Of Amitabh and Khushwant Singh

Of Amitabh and Khushwant Singh

Last week, the world celebrated the birthdays of two young celebrities – Amitabh Bachchan all of 70 years and Khushwant Singh -98. The next day not just page three but many other pages were splashed with news of the celebrations. The angry young man of the 70’s had turned 70 and still going strong. Not just as an actor but as a person. Thinking of Khushwant Singh, one can just not forget the Illustrated Weekly of India , his wide variety of books and his famous column ‘Malice towards one and all ’ A close look at their life sketch - so very diverse and yet a common thread – self discipline. 

While the Big B’s penchant for punctuality and discipline is known am not too sure whether Khushwant Singh and self discipline, is palatable – one would wonder, especially after reading his love for the peg. Yet many may not know that for years he has been waking up at 4 am to write his columns, has been an avid swimmer, meticulously disciplined in diet and timings. 

Thinking about these two men is so very inspiring – a life full of purpose. Yet it hits me hard when I think of Sant Dnyaneshwar and his choice to take samadhi at the tender age of 21.He has always been a ‘hero’ for me since childhood. One is awestruck to read works like the Dnaneshwari, Amrutanubhav, et all. Why is it that he felt his mission was complete – could he not have continued to spread knowledge and inspire the future generation? I keep thinking to myself but get no answer.

Coming back to  the two birthday boys, over the years after observing many a personalities and persons, I have realized that discipline is as much an inherent quality as any other – may be emotions, feelings, temper – any. So rather than calling it discipline we must always give it the reverence of self discipline – in the same breath as we revere -  self realization . The difference being that self discipline is attainable though systematic resolve and rigor while the seers say that it takes millions of years and cycles of birth and death to attain self realization. 

When we see a child misbehaving, it is so natural to blame the parents or the school for lack of discipline. We have grown up listening to –spare the rod and spoil the child and yet despite strict discipline there are children who have gone wayward. The so called ‘pragmatist’ would promptly then term it as over discipline. In the words of Bette Davis – ‘Discipline is a symbol of caring to a child. Discipline is guidance. If there is love, there is no such thing as being too tough with a child’. She has used two powerful words – caring (mind you not caning) and love. As an American actress of yesteryear, she in fact gained a reputation as a perfectionist. She too, like Amitabh had failed in her first screen test. We all know that both reached pinnacles of glory through sheer grit and determination. This ‘never say die’ attitude stems from self discipline that gives one the confidence to brave every storm. 

So does that mean that if one is not having these inherent qualities, one is doomed? We are all born with hardware and software. Thankfully ‘qualities’ form the software part and can be changed or imbibed. However that needs a sincere self talk and effort to accept change. Today sleeping at 4 am after partying hard is the ‘new normal’. Think about ‘waking’ up at 4.30 am - not just difficult but sounds almost weird? It is also considered sacred by the scriptures and known as ‘Brahmamuhurta’. It’s in fact the time when the whole world is sleeping and the right time to be in silence to afford self reflection. 

Surprisingly many do wake up at this time and invest it in spiritual pursuits like meditation, breathing exercises, gymming, swimming, power walks, yoga etc and benefit immensely. There is a bonus too – as the darkness slowly brings in the soft  dawn like the blush on the cheeks of a Kashmiri damsel and ushers in the morning glory , one gets to witness the rising Sun – a ball of red that transforms itself into a radiant golden fireball of light. Try it, you will love it. It will open a whole new universe within. 

Anagha Hunnurkar

October 14, 2012

Mumbai calling…….

Mumbai calling……. 

Shalini was in a pleasant mood as she set about to pack for the journey back home. Mahalakshmi Express left Kolhapur at about 8.30 pm and since Tanuja came home by about 7 pm, there was enough leisure. For the past few months the mother daughter duo were staying in Kolhapur as Tanuja was posted there. So every opportunity for a family reunion was always welcome. ‘Aaj main upar, aasman niche’ hummed Shalini.  As she busied herself to get set for the journey, she would remember some past incident or bemuse herself by imagining how her younger daughter Shipra would be waiting at the door of their Mumbai house with open arms. For more than thirty years the foursome had lived as one family and now Tanuja’s posting had separated them. The father daughter duo had jobs in Mumbai. Parag’s face came floating in her thoughts. She smiled to herself. How intent and eager he always was to meet her, now that they were separated. 

As the clock ticked to 7 pm, she scurried to the kitchen. Tanuja would come any moment and would want her meals. The girl always returned home famished. As she rolled out the chapattis she was mentally back in Mumbai house. This time she had specially got the mawa packed so that she could treat her dear ones with oozing mouth watering gulab jamuns. She hustled to the travel bag to be sure that she had taken the mawa. Better check the fridge, she thought to herself. She wanted to ensure that all was properly done. 

She heard the door click just as she was about to finish garnishing the curry with coriander. Kolhapur was blessed with farm fresh vegetables and cooking meals was a treat to the eyes and delight to her soul. Tanuja came in, gave a wide grin and rushed to the washroom. Shalini deftly laid the table with steaming hot food….exactly the way Tanuja liked it to be. They were both very happy today. Although they did not discuss much both could feel the rapture in their heart. Home sweet home …Tanuja thought to herself. As they were relishing the meals, it started becoming breezy. A good shower would be so cooling, Shalini thought. However Mother Nature had different plans. The breeze slowly and surely turned into thunderous storm and there was a heavy downpour. It was almost 7.20 pm and they both thought that it was better to reach the station in time. 

Tanuja went out with her umbrella in the downpour to get an auto rickshaw, while Shalini started to wind up. Tanuja went all the way up to the main road but not a single rickshaw in sight. In the meantime Shalini had brought down the entire luggage from their fourth floor apartment. The watchman’s wife had helped the process and she too waited for Tanuja to come. 7.45 pm and no sign of Tanuja. The watchman’s wife was telling her that all roads get deserted the moment it rains as people prefer to stay home. Shalini grew restless.

The watchman’s son was also plying rickshaw but had gone to Rankala. Shalini urged the watchman’s wife to call him up. The lad agreed but said that he will need about 15 minutes to come. Never mind said Shalini and called up Tanuja to come back. ‘Is it a cloudburst, Ma?’ queried Tanuja. ‘I really don’t know dear’ – a sheepish Shalini. Finally, the rickshaw came in at about 8 pm and they sped to the station. It was 8.20 pm by the time they reached the station. 

The duo started running across to reach the platform. Dodging people on the way and shouting ‘side, side’ Tanuja was carrying the entire luggage and at the same time cautioning Shalini to take care of herself. Just then Shalini’s chappal gave way. The whole upper had torn off .There was no time to think. With both slippers in hand she continued to keep pace with Tanuja. Finally they scrambled into the compartment and the train ambled out of the station.

Fully drenched from head to toe, slipper less Shalini had not yet lost her presence of mind. Panting for breath, she quickly opened the suit cases and took out a dry set of clothes for both of them she quietly told Tanuja to head to the loo before it could be used by other fellow passengers. So that it would still be dry and worth using for a change over. In all this milieu, the watchman’s wife and her son called up on their cell phones to know whether they had managed to catch the train. After all the ruckus, all settled and then she set to repair her slipper. She asked Tanuja to give her some ‘Orbit’. Loosening the chewing gum, she sealed the uppers to the sole and then kept a suitcase on top as a load. In place of the finger strap she used a hair band.

Fellow passengers were awe struck at this creative feat. As the train entered the Mumbai CST both daughter mother duo got off the train. Shalini with her repaired slippers was walking as if nothing had happened, while one of the passengers with eyes wide open in amazement was silently following them. Only when they sat in the taxi, did he heave a sigh of relief. As for Shalini, she couldn’t just help laughing as she saw him get out of sight.

What an ordeal! But with a peaceful mind all was smoothened to a memorable journey back home…..Mumbai calling.

Anagha Hunnurkar

October 8, 2012