The Dark Continent has its own ways of getting the glue with its expatriates. Wish the expats themselves could answer it. The oft debated and deliberated upon topic over a glass of scotch- How and why do they continue to live for months, years and decades in this part of the world. Myriad responses emerge - Some very black or white, some have grey shades but the best that I have ever heard has been from a Greek friend of mine- “I have lived my dream here”!!
It is vague but the bondage between the continent and its expatriate inhabitants is quite unique….
In my decade long stay, I have come across expatriates of all kinds in Africa.
They range from a fourth generation Asian expatriate; an owner of a few hundred million dollar biz empire. Born in Africa; the person did his schooling in Africa and then moved over to US for university and masters. Having served for few years in Europe, middle east and south east financial capitals and in high profile financial institutions, Has come back to control the African empire . A difficult and unique decision but he wants to be where the bucks come from…
There are other 3rd generation Indian expats who don’t know what India is but have built a biz model which can be envied by entrepreneurs with training in elite Business Schools or those teaching entrepreneurship skills at Harvard business school. They will smoke and drink anything but will always eat Indian cuisine at home though peppered with generous amounts of the hot – err hottest pilli pilli and still use their native language to converse within the family. They have localized to a large extent and understand the local terrain and local language very well. They go to school in Switzerland and university in US/ Canada but will remain an Indian at heart. Unique they are!
Another group is of second generation Indian expats.. With parents willing to stick out their neck in the chaotic times of sixties and seventies in Africa, they stand to have inherited a fortune due to the exodus of the previous rulers of their colonies. They used the newly acquired fortune to study in US universities and then come back to handle the fledgling businesses with high real estate values. Many of this breed lead an aristocratic life with an US colored view of world while financing their elite lifestyle of driving luxurious cars , champagne evenings and super elite holidays with greens earned from this dark land.
An admirable set of hardworking, thrift spenders, maintaining a normal style even after having made a fortune is of First generation entrepreneurs who arrived in early eighties and strived hard in the difficult times to make it big. A very admirable set who still know the value of money and who still spend long hours day after day trying to maximize their return on investment.
There are hordes of CAs, MBAs and engineers from India who have made Africa their haven, some came for a few years to make some quick bucks and then carry on with their life. Most stayed on... few moved to Australia and Canada after having saved ENOUGH and very few returned home to eat the parathas as they couldn’t survive this world.
There are many who came and didn’t make it big but sill did enough to ensure a good life for family and self. They got into basic trading business and carried on!!
This is the largest set of expat set across the continent. There are hordes of traders and shop owners of asian and Lebanese origin selling toothpaste to tomato paste.
I have also come across tons of young clumsy teens from villages of Gujarat and Kutch. On the behest of relatives or someone from extended family, they ventured into the unknown land and have survived managing shops of their owners and saving a few hundred dollars every month. The night clubs of Africa and the many of the local birds flying inside the dark alleys of the club owe their living to these gentlemen.
A different but unique genre is of the men who have betrothed local women from powerful local families. This has helped them to get special concessions required to launch big businesses and make tremendous wealth. Salutations to this set on their high degree of adaptability.
The continent was inundated with Greek gods during the decades of sixties to 80’s. The entire trade in agri commodities was in hands of our Greek brethren. They would talk proudly of their ancient heritage with the assumption that they were born to dominate wherever they were. Their dominance has considerably waned over last few decades but their life style, their self confidence and their belief in the continents wealth generating capabilities ensured they continue to eke their dreams here! Yes, they still are lords of coffee going to coffers of nestle or beans of cocoa circumventing their ways into factories of Cadburys.
I have a large set of friends whose grandfathers were part of the colonial empire. While the MEN in question moved back to France, Belgium Portugal or England way back when the African nations ushered in independence, their progeny found it hard to get away. They were so used to the the basic comfort of the place while growing up and the belief that they were more networked here than in their European terrain, decided to stay over here. Some of them had followed their grandparents ; but returned within few years to make a living out here. They still live a great life here. They ride horses. Travel all over the world to watch Formula one , own properties in key locations in Europe and holiday in exotic locations. They are more African than many native Africans. They feel more at home in this native land. Europe remains a holiday and shopping destination for them.
I have plethora of friends who left their troubled land of Lebanon a few decades back and made the continent as their home. The entire trade in west and central Africa is dominated by our Lebanese brothers. Most of them have thrived on the chaos of the last 30 years and have made a rock solid business empire. They have a large set of young boys from their villages who help them monitor this business empire. These are the ones who are the most visible Lebanese face in the restos, night clubs and places of interest to any tourist. And count on their gelled wet look and an enormous swagger when they enter a night club! Kudos to their self confidence! Most of them still need to sit for the pre university exams!
I have also come across friends who serve in embassies of different developed or developing countries. These belong to the haloed set who live life king size in big mansions, play golf 10 hours a week and still make money-;). Many of them want to prolong their stay in Africa.
These are the expats who sit and shine in the dark land, they use the African safari into a worthwhile adventure to make a career, a business, a life and live their dream.
Give it to all kinds of these expats… They have made a choice and have lived it to the hilt.
And To my friends, peers and family who wonder on my choices in life--
Two roads diverged in a wood, I chose the one less travelled and that has made all the difference!
लीक पर वें चलें जिनकेचरण दुर्बल और हारे हैं,
हमें तो जो हमारी यात्रा से बनेऐसे अनिर्मित पन्थ प्यारे हैं ।
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
To my Niece- Shreya- Bon Chance!!
The countdown has begun ! Next month would be your month. For you will weave magic , wriggle out of challenging hours with a big grin and achieve glory.. Inshallah!
This is a momentous occasion, Grade 10 exams! Let me take you through the reason why so much importance is associated in our psyche to this silly test .
Pre Independence times ,only the elite Indians went to the university. Any native who was a matriculate was respected , considered educated and was guaranteed a job. Post independence many more people got access to university but the basic defining criterion for having having the halo of intelligence remained the percentage scored in grade 10.
Moreover , In the India of 60s to 90s, Plus two education was still carried in universities. Thus, The grade 10 scores acquired paramount importance for they opened the gates of the premier universities which of course ensured you had a tag worthy of a good career. And the importance of a good tag of a good university has always made one comfortable in an interview room.
Ask the previous two generations how they sweated it out for grade 10 scores and u know the reason now!
Times have changed and evolved for better. Grade 10 scores neither give u the tag of “ educated” and guarantee a job like pre independence times. Neither do they get you into a premier university .
You could end up walking in the same corridors of DPS with the same bunch of friends. Hence, there is nothing much you can do with the scores you get here. This is not the world cup final and this is not the last ball where a six has to be hit for victory. This is just a friendly match!!
This should take off the pressure. Take a deep long breath and feel the sudden magic in yourself ! Coz there is no pressure! You can feel you can play all the strokes and play a gem of an innings ! This can only happen when there is no pressure and there is no pressure cause the stakes are not very high. So go ahead and hit sixes and make a century! You can do it !
But this Match has its own importance and that is much more than getting in a university which is a brand.
Self Belief and this competitive world- . This is the first public test of your life. A good performance makes you feel confident about yourself and enhances your self belief. That is what takes you places in this materialistic world. Get pounds of it and you manage to take on the world. So a good score here will ensure that at the end, You can thump your chest and say I did it with no one around me, Not even mum and dad! Go ahead and crack it!
Habit of winning- Winning is a habit and it comes early. For my generation , the one who took to this habit at an age of 16 and has stuck to it ever since is no else than Sachin Tendulkar- God of cricket! Believe me, Winning is more addictive than cocaine. So its better to start early and get addicted to this habit.
These exams provide you the right platform to get the glue – Go and become an addict!!
And yes , You are the first of the gen next ! So lead from the front and become a role model for the the entire gen. I was the youngest so I never got a chance to become a role model. Few get a chance and you have it - not by design but by gods grace ! Make full use of the chance given to you by god, a chance to inspire the entire generation of the family!
And then , There is this challenge! This one should excite you , pump you up and get the adrenalin going ! Here is the gauntlet. Can u beat my score of 85% by a margin of 5%?? Try it out… Both of us will emerge happier and proud!
Go ahead and make us proud, My Dear!
This is a momentous occasion, Grade 10 exams! Let me take you through the reason why so much importance is associated in our psyche to this silly test .
Pre Independence times ,only the elite Indians went to the university. Any native who was a matriculate was respected , considered educated and was guaranteed a job. Post independence many more people got access to university but the basic defining criterion for having having the halo of intelligence remained the percentage scored in grade 10.
Moreover , In the India of 60s to 90s, Plus two education was still carried in universities. Thus, The grade 10 scores acquired paramount importance for they opened the gates of the premier universities which of course ensured you had a tag worthy of a good career. And the importance of a good tag of a good university has always made one comfortable in an interview room.
Ask the previous two generations how they sweated it out for grade 10 scores and u know the reason now!
Times have changed and evolved for better. Grade 10 scores neither give u the tag of “ educated” and guarantee a job like pre independence times. Neither do they get you into a premier university .
You could end up walking in the same corridors of DPS with the same bunch of friends. Hence, there is nothing much you can do with the scores you get here. This is not the world cup final and this is not the last ball where a six has to be hit for victory. This is just a friendly match!!
This should take off the pressure. Take a deep long breath and feel the sudden magic in yourself ! Coz there is no pressure! You can feel you can play all the strokes and play a gem of an innings ! This can only happen when there is no pressure and there is no pressure cause the stakes are not very high. So go ahead and hit sixes and make a century! You can do it !
But this Match has its own importance and that is much more than getting in a university which is a brand.
Self Belief and this competitive world- . This is the first public test of your life. A good performance makes you feel confident about yourself and enhances your self belief. That is what takes you places in this materialistic world. Get pounds of it and you manage to take on the world. So a good score here will ensure that at the end, You can thump your chest and say I did it with no one around me, Not even mum and dad! Go ahead and crack it!
Habit of winning- Winning is a habit and it comes early. For my generation , the one who took to this habit at an age of 16 and has stuck to it ever since is no else than Sachin Tendulkar- God of cricket! Believe me, Winning is more addictive than cocaine. So its better to start early and get addicted to this habit.
These exams provide you the right platform to get the glue – Go and become an addict!!
And yes , You are the first of the gen next ! So lead from the front and become a role model for the the entire gen. I was the youngest so I never got a chance to become a role model. Few get a chance and you have it - not by design but by gods grace ! Make full use of the chance given to you by god, a chance to inspire the entire generation of the family!
And then , There is this challenge! This one should excite you , pump you up and get the adrenalin going ! Here is the gauntlet. Can u beat my score of 85% by a margin of 5%?? Try it out… Both of us will emerge happier and proud!
Go ahead and make us proud, My Dear!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Weddings. . .......
MARRIAGES AND LEARNINGS
How do you define a marriage… In my basic understanding it is a formal coming together of two bodies , two souls , two individuals , two identities. Its about merging of all the above into one.. Two becomes one and two decide to tread a “singular” path. Two decide to give space to each “one” while merging the two to usher in joys of being “one”.
Two , sometimes of diverse cultures and backgrounds, decide a common future and the Two contribute to the evolution of world in their own way by procreating. They prefer to give their own identity to world and history through their progeny. Though due to the nuances of genetics where random fusion of gametes takes place ; There are often vastly different creations. All the above is divine and hence a marriage has divine interventions and is quite sacred to the teeming millions around.
I have had my experiences of few marriages which linger in my memory and few which I would have loved to attend if I would have been born earlier!
My parents got married on 1st march 1968. A 26 year old fair , handsome, professor of physics taking an unknown girl of 18 as his life partner. A virtual geek be it physics or literature getting bestowed with a girl who could ride horses , play hockey and swim at competitive levels into creating a life together.
I realized; Marriage merges different ingredients to make a delicious ONE dish! Delicious this has been.. alhumdulillah- for they have stayed happily together for 40 years in thick and thin. Have heard a lot about the foggy mornings that winter and how my dear grandpa organized the wedding of his only son. I learn- Organisational skills come to fore in organizing a marriage ceremony and each gets his chance in life!! I shall get mine , too-;))
Have heard a lot also of a pre independence wedding of asthas grandparents in early thirties. A prince getting another princess, blossoming of love and then carrying on with the same intensity of desire, passion and mutual love right into the next century is a romantic story of the last century. The same becomes more powerful with the landscape of ever evolving and changing times- decades tof pre independence, post independence chaos, losing royalty privileges and coming to terms to life as a commoner. Would love to know what happened in the sacred ceremony which led to this sustained love and acceptance of each other. I believe- Marriage is love in abundance and readiness to flow together in all tides – high and low!
The first marriage of significance in my life was in 1985 . My father’s cousin got married and it was a great occasion for- a ready to barge into teens-me. My brothers and mine sacred thread vedic ceremony was also conducted that time making us “twice born” from that day. All these made the event even more memorable. Tons of photo, happy, sulking, dancing, our generation’s first brush with alcohol and tobacco and then asking for more in life mark that marriage. I learnt- Marriage ceremonies give us a chance to indulge and experience new highs and lows.
The next one was the marriage of our only beloved sister in 1993. Still an undergraduate student, I watched this one take place over months with financial and executional plans with elder bro playing his role to the hilt. I watched in awe and tried to execute to my limited capabilities as I watched the drama unfold . It was execution par excellence- a wonderful team effort. All timed perfectly. Have fond memories of friend rana singh, resorting to opening of coke bottles with mouth/ teeth when openers failed, my friend sumit taking me away for a smoke during the sentimental vidai ceremony ! Luv you guys…
While the focus remained on the ever genteel jijajee and my dahling sis and of course on my dearest bro as always.. I tried to understand the intricacies , pros , cons and nuances of getting into a responsible married life. It has been a wonderful ride for both brothers to have found a friend and well wisher in Jijashree. Merci beaucoup Monsieur! I learnt Marriage provides a platform to build life long friendships and relationships.
Scene moves to Delhi 1997.. My first year into professional career, big dreams and ambitions and a raring fire to make a difference to the society.. Here I was .. dancing away to glory as I had never done before- celebrating the big day of my only brother- my friend sometimes and my idol always! A banker joined the family and ushered in lots of fun times for us.
I can still remember the wide and rare smile on my dad’s when all finished well and to his liking . I hadn’t seen that one post my sisters wedding and not later during mine. Finally, he expressed it! His love for his special one. All of us love this love and have enjoyed it always in our family banters!
I learnt Marriage ceremonies bring out many a disguised and hidden emotions!
And now I fall in the trap too. Dec 2000!! They say before marriage you are incomplete and post that you are finished! While gloating over others crossing the line was ok , I finally took my big leap too. A literature enthusiast with love for Shakespeare and bachhan in same measure, a dreamer, a lover of peace and abundance walks the aisle with a realist, a mathematician one who loves chaos and scarcity !
I learnt Marriage brings in diverse souls and they make a lovely lock and key!
Am in a flight to attend my brother in law Harsh’s and his fiancé vidishas wedding. Have decided to have max fun! “Har pal yahaan – jee bhar ke jiyo, phir yeh samaa-kal ho na ho” is my theme for next 7 days. This would be the wedding of this decade.
Next decade I look forward to my niece, shreya’s wedding which would be another memorable occasion.. Young , I shall remain then, in words and spirits atleast.
Hope both the above make me learn few more things about the concept , the institution that is marriage!
PS- I have missed out on weddings of plethora of friends where I had planned to be there for sure - These are pals from mikes, DPS, Hindu and IRMA. I owe you an apology dears!!
How do you define a marriage… In my basic understanding it is a formal coming together of two bodies , two souls , two individuals , two identities. Its about merging of all the above into one.. Two becomes one and two decide to tread a “singular” path. Two decide to give space to each “one” while merging the two to usher in joys of being “one”.
Two , sometimes of diverse cultures and backgrounds, decide a common future and the Two contribute to the evolution of world in their own way by procreating. They prefer to give their own identity to world and history through their progeny. Though due to the nuances of genetics where random fusion of gametes takes place ; There are often vastly different creations. All the above is divine and hence a marriage has divine interventions and is quite sacred to the teeming millions around.
I have had my experiences of few marriages which linger in my memory and few which I would have loved to attend if I would have been born earlier!
My parents got married on 1st march 1968. A 26 year old fair , handsome, professor of physics taking an unknown girl of 18 as his life partner. A virtual geek be it physics or literature getting bestowed with a girl who could ride horses , play hockey and swim at competitive levels into creating a life together.
I realized; Marriage merges different ingredients to make a delicious ONE dish! Delicious this has been.. alhumdulillah- for they have stayed happily together for 40 years in thick and thin. Have heard a lot about the foggy mornings that winter and how my dear grandpa organized the wedding of his only son. I learn- Organisational skills come to fore in organizing a marriage ceremony and each gets his chance in life!! I shall get mine , too-;))
Have heard a lot also of a pre independence wedding of asthas grandparents in early thirties. A prince getting another princess, blossoming of love and then carrying on with the same intensity of desire, passion and mutual love right into the next century is a romantic story of the last century. The same becomes more powerful with the landscape of ever evolving and changing times- decades tof pre independence, post independence chaos, losing royalty privileges and coming to terms to life as a commoner. Would love to know what happened in the sacred ceremony which led to this sustained love and acceptance of each other. I believe- Marriage is love in abundance and readiness to flow together in all tides – high and low!
The first marriage of significance in my life was in 1985 . My father’s cousin got married and it was a great occasion for- a ready to barge into teens-me. My brothers and mine sacred thread vedic ceremony was also conducted that time making us “twice born” from that day. All these made the event even more memorable. Tons of photo, happy, sulking, dancing, our generation’s first brush with alcohol and tobacco and then asking for more in life mark that marriage. I learnt- Marriage ceremonies give us a chance to indulge and experience new highs and lows.
The next one was the marriage of our only beloved sister in 1993. Still an undergraduate student, I watched this one take place over months with financial and executional plans with elder bro playing his role to the hilt. I watched in awe and tried to execute to my limited capabilities as I watched the drama unfold . It was execution par excellence- a wonderful team effort. All timed perfectly. Have fond memories of friend rana singh, resorting to opening of coke bottles with mouth/ teeth when openers failed, my friend sumit taking me away for a smoke during the sentimental vidai ceremony ! Luv you guys…
While the focus remained on the ever genteel jijajee and my dahling sis and of course on my dearest bro as always.. I tried to understand the intricacies , pros , cons and nuances of getting into a responsible married life. It has been a wonderful ride for both brothers to have found a friend and well wisher in Jijashree. Merci beaucoup Monsieur! I learnt Marriage provides a platform to build life long friendships and relationships.
Scene moves to Delhi 1997.. My first year into professional career, big dreams and ambitions and a raring fire to make a difference to the society.. Here I was .. dancing away to glory as I had never done before- celebrating the big day of my only brother- my friend sometimes and my idol always! A banker joined the family and ushered in lots of fun times for us.
I can still remember the wide and rare smile on my dad’s when all finished well and to his liking . I hadn’t seen that one post my sisters wedding and not later during mine. Finally, he expressed it! His love for his special one. All of us love this love and have enjoyed it always in our family banters!
I learnt Marriage ceremonies bring out many a disguised and hidden emotions!
And now I fall in the trap too. Dec 2000!! They say before marriage you are incomplete and post that you are finished! While gloating over others crossing the line was ok , I finally took my big leap too. A literature enthusiast with love for Shakespeare and bachhan in same measure, a dreamer, a lover of peace and abundance walks the aisle with a realist, a mathematician one who loves chaos and scarcity !
I learnt Marriage brings in diverse souls and they make a lovely lock and key!
Am in a flight to attend my brother in law Harsh’s and his fiancé vidishas wedding. Have decided to have max fun! “Har pal yahaan – jee bhar ke jiyo, phir yeh samaa-kal ho na ho” is my theme for next 7 days. This would be the wedding of this decade.
Next decade I look forward to my niece, shreya’s wedding which would be another memorable occasion.. Young , I shall remain then, in words and spirits atleast.
Hope both the above make me learn few more things about the concept , the institution that is marriage!
PS- I have missed out on weddings of plethora of friends where I had planned to be there for sure - These are pals from mikes, DPS, Hindu and IRMA. I owe you an apology dears!!
Friday, January 29, 2010
"MASK"ed Face
Relevance of this four letter word in life and the game of chess is pretty close
Everyone around seems to be manouvering and scheming to prove their worth,
They wear a veil to hide their identity before a ruthless move॥
They want to push you to a lonely corner
suffocate you to a miserable end..
Everyone wants a QUEEN for themselves but they strive hard to ensure that you dont get a queen!
They seem to analyze every move you make
They dont " really " rejoice in your moments of celebration and cry in your moments of despair!
Yes, The role of MASK in life and the game of chess is close...
A pawn is not a pawn always and the queen not a queen
They exchange positions!
A friend is not a friend always and the foe not a foe always..
They interchange roles
The MASK makes a difference to their definition..
I have made my my moves all alone...without a MASK
Can i prove a point to all the MASKed faces around????
Everyone around seems to be manouvering and scheming to prove their worth,
They wear a veil to hide their identity before a ruthless move॥
They want to push you to a lonely corner
suffocate you to a miserable end..
Everyone wants a QUEEN for themselves but they strive hard to ensure that you dont get a queen!
They seem to analyze every move you make
They dont " really " rejoice in your moments of celebration and cry in your moments of despair!
Yes, The role of MASK in life and the game of chess is close...
A pawn is not a pawn always and the queen not a queen
They exchange positions!
A friend is not a friend always and the foe not a foe always..
They interchange roles
The MASK makes a difference to their definition..
I have made my my moves all alone...without a MASK
Can i prove a point to all the MASKed faces around????
Friday, January 15, 2010
वज्रपात
नभ को चूमती पहाड़ियों के बीच
बसा एक गाँव
गाँव के बीचो बीच है
उस गाँव का केंद्र बिन्दु
वोह विशाल पोखर!
उन्मुक्त बालकों का क्रीड़ास्थल है- वोह पोखर
रूमानी युवाओं का प्रणय स्थल है- वोह पोखर
विद्यार्थीयों की पाठशाला भी वहीं , कन्दूकेन का मैदान भी वहीं,
व्रीधों का चौपाल भी वहीं,अबलाओं का शिव मंदिर भी वहीं ,
साप्ताहीक हाट भी वहीं, वार्षिक दंगल भी वहीं,
लहलहाती फसलों की जान वोह पोखर
गाँव की आन वोह पोखर, गाँव की शान वोह पोखर
आज की सर्द सुबह ,
यकायक , वोह पोखर सूख गया !
बसा एक गाँव
गाँव के बीचो बीच है
उस गाँव का केंद्र बिन्दु
वोह विशाल पोखर!
उन्मुक्त बालकों का क्रीड़ास्थल है- वोह पोखर
रूमानी युवाओं का प्रणय स्थल है- वोह पोखर
विद्यार्थीयों की पाठशाला भी वहीं , कन्दूकेन का मैदान भी वहीं,
व्रीधों का चौपाल भी वहीं,अबलाओं का शिव मंदिर भी वहीं ,
साप्ताहीक हाट भी वहीं, वार्षिक दंगल भी वहीं,
लहलहाती फसलों की जान वोह पोखर
गाँव की आन वोह पोखर, गाँव की शान वोह पोखर
आज की सर्द सुबह ,
यकायक , वोह पोखर सूख गया !
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
जानो मुझको
चाह कर भी शब्दों में ढाल न सकोगी , शब्द नहीं एहसास हूँ मैं
मंदिर के घंटों में मैं ,मस्जिद के अजान में मैं,
चाहत की पुकार में मैं, युद्ध के ललकार में मैं,
जानों कैसी ललकार हूँ मैं, बूझो कैसी पुकार हूँ मैं !
------------------------------------------
मदिरालय के प्यालों में मैं , लंगर के थालों में मैं,
महलों के बिस्कूट में मैं, झोपर के रोटी प्याज में मैं ,
जानों कैसा स्वाद हूँ मैं , बूझो कैसा स्वाद हूँ मैं!
------------------------------------------
महुआ के रस में भी मैं ,लंगर के थालों में भी मैं
सत्यनारायण के पंचामृत में, जानों कैसा खुमार हूँ मैं !
-----------------------------------------------
साकी की चूरी की khun khun , या हो कोठे पे पायल की झंकार ,
माँ दुर्गे की तलवार की थिरकन या हो राम धनुष की टंकार
जानों कैसा झंकार हूँ मैं, boojho कैसा टंकार हूँ मैं !
------------------------------------------------
पाक राखी के डोरे हों या हो युवा प्रेम की ज्वाला
मैं हूँ मात्री प्रेम के रस से भीघी हुई एक काया
जानों कैसा प्यार हूँ मैं॥ भूझो कैसा प्यार हूँ मैं!!
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jaith दिवाकर की किरने हों ,या हो जठराग्नि कालाहांडी की,
pokhrun के baaroodon में भी, जानों कैसा अंगार हूँ मैं, बूझो कैसा अंगार हूँ मैं!!
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सुरमई छंदों को सुर देने वाला, लैबध गीतों को लेएय देने वाला ,
सुन्दरता को सुन्दर करने वाला,
जीवीत को मैं जीवन देने वाला ,
जानों कैसा फनकार हूँ मैं, बूझो कैसा फनकार हूँ मैं!
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दुख में भी मैं हंसने वाला, सूख में भी मैं रोने वाला
फकीरी में भी लूटआऊँ मैं
जानों कैसा दिलदार हूँ मैं, बूझो कैसा दिलदार हूँ मैं!
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अब तक ना बूझी, तो जान न सकोगी
garjoonga तो घबराओएगी
barsoonga तो भीगोगी
बाहूपाश में आने पे जाणोगी
जलन नहीं स्पंदन हूँ मैं
अर्थ नहीं, स्नेहिल एहसास हूँ मैं,
दूस्वपन नहीं , मधुर याद हूँ मैं!
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...
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Crossing the river
The French say it like this – cest la vie…; Am beginning to firmly believe in the uncertainties and suddenness of life…
Out of the blue, The Point noire biz offers hope… The visit is imminent… Am off to Point noire via Brazzaville…
The beach on MY( Kinshassa) side of the mighty river congo is chaotic… But , I have my ways n solutions… Being an expat and one perceived to be a rich one… I have a protocol officer to get all my “formalities” done without me getting troubled... The formalities are a set of arcane services …. They are supposed to check u for ur tickets, visa , yellow fever card , the stuff u are carrying and sometimes the brand/ colour of ur underwear…
They also ask u to declare the asset base!!! How many notes of which currency , how many phones, laptops, cameras etc… Beware.. precision is the key.. Across the mighty mystic congo.. you shall pay the penalty if u are not precision personified!!! I mean 416250 fcfa means u declare exactly the same..
Yes, am thru .. Jean luc, my protocol, is a smooth operator .. I wait in my car till he does the FORMALITIES!!! I am put on a canoe rapide!!!
There are few others who seem relaxed and contented… it is a small boat powered by a 40 v motor…. The initial coughing of the motor and the the huge width of the river congo in front of my eyes form a deadly cocktail… I get back to the age old solution.. When in fear -Chant Hanuman Chalisa! which my hindu Brahmin upbringing has firmly instilled in me….
Hanuman is a brave powerful god in hindu mythology.. Time to seek his help….. Thots of my 5 yr old son who , I believe, is one of the most naughty creature god has bestowed on this earth ,haunt me… I keep on wishing him a sweet au revoir … on the other side.. I keep telling him.. Wait.. I shall be back., soon!
Finally the motor starts roaring .. With a purpose… I know its only ten minutes… But they seem like hours….. The boat bangs on the metallic quay on banks of (brazaville side) of the river…. I wonder , if the same canoe goes thru this mini collision with the metal body on every trip…. There has to be some day when its fibre surface would give away… another shiver down the spine!
Thank God Hanuman for his continued blessings … One more time!
The colonial rulers have left one thing for sure on their african subjects…. Need for archaic systems… useless documentation !!! Am pounded by an unending set of services who want to see my visa, want to check my baggage.. want to see if I have been immunized against plethora of diseases.. and want to count every currency note I am carrying!!!! I don’t have the benefit of jean luc here… I struggle thru each of these check points before I am ready to retrieve my passport ..
Limited amount of the local currency FCFA had been used already to get thru the innumerable service controls.
The passport delivery guy needs his share of the pie… My wallet is empty.. I have big notes of USD which I don’t want him to see…
A white female .. works with UN/ NGO probably.. with the service card dangling around her bust is busy showing off her intelligence to the lesser mortals.. The card and the deep neck line of the t shirt both draw my attention…
Thought she wld be the one who would part away with a 1000 fcfa-(2 usd ) to get me out fast.. I had done that so often for fellow expatriates in the dark continent that expecting the same was not asking for the heavens…
That was not to be… She quickly retrieved her passport without parting away with any of the notes.. She did give a big artificial smile to the guy across…
The immigration guy suddenly turned mischievious, He realized that he didn’t check my ordre de mission! .. Here It was ! I had not carried a letter from the company certifying that I was entering the haloed country for business purposes.. And this was a huge mistake which could attract huge penalty. The penalty was calculated with 3 immigration inspectors huddled in unison! What a silly prey I was.. I could see them already celebrating.
Vous pouvez payez deux cent cinqante (250) dollar!! Voila.. I was trying to hide the fifty usd note and the penalty was five times that..
The game boiled down to basic competencies required to survive and flourish in these terrains- Negotiating, wheeling dealing!!.. I close the deal and get lighter by a bill of 50 usd!
The scene moves to Maya maya Airport Brazzaville where I shall catch a flight for pointe noire…
Out of the blue, The Point noire biz offers hope… The visit is imminent… Am off to Point noire via Brazzaville…
The beach on MY( Kinshassa) side of the mighty river congo is chaotic… But , I have my ways n solutions… Being an expat and one perceived to be a rich one… I have a protocol officer to get all my “formalities” done without me getting troubled... The formalities are a set of arcane services …. They are supposed to check u for ur tickets, visa , yellow fever card , the stuff u are carrying and sometimes the brand/ colour of ur underwear…
They also ask u to declare the asset base!!! How many notes of which currency , how many phones, laptops, cameras etc… Beware.. precision is the key.. Across the mighty mystic congo.. you shall pay the penalty if u are not precision personified!!! I mean 416250 fcfa means u declare exactly the same..
Yes, am thru .. Jean luc, my protocol, is a smooth operator .. I wait in my car till he does the FORMALITIES!!! I am put on a canoe rapide!!!
There are few others who seem relaxed and contented… it is a small boat powered by a 40 v motor…. The initial coughing of the motor and the the huge width of the river congo in front of my eyes form a deadly cocktail… I get back to the age old solution.. When in fear -Chant Hanuman Chalisa! which my hindu Brahmin upbringing has firmly instilled in me….
Hanuman is a brave powerful god in hindu mythology.. Time to seek his help….. Thots of my 5 yr old son who , I believe, is one of the most naughty creature god has bestowed on this earth ,haunt me… I keep on wishing him a sweet au revoir … on the other side.. I keep telling him.. Wait.. I shall be back., soon!
Finally the motor starts roaring .. With a purpose… I know its only ten minutes… But they seem like hours….. The boat bangs on the metallic quay on banks of (brazaville side) of the river…. I wonder , if the same canoe goes thru this mini collision with the metal body on every trip…. There has to be some day when its fibre surface would give away… another shiver down the spine!
Thank God Hanuman for his continued blessings … One more time!
The colonial rulers have left one thing for sure on their african subjects…. Need for archaic systems… useless documentation !!! Am pounded by an unending set of services who want to see my visa, want to check my baggage.. want to see if I have been immunized against plethora of diseases.. and want to count every currency note I am carrying!!!! I don’t have the benefit of jean luc here… I struggle thru each of these check points before I am ready to retrieve my passport ..
Limited amount of the local currency FCFA had been used already to get thru the innumerable service controls.
The passport delivery guy needs his share of the pie… My wallet is empty.. I have big notes of USD which I don’t want him to see…
A white female .. works with UN/ NGO probably.. with the service card dangling around her bust is busy showing off her intelligence to the lesser mortals.. The card and the deep neck line of the t shirt both draw my attention…
Thought she wld be the one who would part away with a 1000 fcfa-(2 usd ) to get me out fast.. I had done that so often for fellow expatriates in the dark continent that expecting the same was not asking for the heavens…
That was not to be… She quickly retrieved her passport without parting away with any of the notes.. She did give a big artificial smile to the guy across…
The immigration guy suddenly turned mischievious, He realized that he didn’t check my ordre de mission! .. Here It was ! I had not carried a letter from the company certifying that I was entering the haloed country for business purposes.. And this was a huge mistake which could attract huge penalty. The penalty was calculated with 3 immigration inspectors huddled in unison! What a silly prey I was.. I could see them already celebrating.
Vous pouvez payez deux cent cinqante (250) dollar!! Voila.. I was trying to hide the fifty usd note and the penalty was five times that..
The game boiled down to basic competencies required to survive and flourish in these terrains- Negotiating, wheeling dealing!!.. I close the deal and get lighter by a bill of 50 usd!
The scene moves to Maya maya Airport Brazzaville where I shall catch a flight for pointe noire…
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