Posts Tagged ‘music’
July 28, 2015
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: Movie Memories – HATARI.
Link to my original post in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal:
http://karvediat.blogspot.in/201…HATARIThe Evergreen Wildlife Classic
Movie Memories
By
VIKRAM KARVE When I was a small boy – in the early 1960s – I lived in Pune on Tilak Road near Madiwale Colony in Sadashiv Peth.
Pune was a lovely place – and life was good.
It was easy to be happy – because our threshold of happiness was so low – that simple things filled us with joy – like a morning run up Parvati Hill – a stroll in Talyatla Ganpati Saras Baug Garden – enjoying the frolics of animals in the Peshwe Park Zoo which was then located near today’s Saras Baug – a ride in the toy-train Phulrani – unrestrained playing with carefree abandon on the swings, see-saws and slides in adjoining park – eating a yummy bhel made by the hugely bearded Kalpana Bhelwala on Parvati Chowk on Tilak Road – a cream-roll or doughnut at Ashok Bakery – Patties, Nankatai and Khari at Hindustan Bakery – Ice Cream at Bua, Kaware and Ganu Shinde – so many things to do – and once in a while – we would bicycle all the way to Pune Camp via Laxmi Road to partake the inimitable non-veg samosas and tea at Naaz, Chinese at Kamling, Paan at George – and enjoy a Hollywood Movie and “Ice Cream Soda” at West End Cinema.
Oh yes – West End – I vividly remember seeing my first ever movie sitting on those inimitable easy chairs and sipping deliciously fizzy ice cream soda in the interval at West End’s famous soda fountain.
The name of the movie was HATARI – and till today – Hatari remains my all time favourite Wild-Life Adventure Film.
A man’s first love always has an enduring place in his heart.
Likewise – a man’s first movie remains etched in his memories forever.
So – a few years ago – when I chanced upon a DVD of Hatari – I immediately brought it home – and I relived fond memories of my first movie experience – albeit with an improvised home-made icecream soda.
HATARI is sheer fun – a clean entertaining film – which can be enjoyed by people of all ages – from kids to grandparents.
It is a spectacular adventure story – fast paced, exciting, thrilling – beautifully filmed on locations with real wildlife – amidst exceptionally picturesque scenery – featuring hunting scenes which are simply astonishing.
Once you start watching Hatari – you are so engrossed – that you remain glued to the screen from start to finish.
“Hatari” – in Swahili – means Danger – and true to its name – the movie keeps you enthralled with a sense of mesmerizing danger – as you watch the amazing hunting scenes featuring speeding jeeps, stampeding animals and the rugged African terrain.
Everything looks real and authentic – real animals, giraffes, leopards, elephants – and many others – in their pristine glory and natural surroundings – like you have never seen them before.
Hatari is a simple story of a group of hunters in Africa – led by the inimitable John Wayne – who capture wild animals for zoos.
The movie begins with a fantastic scene showing John Wayne and his team driving speeding jeeps and trucks across the empty, dusty plains, herding dozens of rhinos, trying to lasso one of the most difficult wild animals to catch.
It is sheer spine-tingling thrilling entertainment.
Hatari has those rare, pleasant, naturally authentic settings – clear easy-on-the-eye photography – interesting happenings and gripping action – which we do not see nowadays – in modern adventure films – which often overtax the viewer’s senses – by having too many “special effects”.
Hatari’s simple plot – the camaraderie – the light romance – the subtle comedy – the delightful music (especially the foot tapping number “Baby Elephant Walk”) – the visually enthralling scenery – and the fascinating animals – make this film a thoroughly enjoyable viewing experience.
Hatari is a fun movie – pure entertainment – a visual treat with beautiful eye catching landscape – and plenty of thrilling action – the ideal feel-good movie for you to enjoy with your entire family.
VIKRAM KARVECopyright © Vikram Karve
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.This movie review written by me in the year 2009 and posted online earlier by me at urls:
http://vikramwamankarve.blogspot… and
http://creative.sulekha.com/hata… and
http://karvediat.blogspot.in/201… and
http://karvediat.blogspot.in/201… Now Re- Posted by
Vikram Karve at
7/29/2015 12:29:00 AM
Posted in film, memoir, movie, poona, pune, review, romance, writer, writing | Tags: adventure, baby elephant walk, children, film, hatari, movie, music, story, wild life |
September 22, 2014
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: “REQUIEM” FOR A SIMPLE HONEST PATRIOTIC SOLDIER ON HIS 6th DEATH ANNIVERSARY – OBITUARY – In Remembrance of Brigadier Pratap Dattatraya Joshi (6.3.1932 – 22.9.2008).
Click the link above to read the blog post in my academic and creative writing journal.
Article also posted below for your convenience:
“REQUIEM” FOR A SIMPLE HONEST PATRIOTIC SOLDIER ON HIS DEATH ANNIVERSARY
Link to my original post in my academic and creative writing journal:
http://karvediat.blogspot.in/201…
OBITUARY – In Remembrance of Brigadier Pratap Dattatraya Joshi (6.3.1932 – 22.9.2008)
Today is the 22nd of September 2014 – the sixth death anniversary of my late father-in-law Brigadier Pratap Dattatraya Joshi who we affectionately called “Daddy“.
How time flies!
He passed away in the early hours of 22 September 2008.
Six years have passed since the inimitable Pratap Dattatraya Joshi left for his heavenly abode.
Lest we forget him, on this day, his 6th death anniversary, let me sound the “Last Post” once again.
As a token of my remembrance, here is the obituary LAST POST I wrote for him when he left us for his heavenly abode on the 22nd of September 2008.
LAST POST
Obituary
Brigadier Pratap Dattatraya Joshi (6.3.1932 – 22.9.2008)
In the early hours of the 22nd of September 2008, Pratap Dattatraya Joshi, breathed his last, and departed for his heavenly abode, at the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune.
Pratap Joshi was an epitome of simple living and high thinking.
Born on the 6th of March 1932, he imbibed sterling values from his father, DP Joshi, a Teacher and Scout, a legend in his lifetime.
Brigadier PD Joshi was a product of the prestigious First Course of the National Defence Academy (NDA – or 1st JSW, as he liked to call it, then located in Dehradun).
Brigadier PD Joshi was certainly not the archetypal pompous hard-drinking handlebar-moustachioed high-falutin “Colonel Blimp” type of Army Officer.
He was not an elitist snob, but a simple honest patriotic professional who believed in grassroot soldiering.
He was a simple, down-to-earth, Spartan, unassuming, dedicated, sincere, patriotic, scrupulously honest, erudite person possessing a golden heart filled with humility and compassion.
Throughout his distinguished career spanning 37 years, and even thereafter, he spread happiness, benevolence and goodwill owing to his cheerful disposition, kind-hearted nature and inimitable sense of humour.
Forever young at heart, Pratap Joshi did not suffer from the Auld Lang SyneComplex.
After retirement, unlike most retired “faujis”, he never lived in the past, languishing and brooding about the “good old days”, but he moved on with exceptional enthusiasm and childlike zeal to his new loves – music and social work.
Starting from the scratch, he studied classical music with sheer dedication, resolute grit and passionate zest for many years till he was bestowed with the prestigious post graduate degree of Sangeet Alankar.
Then he taught music to one and all, free of cost, making special efforts to teach the needy and underprivileged.
Travelling extensively, and roughing it out in the heart of the mofussil, to rural and far flung regions, he made a significant social contribution to enhancing primary education in backward areas, as the Chief Trustee of the Natu Foundation Educational Trust.
He eagerly contributed his expertise to Jnana Prabodhini and for improving the efficiency of Hospitals.
Pratap Joshi loved animals, especially dogs.
He always had pet dogs, and showered his unconditional love on them and all the dogs that he came across in the neighbourhood, pet and stray.
It was distressing to see Dolly desperately searching for him soon after he had gone away from us forever.
We shall always remember the love with which he snuggled and cuddled Sherry, our pet dog, a “Doberman-X” girl, when she was a baby.
He had a genuine zest for living, and enjoyed every moment of his life, indulging himself in his favourite foods, movies, travel, music – anything he liked, he did it!
He laughed, and made others laugh.
I first met Pratap Joshi in March 1982 and he left such a lasting impression on me that I became his fan ever since.
He was my father-in-law, more like a loving father who I could count on to stand by me, advise and inspire me, in happiness and in adversity, and I shall forever cherish every moment I shared with him.
My son, a seafarer, was his favourite grandchild, the apple of his eye.
It was a pity he could not be with his beloved grandfather during his last moments as he is sailing on the high seas.
Such are the tragedies and travesties of life, and death.
We will miss you dearly “Daddy”.
You lived your life to its fullest and loved all of us from the bottom of your heart.
We are sure you will shower us with your blessings from your heavenly abode.
You were a noble and virtuous man who always did good to everyone you met and wherever you went.
Pratap Dattatraya Joshi (6.3.1932 – 22.9.2008) – RIP.
May His Soul Rest in Peace.
VIKRAM KARVE
Obituary First Posted on 22 September 2008 in my Blog at url link:http://karvediat.blogspot.in/200…
Posted in blog, dog, india, indian, memoir, poona, pune | Tags: armed forces, army, army service corps, asc, blog, brigadier, career, death, deccan gymkhana, defence, dehradun, family, ima, Indian Military Academy, job, joint services wing, jsw, life, memoir, military, music, national defence academy, nda, obit, obituary, officer, officer like qualities, olq, pune, relationship, requiem, retirement, services, social work, writing |
March 6, 2013
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: LAST POST IN REMEMBRANCE OF A SIMPLE LOVING HONEST SOLDIER.
Click the link above to read the original post in my journal.
Also posted below for your convenience.
LAST POST IN REMEMBRANCE OF A SIMPLE LOVING HONEST SOLDIER
Today is the 6th of March – the birthday of my late father-in-law Brigadier Pratap Dattatraya Joshi who we affectionately called Daddy.
How time flies!
He passed away in the early hours of 22 September 2008.
Four years have passed since the inimitable Pratap Dattatraya Joshi left for his heavenly abode.
Lest we forget him, before I go to sleep, let me sound the “Last Post” once again.
As a token of my remembrance, here is the obituary LAST POST I wrote for him when he left us for his heavenly abode on the 22nd of September 2008.
Pratap Dattatraya Joshi (6.3.1932 – 22.9.2008)
In the early hours of the 22nd of September 2008, Pratap Dattatraya Joshi, breathed his last, and departed for his heavenly abode, at the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune.
Pratap Joshi was an epitome of simple living and high thinking. Born on the 6th of March 1932, he imbibed sterling values from his father, DP Joshi, a Teacher and Scout, a legend in his lifetime.
A product of the prestigious First Course of the National Defence Academy (or 1st JSW, as he liked to call it), Brigadier PD Joshi was certainly not the archetypal pompous hard-drinking handlebar-moustachioed high-falutin Colonel Blimp type of Officer.
He was a simple, down-to-earth, Spartan, unassuming, dedicated, sincere, patriotic, scrupulously honest, erudite person possessing a golden heart filled with humility and compassion.
Throughout his distinguished career spanning 37 years, and even thereafter, he spread happiness, benevolence and goodwill owing to his cheerful disposition, kind-hearted nature and inimitable sense of humour.
Forever young at heart, Pratap Joshi did not suffer from the Auld Lang Syne Complex.
After retirement, unlike most retired armymen, he never lived in the past, languishing and brooding about the “good old days”, but moved on with exceptional enthusiasm and childlike zeal to his new loves – music and social work.
Starting from the scratch, he studied classical music with sheer dedication, resolute grit and passionate zest for many years till he was bestowed with the prestigious post graduate degree of Sangeet Alankar. Then he taught music to one and all, free of cost, making special efforts to teach the needy and underprivileged.
Travelling extensively, and roughing it out in the heart of the mofussil, to rural and far flung regions, he made a significant social contribution to enhancing primary education in backward areas, as the Chief Trustee of the Natu Foundation Educational Trust. He eagerly contributed his expertise to Jnana Prabodhini and for improving the efficiency of Hospitals.
Pratap Joshi loved animals, especially dogs.
He always had pet dogs, and showered his unconditional love on them and all the dogs that he came across in the neighbourhood, pet and stray.
It was distressing to see Dolly desperately searching for him soon after he had gone away from us forever.
We shall always remember the love with which he snuggled and cuddled Sherry, our Doberman girl, when she was a baby.
He had a genuine zest for living, and enjoyed every moment of his life, indulging himself in his favourite foods, movies, travel, music – anything he liked, he did it! He laughed, and made others laugh.
I first met Pratap Joshi in March 1982 and he left such a lasting impression on me that I became his fan ever since.
He was my father-in-law, more like a loving father who I could count on to stand by me, advise and inspire me, in happiness and in adversity, and I shall forever cherish every moment I shared with him.
My son, a seafarer, was his favourite grandchild, the apple of his eye.
It was a pity he couldn’t be with his beloved grandfather during his last moments as he is sailing on the high seas.
Such are the tragedies and travesties of life, and death.
We will miss you dearly “Daddy”.
You lived your life to its fullest and loved all of us from the bottom of your heart.
We are sure you will shower us with your blessings from your heavenly abode.
You were a noble and virtuous man who always did good to everyone you met and wherever you went.
Pratap Dattatraya Joshi (6.3.1932 – 22.9.2008) – RIP.
May Your Soul Rest in Peace.
Posted in blog, blogger, education, ethics, karve, life, memoir, musing, sherry, story, vikram, vikram karve, vikram waman karve | Tags: academy, army, army service corps, asc, blog, blogger, blogging, charity, death, defence, dog, education, ima, india, indian, jsw, life, love, memoir, military, music, nda, obituary, officer, pune, relationship, story, work, writing |
April 13, 2012
Click the link below and read the article in my journal
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: WHY PARENTS WANT SONS, NOT DAUGHTERS – GIRL CHILD – PARKI THAPAN – PARAYA DHAN – Dikri To Parki Thapan Kahevay.
Click the link above and read the article in my journal and hear the lovely song by Lata Mangeshkar from the Gujarati Film Parki Thapan (1978)
Posted in blog, career, chic lit, india, indian, karve, life, love, management, marathi, marriage, married, mother, movie, mumbai, non-fiction, poona, pregnancy, pune, romance, symbiosis, values, vikram, vikram karve, vikram waman karve, women, writing | Tags: arranged, bias, blog, boy, children, culture, custom, dating, daughter, dowry, family, film, gender, girl, gujarat, gujarati, husband, india, indian, internet, jamnagar, karve, life, love, marriage, married, matrimonial, matrimony, movie, music, online, paraya dhan, parent, parenting, parki thapan, property, pune, relationship, social, society, song, tradition, values, video, vikram, vikram karve, wife, women |
March 25, 2012
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: CAST PEARLS BEFORE SWINE.
ARE YOU CASTING PEARLS BEFORE SWINE ?
Musings
By
VIKRAM KARVE
When I was in school our Literature Teacher would often yell at us: “I Am Casting Pearls Before Swine”.
I did not quite understand her anguish then, but now, I can fully empathize with her when I too sometimes feel the same way when my creative writing is not appreciated.
The idiom CAST PEARLS BEFORE SWINE means to offer something good to somebody who cannot appreciate the value of it.
Yes, if you cast pearls before swine, you offer something of value to someone who doesn’t appreciate it and does not understand its value (swine means pigs).
Now, I was wondering, how do you translate this phrase “I AM CASTING PEARLS BEFORE SWINE” into Hindi?
I suddenly remembered a blog post I had written a few months ago titled
अन्धो के शहर में आइने बेच रहा हूँ – I think this Hindi Phrase expresses the same sentiment as the English Idiom: I AM CASTING PEARLS BEFORE SWINE
The link of the blog post is given below, and for your convenience I have also reposted the blog post below the link for you to read:
This evening while surfing channels I watched a program on Zee Classic Television Channel called Classic Legends hosted by Javed Akhtar on the life of the famous poet and lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri.
Javed Akhtar narrated an incident and a quote ( शेर ) by Majrooh Sultanpuri which I will never forget. Javed Akhtar met Majrooh Sultanpuri in the evening of his life and asked him how he was, to which the poet replied:
अन्धो के शहर में आइने बेच रहा हूँ
which roughly translated means:
I AM SELLING MIRRORS IN THE CITY OF THE BLIND
This quote is still perambulating in my mind and the more I delve on it I realize how profound these words are, especially for a creative writer whose work is not appreciated.
So whenever my novel manuscript is returned by a publisher with a rejection letter, I am going to console myself: अन्धो के शहर में आइने बेच रहा हूँ
Isn’t this a nice philosophy for creative persons and artists to adopt rather than get frustrated when their work is not appreciated? Much better than self-pity and doing harmful things like drowning your sorrows in drink, isn’t it?
Dear fellow creative writers, ask yourself: “Are you casting your pearls before swine?”
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and he is currently working on his novel. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse – his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Posted in author, creative, ethics, happiness, humor, karve, literature, non-fiction, philosophy, technology, vikram, vikram karve, vikram waman karve, weblog, writer, writing | Tags: actor, akhtar, art, artist, author, blog, blogger, blogging, bollywood, channel, classic, cocktail, creative, dating, director, failure, fiction, film, hindi, hollywood, humor, india, indian, javed, karve, legend, legends, life, literary, literature, majrooh, movie, mumbai, music, person, philosophy, poem, poetry, pune, relationship, relationships, romance, show, stories, story, success, sultanpuri, tv, urdu, vikram, vikram karve, work, writer, writing, z, zee |
October 21, 2011
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: DRINKING ALCOHOL – GOLDEN RULE No. 1.
The Golden Rule of Drinking Alcohol
Never Drink when you Need a Drink
By
VIKRAM KARVE
DRINKING ALCOHOL – GOLDEN RULE No. 1
One evening a friend of mine landed up at my place and said, “I’ve had a really terrible day at work. I need a drink.”
“I’ll get you a cup of tea,” I said.
“Tea…?” he exclaimed astounded, “haven’t you got some whiskey or something…I told you I’m feeling terrible…everything went wrong today…I desperately need a drink…”
“I know you are dying for a drink, craving, yearning, thirsting for that “soothing” sip of alcohol. That’s why you must not drink now. You must never drink when you need a drink,” I said.
My friend pleaded but I didn’t budge and gave him a cup of tea which he drank with great reluctance, and then he walked off in a huff, calling me all sorts of names. He said that I was a miser, a “good for nothing” friend, but I knew I had done the right thing.
Don’t drink when you need a drink.
Yes, don’t drink when you want that drink.
Don’t touch a drop of alcohol when your mind or body craves for alcohol.
Sounds funny isn’t it…?
Let me try to elucidate.
Never drink when you need a drink.
Don’t touch the bottle when you are feeling any negative emotion like despondency, sadness, anger, irritation, envy, unhappiness, frustration, emotional pain, bad moods, down in the dumps feeling, or any negative vibes for the bottle will “unbottle” and release your pent up negative emotions and make you feel even more miserable and also spoil the mood of all those around you.
Let me tell you something I have observed in real life.
If you want to know the true character of a man, just get him drunk and what is hidden inside him will come out and his true inner self will be revealed.
Alcohol opens you up. That’s what alcohol does, isn’t it…?
Alcohol reduces inhibitions, makes you more talkative, more expansive and more expressive, loosens you up, and helps release, bring out and amplify your inner emotions, talents, passions, sentiments.
That’s why some persons become more creative after imbibing a drink or two since alcohol unleashes your inhibitions and releases the music, the poetry, the creativity hidden within you.
If you are happy inside, after a few drinks you will start physically expressing your happiness boisterously and outwardly by laughing, cheer and bonhomie.
In high spirits, you may even articulate your secret unexpressed love, become amorous, romantic, try to realize your hidden desires and reveal without compunctions your inner secrets which otherwise you would never disclose when sober.
But the converse is also true.
By reducing inhibitions, alcohol may bring out the worst in you by facilitating therelease of pent up negative emotions like anger, envy, dejection, despondency, frustration and these unleashed amplified negative emotions may result in undesirable, unpleasant and even disastrous consequences.
Have you noticed how some people get violent, argumentative, rude or even melancholic, moody, sullen, depressed, unsociable after a few drinks…?
Dear Reader, in my opinion, the best thing is to be a teetotaler and not to have a drink at all, but if you must have a drink please do make sure that you are feeling positive vibes and are peaceful and happy inside and never drink when you desperately “need” that drink. Yes, do not touch alcohol when you are feeling depressed or low or angry or have negative emotions.
Remember this golden rule – If you must drink, always drink when you are happy, in good cheer and full of positive vibes.
Remember: Never drink when you need a drink.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2011
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Did you like this story?
I am sure you will like the stories in my recently published book COCKTAIL comprising twenty seven short stories about relationships. To order the book please click the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-8191091844?affid=nme
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-karve.html
COCKTAIL ebook
If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the link below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925
About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and he is currently working on his novel. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 14 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse – his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Posted in addiction, alcoholism, author, blog, blogger, career, children, creative, dating, desires, drinking, eating, food, Food and drink, food blog, happiness, health, Health and wellness, humor, karve, leisure, life, love, management, non-fiction, pune, stories, story, symbiosis, vikram, vikram karve, vikram waman karve, writer, writing | Tags: addiction, alcohol, alcoholic, alcoholism, author, bar, beer, behavior, binge, blog, blogger, blogging, book, career, coach, cocktail, craving, creative, creativity, date, dating, dependence, desire, discord, divorce, drink, drinking, drunk, ebook, emotion, family, feeling, food, fun, guide, hangover, happiness, happy, health, india, indian, inhibition, karve, leisure, life, lifestyle, liquor, management, marital, marriage, mentor, mood, music, party, problem, pub, pune, recipe, romance, rum, sex, social, spouse, stories, student, tea, teen, vibe, vibes, vikram, vikram karve, violence, whisky, wine, women, writing, youth |
September 24, 2011
Posted in vikram karve, writing | Tags: army, asc, blog, boy, brigadier, cadet, death, deccan, dehra dun, dog, gymkhana, ima, india, indian, joshi, jsw, karve, kuti, life, love, music, nda, obit, obituary, pd, pet, pratap, pune, relationship, relationships, scout, sherry, social, vikram, work |
March 6, 2011
DADDY – A Life Well Lived.
Today the 6th of March was the Birthday of my father-in-law who we affectionately called Daddy. He passed away on 22 September 2008 and we shall always remember him.
As a token of my remembrance, here is the obituary “Last Post” I wrote on the 22nd of September 2008.
LAST POST
Obituary – Pratap Dattatraya Joshi [6.3.1932 – 22.9.2008]
In the early hours of the 22nd of September 2008, Pratap Dattatraya Joshi, breathed his last, and departed for his heavenly abode, at the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune.
Pratap Joshi was an epitome of simple living and high thinking. Born on the 6th of March 1932, he imbibed sterling values from his father, DP Joshi, a Teacher and Scout, a legend in his lifetime.
A product of the prestigious First Course of the National Defence Academy [or 1st JSW, as he liked to call it], Brigadier PD Joshi was certainly not the archetypal pompous hard-drinking handlebar-moustached high-falutin Colonel Blimp type of Officer. He was a simple, down-to-earth, Spartan, unassuming, dedicated, sincere, patriotic, scrupulously honest, erudite person possessing a golden heart filled with humility and compassion. Throughout his distinguished career spanning 37 years, and even thereafter, he spread happiness, benevolence and goodwill owing to his cheerful disposition, kind-hearted nature and inimitable sense of humour.
Forever young at heart, Pratap Joshi did not suffer from the Auld Lang Syne Complex. After retirement, unlike most retired armymen, he never lived in the past, languishing and brooding about the “good old days”, but moved on with exceptional enthusiasm and childlike zeal to his new loves – music and social work.
Starting from the scratch, he studied classical music with sheer dedication, resolute grit and passionate zest for many years till he was bestowed with the prestigious post graduate degree of Sangeet Alankar. Then he taught music to one and all, free of cost, making special efforts to teach the needy and underprivileged.
Travelling extensively, and roughing it out in the heart of the mofussil, to rural and far flung regions, he made a significant social contribution to enhancing primary education in backward areas, as the Chief Trustee of the Natu Foundation Educational Trust. He eagerly contributed his expertise to Jnana Prabodhini and for improving the efficiency of Hospitals.
Pratap Joshi loved animals, especially dogs. He always had pet dogs, and showered his unconditional love on them and all the dogs that he came across in the neighbourhood, pet and stray. It was distressing to see Dolly desperately searching for him soon after he had gone away from us forever. We shall always remember the love with which he snuggled and cuddled Sherry, our Doberman girl, when she was a baby.
He had a genuine zest for living, and enjoyed every moment of his life, indulging himself in his favourite foods, movies, travel, music – anything he liked, he did it! He laughed, and made others laugh.
I first met Pratap Joshi in March 1982 and he left such a lasting impression on me that I became his fan ever since. He was my father-in-law, more like a loving father who I could count on to stand by me, advise and inspire me, in happiness and in adversity, and I shall forever cherish every moment I shared with him. My son, a seafarer, was his favourite grandchild, the apple of his eye. It was a pity he couldn’t be with his beloved grandfather during his last moments as he is sailing on the high seas. Such are the tragedies and travesties of life, and death.
We will miss you dearly “Daddy”. You lived your life to its fullest and loved all of us from the bottom of your heart. We are sure you will shower us with your blessings from your heavenly abode. You were a noble and virtuous man who always did good to everyone you met and wherever you went. May your Soul Rest in Peace.
VIKRAM KARVE
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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December 27, 2010
THE KEY TO HAPPINESS.
This evening while driving back home to Girinagar from Pune, I tuned in to Radio City and there was a programme called Return Ticket and I was delighted to hear a great selection of melodious old hindi film songs of Rafi, Lata, Mukesh and Kishore.
I felt happy, very happy.
Just hearing good music can make you happy.
Small things can make you happy, as long as you keep your threshold of happiness low.
Yes, the key to happiness is keeping your pleasures mild.
Posted in art of living, author, blog, blogger, blogging, children, ethics, happiness, india, karve, love, non-fiction, pune, story, stress, technology, television, vikram, vikram karve, writer, writing | Tags: author, blog, blogger, blogging, coach, creative, happiness, health, help, india, karve, life, mentor, music, pune, romance, self, trainer, training, vikram, vikram karve, writer, writing |
November 8, 2010
BOOK SELLERS and BOOK LOVERS
SHOULD BOOK SELLERS BE BOOK LOVERS
Musings of a Book Lover
By
VIKRAM KARVE
There was a time when booksellers were booklovers.
Running a bookstore was more a labour of love rather than a business.
Yes, I am sure the enterprise had to be financially viable, and one could not ignore the bottom-line, but bookselling was not limited to trading and, surely, profit was not the only motive. Booksellers were passionate about books and fostered the love of reading in their customers, discussing, encouraging, advising, and suggesting good books.
If you have visited The Strand Book Stall at Fort in Mumbai, you will understand what I mean. Every visit was fruitful and their annual Strand Book Festival held for a fortnight in January every year at the Sunderbai Hall near Churchgate was a treat for booklovers and I have picked up some wonderful rare books at bargain prices. In fact, when I lived the most glorious years of my life at Churchgate in Mumbai, I used to visit the Strand Book Festival every evening after my walk on Marine Drive as they used to get fresh books every day.
Booksellers went out of their way to get books for you.
A friend of mine once wanted a rare book on numismatics. We happened to be strolling on DN Road near Mumbai CST in Fort so I took him to Sterling Book House (another favourite bookstore of mine, especially for technical, management and shippie books). Jimmy assured us he would get the book, and to our incredulous delight he indeed did – he located a copy in Kolkata and got it for us.
Such was the relationship between a bookseller and a booklover – it transcended beyond a mere buying-selling relationship. I have had rewarding experiences at so many bookstores – Manneys, Popular and International Book Service in Pune, Higginbotham’s at Chennai (Madras), Bangalore and Ooty, Mumbai’s Strand, Sterling, Smokers Corner and unique The New and Secondhand Book Store at Kalbadevi and even at the pavement bookstalls near Hutatma Chowk (Fountain) in Mumbai, and way back in the late 1960s at the quaint London Book Depot at BI Bazar in Bareilly who used to get for us any book we wanted. In fact, in many smaller mofussil towns, the main bookstore is an institution, a gateway to knowledge and learning.
However, these old-world bookstores did not offer much of a browsing experience. One had to stand uncomfortably cramped between bookshelves and it was quite uncomfortable to read.
Therefore, I was quite delighted when Crossword Bookstore opened near Mahalaxmi in Mumbai (above Motilal Banarsidass – the indology bookstore).
The new Crossword Book Store encouraged browsing and you could sit in relaxed comfort and browse to your heart’s content.
Then Oxford Book Store opened right next door to my home in Empress Court near Churchgate. It was the ultimate in browsing experience. Comfortable rocking chairs, a Cha Bar to refresh yourself with exquisite teas and wonderful ambience – I spent some of the best moments of my life browsing in Oxford, and attending literary events, book readings and launces too. The bookstore was open from ten to ten so you could browse books the entire day and enjoy a peaceful after-dinner browse too and wifey could keep an observant eye on you from the balcony in order to ensure you were strictly browsing books.
In Pune, I browse in Landmark in Camp and sometimes at Crossword, but I suspect they have decided to discourage browsing from the subtle seating changes they have made recently.
I love books. I love browsing books. I like to see a book, pick it up in my hands, read it a bit, feel it, before I decide to buy it. That’s why I don’t prefer to buy books online through flipkart, amazon or indiaplaza, which is very convenient, but still I like to physically go to a bookstore, because I must have the browsing experience before buying a book.
I love investing in good books and over the years the only “wealth” I have acquired is my substantial collection of books – books on diverse topics – fiction, philosophy, management, classics, self help, food, travel, technology, hobbies, creative writing – some of my books are quite rare. I have observed that many persons do not treat books as wealth, so they borrow books and do not bother to return them. I have lost quite a few good books this way and I do try to re-acquire some of my favourite ones whenever possible.
Therefore, when a friend of mine gifted me Crossword Bookstore Gift Vouchers I visited the Crossword Bookstore at ICC Trade Towers on Senapati Bapat Road in Pune to get three of my favourite books that once adorned my bookshelves and were borrowed and never returned.
I like Crossword Bookstores, and, as I said, I have spent many delightful hours browsing in Crossword at Kemps Corner Mumbai and attending Book Launches and literary events too, so I was truly shocked and disappointed at the shabby way in which I was treated at Crossword in Pune last Wednesday afternoon.
As I entered, I observed that the salespersons seemed disinterested, busy at doing something else like arranging books etc, there was no one at the counter, and it took me considerable time to attract the attention of a salesperson.
I asked for a book. It is a famous book – a Pulitzer Prize winner and a bestseller. The salesperson was clueless and had never heard of this book. After I spelt out the title and author’s name, he checked on his monitor and rudely told me the book was not available. “Could you please get it for me?” I asked politely. “No,” he said nonchalantly and started walking away. I called him, aksed for a second book, another classic. He reluctantly checked and told me it was not available. I wanted to ask about a third book, but seeing the expression on his face, clearly indicating he had more important things to do than attend to a customer, I decided to leave the bookstore.
I was stunned the way the staff at Crossword treated me. Forget about customer delight, the customer service was so pathetic that it seemed that the salespersons at Crossword were just not interested in getting me the book. They were clueless about the book and obviously had no knowledge of books, let alone considering bookselling as a labour of love. They were just doing a job, and not very effectively too.
I came home and opened the Crossword Bookstore website, tried to search for the books, I was taken to Shoppers Stop website, where I sent an email query and I am still waiting for the reply. Considering the vast chain of Crossword Book Stores and their networked database, I am sure, if they want to, Crossword Pune can easily get me the books I want. I wish they treated a customer like a king…?
Looks like I will have to return the Crossword Gift Vouchers to my friend and scout some old world book stores for the books I want, or maybe I’ll try my luck with the pavement booksellers, or maybe I’ll eat my words and order the books online via Flipkart or Amazon or Indiaplaza.
Dear Reader, please tell me your views – should booksellers be booklovers…?
Or has bookselling become a plain and simple trading business like selling groceries…?
VIKRAM KARVE
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
VIKRAM KARVE educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU, Lawrence School Lovedale, and Bishop’s School Pune, is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, a Human Resource Manager and Trainer by occupation, a Teacher by vocation, a Creative Writer by inclination and a Foodie by passion. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. His delicious foodie blogs have been compiled in a book “Appetite for a Stroll”. Vikram lives in Pune with his family and pet Doberman girl Sherry, with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog – http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com
Academic Journal Vikram Karve – http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile of Vikram Karve – http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Foodie Book APPETITE FOR A STROLL – http://books.sulekha.com/book/appetite-for-a-stroll/default.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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Vikram Karve 