50. Fond Memories

Thousand Moon:  Shrimati Sudhatai Shrikhande

Contributed by: Dr. R. Boradkar

Shrimati Sudhatai Shrikhande [sudhamavshi to us] is 87 years and is fit as a fiddle. She lives in Pune and spends her time with her son and daughters .Her amiable personality has made her dear to all who know her.

Though a cent per cent from Pune [Punekar] now ,she vividly remembers Bhandara a small town near Nagpur where her father had a flourishing legal practice .She also has fond memories of the house [ Wada] and the time she spent with her sisters and a brother, but the way she remembers her mother is unique. All mothers are special but if we put it in the Orwellian logic some are more special and it is definitely so with her mother.

The anecdotes she narrates about her mother tell us about her courage and quick-wit but above everything else they show us the Humane side of her personality. To be Humane is to be human... but it is something that is generally forgotten.

Here are some brief anecdotes and each one shows a facet in her personality that is something more than ordinary.

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Once my mother was going to Bhandara. On way she wanted  to spend a couple of days with one of  her relatives in Wardha, So she got down at Wardha station. To her surprise police stopped her from proceeding to the town as there was rioting and it was unsafe.[it was a day or two after mahatma Gandhi’s assassination] She did not know what to do .It just occurred to her then  that the collector of Wardha one Shri Wazalwar was a close friend of Palsules, her family .She approached the police and requested them to convey a message to Shri Wazalwar that his aunt was trapped on the station and so would like to see him.The message was conveyed and the collector personally came to the station and saw to it that she was taken safely to her relative Advocate Bapat.

The second incident occurred when my mother was visiting my sister  in Jamshedpur .Pundit Nehru was then on a visit to Jamshedpur. She wanted to see Pundit Nehru so she went and saw him. He used to travel in an open car and it was easy for her to see. On way back she stopped at a temple where she met a south Indian woman.

The woman who had four kids wanted to see Pt Nehru but couldn't because of the kids. When my mother knew the problem she promised the  south Indian lady that she would look after her kids. She gave her the address and asked her to bring the kids to her daughter’s house. As promised she looked after the kids for an hour or two so the south Indian lady could see Pt, Nehru.

Back to Bhandara now.... We had a neighbor one Mrs Sindhutai Patki  who  was a sort of social out caste because of her marriage to an already married man and that was taboo. But my mother  never considered it so and treated Mrs Patki with compassion .When Mrs Patki was expecting she even performed a Dohale Jevan ceremony for her , knowing that no body else would do it and that too  with an enthusiasm as if Mrs. Patki was her own kith and kin.

Lastly we come to our cook one shrimati Gangubai. Once Gangubai  was not well and there was nobody to look after her.When my mother  knew, she brought her home and looked after her till she got well .It took  nearly eight days for her to get well and then she was sent back to her home .Gangubai grew old in course of time  ,could not work and became penniless. When it was known my mother  started sending two square meals to her hut. Once she got a message from Gangubai that she felt like eating Puranpoli. Diwali was approaching but some how my mother sensed something and without waiting she prepared Puranpoli and sent it to Gangubai’s hut .It was like fulfilling the last wish as Gangubai died in a couple of days afterwards. 

Coming to happy memories of her own, she feels, the happiest day in her life was the day when India achieved freedom from the British., She was in Amravati, studying for Dip.T[Diploma in Teaching] in S.T.C. college. There were about 40-45 girls from all castes and communities. All was well. She remembers that there were five muslim girls who used to wear 9 yard saris for the sake of fun.

On 14th midnight at 12 past 1 India was to be free. The sense of freedom prevailed everywhere. One could feel the joy .that pervaded the atmosphere.. The college had arranged a Flag hoisting ceremony at midnight to celebrate the occasion. The college and the place where the flag of free India was to be hoisted was decorated. A map of free India was drawn on the ground and was decorated with lamps[Panatis].Flowers were placed on the flag and then it was  folded in such a way, that when unfurled ,a shower of flowers [pushpavrushti] would occur  and bathe  the ground. The collector’s wife was to hoist and unfurl the flag. The girls started gathering right from 11-30 pm. The hoisting was to be done at twelve past one. As the mid night hour approached, the anxiety reached its peak. Exactly one minute after twelve midnight the flag was hoisted, unfurled and the moment was carved in history with Golden letters .One could then understand what it is to be overwhelmed [oor bharun yene].

The girls hugged each other, sweets were distributed and they danced the whole night.

It was joy everywhere and it knew no bounds .The fifteenth of August nineteen forty seven  was truly a day of unforgettable joy and happiness.

Time halts for no one; The morning of 30^th January 1948 was like any other morning in the capital city of India, new Delhi. But the evening was pregnant with murder .At ten minutes past five in the evening, the voice that had ruled India and also hailed as the voice of peace in the world was silenced by three bullets. The news was stunning .It left every one shocked all over the world.

After the initial silence there was storm, mainly in Maharashtra there were Riots and arson.

Is it that gloom follows joy and happiness always or is it a human predicament?

Shrimati Sudhatai Shrikhande  Navi Peth Pune

  

49. Her father presented her a buffalo

Thousand Moon: Shrimati Mandakini Dharmchand Gandhi

Contributed by: Dr. R. Boradkar

Shrimati Mandakini Dharmchand Gandhi is 82 years old. Born in Chicholi Taluka Khed District Ratnagiri. Her father was a grocer and a farmer..

She spent her child hood in Khavati a town on Mumbai Goa highway. The town had water shortage and she remembers that she used to get up at mid night to fetch water from the well.

She was married to Shri Gandhi when she was seventeen, and came to Mahad. Her Husband was a clerk in the court. Her father presented her a buffalo. It was brought by two servants through Kashedi Ghat . They had to walk all the way. She has a large family of five sons thirteen grandsons and twenty two great grandsons.,

She remembers the satyagraha spearheaded by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar for water . The tank was known as Chavdar Tale.[Tasty Lake] Now it is a famous place.

The second event she remembers is the death of Martyr Kamlakar Deshpande.  This young man was a victim of British bullets. He had an old mother and her grief must have been heartbreaking. Whenever she recollects the incident she feels very sorry for Deshpande’s mother

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Mahad witnessed an epidemic of plague in 1940-42. They shifted to a place called Dadli and stayed in small huts.

 She now stays with her daughter in Pune. She is fit enough to look after herself.

She enjoys reading news papers, religious books and watching serials on T,V.

After all what else is happiness?

48. I have pots full of honey at home...

Contributed by: Dr. R. Boradkar

 Shrimati  Kamalini  Kamlakar Natu is 85 years old and enjoys good health. She thanks God for that and also gives credit to Vai’s  pollution free atmosphere, where she spent her childhood and the waters of river Krishna.

A religious ceremony called ‘Roupri shaant’ was performed by her son when she had completed her 85 years.

She is also very thankful to her mother for having told her the stories from Ramayan and Mahabharat  and also for inculcating good Sanskars in her.

As a girl she used to be a member of Rashtra Sevika samiti  and there she learnt Kabaddi[Hututu] Atyapatya Lezim and the art of self Defence. Her name appeared in Papers when she passed her Vernacular Final and for her it was a moment of great joy. Her brother who was stationed in Mumbai used to bring Ribbons and hairpins for them, whenever he visited , and they used to be overjoyed with the presents.

After her marriage to Shri Natu she came to pune. She says she learnt a lot from her husband’s sister Shrimati Bakul Devkule. Shri Natu was in Railways and was then transferred to Dound near Pune. While in Dound  she got a Daughter and that was an extremely happy moment for her. But soon Mr Natu resigned from railways and joined S.T. So she was in Pune again and had a son. In spite of the fact that she had to look after two kids she prepared and appeared for the S.S,C. examination and passed it. This was after a gap of twelve years.  She also learnt First Aid.

Now that she was comparatively free she and her neighbour worked for the Jansangh. She worked as polling agent also during the wars with Pakistan in 65 and 71[Bangladesh] she donated blood and motivated others to do so. Her whole family participated in the blood donation campaign.

She joined uddyan Karyalay and there she learnt Pourohitya [Performing Pooja] and also Shri Sukta and Atharvashirsha and started teaching others.

After retirement of Shri Natu they shifted to Talegaon. She became a member of Chinmay group and started a Devi Study group. She studied Dnaneshvary and dasbodh. She appeared for three Sajjangadh examinations and cleared them with flying colours and willingly provided guidance to others.

She has travelled quite a lot with her husband.

Shri Natu passed away in 2006. The members of the housing society where she was staying helped her to get over the grief. Of course her family was by her side throughout. Her grandsons and great great-grandsons are a great solace to her.

Hers is a story of contentment and happiness  at its best and therefore she quotes Poet Tambe’s song’ Madhu Magasi’ with some changes.

She says:

Madhu magasi mazya sakhya Hari,  madhu ghatachi bharale mazya ghari,

Dhalala re din dhalala sakhaya Sandhya chhaya rizavati majala[hrudaya?]

Aata Prabhuche darshan ghyaya  Aaturale mi kiti antari.

Translation:

Oh dear friend Krishna, you ask me for nectar of life, I have pots full of homey it at home,

The is drawing to a close, the long evening shadows are interesting and amusing

And now I long to meet you.

Shrimati Kamalini Kamalakar Natu

Kothrud, Pune.

47. My grandsons add meaning to my life

Contributed by: Dr. R. Boradkar

Shrimati Gangubai Motiram sheth is 87 years old. She belongs to Gujrati Vaishnav Dashanema community also known as Pushtimargi Vaishnavas. People belonging to this community are supposed to have come to Maharashtra with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. About 500 years back after the raid on Surat.

She is a through and through Punekar born and brought up in Pune and was educated up to third or fourth standard in Pune Mahnagar Palika school no 1.

 She lives in a Wada in Shukrawar Peth . This Wada was purchased by them 60  years back and says that Pune was a sort of village then..There was no Bajirao road, couldn’t visit Bhikardas Maruti after five in the evening and Parvati was too far. and .going to Vthoba of Vitthalvadi was scaring.

 As was customary then she was married to Shri Motiram Bhaichand Sheth at a tender age of  thirteen. She has a large family of four sons two  Daughters  fifteen grandsons and ten grand grandsons.

Her husband was a grocer and was very social and liked socializing .

 Lets see now how she spends her time and what she likes and enjoys .

This is what she has to say and these are her words.

I like reading religious texts[ Pothis][  and I go to a Bhajani Mandal. In the month of Ashwin I go for a Kakadarati in Gopalkrishna Mandir in Bhau Maharaj Bol.

I enjoy preparing food and feeding people. So I try new recipes and serve them to guests and it gives me a great pleasure. We do prepare gujrati food and wear Gujrati apparel. But we speak Marathi.

I am a devotee of Gondvalekar Maharaj   and follow his teachings

My happiest moments are when I am with my grandgrandsons.

They add meaning to my life.

46. I got my first grandchild on my birthday!

Thousand Moon: Tai Dandekar (90+)

Contributed By: Sharad Dandekar

Tai Dandekar is in her 90s. Lives with her sons and is living a full and contented life. She has a book of knitting patterns that  she had put together to help the ladies who came from India to visit their children and who had a lot of time on their hands and wanted to keep themselves busy. This book helped many to stay occupied in a creative way. Here is Tai’s experience in her own words.

I have been blessed with many happy occasions in my life. First and foremost was when I got married to the very first “Sthala” (a prospective matrimonial alliance) that my parents explored. There were many such incidents but the most joyous one was when we got our first grandchild.

                When my son Arun got married and our first daughter-in-law came home the entire household was brimming with joy. She was a good natured girl and she fulfilled the lack of a daughter in our family. She was a daughter to us and a sister to my other sons. The news of her pregnancy filled our days with pleasant anticipation of the arrival of our first grandchild. All our time was now being spent doting on our beloved daughter-in-law. We would hold traditional celebrations like “dohale-jevan,’ go out on walks with her, keep her happy and entertained by narrating interesting stories and anecdotes.

                Although her due date was July 19^th, my husband would always tell her that she would deliver on my birthday, 17^th July. On the 16^th night she started having labor pains. When I was taking her to the hospital my son Sharad asked me to inform him right away if the baby was a girl. I asked him what he would do on arrival of a girl, and he said,”I will get a Band to play music to mark the occasion…but I am sure that it will be a boy…” This was all because there was no girl in the family. In the morning my son Arun checked on his wife at the hospital but learning that it would be a while before he was needed, went to work. But soon after at 7:30 AM my daughter-in-law delivered a healthy baby boy. Just as my husband had predicted I got my first grandchild on my birthday!

                I was so happy I did not know what to do; I went on the balcony of the hospital to see if I could catch my husband on his way to work. He would take the same path every day going to work on his bicycle. I spotted him as expected. I clapped, called, waved my hands to get his attention but he did not hear or see me.

                I stayed at the hospital till everything was settled with the mother and the baby and then I went home. I called Arun and my husband from my neighbor’s home as they had a phone but could not reach either one of them. Hearing my excitement Tare Uncle from next door came and enquired about all the commotion. I offered some sugar as “naivedya” (an offering of food, usually sweets, presented to a deity or idol) and gave some to the Tares. Now as I was able to contain my joy to some extent. I rested a little and got back to the hospital after getting ready. The nurse said, “Where was grandma? We have to give the baby his first taste of honey…” As Uday was licking his first honey Arun and my husband came to the hospital and then I felt a little better. I had never been so excited in my life before. I experienced firsthand, how it feels when you are unable to contain your joy.

Tai Dandekar
3/9/2012
Translated by: Rohini

45. My brother gave me a brand new rupee coin

Thousand Moon: Shrimati Usha Bapat is 84 years old
Contributed By: Dr. R. Boradkar

Shrimati Bapat leads an active life.  In her younger days she was a member of  Rashtra Sevika Samiti.

At 84 she is the Secretary of Jyeshth Mahila Nagrik Sangh. She is a member of a Bhajni Mandal. She has good health  and is happy and content.

After marriage she spent some time in Pathankot.and had a home there. She has three Daughters and a son. All are well settled .She has eight grand sons and an equal number greatgrand sons .When all of them get together she feels like being in Gokul (a place where lord Krishna grew up).

She feels there should be Joy here Joy there Joy every where.[Anandi Anand] but realizes it can’t be so and looks on life as a “Package deal” with Joys and Sorrows. There are small moments of joy in every ones life and one must enjoy them fully. She tells us.

According to her the joy of being a mother was supreme.

Another moment of happiness in her life and in her own words.

It was Diwali. I must have been six or seven years old. I was playing in the court yard when I heard my mother calling I went in. My brother was there. All preparations were made for Ovalane (a ceremony where a sister honors her brother and the brother gives a a present as a token of his affection). It was a day of ‘Bhau Bij’ (Brother’s day).  Lamp was lighted and I performed the Ovalne ceremony. My brother gave me a brand new rupee coin as ovalni, I have not been able to forget the joy I had.

My sister gave me a Raja, Rani (king, queen) dolls as a present and we celebrated the marriage of the dolls . I was also presented with a Bhatukli Set (toy kitchen set). I still remember those play full days.

Many ask me as to how I am so happy and joyous at this age? I have a Poem for them:

Amhi krushnechya leki  2                               We are the daughters of Krishna 2

Mahabaleshwar nandini                                  Mahabaleshwars nandini

Janu Amrutwahini                                           As though carriers of Ambrosia

Aai amuchi Krushnabai                                   Our mother was Krishnabai

Amrut dhara pyalo Amhi 2                             We drank the nectar stream 2
Sardar Raste mothe dharmik                           Sardar Raste was very religious
Tyani bandhile sat ghat                                   He built seven stair wells on rivers
Aaichya utsavacha that                                    Where there is jubilations for the Godess
Tya ghatavar khelalo bagdalo amhi                 We played and frolicked there
Wai satyanath puri                                           Wai Satyanarayan Puri
Mandire subak sajiri                                        where the temples are beautiful
Janu dakshin Kashi khari                                as if it the south Varanasi
Ithe janmuni Dhanya jahalo amhi.                  we are blessed to be have born here.

44. "Ladies First", said the honourable minister and asked me to enter first.

Thousand Full Moon: Shrimati Kamal Vasant Bhave, She lives in Pune, India. 
Contributed By: Dr. R. Boradkar

The story of Shrimati Bhave is remarkable. She served in defence for 44 years, which is considered as an exclusively male domain.

This is what she has to say...

I retired as a gazetted officer from the Defence Department after serving for 44 years. Before my retirement, the department had organized an exhibition of spare parts for Tanks. The sub depot where I was working as a commanding officer had also participated in that exhibition. I was supposed to look after this particular section. The exhibition was managed and looked after by Army Officers who were males and I was the only female civilian officer there. The exhibition was inaugurated by the then Honourable Defence minister.

When he came to our section, I received him, giving him a bouquet of flowers. The senior officers were against this and were unwilling to permit initially, but then agreed to it and gave me to go head as I was to felicitate him.

After the inauguration, a party was arranged for the Honourable Minister, the invited guests and the army officers. As a woman, I was not allowed to attend. But my Army Officer colleagues fought on my behalf .They argued that I was an Officer [though a woman] and that I was working with them from the beginning and I should be allowed to attend the party. I was then granted permission to attend.

The officer’s mess was decorated for the party. There were two doors and they used to be opened exactly at the time of the party. According to protocol the chief guest was supposed to be the first to enter. The Honorable  Defense Minister was the chief guest and he was expected to enter but he didn’t .He looked around and said I see here a woman officer and lets follow the rule Ladies First and asked me to enter first.

This was an honor conferred on me and that too by the Hon. Defense Minister of India. This was the crowning Glory of my life and a treasure that I keep close to my heart.

Shrimati Kamal Vasant Bhave

43. He raised his hand and said “Be happy my son” ...

Thousand Moon: Shri Moreshwar Govind Bal

Contributed By: Dr. R. Boradkar

Shri  Moreshwar Govind Bal is 82 years old and is a staunch devotee of Shri Swami Samarth of Akkalkot.He writes about his spiritual experience and considers himself fortunate that he was the chosen one.

He makes it clear in the beginning that  his experience is not  a fantasy or his imagination. He is also very clear in his mind that it was  not a dream . . He emphatically states that he was not sleeping or day dreaming and was wide awake when it occurred. His elder sister  Shrimati Sharada Joshi who was with  him  bears a witness to what happened.

And now his experience in his own words.

“I opted for voluntary retirement form the bank where I was working in 1980..I used to spend my time reading Dnyaneshwari,  Dasbodh  and other religious books. I also attended the religious discourses and met sadhus and saints in Mumbai.. I was leading a happy life .I never had any craze for money so I had no problems. Life to me was enjoyable as it was.

It was some day in December 1983  and  I had been to Ghatkopar in Mumbai  to visit my elder sister. .We chatted for a while, had our lunch and then decided to rest for sometime. It must have been about 1:30 pm or so and there came a mendicant. He was standing in the court yard and asking for alms. He was chanting the names of gods and goddesses .  We,[ there were three of us] did not pay any attention to him and did not get up thinking he might get tired and go away. When the mendicant saw that no one was  was paying any attention he loudly uttered “Swami Akkalkotwale ” Hearing these words I instantly got up as these were the words hailing my Guru. The verandah  where we were resting had an  iron grill and a gate, so I went near the  gate. There out side the gate I saw a man with very bright eyes wearing a saffron gown, wooden slippers [Khadava] holding a trident in his hand. I was thrilled and did not know what to do. I steadily looked at him and feeling very joyous opened the gate. The mendicant said, ‘ I am hungry .Give me something to eat’ .I told the man that this was not my house and that I was a guest here.. My sister was watching us. In a city like Mumbai it’s not safe to let anyone in so she was just sitting and watching.

But the mendicant did not budge and said give me whatever you have got .I just had a coin in my pocket which I was going to give him when he said come out in the courtyard and then offer the coin. So I went out in the courtyard and gave him the coin .He smiled and then said “Do you want anything my son?” I said  “ No . I don’t want anything. I am happy and contented.” He raised his hand and said “Be happy my son” and turned to go .and went away. I was probably in a state of trance and came to my senses in a wink of an eye .I started looking for him but he was nowhere to be seen. He had vanished. My  sister inquired in the neighbourhood but no one had seen him. I was sorry I had not even bowed to him or paid obeisance..

This I consider the happiest moment of my life as I was the only one who had the ‘Darshan” of the Guru whom I revered .and that too in flesh and blood.”

Shri Bal  couldn’t have asked for  anything more as he had the divine grace .showered on him and that  was what he was striving for.

42. On this day I experienced the happiest jolt of my life...

This is absolute joy!!! I know Smt. Abhyankar from Delhi. We used to live 5 minutes from her. We called her Abhyankar Bai as she was my sister's English teacher. I have participated in programs written by her for the local Marathi Mandal. I cannot believe that the blog will now have her story. Thanks to Dr. Boradkar and all his efforts that I got to see and read about her happiest moment in life...

Thousand Moon: Shrimati Sushila  Abhyankar

Contributed by: Dr. R. Boradkar

We used to visit Abhyankars quite  often when they were in Pune. Advancing age and dwindling health compelled them to shift to Delhi where Pradeep , their son lives. Abhyankars belonged to Pune  and liked it with all its idiosyncrasies  but most probably their heart belonged to Delhi and they had nostalgic memories of their fairly long  stay in the Capital city of  India

Shrimati Sushila  Abhyankar lives in Delhi with her son Pradeep Abhyankar. She did her B.A.[Honours} from Ferguson College Pune and B.Ed. from Tilak  College Of Education  Pune.She served as a Teacher in Parle Tilak Vidyalaya Parle from 1945 to 1956.

After 1956 she shifted to Delhi .In Delhi she joined Minority School run by Maharashtrian Association as an Honorary faculty  member and worked for more than 20 years. With the help of her colleagues , she managed to take the school from pre primary level to the level of High School. She also worked as a Manager  in the school for 4 years. The school named Chougule Public School is an English Medium School and also has  facilities for teaching  Hindi and Marathi languages.

And now lets see what she has to say about her Happiest moment.

                         Here comes the moment of utmost Happiness.

                         [Kshan Ala Bhaggyacha]

“I am now 90 years old and at the fag end of my life, standing before God. If God  asks me which is the moment of utmost joy in your  life, I would unhesitatingly say Oh God it’s the 5^th February 2012.This day is the day of ecstasy for me .On this day I experienced  the happiest jolt in my life .Till the last moment I knew nothing. I only knew that on this day we were to celebrate the “ Dohal Jevan “ of my Grand Daughter in Law Sou. Neha Abhyankar  my grand sons wife .This was a joyous  occasion and I was participating  whole heartedly and with unparalleled  enthusiasm.

It was the morning of 5^th February. At about 11 a.m. I reached a big hall. The guests relatives and others had already gathered there. There  were men and women and everybody was greeting me. The morning was pleasantly cool. Soft music filled the atmosphere. .There was joy every where. I was ushered to a front seat where I sat. There were many people known to me and all were greeting me in a traditional way.

 There was a  decorated Swing right in front and my grand daughter in law, wearing a green sari[Shalu] was occupying it. My daughter in law Sou Vidya and Sou. Neha's mother were on their toes running here and there. Every one had gathered around the swing. Cameras were clicking. All were greeting Sou Neha. I too got up, went to Sou Neha, gave her some sweets and greeted her and wished her well. I then went back to my seat and sat there beholding what ever was happening.

It was then that I saw a huge big Balance on my left hand side. It was also decorated. I didn’t understand as to why a decorated balance was there  It had no business to be there in to days  function. I was just wondering and asking myself as to why it was there, but couldn’t find an answer.

It was then that my son Pradeep  came to me  took my hand   and  started taking  me towards the balance. Like a puppet I went with him and reached the balance. There was my son Pradeep and his wife Vidya on one side and my daughter Sou Padmini Joshi and her husband Shri Vijay Joshi  on the other side . . All my four grandsons were there  and all were smiling. Pradeep then told the gathering “ My mother has completed 90 years and we have gathered here to felicitate her on this occasion.” Every body clapped and expressed their joy. Gently I was made to sit in one pan and was garlanded with a garland of currency notes and flowers .I was so overwhelmed that I just couldn’t speak. It was as if I was in a trance. In the other pan they were putting Panchamrut. I then realized that they were having a celebration of PANCHAMRUTI  TULA  for me. In the meanwhile someone spoke on the subject MOTHER  and some poems were recited. The celebration[Sohala}  lasted for about fifteen to twenty minutes. I was then gently  led back to my chair. I distributed sugar and honey to the women who were there and the celebration was over. All my relatives including those from Pune  gathered round me. I  had lots of questions to ask but then I was profoundly  happy  and these two celebrations had filled my mind  with contentment so much that I totally lost my appetite

The guests were enjoying the food. Heartily. I was still being showered with  greetings, good wishes and presents , rather a bounty of them. The Twin functions were happily over. The guests dispersed and we were left to ourselves, the family members only. Again there was chatting ,while partaking food and a good bit of a very happy laughter. We  returned home in a state of gay abandon.

I was still pestered by the question How did this happen? Who did it ? and the answers were not  forthcoming.

 But I soon got a clarification. The idea was mooted by my grandchildren  Samir and Amit Abhyankar. And the plan was deftly  executed by my son Pradeep and his wife Sou Vidya. Good I didn’t know. Ignorance is bliss it is said.

In retrospect I realize that I have mixed feelings .Its difficult to think objectively ,and find out what was gained and what was lost in life. I am an ordinary woman and I lay no claims to any greatness in life. For me this function  was unforgettable.

I take no credit for this but feel that the credit goes to the elderly people who brought me up with grace , care , love and a proper culture and also to those who taught me  and wished me well. My strength lies in this belief of mine. We have to learn to pick up happiness and discard misery.

This felicitation is really felicitating the elders and the two generations next to my own  have participated joyfully  in it is something  really great, as I feel it, and I consider myself fortunate for that.

I wish all of them  a very bright future  and pray that they fare well in their life.

All  the best and for all the time to come , for all of them.

Shrimati  Sushila  Abhyankar

New Delhi

.

41. Almost 98 years old... and always lending a helping hand

Contributed by Dr. Raghunath Boradkar

Mr Mohorikar is 97years and 10 months old. At this age he has an excellent memory  and recalls the events in his life with a crystal clear clarity.

He appears to have had  an inherent flair for social work  and seems to have taken  it as a mission at an early age. He has been richly awarded for the same.

 Mr Mohorikar belongs to Thane and shifted to Pune sometime after  1995.

Mr Kamlakar Rajaram Mohorikar stays Kothrud Pune 38.He does not have any major illness and maintains good health. The following is an  account of his life and work.

He passed Matriculation in 1935 and joined Thane Municipal office. Typhoid and influenza epidemics were common then. So he organized a group that gave primary medical aid to the needy.

In 1937 he joined Bombay Small Cause court. Soon he joined the Union and and started a sports Club having facilities for playing Table Tennis and Badminton.

He was disturbed by the fact that workers took loans  from

Marwaris and Pathans. So he started  Diwali and X Mus funds  a sort of Co Operative venture and freed the workers from their clutches .

In 1941 he joined a small organization distributing free books to needy students. The organization grew under him and he became the secretary . Later he started a full fledged library and also a medical centre for giving specialist aid at a subsidized cost.

He then started a Wadhuvar suchan Mandal (a matrimonial service) and organized a gathering of eligible candidates.

He then helped in building a Old Age Home[vruddhashram] in Talegaon. Former Railway minister Shri Madhu Dandvate and Shri Datta Tamhane were present at the inauguration ceremony.

In 1965 he shifted from Dadar to Vileparle.

There he became a member of Chandraseniya Kayasth Prabhu  sanajonnati Mandal.

In 1973 he retired as an Asst. Registrar.

The CKP Mandals bulding was incomplete due to lack of funds. When his help was sought he he organized Drammas and cultural programmes to raise funds and saw to it that it was completed.

His 75^th Birthday was celebrated in Vileparle by the Mandal and was given a Manapatra ( a certificate of recognition) in 1990.

In all he has received four Manpatras.

In 1995 he relinquished the charge of all the posts he held namely President All India CKP organization President Dadar CKP organization and Trustee Vileparle organization. And came to Pune as a permanent resident.

In Pune he joined the Anandnagar Senior Citizens Club . He also joined A S C O P.

He  got a certificate for good health..

He participated in a running race for people over 8o and came first!

For this he was felicitated and was given a Maruti Idol.

ASCOP felicitated him for his social work.

With this he reached the pinnacle of glory.

           

40. ...And I ask myself is this the freedom that we all fought for?

Contributed By: Dr. R. Boradkar

Mangala Govind Vartak lives in Pune. She spent her child hood in Wardha very near Mahatma Gandhi’s very famous Seva gram she is running 82. She has fond memories of Wardha and she vividly remembers the 1942 ‘CHALE JAV’ movement and Mahatma Gandhi’s call ‘Karo ya Maro’

Getting swept by the fervour of the freedom movement was by far the most   glorious moment of her life. Here is how she remembers it.

In August 1942 Mahatma Gandhi asked the British to QUIT INDIA and called on the Indians to DO OR DIE. I was studying in the 6^th standard then and was not mature enough to understand the intricacies of politics. My father, uncles and brothers used to discuss about the political situation in India and I used to be a passive listener. But I could understand that the country was passing through turmoil and there were difficult days ahead. Sevagram of Gandhiji and Pavnar of Vinobaji were very close to Wardha. There was maximum political activity in these two places and news used to reach Wardha in no time. Wardha was therefore experiencing a LULL BEFORE THE STORM.

And, one day we heard that the final call for the fight was given, the British were asked to leave forthwith and the Indians were asked to fight to the end. There was excitement every where and I too was moved by this intense passion. Schools and colleges   were closed. All activity was supposed to come to a standstill. Passive resistance was resorted to. .It was a real SATYAGRAHA.

Morning and evening processions called ‘Prabhat Feris’ and ‘Sayam Feris’ were organised though they were banned .Even as children we were fired up by the national spirit and we started participating in the Prabhat feris with the Tricolour in our hands.

On one occasion our Prabhat Feri was to terminate in the Nehru Chowk. The information had reached the police somehow and they were ready for us. We were unaware and reached Nehru Chowk with the Tricolour in hand, singing patriotic songs. The police were ready with their batons ready to pounce on us. Our Prabhat Feri leader was one Yashomati Huddar. She bravely tried to break the police cordon shouting a slogan ’Ladhenge ladhenge Karkehi Dikhayenge’. We also tried to do the same thing but the police resorted to Lathi Charge and started beating everybody. Yashomati was beaten severely. Someone took the flag from her hand and charged forwards and then someone else took it and in a sort of a relay race the flag was taken to the Nehru Chowk. Yashomati congratulated them and then fell down. She was badly injured but remained undaunted .I narrowly escaped being severely beaten. But I was hit on the back and on the legs. We did not mind the beating. We were fighting for our nation and our hearts were filled with pride.

I feel sorry that I don’t see that spirit of sacrifice these days. Only money seems to matter. And I ask myself is this the freedom that we all fought for?     

Mangala Vartak

39. I have never known ecstasy...maybe this was some thing very close to it

 Thousand Moon: Dr. Raghunath Boradkar, Kothrud, Pune. 81+

Contributed by: Rohini

I met Dr. Boradkar for the first time when he recited one of his poems at a cultural program arranged by Phoenix Metro Marathi Mandal, AZ. He was visiting his son at the time. During one of our subsequent meetings I learnt to my delight that Dr. Boradkar was a good friend of my maternal uncle since they both lived in Jamnagar, Gujarath. Apart from being a physician and a poet he has many other interests and keeps up with the world via his computer that he says he is addicted to. Dr. Boradkar has contributed several interviews to this blog. He recently became a 'sahasrachandra darshi' witnessing a thousand moons and has shared one of his happiest moments here upon my request. Here is the account in his own words.

Our first visit to the US was in 1996. Our son Prasad had found a job at ITT Technical Institute in San Bernardino, California to start a new program in Product Design. During this visit, time flew by rapidly and we found ourselves back in India in no time.

In 2000, he moved to Phoenix and joined Arizona State University (ASU). I faintly remember he had asked me if leaving ITT and joining ASU was proper and I had opined in favor. I had then felt that ASU would positively open more doors for him.

In 2003 we met Prasad again in Bhutan where my daughter was working at that time. He seemed to be enjoying his work and the academic atmosphere. When asked he said, “teaching seems to be in my blood.” Finding work that one enjoys is the best thing that can happen in anyone’s life, and I envied him for that.

In 2005 we visited Phoenix. By then, I had retired and we were in no hurry to go back to India. Prasad had just signed a contract to write a book for Berg, a publishing house based in Oxford, England. His friend Paul Rothstein who had unexpectedly died the day after he received the contract had called it “a big deal”. I felt it was a tall order. And it tickled me somewhere.

Soon it was time to leave the US, and we were back in India. And at this stage, it was still a very small idea in his head. What I did not know was that it could grow into an obsession in mine. It did not appear very rational. It was his book, not mine, and clearly I should have no reason to be bothered about it. In spite of all logic, however, the idea of the book first became a concern and then an obsession for me—a magnificent one.

Sometime back I had acquired a computer and I used to regularly fiddle with it. Soon I became acquainted with it and eventually got addicted to it. It was something good that happened to me. I was now able to send emails and ask numerous questions about the progress of the book.

In 2008 we visited Phoenix again. This visit turned out to be an eye opener for me as far as the book was concerned. I could see that barring the hours spent in the university, he spent most of his time on the computer working on the book. I could also sense the tension that was building inside him as the deadline for submission of the manuscript was nearing. There was hardly anything that we could do except looking after his home. Though I had realized that there was no point in pushing, I somehow did not stop goading him to finish and submit the manuscript on time rather than asking for extensions.

We were relieved when on the due date he told us that it was all done and it was just to be submitted. I can recollect that it was late in the evening when he sent off the manuscript, and we happily went out to celebrate the event.  Prasad’s editor at Berg, Mr. Tristan Palmer wrote the next day or day after. He had read the first chapter and had said that he was bowled over—something we had not really expected. It was a comforting compliment.

Months rolled on and it was time to head back home. There was nothing to be done now other than wait for the book to appear in print. What began was an endless flow of time that never seemed to end.

This time I came back to India with a laptop added to my already extra luggage: a very likable addition indeed. And in a few days after returning home, I was used to the laptop. On Amazon.com, I could see the date of publication and a picture of the book cover. The book was being reviewed and some changes here and there must have been suggested and implemented. Though I understood that the process was time‐consuming and we had no control over it, my mind was somehow was not ready to accept the fact. But wait I had to, and so I ultimately tried the only panacea available and that was to LET GO.

Fortunately (or otherwise), time passes in spite of you. Finally the day arrived when Prasad informed me about the publishing of the book. It was the 6th June 2010, and it felt like we had been waiting for a baby to be born. This birth of a book was a great event in my life and the one that I had not imagined till it started. And although it was not an achievement of mine it still made me immensely happy. I had asked Prasad to send me a copy and he promptly did so. When I got the book in my hand, I went on looking at it, handled it gently, and felt like a child who gets a new toy.

Feelings often fall short of the words we use to describe them. Though feelings of joy, ecstasy or happiness might be difficult to describe, they are real sensations. However, the intensity with which one feels is a very personal affair. I was happy, and became more so when the book got an award from Prasad’s university as the best book in 2010 on transdisciplinary humanities.

I have never known ecstasy. Maybe this was a similar feeling or something very close to it.

Dr. Raghunath Boradkar

38. Face To Face With a Tiger

Thousand Moon: Nana Sovani

Date: February, 2012

Contributed by: Bapu Kelkar

Nana Sovani lives in Someshwar near Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India. My father Bapu, a Thousand Moon himself, comes from the same village and spoke with Nana Sovani during his last visit to Someshwar. The account was narrated to me and I have tried to capture it in words.

Nana Sovani now retired for many years, was a teacher by profession. He would get posted in villages close to Devrukh, a town in the Ratnagiri District. He would get paid every two months when he would go to Devrukh on foot and collect his paycheck. On one such trip during a late summer afternoon, Nana was walking on a deserted road towards Devrukh when to his shock and horror he came face to face with a tiger, a real live tiger! He was petrified for a moment and then the fight-or-flight instinct took over and Nana turned around and ran for his dear life and did not look back till he reached home. Although he was devoid of any energy and was thoroughly exhausted yet was overjoyed and overcome with relief for being alive and well.  Nana remembers the incidence vividly even today!