@ Tigin of Stamford

How charmed were those days
Those evenings when we would
Just close work at the office
Go and drink as much as we could

That pub in downtown
An Irish place called Tigin
Live music and unsure feet
Beautiful ladies, spirited evening

And that wily old friend
Who knew how to make us talk
And make us drink that one last pint 
And would drive us home, never walk

Endless talks of girls and love
And romance and chance
And of taking that leap
And asking her for a dance

That hope that stayed
As rest all did fade 

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay

Date of Visit - 5th Feb
(Sunday - lots of pre-montessary school children making a lot of noise. Lot of foreigners too. Me and My friend Yuvraj probably the only representatives of Mumbai in 30-35 age group)

The Museum is housed in a remarkable structure and its environs are surprisingly well maintained.

 

 The museum houses many collections of the Tata Family

The sculpture gallery is quiet special, providing a glimpse into Indian religion, tradition and history.

Artefacts are collected from all over India. Seeing quiet a few from my native place Chaul, was special. The descriptions are also very illustrative and captivating.

 

Lord Garuda in a unique pose 

The Durga figurine on the right (above) is made of bark of a tree Sholapith - simply amazing.

There is a separate section which captures art, sculpture and history of Jainism in India.

The birds and animals section.

 This was an interesting one, this creature (saw fish) washed up onto Mumbai shores around 1930s. It would be so nice if it could make some regular visits now (just to terrorise a few 😊 )

There are also sections for coins, weapons, clothes which make you walk more even after those first 3 hours after which your feet have started feeling the pain.

If you wanted some souveneirs

Did you notice the ubiquitous Indian blessing for the bride?

Coinage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj - Shivrai Hon

The one on right spells Shri Raja Shiv, the one on the left (reverse) spells Chhatrapati.

Jai Shivaji!!

And about these other coins (notice the part that satavahana dynasty mention mothers clan name with rulers name - the only one)





Just in case the ladies get bored

And then there was Gandhi and Shakespeare (beat that !!)

Kanu Gandhi's Photo Exhibition

The great english bard

New observances - in the digital world - because we should

Leave that whatsapp group day

Unlike/ Unfriend that dork/devil day

Say Hi after 5 (yrs) day

Change the DP today day - it's been freaking 5 years

Make fake profile day - that friend who thinks he is too cool to be on social network - 1 April

Heritage month - don't share, post originals - entire month - 31 days of July

Uff!! mere ye aadarsh!!

Being principled has always seemed to be a costly option.That the principles have become obsolete is a different matter altogether. What was newly revealed to this blogger, is the correlation of principles which helps them co-exist.

Principles/beliefs in the mix:

1. Conserve earth, plant more trees
2. Compassion towards birds and animals, sometimes above and over human life
3. Though shall sow, and not expect the fruits

Revelation:

I have 3 flower-pots in my apartment. I water them daily. Apart from an over-zealous "Curry leaves" plant that is housed in one of the flower-pot, nothing else has lasted long. The problem - pigeons and sparrows. I have made repeated attempts to plant seeds in the other 2 flower-pots, only to see them sprout, grow a little and then have the pigeons and sparrows ravage on it.

So, I take efforts to water the plants. I see the pigeons and sparrows finish them off. I cannot hit at the birds to protect the plants (Uff!! mere ye aadarsh!! - well actually I do shooo them off many times - but I cant really be with the plan 24*7 - still got a day job). And then the 2 flower pots remain barren, which the pigeons consider a vacancy - and use it as a nursing home. So, my flower pots are blessed with pigeon-lings once every 3 months (and hence not barren?!!). So, while I sow plant seeds I get pigeon-lings which would become pigeons and make my gardening that much more difficult. That is 90% of the story. The rest 10% is the shit. The pigeons/pigeon-lings - shit a lot. Now that could be manure for my plants - so I would plan to sow more seeds going forward, only to see the leaves being eaten off in 3-4 days by the same marauders. And here comes the last principle to rescue - or to dissuade me from victimizing myself - though shall sow and not expect the fruits - in fact what you might reap is pigeon-lings and ..... shit!!

Sketch(s)

तस्वीर बनाता हूं

तस्वीर नही बनती

Chemical Tathastu!!

Yesterday a facebook friend posted an event - he got married. I know him from my school years. He was a fun to be with. His facebook post was interesting - "My better 2nd half started" & "bonding between 2 chemical engineers". I wished him the very best. I have become awestruck by marriage (the ceremony, the new relationship and the changed way of life) - and as other English phrases fail me - am a huge fan. So I completely agree with his sentiment, it is indeed his life's better 2nd half. And his wife being his "better half" is such an Indian-English cliche`.
I had not been in much contact with him for some time now - lets say 15 years - that is how most Facebook friendships seem to be - so he being a chemical engineer is something that I would say I knew, but honestly I just have some vague recollection. I wish this "bond between 2 chemical engineers" be always strong. The particular words however, enticed me, taking me back to my HSC years. If marriage is indeed a bond and in this case it being between 2 chemical engineers - it has to be a covalent bond where different atoms share there electrons - no acquisitions, just merger. Let the 2 persons involved share their joys, sorrows, abundance and replenish each other. If only there was a chemical equivalent of Tathastu!!

Cancer will fall out??

Recent news articles have claimed that Cancer occurrences in 90% cases can be put down to bad luck.

The cells behave randomly and abnormal cell growth that is the cancer signature is put down on luck.

Is it then that this study might not have considered effect of change in lifestyle, exposure to radiation, complex foods and stress.

And then the cancer occurrences are symptoms that a body is not yet prepared for these changes genetically and hence as the genes get adjusted to these changes over generations, cancer would cease to exist?