A Whole New World



Meri Jaan,

As all of us usher into another year, I hope 2012 was a great year for most of you! If not, lets plan to make the next - one of Da best !

For me, it was a mixed bag - "thoda agadi - thoda pichadi". Another year of Sandy storms, deadly tornadoes, vulture volcanoes, and rainy tsunami's combined with blooming charm of spring and lots of fun with kids and family.

Is'nt that fun "ke chakke pe chakka chalta hi rahta hain" - life never stops - and that is universal !

On the global front, it was good to see Obama back in his chair that seemed empty to good'ol Clint. Mitt - better luck next time !

If last year's music download charts pointed to Kolaveri, this year Gangnam style raked the moves and moolah. I think lets all go "One Direction". On Desi front, Himesh rocked the charts with Go Govinda and Hukkah Bar.

While at one end, the Royal family celebrated the Queen's birthday and jumped with joy on her skyfall with 007 into the Olympic stadium, Vegas and media celebrated Prince Harry's "Shades of grey" pics.

Back home in apna swades, events of fame and shame kept the papers and TV shows running. It was a year full of shame on Media, Media, Media !

While the law and order's sad and pathetic state continued, desi movies cheered over the top cop movies like Rowdy Rathore, Ek Tha Tiger, Dabbang and likes. If we celebrated the Olympic victory medal of Mary Kom, there were some horrific and barbaric acts towards women in general.

Meri Jaan, its time now to stand up and fight for the real reasons. We dont want countries to create oil pipelines to support their own agenda's, leaders need to stop the blasting of missiles to show military might or kill innocent souls to help the weapons lobby. Protests need to transform into actions and decisions.

Lets hope that 2013 ushers in a world less dominated by PIPA, PIPPA and SOPA! Lets all stop the Political Murdoch's of tomorrow from murdering the essence of information flow. Lets see enforcement and implementation of stricter Gun laws to prevent the KONY-ism of life and its cutest forms. Corrupt souls need to be punished severly. Lets all do the right thing to make our world a safer place to live !

Till we meet next time, stay safe, stay happy, and lets welcome the New Year with lots of Lo-eve !!!

- Pankaj Purohit

Festive Times are here again!

Meri Jaan, as my 6yr old popped a modak in her mouth and shouted "Ganpati Bappa Morayya" on the top of her voice - around the colony, in the bylanes of Shaniwar Vada- Pune and Shivaji Park- Mumbai, she asked me a question - Dad - why we never had so much fun when we were in the US?

I looked at her with a slight smirk - why is that Jamba? We had so much fun during the barbeque parties in the backyard, the basement get-togethers, picnic in the county parks, camping trips, Disney, Florida, Vegas, the ski trips to the mountains, the beach, theme parks - there were endless things?

She said - yes, but there was never so much fun and happiness with everyone shouting and dancing and screaming together?

I started laughing - I knew what she wanted to say - the festive aura around her was mesmerizing.

People - all nationality, old, young, men, women, kids, dressed to their festive tees - in rickshaws, on foot, on "thelas-and gaadis"; dancing, throwing colors and carrying Ganpati murti's on their hands and heads - screaming "Bappa-Bappa Morayaa" !!!

These people were not worried that someone was about to call 911 - or shout "Go away to your country", or even individuals trying to say - "hey this is a calm neighborhood" lets not shout our "GOD's" name to offend some other community or nationality !

These people were FREE and the festive spirit was not related to a specific human race in general, these were people of India - enjoying festival as it should be !!

As I looked at my kid taking lead on the vocal screeching alongwith all her cousins, uncles, aunts, grandparents and all others - I knew my work was done to some extent !!

Meri Jaan, as some of you already know that I moved back from the US - 3 yrs back - the core idea was simple - wanting to give my kid the basic feel of living in Des make her see - what family and festivals mean - IN India.

This was it Buddy! Every country has some specific event or festival that cannot be recreated in any other country, backyard, basement or locality.

Tomorrow you will venture towards your dreams, your world, your spirits, but this you will never forget - The Festive Spirit of India.

Enjoy this Jamba - walk up to the nearest shop to grab some chameli ke phool, fresh sev-chole, fresh nariyals, rangoli colors, paani-poori, bhel, vada-paav, misal, pop those sweets and enjoy the REAL zing and SCREAM - for no one should stop you from screeching the environment with those nagadas and dhol in the environment - Dance and Scream beta - Ganpati Bappa Morayaa !!!!

Meri Jaan, till we meet next, if you live abroad, please dont let your kids miss out on THE REAL things in life, let them be free, have fun, let them atleast fall in love with the spirit of India and I promise they will stay in loeve !!

- Pankaj

Where are the Mayans?

Meri Jaan, sincere apologies for not been regular on this blog. I try and email most of you that send me those stay-in-touch emails. So please do not stop sending those wonderful emails and I will try my best to respond to all.

Not an excuse, but I have been really tied up with my li'l one - she's almost 9 months now. Time cruzes by and all we can do is cruise along.

I really needed a break and took my little one to a snowy adventure amidst a trip to the mountains. I visited this small town called Manali -in Kulu valley - in a state called Himachal Pradesh - in India.

For some of you "Khopdi-me-bheja-fry" types, Manali is the 'Home of Manu'. Manu is supposedly a  mythological character who survived when the world was drowned in Flood. He then came to Manali and recreated human life. (2012 post doomsday anyone??)

For Mountain and ski lovers, Manali is an out of the world experience - comparable to Aspen, Quebec, Alberta, Chamonix-Mont Blanc in the Alps or Vermont to name a few. Serene mountains filled with snow terrains almost make you feel as if in Paradise.

Breathtaking views of mountains, the valley, the spring river and those terrains takes you to a world where time just stops.

Well, taking about Paradise, its almost mid 2012 and where is the storm people? Where be the Doomsday?

Where are the Mayans? Oho- not Maya's followers - they are still trying to hide those statues in the park.

While Mayawati has really been unhappy as some are predicting Maya's doomsday, our house maid was very happy. Someone told her that Madhuri has come back to India coz the world is going to end.

I am sure she keeps singing "Mayan Re Mayan Munder pe teri bol rahaa Al-Nino and Al-Kaiga, Madhuri aagayee Mumbai-India soche ke aaya doomsday !!!"

Anna Hazaare is another one who must be really happy - hamare andolan ka itna prabhaav hain ke Ramdev baba ki dhotee kya, sarkaar hi kya - duniya hi chalee jaayegee !!

Lots of others who must really be happy with the doomsday predictions like Tendlya - arre Apna Sachin yaar. Finally no one will ask him - Sach? tum retire kab hoge? Duniya hi retire hone waali hain - Ailaaa !!!

Meri Jaan, as the Doomsday clock inches closer, whether North Korea launches a nuclear test, Israel invades Iran, Earthquakes shatter the world, Half of Africa dies for lack of food and basic needs, Obama gets re-elected or the world economy slides and the world moves towards doom or gloom; The good news is that Angie and Brad are getting married, Megan is still hot, J-lo is adopting, and while India may not win a single medal, lets all prepare for the World Olympics.

Life and the spirit of life must go on !! Spring has just set foot and the Tulips are in full bloom, so lets all Partaaay, have lots of fun, stay close to our loved ones and ALWAYS STAY IN LUV !!!

- Pankaj Purohit