The BEST stories

 
BEST Bus Facts (As of January 2010) taken from BEST site


• About 45 lakh people travel daily in Mumbai via bus.

• Total number of buses in Mumbai is about 3500.

• Approximately 350 to 370 routes their in Mumbai.

http://www.bestundertaking.com/
For the last 8 years or so I am one of those 45 lakh fortunates who travel/sleep by a BEST bus in the morning for an hour to reach office and in the evening for about 20 minutes to reach Andheri station from the office. For almost 8 years I was the first passenger in the first bus of route number 533. Being a regular user and a Bus fanatic, I have got my share of the BEST stories. Some of the drivers and conductors know me (mind - your knowing them does not help, they need to know you) and I am mighty pleased about it. Prerogatives include

- a waving by a driver if he sees me on the road
- looking out for me in the morning before starting the bus if I am not there
- gesturing and stopping a bus from an auto/car in an unscheduled stop to get in.
- being invited to tea with them
The above things have happened – no reason they’ll repeat. Nevertheless they have happened with me
Side by side I have also stories of the bus not stopping even when my shoe got flown off while boarding, being asked to get down and form a queue before boarding etc.
Twice or thrice I got carried over to next stops as I had fallen asleep (the last one being last Saturday)

Here is the first story: One morning when our bus was speeding on the Vashi bridge, the conductor while trying to put the collection in his shirt pocket misjudged his pocket location and the entire money fell off his hand. The breeze on the bridge soon saw the notes flying – first towards the entrance and then out of the bus into the creek below. He got the bus stopped , went out for the notes. There was no chance that the notes would in that strong breeze wait for him on the bridge. As soon as he re-entered I enquired about the amount lost and handed over the 200 rupees I had. This came as a big surprise for him. He accepted the money and offered to return me the same next day. Sure enough the next day he got very fresh notes ( I know not from where). On my refusal to accept that, he seemed to be a bit disappointed. But our bonds grew stronger. I don’t see him on duty now a days.
The second story goes back to the KBC days. That night I was so busy reading the Mahabharat, that I overshot my stop. An agile conductor immediately approached me – I thought for an extra ticket. But no - he was finding out from me as to what the next steps would be. How would I reach home etc.
My experience tells me that these duo managing the buses are normally very nice and amiable people.They have a herculean task of driving on the crowded streets, collecting money from 45 lakh passengers in the rain, in the sweltering heat and in the ever increasing pollution day in and day out. They along with the local train drivers (known as motormen) keep the commercial capital of the country on the move daily. Jai Ho my friends.
Now a story on the Ticket checkers in BEST buses. I find them to be very rough and know-alls. Imagine the scene at Andheri Station one night. I found some 8-10 of those blue shirt TCs laughing and shouting away and on the verge of dancing. Actually they were celebrating the sixes which Sourav Ganguly was hitting against Sri Lanka in his massive 189 RUNS. That was a pretty good sight. Sourav – hats off to you. You  made those ‘kharush’ TC s laugh and celebrate.
To me BEST is still the best in the country. Long live the BEST.

The Change Game

Do you recollect this Md. Rafi song:

Ajab teri kaarigari karataar -2
Samajh na aaye maaya teri badale rang hazaar
Ajab teri kaarigari
So apt for everything of evolution! Let me talk of places. My parents came from Bangladesh. They built up a house in Calcutta. Millions came just like them and got scattered all over West Bengal, India and some even beyond. They came with hope mainly. You cannot carry your immovables across borders. Painstakingly they built a house, got their children educated and in due course have gone back to their final abode. Such is the story of people coming from Pakistan as well.
Within one generation the circle has moved so many degrees. None of us live in the house they built – not out of choice, but out of compulsion. Here comes the Kaarigari of the Karataar. We just don’t have any inclination of his Maaya.
Now we have got our own flats wherever we are. But the fun is our children again out of compulsion, are moving out somewhere else. So again there will be a void after some time. Its Badale rang Hazaar again.

So that is the fact – the truth, the absolute truth. Change is the name of the game. Everything is moving, moving and moving. You are not allowed to stay at one place for long. Circumstances will make you move, make you change, make you fall in line – however hard you try to remain static.

Do you like it? Dear, there is no choice. So better you like it and move on. Else the soaring wave of change will just drown you to oblivion. I started with the example of places. Did my grandfather think that there would be so much of movement in his next three generations? I am not sure what happened to his previous three lines. Change of place was only an example. It applies to everything. The Maaya of His makes topsy turvy of everything. The sooner you pick up the threads, the easier it is for you to survive on the face of this earth. If you don’t know how to operate a mobile phone, you’ll not be able to contact/be contacted at crucial moments. The TV and fridge are no longer the items for the rich- it is a necessity today. The internet has changed the face of the earth. Do you still feel like remaining unconnected like 15 years back?

I for one like this Maaya thing. He gets things done His way. We the katputlis play to His tune. I enjoy that game and am always looking forward as to what next?

Many a time we find people who would give ten reasons as to why a certain thing cannot be done. I wish they also see why someone is asking for the change and that they change their stance and say that it will happen. If they do not act as the change agent, someone else will do which ultimately makes them change also.

Now what does this change means – Is it a big thing? In certain cases it may be. But in most of the cases you need to move with the changing times. One should never shut oneself up from whatever is happening around. If one follows the change closely, it would act as the enabler.

The Karataar will continue with His Maaya. It will take its thousand hues and colors. It is for us to feel that and adapt ourselves to the best of our abilities.

Happy Changing.

Ganpati Bappa

Ganpati has got a special affiliation with all Indians (and a good part of the world population). In every household in India He is revered and respected. After moving to Mumbai and specially to my flat at Navi Mumbai, the relationship has further strengthened.
I'll narrate two stories.
We had just moved to our flat on the 9th floor. Two huge garden mice also became part of our household. It had been raining outside. I think the overflowing waters made them reach our flat thru the rain-water pipes. They were destructive ones. Every night they would gnaw at one of the doors and would bite off a part of it. Left to them, they would have polished off the whole door. Something needed to be done. We used rat poison and could eliminate one. But the other continued its mala-fide activities. One evening my son managed to trap it in the bathroom. Then I killed it with a broom. It was a huge one and it took me a while. It would almost try to fly towards me in retaliation.
After a few days I dreamt that I was surrounded by rat-like people. They were grilling me as to why I had killed one of their members. I was a bit terrified. Fortunately I saw Ganeshji standing at a distance. So I was somewhat relieved. I countered those rat-like folks as to why their member was eating away my door. After some exchanges, I found Ganeshji coming forward and asking them to go away. I was saved.
Now what made me think that Ganeshji would help me? That had something to do with my moving in to the Koparkhairane flat. When I was moving into it, I considered it to be moving into the Maharashtra mainland. In the true Maratha spirit, I had become a devout Ganesha disciple. I thought I was being warmly welcomed by Him into the new household. So I was elated when I saw Him standing in the midst of all those rat-like people.
Having said all these, am I in a position to kill another of those mice today? The answer is a big NO. I had seen in front of me how the life of a somewhat big animal being snuffed out by my broom. I feel pretty bad today. I am not sure as to how I am going to act if faced with a similar situation again. Most likely I’ll shoo it off. I am very much sure that I’ll have to pay for that someday – and I am ready for the punishment.
One other related query I always had was how come we revere Ganeshji so much but have to face His chariot - that brat rat? They are so destructive. The answer to this I got at the Prince of Wales Museum in Mumbai. In one corner they have nicely explained how Lord Ganesha made the rat as His chariot to control it. Maybe the rat-king got controlled.

The other story in the same year was when I visited the dentist for a root-canalling. As the lady doctor took up her instruments and I closed my eyes, I could see she was replaced by the Lord Himself. Ganesha was performing the root-canalling Himself on me. I was top of the world.
Maybe that is how you see things when you give up completely to the Almighty. I never had any inclination that the Lord would come to my eyes like that on the dentist’s chair.

To sum up Killing should be avoided as far as possible. Maybe a few items are out of that list – poultry, fish and other animals killed for their meat. But is that correct? Survival of the fittest?

Now I realize why there are strict vegetarians in the world.

If only Mumbai cud.....

I love Mumbai. It is bursting to the brims. But still it is trying to put up a brave front. That is why we find even today trainloads of newcomers are pouring into this island city from all over. A new trend which has started now is that even foreigners are coming over here for on the job training, medical treatment and so on.

I am trying to put up the various banes of Mumbai as I see it today.

1. Spitting all around - I am not sure why I find so many people spitting all around. Every inch of Mumbai is having multi-layers of spitting on it. The other day my sandal snapped and I had to walk some distance bare-foot. I was not that worried of the pebbles as I was of the spittings on which I had to tread. The police had started some action but it was a knee-jerk effort. Things have come to a stop.

2. Defacing direction sign-boards - At Andheri station, nice sign-boards were put up showing the directions. At Germany/France we managed ourselves everything just by following the posters. And here within a few days hand-bills were pasted on the sign-boards. Can't the police take action against the organization who put up such ugly handbills? Can't the station-master get the handbills plucked out?

3. Hawkers within railway station premises: The number of sellers and the number of tables at Andheri staion seems to be on the rise. Two issues are involved. a) you are obstructing the already dwindling area leading to chances of stampede. b) There are chances of the public picking up fights with the hawkers. Innocents will suffer bodily if a scuffle breaks out. Why is the station master looking the other way?

4. BEST buses running without boards: I understand that a lot of routes have changed and that the glow-signs are being installed in the buses to reflect the number and the destination. But in the interim, passengers are suffering a lot. Empty buses zoom past you at the bus stops as you are not waving to stop them down because of absence of the route number. Come on BEST - you were never so unprofessional?

5. No buses at Railway stations in the mornings: BEST once again. Right at 7 am the traffic is not so bad. But you'll find serpentine lines at Andheri station (moving inside the station premises) as there are not enough buses. What is the issue Mr BEST? Get 100 buses lined up at night itself.

6. Piling of heavy vehicles at the Octroi check-posts: Every morning it is becoming a routine affair to get affected by the long lines of double-treble lines of heavy vehicles held up at the octroi posts on Vashi/Airoli bridges. If the department cannot cope up with the volumes, let atleast there be some discipline in the lining of the trucks. Let there be only two lines extending all the way to Panvel, if required.

I understand there are issues of drinking water, sewage, garbage also. All these are leading to all sorts of diseases. So there could be an occasion when people would die in their thousands. We are just sitting on that time bomb.

Thousands of commuters are braving these every day. Hats off to you - the common Mumbaikar. I am also one of you. I am just beating the traffic by getting out as early as possible. Let's see how long can I keep it up.

What would I like?

At this juncture of life I have another 27 qtrs to go for my retirement. I think I'll complete the innings if the body permits and the organization wants me to complete my term. There are question marks on both. But going by the confirmation of one of my ex-colleagues, an experienced astrologer, I'll not be able to leave the organization. That means I complete the tenure.

What thereafter?  - is the question. It's better to think of something. Else it'll be a day-crunching every day. I have got so many examples in the family and outside. So let me go on listing. We'll take a decision later.

1. work as a consultant
2. Take up another job
3. Start teaching youngsters
4. Start teaching elders/professionals
5. Join a coaching class
6. Learn playing a musical instrument
7. Join a singing class and get into classical music
8. start a small travel agency
9. Buy land, do some agriculture
10. Go round Bengal/India/The world
11. Join a religious organization
12. Join a philantropic organization
13. Join a political organization - oops sory not my cup of tea
14. Learn more and more about computers
15. Learn about communication technology
16. Learn about automobiles
17. start a restaurant
18. do a homeopathic course
19. Join a resort in an admn role
20. start a counselling service
21. Become a chef - nope, I can't smell; Food without aroma!!!
22. Try become a TV serial actor
23. Become an astrologer - Baba Hari Shankar
.......

.........

We'll keep adding to the list. But the main question is will these let me earn something? Having worked last so many years and getting a salary at month-end naturally makes me ask that question. We are so used to that month-end money that we'll be always looking for that. Any deviation will impact us. So we'll have to think of tackling that as a first step. If I cannot clear that test, most of the above items in the list will be a failure. So it seems it has to be a commercial venture. But then I need other skills to become a professional in other fields. Good - I realize that. Next question - which skills? It has to be something which fascinates me. Problem - with age, nothing seems to fascinate me. Then what?? Whatever, it has to be drastically different from what I do currently.

Please think for me and let me know periodically. We'll target deciding on something in the next 8 quarters.

Let me see how deep you can think.
Chiao.

AdyaPeath

If Amitabh Bachchan asks someone on KBC as to where Dakshineshwar is – pat will come the answer “Calcutta”. But instead of Dakshineshwar if his question is where is Adyapeath, the contestant might ask for a lifeline. That’s how I feel. I may be wrong.

Adyapeath is a shrine located very near to the Dakshineshwar temple. The temple is of Adya Ma – one of the forms of Goddess Kali. Those of you who have not heard of this place might find this write-up to be informative. Compared to other shrines in the country, it is of recent origin. If any of you happen to visit Kolkata, I’d urge you to visit this place. You should be there by 10 a.m. You watch the one hour Puja and Arti, have bhog, go round the place and then return. You can spend three hours very easily. (Possibly you have to register for the Bhog). You can offer Puja as well. Visit the office once you reach there and get the relevant info.
As a youngster we used to visit the place occasionally with our parents. Now the memory of both the parents is captured on a white marble slab with their names and our house address engraved upon it. The slab is fixed on one of the walls of the main temple.
The deity at the main temple is a unique one with Radha Krishna on top, Adya Ma in the middle and Ramakrishna himself at the bottom. The uniqueness comes from the fact that normally Radha Krishna and Kali are not found together at one place. Please visit the internet sites and learn all about the place.
http://www.adyapeath.org/

The temple construction could not be completed on time. Hence the public is not allowed to get inside it. The temple doors are opened during aarti times in the morning at 10.30. On 52 special tithies the doors are opened from the morning Mangalarti to 12 noon and again from 3 pm to sitalarti. You get to see the full view inside sitting on a covered platform bang opposite. The ashram boys chant the Adyastotram.
One of the fallouts of visiting the place was that we started relating to ADYA MA. The practice continues even today. By reading out the mantra called Adyastotram everyday, we got it by heart. It is a Sanskrit stotra. I am reproducing it from the above link. The second line is the English translation of the first line in Sanskrit.

Adyastotram

Om, namoh Adyayi
Om, salutation to Adya.

Srinu batsya prabakshyami Adyastotram mahaphalam
Dear child, listen to the narration of this divine hymn to Adya.

Ja patheta satatam bhaktya sa eba Bishnuballava.
One who recites it regularly is a favourite of Vishnu.

Mrityu byadhi vayam tasya nashti kinchita kalaujuge
It destroys the fear of death and disease in this present era.

Aputra lavate putram tripaksham srabanam jadi.
The barren conceive after listening for three fortnights.

Dou masha bandhanamukti biprabaktata srutam jadi
One is freed, by hearing a brahmin recite for two months.

Mritabatsha jibatbatsha shanmasam srabanam jadi.
Women having stillbirths bear living children after six months.

Noukayam sankate judhhe pathana jaya mapnuyat.
Chanting protects one over water, during wars and in difficult times.

Likhitwa sthapayeta gehe naAgniChouraVayam kachhita.
Keeping a copy at home removes the fear of fire and robbery,

Rajasthane jayi nityam prassanna savadevata.
It brings success with royalty and pleases all the gods.

Om Hrim. Bramhani Bramhaloke Cha Baikunthe sarvamangalla
Om! Hrim! You are Bramhani, consort of Bramha in Bramhaloke; You are Sarvamangalla in Baikuntha, the house of Bishnu,

Indrani amarabatyambika varunalaye
Indrani, consort of Indra in Amaravati, Ambika in the abode of Barun,

Jamalaye Kalarupa, Kuberabhavane Shuva
You are Kala in the land of Yama, Subha in that of Kuber

Mahanandagnikone cha Bayabam Mrigabahini
Mahananda in the SouthEast, Mrigabahini in the NorthWest

Nairityang Raktadanta cha Aishanyang Shuladharini.
Raktadanta in the SouthWest, Suladharini in the NorthEast.

Patale Vaishnabirupa, Singhale Devamohini
You are Vaishnabi in the netherlands, Devamohini in Singhal,

Surasha cha Manidwipe, Lankayam Bhadrakalika.
Surasha in Manidwip, Bhadrakalika in Lanka,

Ramweshari Setubandhe, Vimala Purushowtamme,
Rameswari at the Cape , Vimala at Puri,

Viraja Oudradeshe cha Kamakhya Nilaparbate.
Viraja in Orissa, Kamakhya in the blue mountains of Assam

Kalika Bangadeshe cha Ayodhyaam Maheswari,
You are Kalika in Bengal, Maheswari in Ayodhya,

Varanasyam Annapurnam Gayakhshetre Gayeswari.
Annapurna in Benaras, Gayeswari in Gaya.

Kurukshetre Bhadrakali, Braje Katyaani Para
Bhadrakali at Kurrukshetra, Katayani in Braja, the land of Krishna.

Dwarakayam Mahamaya Mathurayam Maheswari
Mahamaya in Dwaraka, Maheswari in Mathura.

Khuddha tang Sarva-bhutanam, Bela tang sagarasya cha
You are hunger in all living beings, you are the shore of the oceans,

Nabami Suklapakhsasya Krisnasaikadasi para.
You are the ninth lunar day of the waxing moon, and the eleventh of the dark fortnight.

Dakshasya Duhita Devi DakshaJagnaVinasini
You are Daksha’s daughter Parvati, Destroyer of Daksha’s sacrificial rites.

Ramasya Janaki tam hi Ravana DhwamshaKarini
You are Janaki, the consort of Rama, You are the one who destroys Ravana

ChandaMundaBadhe Devi RaktwaBijaBinashini
You demolish Chanda and Munda, And kill the demon Raktabija

NishumbhaSumbhaMathani MadhuKaitavaGhatini.
You suppress Sumbha and Nishumbha, You are the killer of Madhukaitava.

Bishnubhakti prada Durga Sukhada Mokshada sada
You are Durga, infusing devotion to Vishnu, You are the dispenser of pleasure and salvation.

AdyaStabamMimam Punnam Ja pathet satatam Nara
One who regularly recites this sacred hymn to Adya

SarvyaJaravayam na syat sarvyabyadhi binashanam
Is free of fear of all fever and illness

Kotitirtha Phalalam tasya lavate natra samshaya.
He reaps the fruits of visiting millions of sacred shrines.

Jaya me chagrata patu Bijya patu prishtthata
May Jaya protect me from the front, Vijaya protect me from behind,

Narayani sirshadeshe Sarvangey Singhabahini
Narayani in the region of the head, and Singhabahini over the rest of the body,

Sivadyuti Ugrachanda Pratange Parameswari
Sivadyuti, Ugrachanda, Parameswari protect my limbs.

Bishalakhee Mahamaya Kaumari Sankhini Siba
Lotus eyed Mahamaya, Kaumari, Sankhini, Shiba,

Chakrini Jayadatri Cha Ranamattwa Ranapriya
Chakrini, Jayadatri embroiled in battle,

Durga Jayanti Kali cha Bhadrakali Mahodari
Durga, Jayanti, Kali, who is Bhadrakali, Mahodori

Narasinghi cha baarahi Sidhidatri Sukhaprada
Narasinghi, Varahi, Donor of powers and happiness,

Bhyankari Maharoudri Mahabhyabinashini
Bhayankari, Maharoudri, Dispeller of the greatest fears.

Iti Brahmajyamale BrahmaNaradaSambade, Adyastotram Samaptam.
Here ends this dialouge between Bramha and Narada as described in the BramhaYamala.So ends this hymn to Adya.

You may read it a couple of times and find out the effect. I started reciting it when I was in class vi. The greatest impact it had on me was a tremendous boost to the self-confidence. It drew me out of the introvertness that I was shrouded with. The courage, the boldness went up many times over. And the good results started unfolding.
God Bless.

The Shoe Stories

The wearer knows where the shoe pinches. You know that. But has it ever occurred to you that 'the shoe knows where the wearer treads'? If shoes could talk then parents would ask the shoes and not the child as to whether he went to the college or to the cinema hall. Shoes are part and parcel of our life. They protect our feet from every external nuisance. In a gym, a proper footwear helps us immensely to do do the treadmill and others. An 80 year old is as possessive as a baby in the matter of their shoes. We have seen how a no. 8 and no. 9 pair has helped in identifying the villain in the cinema. More recently we have watched how shoes are thrown at bigwigs by common people to give vent to their anger.

I have a couple of stories with my shoes. In both the cases they travelled back to me after being out of my life for some time.

The bus stop was outside our compound. Seeing the bus coming I ran  the 10 yards. The old slip-ons I was wearing had actually got a bit loose. Finally when I jumped into the bus, one of them flew out. The conductor was in the front and the driver drove on. I stood on the foot board and travelled all the way to the next stop with one shoe on. When it finally halted at the next stop I got down - thinking how to get back to the point of origin, whether it would be there etc. I was pretty pissed off when I heard someone from behind calling out "Bhai Saab". I was in a foul mood and thinking it to be a beggar (and before turning around fully and without looking properly) I screamed "What Bhai Saab"? Can you imagine the next scene I saw? I saw the man standing behind me was actually having my missing shoe dangling in his hand. I also saw his scooter parked just beside us. Immediately I realized that this man on a scooter behind the bus had actually seen my shoe flying. He had picked up the same and was trailing the bus. The rest you read just now. Do you still feel that you do not get back in return for all the help you provide to others? And the best part was - I grabbed the shoe from his hand and climbed on to the same bus again. I did not have the time to say "Thank You". I'll remain ever grateful to this total stranger. "Be a happy man wherever you are - my friend".

Here is the second story. The doctor's chamber was full. We were required to take off our shoes before we got in. After my turn with the doc, I came out, put my shoes on and walked off. I got into a bus and then to the train. On getting down from the train, when I was walking to the office, I felt something was wrong. The shoes were proving to be too tight. Immediately I knew that my shoes were exchanged. What next? Slowly I walked to the office and called up the doctor. The recptionist, it seemed, had won a lottery when I told her the story. It seemed they were waiting  for my call, at the same time not very sure if the call would actually take place. Anyway she took down my office location and conveyed the same to the affected party. In the evening the family from Pune arrived at my office and the re-exchange of the shoes took place. Fortunately it was a tame affair. Not for once did they blame me or pointed fingers at me. Again I turned out to be the fortunate guy after having played spoilt-sport with the businessman from Pune.
Months later when I re-visited the doctor, he still remembered the episode and was asking me "something had happened with the shoes" etc.