A MATTER OF TRADITION.

Look at the coincidence, it being a Sunday today.
And I write on one of the most avidly followed traditions by Maharashtrians all over. (By Maharashtrians, I emphatically mean people who have been living in Maharashtra for more than the last twenty years.) So what is this tradition that I am babbling about.
It is nothing but the Sunday afternoon nap.
Yes I know. I feel the same way. But it is a nap like no other. All the pieces have to fall into place.
A sumptuous lunch preferably home made. If anybody does plan an outing it has to be extremely close to home.
The Lunch in many cases must be followed by a Pan (betel leaf, meetha or made to order).
The Phone in most cases is switched off. (I do switch it off).
There are some people who do not understand tradition. They plan picnics on Sundays or outings or travel with their entire families on locals. And sometimes work does beckon on Sunday too in all fairness but the general war cry of the work force is (“We will sit late on Saturday but please do not call us to the Office on Sunday”).
So happy naps to u all.
I am off to Lunch and then I being an avid follower of tradition will try and continue my family’s tradition.
Surprisingly my Baba and I see eye to eye on this issue. (We would huh both of us have our eyes closed).

Amod Paranjape.

A MATTER OF TRADITION.

Look at the coincidence, it being a Sunday today.
And I write on one of the most avidly followed traditions by Maharashtrians all over. (By Maharashtrians, I emphatically mean people who have been living in Maharashtra for more than the last twenty years.) So what is this tradition that I am babbling about.
It is nothing but the Sunday afternoon nap.
Yes I know. I feel the same way. But it is a nap like no other. All the pieces have to fall into place.
A sumptuous lunch preferably home made. If anybody does plan an outing it has to be extremely close to home.
The Lunch in many cases must be followed by a Pan (betel leaf, meetha or made to order).
The Phone in most cases is switched off. (I do switch it off).
There are some people who do not understand tradition. They plan picnics on Sundays or outings or travel with their entire families on locals. And sometimes work does beckon on Sunday too in all fairness but the general war cry of the work force is (“We will sit late on Saturday but please do not call us to the Office on Sunday”).
So happy naps to u all.
I am off to Lunch and then I being an avid follower of tradition will try and continue my family’s tradition.
Surprisingly my Baba and I see eye to eye on this issue. (We would huh both of us have our eyes closed).

Amod Paranjape.

BACK FROM SICK LEAVE

So I am back after three months of sick leave.
Where I managed to get my hand broken after a nasty fall.
A big thanx to all of u for the past three months. You know who you are.
I won’t take any names for you will not like them.
So musings and thoughts resumes from today.


Amod Paranjape.

FROM THE PERSONAL JOURNAL

Monday Blues

This weekend the entire Apte Clan (From Aai’s side) was at good old Amby to celebrate Baba’s retirement. Only Aaji and Mami couldn’t make it due to Aaji’s health. (She is recuperating well).
All of Aai’s sisters were there. And my cousins. Time flew as it does normally when we are having a good time. I and my cousins enjoyed some quality time spent on Saturday night ( with booze of course, what do u think) and we were up nearly the entire night. We nearly emotionally convinced ourselves to invite a cousin Shantanu (aka Solzaire) (solzaire.blogspot.com) one stock of u know what rations and rationality set in. (Heh Heh).
So today why was I very reluctant to proceed to Court, family times always rejuvenate you. A very good time was had by yours truly over the weekend.
And missing in action were Gopal, kiddo (Harshada (mailto:harshada24@yahoo.com) and Sandeep). We really missed u guys and u guys missed out on, Maithili, Shalmali, Shruti, Ishu. The highlight of the trip for me was the dances of the trio to their choreographed steps to the beats of Aika Dajiba and It’s the time to Disco. That is until Ishaan threw Vaishali Tai’s umbrella down from the first floor.
So until next time guys,
U GUYS ROCK.

Amod Paranjape.

NO STOPPING THE FEDEXPRESS

He is at it again. Roger Federer waltzed through to his Wimbledon final after giving a master class to Hewitt.
That Roger Federer is incredibly talented nobody doubts. There also has been an aura about his invincibility in the past two years. And it is very refreshing to see a champ who is in the news only when the tennis tournaments are in progress.
Roger Federer the man is an intensely private man who guards his privacy. And so far a media in awe of the kind of tennis he plays has respected that and maintained a respectful distance.
Before his emergence as a Star on the tennis circuit, Roger Federer was hailed as the next big thing to happen to the world of men’s tennis by one guy named Pete Sampras. He would know.


Amod Paranjape.

From the Personal Journal

Dad Retires

”Family is everything.”

After 35 years of loyal and dedicated service to his organization (The United Western Bank Limited) Baba finally retired from active service yesterday.
And I was very fortunate and privileged to be a part of such an occasion. The reason why I share this with everybody is just to let everyone including my parents know how proud I am of them. In the farewell speeches dedicated to Baba everyone constantly reminded all how fortunate they were to have worked with such a gentleman. We at the Paranjape family are aware of all his traits. In these times he is a man of integrity, honor and loyalty. A Man who has his core values to his heart. A Man who has never shied away from his responsibility no matter as to what price he has to pay for his actions.
In short in these times all of us are quite privileged to have this extraordinary simple human being touch our lives.
From Me and Kiddo Baba Thanx for everything.

Constitutional Propriety or

“In a democracy it is not necessary for everyone to sing the same song.”

Ah! Our esteemed Governor has sent back the ordinance banning Dance Bars back to the Cabinet.
What does this imply? Nothing. Let me be candid. The Presidents and Governors are figureheads, as u are aware. They act on the advice of the cabinet be it state or centre.
This action also comes close on the heels of our respected Prez’s speech where he extolled our Governors to rise about party politics. So in a way his Excellency Shri. S.M. Krishna has taken the right step in sending back the ordinance and recommending that the same may be passed in the House. And Government not take the easy way out.
The q’s political analysts are asking is whether this is a political move? (After all we know now that the Congress President is concerned about the rehabilitation of the ladies working in the Dance bars).
All one feels is that the Govt. should have thought this thing through before launching headlong into this drive. Or else it will be one more fiasco as the slum demolition drive.

Amod Paranjape.

Temparement over Talent

Temperament over Talent?

“The angry man will defeat himself.”

The mercurial Marat Safin has lost at Wimbledon. Why am I not surprised?
Marat Safin is a famously talented player one of the supreme players on the circuit. Yet everyone is aware that against Mr. Safin he will always have a chance.
The irony here is that we need more of personality in sports. And Mr. Safin is definitely a personality.
To be an all conquering force he needs to overcome the mental demons.
And lets be honest only Marat Safin can help Marat Safin.
Temperamental, mercurially talented and yet incredibly popular, ever wonder why he is John Mcenroe’s favorite player.

Amod Paranjape.

CRISIS? WHAT CRISIS?

Crisis? What Crisis?

“UP WHERE WE BELONG.”

So the crisis attributed to the Aussies is over. There never was one, geniuses. This team will of course plunge into a crisis, but not in the foreseeable future. That is coming in two years.
This temporary crisis was self-made. Many times when things go wrong all things do go wrong all at once. And Australia showed why they are champions and the undisputed No 1 side in the world. If against England they just showed occasional flashes of brilliance (Match 5, Natwest Series), then the performance against Bangladesh (Match 6, Natwest Series) was one of ruthless and clinical precision.
Its not how hard u fall but how quickly u get to u r feet. And the Aussies showed why they are what they are? A truly champion side.
The crisis will be after their star bowlers Mcgrath and Warne retire. Between them they have nearly 1000 test scalps, Incredible. And I do not see anyone knocking on the fringes of National selection. Till then if we want to celebrate Clinical efficiency, methodical preparation, concise role-playing and faultless execution we know whom to watch.

Amod Paranjape.

Welcoming myself

Hi Guys,
You think have Mandars words gone to this buffoons head! But here I am celebrating the inherent right of every person to express his or her views on every subject and subjects especially close to our hearts.
So I hope to post some articles in a day or too.
Till then I welcome myself in the blogosphere
Au Revoir as they say everywhere except in France.