Multi-tasking and sharing...

Multi-tasking: Being brought up in a typical Indian family we are thought to do multi-tasking since childhood. Reciting god’s prayer while taking a bath. It’s was only after I grew up, that I came to know about the bathroom singer concept. I also remember solving my math/maths problems while watching cricket match. It does require lots of skill and concentration. Some people even go to the extent of brushing their teeth while preparing tea. And the most common is to read newspapers while on toilet seat, pertaining you have western toilet system at your home. In a typical chawl in Mumbai, where you share ‘one toilet behind four - five Families’, multitasking is as necessary as attending the nature call itself. You can even see people standing in a queue, brushing their teeth and reading newspapers while waiting for their turn to attend nature’s call. And for a change, Indian people do maintain a perfect queue holding a ‘Tamrel’ which serves as a flush in many Indian toilets even today. Sometimes they place their Tamrel outside the toilet to indicate the queue.

People do multi-tasking like, listening to music while working. Or is it the other way round? Working while listening to music. Few exercise machines also are renewed to do multi tasking. Like loose few calories while listening to music. I know one company who has designed a treadmill with food racks. ‘Eat while you lose some calories’. ‘Exercise made fun while eating’ might be their promotion tags.

Driving while on call, makes me wonder of multiple multi-tasking like multiple accidents, multiple death, multiple chaos. Multi-tasking of multi-tasking. On a typical Indian road, one can even find a beggar with a laptop. It might also be a part of multi tasking. Working as a customer service guy attending US customer calls while begging on Indian roads. Multi tasking leading to multi income with NO multi taxes.

Talking while eating is another multi-tasking skill adapted by people. Is it to show-off the expensive food that we are eating? Or to show that you floss every day? Or is it just to save time? Or is it for showing how multi-ugly one can look?

Sharing: Alas! We are ‘forced’ to share. We are taught that ‘sharing is good’. Since childhood, I am being sharing books, toys, room etc. with my sister. My mother is very particular about sharing. Once when I sneezed on my sister’s face trying to share some germs with her, my mom scolded me. Making me wonder if sharing is good or bad? After that, I have never shared anything from chocolate, cakes to germs with my sis.

I have even seen my friend sharing a tooth BRUSH while on one trek. Hope they also share their dentist and his bills. This reminds me of a nice story of an old couple. The lady used to serve her husband dinner and only after he is done, she used to start with her dinner. People thought it to be the most romantic thing until the truth was revealed. The reality was they share common set of complete dentures. Now that’s called a romantic sharing.

I have also seen my friends sharing one ‘Tamrel’ between four while on many treks. They even go to extend by marking the amount of water one should use to flush off their deeds. Friend in need is a friend inDEEDS.

I even saw one Hollywood movie wherein a wife files for divorce seeing her husband sharing a bed with other women and cheating on her. He tries to explain the importance of sharing, but she fail to understand it.

What make people celebrate Holi in Mumbai?

Holi is usually mis-interpreted as ‘Festival of colors’. Rangapanchami which is celebrated on the next day of Holi or on the 5th day is actually a ‘Festival of colors’. Ranga = color and Panchami = 5th day. The main purpose of Holi is to welcome the summer. After extreme cold days of winter, people welcome the summer season by lighting a fire and assuming it as a god they perform its Pooja. We offer coconut, sweet Pruanpoli (a typical Maharashtrian sweet dish cooked specially on this day) to that fire and request him to cool down his anger and protect us all human beings from fire.

In Mumbai too, we celebrate Holi every year. It makes me wonder what makes Mumbaikars welcome summer so desperately. If you ask me, Mumbai has only two seasons – summer and rainy. What we Mumbaikar call winter season is considered as summer season in most of the part of the world. Mumbai’s has average of 27.2°C temperature. In winter, the day highs hover around 32.0°C. The nights in winter do not fall below 18 °C. And still we are eager to welcome summer.

In spite of sweating profusely, we light up fire and welcome summer season. I still wonder what makes us do this. Just because it’s been celebrated for years together, we Mumbaikar celebrate it as an essential and important festival. We Mumbaikars should replace this festival with something to welcome winter season. Just like we lit a fire to welcome summer, we should have snow and artificial winds to welcome winter season. Now that sound so Kool !!!

Incredible Women – My role model.

Incredible Women – My role model.
My role model is a very common, middle class girl. What makes her different is her tremendous control on her mind and emotions. Her good presence of mind and power to think even during life taking situations has flattered me. One of my friend’s dad is a Commissioner of police. He told me this story of a ‘Brave girl’. I thought of sharing with all women, who are incredible in their own way and need to discover that incredibility within them.
It so happened that – A girl named Kanchan (name changed) was waiting on the bus stop when 5 devils came to her and offered her a lift. When she denied, they forced her into the car. In her own words… When I was forced in, I yelled out for help. But many people just ignored my cry for helped and I was pushed in. When they closed the door at my back, I realized that, I cannot fight these five psycho guys who were in lust for women’s body. I thought to myself, I do not have strength to fight these five beasts and if I pleaded, they will get wilder to pounce on me. That was the time when I thought to try some other way and summit myself to their lust. When one of the guy kissed me on my lips, I too kissed him back. He was shocked to receive a kiss from me when he was expecting some protest. I could read that clearly and told myself ‘This is the only way out’. Seeing him scared I asked him, “What happened? Look like this is your first time. Don’t worry! I will teach you how to do this”. With that I actually started unzipping my top. That made them more scared and worried. I knew right then, that my trick is working. I went on to continue saying, “I will teach you everything you want to know. And for that you need to pay me Rs. 15000/- each. And do not try to mess with me, as, by now my men might have noted down your car number.” She said, “She could clearly see all those five guys were scared, exchanging looks within themselves”. They looked at each other and suddenly the guy in the driver seat took U-turn and dropped me safely at the bus stop.
[NOTE: I have exactly told the story in the same exact words, un-edited, just the way Kanchan told us]
After this incident, Kanchan went to police station and told my friend’s dad the whole story. She said, “I do not want to register any complaint against anyone as nothing has happened as such. I just thought to bring this to your notice”. When my friend’s dad told me about this, I could not stop myself from meeting her. Pleading him many times, he took me and my friend to meet Kanchan. Hearing the story, I had made some image of Kanchan. . I imagined her to be bold, with hard looks, strength, sharp etc. All that fit to my imagination of ‘Brave women’. I was shocked to see her altogether different avatar. She was just like any other Mumbai girl. Wearing pajamas and T-shirt, hair tied up neatly, soft-spoken, jolly. I once again heard the story from her. That was the time when I noticed the incredible spark in her eyes, making her different from all of us. I hugged her tightly before taking her leave. Today I am still in tough with her via mails. My role model!
I always believe, God give us 1 second to think before any action to happen. That 1 second is quite enough to think and to take action accordingly.

If i were a diety

Remember those days in school when we used to write essays like – “If I were a -‘President’, ‘god’, ‘creator of earth’, ‘book’, ‘100 Rupee note’, ‘old wall clock’ etc. Whatever you turn into – your life always starts with 'My master found me when he was a child. He used to love me, papmer me etc.bla bla bla... and at the end -Today I am old and miserable, wanting to die in some pit'.

Anyways, in case you haven’t notice, world is not a perfect place to leave in. There’s corruption, pollution, hunger, war and of course Gandhi family.

I am still wondering about the things I would love to change ‘If I were a deity’. Here is my list:

* new Indian rupee notes without Gandhi’s photo on it

* political speeches would be delivered by the people who write them
* Sonia Gandhi returning back to Italy - a real freedom to India
* all politicians in India and around the world turn into Pinocchio
* all Indian people gives vote to right candidate
* US stop poking nose in other countries affair
* highways, trains and jobs would grow at the same rate as the population of India
* traffic lights change when you honk at them
* lawyers would speak a language that humans also understand
* boot would rhyme with foot
* f**** would rhyme with Oh fish
* sick days would include when you're sick of work.
* when team loses the cricket match, spectators would get their money back
*drivers are polite.
* men understand what women want and when
* dogs find a shelter while having sex
*all street dogs are couriered to Menaka Gandhi’s residence
* children movies does not have kissing / sex scenes
* K- serial would have an official end
* Deepika Padukone finds a steady boyfriend
* Salman Khan gets married
* Bobby darling understand who she/he really is
* Rakhi Sawant……………. Nothing ……. (she just needs to be re-born as human)
* news channels actually delivers NEWS
* dull and pessimistic people just vanish
* someone publish a book called ‘mothers dialogue’ which are common across the globe

But again world is not perfect either. We have floods and droughts, tsunami and typhoons, earthquakes and volcanoes etc. making people wonder about the deity existence who can change this.

ABC Adjectives for my niece – Ahana

A for “Attractive”, that's what you are,
B for “Beautiful”, creation of art.
C for “Cute”, that's what you are,
D for “Darling”, who rule our heart.

E for “Energetic”, that's what you are,
F for “Friendly”, natural power to make everything alive
G for “Great”, that's what you are,
H for “Happiness”, that you bought in all's life.

I for “Intelligent”, take the decision right.
J for “Joyous”, make others smile
K for “Kind”, make others delight,
L for “Lavishing”, have a amazing style.

M for “Mischievous”, looks on your face,
N for “Naughty”, playing some prank
O for “Obedient”, with eyes that you face,
P for “Passionate”, for Himalaya trek

Q for “Queen”, of everyone's heart
R for “Ravishing”, that's what you are
S for “Stunning”, you are so smart,
T for “Tolerant”, that's what you are.

U for “Understanding”, that's what you are
V for “Valuable”, gift that you are
W for “Wonderful”, person that you are
X for “X-mas”, gifts that you adore

Y for “Yes”, this means yuppy
Z for “Zest”, this means hurray.
A-Z you have learned it all
You are so quick, to learn it all so fast!

- Sharvani / Amala Mavshi
15 February 2011

To my Angel, to my niece – Ahana

My little angel, how much you have grown
Nine months of awaiting, and now nine months old.
From tender little bud, to a blooming flower
You have made us all so proud, so mature

When you were born, several people too were born,
A Mother, A Father
A Grandmother and Grandfather
Cousins & Aunts
All the creators were re-created by the new creation.

Softly and tenderly you conquered the hearts
Took all the attention, and are center for all.
People cuddle you and you cuddle them back
They kiss you and you kiss them back.

You are the lucky champ, to receive blessings from all
You are god's miracle, whom he has blessed with all.
Talking and crawling, you have learned a lot
We all are here, to guide you and to show the right path.

My little angel, My niece 'Ahana'
Today you are my Valentine, to shower my love on.
I bless you with unconditional love and affection…
Smile on your lips,
Knowledge on your face,
Politeness in your gesture,
Softness in your words.

All I wish is 'All the BEST in the world'.

- Sharvani / Amala Mavshi
14 February 2011.

Japanese Language – 'A height of politeness'...

'East' has always excited me for their own uniqueness. Before learning 'Japanese Language' I started searching about Japan & its culture on Google. I always try to find out some kind of similarities between Indian culture and Asian culture. In some or the other way we are always related. Many of our words too have their Sanskrit base. Like for eg. In Malay, Queen is called as 'Raja', Grandmother is called 'Nene'. Sri-Lanka have roots of Sanskrit and Tamil languages. In Indonesia you will see a Chemist name as, 'Nakul Chemist' or Bank name as 'Dirghayu Bank' which have base in Sanskrit. Indonesia indicate women by 'Devi' and have names like 'Arti devi', 'Chandrika devi' etc. They even believe in Indian saga like 'Mahabharat and Ramayan'. And many believe that Lord Ram was born in Indonesia and then went in India. Medan , which is a big city in Indonesia, actually came from Indian Hindu language word "Maidan" meaning "ground" or "land". Similarly, we find some common roots in every Asian countries.

Japan in particular are influenced by Indian and China. King Ashoka's daughter married Japanese king and with her took lots of Indian tradition. Festivals like, 'Pongal(Tamil Nadu)', 'Chaitragaur (Maharashtra)', 'Pitrupandravda (Remembering own Ancestor) ', 'Shastrapuja (weapons – puja) etc are few of the festivals that are celebrated in Japan too. Whereas 'Tea' was introduced to Japan by China traders. Japan accepted it and included it in their own polite way leading to formation of 'Tea ceremony'. The written script too was taken from China.

If you are listening to Japanese language, its sounds like the mixture of all impolite / bad words. To give an eg. 'Tsuitachi', 'Futsuka', 'Mikka', 'Yokka', 'Itsuka', 'Muika', 'Nanoka', 'Youka', 'Kokonoka' and 'Touka' are the names of 1 to 10 dates. Now seriously tell me, don't they sound like some of the bad words? I still remember one incidence related to this. I was traveling back home from my Japanese class. We took 'ladies special' train at CST. Ladies special train can by compared to the place wherein all radio stations are played at a time. College girls laughter, office ladies celebrating festivals and chitchatting, sales person making his way out and ladies standing at the door even thought they wanted to get down at the last stop. All this was making me restless. To add to my restlessness, one lady had a bad fight with the lady standing at the door. Using all bad words starting from 'Ba' and 'Bha' they started with a fight. It was getting on my nerve. I then started saying all those Japanese dates in similar tone like those bad words. All the ladies started looking at me, and unable to understand the meaning of any word, thought I was someone with a PhD for bad words. I got so much respect that day in the train, that one lady offered me a seat... Flattered!!!

But Japanese language is 'The politest' language in the world no matter how harsh it sounds. One can get an idea by counting the number of times a Japanese person bows to great you. They can just go on bowing. Even bowing has different types. Just bowing your head implies an informal way of greeting, Ok for your friend but No-Gu (not good) to show respect. While walking, one can just bend a little. Actual, respectful bowing is one wherein you need to bend 90 degree from your waist. That's the reason you won't find any Japanese with a big tummy. I think, looking at Indian police growing tummy, they should be also made to bow like Japanese. (It's different that the reason for such big fat stomach of Indian police is due to money they collect from under the table. Huge the amount, bigger is the tummy size). Anyways, back to Japanese bowing. If you are sitting on a 'Tatami' (mat) one still need to bow a little. In short, one need to keep bowing no matter how and where you are. Our Marathi say, “'मोडेन पण वाकणार नाही' ” meaning: “Will break but not bend” cannot be even translated in Japanese. They wont understand the meaning of it being brave.

Now moving on to the language: Politeness also has many ways and differs from person to person and from designation to designation.
Let me elaborate it with an eg;. ジョンさんがさとさんを待つ。[John waits for Sato (his friend)]

But if Teacher is waiting for any student, then – 先生がお待ちになる。Here teacher is of high authority and thus she has done a favor on us by waiting.

Student is waiting for a teacher, then – 先生をお待ちする。Even thought we are waiting for teacher, teacher being of higher authority, it's shows our pleasure to wait for teacher.

The height of politeness does not end here. Just imagine one situation wherein you need to go home early one day from office and need to ask permission from your boss. In English, “Would it be fine for me to leave early today” or “Can I leave early today, please” is considered as polite. But in Japanese one need to say, 「ちょっと早く行かせていただけませんか」。which literally mean: “May I get you to let me go early”. Make sure that while talking to you boss, one need to bend down, so that you are way below your boss height and keeping your eyes as low as possible and without making any eye contact with high authority one should communicate. They might have adopted the American standard of leaving. But it's just limited to dressing, marriage, marriage constitute, leave-in-relationship etc. They have not adopted American rudeness or over friendliness into Japanese culture. The hierarchy system is followed in Japan even today.

「お元気ですか」。(O-Genki Desuka): They not only show respect to person, but to words too. If they want to emphasis any particular word then the use 'O' or 'Go' before that word to show respect. Here 'Genki' means 'health' but to show respect or to emphases it they include 'O'. Answer to this also differ according to one's post / designation. (Here its not only related to office designation or post... but also personal life post is taken into consideration). If the person you are asking is of height authority he/she can just reply by saying 「はい、元気です」。(Yes! I am fine). But if you are answering to higher authority then one should say, 「おかげさまで元気です」。(Because of your favor, I am fine).

San: San means Mr. Miss. Mrs. everything. But one should not use it for oneself. It's for others to indicate with respect. But if a Japanese person is traveling outside his country, he/she indicated himself by 'San' showing respect of being a Japanese.

Yesterday, my friend 'Kranti' was on a customer call as interpreter. She greeted the Japanese on the other side with, 「お世話になっております」。meaning “I am here to help you”. So much unlike our any Indian language. Just imagine the same situation taking place in Mumbai or Delhi. The Indian person might have said, “Oh Fish! (Indian version of F***) I don't believe you don't understand simple English. OK yaar, tell me what you want to convey. I will help you no”.

School days! those were the days!!!

We hear people saying, 'School days were the best days', or 'Those were the days'. But such facility was not privileged to me by my horoscope structure. For me it was a terror to go to school everyday. All those subjects like History, Algebra and teachers were my enemies. Many reasons can be given...

1.My elder sis name is Amita, and believe me, in my whole secondary school term, all my teachers used to call me Amita. I used to hate having an identity crises as if I never exist for them.
2.My sis, studious and quite never actually was one of the teachers favorite but when she scored 90% in SSC board (in those days scoring 90% was tough, teachers never used to distribute marks like they do today) suddenly my teachers started comparing me with her saying, 'Amita, look at your elder sister, she made us all so proud and look at you'. Once irritated, I stood up and told my teacher, 'Amita does not have any elder sister, I have elder sister named Amita'. As usual, was made to kneel down outside the class making me 'outstanding student' for others to notice.
3.'Only study/work, no play makes John a good human being', was the equation of my school teachers those days. They never used to treat children with extra curricular activities with respect. Not only that, an Oscar winner choreographer, doing poor in exams, was never asked to do the choreography of dance and instead give that job to one of the TOP 3 ranker. Bull Shit!
4.History: I used to love history till we had lessons on Shivaji Maharaj and Maratha's. It was in primary school till 4th standard. After that Gandhi entered and then entered world war I-II. I still don't remember the exact date when Gandhi did Salt Satyagraha or dandi march. I still am unaware of the day and date when Nazi was defeated. And I still wonder why I/we were forced to put events according to chronological order. Just saying it all happened in PAST was not enough? On one hand teachers teach us to look forward and not dig the past. Then why the hell we are making Gandhi do that Satyagraha year after year. Moreover once when teacher asked me, who gave us the freedom? I said, 'Hitler gave us the freedom'. If world war II would have never happened, British would have never surrendered against the Gandhi's non-violence are my views even today. Do I need to tell you what happened next and how much I scored in it?
5.Maths: Maths and me never walk hand-in-hand. We always prefer to walk parallel and never meet. 'A water is dripping from a water drum with some xyz speed and that drum is filled with some ABC liter of water. How much time will it take for a drum to be empty?' Don't you think we are spoiling the mentality of children. In my one of the semester exam, I wrote my assumption: I will first fix the hole and stop it from dropping any more water and wasting it. My teacher was not happy with my mechanical ability and gave me mathematical 0 (zero). Geometry was something I used to like. But Algebra was just not my cup of tea. I am still searching the correct value of 'Mr.X'.
6.Biology: I just used to love this subject. Not because of the detection we made of our body parts and different animals, but because of drawing part of it. In one exam, it so happened that, I was so much engrossed in getting my frog look real that I completely forgot that I even have to write the theoretical part of it, explaining my drawing. I got V.good for my frog drawing and some 2 in theory. My question here again is, cant teacher just see that, I have named all the body parts of that frog in my pictures correctly. Do I still need to write thesis on it. Aren't pictures talkative?
7.I remember after doing majors in Economics, I met one of teacher from school. After retirement too, she had maintained that typical khadus teachers look on her face. With utter rudeness, she asked me, 'So, did you finished your college?' I was so flattered to listen those words of insult after such a long time. I told her I did my majors in Economics. I still remember the surprised look on her face.
8.For one of my psychology project, I needed to interview few of the school students as my subject. After many years I once again entered that bldg to look out for some help. Principle of that school choose one class for me and told me that Mrs. Rai (named changed) is the class teacher and she being your class teacher for 3 years you will feel comfortable. I entered the class and explained my project to Mrs. Rai. She asked me to continue with my process. I started selecting random subjects from the class of 50+. I wanted to interview everyone from different IQ level, different background etc. After my selection was done, Mrs. Rai asked one kid, a back bencher, if he is comfortable solving the papers and if not pass that question sheet to some Xyz student (the brilliant one ofcourse). Poor boy must have felt so insulted. I remember myself standing in same position some few years back with same helplessness, same insult. Then Mrs. Rai turned to me and said, 'let me select subject for you' and she started 'Ok! Who stood 1st in class, 2nd , 3rd etc.' Nothing was changed in so many years. Without wasting time, I stopped teacher by insulting any more subjects I selected. Turning to that boy, I told him that even I was in same place as he is today, when I was in this school. I too have digested many such insults. And once out from this school, you will turn to be a wonderful person.
This list is unending. All I wanted to convey was that, my school was not that best to be proud off (scholar student will object to it though) but still I loved those days of punishment. Those were the days!

Family Planning & Kindergarten Admission

Wife in romantic mood: Honey! Don't you think we should start a family now and add a new member to our family?

Husband kissing her in return: I sure do baby. Tomorrow first thing I will do is to check with the 'Kindergarten availability' for our child for the year 2013, and then we can go ahead with our plan, baby.

Tring Tring: (

Receptionist: Hello, ‘ST. Blossom Kindergarten and Nursery school’

Husband: Hello, I am Mr. John. Me and my wife are thinking of having a baby and so I wanna check the availability of seats for our 'Baby-to-be' in the year 2013.

Receptionist: Oh no Sir, The admission for the year 2013 is already full. For 2013 batch, you should have taken your 'baby-to-be' admission in the year 2009 itself sir.

Husband: What the hell! I was not even married then.

Receptionist: Sir, if someone is planning to have a baby 2years after marriage, they should apply for their child's admission even before they say, "I Do".

Anyways Sir, All I can do is, we are soon going to start admission for the year 2015 and I can give you the reminder call once we start with the process, so that you can do your family planning accordingly. Will that be fine sir. Hello.. Hello.. Sir are you on the line?

Husband: Oh Yes, I am very much on the line. Just was lost in my thoughts. I will be delighted if you give me reminder call. Thank you.

Looking at India's daily increasing population, this situation is not that far. My aunt, who along with her husband runs a well-known school here in Pune, visited us few months back. My sis asked her about the admission process for Ahana, who soon gonna turn 9 Months (Old enough to start 'Abhyas' with daily A,B,C and 'Hickory Dickory dock' and 'A for Attractive - B for Beautiful - C for cute' songs). My aunt informed us that we need to take admission for kindergarten, play group or nursery one year in advance.

Wow! In short, next year when Ahana turns 1, we will register her for play group, even before she is done with her potty training.

If this situation continues, the children who will be born in the year 2020, their parents will need to secure admission for their grandchildren too. Shit! Just Imagine...

Year 2017: I am Mr. John, getting married in the year 2018 and wanna secure kindergarten admission for my daughter for the year 2022 and for my grandchildren in 2049. The daughter has to do only one thing, produce baby in the 'Right year, right day and right time'.

Soon Matrimony site will also provide this facility. Bharat Matrimony or Shaadi (dot) com or any other matrimony site for that matter, providing a facility saying, "choose your dream partner with our help and we will secure a seat for your 'child-to-be' in kindergarten.