THE OTHER SIDE OF A FAUJI’S WORTH

A ‘fauji‘ is the Hindi or more accurately Urdu word for an Indian military man. Most Indians hold the fauji in high esteem. However, most of them steer clear from emulating the “impossible and impractical” virtues of a fauji, the biggest being: Service before self.

Last year in the month of June I did a piece on Armed Forces And The Indian Society. I had brought out that except for sporadic incidents, like the spat the soldiers recently had with their superiors in Leh; or General VK Singh, the 24th Chief of the Army Staff, trying to sort out the civil-military relationship balance through the curious instrument of his dates of birth, by and large, the Indian public holds its armed forces in great esteem. Many of our countrymen privately fantasize about the armed forces taking over the governance of the country and instil some discipline and accountability in our civic life.

However, in the same article I had brought out the increasing chasm between the civil society and the armed forces due to the decline of values in the former and due to an all time low having achieved in civil military relations (Please also read: ‘Admiral And Mantriji’) Therefore, after more than six decades of independence, we are in a curious state whence the politicians require the armed forces not just to deter and protect the nation from foreign aggression, but also to sort out the mess that they have made of the internal situation. The army lost its cutting edge by being sucked into insurgencies and law and order situations. Post 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the GoI in a contorted wisdom made the Indian Navy responsible for coastal security; thus making it one of the only leading navies in the world so charged. Surprisingly, whilst making the faujis responsible for things that should have been sorted out by good governance, the politicians and bureaucracy have relentlessly desisted from conceding even an inch to the armed forces in matters of governance.

In August this year, reacting to the killing of five Indian soldiers by the Pakistanis, Bhim Singh, a Minister in Bihar government, commented that people join armed forces to be martyred. Was this an apt description of the worth of the armed forces or faujis as seen by our netas? The sad part is that majority in our country would answer that question in the affirmative.

Kargil War - An Uphill Task against all odds for the 'fauji' (Pic courtesy: defenceforumindia.com)
Kargil War – An Uphill Task against all odds for the ‘fauji’ (Pic courtesy: defenceforumindia.com)

The life of a fauji is tough both in peace and during war and LIC. Anytime he/she can get killed. Even when alive a fauji, more often than not, lives the life of deprivation. So, how does the country honour him? No one wants to give him anything but all are vying to get something from him. The industry employs a highly skilled jawan (he becomes highly skilled because of years of discipline, training and technology that he is brought face to face with) as a security guard on abysmally low wages so as to exploit his inherent loyalty and integrity. For the bureaucrat, he is a headache since they have to think ways and means of denying what is due to him, eg, OROP or One Rank One Pay, Rank Pay and other allowances. As far as inter se protocols are concerned, a fauji has been deliberately pushed down the ladder far below the police and the bureaucracy.

Whilst the civilians fantasize about a military rule to end corruption and inefficiency everywhere, the military too fantasizes about war when the worth of the fauji is felt by the civilians. As the English poet Francis Quarles wrote in 1632:

Our God and soldier we alike adore.
Even at the brink of danger; not before;
After deliverance, both alike requited.
Our God’s forgotten, and our soldiers slighted.

The society at large doesn’t comprehend the life of the fauji that is not visible to it, eg, on the border, at sea and when he is silently engaged in doing what he has pledged to do. However, it sees the fauji during parades, in the clubs and canteens and it appears to the civilians that the faujis are having a jolly good time in their pomp and glory.

Here is a light-hearted anecdote about the worth of a ‘fauji’. This is a thirty years old incident and hence indicates that it is not now that the rot has set in though now it is worsened considerably.

I was on temporary duty to Naval Headquarters from Mumbai where I was posted. I was a LtCdr then. I was going to stay in the SP Marg Officers Mess (at that time it was a common mess for Army and Navy officers; much before ‘jointmanship’ dictated that we have separate messes) (Read: ‘Anything But Jointmanship)

I alighted at the New Delhi Railway station having arrived there by fauji friendly Frontier Mail. (Read: Crossing Frontiers In The Frontier Mail)

Chugging my suitcase (no one had heard of trolleys at that time) I located an auto-rickshaw. Delhi auto-rickshaws were notorious for not going by the meter and for overcharging. So, I wanted to settle the fare with him before the journey.

“How much?” I asked the driver deliberately in Punjabi so that he would know I was from that part of the world and not easy to be deceived.

“Forty bucks” he too replied in Punjabi.

Now I knew that the fare would be only 25 bucks but considering the night-time, he could add another 5 bucks. But certainly 40 bucks was downright cheating.

I protested and haggled. But he won’t budge.

Finally, I told him that I was a fauji so that he would have a modicum of respect.

“Ah” he said joyously, “Then you just give me a bottle of rum.”

(Pic courtesy: trade.indiamart.com)
(Pic courtesy: trade.indiamart.com)

I had to give him all of Rupees forty since the bottle of rum (though much cheaper) had already been given by me to the TTE in the train for procuring reservation.

After joining the Indian Armed Forces, it doesn’t take a fauji much time to realise his true worth to the civilians and yet he continues to serve selflessly.

LORI (LULLABY) SONGS THAT I LOVE

Life is the biggest gift of God to us; the next biggest is sleep. It relaxes us and refreshes us and prepares us to face a new day. But, what about those who can’t sleep? If they are small children, then God has given them the gift of their parents, especially their mother, who sings for them lori or lullabies to them to make them sleep. And if they are older people? Well, they still need lullabies from their beloved to make them sleep.

Lori or lullabies send the child or beloved to a different world, a world of dreams. This one from the 1955 movie Vachan, penned by my namesake, and composed by him and sung by Asha Bhosle is the ultimate into this dream world. We are all familiar with it:

Chandamama door ke, puye pakaayen boor ke
Aap khaaen thaalii men, munne ko den pyaali men

PyaalI gai toot munna gaya rooth
Laaenge nayi pyaaliyaan bajaa bajaa ke taaliyaan
Munne ko manaaenge ham dudh malayi khaaenge

Chandamama …

Udan – khatole baith ke munna chanda ke ghar jaayega
Taaron ke sang aankh michauli khel ke dil behlaayega
Khel kood se jab mere munne ka dil bhar jaayega
Thumak thumak mera munna vaapas ghar ko aayega,
Chandamama …

(Boor = white cane sugar powder, puye = plural of ‘puaa’ or ‘malpuaa’, a sweet bread made from thick fluor (sooji / rava); thaali = a dinner plate pyaali = a small bowl to serve side dishes munna = a traditional name for a small child.

chanda_mama_door_ke

There are dozens of Lori songs in the Hindi movies. I was requested to do a post on Lori songs, when, a few months back, I did one on Neend (Sleep) songs (Please read: Neend Hamari Khwaab Tumhaare – Best Of (Lost) Neend Songs – A ‘Lyrical’ Special). I didn’t know it would be such a difficult task since I landed up with almost a hundred Lori songs. I wanted to select just ten for this post; but, finally I have ended up selecting a dozen. These are not in any particular order.

Lets begin with the first one. It is from the 1953 Bimal Roy classic ‘Do Bigha Zameen’ starring Balraj Sahni and Nirupa Roy in lead roles. The movie’s songs lyrics were by Shailendra Singh and the music director was Salil Choudhury who also wrote the story. A young Lata Mangeshkar has sung this so well that it must rank amongst her top 50.

Please enjoy: Aa ja re aa nindiya tu aa…

Aa jaa re aa ni.ndiyaa tuu aa
jhilamil sitaaro.n se utar aa.Nkho.n me.n aa sapane sajaa

SoI kalI soyaa chaman pIpal tale soI havaa
sab ra.ngaa ik ra.ng me.n tuune ye kyaa jaaduu kiyaa
aa jaa …

Sa.nsaar kii raanI hai tuu raa jaa hai meraa laaDalaa
duniyaa hai merii god me.n soyaa huaa sapanaa meraa,
aa jaa …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=oIh_6efSU1E%3F

The second is by my favourite singer: Hemant Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar. It is penned by my favourite lyricist Shakeel Badayuni (Please read: Shakeel Badayuni – the King Amongst Lyricists And Poets – Part I and Shakeel Badayuni – The King Amongst Lyricists and Poets – Part II) It has Naushad’s music.

Please enjoy: Chandan ka palana, resham ki dori….

ho~~
Chandan kaa palanaa resham kii Dorii
jhuulaa jhulaa_uu.N ni.ndiyaa ko torii
chandan kaa palanaa   …

So jaa tuu aise morii sajaniyaa
so jaa tuu aise morii sajaniyaa
sajiyaa pe soye jaise dulhaniyaa
chandaa kaa Tiikaa maathe lagaa_uu.N
taaro.n kii maalaa tujhako pahanaa_uu.N
taaro.n kii maalaa tujhako pahanaa_uu.N
tohe sulaa_uu.N gaa gaa ke lorii
jhuulaa jhuulaa_uu.N ni.ndiyaa ko torii
chandan kaa palanaa   …

In the duet version, Hemantda and Lata sing the following stanza together:

Uu.Nche gagan se koii bulaaye
laayii.n hai.n pariyaa.n Dolaa sajaaye
sajan se milane duur chalii jaa
u.Dake tuu ni.ndiyaa phur.r chalii jaa
u.Dake tuu ni.ndiyaa phur.r chalii jaa
chandaa pukaare aajaa chakorii
jhuulaa jhuulaa_uu.N ni.ndiyaa ko tori

https://youtube.com/watch?v=H0l1qQVTfHA%3F

Have you realised that the movies that we saw in our childhood and boyhood/girlhood have much more lasting effects on us than the latter day movies? One such movie for me was the 1963 movie Mujhe Jeene Do starring Sunil Dutt and Waheeda Rehman. The movie was about the rehabilitation of dacoits who want to live the lives of ordinary people with families and children. This song is sung by a mother (Waheeda) to her child as a Lori.  The dacoit father Sunil Dutt is on run from the police. Hence, the entire family is constantly in hiding, moving from place to place and hoping to remain undetected.   This song is a very touching song showing the anxiety of a young mother for her new-born child and the kind of life that he faces. Lata’s voice has made it a most touching lullaby. Sahir Ludhianvi’s lyrics are superb and Jaidev’s music is perfect for the emotions.

Please enjoy: Tere bachpan ko jawani ki dua deti hoon, aur dua deke preshaan si ho jaati hoon…

tere bachapan ko javaanii kii duaa detii huu.N
aur duaa deke pareshaan sii ho jaatii huu.N

mere munne mere gulazaar ke nanhe paudhe
tujhako haalat kii aa.ndhii se bachaane ke liye
aaj mai.n pyaar ke aa.nchal me.n chhupaa letii huu.N
kal ye kamazor sahaaraa bhii na haasil hogaa
kal tujhe kaa.nTo.n bharii raaho.n pe chalanaa hogaa
zi.ndagaanii kii ka.Dii dhuup me.n jalanaa hogaa
tere bachapan ko javaanii …

tere maathe pe sharaafat kii koI mohar nahii.n
cha.nd hote hai.n muhabbat ke sukuun hii kyaa hai.n
jaise maao.n kii muhabbat kaa koI mol nahii.n
mere maasuum farishte tuu abhii kyaa jaane
tujhako kis-kisakii gunaaho.n kii sazaa milanii hai
diin aur dharm ke maare hue i.nsaano.n kii
jo nazar milanii hai tujhako vo khafaa milanii hai
tere bachapan ko javaanii …

be.Diyaa.N leke lapakataa huaa kaanuun kaa haath
tere maa.N-baap se jab tujhako milii ye saugaat
kaun laaegaa tere vaaste khushiyo.n kii baaraat
mere bachche tere a.njaam se jii Darataa hai
terii dushman hii na saabit ho javaanii terii
khaak jaatii hai jise sochake mamataa merii
usii a.njaam ko pahu.nche na kahaanii terii
tere bachapan ko javaanii …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=P2D-Z7XM7aU%3F

The 1968 movie Brahmachari starring Shammi Kapoor, Rajshree, Pran and Mumtaz. Shammi Kapoor, the brahmachari, was an orphan who had taken upon himself to take care of orphan children in his home. The movie had many best awards: Best Movie, Best Actor: Shammi Kapoor, Best Singer: Mohammad Rafi, Best Lyricist: Shailendra, and Best Music Director: Shankar Jaikishan.

This Lori sung by Mohammad Rafi for Shammi Kapoor is touching indeed when Shammi Kapoor is forced to make the children sleep hungry.

Please enjoy: Main gaaun tum so jaao…

mai.n gaauu.N tum so jaao
sukh sapano.n me.n kho jaao
maanaa aaj kii raat hai lambii
maanaa din thaa bhaarii
par jag badalaa badalegii
ek din taqadiir hamaarii
us din ke khvaab sajaao

kal tum jab aa.Nkhe.n khologe
jab hogaa ujiyaaraa
khushiyo.n kaa sandeshaa lekar
aaegaa saveraa pyaaraa
mat aas ke diip bujhaao,
mai.n gaaU.N …

jii karataa hai jiite jii
mai.n yU.N hii gaataa jaaU.n
gardish me.n thake haatho.n kaa
maathaa sahalaataa jaauu.n
phir ik din tum doharaao,
sukh sapano.n …

At this stage let me take you to the era of the first super-star of the Hindi movies: KL Saigal; a singer par excellence. This Lori is for the old timers who like the lyrics of Kedar Sharma, the music of Pankaj Mullick and KL Saigal singing and acting. The movie is the 1940 movie Zindagi.

Please enjoy: So jaa raajkumari, so jaa….

so jA ##(slow)##
so jA rAjakumArI so jA
so jA mai.n balihArI so jA
so jA rAjakumArI so jA

so jA mIThe sapane Ae.N
sapano.n me.n pI daras dikhAe.N – 2
u.D kar rUpanagar me.n jAe.N – 2
rUpanagar kI sakhiyA.n Ae.N – 2
rAjAjI mAlA pahanAe.N – 2
chUme mA.ng tihArI so jA
so jA rAjakumArI so jA

https://youtube.com/watch?v=aNfuW2i4tLw%3F

This one is an extraordinary Lori sung by Lata Mangeshkar and C Ramachandra for the 1951 movie Albela starring Geeta Bali and Bhagwan. These absolutely enchanting lyrics are by Rajendra Krishan and the music is by C Ramachandra. The Lori is in two parts. The duet version is a sadder one. Chitalkar just sings the mukhada
and Lata sings the two antaraas. The tune is the same for both versions.

Please enjoy: Dheere se aaja ri ankhiyan mein, nindiya aaja ri aaja…

dhiire se aajaa rii a.Nkhiyan me.n
ni.ndiyaa aajaa rii aajaa, dhiire se aajaa
chhoTe se nainan kii bagiyan me.n
nindiyaa aajaa rii aajaa, dhiire se aajaa

o …
lekar suhaane sapano.n kii kaliyaa.N, sapano.n kii kaliyaa.N
aake basaa de palako.n kii galiyaa.N, palako.n kii galiyaa.N
palako.n kii chhoTii sii galiyan me.n
nindiyaa aajaa rii aajaa, dhiire se aajaa
dhiire se …

o …
taaro.n se chhup kar taaro.n se chorii, taaro.n se chorii
detii hai rajanii cha.Ndaa ko lorii, cha.Ndaa ko lorii
ha.Nsataa hai cha.Ndaa bhii nindiyan me.n
nindiyaa aajaa rii aajaa, dhiire se aajaa
dhiire se …

Sad / Duet version
dhiire se aajaa rii a.Nkhiyan me.n
ni.ndiyaa aajaa rii aajaa, dhiire se aajaa
chhoTe se nainan kii bagiyan me.n
nindiyaa aajaa rii aajaa, dhiire se aajaa

o …
aa.Nkhe.n to sab kii hai.n ik jaisii
jaisii amiiro.n kii, gariibo.n kii vaisii
palako.n kii suunii sii galiyan me.n
nindiyaa aajaa rii aajaa, dhiire se aajaa
dhiire se …

o …
jagatii hai a.Nkhiyaa.N sotii hai qismat, sotii hai qismat
dushman gariibo.n kii hotii hai qismat, hotii hai qismat
dam bhar gariibo.n kii kuTiyan me.n
nindiyaa aajaa rii aajaa, dhiire se aajaa
dhiire se …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=TEN1DkOiFuY%3F

Have you ever imagined cinematography that enhances the effect of a Lori? If you haven’t, you have to see this Lori sung by Sunil Dutt for Nutan in the 1967 movie Milan. The lyrics are by Anand Bakshi and music by Laxmikant Pyarelal and the singer is Mukesh.

Please enjoy: Raam kare aisa ho jaaye, meri nindiya tohe mil jaaye…

raam kare aisaa ho jaae
merii ni.ndiyaa tohe mil jaae
mai.n jaaguu.N, tuu so jaae
mai.n jaaguu.N, tuu so jaae …

(svapna chalaa aae koii chorii-chorii
mast pavan gaae lorii
cha.ndra kiraN banake Dorii)           -2
tere man ko jhuulaa jhulaae
merii ni.ndiyaa tohe mil jaae
mai.n jaaguu.N, tuu so jaae
mai.n jaaguu.N, tuu so jaae …

guzar jaae.n sukh se terii dukh bharii ratiyaa.N
badal luu.N mai.n tose a.Nkhiyaa.N
bas me.n agar ho.n ye batiyaa.N
maa.Nguu.N duaae.n haath uThaae
merii ni.ndiyaa tohe mil jaae
mai.n jaaguu.N, tuu so jaae
mai.n jaaguu.N, tuu so jaae …

mai.n hii nahii.n tuu hii nahii.n
saaraa zamaanaa dard kaa hai ek fasaanaa
aadamii ho jaae diivaanaa
yaad kare gar bhuul na jaae
merii ni.ndiyaa tohe mil jaae
mai.n jaaguu.N, tuu so jaae
mai.n jaaguu.N, tuu so jaae …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=P9qhPcwndP0%3F

Okay, time for a happy Lori now. This is from the 1977 movie Mukti starring Vidya Sinha and Shashi Kapoor. Once again, the lyrics are by Anand Bakshi but, this time, the music is by RD Burman. The Lori is a duet between Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh.

Please enjoy: Lalla lalla lori, dudh ki katori…

lallaa lallaa lorii duudh kii kaTorii
duudh me.n bataashaa munnii kare tamaashaa

chhoTii-chhoTii pyaarii sundar pariyo.n jaisii hai
kisii kii nazar naa lage merii munnii aisii hai
shahad se bhii miiThii duudh se bhii gorii
chupake-chupake chorii-chorii chorii
lallaa lallaa lorii …

kaarii rainaa ke maathe pe chamake chaa.Nd sii bi.ndiyaa
munnii ke chhoTe-chhoTe naino.n me.n khele ni.ndiyaa
sapano.n kaa palanaa aashaa_o.n kii Dorii
chupake-chupake chorii-chorii chorii
lallaa lallaa lorii …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=s3iOMHOg7DI%3F

This one is another heart rending Lori from the 1964 movie Beti Bete starring Sunil Dutt with Saroja Devi and Jamuna. Shalendra as lyricist, Shankar Jaikishan as composers and Lata Mangeshkar as singer have put this together.

Please enjoy: Aaj kal mein dhal gaya din hua tamaam…

aaj kal me.n Dhal gayaa, din huaa tamaam
tuu bhii so jaa, so ga_ii, ra.ng bharii shaam

so gayaa chaman chaman, so ga_ii kalii-kalii
so gae hai.n sab nagar, so ga_ii galii-galii
nii.nd kah rahii hai chal, merii baa.Nh thaam, tuu bhii …

hai bujhaa-bujhaa saa dil, bojh saa.Ns-saa.Ns pe
jii rahe hai.n phir bhii ham, sirf kal kii aas pe
kah rahii hai chaa.Ndanii, leke teraa naam, tuu bhii …

kaun aaegaa idhar, kisakii raah dekhe.n ham
jinakii aahaTe.n sunii, jaane kisake ye kadam
apanaa koI bhii nahii.n, apane to hai.n raam, tuu bhii …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=eTh9WUbvkwE%3F

I don’t know about you but I am very fond of this Lori from the 1959 movie Chiraag Kahan Roshni Kahan starring Rajendra Kumar and Meena Kumari. Ravi is the lyricist as well as the music director. Singer is Lata Mangeshkar.

Please enjoy: Tim tim karte tare, kehate hain saare…

Tim-Tim karate taare ye kahate hai.n saare
so jaa tohe ni.ndiyaa pukaare
Tim-Tim karate …

sapano.n ke desh chandaa maamaa raajaa
bulaa rahaa hai bajaakar suro.n kaa baajaa
chorii-chorii khi.Dakii se karataa hai ishaare
Tim-Tim karate …

ra.ng-bira.ngii pariyaa.N tujhe jhuulaa jhulaa_e.Ngii
billii-totaa-mainaa kii kahaanii bhii sunaa_e.Ngii
achchhe-achchhe tujhe khilaune de.ngii pyaare-pyaare
Tim-Tim karate …

baadalo.n kii paalakii pe tujhako biThaa ke
chandaa maamaa saaraa jag laa_egaa ghumaa ke
lauT ke aa_e shaan se raajaa dvaare
Tim-Tim karate …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=vpLmlPLJkO8%3F

I hope you enjoyed all these Loris. We come to the last two now. The first one of these is from an outstanding movie of Kamal Hassan and Sridevi: the 1983 movie Sadma. This is the story of a girl: Sridevi who meets with an accident, loses her memory and is led into prostitution. Kamal Hassan rescues her and painstakingly works on her with love and understanding to make her recall her past. It takes him months of hard labour and many unpleasant situations. But, ironically, when she regains her memory, she can’t recognise Kamal Hassan.

This Lori is sung by Yesudas for Kamal Hassan trying to make Sridevi sleep. It has really outstanding lyrics by Gulzar and music by Illayaraaja.

Please enjoy: Surmayi akhiyon mein nanna munna ik sapna de jaa re…

suramaI akhiyo.n me.n nanhaa munnaa ek sapanaa de jaa re
nindiyaa ke udate paakhii re, a.Nkhiyo.n me.n aajaa sAthI re

raa rii raa ram o raarii ram

sachchaa koI sapanaa dejaa
mujhako koI apanA dejaa
anajaanaa saa magar kuchh pahachaanaa saa
halkaa phulkaa shabanamii
resham se bhI reshamii
suramaI …

raat ke rath par jaane vaale
nI.nd kA ras barasaane vaale
itanA kar de kI merI aa.Nkhe.n bhar de
aa.Nkho.n me.n basataa rahe, sapanA ye ha.Nsataa rahe
sapanaa yuu.N chalataa rahe
a.Nkhiyo.n me.n basataa rahe
suramaI …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=V5qMS-K8eYY%3F

Sadly, that brings us to the last one of the dozen best Lori songs that I selected for you. This is from the 1959 movie Sujata about the rehabilitation of untouchables. The movie starred Nutan as an untouchable and Sunil Dutt who falls in love with her. This outstanding Lori has been sung by Geeta Dutt on the lyrics of Majrooh Sultanpuri and music of Sachin Dev Burman.

Please enjoy: Nanhi kali sone chali hawa dheere aana…

havaa dhiire aanaa
nI.nd bhare pa.nkh liye jhuulaa jhuulaa jaanaa
nanhii kalii sone chalI havaa dhIre aanaa
nI.nd bhare pa.nkh liye jhuulaa jhuulaa jaanaa
nanhii kalii sone chalii

chaa.Nd kiran sii gu.Diyaa naajo.n kii hai palI – 2
aaj agar chaa.Ndaniyaa aanaa merii galii
gun gun gun gIt koI haule haule gaanaa
nI.nd bhare pa.nkh liye jhuulaa jhuulaa jaanaa

resham kii Dor agar pairo.n ko ulajhaae – 2
ghu.ngharuu kaa daanaa koI shor machaa jAe
daane mere jaage to phir ni.ndiyaa tU bahalaanaa
nI.nd bhare pa.nkh liye jhuulaa jhuulaa jaanaa
nanhii kalii sone chalI havaa dhIre aanaa

https://youtube.com/watch?v=l1rjhKLsi88%3F

In the end, anyone who has read Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’ and/or has seen the movie, will be aware of the dream world of the lullaby. Here is Seal Lullaby for you from the children’s loved book and movie: The Jungle Book:

Seal Lullaby

[lineate][/lineate]Oh! hush thee, my baby, the night is behind us[lineate][/lineate]And black are the waters that sparkled so green.[lineate][/lineate]The moon, O’er the combers, looks downward to find us[lineate][/lineate]At rest in the hollows that rustle between.[lineate][/lineate]Where billow meets billow, there soft by the pillow.[lineate][/lineate]Oh, weary wee flipperling, curl at thy ease![lineate][/lineate]The storm shall not wake thee, no shark shall overtake thee[lineate][/lineate]Asleep in the storm of slow-swinging seas.[lineate][/lineate]

THE BEST PHOOL (FLOWER) SONGS

Phool or flowers are amongst the best of God’s creations, so much so, that we often compare our dear ones to flowers; we send flowers to people we like and we are convinced that there are as many colours of flowers as the colours that God made.

There are many poems on Flowers. One of the best is Pushp Ki Abhilasha by Makhanlal Chaturvedi. This is even more apt after the heartless remark of Bihar Rural Works and Panchayat Raj Minister Bhim Singh that soldiers are meant to die. He was responding to five Indian soldiers having been killed in cold blood by the Pakis.

पुष्प की अभिलाषा- माखनलाल चतुर्वेदी (Makhanlal Chaturvedi)

[lineate][/lineate]चाह नहीं मैं सुरबाला के गहनों में गूँथा जाऊँ[lineate][/lineate]चाह नहीं, प्रेमी-माला में बिंध प्यारी को ललचाऊँ[lineate][/lineate]चाह नहीं, सम्राटों के शवपर हे हरि, डाला जाऊँ[lineate][/lineate]चाह नहीं, देवों के सिर पर चढ़ूँ भाग्य पर इठलाऊँ[lineate][/lineate]मुझे तोड़ लेना वनमाली उस पथ पर देना तुम फेंक[lineate][/lineate]मातृभूमि पर शीश चढ़ाने जिस पर जावें वीर अनेक II[lineate][/lineate]

 

[lineate][/lineate]It is not my desire to be weaved in the ornaments of a beautiful girl.[lineate][/lineate]It is not my desire to be weaved into a Lover’s garland and tempt a beloved.[lineate][/lineate]It is not my desire, O Hari, to adorn the funeral of a monarch.[lineate][/lineate]It is not my desire to be presented as offering to a goddess and rejoice at my good luck.[lineate][/lineate]O, Gardner, all I desire is[lineate][/lineate]That you will pluck me and throw me on that path[lineate][/lineate]On which our brave soldiers tread to sacrifice their lives for the motherland.[lineate][/lineate]

(Photo Courtesy: photodivision.gov.in)
(Photo Courtesy: photodivision.gov.in)

P.S. Any guesses how many Flowers would like to adorn the funeral of the Bihar Minister Bhim Singh?

The first Phool song, the best Phool song ever in Hindi movies, therefore, I have taken from the 1965 movie Shaheed starring Manoj Kumar and Kamini Kaushal. Lyrics are by Prem Dhawan as also the music. Mohammad Rafi has sung it with his usual passion. ‘Phool’ occurs once in the mukhada and once in the antara. In the mukhada it signifies that Flowers are nothing; at your feet, O’ Nation, we are prepared to offer our heads too. In the antara it signifies that We are from different parts of this great nation. We thus are like flowers of different colours and plants in your pooja thali. Really, I cannot think of a better Phool song for an Indian.

Ai vatan ai vatan hamako terii qasam
terii rAho.n mai.n jaa.n tak luTaa jaaye.nge
phuul kyaa chiiz hai tere kadamo.n pe ham
bhe.nT apane saro.n kii cha.Dhaa jaaye.nge
ai vatan ai vatan

Koii Pa.njaab se, koii MahaarAshhTr se
koii yuu pii se hai, koii ba.ngaal se
terii puujaa kii thaalii me.n laaye hai.n ham
phuul har ra.ng ke, aaj har Daal se
naam kuchh bhii sahii par lagan ek hai
jot se jot dil kii jagaa jaaye.nge
ai vatan ai vatan …

Terii jaanib uThii jo kahar kii nazar
us nazar ko jhukaa ke hii dam le.nge ham
terii dharatii pe hai jo kadam Gair kaa
us kadam kaa nishaa.N tak miTaa de.nge ham
jo bhii diivaar aayegii ab saamane
Thokaro.n se use ham giraa jaaye.nge

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_I2sU8k7Hk

The second song is from the 1968 movie Saraswati Chandra starring Nutan and Manish. The movie won the National Awards in the Best Cinematography and Best Music Director (Kalyanji Anandji) categories.

The lyrics are by Indeevar and singers are Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh.

Please enjoy: Phool tumhen bheja hai khat mein, Phool nahin mera dil hai, Pritam mere tum bhi likhana Kya yeh tumhaaare kaabil hai?

https://youtube.com/watch?v=vlLL2YlcGUI%3F

Phool or flower is often compared to blossoming of Love. The last thing that the lovers want is that it should be called infatuation. This is exactly the theme of this Manna De song. Manna De left us on the 25th of Oct 13 and this ranks amongst his best. The song is from the 1971 movie Anubhav directed by Basu Bhattacharya and starring Sanjeev Kumar and Tanuja. Lyrics are by Kapil Kumar and music by Kanu Roy.

Please enjoy: Phir kahin koi phool khila, chahat naa kaho isako…

Phir kahii.n koI phuul khilaa, chaahat naa kaho usako – 2
phir kahii.n koI diip jalaa, ma.nzil naa kaho usako
phir kahii.n …

Man kaa samu.ndar pyaasaa huaa, kyuu.N kisii se maa.Nge duaa – 2
laharo.n kaa lagaa jo melaa, tuufaa.n naa kaho usako
phir kahii.n …

Dekhe.n sab vo sapane, khud hii sajaae jo hamane – 2
dil unase bahal jaae to, raahat naa kaho usako
phir kahii.n …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=i40o6DEdIy0%3F

What about a Phool song describing the beauty of the heroine? There are dozens of them. I plan to give you just three of them. The first one is from the 1964 movie Aarzoo starring Rajendra Kumar, Feroze Khan, and Sadhna. Hasrat-SJ-Rafi have put this together. It has phool all the way, in the mukhada and antaras.

Please enjoy: Ai phoolon ki rani, baharon ki malika…

[lineate][/lineate]Ai phoolon ki raani, baharon ki malika,[lineate][/lineate]Tera muskaraana ghazab ho gaya…[lineate][/lineate] ai phuulo.n kii raanii bahaaro.n kii malikaa[lineate][/lineate]teraa muskuraanaa gazab ho gayaa[lineate][/lineate]na dil hosh me.n hai na ham hosh me.n hai.n[lineate][/lineate]nazar kaa milaanaa gazab ho gayaa[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Tere ho.nTh kyaa hai.n gulaabii ka.nval hai.n[lineate][/lineate]ye do pattiyaa.n pyaar kii ik gazal hai.n[lineate][/lineate]vo naazuk labo.n se muhabbat kii baate.n[lineate][/lineate] hamii.n ko sunaanaa gazab ho gayaa[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Kabhii khul ke milanaa kabhii khud jhijhakanaa[lineate][/lineate]kabhii raasto.n pe bahakanaa machalanaa[lineate][/lineate]ye palako.n kii chilaman uThaakar giraanaa[lineate][/lineate]giraakar uThaanaa gazab ho gayaa[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Fizaao.n me.n Tha.nDak ghaTaa bhar javaanii[lineate][/lineate]tere gesuo.n kii ba.Dii meharabaanii[lineate][/lineate]har ik pe.nch me.n saika.Do.n maikade hai.n[lineate][/lineate]teraa la.Dakha.Daanaa gazab ho gayaa[lineate][/lineate]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=zJd0ZZ-pezk%3F

We are on the sub-theme of phool songs describing the beauty of the heroine. This is from the 1962 movie Professor starring Shammi Kapoor and Kalpana. Hasrat Jaipuri, Shankar Jaikishan and Rafi have put this together.

 Please enjoy: Aye gulbadan, aye gulbadan…

[lineate][/lineate]Aye gulbadan, aye gulbadan,[lineate][/lineate]Phoolon ki mehak, kaanton ki chubhan…[lineate][/lineate]ai gulabadan, ai gulabadan, phuulo.n kii mahak kaa.NTo.n kii chubhan[lineate][/lineate]tujhe dekh ke kahataa hai meraa man[lineate][/lineate]kahii.n aaj kisii se muhabbat naa ho jaae[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Kyaa hasiin mo.D par aa ga_ii zi.ndagaanii[lineate][/lineate]kii haqiiqat na ban jaae merii kahaanii[lineate][/lineate]jab aahe.n bhare ye Tha.nDii pavan[lineate][/lineate]siine me.n sulag uThatii hai agan[lineate][/lineate]tujhe dekh ke …[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Kyaa ajiib ra.ng me.n saj rahii hai Kudaaii[lineate][/lineate]kii har ik chiiz maalik ne su.ndar banaaii[lineate][/lineate]nadiyaa kaa chamakataa hai darapan[lineate][/lineate]muKa.Daa dekhe.n sapano.n kii dulhan[lineate][/lineate]tujhe dekh ke …[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Mai.n tumhii.n se yuu.N aa.Nkhe.n milaataa chalaa huu.N[lineate][/lineate]ki tumhii.n ko mai.n tumase churaataa chalaa huu.N[lineate][/lineate]mat puuchho meraa diivaanaapan[lineate][/lineate]aakaash se uu.Nchii dil kii u.Dan[lineate][/lineate]tujhe dekh ke …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo3-uUPSAnc

We are on the sub-theme of Phool songs describing the beauty of the heroine. The third best song in this category (there are dozens of these) is from the 1963 movie Shikari. Lyrics by Farooq Qaisar and music by GS Kohli. It is a duet between Rafi and Lata.

Please enjoy: Chaman ke phool bhi tumako ghulab kehte hain…

[lineate][/lineate]Chaman ke phuul bhii tujh ko gulaab kahate hai.n[lineate][/lineate]hamii.n nahii.n, hai.n sabhii laajavaab kahate hai.n[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Nazar milaa ke mere dil kii baat pahachaano[lineate][/lineate]sunaa hai chehare ko dil kii kitaab kahate hai.n[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Saaz-e-dil chhe.D diyaa hai to ye naGamaa sun lo[lineate][/lineate]bikharii bikharii huii ye pyaar kii kiraNe.n chun lo[lineate][/lineate]isii kiraN ko sanam aafataab kahate hai.n[lineate][/lineate]hamii.n nahii.n, hamii.n nahii.n[lineate][/lineate]hamii.n nahii.n hai.n sabhii laajavaab kahate hai.n[lineate][/lineate]chaman ke phuul bhii tujhako[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]aaj tak dekhii nahii.n aisii dahakatii aa.Nkhe.n[lineate][/lineate]Daal do aa ke in aaNkho.n me.n chhalakatii aa.Nkhe.n[lineate][/lineate]sambhal ke piinaa ise sab sharaab kahate hai.n[lineate][/lineate]hamii.n nahii.n, hamii.n nahii.n[lineate][/lineate]hamii.n nahii.n hai.n sabhii laajavaab kahate hai.n[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Chaman ke phuul bhii tujhako …[lineate][/lineate]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=4ZW0SXRZDr4%3F

Lets now look at the comical and satirical songs with phool.

The first song in this category is also by Mukesh for the 1975 movie Prem Kahani starring Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz. Lyrics have a kind of indirect satire perfected by Anand Bakshi and the music is by Laxmikant Pyarelal.

Please enjoy: Phool ahista phenko phool bade naazuk hote hain…

[lineate][/lineate]Phuul aahistaa phe.nko, phuul ba.De naazuk hote hai.n[lineate][/lineate]vaise bhii to ye bad.h-qisamat nok pe kaa.nTo.n kii sote hai.n[lineate][/lineate]phuul aahistaa …[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]ba.Dii khuubsuurat shiqaayat hai ye[lineate][/lineate]magar sochiye kyaa sharaafat hai ye[lineate][/lineate]jo auro.n kaa dil to.Date rahate hai.n[lineate][/lineate]lagii choT unako to ye kahate hai.n[lineate][/lineate]ki phuul aahistaa phe.nko, phuul ba.De naazuk hote hai.n[lineate][/lineate]jo rulaate hai.n logo.n ko ek din khud bhii rote hai.n[lineate][/lineate]phuul aahistaa …[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]kisii shoK ko baaG kii sair me.n[lineate][/lineate]jo lag jaaye kaa.nTaa koii pair me.n[lineate][/lineate]Kafaa husn vaalo.n se ho kis liye[lineate][/lineate]ye maasuum hai bahakataa is liye[lineate][/lineate]ki phuul aahistaa phe.nko, phuul ba.De naazuk hote hai.n[lineate][/lineate]ye kare.nge kaise ghaayal ye to khud ghaayal hote hai.n[lineate][/lineate]phuul aahistaa …[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]gulo.n ke ba.De aap hamadard hai.n[lineate][/lineate]bhalaa kyo.n na ho aap bhii mard hai.n[lineate][/lineate]hazaaro.n savaal.o.n kaa hai ik javaab[lineate][/lineate]fareb-e-nazar ye na ho ai janaab[lineate][/lineate]ki phuul aahistaa phe.nko phuul ba.De naazuk hote hai.n[lineate][/lineate]sab jise kahate hai.n shabanam, phuul ke aa.Nsuu hote hai.n[lineate][/lineate] phuul aahistaa …[lineate][/lineate]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=J_RLTi5ufCI%3F

The second one in this category is from the 1964 Raj Kapoor movie Sangam and everyone knows why it is a phool song: Sab jo laaye phool buddha gobhi le ke aa gaya….

Hasrat Jaipuri, Shankar Jaikishan and Lata Mangeshkar have put this together.

Please enjoy: Main kaa Karun Raam mujhe buddha mil gaya…

[lineate][/lineate]Mai.n kaa karuu.N raam mujhe buDDhaa mil gayaa -2[lineate][/lineate]hoy hoy buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]haay, haay buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]mai.n kaa karuu.N raam mujhe buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]sab jo gaye baaG meraa buDDhaa bhii chalaa gayaa -2[lineate][/lineate]sab to laaye phuul buDDhaa gobhii le ke aa gayaa -2[lineate][/lineate]mai.n ho ga_ii badanaam mujhe buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]haay kaa karuu.N raam mujhe buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]hoy hoy buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]haay buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]mai.n kaa karuu.N raam mujhe buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]mai.n gu.Diyaa hasiin merii moranii sii chaal hai -2[lineate][/lineate]sar pe.n safed[lineate][/lineate]sar me.n safed usake daadaa jii kaa baal hai -2[lineate][/lineate]ab kyaa hogaa a.njaam mujhe buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]haay kaa karuu.N raam mujhe buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]hoy hoy buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]haay buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]mai.n kaa karuu.N raam mujhe buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]pariyo.n ke des mujhe buDDhaa le ke aa gayaa -2[lineate][/lineate]mai.nne jo uThaayaa ghuu.NghaT buDDhaa Gussaa khaa gayaa -2[lineate][/lineate]biga.De saare kaam mujhe buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]haay kaa karuu.N raam mujhe buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate][lineate][/lineate]hoy hoy buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]haay buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]haay mai.n kaa karuu.N raam mujhe buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]mai.n kaa karuu.N raam mujhe buDDhaa mil gayaa[lineate][/lineate]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=m0k2wzIeNjo%3F

And the third one in this variety is an old favourite of mine sung by Manna Dey.

The song is from the 1964 movie Door Ka Chand starring Bharat Bhushan and B Saroja Devi. Sahir Ludhianvi was the lyricist and Roshan the music director. This song has typical Manna De classical singing.

Please enjoy: Phul gendwa naa maaro,…

[lineate][/lineate]haay[lineate][/lineate]ajii phul gendawaa na maaro, na maaro[lineate][/lineate]lagat karejawaa me.n choT[lineate][/lineate]phul gendawaa na maaro, na maaro (2)[lineate][/lineate]lagat karejawaa me.n choT[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]duu.Ngii mai.n duhaa_ii[lineate][/lineate]kaahe chatur banat chhichhorii karat harajaa_ii[lineate][/lineate]phul gendawaa na maaro, na maaro[lineate][/lineate]lagat karej[lineate][/lineate]t karej (3)[lineate][/lineate]gat karejawaa me.n choT[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]he dahakaa hu_aa ye a.ngaaraa, a.ngaaraa haa.N[lineate][/lineate]dahakaa hu_aa ye a.ngaaraa[lineate][/lineate]jo gendawaa kahalaaye hai[lineate][/lineate] ajii tan par jahaa.N gire paapii[lineate][/lineate]wahii.n daaG pa.D jaaye hai[lineate][/lineate]a.ng-a.ng moraa piir kare aur kar ke kahe[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]phul gendawaa na maaro[lineate][/lineate]phul gendawaa na maaro, na maaro[lineate][/lineate]lagat karejawaa me.n choT[lineate][/lineate]he phul gendawaa na maaro[lineate][/lineate]ajii phul gendawaa na maaro[lineate][/lineate]phul gendawaa na maaro -2[lineate][/lineate]ma_ika[lineate][/lineate]na maaro -3[lineate][/lineate]phul gendawaa na maaro, na maaro[lineate][/lineate]lagat karejawaa me.n choT[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]ruk jaa_o -5[lineate][/lineate]na sataa_o mohe julamii balam, o balam -2[lineate][/lineate]maan jaa_o, binatii abalaa kii[lineate][/lineate]dekho-dekho ab duu.Ngii mai.n duhaa_ii[lineate][/lineate]kaahe chatur banat chhichhorii karat harjaa_ii[lineate][/lineate]phul gendawaa na maaro[lineate][/lineate]na maaro na maaro na[lineate][/lineate]pa pa dha[lineate][/lineate]dha dha dha ni dha[lineate][/lineate]pa ma dha pa ma[lineate][/lineate]ga ma ga re sa[lineate][/lineate]sa sa sa sa sa sa[lineate][/lineate]phul gendawaa na maaro[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]na maaro (6)[lineate][/lineate]lagat karejawaa me.n choT[lineate][/lineate]karejawaa me.n choT (2)[lineate][/lineate]sa ga ga re re sa[lineate][/lineate]sa ma pa ma ga ga re sa sa ni[lineate][/lineate]sa dha dha dha sa pa pa pa sa pa sa pa sa[lineate][/lineate]pa ni ma[lineate][/lineate]phul gendawaa na -3[lineate][/lineate]na maaro -3[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]arre phul gendawaa na maaro, na maaro[lineate][/lineate]lagat karejawaa me.n choT[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]duu.Ngii mai.n duhaa_ii[lineate][/lineate]kaahe chatur banat chhichhorii karat harjaa_ii[lineate][/lineate]phul gend[lineate][/lineate]dawaa dawaa dawaa dawaa[lineate][/lineate]dawaa dawaa dawaa dawaa[lineate][/lineate]dawaa na maaro, na maaro[lineate][/lineate]lagat karejawaa me.n choT[lineate][/lineate]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=2rMz8fuVjhI%3F

Can a phool or flower be used for sad feelings or feelings of revenge? See it for yourself.

The name of this 1966 movie is ‘Aye Din Bahar Ke’ and hence one would expect that it would have happy phool songs. Well, it had: the title song and the song: Phoolon se mukhade waali. But, you have to give in to the lyrics of this revenge song too wherein the hero Dharmendra feels that he has been deceived by his beloved Asha Parekh. Amongst other things he curses her in the song that she should become a phool of patjhad (an autumn flower). The song has been put together by Anand Bakshi, Laxmant Pyarelal and Mohammad Rafi.

Please enjoy: Mere dushman tu meri dosti ko tarase…

mere dushman tuu merii dostii ko tarase
mujhe Gam dene vaale tuu khushii ko tarase

tuu phuul bane patajha.D kaa, tujh pe bahaar na aae kabhii
merii hii tarah tuu ta.Dape tujhako qaraar na aae kabhii
jiye tuu is tarah kii zi.ndagii ko tarase

itanaa to asar kar jaae.n merii vafaae.n o bevafaa
jab tujhe yaad aae.n apanii jafaae.n o bevafaa
pashemaan hoke roe, tuu ha.nsii ko tarase

tere gulashan se zyaadaa viiraan koI viiraanaa na ho
is duniyaa me.n teraa jo apanaa to kyaa, begaanaa na ho
kisii kaa pyaar kyaa tuu beruKii ko tarase

https://youtube.com/watch?v=9X0eenyBvvU%3F

This is not a filmy song but is dear to me. It has the same sentiments as in the Lyrical page picture of Rajesh Khanna holding a dried flower in his hand whilst singing: Kahin door jab din dhal jaaye.

This ghazal is from a favourite ghazal singer of mine: Mehdi Hasan. The ghazal was penned by Ahmed Faraz.

[lineate][/lineate]Please enjoy: Ab ke ham bichhade to shayad kabhi khwaabon mein milen,[lineate][/lineate]Jis tarah sookhe hue phool kitabon mein mile….

[lineate][/lineate]Ab ke ham bichha.De to shaayad kabhii Kaabo.n me.n mile.n[lineate][/lineate]jis tarah suukhe huye phuul kitaabo.n me.n mile.n[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Dhuu.NDh uja.De huye logo.n me.n wafaa ke motii[lineate][/lineate]ye Kazaane tujhe mumkin hai Karaabo.n me.n mile.n[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Tuu Kudaa hai na meraa ishq farishto.n jaisaa[lineate][/lineate]dono.n insaa.N hai.n to kyuu.N itane hijaabo.n me.n mile.n[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Gam-e-duniyaa bhii Gam-e-yaar me.n shaamil kar lo[lineate][/lineate]nashaa ba.Dhataa hai sharaabe.n jo sharaabo.n me.n mile.n[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]ab na wo mai.n huu.N na wo tuu hai na wo maazii hai ‘faraaz'[lineate][/lineate]jaise do saaye tamannaa ke saraabo.n me.n mile.n[lineate][/lineate]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=hGUrNF9cdzU%3F

Another melancholic song in this category is depicting that if I don’t get phool (flowers) I shall live with the friendship of the thorns. It is from the 968 movie Anokhi Raat starring Parikshat Sahni and Zaheeda. Kaifi Azmi, Roshan and Rafi have put this together.

Please enjoy: Mile naa phool to kaanto se dosti kar li…

[lineate][/lineate]Mile na phuul to kaa.NTo.n se dostii kar lii[lineate][/lineate]isii tarah se basar hamane zi.ndagii kar lii[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Ab aage jo bhii ho a.njaam, dekhaa jaaegaa[lineate][/lineate]Kudaa talaash liyaa aur ba.ndagii kar lii[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Nazar milii bhii na thii aur unako dekh liyaa[lineate][/lineate]zabaa.n khulii bhii na thii aur baat bhii kar lii[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Vo jinako pyaar hai chaa.ndii se, ishq sone se[lineate][/lineate]vahii kahe.nge kabhii hamane Kudakashii kar lii[lineate][/lineate]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=EdePhHHjHO0%3F

Okay, just one last sad phool song before I end with happy ones.

This one is from the 1964 movie Chandi Ki Deewar. The singer is Talat Mehmood on Sahir Ludhianvi’s lyrics and N Dutta’s music.

[lineate]Please enjoy: Ashqon mein jo paaya hai, vo geeton mein diya hai,[/lineate]Is par bhi sunaa hai ke zamaane ko gila hai…[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]PHOOL is in the second stanza…[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Ashko.n ne jo paayaa hai vo giito.n me.n diyaa hai[lineate][/lineate]is par bhii sunaa hai ki zamaane ko gilaa hai[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Jo taar se nikalii hai vo dhun sab ne sunii hai[lineate][/lineate]jo saaz pe guzarii hai vo kis dil ko pataa hai[lineate][/lineate]ashko.n ne jo paayaa hai …[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Ham phuul hai.n auro.n ke liye laaye hai.n khushabuu[lineate][/lineate]apane liye le de ke bas ik daaG milaa hai[lineate][/lineate]ashko.n ne jo paayaa hai …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=flBfcMCgVe0%3F

Lets now take up some happy phool songs.

No ‘Special’ on Phool songs can be complete without this Prem Pujari song penned by Neeraj with music by Sachin Dev Burman (since Prem Pujari was a Dev Anand movie). Kishore Kumar sang it.

Please enjoy: Phoolon ke rang se, dil ki kalam se….

[lineate][/lineate]Phuulo.n ke ra.ng se, dil kii kalam se[lineate][/lineate]tujhako likhii roz paatii[lineate][/lineate]kaise bataauu.N, kis kis tarah se[lineate][/lineate]pal pal mujhe tuu sataatii[lineate][/lineate]tere hii sapane, lekar ke soyaa[lineate][/lineate]terii hii yaado.n me.n jaagaa[lineate][/lineate]tere khayaalo.n me.n ulajhaa rahaa yuu.N[lineate][/lineate]jaise ke maalaa me.n dhaagaa[lineate][/lineate]haa.N, baadal bijalii cha.ndan paanii jaisaa apanaa pyaar[lineate][/lineate]lenaa hogaa janam hame.n, ka_ii ka_ii baar[lineate][/lineate]haa.N, itanaa madir, itanaa madhur teraa meraa pyaar[lineate][/lineate]lenaa hogaa janam hame.n, ka_ii ka_ii baar[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]saa.Nso.n kii saragam, dha.Dakan kii viinaa,[lineate][/lineate]sapano.n kii giitaa.Njalii tuu[lineate][/lineate]man kii galii me.n, mahake jo haradam,[lineate][/lineate]aisii juhii kii kalii tuu[lineate][/lineate]chhoTaa safar ho, lambaa safar ho,[lineate][/lineate]suunii Dagar ho yaa melaa[lineate][/lineate]yaad tuu aae, man ho jaae, bhii.D ke biich akelaa[lineate][/lineate]haa.N, baadal bijalii, cha.ndan paanii jaisaa apanaa pyaar[lineate][/lineate]lenaa hogaa janam hame.n, ka_ii ka_ii baar[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]puurab ho pachchhim, uttar ho dakkhin[lineate][/lineate]tuu har jagah muskuraae[lineate][/lineate]jitanaa bhii jaauu.N, mai.n duur tujhase,[lineate][/lineate]utanii hii tuu paas aae[lineate][/lineate][lineate][/lineate]aa.Ndhii ne rokaa, paanii ne Tokaa,[lineate][/lineate]duniyaa ne ha.Ns kar pukaaraa[lineate][/lineate]tasaviir terii, lekin liye mai.n, kar aayaa sabase kinaaraa[lineate][/lineate]haa.N, baadal bijalii, cha.ndan paanii jaisaa apanaa pyaar[lineate][/lineate]lenaa hogaa janam hame.n, ka_ii ka_ii baar[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]haa.N, itanaa madir, itanaa madhur teraa meraa pyaar[lineate][/lineate]lenaa hogaa janam hame.n, ka_ii ka_ii baar[lineate][/lineate]ka_ii, ka_ii baar… ka_ii, ka_ii baar …[lineate][/lineate]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=TiLLMg3Q5AQ%3F

The 1966 movie Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya starred Dharmendra, Nutan and Rehman and some very nice numbers put together by GS Rawal and Sonik Omi. This one is particularly refreshing; sung by Mohammad Rafi.

[lineate][/lineate]Please enjoy: Kaliyon ne ghoonghat khole,[lineate][/lineate]Har phool pe banvara dole….[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Kaliyo.n ne ghuu.NghaT khole har phuul pe bha.Nvaraa Dole[lineate][/lineate]lo aayaa pyaar kaa mausam gul-o-gulazaar kaa mausam[lineate][/lineate]kaliyo.n ne ghuu.NghaT …[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]O hoy jab tuu chaman me.n aa_e har gu.nchaa muskaraa_e -2[lineate][/lineate]hai behijaab teraa shabaab ham ho ga_e diivaane[lineate][/lineate]lo aayaa pyaar kaa mausam tere diidaar kaa mausam[lineate][/lineate]kaliyo.n ne ghuu.NghaT …[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]O hoy har-suu teraa nashaa hai har zarraa pii rahaa hai -2[lineate][/lineate]tuu aafataab jaam-e-shabaab roshan hu_e maiKaane[lineate][/lineate]lo aayaa pyaar kaa mausam visaal-e-yaar kaa mausam[lineate][/lineate]kaliyo.n ne ghuu.NghaT …[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]O haay jaan-e-bahaar aa jaa dil ke qaraar aa jaa -2[lineate][/lineate]ye shab ye Kvaab ye maahataaab ab to lage ta.Dapaane[lineate][/lineate]lo aayaa pyaar kaa mausam mere diladaar kaa mausam[lineate][/lineate]kaliyo.n ne ghuu.NghaT …[lineate][/lineate]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=TwLfCH6CL7A%3F

Since we are on the sub theme of happy phool songs, how can we forget this really enchanting duet from 1975 movie Chupke Chupke starring Dharmendra, Sharmila Tagore, Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bahaduri? Anand Bakshi, SD Burman, Mukesh and Lata have put this together.

Please enjoy: Baagon meinm kaise ye phool khilate hain?

[lineate][/lineate]BaaGo.n me.n kaise ye phuul khilate hai.n[lineate][/lineate]khilate hai.n bha.Nvaro.n se jab phuul milate hai.n[lineate][/lineate]o~ baaGo.n me.n …[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]o~ a Haa~[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Mausam bahaaro.n ke lagate hai.n kyo.n pyaare[lineate][/lineate]ha.Nsate hai.n rote hai.n kaliyo.n ke sa.ng saare[lineate][/lineate]kaliyo.n ke khilane se dil bhii khilate hai.n[lineate][/lineate]baaGo.n me.n …[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Achchhaa ab tum bolo aisaa kab hotaa hai[lineate][/lineate]ba.De vo ho mat chhe.Do aisaa tab hotaa hai[lineate][/lineate]jab tere nayano.n se mere nain milate hai.n[lineate][/lineate]baaGo.n me.n …[lineate][/lineate]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=v2lxsXa_Nkk%3F

We haven’t exhausted all the sub-themes of phool songs. But I end up with the Yaad theme. Phool or flowers are beautiful creations of God. When you look at them, if you are away from your love, you think of him or her. There are many songs on this sub theme, eg, Rang rang ke phool khile mujhe bhaaye koi rang na..ab aan milo sajana; and Rajnigandha phool tumhaare mehake younhi jeevan mein. But my favourite is this from the 1967 movie Taqdeer. It is an Anand Bakshi – Laxmikant Pyarelal song sung by various singers.

Please enjoy: Jab jab bahar aayi aur phool muskaraye…

[lineate][/lineate]Jab jab bahaar aa_ii[lineate][/lineate]Aur phool muskuraaye[lineate][/lineate](mujhe tum yaad aaye) -2[lineate][/lineate]jab jab bhii chaa.Nd nikalaa[lineate][/lineate]aur taare jagamagaaye[lineate][/lineate](mujhe tum yaad aaye) -2[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate](ik pyaar aur wafaa kii tasaviir maanataa huu.N) -2[lineate][/lineate]tasaviir kyaa, tumhe.n mai.n taqadiir jaanataa huu.N ho~~[lineate][/lineate]dekhii nazar ne Kushiyaa.N, yaa dekhe Gam ke saaye[lineate][/lineate](mujhe tum yaad aaye) -2[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate](apanaa ko_ii taraanaa mai.n ne nahii.n banaayaa) -2[lineate][/lineate]tum ne mere labo.n pe har ek sur sajaayaa… o…[lineate][/lineate]jab jab mere taraane duniyaa ne gun_gunaaye[lineate][/lineate](mujhe tum yaad aaye) -2[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate](mum_kin hai zi.ndagaanii kar jaaye bewafaa_ii) -2[lineate][/lineate]lekin ye pyaar vo hai jis me.n nahii.n judaa_ii… o…[lineate][/lineate]is pyaar ke fasaane jab jab zubaa.N pe aaye[lineate][/lineate](mujhe tum yaad aaye) -2[lineate][/lineate]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=mrY6FIQcbYY%3F

On second thoughts the best way to end with the best phool songs is with a bhajan – my favourite form of music.

This is a very beautiful bhajan from the 1954 movie Nastik starring Nalini Jaywant and Ajit. Lyrics are those of Pradeep and music is by C Ramachandra.

This is the only way to love God!

[lineate][/lineate]Tere phoolon se bhi pyaar,[lineate][/lineate]Tere kaanton se bhi pyaar…[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]AmR^it aur zahar dono.n hai.n saagar me.n ek saath[lineate][/lineate]manthan kaa adhikaar hai sab ko phal prabhu tere haath[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Tere phuulo.n se bhii pyaar[lineate][/lineate]tere kaa.nTo.n se bhii pyaar[lineate][/lineate]jo bhii denaa chaahe de de karataar[lineate][/lineate]duniyaa ke taaraNahaar[lineate][/lineate]tere phuulo.n se bhii pyaar …[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Chaahe sukh de yaa dukh, chaahe khushii de yaa Gam -2[lineate][/lineate]maalik jaise bhii rakhegaa vaise rah le.nge ham[lineate][/lineate]maalik rah le.nge ham[lineate][/lineate]chaahe ha.Nsii bharaa sa.nsaar de yaa aa.Nsuo.n kii dhaar[lineate][/lineate]jo bhii denaa chaahe de de karataar[lineate][/lineate]duniyaa ke taaraNahaar[lineate][/lineate]

[lineate][/lineate]Ham ko dono.n hai.n pasa.nd terii dhuup aur chhaa.Nv -2[lineate][/lineate]daataa kisii bhii dishaa me.n le chal zi.ndagii kii naav[lineate][/lineate]le chal zi.ndagii kii naav[lineate][/lineate]chaahe hame.n lagaa de paar Dubaa de chaahe hame.n ma.njhadhaar[lineate][/lineate]jo bhii denaa chaahe de de karataar[lineate][/lineate]duniyaa ke taaraNahaar …[lineate][/lineate]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=18CI719CKmQ%3F

I hope you liked my choice of phool songs under various sub-themes.

My next theme is the best of lori (lullaby) songs in Hindi movies. Please keep accessing this blog.

CROSSING FRONTIERS IN THE FRONTIER MAIL

When you join the armed forces, you are perpetually on the move: you are transferred every now and then so that like rolling stones you’d not gather moss as also to learn all the ropes at all the stations; you are also sent on temporary duties. Hence, you become as much familiar with railways as railways are with you.

Three years back I wrote a piece on The Great Indian Train Journey. Although I didn’t describe the armed forces part of it, the armed forces personnel are at home with the railways.

If one were to travel from Bombay to New Delhi and beyond, the one train that was ‘fauji‘ friendly was the Frontier Mail; you could find many armed forces personnel taking the plunge into the train at the last minute and the TTEs generally obliged the ‘faujis‘, not because of their love for the armed forces but because of the promise of unadulterated armed forces quota rum that accompanied the ‘faujis’ like faithful dogs.

The Frontier Mail, started in September 1928 derived its name from its run of more than 2000 kms from Bombay (Churchgate) to Peshawar, the city at India’s border or frontier with Afghanistan. It was the nation’s first high-speed train and did the journey of 2335 kms in 72 hours.

Frontier Mail (Pic courtesy: www.iaslic1955.org)
Frontier Mail (Pic courtesy: www.iaslic1955.org)

In 1930 the London Times had rated Frontier MaIl as the world’s best train. In 1996, its name was changed to Golden Temple Mail. However, it was still the Frontier Mail when I was to board it at Mumbai. And, this time I had a proper reservation and hence no need to exchange good rum for a berth.

When I was at Mumbai Central Railway station waiting for the train, I spotted at least two other fauji officers also waiting. How did I make out that they were fauji? Well, one had Ray Ban goggles in their cover on his belt. The second was a Sikh and his demeanour exuded army. One look at the reservation chart confirmed my inference.

Frontier-Mail

One of them, the one with Ray Ban introduced himself as Major Mehta. I wanted to avoid conversation as I had come to the last part of a James Hedley Chase book that I was reading after my boyhood days, just for fun, and the suspense was killing me.

But it was not to be. Mehta said, “So Ravi Sir, up to where are you going?”

“Delhi” I retorted sharply so that he’d get the hint and shut up.

Army ensures its officers are made of sterner stuff. Undeterred Mehta asked, “Proper Delhi or beyond that?”

How would Major Mehta know anything about my home station Kandaghat in Shimla Hills near Solan? (Read: ‘Home Is Where The Heart Is – Kandaghat In Shimla Hills’)

“Beyond that” I answered whilst turning the page.

“Up to where, Ravi Sir” he asked.

I suspected Mehta’s family were lawyers of repute and adept at cross-examining hardened criminals.

“I might take a bus from outside Ambala Cantt”, I told him irritably.

“Bus to where, Ravi Sir” he asked me ignoring my irritability.

“Bus to hell” I nearly blurted out but at the last minute replaced it with, “Bus to North.”

I had decided that even though Mark Woodward in the Chase novel was certain to face the music because of the dead body having been found behind the roses; but, I would kill Major Mehta if he were to ask me, “North? Where in North, Sir?” and then dispose of the body when the train would cross over a river.

He looked straight into my eyes and asked calmly, “North? Where in North, Sir?”

‘Should I be a Gandhian or should I become Bhagat Singh?’ was for me the equivalent of the Shakespearian ‘To be or not to be’. I had clenched my fists.

Major Mehta suddenly through chuckles asked me, “Ain’t you going to Kandaghat, Ravi bhaiyya?”

“What the hell. …..”, I started; but he continued, “I am going to Solan. I am a class mate of your younger brother JP. I have been to your house Whispering Winds several times.”

To hell with Mark Woodward and JH Chase. In any case I was trying to reread it after many many years.

We had a marvellous time together in the train and later bus. And we didn’t know how time flew. And yes, the rum bottle was opened not for the TTE but for two of us who had crossed several frontiers in the Frontier Mail.

SHE WASN’T MAID FOR US

Unlike our army counterparts who get ‘sahayaks‘ or flunkies to do their chores, the navy officers and ladies have to do everything at home on their own.

When I was undergoing my staff duties course the DSSC (Defence Services Staff College) in Wellington (Nilgiris) I was already of the rank of Commander (equivalent to Lt Col in the army and Wg Cdr in the air force). My wife and I unpacked and set up our house whereas our neighbouring army officers had men doing such jobs. On being posted out, we started packing two weeks in advance, whereas the army officers did the entire thing in two days with a battery of men attending to it. This contrast was also there when we invited people at home; we served on our own whereas they had their flunkies to do it.

I am tempted to relate this incident to you so as to further clear the air. Even our army counterparts are surprised that we don’t have “free” servants. And since we live in metropolitan cities, even the hired help in the form of maid servants is hard to obtain.

As a Cdr in the Navy I stayed opposite a Brigadier in SP Marg flats in New Delhi. One day, we were getting ready to go to an official party when there was a ring at the door. It was the lady next door, the Brigadier’s wife. Unfortunately my wife had opened the door whilst polishing my evening rig’s black shoes. The lady told my wife, “Look at the way the naval officers treat their wives; I mean, it is inhuman to make you polish his shoes. Call him, I will teach him some sense.”

All this was in mock anger because they had become good friends with us and knew our reality.

My wife’s reply, however, took the wind out of her mock anger, “Sorry, he can’t come now since he is ironing my saree.”

When our elder son was born in 1984, our need for a maid servant became the name of famous pictures in Hollywood: paramount. We had to get one since it was now becoming difficult for Lyn to manage especially when I went out sailing.

Our efforts to find one appeared to us more than our combined efforts in producing a son. We appeared to have everything: ‘A’ type accommodation in Meena building in NOFRA (Naval Officers Flats Residential Area) after 22 months of station seniority; a servant quarter and large hearts.

Finally,  after weeks of waiting, one maid servant came to interview us on a sunday. Our interview, in which we eventually failed, went like this:

Maid: Kitne log hain? (Possibly she had learnt this from Gabbar Singh in the movie ‘Sholay’) (How many of you are here?)
We: Do aur ek chhota bachcha. (Only two and an infant)
Maid: Theek hai. Guest kitana aata hai? (Good, how many guests you get?)
We assured her that we hardly get guests.
Maid: Annual leave poora lenge ke nahin? (Will you go on your full annual leave (60 days) or not?)

I told her that earlier we weren’t so particular but now, since my father died recently, I would be taking full leave to go to my home place to look after my widowed mother.
This was very satisfactory to our potential maid and I winked to my wife that so far we had done good.

We didn’t know what was to come. Somewhat similar of those who sleep in their homes oblivious of the fact that Tsunami is just around the corner from them.

Maid: TV hai naa? Mujhe Chitrahaar aur Sunday movie ka shauk hai. (I hope you have a television since I like watching the popular show Chitrahaar)

We had recently acquired a Dyanora Black and White portable TV, the only one I could afford. I proudly pointed towards our possession. The potential maid had one look at it and said, “Ye to chhota hai aur Black and White hai.” (This is small and black and white)

Maid Servant

I have seen many of these court cases in the movies wherein the prosecution, through relentless cross-examination, makes the accused accept his guilt. At this juncture, the accused just hangs his head in shame. A similar thing happened to my wife and I. We hung our heads in shame with the evidence of our poverty.

In the night, my wife whispered to me just before saying good night: “At least buy me a new Jhadoo”. (Broom)

“Don’t take this to heart”, I told her, “Marriages…..and maids are made in heaven and eventually we would get the maid God had made for us.”

And we did.

REMOVING CURLS AND KINKS

My father and mother and many people from my dad’s office had come to Shimla (that time still spelt the British way: Simla) railway station to see me off on my way to Naval Academy at Cochin (later Kochi). What a coincidence that my starting and destination stations changed the spellings of their names later. However, it was nothing in comparison to the transformation that had to take place with and within me. As the train chugged along on the now world heritage track, I looked back and waved at them. Little did I know that the next time I would see them, I would have grown more than I ever did before.

The way I looked two years before I joined the Navy
The way I looked two years before I joined the Navy

Beyond Delhi, I was fascinated with everything that I was seeing out of the window of the First Class compartment. It was the first time I had ventured this far from home and I soaked in all land, people, villages, rivers and rivulets and different languages that I heard during my over two days of journey. I wrote a 48 pages letter to my parents describing all this. Later, in NAVAC, when the letter was given to my Div O (Divisional Officer), Lieutenant SD Sharma, he read the entire thing (I quickly learnt that there was nothing like ‘private’ thoughts and mails in our formative years) and called me and chastised me to avoid going into such lengthy harangues “without any substance”. “All that you have actually wanted to write and was worth describing” he admonished me, “Can be written on the back of a five paisa stamp.” Many years later, my CO on Ganga too told me, “If what you want to say cannot be said in a single page, no one is interested in it.”

I too, therefore, quickly learnt the naval lingo, short and crisp replies to short and crisp questions. Eg,

[lineate][/lineate]Q: How is life?[lineate][/lineate]Ans: Shit.[lineate][/lineate]Q: What you doing now?[lineate][/lineate]Ans: Coolex.[lineate][/lineate]

 

I also learnt that in order to keep pace with this ‘bikini – speech’, most navy officers read such ‘literature’ as comic books and cartoons. Major General Arjan Ray in his ‘Kashmir Diary’ bemoaned that the average vocabulary of an army officer was 300 words. Navy was no different. In my Cadet’s Journal on Delhi, I titled our first sailing to Port Blair as ‘Breakfast at Port Blair’. The Div O’s comments read, “What has this article got to do with breakfast?” I still have that journal with me. So, whilst the army-man describes features as, “See twelve O’ Clock, you will find a flat top hill; call it Flat Top Hill”, you quickly learn in the navy too to call a spade a spade. Imagination is for the non-professionals.

On my blog, therefore, the very first article, on retirement (On 28th Feb 10, before that I couldn’t have indulged in a blog) is titled: ‘I Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Did I?’ Was it a great job dome having removed these ‘kinks’ of language? Yes and no? Yes, because an uniformed service must have a uniform way of talking and writing that everybody understands. When a missile is coming towards you, you want to hear ‘Alarm missile starboard’ and get on with the automatic and mechanical responses of mind, body and equipment and not hear stories about the fire-ball looking like something straight out of Armageddon. No, because the missile is not coming at you all the time and your total cloning ensures that later in your career, when the bug bites you regarding ‘out of box thinking’, you find that the navy never gave you a chance to think out of the box. One of the senior officers, for example, tried to make Letters of Proceedings (LOPs) (a monthly report of happenings in and around the ship) “interesting”. It wreaked hell. Everyone was confused.

A navy officer, I learnt gradually, when he looks at the sunset, almost mechanically reports “Gyro error nil or such and such” and never describes its changing colours and hues and shapes.

At the lunch table, in NAVAC, we were initiated into uniformed way of describing things as follows:

Question by the Senior Cadet: What is on the menu Kay Dutt?

Answer: Sir, Mulligatawny Soup….and, garlic bread…and Sir, Chicken Braised for non vegetarians and Sir Cheese Cutlets for vegetarians, ….and cabbage fougard, mint potatoes, and then topped by Diplomat pudding….Sir.

Senior Cadet: Bull shit, Kay Dutt, there are too many pauses in your description and ‘ands’ and too many ‘Sirs’. It has to be like this (His demo was like the disclaimer in a television ad about a public issue of a company: at break neck speed without a pause; much like Mahadevan’s ‘Breathless’): Mulligatawny Soup, Garlic Bread, Braised Chicken within brackets NV, Cheese Cutlets within brackets V, cabbage fougard, mint potatoes and Diplomat pudding.

I was a turbaned Sikh a few years before I joined NAVAC. After I cut my hair, my hair were still like that of Beatles’ (the current fad at that time) and curly. I wore a snake-skin belt with a large brass oval-shaped buckle, bell-bottomed trousers and a shirt with elephant eared collar. First the POGI (It took me some time to find out what a Pogi (the way I pronounced it)) meant) took me to a barber. There were no mirrors there. So after a mere ten minutes of this ‘artist’s’ handiwork, when I came to my assigned room and looked at myself in the mirror, I wondered whether it was a mirror that I was looking into or a large poster of another man…a POW perhaps or a survivor of a holocaust.

Throughout my naval career I tried to find that curly-haired boy with snake-skin belt but I couldn’t. I had lost him for good.

The finished product!
The finished product!

Did I miss him? Well, even after I retired from the Navy, when my hair start touching my ear lobes and shoulder, I have a haircut without being told by anyone to do so. The requirement or the need for it has gone into my blood like good scotch that I had after I became a commissioned officer.

During my first leave from NAVAC, I met my civilian friend in Simla. He was trying to tell me about the breakup with his GF Asha. He was going round and round in circles. I told him to come straight to the point and summed up for him in crisp sentences: “Asha and you friends for long; Both enjoyed and promised. Now, Asha ditched you and left you high n’ dry. You want to know the reason. Well, it is because of your idiotically long hair, snake-skin belt, bell bots and funny shirt. Move with times Deepak; have a proper haircut and decent clothes and you will be back in reckoning.”

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