Kala Ghoda Art Festival 2013

I should categorized thyself into two distinct form. one which is always excited for new things, it can be anything, events, new places, outings, blogging or photography or anything that need some 'energetic interest'; while other form is height of laziness which always restrict me from doing anything, by that same old repeated yet powerful pushing excuses running over my mind "Abhi nahin baad me....., Ha kar lenge yaar....thodi der baad....". So whichever form over power other, wins the race. Now I am actively blogging, that defiantly is an indication of (Temporary) victory of energetic form. Whereas Its been more than 4 days I went to Kala Ghoda Festival, enjoyed its uniqueness; captured shots of beautiful art but to post it over social sites it took me four days and moreover on 5th day I am writing about it, though I had planned to write 5days back. incredible!! this lazy form of me will take me nowhere 'Someday'.

Self 'praising' apart. Yes I wanted/want to write about this artistic festival. This is my 10th year in a row; witnessing this beautiful event and every year it is growing by its charm and attracting more and more crowds. It feels so good when such events makes us feel proud about our city and culture in front of international visitors. I always wanted to write about Kala Ghoda Festival but as I said earlier, my 'second distinct form' aka 'Laziness' always played role of hurdle, but this time the beauty of festival is so alluring that none could restrict me from expressing my joy, so I am eager to share it. 

One can find detailed description about Kala Ghoda Festival Here, and for their official website click here, On the official website, you can find current festival schedule. I visited festival on very first day and that too little early which helped me to click the art without disturbing crowd in matter of camera composition. It was great experience this time, since the art work they put up on show was incredible (Its still going on till 10th of feb). Every artwork delivering great message along with its artistic beauty and what appealed me is, we always say that Mumbaikars are the busiest one and they have no time other than their so called daily busy schedule but this can be proved completely wrong when you'll visit rampart row at Kala Ghoda. It is amazing to see people taking so much interest in such artistic events that you can actually point out, yes this is true Mumbaikar crowd. You will notice some turbans are moving across art stalls and at same time Pathanis and Burkha clad are keenly enjoying the beauty of every piece of Art, juggling with their kids in both the hands. While some of the north Indian brothers (excluded from Punjab to Kashmir) will be found clicking themselves along with art themes and of course with gorgeous international Atithi Devo Bhava, I always adore their this curiosity. moreover some Marathi strict parents pulling their kids towards their selection of art to see, (Tikade kaay baghtoys he bagh....wach jara... bagh kaay lihilay te...) Loved the art and event but these people and their diversity is the real glow which is adding glitter to city's charm.

(This was good one, in fact Golden artwork with Golden Message.)

Auto/Taxi Meter: Another thoughtful and scary (those who travel by Auto and Taxi will understand why it is scary) It is actually scary today to travel by Auto and Taxi the way they have raised their meter billing. very difficult. What is called a need is pretending like luxury to Common man)

 

This was another attraction for visitors, Vespa an italian word for Wasp

Horse in fact Horses. fun to watch. and all are made by cardboard / packaging material.

Kids attraction. they were yelling BHOOT, BHOOT. I liked this art since it was made by Electronic waste, Computer Motherboards, Chipboards, CDs, were used. Many Computer Mouse were used to make it's Teeth. some smoke was clouting out of it and that was making it look little scary, children were scared imagining it as a Ghost while elders were doubting over 'Short Circuit', due to emission of smoke.... and those who are sitting or standing or wandering very close to it, its their own form of adventure... Liked it ;)

Arre Ala re aala Mumbaicha Dabbewala: a True inspiration for management seekers. He is one of the reasons for Mumbai's non stop vital energy. Mumbai runs cuz he runs on Time (Aspect of time is very much important and he is master in it). very nice and artistic statue, you can see it is shown that he is actually carrying Mumbai over his head, and it is true in every sense. To make it in simple assertive statement. He is the guy who deliver home made tiffins to working class across all Mumbai and that too exact on time, and this has been considered as best example of Time Management.

These are the feet, on which Mumbai rely in matter of their daily Vital Energy.

Dabbewale ka Dabba....  This artistic Huge Tiffin is made of small tins and its crafted by Singapore International School Students. 

Big Strong Kala Bail at Kala Ghoda, Black Bull. it is so colorfully made up.

Dhindiraj Govind Phalke popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke. Its very difficult to talk about Mumbai without mentioning films, and he is the father of indian cinema. A Man who struggled and learned the film science and gave Indian Cinema its very first film in 1913 titled Raja Harishchandra.

100 years completed to Indian Cinema. cutouts of some of today's biggest stars.

 Moving Coin Box, another good art piece. Artist's theme was 'idea of make me rich'

 Another strong message on Save Girl Child and Stop Woman Abuse.

It was very interesting. Face was only visible through camera lens... for bare eyes it was like seeing through soda water bottle.... 

I liked it cuz in very artistic manner it is conveyed. Dont use mobile phones while Driving.

Funny one, 

This one I cant say funny cuz it is the truth they were showing, I couldnt capture entire story since the other part was at very height. This is miniature statue of Indian politician and they are saluting to the flag which was made of 100 Rs Note/Bill (Indian Currency)

 This kind of Graffiti is very much familiar in India

 Joshibuwa: Palmist

Latterns, in old films Ramukaka or main lead used to use it to find singing Ghost.

Bengals, still the unbeatable fashion.

 

Its reversal act: I clicked him he clicked me at same time.

I could see in her eyes that she wanted to get clicked, I took her permission and captured her smile covered with shyness and to my shock she was not bothered to check the outcome either. Her happiness was somewhere only in getting clicked irrespective of its result.

Some deep discussion of this all working business family.

 I liked this specially, cuz unexpectedly this man offered that pencil to the Boy, he was so happy, and I admit I failed to capture boy's expression but yet I loved their mute but deep loud expression of joy.

Rocksteady building of Elphinstone College.

 What a cute smile, liked her. Her name is Aziza and she is from Uzbekistan.

 

They are known as Nandi Bail. earlier in villages, their masters used to take them to the door to door and these Nandi was considered as forecaster or in simple term nandi used to answer one's query in yes or no by shaking his neck. nowadays this is also one of the lost eras of old age.  

Ready for Portrait?

 What for other children is Game or Toy to play, it is his tool for daily bread and butter.

 

 

Protectors taking some rest. How hectic it is to keep keen eye on crowd and restrict it from any mess.

Passageway of Elphinstone College

What is this? fate or failed/imbalanced system? how reverse it is, Boy has no excitement of this game while mother has to blow out bubbles to raise her kid. very unfortunate fact. 

Well, with closing note I would like to insist everyone to visit the festival, it will be held till 10th of Feb and open from 10 in the morning. This was one of the aspects of Kala Ghoda Fest. there is lot more to see, like heritage walk, Cinema, cultural events etc. If you have time and urge to see something that will sooth your week stretched stress then make it at Kala Ghoda festival this weekend.

Freedom of Injustice

                 

                'Freedom of speech' म्हणजे काय हो? बोलण्याचे स्वातंत्र्य कि काहीही बोलण्याचे स्वातंत्र्य? केवळ विधानार्थी बोलणे कि एकदम हमरीतुमरीवर येउन बोलणे? का एकदम कोणाच्या हि भावनांना हिनावणे?

                   कारण; आता बघा, सुसंस्कृत आणि सुसज्ज अश्या पालघर येथील २ तरुणी जेव्हा अवघा महाराष्ट्र दु:खात बुडालेला असताना, 'मुंबई का बंद केली जाते वगेरे वगेरे' अशे प्रश्नवजा ताशेरे मारून ह्या म्यांडमानी  एकट्यात नव्हे तर चक्क थोबाड पुस्तकावर (फेसबुक हो!) अपडेट केलं. अवघ्या जनसागराचा रोष शिगेला पोहचू नये आणि वातावरण तापू नये म्हणून पोलिसांनी तत्काळ कारवाई करत त्या सुसंस्कृत आणि जबाबदार तरुंनी विरुद्ध FIR नोंदवली. आणि नीट विचार केला तर ते योग्य सुद्धा होतंच, कारण कुठे हि अशी घटना समोर नव्हती आली कि मुंबई हि जबरदस्तीने बंद केली जात आहे, ते आपसूकच मुंबईकरांनी केवळ बाळासाहेबांच्या वर्षोनुवर्षे असलेल्या त्या जिव्हाळ्याखातीर केलं, त्यात उगीच कांगावा करण्यासारखं काहीही नव्हतं पण इथे त्या मुलींना अटक नाही झाली तोवर सगळ्यांनी गरळ ओकायला सुरवात केली, कशाच्या नावावर? तर freedom of speech च्या नावावर. इतकच नाही तर याही पुढे जाऊन पोलिसांवर पक्षपातीचा आरोप सुद्धा करण्यात आला... आणि ह्यात आणखी कहर म्हणजे कारवाई करणाऱ्या पालघर पोलिस निरीक्षक श्रीकांत पिंगळे आणि ठाण्याचे सुप्रीटेन्द ऑफ पोलिस रवींद्र सेनगावकर यांना निलंबित करण्यात करण्यात आलं (बातमी). का? तर म्हणे चुकीच्या कलमाखाली अटक आणि वरीष्टांचे आदेश न पाळल्यामुळे. अरे पण तुम्ही शांत डोक्याने हा का नाही विचार करत कि पोलिसांनी काही कारवाई जर नसती केली तर त्याचा काय परिणाम झाला असता? जर प्रक्षुब्ध जनतेने काही बर वाईट केलं असतं तर तेव्हा सुद्धा तुम्ही पोलिसांनाच दोषी ठरवला असतं ना?, शांतता आणि सुव्यवस्था न राखण्याच्या नावावर?. ह्या घडलेल्या प्रकारची कोणी अशा बाजूने का नाहीन दाखल घेत आहे? का फक्त पोलिसांवरच उलट्या बोंबा का मारल्या जात आहेत? आणि प्रशासनालाहि आपलीच पडती बाजू आहे असा सिद्ध करून काय मिळणार आहे? ह्या प्रकाराला राजकारण नाही म्हणत, हा तर चक्क मडयाच्या टाळूवरील लोणी खाण्याचा प्रकार आहे.

            असाच एक प्रकार आता हल्लीच घडला आहे, आणि पुन्हा काय तर पोलिस पक्षपातीपण करतात असा फाझील कांगावा चालवला आहे.

           आता मुंबई येथे आझाद मैदानाचा ११ ऑगस्ट ला घडलेला प्रकार सगळ्यांनाच आठवत असेल, आठवत काय चांगल्याच मुठी आवळत असतील ऐकूनच, कारण काय घडल होतं आणि कोणी आणि कशासाठी केलं होतं हे सगळ्यानाचं चांगल माहित आहे. पण आपल्या सेक्युलर प्रशासनाने दरवेळे प्रमाणे याही वेळी मावळ धोरण पत्करले.

         आता ह्या घडलेल्या प्रकारावर, वाहतूक महिला पोलिस निरीक्षक सुजाता पाटील ह्यांनी मुंबई पोलिसांच्या संवाद ह्या नियतकालिकात लिहिलेल्या कवितेवरून वाद निर्माण झाला आहे. सुजात पाटील ह्यांनी, त्यांच्या कवितेत त्या दिवशी दंगल करणार्यांचा उल्लेख देशद्रोही आणि साप म्हणून केला आहे, ह्यावर त्याच दिवशी पोलिसांनी कारवाई केलेल्या एका मुस्लिम दंगेखोराने आणि काही इतर मुस्लिम संघटनेने आक्षेप घेऊन सदर कविते बद्दल तक्रार नोंदवली आहे. (यालाच चोराच्या उलट्या बोंबा म्हणतात का?) पाटील बायिनी लिहिलेल्या कवितेच्या काही ओळी ह्या खालील प्रमाणे आहेत..

हौसला बुलंद था, इज्जत लुट रही थी...
हिम्मत कि गद्दारोने अमर ज्योती को हाथ लगाणे कि,
काट देते उनके हाथ तो फरियाद किसिकी भी न होती
सांप को दुध पिलाकर बात करे हम भाई चारेकी...

             त्यांनी असं सुद्धा म्हटलं आहे कि पोलिसांनी अश्या दंगेखोरांचे हाथ कापायला हवे होते, म्हणजे त्यांनी पुन्हा कधी अशी हिम्मत केली नसती.

              अशी प्रक्षोभक कविता पोलिसांच्या नियतकालिकात कशीकाय छापली जाऊ शकते अशी आरोळी काही मुस्लिम सामाजिक कार्यकर्त्यांनी लगावली आहे आणि वकील एझाज नक्वी आणि काही मुस्लिम संघटना आता प्रकाशक आणि कवियत्री यांच्या विरोधात मुंबई उच्च न्यायालयात याचिका दाखल करणार आहेत. (बातमी)

             पण का हो?? आता कोणी freedom of speech च्या दृष्टीने का नाहीं बघत ह्या प्रकाराला? का पोलिसांना freedom of speech चा अधिकार नाही का?? कि पोलिसांना भावना नसतात? त्या दिवशी भर रस्त्यावर, मोर्च्याचा नावाखाली महिला पोलिसांशी ज्या पद्धतीने हे 'देशप्रेमी' मोर्चेकर वागले त्याला काय म्हणालं पहिले? जया  कांबळे नावाच्या गरोदर महिला पोलिसावर जे सामुहिक अत्याचार करण्यात आले ते कोणत्या सभ्यतेचा लक्षण होतं? महिला पोलिसांचे नुसते कपडेच नाही फाडले गेले तर त्यांची अब्रू सुद्धा लुटण्याचा प्रयत्न करण्यात आला, हा निषेध करण्याचा कोणता प्रकार आहे? अरे ज्यांनी  स्वताच्या आया बहिणींना सोडून तिकडे दुर्गम अशा परिस्थितीत देशाचं रक्षण करता करता आपले प्राण गमावले त्या शहीद स्मारकाला सुद्धा तुम्ही लाथेने हाणता? कसला आलाय इतका राग तुम्हाला? कसली चीड आहे तुम्हाला जी  अश्या पद्धतीने तुम्ही मांडत आहात? हा घडलेला प्रकार जेव्हा कळला तेव्हा आपल्या वातानुकुलीत घरात तंगड्या वर करून पडलेल्यांच्या पण जीवाची आग झाली असेल, तर मग का म्हणून आपल्याच खात्यातल्या सहकारी बहिणींची अशी विटंबना झाल्यावर कोणी गप्पं राहावं? लिहिली कविता, केला राग व्यक्त?.... का? असं कागदावर व्यक्त केलेला कवितारुपी राग चालत नाही का? मग कसं 'मोर्चे' काढावे का? जसे ह्यांनी काढले शांततेत?

          अरे कसलं आलं आहे हे Double standard? एकीकडे तुम्ही पोलिसांनी केवळ शांतता भंग होऊ नये म्हणून केलेल्या कारवाई वर, पक्षपातीपण म्हणून आक्षेप घेऊन चक्क पोलिसांना निलंबित करता आणि दुसरीकडे झालेल्या अन्यायावर हतबल होऊन जेव्हा काही बोलवा तर तुम्ही त्याही गोष्टीवर ताशेरे ओढून लिहिणार्याकडून 'apology letter' लिहून घेता? का? कसले उदाहरण तुम्ही मांडत आहात दिवस रात्र राबणाऱ्या त्या पोलिसांसमोर? अशेच जर अब्रूचे धिंडवडे निघणार असतील तर चांगलीच मुस्कटदाबी चालली आहे, म्हणजे सो कॉलड सेक्युलर लोकांची चांगलीच चंगळ आहे आता...

           सुजाता पाटील ह्या एक स्त्री आहेत , आणि एक स्त्रीच स्त्री वर झालेले अत्याचार समजू शकते, त्यात चूक ती काय? आणि लिहिलेल्या कवितेत त्यांनी फक्त त्या लोकांना साप म्हटलं आहे जे त्या दिवशी तिथे आझाद मैदानावर मोर्च्याचा नावाखाली पोलिसांवर अत्याचार करत होते, यात संपूर्ण मुस्लिम समाज आणि त्यांच्या भांवना कुठून मध्ये आल्या? त्या दिवशी जर असं कृत्य कोणी दुसर्या धर्माच्या व्यक्तीने केलं असतं तर त्याला हि साप असच म्हटलं असतं, त्यात लगेच जात आणि धर्म कुठून आली? आणि लगेच याचिका आणि तक्रारी कुठून आल्या?

           हे जे काही चाललं आहे ते फारच चुकीचं आहे, कारण ह्या अश्या प्रकाराने तुम्ही फक्त सत्याला दाबण्याचा प्रयत्न कराल पण ते जितकं दाबाल तितकं ते उफाळून समोर येईल... एकीकडे जर तुम्ही freedom of speech च्या नावाखाली पोलिसांना चिमट्यात पकडता तर दुसरीकडे त्याच freedom of speech च्या नावाखाली तुम्ही पोलिसांचा बचाव का नाही करत? काय आहे काय ह्या freedom of speech ची व्याख्या? जर नेहमीच पोलिसांनाच निशाणा करणार असाल तर पुढे भविष्यात हे फार घातक ठरेल.... as usual फक्त सामान्य माणसाला.

-A Stupid Common Man!!!!


(हे लिखाण फक्त जे चुकतंय ते दाखवण्याच्या दृष्टीने लिहिण्यात आलं आहे, उगीच ह्याला कोणत्याही प्रकारच्या वयक्तिक घ्रुनेशी जोडण्याचा प्रयत्न करू नये  -A Stupid Common Man!!!!)


फोटो सौजन्य - गूगल

बलुतं (Baluta) Book

            एखाद्या व्यक्तीची सहनशीलता किती असावी आणि खरच एखादा समाज केवळ जातिव्यवस्थेच्या आणि पारंपारिक रुढींच्या नावाखाली किती दुर्लाक्षितला जावा, याचा यथाकथित पुरावा, होय पुरावाच म्हणा कारण आजच्या पिढीचा नॅनो स्वप्नांपासून ते भव्य दिव्य मेट्रो पर्यंत इतका व्याप वाढला आहे कि असे विषय केवळ काही news चॅनलस मध्ये कधी तरी कुठे काही विपरीत घडलं तर चर्चा सत्राच्या नावाखाली विषयाची वाट सोडून भरकटताना दिसतात, पण त्यातही कित्येकदा दर्शक राजा रिमोट ने चेनल बदलून MTV लावताना दिसतो. तसं म्हंटल तर हि जातीव्यवस्थेची धगधगती आग अजूनही काही शमली नाहीं आहे, गावपातळीवर आज हि कुठे न कुठे हि आपलं विक्राळ रूप दाखवतेच. आज हि अशी अनेक खेडी आहेत जी काळाच्या अजूनही ५० वर्षे मागे आहेत. फक्त शहरी जीवनात हि आग काही प्रमाणात इतकी प्रभावी नाहीं किवा मुद्दामच तिला प्रभावी ठेवत नसावे, नाहींतर उगीच समाज व्यवस्थेच्या नावावर चालवलेल्या अगाळ राजकारणाचं पितळ उघडं होईल ह्याची धास्ती असावी. कारण कशा प्रकारचं हे जगणं असेल ह्याची कल्पना किवां सत्यस्थिती,  अप्रतिम अशा दया पवार ह्यांनी लिहिलेल्या दगडू मारुती पवार ह्यांच्या आत्मचरित्रातून बलुतं ह्या पुस्तकाद्वारे होऊ शकते.

         आता ह्याला मी केवळ मराठी साहित्य म्हणेन, उगीच दलित असा पोटशब्द जोडून त्याचं categorization करणं खरच पटत नाहीं. धर्म निरपेक्ष म्हणवून घेणारा माझा समाज, जाती आणि पोट जाती निरपेक्ष कधी होईल हे खरच एक कोडं आहे. मुळात समाजातील तृटी म्हणा कि नवल वाटावं असं जगणं अधोरेखित करण्यासाठीच कोणताही लेखक ते शब्दांकित करत असावा, पण त्याला सुद्धा जर दलित साहित्य आणि ब्राम्हणांनी लिहिलेल्या साहित्याला ब्राम्हसाहीत्या आणि कोणी अमक्या जातीच्याच अमकं साहित्य म्हणून जर संबोधायला लागलो तर हे जसं काही वाचनाचे प्रकार हे केवळ भाषा, कथा, काद्म्बार्या, कविता, ललित इ. च्या हि पलीकडे जाऊन पोटजाती पर्यंत (आता प्रकाराला संकोचित बोलू कि विस्तारित हि खरच एक गोची आहे.) न्हेनं विशेष योग्य वाटत नाहीं. पण काय करणार जित्याची खोड हि मेल्याशिवाय जात नाहीं असं काहीतरी म्हणतात ना.....ते योग्यच आहे.

       बलुतं हे केवळ पुस्तक नसून, दगडू मारुती पवार ह्याच्या आयुष्याचा एक विलक्षण असा आढावा आहे, तो आढावा मनाला इतका हुर्हुरी लावून जातो कि उत्तार्धात गर्दीतून जाताना हरवलेला दगडू शेवटी खूप काळ मनात रेंगाळत राहतो, येउन जाऊन विचारांची जंत्री डोक्यात घर करून ठिया मांडून बसते. काय झालं असेल त्या दगडूच  नंतर? काय तो असंतोष असेल जो शब्दरुपी फुटला.

     बोलणार्यांनी तर पुस्तकावर तोंडसुख घेतलं असं स्पष्ट लेखकाने नमूद केलं आहे पण बोलणार्यांना हे का नाहीं कळत कि कोण का उगीच आपल्या आयुष्यातल्या आणि महत्वाचं म्हणजे स्वतःच्या चार भिंतीतल्या 'गुपित' गोष्टी अशा प्रदर्शन केल्या सारखं मांडेल?  आपल्या बायकोचं कळलेलं संभ्रमित प्रकरण असो कि आपल्या आईची वेश्या व्यवसाय करणारी बहिण जमनाबाई असो, फार धाडस लागतं अश्या गोष्टी एक लेखकाने स्वीकारून लिहिणे. पण खंत ह्याचीच आहे कि तोंडसुख घेणार्यांनी अश्या संदर्भाचा बोभाटा करणे. अन्यथा त्यांना ८०% पुस्तकात समाजाचे ते कारून व हृदय हेलावणार चित्रण दिसलं नसावं का असा प्रश्न पडतो. तोंडसुख घेणाऱ्यांची संख्या, ही पुस्तक पसंतीस उतरलेल्या समीक्षक आणि वाचकांपेक्षा फारच कमी आहे, कारण विविध थरात आणि वर्गात ह्या पुस्तकाला विशेष पसंती दिली गेली आहे.

      नाहीं म्हणालं तरी दगडू चा जीवनक्रम हा वाचकाला मध्येच धक्का देण्याचे काम इतक्याबखुबीने करत असतो कि मनात विचार येतोच, 'अर्रे रे!!! .... काय हे...'. पुस्तकाच्या उत्तार्धात, जेव्हा वाचकाची अपेक्षा असते कि आता दगडूच्या कहाणीचा शेवट आला आहे तेव्हा सई च प्रकरण मनाला चटका लावून जातं. हे प्रकरण खरच इतकं अनपेक्षित आणि साळसूद पणे लिखाणात आला आहे कि दगडू आणि सई  वेगळे होणार ह्याची कल्पना सुद्धा करवत नाहीं. आणि हे असं का घडलं त्या मागे काय कारण होतं, किती खरं होतं आणि किती खोटं ह्या अश्या प्रश्नांचं काहूर डोक्यात उठतं. नकळत वाईट वाटतं ते बकुळेच, काय झालं असेल तिचं नंतर? दगडू आणि तिची भेट घडली असेल का? ह्या गोष्टींचा न लागलेला थांगपत्ताच, कुठेतरी पुस्तक संपून देखील भंडावनाऱ्या विचारांमुळे उत्तराच्या शोधात मनात काहूर माजवून सोडतो. असाच आघात करून जाते ती जमनाबाई, आयुष्याची काय खेळी असते हे जमनाबाईची शोकांतिका सांगते. का असं घडलं असेल हे कळून राहत नाहीं. जेव्हा दगडू दादर येथे जमनाबाईला बघून तिच्या वाईट परिस्थितीत तिला न बघितल्या सारखं करतो तेव्हा वाचकाला दगदूचा राग आला नाहीं तर नवल. दगडूच हॉस्टेल जीवन हे तितकंच व्यथीत करणारं आहे.... साध शिक्षणासाठी सुद्धा किती जीवाचा आटापिटा करावा लागतो हे खरच अन्यायकारक आहे. आणि तितकच व्यथीत आई मुलाचं हॉस्टेल मधलं नातं करतं. बाबासाहेबांच्या महापारीनिर्वाना नंतर स्वतःला पुढारी म्हणवून घेणार्यांचा वागणं आणि त्यांचा सावळा कारभार आश्चर्यचकित करून टाकतो, कदाचित आज हि हे असंच काहीतरी कारण असेल ह्या समाजाच्या आजच्या फार तितक्याश्या न बदललेल्या परिस्थितीला.

     पु लं नी बलुतं बद्दल लिहिताना नमूद केलं आहे कि, इतकं जीवनाचा कारुण दर्शन घडल्यावर वाचक आपसूकच माणूस म्हणून स्वतःत योग्य ते बदल माणूसकीपायी  करून घेईल. एखाद्या साहित्याचा ह्याहून हि अधिक यश आणि गौरव तो काय असेल?

     आज दगडू केवळ पुस्तकरूपी हयात असला तरी एक विचार राहतोच मनात, दगडूच्या आयुष्यातल्या सोनेरी दिवसांची झालेली हेळसांड, गेलेला काळ कधी भरून देऊ शकतो का?

                                शिळेखाली हात होता, तरी नाहीं फोडला हंबरडा
                                किती जन्माची कैद, कुणी निर्मिला हा कोंडवाडा...

SHALA by Milind Bokil (Book Review...Personal View)

आयुष्यातील गेलेले क्षण काही आपला पिच्छा सोडत नाहीत, कोणत्या ना कोणत्या वलनावर ते डोळ्या समोर उभे रहताताच! आणि नकळत आपण त्या भूतकालात रममाण होऊंन जातो, आणि ह्या आपल्या भूतकालवारी साठी कोणती ही गोष्ट कारणीभूत ठरू शकते.... 

फार दिवसांपासून मिलिंद बोकिल लिखित शाला या कादंबरी बद्दल ऐकून होतो, आधीच मी Gregory David Roberts लिखित Shantaram चे  वाचन चालू असल्यामुळे विचार केला की आधी हातात असलेल्याचा फडशा पाडेंन आणि मगच 'शाळेत जाईंन'. अस नाहीं की Shantaram  बोरिंग आहे, infact आज पर्यंत वाचलेल्या Non-Fiction मध्ये सर्वात सुंदर अस पुस्तक मी वाचत होतो, पण शाला या पुस्तका बद्दल ऐकत असलेल्या प्रशंसेमुले माजी उत्सुकता ताणली होती, शेवटी न राहून विचार केला की at least पुस्तक तरी विकत आणून ठेवावे, आणि तसही शांताराम almost संपत आल होत, मी संध्याकाळी तड़क ठाण्याच्या जगदीश बुक डेपो मधून नवी कोरी शाला घेउन आलो. घरी आल्यावर मी पुस्तकाचा एक पान उघडून पाहिल आणि फक्त एका ओलीने माजी उत्सुकता शिगेला पोहचली, पुस्तकाच्या पहिल्याच पानावर लिहिले होते, 'शाळेत गेलेल्या सर्वासाठी'. शेवटी न राहून मी शांताराम तात्पुरते बाजूला ठेवले आणि शाला वाचायला घेतले... 

पुस्तकातील कथा जशी जशी उलगडत जाते तस तस धूसर होऊंन professional आणि स्वार्थी जगात हरवलेल्या त्या आठवणी नकळत  रम्य अश्या शालेय जगात पुन्हा नेहून बसवतात. पुस्तक वाचतान अनेक असे प्रसंग समोर येतात जे नक्कीच प्रत्येक वाचकाला स्वताचेच घडलेले प्रसंग आपण वाचत आहोत अस वातल्याशिवय राहत नाहीं, आणि म्हणुनच लेखकाने आपल्या प्रातिभेचा उत्तम नमूना पुस्तकाच्या पहिल्याच पानावर 'शाळेत गेलेल्या सर्वासाठी...' अस नमूद करून दिला आहे.  कथेतील पात्र  जोशी, चित्रे, सुऱ्या, फावाद्या जरी काल्पनिक असतील पण प्रत्येक शाळेत एक जोशी आणि चित्रे असणारच, असणार काय? असतातच!!! आणि प्रत्येक शाळेत एक शिरोडकर असते आणि प्रत्येक शाळेत एक आम्बेकर सुद्धा असते. आणि याला माजी शाला सुद्धा अपवाद नव्हती आणि मी सुद्धा!!!

पुस्तकाच एक एक पान वाचताना मला अगदी शहारून येत होत, वाटत होती की हे सर्व आपल्याच बद्दल आहे, आपणच तो जोशी आहोत आणि चित्रे, सुर्र्या माज्या घनिष्ट परिचयाचे आहेत आणि शिरोडकर ही.... (हा हा हा), शाळेत असताना प्रत्येक इयत्तेत शेवटचे बेंच हे जणू आमच्याच ग्रुप साठी राखीव ठेवले आहेत अस वाटायचा, राहून राहून मला कधीतरी पहिल्या बकावाराच्या मुलांचा हेवा वाटायचा की यांच्या सारखा आपण का इमान्दारित आभ्यास करत नाहीं? पण तो शेवटच्या बेंचचा रुबाब हा मला त्या पहिल्या बेंच वरच्या मुलान्बद्दल वाटत असणार्या हेव्या पेक्षा किती तरी मोठा होता, आणि तो हेवा सुद्धा किती पोकळ होता ते आता कलतय, नुसताच शाळेत जाऊंन फक्त अभ्यास एके अभ्यास आणि घर एके घर केलेल्याना कदाचित ती शालेची खरी गम्मत कधी कललीच नसेल, किवा त्या फर्स्ट बेन्चेर्स ची गम्मतेची व्याख्याच काही निराळी असेल, आसो पण ती गम्मत आमच्या इतकी इरसाल नक्कीच नसेल, ती त्या काचेच्या भान्द्यासराखी गुलगुलीत आणि तितकीच तकलादू आसेल. कदाचित ही प्रत्येक वर्गाची रचनाच असेल की प्रत्येक वर्गात ते पहिल्या २-३ बाकावर बसून चिव चिव करणारे असावेत, आणि प्रत्येक शालेत सुरया-केवडा प्रसंग घडतच असावा. 

   

शाला मी विक्रोली ते ठाणे आणि ठाणे ते कोपेर्खैराने अश्या २-३ लोकल प्रवास फेरीत संपवली आहे, आणि तो प्रवास खरच खुप आरामदायक होता, कारण मी शरीराने जरी त्या गच्च भरलेल्या लोकल मधे असलो तरी मनाने मात्र शालेच्या 'त्या' आठवणीत हरवलो होतो, वाचता वाचता खुदकन हसायला ही येत होत आणि नकळत भरून ही येत होत. 

शाला ही एक केवल कादम्बरी नसून ती शाळेत गेलेल्या प्रत्येकासाठी आठवणींची जंत्री आहे, एक अस जग जे परत निर्माण करण हे पुढे कोंत्याच वयात आणि कितीही पैशाने शक्य होत नाहीं, तेव्हा फक्त करियर नावाच्या कठीण अशा गणिताची बेरीज असते आणि भविष्याचा गुणाकर आणि नेमकी बरोबर उत्तरासाठी मागच्या आठवणींची वजाबाकी करावी लागते.

मिलिंद बोकिल यांनी खरच एक अप्रतिम अशी शाला रेखातली आहे, ती शाला तीच शाला आहे ज्यात तुम्ही आणि मी कधी तरी वावरलो होतो. 

Hats Off to Milind Sir!!! Great Work, Indeed. 

Original or Pirated?

Does it ever happen to you? You just put on headsets and forget to play any music or any Video or Audio file while browsing laptop or computer? And even while playing some track(s), you simply let it repeating and forget to realize? Well, I am a regular victim of this symptom and I really don’t know what it is being called? But I am sure this is common among most of the users.

What bother me these days is, price of BOOKS. Yes, you heard right, I am complaining or in sophisticated way I am raising a concern. Most of the people around me are complaining about high prices of Sugar, Gram, and Oil etc. It does not mean that I am unaffected but C’mon yaar, let me take a stand for something different and something equally important. (Now don’t calculate my IQ level, I am not comparing books with all these daily basic requirements) but since all are already raising voice for bringing down the cost of basic requirement. And yes I also support this. Unfortunately, in this great nation one side we are on continues demand for hike in salary (Majdooro ki Maang) and other way outside the campus we switch this demand to zero down the cost of basic requirement (Aam Janta ki Maang). Between these two activities if we get some spare time we consider it as a leisure, and utilizing it depend upon accessibility to entertainment. As like many others I prefer reading books. Fiction, non fiction I love it.

And I won’t call it rising price, but since non raising monthly salary putting restrictions on calling book price as affordable. In some manner if buying book limits to one or two then somehow cost is affordable. But in this case also I really wonder how students, non working people manage to fulfill their thirst of reading. Somebody said library? A book library? Well I am in search of one, which is accessible in suburban areas of Mumbai and which have storage of updated fiction and non fiction titles. Nowadays we find most of the audio or music library. Book libraries are missing, and even if I find any, it won’t solve my problem completely. Reading is my passion but collecting books to my own personal library is my hobby, and I am very much sure that there are many book lovers who love collecting books as well.

Nowadays e-book term is very much famous or well known to every one that people goes clueless on asking about copy of book. Audio books neither are much promoted nor such accessible easily in Mumbai (except some talking book websites). But reading books page by page is another joy. Normal range of book pricing is 100 bucks. I am talking about general fiction titles. For non fiction it goes beyond 100. Thanks to the book fair which at least offer some 5 to 10% discount? I have seen such regular book fair at Vashi near Assam Bhavan Campus, Other than that till back to Vikhroli via Thane hardly I could find any such book fair. Why is it so? Or are we responsible or our life style that we are running away from books? I remember a one-liner I used to see it on a black board during school days when I was a student, “books are man's best friend”. So where are our best friends? (They are available on demand with high price tags). Or is it an unnecessary demand which is not suitable for today’s speedy lifestyle? Should we start promoting or supporting only e-books and talking books? Does actual reading should be limited to the morning news paper and then continue with the school/college text books?

After banging boom of blogging; tweeting and microblogging is in demand. I wonder how to express specific in microblogging. Even if I try to summaries this, it would echo like ‘please cut down the book price.’ Well Jokes apart, publishing houses might be doing well. Books might be selling on a large scale but are they covering every individual reader? Why should I borrow a book, and why should I search it in library if I can buy it? And why shouldn’t I buy it if it is affordable? Whatever calculation it may be, but book costing Rs 500, 1000, 2000 and more is not fair. I respect the writers who pen down thoughts in the form of words and I appreciate the task of publishers for spreading it to every corner of world. I expect it to be a win-win situation for everyone.

Awareness about reading is requiring in today’s society and thus increasing response will help publishing houses to bring down the cost. Other possible alternative to cut down the cost is, generating revenue by print advertisement in the books. If we don’t work on this issue wisely, it will help piracy industry to grow and mug entire publishing and writer royalty zone. Original books which costing 1000 rupees are available at fort fountain area in pirated version just for 100 to 150 rupees (i.e.$2 to $4), while famous fiction titles are available for fixed price rate of 60/- Only. No wonder if people prefer to buy these pirated versions to fulfill their thirst of reading.

All day Travel Ticket (Best Bus)

This decade is declared as ‘Download Decade’ and some believe it as an ‘Information Decade’ but utilization of information to spread it among end users is really shocking.

I hardly travel by Mumbai BEST buses; I find Local trains more convenient (in the sense of understanding the routes, not for comfort). Standing on any strange bus stop and finding any informative indicator of busses and its route is as rare as my BOSS approving any of report in first attempt. Well Jokes apart, many of the times it happens, you’ll find single Pole with small board displaying stop name & only bus route numbers. Just imagine how tough it is for new commuter to understand the exact bus route number which will help him/her to reach desired destination? Now possible alternatives would be,

1)      Asking any of the co-commuter who is also waiting for bus on same bus stop (you’ll be lucky if he is a daily traveler)

2)      Waiting alone on bus stop and keeping eye on every upcoming buses so that you can read the bus route number and last destination of it (lucky you, if your destination is same as the bus’s or else you need to know geography of city to calculate whether your destination is somewhere near by or on the way to the final destination of bus)

3)      Finally toughest alternative, make the bus stop at the stop and try to ask any of the commuter who is already sitting inside the bus or else to the conductor. You can ask the query but you should have very least expectations for proper and clear response; and in all this exercise you should be very active cuz you may need to follow up for response in bit of running motion and if it is positive and even if you ask conductor to stop, he wont. And you’ll need to run till you catch it or leave it and once you step up inside the bus you’ll find notice/warning board in Marathi adjacent to steps saying, “Chalatya bus madhe chadhu agar utaru naka, tyane tumachya jivala dhoka aahe” (do not get down or board the bus in its accelerate motion, it is dangerous and can be fatal.)

Since last 4 to 6 weeks on every weekend I need to travel by BEST bus from central to western suburb via one of the busiest link roads. Generally while asking for ticket we’ll address it to conductor by desired destination name, e.g. Dindoshi Depo or else Marol Naka etc but in my every journey I found some of the commuters were addressing it by fixed price, e.g. “ek 20 wala dena” (give one of 20Rs). I thought, in that particular bus route 20rs ticket would be of specific place where these people want to go. Next time I changed to different bus route number for same destination but via different route; surprisingly in this bus also some of the commuters were addressing ticket by its cost, Rs 20. I was very curious to ask conductor about this, but he was too busy punching tickets in that over crowded bus, so I skipped it.

Next day to solve my curiosity I phoned some of my friends who are daily Mumbai BEST bus traveler. Out of 6 friends, 5 were clueless and only one who solved it partially, said “With 20 rs ticket, I can utilize it as one day pass for N numbers of round from any locations in suburbs till midnight” in short the BEST has introduced the all day travel ticket.

When I enquired, outcome was shocking. This facility is available since last 1.5 years and surprisingly not been explained anywhere officially, just a small paper cutting in selected news papers and now even after 1.5 years of its launching not all are aware about it. Those who know about it are availing it and people like me need to solve the curiosity by struggling around. Nowhere in/on the bus or bus stop is mentioned about this facility. I appreciate the new facility but what’s the use of it, if it’s not being communicated to every one?

Please find the short details of the ‘Newly discovered’ facility. This is an unofficial circular but verdicts are true, but yet reader are requested to get the updated status by communicating ‘helpful’ conductors of BEST officials rather than waiting for them to explain us.

There are 3 basic options of this ticket; those are (City, Suburb and All zones). The ticket is valid for travel on any route (except AC buses), any number of times on the day of the ticket till midnight. Basic options are explained as follows.

1)      Option 1 (City) : Rs. 15 : Includes, from Colaba/ VT/ Nariman Point/ Churchgate till South of Mahim / Sion

2)      Option 2 (Suburb) : Rs. 20 : North of Mahim / Sion, including beyond Dahisar / Vashi

3)      Option 3 (All zone) : Rs. 25: Anywhere the BEST buses exist in the city

The ticket layout is also different from the regular ticket. Instead of punching in the ‘stop/stage number’ of the route that the passenger got in from, the conductor instead has to make 4 punches: - Date (1 to 31), Month (1 to 12), Gender (Male or Female), Year (eg: "9" for 2009, "0" for 2010, etc.)

The most important of these is the Gender. While subscribing group tickets make sure to specify the gender correctly to the number of commuters in the group. This ticket is available with all the conductors on all the regular routes.

Happy Journey.

Artistic & Fantastic

I have become laziest creature these days or else you can call moody. The incident which I am about to narrate was actually occurred on last Friday and after lot of convincing effort from my ‘second’ mind resting somewhere inside me, I have made my fingers dancing on keyboard to transform that incident on paper (e-paper yaar!!!!)

Well, It was Thursday evening, I packed my bag and left office little early for Nashik. It was one of my good friend’s paintings exhibition in Nashik, scheduled on Friday and anyhow I was insisted to attend it and encourage her talent. (“agar apane friends hi encouragement nahin denge toh dusare kya denge?” this was the invitation tag line of her over phone. I tried to recall when last I had seen any painting in real?) I reached at venue on Friday morning & no doubt hotel’s banquet hall was looking very colorful due to all the paintings. My artist friend shown and explained all the paintings, we stopped at a painting, I don’t know what to call that art either Modern or abstract. It was like this- a nude girl was showing her back standing in some flower garden surrounded & touching her knees from ground. Though that girl was showing her back yet her half face was visible and directing downwards like looking at ground & till reaching to this painting My friend had already explained me around 10-12 painting but that explanation too couldn’t help me to at least ‘read’ this painting, I said reading cuz I was just seeing it and finally I surrendered and asked her, “what’s this?”. She cleared her throat and taking the pride of disclosing the unreadable theme (at least unreadable for art illiterate like me) “Yeh Haya hain….”

“Kya hain??” I asked again. (It was tough to take off the eyes from painting)

“Yeh HAYA hain ek aurat ki…. Ek Nari ka Sharmilapan” She explained it in one line.

I was speechless, not on her painting but it was very hard to digest her explanation. If it was shyness then what the hell is she doing in floral garden and that too naked? But I dint make this feedback vocal, (her parents, uncles-aunties, brothers, sisters all were present and I was all alone.) I avoided risk; after all I wanted to reach my city safe and sound.

“Wah!!! Kya khub soch hain tumhari..” I commented and looking at exit door moved to next painting.

Somehow I dared to see all the paintings and listing to it’s contradict explanation but real irritating task came when I been introduced to each and every member of her family. I simply couldn’t restrict and after toughest panel interview when I checked my cell screen it was indicating 3:47 PM. Ohh shit,….. I had a reservation for 4’c clock train from Nasik to Mumbai and it was impossible to reach station in 13mins.

Now how to return to Mumbai in comfort was a big question to me, and on this situation I received around 22 suggestions from 11 family-members, and I made believe that if I want comfort (sitting place in train) I should catch 09:30 train on same day and additional plus point is that I will easily get reservation and if not then I need not to worry since at night time most of the trains will be empty towards Mumbai, resultant it would be more comfortable journey rather than chasing at evening, so till then I should be with them and ‘enjoy’ the exhibition; and foolish me, I agreed.

After balancing my patience level and cursing myself for missing my train I waited till 8PM and finally waved goodbye to my artist friend and her artistic family. I came out in hotel lobby praising god for helping me in safe rescue. Along with these ‘lovely’ memories and new awating challenges I was on the way to station to catch my ‘comfortable’ transport, but still time had sworn on to screw me till the possibility. I came to know that there is no such train on 9.30 and next scheduled train is on 11.00 but that too around 30 mins late.

I was really not in a situation to think over it. I took cup (glass) of tea from stall and literally sat on platform, (on ground actually) sipping that tasteless tea and waiting for train for which I had no reservation.

About an hour passed and I was still sitting on platform & looking around. On same platform just about 50 meters away a girl was standing, beautiful and modern, HOT infact. A good figure, with nice dressing and color sense, tight fitting Capris with white fitting top with Micky mouse’s picture on it (ahh!! Lucky Micky…). Her haircut was wavy with burgundy color touch. A sunglass/day-night was hooked to her capri’s belt holder, and wearing high pencil heel sandals. In short this girl was hotter than the tea I had just an hour ago and pretty enough to hold attention of tired passengers crawling on platform.

Just murmuring some code words this girl removed her wallet and took out a coin and stepped on… ohh it was a weight checking machine. Now this act was hiding her face from my view and I was desperate to go near to weight checking machine from other side to ‘face her face’, but since I was tired and still sitting on platform I preferred to observe her from the place I was sitting. After an attempt; machine shown some flashing lights, some weird voice played (I could hear it away from 50mtrs) a card ticket came out, girl looked at it something disbelieving expressions, she kept that ticket in her jeans’s back pocket and removed her wallet again and took out another coin (I was puzzled, what for this now?) but this time she bent little (??!@#@$$$@*****) touched her feet and after little effort removed her right foot’s bigger and heavier sandal than her hand, same way other too. Collected the pair of beautiful footwear in her left-hand, this attractive and ‘very smart’ babe inserted a rupee coin with right hand in machine. Again light flashed, roller rolled, weird voice played and this time little later another ticket came out of machine in tray. She collected it, read it and with right hand swinging half the back with cringe fist yelled something with happiest expression…. Probably it was “YESSS!!!”

I just couldn’t read the tickets but I could sense that there was some difference in weight between both the attempts but till now I simply couldn’t calculate how can it be possible and how this beautiful babe was without brain that made her believe the removing sandel from feet & holding it at hand will reduce her weight….. of course it was magical machine but I was amazed on her intelligence that made her sense machine’s magic. She surely dint notice me but I was sitting on platform and after her second attempt I burst into laughing and till I reach Mumbai I was hardly controlled.

I thought to check my weight too, but horrible honking smashed in my ears and my train arrived on platform, situation was still worst for me, rather than getting vacated; train over crowded with more passengers and with no choice I got pushed in compartment called ‘GENERAL’. My right foot was on floor and bent in knee while left was untouched and floating in a tight grip of two people’s crushing body, my one hand was raised and moving like flashing light in a search of some handle to hold (but it was unavailable) and other hand was busy in rescue of my bag from two other squeezing bodies. I was unable to see outside, after sometime I lowered my right hand took out my cell, it was indicating new sms, I checked the time; it was 11:57PM. Message was from my artist friend,

It read “Hope you have reached safe to Mumbai…..”