Wordsmith at work

    Bapu, As the Father of the nation You are worthy of imitation.   Born in Porbandar, Gujarat You won every Indian’s heart. Peace and tolerance you preferred Ahimsa was your watchword.   Barrister in South Africa In India, you only used the charka. Showed  us how to spin our Khadi. How to make our salt at Dandi.   Frail you were, and so bold Bapu, the truth you always told. It was the motto of your life Also of Kasturba, your wife. The British Raj you bravely resisted That they 'Quit India,' you insisted. Swaraj was close to your heart.   Hindu, Muslim bhai-bhai Our country you worked to unify. You dared to disobey the British regime Your courage is held in high esteem.   You called Harijans the people of God They, the scheduled castes over whom we trod. You gave them dignity But for your ideals, you died.   My “Experiments with Truth," the book you wrote Your ‘simple living,...

The word fire brings to mind the tragic end of a celebratory function in the quiet town of Jamshedpur in the year 1989. March 3rd is the birthday of the founder of Jamshedpur, Sir Jamshedji Tata. 1989 was particularly significant because it happened to be the 150 th birthday anniversary of the industrialist. The management of the Tata Iron and Steel Company arranged a grand celebration. Nobody ever imagined that such a tragedy would unfold. The fire ignited as a small spark on the roof of the gallery of the VIP enclosure, which was noticed only after it had spread to a cloth and bamboo structure. Attendees were instructed not to panic but to remain calm and seated. However, as the cloth and bamboo structure began to burn and collapse, approximately 200 were trapped. A stampede ensued and 50 people lost their lives. The tragedy led to the establishment of a burn care unit at the Tata Main Hospital. Amid the chaos, there were acts of heroism, tragic deaths, and providenti...

  Television Memories   I remember Dad listening to cricket commentaries and the news from the BBC on our Murphy radio, and I was all attention every morning as Radio Ceylon aired their'request ‘request programme’ of English songs. Transistors and radio were our gadgets of information and entertainment. .” Television came to India in 1959 with an experimental transmission from New Delhi. Services were extended to Mumbai in 1972 and 1975 and included Chennai, Calcutta, Srinagar, and Amritsar. Colour television in India began making its presence felt in the early eighties.   The first programme in colour to be broadcast by Doordarshan, the public broadcast television channel run by the Indian government was the live telecast of the Independence Day parade of 1982 followed by the Asian Games in New Delhi. Doordarshan also began broadcasting a slew of soaps, comedies, and thrillers. Humlog was the first serial to be broadcast by Doordarshan in 1984. We were the ...

  As each year draws to a close, we look forward to a happier New Year.   It’s December 2024 and I find myself given to introspection, reflection, and gratitude. Each year unfolds like a kaleidoscope of lessons and experiences. We lose some, we win some, and through it all we grow. A lack of peace on our beautiful planet marked 2024. Prolonged wars between nations and communities caused immeasurable death and destruction of innocent lives. Only when there is peace can progress follow. Let’s hope that peace finds a home on our planet in 2025. We also witnessed other significant political events that changed the global landscape. Natural disasters, tragic accidents, and unforgettable moments of pride and honour, will remain etched in memory. I learned lessons in 2024. Thanks to some foolish and careless investments and decisions, I learned to be money-savvy. Old friendships turning sour disappointed and hurt me, but I’m grateful for kindness from unexpected sources. I gain...

  You make New Year Resolutions with determination Once made, you fight off temptation You walk the straight and narrow mile. In the Resolution world Life's all hunky dory for a while.  Then you make a tiny slip And another, and another, Until you find  You've lost your grip So long! Until happy next New Year.  Image credit: Pixabay.