“Hi, which class are you in,” asked my friend Prasad to my four year old son Sanjiv. “ I am in junior KG,” Sanjiv replied. “ When will you go to senior KG,” Prasad asked ? “When I become big,” said Sanjiv. “And when will you become big,” continued the irrepressible Prasad. “ When I begin eating vegetables,” replied Sanjiv as all of us in the room dissolved into laughter. Sanjiv’s last remark was prompted by everyone at home constantly telling him that it was important for him to eat vegetables (for which he exhibited a child’s disdain) if he were to grow big, strong or for that matter get better than his friend and rival Siva.
Children I have noticed have a logic of their own which clearly defies comprehension by an adult. Many, many years ago my friend James’s nephew took a look at the water tank in his building that was being cleaned up and came up with the classic—“ Orange water”. He didn’t see the dirt or the grime but only the orange colour.
Another child, my nephew –Manav—I suspect regards me as McDonad’s uncle as I make it a point to take him to Big Mac every time we meet. Once when I was fooling around with him and was quizzing him about girlfriends he turned around and asked me
“Isn’t Vidya mami your girlfriend”? While I thought it was worth a good laugh, Vidya mami who happens to be my wife certainly didn’t. I had to listen to a lecture on the inappropriateness of such jokes being cracked with children. Serves me right I guess.
I haven’t yet stopped cracking jokes with children. Although I am now careful about not cracking what is termed as “inappropriate jokes” No more talks of girlfriends. Just sticking to the mundane. A child’s worldview is however anything but mundane. Whether it is about eating vegtables, catching a glimpse of orange water or quite simply talking about girlfriends.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
A Tribute to the Mulund Mountains
As I was walking down Devidayal Road in Mulund (Mumbai’s northernmost tip), the sight of the mountains filled me with wonder. All of 16 I turned to my friend Dharmesh (nicknamed Bhauli) and asked, “ Do you require to use oxygen masks to climb that mountain”. Bhauli burst into laughter and said, “ Certainly not. I have climbed this mountain many times with other people quite easily.”
Soon, I was off on an expedition with Bhauli and the rest off the gang to climb the mountain. As we climbed, I realized that it was not one but really three mountains. The first was a small hillock which was taken in one’s stride quite easily. The second was a bigger mountain where we all relaxed for a while and then began the assault on the third one. That was quite big. Just before we reached the very top we struggled a bit and then were soon witness to breathtaking beauty. We could just see two of the lakes that supplied water to Mumbai—Tulsi, Vaitarna and could catch a glimpse of a third lake –Powai. The natural greenery all around and a hint of wildlife all added to the mystique. We boys often promised ourselves that we would one day get tents and park ourselves for a night on the mountains.
Soon it became quite a routine to take my cousins, friends whoever visited us for that matter from outside Mumbai\Mulund for a trip to the mountain. The effect was always the same—a gasp of admiration for the beauty at the top.
A couple of years after my first visit to the mountain top, we moved to a larger flat in the same building on the fifth floor and we had a picture postcard view of the mountains in the living room. My father says to this day that he paid a premium for just the view.
Over the years, the view of the mountains became a part of my life and would play an important role as I studied for my B.sc final examinations. My frayed nerves would be often calmed by the sight of the mountains. I came to understand the expression –rock of Gibraltar-much better. I realized that exams and for that matter life itself is transitory. The mountains would go on forever. Sometimes uphill, sometimes downhill but they would always be there. Withstanding the ravages of time and civilization they would remain a mute witness to life and history. Giving to the world beauty and serenity and really taking nothing away from it.
Soon, I was off on an expedition with Bhauli and the rest off the gang to climb the mountain. As we climbed, I realized that it was not one but really three mountains. The first was a small hillock which was taken in one’s stride quite easily. The second was a bigger mountain where we all relaxed for a while and then began the assault on the third one. That was quite big. Just before we reached the very top we struggled a bit and then were soon witness to breathtaking beauty. We could just see two of the lakes that supplied water to Mumbai—Tulsi, Vaitarna and could catch a glimpse of a third lake –Powai. The natural greenery all around and a hint of wildlife all added to the mystique. We boys often promised ourselves that we would one day get tents and park ourselves for a night on the mountains.
Soon it became quite a routine to take my cousins, friends whoever visited us for that matter from outside Mumbai\Mulund for a trip to the mountain. The effect was always the same—a gasp of admiration for the beauty at the top.
A couple of years after my first visit to the mountain top, we moved to a larger flat in the same building on the fifth floor and we had a picture postcard view of the mountains in the living room. My father says to this day that he paid a premium for just the view.
Over the years, the view of the mountains became a part of my life and would play an important role as I studied for my B.sc final examinations. My frayed nerves would be often calmed by the sight of the mountains. I came to understand the expression –rock of Gibraltar-much better. I realized that exams and for that matter life itself is transitory. The mountains would go on forever. Sometimes uphill, sometimes downhill but they would always be there. Withstanding the ravages of time and civilization they would remain a mute witness to life and history. Giving to the world beauty and serenity and really taking nothing away from it.
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