Colony Life in the 70s

 I grew up in the colonies of Singareni Collieries in Andhra Pradesh, where my parents worked for 30 years. It was smeared with coal dust, and lots of great memories.

We had free coal supplied to homes, and therefore stoves that used coal supplemented gas stoves or electric ones- electricity was subsidised, as the company had its own plant to generate it!

We had clubs, where we played TT, Badminton, and swam. Tennis, usually the elders played. We also met friends, watched elders playing Bridge, and participated in the many events organised by the Club- parties, picnics etc. 

A sophisticated cosmopolitan crowd of people from all over India was around us- and some still keep in touch. Recently met Archana Singh, after several decades. Have met the Ahujas, Talpallikars, Kaushiks and Mahesh Bhogawar, Vinay and Varsha Nadkarni, over the years. 

Fun times, with vacations being a highlight. Subodh, Manoj Bhide and my brother and me played Bridge non-stop and took river walks in the blazing Sun, during vacations. Also watched films in the Club on 16 mm. projectors..

Club Me

No, this is not an invitation to bash me up. It is the name of a club that I am starting with an easy to remember moniker. Club Me- what could be simpler to remember? After all, life is mostly about me and myself, is it not?

With Club Med and Club Mahindra showing sterling characteristics (I thought about 'properties' rather than characteristics, but it would have been too 'punny'), I am driving into a safe zone. My club will pamper you with all the 'me' things you ever wanted, in all of their properties.

The decor will consist of large photo (shopped) cutouts of yours- from childhood to young adulthood-no older. They will be plastered all over the walls, and will light up at night with fancy backlighting. All mirrors will have cosmetic enhancements built-in to make you look ever-so-sexy, as long as you are looking into them. No need then, to pop the question "Who's the fairest..." to THIS mirror.

There would be a TV with the hero or heroine (as the case may be) replaced with you in each show. So you can be the lifeguard of Baywatch, or the eagle of Boston Legal, or the babe who is 'Castled' - it's entirely your call. Life-sized statues of yours will be strategically placed all over the club while you inhabit the premises- would have given Julius Caesar a complex, had he been around to see them.

Hail Club Me! Ready to sign up? Look for an attractive offer in your mail. Or write to me care of this blog. Limited (me) space.

Ek Shaam Mastani

There are few things that can beat an evening out with friends. There were seven of us, almost a 100% turnout of the regulars from my IIMB batch. The venue chosen was different, called the Foreign Correspondents Club, though we did not spot any foreign correspondents that day. I suppose they have other watering holes.

I met Himanshu Manglik after many many years. Both of us had started post-MBA life in the same organisation, Living Media publishers, in 1984 in Delhi. We had the pleasure of being joined by the redoubtable Dr. JD Singh, who taught us marketing basics at IIMB in 1982. Being a marketing academic myself, I have been meeting him on and off, and he is just as jolly as we remembered him from then. There were jokes, and banter about everything under the sun. We had a quiet corner on the terrace, and so we did not disturb anyone. There was another marketing prof., Harish from IIT Delhi, and others from the corporate and bureaucratic walks of life. Those whose wives were tracking them had to periodically report on their status. We called this reporting to Homeland Security.

There was a new theory of living that was proposed by one of the guys- the 4S theory. That comes from the people of Sierra Leone, and stands for Slow Slow, Small, Small. Do everything slowly, don't rush, take it easy.

In summary, I was reminded of the song that gave the blog its name- Yeh shaam mastaani, madhosh kiye jaaye..

'I' tem Number

The good old club song, or cabaret as it was known in earlier times, has undergone a name change. It is now an item number. While pondering over all epoch-making, world-changing, earth-shaking things that I have ever come across, I pondered over the possible reasons for this change of nomenclature.

My pet theory about it (to be debated in appropriate forums, no doubt), is that we are now past the X, Y and even the Z generation. In other words, we don't know what's happening around us any more, though we are loathe to admit it.

However, even in this sea of ignorance, there is a swathe of brilliance cutting across. Which is, that the only important thing left in the world for each one of us, is the 'I'. Therefore, the 'I'tem number, signifying to the performer of this delightful number, that it is she alone who matters. Not the lustily cheering crowds in front of whom she merrily gyrates, nor the professional dancers (Helen, for instance), whom the new breed like her has displaced.

This gives me a new 'i'dea, sirji. Maybe we can name the new generation the 'I' generation.