Sunday, December 27, 2009

Mart news

Dec 27, 2009.

The latest is that Mr Elton DeSouza will be continuing for another term as principal.
For those who are concerned about the future of the institution it is good news. I will elaborate later.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Aminabad market, Lucknow

Rikshawpullers wait for savaris during the evening rush. I'd gone with my wife shopping the other evening, something that I dislike. So, sitting on my scooter, I thought the view, whatever my camera-phone could pick up, would be good for my blog.

Monday, December 14, 2009

In the park, Gomtinagar, Lucknow

My three grandsons. From left Jason Hopkins, Darren Hopkins (elder daughter Fiona's sons) and Aden McFarland, Faye's son. They are great fun.

Junior school sports

Principal Elton DeSouza & Vice Principal Trevor Savaille at the Junior School sports on Dec 12

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

What is possible in Lko

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Sports Day

The Principal, Mr Elton DeSouza, had his uncle over from the UK. In the pic he is seen presenting the winners their medals. Over the years it's become a tradition to request some 'worthy' guests to present the medals after every event. That cuts down on the time one would need at the end to present all in one go.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

The old girl gets a push.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Lucknow Club

The Lucknow Club, formerly the Residency Club, has a garbage dump in front which remains closed on Sundays. So garbage is thrown on the road. But then how does it matter, the club members don't seem to notice it.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Vintage Car Rally


An old Merc, painted red, that was on show during the Lucknow Mohatsav on Sunday. The rally is a part of this annual festival held in Lucknow.



xxx

Kukrail Croc farm, Lucknow

The Kukrail crocodile farm on Saturday

Friday, November 27, 2009

Mart to lease more land

The Mart is to lease out 200 acres of land for an eco-park, according to The Hindustan Times in its Friday Nov 27 issue. The dos and don'ts have to be worked out. This is being done to stave off attempts to grab land. There are well-known grabbers some of whom are in one way or another connected with the government or a political party.
One of the important points of the agreement is that the government agency undertaking the work will not put up any concrete (permanent) structure. Mr Elton De Souza, was quoted in the report.
To clarify the 'more land' the report mentioned what lots of people don't know and that is that the Lucknow Zoo uses some Mart land.
A few years ago there was a government plan to shift the zoo and use the land for buildings. There were protests and the plan shelved.

Monday, November 23, 2009


I don't know whether the electricity going off several times a day (on some days) would be called an outage but if so outages are here to stay.

The fete

From the Residency

A few years ago the Archaeological Survey of India started digging around in the Residency exposing in the process a sewer line and at the same time collecting odd pieces of china, wine bottles, the barely recognisable remains of a couple of bayonets etc. The pic here has what I was able to find during my visits. A piece of lead that could have been a musket ball,  a piece of china (the place was strewn with shards of crockery) that had Lucknow on it, the neck of a bottle and a piece of iron probably from an exploded cannon ball.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

College Fete

The College Fete on Saturday reminded me of our days when, as I recall, a target would be set at say Rs 10,000. A taxable income was about Rs 500/- so that was a huge amount. Of course then it was a clean profit as the articles for the stalls came from the students. Now the college finances it.
Last year we never came to know what the total takings were as it was put off for one reason or another. It'd be nice to know this time.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Sidney H Lewis Dead




Mr Lewis (with trophy in hand) along with the swimming team.





Nov 12, 2009.

I received the email below informing everyone of the sad passing of Mr Sidney Lewis. Mr Lewis moved to Australia with his family in 1967 (?) after working as physical training instructor and college warden. I can say he was a great warden and PTI. I recall him on more than one occasion telling us of what the standard of the college was when he first joined and we, from those years know, to what level he had raised it. I remember the hair-cutting Sundays when the boarders were lined up and one by one put onto the 'conveyor belt' to the barber shop, coming out the other side shorn of sideburns with out topi cuts. But it was smart compared with the scruff one sees around today. More later...

John Cline
Legal Practitioner
Lawyer
PO BOX 173
Neutral Bay
NSW Australia 2089
burrababa@hotmail.com


Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:09:19 +0800
From: Bruce.Abrahams@freogroup.com.au

Hello Boys,

I am sorry to have to tell you all that Sid Lewis, Junior Sergent in the Mart passed away last night. Sid came to Australia in 1968 and forged out another succesful career for himself in rural education. He was playing hockey at a senior level well into his 50's. I had the pleasure of meeting him often in a West Australian country town, Narrogin, where we spent the time recounting past glories. Sid will be buried in Narrogin next Wednesday at 10am. He was 83 and had been crook for a while including dementia for the last 3 years.Hopefully a contingent from Perth can make it to his funeral.

Jumbo, can you please let Nelson and Thea Gardner know. Tuck Sahib, please let Bob and your family know.

I understand the family is gathering in Perth/Narrogin in coming days. Junior arrives from Queensland tonight.

Regards

Bruce Abrahams


From Bob Jordan on Sid Lewis. Bob who is based in Sydney, Australia was out of the country at the time of Lewie's passing. Below is given his tributes sent to John Cline and sent to all Martinians.

Sid "Shucks" Lewis. I am sad to hear of his passing, very sad. He touched my life as he did with so many of us. His transformation of the school swim team from a talented outfit to an extraordinary one that blitzed records galore and produced national winners like Chris Doutre, Badami, BS Dhillon and Sid Jr - to name just a few - was amazing. His displays at an NCC parades and camps left the regular army wallahs for dead. What Shucks did, he did very well. And what about those faded, two toned navy blue shorts he used to wear ?!

There is much to remember about Lewie and much to thank him for. He did La Martiniere proud and was a stalwart. If anyone can forward this to Sid Jr I will be grateful.

RIP.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

David Sealey is prompt!




Pic of Late David Young in the 1980s.
We were close till sometime in the early 90's when he took his mother away from Lucknow. He passed away two or three years ago. David has a son in Lko also named David and a daughter from a second wife in Bombay.

Letter from David (Lala) Sealey in Brisbane, Australia.

Hi Georgie,



Now that you mention it I vaguely remember meeting you in New Market (Chowringhi?) more probably in early ’72 as I would have been with my parents getting my stuff ready for coming to Australia. There is nothing to compare to a good old Mart bun tack, you are still in Lko do they still have a tuck shop and do they still have bun tacks and puri tacks?No I didn’t know White Young was in Brisbane. Depends on the years he was here, but I was able to get his phone number from the Martinian association in Perth. I guess I must have phoned his number about 6 times and even spoke to his son but he never bothered to return my calls, C-----(Hindi abuse) in fact he is a mega C----- considering all the times we used to hang out while we were on hols & while I lived in Jhansi. Ungrateful sod.Yeah I heard Black young died but I thought he was on one of the tin mines in Malaysia.Crafty Ahmed is a Senior Civil Servant somewhere in the Jaipur area.Peter Quieros and his younger brother Steven are in Melbourne, we exchange emails almost on a daily basis.There were 3 Hashmans they left India and came to Australia in 1965. Lou who was the eldest he joined the Railways and has been a train driver and has only just retired. He used to drive those big coal trains that had double diesel engines and were 2 km in length. Geoffrey was the middle brother, he joined the West Australian State Government and is an Accountant, although he is not in the best of health I hear. Their youngest brother Ian is in Sydney. I keep in touch with Lou by email and the occasional phone call. So what have you done about getting me the addresses of those other Shepherd (Pat & Lorraine)girls. Bye for now CheersLala



Will send you a pic soon as I can organise my wife to download a decent one, has your computer got enough memory because I have not got any smaller!!

Letter to Lala

Nov 7, 2009.

Hi there David!

OK, you've got it right about who's who. But tell me do you not remember meeting William and me outside the New Market in Cal either ending of '71 or sometime before March '72?
You were, if I remember correctly, eating a Mart tuckshop-looking-bun-tack. You know that's a corny joke! Those were the days!
David Young (white) was in Brisbane before he moved to Melbourne. You must have known that.
I don't know if you know, but David Young (the other) died about 2-3 years ago. He did fairly well in the Persian Gulf on the rigs. He had a heart attack at a hotel in the Philippines. Not long after, his sister Joyce also passed away. She was also working in the gulf.
Where is Crafty Ahmed now?
I sent Peter Q. a feeler which he didn't feel. Aren't we getting old?
I've never had any news of the Hashmans before. Ian and myself were great boat builders. I remember all the ice cream sticks and pieces of razor blade we carried around in our blazer pockets.
Oh it's getting late.
Bye

George
Send me a pic.




Hi Lala,

I'm really very happy that you responded so promptly. Your address came along with Johnny's contacts, as also several other old boys' adds, including James Shepherd's. Time changes everything so I wasn't sure you'd consider the school petname humorous. Good to know that's not the case.

OK, Pat and Lorraine were James' sisters and their father was with Time

Magazine. After leaving school we, Keith and I, came to know that we were in fact related to James. The difference between Keith and myself, probably could be compared with the Baker brothers and we were in Cornwallis House.

You might recall that William Lyons and myself met you outside the New Market, Calcutta, either end of 1971 or beginning of '72. That's when I'd spent some months in Cal.

Your comment on the lake banks means you don't know that an embankment separates the Lat from the school. The bank where we lolled around waiting for dinner or as youngsters, fished from, no longer exists.

Do you live in the Big Pond area of Adelaide, if that's the correct way to put it? I have relatives, some of whom I've never met, in that area.

Right, bye for now,

George

Oct 20, 2009.

Hi Johnny,

That's a lot you've sent me. What can I use on my blog?,

Over the years I often wondered about several of the old school boys several of whom we had had no news. So it was good to hear so much about the Wards.

The pics I've sent were taken this morning when I went to reach my son to school. The lake has water because the Gomti level is high owing to the recent rains we had.

The distance from the river to the Lat is a stone's throw i.e. someone with a good arm.

George

PS I remember Puff the Mighty Dragon. You gave up music?

The band pic was sent by John Cline in response to this email.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

To Nalin


Friday, Nov 6, 2009.







Darren (LMC, Prep) and behind is Aden (my two daughters' sons)
Nalin Chandra,
Class VII
Hi Nalin,
It's good to know that you are in the Mart and your mother is an old Martinian as well.
I've not been checking for comments. I was happy that I had at least one person who had shown interest in my blog and now, of course, there are two. This is besides an old Martinian in Australia who has sent me pics from long long ago.
I started the blog just as a sort of open diary, that in fact it is, quite happy to place pics here that otherwise remain forgotten at home and of course the occasional comment.
You may take anything from my blog and the address but I'm not sure if it will interest anyone.
One piece of advice: When you grow up never say that La Martiniere College is located near Kalidas Marg.
Recently I found a blog, I don't remember the boy's name, who gave the location as Kalidas Marg.
La Martiniere is a lot more important. The people at Kalidas Marg keep changing and the road name and why it's important today came a long time after La Martiniere was built.
Bye for now,

George Shepherd

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Saturday, October 24, 2009

The Mart band in the mid 1960's



From left Walter Johnson, Johnny Cline, Keith Dawson and Steve Law

Walter Johnson is a businessman in New Delhi and a great Martinian who has probably not missed a Founder's Day since he left schoolin 1966(?).
John Cline is an attorney in Sydney, Australia.
In Memory of
Steve Law died in 1980.
Keith Dawson Died: New Delhi, 7/7/2006
School Attended: La Martiniere, Lucknow 1960-1966
Submitted July 24th 2006
Other Information: Keith Dawson was the eldest son of Tony and Milly Dawson, previouslyresiding at Bhusawal but settled in Bombay. Keith was the eldest brother of Marjorie, Kevin,Leonie and Late Debra. He had two sons Leon and Steffan Dawson. Keith was a professional singerand won a thousand hearts with his wonderful and beautiful voice. Keith was a wonderful brother,husband, son, father and friend. He was loving, affectionate and kind. Keith was a wonderfulbrother to me. Keith will be missed by each and every one of us. I miss you Keith tremendously.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Thanks!

To Namita Chandra

Dear Lady,
It was really very kind of you to have posted a comment, the first and only comment, from someone who didn't know me. The one about the pup. Thank you!I have since also visited your blog and come to know that you are a doctor. I also noted that you are among the lucky people who has travelled quite extensively in Europe.
Not posting a comment on your blog is more because I'm not too good at computers. Of course since I started this blog I've learnt quite a bit but I still keep feeling my way around -- using the trial and error method. This is despite the fact that the software gives you the options.
Most of the time I go to cyber cafes where conditions are not conducive to this type of hobby. There's loud music, talking, people coming and going and what not. My net connection at home is like the bullock-cart in the present day scene.
There! I've managed to deal with something that's been troubling me for some time.
I would like to become a full time blogger but I guess that's impossible.
I hope you see this.
Kind regards,

George Shepherd

Kanpur trip on Sunday 18, Oct 09


My brother Keith, myself, my son Glenn, wife Audrey, elder daughter Fiona (Hopkins)
& Jason, Keith's daughter Divya. The bigger kid is Fiona's son Darren and Aden is my younger daughter Faye's son. Faye and her husband Craig (McFarland) are the photographers. Fiona's husband Warren stayed back in Lko with a cold and Keith's wife remained home i.e. two floors down.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

`A grandfather we never knew'



The inscription on the grave reads: "Write me as one who loved his fellow men"


The Strachan brothers and their wives at the grave of their grandfather on Diwali day (17 Oct, 2009) They made this emotional trip, visiting the church in Mussoorie where he was married before coming to Lucknow where he died in 1923 at the early age of 42.


An extract of Andrew Strachan's letter to me in May 2009.


"I'll refer to my Grandfather as Crichton as we all know him by that name even though we never knew him.The Strachan name probably originates from a village in the North of Scotland near Aberdeen, however Crichton's father and his father were doctors in a place called Dollar just North of Stirling. There is a famous school in Dollar (Dollar Academy) and there is even a Strachan Crescent. Anyway in that part of Scotland its pronounced Strawn or actually more like Straahn without the w sounding. In many parts of Scotland it is pronounced Strackan (like bracken) Crichton was one of 13 children, his brother George was already in India working in or around Syhlet, for Findlay Muir the tea people, so in 1908 approx Crichton got a job with the B&NW Railway. The B&NW was unusual in that it was built in 1882 from private money with no Government guarantees. It was one of the first metre guage railways and was headquartered in Gorakhpor, went North to Bareilly and Dehredun and west to Lucknow. Like all the railways at that time they were owned and run from the UK and I believe that a Dollar family was behind the original investment. Anyway Crichton met my Grandmother in India, she was the daughter of tea planters and born in Shillong. Her sister was married to George. Crichton and Dorothea were married in Mussoorie in October 1909 and we shall be there 100 years later. I believe that Christ Church Mussoorie is one of the oldest Christian churches in India. Dorothea's mother, a widow by this time was living in Mussoorie. As you know Crichton died in 1923 and Dorothea and the 5 children incl my father, the oldest returned to Dollar. George's family also returned at some point although I do not know when. There was another brother Arthur, who published a book in 1933, "Mauled by a Tiger" detailing his exploits shooting tigers in Bengal for sport. Anyway one of the tigers got him back and Arthur lost one arm and part of one leg. I assume he returned to UK after that! As an Assistant traffic manager Crichton was posted in many places on the line including Samastipur and Bareilly.


We know a bit more but this is a summary. I have been in India before (Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai) but never to see any of the family history. My wife and my brother and his wife have never been, so it will be a real experience for all of us. I don't really know how I will feel at the grave. Neither I or my brother are really religious as such but it will still be strange and humbling, I am sure, to visit where he is buried. I will try and find out about Strachey! Anyway, bye for now


Andy



Guava gardens

Monday, October 5, 2009

Family


My younger daughter, Faye's husband, Craig (McFarland) and son, Aden, taken at 16 A Lawrence Terrace, Lucknow.

The Hopkins

My elder daughter Fiona and husband Warren with Darren and Jason. Its
an old pix as earlier I put up of Jason already walking around.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Ambedkar memorial just after sunset

A bird's eye view of the Ambedkar memorial, Gomtinagar, Lucknow.

Greening a colourful garden

Many Old Martinians will remember Mr Hugh Dignum's well-tended colourful garden. Today it is a jungle of bushes. The present occupant is the college bursar.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Demolition under way

.

Demolition of Hazratganj police station

Lucknow's Hazratganj police station that opened in 1909 and was
perhaps the only PS to have a portcullis, was demolished in July to
make way for a multi-storied parking lot. The city's adjoining main
fire station will follow shortly. The police station has been moved to
a much narrower road, Valmiki Marg (formerly Rutledge Road). The fire
station will move to the same area.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Gadhafi's lesson

In March 2006 Muammar al-Gadhafi for the first time after several
years visited some western countries where he became an immediate
celebrity or almost.
Given verbatem is a report published in The Times of India, Lucknow edition.

Gadhafi's lesson for West Asia on TV


New York: Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, in a rare moment of
self-criticism, lashed out at what he described as "backward" socities
in the Middle East, arguing that government heavy-handedness in
dealing with political opposition stemmed from the violent nature of
that dissent. "You ask us, `Why do you oppress oposition in the Middle
East?'" Gadhafi told attendees at a Columbia University panel
discussion on democracy, on Thursday, speaking in Arabic during a live
video appearance.
"Opposition in the Middle East is quite different from opposition in
advanced countries. In our countries, the opposition takes the form of
explosions, assassinations, killing." "Because opposition in our
country is different from opposition in your country. Our opposition
resorts to bombs, assassinations, explosions, subversive acts -- in
some cases before 9/11 events, said Gadhafi. AP

Thursday, June 18, 2009

The Whistleblower

June 19, 2009.
The fact, that the US allowed Pakistan to acquire n-technology and manufacture nuclear weapons without informing Congress, is an issue before a Congressional panel, makes one wonder how does it help questioning the whys and wherefores unless there's a remedy. But there is no going back.
Since then the US has had to contend with Iran and North Korea. Pongyang is going ahead with its missile testing, challenging anyone who dares to interfere. Libya's Muammar al-Gaddafi has in recent years changed tact, I guess, much to the relief of Europe and America. Iraq has, however, suffered a great deal following the search for the non-existent WMDs. The big worry in the subcontinent is Pakistan's weapons falling into the wrong hands.
The shocking part is that the whistleblower, Richard Barlow, was fired and has been living in a trailer. The Congressional panel examining the issue was told by Daniella Brian, executive director, Project On Government Oversight (POGO) that Barlow is now destitute and living in a trailer. He was fired when he attempted to reveal what was happening.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Ambedkar memorial

The two domes of Ambedkar memorial, Gomtinagar, Lucknow

Monday, May 18, 2009

Elections: Man Oh Man!

18 May, 2009.
The UPA is in as was expected all round even by rival party supporters. What wasn't expected is the margin by which is has come in, especially in UP, where Lady Mayawati has been growing in strength year by year.
All politicians should now keep in mind that quote: You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." Abe Lincoln said it way, way back so have some respect for him even though he wasn't Indian. This election is the proof that the people are tired of being fooled. The people also know what is happening. I heard so much at street corners. Of course I did hear some praise for Mulayam Singh but later when I thought about it I realized the people who praised him were villagers who were squatterson government land aided by the Samajwadi Party. So direct beneficiaries are all praise. I guess that is only human.
The Opposition should combine to give meaningful criticism. Recognise the good being done by the Union government and make known what make require altered. And definitely don't YES to everything hoping that the UPA will fall on its face. That you should know is unlikely to happen.
True, ministers have advisers. They sometimes get ideas themselves which the adviser concerned is supposed to examine from all angles, before implementation. So when one sees thousands of crores being spent on memorials, thousands of lights to light up the area, while large city areas remain in darkness one wonders. Does the boss get the right type of advice or is everything yes boss, no boss, knowing what is expected. One cannot also help wonder whether this is democracy? Another quote of Abe's on democracy ".. of the people, by the people, for the people". People want a roof over their heads, food and clothing, water and electricity. The BSP's loss should make the Lady think again of her policies/ priorities and perhaps one day she'll get there.
I would have thought that big statues had gone out with Saddam and with the collapse of the USSR. In the Soviet Union at least none of those leaders were around to see they being pulled down. Saddam lived to see it.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

The dead stay dumb

May10, 2009.
I was reminded of this James Hadley Chase title. Of course it meant something else in the thriller but the dead cannot complain and how does it matter what the common man thinks.
Grotesque, macabre that's the thought that comes to mind when you sees a corpse being carried on the footboard of a cycle rickshaw. We are dreaming of becoming world leaders and yet this...
Have we not been reading, over the past couple of months, about the wealth accumulated by our netas (our politicians). What about the millions of rupees from their area development fund going abegging.
Disrespect for the dead can be expected when the living don't matter. I was shocked, not because I'd not seen this before, but because I had not seen this in some years. Once I saw two bodies, shrouded of course in white cloth, being carried one on top of the other. One would expect this dirty habit to have been done away with when you think of the millions of vehicles that ply on the roads today.
Broken roads, smelly garbage heaps and other civic problems remain because the people who are there to improve things, the bureaucrats and netas, ministers and civic authorities are the very people who are not affected by these problems.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Netas turning rich in poor UP

May 5, 2009
The Times of India in today's edition, as has been the all round concern during the declaration of assets by our leaders during filing of nomination papers for the Lok Sabha elections, highlighted the growth in our netas' wealth since the last declaration. The ordinary person who struggles to keep afloat wonders about this. The growth in wealth means that they are earning more than they spend. Maybe they are investing their money well. Are there other sources of income? Then you think, if they declare so much, are there any bags of currency notes hidden under the bed undeclared?
This brings one to the recent demands for unearthing money stashed away in Swiss banks. Why the sudden hallabaloo. Is this aimed at a few people to gain political mileage? What about the millions of people minting money within the country? The Income Tax department once stated on the blackmoney issue that IT dept was only concerned with its `pound of flesh'. It was the job of the economic offences department to deal with the sources of income if any laws had been broken.
I remember in an article in the Illustrated Weekly of India in the 1970s, Nirad C Chaudhuri said that a lot of the country's problems were owing to the `character fabric' being weak. But then the late Nirad had said a lot of things that found plenty of opponents.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Voting over, now what?

May 2, 2009.
April 30 was a really hot day yet people made their way to the polling booths. The turnout seemed to be good though when the percentages came in it was obvious that the majority had stayed home. Here in the heart of Lucknow everything was well in control as it had been in most places around the city. Even the electricity over the past weeks didn't give much reason to complain. That is if we only talk about big towns and cities. But the day after was different!
The electricity went off several times and one break lasted almost two hours, though I'm not sure how much of Lucknow was hit. With summer temps yet to peak let us prepare ourselves for the worst while the politicians and bigwigs relax with unlimited and uninterrupted power.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

The Poor Farmer

April 17, 2009
This was a descriptive piece written more than 30 years ago under the heading Drought. It was published a few years later in a newspaper under the headline `The Farmer, Drought and Floods', with the flood part added to give it some length, though excess water is as ruinous as no water to the tiller of the soil. Farmers have always suffered the vagaries of the weather but it's only in recent years that they have started committing suicide. So one cannot help wondering whether `our richest men in the world' really have time to even think of the problem, or the majority of our politicians some of whom remind one of Emperor Nero, in the film Quo Vadis, played by Peter Ustinov, asks for his tear glass to shed a tear while Rome burned during the Great Fire of Rome.


  • The Poor Farmer

The blazing sun shone down on the already sun-baked earth, drying and cooking relentlessly the last vestiges of life in the almost dead vegetation, converting the couintry, for as far as the eye could see and further, into a massive stockpile of tinder while a farmer shaded his eyes and squinted across what till recently was his green crops - that Nature - had so mercilessly robbed from him - by witholding the rain.

The farmer's gaze moved slowly in the direction of the sun-bleached huts, the sight that brought a quiver to his lips as a tear welled up in his eye, trickling and drying simultaneously and adding a tell-tale blemish of salt to his brown, leathery face.

The village lay a hundred metres to the east, listless, exhausted and parched - seemingly devoid of life, save for the swarms of flies that covered the carcasses of a once healthy cattle and the vultures that nature had so graciously served.

The well had gone dry the day before and the hoarse cry of the only handpump held little promise, as the weeping and wailing from ehte nearest thatchment made it clear that Nature's injustice knows no bounds - that the sweltering heat had taken the first human life and there was yet the morrow - more deaths or, perhaps, a miracle.

The rains at long last came, but the damage was done, a few innocent lives lost, a number of cattle dead, the crops destroyed and the farmer disheartened and bitter - the loss irreparable. The loss in mental make-up surpassing the rest, yet, there existed the determination to sow another crop - the need to sruvive `come hell or high water'.

Thus, the fields were again cleared, ploughed and a crop sown. But the monsoons had arrived and so came high water which proved hell - to some, the majority.

The rain came in torrents and the rivers swelled, while the low-lying country left dried and thirsty during the hot months, was now saturated, to water began to rise, as if in connivance with the rivers, till eventually all was one sheet of water, dotted by trees, some upright and green, some that had taken more battering than they could stand, had collapsed and lay half submerged. Logs of wood and buoyant huts that were released from their moorings, from numerous villages, that stood like flimsy beleagured fortresses, had started drifting to no-where in particular.

The less poor among the rural folk who had some form of boat wre prepared to sail. But what of the rest? They would chance to luck and climb trees or roof-tops of houses that were less soluble, if there be such a thing in mudden dwellings - while, their city brethern shake their heads in a show of anguish, and the government at this fatal hour send out groups to assess the damage, give succour to those left homeless and a sthey word it - `fight the flood on a war-footing'.

The poor farmer, the villagers, that make up a great nation; the multitudes that suffer for a few - the city dwellers - that have but to glance into the blazing heat and as a mirage see the tiller of the soil or for that matter peer into the turbulent depths of flood waters and once again - it is the farmer.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

... adds to the joy of the climb

Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.
---Winston Churchill

Amitabh, Naseeruddin and Bollywood

Newspapers or let's say the media don't allow anyone to forget who is the most popular, what they like or dislike and then, if it involves two or more rivals, a little salt is rubbed in to spice up matters.
Now
Amitabh Bachchan and Naseeruddin Shah both don't like the term Bollywood. This was repeated in TOI this morning regarding the Big B. About Naseeruddin's dislike for the word he once said, `they (perhaps the media) use it to make fun of us'. Obviously he got it right, in my thinking at least. But we all know the term has come to stay unless the media allows it to fade. Other terms that won't fade but will only shift from deposed king to the new king and superstar to the new superstar. Just like Saurav Ganguly who was prince of Kolkata till he was unceremoniously removed. But that's politics, I suppose.
Now I'd once heard that Amitabh didn't quite like being referred to as the Big B. He never aired it in print. However, I did search his blog for his Raja and Runk story that was published many months ago in a national daily and was followed up with a statement from his brother Ajitabh who was going to bring out a book. The tone then didn't sound so good, nor did the above mentioned story. However, family is everything, family comes first and the brothers are close as ever. The latest is what
Ajitabh said...the public perception of the superstar as a kind loving father and gentleman is both accurate and richly deserved ...
The media has been kind at times good and also rotten. Whichever the case might be it's not always justified.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Nafisa attends Easter Mass at the Cathedral

Ms Nafisa Ali is trying hard to pull in the votes for her election. She was seen in church this morning where she attended Easter Mass.
How this goes is left to be seen because the Samajwadi Party manifesto doesn't instil much confidence. What is significant is that some newspapers have reported that the party plans to rake up the old English controversy. However, a news item today says that Mr Yadav is not against English schools but against imposition of English on the common people. Actually the common people or let's say the `poor' cannot afford a good English medium school. As a matter of fact schools that have some standard cannot cater to the thousands of parents who wish to give their children the best education available. A better idea is for all political parties to really work on improving the standard of education. There have been lots of promises and rehashing of ideas but nothing has improved. Now the plan is for reservation in all public institutions. This I'm sure will be resisted tooth and nail. It will also be resisted by othe political parties.
English today is spoken in some degree by everyone. English words have become a part of normal conversation, just as Hindi words are used by people who speak in English. Even Hindi publications make appropriate use of English words in the Hindi script. This is precisely what has added to the appeal of the English language. It is a language made up of words from several languages, including Sanskrit, and is growing every year with more words being added. This, we must agree with the experts, is how a language evolves.
Had English not expanded as a language it would have disappeared long ago.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Nafisa Ali

It is good to find that someone like Nafisa Ali is standing for
elections from Lucknow. Everybody is familiar with the actress and she
is bound to draw plenty of votes.But this does make one wonder how
someone from out of the state, like the earlier candidature of Sanjay
Dutt, or the many all over the country who get elected from a
constituency to which they have no connection.
I suppose we, the common people, are not to understand even though it
concerns us.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Animal Farm relevant today

Over the years one couldn't help thinking of, or being disturbed by, the political scene all over the world, more especially local politics that impacts our lives. Turning to the web I sought out the answer to the question on the relevance of Animal Farm today and wasn't surprised to find an answer. I have unashamedly reproduced it on my blog since I know I couldn't have done as good a job as Don Mac Auley in the Sunday Business Post in 2007. I also hope that those who have not read this satirical novel will perhaps do so.It doesn't need much imagination to see how this story fits our political conditions at all levels.

Sunday Business Post

Animal farm: as relevant today as it was back then
Sunday, May 20, 2007 - By Don Mac Auley
The last time I opened George Orwell’s Animal Farm, according to the inscription inside the cover, I was a fourth year high school student.

Compared to the doorstops we’d previously studied in English class, it appeared a much easier read. Our teacher said that after we read it, nothing would ever be the same again.

A moral tale about the corruption of power, it opened my eyes to the world where ‘‘all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others’’. As Spanish and Irish people head to the polls, it strikes me that his would be a better read than any of the political manifestos, for the politicians and the public alike.

Spain’s electorate goes to the polls in the municipal elections on May 27.Voting will establish the composition of local and provincial councils, or Diputacions.

Although these have limited powers, the result is a good indicator of national trends and usually reflects support for the various political parties.

The two main parties have already locked horns. The Olive Press, our local newspaper in English, last week reported illegal electioneering and mass vote-rigging.

Here in Spain, the politicians are asking difficult questions and accusing each other of fraud and corruption.

In Ireland, the Taoiseach’s financial irregularities beg scant comment from his political rivals, but you get the feeling running for election in Spain would be less comfortable for Bertie.

Reeling from the boost in his popularity after ‘Bertiegate’ last autumn, the alternate kings are ever so quiet.

Rabitte and Kenny’s acquiescence on the issue may be cute electioneering, but it says little for their characters. Somewhere Edmund Burke is quietly turning in his grave.

When I questioned Bertie followers back home about what effect these revelations have had on opinion, I often hear that redundant response, ‘‘Ah, sure ’tis better the divil you know’’. But you don’t know and probably will never know.

The sudden growth of the electoral register in our council seems a minor scandal next to Bertie’s wranglings but in the Spanish mountains, as elsewhere, politicians are hungry to cling to power.

In Lanjaron, famous for its spring water, the socialist candidate for mayor has accused the incumbent of suspicious registrations of voters who are ‘‘friends of the mayor or his family and do not even live in the town’’.

The mayor has denied any wrongdoing and declared that, ‘‘if the Junta Electoral wants to investigate, let them’’.

And we are not alone. Over 230 town halls and individuals in Spain are suspected of census fraud. In Melilla, the Partido Popular chief of elections is being investigated after allegedly trying to make 1,000 copies of a postal vote document. While in a village in Salamanca, it was discovered that nine people were registered as living in a chicken shed.

This desire for, and abuse of, power were also present in Animal Farm. Demonstrating how a revolution turned full circle as the oppressed become the oppressors, it echoes Lord Acton’s saying: ‘‘Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely’’.

Having rid themselves of the cruel Mr Jones, the animals relish new freedoms but in their complacency they were soon subjugated by the pigs under lead pig Napoleon. At first, they took the apples and milk and then set about changing the commandments of the rebellion until eventually they created a greater tyranny than the previous regime.

With the terror of the dogs and the propaganda of Squealer, Napoleon forced the animals to forget the past as history is altered, and they ultimately lose control of their present and future. More than 20 years later, I can still envisage the final scene. The pigs are standing upright now, carrying whips, wearing clothes and entertaining the local human farmers. Sharing beer, they congratulate each other on their commercial success and a game of cards starts up all of which is against the rules of the animal revolution.

Caught cheating, a loud argument attracts the other animals to the window and peering in, to their horror, they are unable to discriminate between the pigs and the humans.

Today, in my mind’s eye, I see the same scene not with pigs but unfamiliar businessmen.

Visit www.changinglanes.es for Irish dentist Don Mac Auley’s experience of trading Celtic tiger Ireland for a year in the Spanish mountains


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Monday, March 23, 2009

Democracy, GB Shaw says...

... is a device that insures we
 are governed no better than we deserve.

Everyone is worried

The election scene is hotting up. However, the end result is what counts. The electorate is concerned and what is not good, but at the same time can be expected, given the political situation, is the talk about the negative vote to register one's rejection of all the candidates in the fray. Over the years one had confidence in the party's choice and one voted no matter who the politician was, but the quality of candidates have deteriorated. Criminalisation of politics has come to stay. Before party hopping would be a joke because not much changeovers took place. Now it is the coalition government with the majority that counts. So you may have a party that switches sides at the drop of a hat so to speak.  As some of our popular politicians saying `there are no permanent foes in politics. That's a pretty convenient argument.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Pup adopted

Right from mid-Jan I fed this pup every day, that is, even on holidays. During this time it had started getting around more. It even sought out my son in his class which is a good distance from the school gate. Then he would follow us to my scooter where I would feed him. Then one day I couldn't find him only to be told by the gate-keeper that a man had taken him away as a pet.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

From the Shepherd's Archives

Taken at no. 13 old Lawrence Terrace perhaps at the end of the 40s or early 1950's. My dad, Ivan and mother, Tessy and Nana Mabel are seen clearly. In the shadow is probably Aunty Ivy (Hourigan) . Below is Uncle Jim and Aunty Maud. Jim was the only sibling of my dad's to settle out of the country (UK) where he died not long after getting there in 1968(?).

Pics taken more than 60 years ago. Some people may not be surprised. Most people live in the present, I live in the past. The first two pics were taken at Lawrence Terrace while the third one either at the Residency or the Prince of Whales Zoological Gardens, Lucknow. The name of the zoo was changed in the last ten years. Standing is Aunt Maud, my dad's sister, Ivy, my dad and mum, cousin, Dorothy (James), Glenna and Maurice James. On the ground is Uncle Jim and his son Hubert.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

La Martiniere taken from the dry lake bed in 1999

The sorry state of the Lart that has had all the bricks carried away from the surrounding wall. This became possible with the drying up of the lake and the construction of the embankment to prevent the riverwater entering the city.

Bibipur Kothi taken in the summer of 1999

Bibipur Kothi, located in the Military Dairy Farm, Dilkusha was built by Claude Martin
for Nawab Asaf-ud-daula and was used to house the incoming British Resident before he took over at the Residency in the city. My son, Glenn in pic.
The history of the building given on a board states:
Located on the right bank of the River Gomti, this building was built
by Nawab Asif-ud-Daula (1775-97 AD) and designed with the assistance
of Major General Claude Martin. It ws used to entertain European
guests. After the demise of the nawab in 1797 a darbar was held here
and Sir John Shore (Governor General from 1793-97) declared Saadat Ali Khan
as the rightful successor to the throne. After the annexation of Awadh
in 1856 the place was used by the British, particularly Army officers for
various celebrations.

The front of Bibiapur Kothi has lost much of what can be seen
in the top picture taken in 1999. 

The rear of the building

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Get-together

It's not easy to get back to one's blog as much as one would like. During the day while one is occupied with other matters plenty of thoughts and ideas pass through the mind. Some are great ideas which are all too soon forgotten by the time one could sit down to the computer. Now when the family have come together for a Sunday lunch, as at present, to try and keep the blog spirit up is not the ideal time. But one has to somehow register one's presence even if it's with something less than ordinary.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire winning 8 Oscars has been is something great for India. In recent years people in India have been reportedly trying to promote their films in Hollywood.  Of course I'm not aware of the procedure anyway. What is very clear is that things don't work that way with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
 

Sunday, February 15, 2009

The Residency






The Residency tower has been closed for some years now owing to the crumbling stairway and walls. However, the ASI has been sprucing up the place repairing walls and even reconstructing portions. Once the Supreme Court had expressed its opinion on buildings of historical importance, stating that preservation does not mean rebuilding. I've been a regular visitor to this spot over the years and I'm beginning to wonder if the original isn't gradually disappearing not through neglect but rather due to overenthusiasm. Whatever I hope whenever this ends the place remains as near to the original as possible. I cannot say for sure whether I'm right but in the basement museum there is a hole in the wall purported to have been made by a cannonball. Looking at the angle I couldn't imagine how it reached that spot. There weren't any laser-guided cannonballs I imagine? Top right is the tablet on the pillar marking the spot where General James Neill fell to a shot fired from the top of a nearby gateway, later named after him.



The pic on the right is the mosque that withstood all the bombardment in 1857 and is in pretty good shape.

A view from the top

At the Residency, Lucknow

Thursday, January 29, 2009

A Stray Pup

As some people turn older they start doing strange things. I guess everyone does strange things but some don't see them as strange. One reason may be the link between `strange things' and getting old.
Now recently I moved into this category. I started feeding a stray pup. So what's strange about that? Well I started cooking food for the pup. Oh, I've also liked animals - dogs and cats - but I never wanted to make a habit of feeding them on the roadside for a number of reasons. One of those reasons is I didn't want to become (seem) crazy like the Late Marie Doyle and my late aunt-in-law Mavis Gomez or Jackie Joachim. Jackie still cooks for the stray dogs in our colony. Then my late mum and dad also fed roadside dogs. Years ago one stray came home to stay with us. She turned out a good dog and lived several years. I don't want that happening again.
However, this pup was abandoned near a school gate and was surviving on a few morsels thrown by some feeling-hearted children. This is wonderful because people don't have much feelings even for human beings leave alone animals. 
Well, about 10-12 days ago I started cooking meat and rice  with a tomato thrown in for taste for this pup. I even went on Sunday and Republic Day to feed it. And as can be expected this miserable  looking pup is looing so much better and is now very lively. I don't want to keep this up I hope to stop feeding it as soon as it is able to fend for itself. But I afraid of the attachment. Let's see what happens. 
 

13 Lawrence Terrace about 1955

Standing  at the back from left is Gerry Gardner(Sonbun), Ian (Bunny) Carter and Darryl Wilson. Second row there is some doubt maybe Herbert King in the centre is Johnny Cline and at the end Darryl Stears then Keith Shepherd and George Shepherd and a girl who may be Lorraine Vincent then sitting is Allan James and maybe Raju Loomba. Pic circa 1955.

My Aunts Irene and Ivy (sitting) and Mum, Tessy, brother Keith and myself in 1951 in front of Lawrence Terrace, Lucknow.