Discipline Triggers Achievement

My uncle Manghan Singh, a Sindhi Sikh, was a Travelling Ticket Examiner in the North Western Railway and was posted at Larkana Station in Sindh before India became independent in 1947. The partition of the country displaced millions but after safe arrival in India, all British Government servants were absorbed in similar posts and Manghan Singh was posted at Abu Road station. His line of duty was on up trains up to Ahmedabad and down trains up to Ajmer. On duty, while his colleagues settled down with a game of cards as the train moved out of the station, Manghan Singh, chiseled to perfection by the British school of adventure,thrift and integrity and thus a hard core disciplinarian and savior of the Railway Exchequer and getting over the woes of emigration, went about his duty diligently. Moving from compartment to compartment, he abhorred ticket less travel and relentlessly booked offenders much to the chagrin of compulsive and habitual freebooters. Apart from hawkers, the main tormentors of the Ticket Examiners were the college students who commuted on the Ahmedabad route from Mehsana. The matter had been the hot topic of discussion among the T.T.Es but none had initiated the move to apprehend the violators.

One fine morning while on duty and waiting for the train to pull out of Mehsana station, Manghan Singh witnessed a mad scramble by a group of students to board a compartment. Hell-bent on a showdown, he followed the unruly crowd and set about the task of checking, leered at by ticket less travelers occupying the seats while the ticket holders stood by. As he motioned for the tickets to be produced every offender pointed to their ring leader who sat cross legged, with a stub of a ticket protruding from the strap of his chappal and belligernatly pointing to the same. Humiliated and appalled by gross lack of respect for elders, Manghan Singh quickly slapped the antagonist left and right, pulled him up by the scruff of his neck and dragging him to the exit, booted him and threw him out of the compartment, as the train started to move. The rest of the offenders seeing the plight of their leader had in the meanwhile scampered, making room for the ticket holders who quickly made themselves comfortable. A bit out of breath, Manghan Singh amazed all onlookers, by nonchalantly going about his duty.

With unpleasant incidents galore during his line of duty over the years which were best forgotten, Manghan Singh had reached the retirement age.Having attained the post of Head TTE, he was on the last lap of his duty from Ahmedabad to Abu Road where he was to be felicitated and escorted home by a distinguished gathering of Railway employees. As the train screeched to the stop at Mehsana station and he got down to stretch his legs, he was approached respectfully by an official who ploitely requested that the Honorable Member of Parliament, Shri Hasmukhbhai Patel desired his company in the first class compartment. Flattered and alarmed by the summons, he entered the compartment to see a distinguished looking individual awaiting his arrival. Seeing the Head TTE, the MP was up on his feet and with outstretched arms bade him sit by his side. In a split second, Manghan Singh placed his arrogant instigator of perhaps twenty five years hence and started to enunciate an apology, only to be cut short by the exuberance of the MP who loquaciously proceeded to regale his company about his thrashing at the hands of the Sardar Jee that had propelled him to be elected as Member of the Parliament. Amused by the unassuming admission, Manghan Singh guffawed and related the incident as his line of duty and now sincerely asked whether he could be of any service. The MP with a twinkle in his eye smiled solemnly and said " Yes Sir, I desire just another thrashing. Who knows, it may earn me the post of a Cabinet Minister".

Saint Patrick

Revered as St. Patrick"s Day, March 17 is celebrated by Christians all over the World spontaneously with parades and night long parties.

St. Patrick, known as the Apostle of Ireland became the Bishop of Ireland some time after the year 431. Many legends exist about his life including that he drove the snakes out of Ireland.

His Gospel was, CHRIST WITH ME, CHRIST BEFORE ME, CHRIST BEHIND ME, CHRIST ON MY RIGHT, CHRIST ON MY LEFT, CHRIST WHEN I LIE DOWN, CHRIST WHEN I ARISE, CHRIST IN EVERY EYE THAT SEES ME and CHRIST IN EVERY EAR THAT HEARS ME.

The Saint Marians in Mount Abu have upheld the doctrine of St. Patrick's Feast every year in true spirit.

CHETI CHAND- The Sindhi New Year

Incarnation of JHOOLEY LAAL is celebrated instinctively on CHETI CHAND, the first day of Hindu lunar month Chaitra, in Sindhi CHET in The month of March every year by the Sindhi community throughout the world.

The Hindus and Muslims in Sindh had settled down to a blissful life. The coordinations was slated to last for aeons but was marred by a sour factor. The Hindu was smitten with Muslim culture and lifestyle. The influence was remarkable that brought about conversions, inter marriages vice versa. Even GOD frowned on this absurdity. So emerged JHOOLEY LAAL as the divine savior of the Sindhi Hindu. Born in Nasarpur-Sindh to Ratan Rao Lohana and his wife Devki, he was seen in infancy as a fair and beautiful baby boy in a silver swing-cradle (jh00l0/peengho in Sindhi). In his youth he was a handsome young man having Aryan features and fair complexion who performed miraculous feats and lastly he appeared to be a stately old man with a flowing beard , seated on a fish, braving the waves of the Indus. Hence the title RIVER GOD. Presence of JHOOLEY LAAL was a catalyst that neutralized the infatuated Sindhi HINDU and subdued the romantic feelings for Muslim culture. The Hindus, at last, had some thing to concentrate on. To one and all he is also known as UDERO LAAL, AMAR LAAL and LAAL SAAEEN. A true saint whose following is gigantic having shrines all over Sindh and places of worship in Sindhi strongholds all over India.

The small Sindhi community in Mount Abu, absolutely well off in life, boasts of a JHOOLEY LAAL Temple at Shivaji Marg and CHETI CHAND is celebrated with gaiety every year with a full day activity followed by a colorful procession with song and music, carrying an effigy of the Saint that is submerged in the Nakki Lake as a tribute to RIVER GOD.

Hindu New Year- Prayer and Penance

This is the beginning of Hindu New Year with fervor and day long religious activity, lighting and fireworks by a New Year Celebration Committee in Mount Abu. The day also commemorates Vasanth/Chaitra Navratri - Spring's Nine Auspicious Nights of Prayer, Penance and Fasting dedicated to a different deity every day, by all, to appease Goddess Parvati or Gauri in the form of the Goddess Ambe Mata.

The town of Ambaji, some 45 km away from Mount Abu on the Rajasthan Gujarat border, is the seat of Ambe Maa, the Mother Goddess. Millions of devotees visit Ambaji every year especially on Poornima-Full Moon days of every month with the Bhadrapadi Poornima as the main festival that falls around September every year.

The Chaitra Navratri is celebrated in Rajasthan and Gujarat to welcome the seasonal changes and the rest of celebrations of the year and also as Gudhi Padwa in Maharashtra, Samvsar Padvo in Konkan, Ugadi in Andhra and Karnataka and the Sindhi New Year-Cheti Chand, the next day.

Gudhi Padwa is dedicated to the worship of Lord Brahma. There are interesting legends associated with the festival, the most important being that on this day the Universe was created by Lord Brahma.

Ambaji, now a religiously commercial hub, is a must visit place for all foreigners and others, visiting Mount Abu and vice versa.

Wither Indian Hockey- The Grand Plummet

The modern game of hockey grew from English Public Schools in the 19th century and the game was brought to India by British servicemen. Pioneering the Indian dribble and entering the Olympic Games in 1928 at Amsterdam, India won all the five matches it played without conceding a single goal and beat Netherlands 3-0 to win the Gold medal. The winning spree continued with dribble master Major Dhyanchand at the helm, to Olympic Golds in 1932, 1936,1948, 1952 and 1956.

While the Indian team reigned supreme Internationally, alongside hockey in Mount Abu enthralled with regular indulgence. Summer heralded the hockey season. The Polo Ground, venue of games activity every evening throbbed with friendly action packed matches and cheered at by addicted spectators. The game gathered momentum by participation of the local and upcountry teams in the Reynold's Cup and Sanghi Cup Tournaments. With local teams such as the Abu Club, Walter High School and team of artisans, Abu Green Stars and outsiders as formidable contenders, the St. Mary's High School team of teenagers spearheaded by brothers Kenny and Rodney Essai, playing with lightening speed and aided by dribble expertise of Om Prakash Sherman, a civilian teacher, retained both the trophies in Mount Abu for years.

Then alas, perhaps weighed down by the responsibility of the young republic and increased International competition, Indian hockey deteriorated within half a century and touched an all time low of 8th position in World Cup Hockey 2010 as Australia from down under emerged as the World Champion beating Germany.

Marvels in Marble

The exquisite Jain Temples,located in the village of Delwada, lend to Holy Abu an importance unprecedented in the history of a hill station and house MARVELS in MARBLE that are the finest dedication to Jainism for centuries to come. Unofficially ranked by connoisseurs as one of the Wonders of the World and second to none, these temples have a rather shabby exterior. The unimposing and concealed entrance, however, leads one into a rare world of spiritual enchantment and sculptured beauty.

The temples of white marble, are authentic specimens of Indian art and sculpture in the medieval times. Here precision and tranquility are evident as the main characteristics and more so the sculptures represent yet another significant trend. Extraordinarily rich in ornament and sculpture, the temples with rare religious affiliations reveal remarkable stylistic affinities which suggest that the artists were more concerned with the surface of marble than with the spirit behind form. For amongst the most striking features of this group of temples is the meticulous attention to details and rigidly ornate finish. Then these carvings serve a very useful purpose in the sense that they proclaim the heights which Indian workmanship could reach at a time when nothing else mattered. Thus they are lso typical of the age in which they were conceived and built.

These temples keep the modern architects wondering. It is beyond one's understandsing as to how heavy blocks of marble were brought to such a great height in the days when there were no mechanical means of transport.

The first of these temples Vimala Vasihi was built by Vimal Shah, minister to King Bhimdeo, the first Solanki ruler of Gujarat in the year 1031 A.D. This temples is dedicated to Adi Nath, the first Tirthankar-Holy Man of the Jains. The temple is oblong in shape. In the center is a huge shrine where a gigantic statue of Lord Adi Nath is installed. The approach to the shrine is through an imposing hall having twelve decoratively sculptured pillars, intricately carved arches and a dome that has a cluster of marble pendants hanging down in the center. This is easily the most beautiful section of the temple. Then all around is a a wide courtyard lined with 53 small square cells in each of which is enshrined a statue of a Tirthankar. In front of each cell is a small portico with a carved roof. All of these have elaborate reliefs, illustrating not only Jain legends but also themes from Hindu mythology. The ornamentation is a brilliant example of tileless inventiveness in the art of marble sculpture.

The second temple in order of paying homage to is the Luna Vasihi. The artistic temple was built by two famous brothers Tejpala and Vastupala, ministers to Raja Viradhavala, also a ruler of Gujarat in the year 1230 A.D..It is dedicated to Lord Nemi Nath the 22nd Tirthankar of Jains. The layout corresponds to that of the Luna Vasihi and its most striking feature is the marble pendant in the dome pf the porch. It drops from the ceiling like a cluster of half open lotus flowers whose cups are so finely wrought and carved that they appear to be almost transparent.

The third temples Pitalhar has a brass-Pital statue of Rikhab Dev weighing about 4000 kilograms and the same was installed in the year 1468 A.D. Khartar Vasihi completes the foursome and is said to be built by the artisans who worked in their leisure hours, using the left over material. The imposing three-storyed temple, with a commanding view of the surroundings is dedicated to Lord Parsava Nath the 23rd Tirthankar and is named after Khartagacha- a Swetambar Jain monk of whom the artisans were the followers.

Indian Women's Day

As a gift to the Indian women, on International Women's Day, the historic Constitution Amendment Bill, granting one third reservation to women in parliament and state legislature was passed by the Rajya Sabha after frenzied opposition and repeated disruptions by male chauvinist members. How the miscreants had been elected reeked and reflected on Indian politics and the way of life after over sixty years of freedom.

While in Mount Abu, women from all walks of life sans the down trodden, staged a play ' Hell in the Open' conceived by a local activist, perhaps in repentance as many years back he had discarded his wife. The performance, awakened convincingly but temporarily the spectators, mostly well off and modern women,while harping on female foeticide, domestic violence, dowry extortion with killings, human trafficking, child marriages,gender disparity and so on. The play ended with a vail by a visually impaired little girl, imploring her parents to allow the female fetus to survive and be born. The women of Abu said it through a play but did not pledge a rigid implementation of justifiable ideals. However, an over all redemption to women was provided by the Government of Rajasthan, by announcing free travel for them in Government Roadways Buses during the day.

The Sindhi

I have just finalized the manuscript of 'The Sindhi'. It is a memoir based on real life experiences and relates to life and upheavals faced by the Sindhi Hindu in Sindh from 7th century onwards till 1947 when entire Sindh became a part of Pakistan. The saga continues with the resettlement of the Sindhi Hindu community in India, shifting for a while to the plight of Sindhi Muslims in Pakistan.

Now begins the search for an international publisher. Wish me luck.

ICSE 2010 Exams start today

The third generation of the family,my grandson, Sahil student of class X in St Mary's High School is all set to appear for the Board exam, the first paper being English I. Its Bon Voyage to all the students attempting the crucial tryst with career. Incidentally Sahil is a mediocre and serious study has not been his cup of joy. He revels in buffoonery with a yen for computer and outdoor activities.Notwithstanding the initial drawback, he is slated to go far.