One
does not have to be too arrogant about his/her own culture not to learn
something from other cultures which can make him/her a better human
being. Old is gold, but not always. Even a flower loses its fragrance
with time.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
મારી વાઈફ
મારી વાઈફ બહુજ હેલ્થ કોન્સીયસ છે
પરણ્યો ત્યારે પંચ્યાસી પાઉન્ડની હતી
અત્યારે એકસો ને પંચ્યાસી પાઉન્ડની છે
તો...ય કોન્સીયસ છે
પરણ્યો ત્યારે પંચ્યાસી પાઉન્ડની હતી
અત્યારે એકસો ને પંચ્યાસી પાઉન્ડની છે
તો...ય કોન્સીયસ છે
Girl Child
To
all the men who are against killing a girl child in mother's womb, I
tell them, just have them and tell your parents "it is not her fault
that she is carrying a girl child, it is my fault".
And if you can not have a child, adopt a girl child. And if you can not adopt, help educate at least one.
By pass the slogans and all the girl organizations. Just do something on your own for a girl child.
If one man saves one girl, all the girl children in the world would be saved without the help of politicians, Pundits and social organizations.
And if you can not have a child, adopt a girl child. And if you can not adopt, help educate at least one.
By pass the slogans and all the girl organizations. Just do something on your own for a girl child.
If one man saves one girl, all the girl children in the world would be saved without the help of politicians, Pundits and social organizations.
Just remember, your mother was a girl a long time ago.
Silence
My wife and I have a bet. Whoever "shuts up" the longest gets to rule the home.
Today is the 132nd lawless day in our home.
And our home is heaven.
Today is the 132nd lawless day in our home.
And our home is heaven.
Bharat Shah
Life
Life
is not a race. However, you must continue to move forward. Like river,
through soft soil and solid rocks. Meander or merge if you must. But
never surrender.
bds
bds
Cardiac Arrest
On
Friday, June 14, 2013, I suffered a cardiac arrest and I was lucky to
survive. I share my experience wishing none of you have to use lessons
learned from it for you or your loved ones. I am doing well now.
1. The pain started in chest and then gradually spread to my neck, shoulder and jaws. I did not feel pain in either of my arms.
2. My first reaction to this pain was to ignore it, then consider it to be heart burn. I drank two glasses of ENO, Indian version of Alka Seltzer. The relief I felt lasted for very short time.
1. The pain started in chest and then gradually spread to my neck, shoulder and jaws. I did not feel pain in either of my arms.
2. My first reaction to this pain was to ignore it, then consider it to be heart burn. I drank two glasses of ENO, Indian version of Alka Seltzer. The relief I felt lasted for very short time.
3. A visit to a bathroom did not help much.
4. I did dress up thinking I might have to go to the hospital but then decided to lie down for a while in the bed instead.
5. Around 9:00 PM I woke up. The pain had reached my jaws and now I knew it was different from what I had ever experienced before.
6. I drove to the hospital about three miles from my apartment.
7. I was taken to the emergency room immediately and instructed to take my shirt off.
8. I passed out right after that and do not remember what happened till I regained consciousness.
9. I Was told later that they had to shock me to revive my heart as it had lost its rythem.
10. I was also told that the outcome would have been different if the episode had happened at home or I was little late reaching the hospital.
Advice I received from the medical staff:
1. If you feel chest pain, do no take chances . Call 911
2. Do not drive yourself. You are endangering life of others besides yours.
3. Keep aspirin easily accessible and take few before help comes.
4. Inform neighbor or friend immediately also
5. Talk to your physician and learn more about heart disease, its symptoms and act accordingly if need arises.
4. I did dress up thinking I might have to go to the hospital but then decided to lie down for a while in the bed instead.
5. Around 9:00 PM I woke up. The pain had reached my jaws and now I knew it was different from what I had ever experienced before.
6. I drove to the hospital about three miles from my apartment.
7. I was taken to the emergency room immediately and instructed to take my shirt off.
8. I passed out right after that and do not remember what happened till I regained consciousness.
9. I Was told later that they had to shock me to revive my heart as it had lost its rythem.
10. I was also told that the outcome would have been different if the episode had happened at home or I was little late reaching the hospital.
Advice I received from the medical staff:
1. If you feel chest pain, do no take chances . Call 911
2. Do not drive yourself. You are endangering life of others besides yours.
3. Keep aspirin easily accessible and take few before help comes.
4. Inform neighbor or friend immediately also
5. Talk to your physician and learn more about heart disease, its symptoms and act accordingly if need arises.
Afghanistan
There are certain realities in this world that do not need research, expert analysis or advice.
1. Afghanistan would not be a democratic country for at leastnext 50 years. US should stop spending tax payers money there. In order to control terrorism, continue using unmanned air crafts to bomb suspected terrorist hide outs, strengthen anti terrorist laws in the US and spend more money tracking suspected terrorists within the US and outside of it.
2. Islam and democracy have yet to develop relationship and they are long way from beginning to date. So, think carefully before investing lots of money in any regime perceived to be leaning towards democracy. Enough money is wasted after removal of Sadaam, Mubarak, Quadaafy, possibly Assad and others. Use that kind of money to develop weapons that can remotely remove threats to the US Interests
1. Afghanistan would not be a democratic country for at leastnext 50 years. US should stop spending tax payers money there. In order to control terrorism, continue using unmanned air crafts to bomb suspected terrorist hide outs, strengthen anti terrorist laws in the US and spend more money tracking suspected terrorists within the US and outside of it.
2. Islam and democracy have yet to develop relationship and they are long way from beginning to date. So, think carefully before investing lots of money in any regime perceived to be leaning towards democracy. Enough money is wasted after removal of Sadaam, Mubarak, Quadaafy, possibly Assad and others. Use that kind of money to develop weapons that can remotely remove threats to the US Interests
Butler
August 24, 2013 · iOS ·
On
my way to see "Butler". If you think I was the only one in the theater,
you are almost right. I did have my daughter with me. I wanted her to
know how life is so different from San Francisco. When people go to the
cities, they take pictures of skyscrapers. Here she snapped pictures of
old downtown, more than 100 years old and pictures of homes she never
thought actually existed in America.
Galveston TX
Always
wanted to stand by the shore of Galveston TX, a city practically wiped
out in the great storm of 1910 and rose from the devastation caused by
the ferocity of the ocean, now tamed by long sea wall.
9/11
I
stood there in silence for few moments by 9/11 memorial pools and then
read few names of the civilians. They were there that fateful morning
like every other morning with dreams of making the lives of their
families better, raising and educating their children for brighter
future. Little did they know that their death would come by cruel act of
cowardice fanatics who did not value freedom and knew nothing about
religion or God.
Once, from the bottom of these pools rose two towers, symbols of freedom and economic strength of a nation that places the utmost faith in human spirit and its ability to fight evil.
Evil these terrorists and their mentors were. They had not seen these towers going up like I did in my youth. Their soaring height was awe inspiring and challenged some to reach the pinnacle of their abilities. That included a Frenchman who tied a rope at the top between two towers and walked across, almost one quarter mile high in the air defying death.
Little did these misguided souls who were promised martyrdom and 72 virgins in the heaven knew that human spirit prevails over death. Always.
I looked up the sky and saluted the new freedom tower. Here stood again, soared again, never dying human spirit and strong resolve of a nation to respect, honor and protect that spirit.
Osama.... like me, hundreds of visitors to this memorial went through security check. They came from all over the world, speaking different languages and having different colors and faces.
I then remembered, how freely I walked around the construction site as an engineering student to see the foundation of the twin towers going in- I did not have to empty my pockets or take my hat off to stand and watch the engineering marvel going up.
Today, I took my hat off and so did hundreds of others to the spirits all whose lives you took. We know for sure, they are in heaven and you are rotting in hell.
We will not forget you and never forgive you
Once, from the bottom of these pools rose two towers, symbols of freedom and economic strength of a nation that places the utmost faith in human spirit and its ability to fight evil.
Evil these terrorists and their mentors were. They had not seen these towers going up like I did in my youth. Their soaring height was awe inspiring and challenged some to reach the pinnacle of their abilities. That included a Frenchman who tied a rope at the top between two towers and walked across, almost one quarter mile high in the air defying death.
Little did these misguided souls who were promised martyrdom and 72 virgins in the heaven knew that human spirit prevails over death. Always.
I looked up the sky and saluted the new freedom tower. Here stood again, soared again, never dying human spirit and strong resolve of a nation to respect, honor and protect that spirit.
Osama.... like me, hundreds of visitors to this memorial went through security check. They came from all over the world, speaking different languages and having different colors and faces.
I then remembered, how freely I walked around the construction site as an engineering student to see the foundation of the twin towers going in- I did not have to empty my pockets or take my hat off to stand and watch the engineering marvel going up.
Today, I took my hat off and so did hundreds of others to the spirits all whose lives you took. We know for sure, they are in heaven and you are rotting in hell.
We will not forget you and never forgive you
Hoboken
News Feed
Bharat Shah updated his cover photo.
Somewhere in the boxes in our basement, there is a picture of mine taken more than 40 years ago here... minus my wife and younger daughter. Lots of things have changed since.
Hoboken NJ was the town (still is), across this Hudson River, I could afford to live in at the time with $2.00/ hour part time job. We were students living off day old donuts for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Today, the condos are going for more than million dollars there. We still might have to live off day old donuts if we decide to move back..
One thing that is getting back to those good old days is my weight. Not too far from healthy 115 lbs.
I am thankful to guy up there to give me another chance to see this and Hoboken all over again with my family. And thanks to my younger brother and his wife for taking us around.
I am thankful to guy up there to give me another chance to see this and Hoboken all over again with my family. And thanks to my younger brother and his wife for taking us around.
God
God does not make group reservations for a seat in heaven.
Like any other corporation, he does performance evaluation of each individual keeping him/her fully in the loop through his/her own conscience. Thus at the time of one's demise, it becomes obvious to the individual where he belongs after death.
Like any other corporation, he does performance evaluation of each individual keeping him/her fully in the loop through his/her own conscience. Thus at the time of one's demise, it becomes obvious to the individual where he belongs after death.
પાનખર
વૃક્ષોથી ઉભરતા આ બગીચામાં
જેટલીય પગદંડી ઉપર હું ચાલતો
એ બધીય પાનખરના રાતાં રાતાં
પર્ણોથી પુરાઈ ગઈ છે
ધરતીની પાંથી જાણે સિંદુરે
સજાઈ ગઈ છે.
મરતાં મરતાં આ પાંદડાઓની
જેમ માને સજાવી તો નહીં શકું
બીજું કંઈ નહીં તો સાચવીને
પગદંડી ની કોરેથી
આઘો ચાલી માનું સિંદુર તો
ન ખરડું
જેટલીય પગદંડી ઉપર હું ચાલતો
એ બધીય પાનખરના રાતાં રાતાં
પર્ણોથી પુરાઈ ગઈ છે
ધરતીની પાંથી જાણે સિંદુરે
સજાઈ ગઈ છે.
મરતાં મરતાં આ પાંદડાઓની
જેમ માને સજાવી તો નહીં શકું
બીજું કંઈ નહીં તો સાચવીને
પગદંડી ની કોરેથી
આઘો ચાલી માનું સિંદુર તો
ન ખરડું
Special memory
A very special memory.
He showed grandpa a chicken in the city of San Francisco.
Grandpa showed him a dancing flower under the cool breeze of wind in the community garden.
When the flower stopped dancing he asked for a lift
And then gently blew on the flower.
He showed grandpa a chicken in the city of San Francisco.
Grandpa showed him a dancing flower under the cool breeze of wind in the community garden.
When the flower stopped dancing he asked for a lift
And then gently blew on the flower.
From SFO to Deridder
We are home ! Safe and sound.
Though we got caught in to this record breaking winter storm, and wound up spending more hours at the airport than hotel, we count ourselves blessed. Because, thousands of others had to brave more delays and difficulties.
I am touched by the spirit and patients of the passengers amidst hours of inconvenience and uncertainty. There were lines of passengers snaking around the the ticket counters with practically no sigh of chaos I have been accustomed to see elsewhere. Very positive experience.
Though we got caught in to this record breaking winter storm, and wound up spending more hours at the airport than hotel, we count ourselves blessed. Because, thousands of others had to brave more delays and difficulties.
I am touched by the spirit and patients of the passengers amidst hours of inconvenience and uncertainty. There were lines of passengers snaking around the the ticket counters with practically no sigh of chaos I have been accustomed to see elsewhere. Very positive experience.
Now we need to be patient and await the arrival of our checked in
baggage. We are sure it is out there somewhere waiting to be rescued !
Gives me one more reason not to shave !!!
At the Railroad.. LA
Wandering along the railroad tracks in Leesville LA.
It was exciting to hear the engineer blow the whistle when he saw me taking the picture.
Reminded me of the early days of our youth when we used to walk few miles to get to the tracks and wait for the freight (goods) train to come roaring through the sparsely populated small neighboring village. We would each lay down our "paisos" on the tracks and bet on the number of cars the freight train would have. We each would count the number of cars and come up with different numbers. Then would argue who was closest to the actual number.
It was exciting to hear the engineer blow the whistle when he saw me taking the picture.
Reminded me of the early days of our youth when we used to walk few miles to get to the tracks and wait for the freight (goods) train to come roaring through the sparsely populated small neighboring village. We would each lay down our "paisos" on the tracks and bet on the number of cars the freight train would have. We each would count the number of cars and come up with different numbers. Then would argue who was closest to the actual number.
The prize?
The winner kept all the out of shape "paisos" he could find around the track or under the gravels called ballast. I bet some of these out of shaped pennies are still sitting some where in my old home half way around the world...it has been more than 55 years..
The winner kept all the out of shape "paisos" he could find around the track or under the gravels called ballast. I bet some of these out of shaped pennies are still sitting some where in my old home half way around the world...it has been more than 55 years..
At Auto shop
I am at this road side auto shop. Guess my spark plugs were
misfiring. What ever. What do I know about cars? I am just a dumb civil
engineer.
Mechanic told me he did not have the parts for my car. He would have to drive 40 miles to get them. What choice a person is left with who can not even change a flat tire? He left me here with his shop.... Alone.
This place is quieter than a cemetery. Considering the condition of some of the cars around me "cemetery" perhaps is the right choice of word. It is eerie, kind of.
Mechanic told me he did not have the parts for my car. He would have to drive 40 miles to get them. What choice a person is left with who can not even change a flat tire? He left me here with his shop.... Alone.
This place is quieter than a cemetery. Considering the condition of some of the cars around me "cemetery" perhaps is the right choice of word. It is eerie, kind of.
So, what do I do? There are some dirty magazines next to his tool
table. But they are very old. Those girls must be grandmas by now.
Anxiety and idleness make dangerous cocktail. Not my words. These are Dave and Dave's words. They both are bartenders near old Tiger Stadium in Detroit.
Well.. I discovered something.. Puddles.. yea..good old reliable potholes and puddles.
I noticed few puddles around the shop. The drive was graveled.That is all I needed. Picked up fistful of pebbles and started aiming and shooting at the puddles. In the beginning I missed, O..K... misfired. Then I got the hang of it. Bo..y, it was fun watching that pebble land in the puddle !!!! Splash, splash, splash...
Reminded me of the monsoon in small town Godhra, India.. Running in the rain, almost naked, and stomping in the puddles with all the guts I got to have that dirty earthy water soak me all over.. Then looking up..challenging the clouds... yea...send me some more..hit me with all you got..
This puddle splashing therapy is worth considering if you want to get your mind off the problems.
I was thinking of having swimming pool in my backyard. I just changed my mind.
Anxiety and idleness make dangerous cocktail. Not my words. These are Dave and Dave's words. They both are bartenders near old Tiger Stadium in Detroit.
Well.. I discovered something.. Puddles.. yea..good old reliable potholes and puddles.
I noticed few puddles around the shop. The drive was graveled.That is all I needed. Picked up fistful of pebbles and started aiming and shooting at the puddles. In the beginning I missed, O..K... misfired. Then I got the hang of it. Bo..y, it was fun watching that pebble land in the puddle !!!! Splash, splash, splash...
Reminded me of the monsoon in small town Godhra, India.. Running in the rain, almost naked, and stomping in the puddles with all the guts I got to have that dirty earthy water soak me all over.. Then looking up..challenging the clouds... yea...send me some more..hit me with all you got..
This puddle splashing therapy is worth considering if you want to get your mind off the problems.
I was thinking of having swimming pool in my backyard. I just changed my mind.
Reasons and Seasons
There is a season for everything and reason too !
It is sunny and clear blue skies late in the morning on Saturday.
So, I decided to walk to work. A little over a mile.
It is sunny and clear blue skies late in the morning on Saturday.
So, I decided to walk to work. A little over a mile.
Most of the way, though sparsely, the road is lined with fully
blossomed trees. Very comforting in Houston sun. With one exception. At
the second intersection, CVS Pharmacy seems to have removed all the
trees around it's properties. Must be for better business visibility I
thought and called them JERKS for exposing my bald head to scorching sun
(a little exaggeration, I wear a $200,000 Michigan hat).
Around 3:30 afternoon I am ready to return. To my disbelief it is raining buckets with great thundering clouds. (the work and old ears insulate you from threatening sounds). There is water everywhere. Luckily, after an hour wait, I get a window of relief to walk back to the hotel.
Would you believe, that same second intersection which was desert dry in the morning was flooded. The N-S sidewalk along CVS's property was under water. I had no choice but to get through CVS's parking lot, move up west and cross the street away from the flooded area. Not a big hassle, but without CVS, my brand new Nikes perhaps would have been soaked beyond recognition.
So, a jerk in the hot sun, turns out to be a savior of my brand new shoes under rainy skies.
CVS, MY Nike thanks you. And ok...sorry for calling you jerk.
Bharat Shah
Around 3:30 afternoon I am ready to return. To my disbelief it is raining buckets with great thundering clouds. (the work and old ears insulate you from threatening sounds). There is water everywhere. Luckily, after an hour wait, I get a window of relief to walk back to the hotel.
Would you believe, that same second intersection which was desert dry in the morning was flooded. The N-S sidewalk along CVS's property was under water. I had no choice but to get through CVS's parking lot, move up west and cross the street away from the flooded area. Not a big hassle, but without CVS, my brand new Nikes perhaps would have been soaked beyond recognition.
So, a jerk in the hot sun, turns out to be a savior of my brand new shoes under rainy skies.
CVS, MY Nike thanks you. And ok...sorry for calling you jerk.
Bharat Shah
Mrs. Shah
Me: How is it going?
Painter: Fine, sir.
Me: Getting along fine with Mrs.Shah?
Painter: Yes, sir.
Me: Tough lady.. Isn't she?
Painter: Hm...Hm..
Me: it is ok.. You can tell what's on your mind !
Painter: Feeds me delicious Indian lunches every day sir..
Painter: Fine, sir.
Me: Getting along fine with Mrs.Shah?
Painter: Yes, sir.
Me: Tough lady.. Isn't she?
Painter: Hm...Hm..
Me: it is ok.. You can tell what's on your mind !
Painter: Feeds me delicious Indian lunches every day sir..
Where are you?
She: Where are you?
Me: In Kroger's parking lot
She: What are you doing in the parking lot?
Me: Waiting for you.
She: Why are you waiting for me? I am home.
Me: Did you get a ride home? I am waiting for more than an hour.
She: Must be. I sent you to pick up one lousy gallon of fat free milk.
Me: And, you are reminding me now?
Bharat Shah
Me: In Kroger's parking lot
She: What are you doing in the parking lot?
Me: Waiting for you.
She: Why are you waiting for me? I am home.
Me: Did you get a ride home? I am waiting for more than an hour.
She: Must be. I sent you to pick up one lousy gallon of fat free milk.
Me: And, you are reminding me now?
Bharat Shah
સુખી પતિ
તમાચો મારીને હું તો ગાલ રાતો રાખું છું
બનીને ગુલામ, બાદશાહનો ફાંકો રાખું છું
- ડાહ્યો અને સુખી પતિ, ભરત શાહ
બનીને ગુલામ, બાદશાહનો ફાંકો રાખું છું
- ડાહ્યો અને સુખી પતિ, ભરત શાહ
શું સમજે છે તું?
તું આમ અચાનક આવે અને તારી મનમાની કરી જાય.
બહુ ગર્વ હશે તને તારી શક્તિ પર !
તારા માટે તો આ વ્યવસાવ,
હર સુક્ષ્મ ક્ષણની સુક્ષ્મ ક્ષણ.
તીવ્ર ધારી કાળચક્ર તો તારા માટે એક સામાન્ય ઓજાર.
એનાથી ભલભલા કંપી જાય.
ને તારામાં અનુકંપાનો ઔંશ નહીં.
કોઈ માસુમ બાળકને ચીલ ઝડપે કદીક મા ના ખોળામાંથી ઝડપી લે,
તો કોઈ કોડભરી કન્યાના ઓરતાનું ગળું રૂંધી દે.
કોઈનાં એકમાત્ર આશરા પિતાને તારા શરણમાં ઢાળી દે,
તો મિત્રતાના રળિયામણા ઉપવનને ઉજાડી એમાં એકલતા ના બીજ રોપી અશ્રુ એ સીંચે.
તું આટલું શક્તિશાળી પણ તારી દ્રષ્ટી જરૂર નબળી હશે.
તારી શ્રવણ શક્તિમાં પણ ખોડ.
તું ક્યાં જુએ છે ભાગી પડેલાં હૈયાં કે વેરવિખેર થઇ ગયેલાં જીવન !
તને ક્યારે સંભળાય છે આભ ફાડતાં આક્રંદ કે ઈશ્વરને કરાતી કાકલુદીઓ !
બહુ ગર્વ હશે તને તારી શક્તિ પર !
તારા માટે તો આ વ્યવસાવ,
હર સુક્ષ્મ ક્ષણની સુક્ષ્મ ક્ષણ.
તીવ્ર ધારી કાળચક્ર તો તારા માટે એક સામાન્ય ઓજાર.
એનાથી ભલભલા કંપી જાય.
ને તારામાં અનુકંપાનો ઔંશ નહીં.
કોઈ માસુમ બાળકને ચીલ ઝડપે કદીક મા ના ખોળામાંથી ઝડપી લે,
તો કોઈ કોડભરી કન્યાના ઓરતાનું ગળું રૂંધી દે.
કોઈનાં એકમાત્ર આશરા પિતાને તારા શરણમાં ઢાળી દે,
તો મિત્રતાના રળિયામણા ઉપવનને ઉજાડી એમાં એકલતા ના બીજ રોપી અશ્રુ એ સીંચે.
તું આટલું શક્તિશાળી પણ તારી દ્રષ્ટી જરૂર નબળી હશે.
તારી શ્રવણ શક્તિમાં પણ ખોડ.
તું ક્યાં જુએ છે ભાગી પડેલાં હૈયાં કે વેરવિખેર થઇ ગયેલાં જીવન !
તને ક્યારે સંભળાય છે આભ ફાડતાં આક્રંદ કે ઈશ્વરને કરાતી કાકલુદીઓ !
હું તો મારું કર્તવ્ય બજાવી મારી ફરજ નીભાવું છું
એવો વાહિયાત બચાવ હર એક વખત કરે એ મને
મંજૂર નથી. આ આત્મા પરમાત્માના બકવાસથી મારી બુદ્ધિનું
અપમાન થાય એ પણ મને સ્વીકાર્ય નથી.
શું સમજે છે તું?
ના, એનો સમય હજૂ થયો ન હતો.
એવો વાહિયાત બચાવ હર એક વખત કરે એ મને
મંજૂર નથી. આ આત્મા પરમાત્માના બકવાસથી મારી બુદ્ધિનું
અપમાન થાય એ પણ મને સ્વીકાર્ય નથી.
શું સમજે છે તું?
ના, એનો સમય હજૂ થયો ન હતો.
the bullies of the world
At the time when all the bullies of the world are getting together at
the United Nations in New York ...here is a brief and very simplistic
lesson in history
Godfathers or controllers of the world have always been wealthy people.
They need to protect their wealth. So, they make Bullies their puppets
Bullies come in all shapes and sizes depending on the times in the history. They could be kings, dictators, generals. prime ministers, presidents etc. and their political cronies...(This can be taken all the way down to goons and corrupt cops for economic control of local territories).
These bullies in cooperation with morally corrupt godmen intoxicate common people with religious or ideological brews so potent that they willingly sacrifice their heads without actually using their heads, for centuries.
As they say young men die for old men's strategic wars.... and search for peace continues... Sweet Sound of Chee ching...Chee chings continue to reverberate..
Godfathers or controllers of the world have always been wealthy people.
They need to protect their wealth. So, they make Bullies their puppets
Bullies come in all shapes and sizes depending on the times in the history. They could be kings, dictators, generals. prime ministers, presidents etc. and their political cronies...(This can be taken all the way down to goons and corrupt cops for economic control of local territories).
These bullies in cooperation with morally corrupt godmen intoxicate common people with religious or ideological brews so potent that they willingly sacrifice their heads without actually using their heads, for centuries.
As they say young men die for old men's strategic wars.... and search for peace continues... Sweet Sound of Chee ching...Chee chings continue to reverberate..
પ્રણામ બાપુ
પ્રણામ બાપુ
તમારી જન્મ જયંતિ ઉજવાય છે આજે
ના, મારામાં કંઈ સુધારો થયો નથી
જવાબદારી લઈને બેઠો છું
તમારે રસ્તે ચાલુ તો ઘર ના ચાલે
હા, પ્રધાન મંત્રી ગુજરાતના જ છે
ના..ના સરદાર જેવા નહી
પણ હાથના ચોખ્ખા હોય એવું લાગે છે
એમના બધા સાથીઓ વિષે એવું કહી શકાય નહી
રાજકારણી એટલે થોડા આંખ આડે કાન કરે તો નવાઈ નહી
તમારે બિરલા જોડે ભાઈબંધી હતી
એમને ટાટા અંબાણી નો ટેકો હોય એવું લાગે ખરું
પોપટની જેમ વિકાસ વિકાસ એવું બોલ્યા કરે છે
જોઈએ શું થાય છે
ચાલો ત્યારે આવતે વર્ષે ફરી વાતો કરીશું
ના, છેલછેલ્લે આદર્શની વાતો કરી મને કન્ફયુઝ ના કરશો
અહીં તો એવુજ ચાલે
આજનો દહાડો સંભળાય એટલું ઈશ્વર અલ્લા સાંભળી લો
તમારી જન્મ જયંતિ ઉજવાય છે આજે
ના, મારામાં કંઈ સુધારો થયો નથી
જવાબદારી લઈને બેઠો છું
તમારે રસ્તે ચાલુ તો ઘર ના ચાલે
હા, પ્રધાન મંત્રી ગુજરાતના જ છે
ના..ના સરદાર જેવા નહી
પણ હાથના ચોખ્ખા હોય એવું લાગે છે
એમના બધા સાથીઓ વિષે એવું કહી શકાય નહી
રાજકારણી એટલે થોડા આંખ આડે કાન કરે તો નવાઈ નહી
તમારે બિરલા જોડે ભાઈબંધી હતી
એમને ટાટા અંબાણી નો ટેકો હોય એવું લાગે ખરું
પોપટની જેમ વિકાસ વિકાસ એવું બોલ્યા કરે છે
જોઈએ શું થાય છે
ચાલો ત્યારે આવતે વર્ષે ફરી વાતો કરીશું
ના, છેલછેલ્લે આદર્શની વાતો કરી મને કન્ફયુઝ ના કરશો
અહીં તો એવુજ ચાલે
આજનો દહાડો સંભળાય એટલું ઈશ્વર અલ્લા સાંભળી લો
Rajdeep Sardesai
I do not think you would read this. But, I hope my words somehow get to you.
First, I saw the video. Unless you provide me your own clip, I noticed, that you were the one who initiated physical assault, mild in nature it may be, It certainly was intentional. Someone from the crowd suggested to call the police. That is what normally people in USA do when they see trouble in the making.
Somewhere
else, you perhaps would have left the crowd with broken bones. You
would not have gotten the opportunity to use unparliamentary or
uncivilized words not suited to the mouth of a renowned journalist of
your stature.
I assume you are a genuine secularist. I am a Hindu and consider myself secular, perhaps not genuine by the definition of some. However I detest seculars who go around bashing Hindus in general to prove themselves to be the protectors of the rights of the minorities, specifically Muslims, day in and day out- Sometimes at the cost of the welfare of Hindus whose economic and social needs are no less critical or crucial than those of minorities.
As a journalist, I am hoping you stay above the fray of the politicians who play the politics of minority appeasement with lucrative "vote banks" in their mind. It is my opinion that an intelligent journalist of your caliber should be looking at all the politicians with magnifying glass to verify "how genuine their secularist credentials are?" Exposing phony secularists, you certainly would help unite India.
The vote banks Politics has actually polarized the Indian polity. It has been going on before the entry of Mr. Modi into politics. What media was doing all these years?
Waiting for Modi to take all the brunt of communal ills spread by his predecessors?
The opposition, media and the courts have been hounding Mr. Modi for more than dozen years now and have not been able to smell any foul play. By the mandate of the people of India, he now is an honorable Prime Minister of the great nation. Don't you think it is time to get off his back and give him some room to work, as hard as he does and may be more, so we all can raise our heads high as Indians? He is inviting everyone to be the part of such success.
I have been living in this country for 45 years. This is the first time, the Prime Minister of India is welcome in the White House with full and genuine dignity and respect. It will be a shame if his own fellow Indians can not show him the same level of respect when he is on a foreign soil representing Mother India.
I assume you are a genuine secularist. I am a Hindu and consider myself secular, perhaps not genuine by the definition of some. However I detest seculars who go around bashing Hindus in general to prove themselves to be the protectors of the rights of the minorities, specifically Muslims, day in and day out- Sometimes at the cost of the welfare of Hindus whose economic and social needs are no less critical or crucial than those of minorities.
As a journalist, I am hoping you stay above the fray of the politicians who play the politics of minority appeasement with lucrative "vote banks" in their mind. It is my opinion that an intelligent journalist of your caliber should be looking at all the politicians with magnifying glass to verify "how genuine their secularist credentials are?" Exposing phony secularists, you certainly would help unite India.
The vote banks Politics has actually polarized the Indian polity. It has been going on before the entry of Mr. Modi into politics. What media was doing all these years?
Waiting for Modi to take all the brunt of communal ills spread by his predecessors?
The opposition, media and the courts have been hounding Mr. Modi for more than dozen years now and have not been able to smell any foul play. By the mandate of the people of India, he now is an honorable Prime Minister of the great nation. Don't you think it is time to get off his back and give him some room to work, as hard as he does and may be more, so we all can raise our heads high as Indians? He is inviting everyone to be the part of such success.
I have been living in this country for 45 years. This is the first time, the Prime Minister of India is welcome in the White House with full and genuine dignity and respect. It will be a shame if his own fellow Indians can not show him the same level of respect when he is on a foreign soil representing Mother India.
The waitress
She was a waitress at a Mexican restaurant
Her husband a mechanic at the local dealership
Both could hardly speak English. It was enough to communicate
with the aide of hand and facial gestures.
Her husband a mechanic at the local dealership
Both could hardly speak English. It was enough to communicate
with the aide of hand and facial gestures.
"Boat People" or "Boat Folks", that is how they were known in a small
southern town. They were from Korea and not Vietnam. They did not see
the need to clarify that.
A rusty, old trailer, parked on a farm few miles away from the town was their home.
The locals were not that warm towards them in the beginning. But warmed up to them when they saw how hard working and harmless this couple was. They became Jim and Jane Shin. Soon they were the proud parents of twin daughters..Dotty and Debby..Perhaps the first oriental babies of the town.. they were welcome by the whole town, showered with gifts, some hand made with lots of love and care.
Jim was a mechanical engineer in Korea. He longed to work in the profession he loved. Working at the dealership 6 days a week, he also worked on improving his proficiency in English, both written and spoken. One day, with an envelop in his hand, he surprised his family. He had secured a job as a mechanical engineer in a big city and had made up his mind to move out of the small town.
Jane did not want to move away from the community she now had become a part of. She told him about their plans to move out of the trailer and buy a small home of their own to raise their twin daughters. Jim would not hear any of it. He left thinking Jane would not have any choice but to follow him, specially with two young toddlers.
"That was years ago" she tells me and pours me my drink.
"Most restaurants make money on liquor.. you are very generous" I tell her.
"People are very generous to me here.. I never forgot I was a waitress here in this restaurant."
" But, I am just a transient here."
" Does not matter..so were we. Every body is equal to me."
"Great thought."
" Great Country."
"Yep, where else would one see an Indian drinking scotch in a Mexican restaurant owned by a Korean lady whose chef has roots in southern plantation and who prepares the best stuffed peppers in the entire Parish?"
-Bharat Shah
A rusty, old trailer, parked on a farm few miles away from the town was their home.
The locals were not that warm towards them in the beginning. But warmed up to them when they saw how hard working and harmless this couple was. They became Jim and Jane Shin. Soon they were the proud parents of twin daughters..Dotty and Debby..Perhaps the first oriental babies of the town.. they were welcome by the whole town, showered with gifts, some hand made with lots of love and care.
Jim was a mechanical engineer in Korea. He longed to work in the profession he loved. Working at the dealership 6 days a week, he also worked on improving his proficiency in English, both written and spoken. One day, with an envelop in his hand, he surprised his family. He had secured a job as a mechanical engineer in a big city and had made up his mind to move out of the small town.
Jane did not want to move away from the community she now had become a part of. She told him about their plans to move out of the trailer and buy a small home of their own to raise their twin daughters. Jim would not hear any of it. He left thinking Jane would not have any choice but to follow him, specially with two young toddlers.
"That was years ago" she tells me and pours me my drink.
"Most restaurants make money on liquor.. you are very generous" I tell her.
"People are very generous to me here.. I never forgot I was a waitress here in this restaurant."
" But, I am just a transient here."
" Does not matter..so were we. Every body is equal to me."
"Great thought."
" Great Country."
"Yep, where else would one see an Indian drinking scotch in a Mexican restaurant owned by a Korean lady whose chef has roots in southern plantation and who prepares the best stuffed peppers in the entire Parish?"
-Bharat Shah
The bikers
We heard the knock on our car window.
A motor biker was gesturing us to roll down the window. Another stood couple of feet away, straddling his bike. A quick glance in rear view mirror, confirmed there were two more behind them.
We had pulled over the road, going through Michigan's farmland, to look at the map. Returning from Pigeon, a very small town in the thumb area in pre GPS age, we had lost our way. Both the kids were busy taking stock of their goody bag treasure in the back seat.
" Don't" she whispered.
Thoughts began to travel at the speed of light in my mind also on that lonely road. A bowl of orange was slowly sinking below west horizon. The farms were getting ready to slide under the cover of darkness.
The men in our view were well built. Pony tail, full beard and mustache; red bandana on fore head and tattoos on their forearms and biceps; they were wearing their colors for "head busters"; chains tied to broad leather belts leading to their pockets. Their finger tips had busted through their gloves. By any account, their looks were mean and immensely intimidating.
"Don't" she whispered again. That caught kids' attention also.
" Don't daddy" I could hear panic in the voice coming from my behind.
They could shatter the glass in pieces anytime they want, I told myself. Obeying their gesture to roll down the window was the only wise option, I thought. I knew, I did not have any chance with them physically.
As I reached for the handle, she clenched her teeth and said "Don't be stupid".
She folded her hands In fear and began to pray. Me too, to grant me courage and strength to protect my family. I wished this lonely road would get as busy as 75 north at that very instance like it does at quitting time in Detroit.
"Car trouble?" He asked in his husky voice.
" No, No" I said hurriedly even before I finished rolling down the window.
" We just stopped to look at the road map" she jumped in.
" Lost?" he looked at her. Her palms were sweating.
" Not really" she could not hide her nervousness .
" You are...lost and also afraid of us, aren't you ?" Two guys in the back moved up in front of the car when he said that. She shook with terror at the sight of them.
"Yes, we are.. What do you want? We have some money, my jewelry and kids have some toys." Her voice quivered but surprisingly with determined strength.
He looked in the back. The kids moved away from his gaze, terrified.
"Where you heading?" He asked ignoring her.
"Detroit" I could not tell him the name of our home town.
"We are riding south to 46.. 46 west will take you to 75 south to Detroit.
" Which road are we on?" I asked. I really did not know where we were.
"25"
"B..B..but, we took 24 going to Pigeon." She stuttered.
"Ma'm, you left that behind"
"Oh.." She murmured. Her voice spoke of her distrust in his words. She was not sure about taking a road unfamiliar to her.
" Ma'm I know what you are thinking. Just follow us.. We will put you on 46 west.." Other guy said politely.
She looked at me.
I looked at her
All of the bikers revved up their engines
"Are we following these strangers mom...dad?" Kids whispered from the back.
The shadow of darkness had begun to spread on Michigan's farmland.
A motor biker was gesturing us to roll down the window. Another stood couple of feet away, straddling his bike. A quick glance in rear view mirror, confirmed there were two more behind them.
We had pulled over the road, going through Michigan's farmland, to look at the map. Returning from Pigeon, a very small town in the thumb area in pre GPS age, we had lost our way. Both the kids were busy taking stock of their goody bag treasure in the back seat.
" Don't" she whispered.
Thoughts began to travel at the speed of light in my mind also on that lonely road. A bowl of orange was slowly sinking below west horizon. The farms were getting ready to slide under the cover of darkness.
The men in our view were well built. Pony tail, full beard and mustache; red bandana on fore head and tattoos on their forearms and biceps; they were wearing their colors for "head busters"; chains tied to broad leather belts leading to their pockets. Their finger tips had busted through their gloves. By any account, their looks were mean and immensely intimidating.
"Don't" she whispered again. That caught kids' attention also.
" Don't daddy" I could hear panic in the voice coming from my behind.
They could shatter the glass in pieces anytime they want, I told myself. Obeying their gesture to roll down the window was the only wise option, I thought. I knew, I did not have any chance with them physically.
As I reached for the handle, she clenched her teeth and said "Don't be stupid".
She folded her hands In fear and began to pray. Me too, to grant me courage and strength to protect my family. I wished this lonely road would get as busy as 75 north at that very instance like it does at quitting time in Detroit.
"Car trouble?" He asked in his husky voice.
" No, No" I said hurriedly even before I finished rolling down the window.
" We just stopped to look at the road map" she jumped in.
" Lost?" he looked at her. Her palms were sweating.
" Not really" she could not hide her nervousness .
" You are...lost and also afraid of us, aren't you ?" Two guys in the back moved up in front of the car when he said that. She shook with terror at the sight of them.
"Yes, we are.. What do you want? We have some money, my jewelry and kids have some toys." Her voice quivered but surprisingly with determined strength.
He looked in the back. The kids moved away from his gaze, terrified.
"Where you heading?" He asked ignoring her.
"Detroit" I could not tell him the name of our home town.
"We are riding south to 46.. 46 west will take you to 75 south to Detroit.
" Which road are we on?" I asked. I really did not know where we were.
"25"
"B..B..but, we took 24 going to Pigeon." She stuttered.
"Ma'm, you left that behind"
"Oh.." She murmured. Her voice spoke of her distrust in his words. She was not sure about taking a road unfamiliar to her.
" Ma'm I know what you are thinking. Just follow us.. We will put you on 46 west.." Other guy said politely.
She looked at me.
I looked at her
All of the bikers revved up their engines
"Are we following these strangers mom...dad?" Kids whispered from the back.
The shadow of darkness had begun to spread on Michigan's farmland.
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