Twenty- five Seven

Happy Birthday dear Gandhiji

October 2, 2019

Today is Gandhiji’s 150th birthday.

Were he alive, he’d have been blowing out 150 candles on his cake.

But being vegetarian, I’m sure he never indulged in such practices. Especially since those were the days of regular cakes. Made with eggs and flour. Unlike eggless cakes that are de rigeur these days.

Stepping out of this 15-foot high mural painted by Eduardo Kobra, the Brazillian Artist, I wonder what he would have thought about Bombay today. A city that played an important part in his life.

Gandhiji and Bombay

As all Indian school children know, Gandhiji, or Mohandas (as he was known then) was born to Putlibai and her husband Karamchand in the Kathiawari port city of Porbunder.

But it was from Bombay that he set off to study Law in England in 1888.

And it was in Bombay that he landed in 1915 at the request of Gopal Krishna Gokhale, a key leader of the Indian National Congress. Gokhale had heard of Gandhi’s fight against the British in South Africa and wanted him back in India to join the Freedom Movement.

So it was from this great city that he launched his career as a freedom fighter.

Whenever he was in Mumbai, he would organise speeches, rallies and meet with important people.

He stayed at Mani Bhavan, a single-storied bungalow in the genteel, leafy neighbourhood of Gamdevi. It was his headquarters from 1917-1934.

And it was from an open field at nearby Gowalia Tank that he launched the Quit India movement on August 9th,1942. Hundreds of people made bonfires of British goods at a spot now marked by a pillar.

Moving On

But Bombay as he knew it, has now changed to :

Do you think he would recognise this city?

Mani Bhavan has now become a museum

The open field has been renamed August Kranti Maidan

As for the mural, it was, unfortunately, removed after part of the scaffolding on which it was mounted fell off and killed a hapless commuter.

Perhaps, it was Gandhiji’s way of enlisting the help of Vayu, the storm that was to hit Mumbai, mid-June this year,to move on.

Happy Birthday, dear Gandhiji!

Ciao

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International Day for Older Persons :Motionless I lie

October 1, 2019

Did you know that 1st October is designated International Day for Older Persons?

As per the UN Development report published in 2017,

The global population aged 60 years or over numbered 962 million in 2017, more than twice as large as in 1980 when there were 382 million older persons worldwide. The number of older persons is expected to double again by 2050, when it is projected to reach nearly 2.1 billion.

As motionless I lie

I see from the corner of my eye

You, my child scurrying around to get things done.

You stay awake all night, listening to my laboured breathing.

I feel your heart race with twice the speed of mine

Especially when you feel my pace has faltered.

Fear, not my child it’s not yet time

For me to leave you and join my folks long gone

who wait for me to join them;

shuffling patiently to make room for me.

As I lie motionless, I see the fear in your eyes

when you think I’m rambling on about an aunt long gone

or of people shouting or laughing loudly when none exist

But I haven’t lost my mind

Not yet.

It’s just a bit jumbled up.

And memories come tumbling out unbidden

From my head.

For no reason.

As I lie motionless you feed me spoon by spoon

The way I fed you when you were small.

With trepidation, your eyes question: have I failed you?

No my child you have not.

How can I explain that you don’t love me any less when you keep me in professional care.

In the hands of strangers who somehow seem to know me better than I know myself.

Who deftly turn me from side to side, mindful of my aching bones

And make my bed with me inside!

They change my clothes and wash me clean while you feel it should have been you.

But no! Throw out all guilt and feelings of inadequacy

for in this time that’s difficult for

you and me

It is best that strangers attend to me as

I lie motionless and helpless.

Many of my friends have reached the age where they have to look after ailing parents. With most of us already past our prime, it is often difficult for us to physically tend to sick parents.

We are often racked with guilt when we seek the help of professionals to assist in nursing.

But does asking a trained caregiver for assistance amount to neglect or disrespect or even unconcern?

Do share your views on this in the comments below.

Ciao
An Upright Palm Tree

September 26, 2019

This Palm tree standing tall caught my eye because it was standing tall.

Don’t palms always stand tall ?

Well according to Nergish ( May God rest her soul)who peevishly pointed out to the Garden Secretary of our building society, the palms in our garden were far from straight . In fact , some of them were leaning precariously close to the building .

“Why can’t they grow like the trees in Singapore? ” she boomed in her authoritarian voice .

“But auntie , they are just growing .What can I do ? “

“You can tie them by rope and make them grow in a straight line ! And upright !”

Poor Darcy ( the garden secretary) didn’t give it any attention and the trees continued growing upwards on their leaning trajectory.

Which is why I was amazed that this tree actually grew straight and tall .

I wonder if it is a purely ornamental variety that only grows this way.

What do you think ?

Sharing this post with other tree lovers at Parul’s #ThursdayTreeLove

Ciao