Samaranand's take

Thursday, January 05, 2017

Favor banking

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कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।

मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥ २-४७

Karmanye vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana,

Ma Karmaphalaheturbhurma Te Sangostvakarmani

That shloka is from Gita, do your duty and don’t bother about reward. But in today’s world everyone thinks why I should do for others when others don’t bother about me. Yes it is kind of selfish thinking.

Let us come to the ground reality. If without any ulterior motive one does for others then that favor done gets banked like one puts money in the bank. An honest receiver of favor always tries to return the favor and that return would be voluntary without any strings attached. This is known as favor banking.

The other day I noticed our maidservant is dusting the bookshelves and also folding our clothes. I was pretty surprised because she is supposed to clean utensils and sweep the floor. I asked my wife about this additional work what she was doing.

“She has started doing this on her own.” was her reply.

“Why suddenly?”

“Remember I got her the LPG connection!”

In her house our maidservant was using kerosene stove for cooking but she wanted a LPG gas connection, she did not have the requisite money. My wife paid the initial security amount; my wife took the pain of going with our maidservant in a rickshaw to the Indane distributor, filled up the form after getting all the relevant documents zeroxed. Now she got her gas and has given my wife’s mobile number as her LPG contact number. This extra effort was her way of showing gratitude to us.

As per my own experience I have seen lower strata people are more grateful than those who are in higher strata. In my service life I have helped many to climb the corporate ladder but at a later date majority of them acted as though they got it because they deserved it and no favor done.
This time when we went to Darjeeling we stayed in West Bengal Tourist Lodge,due to delay of our flight we could reach Darjeeling only at 8 pm in the night instead of scheduled arrival of 3pm. The room service man Ratan settled us down quickly by putting on the geezer,room heater etc. As per my practice i pay tips when i arrive and so tipped him 100 bucks. Next day early morning he served us bed tea, we looked out of the window and due to cloud Kanchanjungha was not visible and we told him so. He was also feeling sad that on the first day morning we could not see the great peak. We were having tea in our third floor room when heard a knock, opened the door and found Ratan gasping entered the room to inform that the cloud has moved away and Kanchanjungha was visible. Yes we went out in the balcony and got the magnificent view and thanked Ratan for his initiative and tipped him 50 bucks. This was the favor done by Ratan to us by giving that extra service of informing us timely the appearance of the peak.

While I was in Darjeeling the last date of a filling form of a golf tournament was over. The starters of golf course were more worried about that than me. They approached the management and got my name entered. Simultaneously another officer of the company sponsoring the tournament made sure my name is there, this senior officer had worked with me in my present company. This incident also proves that favor banking does work.

So friends try helping people and there is someone up there looking after you.

Monday, January 02, 2017

My newly acquired business sense !

Ratan came in the morning with the cheque from Rakesh who had taken our flat on rent. He has been staying in that flat pretty long and paying the same rent. My wife was not happy about this status quo affair of rent.As usual i had to bear the brunt for my lethargy.

I was reading the morning newspaper when Ratan entered with that cheque and with a big smile handed it over to my wife.i looked up from the newspaper at Ratan,

"Ratan,why don't you ask that Rakesh guy to increase the rent." somehow i feel awkward while directly talking about money with my tenant who is a much younger guy so tried to use Ratan as middleman.

"Sir,the other day he was telling his friend that if my landlord ask for increase then i will leave the flat."

Now after my retirement i am working in a private firm and have learnt a few tricks about bringing people around by using the money trap.

"Ratan,here is a deal for you,if you can get the rate increased then you will get 10% monthly of that increased amount." I patted myself for thinking up this devious method to address the issue.

The problem with people in Bengal is that they are not born with business sense, i thought to myself.Here i have learnt this trick or two from the business community i associate with in office as well as in golf course.

Ratan had no clue of how to go about convincing Rakesh, by the way Ratan is the security guard of that complex where our flat is located.I could sense his helplessness.

"Look here,it is very simple,you take some dummy house hunters and show that flat.Then Rakesh will get worried thinking that we will not renew his lease.This action will worry him and then you propose the increase." i said brightly and winked at my wife.

Ratan nodded his head and left.

Well that was one year back ,i have been busy and my wife also somehow forgot the issue, the rent remained stagnant.

I asked Gopal, my driver to check with Ratan the progress of the assignment "Increase rent" given to him. Gopal is quite a clever cookie and i knew that he will get at the bottom of the affair.

Due to golf,blog,travel etc i again forgot about the affair.So another year passed.

I caught Ratan next time when he came with the rent cheque,"What happened?"

"I told Gopal"

"What?"

He started shuffling his feet and started giving me a guilty look.

"Hey,what are you up to?"

Suddenly it stuck me, let me tell you all these clever thoughts have started appearing in my mind after i joined this private company and learnt the tricks of the trade. In public sector we were bound by rule books so no working between the lines, there we work in " go nogo modes".

"Did you make a deal with Rakesh?"I shouted at him.

"Babu,when i went to Rakeshji for the increase then he straight away offered me 100 rupees per month extra and asked me not to bother him,so i kept quiet."

"Ok,then i asked Gopal to check with you."

"Sir,now Rakeshji pays 100 to me and 100 to Gopal every month.'

My ego got punctured,i was gaping at Ratan ,he was shyly grinning at me and my wife gave a look of "i told you, you are not that smart as you think yourself",

My ego got deflated,all these time i was thinking that i have mastered all the tricks of the market.

Disclaimer: nothing has really happened as mentioned in the story .I have used real names but the whole episode is figment of my imagination.

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Metamorphosis

Jatinbabu like any other day woke up at 6.30 am in the morning. No matter when goes to sleep the previous day, routinely he wakes up at that time everyday. No the body clock does not wake him up but the alarm setting of the music system does. He was feeling lazy as the previous night he slept late after watching the movie Time Machine in the TV.
After he took VRS from his company he has been trying his hand in various endeavors but nothing satisfied him. He was looking for something which will keep him engaged during afternoon time. He has been successful in keeping himself engaged in the morning. His activities up to 8.30 am has not changed for the last 30 years, toilet, brushing tooth, shaving, tea, newspaper etc in that sequence. His new activities starts after 8.30 am, like he used to take hurried lunch but now he takes leisurely breakfast with his favourite FM radio station on.
That day also after getting up from the bed he went through his regular chores. It was the month of December; the winter has not fully set in. There is a discernable change in weather pattern. The arrival of winter is delayed but there is slight nip in the weather. You require a light rug in the night. Jatinbabu is unmarried, his servant Harihar takes care of him.Harihar is with him for the last 20 years.
He went to his reading room and sat in front of his computer. He switched on the computer, logged in to the internet. As he does every day that day also he checked for e mail. Now a days he makes all his payments like for telephone, electricity etc through electronic transfer from his bank and he gets an e statement from his bank. This e practice also reduced his movements as he rarely goes to bank, post office or for depositing telephone bill etc.He draws money by using ATM card. He is fond of surfing, whenever he reads any interesting item in the news paper he likes to find out more about that from the internet sites. That day he was trying to find out more about buckyball.It is a pure form of carbon where 60 atoms of carbon are linked together in the form of a ball with hollow inside. He used google search engine to get to the pages on buckyball.He could get many pages, he chose some and absorbed the informations.He was feeling happy,he feels like that whenever he learns something knew.
He wanted to become a scientist but because of Higher Secondary, Joint Entrance formula he had to become engineer from Jadavpur.He had a scientific mind and which was misfit in the industry so could not rise much in his service so at the very first opportunity he took VRS.He was not good at tinkering with tools, even if the fuse blew off, his servant Hari (short form of Harihar)will find the fault and attend.Now a days he spends lot of time in front the computer and surfs the net for scientific articles. After getting to know more about buckyball he was elated and started whistling, a tuneless sound started coming out.
He switched of the computer and went to the almirah.He pulled out freshly laundered brown pant and off white shirt. He quickly changed his dress, the pant was tight at the waist, and he wondered whether he has put on weight within last 15 days. Hari has brought his black slip ons from the cobbler. He felt the shoes to be slightly loose; he cursed the cobbler for disfiguring his shoes.
It was already 10.30 am, he had no specific engagement, and he just came out of the house for a leisurely walk to the central park. He observed that the cars were zipping fast all around; he thought that now a days any one can own a car and that is why the car density on the road has increased many folds. He just walked 300 meters or so found a car parked by the side of the road with the hood open and a lady in pant waiting by the side. He generally does not bother much about others but that day he found himself to be pulled towards the car. He hesitantly walked near the car and enquired,” Do you require any help?”
“Yes,” the lady replied,” My car has suddenly stopped, could not find the fault and don’t find any mechanic either.”
“Oh: let me see,” Jatin went forward and took a look at the engine.”
“Looks like, the fuel is not reaching the engine.”Jatin informed the lady.
Then he tinkered with the engine and requested the lady to get in to the car and start the car. She obediently went inside and twisted the ignition key, the car purred to life. The lady thanked Jatinbabu abundantly, gave him her visiting card and noted down his telephone number and drove off. He spent about two hours in the park. He returned home. He removed his shoes, changed his dress to pajama and kurta.Hari informed that the fridge was giving trouble.Jatin had no clue so he asked Hari to try and find fault.
He took bath, then lunch and then sat in front of the TV for after noon movie.
In the evening after tea he again repeated the morning ritual of dressing, putting on the slip on and then going out for his evening stroll. He was passing the neighborhood garage. He knew the mechanic Santu, he found him busy on a Hyundai Accent. Suddenly Jatin Babu started feeling excited, he went forward and nudged Santu aside and started tinkering with the car engine.Santu was taken aback because he knew that Jatin babu did not own a car. He has never seen him taking any interest in car. But to Santu’s surprise Jatinbabu expertly dismantled the car engine, and after doing some adjustment put that back and asked Santu to start the car. It started with a whisper. Unflappably Jatinbabu walked of.
Next day morning Jatinbabu got a telephone call. It was the voice of a lady.” Is it Jatinbabu?”
“Yes, but who are you speaking please?”Jatinbabu asked conceitedly. Long bachelorhood has made him a dry person.
She introduced herself as a lady whose car had broken down previous day and he has helped her by repairing that.
Jatinbabu was really infuriated now as he hates engineering so he brusquely said” I think there is some mistake.” And slammed the phone.
After finishing his breakfast he went for a hair cut to the nearby saloon, on the way he had to cross Santu’s garage. Seeing Jatinbabu Santu came forward with a big smile and said,”Jatinbabu, I never realized that you are such a great automobile expert. Next time if I have serious problem I will come to you.”
Jatinbabu was really cheesed up now, as though automobile has become a part of him. He did no go for his hair cut, instead he went back home. He is a man of science so he has to logically analyze the events now.
He replayed the previous day’s event one by one in his mind and found that he has no knowledge of meeting the lady or Santu.
This did not satisfy him, he remembered that he has put on freshly laundered dress, his pant was tight. Is it that there is some mix up of pant at the laundry and that has caused something extra ordinary thing happening. He generally does not believe in supernatural but he could not find any other rational explanation. At that time his calling bell chimed, he opened the door and found the cobbler. The cobbler Ramu was carrying a pair of black slip on .Ramu said,”Babu, I am sorry, yesterday I have given you a wrong pair of shoes.”
Jatinbabu enquired from Ramu”Whose pair of shoes have you given me?”
Ramu replied,” I really don’t know the gentleman but every month in the late evening time he comes in a big car leaves the shoes for polishing,pays well.He will be coming today to take his shoes.”
Ramu took the shoes after exchanging and left.Jatinbabu wanted to know more so he went in search of Ramu next day.Ramu’s shop was closed. Again in the evening he went in search of Ramu, found the shop closed. Now it has become his habit to search for Ramu everyday and also He went to Oxford book store and purchased books on Automobile engineering. His visit to Santu’s garage also has become regular. He is fully engaged now in the garage. He helped Santu to modernize the garage.
He could not find a rational reason for all those strange happening of the fateful day. How a switch of his slip on can change his skill. Who was the actual owner of the slip on, was he an automobile engineer? All these questions some times cloud his mind and probably to prove that he had the skill already inside, he has started studying automobile engineering and tinkering with the engines. He still does not believe in supernatural. He has become careful with his clothes and shoes; he has started putting personal marking on those so that he can detect a switch.

SNR

Monday, October 31, 2016

Fatehpur Sikri, a creation of Emperor Akbar

Fatehpur Sikri (Hindi: फ़तेहपुर सीकरी, is a city in the Agra District of Uttar Pradesh, India. The city was founded in 1569 by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, and served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1571 to 1585, when it was abandoned. After his military victories over Chittor and Ranthambore, Akbar decided to shift his capital from Agra to a new location 23 miles (37 km) west south-west on the Sikri ridge, to honour the Sufi saint Salim Chishti. Here, he commenced the construction of a planned walled city, which took the next fifteen years in planning and construction, with a series of royal palaces, harem, courts, a mosque, private quarters and other utility buildings. He named the city Fatehabad, with Fateh, a word of Arabic origin in Persian, meaning "victorious." It was later called Fatehpur Sikri. It is at Fatehpur Sikri that the legends of Akbar and his famed courtiers, the nine jewels or Navaratnas, were born. Fatehpur Sikri is one of the best preserved examples of Mughal architecture in India.

According to contemporary historians, Akbar took a great interest in the building of Fatehpur Sikri and probably also dictated its architectural style. Seeking to revive the splendours of Persian court ceremony made famous by his ancestor Timur, Akbar planned the complex on Persian principles. But the influences of his adopted land came through in the typically Indian embellishments. The easy availability of sandstone in the neighbouring areas of Fatehpur Sikri also meant that all the buildings here were made of the red stone. The Imperial Palace complex consists of a number of independent pavilions arranged in formal geometry on a piece of level ground, a pattern derived from Arab and central Asian tent encampments. In its entirety, the monuments at Fatehpur Sikri thus reflect the genius of Akbar in assimilating diverse regional architectural influences within a holistic style that was uniquely his own.

The above description is from Wikipedia, after our Taj Mahal visit of 13th October,2016 we proceeded to Fatehpur Sikri next day 14th October by road. a drive of about two and half hours.

This place has two part visit itinerary, Fatehpur is the walled city with dargah of Salim Chisti, Jama Masjid and Buland Darwaza. One has to go barefooted and we did that in scorching sun.Most of the time we walked in shades. We were duped by a guide in purchasing costly chaddar to spread on the mazhar of Chisit,so advise to visitor to be careful of guides.

Here are the pictures of Fatehpur.

The marble structure of Dargah of Salim Chisti

Omu,Shuvo in lungi because he was in shorts and shorts not allowed inside the dargah,me,Purnima,Bula and Ronny

Courtyard of Chisti Dargah

The Grave of Chisti with our chaddar

Omu tied thread to fulfill his mannat

Me,S N Roy at Dargah of Salim Chisti

Dargah of Salim Chisti

The Mughal Emperor Akbar came to Chishti's home in Sikri to ask him to pray for a male heir to the throne. Chishti blessed Akbar, and soon the first of three sons was born to him. He named his first son Salim (later emperor Jahangir) in honor of Chishti.^[1] A daughter of Sheikh Salim Chishti was the foster mother of Emperor Jahangir. The emperor was deeply attached to his foster mother, as reflected in the Jahangirnama^[2] and he was extremely close to her son Qutb-ud-din Khan Koka who was made the governor of Bengal and his descendants are still to be found in Sheikhupur, Badaun.

Akbar held the Sufi in such high regard that he had a great city Fatehpur Sikribuilt around his camp.

This is from Wikipedia.

Meena bazar in Buland Darwaza complex

Buland Darwaza as a backdrop,Shuvo,Ronny,me,Bula,Omu and Purnima

Buland Darwaza from outside

Bula,Omu,Shuvo and Purnima with Buland Darwaza as a backdrop

Buland darwaza and Jama Masjid

Buland Darwaza (Hindi: बुलंद दरवाज़ा, Urdu: بُلند دروازه‎,^[1] pronounced [ˈbʊlənd̪ d̪ərˈʋaːzaː]), or the "Gate of Magnificence", was built in 1576 A.D. by Akbar to commemorate his victory over Gujarat. It is the main entrance to the palace at Fatehpur Sikri, a town which is 43 km from Agra, India.^[2]^[3]

Buland Darwaza is the highest gateway in the world and is an example of Mughal architecture. It displays Akbar's empire.^[4]^[5]

From Wikipedia

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Sikri is the second part of the visit to the great walled city of 16th century. To enter this place one has to purchase ticket and one needs guide to explain the historical significance.

While walking through this sandstone edifice of thousands of square meters i was trying to imagine that in the late 16th century this place was once treaded by Akbar, his Hindu wife Jodha or Marium, his navaratnas like Birbal, Tansen etc. Yes it is history all around created by the most secular Mughal emperor Akbar who tried to bring a new religion Deen ey Ilahi which was mixture of Hindu and Muslim religion. After coming here one realises that he created most of the Mughal structures visible in India. The Agra red fort is his creation and many other structures of Agra which was the capital of Mughals then were created by him barring for Taj Mahal. A distinct Persian architecture of influence of Indian culture is visible.

Here are some of the pictures of Sikri, It was a scorching hot afternoon and i was thinking that if Tansen would have been there then i would have requested him to sing Raag Megh Mallahar to bring rain, as per the legends he could do that, he could even light fire by singing Raag Deepak.

Kitchen

Panch Mahal at the back ground, Bula,Shuvo and Ronny

Diwane Khaas is visible at a distance

Shuvo and Ronny

Khwabghar

Open courtyard

Foreign tourists clicking away

Diwane aam and the foreign tourists

Diwane aam

Jodhabai's mahal

Aankh micholi tehkhana

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Wah Taj

The decision to go to Agra as a group of our family members was taken a month back. We were toying with idea of taking the newly introduced fastest train of India travelling at 160km/h, Gatiman which leaves Nizamuddin in New Delhi at 8.10 am and reaches at 9.50 am to Agra. One can return the same day by taking the same train at 5.50 pm from Agra which reaches Delhi at 7.30pm. The cost of AC Chair car each way is 750 bucks.
But then we all agreed to go by road as after construction of the 6 lanes Yamuna Highway of 205 km to Agra the road journey has become pretty routine. We took a SUV and started off in the morning, it took about 4 hours with a break in between.

break

our SUV

There are numerous hotels suiting to one's budget, we checked in one such budget hotels very near to Agra Fort. One thing to note is that Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays.
I have chosen a few of my favourite pictures of Taj Mahal which mostly i took during our visit to this marble edifice of symmetrical structure. I don't want to delve into history and geography of this marvel. I know that i could not stop myself from clicking Taj from every possible angle on that day, i was awestruck.I have chosen a few of the pictures taken by me on 13th October,2016. I refrained myself from editing the pictures by putting effect or colours, these are just unpolluted first cuts.
Enjoy the poetry of marble.