परम वैभवं नेतुमेतद स्वराष्ट्रं ...

परम वैभवं नेतुमेतद स्वराष्ट्रं ...

२६ जानेवारी २०१३ :

        आज ६४ व्या  प्रजासत्ताक दिनानिमित्त  सर्व प्रथम सर्वांचे मनःपूर्वक अभिनंदन !

        झेंडा वंदन कार्यक्रम छान  पार पडला.  त्यानिमित्त दोन शब्द सोसायटी मधील लोकांसमोर बोलण्याची विनंती झाली. त्यामुळे अंतर्मुख होऊन विचार करू लागलो.

       गेल्या दोन वर्षात  विदेशवारीचे  बरेच योग आले.  नेपाळ , चीन (तिबेट ), थायलंड,  स्वीत्झर्लंड, फ्रांस  व नुकताच  अमेरिका असा व्यापक प्रवास घडला. छोटासा  stop  over  लंडन  व दोहा  येथे झाल्यामुळे इंग्लंड व कतार या  देशांनाही स्पर्श केला, असे म्हणायला हरकत नाही.  मनामधे 'आपण' आणि 'विदेशी' यांच्यामध्ये तुलना, नकळत होऊ लागली.    बाहेरचे जग पाहिल्यावर, भारताबाहेर  आपली प्रतिमा कशी आहे याचा थोडा अंदाज आला. 

       स्वित्झर्लंड मध्ये  तितलीस  पर्वतावर  १०,००० फूट उंचीवर घेऊन जाणाऱ्या केबल कार (Rotair ) मध्ये  चक्क हिंदीत  बोर्ड होता , " विश्वके  प्रथम  घुमनेवाले   गन्डोला मे आपका स्वागत है ".  खूप बरं वाटलं.  

हाच  तो  'गंडोला ', अर्थात  Rotair  (Rotating  +  Chair )

         

             अर्थात, भारतीय भाषेत बोर्ड दिसला कि प्रत्येक ठिकाणी अभिमानास्पद गोष्ट असते असे नाही.  एका  ठिकाणी   इंजल्बर्गला   हॉटेलमधे काही सूचना हिंदीत होत्या. प्रथम मला खूप अभिमान वाटला ; पण लगेच त्यातील खोचं लक्षात आली आणि वाईट वाटले.  भारतीय लोक  (काही अपवाद सोडून ) हॉटेल रूम स्वच्छ ठेवत नाही. सूचना अशी होती कि बाथ रूम ओली केल्यास १५० francs दंड आकारण्यात येईल. लाकडी  फ़्लॊरमुळे  तशी सूचना होती ; shower साठी वेगळा काचेचा भाग  (बाथ रूममधेच ) होता.  भुरट्या चोऱ्या, अस्वच्छता, व खोटेपणा काही भारतीय करतात, म्हणून हिंदीत सूचना.   ही काही अभिमान वाटण्यासारखी गोष्ट नक्कीच नाही.

            थायलंडला रिवर क्रूस करताना हिंदी गाणे, नाच , चालू होते. एक फिलिपिनो बाई  कार्यक्रम संचालन करीत होती. मराठी लोक पाहून तिने चक्क  "कामावर  जायला उशीर झाला....बघतोय रिक्षावाला " हे गाणे ठसक्यात म्हणायला सुरु केली  !  आम्ही अक्षरशः चाट पडलो. त्या बाईला मराठी एक अक्षर माहीत नाही. मग हे कसे ? नंतर समजले , कि तिच्या हातात एक चिट्ठी होती, त्यात हे मराठी गाणे तीच्या script मध्ये लिहिले होते.   असो. खूप छान वाटले.

         


San Francisco च्या  केबल tram वर खालील भारताची जाहिरात बघून बरे वाटले.

             
युनिवर्सल  स्टुडियोत  एक कृष्ण वर्णीय माणसाने  चक्क हात जोडून " सत श्रिअकाल  " "नमस्ते " अशा शब्दात स्वागत केले.  असे  वाटते कि आता भारताची दखल लोक घ्यायला लागले आहेत.

                              हे खालील दृश्य भारतातील नसून थायलंड मधील आहे. कालिया मर्दन हे दृश्य  सुवर्णभूमी  आंतरराष्ट्रीय विमानतळ , येथील आहे.    

              आश्चर्य  वाटले  का ? थायलंड च्या लोकांना  त्यात  'जातीयता ', 'धर्मांधता',  असे काही दिसत नाही.  हा  हिंदू  देश नसूनही हिंदूंची प्रतीके तेथे  प्रतिष्ठेने  जोपासली  जातात.  फक्त कल्पना करा कि असे चित्र भारतातल्या विमानतळावर आणायचे असल्यास काय  होईल ! अल्प संख्या असणाऱ्यांच्या भावना किती दुखावतील  ! सत्तेतील नेत्यांची किती  तारांबळ  उडेल !  सध्या कमी समस्या आहेत ? त्यात  भर कशाला ? जाऊ देत  ती कल्पनासुद्धा नको ! आपणच या बेगडी कल्पना जोपासतो. सुवर्ण भूमी हे नाव खर तर भारतात असायला हवे.  असो.  तसेच नेपाळच्या विमानतळाचे नाव सुद्धा  भारतीय वाटावे असेच आहे . "त्रिभुवन ".  आता वेळ आली आहे कि भ्रष्ट अनुकरण न करता आपल्या योग्य गोष्टींचा अभिमान आपण बाळगायला हवा, व मानसिक गुलामगिरीतून  आपण मुक्त झाले पाहिजे.   

            आंपण भारतीय  सर्व क्षेत्रात  जर उत्तम कामगिरी  करतो, तर या  छोट्या छोट्या गोष्टीत का  मागे पडतो ? स्त्री व  पुरुष यांच्यात समानता आणावी लागेल.  शिस्त, सचोटी, प्रामाणिकपणा, स्वच्छता, मार्दवता, व सामाजिक जाणीव  हे  गुण जर आपण अंगिकारले तर आपण  कुठल्याकुठे  जाऊ शकतो.  प्रत्येक समस्येचे निराकरण करण्याची सुरवात स्वतःपासून करावी लागेल. केवळ कोणाकडे बोट दाखविण्यापेक्षा स्वतः पुढाकार घेऊन मार्ग काढावा लागेल. चला,  आपण आजच्या  राष्ट्रीय मुहूर्तावर ,  सुरुवात करू. रहदारीचे नियम काटेकोरपणे पाळणे , horn  न  वाजविणे, असे खूप काही आहे कि ज्यासाठी सरकार किंवा इतर कोणी नसून आपणच जबाबदार आहोत. तेच भ्रष्टाचाराबाबत.  ही समस्या मोठी आहे.  पण  आपण तरी,  short  cut  न  घेता, रीतसर  मार्गानेच  काम करावे . निदान  भ्रष्ट  वागणूक  promote तरी  करू नये. कष्ट पडतील. proactive व्हावे लागेल.    मान्य आहे कि  बदल घडण्यास खूप वेळ लागेल.  केवळ मी सुधारणा करून  काय होणार ? असा  विचार न करता, अशी जिद्द ठेऊ कि बदल जेव्हा घडेल तेंव्हा घडू दे , मी माझे प्रयत्न सोडणार नाही.

      

            मग  आपले  भारताचे स्वप्न  "परम वैभवं नेतुमेतद स्वराष्ट्रं "  साकारायला सुरवात होईल ! 

त्यासाठी , स्वामी विवेकानंद यांचे शब्द  मनात  ठसविले पाहिजे  :

             "Arise , awake   and  stop  not till the goal is achieved ! "           

Journey through Crooked Street (San Francisco)

Crooked Street, i.e. Lombard Street in down town of San Francisco is worth experiencing. 

Lombard Street is best known for the one-way section on Russian Hill between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets, in which the roadway has eight sharp turns (or switchbacks) that have earned the street the distinction of being the crookedest (most winding) street in the world. The switchback's design, was born out of necessity in order to reduce the hill's natural 27% grade, which was too steep for most vehicles. It is also a serious hazard to pedestrians, who are accustomed to a more reasonable 4.86° incline because of wheel chair navigability concerns. The crooked section of the street, which is about ¹⁄₄ mile (400 m) long, is reserved for one-way traffic traveling east (downhill) and is paved with red bricks. 

Have a first hand experience of the crooked street, through following pictures !

Watch  the  Golden Gate Bridge, visible at back drop. !

Cable Tram also falls in line with other vehicles ! 

Vehicles negotiating the crooked turns while descending  !

This is not  a picture of tornado hit stranded vehicles; these vehicles  are descending the Crooked Street !

The following video is shot from Cable Tram  which travels near crooked street. Watch the gradient !

What makes the big difference..

San Francisco, Thursday, January 3, 2013 :



" Hey how are you doing ? "  I was surprised  ( at least for the first time) with that greetings from a tall hefty fair American, who boarded with me in Dallas bound flight at the Heathrow  Airport, London.  Not knowing how to react, I smiled and mumbled something incoherent.  I was annoyed with myself, for my improper reaction, and learned my lesson, quickly.  Now in last one month's time whether in a mall or at a hotel or anywhere for that matter, n- number of times this  manner of greetings are shared and I am enjoying it. It may not mean anything but I liked this American way of breaking the  barrier  and opening the conversation between people.  In Europe or in Far East, I had not noticed such warmth in interacting with the people.

 In India, we seldom (rather, we Don't) smile at a unknown person, on face to face contact.  In fact, our young girls are taught not give smile to a unknown person. Here in US, things are totally different. Young girls giving pleasant smile to you is a common situation. (No need to draw any conclusions !)  Frankly, I felt very charmed and enthused to interact. 
While in India, I remember, it so happened once, that, one person gave a pleasant smile which probably meant, he knew me. All the while, I kept on wondering who that person could be, and never returned the smile. As if, smiling in reciprocation would have belittled my status or would have cost me something.  Now with the American way,  my   mistake looks more glaring. I have decided to amend myself.

The huge network of Inter States, Fly overs, exits,  and other roads,  is mind boggling. The existence of proper road signs ensures that you reach your destination all by yourself (of course, GPS is a big boon ).  I was highly impressed by the sense of  road discipline.  In the last week I traveled  1,564 miles  in 5 days.  San Francisco  (SFO) to Los Angeles (LA), then to Las Vegas and back  SFO via LA.  This distance, in Indian perspective, is simply too much.  From LA to Las Vegas on I-15, there was huge traffic jam. However, there was no hassle or honking or tensions.  All drivers were cool and observed to traffic regulations meticulously. At signals, the cars would be two feet inside the white line.  We in India, are not used to this discipline.  All the vehicles on road were in good condition. Not single vehicle is found parked on the highways (highways are called Inter States, here).
Good habits are inculcated from very young age.   When we sit in the Car young Sameer will remind his grandma to fasten her seat belts ! So, good habits are inculcated from  the childhood. Children can't occupy front seat, near driver.  Separate seats for younger ones are there behind driver seat. In fact, when a child is born in a  hospital no discharge is given to the baby and his mother unless a child seat is fitted in their  Car ! Both parents are adequately trained to take care of the newly born child.

In India we suffer from toll menace.  It's not only about the money that we end up in paying, but the inconvenience in toll collection after every kilometer of a road.  Few years back, I remember, I had paid Rs.800 as toll while traveling from Mumbai to Ahmednagar.  The time wasted and heart burns due to barging vehicles, are other bye products.     Here, in contrast, technology is nicely used to avoid queues at toll stations.  Frequent users use toll tag on the car. Even if, your car moves speedily, the elctronic eye 'reads' the tag and debits your account, in no time.  Even if, you are not frequent user, when you car passes the toll station, your account is automatically debited.
 
All trucks were in  very good shape and well illuminated.  In  India,  in contrast, not a single truck is having tail lights, leave aside illumination ! Well, the usual one liners, like 'Horn OK Please',  Dekho magar pyarse', 'Buri nazarwale tera mooh kala', etc.  on Indian trucks which entertains Indian drivers,  are missing here !  Driving is pleasure here and you don't feel tired after covering long distances, due to fact that, infrastructure is good,   rules are strictly followed,  vehicles are technologically advanced.

Use of credit card even for small trasanctions (like parking charges).  The usage of credit/ debit cards
not only make things convenient, but it brings in total transparency. No cheating,  no bribery, in other words, fair deal.

School Buses are given a preferential treatment here. When a School bus stops for picking up or for dropping a Child, the traffic completely stops.  The driver will make sure that child is properly dropped and picked up by somebody (i.e.parent) and then bus will leave.  It is an offense to overtake a school bus.   I happened to go a couple of times to pick up nephew from his school. The picture I saw was completely different from what we expect in Indian schools. The children coming from class rooms would stand in a line painted on the pavement. One by one, the child will go and join his parents car. One parent (must be desi) who was about five cars behind, tried to gesticulate his ward to come fast, was warned by his child to wait till his turn comes ! The Principal, a young lady was personally  ensuring that each student is properly picked up.

During lunch time, students are taught to put the left outs in the garbage. Even younger ones in play schools are taught to keep their time. For example, the food will be served only during designated time.  The child may miss the food, if he is not in time at table for food.  To Indian (emotional) hearts this may look very stone hearted attitude; however, in long run, the importance of doing right things at right time, will never be learnt, without this firm attitude.

This small incident, of the etiquette taught to younger ones in school is a big eye opener for all of us.  Sara, (age : 3 years) my niece's daughter saw me wearing a woolen cap to protect head and ears from cold,  very spontaneously said : " Aajoba you are looking very cute in that Cap " !
We rarely compliment,  and take the things for granted.  That comment from Sara  made  a big  difference !
 

Mumbai - Dallas, a dream journey !

Dallas, 5th December 2012.:

Cockpit of Boeing - 777

Time to take Off !

Tuesday, 4th  December 2012,   02:45  a.m.  Yes, that is the actual time to take Off !  Literally and figuratively as well.  The British Airways  Mumbai - London - Dallas  flight   BA 138 will leave Chhatrapati Shivaji International  Terminal, Mumbai  and, at least for me, will create history of sorts.  The count down has already begun. T minus 7 days, ... The excitement is on so high, that, the mind has already done a recce of this 36 days tour, in advance.

There are many things which will be prefixed with the expression ' the first time'.
The first among 'the first time', is the longest break to be taken from my Office.  The heart trouble of last year forced me to take a break of  about one month. This time the break is of 36 days; so certainly longer than ever before. So far a break for travelling is concerned,  the earlier longest break was for 15 days (Kailash Mansarovar Tour).  Thanks to the professional partnership, and the capable partner, I am quite relaxed and prepared.   The work assignments for next two months are already planned.   There is more energy and enthusiasm now,  and a conscious attempt to finish/ dispose  the pending  work jobs at the earliest. Lot of planning has gone into important decisions to attend things in absentia.

The second among 'the first time', is the longest distance of about 10,700 miles or 16,560 km  (one way ) to visit the dream land of US.  So total travelling of about 33,120 km is the longest distance to travel.  This distance is almost 83 % of the circumference (40,028 km) of the Earth. Is it not exciting ?  Lot of things have been heard or known about US. Now will be the time to have first hand experience about the same.

The third among 'the first time', will be the longest flights. Mumbai - London is 10 hours flight by Boeing 777. After a break of 3 hours at Heathrow Airport, the next flight , London - Dallas will also be of 10 hours (by Boeing 747-400). This is going to be the longest flight for me, so far.

The fourth among 'the first time', to enter into west zone of longitudes. Travel upto Paris or Zurich (in June this year) was close to  the prime meridian  which is zero degree longitude (a vertical line dividing  the Earth into eastern and western hemispheres, and passing through London).  Just imagine the world map as a number line. The equator and the prime meridian together dividing the world in four quadrants.  The northern hemisphere would be first and second quadrants, whereas, southern hemisphere would be like third and fourth quadrants.  I hope you are getting what I am trying to compare.  So far my travel had been in the the first quadrant (i.e. east zone)  only. First time, I will be going beyond London, to 2nd quadrant (i.e. west zone) of the Globe.

Bangkok (100 degrees East) to San Francisco (122 degrees West) will be longest distance (horizontal as well as vertical) I would have traveled,  very soon.

The list  of  'the first time' is unending.   I will provide pictorial account of this thrilling journey soon.
Till then au revoir !

Memories of Bangkok and Pattaya

Thrilling pictures of  Bangkok and Pattaya !