Form is temporary, Class is permanent

Form is temporary,  Class is permanent

As India celebrates the Master blaster’s ton at the Mirpur one day, statistics would be splashing all over news media of perhaps how long Sachin had to wait for this day – more than a year now and 30 matches down , India was waiting with baited breath as Sachin’s score crossed 88 runs. The last 12 runs to the century had the emotional mercury racing for the entire nation…and HE made it. Some cynics may point out that he could manage only cause it was against Bangla Desh …… nonetheless Sachin Tendulkar the classy cricketer the Shehenshah is back – back in form to overcome the stumbling score of >90, that kept mocking and keeping him tenterhooked to his ton.

Congratulations & Celebrations! The hero - a darling of the nation, showered with gifts, felicitation and revelries. But just imagine - As the dust dies down and people get on to the routines, a few test matches down the line if Sachin loses form, people will again start murmurs of his retirement. Negative thinking or reality? Well let me explain……..

Recently on the occasion of Women’s International Day, there were two events splashed on the TV that caught my attention. One was an advert by a very prominent insurance company in which aspiring women/mothers were demonstrating that they don’t need to work as they were insured - the need for insurance to make life easier - or worry free, should I say?

The other one was the retirement announcement at a press conference by the Wall- Rahul Dravid. After getting continuously bowled out, Rahul, now weak on defense, could hardly stand by his moniker – the Wall. When the veteran cricketer and commentator of yesteryear, Vijay Merchant, had announced his retirement, he had quipped – it’s better to retire when people ask you ‘why?’ rather than ‘why not?’

Rahul’s press statement also echoed mixed feelings.

Women’s International day advert and Rahul’s retirement - totally unrelated events – one may think. The common thread was that the women in the advert as well as  Rahul were of the same age group or say a zone of about 35 -45.  Each of the women in the advert was looking forward to retire so that having completed their obligation to the home & hearth, they were all set to fulfill  or pursue their own private dreams – may be a hobby or a pastime that was alluring due to paucity of time.

While some are fortunate to contemplate a retirement and hang their boots, some others are just nipped out of the world’s stage without even a moment’s notice. The Likes of Rajeev Gandhi, Lady Diana, Michael Jackson…..O the list can be endless. At the other end we also have Sant Dnyaneshwar who ‘chose’ to take Samadhi on the conclusion of the ‘Dnyaneshwari’ – an epic commentary on Bhagwad Geeta – his life’s mission.

When one thinks closely though, one realizes that it is not respite but being fully occupied, continually growing, being creative  that makes one’s life meaningful. However the joy of living gets enriched only when we get to follow our passion sans the stress, the fears, the doubts and the worries. A disturbed existence even at one’s zenith is far more painful than a peaceful yet simple life. The irony is that all the riches in the world can’t buy this peace as it is not external but within you. A story goes that Man jeers at the Honeybee and points out that all the honey is taken away by him .So while the honeybee toils, the fruits of labor are enjoyed by the Human race. The bee smiles back and says - He may be taking the honey but he cannot take away the art or skill of ‘making’ honey from me – and that I think is the secret of happiness.

Anagha Hunnurkar

16^th March , 2012

In the lap of Nature.......

In the lap of Nature…..

As we sunk into the cushy chairs on the terrace of Abhishek Resorts, overlooking the sea, a beautiful sunset unfolded before us. It was as if the Sun was staging a special appearance for the three of us. Shubhangi had set to tune, her cell phone full of melodious music and we just sat there spell bound- listening to the music with the sea waves whispering  gently in the background as they sped towards the silvery sanded beach. A picture perfect existence. We sat there silent in our own individual worlds and yet together. In the words of Shaila, we were weaving a memory for a life time. Slowly the golden globe turned amber. We could hardly realize the minutes that were ticking by gently as the Sun God was retiring to his abode, moving downwards to the sea in a flowing seamless pace. As we were absorbing this movie, the silhouette of a passing by steamship provided just the right worldliness to the divine show. Within a matter of  minutes the ball of fire disappeared behind the aquatic horizon and the tawny sky was a riot of colours - orange, amber, brown, black, blue – twilight colors splashed across to celebrate   and welcome the night. 

Abhishek resorts  - the first resort of Ganpatipule is a welcome change to the urban soul as well as to the pilgrims who come to pay homage to the ruling deity of the place – Lord Ganesha. It’s not just the rooms & suites or the wonderful cuisine – especially the fish spread for the discerning but also the care with which the resort has been nurtured that makes all the difference. Just a day  before three wary souls had travelled all the way from Mumbai to spend a joyful weekend at Abhishek resorts. The resort has built a beautiful trail to the beach and one can walk across the beach to the temple at Ganpatipule. The temple itself is right on the beach. While the idol is swayambhu (self originated), what differentiates it from the other temples is that the Lord is believed to have established in the form of a mountain that overlooks the virgin beach. Imagine the starry sky above with the moon overlooking the temple, the Lord himself seated symbolically as a mountain and the blue waters across endless stretches of sand dunes laced with palms along the border. A special path is constructed, encircling the mountain to enable the pilgrims to walk on the periphery of this mountain God. The mountain itself is believed to be decked with many rare herbal and medicinal plants, shrubs & trees. By walking across the periphery one gets to breath pure air laden with the goodness of this medicinal foliage. This is Ganpatipule – blessed by the Lord himself.

The next day we also viewed the glory of the rising sun. We drove to a plateau at the break of dawn and to our delight we were an eyewitness to the very same setting sun, now rising in all its glory. From Dusk to dawn – from darkness to light – we had traversed a full cycle. Nature with all its bounties had decided to shower its blessings on us that day because later in the day as we drove towards Are –Ware ,  a small village off Ganpatipule – lo and behold – we saw one of the most pristine beaches that could put the Brooke Shields fame beaches from the film ‘Blue Lagoon’ to shame. Oh the beautiful play of the water across the rocks below and the resultant reflection of colors on the ocean’s waters – one has to see the magic to believe it. Truly, Mother Nature is bountiful and fathomless – all one needs is to have the eye to spot her grandeur – once you develop this eye, nature is all happy to surprise you at most unexpected places or may be  just round the corner – ever so compassionate, ever so giving.

A trip to Ganpatipule is not complete unless you visit Swami Swarupanand’s ashram at Pawas where one can meditate in the cave and also a visit to the celebrated poet Keshavsut’s house at Malgund. The house with its museum is a literary feast. The poems took us back to our childhood days when we had recited many of these poems and like three small children we became nostalgic of those mystical years.

Ganpatipule a perfect place to unwind – not just physically but also to relax the mind and evolve spiritually. It has all – A Jewel of Parshuram’s Konkan .

Anagha Hunnurkar

3^rd March, 2012