Mumbaikars Journey

Ganesh Darshan 2026

2026-09-18T19:56:09.693+05:30

.... And the journey continues. Sharing these lovely moments with each of you.

CONSORT

DIMPLE

SHYAM

MEHUL

VIGNESH

CONSORT

CHINTAMANI

LALBAUGCHA RAJA

MUMBAICHA RAJA

LALBAUGCHA SIDDHIVINAYAK

GSB WADALA

GSB KINGS CIRCLE

TULSIWADI

GIRGAONCHA RAJA - 99 YRS

KHETWADI

MODI PATEL

GALGALE

THANVI

MITHAIWALA

Thank You -

Pray that this journey continues. -

Best Wishes - Pavi

Anthem of the Thar

2026-08-16T16:54:47.667+05:30

Book Launches are occassions to rub your shoulders with connoisseurs, and intellectuals and sharpen your etiquettes.

Coming from the wild, into a set of the above, indeed is a calming feel of belonging.

Title Waves, a bookshop promoted by the St. Paul's Publication at 23 rd TPS - Bandra West is a vast place for a Book Lover and to also grab a coffee and sit while the world browses the mobile. Being different.

Worth appreciating is a set and stage for Book Launches and a Moderator who I can soon see to be part of a news channel - Harry

Precise and to the point and having the making of a smart TV host.

Anthem of the Thar, as we brainstorm the writer of the Book - Vijay; we are told took six years in the maiden making of his book. Holed up in his home at Palghat in Kerala storming thru research from 7 AM to 9 PM, and finally seeing the light of the day and then interacting with daylight must have been an awakening of sorts.

The book is about the forgotten World War One, and the contribution of British arm twisted Indians. It's about a JODHPUR REGIMENT and how they went out to do the heroics for a master who continued to control them.

The first few pages, are about introducing the characters and as we go further we sure can let ourselves engulf into a period of 100 years ago.

Well, indeed I look forward to see an epic film being made on the lines of Odyssey, Padmavat or Jodhaa Akbar and Aditi Rao playing the female lead.

Michael Jackson

2026-04-25T15:10:00.002+05:30

MJ born on August 29, 1958 is very much a Virgo, and is a typical Virgo with love for the downtrodden and ambitious with the rebel thrown in. His perfectionism is surely another trait which made him as famous only as MJ can.

Yesterday by default ended up walking to Sterling Theatre and was surprised about the showing of MICHAEL. Unaware that it is a new release, the movie was just a walk through of nostalgia.

That, our generation saw the making of Michael Jackson and having been enthralled album after album. It was the first time ever the English songs had a theatrical video with dancing. Beat It was the beginning followed by Thriller. If you have yet to see the videos, YouTube will do that favour, happily.

That he captured the Andheri Stadium supported by none other than the great Shri Bal Thackeray was just another milestone for him and us.

In his quest for perfection was indeed his nose job, too. MJ getting burnt scars while doing a PEPSI AD was just another fiasco just as his Hitler Dad, who continued to belt him till he was sacked.

Hearing girls scream in the movie and among the audience demonstrates how adorable he was and is still, despite knowing all the negative fictions to siphon money out of him.

The icing was when a youngster jumped on the STERLING STAGE to do the MOONWalk to capture a reel for his social media.

Indeed happy that music continues to connect generations.

See it before it's too late to talk.

- VIRGO

TESSERACT - THE GEOMETRY OF TRUTH

2026-03-16T10:31:00.005+05:30

Yesterday March 15, 2026, I was witness to an enchanting, captivating and exhilarating journey of a 'theatrical spectacle of curation and choreography' - that included 'stage, song, script, story, drama and dance'

Amazing - would be the most underrated word to describe the spectacle.

Indeed, it was a TIMES OF INDIA presentation at the eclectic Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA.

Truth today is a dying commodity, resurrecting it ofcourse has its challenges. Since 1838, Times of India has been bringing home to us daily, every day the conceptualisation of " LET TRUTH PREVAIL"

If you are asking, Why Truth is a dying commodity? Well. Look around us, look how we are sublime with all the fake, exaggerated and half baked news that is going around. So much so that to check fake news, there are separate portals.

In our hurry to deseminate information first and attract eyeballs we are keen to press 'enter' before we even read it twice.

Having grown by the dictum of 'Let truth prevail' it was overwhelming to see TESSERACT - the geometry of truth presented in every angle, from the obtuse to the acute, sharp and precise.

A script that was drama, musical, dance, costumes and classy props woven by the concept of TRUTH and the deep knowledge bank of print media of The Times of India - AM indeed so thankful to my friend CG for the invite.

If truth is something you are passionate about, look out for the next show - just jump into it don't miss the opportunity.

And like they said in TESSERACT - "Let truth be our pulse again" .

Let's have the guts to live by it.

Credit and accolades to Meera Jain for the initiative and to Shiamak Davar for the Direction and the Choreography - the costumes and the works.

Cheers!!

Letters to Juliet

2025-12-20T19:24:00.001+05:30

Does love have a timestamp, if you need the answers watch this 2010 film on Netflix.

Well, don't ask me how I ended up watching it today, but by default - I did.

Let me get you interested in the movie, with some details.

The movie begins with Sophie and her Fiance, who decides to go on a pre honeymoon journey and combines it with a business journey and got so busy with it, that he allowed his writer girlfriend to be on her own.

Sophie wandering on her own discovers a wall where messages are pasted. While chasing the people behind those who replies to the letter she gets interested and self recruits herself into the team.And there she goes and discovers a letter. The letter is pasted on the wall of love, which are answered by a team of local dedicated women. Sophie then discovers a letter that is 50 years old, and she replies that letter dil se.

Without much of a surprise, the letter did find the addressee and amid a series of twists and turns the search continues woven by a love story of Sophie too.

If you like being smitten, here's one for you.

Please be encouraged to leave your comments on the movie and this post in the slot below.

Some memories stay as fresh and fragrant as ROSE 🌹 🌹

Is Dynasty NEPO??

2025-11-04T15:10:00.005+05:30

Or can it be termed as emulating a near and dear?

Let's be the devils advocate.

"Mera baap chor hai". Let's question ourselves - What does the child try not to emulate? or What does the society push him into? Will the society ever accept his truthfulness? Will the society encourage him to be the Shashi Kapoor or Amitabh of Deewaar? Good questions right??

Why does the child of a Nurse become a Doctor? Why does the child of an Air Hostess become a Pilot?? Why does the child of a Doctor become a specialist Doctor? Why does the child of a lawyer become a lawyer? Why does the child of a Media Person gets into Media/ Advertising??

Well, if you have lived your life respectfully and if you have discussed the challenges and rewards of your career at home, then obviously you have interned and inducted your child at an early age to have interest in your career. And it also obviously means that the child is proud of the legacy you have created and is happy to emulate it better than you, having studied the pros and cons closely and analysed it over decades.

By the way how is Prithviraj Kapoor related to Ranbir Kapoor - does it ring a bell 🔔 🔔

If all the above is a valid career path, (and don't tell me that as a parent you have not hand held your child for the first break), if so what is Dynasty?? And why is Dynasty in politics wrong?? If you have been able to be a parent then there is a natural flow else just blame yourself being invalid.

And, as you finish reading, please list out the chosen career path of each of you and think how and why you have not chosen to rebel against your parent.

So yeah Shashi Tharoor get married soon, better late than never, am sure there is someone who is waiting to follow in your footsteps, and the same plead goes out to our Namo too.

The Centroid - Snehal

2025-09-07T23:21:00.001+05:30

During the ongoing exhibition at Nehru Art Gallery, had the privilege of meeting Snehal a genius from Nasik.

In the many decades that I have been visiting art galleries, it is for the first time Iam wonderstruck with the idea of a DOT (A Bimb in the dictionary of Snehal)

A DOT in myriad shapes, and simply in the shades of a single colour - 💙 🔵

Surely, as an artist the easier thing to do is let the artistic mind wander and capture different hues and forms of life and nature. But sitting and pondering over just one subject and one colour and yet bringing out a combination in 50 different ways can only happen with the genius of a lateral thought process and showcases the depth of how deep one can delve on just one DOT, and the extensive extensions of putting it across to an audience to absorb the varied dimensions and what it spells out, with each artwork opening out to multiple thought rendering.

If you are in and around Mumbai, you still have the last day to understand the lateral layers of thought process of Snehal at the Nehru Art Gallery.

Cheers Snehal - absolutely impressed with what your work signifies and also the Black and White drawings of the lines.

Best wishes - Pavi

BUY THE SEA: NIVITA

2025-09-03T05:32:00.003+05:30

Sea shores and the shoreline offers you for ever the happiness of conjuring a dream, of endless possibilities of making life happen. It also encourages you to accolade your achievements.

And here is what my priceless baby has done, given a boost to herself and to all those people around her and hope to achieve the same for each of you who would visit the ART GALLERY AT NEHRU CENTRE from today September 3rd to the evening of September 8th 2025.

Here's an opportunity to convert your hall to that endless rays of pure nostalgia and vision, with the cup of coffee or tea ☕ in your hand.

Sharing the pictures of inauguration by Dear friend - Mr.Cyril Mendonca - prominent PMC & the Builder of Schools, Hospitals and ofcourse Residentials accompanied by Mr.Santosh Pednekar - the Assistant Director at the Nehru Art Gallery.

Also seen in the picture is the epitome of encouragement - her Ronnie.

Mid Day - September 3rd, 2025

Beautiful Mind

2025-07-09T12:17:00.005+05:30

Last night ended up watching the 2001 award winning film on a real life Mathematician John Nash ( A Nobel prize winner in 1994), and acted very well by Russel Crowe who ofcourse won an Academy for his acting.

Over to 2025.

The movie begins with the age old rivalry of Communism versus Democracy, and how the father of Democracy want all the siblings to practice their dictum.

Let me just dwell on this aspect.

Since times immemorial, we have been indoctrinated by the Father of Democracy ( obviously USA) that the USSR is villian and devil personified in all aspects. Pick up any book from American Library, any movie made by great studios of USA, one thing that is inherent, is that USSR is a sworn devil hence an enemy by all means. And every which way Communism is worse than COVID and should not be contagious, hence nipped and nucleared in the first available opportunity.

And therefore in the movie too, the motivation for a Mathematician or for any positive thinking scientist - the motivation is the same - destroy communism, destroy USSR. Destruction and obstruction wins the ultimate rewards.

Sad, is it not.

Here in 2025, the father of democracy is freaking out with the world by going to war with who ever his cowboy fingers want to shoot and kill. Bans grants to the likes of Harward and others so that they fall at his feet. Arm twisting the world on Tariffs ( this I agree - as an American Businessman, though I wonder what will be the end result and how it will shape their economy). Threatening the media to toy in with his trump, and playing snakes and ladders with Pakistan and giving the finger to his acclaimed hugging friend - the leader of the Mother of Democracy.

Oh yeah, and what's happening at the Mother's place. Determination of the third degree kind. What I want to do, will get it done by hook, by crook or by feeding the media, and if need be fly the wrong statistics down the gullet of the those whose minds are so beautiful, that anything that goes down their gullet is digested, why even bother to even apply your mind on it

No, no don't think that only the uneducated are lazy gullibles, there are urban gullibles too like in our CONSORT SOCIETY, for whom we need to clear the glass, polish it and more so that they can understand the truth.

So you see, in the name of democracy, you are lynched, you are trolled, you are threatened and financially throttled or rewarded depending on which side is your media ( like in case of NDTV on one side and Republic on the other).

Kerala is currently a communist state, and it is far more democratic than the rest of the world put together so much so that the people choose the governance most democratically. Whether it helps them or if they have to move to other states to prosper is, because they do not want to devil Gods own Country.

Mind is a beautiful space. You can corrupt it by Democracy, Communism or Dictatorship. Develop it by all means keep it fertile, be analytical. Yehi hai mind!!

Thank you for hearing me out. -

Pavi ( M P NICHOLSON)

Please do leave ur comments on the space below with ur name - click publish - and it will stay there for ever 🙏 🙏

Stampedes and Counting

2025-06-06T07:41:00.004+05:30

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/major-stampedes-in-india-list/article69659616.ece

Just when are we going to learn??

I wonder if any other country can beat this record of ours. The link above gets across to all kinds of places from a Mumbai Railway Bridge to a Stadium where fans eagerly want to cherish the FOMO moment.

Sad, Angry and Bad.

Are we just a country of post- mortem, I ask again. Do we ever learn from mistakes, can we ever learn from deaths. Or is it that lives do not matter, what is it ??

We Can We Will

2025-04-13T22:25:00.002+05:30

Follow your passion, and just allow passion to lead you from one activity to another. And that's what Badminton has done to me. It took me to playing the game to coaching to teaching sports journalism in a college and now to coaching Badminton to enthusiasts from the NGO - WE CAN WE WILL and so much more with them.

To begin with, in all my years I have never seen so much genuine smiles that could add up for some great pictures for a Colgate or even a Close Up, and with each of them in picture perfect set of teeth. Keep smiling, keep flaunting.

We Can, We Will with its activity centred at Charkop volunteered by youngsters from different professional goals, one more pursuing psychology, one pursuing robotics, one in share market trading, and some others in pursuing their core business have been brought together by a young but serious Pankaj Thakkar.

That they mentor them in teaching, music, guitar, dancing, cooking, drawing, badminton etc. is what that keeps them going besides providing free food in the areas of their focus group.

Sharing some pictures clicked today and the link to their website. It's a walk thru to HAPPINESS.

https://wecanwewillfdn.org/

Kerala - Innocent and Mature

2025-03-13T11:11:00.006+05:30

When life blesses you with two lovely children and who is willing to take you for a ride, the only thing one need to do is sit back and relax. From the time they said yes we are coming for the wedding, from thereon the shuttle was in their court. With precision planning, the journey began.

With love, care and comedy in their eyes, I could only relish and cherish the memories of and for a lifetime.

The focus was to cover North Kerala while also attending the wedding of a dear family and visiting all our near and dears from Kozhikode to Kannur to Kasaragod all helped by some ace driving, we covered almost 750 kms in a week.

Our first stop Kannur to Mahe. The Pearl Mahe, great place to stay if you love a good brew, food, music, ambience, and ofcourse good room with a good soap. Close to the Mahe Walkway is where you can can conveniently walk in your sleep to see some enthusiasts on the morning fitness on the river side and those going to work on the fishing boats on the sea side. And in the evenings, while you hear the mumble of the river and the groan of the sea your eyes is in for a treat of the setting sun.

Kerala is blessed with the Sangam of the river / backwater merging with the sea from the North to the South of Kerala. So is the Mahe waterfront. It also has the famous pilgrimage Church - The Mahe Church dedicated to St Theresa of Avilla.

It is ruled by the Pondicherry Government and is remnant of the French Colony that it is and lined by an array of Wine shops.

Next Stop - Thalassery.

Needless to say, as you step into your hometown the goosebumps evokes a feeling of nostalgia, of a belonging and of a headrest. Paying tribute to our ancestors and feeling at home though its been a long time is indeed a paradox of emotions. One step at a time, we did all the family visits.

And then we visited the expanse of Shree Jagannath Temple the home of Shree Narayan Guru a social reformer of decades ago.

From there we went to Thiruvangad Temple which is dedicated to Shree Ram, walking around the temple complex itself can be a good exercise and after which you can be your tranquil self sitting by the king size pond. Read, reminisce, relish - take a deep breath - cherish. The dream is yours.

Tellicherry Fort was another pleasant surprise standing tall against the sea and reminding the need for it around 1708 and overlooking St Josephs School the alma mater of my mentor.

While in Thalassery, never forget two stops - Hotel Paris for a Menu which you can never get in most places and Jayabharati Bakery for all your chips, halwa and more.

Have you been driven on a Beach without the sands or the sea getting into your vehicle? A drive in beach stretching from one town to three towns ahead and with the emblem of a political party standing out from the rocks of a swirling sea. Breathtaking is all that you can say.

Disciplined and Casual, were the citizens across the length, no honking, no boisterousness, the maturity of Kerala in its majesty. Simply beautiful - and as reminded - MILES TO GO BEFORE I SLEEP.

From Mahe to Kozhikode driven by the wish to be with your cousins and to tick your wishlist, we reach Kappad Beach and we drive along the beach and its eroded sidewalls to say hello to Vasco da Gama.

Freshening up with a Lime Soda 🥤, watching a Kid rescued from the sea, and checking on the sea with a deep slope we sat by the Vasco da Gama memorial to understand how it must have been when he stepped on the shore of Kozhikode in the year 1498 and how ambitious business man he could be.

From here we went to our smiley and lovey cousins and theron to a thematic restaurant known as THE SHAP. Well, the menu here and the decor is so exotic that if you visit Kozhikode next time, indeed - you must visit.

Here, we missed taking a ROSE 🌹

With some banter and betting on who is winning the Cricket Match of the day we proceed to Beypore. Here again we have a walkway that stretches one kilometre or more into the sea. Had Raj Kapoor seen this stretch, am sure he would have shot his 'Pyar hua, Iqrar hua' with Nargis on this stretch, during the monsoon and since he is not here, maybe I will.

In between, took time off for a business meet with the King of Kozhikode Opticals - at CITY OPTIK.

More Banter, followed by a refreshing dinner with the cousins and my Aunt we scoot back to Mahe, skipping the insistence on staying behind and reaching Mahe at 1:15 am.

The next stop 🛑 KANNUR.

The stay was done at State Beach Resort at Payyambalam Beach. The view across the rocky surface of the sea was indeed enchanting and so was the structure of the resort which was earlier a hostel. Well, just imagine the luck of the hostel residents who could just wake and be enveloped by the sound of the waves and the glimmer of the sun and to sleep by the moonlight and the twinkle of the stars, well thats Kerala.

Kannur has Perlaserry Temple and a Pond, which is an architect's delight and a photographers nightmare, because unless you have a drone you cannot get the best angle. And if a free tickle on your feet is something which you like dancing to, here is where you need to step into. The temple is dedicated to Sri Subramaniam Swamy and also has a dedication for the Snake God where you offer eggs.

If you have not heard about a Goan settling in Kerala and starting a school and making it successful with almost 12 School Buses, then you must visit GAMA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, which now has some smart students and an all ladies staff except for one Male teacher upto seventh standard.

After a delicious lunch at a relatives place and a quick siesta we went up the Kannur lighthouse soaking in the sun, the view as far as the eye can take and saying hello to the eagle 🦅. We came down by 6pm, so that the glare of the light 🕯️ from the lighthouse don't hurt our eyes. And then, it was time to greet some of the mannequins who embellished the benches across the walkway facing the sea.

Kannur has St Angelos Fort, an absolute must visit for it's expanse, for the cannons, the Fort Gate, the bunkers and obviously the view. It also has the ARAKKAL FAMILIES MUSEUM.

The museum is all about a family that ruled and lived since the year 1100 or round about, details of the lineage is available since 1184. It has all the artefacts of centuries that went by and still intact and preserved scientifically by the Kerala Tourism Department and overseen by their archaeology division.

While on the way to Kozhikode, we stopped by another very loving family and was treated by a feast of love and some great menu followed by Paysam and a climb up the Mango Tree for some huge mangoes.

Up the Mango Tree

It was great to see a Carriage of Triumph Bike on the Beach of Kasaragod, it also spells out the taste of those living there.

From here, we went to Bekal Fort, an endless journey of resistance by the sea, of a history that is dedicated to Tipu Sultan and a view that two could linger on forever had the heat taken a break.

The parting lunch was at ' GHAZAL' in Kannur, good food, great hospitality and a vibe that stays as a good after taste, so much so we packed some for the journey and some for the home in Mumbai.

Love you kids 😘 😘 🤗🤗.

Mom versus Weed

2025-01-17T10:05:00.002+05:30

Two days back has the privilege of being invited for a premier show of a gujarati movie - MOM TANE NAI SAMJAY, thanks to the actor - Yadit Acharyas Dad being an old time reliable friend.

Having been exposed to OTT, over the last few years you get to see some wonderful low budget movies with astonishing story line. Especially, the Malayalam movies on Hotstar.

Here, was another such movie. Shot in London, the movie is about a homemaker, who has given up on her PhD qualification and has dedicated herself to being the caretaker of the home, that includes her Husband and her two teenage children - A Boy and A Girl. And as the children continue to break moral norms, the MOMs intervention only gets more intense.

When the intensity levels rise to urgency and the response is humiliating, comes the interval.

The fightback after the interval is what got me going, just loved it. Don't want to reveal more 😊

It underlined the importance of the Lady in the house.

An anchor to the home, it could be even you.

- Pavi

Manmohan Singh - Humility and Dignity personified

2024-12-27T12:33:00.002+05:30

Six pages in Indian Express and almost two pages in Times of India, is today devoted to the dignity and contribution of a Professor turned RBI Governor turned Prime Minister of India of Ten Years.

When he spoke, the world stood up to listen such were his golden words, never loud, never derogatory, never demeaning and never outspoken. History indeed will gratefully remember him for this and so much more.

He led India to economic reforms and took strategic decisions to pull India up by the ear and place it among a world of equals.

RTI, RTE, MNREGA the Nuclear inclusion among the giants were some of his well acclaimed brain children.

The point of this blog, however is none of the above. What stumps me is how the idiots including the media, could run down a man without critically examining his role and playing upto a gallery of fools.

It was his confident statement that 'History will remember me' despite all the tom foolery around that I will hold among other points of the great MMS in high esteem.

That, he lived to see each of the foolish rant failing in the court of law, will surely grant him the peace he so well deserves.

And today, when we read the obituaries from his ranters and his genuine followers, all I can say is why is it that death alone provides the cleansing and the healing, why is it difficult for genuine recognition to come in one's lifetime.

Why is politics all about hankering, abuse, lying and grinding the dignity of a personality who contributed immensely. WHY

Music Intoxicates

2024-11-03T01:48:00.005+05:30

It invigorates too. The time as I begin this blog is 1:15 AM, and I just finished the movie - Road Diary ( A movie on Bruce Springsteen).

Well, let me tell you that you are reading a Rock Star of Air Guitar. Well, try playing it.

Life has its trigger, and last week I met two old friends Sharmila and Pinky. Remembering ole times, they went on to rewind me playing the Air Guitar at a Diwali fete at the Pope Paul grounds of IC Church, on ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL.

All it needed was the song, and as my friends knew that it was my favourite act, they cheered me into playing the AIR GUITAR. Yes, and with a reasonable good crowd throwing money while I was performing, and with some seniors thinking that I was intoxicated to do what I was doing

Mind you, I was strumming the lead on the air guitar with my head touching the feet backwards while I was on the kneels. Oh, what a time, then was. Moving from one Rock Groups performance to another, not hesitating to jump on stage and neither jumping down the stage.

And, as I rewind. The rock shows at CJ Hall, Silver Sands, Mood Indigo and more were all part of our portfolio.

Fleetwood Mac, Uriah Heep, Mark Knopfler, Wishbone Ash, Jethro Tull were just some of the international band performances that I could attend.

Each of the shows obviously stays fresh.

And today, as I ended up watching Bruce Movie, the fun and the nostalgia of yester years comes fleeting, and so does the Jazz Festivals at NCPA and at The Oberois.

Well, if you have the time, do attend a Western Classical at The NCPA, the audience will make you feel you have arrived.

The Christmas Week dances and the New Year Dance alternated at St.Francis, Wellington, Bandra Gym Byculla Mechanix, or At Antonio Dsilva would all go upto atleast 6 in the morning and we would wind up with a morning coffee. Fun times, indeed.

That was life, my friend - Music kept you INTOXICATED & INVIGORATED - and kept you swaying for ever more.

Sure enough, now these are all in your memory bank, thank you Sharmila and Pinky 😍😍 - Pavi.

It's 1:47am, Catch you soon.

Goodwill of Shri Ratan Tata

2024-10-10T19:51:00.006+05:30

What is it that makes the footprints of a Man so legendary that you don't look at the will but you continue to assess his goodwill.

PAUSE - WAIT FOR A MINUTE, REWIND YOUR LIFE.

Back to Ratan Tata. Fortunately, our History books did teach us about Jamshedji Tata and his Black and White picture in a greenish background still stays fresh in the mind. It took us on how Jamshedpur named after Jamshedji Tata is also known as steel city.

And, over the years we also learnt how and why Taj Hotel was built. Remember, it was this monument of pride that was attacked by Kasab and his team, instilling anger in each of us.

Surely, most of you would have known that from Salt to Steel to Car to Airlines they all have the stamp of Shri Ratan Tata. And yes, each of them are well established commercial conglomerates.

What we need to also understand is being commercial and chasing business is given, but doing it with philanthropic pride, ensuring that a TATA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ensuring the best and most affordable treatment for the numerous Cancer patients needs a lot of heart.

Needless to say, the worlds best employer tag will easily be given to each of the TATA company. And why not.

Without circumventing the payable TAXES, ensuring that each employee is well taken care of, and even taking care of the families of those who suffered in the TAJ ASSAULT, am sure is difficult for other corporates to emulate.

Taking responsibility is so very difficult than just washing off.

And that is where you amass your goodwill, it's priceless. Try putting a tag, a cost to it. Imagine your goodwill getting evaluated at the share market. Well.

It will not be surprising at all, if the collective share prices of TATA will only be higher tomorrow and see a surge.

And yes, we lost a priceless treasure of an organisation that created a legacy for creating goodwill.

A humble tribute to the Man and to an organisation which continues to believe in principles.

God bless the TATAS - GOD BLESS RATAN TATA.

REST IN PEACE SIR, YOU HAVE LIVED A SATISFYING AND CHERISHED LIFE

First Day, First Trip

2024-10-07T14:09:00.006+05:30

First day, first show was never my coffee, nor had a penchant for having the inaugural iPhone or any such gadget and even movie.

But today, as I strolled out of my bed at 5:30am, things just kept happening and one thing led to another to another and there I was at BKC, hunting for the BKC Metro Stop.

And surprisingly, the six people who I asked including the auto drivers never knew where it was, until one of them knew the underground stop and took me to the Income Tax building area @Rs.23/-. Ohh and I must tell you, I was trying to figure out where it was by following the flyover and assuming that how can the unfinished flyover carry the METRO and hence kept walking to and fro to figure out.

Just one question - then what are the flyovers for; if the Metro is completely UNDERGROUND (YES).??

So, yeah @50/- and with nitty gritty yet to fall in place the first official METRO for commuters reached BKC station at 11:06 AM. And left BKC at 11:10 AM. In the meanwhile also got questioned by NDTV and Lokshahi.

Here are my first cut opinion:

1 Too far fetched yet to make a dent in the inconvenience of BKC office goers, including the Diamond Bourse or INS or TRIDENT areas.

2. No indicators on the roads to guide you to the METRO STOP.

3. The announcements inside the METRO, should also guide you to the overground reality stops like the highway, or airport or the interchange.

4. The so called AAREY STOP is on JVLR, let say one stop ahead of SEEPZ, under no circumstances can that stop be called AAREY.

5. SURPRISED that my AIRTEL got connected while on the METRO. (Remember it's UNDERGROUND), JIO for a change was not getting connected.

6. The auto fare from the AAREY JVLR STOP to Jogeshwari East Metro is Rs. 64/-. From there to Kanderpada Metro Stop is Rs.30/- + the first METRO fare is Rs.50/- .. so at a total of Rs.144/- and in about 80 minutes I was home.

Just wondering whom, will it help - as of now.

Cheers - Nick

Ganpati 2024

2024-09-13T20:38:00.003+05:30

The journey began with my daughter when she was maybe three years. From Borivli to Girgaon and the various Ganeshji from Girgaon to Tulsiwadi to Chinchpokli to Dahisar to Borivli. From 8:30 pm to 3:30 am with my baby cuddling up on the bike with just me. Those tiny arms and her flowery dress is still etched in memory.

Guess, if you are supposedly creative your pursuits are never ending whether it is just to click the pictures of the various Ganeshji or figure out the various themes or to witness first hand the religious fervor or be part of the enthusiasm all around, the reasons or the excuses may just be never ending.

Guess, I have been doing that now for almost 27 years or more.

Ofcourse not all the subsequent years was with my daughter. Thereafter for three years I did it officially having been part of In Mumbai Ganeshutsav Festival and judging the almost 300 mandaps across the city with my colleagues TD Joseph, Dhiren, Arif and with none other than Mr N Dahibavkar.

During all these years, any which way I would visit the Ganeshji at Modi Patel Road in Bhayandar. They would complete 50 years next year and is planning a grand event. Feels blessed, when the third generation there,vtoo recognises me and is dependent on me for giving them the photographs of the earlier years.

Those interested can search this Blog for the previous Ganeshjis too.

Life is indeed a journey, and as a Mumbaikar each of my blog is a gratitude for enabling me on that journey with my near and dear and at times solo.

And my anthem is 'miles to go before I sleep '... If you can tell me whose quote or from where.. I promise to take the next trip with you.

Please feel free to leave your answer and your comment below the blog, it will stay there permanently - Thank you 💓

2024 Modi Patel Road - Bhayandar West

129 year old Swami Sivananda

2024-09-12T13:34:00.006+05:30

Life throws many an opportunity, among them is the rarest of rare. An opportunity to meet a 129 year old Swamiji. And a PADMA SHREE AWARDEE.

Surely, the first question in our minds is how is that possible and what kind of a lifestyle promises that. How frail would be that person, and what would be his activity.

And yes, like you even I asked that question. Swamiji is a little hard of hearing. Hence his disciple - Sanjay answered the question.

Swamiji lives in an ashram at Varanasi, a small home that answers his immediate need and comfort. Swamiji doesn't believe in preaching, but he wants to provide himself as an example for healthy habits, frugal food and Yoga.

Swamiji has travelled across six continents over 34 years, without making a stopover in India, and he is well versed and has a photographic memory of the lanes and bylanes of Edinburgh and Glasgow and so much more.

Roopa, Clifford, Deepu and to the Thanvi family thank you so much for enabling that one more milestone.

Least I can say is STAY BLESSED 🙏🙏🙏

The Gun Culture

2024-07-15T18:50:00.004+05:30

Here is what we have. A failed assassination attempt on Trump. Thankfully, he trumped it or rather escaped but sadly it indeed killed one and critically injured two.

Sure ofcourse, it made the headlines on a day of Wimbledon finals and the Euro Cup finals.

It was in the year 1865, that Abraham Lincoln was shot dead, and not that it stopped there. It was followed by the killings of other Presidents in 1881, 1901, 1963 (JFK), 1968 (RFK) and 7 + Trump failed attempts on Presidents totalling to 12 + 1 shots at the President of USA.

SECRET SERVICE AGENTS and other security measures, has not been providing the answers for a long time, there.

The cowboys culture has made inroads into classrooms, malls, metros, and even the roadside, but yet the country is divided on banning guns.

This is also exactly that has forced the training to be so very one sided that the police in the USA do not use the method of tranquillising, it's just shoot to KILL, even if it is a LION. The aim is to save themselves from any kind of secondary firing, therefore shooting on the leg or an attempt to disarm is unheard off.

In comparison, our leaders MG, IG, or RG has been killed at close range by people who was allowed to get close because of trust, just as AG.

But, we can see that the trend of Gun Culture is beginning to rise here too just as drinking, driving and killing.

The sooner we make our Gun Laws or better still sanitise the system, better for us or else our streets too can get more bloody and it won't need open drains, potholes, oversized hoardings, landslides, dams or waterfalls to provide sudden death.

That's how cheap our lives are !!

Wake up -

M P Nicholson

Spain WINS Twice

2024-07-15T04:06:00.005+05:30

Alcaraz showed his fitness, youth and the ability to reach the ball before the ball reached him, his level of anticipation was so great that it took even the experienced Djokovic by surprise many a times.

In sports being able to anticipate the opponents move is more than half the battle, and indeed that was what Alcaraz did, and stamped the title in three straight games.

All that Djokovic could do is smile encouragingly at his challenger who was more than a decade younger and a subtle reminder that it was the finals that they played and endured.

And, as the night only grew younger in Spain, they sure would have been getting ready to witness another final where their Taka Taki was against England. The short passes which stylised the Spanish was in full flow. And here too a 16 year old was setting the pace and his teammates were doing their best to etch him into history.

A goalless first half, and three goals in the second half, two of them from Spain ensured that they would win the cup for their country and an Elegant King.

Winning a Football game should also automatically qualify you to some.kind of street fight championship. That's what the game has turned into pushing, pulling, elbowing on the back, stamping with the stud laden shoes 👟 and to top it all some immense dramatics, which if they were not supported by video replays would have led the Umpire to hand a bounty of red cards and instigate the fans into a frenzy. Being a Referee in a football game is surely not a cake walk, it implores you into having a magnifying eye sight and a split second brain to ensure that the whistle is used appropriately.

Maybe, in the times to come - FIFA should think of rewarding the REFEREE of the tournament an even bigger trophy than to the team. And yes FIFA should also do a rethink on allowing split actions while the Penalty Kick is being taken. It should happen in just one flow of action, just as in other sports.

Cheers and Congratulations Spain for being the international champion of two different games on a Single day -

M P Nicholson

Do write ur name when you post your comments.. Please...

The two comments below .. too .. Thanks and appreciate

My MOM & Sports

2024-07-10T20:45:00.007+05:30

The painful part of school days is that all our elders had to, by default chase us to study, study, study and study

They would constantly drill into our so called dumb heads the importance of being good in studies and compare us with all kinds of brilliant neighbours with permutations of explanations detailing the doomsday of playing.

I still wonder, had I got the kind of encouragement that some of our star cricketers got, maybe just maybe..I too would have been a popular Badminton player. But yeah, these are all dreams.

Now, I enjoy the stars on TV, and the audience in my MOM. It's fun to see her collecting all kinds of digital know how on MSD, and her anger on Williamson. It's good to see her clapping and cheering for the fifty or a century or a catch. It's great to see her neck craned into the TV with her twitched eyebrows assimilating the game, whether be it Cricket, Euro Cup or Wimbledon.

Is it not a blessing that today we can take the front seat at our residence and analyse the festival of sports on TV.

Ohh and by the way, My Mom gets so very angry too, if there is a dropped catch or the ball runs to the boundary. Watch the EURO CUP with her and she has her expert comments too, laughing at the comedy of the players acting with the fall.

Mind you, at most times it's she who reminds me of a forthcoming game, or the Birthday of MSD (her favourite) or a Sunil Gavaskars Birthday. Do take time out with her, to collect the paraphernalia on MSD, sure it will leave you amazed.

Genetics often flows from the top, but now Iam beginning to wonder if reverse engineering is also possible.

While I celebrate my evolution from being a Sports Person to a Sports Coach to a Professor on Sports Journalism, combining my experience in Media and Sports - all I can do is observe my MOM using her walking stick as a hockey stick to drag things close to her.

360 degree of a different kind, how else to explain, do help.

Rohit Sharma - Leading by Example

2024-06-30T21:41:00.004+05:30

Lonely lies the head that wears the crown. A proverb that has stood the test of time and proved by Rohit Sharma once again.

In the interviews after the match one of the thing that stood out was when he said that the planning had began years back. Interesting, that was.

So yes, obviously besides taking the risks from the beginning to hit big he also ensured that he took calculated risks as when he batted against England a contrast in the way he massacred Australia. Batting by leading from the front was absolute.

Motivating the team mates and pulling them up as and when required, without mincing words or action was another, purity of the purpose being the common denominator.

Persisting and trusting the talent of your team mates, despite consistent poor scores, was surely another feather in his cap. If I was in his shoes, surely would have dropped Shivam and got Jaiswal as an Opener while continuing with Virat as No.3, for the proven class - that Virat is.

But, now in hindsight, both Virat proved his elegance and Shivam used his shoulder for optimum results and contributing well. Most interesting and heart warming was to see both Sanju Samson and Jaiswal all smiles and sharing the happiness of the victory with the brightest smiles.

Leadership does not come easy, it comes with a lot of passion for the purpose and a dedication and respect to what you are set to achieve, hence praying to the earth as seen in the above video, shows the inherent class of a person who wants to climb a few notches higher in life.

Trusting your instincts knowing well there are more than billion people whose emotions are riding on your decisions, is a huge challenge to emulate.

Was also good to see Rahul Dravid, letting go off crying in the rain , and showing he is human - after all.

Would also like to pay tribute to Dr. PV Shetty who started the Payyade Sports Club and provided for a proper ground in Borivali to play and Mr Dinesh Lad the young Rohit and the other 'Borivali Boys'(as mentioned by Ravi Shastri) coach at Borivali.

Thank you for making the BORIVALI BOYS proud, and ofcourse the spirit of Mumbaikar and adding that milestone in the history of India.

Cheers Rohit.... looking forward to hear you from the podiums off IIM and other reputed institutions on Leadership.

- Pavithran Nicholson

Abhishek Ghosalkar - A Tribute

2024-02-15T21:09:00.002+05:30

Most politicians create and cater to the lower middle class, pampering them with whatever they can, since they are in large numbers.

It was just before the municipal elections of 2011 that I got introduced to dear Abhishek by one of our building resident who was active in politics and who too became a corporator, subsequently.

It was probably the first time in the history of Mumbai elections that a candidate began a robust connect with the Housing Societies - me being the Secretary had our own agenda and if it could benefit our society - Why not!!

Our ward then being A1.

And thus began a journey of mutual friendship.

Abhisheks connect with the Societies in IC Colony only grew bigger and bigger across all communities. His band of people ensured that we were well taken care during the Covid times, facilitating AADHAR and any such help required.

Abhisheks connect with the families too, only became warmer during Ganesh Festivals and Christmas - since he visited the households where he was invited for Ganpati as well as to see the Christmas Crib and involving all of them in a competition.

The IC ICON awards recognising the talent across education, vocation and career started becoming a benchmark, and the beauty pageants became an inspiration for many to stay healthy.

As a Shiv Sena leader, organising Bus Trips to the Bandra fair or Velankini will be so very difficult for anyone to emulate.

All this was lost in the mayhem of trust. Trusting a rival, believing that his intentions were common took a toll and it was all lost in a volley of bullets fired from a close range and while being live on social media ... Just after saying 'GOD BLESS'. The trauma, indeed can never be forgotten.

The tears in the eyes of Men and Women today as well as the shock in him being shot and the gloom in our hearts will take a lot of time for us to forget.

The least we can say now is ..May God give his wife Tejaswi and kids to overcome this loss and his parents Shri Vinod Ghosalkar and family the strength to sustain the loss of their dear child.

The prayer meeting today - 15-02-2024 was attended by the political leaders of the city, by the mass, spiritual leaders of different communities and people from all walks of life.

Surely... ABHISHEK - you will be missed .. keep smiling, as ever.

Love and regards to you - Pavi 🙏🙏

Ayyappa Procession 2023/24 (57)

2024-01-04T00:35:00.004+05:30

Greetings!!

Photographs of the Ayyappa Procession held on 2nd January 2024.