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Showing posts from March, 2010

IPL Pune Team arrived

आयपीएल, पुणे टीम आणि पुणेरी पाट्या ... शेवटी येणार येणार म्हणता पुण्याची 'आय पी एल टीम' आली.आता आम्ही वाट पहातो आहे ती टीमच्या नावाची आणि त्यातल्या खेळाडुंची. ते येईल तेव्हा येईल पण एक (भविष्यातले) पुणेकर ह्या नात्याने आम्ही काही "पुणेरी पाट्या" लागोलाग तयार करुन ठेवत आहोत, पुढे त्याची अर्थातच गरज पडेल ह्याविषयी आमच्या मनात अजिबात संदेह नाही. * ह्या पाट्या आहेत त्या 'मैदानावरच्या' ..... १. सामन्याची वेळ तुमच्या तिकिटावर छापलेली आहे, उगाच कधीही येऊन गर्दी करु नये. २. सामन्याच्या वेळेच्या आधी ३० मिनिटे मैदानात प्रवेश दिला जाईल, तुम्ही गडबड केल्याने सामना लवकर सुरु होणार नाही. ३. खुर्चीचा वापर फक्त बसण्यासाठीच करावा ... एका खुर्चीवर एकच ! ४. मैदानात पिण्यासाठी (साध्या) पाण्याची व्यवस्था केली आहे, थंड तसेच फिल्टर्ड पाणी आपण दिलेल्या तिकिटाच्या पैशात मिळणार नाही, उगाचच आयोजकांकडे हट्ट धरु नये. ५. मैदानावरचे कॅमेरे हे सामन्याच्या हालचाली टिपण्यासाठी आहेत, उगाच हिडीस चाळे करुन त्यांचे लक्ष वेधण्याचा प्रयत्न करु नये. ६. आपण पुण्यासारख्या एका सुसंस्कृत शहरात एका सार्वज

Child's dying gift: Kidneys for ailing father

This story is touching. I am not sure if it was appropriate for NDTV to show this small girl's photo. Tamil Nadu Govt has taken a lead in health care reforms. “Kalaignar Insurance Scheme for Life Saving Treatments” is for those with an annual income of Rs.72,000 or less and family including dependents can enjoy benefits up to Rs. 1 lakh for certain procedures in private hospitals and pay wards in government hospitals. This is a cashless transaction will be allowed up to the insured amount. Govt contracted Private insurance company to implement the scheme and roped in has number of hospitals in private health care centers and hospitals throughout the State.They used the large numbers to negotiate the treatment rates. Govt in their budget allotted premium of Rs. 500 p.a without any headache of disbursement. A smart move indeed that takes care of people and yet plug holes of corruption. Each beneficiary is given a biometric smart card bearing the health and treatment details o

Happy Birthday Akshta - You are Three Today !!

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Bhappi Da @ Kolkatta

Looking at Bhappi da in the lobby of Hyatt Kolkatta make me worry about him. He is short , stout and small . Wonder what his BMD be ? His small baby face was half covered by huge lasses but his trademark gold chains were missing from his neck. He walked with his family who seemed to have carried his genes. Whatever his physical attributes be, he is gifted musician and ranks next to Pancham and Rajesh roshan in my liking of Hindi music directors of 80's.

Tees Hazari Court - Place of Justice and some entertainment too.

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After a gap of two years, I visited Tees Hazari court. 'Cross Examination' - an act or procedure that brings excitement equally to the lawyer and Indian movie script writer. This time, I was being cross examined. Reading through the written statement and submitted affidavit while waiting for my turn made me feel like a student appearing for an examination. Judges - often referred as ' learned judge ' . I wonder why ? Is there any Anpadh Judge ? But here lawyers referred him as ' Janab ' . This 'Janab' meant very direct business stating that his new target is to dispose 108 cases per month - revised from earlier target of 80 cases per month. He went at frenetic pace ; hearing, directing, disposing of cases that ranged from property dispute, outstanding collection, credit card frauds, defamation suits to corporate wrangles. 'Janab' , while scratching vigorously his left beard, peered at me through space left between his spectacle an

Oh Kolkatta !

Arrival lounge at Kolkatta International airport has a signboard put next to the luggage conveyor belt. It says Do's and Don'ts on how to use luggage conveyor belt by specifying the maximum weight bearing load per meter. The list goes up to 10 points and also for Don'ts . I wanted to take photo but was admonished by young Kolkattian who was carrying huge Samsung LCD and appeared pretty confident of walking through customs . ' You are not allowed to take photographs inside the Airport, security will throw your camera out' . My meek protest of having no such notice board didnt go all that far with a thought of my new camera being confiscated. On return, at the domestic terminal another noticeboard greeted me outside the security queue. This one had a list of people who should not be subjected to physical check. Started with President, Prime Minister the list ended up Mr Robert Vadra - son in law of Sonia Gandhi. The list doesn't include Priyanka, Rahul or Sonia

A day tour to Pattaya from Bangkok

' I shall never recommend anyone to come to Battaya '. ( There is no P in Arabic , instead it is replaced by B; Pappu becomes Babbu ) . An exasperated outburst , from the aged Jordanian tourist, when he had to get down from the motorboat and wade through knee level sea water to reach the edge of the beach. He looked in every way and mannerisms to that of A K Hangal from the movie ' Shoukeen '. The only noticeable absence was the tobacco pipe. He wore nice black leather shoes, fitted blue jeans and gray collarless half sleeve T shirt tucked in with rimless sunglasses. Even at his age, he was perfect prey for Thai beach woman who drooled over moneyied foreigners. He had his wife next to him. A plump woman that appeared physically unfit as his life partner. Another couple also from Jordan had accompanied them . A single German lady who traveled with us from Bangkok,. Another couple - German husband who has been in UAE over 20 years with his Lebanese, Bulgarian edu