my end, as I feel he has grown up. He is no more youngest kid also. So this year I thought it will not be unique as Dhwani – Kabir were in Matunga, and our life has being hectic in last week. Lali and family were also in Mumbai. Kashyap treated all active family members with a light movie. And before the day’s end, this day also turned into a unique day. How, why, will be told some other time with love and in detail.

2^nd Wednesday: Manohar Dodeja was blessed with second grandson. This new addition is 21^st great grandson of Lokram Dodeja. In morning I was counting and added Kabir in this list, but then I realized Kabir along with three girls are great-great grand-children of Lokram Dodeja, i.e. 5^th generation. In this list, Kabir is first Dodeja kid [Pota], whereas, three girls of two Dodeja daughters, both named Neha, one Lali’s and other Sudha’s are Dodeja ‘Dhoeuties’.

 

3^rd Thursday: This was second delivery in Inamdahar Hospital, Wanwadi by Dodeja Khandan. Baby was sleeping peacefully, his skin glowing. Manu told his name will be kept on letter ‘Chi’. There are very few sindhi names on this letter, so I asked Muskan for Punjabi suggestion. And instantly she gave an excellent option. “Chikna”. It is Apt and proper Punjabi name. If this pet name becomes popular, he will look for opposite of fair and lovely cream! After long time I heard smile in Manu’s voice. He sounded very happy.

Babies do bring lot of happiness, so why ladies are shrinking, and running away from producing more babies? World is becoming self centric, sorry to say, but today, woman are more concerned about their looks, figures, free time, less responsibility, career etc. They question, why we should sacrifices for family happiness. Today, it is norm and fashion to have one child and after decade or so, it will be no child culture. And, that generation will never be able to understand the happiness, joy, thrill of seeing one’s child growing up. How sad.   

5^th Saturday: ‘Janmashtami’ My earliest memory is of going to Nij Thawn, Khar, with my Nani for evening of ‘Bhajan’s’ and Radha - Krishna dance performance. I must be around 10 years old. Punjabis celebrate by decking up baby of house as Krishna. This concept has seeped into other communities, for example, Sindhi family has decked their baby as Radha and here is Guju mum, looking for Krishan in her son. For proof, I present three pictures, taken last night. Enjoy. 

by P G Dodeja