Every year since last five years when we first placed a bird feeder in our backyard garden in Toronto, we are visited by a number of beautiful, playful birds throughout spring-summer. We invariably leave the feeder in a covered part of the yard even during peak winters for the occasional visitors as most of these migrate to warmer places.
This year our old feeder fell on the hard ground and broke into two. This accident provided us with an opportunity to look for more ‘bird friendly’ models. We picked one on which more birds can perch easily. We also added two new attractions- a feeder specifically meant for woodpeckers and another one to attract Hummingbirds.
Regular past visitors
The first among the regular past visitors. Is the American Robin.
This rather shy bird doesn’t rely as much on the feeder as on the neighbours mulberry tree. The branches full of ripe berries lean over in our yard and these are their favourite part of the garden.
They are mostly busy picking on small insects from the flower beds. What they seem to enjoy the most however is the bath- be it in the bird bath placed in the middle of the lawn or in one of the fountains.
Next on the list are the Cardinal. The bright red coloured male and his greyish/ yellow red mate are invariably seen together throughout the season.
Female Cardinal
This season was special as we not only saw multiple pairs but also a number of younger cardinals accompanied by the parents. It was wonderful to witness the parents train the next generation look after itself.
The next regular to visit us is, of course the the ever playful, small grey white Chickadee.
These little beauties are seen hopping on the feeder anytime of the day. But they just come in, pick the biggest nut or seed from the feed mix and fly off, presumably to their nests where their chicks are eagerly waiting for the parents to bring in some food.
They are very playful and a treat to watch.
And when it comes to birds, how can one forget the humble House Sparrow?
These days we hardly get to see them in Indian cities where they were, in my childhood days, virtually a member of the family. They used to build their nests behind pictures hanging on the walls and the first thing you ever heard in the morning was a ‘chirp’ from the nest. Fortunately here in the Toronto suburbs, they are easily spotted, especially if you have a bird feeder in the backyard.
Moreover, they do not come in one or twos, they come in as a large flock, practically invade the feeder, eat less and spill more on the ground but then we don’t mind that as it attracts other birds that do not seem to like eating from the feeder.
Another regular visitor for the last few years is the Downy Woodpecker. The male is with a red crown on the head while the female has a more simple look. They always show up together, first peck on the main branches of the apple trees- possibly picking on some very small insects and then on to the feeder.
The number and frequency of their arrival increased this year as we put a new feeder especially meant for woodpeckers, though evergreen flock of sparrows too enjoys picking on the feed brick as much as the woodpeckers.
Their hopping between the feeder and the apple trees is quite a treat, and so is their fight with the bunch of sparrows who love to invade the woodpeckers’ feeder.
Less frequent visitors
As yet another delightful bird that visits us every year and is seen either in early morning hours or in late evenings is the Finch. Always seen in pairs, the male is bright yellow and black while the female has pale yellow feathers. Like Chickadees, they are also very playful.
I have seen them enjoy the bird bath more than the feeder, where they stay just to pick a grain and fly out of sight. I think they are more shy of humans than other birds. They are however seen less often- only twice or thrice a week.
This bird likes to make only a rare appearance. In the past years, it made 3-5 visits over the season, but this year it has appeared only once. I am not sure if it is plain shy or likes a different kind of habitat. I haven’t seen her wait for long near the fence. Yes, it does take its pick from the feeder and then quickly flys off. This is the famous Canadian Blue Jay. Indeed a very beautiful bird. I wish to see her visit our backyard more often.
New visitors of the season
This year we had two new birds that were not seen in previous years. When I first saw this bird, I mistook her for a sparrow that seemed to accidentally have red feathers over her head and upper body. Over the next few days, I saw more of these. I then searched for this bird on internet and found that this beauty is the Canadian House Finch. Her behaviour is every bit like the house sparrows except that they do not spill the feed as the sparrows do. They have been appearing everyday and mostly along with the flock of sparrows.
Common Grackle is another beautiful bird. It’s feathers are shiny and the feathers around her neck are a delightful mix of peacock blue and other darker shades of blue. She is also among the occasional visitors but when she comes, she stays for few minutes, picks her feed from the feeder, enjoys hanging in there before she disappears for a few weeks.
And the next new arrival of the season is the beautiful Canadian Dove. One fine morning I found a pair of them on the fence. They flew off as soon as they saw me and I was very disappointed as I thought that I will never see them again.
After about a week, they reappeared, saw me but didn’t fly away. After a couple of days, sensing safety, they descended on the lawn, walked a few steps, picked a grain or two and waited patiently for me to make a move. I quietly sat on a chair on the patio and watched them stroll around the lawn.
I think we broke the ice as ever since, they come everyday- early in the morning, in the afternoon and in the late evening, feed merrily on the grains spilled on the ground by the sparrows and make themselves comfortable on the fence or on the roof top of either our or neighbours house. And since they have become very comfortable of our presence, we hope to see more of them in coming years.
And the most sparingly seen bird has been the Hummingbird. She has made appearance only 2-3 times on the feeder specifically meant for her. It looks that we will have to learn more about their behaviour before we can attract them in larger numbers- next year. But overall, it has been a delightful bird watching experience so far. The show is still on and hopefully will continue till late fall.
Acknowledgment : The first five pictures included in this blog are clicked by the author and the rest taken from social media and internet sources.
पिठ्ठू हटा किया दुश्मन गद्दीनशीन, अजब किया अमरीका तैने किया ग़ज़ब।
दुश्मनों बीच कूद कथित आलमी अमन के लिए,
बनायेऔरबेचेतैनेहथियारग़ज़बग़ज़ब।
बनते रहे “चचा” दुनिया में अमन के लंबरदार तेरे सारे सदर, भूलेगी नहीं प्रताड़ित दुनिया,
बाप बेटे बुश, ओबामा ट्रंप और “वोक” बाइड्न को। मारे तूने लाखों निर्दोष लोग बारम्बार, पर मरे तो तेरे भी सैनिक हज़ार हज़ार।
करेगा क्या अब भी दुनिया में तू अमन की लंबरदारी?
अफ़ग़ानी आतंकियों से खा मार, क्या आई कुछ समझदारी?
किसके दम पर?
डालर और विध्वंस्कारी हथियारों के व्यापार के दम पर? अपने बिगड़े उच्छृखल “वोक” बच्चों या रिफ्फूजियों के बच्चों के दम पर? या मानवाधिकार, जमहूरियत, की झूठी दुहाईंयां देकर?
शापित है रे तू अमरीका, घोंट घोंट गला हथियाई ज़मीन तूने अमरीका के मूल वासियोँ की, फिर लाकर गुलाम दूर अफ़्रीका से, दुकान अपनी सजाई।
बकवास करता है तू मानवाधिकार अवामी जमहूरियत की दे दुहाई रहने दे धन्नो, न हो पायेगी तुझसे अब दुनिया की चौधराई।
उखाड़ सकता है तो उखाड़,
और कुछ नहीं तो उँगली ही उखाड़ कर दिखा चीन की, इस्लामी आतंकवाद की, दोनों को तो बनाया तो तूने ही ना,
अपने धनबल और नौजवानों के रक्त से सींच, तेरे ही रक्त के है दोनों बीज।
श्री रश्मि कांत नागर के सहयोग के लिये आभार ~ वृक्षमंदिर
All along, India said Pakistan Army/ISI is rogue & will only destroy the world. The US didn’t listen & trusted Pak. Today, Pak is laughing at the US for befooling it & defeating it in Afghanistan & wasting its trillions of dollars. India stands vindicated.pic.twitter.com/ocXYy126Hx
I met Ganeshji not in the century that I was born but had to wait for the onset of the new millennium plus almost eight years for the planets to synchronise and be at the right position to create a favourable “grah dasha”.
I am sharing a very fond memory of that single major influence in every one’s life – “father”. This is an event that occurred about 13 years ago but is still vividly available in my memory as if it had happened just last evening!
As time passes by, the rapport between two generations also seems to undergo a change. For instance, my son, even when he was twenty plus, had no qualms telling me about his previous evening drinking session or about his gang of girls. But, I come from another generation when I could never have spoken to my father looking into his eyes .. it was always with a downward glance. It took me five years to let him know that I, a young man of about 23, was in love and that too required my mother as a prop!
The fact that my father (we called him KSR) was a disciplinarian and a workaholic compounded the problem. He had a built a reputation for himself as a senior banker at the RBI. His busy and stressed out schedule at the office, particularly when the Parliament was in session, kept the entire family sufficiently terrorized – the first chime of the door bell at 11 or 12 pm would normally be enough to send all of us (we were four) scurrying under the blankets in the fervent hope that we would not be caught! Though he was very kind and compassionate, KSR was also in retrospect a Hitler! Yet all of us admired him and were quite awed by his persona which unfortunately added to the distance between him and the children
I can clearly recall the punishments I received for not using just the right expression in spoken or written English. Commas and semi colons were always the cruel villains causing maximum damage to the young boy who had studied in Tamil medium till about the age of 13 and had to suddenly cope with a switch over to English medium. In as much as he was strict and a no-nonsense person, KSR was also a great guide and showed all the children the way forward. His value system is a great treasure that the entire family has happily inherited.
After his retirement from RBI, KSR worked as a close administrative aide of Swami Chinmayanandaji for about ten years and his senior position in the global organization of the Mission took its toll. When he was around 72 (and I was 46), KSR had the first stroke and his health started failing him.
The normally confident and self assured personality seemed to have suddenly become a mere shadow of what he was once upon a time. Restrictions on movement, medicines, frequenth imbalances in the body salts, etc.. were all compounding the problem.
He had started showing signs of Alzheimer’s and was losing his grip. Loss of self confidence was becoming evident.
The normally confident and self assured personality seemed to have suddenly become a mere shadow of what he was once upon a time. Restrictions on movement, medicines, frequenth imbalances in the body salts, etc.. were all compounding the problem.
Thus, one day I got a call in the office. It was KSR “Ganesh come immediately … my BP is rising and I need to see the doctor urgently..”
I rushed home .. put KSR in an auto and directed the auto to the clinic.
It was about twenty minutes to the clinic and, as the auto speeded, I saw that the frail old man sitting next to me was already looking pale. KSR was quite nervous and seemed to be suffering more from loss of confidence than just a high BP.
As I observed him, I started sensing a paradigm shift in me… I was facing the dilemma “Am I the duty bound disciplined son or a responsible son..?” As a disciplined son, I was discharging my duty by taking him to the doctor as KSR instructed and was doing all that my old man instructed me to do. But was that sufficient?
For a few minutes, I visualized my role as a “responsible” son and then all of a sudden, I was a different person. The nervousness in me had vanished and I started an unusual conversation with KSR- “Anna (that’s how we had got used to addressing him in the joint family) .. what’s bothering you? Are you scared of dying?”
His busy and stressed out schedule at the office, particularly when the Parliament was in session, kept the entire family sufficiently terrorised.
Though he was very kind and compassionate, KSR was also in retrospect a Hitler!
Yet all of us admired him and were quite awed by his persona which unfortunately added to the distance between him and the children
I now had his attention and continued the conversation:
“After all every one has to die.. so why are you bothering yourself?
There is absolutely no reason for you to get worried .. we are all in good position in life .. a gift that you have given us..
I can assure you that I will take care of mother and the two sisters…”
He was now concentrating on what I was saying..
“In this circumstance, why should you get worried about dying? If I could put it bluntly, I would rather have you dying with that beautiful smile on your face rather than those lines of worry clouding your face!
I continued and could see he was regaining the colour on his face…
“you can choose to die right at this moment as a winner but not as a loser….all of us will remember your great smile ….any ways you have to go at some point and I suggest you face it bravely without having to worry about any thing”
That was a stunning statement and, even today, I shudder when I recall that ride in the auto!
KSR listened to all my blabber in rapt attention not uttering a word in response. His eyes showed that he had heard me.
We had by then reached the clinic. He was checked and the Doctor found KSR more cheerful than he had seen him recently. His BP was normal!
Was it that the conversation impacted him? I have no idea but my relations with him underwent a huge transformation thereafter for about three years that he was alive.
The stern father – the Hitler- had by then come very close to me and we bonded very well whether I was giving him his bath or took him to the barber for a hair cut. My sessions of feeding him, whenever I did, were of great fun and laughter. We would sing together and throw the ball at each other. We even had pillow fights and wrestling matches when I had to force him to go to sleep .. my old man had indeed become a child and I had assumed the role of the father!
When he died roughly three years after that conversation, I lost a friend!
In 1963, while in Science College, Nagpur in our pre-medical batch we had number of girls as classmates rather as many as we boys. During those days talking to a girl was not easy and for me the problem was about speaking in English as having studied in Marathi medium I was learning to cope with the English vocabulary.
To this day I remember the names of some girls like, Asha Vaghela, Kalpana Shrivastav, Shahapurkar, Solav, Mahajan, Rekha, Prema Rawat etc. and who will forget Janaki Velayuthan who was like captain of all of them. Many of them had studied in English medium schools which was my weak point.
I still remember how I faced a tricky situation because of that.
One day in botany class the demonstrator gave us different specimens and asked us to note down their features. As I was examining a specimen on my desk, suddenly two girls approached me with a twig in hand. One of them was Janaki and she asked me a question as if it was her difficulty. I could not understand a word of what she was asking. I said in broken English.. ” let us ask him ” and suggested that we go to Vishwas who would help ‘us’. We just did that and the matter was over. I recall this incidence to say how much poor I was in understanding a simple question leave alone offering a reply in English. Perhaps Janaki just played a trick on me fully knowing that I was unable to explain anything.
Afterwards I entered Nagpur Veterinary College and graduated in 1969. Soon thereafter I got opportunities to work in Nagpur Agriculture College, BAIF, Uruli Kanchan and Development Corporation of Vidarbha.
In 1972 I was selected by NDDB as Apprentice Officer in a batch of 16 candidates on all India basis. I joined in February 72 and started undergoing one year’s training in Amul Dairy. We were young and a very happy lot, feeling elevated about our selection in NDDB with a very prosperous career that was before us.
The NDDB campus had administrative building, staff quarters and Officers’ Hostel.
We lived in Hostel but alot of our time was spent in the field.
One day as I was entering NDDB campus with my friend I saw a group of men along with two ladies coming from opposite direction. Probably after visiting somebody’s house they were leaving our campus. And I saw Janaki in that group ! There was no mistake about it. She looked more mature, was apparently married and moving in that group speaking in Malayalam. She was wearing a sari and her hair was flung open like you see in Kerala women after they take overhead bath and freely move. Although I saw her, could recognize her, she hardly paid any attention to me and that group left our campus. They went out towards the Veterinary College Campus which was on the opposite side of the road. After some days I got confirmation that she was Mrs. Sukumaran married to a Professor of Parasitology in Anand Veterinary College. Since our training program took us to many places I had no occasion to see Janaki again during 1972.
On completion of training we became executives and were sent across the country to organize dairy cooperative societies on Amul model. I worked in Rohtak, Manipal, Jalgaon, Guntur and Bhatinda . During this period in September 1976 I got my first promotion also. In August 1977 I returned to Anand from Guntur and started attending office on day to day basis. On the very first day I went to office at 9.30 am and stood in a common queue to sign the muster kept at the Reception Counter.
As I went near the counter I was surprised to see Janaki sitting there as Receptionist cum Telephone Opetator ! She saw me as I signed the muster but did not recognize me, probably.
This happened for several days. Each time she gave a typical smile expected of a Receptionist and nothing further. Soon NDDB decided to post me in the newly opened regional office at Bangalore and I had only few days to depart. So one day in afternoon as I passed by the Reception Counter I found Janaki sitting alone and thought it right to talk to her.
As I went near she gave me a smile. ” Hello Janaki how are you ” I said. ” आप मुझे पहचानते है ? ” she asked me with a surprise. Whether it was real I do not know. ” Yes off course, Janaki ” I continued ” I know you. We were together in Science College Nagpur. ” I said. ” That was long back, कितने साल हो गये, शायद बीस साल, आप अब तक याद करते है ” she said. ” Yes Janaki, I remember those days very well. You were very intelligent, I was sure you would make it to Medical College, what happened ? Somebody said you gave up additional physics paper and chose other line.” I said. ” Yes, my father was transferred , हम लोग गोवा चले गये, and I changed the line.” She said. “How long you have been here ?” She enquired. ” Since 72 ” I said. ” तो आप प्रोजेक्ट एक्झिकेटिव्ह तो जरूर बने होंगे ” She said. ” Yes ” I said and our dialogue was almost over.I just told her about my transfer to Bangalore office as I left.
She was right. I was Project Executive, equivalent to Class One Officer in Central Govt.
But somewhere it pinched me. After meeting Janaki I felt that our life is a game more of opportunities than the capability. In subsequent years I went up the ladder to get second promotion as Senior Project Executive in 1979 whereas I believe Janaki must have continued on the same post. I left NDDB in 1986 to join Maharashtra State Dairy Federation.
In April 2009 I visited Anand for a small get together of my batch-mates. I also met SD Burde, a senior past colleague who gave me information that Dr. Sukumaran had passed away couple of years ago. But I thought better not to disturb her.
One day in Vrikshmandir I read that we have lost over forty former colleagues and their family members from NDDB due to Covid and other causes since the last get together of former NDDB employees in 2020. The list had names of RS Chauhan, PV Ramanan, Sharad Chede, Manubansh and so on……
But when I read the name of Janaki Sukumaran I felt equally sad if not more, since I knew Janaki and her calibre from student days.
It is really your luck that takes you there or not.
At 40, Kafka (Franz Kafka (1883-1924)) who never married and had no children, walked through the park in Berlin when he met a girl who was crying because she had lost her favourite doll. She and Kafka searched for the doll unsuccessfully.
Kafka told her to meet him there the next day and they would come back to look for her.
The next day, when they had not yet found the doll, Kafka gave the girl a letter “written” by the doll saying “Please don’t cry. I took a trip to see the world. I will write to you about my adventures.”
Thus began a story which continued until the end of Kafka’s life.
“Everything you love will probably be lost, but in the end, love will return in another way.”
During their meetings, Kafka read the letters of the doll carefully written with adventures and conversations that the girl found adorable.
Finally, Kafka brought back the doll (she bought one) that had returned to Berlin. “It doesn’t look like my doll at all,” said the girl.
Kafka handed her another letter in which the doll wrote: “my travels have changed me.” the little girl hugged the new doll and brought her happy home.
A year later Kafka died.
Many years later, the now-adult girl found a letter inside the doll. In the tiny letter signed by Kafka it was written:
“Everything you love will probably be lost, but in the end, love will return in another way.”
वह जिसे आप प्यार करते हैं शायद खो जाऐ , लेकिन अंत में वही प्यार दूसरे तरीके से वापस आ जाता है
फ्रांज काफ्का (१८८३-१९२४), जिन्होंने कभी शादी नहीं की और न कोई उनके बच्चे थे, बर्लिन के पार्क में घूमते हुए एक लड़की से मिले जो रो रही थी क्योंकि उसनेअपनी पसंदीदा गुड़िया खो दी थी।
उसने और काफ्का ने दोनों ने मिल कर खोई गुड़िया की खोज में लग गये पर असफल रहे। काफ्का ने उस लड़की को अगले दिन उससे मिलने के लिए कहा और कहाकि कल दोनों मिल उस खोई गुड़िया को खोजेंगे। वे उसे खोजने लगे।
अगले दिन भी जब उन्हें गुड़िया नहीं मिली काफ्का ने उस लड़की को गुड़िया द्वारा “लिखा” एक पत्र दिया जिसमें कहा गया था “प्लीज दुखी मत हो और रो मत। मैंदुनिया देखने के लिए एक यात्रा पर निकल गई हूँ। पर मैं तुम्हें अपनी यात्रा में हुई घटनाओं और अनुभवों के बारे में बारे में लिखती रहूँगी ”
इस प्रकार एक कहानी शुरू हुई जो काफ्का के जीवन के अंत तक जारी रही। अपनी मुलाकातों के दौरान, काफ्का ने गुड़िया के नाम लिखे उन पत्रों को जो रोमांचकबातचीत से भरपूर होते थे ध्यान से पढ़ कर उस लड़की को सुनाये।
वह पत्र उस लड़की को बहुत पसंद आते थे। अंत में, काफ्का उस लड़की के लिये एक गुड़िया ख़रीद कर ले आये और कहा कि गुड़िया बर्लिन लौट आई है। लड़की नेकहा, “यह मेरी गुड़िया की तरह बिल्कुल नहीं दिखती,”
काफ्का ने उसे एक और पत्र सौंपा जिसमें गुड़िया ने लिखा: “मेरी यात्राओं ने मुझे बदल दिया है।”
छोटी लड़की ने नई गुड़िया को गले लगाया और उसे खुशी ख़ुशी घर ले आई।
एक साल बाद काफ्का की मृत्यु हो गई। कई साल बाद, जब लड़की वयस्क हो चुकी थी उस गुड़िया के अंदर से एक पत्र मिला।
काफ्का द्वारा हस्ताक्षरित उस छोटे से पत्र में लिखा था: “वह जिसे आप प्यार करते हैं वह शायद खो जाएगा, लेकिन अंत में, वही प्यार दूसरे तरीके से वापस आ जाता है ।”
भला हो इक्कीसवीं सदी का । डाकिया आया, तार वाला आया या पड़ोस में या खुद के घर पर फ़ोन आया वाला जमाना लद गया । अब तो यार, दोस्त, परिवार के लोगों से फ़ोन,इमेल, व्हाटसएप आदि से हम चाहे कहाँ भी हो गाहे-बगाहे ज़रूरत, बे ज़रूरत संपर्क बना रहता है।
भाई “एम के” और मेरे साथ भी ऐसा ही है । जब मैं सन् २००० में आणंद छोड़ गुड़गाँव का रहेवासी बना “एम के” आणंद में ही थे। फ़ोन पर संपर्क हो जाता था। कोरोना काल २०२० में एक फ़ोन वार्ता से पता चला कि वह अब हरिद्वार में गंगा तट पर निवास करते हैं। मै केनेडा आ गया था। मैंने एक दिन “एम के” की हिंदी में लिखी एक पोस्ट “लिंक्डइन” पर पढ़ी ।मन को छू गई। पढ़ तो मैं रहा था पर लगता था जैसे उनका लिखा मुझसे बतिया रहा हो।वहीं से शुरू हुई बतकही के फलस्वरूप और उनकी सहमति से इस लेख शृंखला का प्रकाशन संभव हो सका है।
जस्सी बेन
आज से करीब पचास साल पहले मै अपने जन्म स्थान को छोड़ कर आनंद, गुजरात चला आया।
मूलतः बिहार का ।
आनन्द में ही एक कसबे मे लोन लेकर घर बनाया। बच्चों की पढ़ाई, शादी वहीं हुई। जब हम इस घर मे आए, हमारे आस पास सिर्फ वहां के परा मे रहने वाले स्थानीय परिवार के लोग थे। अजीब सा लगता था। बहुत ही सौहार्दपूर्ण लोग। । उनके छोटे छोटे बच्चे पढ़ने आते। एक अजीब परिपाटी देखने को मिली।
स्वाभाविक नाम से किसी को बुलाया जाता। प्रकाश, पका हो जाते, विनीत, बोपला, शान्ति शान्ता, यशोद जस्सी और न जाने कौन कौन और कैसे कैसे।
सब हमारे यहाँ आते और घर बाहर की बाते होती। कभी नही लगा हम बाहर के है और वे पराए।
इन्ही परिवारों मे एक नटू भाई का परिवार। पत्नी का नाम यशोदा, जस्सी बेन। हमारे परिवार के हर सदस्य से बाते करना उनका हाल चाल पूछना।
लेकिन मेरी पत्नी से बेपनाह आत्मीयता। रात बिरात जब भी कोई बात करनी हो, आवाज दे देती, बेन, हू जस्सी, आव्यूं छूं। और बस बाते शुरू ।
मेरी पत्नी बीमार पड़ीं, रोज आ कर हाल पूछ जाना। इधर उनके परिवार को जब भी कोई तकलीफ हुई, बेन, मेरी पत्नी हाजिर।
हर पूर्णिमा को अम्बा जी के मन्दिर जाती और बिना पूछे या कहे हमारे लिए प्रसाद लाती, बेन सारू थयी जाए न, एटला माटे, बीजू कयी नयी।
मेरे पास आती, बैठती और दुनिया भर की बाते।। चालीस साल से हमारा और जस्सीबेन का सम्बन्ध इसी क्रम से चलता आ रहा है।
मैं अब हरिद्वार आ गया।उन्हे बिना बताए।
मेरे बेटे बहू से भर पेट शिकायत। साहेब खोटो कीधो, आम ने आम जता रह्या ।आवशे तो पूछी शूं।
अभी मै आनन्द गया था। एक दिन जस्सीबेन आ गयी।
साहेब, आ नहीं चाले।
तमे जता रहो, अणे मने नही बताव्या। आदि से अन्त तक की आत्मीय बातें। दुख सुख, शिकायत की बातें। ढेर सारी बेबाक बाते। मैने मजाक में कहा जस्सी बेन हू तमारो एक फोटो पाड़ी लऊ छूँ।
कल हम दोनो मे कोई रहे, न रहे।
एक फोटो लिया।
बोली, साहेब उभा रहो तमारे आगे, माथा उपर आंचल ना होए तो लोको शूं केहशे।
क्या है उनका मुझ से रिश्ता। क्यो इतनी आत्मीयता। नही समझ पाया। चालीस साल।
भला हो इक्कीसवीं सदी का । डाकिया आया, तार वाला आया या पड़ोस में या खुद के घर पर फ़ोन आया वाला जमाना लद गया । अब तो यार, दोस्त, परिवार के लोगों से फ़ोन,इमेल, व्हाटसएप आदि से हम चाहे कहाँ भी हो गाहे-बगाहे ज़रूरत, बे ज़रूरत संपर्क बना रहता है।
भाई “एम के” और मेरे साथ भी ऐसा ही है । जब मैं सन् २००० में आणंद छोड़ गुड़गाँव का रहेवासी बना “एम के” आणंद में ही थे। फ़ोन पर संपर्क हो जाता था। कोरोना काल २०२० में एक फ़ोन वार्ता से पता चला कि वह अब हरिद्वार में गंगा तट पर निवास करते हैं। मै केनेडा आ गया था। मैंने एक दिन “एम के” की हिंदी में लिखी एक पोस्ट “लिंक्डइन” पर पढ़ी ।मन को छू गई। पढ़ तो मैं रहा था पर लगता था जैसे उनका लिखा मुझसे बतिया रहा हो।वहीं से शुरू हुई बतकही के फलस्वरूप और उनकी सहमति से इस लेख शृंखला का प्रकाशन संभव हो सका है।
अपने अन्दर की कालीन, अकेले, निशान्त क्षणों मे एक बिल्कुल जानी पहचानी, अपनी सी आवाज दस्तक देती है!
रिर्भवरेटिंग इको। अजीब सी गूंजती आवाज ! चौंकता नहीं हूं, जाग जाता हूँ।
उम्र के साथ साथ बढ़ती गई ये कालीन तो अपनी ही है। उम्र बढ़ती गई, यह भी बढ़ती गई। कभी भी मुझे सर से पांव तक ढकने मे कोताही नही की।
ज़ख्मों, नश्तरों और नासूरों को संजो कर, उन्हे हमेशा बैकग्राउंड में रख कर ये बूटेदार, नक्काशीदार,, मादक और मनमोहक करिश्मा मेरे अन्दर पनपता रहा खुशबू और खुशियां एक्सपोज़ करते हुए।
अजीब और नेहायत हमदर्द है यह कालीन। सारे दुख दर्दों को अन्डर द कारपेट करने में एक्सपर्ट।
बातें होती है इस हमसफर से, अकेले मे। कभी यह मुझे दुत्कारता है, कभी मैं इसे सराहता हूँ। नोक झोंक चलती है। कभी यह ऊंघ जाने को प्रीटेन्ड करता है तो कभी मैं सोने का बहाना।
दोनो जानते है कि हम एक दूसरे को छलने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं,फिर भी यह नाटक बदस्तूर चल रहा है। और फिर एक अजीब सा सवाल मुह बाए खड़ा हो जाता है।
क्या ऐसी अनुभूति सिर्फ मुझे होती है या इन्सान की सामान्य नियति है, कहानी है ? कोई जवाब नही मिलता।
और तब यह सोंच कर सो जाता हूँ कि जिस अनमोल निधि ने, जिस समर्पित अनुभूति ने सारी ज़िन्दगी मेरे अन्दर घर बना कर मेरे साथ रह कर इतनी वफादारी की है, उससे मै पराया होने की गद्दारी कैसे कर सकता हूँ।
सम्भव हो सब इसी दौर से गुज़र रहे हों। मानना, न मानना अपना अपना चयन।
अनुभूति हमेशा बिलकुल पर्सनल प्रौपर्टी रही है। निजी संपत्ति …. हर एक की अपनी अपनी ..
२ जुलाई २०२१ को डाक्टर मलहोत्रा ने मुझे यह व्हाटसऐप फ़ॉरवर्ड भेजा था, OPT मतलब ओपी टंडन । फिर यह ब्लाग ड्राफ़्ट बन कर ही रह गया था । आज पोस्ट कर रहा हूँ
हम सब रिटायर हो गयें हैं आरियों से बाहर हो गये हैं
कल तक ऑफिसों में अपने कामों की डींगे हाँकते थे, थोड़े को बढ़ा-चढ़ा कर बखानते थे
अभी कल की ही बात लगती है, बस ये पिछली ही रात लगती है. जब ज्वाइन किया था हम सबने, एक सपने की सौगात लगती है
कैसे वो दिन थे, गुजर गये
★
हम कितनी ही ज़ल्दी बदल गये हैं. कल के हम सजीले, छबीले, आज झुर्रियों से, भर गये हैं
वो काले से कजरारे केश, हुए श्वेत वर्ण, बदल के भेष. हम स्कूटर ख़ूब चलाते थे, गाँवों में, कस्बों में, छोटे शहरों में अलख़ जगाते थे. साइकिल से शुरू किया सफर कार पर पहुँचने का सुख मनाते थे. राई से पर्वत बनने का अलख जगाते थे. इक-दूजे की दिक्कत में हम, ख़ुद ही दिल से लग जाते थे.
★ पर जाने कैसे ये युग बीत गया, कैसे अपना यौवन छिन गया, अपने सपनों का यह आँगन, नयनों की झड़ी से भीग गया
टायर्ड हुए बिना ही अपन, सारे यार रिटायर हो ही गये, कुछ तो असमय ही भगवान को प्यारे हो गये
★ पर यारों … एक निवेदन है, हृदय का यह प्रतिवेदन है,
वो जोश और वो शान अमर रखना, निज स्वाभिमान प्रखर रखना. हो सके तो मुस्कराहट बाँट लेना
★
नातों में कुछ सरसराहट छाँट रखना. नीरस-सी हो चली है, ज़िंदगी बहुत, थोड़ी-सी इसमें शरारत बाँट लेना
जहां भी देखो , ग़म पसरा है
थोड़ी-सी बातों में हरारत बाँट लेना
शरीके ग़म होना इक-दूजे केथोड़ी-सी अपनों में इबादत बाँट लेना
★
हैं हम सब सेवानिवृत्त कार्य-कलापों से, पर सामाजिक जीवन में अपनी ज्योति हमेशा प्रखर रखना. व्यक्तिगत मिलन भले न हो सके, पर सम्बन्धों में जीवन्तता बनाए रखना
On Father’s Day I had received an email from MK Sinha sharing a message that he had posted on LinkedIn.
“आज सुबह, इन्डियन स्टैन्डर्ड टाईम के करीब पांच बजे, जब अपनी रोज की रूटीन के अनुसार , अपने परिचितों, दोस्तों, रिश्तेदारों को मेसेज देने अपना व्हाटसएप खोलो तो फादर्स डे की शुभकामनाओं के मेसेज भरे पड़े थे। एक अज़ीब सी इन्टेन्स, डिप्रेस्सिव माइन्डब्लाक सिंड्रोम में चला गया। सोचने लगा कि रोज जो मै पितृदेवो भव, मातृ देवो भव कह कर दिन की शुरूआत करता हूं वह कहीं कोई बड़ी भूल तो नही हो गई। कहीं मेरे पिता हम से दूर तो नही हो गए। ये कैसी बिडम्बना है कि इलेक्ट्रॉनिक माध्यम से लोग मुझे बता रहे है कि मेरा भी कोई बाप, फादर, है और मुझे इस दिन उसे याद करना चाहिए। जैसे बाकी सारी ज़िन्दगी के दिन उस से कोई रिश्ता नहीं । अपने आप को बैकवर्ड समझने लगा। आउट आफ डेट। एक्सपायरी डेट के करीब। लेकिन सही समय पर मेरी आत्मा के एक झंटाटेदार तमाचे ने सही रास्ते पर ला दिया। मेरा बाप, मेरा फादर, मेरी आत्मा मे हर रोज हर सांस मे मेरे साथ रहता है। कोई याद दिलाए, न दिलाए।”
I too have been receiving and forwarding Father’s Day messages both images as well as video clips to friends and family members of the kind MK has referred to in his message.
I met Ganeshji not in the century that I was born but had to wait for the onset of the new millennium plus almost eight years for the planets to synchronise and be at the right position to create a favourable grah dasha.
Ganesh ji a prolific blogger, banker, company secretary, connoisseur of music and a foodie plus many things known and unknown.. had earlier written for Vrikshamamdir about Raju Thapa our guest house care takerand Bahadur our watchman.
He now writes about Banks, NPAs, Auditors and Scams.
1992 SCAM – the Ostrich style in the banks
Banks and Non Performing Assets
The web series on Sony TV ‘1992 Scam’ gives a gripping account of how Harshad Mehta played the system in the early 1990s. The screen play, production and the performances are all brilliant and I found it difficult to pull myself away from the TV screen until the end. Well done Sucheta Dalal and Co.
The story also took me to that period when fooling a bank was not very difficult and the system or the lack of it was tempting to any borrower with the most lame excuse to attempt a quick diversion. Clearly the malady portrayed by 1992 Scam in the incapacity of the rule makers to look beyond the rules was all pervasive and bankers were unfortunately paralysed by the question “who will bell the cat?”.
One wonders how a low rung bank manager could have taken a decisive stand against a delinquent client when even the RBI Governor and the JPC members were seemingly incapacitated! ‘Let my successor face the music’ was the favorite theme of the day!
The disease in the banking system originated with the general ignorance of the bank manager at the operational level about how the industry actually worked exacerbated by a lack of courage to question the borrower.
Bankers were good ledger keepers and expecting them to foresee how the borrower would behave was a little misplaced! Whatever expertise the bank manager possessed was all superficial as there was no cross infusion of talent and banks never recruited anyone from outside the sector if at all they looked at anyone with experience. Attitude issues including dip your hands since nobody is looking added to the general failure. It’s not that every banking officer was blind or corrupt. Unfortunately the honest and intelligent officer mostly lacked the spine to take a hard stand.
The fast paced expansion of the banking system driven by the social banking phobia and political loan melas had also created a huge gulf between the borrower and the bank. Whatever was left of the much needed human element in the system was gradually neutralized by the mechanical paper work and politically driven targets. The essence of banking of the good old days was in the personal rapport with the borrower and the consequent assessment of the individual character and honesty. However, that implicit human element started getting eroded when human robots came to occupy the chair.
It was also not that every borrower was dishonest and keen to cheat the system. In the scenario that was evolving bankers were not and perhaps unable to act as the friend, philosopher and guide to the borrowers. Notwithstanding their knowledge deficit, bankers had the advantage of overviewing the general business scenario from the pavilion and that gave them an advantage of being able to guide the borrower. However, they were more forcefully driven by the cover your ass approach. That in turn resulted in the borrower not honestly sharing their business problems with the banker in the fear that funding would be withdrawn and so the cat and the mouse played the game merrily in the hope that they would never be caught. Consequently any one who sounded the warning was hounded out as the ostrich like stance was extremely convenient to the lender. “why should I recognize the problem and be blamed for it?” was the underlying strain. It was easier to lose sleep rather than lose the job!!
Non Performing Assets
The NPA crisis we have today so blatantly manifested by the Mallayas and Choksis was perhaps inspired by the large scale systemic failure with the banks as was demonstrated by Harshad Mehta.
It was also not that the regulators were totally unaware of what was wrong with the system. However, attempts to correct were weak and always lagged in terms of effect and commitment. Lending norms and credit monitoring systems were introduced to “effectively” monitor the end use of the funds provided by banks. However, while lending decisions were based on future plans of the borrower, the monitoring was unable to keep pace with the actual events and was relegated to a post mortem exercise akin to bolting the door after the horse had fled! Whatever action was then contemplated were more for covering ones back side and lacked the teeth to bite. Typically no lender wanted to own the problem!!
One of the monitoring exercises was engaging outside professionals to verify the borrower assets. As a concept this was promising as it made up for what the bankers missed viz insightful industry knowledge. The exercise essentially aimed to verify if the borrower indeed utilized the funds for which they were provided. Where it was working capital finance, the borrower was expected to utilize the same to build the agreed levels of current assets in terms of inventory and receivables. And what happened in reality was that the borrower misreported the assets held in his monthly statements thereby hiding his genuine business problems or simply his dishonesty. The external auditor was then required to assess as a post mortem exercise if the borrower maintained the assets as he had reported. In essence the banker delegated his responsibility to the outside professional!
Auditor’s role
The efficacy of the process in turn depended on the ability of the auditor to see beyond what was presented to him by the borrower. And, since the inspection visits were always with prior notice, the auditor invariably received the red carpet treatment and VIP hospitality as an attempt to soften his probe and conclusions. The auditor was always under a challenge in having to protect himself from the over effusive reception and the subtle attempts of the borrower to hide the real picture. Yet, if he was smart enough, he managed to see through the screen and get a glimpse of the underlying problems at the borrower’s operations. However, were his findings put to genuine use and taken to their logical end was a million dollar question!
Asset Verification
The experience of my friend Raghav engaged by a few banks for the asset verification program was quite frustrating. He scribbled his notes from time to time in a bid to retain his sanity and they form the basis of this blog.
Mostly the reports were ignored or the professional encouraged to soften the impact so as not to alarm the banking system. Honest reports posed a problem to the banker as he was either a party to the malpractice or even if he was not, he was worried that the system would dump the garbage at his door step! It was hence convenience as well as fear of being victimized that guided the banker’s reaction to the findings leading essentially to inaction!
The experience of my friend Raghav engaged by a few banks for the asset verification program was quite frustrating. He scribbled his notes from time to time in a bid to retain his sanity and they form the basis of this blog.
The asset verification exercise carried out by Raghav threw up mainly three types of cases:
– Fraudulent disclosures viz reporting ghost assets
– Misreporting of data
– Bad project planning
There were several instances of each type and make an interesting case study.
Fraudulent disclosures required lot of courage on the part of the borrower and a confidence that the fraud will never be found. It was nothing but sheer brazenness and an attitude that smacked of contempt for the banking system.
A textile export house was one such case that came Raghav’s way. It was rather the first assignment that he handled and he had a lot to learn! The Borrower had a smallish office in the Kalbadevi area of Mumbai dominated by textile agents and outlets. The buildings were dilapidated and looked as if they could collapse anytime. However, whatever be the façade of the office building was no disincentive for the borrower managing to procure a bank facility running into fairly large amount not that it should. The interiors of the office on the fourth floor (the building had no lift!) gave Raghav no confidence and he struggled to draw any conclusion from those appearances. He was wondering “is this borrower genuine”?
The Managing director of the company gave him a warm welcome and even condescended to raise himself a little in greeting from the old and rickety chair he was occupying. He seemed offended that a non bank employee was deputed to conduct the inspection and let Raghav proceed only after he reconfirmed with the bank manager that the process was mandatory. The quarter cup of tea as is usually served in the market area was served and Raghav gulped it at one go still wondering what he was likely to see.
The managing director asked for the Kaka, the Chief Accountant.
An elderly uncle in pajama and kurta with a black topi adorning the head walked in and peered at Raghav thru his thick lenses. His question was uttered in total silence “what are you here for?” Raghav could sense the underlying animosity and ignored it.
He asked for the stock registers managing to hide his own nervousness. He was taken to the adjoining room which competed with the director’s room only in its shabbiness and perhaps displayed more bulky registers and dust than the other.
As Raghav went about tallying the stock registers with the statement submitted to the bank, two items caught his attention. The register showed zero balance as of date whereas a large value against the consignments had been included in the bank statement as at previous month end. Nothing unusual he thought but still wanted to query the Kaka. There was no hesitation in Kaka’s voice when he said “yes… those two items have moved since last month end..” Again nothing usual yet Raghav persisted. “Ok .. where are they now?”. The reply came too soon said Raghav’s inner voice “the Bill of Lading for both is available and I will provide them tomorrow”.
Raghav continued his verification on the second day and had not forgotten the two consignments. On being queried Kaka had a ready answer “the BL is on its way from our Tuticorin godown”. That seemed little odd considering that the loading was to have taken place three weeks ago. Now Raghav was worried but something inside him warned him from exhibiting his alarm. At the end of the day he asked “Kaka I am planning to visit south India.. can I visit your godown and take a look at your current stock position?” the request seemed innocuous and Kaka agreed to keep his godown manager suitably informed.
The visit to Tuticorin had a sole objective .. of locating those two consignments and by now Raghav had assumed he had been appointed by the CBI to detect the fraud! The godown was a huge public facility with material stored all over the place and each area marked by a placard indicating the owner name. Essentially they were huge bales of cloth stacked in three layers upto a height of at least about 12 ft and Raghav had no means of reading the label on each. The forklift was reportedly under servicing and was not expected to be ready for two more days in view of a festival holiday. Raghav realized his job was being made more difficult but could not assess whether it was by design.
Physically verifying any material was close to an impossibility and Raghav had no option but to peruse the ledger maintained by the godown. So he proceeded assuming that the ledger was reliable and started matching the items on the statement provided to the bank against the ledger balance. But lo and behold the two consignments in question were not traceable! The kaka on the phone had a ready answer “the ledger does not show if the consignment has already been shipped..”. he surely thought the inspector representing the bank must have been stupid and went about elaborately explaining why those two were missing. Raghav kept his cool and continued to act like an ignorant simpleton.
“sure.. I agree the stocks as of date will not show the two consignments but as at the end of last month they should have been included in the ledger balance?”
The kaka was now aggressive “sir.. you don’t understand the trade practice … I will get you the bill of lading to verify the shipment”. He had no clear explanation why the items were missing at previous month end even on book records. Raghav was to take the evening flight to Mumbai and kaka was aware of the schedule. He offered to send the B/L copy to the hotel and failing that to Raghav’s Mumbai office! It was really an evasive run around not enabling Raghav to draw any meaningful conclusion. And, he could not ignore the two items as they contributed to significantly to the aggregate value. But what options did he have?
Raghav was certain that he will never see the promised B/L and started writing his report after waiting for a week. He was now under a dilemma. Can he with confidence state that the two consignments did not exist and the stock reports were actually a farce! However, that meant he had to call the bluff and also face the backlash in case he was wrong. He was worried that his new career might take a beating even before start and he could be labelled as incompetent!
The language used by the financial auditors is often funny as they do not firmly assert the position and try to hide behind a hint lest they are accused of professional negligence (which also was experienced by Raghav in a later case). Raghav realized he could not call a spade a spade as the client was insisting he had the documents and had merely misplaced them! Raghav was now compelled to finalise his report with a comment that “the borrower had not adequately demonstrated as to the existence of two stock items as at the statement date…” He hoped that the bank manager would draw the right inference from that remark and initiate necessary follow through action. Raghav was certain that there was more to be unhidden and the bank was leading itself into deep trouble by ignoring such behaviour.
Sadly there was no call from the bank and no further explanation was sought. Raghav received his cheque by post and later learned from his acquaintance that he had unofficially been blacklisted by the branch! Much later he also learnt that the account had become a NPA!
भला हो इक्कीसवीं सदी का । डाकिया आया, तार वाला आया या पड़ोस में या खुद के घर पर फ़ोन आया वाला जमाना लद गया । अब तो यार, दोस्त, परिवार के लोगों से फ़ोन,इमेल, व्हाटसएप आदि से हम चाहे कहाँ भी हो गाहे-बगाहे ज़रूरत, बे ज़रूरत संपर्क बना रहता है।
भाई “एम के” और मेरे साथ भी ऐसा ही है । जब मैं सन् २००० में आणंद छोड़ गुड़गाँव का रहेवासी बना “एम के” आणंद में ही थे। फ़ोन पर संपर्क हो जाता था। कोरोना काल २०२० में एक फ़ोन वार्ता से पता चला कि वह अब हरिद्वार में गंगा तट पर निवास करते हैं। मै केनेडा आ गया था। मैंने एक दिन “एम के” की हिंदी में लिखी एक पोस्ट “लिंक्डइन” पर पढ़ी ।मन को छू गई। पढ़ तो मैं रहा था पर लगता था जैसे उनका लिखा मुझसे बतिया रहा हो।वहीं से शुरू हुई बतकही के फलस्वरूप और उनकी सहमति से इस लेख शृंखला का प्रकाशन संभव हो सका है।
जीवन, सुख, प्राप्ति, दुख, उपलब्धि, क्षय, आनन्द, क्षोभ सब की अलग अलग परिभाषा।
अपना अपना ठोस विश्वास।
सब सही या सब गलत। निर्णय कौन करे।
नो थर्ड अम्पायर, नो मैच रेफरी।
इस संदर्भ मे कुछ फोटोग्राफ पोस्ट कर रहा हूँ।
यह फोटोग्राफ एक ऐसे व्यक्ति का है जिन्होने वर्षों बर्फ की कन्दरा मे रहने के फलस्वरूप अपने एक पैर का आधा हिस्सा और दूसरे तलवे का आधा फ़्रॉस्ट बाईट से गंवा दिया।
लेकिन चेहरे पर हंसी और ताजगी।
दूसरा फोटोग्राफ एक ऐसे व्यक्ति का है जो दोनो पैर से लाचार।
एक स्कूटी को तिपहिया बना कर अपने घर मे कन्वर्ट कर दिये।
हर रोज, बिना नागा गंगा स्नान करने सुबह सुबह आते हैं ।
तीसरा फोटोग्राफ एक ऐसे व्यक्ति का है जिसने घाट पर नहाने के लिए लगी तीन चार जंजीरों को इकट्ठा कर सोने वाला झूला बना लिया है ।
वह घंटो उसी पर सोते हैं और गंगा जी की धार मे आधा डूबे मस्त पड़े रहते है।
ऐसे अनेक, न समझ मे आने वाले दृष्य हर रोज दिखते है, अनुभव करने को मिलते है । अन्दर से कुरेद जाते है। प्रश्न उठाते है।
क्या यह ज़िन्दगी से भागे हुए लोग है ? अथवा ज़िन्दगी को समझ पाए लोग ?
सुख को समझ गये लोग है दुख को लात मार कर भगा देने वाले लोग ?
जो भी हो है सब बस अपने आप मे मस्त।दुनिया और दुनियादारी गई भाड़ मे।
क्या मरने के पहले इन्होने मोक्ष को पहचान लिया है ?
ज़िंदगी के प्रति इनका नज़रिया क्या है ? इनकी समझ से ज़िन्दगी की परिभाषा क्या है ?
रोज देखता हूं, किसी किसी से मिलता हूँ, बाते करता हँ।फिर भी हाथ मे लगा जीरो।
