25th Oct 2015 – 31th Oct 2015 [Savitri Aunty says bye]

 

One more example of life’s dramatic turns.

Sapna was with Akshay and Muskan, on 27^th night, enjoying a good wedding reception in Hydrabad, Vijay Bhagwandas Dodeja’s one and only daughter Bhavni was getting married to Sapna’s relative. She informed Akshay that Savitri Aunty was getting discharged from hospital in morning, her stein has worked well and she is ok now. Flow of life turned, and suddenly Savitri Aunty was no more in morning of 28^th. I rushed to Santacruz for her last rites, along with Mummy – Lali – Manju – Avi – Pinky. When Sapna meet me at Santacruz, she remarked, just 12 hours back I was at wedding with your son, and now I am with you, for Antim Yatra!

 And to add more drama Tulsidas mama is also hospitalized for sever Jaundice in same hospital. He was also very critical.

Savitri Bajaj

My third number mami, third one to go.

Dad used to say that ‘she is most typical shikarpuri woman. Even though not educated in modern terms, she is very modern, aware of her surrounding socially, economically, spiritually.’ She was very good source of information on sindhi relatives, well aware of happing in and around her. 

One of the very few families are connected with south Mumbai, and she was one of them. And she will share hard facts without any biased or ulterior objective.

And after Dad, I replaced him in respect of gossiping and exchanging notes with her on regular basis. But my range was at gossiping level of immediate family. Just few weeks back I spoke with her for 42 minutes. And this was norm. I had reduced my interaction with her, due to my other pressing matters, earlier, one call in 15 days with her was necessary, more so for me.

My earliest memory of her is, she sitting with Nani, taking stock of cloths with ‘Dhobi’. My tiny mind registered a picture of Two Nani’s, one unnecessary scolding me for jumping on pile of cloths, accumulated for dhobi. Nani will scold, saying ‘Lughi Vanday..’ [will get hurt] and aunty will protect by saying let the kid play. And after death of official Nani in year 1972, Savitri Aunty was defacto Nani for me. I used to tease her as proxy Nani and she would enjoy that.

 Laxman Nivas has seen four Yugs. Satya Yug was when Laxman Nivas was one story building, our Nani used to rule, I was ‘nikker walla’ small boy along with our gang of five. It was totally chilled out period. Than came Tritya Yug. Family division bisected Laxman Nivas, horizontally. Most of the edlers of Satya Yug were no more, the young couples of Satyug were now elders. We ‘nikker – gang’ were married and raising our own family. After two decades, in ‘Dwapar’ Yug, one story building was replaced with 6 story tall structure. Our Nikker – gang was now counted in (early) ‘elder’s’ stage. The kids of gang were now married and raising own family, in simple words, turned into grandparents.

In all this turmoil, Savitri Aunty – Rajkumari Aunty and Mummy are strong thread, bringing the culture of Satya Yugh to Dwapar Yugh. The cultural transition, passing of ‘Sanskars’ and Values was through them only. And I believe Savtri Aunty was torch bearer of anchorage of the Bajaj family. Many will disagree with me but she really had subtle influence and was more direct and verbal.   

Today, she has left us, leaving Nikker – Gang as family elders, [all are now grand parents]. How Mummy, Rajkumari Aunty, Jyoti, Kanika etc will handle her loss, I do not know, but I will remember her laugher over the phone line on my silly comments, her concern and gentle advise for others. She will have always wise words in handling of DIL’s, raising children, solving matrimonial issues.

I specifically remember, she saying, ‘Babloo, you are eldest brother, so forgive and forget Sanjay and try to patch up with him.’ Mind you, she did not have any soft corner for Sanjay neither he had requested her to say such thing, it was her wisdom, her culture, her foresight.

 

by P G Dodeja

18th Oct 2015 – 24th Oct 2015 [Diwali mood is on ]

Shyam Uncle had planned 30 days stay, but have to rush to Mumbai for medical reasons. Thankfully it got sorted out in very positive manner. Hope they will be able to join us for get together of Dodeja at Ritz.

Kabir Bulletin. This week he spent two nights in Inamdhar Hospital, because his water level in body got low. Yes, he got dehydrated, due to loose motions and vomiting. The reason as per doctor was change in milk powder brand! He has become very light and is sluggish, but smiling and talking non sense as per his routine. 

Then he learned to do bye bye, and has started asking us to pick him up by gestures. Now we have to hold him tight or else he is able jump from our lap, instantly.And yes, this will be his first ever Diwali.

He still continues to favor his Dadi and Nani with big dimpled smiles, whenever they just utter his name, very partial. And yes, he looks at a colorful, plastic bag kept on table since last 7 days, as if she is his girl friend. He keeps staring it for long period of time. Time flies when a kid is around, weather he is crying, smiling or just sleeping.

Kabir model for the first photo shoot of his life. Few family members who saw all pictures, blame photographs for Kabir’s hospitalization.

“Nazar Lagh Gayee”

So keeping this in mind, Kashyap released Kabir’s one foto. Only one picture on face book has being appreciated a lot. The photographer is Glax, Kashyap’s partner. And slowly demand is growing for more foto - dharshan!

Vijay Bhagwandas Dodeja’s daughter Bhavani is going to get married in Hydrabad. Life has turned into a ‘Practical’ zone. A very low key wedding is planned by Vijay. This new ‘damad’ of Dodeja’s is a genuine, cooled out person, as per first impression. All the best to Vijay for upcoming wedding and Bhavni for her new upcoming life.

And I take this oppurtunity to thank Ravi and Amar for organizing a Diwali get together at Ritz. With very limited cooperation from other members, they have achieved this target. More strength to them.  And let join them and make this get together as success as last year at Pune Club. And more so as we will be having two brand new boys joining for the first time.

And keeping up the trend of wishing upcoming events, All the best to CB team of Noble Group. 

 

by P G Dodeja

11th Oct 2015 – 17th Oct 2015 [Mobile Ke Bhagt]

 

Gradually  we all are moving towards digital world the world of Keanu Reeve’s, MATRIX. Finally I succumbed to temptation and joined the bandwagon of mobile users who bow before the mobile God, touch its feet gently with fingers, sometimes flicking away, some do it every five minutes, some do it every hour, 'Shardaloo Bhagts' have such intense ‘Bhakti Bhav’. The mobile God responds and works according to its level of smartness. If blessed by Surya Devta, it throws light in form of torch. Saraswati Devi is ‘brajman’ in form of Google Search. Laxmi is there as banking apps. You see ‘Apsaras’ dancing at flick of your figure, great ‘sangeetkars’ responding immediately to your wish. These are just very few examples, it will be challenging to attach one God to each function of M-God, in spite of Hindus having more the 108 lakhs deities. Such is the range and reach of M-God.

My ‘shastang pranam’ to M- God.

So, I have become very poise and god fearing, ‘shardaloo’ and ‘Bhagwan Bhagt’. Last thing I do before closing my eyes at night is to put M-God to sleep, like our Dadi used to put ‘Granth Sahib’ to sleep. My morning starts with opening the window on M-God to say Good morning to the world. I am getting to higher levels towards ‘Nirvana by M-God’ so much that my hands are responding on its own to touch M-Gods feet, every half an hour.

But I am yet to create hailing and worshiping phrase. For example, just by uttering this phase ‘Jai Mata Di’ or ‘Jai Bhoole Nath’  Devi ‘Bhagts’ or Shanker ‘Bhagts’  spirit sours high, we need to create one ‘Jai - ho’ for M-God.

  

A photo shoot by Glax of Kabir turned into a great drama. He click some superlative picture. Still the editing, color correction is going on. Initial response was WOW, in very big way from immediate family who were allowed the preview. Just as I stepped in office, Lali said in his grim voice, ‘Why have you put Kabirs picture on whatadd? ‘Nazar Laghi Vendas’. I know you people will not listen to me.’ Kashyap – Glax had small shooting assignment in Mumbai, they had planned to go in morning. But when Glax saw Kabir vomiting and having loose motion, he strongly rejected Mumbai trip.

By evening poor guy was highly dehydrated and weak.

 Mummy also keeps having loose motion problem, this restricts her activity to places which have close access to loo. But still she managed to come with us to D’Mart for groceries shopping. 

She has a very good company in form of Ratna aunty. They both chat along merrily, recalling past experiences, sharing past wisdom with new generation and enjoying golden hours. 

Doctor Dumbre of Ruby clinic on her  routine visit, gave a clean chit to mum expect for 5 days course to bring her tummy on heel, so that she can continue eating ‘Varsha Bhel’, this made my week.

by P G Dodeja

4th Oct 2015 – 10th Oct 2015 [Back to School]

 

What is the blessing from the almighty?

Only one answer. BABY

Not what you are thinking, I meant, for example, 'KhushiRam'.

6^th Oct: Akshay surprise birthday was planned by Muskan with great gusto. And surprise of all surprise is that she was able to keep this party secret from Akshay. All the family members, Dhwani’s Mum and two partners of Akshay, Kamal Khetan and Ali also joined us, to celebrate his birthday. For the first time we shifted our sitting arrangement to terrace area. Excellent weather, superlative food and cordial atmosphere made up a great birthday party for Akshay. It was most relaxing and cool party. Muskan had made Paneer, [9/10 score], Manju made her patented Pulao [8/10], Pinky made Dal [8/10]. Mummy had made Gulab Jamuns for ‘ladla’ grandson. In short all food items surpassed the distinction marks. And with the excellent fruit cake, duly endorsed by Muskan, who never touches 'Fruit' cake. This was made of KK neighbor, who has made her hobby of cake making into a business venture.

  And “Sone Pee Suhaga” was arrival of Ankit & Pallavi after dinner. They joined us for chatter, some snipping of ice cream. Ankit is nowadays looking quite fit and healthy, and as Pallavi is pure Punjabi ‘kudi’, laughing and enjoying life to full and growing health…ier.

7^th Oct: Coldwell has training program for senior management of its franchisees. Full day we sat in class room in Mumbai, [somehow I was not able to connect to my school days at Sind Cosmopolitian High School] went through 6 modules, had plenty of chat, heavy lunch with 2 coffee cups. All the lessons taught were same old things, but presented in fresh cloths, communicated clearly and highlighted properly. The full impact will be felt only after its implementation and results. Soon we will be starting this venture, with our figures crossed.

On our return journey, after gap of six months, Shyam uncle, Ratna aunty and Moni joined us. Recently, aunty had gone through a serious health scare, thankfully she has fully recovered from it. Though she has lost weight in big way, she looked relaxed and vibrant. Uncle and Moni must be feeling great as a major challenge has been accepted and conquered.    

And, Khushiram is growing fast. He is in hurry to grow. He just completed 4 months in this week and he is already getting ready to crawl. Mummy says, the babies normally start crawling when they are at least six months old. And we all are devoting big chunk of time on him like his Great Dadi, Dadi, Nani, Parents, Akki, Niki and above all, his most favorite person, Dada. He is diplomat in big way. He has instant and big smile for Dadi and Nani only.

9^th Oct: Kunal Narang accepted Dhwani – Muskan invitation and came over to Pune for overnight stay. He is odd man out in current mold of new generation. Today’s generation is more made of materialistic matter, running after elusive targets and more and more consumer products. Here is a boy, give him, his laptop, access to net, model cars and he is happy as a child. He talks about money a lot, but is away from money culture, for sure. He is ‘shewadhari’ of Radha Swami, taking his duties seriously.

Nice boy, currently life is turning him into a hard, sad, lonely man. But I can see, he has good family support, so hopefully, he will come out of it.

Last night after ages I was wide awake, till 1 O’clock. Learning how to handle Andriod Phone. Akshay is my ‘How to use’ teacher, whereas, Kashyap is my ‘Technique’ teacher.

This week for me was ‘Back to School’ week.
 
by P G Dodeja

27th Sept 2015 – 3rd Oct 2015 [Ganpati Bapa Mourya]

Our tradition created in early 70's continued this year also. I remember, going for Ganpati Dharshan with granny in 70's. I was tired after three hours of walking, but kept mum, because I can not say no to granny, who kept pushing us for 'dharshan' of next 'pundal', few feet away. Her energy, enthusiasm, excitement and fun element pulled us that night.

For last few years we visit peth area at least for one night. This year it was more crowded and night was also very hot. So we skipped our usual beat of Dagru Seth - Mandai - Jogeshwari route. Instead we parked near 1306, did a small round of Bajirao Road - Sadhashiv Peth - Saras Baug. For the first time Amar Hinduja and family joined us. Ravi was supposed to join us.

Here are few pictures of that night.

Dagru Seth's Rath for Visarjan Day is ready

Youngest child of the group.

Jeeni considering the Vada Pao as 'Ganpati' prasad

Kulfi group

One bite please

Rest Time

One for remembrance

And Yes, I also enjoyed Kulfi, in spite of cough.

Well, if you ask me, this was more of a walk for eating out then Ganpati Dharshan. Hope 'Vighna Harta' will understand and give us blessings, after all we made some attempt.

by P G Dodeja