Interactions in National Capital of Delhi

Interactions in National Capital of Delhi

As i visited New Delhi railway station, second time in a fortnight, announcements were being made for different trains and their height. Guwahati Rajdhani delayed by three hours 15 minutes. EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) train from Ghaziabad to Shakur Basti arriving on Platform 10, EMU to Ghaziabad available on PF 14, train number 12305 Howrah Rajdhani arriving on PF 16. Mr Vishram along with other two porters carry the luggage and taxi man Mr Raj Kumar who drops us in Safdarjung Enclave. Not to be missed platforms 15 and 16 were neat and clean. Kudos to Indian Railways.

Interactions in recent months in National Capital of  Delhi have been varied and enterprising. Meet Mr V Sengovidan who hails from Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu State in Sector 3 R K Puram. Meet Mr Surendar Singh of Mother Dairy Green Park, meet vegetable vendor Mr Ram Surat. Meet Mr B K Garg of Green Park. Meet Mr Ashok Yadav at Safdarjung Enclave Post Office. Meet Mr Madan Pal security guard at State Bank of India Green Park who is very helpful. Meet Mr Pandey at Safdarjung Enclave, Meet Mr Mohammad Arif Hindi Hons student of Motilal Nehru College in Delhi University, meet Mr Badri of R K Puram, meet Mr Prem Chander seeking directions to BSES Office (Electricity Office). Meet Mr Luv Kumar at DLTA Stadium who hails from Gwalior, meet Mr Rampur Meena from Jaipur in Rajasthan, meet Mr Kavin from Canada. We talk about Quebec the province in Canada. Meet two students of class 11 of Lal Bahadur Shastri School R K Puram. Meet two students from North East. Meet Mr Ashok Gupta sock seller endlessly waiting for customers in Yusuf Sarai area in New Delhi. Meet Mr Hansraj Parikh who walks with a stick and needs some sort of help to cross the road.

On another day on another outing while going through Deer Park in Safdarjung Enclave came across different set of people. Meet Mr Bhatia who is old enough and can walk with a stick. Meet Mr Upadhyay, meet Mr Shyam from Manipur, meet Mr Gautam who emerges from a house in Safdarjung Enclave and i don't miss an opportunity to praise his moustache, meet Mr Amilal. As i reached Lord Venkateswara temple in Sector 3 R K Puram in New Delhi meet Mr Madhavan from Chennai, meet Mr Karan in the same temple. Later meet Ashish Kumar Class 9th student of LBS School R K Puram.

Meet three boys hailing from minority section Abdullah (12 years old), Anas (12), Umar (11) studying in Madrasa Talim Ul Uran. It was a wonderful experience interacting with them. Meet Mr Chander Jain along with daughter Lavisha Jain who is mindful of hazards of speaking on phone while driving. Meet Mr Shadi Lal in R K Puram, meet Mr Noor Mohammad. In ST. Thomas Church in R K Puram meet Mr Rajan. Meet Mr Hari Shankar Shukla in Safdarjung Enclave. On another day meet tailor Mr Baldev in Central market Safdarjung Enclave, meet Mr Nimai who repairs watch in the same market. Meet vegetable vendor Mr Kamlesh and expressions from his face suggest he has to really work hard to earn his living. Interactions with all of them bordered on hope and aspiration and a chance encounter to bring smile on their face. Though we come from varied background we are all one was the underlying message.


The ride to Badarpur in Delhi

Take bus number 544 at 11.08 am. South Extension comes at 11.40, August Kranti Marg 11.40, 11.44 Siri Fort Road, 11.45 Gargi College, 12.01 Birla Vidya Niketan School, 12.05 Ambedkar Nagar Bus Terminal. I deboard here. Meet Coconut Vendor Mr Manish, meet newspaper vendor Mr Rajinder Chauhan who is at his job from 6 am to 2 pm every day. Meet Mr Sanjeev Kumar of Delhi going to Sangam Vihar. Take another bus at 12.23. Go past Signal Training School Border Security Force. Reach Badarpur at 12.43. Meet Mr Rakesh water cart vendor from Supaul in  Bihar State. Meet Mr Devraj Kumar from Supaul Bihar another water cart vendor. As i take metro to reach Sarojini Nagar Metro Station, i meet three students from Mizoram studying in Delhi University.

Came across Mr Aakar Patel's piece on NGOs in Asian Age newspaper. He wrote about young bright minds who get swayed by the work the NGOs do and thus they relate to them well despite low salaries and in an environment where political apparatus is arrogant. The piece on 6000 getting second chance at education in HT by Fareeha Iftikhar was good.

The Roshan Dilli episode beamed on March 29 on NDTV 24X7 bordered on techno driven variables vis-a-vis mundane content and yet insightful on Madanpur Khadar episode beamed the previous week. The Roshan Dilli episode this time carried the essence of changing the mindset of men towards women and deliver the much desirable respect to women force. This endeavour from NDTV talks on the need for well lit roads across Delhi and beyond. Best wishes to all of them.

It is high time electric buses are introduced in large numbers in National Capital of Delhi and they replace CNG buses. The city of Bengaluru already has electric buses in large numbers. It is high time water recycling plants are installed in large numbers in Delhi


What's happening in Cayman Islands no one knows.

Elections and Equations in India

Election season with moolah fusion in India

It would require persuasive skills from different quarters to prod voters to reach polling station. Perhaps a low turnout seems to be in the offing given the dull mood in the election cabin. Or is it other way round? Voters are tired of promises from political parties election premises as they have shrunk like Antarctica ice slices. Never in the history of elections in India has moolah taken such a swing as in this one and gained not that desirable inspirational wing.

Cash doles are being offered in an election season in India that will wipe out exchequer coffer. Cash is something that is being offered on table that will entice voters who are being viewed through prism as if they are saleable. Minimum income plan 'NYAY' (promising rs 72,000 a year ; From where on earth you are going to get 72,000 rs for 20 per cent of the population ) at present or provision of rs 15 lakh bonanza in the past are fraught with dire consequences as it will hit growth and make financial prudence by no means bloat. Some are flashing this sign that this is a make or break election as it will spread the essence of having a well spread education. Elections will come and go, this is by no means an election to salvage/save a nation as nation is well on its path of having an aura of invincibility and creative creation.

Minimum Income Plan 'NYAY' or in the heyday of 2014 depositing 15 lakh in every bank account are meant to play havoc with country's finance. Mind you no force on earth will be timid enough to tolerate attempts to sabotage financial imprint/integrity.

Some are seeking attempt to contest from two seats as they fear their fiefdom can well throw up a surprise heat. Gen next sons and daughters are seeking to place themselves on poll firmament despite financial taint tailing them and voters who won't hesitate to not yield and bend. Sons and daughters arriving from political family and other stalwarts will spend millions to woo voters; they won't shy away from enlisting cash quota hooters. The Oppositions wants to bake the ruling party by delivering consistent criticism on GDP growth rate to very much bring air strike jingoism a much-needed brake. Rebels are here to stay, fight with prudence and with no feet of clay. Pakistan figures more in news channel debates as if retweets from Islamabad seeks to please section of political class who occasionally play the minority card.

How any formation would cobble up something beyond 250 is hard to guess and to reach real and not imaginary 272 mark would be an uphill task. For polls to be fair and free from violence would call up for vigilantism of high order and sense. Some would struggle quite wisely to reach single figure mark, some struggling to reach double figure mark and some struggling to reach three figure mark, knowing fully well the road to paradise has its moment of surprise.

What's happening in Cayman Islands no one knows.

Leaving Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh State for Delhi; Watching Roshan Dilli Series

Leaving Ujjain for Delhi; Watching Roshan Dilli Series on NDTV Channel

As stated earlier i used to recite Sunderkand whenever i used to visit Lord Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain in the morning. Besides staying in two places, Hotel Neha Palace and Hotel Chintaman Palace, much of the time was invested in taking a walk through different areas in Ujjain. It was Khema Kirana Store which fetched Medimix soap. The search for U shaped plastic tongue cleaners couldn't yield much success as these set of tongue cleaners are invariably found in South India especially in Chennai and Madurai in Tamil Nadu State ( Tamil Nadu Province). It was a late afternoon visit to Dal Chand Sirohiya tea centre where i gathered there was an attack on CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) convoy in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir State the previous day. By handing me newspaper which carried detailed account of the attack and the damage incurred, Mr Dal Chand wanted to know from me what the govt of the day was doing. It was nothing but intelligence set up that failed to live up to its expectations. The subsequent action from India resulting in air strikes in Balakot in Pakistan was natural. There is no need to question the air strikes from any quarter.

On a Saturday when i am supposed to leave Ujjain i get up at 12.15 am, having slept for roughly three hours. Took two sets of tea from Mr Praveen Monga who had his cart opposite Chintaman Palace. Mr Monga runs his tea stall the entire night and sleeps between 6 pm and 11 pm. I visit the temple a little before 4 am only to discover that gates won't open before 5.30. When i reach the outside precincts of temple at 5.45, it is after much wait i am able to enter the inner courtyard around 6.20 am. The temple authorities should see to it that devotees are not kept waiting for long at different points as they have train and other modes of transport to catch. At 6.30 i am right opposite the sanctum sanctorum. I recite Sunderkand in record time. I leave for railway station a little after 7.20 am. There are no porters to be found at Ujjain railway station. The train for Bhopal leaves at 7.55. The train reaches its destination a little after 12.15 pm.

In Ujjain i happen to meet different set of people including Mr Divesh Dhanwan who told me about seat availability in the train meant for Bhopal. Meet Mr Khan of Sagar tours and travels who tells me the taxi fare from Mahakaleshwar to Omkareshwar. Meet Mr Mohammad Sabir, meet Mr Anuj Khatri in Hotel Satyam, meet Mr Shakil Khan at a tea centre, meet Mr Pawan Kataria of Hotel Chintaman Palace, meet Mr Om Prakash at Swagat Cafe, meet automan Guddu bhai, meet Mr Abdul Rafiq father of fruit vendor Irrfan Khan, meet fruit vendor Mr Manohar, meet security guard in IDBI Bank ATM Mr Vishnu Sharma. In Omkareshwar meet Mr Prakash Kavat and automan Mr Ashish Yadav.

The Shatabdi train ride from Bhopal to New Delhi

In Bhopal railway station i happen to meet Mr Hari doing a course in agricultural science from Rabindranath Tagore University in Bhopal. He hailed from Hyderabad. The swift public transport service in  Hyderabad and Secundarabad in South India is something Mr Hari misses in Bhopal. The Shatabdi train for Delhi leaves at 3.17 pm, gains traction. Sanchi comes at 3.50, at 3.53 the train slows down, Vidisha comes at 3.57, Sovai 4.08, Bareth 4.32, Lalitpur 5.45, Jhansi 6.43, Gwalior 7.50, Morena 8.23, Agra 8.27, Mathura 10.10, New Delhi 11.43. In the train happen to meet Mr Saurabh who is quite helpful, meet another boy from Allahabad. Meet two women, Ms Chhavi and Ms Pratha. Ms Chhavi in particular seems to be in her elements and very enterprising. In New Delhi railway station meet Mr Manoj from Madhya Pradesh. At taxi counter meet Mr Nitesh from Kerala. I tell him i have visited Kerala and famous showman from Kerala Mr Mohanlal is really great.  It is taximan Mr Sanjay Singh who takes me to Safdarjung Enclave.

More Sightings in Ujjain

- Welcome Tea Traders
- Welcome Soda Shop
- Swagat Cafe
- Patel S. S. Works
- M.S. Aluminium Works
- Airtel 4G
- Indian Opticals
- Hakimi Glass
- Sana Air Conditioners
- Sheetal Refrigeration and Spare Parts
- Sana General Store
- Fashion Furniture Art
- Welcome Everfresh and Tea Stall
- Janta Auto Parts
- Sahu Guest House
- Hotel Rishi Kuti
- Hotel Mahakal Sharnam
- Hotel Neha Palace
- Hotel Mahima
- IDBI Bank ATM
- ICICI Bank ATM

From here turn right
- Famous Kulfi
- Jaishri Namkeen and Sweets
- Mewad Prem Dosa and Chinese Centre Cart
- Butter Dosa Centre
- Railway Ticket Ghar (Railway Ticket Office)
- Ujjain Ki Famous Gajak
- Gupta Gajak Bhandar
- Shree Tirupati Gajak Bhandar
- Shree Satyanarayanan Mandir
- New Maya Bangles and General Stores
- Sapna Bag Palace
- Janta Tent House
- Shikhar Medicals
- Digital Studio
- Shree Tirupati Sweets and Namkeen Bhandar
- Sugandha Book Centre
- Balaji Cafe
- Goel Guest House
- Diamond Band
- Jio Digital Life
- Rajendar Roop Shringar Sadan
- Shree Mangalam Restaurant Sweets and Namkeen
- Satyug Sweets and Dairy
- Shraddha Medical Stores
- Prakash Stores
- Famous Hair Salon
- Shree Sampat Bhai Dharamshala Yatri Griha
- Shreejee Medicoz
- Jai Bhole Tea Centre
- Swastik Tours and Travels
- D. N. Paani Patashi Cart
- Saifee Burhani Family Footwear
- Shree Bajrang Sev and Mishthan Bhandar
- Gift Ganga
- Shree Mahaveer Band
- Saraswati Book Centre
- Meet fruit vendor Mr Irrfan Khan

In NDTV 24X7 news channel in Roshan Dilli series the one beamed on March 22, the report prepared by Ms Gargi Rawat, covering resettlement colony Madanpur Khadar in Delhi was insightful. It provided in detail how women of the area lived including their fears and concerns. Staring is a common sight and this needs to be discouraged and more respect needs to shown to women force.

In Hindustan Times newspaper the story by Sibi Arasu on water woes that Bengaluru is facing (Bengaluru is capital of Karnataka province in India), the story on school for visually impaired and scribes that come to their rescue by Manoj Sharma and the piece Celebrating Club Cricket in Bengaluru by Mr Ramachandra Guha were good. These stories appeared on March 24. Schools for Visually Impaired need to be encouraged across India including Delhi as this would help them to lift themselves out of dejection and lead elevated and fulfilled life. As for water woes in Karnataka province, the same fate can visit Delhi if we don't conserve water. Water needs to be conserved at all cost and people of India and world need to show magnanimity on this.

British MPs not able to agree on alternative Brexit plan is a concern for everyone.

Stay in Ujjain; Sightings in Ujjain

Stay in Ujjain; Sightings in Ujjain

As long i was in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh State in India in the morning time whenever i used to visit Lord Mahakaleshwar temple i used to spend considerable time inside the temple reciting Sunderkand. The stay in Ujjain was a little less than one week. In Hotel Neha Palace i came across Mr Manoj Aggarwal and Mr Golu Bhat. Meet Mr Giri from Vishakapatnam in Hotel Nandi. In Hotel Nandi came across Mr Manish, Mr Arpit, Mr Rohit, Mr Mohit and Mr Dileep. Meet automan Mr Sikandar. Meet a man in Shree Natraj Traders who is very humble. In Swagat Cafe meet Mr Aslam Lalla, Mr Kullu Bhai, Mr Rohit, Mr Govind Malwi and Mr Samsher Khan. Taking bananas from Mr Vijay. Giving bananas to Resham bai who is selling toys. Meet Mr Pawan Kataria in Hotel Chintaman Palace.

Sightings in Ujjain

- Hotel Nandi for meals and black tea
- Raj Telecom and Tours and Travels
- Chain The Salon
- Ajay Shoes
- Premi Hair Art
- Shyam Internet
- Sagar Tours and Travels
- Magick Oven
- Sree Savaliya Chaat Chopati
- Om Namo Shivay
- Guru Shree Yatri Griha
- Swagat Restaurant
- Famous Kulfi
- Jai Shree Namkeen
- Mewad Prem Dosa Centre
- In Arose Tailors there is Mr Abdul
  Gujri Chauraha Ujjain

- Meet Mr Keshav Rao Musician from Maharashtra
- Vicky Paan and Cold Drinks
- Sai Chhaya
- Sri Chaityana Guest House
- Rajbhog Bhojanalaya
- Shri Balaji Yatri Griha
- Shri Bhawan Ganga Guest House
- Shri Mahakaleshwar Bhojanalaya
- Gajanand Kulfi House Bhojanalaya
- Samrat Bhojanalaya
- Day Care Centre
- Ma Kripa Bhojanalaya
- Shivam Gift Item Artificial Jewellery
- Shri Chintaman Bhojanalaya
- Swaruchi Bhojanalaya
- Gurukripa Ghantawala Family Restaurant
- Damruwala
- Shinde Medical Stores
- Shree Mahakal Prasad Awam Gajak Bhandar
- Hotel Ma Kripa AC Non AC Rooms
- BOI ATM
- Hotel Shikhar Darshan
- Apan Sweets Namkeen Prasad Thali Fast Food Juice
- Shiv Shakti Dhotiwala
- Shree Radhav Bhakti Bhandar
- Shree Bholeswar Bhakti Bhandar
- Aashirwad Guest House and Jal Pan Griha
- Hotel Maheswari Room Family Restaurant
- Yogi Palace Yatri Griha
- Mahakal Bhakti Bhandar Awam Pushp Bhandar
- On Screen Mahakal Darshan Live
- Banarsi Peda Prasad
- Pranita Ever Fresh
- Jai Shri Mahakal Shri Mahakaleshwar Bhakti Bhandar
- Shri Ram Prasad
- Govindam Restaurant
- Satyam Hotel and Restaurant
- Shiv Sagar Veg Restaurant and Sweets
- Radhumani Palace and Restaurant
- Maa Vaishnavi Bhakti Bhandar
- Mahalakshmi Bhakti Bhandar
- Jyoti Pushp Bhandar
- Smart Water ATM Drinking water solution for smart cities
- Harihar Pushp Bhandar
- Ganesh Pushp Bhandar
- Shree Prasad Pushp Bhandar
- Kanak Pushp Bhandar
- Om Shri Mahakal Daily Bus Service
- Ma Kalyani Pushp Bhandar
- Vishnu Pushp Bhandar
- Ujjain Darshan Mahakaleshwar Se Omkaleshwar Jyotirlingam
- Mahakaleshwar Darshan Mukhya Pravesh Dwar (Lord Mahakaleshwar Temple Main Entrance)
- Sakshi Pushp Bhandar At counter is Shree Ram
- Shree Mahakaleshwar
  Sanchi Point

- Inside Lord Mahakaleshwar Temple Paintings of different Lord Shiva Jyotirlingas in India
- Somnath Jyotirlinga, Saurashtra Gujarat
- Mallikarjunam Jyotirlinga, Srisailam Andhra Pradesh
- Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, Ujjain Madhya Pradesh
- Omkareshwar-Mamleshwar Jyotirlinga, Omkareshwar Madhya Pradesh
- Bedhynath Jyotirlinga, Parli Maharashtra
- Bhimshankar Jyotirlinga, Dakini Maharashtra
- Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga, Rameshwaram Tamil Nadu
- Nageshwar Jyotirlinga,  Darukavana Gujarat
- Vishveshwaram Jyotirlinga, Varanasi Uttar Pradesh
- Trayambkeshwar Jyotirlinga, Nasik Maharashtra
- Kedarnath Jyotirlinga, Kedarnath Uttarakhand
- Ghraneshwar Jyotirlinga, Ellora Maharashtra

One need to mention here the spellings of Jyotirlingas are as mentioned in the paintings. There is no mention of Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Deoghar in Jharkhand.

Sightings near Ujjain Railway Station

- Everest Trading Company
- Sai Kripa Paan Cold Drinks and Ever Fresh
- Hotel Guru Kripa
- Maheshwari Bhojanalaya
- Guru Kripa Bhojanalaya
- Annapoorna Bhojanalaya
- Hotel Ram Niwas
- Hotel Rama Krishna
  Sudama Restaurant
- Hotel Nakoda Palace
- Hotel Preeti
- Meet Mr Yusuf Ali near railway station
- Supreme Auto Electric Works
- Amaron
- Kasta Pipes and Fittings
- Gaurav Travels
- OYO Hotel Kabir
- City Centre Guest House
- Hotel Sanjivini Palace

From here starts Mahakal Marg
- Hotel Shree Radhe
- Ajay Hotel goibibo
- SBI( State Bank of India) Branch
- Madhav College Campus
- Hotel Shree Ram
- Shree Siddhivinayak Mandir
- Marwadi Pavitra Bhojanalaya
- Upkar's Career Books
- King Readymade
- Shreejee Mishthan Bhandar
- V K Stationers
- Hotel Shree Aashirwad Palace
- Lucky Opticals
- Rupvarsha Takwasawala
- Jawahar Watch and Mobile
- Saifi Stationery
- Brajwasi and Company
- Rameshwar Complex
- M P Online
- T. T. Desire
- Lux Venus
- Varsha Collection
- Mobile Mark
- Govinda Stores
- Murali Traders
- Sai Baba Bag Shop
- Shree Sawariya Seth Traders
- Prince Footwear
- appo
- Party Flower Decorators
- Amitanjali or Amritanjali Cosmetics
- Ganesh Marketing
- Studio Shubamm
- Meet vegetable vendor Mr Mahender Pawar
- Shiv Traders
- Pawan Traders
- Ishwar Traders
- Ma Sharda Traders
- Jai Jinendra Poojan Samagri Bhandar
- Raj Traders
- Shah Kirana
- Saifi Bag and Seat Cover
- Kunal Traders
- Patanjali
- Arvindbhai Sanabhai Patel
- Lalchand and Sons
- Gokul
- Arora Traders
- Trimurti Photocopy and Telecommunication
- Haji Nazar Ali Isabhai Akkad
- Gopal Beej Bhandar
- Haldar Krishi Sewa Kendra
- Saifuddin and Brothers
- Hindustan Plywood and Paints
- Janki Medical Stores
- A. K. Corporation
- Arihant Traders
- Manaklal and Company
- Masala House
- Dato Ka Doctor
- Sagar Provision
- Hiralal Indermal Kirana Merchant
- Kadri Bakery
- Akram Khan New Latest Collection
- A. H. Fashion
- Gulrez Bakery
- Ajanta Watch and Mobile
- Jio Digital Life
- Majestic and Sons
- Faithful Tailors
- Indian Bakery
- Hotel Golden
- Noor Paan
- Nagori Guest House
- Aman Bakery
- Raju Sweets and Namkeen
- Garib Nawaz Hotel
- Hotel Chand
- Saifi Hotel
- Ilyas Watch
- Zam Zam Sweets
- Rajik Auto Deal
- Gulzar Bakery
- Bharat Bakery
- Moti Bakery
- Choice Bakery
- Hotel Al Madina
- Junaid Patang Centre
- Farooq Patang Centre
- Tuition Class
- Al-Madeeha Perfumes
- New Champion Hardware and Welding Materials
- Al-Karam
- High Choice
- B.N. Iron Works
- 4 U Guest House
- Meera Guest House
- Jubilee Medical Stores
- K.G.N.S.S. Works
- Jai Mahakal Temple(Small Temple)
- Dargah Hazrat Peer Reti Wale Baba
- Dayal Guest House
- R.K.B Guest House
- Shikhar Guest House
- Sri Sai Pooja Guest House

Best Wishes to Mr Tom Cruise, Mr Elton John, Mr Stevie Wonder, Mr Phil Collins and Mr Lionel Richie

Best Wishes to Mr Tom Cruise, Mr Elton John, Mr Stevie Wonder, Mr Phil Collins and Mr Lionel Richie and their family members. Mr Lionel Richie who is in Barbados looked fabulous in Blue Suit having a word or two with Prince Charles. Helo Song sung by Mr Lionel Richie is something good to recall. My best wishes to all of them for decades to come.

Interactions in recent months in New Delhi; Watching SVBC Channel beamed from Tirumala

Interactions in recent months in New Delhi; Watching SVBC Channel beamed from Tirumala

In recent months the range of interaction in Delhi was varied; the one with Mr Surya from Guntur and Ms Bhavya from Vishakapatnam topping the list. Mr Surya is associated with C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics) a government firm. Right from Andhra Pradesh/Telangana channels beamed from Andhra and Telangana to Vishakapatnam the place i visited way back in 2006, the interaction with them had a flow of its own. Interaction with Mr Aditya Bhandari who appeared for an interview at Hotel Leela Palace had a flavour of its own.

Meet Ms Orvin from US visiting her friends in New Delhi for the past three weeks. Apart from that meet Mr Tashi from Mcleodganj in a metro station. Meet Salimgram Das rickshawman from Bhagalpur who drops me at Nizamuddin Station from Jangpura. Meet Mr Ajay Kumar rickshawman who gives me change near Nizamuddin railway station. It is rickshawman Mr Sooraj who drops me at Jangpura. He hails from Kolkata. Meet Mr Ram Singh, Mr Bhagirath in Safdarjung Enclave. Meet Ms Triveni Negi in HDFC Bank.

Meet Mr R P Pal automan who drops me at Green Park. Meet Mr Ranjeet Kumar Bhola from Bihar who drops me near Chhatarpur metro station. Meet Mr Partho from Kolkata in State Bank of India Green Park branch. Meet fruit vendor Mr Inder Dev in Arjun Nagar. Meet Mr Jagdish in Mayur Studio in Arjun Nagar adjacent to Safdarjung Enclave. Meet Mr Saiful from Bardhaman in West Bengal state at State Bank of India ATM. Meet automan Mr Chand who takes me to Kailash Colony. He is a gem of a person. Meet Mr Nanak Singh automan who drops me at Green Park metro station. Meet automan Mr Rakesh who drops me at Safdarjung Enclave. Meet a man from Darjeeling in West Bengal State. Meet Mr Giridhar hailing from Rajasthan who has to send money to his daughter Sanjana. I do the needful in helping him send money from ATM machine. Meet Mr Mohammad Yama from Afghanistan who is seeking directions to Post Office. Meet Mr Erwin from the State of Assam in Safdarjung Enclave.

Had the opportunity to visit Kailash Colony second time in a week to take food from Anupama Sweets. Had the opportunity to visit Katyayani temple in Chhatarpur. The stay was short; the deliberations simple and short.
Meet Mr Tenzing from Himachal who is doing a course in computers from MAAC in South Extension in New Delhi. At Croma store in South Extension meet Mr Anil Singh who is a security guard. Meet Mr Vishal in HDFC Bank in South Extension who is kind enough to give details of tax deducted.  Meet Mr Ajeet Singh who is a security guard in HDFC bank. Meet Mr Sanen from Nagaland. The number of frontiers that has opened up for people from North East in the National Capital of Delhi is heartening.

Meet those hailing from Thrissur in Kerala who are able to spot snow leopard

Meet Mr Manoj who hails from Thrissur in Kerala State for whom photography is a passion. Meet Mr Hari Om  from Kerala. In all there are four persons from Kerala who visited Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh State for taking photographs and they were lucky enough to sight snow leopard. Meet Mr Mohammad Hasmad Hussain who had been to Ajmer recently. Meet Mr Abhimanyu from Gurgaon in Haryana State who has been preparing for XY group exam in Air Force. Meet Mr Saurabh Kumar from Jamshedpur in Jharkhand State in Sarojini Nagar metro station who seeks to know the way to access New Delhi railway station by Delhi Metro. Meet Mr Aditya Bhandari who is in F and B (Food and Beverages)Sector and hails from Nainital in Uttarakhand State. The number of job opportunities that he has given a go by is something to ponder, perhaps a venture of his own would keep him on a steady platform. He has gained a wiser insight to churning that a Big City like Delhi witnesses.

Visiting Delhi University ( North Campus)

Had the opportunity to visit Green Bell Food Court in University Plaza of Delhi University, North Campus. In Delhi University meet Mr Erik from Shillong who has been taking coaching for civil services. Meet Mr Sohnam from Arunachal in Delhi University area. My best wishes to students of Delhi University.
Meet Mr Harsh who is part of a group coming from Jodhpur in Rajasthan State. I tell him i have been to Jodhpur and he rolls out a list of areas in Jodhpur. The group plans to travel to Manali in Himachal Pradesh state.

While taking a metro ride to Delhi University came across Mr Surya from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh State and Ms Bhavya from Vishkapatnam from Andhra Pradesh State. I tell them i have travelled to different places in Andhra including Tirumala. I meet them on a Saturday which happens to be Lord Venkateshwara Day. Even Tuesday and Wednesday are Special Days of Lord Venkateshwara. Mr Surya is associated with C-DOT a government firm. We discuss about ETV Andhra Pradesh and ETV Telugu channels which i watch. I tell them about SVBC channel beamed from Tirumala. They are delighted to know that i am able to pick up their Telugu language which hardly anyone in Delhi can decipher.

Meet Mr Kannan who has come with his family members from Chennai. One of his acquaintances Mr Gokul Krishna works as a graphic designer in Doordarshan a government news channel. Mr Kannan is delighted to know that i am interacting with him and i tell him that i have travelled extensively in Tamil Nadu whose capital happens to be Chennai. Koyambedu bus station the largest mofussil station in India figures in our discussion. Meet Mr Hassan from  Kashmir at Sarojini Nagar metro station. Meet Mr Khawyng from Manipur pursuing English Hons from Dyal Singh College of Delhi University. Meet Mr Balram in Safdarjung Enclave and Mr Narayanan who resides in Safdarjung Enclave.

Going to New Delhi railway station in the month of March

As i reached New Delhi railway station a little after 9.30 in the morning i come across announcements being made for different trains. Poorva Express from Howrah arriving on Platform 14, Howrah Rajdhani coming on PF 16, Jhelum Express to Pune coming on PF 4, Kalka Shatabdi arriving on PF 1, Karnataka Express from Bengaluru arriving on PF 6, Paschim Express coming on PF 5, Sealdah Rajdhani arriving on PF 13, Dibrugarh Rajdhani arriving on PF 15. Mr Man Singh along with another porter carries the luggage to taxi stand. Taxi coordinator Mr Dinesh helped us to locate a taxi and it is taxi man Mr Chiranji Lal who drops us at our residence.

Had the opportunity to watch in SVBC Channel Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy Brahmotsavams 2019 coming live from Srinivasa Mangapuram. It featured Muthyapu Pandiri Vahanam.
Had the opportunity to watch Srivari Annual Teppotsavams 2019 coming live from Tirumala on SVBC Channel.

Manohar Parrikar: The man with humble roots

Manohar Parrikar: The man with humble roots

Manohar Parrikar led a spartan lifestyle despite being Chief Minister of Goa on four different occasions. An IITian by graduate he began his innings in politics by winning Panaji Assembly seat. He oversaw surgical strike launched across border in 2017 in the capacity of Defence Minister. A surgical strike that nailed the terror masters who were toying with the idea of launching another assault on India. His intent was crystal clear: Be honest and express gratitude for the assignment on hand.

He believed in simplicity and compatibility. He was a lone warrior in political theatre who was not swayed by supremacy that office  of Chief Minister and Defence Minister initiated. The power template that his innings in politics delivered he used it to perfection to bring comfort to the masses. A mass leader with wide appeal he will be remembered for his simplicity. Shenanigans that power accumulation cultivates didn't pin him down. He brought grace and dignity to the office he presided over. 

Morning train from Somnath to Dwarka; In Tirupati Srinivasam Complex the number of 300 Rs ticket dispensed each day which stands at 500 should at least be raised to 1000 each day

Morning Train from Somnath to Dwarkadish; Rs 300 ticket dispensed from Srinivasam Complex in Tirupati should at least be 1000 in number each day as against 500 nowadays

There should be a direct train from Somnath to Dwarka (both places in Gujarat) with train leaving Somnath in the morning and reaching Dwarka in the evening. Nowadays the train leaves from Somnath at Night.

In Srinivasam Complex in Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh State in India the number of 300 rs ticket dispensed stands at 500 each day. This should be raised to at least 1000 tickets each day as all can't go for online booking done weeks/months before darshan of Lord Govinda (Lord Venkateswara).

Best wishes for Ujjain (Lord Mahakaleshwar Temple), Somnath, Dwarkadish, Nageshwar and Tirumala.

Visiting Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh State in India

Visiting Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh State in India

On a Tuesday after visiting Lord Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain a little after 8.30 am i reached bus stand near Harsiddhi Mandir. I was told the bus for Omkareshwar had left. I tried to trace the bus with the help of an auto and boarded the bus near bridge. Passengers nearing 15 to 20 in number were inside the bus. It was Mitesh from Gujarat who lended his smartphone so that i could make a call to my residence in Delhi. Mitesh was helpful so was his friend that too from Gujarat. A little after 9.40 we were in Indore.

What i could gather was in cleanliness ranking survey across India Indore had taken the first spot. Indore a city about which i had no opinion appeared to be a business hub flanked by offices, malls and business quarters. By 11 the bus reached a place that looked packed to capacity, roads witnessing bumper to bumper traffic and our bus had to literally crawl. This state of affairs lasted for over an hour as that day was being observed as one to show gratitude to Narmada river. On the banks of Narmada scores could be seen bathing with equal number trying to access that spot. By 1 pm the bus reached the New bus stand in Omkareshwar with firm instruction by the bus conductor that passengers should reach the new bus stand by 4.30 pm sharp. From new bus stand i took an auto and reached a place from where i could take a boat to reach other side of river to gain access to Omkareshwar temple. It was tough time for boat man to procure enough passengers who wished to travel to other side. Once we reached the other side one has to negotiate stairs flanked by different set of vendors selling garlands and other stuff. After paying obeisance at Omkareshwar temple which was beaming with devotees, a fair conclusion could be drawn that much needed to be done to make this pilgrimage site reach new ladder of development. Here priests cajole you to take VIP route pass which comes for 250 rs. I fell for that bait later realising that general queue which i joined later wasn't that troublesome and in 15 to 20 minutes one can get more than a fleeting glimpse of Omkareshwar Shiva Lingam.

Later i crossed the river through bridge and visited Mamleshwar temple where there was a personnel named Rajo or Roja who was making every effort to make it comfortable for devotees visiting the sanctum sanctorum. Later i hailed an auto driven by Mr Ashish Yadav and reached New bus stand. It was little before 2.40 i was in the bus stand. It was endless wait where i was witness to filthy language being used by some staff of a restaurant where i was seated. The bus for Mahakaleshwar finally left at 5.40 , reached Indore a little after 8.30 and Ujjain at 9.45. It was a tedious journey with bus staff out to make a fast buck who wanted to get vacant seats occupied by hook or crook. For people who wish to travel to Omkareshwar hailing a cab would be a better option or take a bus and return by another bus rather waiting at the bus stand for over three hours.

Later in the night i took food from Hotel Nandi which had some of the best preparations in the city. I am grateful to Hotel Nandi for serving best delicacies as it does not lead to any sort of stomach discomfort. Probably the oil they use is neat and tidy and good for health. I am equally grateful to Hotel Chintaman Palace for making my stay comfortable in Ujjain.

Piece on National Creche Scheme where Centre needs to invest more by Mr Alexander in editorial page was good.

Anil Mama (Maternal Uncle) whom we knew

Anil Mama (Maternal Uncle) whom we knew

It was in the 70s when one night i was excited with the thought of going to New Delhi Railway Station the next day to receive Anil Mama (Maternal Uncle) Anil Kumar Mishra. I could barely sleep that night as the thought of receiving Anil Mama kept me engaged. A man of steely resolve and determination who stayed in Bihar State for 67 years, he was a man of few words and fewer inclinations. In the 70s when we decided to move to Safdarjung Enclave, on the occasion of Grih Pravesh (House Inauguration) Anil Mama was one among different relations who had come from Bihar. I still have faint memories of i along with my father going to New Delhi Railway Station to see them off. We were still in the train coach when it began to move. As we got down from a moving train we had no idea whether Anil Mama was in the coach or left in the platform. We took a trek from New Delhi Railway Station to Old Delhi Railway Station and by God's Grace we were able to ensure that Anil Mama was inside the coach along with my Bhagalpur Uncle Dr S S Rajhans.

In 1984 when i visited Balua Bazar an area in Bihar state bordering Nepal both of us visited Forbesganj to procure some products as his younger brother Sunil had recently got married. I still remember the vehicle in which we were travelling broke down and how he had to literally give a push to have it up and running. When we reached Forbesganj i came across a theatre running a movie named Coolie featuring Mr Amitabh Bachchan.

During my schooldays with the onset of  summer vacations we used to visit our Grand parents (my mummy's parents) residence in Balua Bazar and here we would often across Anil Mama who used to reside there as well. He was into business with returns enough to keep him busy and satiated. Probably in the 90s he shifted his base to Birpur another area in Bihar State bordering Nepal. He had a large shop engaged in the task of selling engine oils for car and other vehicles. Occasionally in the 80s, 90s and till recently he had the opportunity to visit us in New Delhi. In the early 80s during one of his visits to New Delhi i expressed a desire to board a bus from Kamal Cinema to Connaught Place. I went along with him all the way to the bus stop where he said it won't be appropriate for me to board a bus as i was too young.

Again i have faint memories of he taking up a job in Barauni in Bihar State in the 70s and we visiting him in the same place. We crossing railway tracks during night to catch a train to Delhi and he coming to see us off at the railway station. When i was in the college i had the opportunity to read International Herald Tribune with postings from that paper pasted on my cupboard and he making a noting of the same during summer vacations. He was simple, true to heart and a man who never missed an opportunity to express gratitude for the occasional grandeur welcome he came across. Balua Bazar and Birpur were the twin destinations in Bihar he spent much of his time and he would remain etched in our memory for long.