RANDOM THOUGHTS

          EVERGREEN MEMORIES - सुनहरी यादें  कुछ ही दिनों पहले उद्योगपति आनंद महिंद्रा द्वारा आनंद फिल्म के बारे में उनसे लिखी  गई कुछ यादें देखने में आई । ये  यादें ५५ साल पहले जब वे सिर्फ १५ साल के उम्र के थे , उनकी  जिक्र कर रहे थे  ।  उनकी यादों ने हमे भी इस लाजवाब फिल्म की याद दिलाने लगी । उम्र की पाबंदी के कारण हमारी यादगाश कुछ कम होने के बावजूद , इस फिल्म की यादें अबतक बिल्कुल ठीक है। इस फिल्म को हमने अपनी २१ वे उम्र में १५ मार्च १९७१  में  हाजी अली , उस समय के शिवसागर एस्टेट के पास वाले लोटस थियेटर में देखी थी। हम चार sasmira के दोस्त  मुकुलेश , परशु , वर्मा और मै इस फिल्म को देखने गए थे ।  हमे मुंबई गये कई साल गुजर गये है  । इस थियेटर के अब के हाल के बारे में हमे नहीं पता ! मुमकिन है , वो  सुपर मॉल  या   ४० माले के घर में  बदल गया होगा । राजेश खन्ना उस समय के सुपर स्टार थे , और अमिताभ बच्चन भी बॉलीवुड में अपनी  खुद की जगह बनाना शुरू  कर चुके थे । आनंद फिल्म मुझसे द...

I am quite aware that not many in the group  ( may be in some other group ) are comfortable with HINDI and there are a few who simply abhor it , the piece below written by me  is just for a few moments of Laughter , you never know , you might even like it .Do give it a try .  Trial afterall costs nothing !!                  वो  कौन थी नहीं बल्कि वो कौन है ,,? कुछ ही दिनों के पहले मेरी अमेरिका में वाशिंगटन के पास रहते मित्र से बातचीत हो रही थी। उसने अपनी  परेशानी साफ ज़ाहिर की ।  उसने बताया कि उनकी  लाखों कोशिशों के बावजूद वे अपने लडके  के लिऐ  बहू , बहुत  ढूंढने के बाद भी  नक्की करने में ना कामयाब रहें  हैं । बात ही बात में उसने मुझे इस मामले को सुलझाने की मदद मांगी । उसने अपने बेटे के तस्वीर के साथ उसका बायो डेटा भी भेजा और साथ में ये भी बताया की झुमरी तलैया में रहते एक परिवार के साथ उनकी बात चल रही थी । उसने  बताया कि  उनको मेरी परिचय भी दी गई है और अनुरोध किया की समय आने...

       ON THE EVE OF A LANDMARK - FINAL      Continuation of Previous Posts 1, 2 , 3 and 4  THREE QUARTERS OF A CENTURY I BELIEVE IS A LANDMARK FIGURE AND IF ONE WERE TO ASSOCIATE THIS WITH ONE'S AGE WHICH IN MY CASE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER  , IT DOES COME WITH ITS LOT OF PLEASANT MEMORIES AND SURPRISES .  Scottish born Alexander Graham Bell developed the world’s first working Telephone and received its US Patent in 1876 .  Reputedly , the first successful words using his new     “ instrument “ as Bell called it , were spoken to his associate Thomas Watson who was out of earshot in another room . ‘ Mr Watson , come here , I want to see you .’  Bells family background had a lot to do for this . His Grandfather , Father and Uncle were all public speakers whereas his Mother and Wife were Deaf . This led him to research in hearing and speech . His work with deaf people and acoustics gave to the world what we now ca...

        ON THE EVE OF A LANDMARK --4           Continuation of Posts 1,2 and 3  THREE QUARTERS OF A CENTURY I BELIEVE IS A LANDMARK FIGURE AND IF ONE WERE TO ASSOCIATE THIS WITH ONE'S AGE WHICH IN MY CASE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER  , IT DOES COME WITH ITS LOT OF PLEASANT MEMORIES AND SURPRISES .  Visual Media : Cinema Cinema is a very popular industry the World Over . From the Silent 16 mm Era to the 70 mm Widescreen ; Tod EO ;  , High Definition, Black and White to Nova - Eastman to Technicolour, Film Rolls to Digital Projections , Stand Alone Theatres to Multi Screen Cinema Complexes , From 3 Shows a day to 7 shows a Day with the Grand Opening Shows of the Superstars on Festive Days at the ungodly hour of 3 AM ,  a feature which has now come to stay for measuring the stars popularity at the Box Office ; Standing in the queue and fighting your way to get the tickets is a thing of the past , online booking is the orde...

  ON THE EVE OF A LANDMARK EVENT -3  Continuation of my previous posts 1 and 2  THREE QUARTERS OF A CENTURY I BELIEVE IS A LANDMARK FIGURE AND IF ONE WERE TO ASSOCIATE THIS WITH ONE'S AGE WHICH IN MY CASE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER  , IT DOES COME WITH ITS LOT OF PLEASANT MEMORIES AND SURPRISES .  ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY : RADIO  Radio : I would be surprised if those born in the 90s or later would even be aware that a household appliance which provided entertainment to millions with this NAME  RADIO ever existed . At best they might come across a carton or box containing the same  gathering dust in the attic of their  homes . The affluent few prefer to flaunt their well-being by displaying these Polished and Shiny Ebonite  Sets in the showcases of their Mansion or Bungalow .  As a kid , I remember having a Marconi Brand set , which had its make  in Holland at home . It was a 5 Valve set with a Medium wave and Two Short Bands . It...

     INDEPENDENCE DAY PANORAMA -                                                                               TORONTO              Sunday 17 th August 2025  This is the Biggest Flag outside of India and people went around it in Circles holding the NATIONAL FLAG in their hands .  My Niece Kala who is an active member of the Business Community and a Popular Person here in Toronto informed us of the Independence Day Panorama and asked us to be a part and take part in Our Independence Day Panorama Celebrations .  It was being staged on the Square in front of the New and Old City Hall in Downtown Toronto .  We were there around 2.00 PM  , Kala was there to greet us . There was already a huge crowd to witness the Stage Pe...

         ON THE EVE OF A LANDMARK -2  CONTINUATION OF MY PREVIOUS POST  THREE QUARTERS OF A CENTURY I BELIEVE IS A LANDMARK FIGURE AND IF ONE WERE TO ASSOCIATE THIS WITH ONE'S AGE WHICH IN MY CASE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER  , IT DOES COME WITH ITS LOT OF PLEASANT MEMORIES AND SURPRISES . It might come as a surprise to many as I seem to have left out an Important Part of our Transport System  : INDIAN RAILWAYS in my previous post .  This was done on purpose . I am a Railwayman's Son and spent the best part of my Formative years in Railway Colonies in the Eastern Parts of India . My Schooling has been at many different Places .  Kharagpur ; Kolkata ( Calcutta ) , Bhilai . Waltair ( Vishakhapatnam or Vizag ) ; Chakradharpur ; Cuttack ; Khurda Road ; Jharsgooda ; Adra ; Bhubaneshwar ; Puri come to mind in a flash .  Though it was tough getting used to so many locales ;   my college studies were at Mumbai and my flair with...

         LANDMARK EVENT -1  TRANSPORT THREE QUARTERS OF A CENTURY I BELIEVE IS A LANDMARK FIGURE AND IF ONE WERE TO ASSOCIATE THIS WITH ONE'S AGE WHICH IN MY CASE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER  , IT DOES COME WITH ITS LOT OF PLEASANT MEMORIES AND SURPRISES . TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES :  Bicycles  The first fancy that one may remember as a kid is learning to ride the Bicycle . In those days , one could not afford to have a cycle of their own , these Ricketty - Racketty contraptions had to be hired from the street corner Cycle Repair cum Hire shop for a then princely amount of 25 Naya Paise Per Hour . Finding and Funding the resources for the same from our  Guardians or  Parents required - days if not a whole Week of your good behavior at home . It was a momentous day when I finally managed to pedal my way on a dilapidated kid cycle on an empty street 30 , Sector 10 of Bhilai . The bruises on the elbow or knees was of no concern . In early t...

         SURPRISE PACKAGE      VISIT TO NEW VRINDABAN  Our plan was to head for our home in Ajax after Breakfast as it was almost an Eight hour drive back home with  a number of Pitstops in between .   Sathya and Vandana gave us ( Revathy and Myself ) a pleasant Surprise by informing us that we were heading for NEW VRINDABAN instead  in the neighboring State of WEST VIRGINIA  . New VRINDABAN is the US Headquarters of the Popular  HARE KRISHNA OR ISKON Community in the US and the final resting place of their founder or PRABHUPADA . The Krishna Temple ; Palace of Gold ; Rose Garden ; Goshala ; Peacock Mount is very Scenic ; People from all over the World Visit this place in large numbers and stay here for a few days for enchantment and to be with  MOTHER NATURE at its very Best .  The travel time involved was just 60 Minutes of Extra Time from our place of stay but the last 20 Minutes of travel involved coveri...

                 IDLEWILD AMUSEMENT PARK               PITTSBURGH - WASHINGTON PROPER  As promised to the kids we set out for the IDLEWILD AMUSEMENT PARK at around 10 in the morning . This is reported to be one of the oldest Amusement Parks in the state of Pennsylvania. It was founded in the year 1878 as an amusement park with special attractions for the Kids with picture perfect locales , Train and Tram Rides and the Merry go Arounds of various types .  Akshatha found all these to her liking . The thrilling and nerve chilling  Roller Coaster Rides  were enjoyed by Adhvay  to the Maximum .  Lastly , the Water Splash Pads and Pool provided the perfect place for everyone’s enjoyment as a  culmination of a whole day of fun and frolics . It was almost 8 in the evening when we realised that it was time to call it a day and head back to our place of stay which was some dista...