Days of odds and evens all around !

Days unfolded in a strange way in surroundings and as well in personal life ! Swine flu erupted and shockingly of all the cities Pune became the epicenter of this much dreaded imported disease. And slowly cases got reported in many states and so did many deaths occurred. Cities went empty and still all and especially hospitals and sufferers are grappling with issues related to this hazard.
In the political circle at this time BJP seems to do no good to itself and by sacking Mr. Jaswant Singh it has shown undemocratic functioning side of it's leadership. Jinnah and Sardar Patel are back in the news. Much maligned image of Jinnah, first through Mr. Advani and now with Mr. Jaswant's book seem to change for the time being. Gujarath govt has banned book without reading it for it supposedly has shown little respect to party's iconic hero Sardar Patel.
Hmm.. Does SardarPatel's image suffer because of book like this ? Is Jinnah more or less villain or guilty for partition of 5 cr people and death of 5 lakhs ? Some actions of national leaders will remain unanswered . And we need to move forward....
We are struck with draught in half of the districts and that is painful. Rains have been scanty and food prices are soaring and again downtrodden will bear the brunt.
Hmmm...
Have moved to Bombay for a new role in corporate office. Time will tell how this role shapes up. It's bold and challenging plunge I have taken after comfortable time in Alternate Channel. Cancelled going to Dubai and postponed holidays in Dharmashala. House hunting is a challenge in Bombay both cost wise and logistics wise.
Indeed, it's going to be time of getting even with odds and sailing smoothly. First 8 months have been quite fine , next 4 look daunting yet exciting. Hoping to get going !!

Bangalore Marathon. Run maadi run.

And this was one item on my bucket list for the year.. For 31 st May event reached the place a day in advance and hardly practised in the preceding week. However, confidence was there since had been running comfortably around 6 kms thrice a week last couple of months.
On the day of the marathons all roads to Kanteeveera Stadium were full of people of all ages, dominated by youngsters and in colourful attire. They had organised event very well and all races started on time.
In the global event as expected Ethiopians and Kenyans dominated the show and they set the track ablaze with super speed on flattish track on a comparatively hot day by Bangalore standards. Merga won it by a comfortable margin and continued his winning streak here as well. He had come here after 3 wins this year in major international runs at Boston, Houston and Delhi Half marathon....

Our open race for 10 kms got off the block at 8.10 and at least thousand of us we started. First there were many around you for a kilometer or so and hence it was difficult to get rhythm going. After two kilometers there were open spaces and you could run well. Up till 4.5 kms it was smooth run and then it was steep climb for about 2 kms and that heralded challenge for amateur runners like me. But we saw it off and were encouraged by spectators and co runners for going for that extra mile.
After about 6.5 kms was beginning to get tired and a water break with electral boosted confidence. Within few minutes was already within 2 kms of touching finishing line and that gave the second wind. Magnificent architectural structures of "Vidhan Saudha" and "High Court " and tree bordered road through Cubbon Park refreshed mind and made us forget pain in legs for a moment and all of a sudden we were just a km away from completing the Dream Run !!
In the last stretch , met Arvind who came from Chennai and last time he had taken 77 mins to complete the run. He was going to better his time by more than 15 mins and hence was visibly happy.
I for one was happier than ever for doing this feat in an hour's time. It was good run on a somewhat hot day. Personal desire coupled with on field inspiration of seeing fellow runners plays vital role. Breathing clearly and feeling exhilarated walked back to hotel room and scratched and item in my bucket list.
A temporary run ! It gave immense joy, challenged physical conditioning and what's more introduced in my life a good friend from US who I accidentally met at airport. Flight to Pune was delayed by 4 hours and mostly spent time in reading, chatting and recalling the Run.
Deccan Herald had a quote of Omprah about running. She says and I don't exactly remember something like this.. " Running is the only thing where your output is directly proportionate to your inputs " And thoroughly it's correct.
Some runners had scribbled another beautiful line " Run & Become !" True, run and realise is what I could conclude ! Run MAADI Run!

Mr. Ramchandra Guha's reply to a letter.

Dear Mr Nadgaudi,
Many thanks for your wonderfully warm and generous letter. It makes all those years of hard labour in the archives worthwhile!
with regards
R. Guha

Astounding and enlightening India after Gandhi.

Dear Mr. Ramchandra Guha,

At the outset thanks indeed for giving our generation a phenomenal historical account of India after Gandhi. This book has single handedly revived more interest in knowing the great country that is ours.

This happened to be the first book that I read on historical issues and the unfolding of various measures taken by respective governments and consequences of the same.

Trust me your book has reformed me and informed us more than anything that comes to mind.

When I went to vote on 23 rd in Pune this time I must confess that to an extent my decision was helped by the unbiased contents of your book.

It's simply mandatory reading for anyone who wants to know about Largest Democracy 's mystery. Yesterday night I finished reading the last chapter and remained awake till well past midnight and various events so engagingly expressed by you in the book did not let me sleep . Comprehensiveness, lucidity, impartiality of narrative in a unique style makes it a fine reading experience.

It's a book that many will read, re-read and ply for explaining to future generations of what this country has been because of what it had been through and how founders had exemplary vision.

You read some books. But few move you. And this one does that in a subtle way.

Mr. Guha you have touched and enlightened us with this amazingly written book.

Would love to meet you someday...)

Warm Regards Always,

First day of the blog writing !

Finally decided to pen something that I have been delaying for a long time . In a hotel lobby of Rama International of Aurangabad it's 8.30 now and last 2 days have been sort of hectic on the work front.
Though in Nashik took out time and visited old nashik where I had been in my mid teens and went to famous and holy Godavari river where "Ramkund " is and scores of devotees everyday offer their prayers. I had , in this river learned from my cousin some early strokes of swimming. Old Nashik and Panchavati in particular still has an old, ancient charm and temples galore. Roads are narrow and all kind of vehicles ply these tiny roads. There are plenty of eateries which specialise in local maharashtrian food.
Kala Ram Temple which is built around 230 years ago has ageless charm and we visited it. Late night we stayed in "Jupiter Hotel " which is on a sprawling area on Mumbai road. Hotel was not so good in terms of cleanliness.
Yesterday, we left for Aurangabad and on the way paid visit to another holy place of Shirdi. We had to bribe 200 per person in order to have a an early entry into the main hall from where you see the idol of the Shirdi Saint.
After reaching Aurangabad caught up with old pal in CCD and later had longish meeting with our team. Towards end of which I found head reeling and hence retired to bed at around ten thirty only to find that it was not possible for some colleagues wished to join for dinner they were having. Reluctantly, joined them for an hour and slept around twelve again.
Will have breakers now and will leave for Pune in half an hour..