For GOD's Sake...!?!

Recently I got an opportunity to watch ‘Deool’ – a Marathi classic and I had to write about it voluntarily and with no strings attached…! This is not an archetypal review of the movie and neither intended like one, this just replaces the discussions we used to have with friends in good old times. The grown no. of friends, their respective busyness and time constraint are the factors contributing to this write-up.

Umesh Kulkarni, after ‘Valu’ and ‘Vihir’ brings a complete down-to-earth and genuine effort to present a satire on the evolution, development and manifestation of various human instincts. Set on a beautiful canvas of an Indian village in Maharashtra and spiced-up with absolute original humor, emotional drama, sentiments, belief systems and superstitions, not just about the Almighty, but about the so called authority and influential persons around, this work is absolute delight to watch.

While making you cry as you laugh, this will be an explicit milestone of Marathi Cinema finding its place in the band of all-time Marathi classics like –

Sadhi Manasa (1966 – Bhalji Pendharkar),

Samna (1974 – D r. Jabbar Patel),

Jait Re Jait (1977 – Dr. Jabbar Patel),

Umbartha (1980 – Dr. Jabbar Patel),

Mukta (1993 – Dr. Jabbar Patel),

Bangarwadi (1994 – Amol Palekar),

Dombivli Fast (2006 – Nishikant Kamat) and

Harishchandrachi Factory (2009 – Paresh Mokashi).

The bottom-line is no matter how ignorant, ordinary and vacant OR sophisticated, high-worth and busy you are; if you are still humane enough, you are qualified and compelled to watch this. And the force behind writing this is not my stake (?) in the movie but my belief in humanity and concern about it…!

Secondly, as it is apparent from the list above (prepared by myself with a single criteria of ‘touching my heart and making me THINK, facilitated me to unlearn some beliefs and relearn some humane values’), Marathi people get this opportunity hardly twice in a decade. So GO FOR IT…!

Stay tuned and H-U-M-A-N-E…!

Wrath...!?!

26/11/2011… Three years on, while victims of the most-coward worst-ever terrorist strike on Indian soil still await benefits of a rehabilitation package to reach them, the heads that had rolled in the wake of the 26/11 attack are back in the corridors of power - with full honors. In the course of action a word ‘Saffron Terrorism’ was coined by the so called leaders and diplomats.

I would like all of you to read an article about this, not by a Hindu Politician nor by a Muslim Leader but… I don’t know how many of you have heard of Francois Gauttier, a French author and journalist who lives in India . He is about 52 years old, was born in Paris and was brought up in a traditional Christian family. He was kind of “revolutionary,” for lack of a better term, and did not fit into the traditional Catholic system, so to speak. He moved to India in 1971 when he was about 19 and spent a few years at the famous Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry and is married to an Indian lady. He writes for various newspapers and magazines, including The French Connection, The Pioneer and The Indian Express. He has also authored various books – among them: Arise O Indian, Cry Out My Beloved India, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, A Guru of Joy and few others, some in French and some in English.

The link below to the article 'The Hindu Rate of Wrath' was written by him and published in various magazines and newspapers in India, Britain, France.

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?238886

Don’t you think, apart from burning candles, the least you can do is read it and spread it…!?!

Stay tuned and U-P-R-I-G-H-T…!

ABCD...!?!

The atmosphere all around has become very grey, negative and full of hatred with impatience, turbulence and indifferent attitudes. The least we can do to change this depressing picture is making the 'self' more Aware, Balanced, Composed and Diligent within the situations we are forced to live in. Here is a beautiful poem with a similar message that I found while browsing...


Pick out the folks you like the least and watch 'em for a while;

They never waste a kindly word, they never waste a smile;

They criticize their fellow men at every chance they get,

They never found a human just to suit their fancy yet.

From them I guess you'd learn something if they were pointed out --

Some things that every one of us should know a lot about,

When someone "knocks" a brother, pass around the loving cup--

Say something good about him if you have to make it up.

It's safe to say that every man God made holds trace of good

That he would fain exhibit to his fellows if he could;

The kindly deeds in many a soul are hibernating there

Awaiting the encouragement of other souls that dare

To show the best that's in them; and a universal move

Would start the whole world running in a hopeful, helpful groove.

Say something sweet to paralyze the "knocker" on the spot--

Speak kindly of his victim if you know the man or not.

The eyes that peek and peer to find the worst a brother holds,

The tongue that speaks in bitterness, that frets and fumes and scolds;

The hand that bruise the fallen, though their strength was made to raise

The weaklings who have stumbled at the parting of the ways...

All these should be forgiven, for they "know not what they do";

Their hinderance makes a greater work for wiser ones like you.

So, when they scourge a wretched one who's drained sin's bitter cup,

Say something good about him if you have to make it up...!

Stay tuned and be N-I-C-E...!

Polite...!?!

We all believe in the philosophy that the essence of life is talking.  Communicating with others is as necessary as food. If we dont, we tend to fall ill. Today people are rarely talking.

The art of conversation has almost died down. People just usually sit and chat in their office breaks about things that are not even worth thinking about. Lets face it; we all are going towards doom where each one of us is talking to pass/kill time. The art of using communication is no more existing. People are concerned about others influence in their lives and not about their influence in others life.

It is an unbelievable thing that an effective communication through polite words can have wonderful impact on you and others lives as well. You can win the hearts of many people, climb the corporate ladder, have promotions but not have wonderful relationship with people around you.

The path to a successful life comes thorough the stairs of politeness. An act of politeness can do wonders that no monetary thing can do. Let us go deep in the art of efficient speaking by these methods.

Talking about ideas and not people

Its truly said, great minds talk about ideas and small minds talk about people. Politeness is an attitude of life. Talking about ideas heightens your politeness towards innovations and stimulates your mind too. This is effective for the speaker and the listener both. To start talking about people you can breathe out all negative energies about anyone: latest crush, which dress she wears, which perfume she uses, her bad attitude. The idea is that everything you talk about people usually comes negative. This develops a feeling of self love and comparison at all means. You do not value your life as much as you do to others.

Using intellect instead of the tongue

Usually people chatter on at length not worrying about the impact it would have on others. Since people are so occupied in themselves they’d rather talk about themselves only. This instigates them to speak rubbish endlessly. Have you ever thought how much of an impact we can have on others by our words? By trying to use our brains before speaking, we will save others sentiments and preserve a healthy relationship between our near ones.

Avoiding gossip

The one who usually starts a gossip or backbiting about someone does not know that he is the one to have the last laugh. People who start commenting and spreading rumors about others usually end up in a muck of politics and bickering about themselves from the other end. Such people should be avoided at arm's length. Even listening to gossip is as harmful since the listener had the power to listen to negative communication. This unhealthy gossiping could have been stopped if the listener would have ignored the speaker.

 Exchange of compliments

We should not limit our compliment intake be restricted to our close relatives. People like our helpers such as servants, cleaners, house maids are those on whom we can count on. Speaking politely to them will ensure that your day is made. They are the ones who offer your services to make your life comfortable. So we should make endeavors to enrich their lives by complimenting and praising them.

Look for positive things in negative people

We all have negative and positive sides. Nobody on this earth has a squeaky clean nature. We all have flaws, however some people are observed negatively by their rude behavior and we become very judgmental about them putting them in the negative category. We should understand that people who are rude have their own weaknesses. They do not choose to be like that. Frustrations at work or domestic front make them act in this behavior. Such people should be offered more help than others comparatively. Talking politely with them will make a difference in their lives and yours too.

Feel positive about you all the time

Quite often we do not realize that we subconsciously become negative. Pent up emotions and unfulfilled desires make us behave rudely towards others and emit negative radiations from the body. Thus we tend to overreact and become rude and harsh to others in some or the other way. This might demolish the social circle that we have. So politeness in the hearts at all means will result in polite attitude.

Whatever is rested in your heart is bound to come out in the open some or the other day. Make sure you have a prosperous life with a polite attitude and selfless love. This will make you immortal in the hearts of millions as people are going to remember for your polite words and not by your status.

A photographer once clicked a photograph of ex-president of India, Dr. Kalam with a shawl placed on his shoulder. After the photo shoot was over, the photographer rudely took off the shawl and walked off. The President smiled. After being asked about his composed behavior, he politely answered that maybe the photographer needed the shawl more than he did, and continued his work.

People with big positions come and go but it is only their humble nature that draws millions of people towards them. Their polite words filled to the brim with modesty and love melt the hearts of even the rudest amongst the crowd. By talking politely to all we can make an impact on others lives.

Stay tuned and P-O-L-I-T-E…!

Lie Detector...!?!

SKS, Sach Ka Samana, is back once again on Indian Television and this time with a broader and social slogan ‘Against Corruption’…! A lie-detector technology is used to test the sincerity of the answers by the contestant on this show. Probing into LD while studying criminal psychology, I found 7 ways with the help of which you can initially detect a liar spot on. I thought it would be good to share this with you all for three reasons – 

1. It’s virtually inexpensive i.e. actually FREE…!
2. There is no harm in KNOWING it unless you think of it otherwise…!?!
3. As the ‘Development’ is in ‘Progress’, it is going to be a routine yet tough task to identify the liars among the people around you…! (Ref. - Big Boss)

Here are seven ways to identify a liar

1. Consider the person's recall: Liars never forget what they have to say but they may stumble when telling a tale by making contradicting statements. They're also eager to change the subject.

2. Observe the person's overall body language: Liars can look ill at ease, fiddling with their hair, stroking their throat, or rubbing their eyes. With their body often turned away from you, you may notice hand or leg fidgeting. Liars also have trouble swallowing and may shake their heads after a point has been made. When the subject finally gets changed, they appear happier and more comfortable, maybe laughing nervously.

3.Take notice of any defensiveness: Liars will often take offence to any indication that they're under suspicion. They're likely to throw any accusations you throw at them back at you. They will also talk too much, feeling the need to over-explain themselves.

4. Home in on facial expressions: Liars fail to control their micro-expressions. While fibbing, you may notice nervous twitching. Their hand may be covering or touching their face. People also tend to touch the mouth when feeling guilty or anxious. They're particularly good with fake smiles.

5. Don't overlook the Pinocchio reaction: When a human tells a lie, extra blood gets pumped through the body and the nose swells by a fraction of millimeter. Liars may subsequently touch the tip of their nose unconsciously.

6. Concentrate on the eyes: A liar has a troubled brow and downcast or darting eyes. They have trouble directly engaging your gaze. They also give you eye-accessing clues. If the person is telling you the truth, he'll look up and to the left since that's the side of the brain we use for recalling information. If she's lying, she'll look up and to the right, which is the creative side of the brain, because she's mentally constructing something that hasn't happened.

7. Note the person's voice: The higher the stakes are, the more the liar has a fear of getting caught. With this, the liar has a harder time controlling his body language or her voice. The pitch or rate of the speech may change, with the individual giving a lot of "umms" and "ahhs." Often, a liar will appear stilted and monotone. Answers may seem rehearsed.

Stay tuned and Beware of L-I-A-R-S…!

Be Aware...!?!

If you remember, at this same place I have shared a story about Buddha that when asked ‘who are you?’ he answered ‘I am Aware…!’ I am absolutely fascinated by this and that’s why I have this ritual to end all my daily mails with these two words… Be Aware…! Among all the questions I am confronted with every now and then from my friends, relatives, readers and well(?)wishers, the majority ones are –
What do you mean by ‘Be Aware’ when you convey it regularly…?

Why do you do what you do when there are absolutely no returns from it…?

Why don’t you do what you can do to earn recognition, wealth and status…?

For the first question the answer is ‘It is loud thinking and I say it to myself…!’

And for the collective response to all the sympathies as a whole, I am borrowing a story of Buddha by OSHO…

There was one great master, a Buddhist master, Nagarjuna. A thief came to him. The thief had fallen in love with the master because he had never seen such a beautiful person, such infinite grace. He asked Nagarjuna, “Is there some possibility of my growth also? But one thing I must make clear to you: I am a thief. And another thing: I cannot leave it, so please don’t make it a condition. I will do whatsoever you say, but I cannot stop being a thief. That I have tried many times — it never works, so I have left the whole sport. I have accepted my destiny, that I am going to be a thief and remain a thief, so don’t talk about it. From the very beginning let it be clear.”

Nagarjuna said, “Why are you afraid? Who is going to talk about your being a thief?”

The thief said, “But whenever I go to a monk, to a religious priest or to a religious saint, they always say, ‘First stop stealing.’”

Nagarjuna laughed and he said, “Then you must have gone to thieves; otherwise, why? Why should they be concerned? I am not concerned!”

The thief was very happy. He said, “Then it is okay. It seems that now I can become a disciple. You are the right master.”

Nagarjuna accepted him. He said, “Now you can go and do whatsoever you like. Only one condition has to be followed: Be aware! Go, break into houses, enter, bring things, steal; do whatsoever you like, that is of no concern to me, I am not a thief — but do it with full awareness.”

The thief couldn’t understand that he was falling into the trap. He said, “Then everything is okay. I will try.”

After three weeks he came and said, “You are tricky because if I become aware, I cannot steal. If I steal, awareness disappears. I am in a fix.”

Nagarjuna said, “No more talk about your being a thief and stealing. I am not concerned, I am not a thief. Now you decide! If you want awareness then you decide. If you don’t want it, then too you decide.”

The man said, “But now it is difficult. I have tasted it a little, and it is so beautiful — I will leave anything, whatsoever you say.” The thief said, “Just the other night for the first time I was able to enter the palace of the king. I opened the treasure. I could have become the richest man in the world — but you were following me and I had to be aware. When I became aware, suddenly — no motivation, no desire! When I became aware, diamonds looked just like stones, ordinary stones. When I lost awareness the treasure was there. And I waited and did this many times. I would become aware and I became like a buddha, and I could not even touch it because the whole thing looked foolish, stupid — just stones, what am I doing? Losing myself for stones? But then I would lose awareness; they would become again beautiful, the whole illusion. But finally I decided that they were not worth it…”

Stay tuned and B-E A-W-A-R-E…!

Mussaddi...!

 I have always been a great fan of this man Pankaj Kapoor, may it be  Karamchand, Ek Ruka Hua Faisla, Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin or Maqbool, the list is unending. He always had that flavor to convey the message in a notorious yet very sensitive and sensible way. This real-life common man’s expressions were bound to hit the bull’s eye every single time and even in his late fifties he doesn't fail to awe me with his sharp and intellectual presentation...!

And recently I got an opportunity to watch ‘Chala Mussadi Office Office’, another satire or black comedy, depending upon how you look at it and on which side of the line you stand, is a must watch which has this miracle powers to make you cry while you smile…! 

Apart from being a highly motivated, intensely intellectual and morbidly real; this effort is more than a visual communication… it’s the actual and logical solution to the filthiest demon of all the ages – CORRUPTION, striking the right chords, imbibing the true values, inspiring the mundane minds and indicating the precise actions instead of a great humbug about it which ultimately proves to be a far cry…! 

And the short lines like ‘I can see some light…’ are absolutely incredible…! Take out little time, 1 HR 39 Min and 51 Seconds to be precise and WATCH IT HERE…! 

http://youtu.be/cZY9MIsXF84

Stay tuned and I-G-N-I-T-E-D…!

The Mongoose...!?!

This story from 'Hitopadesh' that we used to listen as a child is truer than ever in today's scenario of thoughtless, inconsiderate and insensible acts we witness all around day in and day out. GOD bless the Mongoose and bestow sense and serenity to reactive, impulsive and mindless masses!

Once upon a time, there lived a Brahman by the name of Deva Sharma with his wife. His wife delivered a son and they were happy to have their first child. The Brahmin wanted to have a pet animal to protect the child which would also be a companion to the child. The Brahmin kept his proposal before the Brahmani. She found the proposal acceptable and the Brahmin went to bring a pet.

Deva Sharma went round the village and after much toil, got a mongoose as an escort to his child. Brahmani didn’t like the idea to keep a mongoose for her child. But as the pet was already brought, so she accepted it. Now, both of them started loving the mongoose as their own child. Yet, the Brahmani never left her son alone because she did not trust the mongoose, fearing that it could harm her son. 

One day, the farmer and his wife had to go out of the house leaving the child at home. The farmer confirmed that the mongoose would take care of the child while they would be away. So, they left the mongoose and the child at home and went out. Soon after they left, a cobra entered the home. Finding danger to the son of the Brahmin, the mongoose attacked the cobra. They had a bloody combat and the mongoose succeeded in killing the cobra.

After this, mongoose heard the footfalls of Brahmin’s wife and went at the door to greet her. Brahmani was trembled to see the blood stained mouth of the mongoose. She inferred that the mongoose had killed the child. Without a second thought, she threw a heavy box on mongoose and the mongoose died at the spot. Brahmani quickly entered the house to see her child and to her great surprise, she found her child sleeping quietly in the cradle. 

As soon as, she saw a snake bitten into pieces lying near the cradle, she realized that the mongoose had saved her child. The Brahmani was struck by grief that she had killed the mongoose that was like a sibling to her son. She cried loud at her hasty action.

Stay tuned and 'Don’t be a Mongoose'...!?!

The Key...!?!

When I was a kid, my mom would prepare special breakfast every now and then. And I remember one night in particular, after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: Honey, I love burned biscuits.

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned.

He wrapped me in his arms and said, Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone! You know, life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else.

What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife, parent-child, employer-employee, client-consultant OR friendship!

Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own. So Please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burnt one will do just fine...!?!

Stay tuned and keep U-N-L-O-C-K-E-D...!

Anniversary...!?!

Discovery of India…!?!

The original inhabitants of ancient India were called Adidases, who lived in two cities called Hariappa and Mujhe-na-Daro. These cities had the best drain system in the world and so there was no brain drain from them. Ancient India was full of myths which have been handed down from son to father. A myth is a female moth. A collection of myths is called mythology, which means stories with female caricatures. 

One myth says that people in olden times worshiped monkeys because they were our ancestors. In olden times, there were two big families in India. One was called the Pandava and the other was called the Karova. They fought amongst themselves in a battle called Mahabharat, after which India came to be known as Mera Bharat Mahan. 

In midevil times, India was ruled by the Slave Dienasty. So named because they all died a nasty death. Then came the Tughlaqs who shifted their capital from Delhi because of its pollution. They were followed by the Mowglis. The greatest Mowgli was Akbar because he extinguished himself on the battlefield of Panipat which is in Hurryana. But his son Jehangir was peace loving; he married one Hindu wife and kept 300 porcupines. 

Then came Shahajahan who had 14 sons. Family planning had not been invented at that time. He also built the Taj Mahal hotel for his wife who now sleeps there. The king sent all his sons away to distant parts of India because they started quarrelling. Dara Seiko was sent to UP, Shaikh Bhakhtiyar was sent to J & K, while Orangezip came to Bombay to fight Shivaji. However, after that they changed its name to Mumbai because Shivaji's sena did not like it. They also do not like New Delhi, so they are calling it Door Darshan.

After the Mowglis came Vasco the Gama. He was an exploder who was circumcising India with a 100 foot clipper. Then came the British. They brought with them many inventions such as cricket, tramtarts and steamed railways. They were followed by the French who brought in French fries, pizzazz and laundry. But Robert Clive drove them out when he deafened Duplex who was out-membered since the British had the queen on their side. 

Eventually, the British came to overrule India because there was too much diversity in our unity. The British overruled India for a long period. They were great expotents and impotents. They started expoting salt from India and impoting cloth. This was not liked by Mahatma Gandhi who wanted to produce his own salt. This was called the Swedish moment. During this moment, many people burnt their lion cloths in the street and refused to wear anything else. The British became very angry at this and stopped the production of Indian testiles. 

In 1920, Mahatma Gandhi was married to one wife. Soon after he became the father of the nation. In 1942, he started the Quiet India moment, so named because the British were quietly lootoing our country. In 1947, India became free and its people became freely loving. This increased our population. Its government became a limited mockery, which means people are allowed to take the law in their own hands with the help of the police. 

Our constipation is the best in the world because it says that no man can be hanged twice for the same crime. It also says you cannot be put in prison if you have not paid your taxis. Another important thing about our constipation is that it can be changed. This is not possible with the British constipation because it is not written on paper. 

The Indian parliament consists of two houses which are called lower and higher. This is because one Mr. Honest Abe said that two houses divided against itself cannot withstand. So Pandit Nehru asked the British for freedom at midnight since the British were afraid of the dark. At midnight, on August 15, there was a tryst in parliament in which many participated by wearing khaki and hosting the flag.

Recently in India, there have been a large number of scams and a plaque, it can be dangerous because many people died of this plaque in Surat. Scams are all over India. One of these was in Bihar where holy cows were not given anything to eat by their elected leader. The other scam was in Bofors which is a small town in Switzerland. In this, a lot of Indian money was given to buy a gun which can shoot a coot. 

Presently, India has a coalishun government made up of many parties, left, right and centre. It has started to library the economy. This means that there is now no need for a licence as the economy will be driven by itself. 

India is also trying to become an Asian tiger because its own tigers are being poached. Another important event this year was the Shark Meeting at Malas Dive. At this place, shark leaders agreed to share their poverty, pollution and population. 

This is written by a schoolboy who indeed has a bright future in…. you know what…!?! 

Stay tuned and learn from H-I-S-T-O-R-Y…!

(अ)मूल्य-शिक्षण...!

स्थळ : न्यू सिटी हायस्कूल, धुळे

काळ : १९८१ ते १९८६

जेवणाची मोठी सुटी. डबे खाऊन झालेल्या मुलांची दंगामस्ती. वर्गात आधी पोहचण्यासाठी लावलेली शर्यत.

जिन्यावरून धावत जातांना एका मुलाने गम्मत म्हणून जोरात आपटलेला जिन्याचा लोखंडी सरकता दरवाजा. मागून सरांची हाक आणी चिमटीत पकडला गेलेला कान. दुख-या कानात पडलेले आणी कायमसाठी साठवले गेलेले सरांचे मृदू आवाजातले ठाम शब्द...

"हा दरवाजा आणखी किमान २० वर्षे टिकावा अशी आमची इच्छा आहे...!"

मराठी माध्यमाची शाळा. इंग्रजी म्हणजे वाघिणीचे दुध आणी गणिताच्या बरोबरीचा शत्रू क्र. १. स्पेलिंग ही नेहमीच दांडी गुल करणारी गुगली. स्पेलिंग आणी उच्चार यात ताळमेळ असेलच असे नाही. फुरंगटून बसलेल्या मुलासारखे काही स्वर/व्यंजन सायलेंट असण्याची काय गरज. 'नो' असा उच्चार असलेल्या शब्दाचे स्पोलिंग know कसे? या सगळ्या घोळात एक नवीन शब्द शिकवलेला. 'थियेटर'. ही वस्तू चांगलीच ठाऊक आणी 'जवळची' असली तरी ऐनवेळी स्पेलिंग घात करेल ही धास्ती. मुलांची धाकधूक ओळखून आणी कुठलीही गोष्ट घोकंपट्टी करण्यापेक्षा समजून घेण्याची सवय लागावी म्हणून सरांनी त्या शब्दाची अत्यंत सोपी फोड करून जन्मभराची करून दिलेली सोय...

"द अत्रे... The Atre - Theatre...!"

मराठी व्याकरण हे गुंतागुंतीचे किचकट प्रकरण न वाटता ती मौजेची गोष्ट वाटावी या भावनेने सरांनी घेतलेला तास. एका विद्यार्थ्याला उभे करून विचारलेला प्रश्न...

"तू महिन्यातून किती वेळा कटिंग करतोस...?" 

तास मराठीचा आहे कि शारीरिक शिक्षणाचा या संभ्रमात मुलाचे उत्तर

"दोनदा..."

क्षणाचाही विलंब न लावता सरांचा प्रतिप्रश्न... "कुणाची...?" 

मिनिटभराच्या स्मशानशांततेनंतर उडालेला हास्यकल्लोळ. मुलांना शांत करत सरांचे विवेचन...

"करणे आणी करवून घेणे या दोन भिन्न क्रिया असून त्यांचा कर्ताही भिन्नच असायला हवा. मी नाभिक असेल तर या क्रियेचा कर्ता होतो अन्यथा फक्त प्रेरक ठरतो...!"

गणीत...! भल्याभल्यांची झोप उडविणारा आणी परीक्षेच्या खिंडीत गाठून हमखास प्राणार्पण करायला लावणारा गनीम. मुलांच्या मनातील सुप्त भीतीला चारीमुंड्या चीत करण्यासाठी सरांची पहिली क्लुप्ती... गणितात रंगांचा वापर! काळ्याभोर फळ्यावर पांढ-या बरोबरच गुलाबी, नीला, हिरवा, पिवळा आणी केशरी खडू वापरून फळभार पसरलेले गणीत. एखाद्या फुलांच्या ताटव्या सारखे. एखाद्या हुशार पण धसमुसळ्या मुलाने आपण सगळ्यांच्या आधी गणीत सोडवले या भ्रमात असताना, सरांचे कठोर शब्द... 

"त्या आकड्यापुढे काही लिही की गाढवा... दगड, धोंडे, माती... गणितातले कुठलेही उत्तर हे एकक (युनिट) आणी 'हे उत्तर' याशियाय अपूर्ण असते...!"

इतिहासाच्या तासाला स्वातंत्र्यलढ्यापासून सुरु झालेला विषय गौतम बुध्द किंवा कृष्णापर्यंत का आणी कसा गेला याची ना सरांना फिकीर ना मुलांना विवंचना. तासाभरात 'डिस्कव्हरी ऑफ इंडिया' च्या निरनिराळ्या अध्यायात फेरफटका मारून तास संपायच्या वेळेला सर समेवर आले की 'आता तास संपणार' याची मुलांना रुखरुख. एके दिवशी पाठ्यपुस्तकात कुठेच नसलेल्या विषयावर बोलतांना सर म्हणाले.........

"सनावळ्या पाठ करणे म्हणजे इतिहास नव्हे. कुठल्या घटना कुठे, कधी व कश्या घडल्या याचे अवलोकन आणी त्यांनी येणा-या काळावर केलेला दूरगामी परिणाम म्हणजे इतिहास... इतिहास म्हणजे उगमाचा शोध अन परंपराचा बोध...! आपल्या गावाचे नाव 'धुळे' कसे पडले तर मूळ हिंदी नाव 'धुलिया' वरून आणी धुलिया कसे पडले तर...

आपल्या पांझरेच्या काठी दोन्ही तटांवर जेव्हा मोघल सरदार आपल्या घोड्यांना खरारा करण्यासाठी येत तेव्हा परस्परांची विचारपूस करतांना म्हणत... 'धो लिया?' म्हणजे 'घोडा धुतलास का?' त्या 'धो लिया' चे कालौघात आधी 'धोलिया' आणि मग 'धुलिया' झाले...!"

इतिहासाबद्दल अत्यंत पोटतिडकीने बोलतांना बाजीप्रभूच्या खिंड लढवण्याचा प्रसंगात स्पुरण चढलेले सर स्वत:च बाजीप्रभू व्हायचे आणी प्रत्येक विद्यार्थी 'हर हर महादेव' चा जयघोष करणारा मावळा...! इतिहास शिकविता शिकविता सर स्वत:च इतिहास व्हायचे आणी पानिपतचे वर्णन 'संजय' च्या भूमिकेत शिरून समोर बसलेल्या ६०-६५ धृत्रराष्ट्रांना एकवायचे...!

संस्कृत म्हटले की त्या प्रत्यय चालवण्याच्या विचाराने न चालतच दमायला व्हायचे. घरी सकाळ-संध्याकाळ नवग्रहस्तोत्र, मारुती स्तोस्त्र, अथर्वशीर्ष आणी रामरक्षा म्हणणे एवढ्या भांडवलावर संस्कृतवर प्रभुत्व मिळविणे म्हणजे दिवाळीत उडवायच्या रौकेटने चंद्रावर पोहचण्याचे स्वप्न पाहण्याइतके वेडगळपणाचे लक्षण. पण संस्कृत ही सर्व भाषांचीच नव्हे तर साक्षात आपलीच जननी आहे अशा दृढ विश्वासाने संस्कृतबद्दल विद्यार्थ्यांमध्ये प्रेम व आवड निर्माण करण्यासाठी झटणा-या बाई!याच कारणासाठी प्रथम संस्कृत भाषण आणी मुलांची भीड चेपल्यावर आणी आत्मविश्वास वाढल्यावर संस्कृत नाटकाचा अभिनव उपक्रम करणाऱ्या बाईनी अक्षरश: रेड्याच्या तोंडून वेद वदवून घेतले...! नाटकापुर्वी सर्वांगाला दरदरून फुटलेला घाम आणी 'आपण आयत्यावेळी भाषण विसरणार' या भीतीने पोटात आलेला गोळा...! नाटक संपल्यावर पाध्ये सरांपासून बच्चू शिपायापर्यंत सगळ्यांनी नाटकाची, अभिनयाची आणी अस्खलित उच्चारांची केलेली वाखाणणी. पोटातला गोळा फुग्यातला हेलियम होऊन हवेत तरंगत असल्याची अद्भूत अनुभूती...! 

'या सगळ्या यशाचे आणी कौतुकाचे संपूर्ण श्रेय या विद्यार्थ्यांच्या मेहनतीला आणी दुर्दम्य इच्छाशक्तीला आहे' असे अत्यंत निरलसपणे जाहीर करून स्वत:ला निमित्तापेक्षा अधिक किंमत देण्यास तयार नसलेल्या बाई आणी त्यांच्यासाठी आपण काय केले याची आयुष्यभर खंत करणारा 'तो' विद्यार्थी...!

दरवर्षीप्रमाणे वर्गाचा मौनीटर निवडण्याची वेळ. हुशार, चटपट्या आणी पुढल्या बाकांवर बसणा-यांपैकी कुणीतरी मौनीटर होणार हा मुलांच्या समजुतीतला अलिखित नियम. बरेचशे वर्गशिक्षकही त्याला अपवाद नाही. पण या वर्षीचे सर वेगळ्याच विचारांचे. मौनीटर हा जर वर्गासाठी आहे तर तो वर्गानेच निवडायला हवा. अशा विषयात आपल्याला आवड किंवा मत असू शकते या अनाकलनीय धक्क्यातून सावरण्याच्या आत सरांची घोषणा...

"तुम्हाला योग्य वाटतील त्या मित्रांना तुमचे प्रतिनिधी निवडा आणी गुप्त मतदानाच्या मार्गाने त्यातील एकाची या वर्षभरासाठी मौनीटर म्हणून निवड करण्यात येईल...!"

ध्यानीमनी नसतांना 'आमचा प्रतिनिधी' म्हणून लोकशाही पद्धतीने निवडून आलेला 'तो' अजूनही आपल्या

आयुष्यातल्या एकमेव निवडणुकीतील घवघवीत यशाने अचंबित आहे...!

स्थळ : अमुक एक इंग्रजी माध्यमाची शाळा, पुणे

काळ : इ.स. २०११ चा जुलै महिना

"मॉम आम्हाला स्कूलमध्ये व्हैल्यु एज्युकेशनचा सब्जेक्ट कम्पल्सरी आहे म्हणून नोटीस दिलीय... व्हाट इज धिस व्हैल्यु एज्युकेशन? कर्टसी आणी इंटेग्रीटी आणी इक्विटी आणी टोलरन्स आणी ब्ला ब्ला ब्ला, समथिंग लाईक दैट. काय यार भंगार बोर मारतात. नॉनसेन्स...! हे सगळे वर्डस जरा गुगल करून देशील...?"

...मी माझी शाळा का सोडून आलो?

...गुगलेक्चुअल होण्यासाठी कि प्रोफेशनल होण्यासाठी?

...माझी शाळा मला आजीवन विद्यार्थी म्हणून का घेऊ शकत नाही?

...अर्ध्या खाकी चड्डीत खोचलेला पांढरा सदरा वर खेचतांना घंटा होण्याची वाट बघत...?

ज्यांची उत्तरं गुगलही देत नाही अशा या सगळ्या प्रश्नांच्या अनुत्तरीत कल्लोळात आठवणीत हरविलेला मी... निशब्द...!

भेटी लागी जीवा...!

प्रिय मित्रांनो,

काल दि. २९ ऑक्टोबर २०११ च्या शनिवारी न्यू सिटी हायस्कूलचा जो वर्ग अक्षता लौन्स्वर भरला तो केवळ अविस्मरणीय आणी नितांत आनंददायी होता, एव्हढेच नव्हे तर तो कधीही सुटू नये अशी जी सामुहिक भावना प्रत्ययास आली तिची गोडी सीताफळ रबडी इतकीच अवीट...! या निमित्ताने बरोब्बर २५ वर्षांनंतर आपल्या सर्वांच्या भेटीचा जो योग आला त्याची आवर्तन आणी स्पंदन, निदान काही काळ तरी, आपल्या भावविश्वाला रोमांचित आणी समृद्ध करतील ही केवळ आशा नव्हे तर विश्वास आहे.

या कार्यक्रमासाठी 'संकल्पना ते अविष्कार' यांत ज्यांचा पुढाकार आणी मेहनत होती त्यांना धन्यता वाटल्याचे ऐकून खूप समाधान वाटले. २५ वर्षे एव्हढ्या प्रदीर्घ खंडानंतर सर्व वर्गबंधुंना अक्षरश: जगाच्या कान्याकोप-यातून शोधून, संपर्क करून, भेटून त्यातील बहुतांश सर्वांना एका ठिकाणी जमविण्यासाठी खचितच संघटन कौशल्य आणी स्नेहार्द्र आपुलकीची गरज होती. या गुणवैशीष्ट्यांच्या धारणेपासून संगोपनापर्यंत ज्यांनी अथक आणी नि:स्पृह प्रयत्न केले त्या विजय वाघ, मनोज सातभाई, महेश सोनवणे, शिवकुमार डोंगरे, अनिरुद्ध नांदेडकर, राजेंद्र ठुसे, शाम पुराणिक या व भावनावेगात ज्यांचा नामोल्लेख करायचा राहून गेला असेल त्या सर्व मित्रवर्यांचे, औपचारिकतेचा आरोप पत्करूनही शतश: आभार...!

एव्हढ्या सविस्तर विवेचनाचे प्रयोजन असे की 'विशफुल थिंकिंग' आणी 'एक्झीक्यूशन' यांत कायमच जी कृतीशुन्यतेची दरी असते ती उत्कटतेच्या आवेगाची धार बोथट करते. तथापी या सर्व सवंगड्यांनी क्रियाशील उपक्रमाच्या एकेका दोरीने या भाबड्या आशावादाच्या आणी अंमलबजावणीच्या दरम्यान जो स्नेहबंधाचा पूल बांधला त्यावरून कितीतरी मने प्रत्यक्ष-अप्रत्यक्षपणे बांधली गेली आणी हे स्नेहमिलन आपले नाव सार्थ करीत 'आनंद सोहळा' ठरला.

या कार्यक्रमाच्या संयोजकांचा अंतस्थ हेतू हा केवळ 'पुनर्मिलन' व 'सदिच्छा भेटी' असा निर्मम व निरलस होता तरी या अनुबंधाचे मूळ कारण आणी स्त्रोत म्हणजे आपली सर्वांची प्राणप्रिया शाळा 'न्यू सिटी हायस्कूल', जिचा संदर्भ, उल्लेख आणी कळकळ व्यक्त होणे हे स्वाभाविकच होते. तथापी 'न्यू सिटी हायस्कूलचा सर्वांगीण विकास आणी संसाधन' हा विषय शाळेच्याच संस्कारानुरूप अत्यंत योजनाबद्ध आणी शिस्तशीरपणे हाताळला जावा व त्यासाठी आवश्यक असणारी मनोभूमिका आणी वैचारिक बैठक यासाठी कालचे व्यासपीठ फारसे अनुकूल आणी पर्याप्त नसल्याने त्या चर्चेची परिणीती थोडीफार भरकटलेली आणी काहीशी शब्दबंबाळ झालेली जाणवली.

या विषयात आणी एकूणच वक्तव्यात माझ्याकडून देखील कुणाच्या भावना अनवधानाने दुखावल्या गेल्या असण्याची शक्यता आहे. तेव्हा जर असे काहीं घडले असेल आणी कुणाला माझ्या अत्यंत प्रामाणिक आणी परखड अशा अभिव्यक्तीने काहीं क्लेश झाले असतील तर मी इथे उधृत करू इच्छितो की माझा तसा काहीही हेतू अथवा प्रयत्न नव्हता व अजाणतेपणी काहीं अप्रस्तुत, वावगे किंवा व्यक्तिश: बोलले गेले असेल किंवा त्याचा ध्वनितार्थ तसा भासला असेल तर मी आपला सर्वांचा क्षमाप्रार्थी आहे.

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