The Mahatma’s teacher

 

A new Hindi play highlights the relationship between Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and one of his early mentors, Shrimad Rajchandra 

 

Diverse aspects of Mahatma Gandhi’s life have been featured in popular media. But little is known about his initial mentor. Who was his inspiration for propagating the values of ahimsa (non violence) and satyagraha (nonviolent or civil resistance)? Yugpurush Mahatma Ke Mahatma, a Hindi play, explores the relationship between Gandhi and his spiritual guru Shrimad Rajchandra, who taught him these tenets.

Gandhi met Rajchandra, a prominent Jain poet and philosopher, for the first time in Mumbai, when he returned from England as a barrister in 1891. His knowledge of the scriptures and moral earnestness left a deep-rooted impression on young Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and their relationship blossomed over a span of two years.

After Gandhi moved to South Africa, the duo corresponded with each other through letters. Rajchandra’s adherence to the principles of satya, ahimsa and dharma later became the fundamental tenets of Gandhism. Yugpurush - Mahatma Ke Mahatma focuses on the special relationship between both the individuals and traces Mohandas’ journey from a barrister to the Father of the Nation.

Directed by Rajesh Joshi and written by Uttam Gada, it features Parthsarthi Vaidya, Pulkit Solanki and Babul Bhavsar in pivotal roles. The play, which premiered on November 14 this year in Gujarati on Rajchandra’s 15oth birth anniversary, is now being staged in Hindi. Plans are afoot to present it in English and regional languages soon.

Joshi says, “The story starts when, on the day of his assassination, Gandhi speaks to his associates about Shrimadji. We thought that if the Father of the Nation is the sutradhar and talks about the person who influenced him the most, the [play] would have maximum impact. We also devised elements like having an older Gandhi on stage who is reminiscing about his past and taking the audience through his journey as a 21-year-old barrister, who was keen to follow his legal practice – to fighting for the nation’s independence [and] becoming the country’s revered leader.”

The director admits that the biggest challenge for him was to ensure that the production shouldn’t come across as preachy or a hagiography, but entertain the audience. So, the story is laced with humour and also highlights vignettes of Gandhi’s life such as when he lost his mother and how he took a vow of brahmacharya (celibacy) with ample support from his wife, Kasturba.

The play also throws lights on the lesser-known aspects of Rajchandra’s life. For instance, Rajchandra performed Shatavdhan, which means doing 100 activities at one time. This event was held at the Framjee Cowasjee Institute near Dhobi Talao in 1887. A group of 100 people asked him different questions like framing sentences using words from diverse languages or using the first letter of various people’s names, reciting poems impromptu and challenged him in a game of chess and cards simultaneously. Rajchandra is said to have performed all the tasks within a stipulated time frame. Likewise, if he was given a list of 50 words and then asked to repeat those from 25-35 in the correct chronological order, Rajchandra would do so without committing any error.

For Gada, the major task was to encapsulate the highlights of Gandhi and Shrimadji’s meetings that took place over a span of two years within a time frame of 120 minutes. He says, “We had a lot of research material. So, I had to use my discretion to retain the most significant parts. Also, Shrimadji was a brilliant scholar but he wrote in Gujarati [in a style] that was prevalent in the 19th century. So I had to simplify the language yet retain the flavour and essence of his writings to ensure that it could be understood by the present generation.”

Published on: December 29, 2016 in The Hindu 

Plan your CHRISTMAS party in 4 hours

A quick guide to planning the perfect celebration that should leave you with enough time to grab a glass of mulled wine and relax until your guests arrive.

Christmas is all about spending some quality time with your loved ones, indulging in scrumptious dishes and enjoying the festivities. But if you have been too busy to plan well in advance for that grand gettogether, fret not. Here’s all you need to plan a swinging party in hours.

9AM TO 10AM
Get started on your checklists

Before you can start planning your party, draw up your checklists. Your guest list is the first one you need to get started on. Grab a pencil, and start ticking off names once each person you call confirms his or her presence. Do not waste time by sending out Whatsapp messages; you need an instant ‘yes’ or ‘no’ so start dialling. In an hour, you should have a number to work with.

Next, make a list of what décor you can arrange: what you have at home, what you can borrow from a friend and what you need to order etc.

“It’s a good idea to choose a colour theme that’s easy to put together using what you already own,” says Mariya Zaveri, a Byculla-based event planner. “A red and white theme is ideal for a house party as most people have accessories in those colours: you may own red table mats and white napkins. But, if not, you can always pull out dupattas and scarves in those colours to adorn coffee tables or to use as a runner on your dining table. Candles are a must for a Christmas event, but if you don’t have candelabras, don’t worry. Place basic red or white candles on a couple of plain quarter plates and surround these with white or red petals (if you don’t grow plants in your balcony, you may be able to find these in the compound of your building, so don’t dash to the florist right away).”

Make a few calls to neighbours and family members to see if you can borrow any Christmas trimmings: a small tree you can use as a centerpiece perhaps, wreaths and stars-shaped kandeels. Marketing professional Rebecca Fernandes suggests, “If you don’t own candles or anything to decorate your table with, tie a ribbon around sprigs of herbs like rosemary, sage and basil and position these small bouquets like confetti on the table.”

10AM TO 11AM
Plan your menu

The next step is to draw up a simple menu comprising dishes and drinks that can be rustled up quickly. Content manager Vanessa Rodrigues says, “Fruit-infused water in flavours like lavender and lemon or strawberry and mint are great for Christmas. To make this, simply fill a jug with drinking water and soak one kind of fresh fruit (sliced) in this for over 30 minutes. I also make hot chocolate in large quantities, pour it in a huge utensil and place it on the dining table along with marshmallows. This is a hit with kids and it adds to the holiday spirit as well.”

Rakhee Vaswani of Palate Culinary Studio says, “A beetroot dip is easy to whip up and would go with a red and white colour scheme, or order crackers and a basil hummus or an avocado dip (readily available online) for a touch of Christmasy green.”

11AM TO 12 NOON
Order in

If you’re ordering your meals from an online food delivery service, get s tarted even earlier, as there may be a holiday rush that delays deliveries. Littlefooddaily.com has an excellent, well-priced Christmas menu that includes pork and chicken roasts and, for vegetarians, root vegetable crepes with truffle cream sauce.

If you prefer North Indian fare, try IndiKitchen’s menu. The Mahalakshmi-based operation (call: 7045313491; 9820974812) will deliver, even today. Their lipsmacking rolls are worth every penny: chicken tikka rolls (Rs 179/350 g), lamb rolls (Rs 179/350 g), paneer rolls (Rs 169/350 g) and mutton rolls (Rs 249/350 g). Anuj Bagri, co-founder, highlights, “During Christmas, we will be delivering till 3am. There will also be a special discount on chocolate samosa, one of our hot-selling items. Three portions will be available at Rs 120.” For Christmas cookies, call Santacruz-based Delite Almeida at 26049305 or Worli's Ellipsis Bakery (call: 66164653).

Believe it or not, it's not too late to get a Christmas Cake. Iconic Parsi eatery, Jimmy Boy at Fort (call: 22700880) charges Rs 300 for ½ kg fruit cakes prepared by soaking fruits over two months beforehand. It's an incredible bargain and the restaurant will deliver (at a charge). Alternately, order coconut baath (a traditional East Indian cake made from coconut and semolina; Rs 200/400 g) from Bonnie D’Silva (call: 7506596514/9323226260). The resident of Mulund (W) has also introduced a wide variety of chocolates on her menu this year.

12 NOON TO 12.30 PM
Be your own DJ

You don’t need an expert to tell you that any party is incomplete without music. Make a playlist comprising Christmas carols, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley’s greatest hits. You could also download the Charlie Brown Christmas album, and intersperse these songs with some of the latest Billboard hits. If one of your friends can play the guitar, do give her or him a buzz and have her or him bring the instrument along for an impromptu acoustic performance.

You could also organise party games like charades or Pictionary, which don’t really require a kit. You can draw up your own chits to get this going. But, do try and think of activities/games that the whole group can enjoy together irrespective of everyone’s age group.

12.30 PM TO 1 PM
Final touches

Set the mood by burning scented candles – cinnamon and vanilla work well, but if you don’t have these, we have a solution. Pour some water into a saucepan and add cinnamon sticks (and a sliced apple, if you have one at home); heat this, and leave your kitchen door open to allow the aroma to fill the space. Once this happens, switch off the flame. Now, pour yourself a glass of wine, sit back and wait for your guests to arrive.

Published on: December 25, 2016 in Mumbai Mirror 

The importance of small talk

 

 

 

Be it a romance, a lifelong friendship or the signing of a multimillion-dollar contract, small talk is where it all begins. Make sure you don’t miss out.

When Rashmi Choudary, a software professional was invited for a New Year party three years ago, she quickly accepted the invitation. “I dreaded the thought of spending New Year’s Eve alone,” recalls the 27-year-old who had just moved to Mumbai back then. “However, the moment I reached the party, the sea of unknown faces made me nervous. So, I made an excuse and rushed home.” The thought of entering a roomful of strangers is enough to make many people anxious. But, on the other hand, going out of your comfort zone can have many benefits.

Why engage in small talk

Clinical psychologist and trauma expert, Seema Hingorany, says, “Striking up a conversation with someone you just met can be challenging, but in the long run, it can also be very rewarding as you’ll have made new connections. Besides, at social events, where your work colleagues are present, your interaction with strangers may demonstrate your social skills, and impress the boss.”

In her TED talk, Kio Stark, author of When Strangers Meet: How People You Don’t Know Can Transform You, offers another reason to be bold. “I know it sounds a little counterintuitive— intimacy and strangers— but these quick interactions can lead to a feeling that sociologists call ‘fleeting intimacy.’ So, it’s a brief experience that has emotional resonance and meaning…I feel like part of a community when I talk to somebody on my train on the way to work.”

Get past the jitters

Etiquette expert, Rukshana Eisa, says, “The easiest way to strike up a conversation is to walk up to someone who has the friendliest face in the room and is making eye contact with you. Talk about general topics like travel, music, art and cinema.”

The next step is to maintain the right body language. Rather than leaning forward and encroaching on someone’s personal space, maintain an arm’s distance or stand three feet away.

Thirty-year-old media professional Sujit Mokle says that one trick that he has learnt over the years is to ask open-ended questions. “Ask a person’s opinion on a certain topic rather than a question about whether she or he agrees with your opinion on the subject.”

What not to do

“Never ask anyone about their relationship status, age or salary because it may make them uncomfortable,” says image consultant and entrepreneur Chhaya Momaya.

Eisa adds that one should also steer away from controversial topics like religion and politics as people can have very strong views on those and the conversation could turn into an argument quickly. To this, Mokle adds “Don’t monopolise the person’s time; allow her or him to interact with others. If a person seems distracted, is checking the phone constantly and is not maintaining eye contact with you, it’s time to move on.”

Conquer your fears

“Even if it makes you nervous, it’s worthwhile to take the initiative and approach others for a conversation,” says Hingorrany. “If you are talking to someone but that person isn’t reciprocating, don’t take it personally. Sometimes, it’s not about you, but about what that person is going through. The individual might just not be in the right frame of mind for a conversation.”

 

Published on: Dec 21, 2016 in Mumbai Mirror