I am waiting for the day

I am waiting for the day When masks and gloves are no longer items on my shopping list When I can greet a friend without a care in the world Unflinchingly and with unadulterated joy And not with elbows and fists! Have started abhorring those parts of my body! I am waiting for the day When Social distancing, Virus, Pandemic, Outbreak, Quarantine, Contact tracing Super spreader and Isolation Are all just bitter memories To be sealed and buried. I am waiting for the day When schools are living institutions once again Abuzz with Teaching, Learning and engagement With cheerful kids and vibrant classrooms With teachers and taught- deep in discussion. When lesson plans can be executed to perfection With spirited collaboration and engaging experiments Making the topic come to life I am waiting for the day When connections, microphones, and cameras Stop hampering the flow of everyday education And hindering progress. When a pat on the shoulder Or a shake of the hand Make that friendless pupil feel welcome & accepted And then there are those special pupils Who thrive on tenderness, and care Who need smiles, hand holding &tender hugs. Who flourish when persuaded, coaxed and cajoled To forget their fears and insecurities While joining the mainstream I am waiting for the day When teachers can teach fearlessly And pupils can learn from the best Mentored, guided, and counselled As they always did I am waiting for the day When newspapers are not just depressing sheets of paper Where rancorous politicians spew forth Their venom on seemingly insipid opponents Why can’t good news sell? Must headlines always be depressing statistics of rapes, murders, and death? Don’t we deserve better? I am waiting for the day When I can pack my bags and travel To where and when I want To relax, unwind and not be worried About getting stranded in some foreign land Unable to return to the place I call home I am waiting for the day Just like you are.

I am waiting for the day

I am waiting for the day When masks and gloves are no longer items on my shopping list When I can greet a friend without a care in the world Unflinchingly and with unadulterated joy And not with elbows and fists! Have started abhorring those parts of my body! I am waiting for the day When Social distancing, Virus, Pandemic, Outbreak, Quarantine, Contact tracing Super spreader and Isolation Are all just bitter memories To be sealed and buried. I am waiting for the day When schools are living institutions once again Abuzz with Teaching, Learning and engagement With cheerful kids and vibrant classrooms With teachers and taught- deep in discussion. When lesson plans can be executed to perfection With spirited collaboration and engaging experiments Making the topic come to life I am waiting for the day When connections, microphones, and cameras Stop hampering the flow of everyday education And hindering progress. When a pat on the shoulder Or a shake of the hand Make that friendless pupil feel welcome & accepted And then there are those special pupils Who thrive on tenderness, and care Who need smiles, hand holding &tender hugs. Who flourish when persuaded, coaxed and cajoled To forget their fears and insecurities While joining the mainstream I am waiting for the day When teachers can teach fearlessly And pupils can learn from the best Mentored, guided, and counselled As they always did I am waiting for the day When newspapers are not just depressing sheets of paper Where rancorous politicians spew forth Their venom on seemingly insipid opponents Why can’t good news sell? Must headlines always be depressing statistics of rapes, murders, and death? Don’t we deserve better? I am waiting for the day When I can pack my bags and travel To where and when I want To relax, unwind and not be worried About getting stranded in some foreign land Unable to return to the place I call home I am waiting for the day Just like you are.

Bringing up kids

Times change - Bringing up kids has never been easy for any generation. To put it in perspective ' it's no child's play!' (There are however exceptions to the rule ) Parents to school going kid – 80' and 90's( All ) Wake up and get ready for school Hope you have kept your uniform clean from yesterday Go and eat your breakfast – I have put it on the table Have you had air filled in your cycle tyres? Be a good boy in school Don’t fight with anyone Make sure you eat all your tiffin Wash your hands before you drink water from the tap Have you completed your homework for the day? Copy your homework for tomorrow Bring all your books home Be polite to your teachers Don’t get into any trouble Don’t dirty your clothes when playing Remember to copy the notes dictated Take this 50 p for guavas If I am not at home when you return , put your bag near the front door, then go and play I hope you pass in the exams. Parents to kids now a days ( Not all ) Sleep a little while longer , I will wake you later I have put on the geyser and ironed your clothes What would you like for breakfast today – will tell the maid to prepare it If you miss the bus, I will drop you to school – don’t worry Enjoy your day in school - don't play in the sun If that boy makes fun of you I will write a complaint I have put some money in your purse to use in the canteen – bring back the change as it’s a big note Buy a bottle of water Tell your teacher you never had time to complete your homework Remind the teacher to upload the homework for tomorrow Don’t carry unnecessary books home – your bag is too heavy for you Let me know if any teacher was rude to you Have fun my son I will buy you a new laptop this weekend Call me before you leave school If you don’t get over 90 % don’t even show me your report card .(

Bringing up kids

Times change - Bringing up kids has never been easy for any generation. To put it in perspective ' it's no child's play!' (There are however exceptions to the rule ) Parents to school going kid – 80' and 90's( All ) Wake up and get ready for school Hope you have kept your uniform clean from yesterday Go and eat your breakfast – I have put it on the table Have you had air filled in your cycle tyres? Be a good boy in school Don’t fight with anyone Make sure you eat all your tiffin Wash your hands before you drink water from the tap Have you completed your homework for the day? Copy your homework for tomorrow Bring all your books home Be polite to your teachers Don’t get into any trouble Don’t dirty your clothes when playing Remember to copy the notes dictated Take this 50 p for guavas If I am not at home when you return , put your bag near the front door, then go and play I hope you pass in the exams. Parents to kids now a days ( Not all ) Sleep a little while longer , I will wake you later I have put on the geyser and ironed your clothes What would you like for breakfast today – will tell the maid to prepare it If you miss the bus, I will drop you to school – don’t worry Enjoy your day in school - don't play in the sun If that boy makes fun of you I will write a complaint I have put some money in your purse to use in the canteen – bring back the change as it’s a big note Buy a bottle of water Tell your teacher you never had time to complete your homework Remind the teacher to upload the homework for tomorrow Don’t carry unnecessary books home – your bag is too heavy for you Let me know if any teacher was rude to you Have fun my son I will buy you a new laptop this weekend Call me before you leave school If you don’t get over 90 % don’t even show me your report card .(

A meandering mind .

I belong to the early morning club 4.45am- 5.00 am – somewhere around there Early to bed club too Your sniggering? Aren’t I boring? Commonplace and tedious? Its my life after all! Suits me perfectly Call me dull or uninteresting – or old Yes, that I am – getting there surely Weekends are no different Hate wasting the best part of the day Lolling. Newspapers, tea, and other rituals follow Writing too- when sufficiently inspired Or just determined to be productive Nothing fancy – no jargon Quiescent, Chimerical, Sempiternal and Redamancy Sillage, alharaca or aubade Let them remain in the dictionary where they belong Certainly not for me Am no linguist Do not aspire to be highbrow Not scholarly, not a bookworm either. Isn’t Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication?- LDV And thinking – yes! YES !! I love to just sit and think About anything and everything Conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, planning, synthesizing, and evaluating Or just daydreaming and that is relaxing. Today was no different …. My mind meandered And came upon Childhood dreams, lost and found love Ambition, hope and despair And opportunities Of the best days of my life Of autumn and spring And when the tides flooded, ebbed, and scarred. But scars fade & empty riverbeds fill Bringing with it joy and prosperity And it is once again Another bright day

A meandering mind .

I belong to the early morning club 4.45am- 5.00 am – somewhere around there Early to bed club too Your sniggering? Aren’t I boring? Commonplace and tedious? Its my life after all! Suits me perfectly Call me dull or uninteresting – or old Yes, that I am – getting there surely Weekends are no different Hate wasting the best part of the day Lolling. Newspapers, tea, and other rituals follow Writing too- when sufficiently inspired Or just determined to be productive Nothing fancy – no jargon Quiescent, Chimerical, Sempiternal and Redamancy Sillage, alharaca or aubade Let them remain in the dictionary where they belong Certainly not for me Am no linguist Do not aspire to be highbrow Not scholarly, not a bookworm either. Isn’t Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication?- LDV And thinking – yes! YES !! I love to just sit and think About anything and everything Conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, planning, synthesizing, and evaluating Or just daydreaming and that is relaxing. Today was no different …. My mind meandered And came upon Childhood dreams, lost and found love Ambition, hope and despair And opportunities Of the best days of my life Of autumn and spring And when the tides flooded, ebbed, and scarred. But scars fade & empty riverbeds fill Bringing with it joy and prosperity And it is once again Another bright day

The new world order was never a myth.

Where are thou- you elusive vaccine? The weight of the wait is bearing down On us- poor, fearful mortals Hopefully, it will not be the last straw And the camel’s back will remain intact. While the world seeks in vain And scientists labour laboriously You lie unreachable Hidden in niches and crevasses yet undiscovered Waiting to be extracted But where, by who and when? The race is on. Scientists have flattered to deceive Weeks have turned to months And months to almost a year And we are still Bearing the brunt of the capital C Cruel critics, continually create Covid chaos Magni-potent Media Moghuls- magnify mayhem Prejudiced, pompous politicians, practice perjury While John Doe That faceless, nameless, destitute soul Dies – unrecognized, deceased, hungry, penniless And forgotten. Billions are being added to the coffers of the rich While millions lose jobs and all belief in life and living The world is in turmoil like never before But doomsday? Strangely not on my mind This too shall pass – it must, and it will Our world is not ready to be swallowed up Not just yet . Black hole? No Chemical warfare, floods, super-volcanic eruptions & asteroid collisions, Have all failed to dampen the human spirit We have always prevailed So, I believe – that come what may Sometime soon ………………. The sun will shine out from behind the dark clouds The seven-coloured arc with its vibrancy Will shade the sky, with welcome hues People will hug, smile, and greet as before This depression will dissipate Love will bloom And prosperity will return The new world order was never a myth.

On Growing up

Lunchtime musings While eating lunch this afternoon I decided to keep the television off and concentrate on the chewing! While growing up my mother always told me to chew my food properly – chew each mouthful ‘twenty times’ and in that way, I would digest it better and become a good strong boy. Not too sure why twenty in the first place but that was supposed to be the magic number. I did it for a few days but got fed up counting. Thus, I never quite followed those instruction and was one of those who put the food in my mouth and swallowed it after chewing it for a few seconds. I guess that is why I grew up ‘good’ but not exactly very strong. Chew your food children. Anyway, let me not digress so - back to the television. Why didn’t I put it on today? I do not know – I just decided that enough was enough, and too much television was bad in the first place. What was even worse was eating and watching television at the same time. So, for some time I stared at the blank screen contemplating my decision. The remote was nearby, but I fought off the impulse – so much for will power! I can already imagine you saying wow! Or are you laughing at my self-imposed plight? That got me thinking…… We had no Television while growing up and we got through our meals pretty well! Talking about meals and food and drink? Listen to this. You have obviously heard of a nutritious drink named ‘Complan’. Well, as a kid, I was given glasses and mugs of Complan, almost by the gallon- force fed at times . I do remember that the Banana flavour was as bad as the Strawberry but the message from mum was clear. If you want to grow nice and tall then you better drink your Complan . I winged, attempted to throw up , pretended to be asleep in vain – The Coplan had to be drunk . The result was very much the same as what happened with the chewing – I grew up ‘nice’ – at least I think so – but far from tall. Am only five foot seven and a half. I guess it was my fault. I often drank half a cup or glass and threw out the remainder when no one was watching. At times I would take a big sip- hold it in my mouth – and spit it out as soon I was out of the front door. Then there was the issue about my weight. Whenever friends or relatives came over someone or the other would comment on my weight “how thin your Michael is”. For this reason, I was always made to have a concoction called “egg flip”. For those who may never have heard of it – it is a mixture of milk, egg, sugar and nutmeg garnishing. You guessed it right – I detested it. However, no excuses were accepted and every morning, before going to school, I was made to have my “Egg flip” I usually tried to drink it in one or two large gulps so that I would not taste it . That was not all – at night I had to have a big spoon of Ferradol which was a nutritional supplement. It is like a thick liquid jam and while it does not taste too bad, I just did not like it. I believe that both, the egg flip and the Ferradol, did nothing for my weight because even in my forties I was rather skinny. However, it probably stayed dormant in my body, because, much to my dismay, the effects are showing now, and the weight is piling on. Lastly were some vegetables. I liked potatoes and onions – full stop. Tomatoes, spinach,brinjals, lady fingers, beetroot and drum stick made me gag and want to throw up . Of course there was always the justification from the elders at home – I would get red cheeks , nice teeth, strong bones , thick hair, nice skin – somehow I swallowed down the vegetables when I was forced to and binned it when I could . We also had a spaniel who loved vegetables most of the time, so that was a help. As for the red cheeks, good teeth, strong bones, thick hair and nice skin- the least said, the better. Analysing the situation now, I don’t think I was a very obedient child and as they say “some mothers do “ave em” !

On Growing up

Lunchtime musings While eating lunch this afternoon I decided to keep the television off and concentrate on the chewing! While growing up my mother always told me to chew my food properly – chew each mouthful ‘twenty times’ and in that way, I would digest it better and become a good strong boy. Not too sure why twenty in the first place but that was supposed to be the magic number. I did it for a few days but got fed up counting. Thus, I never quite followed those instruction and was one of those who put the food in my mouth and swallowed it after chewing it for a few seconds. I guess that is why I grew up ‘good’ but not exactly very strong. Chew your food children. Anyway, let me not digress so - back to the television. Why didn’t I put it on today? I do not know – I just decided that enough was enough, and too much television was bad in the first place. What was even worse was eating and watching television at the same time. So, for some time I stared at the blank screen contemplating my decision. The remote was nearby, but I fought off the impulse – so much for will power! I can already imagine you saying wow! Or are you laughing at my self-imposed plight? That got me thinking…… We had no Television while growing up and we got through our meals pretty well! Talking about meals and food and drink? Listen to this. You have obviously heard of a nutritious drink named ‘Complan’. Well, as a kid, I was given glasses and mugs of Complan, almost by the gallon- force fed at times . I do remember that the Banana flavour was as bad as the Strawberry but the message from mum was clear. If you want to grow nice and tall then you better drink your Complan . I winged, attempted to throw up , pretended to be asleep in vain – The Coplan had to be drunk . The result was very much the same as what happened with the chewing – I grew up ‘nice’ – at least I think so – but far from tall. Am only five foot seven and a half. I guess it was my fault. I often drank half a cup or glass and threw out the remainder when no one was watching. At times I would take a big sip- hold it in my mouth – and spit it out as soon I was out of the front door. Then there was the issue about my weight. Whenever friends or relatives came over someone or the other would comment on my weight “how thin your Michael is”. For this reason, I was always made to have a concoction called “egg flip”. For those who may never have heard of it – it is a mixture of milk, egg, sugar and nutmeg garnishing. You guessed it right – I detested it. However, no excuses were accepted and every morning, before going to school, I was made to have my “Egg flip” I usually tried to drink it in one or two large gulps so that I would not taste it . That was not all – at night I had to have a big spoon of Ferradol which was a nutritional supplement. It is like a thick liquid jam and while it does not taste too bad, I just did not like it. I believe that both, the egg flip and the Ferradol, did nothing for my weight because even in my forties I was rather skinny. However, it probably stayed dormant in my body, because, much to my dismay, the effects are showing now, and the weight is piling on. Lastly were some vegetables. I liked potatoes and onions – full stop. Tomatoes, spinach,brinjals, lady fingers, beetroot and drum stick made me gag and want to throw up . Of course there was always the justification from the elders at home – I would get red cheeks , nice teeth, strong bones , thick hair, nice skin – somehow I swallowed down the vegetables when I was forced to and binned it when I could . We also had a spaniel who loved vegetables most of the time, so that was a help. As for the red cheeks, good teeth, strong bones, thick hair and nice skin- the least said, the better. Analysing the situation now, I don’t think I was a very obedient child and as they say “some mothers do “ave em” !

All four served us well

All four served us well ……. I must have been around 4, because that is as far back as I seem to be able to remember, and her name was ‘Needle’- at least that is what she was called. She was the lady who looked after me – the domestic servant, known as the ‘Ayah’ back then. A short, rather wizened, grey haired old lady, with a high-pitched voice, she stayed with our family till I was about ten. Not exactly sure how old she was, but she looked about seventy to me at that time ! Thinking over the name now brings a smile to my face. ‘Needle’? I have come to two conclusions about why this odd name. The first could be because she was extremely thin and looked like a needle and the second because she had only one good eye so “the eye of the needle”! However, that does not matter. She was loyal, kind and loving and looked after me well. My fondest memories are of her dressing and feeding me and taking me into the garden to play with a large ball – all vivid. ‘Needle ayah’ probably lived close by because she was in the house when I woke and put me to bed before she left. She was also tasked with staying the night when the family went out and were scheduled to return late. On those occasions she and I would have dinner together – she feeding me. Then she would tell me a story or two and I would soon be dozing. Then there was a couple who lived down the road in the railway colony. He was ‘Bansi’ the cook and she was ‘Bl - - - y’, his wife. Now before you jump to conclusions and say that is a rude name etc. let me tell you that she was an extremely dark lady, but we never gave her that name. She had worked with another family for some years before joining us, and they had given her a pet name – it stuck. She knew what it meant as she spoke a smattering of English and made fun of her own name . When she was asked what her name was – she and her husband both said BL- - - Y. So, B L- - - - - Y it was, and all was good. She did the cleaning and other odds jobs around the house and he cooked. They were treated like family, arriving early in the morning – always smiling, very chatty and kind natured. I do remember that she was a bit of a gossip, as she sat for hours in the afternoons filling my aunt and mother in with all the news from the colony. She was also rather funny and was always saying stuff to make us laugh. She was given all the old clothes and the leftover food items in addition to a salary . On a few occasions when he returned in the evening to cook dinner , I am sure I smelled liquor on his breath but no questions were asked and if at times he could not complete the cooking for any reason , she did so . On a few occasions he was also accused of stealing sugar, rice, cooking oil & tea leaves and was given a shout for the same. He always denied the charge. I also remember him being told not to return to work but like a repentant little boy he would come the next morning and all would be forgiven. Great memories of another resident cook of ours called ‘BOY’. He lived in the outhouse adjoining the main house so was what you would call a ’24-hour servant’. His only possession seemed to be a tin trunk and some bedding. He was, what I would refer to now as, “ really old”. Powder white hair, weatherworn face, short and slim, he wore a large white turban, for some obscure reason. When he walked, his head shook from side to side and made me laugh, but we sort of got used to it. Irrespective of the season, that turban was always worn. I once saw him without it and failed to recognize him! This was the 60’s and no one had gas stoves back then. There were no gas stoves in India, so coal fires were lit, and all the cooking was done on them. ‘Boy’ lit the coal stove extremely early in the morning, and by the time everyone woke, the tea was in the tea pot and breakfast was almost ready. He was a sort of cook cum bearer who cooked and served as well. He laid the table, served us while we were seated, and washed up after that. A first-rate cook, he excelled in making ‘Anglo Indian dishes’ and all types of salads! Strangely I do not know why and when he left but back in the day, these servants were often told to “go” for some unfathomable reason. ‘Needle’ , ‘Bansi’ , ‘B----Y’ , his wife and ‘Boy’ were four servants who served us well .

All four served us well

All four served us well ……. I must have been around 4, because that is as far back as I seem to be able to remember, and her name was ‘Needle’- at least that is what she was called. She was the lady who looked after me – the domestic servant, known as the ‘Ayah’ back then. A short, rather wizened, grey haired old lady, with a high-pitched voice, she stayed with our family till I was about ten. Not exactly sure how old she was, but she looked about seventy to me at that time ! Thinking over the name now brings a smile to my face. ‘Needle’? I have come to two conclusions about why this odd name. The first could be because she was extremely thin and looked like a needle and the second because she had only one good eye so “the eye of the needle”! However, that does not matter. She was loyal, kind and loving and looked after me well. My fondest memories are of her dressing and feeding me and taking me into the garden to play with a large ball – all vivid. ‘Needle ayah’ probably lived close by because she was in the house when I woke and put me to bed before she left. She was also tasked with staying the night when the family went out and were scheduled to return late. On those occasions she and I would have dinner together – she feeding me. Then she would tell me a story or two and I would soon be dozing. Then there was a couple who lived down the road in the railway colony. He was ‘Bansi’ the cook and she was ‘Bl - - - y’, his wife. Now before you jump to conclusions and say that is a rude name etc. let me tell you that she was an extremely dark lady, but we never gave her that name. She had worked with another family for some years before joining us, and they had given her a pet name – it stuck. She knew what it meant as she spoke a smattering of English and made fun of her own name . When she was asked what her name was – she and her husband both said BL- - - Y. So, B L- - - - - Y it was, and all was good. She did the cleaning and other odds jobs around the house and he cooked. They were treated like family, arriving early in the morning – always smiling, very chatty and kind natured. I do remember that she was a bit of a gossip, as she sat for hours in the afternoons filling my aunt and mother in with all the news from the colony. She was also rather funny and was always saying stuff to make us laugh. She was given all the old clothes and the leftover food items in addition to a salary . On a few occasions when he returned in the evening to cook dinner , I am sure I smelled liquor on his breath but no questions were asked and if at times he could not complete the cooking for any reason , she did so . On a few occasions he was also accused of stealing sugar, rice, cooking oil & tea leaves and was given a shout for the same. He always denied the charge. I also remember him being told not to return to work but like a repentant little boy he would come the next morning and all would be forgiven. Great memories of another resident cook of ours called ‘BOY’. He lived in the outhouse adjoining the main house so was what you would call a ’24-hour servant’. His only possession seemed to be a tin trunk and some bedding. He was, what I would refer to now as, “ really old”. Powder white hair, weatherworn face, short and slim, he wore a large white turban, for some obscure reason. When he walked, his head shook from side to side and made me laugh, but we sort of got used to it. Irrespective of the season, that turban was always worn. I once saw him without it and failed to recognize him! This was the 60’s and no one had gas stoves back then. There were no gas stoves in India, so coal fires were lit, and all the cooking was done on them. ‘Boy’ lit the coal stove extremely early in the morning, and by the time everyone woke, the tea was in the tea pot and breakfast was almost ready. He was a sort of cook cum bearer who cooked and served as well. He laid the table, served us while we were seated, and washed up after that. A first-rate cook, he excelled in making ‘Anglo Indian dishes’ and all types of salads! Strangely I do not know why and when he left but back in the day, these servants were often told to “go” for some unfathomable reason. ‘Needle’ , ‘Bansi’ , ‘B----Y’ , his wife and ‘Boy’ were four servants who served us well .