Faltering Onset of Summer Over Delhi

Hi There,

Since our return to Delhi, last week the weather has been playing tricks with hot and dry first have, followed by cloudy and wet last three days. The thunderstorm and heavy spells of rain on two consecutive nights has brought much relief to the city dwellers, but caused havoc to the ripened standing wheat crop over most of north India.

The damage to the standing crops by the unseasonal heavy rains have made the overall picture of vegetables and food grain prices even more grim. The Govt faces a serious challenge from the sharply rising inflation. The fact that nature is beyond the control of the Govt and the shortage of food grain and rising cost of crude oil is a worldwide phenomenon is unlikely to blunt the flak faced by the UPA Govt at the centre for the spiraling prices of essential commodities hitting the poorer sections of society the hardest.

There are umpteen suggestions by eminent economists and polticians every day on how to bring down the rising trend of prices. But none of these hold out any hope of an effective check on the spiral.

The drop in the mercury and rains have gladdened garden enthusiasts like me since it gives a fresh lease of life to the fast disappearing winter annual blooms. The Petunias seem to last the longest and even the the giant Dahlias and Sylvia's are still in bloom, although their peak is over.The two pictures posted on this blog of hybrid Petunias in a window box in my office ( grown from Gold Smith - US seeds germinated by me) and double Dahlias ( from seedlings from Calcutta in tiny earthen pots bought from Rajdhani Nursery in Jorbagh)in a bed at home, are proof of this unusual spectacle at this time of the year.

Gardeners all over Delhi are getting ready to plant the Portulacas, Zinnias , Cosmos, Gilardia, Sunflowers and Kochias, the only varieties known to survive the scorching heat of a Delhi summer which is round the corner.

The "Raat Ki Rani" tree in the front lawn at our home has started spreading its heady sweet aroma as the nights fall. The fragrant "Belas" on bushes are also beginning to bud and blossom. The glorious yellow "Amaltash" ( Laburnum or Casia Fistula) Gulmohur, Jacaranda and Bauhanias " Kachhnaar, Ticoma Argentinium. Tebubea Roseas,the other beautiful summer flowering variety of trees growing in abundance at round abouts and city parks all over Delhi will start spreading their magic from next month. For garden lovers the "Phoolon Ki Bahaar" never really leaves the capital city of Hindustan. But you must have the time and eye for them.

The Navaratras are due to begin tomorrow ( April 7)when the devout Hindus shall start observing their own version of fasting with only certain varieties of food- grains and vegetables are allowed to be eaten for nine days. This is fairly easy, as compared to the rigorous regime to be followed by the devout Muslims during the month long fasting in Ramzaan.Another significant contrast between Indians professing the two prominent faiths of the Sub- Continent is that while the vast majority of Muslims young and old, Sunnis and Shias strictly observe fasting during Ramzaan, only a hand full of Hindus living in the northern parts of the country observe the much more liberal fasting code prescribed for Navratras and other one day Hindu festivals.Any analysis or interpretaion of this sharp divergence??

There was very impressive gathering at the celebration over dinner hosted by our good friends the Mathurs to welcome their first grandchild with 90 % participation by guests, despite the torrential rains in the afternoon preceding the happy event. A reflection of the strong ties which bind families and friends in India -that was Hindustan and Bharat!

Jai Hind and God bless till next week

I am visiting Honk Kong after almost 18 years.Was here as a tourist with a friend on our way back from the US in January 1990 for three nights.This time it is to visit Our elder son Abhiram and daughter-in-law Anuja who have lived here for about 9 months, after migrating from Washington DC.

Hong Kong has changed a lot. First the new airport in Lantau Island- very modern and much bigger, as compared to the airport on the main HK island where I landed last.
Also, the island looks cleaner,and better organised in terms of the public commute systems. Many new skyscrapers now adorn the central parts known as the commercial centre.
Btw, HK was a British Colony when I came last and now it is a Special Administrative Region( SAR) of China for the past one decade.It was bursting with business activity then, and continues to do so even today. There are fewer Britishers to be seen around though.Most of them left for home- not quite comfortable to continue to live in Communist HK, I guess.
The population is overwhelmingly Chinese with a noticeable floating population of tourists,and Business Executives from Mainland China,other parts of Asia, Europe and America. These Corporates are conspicuously seen strutting around in their formal or semi- formal attires, particularly around the Business District in Central HK.

The glitz and the glamour has been built around new Hog Kong with shining glass exteriors and the leading Fashion Designer brands flashing everywhere. There is very little of it's colonial past visible. Possibly by design, the new regime has tried to brush its "Western Imperialist" past under the new "progressive" carpet.

Dearth of English knowing people on the roads is a major handicap for tourists and visitors while dealing with Taxi drivers and shop keepers.This phenomenon, I wasn't able to figure out. Why the British who taught us Indians their mother tongue so assiduously failed to do so in HK? Was it an unwillingness on the part of the native Chinese to take to the language of the " uncivilized" occupiers of their mother land or lack of effort on the part of the rulers??

An overnight visit to Macau Island, an erstwhile Portugese colony and now like HK also an SAG of China has ben the high point of our visit. It was an hour's ride on a hovercraft from HK. There is more of Macau's colonial past to be seen, though much of it remains hidden behind the Las Vegas like gambling hotels, where a huge Chinese tourists flow, keeps trying their luck.The gambling instinct among the Chinese is quite pronouned, I am told. But the strict laws on the Mainland do not allow them to surface.

Real estate values and rentals in HK's central district surpass even Manhattan's. The lack of space in the main Island keep pushing prices up. Day to day expenses in Hk are much the same level as in NY, with less spent on the commutes beacause of cheaper taxi, bus and train fares .

A visit to the "Ladies Market" in Mong Kok and the adjoining Flower Market was a treat in terms of the variety of the merchandise at very affordable prices as compared to the shops in central district. But beware of the" enormous haggling" involved and the fairly aggressive salesmanship of the local ladies selling handcrafted items.

Well two more days of our very relaxed vacation in Hong Kong with our son and daughter in law trying their best to make it as memorable as possible so that we come back again and again - in a competitive mode with NY where our younger son and daughter in law live.

Bye and a very Happy belated Holi.

Delhi Diary Dated March15,2008

"Beware the ides of March" the Soothsayer had warned Julius Ceaser!But why should we?

My late sister Minoojji,perhaps the liveliest among the 7 Chowdhry children, was born on this day. I used to tease her that Shakespear had foreseen her arrival and had issued a general warning through his immortal writing!I miss and pray for her today.

After my return from a short trip to Mumbai last weekend,to my suprise, Delhi had become much cooler. Cool bracing winds continue to make the mornings and evenings very pleasant.

The winter annuals are also at their peak. My 9 months old home garden is turning into a riot of colours.

This morning, I had finished with my weekly oil massage by Ram Kumar, ITBP barber who has helped me indulge in this luxury for a tip of a mere Rs 100 for about 15 years incessantly pleading for his several realives to get some Govt job or the other, occasinally reminding me when my supply of imported ( Neuteregena) Body oil stock was running low and he may have to switch to the smelly and sticky mustard oil unless Bhaiyya Log ( my sons) living abroad replenish the stock.

Could hear a commotion among the domestic helps, security staff and the part time Maali . Lakhu, our domestic of twenty years standing was asserting his auohority by informing the Security guy on the gate, "Thehro Hum aake dekhte hain". "What is it" I asked. " Koi Madam ayi hain or garden ki photo lena chahti hain" he answered me in his usual reverent tone. I stepped out and found a young lady with a camera at the door step with her digital camera. " I lived here a decade ago with my parents( father IAS)- got married ( to an IAS) in a Mandap under that tree. Have returned to look at the house whenever on my visits to Delhi out of nostalgia, but never found the garden looking so beautiful" she explained, with nostalgia written all over her face.
" Thank you", I said with a sense of pride expanding my aging chest. "You may click as many pictures as you please" I responded cheerfully. My day was made!!

The other day, as I left office to collect my wife from her school where she teaches or our usual lunch get-togetheras at home, she frantically called on my cell phone. " I won't be free for another 20 minutes so you go home and start your lunch, unless you want to spend 15 minutes at the Priya complex (adjoining her school in Vasant Vihar)". OK I said and asked to stop the car near Priya Cinema.

Perhaps for the first time in many years I found that I was at a fovourite hang out of the young in Delhi all by myself. I walked along leasurely observing activity all around me at the busy shopping , eating and entertainment complex.
It was indeed very fascinating to see youngsters of all hues enjoying themselves during the lunch hour. From school kids to college students. What I found intresting was that there were two distinct layers of the Delhi youth mostly in denim jeans and T shirts, all enjoying themselves- the richer kids inside the posh retaurants like Punabi By Nature, TGI Friday, Macdonalds, Nirulas, Barista etc and the not so affluent, equally happy tucking in the Momos, Chinese , South and North Indian cusine at the numerous kiosks selling adjoining the posh shops and eating places. The added advantage at these kiosks was that you could guide the cooks on exactly how much Masala and chillies you wanted in your mouth watering dishes being prepared in the open air.The weather was balmy and the mixed aromas of the far eastern and Indian cuisine filled the air. There were certainly signs of the new buying power of the young in India's capital city.

Sunday was spent exploring Gurgaon and Manesar on Delhi Jaipur road with old friends Dilip and Sushil looking for investment opportunities for our NRI kids. The explosion of construction of swanky commercial buildings on both sides of the NH 8 was amazing and thrilling.

Took pictures of our home garden on my return home.
Will try to post a few on this blog for your viewing pleasure.

My next weekly blog will hopefully be about my impressions of Hongkong which I am visiting after 15 years.
visit Delhi

Istanbul Diary

Impressions of a first time traveller from New Delhi to Istanbul( Turkey)- a brief stop over lasting a day and night- end February

A liberal Islamic city with a well preserved history of its arts and crafts by monuments of the ancient Roman ( Byzantine), Muslim ( Ottoman)and modern Turkey ushered by Kamal Ataturk,the Father of the Nation around 1932.

A very touristic place with a super Int Airport and beautifully laid out lawns, gardens along the 15 Km drive to the old city CAREFULLY CRAFTED TO attract tourist traffic from America, Europe and Japan.Thre were very few Indian tourists, but the trickle has started.

The Blue Mosque built by Sultan Mahmud II, Santa Sophia, a Church converted to a mosque - reconverted to a secular monument by Kamal Ataturk are truly beautiful pieces of medieval Islamic and Christian architecture and interior adornments. The royalty which created these masterpieces must have indeed been very rich and powerful.Were they created to overawe the populace?

Istanbul is a very large city skirting the Phosphorous and the Mediterranean seas - a Gateway between Europe and Asia. There are clearly demarcated Asian and European parts of Istanbul! The dilemma the Turkish people continue to face, visible on its roads and by- lanes and politic is - are they Eurpean or Asian- membership of the European Union is eluding them but it is an impotrtant a NATO base, while maintaining good relations with the Islamic world led by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
All that has to change.


Cobbled roads over undulating surfaces , crowded Bazaars selling precious stone jewellery, hand-woven carpets, blue ceramic tiles, dry fruits, sweets ( Turkish Delights),and endless chains of Cafes and restaurants selling a variety of Mediterranean foods, especially Donner Kebabs ( layers of variety of meats cooked off slow fires sliced and mixed with fresh salads and sauces).

The Grand Bazaar, in the heart of the Old City is definitely worth couple of visits to enjoy the rich variety of handcrafted stuff being sold ny shopkeepers young and old - all sipping 'Turkish Chai' or Coffee from gold- rimmed glasses being vended by hordes of 'Chai wallas' all smoking cigarettes. I don't think I have seen a more 'lit up' city in public anywhere. The innumerable 'butts' noticeably stuck in the crevice's of the cobbled roads are deftly sweeped by expert hands and brooms, so as not to put the tourists off!!

But shopping in the Grand Bazaar is tough. Haggling by hard sellers and soft buyers like me are most likely to end in 'loosing deals' most of the times, unless the visitor is accompanied by a local friend.

Because of the apparent boom in tourism, every second house in Istanbul has been coverted, either into a handicrafts shop, or a restaurant.

The few Turkish people I had the occasion to interact with, did not appear a very happy lot. Wonder why? Despite the claims being made on the Turkish Airlines videos on the flight back home to Delhi of Turkey being the sixth fastest growing economies in the world, I was left a bit unconvinced.The controversy around the present Govt allowing ladies to wear scarves ( Hijabs), a symbol of Islamist society conservatism, was prominent in the English print media of Turkey in the morning editions of papers.

I have come back a bit confused- is Turkey a buoyant secular society or is it inhibited by lack of liberal education, and being sucked into the fundamentalist Islamist mould, which the world would be better off without?
In my limited horizon, its good to be back in Delhi with all the chaos on the roads but with plenty of democracy and freedom!!

Delhi is much warmer a hrbinger of the long summer ahead.The flowers in my home garden are 40 % in bloom. Waiting for the full 100 % is a dream, because they have different life cycles.
The picture I am trying to carry in this blog is of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.

Hope I have not confused you with the picture of Istanbul, of which I had fleeting glimpse!

Take care all
Love

Weekly Delhi Diary- week ending February 16,2008

To the great relief of those (like me) who have a problem with keeping their toes warm during the winter in Delhi,the season finally shows signs of change. Cold winds continue,but there is a perceptible warmth in the sun, which shines bright over Delhi, thoughout the day since wednesday. One is cosy and warm in the sun, but cold when inside. This phenomenon is to be experienced, and not described.

There are clear signs of Spring.I hope that the hordes of winter annuals planted in my garden will soon start to bloom!

On the social scene, the wedding season is back with a bang. The Annual Book Fair in Pragati Maidan concluded last week with record number of visitors. The annual Surajkund Mela in the outskirts of Delhi in Haryana, which has been growing in popularity, and even finds mention under Events Worth Witnessing in the last issue( Asia) of Time magazine, is on. Did not venture to either for two reasons - I work on week-days, and reports of the huge crowds at the venues raising unhealthy dust and long cuues on weekends.There is a 2 day Sufi Music festival being organised by the Times of India at the Kuli Khan's tomb at Qutub Minar, the Defence Expo Exhibition ( MOD)alongwith Security Exhibition Export Promotion Council & CISF) at the Pragati Maidan, Flower Tourism festival at the Garden of Five Senses being organized by Delhi Tourism and the Moghal Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan being thrown open to the public

Two quick thoughts to share here- the oragnisers of these events are all Govt bodies and the need for better planning to make sure that those genuinely interested, are able to visit them, without hassles of traffic,parking, entry and exit, in a reasonably dust and filth free environment, including clean facilties of Loos within two to three minutes from where one is, when the need arises!

On a more personal note, a rather hectic weekend lies ahead - the Delhi Police Day Parade tomorrow followed by the CISF Security Exhibition inauguration on Sunday morning. Looking forward to the "Jodha Akbar" show at the the Citiwalk Mall PVR at 4.45 PM on Sunday- thanks to Shubhi's amazing advance planning for Movie tickets!

The lettuce in the kitchen garden are becoming bigger and jucier. The Methi and the Moolis are developing buds and seeds- signs of aging!! They have to be cut . The life of a vegetable is simpler than humans.

I am continuing the Blog on Saturday. The Delhi Police as usual put up a good show at their Raising Day Parade at Kings Way Camp. DP is sixty one years old today we were informed. No one denies the important role the DP has to play in improving the quality of life of Delhiites. But the comfort level of the average citizen on seeing a policeman remains woefully low. But that is another story about which a lot has been said and written but little done, and life goes on- Sab Chalta hai. One has the temples and Masjids and Gurudwaras mushrooming all over the city to pray, and forget the discomforts of every day life.Blame the Sarkar- the Netas and Babus but not think how we as individuals can make a difference.

Enough of lecturebaazi for the week I guess.
Looking fwd to another bright and sunny day ahead tomorrow and the week ahead

Weekly Delhi Diary for week ending February 9, 2008

Icy winds continue to blow over the city. Though the sun is out bright for the past couple of days, the temperatures reamin sub normal. The cosiest place to be in during the day time is a black sedan car with windows up! The cold winds hit you as soon as you step out.

Freakish weather all over with Mumbaikars running for woollens and lit fires. Did I hear right that several parts of Gujarat are in grip of cold wave as well, and there was snowfall over Bhuj!
Tomorrow is Basant Panchami-heralding the onset of spring and warmer weather- celebtrated in parts of north India by wearing yellow coloured clothes, flying kites and having Zarda (sweet saffron rice with Pista, Badaam, Kishmish), Pili Tahiri ( Rice with Gobhi, Alu and Matar). The day is observed as Saraswati Pooja among the educated in the north and the Begalis.
It also signalled hard mugging days ahead for the students since the annual examinations were generally held in March- April.
The sweet rice- Zarda deserves a little more. It surprises me that this delicacy has not been made popular by gourmets of the Mughlai cuisine. I think it deserves more recognition than it has recievedso far in homes and resturants in north India.

But the weather over most of north India this year is not typically Basant Panchami variety.

A strong aroma mixed with nostalgia greeted me when I entered home after work late Friday evening. Shailey, was in the kitchen making guava jelly out of the left over over-ripe guavas sent from Allahabad by my friend Bugun. Knowing my weakness for fresh Allhabad guavas and Moongphalis alongwith with the two varieties of salt one mixed with fresh dhaniya leaves and hari mirch and the other with zeera and kala namak ( natly wrapped in scraps of newspper stips )with which every Allhabadi (worth his salt) is so familiar (they sell like hot cakes all over the city in every nook and corner throughout the winter months), Bugun religiously sends three consigments of these, thrice during the winter months every year to remind us of the good old days. The guava jelly made by my Maa were a favourte at breakfast for the family, especially my father who devoured it with relish, spread over pieces of bread, with generous helpings of a layer of fresh Malai.

Four days ago,as I was getting ready to go to work, I got a frantic call from Kuckee my Mausi's daughter who lives in Calcutta telling me that Bhaggo Mausi, her Mom was very unwell and had to be taken to a hospital by " Mala". " Who is Mala?", I asked. "She is the the one who started Silver Line School" was the very helpful answer! "Cd I have her cell no" " Yes Bhaiyya I think you shd be in direct touch with her to get the latest situation on the ground" was the answer. Kuckee wanted
the phone #s of my nephews and nieces who stay in the neighbourhood of Bhaggo Mausi in Ghaziabad, adding that although there was a Calcutta Bundh, she was trying to fly out to Delhi and Tottoo her younger sister who stays in Jallandhar will leave by road in the next hour. Tried to reach Mala on her cell but her Vodaphone was "either swithed off or out of range" !!
Contacted my nephew and niece in G Bad and told them to get the update on Bhaggo Mausi's condition. Felt very proud to get an update shortly thereafter that she was better.Thank God that there was better connectivity among our family!

Was reminded that I am getting old today. We landed up at a lunch get together at a club in NOIDA to discover that it was for next Sunday!Had checked out invitation card to see the time and the venue before we left. But did not see the date beacuse I was so sure that it was today.

Anyway, went to see Bhaggo Mausi after a lunch in a Chinese restaurant in Sector 18 NOIDA.
She didn't look very good but was very very happy to see us. All of eighty six years . Made her sit up and brush her silver hair. Think she will pull through, with both her daughters and sons in law with her now. But Bhaggo Mausi chooses to live by herself in the large house built by Mausaji, post retirement in 1964. A maid and her husnand who works in the college she was principal of, stay with her and look after her needs for the past 16 years!She remembered her family,including my Maa, and how she me-her dark son! Very affectionate and unaffetced, like the rest of my mother's family.


After Bhaggo Mausi, we went over my late sister's home in Gbad to meet with her children- all doing well, by God's grace.
So much for this weekend. Hopefully, the last "cold weekend in Delhi.
Take care all, and God Bless
Love

Delhi Diary ( February 2, 2008)

No respite from the Cold wave conditions over Delhi!

Today was worse than yesterday with the sky overcast thoughout the day. The brisk walk to Nehru Park with Shailey in the morning, and a spot of gardening braced me for the day . But by noon the icy winds began to cast its gloom.

Looking back at the week gone by, Delhiites continued to shiver. Seems like the cold wave is almost a worldwide phenomena. Today, I heard that parts of China are experiencing the worst cold wave conditions in 50 years!Hope it gets over in Delhi soon.

India got a drubbing by the Kangaroos in Melborne. Typical of us to falter badly after the heroic victory at the Twenty Twenty world Cup. Forever, dicieving their fans fans after flattering them - that's the Indian Cricket team!

The long awaited Delhi Gurgaon Expressway finally opened. But the newspapers are full of stories about problems being faced by the commuters due to faulty functioning of the controls at the Toll posts Teething troubles I hope.

Lunch at the Islamic Culture Centre on Lodhi road with friends from the US ( the food was nothing to write home about but the decor was impresive with tialled Islamic caligraphy murals on the walls and ceilings of the recently commisioned building. It was followed by tea in Delhi Gymkhana Club alcoves. There was no place to sit by the four fireplaces. But the tea and muffins were nice. Now to the dinner at the Army Golf Course.

It drizzled bit in the evening washing the dust laden trees and plants. The forecast for tomorrow is bright and sunny day. Looking foward to it.

Not much to write about the winter annuals. Not many bud formations or blooms t except the Pansies and Calendulas, (which I didn't plant) noticed. A sample of another fresh bloom in the potted plants at home is added for your viewing pleasure-

Another small dinner get-together being hosted at home tomorrow night for a former colleague leaving on posting abroad to Germany. A mutton and fish menu of home cooked and well tried recipes planned. Chicken is going off the table in Delhi due to the fear of bird flu having spread to several parts of West Bengal and even Pakistan( Karachi)!!

Nothing more for this week.

Good luck to all