It’s fascinating to hear the off-the-cuff views on various issues from men on ground zero. They are ones we interact on a daily basis including our Society watchmen, fruit-walas , bhaji-sabji vendors, delivery boys, paper-stall owners, roadside tailors & cobblers, car & auto repair guys and the most voluble auto-walas, to name the ones I meet. In our active banker days now a few decades past, they formed a huge ‘Self-employed & Professionals’ sector but continue to do so, more now ! Even if ‘Unorganised’ there are always there.   

Coming to the main story, since my slippers needed urgent attention, I paid a visit to the neighbourhood ‘mochi’, who has a tiny ‘Gumti’ where he displays his wares and keeps his stuff. It surprised me to find a bright, youngish man polishing shoes with some pride and like a nosey old gent, I got to asking questions – he replied he was 12^th pass and had worked on few jobs but had decided be his own master. Wondering how he managed his family earning just about five hundred daily, he seemed quite content with his life ! He seemed to have no worries about high prices, educating his children & better prospects.

What surprised me was his general awareness and interest in current political concerns, like migrants from neighboring countries staying or coming into the country which he felt were creating problems for us. He asked me about my home-state and expressed his satisfaction at how the welfare policies were being implemented by ruling dispensation. Along with footwear repair, I was getting educated on what ‘aam janta’ perceives With all my newspaper-reading & media-binging, I find myself confused on so many issues.

It’s observed that our urbanized & city bred youth (aren’t we still reaping the benefits of demographic dividend ?) in the employable age group are tech-savvy and aspirational in their outlook. There’s also a fair section of educated youth in metros & big towns that endeavors to improve it’s lot to keep up with high cost of maintaining a normal life style. In the 70s, we learnt principles of ‘Simple Living and High Thinking’ that was imbibed – it was really ‘simple’ then. It may now be like ‘Thinking of Ways & Means for Surviving’.  My ‘Shoemaker’ friend’s contentment with whatever you get in life, is another lesson.    

“We didn’t realize that we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun “. Those are the sort of words you associate with our dearest friend, Vipin Gupta – gentle, humane, an untiring, selfless leader of men and ever so solid, as the Rock of Gibraltar ! And most amazingly, a man with no detractors in an unforgiving world.. for no other reason but because he’s a friend who everyone loves to love.

However much you attempt, one would always fall short in etching the quintessence of his indefatigable persona. I have known him since our alma-mater Colvin College, Lucknow days of 1964 (more than six decades now) and an unbroken stand of 11 years as class-buddies right till the University days. Vipin got married at the tender age when we, his classmates, were all struggling to complete ourpost graduation in Economics from the Lucknow University. I could claim to know more about him than even the dearest love of his life and better-half, our wonderful Vidhu Bhabi !

The remarkable thing about the Vipin & Vidhu team is their consistency for goodness. In all the years, there have been no fallouts and fallbacks in their convictions : as the excellent parents with outstanding and most well-brought up children, as a committed business-family working for the community and contributing to society, as elders who keep the joint-family together and above all, a pair that succeeds in reuniting friends to rekindle lasting relationships ! One thing that has always intrigued us and which Vipin never shared- how does he avoid arguments (there can never be fights ! ) with Vidhu Bhabi ? In all our association with both of them, we have never witnessed even a minor squabble ! With them around, things always look brighter and livelier…

Unlike the many illustrious firsts we’ve known over the years, you’re the first duo from our contemporaries who celebrate today a glorious milestone – your ‘Golden Marriage Anniversary’. Akin to the heartwarming tales of romance and idyllic partnerships, your love is a symphony harmonizing perfectly for 50 years ! But as cricket lovers we are not satisfied with a half-century alone, we all wish that you complete a great century !

Many Congratulations, Wishes, Prayers for Continued Health, Joy & Joie de Vivre !

Love from Somnath and Tandra

12^th,October, 2025

It was our spiritual and cultural upbringing that made us think in pairs from the start. It all began with the persons we first ever knew on the planet : Papa-Mummy (Baba-Ma for some) and family elders, Dadu-Thamma, Kaka-Kaki, Dada-Didi and so on, to the devoted Naukar-Chakar and Gadi-Ghoda in the house and it all had a musical ring to it. This spilled over to school arena with Padai-Likhai, Yaar-Dost, Khel-Kood and all our Gods in the daily prayers that we chanted in the morning assembly !When we saw elder siblings get married (in arranged alliances without knowing the partner) seniors advised- everyone was destined to be paired with someone. Sure, that was in the ‘1970s!

As we grew up with our studies, books, literature lessons and teachers we realised that apart from the different kinds of pairs that figured in our simple lives there were very “Famous pairs” that had reference to so many types& varieties of well-known duos, including fictional characters like Tom& Jerry and Veeru & Jai (from cult film Sholay), legendary lovers Romeo-Juliet and Heer-Ranjha, historical figures such as Cleopatra and Mark Antony and contemporary celebrity couples of likes of Big B& Jaya Bachan. The term also applied to notable partnerships in politics (there are quite a few across the board), and sports such as Cricket God Sachin & Dada Ganguly as openers for India andtennis players Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, till they separated. From the Bollywood music industry, came a galaxy of composer duos, song writers, film makers.

The penchant for ‘pairs’ are not confined only to characters but to inanimate objects. All of us have at some point of time, taken a fancy to vintage prized possessions starting from favourite pens& books, study tables & chairs, meccano sets&scrabble boards, old diaries&marriage albums, school ties &children’s’ uniforms, special gifts & cards received on milestone birthdays & stacks of jeans, jackets, saris – the list can be endless and maddening since sentiments and emotions come in the way of the spring cleaning of closets and cupboards and getting the best deals out of the local ‘kabariwallas’ !

That brings me to the pair I feel most sentimental about today: Me & my Bajaj Scooter. After having a bicycle for my entire academic life, as did all my friends, Dad bought me a new Bajaj Super scooter in 1977, when I landed a job with a Bank. However, call it a propitious start, my Dad in an effort to show acquired driving skills, crashed the new scooter & caused a lucky mark in front. I then went on to use it as a lifeline for the next fifteen years in tune with the then famous tagline ‘Hamara Bajaj’. It taught me many life experiences including about rash driving, an accident and hand fracture but also a lot of adventurous times in the initial first years of marriage, family of wife and two boys lent romance of scooting around! Later, a ‘Maruti’ came in & my ‘Bajaj’ went out. 

Even the best minds have to contend with it – the malady of not being able to precisely recall faces, names and dates that hits all those once priding themselves on having had a proverbial ‘elephant’s memory’. The ‘forgetful’ stage seems to kick in with a strange gender bias. Men once they’re retired, tend to forget (or appear to) simplest errands & important family functions/dates while ladies hardly forget any event (past or present) despite their advanced years, except where they kept their mobiles, glasses, medicines& bills. It’s God’s way of making all senior spouses help each other in finding their stuff & keeping themselves socially relevant !FB too is doing a yeoman service by reminding us to wish friends on their birthdays !

Recently, at a reunion meet we got talking about how class-fellows were getting along. A friend described someone who’s first name he tried but couldn’t recall & asked me if I remembered. Equally vague I replied ‘I can’t recall the face, but the surname seems familiar’. We tried to jog our memories on other blokes in school, not active on social media, but couldn’t make much headway ! Back in our younger days, we used to giggle when elderly relatives would ask “Ye ta kothay aache?’, translated from Bengali meant ‘Where’s he/that thing ?’ leaving us to figure out what they wanted. With age, it’s our turn to turn a bit foggy and to struggle with the recesses of the brain to retrieve a name, year or place when providing information to others.

The well-known fact is that we have in-built like a computer, a long-term memory which miraculously retains the details of significant past events and also a short-term one for mundane matters that get deleted fast. It could be that our tired minds can’t handle so much data inputs. To cite my example, relatives/friends tell me that I can relate quaint incidents of our childhood that they’ve forgotten. Also, I don’t need to refer to lyrics of hundreds of old songs while singing them-yet many things happened in last two decades that have slowly faded away to me.

Experts claim that a weakened memory is just a sign of aging and not treatable, though they suggest ways to keep one mentally & intellectually active. Writers, artists, actors, trainers, coaches & of course politicians improve with age like ‘fine wine’ ! However, ordinary people too devise ways to manage ‘memory lapses’. My process for years has been to make ‘to-do lists’ on daily basis and store in files, my stories, pins & passwords. ‘Association’ of thoughts helps us recall like someone’s birthday comes a week before Christmas.  Spouses are best versions of ‘Google’, who keep us updated on everything. That reminds today is very important date. It’s her birthday & how can I forget that !

Happy Birthday Tandra – Time slipped by but my love for you is always on schedule !

I remember our last meeting as if it were yesterday – just a couple of months ago we had spent a delightfulevening, picking up from where we’d left off due to a longish break, nursing drinks, listening to old melodies that Rahulji so enjoyed over tit-bits. Like old times we had also planned our next meet : a ‘Keema-Pao’ breakfast at a quaint SOBO joint on a weekend. In his unfailing gesture of bon-homie he had sent us warm Durga Puja wishes early this October. So tough coming to terms that fate can cruelly interveneto snatch him away from us, leaving his family & friends utterly devastated.

When I first met Rahulji in 2016, our trueidentities were unknown -we were the other halves of two talented ladies, Neerja and Tandra. Our spouses beingoldschool mates from Allahabad& reunited in camaraderie in a feisty friend’s group, gave us retirees a chance to meet the families. Rahul ji & I soon discovered we’d many common interests, passion for vintage Hindi films&songs, drinks, great food &old world values. Beneath his benign smile& gentle exterior was steely resolve, that stood ground on matters of principle. Having been a successful entrepreneur in the competitive eatery business in Mumbai, he was a realconnoisseur of cuisines and expert on the city’s fine-dine joints.

We’ve always found admirable, the nurturing of filial bonds and relationships in the close knit family headed by Rahuljiand Neerja, where every member, from children to grandchildrenare precious gems, generous, soft-spoken and cultured human beings. As frequent visitors to ‘Rastogi’ household, we’vereceived their warmth & hospitality.The mind refuses to register that Rahulji won’t call & say ‘Sanjuji, kab mil rahehai ?’

Our heartfelt condolences to Neerja ji and all the dear family members. May God grant you allthe strength to bear this great, irreparable loss. People like Rahul ji leave behind legacies of goodness and goodwillthat will live on. That’s why it’s been said :

‘Those we love don’t go away,

They walk beside us every day.

Unseen, unheard but always near,

Still loved, still missed &held so dear’.

Prayers from Somnath (Sanju) with Tandra

Today’s Lucknow morning papers brought back ‘academic’ nostalgia through an article in TOI on Pg 17). Like lines from classic ‘Treasure Island’ : ‘I remember (it all) as if it were yesterday..’ ! Astonished that more than fifty years have elapsed when we’d entered the hallowed portals of that renowned seat of higher studies, ‘Lucknow University’ in 1971 for a BSc course. For me and many other classmates, it was just crossing the road (from our Alma Mater, Colvin College) but in terms of academics, it felt like a giant step with no hand holding from father-like figures who became our favourite teachers in School. We learnt to grapple with change & I spent five eventful years in LU, doing graduation, post graduation& research.

The article states it’s a journey through Lucknow University’s challenging decades and shares the personal experiences of two eminent Profs that it produced. In retrospect, ‘Established in 1921, LU as an institution has stood witness to waves of intellectual growth, turbulent student politics and determined efforts’. The more colourfully spectacular LU era of the 70s-80s that it speaks of, is almost the one we had shared also – replete with serious academics, low marks,  some brilliant professors, the Co-ed scene & acquiring new friends, exchanging notes (not all being study material), elections & canvassing by student ‘netas’ and exams getting cancelled !

The experienceswere in form of new learning from exposure to‘higher education’ & ‘cultural and social’ effect it had on our lives. Somehow, the idea of fun for us, never included ‘bunking’ classes to see movies. Our close group of class fellows included theebullientwith their chatter and impetuous with fightsin the ‘Canteen’or in the class. In the 1970s, one never felt slighted trundling along to LU on the humble ‘Cycle’ though a few entitled ones rode in ‘gloriously’ on Mobikes& ‘Vespas’ creating waves. It wasn’t only the ‘nerds’ who’d frequently visit the famed ‘Tagore’ library. Few went in hope of meaningful friendships to blossom,and some to impresslady students and with disastrous results !

An experience special to me was the shift from the ‘Science’ stream to the Post Graduate ‘Arts’ side in ‘Economics’ & I started from ‘E’ as a complete novice. However, the two years were full of thrilling memories not only of Keynes, Marx& Friedman and of erudite professors who inspired through their lectures & tutorials.We had many of illustrious seniors (for their sheer brilliance we recall Rajiv Kumar, Gautam Chakravarty, Ajit Trivedi, Tyagiji& others) who’d regale us with notes& anecdotes. Fortuitously, many friends of our 1975 batch reunited later in 2014 and would share their thoughts in this WhatsApp group that was formed !

We would love to know the whereabouts of some who hit the limelight in the First Year (1974) -Hem Lata Rana, who had topped and shocked us all, might have settled overseas. I do recall my guide and first Eco. Teachers, late Dr.PDShrimali and late Dr.RS Mathur. ‘Jane kahangaya ye ‘Great Log’ ? It’s God’s grace that many of us are still around to reminisce those days.

Recalling the opening lines of the Daphne Du Maurier classic ‘Rebecca’ (‘Last night I dreamt I went to Manderly again’), we’d also say with an air of disillusionment : ‘Last evening we visited ‘Lalbagh Park’ again after many years – it revived waves of nostalgia.

For those from Lucknow’s 1960-80’s era,memories would be associated with the most cosmopolitan and colourful Puja festivities in the sprawling ‘Lalbagh’ Park (not to be confused with the Lalbaug of Mumbai !) that later, got converted to a big parking lot opposite the Lucknow Nagar Nigam ! After a break, the Park did again become a venue for the Durga Puja celebrations in the bustling Lalbagh area. But for us who’d been regulars to Lalbagh Pujasyearsago, the vintage ethos &joie de vivre is nowmissing!

One recalls that from childhood days, our brigade of about a dozen sisters, brothers, cousins and family friends would converge at Lalbagh Park for ‘grand masti’ of the innocent kind. Boys will be boys and some of my Non-Bengali friends would join us for what was then euphemistically called ‘bird-watching’! Aiming at those eligible in the ‘shaadi’ market, Lalbagh was a happy hunting ground for many anxious Bengali mothers where ‘bhalo’ matches could be unearthed and for the bold and smart young ones, it was opportune moments to start new alliances or to restore old connections.

Lalbagh Park was stone’s throw from our house & being close-by, every evening we’d stroll down to Lalbagh Park in our new Puja outfits (those days it was possible to walk on the roads) and spend the evening gaping in awe at the ‘dhunuchi’naach with a pot with burning embers by the great ‘Sikdar’ brothers (who’d put Salman to shame with their 6-pack abs), enjoy the festive bon-homie& look for treats from rich friends in the chat, chop and cutlet stalls and swing to the latest Bengali film songs of that era !

So as Tandra and I, both retired senior citizens now, strolled across to Lalbagh Park yesterday, it was like a throwback to the amazing times of our youth& those years of pure merriment. You feel that the best things in life are the people you loved to be with & remember after they left, the wonderful places you went & the memories you made.

*Those who are married & have played cricket will know

That like runs scored in cricket, the marriage does grow,

*In cricket two batters at crease together face opposition

In marriage two have to unite to conform to institutions,

*In cricket players are chosen by a team of wise selectors

In marriage partnership is forged byold family members,

*In game of cricket a full team would need to have eleven

In marriage, parents decide for you, leaving it on ‘Heaven’,

*In cricket two umpires discuss when there’s disagreement

In marriage everyone talks before reaching any agreement,

*In cricket the batters face bowling that can be fast or slow

In marriage partners adjust and somehow put a good show,

*In cricket opposing side often use the googly or wrong one

In marriage misunderstanding arises, compromise is done,

*Cricket has its ups & downs & many glorious uncertainties

In marriage’s chances need be taken for positive certainties,

*Cricket’s been called ‘gentleman’s game’ of leisure & honor

Marriage isn’t a game, it needs commitment & perseverance

And in this Partnership, Women Always Emerge Stronger !

By Somnath Sinha

We ‘Sinha’ siblings have also always shared fond reminiscences of our dear Dadu-Didas, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins as part of our growing up years. Under the broad umbrella covering ‘Uncles’, we didn’t have a real ‘Chacha-ji’ (though all Dad’s friends were Chachas/Uncles to us)but on the maternal side, we did have two real and really endearing Mama-jis, who remain unforgettable for the kind of men they were !

Interestingly, our two Mamashadfairly distinct personalities. Elder (Boro) Mamaji was soft-spoken, kind, generousand gentle and no one (incl his kids) ever heard him speak loudly because he could quietly make his point. Chote Mama was years younger to him (Mom was their eldest sister). He was vocal, suave, flamboyant, fair, handsome & could regale us with Hemant Kumar songs like ‘..Sun jadil ki daastaan..’ and jokes about how simple villagers were taught the military drills that he had witnessed !

My Dad was very close to both his ‘Shalas’ and in the early part of our childhood years till the late 1960s, we’d have annual visits to our ‘Mamarbari’ in Village Harinavi near Calcutta (now a part of main Kolkata). Dadu, the revered family patriarch would teach us stories of patriotism and songs like “DhonoDhannePushpeBhora..”. In a sprawling house with nearby maidans and ponds, life then was so simple and idyllic and made memorable by the affection we got from Mama’s, Maima’s and Mashis. We still recall  thatevery family gathering/weddings there were bright and joyful, every childhood memory remains still sweet and every life lesson was easy to digest and never to forget.

Coming back to our Chote Mama’s quintessential charm was the memory of beautiful songs that he and Choto Maima would sing (being a trained singer) and that made us fall in love with Bengali Music and Rabindra Sangeet. Mama’s being ‘Khati Bangalis’ were great soccer and cricket fans. I remember as a young boy, when India beat Aussies in 1959 in famous Kanpur Test, Dad and Chote Mama returned home crying with joy. When our Mamarbari folks visited us in our home in Lucknow, it was a major event & the family photographer was called to capture the ‘Sinha-Mitra’ families for posterity.

All this comes back as we stumble upon old family albums and B&W pics and marvel at how innocent we looked. One pic I’ve restored is from when Chote Mama’s marriage in the late 1950s – the baraat went to Bhagalpur and I was made the ‘Neet Bor’ and felt very important. I’m told a young girl was my counterpart. Both Mama & I look so cool.

As John Green put it beautifully ‘One day, you’re 17 and you’re planning for someday. And then quietly, without you really noticing, someday is today. And then someday is yesterday. And this is your life.”. Even at 70, there’s future for us hopefully, but there’s so much to look back upon. I just lean back & travel in time with all those moments !

For filmdom’s illustrious ‘Ganguly’ parivaar, 13^th October day has had mixed historical significance – it happened to be eldest brother and thespian actor, Dadamoni’s (Ashok Kumar) birthday but most ironically became the tragic day when youngest brother and singer extraordinaire, Kishore Kumar passed away in 1985 at the age of 58, leaving a grieving family and a legion of fans, followers and music lovers who still adore him.

Four decades have now gone by since the legendary Kishoreda left on his longest ‘safar’ (journey), yet he still trends on top of the charts as crazecontinues across generations including GenZee for his incredibly mellifluous voice, rhythm, melody, comic timing that yodels its way intoa billions hearts withgay abandon, but also turns philosophical& heartrending with pathos, reflecting vicissitudes of life or the pangs of separation ! 

So much has already been shared, spoken and written about his tumultuous personal life with a fair share of anecdotes on his idiosyncrasies and insights into the life of a musical genius who never believed in pretensions and despite the eccentric image, enjoyedsolitude, mysticism of nature and shunned fickleness of human relationships. For die-hard Kishore fans, it comes as no surprise that in his interpretation of ‘zindagi’ (life) his versatile singing expressed all the different hues & shades. Let’s look at how some of his superb renditions of the ‘Zindagi’ theme in his songs play out :

*Life means never to stop, to keep moving on

‘Ik raasta hai Zindagi, joh tham gaye toh kuch nahi..’ from ‘Kala Pathar’

*Life teaches us triumph comes after defeat

  ‘Zindagi ki yahi reet hai, haar ke baad jeet hai..’ from  ‘Mr. India’

*Life is not knowing what comes tomorrow

‘Zindagi ek safar hai suhana, yahan kal kya ho kisne jana..’ from ‘Andaz’.

*Life gives no second chances, what’s done is gone

‘Zindagi ke safar mein guzar jate hai jo mukaam ..’ from ‘Aap Ki Kasam’

*Life’s journey is a mystery, no one can fathom it

‘Zindagi ka safar hai yeh kaisa safar koi samjha nahi koi jana nahi’ from ‘Safar’.

*Life is a song oflove that every heart must sing

‘Zindagi pyar ka geet hai, ise har dil ko gana padega..’ from Souten

Another feature in his amazing range of Hindi film songs of different genres was his love for symbolism in the idea of life being a journey, that we were travelers who are never sure of our destinations but the varied experiences we gather often take us to our paths & goals. In one of his finest songs that he himself composed & rendered was from the philosophic ‘Door Ka Rahi’ as he sang ‘Panthi hoon main us path ka, aanth nahi jiska, aas mere hai jiski disha, aadhar mere maan ka..’.So sublime and beautiful !