‘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. 

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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 ?!    

‘I recognize your face, but I don’t remember your name’ ! That’s the classic joke for awkward social moments and we venerable senior citizens, are susceptible to these. It’s like having someone’s face right on the tip of your tongue yet it’s eluding you ! That’s how it happens with my contemporaries now. Recently, an old friend candidly said on meeting an old classmate: ‘I recall the name, but I don’t remember the face !’ 

Fortunately, people excuse our lapses sincewe ‘old and forgetful’ are liable to be foggy. The problem arises when memory lapses come at the most inopportune times. Imagine a situation, where as a fan I recognised my favorite theatre& film actor at an event and went to him but then struggled to recall his name. He understood my predicament and smilingly said ‘I am him’ ! I’vesince become a bigger fan ofthe cool ‘Joy Sengupta’ !

The biggest offenders are doubtlessly the much harried husbands who’ve entered their autumn years and have to depend on the versatile spouses to help them out with tricky names and vital dates. A veteran of 80 years was asked by his relatives ‘why do you still call your wife of fifty years ‘Honey’.. to which he said ‘That’s because I often forget her name’. Such issues never arose in our grandparent’s era – calling the better-half by name was taboo. My Mom being bolder than others, called my Dad ‘Mr Sinha’ at times.

Apart from the malady of forgetting names, birthdays etc. that we face over time, is the mistaken identity problem that even the celebrities are often subjected to. In a widely reported case (thank the social media for keeping tabs on everyone) famed actor ‘Ram Charan’ found himself at the centre of a viral moment after mistakenly referring to pacer ‘Jasprit Bumrah’ as a footballer at an event. Ram Charan issued a public apology calling it ‘genuine human error’ admitting he was forgetful with names. If a hugely successful star can forget another celebrity superstar’s status, why blameindustrious husbands advanced in years, not to miss out a crucial item from the big shopping list.

While there are today many ways suggested to improve one’s memory, let’s look at things from the perspective of an aged mind about remembering the past. With years of working and living life with its highs & lows under many different situations, not all incidents can be retained in the overburdened mind. As is well known, the long-term memory for milestones, achievements,old passions &happy times is often reignited through association but mundane short term incidents of daily life soon fade out. As Cesare Pavase said ‘We do not remember days, we remember moments’ – ultimately !

We often look back and reminisce those exhilarting thriller novels that captured our youthful imagination withtaut suspenseandhigh voltage action building up to tense surprise endings. The protagonistswould bea larger-than-life heroes battling their way through all odds, fighting foes with relentless grit and ironic humour. Among them, I easily recall Alistair Maclean’s 1961 classic ‘Fear is the Key’ that’s a fascinating revenge story with a twist and a book-title readinglike a ‘punchline’.

The story begins with a man in radio contact with his family (wife, son and his brother), when their airplane is suddenly attacked & shot down. Shattered, he wants to find and punish those responsible. He becomes a criminal to get a job as a deep-sea diverand joins the baddies in theirnefarious explorations. Playing a psychological game, he creates with ingenuity a ‘deadly’ situation outwitting them by using the terrifying‘fear’ factor. Aside of MacLean’s war novels, it’ssuperbly slick in the action-thriller genre !

‘Fear’ has a foreboding effect. From the earliest stages children learn to be obedient at home and schools ensure that discipline is maintained through reprimands, detention and punishment. In our time, errant pupils were even wallopedfor breaking rules or shamed in public& it worked. Now that physical ‘fear’ has become the psychological trauma ofnot enough grades in board examstoqualify for few seats, failing in entrance tests, huge parental expectations, peer pressures, social trolling. Theentire education system is facing its sternest test.

For those employed, unrealistic targetsare set andgoals hang like a sword over future promotions and placements. Underachievement may lead to sidelined postings and threats of  job losses. Eternally the work-life balance is affected andan average worker is always under stress to deliver results, whether he works from home or office. There’s a lurking fear of the unexpected to happen and adapting to changes with alacrity and regularity is the order of the day !

Some grow up with psychological barriers against heights, water, confined spaces etc.We go through life’s vicissitudes encountering fears of failure, rejection,risks, financial insecurity, loss of loved ones and valued possessions. Insurance guys talk of mortality &fear of dying too early or dying too late. We must plan for both. Above all comes the fear of losing one’s freedom of expression & to give up the life one dreamtof !But when their fundamental rights feel stifled, people often shun fear & rebel against authority.

Motivational and spiritual leaders teach us means of overcoming fear through resolve and will power and to become ‘fearless’ in our approach to life. The best success stories tell of achievers who fought their inner demons tobecame legends. Newest example comes from 15-year ‘Vaibhav Suryavanshi’, Cricket’s batting prodigy & his dauntlessattitude to the game.Decades ago, Gurudev Tagore gave his vision for our great nation‘Where the Mind is without Fear..’. Let’s never forget -fortune favours the brave !

On Friday night, it was just another of the IPL T20 matches between two talented teams but performing well below par and in the lower rungs of the Points Table. With the IPL stretching over 45 days there is also viewer fatigue as reported by analysts who claim that viewership in this season has come down compared to last year. However, every match has been drawing huge crowds rooting for their home team and this time the venue was Delhi and predictably there was more ‘D’ red than’K’ purple in the stands !  

What promised to be a closely contested game between a low lying but then resurgent KKR after three back to back wins and Delhi hoping that top players got back to form. But what followed in the next three to four hours belied all the expectations as KKR spinners gained a vice like grip and restricted Delhi to a paltry 141 runs in 20 overs yet Delhi wouldn’t lose hope with top quality pacers in their line up. In fact they had two leading batters down in the power play . Then came a mammoth partnership and Finn & Green chased DC total with 34 deliveries to spare, making it 4 wins on the trot for KKR. Finn Allen’s 100 in 45 balls with 10 6s was mind-boggling century, rare in a small chase.

In a manner of speaking, KKR had annihilated DC in every way and have got ahead of DC in the points table. Yet in the customary post-match on-field interactions, players from teams mingled with sporting camaraderie and KL Rahul was seen congratulating Finn for his amazing innings. The two captains, Axar and Ajinkya, embraced, both being professionals who’ve seen many highs and lows and aren’t shattered by wins and losses.

In heart of hearts DC would feel badly underwhelmed with the loss while KKR could easily gloat with pride with their recent successes. Yet (as in all IPL matches) their on-field behavior was exemplary & far from acrimonious as it needs to be, for in contests there are victors & losers but the winner is the good and fair contest ! This seems restricted to sports like IPL but hugely found lacking in the Indian Political League.   

A ‘cricket’ batting century gets much applause but a century in other spheres can attract ridicule like members calling out the LOP for nearing a century of electoral losses. But one century that does seem imminent should cause concern to all of us, notwithstanding all the other noise coming from the recent political upheavals that’s getting huge traction. The Indian Rupee has touched 95 to the US dollar. In cricketing parlance it is ‘in the nervous 90s’ but for very different reasons.

It’s now difficult to summarise the theories we learnt in International Economics back in the 1970s. Whatever one gleans from the general discussions and newspapers, there has been a remarkable slide in the Rupee in the last decade. I recall in our last overseas trip in 2019, some of us grumbled that travel costs were high as we had to shell out 65 to the dollar. Later, my US based sisters visiting India were happy to spend less on the air-fare.

It seems a long time back & there’s been a relentless upward march making us nervous.  Tough to comprehend, exchange rate moved from 45 in mid 2000 to 95  & may still rise.  As of May 2026, the Rupee has faced intense pressure, trading near record lows, with geopolitical tensions affecting the global oil prices and driving capital outflows. Indian Express writes in its Editorial of 6^th May, about the manifold ways it hits the economy.  

Thanks to wide dissemination of information through various sources , we know that a weakening Rupee (or depreciation) generally hurts our economy by increasing imported inflation (especially for oil and electronics), raising foreign education and travel costs, and squeezing industries reliant on imported raw materials. As India imports over 80% of its crude oil and significant raw materials, a weaker rupee makes these items costlier, driving up fuel prices and everyday household goods. Electronic items (laptops, smart -phones) & raw materials become more expensive, leading to higher consumer prices.

Conversely, it boosts our export-oriented sectors like IT and pharma, as their foreign earnings translate into more rupees, improving margins. It also increases rupee returns for NRI remittances. But the ‘pros’ are outweighed by too many cons – Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) often pull money out during a rapid depreciation, leading to volatility and potential dips in the equity market. Companies with large foreign debt face higher repayment burdens. As the Indian Express heading says ‘it points to challenges ahead’ !

For us Senior Citizens, there are no plans to travel overseas or send our adult children abroad to study but we all have to contend with the rapidly rising cost of living, medicines, medical treatment and domestic travel. Most importantly, for the aspiring Gen Next and the average ‘Aam’ citizens, they can hope to sing the old song‘..Sabse Bada Rupaiya’ again but maybe not so soon, if the present uncertainty persists !