Uncertainties Over Delhi

Hi Folks

It has been uncertainties all the way this week. Future of the Nuclear Deal; future of the UPA Govt at the Centre; the way inflation is heading; the speed at which the oil prices are heading noth and the stock market south; progress of the Monsoons; and what's in store for India in the short term and long, for those who love it.

My answers: The deal is not bigger than India.The UPA should hold because even a poltical novice like me knows that if the polls are held any time soon, the BJP will have a huge advantage mainly due to price rise. The future of India is good because the country has remained unshaken on the democratic path, despite several ups and downs.Because Indians are basically peace loving and God Fearing peple. But we have to move away from superstitions, religious intolerance,"Mobraj" castism, and bring down the birth rate by aiming for 100 % literacy, particularly of our female population.Each one of us has to do one's bit to improve matters, instead of looking to and blaming the Govt agencies.India shall bounce back. It is a matter of time.Does it sound a la Kalaam?

"Umas"( humidity) punctuated by brief cool spells of rain best descibes the weather conditions over Dilli the past week.My guess is that the monsoons are good and the early Kharif crop should bring relief by Dussehra - Diwali.

An article written by my sister in a Home and Parents Magazine of Mumbai on N. Lal ICS brings back memories of perhaps the most unforgettable character out of my childhood.Actual name Nathi Lal- profession- domestic help in a large upper middle class ex- Zamindar family of "Munshis"( Civil Servants of UP).The ICS stands for "Indian Children Service" given to him by my cousin also a Civil servant ( IRS). Very apt I think- looking at the devotion, love and care with which he brought up our large family of six siblings in Meerut.

His family background remains an enigma to this day. He made us believe that his father was a well- to- do " Kazanchi" ( probably Accountant but literal meaning Treasurer) of the Maharajah of Bikaner. He was spoilt due to his father's immense wealth: fell in love with " Shyama" a ravishingly beautiful nautch-girl who he wanted to marry. His father naturally disapproved. So Nathi Lal,smitten by Shyama's beauty, fled from home and eloped with her.The honey- moon was a romantic journey through the most idyllic spots, paid for by money and jewels he stole from his father. He related unbelievable tales of how he made tea for his beloved Shyama when she expressed the desire for a cuppa by lighting a fire of currency notes.No surprise that the money did not last long.

This romantic love story had a sad ending. Shyama fell terminally ill, and died in his arms.After that he went berserk-wandered in the wilderness joining a band of " Aghori", Sadhus ( a Tantrik cult which leads the most defiled life- living at the Burning Ghats, eating jungle produce, drinking urine and eating excreta), in their quest for inner peace and tranquility.Nathi Lal's father discovered his lost son in this state of utter disillusionment and despair.Why he turned to my "Tau" ( father's elder brother), who was Sessions Judge of the District, is not quite understood by me. But Tau who already had enough help at his home, turned to his younger brother, my father who was also posted in the same district of western UP. Nathi Lal was I believe employed as a tennis ball picker in the Officers Club patronised by both Pitajee and Tau.One day, he somehow ventured from the Club to my father's home. There he got hooked on the happy home atmospherics. That's the best I can do to explain N Lal's entry into the Chowdhry household, relying, on my adolescent ears.

Nathi Lal had extraordinary qualities of head & and heart He was a friend,philosopher and guide to all seven of us, in varying degrees. I may be wrong but I feel that I got the maximum out of his abundant love and care. He kept us all smiling and in good cheer while feeding us, reaching us to our schools and bringing us our lunch in school buying sweets and fruits, often out of his own pocket,on the way on the bicycle or cycle-Rikshaw that he rode all day long.

He was the first to wake up and last to go to bed. If you add our old grandparents who also lived with us, to the seven children, the range of the chores he ran for all of us was truly amazing.He would often take cudgels on our behalf with not only our parents but also with our teachers in school. Much to my embarrassment, he would occasionally burst into my class room with " Excuse me Madam but I must feed my Baba since I could not reach in time to catch the Lunch Break". He would mock at my rebukes at indulging in such antics.He was proud of his fluency with the English lanuage.

My brother and I had the happiest of times accomanying N Lal to the neighbourhood "Ram Leelas" afer dinner, when we would be seated in the front row of VIPs, and he would buy us "Teer Kamaans" and sweets at the stalls. Our young chests would fill with pride when the drama on stage was interrupted to annouce cash rewards mostly to the artist playing " Hanumanji". I also loved accompany him to the 'Halwai" shops for the "Kulhar" milk and Barfi treats .

He did go home to Mathura once in year to catch up with his family and returned frequently before time with lots of goodies like the special " Pedas, " Khurchan" and " Kulia " sweets ( "Rabri" set in tiny earthen "Kulhars") which all loved. Much later during one of my visits to Mathura, I looked for N Lal's " Kulias' all over, but couldn't find them. No one knew what local variety of sweet I was talking about!

N Lal ICS served us for over three decades till after I joined service. He fell ill and was forced to join his family in his last days. I used to receive his Post Cards full of love and grief at having been forced to leave our home. Also pleading to send him money to tide over the difficult financial position of his children to which I always responded as best as I could. Then one day, I heard from my parents that he was no more. I think it was 1973.

Could trace two pictures of Nathi Lal which I scanned and uploaded. I think in the picture of the younger N Lal, he has my eldest sister in his caring and solid lap. Hope you are able to see the nowblurred B & W pictures of my vivid childhood memories.There two other picture of Lagestromia India shrub in full bloom on the Satya Marg roundabout and a Gajania bloom in glorious yellow at home.


That's all for this week.

Lots of love and luck from your Desi Maali in Delhi













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Earliest Monsoon Over Delhi

Hi All,

Couldn't do my Blog last week because the Internet at home was down last week end.

But here I am again this week with my lead news item from Dilli, which all of you must have heard or read several times over - the Monsoons have broken over Delhi, earliest in living memory, after the wettest month of May. What is this, if not climate change, I ask for want of a better reaction!

While the respite from the oppressing Delhi summer heat is welcome, I am not sure that it's all for the better. In the absence of the " Loo"( Hindi not English),mosquito fatality did not take place. The persisting humidity and stagnant water puddles all over the city are ideal setting for them to become amorous and intimate. One may, therefore, expect outbreak of the dreaded "Dengue" fever. So those of us who didn't escape to the hills in May and June, be prepared to flee from Dilli, if the Dengue outbreak takes place in autumn.

The " Andhees and " Toofans" preceding the Monsoons had already taken a heavy toll of the Mango ( my favourite fruit on earth) crop in the north. And now the Eastern and north Eastern parts of the country are being affected by floods!

The price of Crude oil which has not stopped galloping for a year now ( what stamina of the oily skinned Stallion)), and the world wide shortage of food grains have added to our woes.Spiralling inflation and prices of essential commodities is affecting the masses,as also the poll prospects of the ruling UPA alliance.Therefore, we cannot go ahead with the Indo- US nuclear deal which all believe will help us tide over our huge energy deficit to some extent.

The small increase in petroleum products retail prices, which was unavoidable, has added fuel to the raging inflationery fire. No one seems to know how to control it!

The US economy's recession, set off by the sub prime factor has also affected our share markets and the financial sector. Every one says- these are cyclic phenomena.. But none is willing to venture to forecast, when things will improve.

The Congress party and its Allies want the "Deal", but do not want early polls. Their Left parters do not want the deal so as not to be seen siding with the US( with an eye on the Muslim votes)- but also do not want to face the electorate. So we are stuck yet again at a crucial stage of our developing into an economic world entity, largely because no party leadership has the kind of credibility to carry the masses with them to tell them "We know what's good for you. So vote for us if you trust us."

Looks like the BJP may have to wait another year, before they regain power at the Centre, which they appear poised to, with their mouths watering ...

But let us hope for better times for all of us.

The copious rains have washed Delhi bright green. The " Sawani" ( Sawan or Shravan is the month heralding the Monsoons as per the Hindu calender) - Crepe Martyl ( popular English name and Lagestoemia Indica ( Botanical) shrubs are in full bloom all over the city. The ones on the Moti Lal Nehru Place round about are the prettiest. The poor Kochias which were also at their peak green glory are in a mess- state of shock over the monsoons early arrival! I am carrying illustrative photos of the Sawanis, the Kochias,the inscrutable ( "Besharam") Bougainvalleas and a few other flowers flowering in my home garden, for the non "Maalis" to understand what I am talking about. There is also a chance picture of my own with the Prime Minister and friend Jyoti at a recent Reception in the capital.

Speculation over the fate of the Indo- US Nuclear Deal has overtaken the spot light of the local media over the Arushi( NOIDA) murder case, which largely remains unsolved, despite our premier Central Investigating Agency taking over. But Vijay Shankar and his excellent team of officers will, I am sure, crack the case soon to maintain the fairly high standards of investigation which the CBI has built over years.

Well folks so much for this week. Trying to keep my blogs short and readable at one go, as advised by a friend.

Take care and have fun

June 8 2008 Delhi

Couldn't write my Blog last week-end, because we travelled to Bangalore and Mysore.Both were nice and cool,with plenty of rains.
Our arrival in Bangalore coincided with the Swearing ofthe first BJP Govt South of the Vindhyas.Our Flt landed at the new airport on Bangalore - Hyderabad road, a good hour's drive from the city. Tried to enter the city to meet a friend for dinner, but gave up half -way, beacuse of traffic jams caused by jubilant BJP supporters flocking the city from the rural areas.Stayed at the Jalahalli BEL Guest House set out in a beautifully designed garden. Went out to eat at Neelam resturant close to Ramaiah( Engineering & Medical) College, especialising in Andhra cuisine . It was packed with students and tourists, guzzling beer and tucking in heaps of hot Andhra curries poured over steamed rice on a late Friday evening.

The drive from Bangalore to Mysore early next morning was pleasant with our usual halt for " Tiffin" at Kamath restaurant midway setb in a pleasing rural ambience. It was packed with almost 200 customers being served by 'Dhoti Kurta'- clad waiters with various south Indian delicacies.
It was almost noon by the time we reached the Farmhouse on Mysore -Hunsur ( Mangalore) road on the outskirts of Mysore,where my father in law lives with his son and family. The Essar petrol station started by my brother in law about one year ago was locked up . It could not cope with the highly subsidised rates at which the Govt owned gas stations sell petrol and diesel. The garden and my brother- in- law's "aviary" and dog kennels were however, doing well,as also the rest of the family trying to lead their Kanpur life in the deep south.

On Sunday, I went around some nearby Nurseries, ate farm fresh fruits and rested at my "Sasural". Early Monday morning,set out for Bangalore and came back to Delhi late evening.

Delhi weather continues to be very unusual, with a persiestent cloud cover and intermittent rain.

Yesterday(Saturday) Shailey and I spent almost three hours in Jan- Path and CP, shopping and looking around. Picked up some music CDs. The Cottage Industries Emporium continues to be our favourite place. Some one selecting the merchandise there, still does a good job of a government enterprise, in the most un- govt activity- selling handicrafts. It is one of the oldest relics of Delhi's attempts to show case the arts and crafts of India, soon after Independence. I feel proud that our family contibuted to this effort in no small measure with Ratna Ji and her husband Mr Fabri designing the interiors of the Cottage Industries Emporium for several years since its inception in the early Fifties.Old Delhiites will remember that the sophisticated and artistically inclined met at the CIE in the fifties thu seventies.


Today ( Sunday), we saw "Sarkar Raj",the new Ram Gopal Verma release starring the entire Bachchan family, minus Jaya, at the City Walk PVR in Saket, after a south Indian meal at "Naivaidyam" in Hauz Khas Village. The outing was with the Sawhney's our Samdhis,thanks to the energy & initiative of Shubhi, their young daughter.
" Sarkar Raj" very well acted ,but the story line was weak . So it tended to drag.

Sorry no photos this time,although the city panorama over Delhi looks very green and fresh. But I have the Langda mangoes, Muzzaffar Pur Leechis and Bombay Alphonsoes to look forward to the coming week.

A very happy week ahead.

Love