Variety by TRIOS

  As the year 2026 started, SAHAS [Spreading Aid Health And Smile] Foundation, an NGO we, friends, started in 2021, just after COVID, thought to start taking our first baby step towards elder care. Leena and I, always wanted to do something for the marginalized elderly. As we discussed what can we do for the society as the new year started Archana, one of our most active members suggested, we spend some quality time with those elders staying at an old age home. A wonderful idea. So, immediately we started doing a little recce and identified St Anthony's Home for the Aged at Chapel Road, Bandra West, for no other reason than it was most convenient for us, all senior citizens. St Anthony's Home for the Aged at Chapel Road, Bandra West was only too happy to oblige. So we, Archana, Ravindra, Leena reached there in the evening, as scheduled.   Sister Nirmala had told us we could give the seniors small chocolates to make it a celebratory day as it was the First of the New Year. ...

  I have this penchant for losing my mobile. The skies have opened and raining cats and dogs, not letting up. Rains and my mobiles just love each other. Or rains and my losing mobiles have an effinity. Last year, just the day prior to my departure, I lost my mobile.  It slipped out from the pocket of my windcheater. And, as  I almost immediately realized this, turned back to find an  absolutely   road empty. No humans. No animals. No objects! I requested a person known to me to call my number and of course, as expected, it was switched off. I panicked. My visa, passport, tickets, everything was in that phone! For a while I was absolutely incapable of thinking. I called my younger cousin and he said make a police complaint. Where was the time for all that! It’s six o’clock in the evening. My flight is at 10.30 a.m. next morning and I still had to pack. The alternative – a new mobile; new sims in lieu of the earlier ones, same numbers of course. Back hom...

  👏👏   Mrityunjay - The Death Conqueror . The original Marathi magnum opus of Mr Shivaji Sawant has been very ably translated into English by Mr Pushottam Lal & Ms Nandini Nopany. My copy was a hard cover book bound with hand-woven silk cloth and golden lettering on the cover; the pages golden edged. It definitely does credit to the contents and the homage that is paid to the great character that Karna was. Credit must go to my nephew Suryakalpo Sarker for introducing me to the book.   In literal terms,  Mrityunjay  means a person who has conquered death. Taken from the story of the Mahabharata, the book is the story of the life of Karna, the great warrior, the greatest giver; Karna, who braved the mightiest of disadvantages, insults, unfairness, injustice, humiliation and contempt to emerge victorious as a person of sterling character. A personality to be the role model for youth all through the ages. Very inspirational.   Karna...

  I know about Autism and Asperger Syndrome. I know them as information. Clinical. But 15-year Christopher, writing in first person, suffering from the infliction, brings the reality of it home. The parents’ dilemma for they are not only coping with becoming parents, taking care of a child; they are now having to take care of a child whom they cannot even begin to understand. First, to have to come to terms with the fact that your child is not normal. And then trying to learn how to deal with this situation! And sometimes we are just not up to it. No judgement. Fact. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is just such a book. Its main character, and the narrator of the book, is Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old with Autism. 'Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by differences and difficulties in social communication and interaction, need for predictability, sens...

👪 Recently while talking to my Father’s younger brother, my Uncle mentioned with a touch of marvel in his voice, that my in-laws have sooo many relatives and there is constantly something or other going on amongst them isn’t it? I said “Yes… “. I reflected that here at my Paternal Uncle’s side, we somehow never experienced these things !. Uncle said “We do not have any such relations cause all our relatives were much much elder to us. You see, all my uncles were of my grandfather’s age and their children means my cousins were of my father’s age. So there were no common factors for us to stay in contact.” This got me thinking……… I remember by Mother-in-law as well as my Father-in-law used to urge us to go visit the elderly in the family, check if they need any thing and if nothing else spend time with them to make them happy. As age advanced and my in-laws could not travel much, all our relatives would invariably gather at our house and include them in their conversations, discussion...

                                                              Baba with his favourite daughter, Rani.   Come Father’s Day social media is flooded with superheroes ......... Fathers are eulogised. All fathers seem to be the epitome of Fatherhood. Love and unending loyalty are extended to long the dead parent. And yet old age homes are overflowing with neglected, aged parents. I am not against old age homes or the practical necessity of arranging for a parent’s stay in an old age home. It’s the neglect and disrespect. While the social media is overflowing with perfect parents and perfect offsprings. Superhero fathers!   Wonderful loving children.  Highly commendable!  Enough to make one feel inadequate. Not having the perfect parent. Not being the perfect daughter. My Baba...

  Recently Ginil narrated another funny incidence. It seems he had gone to Mangalore. He was staying at their family home which is usually shut as no-one stays there. He had gone alone. His schedule was to rise early, exercise, bathe, have breakfast. Do whatever Govt. work he has gone for and retire early in the evening.  One evening he had just finished taking bath before going to bed and his phone rang. As per his habit, he picked it up and put it to his ear. His wife Ria (name changed) was at the other end.  " Hello, how are you? " asked Ria with great concern in her voice. " I am perfectly fine" replied Ginil " Why do you ask? We spoke this morning na?" " Then why are you sleeping so early? " Ria asked " No... I am not sleeping... Still time to go to bed " a puzzled Ginil replied " why do you think I am sleeping?" " Are then why have you put off the lights? Is there some electricity issue at the house? " asked Ri...

  Something funny… I have a friend... Let's call him Ginil. Ginil was at his office at a prestigious multinational company at Churchgate. Once, I was conducting training session at Belapur. Hence I could not make any phone calls when the train session was on. During lunch break I called up Ginil. I knew he would not be at his desk and hence called on his mobile. But the phone went unanswered. I tried calling at least half a dozen times with the same results. I was a bit annoyed. After that I had to continue with my training session. In the evening after the training for the day was over, I called up Ginil again. This time he answered immediately. "Why didn't you answer my call in the afternoon?" I asked. "Are.. I had gone for lunch and I don't take my phone while having food" Ginil replied. " Why? " I asked. "No.. no... I can't keep mobile phone near me while having food" Ginil said "you see, the phone invariably rings...

  My SIL SK 

  From Dudhwa  via Kathgodam        to Nainital  When Leena and I started on our trip to Uttar Pradesh we were given strict instructions not to talk to strangers nor tell our itinerary to anyone. UP had a reputation! We solemnly promised and forgot all about these instructions soon as we boarded the train, happily chatting away with all and sundry. Train travel used to be such an interesting experience. After travelling to various destinations on our itinerary we landed up in Dudhwa National Park. What we did there is another story for another day. But, the journey to Nainital is something to be remembered. Dudhwa being a forest, it was next to impossible to get a vehicle to ferry us to Kathgodam station. These were pre-Ola / Uber days. Though I don't know whether that would be of any help.  We were running out of time when like a blessing came the forest ranger, whom we had met the previous day, in his jeep. Espying to hapless ladies h...

My cousin, much younger to me, bought a new car last year ... fully automatic with a sun roof. He had also purchased an iPhone as proof of having "arrived". He explained, a bigger, better car is required to establish your status. I asked the purpose of the sunroof. And he said, if there's an accident, that's an escape route. He has been driving since the last 30 years. On being asked him how many accidents he has had, even minor ones, he couldn't think of any. So he said, his young daughter, would enjoy. But since in Mumbai one can't imagine keeping the sun roof open at any time of the year, except may be a couple of days during January or February....that was ruled out, too. Also after he became educated about the dangers of standing up through the sunroof in a speeding vehicle he decided against risking his daughter's life. Then he told me, in these new upscale cars, the front lights are on all the time. As a safety measure he assured me. Now, in...

 The opinion given here is my own idea without any political angle to it. This is just an attempt to get an explanation of why these things are happening, based on observation and press reports. I do not have any supporting data, reports nor have I done in-depth study of the issues. Looks like there is some force in Mumbai with a definite hidden agenda… When one looks around, one finds some forces that make things which are good, running nicely, things we are used to and like using, shops, products, institutions, etc. being methodically shut down or shifted. Conditions in Mumbai are made difficult due to which, factories, industries, businesses are shifting to neighbouring conducive environment like Gujarat, Ahmedabad, Surat, etc. Two big conglomerates are currently operating in Mumbai and one can see them getting stronger… One such case I would highlight is regarding an orphanage where I go to spend some quality time with the children. Let us call it Balakashram. Some of the ch...

  This time I thought I’ll do a book review ….   I stumbled upon this book absolutely by accident and as I started reading I wondered how was it possible that I had not read a single book by this author. There seems to be a series of books, this being 22 nd . How uninformed could I be. And I pride myself as a reader! M C Beaton, born Marion Gibbons (née Chesney) was a  Scottish  writer of  romance  and  mystery  novels, whose career as a published author began in 1979. She wrote numerous successful historical romance novels under a form of her maiden name, Marion Chesney, including the "Travelling Matchmaker" and "Daughters of Mannerling" series. Using the pseudonym M. C. Beaton, she also wrote many popular  mystery novels , most notably the  Agatha Raisin  and  Hamish Macbeth  mystery series. Both of these book series have been adapted for TV, Wikipedia tells me.   She died on December 30, 2...

  Ravindra’s expression was priceless! What’s this woman saying! Is she in her senses! Enid Blyton! She’s going to read Enid Blyton at her age! Did I hear right! I must have misunderstood. Various emotions were reflected on his face each vying for a place. “Taking it for your grandchildren?” He wanted to reassure himself. A seventy-year old and reading Enid Blyton. He simply could not assimilate this. We were making a list pf books to start a library for the children mainly. We, meaning, SAHAS [Spreading Aid Health And Smile] Foundation. A tiny NGO started by 7 friends. When the next Enid Blyton made an appearance I was ecstatic and he beyond being surprised. I had found these two books and was overjoyed. Leena, kept smiling. Trying not to add to the poor guy’s confusion. I knew though she was equally excited about the books. It was more than two hours by the time the four of us decided to call it a day. All the time he had that bewildered expression. He tried...