Living Diagonally In My Parallel World!

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I heard this ghazal some years ago in the movie Maati Maange Khoon. Those were the times when I was introduced to Ghulam Ali’s singing. Then followed “Chupke chupke raat din”, Chamkte chaad ko” and the all time hit “Hungama kyo hai barpa”.   Here I am trying to interpret, “YeH Dil Ye Paagal Dil Mera”. This beautiful ghazal is written by Mohsin Naqvi. For the meaning of some typical Urdu words I referred to the Urdu to Marathi dictionary and the Rekhta website. Like Marathi, in Urdu the same word has many meanings. The meaning changes with the context. I have given meanings of some typical words towards the end of this blog.    This ghazal uses "Awargi" as an epiphora (Urdu - Radif) to express the tiredness of his loneliness and sorrow. (Epiphora is a figure of speech where a word is used at the end of every clause). Infact this ghazal is full of various figures of speech and therein lies its beauty. Here is the song   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BitMSJTZ...

I had been thinking about this for a very long time. Things have changed so rapidly and my generation has been most fortunate (or tired) being a part of it. Changes are good only if you are under twenty five. After that the ability to accept as well as understand changes takes lot of effort …. And I have begun to notice it becomes an irritation later on! As a kid we were exposed to the first telephones in India. The boring black colored heavy piece of plastic with the rotary dial was at that time the most sought after thing. It was manufactured by ITI (government owned company) and we had a waiting list for it. One could register a phone number in few months but getting the instrument would take even longer. We also had the unforgettable experience of being able to speak to a person in another city using a Trunk call. Kids today would find it amusing that we actually had to dial the operator and put in a request to her for a trunk call. Incase of emergencies it used to be a lightni...

Some observations while driving in Pune Pune has grown a lot in the past five years. The increase in population as well as disposable income of the populace, the profile of its citizens and the average age of drivers has changed. The boom in IT followed by manufacturing has put a lot of money in peoples pockets. This also added to the floating population. These are people who enter the city because they get a job here. They leave the city when they change jobs and move on to another city. With so many colleges and It companies the average age of the Puneite would be around 25. After driving for so many years in Pune I have made some amusing observations: Be wary of special number plates - Vehicles having registration numbers like 555, 777, 999, 1234 or those with single digits are often driven by people who are of a different psychology. The ones that have a Marathi meaning such as 7171 (calligraphed to resemble Nana नाना ) or 5151 (written to resemble Dada दादा ) or 9113 ( भाऊ ), 4912...

I was trying to decipher of this beautiful song Zihaal-e-Miskin from the film Ghulami (music Laxmikant-Pyarelal, lyrics Gulzar) when I discovered the original one by Amir Khusro. The lyrics are available at Ektaara music Here is the song as adapted by Gulzar with his own antara’s – ज़िहाल – To notice or look upon मिस्कीं – Poor ( Metaphorically) or लाचार मकूं – Not or Do not ब रंजिश – With ill will or hatred(?) बहाल-ए-हिज्र – Fresh from seperation (Do not look upon my poor heart with enmity The wounds of separation are still fresh) ज़िहाल-ए-मिस्कीं मकूं बा रंजिश बेहाल-ए-हिज्र बेचारा दिल है सुनाई देती है जिसकी धडकन तुम्हारा दिल या हमारा दिल है वो आके पेहलू में ऐसे बैठे के शाम रंगीन हो गयी है ज़रा ज़रा सी खिली तबियत ज़रा सी गमघीन हो गयी है कभी कभी शाम ऐसे ढलती है जैसे घुंघट उतर रहा है तुम्हारे सीने से उठता धूआं हमारे दिल से गुज़र रहा है यह शर्म है या हया है क्या है नज़र उठाते ही झुक गयी है तुम्हारी पल्कों से गिर के शबनम हमारी अख...

Khilte Hain Gul Yahan Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana Phoolon Ka Taaron Ka Yeh Jo Muhobbat Hai Rafta Rafta Dekho Aankh Meri Ladi Hai Zindagi Ka Safar Kishor Kumar Welcomes Roop Tera Mastana Kuchch To Log Kahenge Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara

Pancham videos The making of Dun Maro Dum R D Burman and Boy George R D Burman Live - Playing Harmonica Amit Kumar sings 'Kuch to Log Kahenge' in R.D.Burman live show Amit Kumar sings 'Roop Tera Mastana' in R.D.Burman live show Amit Kumar sings 'Main hoon jhumroo' in R.D.Burman live show R.D.Burman sings Mehbooba Live in Dubai R.D.Burman Live 1976 - Performing Mehbooba Mehbooba R.D.Burman listens to 'Sun mere bandhure' R.D.Burman live in 1976 - Performing Ek Main Aur Ek Tu R.D.Burman & Asha Bhosle live - Sapna Mera Toot Gaya (From the Doordarshan programme Yeh hai Asha) R.D.Burman Live 1976 - Performing Sholay Theme RD Burman Live at THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL 9. MEHBOOBA MEHBOOBA R D BURMAN SPEAKS ABOUT ASHA BHONSLE Colleagues Speak about RD Burman Asha speaks of the making of Koi Diya Jale Kahi (Dil Padosi Hai), Mehbooba (Sholay) Javed Akhtar speaks on the making of Saagar Kinare (Saagar) Bhupinder Singh on the making of Chura Liya Hai (Yaadon Ki Baarat...

Got this beautiful story in an email today. There was a farmer who grew superior quality and award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won honor and prizes. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learnt something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors’'. "How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?" the reporter asked. "Why sir, "said the farmer, "didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior, sub-standard and poor quality corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn." The farmer gave a superb insight into the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his ne...

The verdict in the Ayodhya case was pro-India. While the judiciary took a very balanced view about sentiments and faith on the day of Ayodhya verdict, we the citizens of free India once again proved that we are indisciplined. What were so many lawyers doing on the stage? Why were they showing the “V” for victory signs when the government had issued directives against any such show. Are lawyers above the law? It was pathetic to see those on the stage speaking on cell phones while making every attempt to ensure that they were within the camera’s frame. The best process would have been if the media would have been instructed to be seated in the Media Room. Two lawyers should have been designated by the government to convey the verdict. There should have been a gap of an hour between passing of the actual verdict and conveying the same to the media. This time could have been used for getting printed copies for the press. The two lawyers should have entered the hall only after the media...

Process for getting Domicile certificate in Pune Disclaimer - I am only sharing my experiences. I am not competent to advise on this topic. (I would prefer to treat this blog as unfinished till we get the domicile certificate!) Last week Akshay’s school informed us that a domicile certificate is mandatory for getting admission to the 11 th class. They gave a yellow blank document that was the application form. Here is the process: Get the yellow form from school or from the Citizen’s Service Cell at godowns behind the Shivajinagar Court’s. Go to the school and get a token in your child name. (Why can’t this token be distributed in the school alongwith the form?) This token is in the form of a paper with the child’s name and the school seal. Some schools directly put their seal on the yellow form. But I would prefer the token system. That way even if you make a mistake while filling the form you can always change the form and fill it up yet again. You cannot afford to ma...

Never Argue with a Woman One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book. Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, `Good morning, Ma`am. What are you doing?` `Reading a book,` she replies, (thinking, `Isn`t that obvious?`) `You`re in a Restricted Fishing Area,` he informs her `I`m sorry, officer, but I`m not fishing. I`m reading` `Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I`ll have to take you in and write you up.` `For reading a book,` she replies, `You`re in a Restricted Fishing Area,` he informs her again, `I`m sorry, officer, but I`m not fishing. I`m reading` `Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I`ll have to take you in and write you up.` `If you do that, I`ll have to charge you w...

गणपती आरती I had been singing this aarti since childhood but I never bothered to find out what it meant! Now maybe the shades of grey behind the ears compelled me to find out what it meant. Here is an interpretation of what I have learnt from others about this aarti. I am open for suggestions or corrections. I tried to use the right Marathi letters but could not find the exact matches for a few. In that context there may be some spelling mistakes. गणपती आरती – समर्थ रामदास स्वामी सुखकर्ता दु:खहर्ता वार्ता विघ्नाची (श्री गणेशा तू सुखाचा कर्ता आणि द:खाचे हरण करणारा आहेस वार्ता विघ्नाची नुरवी = विघ्नाची वार्ता शिल्लक ठेवित नाही) नुरवी पुरवी प्रेम क्रुपा जयाची (त्याची क्रुपा फक्त प्रेमच पुरवते) सर्वांगी सुंदर उटी शेंदुराची (ज्याच्या सर्वांगावर शेंदुरची उटी [उटणं?] आहे) कंठी झळके माळ मुक्ताफळांची (ज्याच्या गळ्यात मोत्यांची माळ झळकते आहे) जयदेव जयदेव जय मंगलमूर्ती दर्शनमात्रें मन:कामना पूर्ती (ज्याच्या मात्र (फक्त) दर्शनाने मनोकामना पूर्ण होते) जयदेव जयदेव ...

Once upon a time, there lived a King who, despite his luxurious lifestyle, was neither happy nor content. One day, the King came upon a servant who was singing happily while he worked. This fascinated the King; why was he, the Supreme Ruler of the Land, unhappy and gloomy, while a lowly servant had so much joy. The King asked the servant, 'Why are you so happy?'' The man replied, 'Your Majesty, I am nothing but a servant. But my family and I don't need too much - just a roof over our heads and warm food to fill our tummies.' The king was not satisfied with that reply. Later in the day, he sought the advice of his most trusted advisor. After hearing the King's woes and the servant's story, the advisor said, 'Your Majesty, I believe that the servant has not been made part of The 99 Club.'' The 99 Club? And what exactly is that?' the King inquired. The advisor replied, 'Your Majesty, to truly know what The 99 Club is, place 99 Gold coin...

It was about 9.30 in the evening when I drove out of the office parking lot. The rains that had tormented for the past hour had just tired itself to a drizzle and this had caused a huge influx of traffic on the roads. Cursing under my breath, I too joined the traffic jam. As luck would have it I got caught on the left lane of the road while I had to take a right turn at the next traffic. This meant I would have to cross over 3 lanes of traffic while going from left to right. I was going to annoy a lot of other drivers. I tried to be patient waiting for the traffic to inch forward when I heard a tap on my co-driver side window. Through the fog that gathered on the window I could make out the figure of a woman. I rolled down the window and looked inquiringly at her. She had an oversize coat over her and most part of the face was covered … probably to protect from the rain. She told me that her car battery had died and that she had left it in her office parking. It was impossible to...