By Rinky Kumar/TNN
Mumbai: Strange are the ways of humanity. It reigns supreme even after man ceases to exist. This adage seems befitting for Kishore C Bhatt, who performs the last rites of unclaimed bodies.
An interior decorator by profession, he has arranged the funerals of over 1,500 people since 1968 according to their respective religious rituals, free of cost. So a Hindu person is cremated while a Muslim or Christian man is buried.
It was a strange turn of events that inspired Bhatt to do this unusual, yet noble deed. In 1968, at the age of 17, Bhatt had accompanied a social worker to distribute food to the residents of a faminestruck area of Surat. But the scene that greeted him there left an indelible impact on him for the rest of his life. He saw corpses lying along with carcasses of animals. After reaching home, he narrated the event to his father who advised him to lend his services as a pall-bearer whenever he could.
Only Bhatt took a step further. Whenever he saw any body lying on the road or in hospital morgues, Bhatt offered a helping hand. Bhatt also realised that people from poor families are often unable to give a decent farewell to their family members. “Once I met a man who did not have money for the funeral of his relative. I paid the expenses and arranged for his funeral.’’
Today, whenever there is an unclaimed body or a family is unable to pay for the last rites of their a deceased member, the mortuary officials of government hospitals inform Bhatt, who arranges for the ambulance, shroud, incense sticks, priest or maulvi according to the person’s religion. The expenses amounting to almost Rs 1,000 are paid by Bhatt.
Bhatt owns an art shop at Jacob Circle where he creates designs for architects. He also owns a snacks stall and a juice centre that enable him to shell out money for his social work. He has formed an organisation, Sadgati Foundation, to carry on the good work.
In his 37 years of social service, Bhatt has had many heart-rending experiences. Narrating one such incident, he says, “A couple of years ago, I saw an old man lying outside my shop. He told me he was suffering from tuberculosis. I admitted him to Sewree Hospital and after four days, he paid me a visit and thanked me. The next moment, he passed away. I arranged his funeral.’’
Now, Bhatt harbours a desire to build a crematorium where the “souls of human beings will truly rest in peace’’.
The Times of India, March 26, 2006
Showing posts with label Times of India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Times of India. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Friday, April 14, 2006
MSEB told to pay a lakh for overcharging
By Rinky Kumar/TNN
Mumbai: For Narendra Narvekar, a nine-year wait for justice got over when the Thane consumer disputes redressal forum recently ordered the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) to pay him over Rs 1 lakh. The money was compensation for mental agony Narvekar underwent after being forced to pay exorbitant power bills since 1997, despite changing his electric meter thrice.
Narvekar, a Vashi resident, approached the forum after registering a complaint of deficiency in service against MSEB. In 1997, Narvekar observed that the electric meter at his residence was running too fast, following which he met an MSEB sub-engineer to complain. The sub-engineer told Narvekar that since the board office had no stock of new meters, he should buy one with his own money. Accordingly, Narvekar purchased a meter and installed it after it was tested by the assistant engineer’s office. The MSEB checked the old meter and submitted a report saying it read up to 7.66% higher than normal.
Narvekar then wrote to the MSEB office at Vashi asking for a rebate to offset the extra cost incurred by him due to the fast-running meter, but his request was ignored.
In January 2001, Narvekar received a bill of Rs 20,000, which he paid. But the second meter too ran faster than normal, prompting Narvekar to request a reduction in the bill by deduction of interest claimed. However, his next bill ran up to Rs 44,060, following which Narvekar reportedly suffered a heart attack and was admitted to Jaslok Hospital. His wife paid the bill. After recovery, he approached the MSEB office and the meter was checked and replaced on August 5, 2001. But the problem persisted. Narvekar approached the office several times for a reduced bill, but in vain.
Finally, he moved the forum and filed a complaint for compensation of Rs 3 lakh for mental agony, Rs 1.46 lakh in damages, Rs 30,827 for medical expenses and Rs 4,000 for the cost of the complaint.
“I have been compelled to pay exorbitant bills for nine years. Why do I have to bear the brunt of the inefficiency of the MSEB officials?’’ Narvekar asked.
The MSEB contested the claim in March 2002 saying a rebate of Rs 2,012.93 had been given to Narvekar in April 1997. Narvekar was given a rebate of Rs 1,294.13 for a six-month period, after a new meter was found to be running fast in November 1999, it added. MSEB also contended that Narvekar had delayed payment causing it to disconnect supply on several occasions.
A bench comprising president Suhas Barve and member Dr A G Sabnis, ruled that MSEB was providing “deficient service’’ to Narvekar as he had to change meters thrice since 1997. While changing the meter, it observed, some officers were “reckless’’. Stating that the claim appeared to be exorbitant, the bench ruled that compensation awarded to Narvekar can be quantified to the tune of Rs 1 lakh.
It observed that as far as claims of damages and medical expenses were concerned, there was nothing to prove MSEB’s liability for Narvekar’s cardiac attack.
The bench ruled that MSEB would have to pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation for mental agony suffered by Narvekar. It will also have to pay Rs 4,000 for litigation costs and issue fresh bills by giving a rebate of 7.66% on bills from 1997 onwards.
Narvekar is hopeful that the MSEB will pay him the compensation.
The Times of India, April 14, 2006
Mumbai: For Narendra Narvekar, a nine-year wait for justice got over when the Thane consumer disputes redressal forum recently ordered the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) to pay him over Rs 1 lakh. The money was compensation for mental agony Narvekar underwent after being forced to pay exorbitant power bills since 1997, despite changing his electric meter thrice.
Narvekar, a Vashi resident, approached the forum after registering a complaint of deficiency in service against MSEB. In 1997, Narvekar observed that the electric meter at his residence was running too fast, following which he met an MSEB sub-engineer to complain. The sub-engineer told Narvekar that since the board office had no stock of new meters, he should buy one with his own money. Accordingly, Narvekar purchased a meter and installed it after it was tested by the assistant engineer’s office. The MSEB checked the old meter and submitted a report saying it read up to 7.66% higher than normal.
Narvekar then wrote to the MSEB office at Vashi asking for a rebate to offset the extra cost incurred by him due to the fast-running meter, but his request was ignored.
In January 2001, Narvekar received a bill of Rs 20,000, which he paid. But the second meter too ran faster than normal, prompting Narvekar to request a reduction in the bill by deduction of interest claimed. However, his next bill ran up to Rs 44,060, following which Narvekar reportedly suffered a heart attack and was admitted to Jaslok Hospital. His wife paid the bill. After recovery, he approached the MSEB office and the meter was checked and replaced on August 5, 2001. But the problem persisted. Narvekar approached the office several times for a reduced bill, but in vain.
Finally, he moved the forum and filed a complaint for compensation of Rs 3 lakh for mental agony, Rs 1.46 lakh in damages, Rs 30,827 for medical expenses and Rs 4,000 for the cost of the complaint.
“I have been compelled to pay exorbitant bills for nine years. Why do I have to bear the brunt of the inefficiency of the MSEB officials?’’ Narvekar asked.
The MSEB contested the claim in March 2002 saying a rebate of Rs 2,012.93 had been given to Narvekar in April 1997. Narvekar was given a rebate of Rs 1,294.13 for a six-month period, after a new meter was found to be running fast in November 1999, it added. MSEB also contended that Narvekar had delayed payment causing it to disconnect supply on several occasions.
A bench comprising president Suhas Barve and member Dr A G Sabnis, ruled that MSEB was providing “deficient service’’ to Narvekar as he had to change meters thrice since 1997. While changing the meter, it observed, some officers were “reckless’’. Stating that the claim appeared to be exorbitant, the bench ruled that compensation awarded to Narvekar can be quantified to the tune of Rs 1 lakh.
It observed that as far as claims of damages and medical expenses were concerned, there was nothing to prove MSEB’s liability for Narvekar’s cardiac attack.
The bench ruled that MSEB would have to pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation for mental agony suffered by Narvekar. It will also have to pay Rs 4,000 for litigation costs and issue fresh bills by giving a rebate of 7.66% on bills from 1997 onwards.
Narvekar is hopeful that the MSEB will pay him the compensation.
The Times of India, April 14, 2006
Monday, October 10, 2005
Womenfolk rediscover the lost tradition of Bhondla
Marathi Version Of Navratri Brings Back Memories, Draws in Youth
By Rinky Kumar/TNN
Mumbai: For the Gujarati community, Navratri might mean donning new outfits, wearing funky jewellery and displaying one’s dancing skills. But these nine nights of revelry are also significant for Maharashtrians.
A festival, popular as Bhondla in Mumbai and Pune, used to witness women coming together and narrating daily life experiences in form of songs during Navratri. But with social changes over the years, Bhondla is no longer the same.
However, a group of six women have now decided to save the dying tradition. Calling themselves the Sai group—meaning girl friend in Marathi—they visit Navratri utsav mandals for performing the Bhondla.
Sai’s founder, Shibani Joshi said, “We have been performing Bhondla since childhood. The songs are not written, but have been passed down for generations as a cultural legacy.’’ Explaining the origins of the tradition, she said, “In earlier days, when girls were not educated and did not lead an active social life, they would celebrate Navratri by calling their friends over.’’
Apart from using Bhondla as a platform for displaying singing talent, the girls would draw an elephant in the courtyard, and decorate it with fruits and flowers. The elephant symbolised the Hath Nakshatra—a constellation visible in the sky during Navratri.
“While humourous songs about the relationship women had with their inlaws dominated traditional Bhondla, it also had games and puzzles, including one where they would drop hints for identifying food items,’’ added Joshi.
Unlike the garba or dandiya, Bhondla has women going round the elephant picture. The programme lasts for an hour with the girls singing 30-40 songs— beginning with an invocation to Lord Ganesha and rounding off with a ballad to commemorate the achievements of Chhatrapati Shivaji. The Sai group that was formed in 2002 has added contemporary nuances, so that the present generation of Maharashtrian girls can identify with it. While in earlier times, girls sang of how their in-laws were trying to woo them with jewellery, today’s songs find mention of modern-day appliances.
In another attempt to make Bhondla more interesting, the group also performs traditional Marathi folk dances, like jhimma and phugdi. The group are invited by Navratri utsav mandals in Maharashtrian localities to perform the Bhondla. “We have also performed in Jamshedpur, Raipur and Ajmer,’’ said Joshi.
Hoping the younger generation is able to carry forward the tradition, Joshi said, “Our events bring back memories of yesteryears to the
older generation of Maharashtrians. They also draw in younger people who enjoy the foot-tapping music and rhythm.’’
The Times of India, October 10, 2005
By Rinky Kumar/TNN
Mumbai: For the Gujarati community, Navratri might mean donning new outfits, wearing funky jewellery and displaying one’s dancing skills. But these nine nights of revelry are also significant for Maharashtrians.
A festival, popular as Bhondla in Mumbai and Pune, used to witness women coming together and narrating daily life experiences in form of songs during Navratri. But with social changes over the years, Bhondla is no longer the same.
However, a group of six women have now decided to save the dying tradition. Calling themselves the Sai group—meaning girl friend in Marathi—they visit Navratri utsav mandals for performing the Bhondla.
Sai’s founder, Shibani Joshi said, “We have been performing Bhondla since childhood. The songs are not written, but have been passed down for generations as a cultural legacy.’’ Explaining the origins of the tradition, she said, “In earlier days, when girls were not educated and did not lead an active social life, they would celebrate Navratri by calling their friends over.’’
Apart from using Bhondla as a platform for displaying singing talent, the girls would draw an elephant in the courtyard, and decorate it with fruits and flowers. The elephant symbolised the Hath Nakshatra—a constellation visible in the sky during Navratri.
“While humourous songs about the relationship women had with their inlaws dominated traditional Bhondla, it also had games and puzzles, including one where they would drop hints for identifying food items,’’ added Joshi.
Unlike the garba or dandiya, Bhondla has women going round the elephant picture. The programme lasts for an hour with the girls singing 30-40 songs— beginning with an invocation to Lord Ganesha and rounding off with a ballad to commemorate the achievements of Chhatrapati Shivaji. The Sai group that was formed in 2002 has added contemporary nuances, so that the present generation of Maharashtrian girls can identify with it. While in earlier times, girls sang of how their in-laws were trying to woo them with jewellery, today’s songs find mention of modern-day appliances.
In another attempt to make Bhondla more interesting, the group also performs traditional Marathi folk dances, like jhimma and phugdi. The group are invited by Navratri utsav mandals in Maharashtrian localities to perform the Bhondla. “We have also performed in Jamshedpur, Raipur and Ajmer,’’ said Joshi.
Hoping the younger generation is able to carry forward the tradition, Joshi said, “Our events bring back memories of yesteryears to the
older generation of Maharashtrians. They also draw in younger people who enjoy the foot-tapping music and rhythm.’’
The Times of India, October 10, 2005
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