Pensha

This is for those who think they can't climb the social ladder without the knowlege of English language -- Ask any upwardly-mobile Indian what he dreams for his child and the answer would be, “Education in an English medium school.” Many parents think that education in English will ensure better job prospects for their children, and thus offer economic stability and social status. However, Hywel Coleman, who has edited the book, Dreams and Realities: Developing Countries and the English Language , published by the British Council, says the findings indicate that studying the English language does not necessarily lead to development and progress. Coleman, who was in Pune recently for a tête-à-tête over this compilation of 16 papers on the English language, says the dream of achieving success by learning English is not guided by reality. Hence the words ‘dreams’ and ‘realities’ in the title. Fifteen countries — six in Asia (Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Sri Lank...

This is a story of Ajit Kunte, a cerebral palsy patient. He was quite fun and cheerful to talk to. I met him at the Ninth Pulotsav Tarunai festival. ---- His unaffected manners and cheerful demeanour succeed in taking attention away from his fists that are curled around crutches, which help him get up and walk a little unsteadily towards a chair — from where he reads out a story from Pu La Deshpande’s Maza Shatrupaksha . The occasion was the ninth ‘Pulotsav Tarunai’ held in memory of noted Marathi humourist, Pu La Deshpande, popularly known as Pu La. Twentyfive-year-old Ajit Kunte, who was struck by cerebral palsy at birth, has overcome his disability to memorise and speak clearly. After a series of operations, Ajit regained control over his limbs and vision. His love for the written word stems from when his parents used to read out books to him as a child. They would also play recordings of stories by Marathi writers like Pu La, V P Kale and D M Mirasdar, which further triggered...

This is a short story I wrote for the Diwali issue. --- Reva smiled a “secret” smile. The “mean girls” won't know what hit them. She knocked politely on the door. The knock was drowned in the sound of laughter and giggles coming from inside the room. Someone cried out, “Shalu...you are priceless. What happened next?” Reva knocked again. More giggles. Reva knocked a little loudly for the third time. This time someone said, “Someone at the door, do you think?” “ You sure...I didn't hear anything,” said Shweta. “ Must be that pesky sister of yours,” someone added as Shweta got up from the bed to unbolt the door. But before she could pull back the bolt, there was an earth-shattering RATATATATTAT for three times in a row. Shweta jumped back in fright, while her friends screamed, “REVA...WHAT THE HELL?” Reva giggled quietly and knocked on the door again. The door opened and ignoring Shweta's and her friends murderous looks, Reva walked into the room like a cool cat. “ Nice ear...

By:  Penny and Roger Beaumont Publisher:   Jaico Pages: 388 Price: Rs 395 After reading this book, you will realise how brief were the History lessons that they taught in schools. Well, this book isn’t exactly an objective portrayal of the British rule in India; it mainly paints the picture of the Empire’s colony as seen by the Vicereines of British India. But you do get a peek — often repetitive — of the happenings, pomp and splendour in the Government House (later known as the Viceroy’s House), and the lives of its occupants, through the book’s eight chapters. These chapters talk about the Vicereines, their views and apprehensions about ruling the colony, their devotion to their husbands and children, and of course, about their subjects, especially the quick-to-judge British and Anglo-Indian societies. The book reveals how the lives of the Vicereines were often lonesome. That was a price they had to pay to be the invisible Empresses of the Raj. The book’s mainstay is ...

Did this story for the Sunday supplement --- For Dr Malati Shendge, life has been an ongoing intellectual exploration. For almost five decades now, research has been an integral part of this scholar’s life. The city-based Indologist, who has been associated with various academic institutes in India and abroad, is a Ph.D in Buddist Tantrism and now claims to have deciphered the Harappan script. Campus calling “I was sitting in the B J Wadia Library of Fergusson College, poring over my notes, when suddenly the thought came from nowhere. ‘I should do research’!” No wonder the place is special to her. “I did my BA in English Literature in Fergusson College from 1951-55. I had no clue what research meant and how one was supposed to conduct it. I then approached my mentor, Dr Rangdatta Vadekar, Head of Sanskrit Department, for guidance. He suggested that I should conduct research in the Harappan civilisation,” she recalls. Overwhelmed by the advice, she however chose to follow her i...

I came across this story which I did long back for the kids supplement. -- Contrast these images. Crowded Pune, big hoardings, cars, bikes zooming past, cell phones buzzing, malls teeming with life...with a village consisting of just 50 houses, narrow paths winding through jungles and no transportation. Even to visit an ailing relative in another village, one has to walk for one whole day! In this particular instance, the village, we are talking about, is Punyabhumi in Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh, India’s north-eastern state. YB had an opportunity to meet 15-year-old Birurani Chakma, a student from Arunachal Pradesh, who is in Pune and get to know what life is like in that farflung state. Comparing her village to Pune, 15-year-old Birurani Chakma says, “There is not even 1 per cent of Pune’s traffic in my village. It’s very quiet there. Roads are kaccha and we have to find our way through jungles. The sun sets very early and by 5.30 pm in the evening it’s completely d...

I had been to this book launch and talked to the author. --- Name: Crushes, Careers & Cellphones Author: Manjiri Gokhale Joshi Publisher: Vitasta Price: Rs 199 When you are a kid, parents are “ancient”, and possible source of embarrassment before peers. Not that they try to understand you, but somehow they are unable to understand today's pace of life and “over-react.” They fuss over your grades, participation in a play, praise you sky high before friends and relatives, while you squirm and wish they would stop... Sometimes you try and tell them it's okay to go out with guys if you are a girl and with girls you are a guy. What's the big deal in hanging out together? These and many more issues affecting today's kids and youngsters have been written by Manjiri Gokhale Joshi in her book, “Crushes, Career & Cellphones”. Manjiri describes the book as, “Quick notes from a mum to a teenager.” Before you make up your mind that this is another children's book talk...

This was written for the point of view coloumn. -- I had always told myself that when I get older I am never going to spell the “g” word – generation gap or compare how it was when we were kids. I knew it sounded condescending and I hated when the adults uttered it, especially when the comparison was unfair. Yet, I found myself thinking on those adult lines. I was meeting a group of ten-year-old girls, tweens as they are called now, as a part of an assignment. They all were smart, confident, chirpy and smiling. No trace of self-consciousness or inferiority complex and far too assured. They knew exactly how they wanted to be captured on the camera with their dolls, designer bags, lips painted red, with a pout which would put Angelina Jolie to shame. All this at the age of 10. I was amazed and aghast in turns to see the young adults/women, who are a representative of what the kids of today behave and think like. I had this terrible urge to take them by the shoulder and shake them and t...

Hubby is “wired” even while he's unwinding at home; Daughter's Wii keeps her company in the loo; Son surfs Net and plays video games to refresh himself; Poor wifey! She is one of those homo sapiens, who inhale oxygen, while the rest of the family eat, breathe and sleep technology. Welcome to the new Indian family. Witching Hour Shyamoli Arte pauses mid-way while talking and looks expectantly at the clock. On cue, her husband's phone buzzes with a text message. She sighs when her husband flips open the cellphone and then shuts it back after checking the sender's name. “ I call it the “witching hour”. My husband's friend texts him ludicrous jokes at 11 pm. Every night. And yet my hubby has to reach out for the cell. His refrain is 'What if there's a message from my client?' I don't know what causes me more heartburn – A husband hugging cellphone to his ear for business calls or his insane friend who has a wrong timing,” fumes Shyamoli. Playing “Offi...

Suniti returns home after two years to find out that her mother doesn't recognise her. That's the story in one line of Amol Palekar's soon to be released Marathi film, Dhoosar (Blurred). Being a Palekar film, the expectation of the audience will be certainly high and the fact that it has bagged Maharashtra State Awards in three categories – Best Film, Best Direction and Best Music – ensures its critical success. The cast and crew of Dhoosar - Reema Lagoo, Smita Tambe (Suniti), Upendra Limaye and Amruta Khanvilkar - were in the city at the launch of the film's website, wwww.dhoosarthefilm.com. The website was launched by ace shutterbug Gautam Rajadhyaksha. The film revolves around Lagoo and Tambe, who play mother-daughter in the movie. Lagoo plays the role of Suhasini who suffers from Alzheimer. Rajadhyaksha, who has previewed the movie, said that it was beautifully shot in a non-linear pattern punctuated with flashbacks and unfolding in present time. It shows the helpl...

The perky Amruta Khanvilkar is the surprise package in Amol Palekar's Dhoosar. Considering her pretty, glamourous image and Palekar's sensitive, social themes, one wonders if the twain will match. “ Of course,” shoots back Amruta. “I'm playing a small but important role of Karla, who is the girl friend of Upendra sir's (Limaye) character in the movie.” Talking more about the role, Amruta says, “I am deeply in love with Arjun (Upendra's character). She wants him to settle in life and is always searching job/occupation for him. They meet Suhasini (Reema Lagoo) accidentally and sensing her helplessness, they move into her house as caregivers. Karla's character is positive to begin with, but when Arjun gets emotionally entangled with Suhasini and lets job opportunities pass by, she becomes resentful and breaks-up with him.” Amruta says the character's blunt and practical outlook appealed to her and that's why she jumped at the chance to act in Dhoosar. “ Of...

Smita Tambe had a pleasant shock one day prior to the shooting of Dhoosar. An actress, who was supposed to play the character role, suddenly found herself shooting for the lead role! “ It was too good to be true. But IT'S TRUE and I am really thankful to Amol Palekar because Dhoosar is my first picture as a leading actor,” exults Smita. As per the original casting plan, Smita was supposed to play the role of Karla (now played by Amruta Khanvilkar) while Mugdha Godse was to perform the role of Suniti, daughter to Reema Lagoo's Suhasini. But after the first script reading session, Smita got a call from Palekar that she is going to play Suniti. Smita, who has earlier worked in Jogwa, says, “My role in the film is of a reactionary response. My mother has Alzheimer and I respond/react to it. I didn't study or read about Alzheimer because in the movie I am supposed to be clueless about what the disease is.” Smita adds that acting in the film wasn't very tough because Palekar...

How does Saath-Saath inculcate the structured and conscious approach towards marriage? Let me begin by saying that Saath-Saath doesn't promote love marriages amongst its members. Nor does it advocate kande-pohe type of arranged marriages. It takes the middle path where the boys and girls are provided with a platform to meet, interact, understand and weigh the pros and cons of being married. We organise picnics, get-togethers where the members meet in an informal atmosphere and play several games which reflect their thought-process and social inclination. We also hold lecture sessions like money/investment, career, health and success stories. We want the boys and girls at Saath-Saath to come to the big decision - “He is the one I want to get married to” - the volunteers are just the facilitators. What are the “trends” in the present-day marriages? If we look at the big picture, the trends or expectations have remained the same to a large extent. Girls want husbands with bigger pay...

The Good Muslim By Tahmima Anam The year is 1971; Rehana Haque awaits the return of her son Sohail. So does Rehana’s daughter Maya; two of them bask in the optimism that the new nation, Bangladesh, offers. We find them in Tahmima Anam’s recent novel, The Good Muslim. Set in the 1970s and 1980s, it traces the after effects of the Liberation War, the hope, disillusionment and cynicism of citizens, and the two faces of religion, through the Haques. The book begins in 1984 when ‘Muktijoddha’ Maya embarks on a train-ferry-train journey to return to Dhaka, to her Ammoo and brother Sohail. The changes in her beloved Bhaiyya, and in the country on the whole — which drove her to leave home and settle in Rajshahi up in the north to practise medicine — have now become the established norms in the household. The book depicts on a personal level the two different paths chosen by the two siblings, which is also a reflection on the struggle of going back to the pre-war dreams of building a secular...

I first saw the movie Junoon as a teenager and almost a decade later I read the novella – A Flight of Pigeons by Ruskin Bond – on which the film is based. History was my favourite subject in the school and I found Junoon directed by Shyam Benegal interesting, but incomplete. I was curious to know what happens to the Labadoors, Javed Khan's family and Lala Ramjimal after the English defeat the revolutionaries. I found the answers in the book. The story is about the Labadoor family – Mariam, her daughter, Ruth, her aging mother, and cousins – who have to take shelter in the the home of their Hindu friend, Lala Ramjimal. It was the summer of 1857 and there was anger, animosity and hatred towards phirangi by the natives. The narrator of the story, Ruth tells us that her father and all their neighbours and friends were killed in the Shahjahanpur church by Indians. Yet, in the midst of all this hatred, the Labadoor family in hiding are showed kindness, respect and warmth, first by Lala ...

Mukesh Khanna aka Shaktiman, who's starring in his first Marathi film, Ardha Gangu Ardha Gondya, mouths dialogue “Maazi takat” - from the movie - flexing his muscles for effect. “ Watch out for this dialogue. It will be on everyone's lips after the movie releases on May 27 th ,” Khanna, dressed in white shirt-trousers with a beige stole draped around his shoulders, tells Sakal Times. Khanna, who is essaying the role of a municipal corporator, and has also produced the movie, says Ardha Gangu and Ardha Gondya is a tribute to Dada Kondke's brand of cinema. “ Dada Kondke's entry in the movie is the hatke factor,” claims Khanna, while digging into butter roti, dal and subji. Telling us briefly about the story, Khanna says, “Dada Kondke's atma is the guiding force for the “duplicate” actors who want to make it big in the film industry. There's a film within a film. Govinda is a struggling actor who makes it big towards the end with the help of Kondke and his mothe...

Name: Swayamvara By: David Hair Pages: 313 Publication: Penguin Books India Rebirth and the evil force chasing the good souls is the theme of Swayamvara. How does it end? Predictably, with the good spirit's triumph over the evil force. But, almost 8000 years later from when the chase first started. The Swayamvar is the second book in the “The Return of Ravana” series and since I haven't read the first one, I don't know what exactly happened in Mandore, where the story first begins with Aram Dhoop (Vikram Khandwani), Madan Shastri (Amanjeet), Darya (Deepika), Padma (Sunita Ashok) and Ravindra (Shiv Bakli). What begins in Mandore continues in the 12 th century Rajputana, Delhi, British India and 2010 Rajasthan, Mumbai and Delhi. Aram Dhoop and Madan Shastri keep meeting each other as Chand Barda and Prithviraj Chauhan and in modern day as Vikram Khandwani and Amanjeet. Darya is Prithviraj's Sanyogita and Amanjeet's Deepika. Padma meets Chand Barda as insane Gowara...

Nirupama Bhave and her scooter were inseparable till the age of 52. A chance meeting with her husband's colleague, who cycled from his home in Pashan to his workplace at Wadia College, piqued her curiosity. Twelve years later, the 64-year-old feisty woman cycles everywhere – in the mountain passes of Leh-Ladakh, the southern coastline, desert of Rajasthan, Pune-Mumbai highway and of course on roads of Pune. “ I rarely cycled in my school/college days as we lived at a short distance. Once I started working as a professor of Statistics and then Mathematics, the scooter was my preferred mode of travelling,” says Bhave. Her first cycle rally was from Wagah border to Agra, a distance of 650 kms. “ I had just joined Pune Cycle Pratisthan when I heard the members discussing about the cycle rally. I evinced interest in it the rally and started preparing for it by cycling to Bhor and Ranjangaon. During the rally, I was slow compared to others. But I managed to successfully complete the ...

Intro: In an e-mail interview with Ambika Shaligram, Lamat Hasan sheds light on the Pakistani society, what they think of us and the stereotypical images the neighbours have of each other Box: Lamat Hasan and her husband are Indian Muslim journalists living in Pakistan. Lamat's husband has been posted in Islamabad while she is on a sabbatical. Their blog, www.indiansinpakistan.blogspot.com, talks about the good, bad and the ugly side of our neighbour. 1) When did you move to Islamabad? And, when did you start blogging? We moved to Islamabad in September 2007 after my husband was posted there. We wanted to start blogging about our experience of being Indian in Pakistan, which we think is unique, as soon as we had settled in. However, we ended up sitting on the idea for almost two years as we wanted to blog not just about the good, but also the bad and the ugly. 2) Did you have any stereotypical image of Pakistani society before your posting? Did it undergo any change after l...

I had reviewed this book for the Sunday supplement. -- KL Saigal: The Definitive Biography By: Pran Neville Publisher: Penguin Pages: 211 Price: Rs 299 I haven’t heard KL Saigal sing. But, I have heard my mother humming two of his songs: the haunting lullaby — So ja rajkumari so ja and Ek bangla bane nyara. Whnever there were talks about favourite music composers and singer-actor, my mother’s generation swore by the modern-day Tansen’s voice. His repertoire was big: bhajans, ghazals, thumris and film songs. However, Kundan Lal Saigal’s greatest legacy was his rendition of Ghalib’s ghazals. It is therefore with great interest that I began reading KL Saigal: The Definitive Biography by Pran Neville. The highlights of the book are: comprehensive list of Saigal’s songs, translations of his Urdu couplets, information about his mentors and associates at the New Theatres in Calcutta, his heroines, complete filmography and even the reviews published in Filmindia. Although Saigal was a nation...

  I am thankful to the FB for this one instance. I am rarely interested in reading other people’s updates like "Click on this fortune cookie," to "Life sucks", and "Hey! My wife made the best paneer butter masala in the world". But this particular update had me jumping out of my chair: "Watched Byomkesh Bakshi on DD. Caught the first episode on Tuesday..." I had missed the first episode of the Bengalee detective in action, but I have been glued to my television set every Tuesday from 10 pm. In fact I have even started updating my FB status to "Watching Byomkesh.." and even calling and texting friends who I know revel in the good old Doordarshan days. I was eight or maybe nine when the series was first aired. Watching it after almost two decades, I can quickly point out the "old treatment" to the series: drab interiors and props, the plainly-dressed protagonists and dialogues delivered with low-key emotions. Basu Chatterjee ...

This was written for the "point of view" --- Last week was “catching up time” with old friends. Some of us are already mothers were discussing the pros and cons of raising kids, taking the second chance and sabbatical from work. During the talks, we learnt that two more friends were blessed with daughters. We cheered at the thought of the newest addition to our tribe. Clap, clap! Someone joked if He had his finger pressed on the button for “girls,” (like the TV commercial), because suddenly all we knew were proud, beaming parents of chubby, cute, pink faced baby girls. While others were chatting and laughing about “girl power,” I remember a spine-chilling conversation I had with another friend. This friend had always dreamt of having lots of kids. So it was no surprise that she took the second chance after her first daughter turned three. This time around her family members wanted the “perfect family” -- husband, wife, one son and his sister. A second girl child didn't f...

I wrote this review for the Sunday supplement. --- Tender Hooks By: Moni Mohsin Pages: 250 Publisher: Random House India Price: Rs 199 The first few lines of the book made me crack up: “You know Jonkers, na? Oho baba, what's happened to you? Everything you are forgetting. I think so you must have got sterile dementia. Like poor old Uncle Cock-up.” Still chuckling I start reading again to giggle at few more gems and malapropisms: “I put on green contacts (blue is so past it) and my new Tom Fort red lipstick and now I am just looking like Angelina Jolly. But like her healthier, just slightly older sister. I know I shouldn't do my own praise, but facts are facts, no? Pity Janoo isn't Brad Pitts. But you can't have everything in life as Mother Rosario used to say at my convent school.” Full of wit, wickedness and malapropisms, Tender Hooks continues from where The Diary of Social Butterfly left off. You get a hint of what is there in the chapter from the introductory ...