Every time I visit the nearby Saloon for a haircut I find another new face ready to clip my locks with the abandon of an excitable Gen Zee kid ! It then becomes incumbent upon me to explain my styling conditions to them afresh – a civilised ‘senior citizen’ cut with no ‘Mohawk’ style uprising in the middle or the military crew cut scraping the ears.. 

This time around I was attended upon by a guy who’s first admonition to my requests was ‘Tension, Mat Lo !’ when I tried to tell him the basics of my hairdo ! I immediately liked his ‘Abhishek Dipke’ like confidence as he tried to assuage my fears. He went on to extol the virtues of being ‘Tension free’ in life – when having a haircut or otherwise dealing with people in general.

I had to ask him his age to which he cheekily said ‘Uncle Guess karo’ – so I ‘Shayad 16 hoga’. He puffed his 32″ chest & said ‘Kya Uncle, I’m 20’. To keep up this lively chat, I said ‘What’s Mine? and he replied  ‘Uncle, 50 hoga’ ! Now I wanted to give him a shock – ‘Beta, add your age to that 50′ ! He looked mighty impressed and said ’70 mein bhi itne baal hai !’  

All this while there were new film songs playing on a small TV on the wall. They appeared soothing but I couldn’t recognise any of them. But my peppy hairdresser was humming along.With all my knowledge of old Hindi songs, known by heart, now I can’t recall a word of these new numbers. Were we now becoming music-deaf or were today’s songs so forgettable ? 

As I finally left after my reasonably good haircut, my new Gen Zee friend asked ‘All Ok Uncle, ki kuch aur karon ?’ After all, the fellow knew his job & could handle someone 50 years older with the ease of a professional!

Growing Together Was..

Helping in homework, Younger ones backed,

Ma’s food place found, So joyful as if ‘cracked’, 

Surviving every storm, Steadying one another, 

Taking on the blame of, Misdeeds of the other,

Even if we disagreed, Or bickered like a cat,

Strong ties stuck firm, Foregoing a tit for tat,

Years on ‘We Old Folks’, Now many miles apart, 

Yet empathy & loyalty, Readies to lend support, 

What’s it with Siblings, One’s flesh and blood, 

That years can’t lessen & Our bonds grow instead !

Fond ‘Rakhi’ Wishes to, Our ever Glorious Sisters !

At times too many ‘words’ in longish stuff that some of us write, have elicited views of loyal reader friends about being lengthy and consequently less readable. In our old friends’ chat, I was once asked to give my views on an exhaustive article by a friend, which I did in an explanatory style. The curt response from a cynic was ‘Executive Summary Please !’ (yes, quite like ones we used to submit to our Bosses since they were supposed to be overloaded with bulky notes and files). To us it can be a reminder of the academic importance of that ‘French’ word called ‘Precis’ !

For the uninitiated, word ‘Precis’ means summarizing the process of writing a lengthy passage that can be described in a few words without changing it’s main theme or idea. In the good old school days ‘Precis’ writing fetched marks from English teachers but while working as young Officers, it became challenging since a ‘Summary’ meant a well-presented form of statements or notes containing headings & sub-headings, that busy Bosses could put their fingers on. But, retired citizens like us now have an unhindered liberty to express without a word limit and many have the propensity to talk and write at length ! Yes, we tend to repeat even ‘golden words’ !

However, this is the age of short forms, abbreviations & minimal one-word responses since Millennial and Gen Zee have little time to read. This is often attributed to ‘low attention span’ and ‘let’s get on with it’ syndrome ! If a heartfelt, emotional message receives a one-word reply (or worse, is ignored), that’s sad for the sender. It’s heart-breaking getting a cryptic emoji or a one-word ‘Cool !’ response to profoundly expressed thoughts. Slowly, Gen Zee has relegated long hand to medieval era -it’s Insta ‘Reels’ showtime !

The incomparable Shakespeare gave us the famous lines ‘Brevity is the Soul of Wit’ ! When it comes to humour and repartee it must be crisp, short and have punch in it. Every stand-up comic artist these days uses a maximum of three sentences before the final punchline to get the laughs, else he must face the boos ! A much-married family man was asked to say ‘Do Shabdh’ at the family event where the relatives were speaking endlessly. He got up, said ‘Thank You’ and sat down, having played his part.

What’s the ideal length for articles (or talks)? At times they’re fixed by the publishers. Organisers request speakers to be short. But unhindered freelancers write their hearts out their own way to make an impact. Yet, there’s no guarantee that they’ll be read

हम सभी ने इस दुनिया

को बहुत करीब से देखी

कई संबंध बने सफ़र में

कुछ करीबी कुछ अटपटी

फिर मिले रिज़वी भाई

अचानक सालों के बाद

ऊंची कद,भारी आवाज़

चेहरा मुस्कान से आबाद

हर हाल में वो हाज़िर

जहां है वक्त की पुकार

जरूरत मंद के मदद में

यह शख्स हमेशा तैयार

अकेलापन से अकेले लड़े

दूसरे को भी सहारा दिया

वक्त से न की शिकायत

हमारे साथ ये क्यों हुआ

बहती हवा सा है वो

उड़ती पतंग सा है वो

कोई फिल्मी किरतर नहीं

अपने रिज़वी भाई हैं वो ।

‘Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them’ said the Bard famously in his comedy ‘Twelfth Night’. As is our wont, we apply such quotes to people of different crafts but what about writers ? ‘Can they be born great, is the question’. Several legendary authors achieved international acclaim and penned timeless classics while still in their teens or early twenties, proving that profound artistic depth is not reserved for old age. Anne Frank who wrote her ‘Diary’ at the age of thirteen was an example of writing spurred by confronting grave dangers.

However, like an ‘epilogue’, today we find a host of talented writers coming into their own in the later stages of their careers, shifting gears and taking up ‘writing’ as full time pros. They often carry a wealth of ground-level practical knowledge and ‘slice of life’ experiences apart from the human interface and shared learning gained from seniors, trainers, co-workers, clients, competitors and critics & so on in their work-life.

Noted writer Chetan Bhagat once shared that his own experience as a banker became so mundane that he channeled all his creativity and genius into writing stories that became best selling novels, some of which went on to become the scripts for super-hit films. Illustrious people from different fields – doctors, scientists, politicians, diplomats, bureaucrats, actors, artists, singers and homemakers too go on to author fascinating stories, memoirs, autobiographies, chronicles from personal history to weave inspiring tales !

There are also some who get the ‘writing ‘bug’ through some source of inspiration. As a blogger, I’m asked what makes me constantly hit the keyboard with ideas – ‘prolific’ is the word they indulge me with. But I’m just an accidental writer, like many others are. I worked as a PSU banker for forty years preparing ‘Credit Proposals’, doing SWOT analysis and putting together ‘Executive Summaries’ for busy Bosses. All far from any literary output. It was after retirement a decade ago, that I felt I’d share engrossing ‘human interest’ stories that mirrored gleanings from life events & understanding of human emotions and imbibed values like loyalty, camaraderie, empathy and ethics !

The great writer Earnest Hemingway had said ‘My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way.’ I sincerely believe that writing should be more ‘from the heart’ than getting ‘words’ strung together. Though digital forms are rapidly replacing the trusted old hardcopy, a true story-teller will not stop penning his thoughts on paper. Remember what Toni Morrison beautifully said “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it yourself.”

If one was a film music buff over the last few decades then one would break into one of Gulzar’s own lyrics (from film ‘Ghar’ ) but with few words rephrased ‘Aap ki geeton mein kuch.. mehke hue se.. soch hain’. Completing 92 years on 18^th August he bats on & on !

Breaking out as a fine film lyricist for Dada Burman in the 1963 classic Bimal Roy film ‘Bandini’, he has penned some of the most poetic and timeless lyrics in Hindi cinema history, frequently collaborating with legendary music directors like S.D. Burman, Salil Chowdhary, Vishal Bhardwaj & AR Rahman. That he combined his genius of writing verses with roles of screenwriter & film director makes him ‘auteur’ in an era of greats ! 

However, it appears Gulzar had a special affinity and bonding with the tunes composed by the creative versatility of ‘Pancham’ (RD Burman) for which he produced his finest works that capture deep human emotions, the idyllic side of nature and the fleeting time with unmatched simplicity. There are many iconic melodies of the duo in partnership both creating magic -“Tere Bina Zindagi Se”- Aandhi (Singers: Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar),”Mera Kuch Samaan”- Ijaazat (Singer: Asha Bhosle), “Tujhse Naraz Nahin Zindagi” – Masoom (Singer: Lata Mangeshkar). There are many other soulful numbers.

What, however, fascinated were the songs of the long distance traveler on journeys that seemed to tell a story of mysticism and endlessness for which both writer Gulzar and the composer RD invariably sought the somber, philosophical depth of Kishore da’s voice !

I choose three songs of this genre, that I as a fan have heard and sang over & over again :

*”Musafir Hoon Yaaron” – ‘Parichay’ remains a favorite not only for the lyrics of a man in search of a goal but also for its unique rhythm set to the hoof beats on a ‘tonga’ ride

*“O Majhi Re” – ‘Khushboo’ is a profound philosophical reflection on life, surrender, and the illusion of permanent stability. The song uses metaphor of a river, and a boatman to portray life as an endless, floating journey where change is the only absolute truth.

* ‘Raah Pe Rehte Hain – ‘Namkeen’ is a philosophical ode to the transient, nomadic life of a wanderer-picturized on a lonely truck driver. It portrays a soul who lives on roads, sustained only by memories, finding a temporary home wherever he stops.

Another remarkable feature has been Gulzar’s love for poetry for children and his deep understanding of the restlessness of youth. His evergreen and tuneful song for ‘Mere Apne’ in 1971 sung by two greats, Kishore & Mukesh – ‘Haal Chaal Theek Thak Hai’ is a satirical commentary on agitated state of  the educated unemployed and is even after five decades, so apt for the current state of affairs leading to student protests all across. 

Web Series on Prime Video

As the old idiom goes ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’ – in Mumbai specially there have been dark clouds, lightening & incessant rains, making life & commuting torturous and necessitating our spending entire time indoors over the last few days. The ‘silver lining’ came as we utilized the gloomy evening hours productively and watch the much talked about series – ‘The Titan Story’. Over three days we savored it’s wonderful story-telling spread over six engrossing episodes recounting the fascinating ‘Titan’ launch in 70-80s.  

We were looking for an engaging & ‘feel-good’ viewing experience, devoid of mindless violence, gore, crime, serial killings, broken relationships and dark tragedies that is the favorite genre of today’s makers. Here was real life story of incredible courage, passion, resilience of human spirit told with refreshing simplicity through unadorned new faces, & old values of  loyalty, compassion & humour. Showing the trails & tribulations faced in technical manufacturing aspects, marketing strategies and branding, stiff competition, resistance to a new ‘personalised’ product, all recreated for a 70-80s ‘period’ may appear documentary-like. Dramatic license is taken with charming quirks & personal equations & clever use of old film songs to aptly describe situations &  lifts overall spirit of the film.

The casting of the motley core group of characters playing pivotal roles as the pioneers is perfect. Brilliant Naseer Shah plays the iconic JRD Tata with the right ‘gravitas’ and ‘wry humour’ without being pompously melodramatic when portraying India’s best known industrialist. But the show belongs to the incredible Jim Sarbh who lives the role of Xerxes Desai, the master planner, architect and visionary of the ‘Titan’ project from its inception. So effortlessly understated is his superb performance that we’d as well say he’s Bollywood’s answer to ace actor ‘Tom Hanks’ in getting under skin of the character !

Also the other supporting actors are incredibly natural and unstarry. Kaveri Seth in the role of marketing ace ‘Megha’ reminds us of the charming yester year actress ‘Swaroop Sampat’ and Joy Sengupta transforms himself nicely into a South Indian persona. This series is a must watch not only for entertainment but for those in the Corporate world or work as Marketing & HR Executives or Management trainees as it drives home many business lessons like the phrase ‘Freedom of Failure’ that is also celebrated in the film.

On the personal level the are many things that bring nostalgia specially the iconic Tata headquarters ‘Bombay House’ which was a stone’s throw from BOB in Horniman Circle in South Mumbai and a place where I spent a year as Br. Head, Mumbai Main Office.  

Also we have, like millions of fellow Indians, had got attached to the ‘Titan’ ghadi since long and went for it. In fact even now, I wear a ‘Titan’ watch gifted to me by my Son !      

( PS : I’ve added pictures of the above for reminiscing some great moments I had )

Of the time-tested ‘few of our favorite things’, is the nostalgia laden ‘Ma ke haath ka khana !’ & ‘home-cooked food’ – be it the simple ‘Roti-daal-sabji-achar’, ‘Kadhi-Chawal’ or ‘Macher-jhol aar bhat’ to name a few. Those who’ve experienced long stays away from family, manage meals with snappy office canteens, ‘dabba-wallahs’ & cafés fast food and yearn for that sublime home-touch. Yet cynics will say ‘Ghar ki murgi daal barabar !’.

There some dichotomy in our palate that the ‘foodie’ in us (let’s confine to urban middle class) is busy exploring new eateries and exotic places to eat out. But even a one-week trip to a fancy hotel or resort results in gorging on lunch/dinner buffets with immense spreads, tempting us to try every delicacy. So when one returns home, it’s ‘dahi-chawal’ or ‘khichdi’ that’s so welcome. I recall our 2016 US trip – when it was time to visit my sister in Indiana, she excitedly called to know what food we’d like. Promptly we said in quintessential Bengali mode ‘Daal, Bhat aar Posto !’

Food specialists, culinary experts and dieticians extol virtues of home cooked food and major impacts on our lifestyle, body, and wallet. You dictate exactly what goes into the meals your family should have. You can avoid hidden sugars, excessive sodium, unhealthy saturated fats typically found in restaurant & processed foods. Studies show that frequently eating homemade meals corresponds to a higher intake of fruits and vegetables, improved digestion, and a reduced risk of diet-related diseases.

I can’t cook beyond ‘breakfast of toast & eggs’ and have been a compulsive ‘MacDonald burger & fries’ and Lucknow’s ‘biryani’ loving man. But I’ve tried to reform thanks to my Home Minister of Kitchen Affairs. IMHO (In My Humble Opinion). Tandra, my better half of 44 years, gets my ‘Padma’ award for contributing to my satisfactory health. Apart from her ‘Chef’ like qualities in every type of cooking, she can make great food from scratch that’s economical. She reads about cookery, plans meals and efficiently utilizes leftovers lowering the food budget compared to often dining out or ordering takeout.  

My Mom, Aunts, Sisters & Nieces, all amazingly took to cooking not only as a family legacy with passion but as a therapeutic, stress-relieving activity. Sharing these recipes fosters family bonding, builds communication and encourages our ‘Gen Zee’ children to develop mindful eating habits early on in life. Just as I love vegetables & fruits now !

There are some proverbs you just can’t forget like- ‘Jack of all trades, Master of none’ – that was used deprecatingly to describe those who tried their hand at many things but never excelled in anything. Yet most of us dabbled in different streams to eventually become post-graduates having ‘mastered’ in some subject but we couldn’t be ‘Masters’ of the same. And we hardly ever used that academic knowledge in our professions… 

The noun ‘Master’ had connotations of perfection and is attributed to experts in various fields of art, music, literature, science, medicine, new technology, sports etc and those recognized through prestigious awards for their exceptional skills and expertise. This became general knowledge to us  but one delighted in reading poets and writers casting a spell with stories and describing nature. As sports lovers we enjoyed the language of reporters & their labels – Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ 1986 World Cup goal, ‘Roger, Rafa, Novak’ the ‘Big Three’ of Tennis, Sunny ‘The Little Master’, Dravid the Great ‘Wall’, Sachin ‘God of Cricket’, Saurav ‘God of Offside’, Kapil ‘lifting tallest bowlers’ (for sixes) !

With time, abbreviations came like ‘GOAT’ for the greatest ever. Yet as it happens with the changing mores, the use of such dramatic, over-the-top words from ‘Iconic’ and ‘Phenomenal’ to ‘Incredible’ and ‘Extraordinary’ have been generalized to triviality. In modern day parlance almost anything from junk-food, attires to artists with funky hair styles are  termed as ‘Amazing’, music shows ‘rocking’, good is often ‘Out of this World’ ! Recently in a reality show, the anchor called a popular composer ‘Legendary’ and the musicians as ‘legends’. What do we call iconic singers & composers of golden decades ?

However, today it’s par for the course to hyper-articulate for effect and create an impact. Comparisons are drawn between those present to the past greats and achievements are blown high. The POTUS has become synonymous with words that are misplaced using ‘beautiful’ where it’s hardly so and ‘disgusting’ when he’s not in agreement with others. There’s Shashi Tharoor’s suave linguistic brilliance articulating words like ‘recalcitrant’ (that few understand) and ‘Snollygoster’ and ‘Rodomontade’ that frankly none of us do !      

How then can we not mention our mainstream Media on one side for its exaggerated reports and views that many feel are partisan and the burgeoning Social media reels/posts that present the strong alternate versions of stories and carry unreported ‘breaking news’ – all too confusing for the netizens now completely hooked onto them !  We have become familiar with phrases – ‘setting narratives’ and ‘changing the goalpost’ and speeches containing divisive intent that are termed as ‘Masterclass’ in oratory. Any thing done that outwits political opponents is applauded as a ‘Masterstroke’ carried out.

Rephrasing the old proverb, are we becoming ‘Masters of  Tall Talk and Jack to None ?’ 

Are the numerous umpires playing the balanced neutral role today that they ought to ? Among the lessons we learnt in our moral classes, it was stressed we follow the rules of the game and be sportsmanlike. As brash lads we’d get into scraps while playing gully cricket- nobody wanted to lose, so the ball was stolen or bat broken to prevent the others from winning. It needed a trusted wise person, such as a family elder, to make sure that the boys followed the ground rules, played like sportsmen and didn’t fight like ruffians !

Though the term “Umpire” is relatively a modern one, it has old antecedents essentially meaning “not on par” or “not equal.”. Umpires were not on par with the other players, they were above them, acting as the moderators and the voice of the law. Over time all sports have had umpires or referees with knowledge of the rules and to enforce them on field with complete impartiality. But as the game of Cricket gained popularity it drew huge crowds, prize money and telecasting earnings spiraled and betting pros flourished.

As the competitiveness and professionalism grew and stakes for winning got higher, the On-field ‘Umpires’ started to come under fire. Close calls, snicks, run outs and dubious LBW decisions caused a lot of rancor particularly where umpires appeared to be biased towards a side in making decisions that could changed the match in their favour.

‘Neutral’ umpires from a panel of accredited umpires got introduced in all international matches and worked for some time. But the ‘human error’ factor crept in, as at times lightening fast decisions were needed on field. Then somewhere in the 1990s, came the concept of the ‘Third Umpire’ sitting away from the actual play but armed with the latest in technology to ‘track the ball’ ! Teams had a fixed number of referrals, the third umpire could even overturn decisions of on-field umpires based on replays and interpretation. of the evidence. Yet technology too hasn’t always inspired confidence. Despite the on-field umpires verdicts, ball tracking, replays etc by third umpires have looked dubious !

Finally there’s the issue of on-field behavior that demeans the spirit of the game and for that there’s a ‘Fourth Umpire’ called the ‘Match Referee’ for complaints made by the on-field umpires or team managements against erring players. In many cases penalties are awarded and in severe cases, one or two match bans are levied. Constant improvements to ensure fair play and sportsmanship have been tried out in sports. Yet those playing the Umpire’s role in public posts and entrusted with duties of enforcement of rules, are often found wanting and not working without fear or favour ? ‘Howzzat’ Umpires ?!