The story of a mango.

Lucknow's famous 'dasehri' mangoes originated from a tree that is still standing tall in a village, just 10 km from Lucknow city, on the Lucknow-Malihabad Road. The Mother Dasehri Tree, as it is now called, is around 190 years old and you can go and look at this beauty in Village Dashahri.

The story dates back to 1856, when mango growers crossing the Dashahri village had to pay a toll tax of five mangoes from each basket. One day, a dispute erupted between the mango-growers and the toll tax collector and the mango-growers threw their mangoes in a heap. A chance seedling from the heap grew up and became what we, today, know as the Mother Dasehri. Grafts from this tree were grown in the neighbouring areas of Kakori and Malihabad and that's how the famous Dasehri mango began to be farmed. This story has been documented in the Souvenir published by the Horticulture Department back in 1974.

The village Dashahri is situated 10 km from Lucknow but if you start at the Hazratganj crossing, it is about 17 km away. Head on to Hayat Hospital on Hardoi Road, take the road on the left after crossing the hospital. Move further 3 km, after crossing the railway line and village Dashahri, you will find the Mother Dasehri Tree. The tree, itself, is a landmark so you can ask anyone for directions after reaching the Hayat Hospital.

Dasehri mangoes will hit the market in the first week of June, so now is a good time to make the sojourn to have a look at this tree for its history or beauty but due to the lock down it is not possible.

Epilogue

When I had joined the Directorate of Contracts and Cost Management of the Naval Headquarters in mid-2000, the senior most among us was the affable and helpful, the then Commander Matloob Aslam Khan. In the course of my tenure, we had become close, so much so, that he insisted on Lekha and I being in the 'baaraat' of his son, Minhaj's marriage to the demure and lovely Aiman, at Aligarh. His daughter, Safia had got married to Salman a couple of years earlier to it and we had attended the great day. His wife, Afshan had spent the entire day with Lekha at the Army Hospital Research and Referral, when I'd gone under the surgeon's knife for kidney stones in 2009.

He had mango orchards in Bulandshahr, UP and the greatest thrill he used to find was in feeding each one of us with the mangoes - which he carefully cleaned, cut and distributed, during the lunch breaks. This was, incidentally, over and above the baskets of mangoes that he gifted to each one of us!

Was reminded of him as I punched in this piece. He passed into the mist of time around May '16. His family now stays, a good part of their lives, at Singapore. Captain Matloob Aslam Khan sir, you shall always have a place in my heart till my very end!


Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Got in touch with a few more of my classmates and course mates. The sizzling heat continues!        

A touching adieu!

A very touching obituary by a kid from the 19 Guards, who has seen Col Ashutosh Sharma from close quarters......

It was a day soaked in tears for all of us at Nineteen. Forwarding a tribute to martyr Col Ashutosh Sharma by one of his unit daughters........and I quote,

"This time it's hit too close to home. I'm suddenly just taken back to when we were in Gurdaspur. Us kids creating havoc and crashing Ashutosh Uncle's house more often than anybody else's. I'm transported back to the times when he pulled pranks on us 'bacchas' of 19 and just everyone else in the unit. Whether it was throwing a bucket full of water on Vilas uncle or scaring us by cutting off the power while we were inside his house. Oh man, the stories are endless. He spoiled us like no one else. I'm sure I'm speaking for everyone. There wasn't a single second in a party or any other gathering when he didn't have the wittiest, funniest jokes rolled up his sleeves. He single-handedly was the life of all dinners and the wonderful get togethers. And he loved our company. Hanging around with the kids was something he utterly enjoyed or at least he made us believe that he did.

I met him later when I was no longer the 'junglee' (courtesy Geetika aunty) kid and was just finishing school. He was still the same old Ashutosh uncle, making us all laugh our asses off, telling me stories about Dau, which Dau otherwise would have never shared himself. Being slightly inclined towards photography, I was in awe when I visited his house in Bhopal, full of marvelous photographs he'd clicked over the years. Splendid photographs. He was bloody brilliant at it.

We'd grown up seeing Ashutosh uncle and Pallavi aunty constantly pulling each other's legs while also making sure that they're inseparable. They loved each other ardently. This time around I got to meet his daughter and boy, was she loved. 

My heart aches when I write about him  in the past tense. Gut wrenching, heartbreaking, devastating, terrifying - no words can explain what all of us are going through right now, what Aunty must be going through right now. I just wish the Raising Day could've happened this year. All of us would have gone back to the place where it all started, for me at least. I wish we could ask him to share more hilarious stories of our fathers. I wish we could witness him effortlessly making our mothers laugh like always. Oh how I wish we could see him one last time, there was so much to learn from him still. 

I have never dealt with such a personal loss ever. 19 has always been my family, the one I literally grew with and Ashutosh uncle was unquestionably a HUGE part of that family. A man of ethics. While in uniform, he was one of the most  dedicated, indefatigable officers and it's an irreplaceable loss, not just for us but for the entire Armed Forces. When our fathers were out in the field, we would worry about each of them because that's just what families do. It's just too terrible to hear the news of him passing away, his picture being broadcast everywhere. It's almost unreal, this entire thing. I can't stop crying. None of us can.

I wish we could all just meet in the Gurdaspur Mess for one last time, immaturely wish 'good evening' to all the uncles and aunties, dance around like fools in that huge grass garden, indulge in our super chef, Harphool Singh Bhaiya's desserts and just BE there. Right there, surrounded by the members of 19. 

Surrounded by the strongest most valued people I know. Ones who made us feel so loved and protected. The people I'm extremely proud to call my family.

I'm sure Simmy is there wagging her tail, waiting for you. Rest in peace, Ashutosh uncle. We love you and we terribly miss you already, Uncle. You'll forever be beautifully engraved in our hearts and memories. We are so PROUD of you and will always be. Rest in peace all the martyrs. We're forever indebted to your service.

Love,

The bacchas of 19". 

Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. I could finish my work for the day and make a few telephone calls to people whom I'd not talked to, for a while! Felt nice. The day was extremely warm with a slight rain towards the evening.   

Fake news, fine tuned?

In the morning, today, there was an indignant Sonia Gandhi who was on most news channels to say that the government had played it dirty because the migrant workers being sent back to their homes, on trains, were being charged for their tickets! The put-on-anger was basically against the 'same government' having spent money during the Trump visit.

Sonia Gandhi, consequently, made a pompous announcement that she had instructed every district office bearer of the Congress party to pay for the migrant workers' tickets. When queried by pressmen, the office bearers were totally unaware of any such instructions! The Congress had not done its homework!

The resulting chaos that took place at one or two railway stations, in Kerala, was quickly brought under control by the police. The most important fact was that Sonia Gandhi and her party's intentions of inciting the migrant workers to swarm into the railway stations to avail of the 'free tickets' would have made a total mockery of the lock down-in-force and increase the Corona virus cases in the country!

Who, but the anti-nationals and people having a pathological hatred of Modi and the success that his government has achieved - lauded by every other country in the world - were the script writers of this fake news. While the mother was active on the media, her daughter was active on the social media while the son took to Twitter to spread the fake news.   

The railways and the central government got into action to inform through the media that 85% of a migrant worker's fare was subsidised and the remaining 15% was provided by the concerned state governments and was able to bust the fake news, pronto, by evening! What was also clearly brought out was that all the special trains plying for the purpose were - Shramik trains - that had lower ticket rates from the usual ones! The Congress had not done its homework, yet again!! 

Falsehoods and lies can't stand for long. What I liked was the Kerala Chief Minister's reaction, in his evening press briefing when asked as to why he and his government were not thankful to the Congress party for its generosity of providing free tickets for the migrant workers - "We all know what the Congress is capable of ", punctuating it with a knowledgeable smile!

What has the Congress party reduced itself to? Only feel sad for its ignominy!!

   *                     *                      *

Another Terrorist Attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

3 CRPF personnel were killed by a group of civilians in Kupwara, today. The security forces were on a manhunt and the combing operations are still on, details are awaited. My salute, tears and prayers to those valiant men who carried out the supreme sacrifice.


Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Lekha was supposed to go for her quarterly medical review with her doctor at Kochi, tomorrow. Had interacted with the doctor and got the date changed to 01 Jun. 

Adieu Bravehearts!

Based on an intelligence input that terrorists had taken civilian inmates of a house in Changimulla, Handwara of Kupwara district as hostages, a joint operation was launched by the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir police. The team consisted of :-

          (a) Col Ashutosh Sharma    CO, 21 Rashtriya Rifles.
          (b) Maj Anuj Sood                19 Guards.
          (c) Nk Rajesh                           3 Guards.
          (d) LNk Dinesh                      17 Guards.
          (e) Shakeel Qazi, SI               Jammu and Kashmir Police.

They killed top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander, Haider from Pakistan and another terrorist. The house
inmates were rescued.

A note from Maj Anuj Sood's personal effects.

  sood.anuj
    "When you're older, you will realise the only thing that matters, the only thing, is that you'd
    courage and honour. Lose those things and you won't die any quicker but you'll be less than
    the dirt on your boots. You'll still be dust but you'll have wasted your short time in the light".
    #lifeofasoldier #bootsbeltsandberets #awayfromhome #butmilestogobeforeisleep #happyhunting

RIP Bravehearts! My salute, tears and prayers!! May your near and dear ones have the strength to tide over their personal losses and traverse through these stressful times!!!

    *                      *                         *

The Defence Forces Salute The COVID Warriors.

India's defence forces gave a spectacular salute to the COVID warriors - the country's health workers and the police - by flypasts of the IAF's fighter and transport aircraft from Srinagar to Thiruvananthapuram and from Dibrugarh, in Assam to the Kutch, in Gujarat. The choppers showered petals on COVID hospitals while the Army's bands played near those hospitals. The IN ships were illuminated for the purpose, all around the long coastline.

The health workers and the police were deeply moved by the show of gratitude and affection. Many of their reactions is priceless.

After the grand spectacle, the usual naysayers, have gone underground! But I shall take on the former naval chief Admiral Ramdas for his article, criticising the armed forces' efforts. I have a few questions to ask of him, at this juncture:-

    (a) If you swear by customs, traditions and ethics, why didn't you accept the moral responsibility
         of the sinking of your fleet's, INS Andaman off the Bay of Bengal, that happened during your
         watch as the Commander-in-chief, Eastern Naval Command?
    (b) You must be in your 90s and can't you resist your temptations in wanting to be in the limelight
          at least now by writing such articles?
    (c) If you were against India going nuclear, why did you take over the top post, fully aware of the
          fact that the IN was, then, building the Arihant?
    (d) Shouldn't you have morally stood down from becoming the chief when your daughter was
          marrying a Pakistani?

So, you are once again saying that these high ideals are for the others to follow while you are exempted from following them? You must go take a walk!


Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time. The chores and was ready by about a half past 9. A hot Sunday!









          

Did you know about these?

I've been receiving a fund of information from my friends and I intend covering a few of them in this post of mine.

 1. The Magnolia flowers.

     After a long winter, the Magnolia tree in front of our house, has bloomed. During winter, the
     whole tree had lost its leaves and I used to feel sad to see the branches with no leaves. But, at
     times, it used to look beautiful with bright icicles sticking to its branches. Now it's spring here
     and our Magnolia is in full bloom.

     The dry branches first showed the small buds and in no time, the big pink flowers adorn the
     whole tree making it look like a gigantic bouquet....And the sweet smell.......Wow!.......our whole
     yard is smelling of its flowers...The smell is a mixture of strong sweet candy, spicy and honey
     like.......

     Culturally speaking, the Magnolias represent perfect symbols of womanly beauty, dignity and
     gentleness......

     Flowering plants like Magnolia appeared on earth about 150 million years ago.....No bees existed
     at that time (Bees appeared 120 million years ago).....instead beetles were there which were
     clumsy unlike the bees.....The flowers had to adapt to the beetles for pollination...It was because of
     this reason that the flowers, which originated at that time, were bigger and deeper to hold the
     beetles and had more nectar, pollen and scent......

     Have you seen the movie of the '90s, "Steel Magnolia", where Julia Roberts plays a young woman
     with diabetes, determined to have a child, but dies in the end with kidney failure....it's also called
     a diabetic film...?

     "Steel Magnolia" name represents the woman's complex character of strength and determination
     coupled with beauty, softness, nobility and gentleness......

     - My classmate, Savio from Chicago.

   *                   *                     *

   2. A Military Court Suspends Life Sentence.

       Five Army personnel convicted by a general court martial in the highly politicised Machhil
       "fake encounter" case  secured a major victory as a military court suspended their punishment
       of life imprisonment.

       Col Dinesh Pathania was posted in Machhil, Jammu and Kashmir. on this day of 2010, Kashmiri
       Muslims stoned and wounded some soldiers. At that time, neither pellet guns were allowed nor
       were the soldiers allowed to take any action. Every day the soldiers got injured and received
       medical treatment! After this, Col Pathania ordered to take action against the stone pelting
       terrorists and his team hauled up 3 stone pelting terrorists!

       The Manmohan Singh government's MoD sentenced Col Pathania and four other soldiers to
       life imprisonment through a Court Martial. In 2017, an Army Court granted bail to all the 5
       soldiers and terminated their life sentence. The Colonel and his companions were languishing
       in jail for 7 years....and why? For taking action against the terrorists!

       The five soldiers have got a second birth!

       My friend, Arun Kumar from Visakhapatnam.

  *                     *                        *

      Not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted, counts.


Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time. Wished Mini, my younger sister, many happy returns as it was her birthday as per the English calendar and made up for our slip of not wishing her on her great day as per the Malayalam calendar, 10 days back! The chores and was ready by about a half past 9.

Another quiet day!   

Perspective of a different kind!

For a small amount of perspective at this moment, imagine you were born in America in 1900. 

Many would think that that was a pretty simple time of life. Then on your 14th birthday, World War I starts and ends on your 18th birthday. 22 million people perish in that war, including many of your friends who volunteered to defend freedom in Europe.

Later in the year, a Spanish Flu epidemic hits the planet and runs until your 20th birthday. 50 million die from it in those two years. Yes, 50 million.

On your 29th birthday, the Great Depression begins.

Unemployment hits 25%, the World GDP drops 27%. That runs until you are 33. The country nearly collapses along with the world economy. If you were lucky, you had a job that paid $300 a year @ a dollar a day.

When you turn 39, World War II starts. You aren't even over the hill yet. And don't catch your breath. If you lived in London or England or most of continental Europe, bombing of your neighbourhood or invasion of your country by foreign soldiers along with their tank and artillery was a daily event. Thousands of Canadian young men joined the army to defend liberty with their lives. Between your 39th and 45th birthday, 75 million people perish in the war.

At 50, the Korean War starts. 5 million perish. At 55, the Vietnam War begins and doesn't end for 20 years. 4 million people perish in that conflict.

On your 62nd birthday, there is the Cuban Missile Crisis, a tipping point in the Cold War. Life on our planet, as we know it, could have ended. Sensible leaders prevented that from happening.

Now, in 2020, we have the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands have died; it feels pretty dangerous; and it is!

Now think of everyone on the planet born in 1900. How do you survive all that?

Perspective is an amazing art. Refined as time goes on and very enlightening.

So let's try and keep things in perspective. Let's be smart, we are all in this together.

Let's help each other out and we will get through all of this!

Note. Adapted from a note on What'sApp, author unknown.



Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready about half an hour late. It was a quiet day. 

The Prime Cause.

We all know that Rontgen discovered X-ray. We also read that he discovered them accidentally when some photo plates were accidentally affected. Any normal being would have assumed that the photo plates must have been damaged due to some accidental exposure to light. But not Rontgen. He went deep to find out the cause and ultimately discovered some new rays were hitherto unknown and named them x-rays.

Every effect is produced by some cause. While the effect is the perceptible change the cause must be unchanging, the cause is also the witness since it sees the change without connecting itself in any way. This is a fundamental truth.

Day and night are effects which are ever changing but these changes are effected only when we assume the sun is unchanging and the earth is changing its position. The sun neither takes part in the changes nor is it connected and hence, it remains the witness.

In nature every thing is in a state of relative change with respect to everything else. In Vedanta it is called Maya. From this fundamental truth, Einstein derived his Theory of Relativity but even behind the theory there are things that are unchanging and form the basis for witnessing all the changes. Or consciousness remains separate from all that is perceived.  

We see the changes in our body, in our thinking process and in our mental states of happiness and sorrow. All these changes are perceivable by something that is unchanging. While the changes are the effects the unchanging is either the cause or the witness.

We perceive changes in waking and dream states. The unchanging self that is experiencing all the changes is called the witness - Self (sakshi). But in the deep sleep state we don't perceive any change. So in that state, that unchanging reality remains only as a cause and the body is called the 'causal body'.

Our true nature is that unchanging Self. But out of ignorance, we associate ourselves with the changes and say to ourselves, 'I am old, I am happy, I am rich' etc.

Krishna, in the Bhagavad Gita, tells Arjuna, "It is I, seated in the hearts of all as their inner controller; and it is I who am the source of memory, knowledge and doubt. I am the only one worth knowing through the Vedas, I alone am the origin of the Vedas and the Vedantic tradition".

The consciousness is the ultimate cause and the ultimate unchanging reality. When Rontgen discovered X-rays, he had superimposed his memory, knowledge and doubt on consciousness to arrive at the right conclusion.

Vedanta is not concerned with the effects but is concerned with knowing about the unchanging cause behind all changes. That unchanging cause is called pure consciousness or God!

    *                        *                           *

Adieu Rishi Kapoor!

Rishi Kapoor, the romantic actor of the Hindi film industry, passed into the mist of time this morning, a trifle after a quarter past 8. He was 67 and was battling leukemia for the last two years. His end had come about in a Bombay hospital.

He had done Mera Naam Joker - as the childhood version of Raj Kapoor in the film - and had just wrapped up the shooting of the evergreen love story, 'Bobby' when yours truly had joined as a first termer at the National Defence Academy. A month earlier, the filming of the famous camp scene - in which Narendra Chanchal had sung that song at the campfire - had taken place a few metres outside the Pashan Gate of the NDA. The movie was shown to the entire staff and cadets of the Academy, on release!

Rishi Kapoor is, thus, a contemporary. RIP friend! My tears and prayers. Here's wishing that his family has the strength to tide over these stressful times.


Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. The pressman, Selvam, had dropped by to press our clothes and Lekha had provided him with lunch.