Category: Human

Little Arjun Hit Me Straight in the Heart

Last night, I was chatting on WhatsApp with my school friend Vinay Jain. Suddenly, his son sent some recorded messages. First, I thought it was my friend with a distorted voice but later he told me that it’s his son Arjun. The little one’s voice was so divine that it took me 30-35 years back when I started speaking … Continue reading Little Arjun Hit Me Straight in the Heart

I Pressed My First Button on His Computer

I'm a computer graphic artist now but I was an alien to the computer till 1997-98. It was a novelty and an expensive gadget that only fortunate few could afford. And the fortunate one was my college friend Ravi Tandon. He was a computer geek in college and I used to visit his home quite … Continue reading I Pressed My First Button on His Computer

Italy or India, Mothers and Photos are Same

I found the cover photo on the wall of my friend Denise Castelli in her Facebook profile. I inquired about the family, time and place. This was taken somewhere near the Italy-France border in 1977. The photo was posted by her on account of Mother's Day. Such a lovely family reminded me of my family … Continue reading Italy or India, Mothers and Photos are Same

The Unforgettable Journey of the Ghazal Maestro

Jagjit Singh inspired millions across the globe. He’s the man who revolutionized Indian semi-classical music, as in ghazal, and brought it to the masses globally. Without a doubt, he’s among the tallest luminaries in the history of world music. He was the only Indian singer who was also a songwriter, a composer, and an arranger — a one-man industry.His … Continue reading The Unforgettable Journey of the Ghazal Maestro

The Laughing Buddha — Reincarnated, Remixed

This story isn’t a simple and short one.  It started in circa 500 BC with the birth of Prince Siddhartha. Most of us know about the journey of this prince who left his luxurious life in quest of existence, to find the root of misery and to discover the root of true, ultimate happiness. But, no … Continue reading The Laughing Buddha — Reincarnated, Remixed

His Songs Have Created a Borderless World

Since childhood, I'm a ghazal fan. Nowadays young people don't listen to it, although this isn't completely true, as compared to the older generation. There're big names who rule this genre and are very popular. I also listen to them but this was a problem. I was under the impression that this genre is going … Continue reading His Songs Have Created a Borderless World

Her Handwriting Is the Eighth Wonder for Me

Good handwriting is a sign of healthy Mind. Mahatma Gandhi When I was in school, between 1985-1995, we had a strong emphasis on handwriting. There was no digital medium of writing, so it was purely with pencil, in primary school, and with an ink pen, in secondary school. I was quite good at academics and … Continue reading Her Handwriting Is the Eighth Wonder for Me

He Gave Me A Boon — A Book

Rajiv Kessop and I used to work in the same animation studio I keep talking about. He was in the lighting department when I met him. He's a very sharp, handsome and learned young man and I used to listen to all his stories because he read a lot of books. I wasn't reading a … Continue reading He Gave Me A Boon — A Book

The Multi-Talented Teacher

I’d many-many teachers in my life but Natasha DS is one who I can’t forget; actually, forget is not the right expression as I haven’t forgotten any of them but I remember her every day. Why? You’ll explore in a minute. She was, after academic life, my first English teacher. She was appointed to teach us the … Continue reading The Multi-Talented Teacher

My Name Is Khan, Muslim Khan

I met Muslim Khan in South Mumbai while doing my customary street-story recce and I couldn't resist talking to him. He was decorated with all his stuff and had people all around his shop. I was confused but then realized he's a popular paan vendor from the locality. He was quite busy but somehow, I got … Continue reading My Name Is Khan, Muslim Khan

Man With a Golden Heart

I have met many friends, co-workers, bosses, leaders, magicians in life but this man is different than all, all of them. I met him many years ago at my workplace. He joined as a Production Head of the animation studio I used to work in. The story of genuine friendship and learning began the day … Continue reading Man With a Golden Heart

The Only Celeb Friend

Well, if you're thinking that this article is about his films and all the splendid work he does, you're are not thinking differently. This isn't about the great Ananth Mahadevan we all know, rather it's about this humble and enlightened man I know. I'm a selfish man and all the articles on this blog are … Continue reading The Only Celeb Friend

From Internet to Innernet: A Unique Ecosystem

Nipun Mehta is the founder of ServiceSpace, an incubator of projects that works at the intersection of volunteerism, technology, and gift-economy. What started as an experiment with four friends in Silicon Valley has now grown to a global ecosystem of over 500,000 members that has delivered millions of dollars in service for free. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Be7wDTErLI&t=736s He has received … Continue reading From Internet to Innernet: A Unique Ecosystem

Man With A Mission — Limb For Life

Many people in India lose their limb is some accident. When a person becomes an amputee, they're faced with staggering emotional and financial lifestyle changes.  Fortunately, high tech prosthetic devices that restore a person’s basic skills and independence are available. Unfortunately, many amputees lack the financial resources to obtain adequate prosthetic care. Mission LIMB FOR … Continue reading Man With A Mission — Limb For Life

A Different Kind of Auto-Rickshaw Driver

I was injured and had to visit a friend. I couldn’t find public transport. As a ritual, all the auto-rickshaw drivers offered their kind NO and I was standing like the last tree in the jungle. But one man was watching me and he's the hero of this story. He came up to me and … Continue reading A Different Kind of Auto-Rickshaw Driver

Love Food, Hate Wastage

I met this neglected and extremely money-poor family. I'd just finished a lavish lunch — with food wastage — and saw them outside the restaurant. They were estranged, messed up, hungry, etc. my heart cried and I opted to offer them something. I noticed that they were barefoot and so I bought the slippers. On … Continue reading Love Food, Hate Wastage

The Owner of the Pride Of Mumbai

The other day I visited a cafe, the famous Cafe Mondegar in Mumbai. After having a light breakfast, I slipped out while saying my customary THANK YOU to everyone. I said the same words to an old man sitting right in the corner and we had a short conversation. Who are you saying, uncle? I'm NOT an uncle?Sorry, Thank you, … Continue reading The Owner of the Pride Of Mumbai

Empowering With Cinema

Oorvazi Irani is an independent film-maker, film educationalist, and acting coach based in Mumbai besides being the Director of her home production media company SBI Impresario Pvt. Ltd., incorporated by her father Sorab Irani in 1975. As a pioneer, she's the only International Baccalaureate film teacher in Mumbai, and she understands the need for young minds to be nurtured into the … Continue reading Empowering With Cinema

Camera Is Mightier Than the Gun

TASVEER is a student-founded and youth initiative that offers free photography and cinematography services to any NGO that would like to publicize and document its work through these forms of media. Two 17 year young students living in Mumbai, Riya Behl , and Aaryaman Sen, began this in 2015 and there are now teams all over India. The Founders … Continue reading Camera Is Mightier Than the Gun

The Toilet God of India

Jayeshbhai Patel is the co-founder and director of Manav Sadhna in India. Formed in 1990 with the mission to serve the underprivileged, the trust now provides health and hygiene, education, and employment services to over 4,500 women and children through over 38 projects. The trust runs Environmental Sanitation Institute that has become the main center to provide manpower as well … Continue reading The Toilet God of India

The Balloon Vendor

I was waiting for a friend when I saw this balloon seller. I'd the time and couldn’t resist but talking to him. The climate — of heart — was extremely beautiful and took my crazy towards him. बाबुजी, गुब्बारे खरीदोगे क्या ? He thought I was a buyer of his balloons but he wouldn’t have … Continue reading The Balloon Vendor

Age Is Just a Number

This is just as true as you meet Mr. and Mrs. Gupta from Mumbai. They’re doing something that rarely young do. Both are running a community-learning center in one of the slums of their locality — Logic Community Center Welfare Association. Prof. Dr. Amitabha Gupta is associated with IIT-B for about half a century. He was teaching and planned a … Continue reading Age Is Just a Number

Young Footballers of India

I met these young boys in my locality. I'm lucky to have them as my neighbor — we stay in the same housing society. Meet Yash Shirke and Aditya Pandey — the dudes. Both of them are hard-core football fans. They learn the game through a club in Mumbai and are doing good in the game. Lately, Yash won a … Continue reading Young Footballers of India

Girl Power

You must give everything to make your life as beautiful as the dreams that dance in your imagination. This is what Khushboo Yadav and Gulafsha Shaikh believe. Here are two young ladies who are making a change. Both have studied in a community-learning center in Mumbai and now they teach in such a community-learning center. Coming from a low-income … Continue reading Girl Power

Salman, Jeep, Driver and Gossip 

चलो, चलो चलो, सवारी १० रुपये | He was shouting at the top of his voice. I also wanted to ride to my destination in North Gujarat, India. I fought like a child — although I'm still one — and took the front seat in his Jeep. He put his favorite USB drive full of … Continue reading Salman, Jeep, Driver and Gossip 

Rural India’s Digital Leader

I visited a tribal school near my city lately. The visit was to support this marginalized and neglected community for digital literacy. I and few friends collected old laptops and we shared in a few schools in Karjat district — 2 hours from Mumbai. Our coordinator introduced us to Arjun Sakpal from a nearby village. He’s the man who … Continue reading Rural India’s Digital Leader

Miracles Happen, Every Day

I believe in miracles and hence, they keep coming to me. It came yet again. I'd been bargaining with this auto-rickshaw driver who asked for an exorbitant rate for a short distance. Somehow, we cracked a deal. After a while, I realized that I'd forgotten a bag but was not sure where. A phone came … Continue reading Miracles Happen, Every Day

Indo-Zimbabwean Britisher

You speak beautiful Gujarati. Are you Indian?No, I was born in Zimbabwe, raised in England but my ancestors were Indian.Oh, I see. Your parents must have migrated.No, my great grandparents did some 300 years ago.OMG! I met Bharat Ranchod in the train while going on a trip and was so impressed that even after more … Continue reading Indo-Zimbabwean Britisher

Meeting a Living Legend — A Dream Come True

I'm an ardent fan of ghazal since my childhood. I've heard many but one song that takes my breath away is Chitra Singh. This legendary singer has been in my joy, pain, love, hate, stress, relaxation — in every moment, every emotion. She used to sing with her husband Jagjit Singh and they were a heart-throb of all music lovers … Continue reading Meeting a Living Legend — A Dream Come True

Cop With a Twist

He's one of the most radical police officers I've met in my life. He climbed the Stok Kangri range of the Himalayas in the Ladakh region of northwest India. Raju Patil was the Assistant Director of Maharashtra Police Academy in Nashik when I met him during a training session at the academy. He's a trainer, athlete, biker, mountaineer, father, learner, orator, and upon all … Continue reading Cop With a Twist

Young Dynamic Politician

This dynamic socio-political activist is making a paradigm shift. Neil Somaiya is a young face of emerging and transforming India. He’s a socio-political activist from Mumbai.  He’s one of that rare breed of educated change-makers that are making a change. He has done his Bachelors in Mass Media and MBA in Human Resources. He’s the youngest member of the … Continue reading Young Dynamic Politician

Lessons in Generosity

I met an elderly lady who was continuously watching me eating breakfast. I was looking at her too, she had green eyes. She looked like a Greek Goddess born in the remotest village of Maharashtra, India. Maharashtra meaning The Great Land, is witnessing an adverse drought situation. The farmers are dying of poverty, hunger, and suicide. She … Continue reading Lessons in Generosity