Anna-ther memory of a time long gone...

I survived 8 am Physics classes and other science lectures that pulled on until lunch time, ‘Reference-Library’ research (without which no self-respecting Xavierite was deemed worthy to ‘earn’ their degree) and the daily grind of weary 4 hour practical sessions - on my feet - in the Chemistry, Bio-chemistry laboratories, all thanks to the endless cups of refreshing filter-kapi this man used to patiently brew to my liking daily - and serve it in my very own kullad - over 3 years. 

   My staying awake through the late afternoon Honors classes in summer were in no small measure all due to the ice-cold ginger-pudhina-lemon sherbet made by him.

       No Malhar, IMG Jan-Fest or SSL (Social Service League) meetings were complete without a garma-garam chai ka pyaala from his canteen, delivered pronto upon calling.

       No hang-out in the Woods was complete without digging hungrily into his trademark tasty Burmese cheese-toast and the variety of fresh fruit juices he used to freshly make and serve us. Us - his always ‘short-or-out-of-money’ regulars. 😝

         Sambhar-Vadai Wednesday’s or sajjigè (Upma) Friday’s were always a hit back then wherein we’d all flock into the mess and scramble for tables - the boys from the hostel winning hands down, as they’d beat the rest of us to it in their boxers or pyjamas.

Uday anna, was not just another canteen operator for anyone who studied at St. Xavier’s; Warm, kind-hearted, generous and always smiling no matter what time of the day you met him, anna was a landmark institution at Xavier’s in himself! The fact that he had memory recalling who you were long after you graduated from college and welcomed you back, whenever you visited - with a tea/coffee - on the house - made him that much more endearing; it made going back to college so much more memorable and personal! 

Xavier’s will never quite be the same without the cheery presence of this wonderful man who fed thousands of students over the decades. I for one am going to miss him the next time I’m on campus, as much as the many others who’ve known him and visit as often. 

Wishing you well Uday anna in your future endeavours and may you always bring warm cheer and give that big-big smile to all whom you meet. 

P.S: As for the signature Burmese cheese-toast and my cuppa’ kapi, I’m visiting campus this Saturday the 28th for the final goodbye to anna. 

🖐🏻😊👍🏻

Data Bites

Increasing instances of integrity pertaining to social media data privacy (the just uncovered Cambridge Analytica breach) and its safeguard make me wonder more often than not what prompts people to put up sensitive or intimate information about themselves on social platforms to begin with.

The medium is called ‘social’ for a reason! Don’t put up material or data that you believe could be compromised and, or, used against you

Also, isn’t personal data being harvested across platforms - be that your online purchase behaviour, consumer insights/ consumer behaviour based on your credit/debit card spending patterns, Organisation performance and behaviour, clinical trials, medical history et. al.? How do you stop all of that?

Fact is - fortunately or unfortunately - all technological progress comes at a price. That price today is ‘real-time data-exchange’. Data is the new bullion - and we’ve got to accept that, if we want to continue riding on this ever rising wave of progress.

Our understanding of ethics will eventually undergo a shift to accommodate this new world reality. I/ we may not like how this plays out, but do I/ we have a choice really? And THAT is the scary bit!

Thoughts?

Lights, Lens, Action!

From subtly influencing to convincingly coercing me to explore a whole new dimension of myself,  these two are chiefly responsible for getting me to awaken to the world of documentary film-making. And boy, what an incredible experience it has turned out to be!

 Conducting lectures is one thing, but in the process becoming a student yourself over workshops, real-time dialogue and immersive reflection over some amazing (world) documentary films with students and some of the leading documentary film-makers from across the world, is quite something else altogether. 

The fact that the stage for this act was set in picturesque #Naukuchital, nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas in Kumaon, made it even more surreal. 

Film-making is truely a wonderfully liberating experience - a one that changes how you view and experience yourself within and, therefore the world around you.

And now, I go back home in ways I know I’ll never quite be the same again.

Aatma Namaste!

Strand-ed for life!

A part of me will die with the closing of this iconic book store, in a way that I will never be able to really express in the how and the why. When something that you grew up with is taken away or fades out into the silvery fog of a forever dawn, life as you knew it is never quite the same again.

The StrandBookStall has always been more than just a book-stall for me, as it has for the so many other book lovers of this city. A sanctuary of serendipitous finds - books as well as people - in the crowded by-lanes of P.M. road, VT, South Bombay, the place afforded avid readers a platform for engaging interactions with other bibliophiles and animated conversations with the ever gracious and smiling late owner, Padmashree T.N. Shanbhag as he’d make gentle probes on your thoughts about societal issues and the dying reading habit with the current generation. Blessed with an elephantine memory, he would recollect names and faces and even remember what you picked up on your last visit there. Just that experience made visiting Strand even more endearing and homely.

The place had a special appeal to it – the books - a mix of bestsellers and rare titles were always available at discounted rates. Customers like me were drawn to the diverse book collection, carefully curated by Shanbhag uncle.

That tantalising smell of books - both fresh and mellowing with age, the raw feel of those crisp yellow-brown pages in the gaps between your fingers in the dated section, in the corner on the upper level mezzanine, the enveloping musty air of erudition as you discussed and exchanged notes on reading-lists with other book lovers and, the ever smiling Shanbhag uncle from across his desk as he bid you bye and encouraged you to come back soon - all that I will miss and, miss terribly at that!

The end of an era it is as I find myself Strand-ed for life!

Good bye Strand. 🖐🏻😪

Strand Book Stall 15-C, Dhannur Building, Sir P.M. Road, Borabazar Precinct, Fort, Bombay.

1948-2018

Idly-ing time...

Town never ceases to surprise me everytime I visit. It's the one ever beautiful part of Bombay that has been relatively untouched and unscathed by the fugly hands of that deaf and blind ogre called 'Development'.    

Bombay can grow and expand in as many directions as it wishes to but, the 'feeling' that is 'Bombay' can only be experienced as you visit and soak in the ambience of South Bombay. From Renaissance to Gothic architecture to cobblestoned pathways that meander into streets throwing up happy unexpected surprises, this part of the city is a treat to the senses.

Imagine my glee therefore - after all these years of having studied and colleged here - at finding a quaint Mangalorean eatery, I never knew existed in 'Swagath Refreshments' on Gunbow St., Fort! The best ullandu dosai and rasam vadai evah! 😋
   Never the one to particularly speak highly of the sambhar and coconut chutney dished out by these Udupi's, I must confess Swagath's aromatic piping hot drumstick-pumpkin sambhar and tangy coconut chutney garnished with the udad dal, red-chilly and mustard had me greedily hungering  for more. It only helped that the friendly waiters happily indulged me. 😄
  The impeccably prepared degree coffee ☕️ too reminded me of the ones served back at Murugan Idli, Madras. Burp!

It takes a lot for me to say this BUT say it I will - this place is EVEN better than my all time favourite - Matunga's Madras Cafè. Try it...you'll come back for more. I sure am!

So long, Farewell 2017

As the old year makes way for the new, 

Pat yourself for having come through,

Acknowledge the hits, reflect on your misses too...

Remember life continues in the way it should,

You will nurse feelings of happiness at times and, also be subject to the blues...

New beginnings will be many, closures a few,

Don’t loose sight of the goal-post, but enjoy your journey too!

And that folks, in sum and substance, is my  new year message for you.

Wishing you the start of memorable journey as you draw the curtains on this one. 

- Mark.

Bon voyage!

😊💫

Rained Out!

The deluge caused by torrential rains, in Mumbai last evening, brought out how trying times provide opportunities to bring out latent leadership traits in people. Yesterday was all about 'what happens when opportunity creates shared purpose'!

When people are propelled by a collective sense of purpose - as they were yesterday - there's no telling what can be achieved.

I believe a collective sense of purpose works on the upside when coupled with empathy. It creates a bond so strong that few obstacles, if any at all, can withstand the force.

That downpour last evening  ended up eroding years of societal and religious divides in a matter of minutes as people came together from all walks of life to ensure that this 'maximum city' functioned as it should - efficiently! And all because they believed in the identity of 'The Mumbaikar'. It gave them a sense of purpose, a comforting hope. Who you were didn't matter as much as what you did, to address the crisis. And being recognised for what you did wasn't as important as was making a difference in how you did it. That's Leadership at its core. Period. And Mumbai, my lovely, just see how you showed it to all who cared to see! ☺️

So many nameless faces,
...as many helping hands,
recognition that barely mattered
And none of it was planned!