Three Random and Quite Unrelated Thoughts

1. Hot Cycle, 22 Mins:

That's what I chose past weekend while doing laundry. Once done, while transferring clothes from washer to drier I saw something which gave me a heart attack. Our recently purchased Creative Muvo MP3 player was there looking at me in shock and complaining what you had done? Did you forget how your mother always used to check pockets before putting the clothes for washing...What a Shame....You are responsible etc etc.
The next thought comes to my mind is what happened to those ipod nanos out of washer..Just complete dead. At least I have heard that in two cases recently. But who will throw away $50 without giving a chance at least....and guess what...The player was intact, playing with crisp clear sound as before, like nothing happened.
Yes Creative's Muvo did survive this ultimate but unintended stress test which Apple's Nano can never even think of. Does it mean I am a Muvo fan now...No way, as long as I have that white thingy with the logo of a "fruit" on it.

2. New Arrival In the Market:

Couple of days back did see this new product from Coke at our local Kroger "under new arrival" section. Diet Coke "Plus" which Coke recently launched in some "test" market segments. As if Zero Carb, Diet coke was not sufficient this version of Diet coke is with Extra Supplement of Calcium and Minerals. Did not even dare to buy it, but it proves what this Conglomerates can do and can go to the extent to make you buy their products. Maybe those executives in Atlanta are thinking the day will arrive soon when Doctors will recommend this new drink for extra supplements!
You are right, with Coke there brandishing something new, can Pepsi be far behind? Read that they are counter attacking with "Tava" (isn't that a weird name, maybe Coke already beat them in naming the product atleast)

3. Nothing Is Permanent:

After seven long years my registration plate of Honda Accord gets replaced past week. This being our first car and the first title plate number, maybe over the years grew an attachment with this particular sequence of Alphanumerics. So anytime I saw a related number (maybe one or two digits/letters different) unknowingly got that affinity to that different car for few seconds driving along in the road. As if we have something in common.
How many times I might have been searching for this particular sequence of letters and digits coming out of a store and finding myself lost in car parking. And when you see it...its is like, there is my dearest one..waiting patiently for me to drive me back! There are thousands of look alikes (green Honda Accords) but this was the "thing" making it unique and so wanted and so special for me!

Now this old one is replaced by 712SSJ....it will take me some time to get used to this new number.
Will sure accept 712SSJ slowly but can NEVER forget H86XRT though.
After all "Nothing Is Permanent" in this world!

Letter to a Fellow Taurian

Hello,
It was my long time wish to get back an autographed letter from Vijaydeep, 3rd Floor, Iris Park, Juhu, Mumbai-49, but it did never happen, though I remember sending self addressed envelope there atleast once. All I could console myself at that time was that it must be your secretary Rakeshnath aka Rikko, who probably scanned and put my envelope in the trash along with 1000s other such requests coming to you daily. I am sure it never reached you else how could you ever disappoint one of your most diehard fan, right? A true Taurian can never.

Now once again, maybe after 15 long years, I am trying to send this letter to you through my blog instead of a stamped letter and saving the effort of trying to find your latest "postal" address. Also there is no need for self stamped envelope this time, as you are most welcome to drop "comments" in the blog itself and finally there is no fear of Rikko Jee coming in between and deciding which letter is worth your time.

I wont waste time in introducing myself, you can always find it through my profile.

One thing which my profile does not indicate though, is that I am a person who tries to remember all the important and eventful dates happening in and around me. But I am surprised at myself as I really dont remember exactly when I came to know about you first. I vaguely remember about the movie "Uttar-Dakshin-1987" being discussed by some of my high school friends and them mentioning that new actress in that is real good. Though later on I would know that it was "Abodh-1986" which was your first movie..not that it was a great one, but just on the lines of "Saath Hindustani" being the first one of Legendary Amitabh. It helped me score couple of points in local quizzes during those days!

In my school days I never got the opportunity to watch any movies other than religious one like "Lav-Kush" or children's film like "Safed Haathi" by Tapan Sinha (result of the strict,disciplined and "typical middle class bong" way our parents brought us up where the word "cinema" and "children" couldn't coexist), and probably that made me too curious about tinsel town and I just devoured anything I came across about it from print media, radio, later on TVs and of course friends whose parents were more liberal. So though I came to know about Mohini, Munna and Lothia Pathan, and your first superhit song of "ek-do-teen" through different sources, I never saw it in theater. But I did see few clips of that in one of those special bus with Video players,while going to a "baraat". And I was wondering why people are going crazy over this movie and this actress with pimples...though I agreed songs were indeed catchy! I had just entered my freshman year that time.

Couple of months later you gave us Raam-Lakhan-1989. And I was still holding the same opinion. This time me being a college student I was able to go to theaters on select occasions. While my friends were glued to every shots of yours, but I found Dimple Kapadia (and her pairing with Jackie Shroff) more impressive than you with Anil Kapoor that time (remember that lovely song "mujhey tumsey hai kitne gile"). In the similar time I heard about Dayawaan-1989 (remake of Nayakan) being another hit of yours. Later on I would read your interview somewhere that you consider this movie has one of the boldest scene you ever performed which you regret! I was still not fascinated about your charisma but it was all about to change...very soon!

It was the beginning of my sophomore year, when for the first time bollywood came out with the "teaser concept" for a movie promotion. Still remember the ads in Times Of India "The most powerful film ever made!" and after couple of day's continuing the ads and teasers, we came to know about Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Parinda-1989 is about to hit the marquee. The whole day scholar group went out to Samrat Talkies near our house to feel the power on a matinee show...and yes that was the day..I became a fan of yours. Unfortunately I dont remember the date. Keeping aside all the other aspects of this real "powerful" film, you were so so impressive and natural, poised,good looking in each and every part of this movie,I just cant explain. That was the day I realized why people have started comparing you with Madhubala, why there are page long articles about your "million dollar smile". Me who always took "pride" in the fact that I am out of the league, different than average, suddenly found I am part of them and I am thinking like them! I lost my "exclusivity" that day....and I became like million other fans you already had!

Since then I think I started liking your each and every movie (not necessary I saw them all..but I did read/discuss about them all for sure). After couple of average movies you started delivering hits in a row like Tridev-1989 (the Oye Oye still rings in my ears), Kishen Kanhaiyya-1989 (you showed your comical skill), and then with Dil-1990 it showed that you possess a great on screen chemistry with Amir Khan too (though I was hurt when Madhu Mehra falsely blames Raj). I liked your song and dance from Jeevan ek Sangharsh-1990. In that year itself then you gave two great performances and branded yourself forever as one of the greatest dancer of Indian Cinema.
One was Sailaab (1990) the famous koli dance of "humko aaj kal hai" and the other one from Thanedar (1990) "Tamma tamma loge". I was so amazed by your footwork. Only couple of weeks later "Jumma" would overshadow "Tamma", but believe me dancing with "beer mugs" was no where, compared to your number with "chairs". Forgive me, if I am again daring to compare two legends!

With Prahar-1991 you made an example of a lead heroine working without any makeup, 100 days-1991 (watched it during my vocational training at BHEL and saw how you excelled in a thriller too), Sajan-1991(what can I say about it..touched so deeply, Maybe it was sheer age, as I was trying to associate Pooja, Aman and Akash with real life persons in and around me), Beta-1992 (another great one from you, you must be knowing the fact when people went to watch it for second time just for Dhak-Dhak, well I think you created another benchmark there),Khalnayak-1993 (Watched it at Nagpur while train was 10 hrs late going to Bangalore for my 1st job. you looked great! and also who could have suited better than you in that Ila Arun's famous song) , HAHK-1994 (I was in Delhi then, watched at Satyam theater, now a major cineplex I heard, personally it wasnt something I liked but as long as you are there it was worth a watch always) , Anjaam (With SRK..first time. "Chane ke key khet mey" was great, and your resolve to get the revenge was ultimately portrayed), Yarana-1995 (that nusrat fateh ali number "mera piya ghar aya" was a great hit, but movie was a flop though), Mrityudand-1997 (my first movie at Singapore..nice to know that can see you outside India too!), Koyla-1997 (still wonder why did you sign for that "bundle" movie?) , DTPH-1997 (fantastic,watched with fiancee...and Family at Bhopal just one day after engagement. After marriage I got the VCD of it and both me and my wife being great Fans of yours watched it innumerable times since then. There is stark comparison of you versus Karishma, but to me you were always number one!), Pukar-2000 (havent seen it...but read you performed a song at Alaska wearing nothing but a black chiffon...wasnt it cold?), Gajgamini-2000 (M F Husain's experimental stuff...I am still to find someone who says has watched it without falling asleep). Devdas-2002 (I think this is the last movie I saw of yours.....and you were simply superb. People tried to compare Ash with You and I simply laughed at them.)

What else, unlike other "typical" fans, I never ever filled my room with huge poster of yours, but you know I came across something unique and very rare, at Sonam Photo Studio of Raipur. There I got your passport size photograph (black and white) and I carried that for long with me. Then at my first job I met another person would later become a very close friend of mine. And with in hours after meeting we found you are the common link for both of us..and soon I realized he is much a bigger admirer of yours than me! And you know what, on his birthday day couple of months later, I presented him that photograph. He was just speechless....and I believe he still has it with him. I did not feel bad about parting with this valuable possession of mine as I knew I was giving it to a true fan of yours.

When in late 1999 the news broke about your marriage plans to an NRI doctor based in US. many of us welcomed this news and felt good for you but at the same time were wondering if that means your retirement. But you soon made it clear that it was just the marriage but not a farewell to Bollywood. Though you were on and off from limelight, Bollywood and Media never forgot you and whole country celebrated when you became a mother and soon after your homecoming with husband and son.Then for a brief period there were look alikes of yours who tried to fill the vacuum like Niki Aneja or Antara Mali....but tell me can the legends be ever replaced. Meanwhile Ram Gopal Verma tried to make you immortal in his own way by making a movie bearing your name. ..See how everyone missed you!

So, it was a heartfelt welcome news when it was reported that you have started shooting for Yash Raj Films "Aaja Naachle-2007" scheduled for release later this year.

I wish you all the best for that and am sure it will be a great and memorable re-entry of yours in bollywood after a long gap of 5 years.

I would also like to wish you another thing " A very Happy Birthday to you, today being 15th May"

From: Your "taurian" fan who also shares the birthday with you.

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references: sheer memory and internet movie data base (imdb)

That Eventful Week of May'98

Wednesday, 6th May 1998:
While I was getting calls from home for some last minute purchases to be made from Mustafa, a popular shopping center among indians in Singapore, before my 2 week vacation begins, couple of handpicked scientists and engineers of DAE and DRDO were also receiving some calls from top level authorities. They were just informed that they need to leave immediately for some "mission" which they have no idea about and for the next entire week they would be incommunicado with their family members, friends, colleagues and even their immediate bosses.

Travelling by different means and unaware of who all are in the team this ensemble of highly skilled individuals gathered at the city of Jodhpur in Rajasthan on the Morning of May the 7th.

Thursday, 7th May 1998:
Though my shopping and packing was done for my trip but I had to get some basic household items, as just after coming back from India I would be entering a newly rented house. It was fully furnished but still needed couple of household items. As I was trying to collect these things from local market the above team were heading towards the vast desert of Thar.

They have just been informed individually what there task would be for the next 3 days, with not much details but they were smart enough to know the ultimate motive and combined output of this operation. They were too glad to be part of this "prestigious" team and could understand the secrecy they needed to maintain. Just one small leak and the whole operation could be in jeopardy, which they cant afford as their whole fraternity was trying so hard for it since long and with the recently changed country's political scenario it suddenly seemed feasible.

For next couple of nights they would be coming out of the military trucks to perform their tasks and reach back to their trucks even before the first sunlight hits the Thar Desert. After all they were not trying to hide it from locals or the farmers of that region but from far above the roving US spy satellites looking for some "different" patterns over this sensitive part of the country. It is not that the satellites were not picking up these activities but it never got analyzed thanks to Indian Military's 58th regiment who were doing deception tasks (like digging in trenches and filling them up) since last couple of years anticipating this mission might happen one day. Later on CIA would get a blast from US Senate for not being able to anticipate this....and some senators even would brand this as biggest failure of CIA over decades!

Sunday, 10th May 1998:
Finally I was in my hometown, Raipur, after a stayover at Delhi, to be surrounded by relatives and family members. There was an excited and cheerful environment keeping me in the limelight. While I was getting ready for our next day's trip to Bhopal many things were unfolding in Delhi in a "military" precision way!
All the three chief of staffs were called that day to PM's residence. They came to know about something which their defence minister (George Fernades) knew only hours before probably. Cabinet committee on security was informed but not the hisghest ranking civil services officer like cabinet secretary and even defence secretary were felt to be informed about it. Many hierarchy and bureaucratic procedures were violated that day intentionally and information was shared strictly only with the "need to know basis". Even the highest ranking officer of Indian Executive The President was told about it late night on 10th of May while at home I was making some last minute phone calls to my friends requesting them if they can visit us at Raipur.

Monday, 11th May 1998:
"Budhham Sharanam Gacchami" . I woke up on that morning listening to this chanting coming out through blaring loud speakers of Budhha Temple nearby our house. His highness Gautam Buddha himself certainly would have protested the sheer noise the loud speakers were making that morning. Someone later told me it was "Buddha Purnima" that day. That morning thanks to my father everybody seemed to be in hurry as he had given ultimatum to leave the house for the railway station by 12PM. Surprisingly that day Chattisgarh Express was not running late, which was otherwise known as the most "unpunctual" train in South Eastern Railway during those days! While we were passing through Bhilai around 3PM on that scorching May afternoon, 6 men were anxiously waiting for a phone call at 7 Race Course Road, New Delhi. These 6 were the Prime Minister Vajpayee, Home Minister L K Advani, Defence Minister George Fernandes, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha. Planning Commission Chairman Jaswant Singh and PMO secretary Mr. Brajesh Mishra. Then around 3.45 PM the much aniticipated call finally came through. Brajesh Mishra received the call and all he could hear it was an excited "Done". He passed over the phone to the PM. The emotional PM congratulated the two scientists and then chiefs of DRDO and DAE, Mr Kalam and Mr Chidamabaram. Advani along with others present could not stop their tears.

Around the same time many seismological centers around the earth were placing some urgent calls to their chiefs and they further were conveying that to their heads of the state after noticing very unusual "seismic" activities in the western part of India. But they did not have to wait and analyze further the computer readings as Mr. Vajpayee soon was in TV screens across the globe announcing to the world the arrival of the 6th entrant in Nuclear Club. Unlike 1974 this time there was no mention of "Peaceful Purpose" rather India declared itself as a nuclear weapon holder. A beaming Vajpayee declared the Nuclear Tests ...appropriately code named "Operation Shakti" a big success to the whole nation. We came to know about all of this while seeing celebrations at Nagpur Railway Station..the whole country was celebrating Diwali that night!

Tuesday, 12th May 1998:
Because of the events of the previous day, somehow our visit to Bhopal and its very purpose got shadowed. Everywhere people were talking about it. I did meet many of my friends who came from Delhi and other parts. A dear friend of mine came from as far as France...little did he know about, that next year same day it will be him who will be getting married!

Later that night BJP scored its another popularity by increasing the retirement age from 58 to 60 for govt. and public sector employees. Many senior BHEL(ians) who were with us that night could not feel more happy!

The next day it was time to return back to Raipur. This time we had couple of extra passengers than what we had come to Bhopal with. One of them was sitting besides me with tears in her eyes...I could guess it was certainly not the fact of Country becoming Nuclear, or her Father avoiding Retirement by two more years..rather it was the sadness of leaving her City, parents and sister. Later while train stopped at Itarsi Junction, we experienced another round of excitement amonf fellow travellers. I got out of the train only to find out that despite condemnations, threats of sanctions and a stunned Bill Clinton the audacious Indian Government conducted two more tests that noon before formally completing the process while Pakistan has threatened to go nuke within weeks!

When I came back to our coach, my co-passenger asked me what was that all about?
I said "Well Mithu,....the Nuclear Race in the subcontinent and Our Married life has just begun"
After long 3 hrs since she left her home, I could see a smile on her face.

Happy 9th Anniversary to Nuclear India as well as Our Marriage!

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Reference: The details of this post regarding India's 2nd Nuclear Tests were referred from India Today 25th May 1998 archived edition as well as many other online papers and journals.