SHRINKING FAMILIES

My grand father had eight siblings. I had dozen of grand mothers named as Khare. To have siblings in dozens was nothing unusual in that generation. Usually the gentlemen would have more than one wife. Ramayana and one wife Ram was not taken as serious role model even by religious minded men. To have a step mother was quite common. The family consisted during that age the man, his many wives and many many children. Throw in widowed sisters, daughters, nieces, orphan kids of brothers and sisters and you will have a comprehensive picture of a typical joint family. Really it should have been called as age of multi joint families. A dying person would have dozen of attendants around his death bed from family itself.

During time of my parents the number had come near but more than half dozen. My parents had four siblings (not counting who died as babies). My aunts numbered same as my uncles. Ramayana appears to have effect or it may be simply effect of an enactment. If somebody rarely married twice after death of first wife, some widows still returned to the joint family. Occasional accommodation of unmarried brother or sister was not looked as burden. A dying person died in family and rarely unattended.

I have four siblings. We live in joint family house. Still parents of our generation by and large live with one of the child, usually elder son. Other sons and daughters some times share the care of parents willingly or grudgingly. The thought of sending parents to old age home is gaining frowning acceptability. We understand that sending of our uncles and aunts to old age home is better as unavoidable reality than bringing them to our home. We have rarely more than couple of kids. We of course want to die in our house and in attendance by our kids and grand kids. Our kids perhaps have different view. They look upon this wish as foolish sentimental burden.

Our kids are more and more opting for a single child family. The arrivals are planned with care. The care is of their convenience rather than the convenience of the baby, The care to bring baby after settling down and after having enjoyed life. It takes more than half life to come to that stage. We also read in paper business of surrogate mothers flourishing. Even the Indian couples not having time for pregnancy are increasingly turning to surrogacy.

We unnecessarily worry that babies will have to support their parents early in their life. It is a wrong worry perhaps. The babies will be smarter than their parents and our kids. The question and fight would be whose parents to take care of ? Husband’s or wife’s ? Better none of them. The care of parents would be something unheard of. The parents should live either on their own or go to old age home or sanatorium. No place would be left for parents in next generation nucleus family. Add to that case of single parent families which are rare in India but common in western countries we are so eager to ape. The single kid is much less likely to bother about single parent when it will grow up.

The logical sequence of surrogate mothers is foster care of kids. It won’t be surprising to find future society where the husband, the wife and the kid live their entire life in separate homes. Not home but only names will join them. That would be ultimate shrinkage of family concept. Don’t worry or cry about it. There is marriage concept waiting in the wings to disappear.

Arvind Khare
Khare_am@yahoo.com

WISHFULL LAST RITES

The son was denied to perform the last rites of business tycoon and performed by one actor recently as foster son. I don’t want to go into emotions and drama of a particular case. The question keeps ringing in my head is why people want to be particular and fussy about care of their dead body. Is it a wish to continue your presence even after the death?
It may be so.
I don’t know whose wish was behind building the TajMahal, Emperor Shajahan or queen Noorjahan. Generally credit is given to the immortal love of Emperor. Other monuments are not so dedicated. Golkonda has so many tombs that many dead bodies buried in many tombs is known only to historians. Some tombs are left incomplete because their dead occupant died early. Come to the modern history and we have Rajghat dedicated to samadhis of Gandhis. From Mahatma to Rajiv with sole exception of Nehru. If the buz is to be believed, the minute details of funeral procession, and sketches of samadhis etc. are prepared during the life time of the ruler (yes ruler even if ruling in democratic way!).
Others also follow the suit. Many chatris, water fountains are littering Old Dehli as ruins. Dehli is capital but other small and big towns also have their share. Take Alibag for example which has a Chatri for Kanhoji Angre. Nobody seems to care about it any more.
Why rulers and generals ? Even saints of all religions continue to live from their tombs, graves, samadhis and such things.
No wonder then ordinary people want at list an epitaph over their grave. Even farmers want to be cremated in their farm and wife next to husband.
The architecture is most favourite discipline to memorise a dead. Others are also seen here and there. We have Nehru wanting his ashes spread over whole of India from a plane. Nothing less in grandeur! We have a Mahtama whose forgotten ashes are immersed several years after.
It may be OK for those who are left behind to decide on the scale of memorial. Utter nonsense for the dying person. As saint Ramdas swami has said it’s same if the body of a sanyasi is burnt, drowned or eaten by dogs and other animals. If one can not be that detached while living, one should not cling to dead body and keep moral, physical, financial burden to the successors. It should be best left to their choice.

Arvind khare
Khare_am@yahoo.com

EARLY MORNING DOCTORS AND LATE NIGHT COURTS

The lecturers from Medical colleges will soon be barred from private practice. So is reported in the Times of India. Medical science is continuously progressing. It is impossible to keep tab of the new progress made just by referring to books, periodicals and papers. Nothing can be as effective to gain first hand knowledge as a patient treated personally.

It is sin to take ill on weekend. Dispensaries are closed. Gone are the days when doctors used to pay home visit at nominal charge. Little chance is of medical help unless you go to hospital. There also the specialists from hospitals are usually gone away from city for trips and picnics having planned to complete their schedule during 5 day week. On many occasions the hospitals are left to the competence of para medical staff. We hear regularly cases of the relatives of patients attacking doctors for alleged negligence. Medico-Legal cases are on the rise. We also hear regularly bogus doctors detected. There is a bee line to get attachment in big popular hospitals as specialist All this happens in the cities and metropolitan areas and on other side there is dearth of general practitioners in rural area.

Definitely it is no case for ban to practice. As it is the medical service is poor and poorly distributed. Efforts must be for more primary medical services at more places and for more time. A patient would like to visit the doctor for some body ill at home and go to duty with peaceful mind. We have banks working at the time convenient to the customer. The floweriest, the vegetable wholesale market, the milkmen do their work in early morning. Why cannot some doctors do the same ?

Allow those lecturers to practice part time at early morning and take lectures full time. Perhaps they will overtake other medical practitioners who any way are available till quite late in the evening. The government mooted bare foot doctors in rural area. Some relief can also be given to over crowded cities by this way.

The government is also mooting the idea of courts in double shift. So we may end up having early morning doctor and late night advocates. There may a case of a same person doing medical practice in the morning and legal practice in the evening. Why not so long he does not become robber by the day?

Arvind Khare
Khare_am@yahoo.com

SOME MORE ABOUT FREEDOM

Yesterday’s blog turned out to be little longer and had to be cut short due to lack of time. Here is something I missed yesterday.

I have already told mentioned about the plight of cured patients who are not accepted back home. It would be quite natural for them as being deprived of freedom. Thankfully that freedom was restored to three patients as reported. Here is another angle.

I met one patient in the corridors. He wished me good morning in very civil way. When I wished back, he suddenly bent to touch my feet and calling me uncle as if asking for blessings. Blessings don’t cost any thing. So I could be liberal to give promptly. He started telling his story. He hailed from Hydrabad. According to him his brothers and other family members had deprived him of his property rights by accusing him mad. The property was also described as a piece of farm land. I asked him to write down on a piece of paper his name, names of the family members and the description of the land when a member of staff separated us telling me not to believe him. I did not know whom to believe. I went back to program little disturbed. I contacted superintendent to whom I was introduced earlier and told him about the patient and staff. I asked him how it can be ensured that the patient is not the victim. What I was told by him is interesting. The hospital has a legal cell and a lady legal adviser. There are number of accusations reported by patients which are neither believed nor disbelieved. An enquiry is conducted and if any substance is found the matter is taken to the court from redress. A share can not be denied for being mad. A guardian is to be appointed by court.

A day before I was watching another interesting program on TV on destitute Children where again a detailed legal mechanism to safe guard right of Minor orphan child was explained.

The mad and the orphan both have same rights as other citizens of India. When they are not capable of protecting them themselves, the government is stepping in. Now let us not jump to criticize corruption, delay and so many other short comings. The very fact that the Government thinks to protect the right of those who can not do it themselves ensures us that Union of India is welfare state as is declared. The freedom is very foundation of welfare. Freedom is a word easy to shout under national flag and in safe cordon of security but difficult to mean. The fight freedom does not get over after achieving Independence from foreign rule.

Ranavin swatantrya kona milale ? ( who gained freedom without fight )

Arvind Khare
Khare_am@yahoo.com

FREEDOM AT MENTAL ASSYLUM

15th August is celebrated by our Lions Club of Kopri-Thane at N.M.Mental Hospital, Thane for last 22 years. It is a tradition which makes me proud as the President initiating it. How much this tradition has helped the Hospital, I do not know. It has certainly taught us a thing or two. Some lessons came from the Doctors and other staff and some from inmates. I have not kept any record of them but few I can remember are worth mentioning here.

Normally our banner reads as Lions Club of Kopri Welcomes you. The painter changed it to Lions of Kopri welcomes you. Mistake welcome and welcomes was pointed out by one of the cured patient. We Lions have tradition of reading flag salutation in very meeting. The tradition is all the more significant on 15th Auguat. Every body stands at that time as mark of respect to national flag. We just stand but the inmates folded hands as Namaskar. without being prompted.

The programmes they present is practised and rehearsed for days in advance. It helps to keep their mind occupied. Once in a while we go to watch the practice. The simple action of facing the audience and turning back is to be rehearsed 100 times till everybody can make it together. Either they will not turn at all or turn not to full 180 degree or turn in wrong direction. The patience shown by the training staff till every thing is synchronized is amazing. The actual performance on d day is baffling to ay the least. There is joy of wearing anything else than uniform for them. Imagine how much joy must be brought by the colourful bright dresses and make up. It overflows on most of the faces The watchful eyes of the staff never leave them for a moment. Almost like security man behind the Prime Minister of India delivering speech from Red fort. And the audience! The response is simply to be seen to believe. A character saluting national flag from stage will prompt few dozens to do the same from audience. Most of them are totally engrossed and clap with innocence of child. But some faces would be always blank either on the stage or in audience reminding us that everything is not normal.

We are told that the audience of hundred or two patients brought to watch the show is less than 10 % of the total strength and most of them cured patient who are not accepted back home. We have seen some faces over dozen of years and even become friendly with some of them. They would ask only two things a bidi or taking them back to family. The real patients in the wards are beyond comprehension of what is Independence and what is programme.

This year we had a real different story presented for change, for the first time in 22 years. A lady patient by name of Rajkumari ( Babita as nick named by the hospital ) narrated her story. She is from west Bengal. Does not remember how she came here, does not remember that she had a son till the treatment cured her. She wrote down her address and would give to everyone coming to visit the hospital. One of the staff took pity and sent a letter on the address. Reply did come. She was united with her family. Her son separated from her ( probably in train ) was also located in Madhya Pradesh. Too good or to filmy like to believe but true. We were in for surprise when doctors told us that they could unite three such patients in last year. Three may be next to zero compared to thousands of inmates. But even that fractional number was also achieved in last 22 years of our association. A true case of freedom at asylum. Compliments and congratulations to the hospital. Let us pray to God there would be many more such freedoms.

Arvind Khare
Khare_am@yahoo.com

AS OLD AS INDEPENDENCE

Born in 1947, I am one of those born in the year of independence. One of my friends is born exactly on to make in impressions on baby mind in form of memories. The advantage is I 15th August. I was not so lucky. I had to experience what is colonial slavery for good 48 days. Experience has failed can immediately tell how old is Indian independence. Disadvantage is nobody calls me a freedom fighter. I have seen many institutions go searching for freedom fighters. The best of the lot is gone very long back. Any from second even third line of freedom fighters is also not to be availed any more. Some of those who were not even in teens before 1947 were also felicitated as freedom fighters. Shouting of VANDE MATARAM from bathroom was also accepted as freedom fight. Now is perhaps the end of road for finding freedom fighters.

It does not matter any more to younger generation. India is India in their mind. The prefix of Independent has lost its bearing. Only those who were slave at some point of time can value importance of the word Independent. For the rest being Indian is same as being Independent Indian. They don’t see Americans calling themselves as Independent Americans. Americans also fought for freedom like us. The fight was over 1767. Ours got over in 1947. Sixty years is certainly long enough to confine few things to history.

Sad is the case for the organizers who are forced to find alternatives to the freedom fighters. The last war was also over in 1971. The terrorist are doing their best to provide alternative martyrs. We can have few more years of felicitations and honoring. How long are we going to bury our heads in the sands of history. It is rather pity that people can not think in terms of future on the Independence day. Why don’t we think of launching new ambitious endeavor. May it be Industrial, Cultural, political. Anything that is ambitious and nation building in character. Can we not have another visionary thinking big like Pt. Nehru ? If 15th August is a land mark of time, let it be bridge between proud past and promising future. JAI HND.

Arvind Khare

WOMEN AND KASHMIR AGITATION

Something is terribly wrong when women come to streets. That is what is happening in Kashmir agitation now.

Recently we had been through Shrinagar for Amarnath Yatra on the face of agitation. A band call ensured closed shutters on the day we arrived and same closed shutters said good bye to us due to curfew. In between we had to interact with people like taxi driver, hotel owner, House Boat owner, food vendors etc. They did argue about on going agitation, separation demand, lack of economic growth when engaged in conversation. That they were not well conversed with rest of India was quite evident. Still we found them extremely cordial. They were very concerned about our safety and went out of way to ensure our passage to airport.

Some may say because of business interest. We did not notice traders smile but sincerity on their face. Some 20 years back we were in Shrinagar. We stayed in Lal Chowk area. A medical emergency on a Sunday made us visit the narrow lanes of city in search of Doctor. We got one who not only treated patient but also treated all of us like family guests. We came to know some delicacies like Gustaba which otherwise would have never come to know. In fact as tourist we never noticed any resent for us any where. On the contrary we were given a feeling of welcome.

We found women of the home very homely and shy. We did not see much of womenfolk on the street. Those who were on the street appeared shy to even look at you. It is difficult to imagine that they have suddenly got courage to pelt stones at the security.

One thing however we did notice was terrible resent for security. We were told number of stories about their ruthless handling. We were told how some youth were killed by them for no reason. We were told how a woman cooking in home was shot and how a boy who ventured to go on street to fetch milk was shot. We thought at that time that they were exaggerated stories. Apparently they were not judging by the pictures of the stone pelting women published in the press.

The issues involved are too complex for ordinary citizen like us to understand. However one thing is sure that the battle may be one but cause is lost with women taking to street. We must understand that they are neither police nor soldier nor terrorist but a face of untold suffering. Perhaps bullet is not proper instrument of dialogue.

Let us hope that peace will return and so the hospitality of Kashmr.
Arvind Khare
Khare_am@yahoo.com

KHAP MODEL OF PANCHAYAT RAJ

When I wrote about woman power demonstrated by Chandravati, a mention was made about Khap. I had some how felt even at that time that story of Chandravati is too good to be repeated. I had also cited example of Shahabanu case to show case how vested interest including Governments go to any length to destroy the moral boosted by such exceptional and lone cases of dogged fight. The laws are amended, terror is let loose by groups and here sadly by close members of families of the victim.

The ugly face of Khap is well demonstrated by media. May be due to sensation it generates. That is very existence of modern media. The ugly faces of families on rampant murder spree is more sensational and thus to be more hoghlighted. The brother, fathers, uncles and at times even ladies don’t seem to flinch in killing their own siblings in the name honor. That ladies like mother in law and sisters in law are experts at killing daughter-in-laws is an established fact of ages. Men folk is usually happy at molesting and raping daughters in law. Capital punishment is left to women folk. When it comes to killing daughters compared to daughters in law. men seen to be more happy at the task. If father and brothers are not honorable enough uncles too join in the kill. All in the name of Honor of course. This funny thing called honor unites family killers and excited onlookers under the umbrella of Khap. Both the appellants as well as judges know the verdict well in advance. The defense is conspicuous by absence. The execution of draconian orders are carried out by appellants again. They even boast of the act to media. More sensation and more news worth. Happy happy we shall be when we kill them A B C.

My aim is not to criticize Khap leaders, killer families or media. That is easy and equally sensational. Attempt is to be made to analyze dispassionately the system which is increasingly becoming order of the day.

Caste councils and / or village councils are known to us from ancient times. In fact the kings and rulers would change, The dynasties would come and go. They had little or no effect on village life except during war time. The loot and arson were inevitable as fall out of war. That was not routine and accepted something like draught or flooding. Even the army would be recruited as and when needed. The farmers would double as soldiers to earn extra buck. The loyalty was more to the field than king. The council heads would be of great help in tax collection, army recruitment and maintenance of hierarchy. Why disturb it ? So the rulers did not interfere without reason in functioning of such councils. They were sort of local self Government much before democracy was ushered in by British. These councils had all functions of Government, administrative as well as judiciary. In fact every thing about village councils or Panchayats was not bad. That is why we have now enacted Panhayat Raj by a bill passed in Parliament. Now it is not inheritance or cast domination but election that makes the Panchyat. They have budget, economic planning, administration in well documented manner. The authority is derived and limited by an enactment.

The sad part is that although executive part of the Government is decentralized to grass root level, the judiciary is not. That did not stop them from being judges. They didn’t have written laws but then neither the British had them written Very name Panchayat suggests the wisdom coming from five mouths. Wisdom from five mouths did not find any need of written down law. Even the kings did not have a constitution. The cases were heard though and awards given. Out casting a person or family was far more effective punishment than sending them to jails. Not that jail term or capital punishment was not heard of. Bit it was for more serious offenses.

The case I would like to present is to give Panhayat councils as judiciary function as well. Elected councils will have lesser evils coming from hereditary hierarchy. What is needed is documented law and rules giving authority and limitations to try.a case. Record the proceedings and verdict and of course right to appeal. The Khap heads should come as elected representatives and function within the frame work of law. That may diminish the need of Lok adalat.

Th male chauvinist mentality of killer fathers and brothers will need some thing more than a law. Unless a system is created where woman can leave the family and still live honorable life will only prick the make ego. Majority of women live in the circumstances they don’t want to live but are forced to live because there is no option. Father and Brothers are happy to be killers directly or indirectly by refusing to offer shelter to harassed daughter. Dignity of single woman can only truly point out how pragmatic is the society.

Let a single woman living with dignity decide what is honor and not the self appointed Khap guardians of honor. Their functioning now is anything but honorable. Khap may be bad but Panchayat is not. Let us change Khap raj by Panchayat Raj.

Arvind Khare
Khare_am@yahoo.com

TALE OF AKKA, MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER

Sundarabai Karmarkar or AKKA as she was called by us That was my grand mother from maternal side, mother of the mother of my mother. I vaguely remember her small frame. I recall two old ladies staying together in our rented home at Kamat wada, Thane in fifties. One was my Aaji Late Laxmibai Khare mother of my father and other was Akka mentioned above. A generation gap strictly speaking but both looked too old that to notice it at that time, a time when my age was not in double figure. Soon ( 1960 ) my father constructed our own home PUSHPAK as a small ground floor bungalow of two bed rooms. No. One bed room and other Prayer room doubling as bed room of Aaji. Akka did not move in with us. We all four siblings used to sleep in hall which was certainly big enough for couple of more beds. Yet she was not part of our home.

The fact did not come to my notice till my mother decided to tell her story. My mother has suddenly telling her childhood stories these days. Not as if she has nothing left to say about present. She is very much alive to the present world. But her mind is now wandering more into past. We are told many untold stories. That is how I came to know about rather pathetic and sad life of Akka.

Born as Kale she was married in Karmarkar family at tender age according to tradition of the time, gave birth to only girl child as soon as coming to age, became widow when the child was still breast fed. No. I don’t know the name of my great grand father and not missing it. It is great-great grand mother whom I wish I had seen. I can not bring before my eyes a woman who evicted young widowed daughter-in-law along with a baby grand child from her house and probably her holding responsible for death of her son. How can I call it as home ? Home is where heart is. This structure did not seem to have a heart.

Such a complete was the cut off she was not ready to cast even a look at her grand daughter ( which happens to be and my grand mother). She would visit a neighbor in Mahajan Chawl at Nagpur where my grand mother was staying after her marriage. Funnily my mother remembers her grand mother as a lady bent to knees with old age. A legacy she is inheriting now in some degree even if great grand mother had cut her mother off totally. Genes probably do not have emotions.

But I am now telling tale of Akka and neither of my grand mother of maternal side nor her mother-in-law. Akka came back to Kale family who gave her shelter. Her in laws refused to contribute even a token for her living let alone share in the property. A woman of extra ordinary courage Akka did not let herself become burden on brothers. As told by my mother she would sell bangles to earn a livelihood. Such a meager earning that she would have to go hungry for days. But she would not ask for money from brothers. A shelter given by them was good enough. Enough was enough by her standard. She brought up my grand mother who was reportedly a beautiful lady and married it to Mr. Narayan Gondhalekar, my grand father from maternal side. Akka could see five grand children, my mother and four maternal uncles or Mamas. One died of Sun stroke. I don’t remember face of my grand mother because she died before I was born. Died of cancer. The house of my grand father was once again in shambles. The elder Uncles were married and living separately. No body was ready to take care of the youngest Raja mama in his adolescent age. It was Akka who offered him care of the mother. I still remember a small room in Kale property where Akka lived with Raja mama, both suffering from ill fate that brought them together.

I don’t remember what circumstances brought her to our rented home in Thane before constructing Pushpak. I don’t know why she did not move in Pushpak and went back to Nagpur. I came to know only recently from my mother that she wanted a room added in our bungalow where she wanted to live along with us but separately. My mother did not muster courage to tell it to my father and the room never came along. Many relatives lived with us for months and years later on, many rooms were added later on as our families grew, unfortunately not one for an old and lonely lady in her last days.

She was a woman of courage as I have said earlier. She would tell my mother often that she will decide how and when to die. Well she did. She immolated herself in the dingy room of her brother’s property soon after Pushpak was ready and occupied. My mother did not say so in so many words but I suspect there is guilt prompting her to tell this so late to me. I too am writing this to ease the burden of that unknown and unseen guilt. All characters are real and my blood relatives. I do not mean to make any one either hero or villain. We are all ordinary pawns in the hand of destiny. Even our hates and loves are not our own. Part of grand design of some unknown principle filling us up with hate and love, joy and sorrow; making us move with timeless merry go round in this birth and next.

I don’t know if such suicide can be called as cowardly act. If it is cowardice then I will be proud to be coward. No wrong. I am not coward enough to do what Akka did. May her soul rest in peace.

Arvind Khare
Khare_am@yahoo.com

LOKMANYA TILAK

1st August is death anniversary of Likmanya Tilak. Ninety long years have gone since. Longer than his life of 64 years. Long enough to forget not only the work but even the name of the ordinary person. But Lokmanya Tilak was no ordinary person. The first amongst a series of great freedom fighters who could be called as true national leader of immense following. There were leaders before him, during his time but none could be termed as leader of masses. A torch carried later on by Mamatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru. The title LOKMANYA was not conferred upon him by any university or cult. It was spontaneous recognition coming directly from the people. A feat achieved perhaps only by Mahatma Gandhi later on. The title Pandit of Nehru was as a Kashmir Pandit like Pandit Motilal, his father.
The titles conferred on him may be spontaneous but the titles conferred by him on others were trend setters. Take the example of BALGANDHARVA by him on child age Naryan Rajhans. Not only Balgandhrva became legend himself but many other Gandharvas like Savai Ganhdrav, Nutan Gandharva, Kumar gandharva followed all of whom were genius of their own merit.

The political unrest which eventually lead to the freedom of India in 1947 owes its beginning to Lokmanya. Gandhi and Jeena might have fallen apart later on but at the beginning of their political careers both were ardent followers of Lokmanya. The then Governor General has recorded and conceded to his popularity as much greater than his at the time when Likmanya was freed from Mandale prison in 1914.

But its not only the political career that makes him outstanding but his unparalleled intelligence and scholarship amply demonstrated by his minuscule of literature written by him makes him truly great. A Calendar ( PANCHANG ) was introduced near his end of life and named after him and is still followed by some in Konkan parts. It gives importance to the visual matching of the stars in the sky and stars mentioned in the calendar A revolutionary thought unfortunately dying at the hands of traditionalism. Would not have been so had he lived little longer. His scholar status as astronomer was unquestioned during his life. And of course the legendary GEETA RAHASYA which was path breaking study of Bhagvadgeeta. ( Translated in practically all Indian and many European languages) Such outstanding scholarly work was a mere bi product of his jail confinement from 1908 to 1914. Some times I feel that the British have done great favor to Indians by giving compulsory break to him from active politics. Even great achievements of starting a news paper and founding educational trust become nondescript by comparison. Both Kesari and Ferguson college of Deccan Education Society from Pune are legends in themselves

Its impossible to bring his entire personality within small framework of a blog but I feel strongly to tell about him in the same spirit in which students like me were asked to on every 1st August during our school days. I am happy to note that even now intellectuals are trying to fathom his wisdom and foresight.

I think nothing aptly offers tribute to him than the verse printed in Kesari.

Tav smaran santat sphurandayi amha ghado,
Kalank maticha zado vishay sarvatha navado,
Tat-andhri kamali pado muradita hatane ado,
Viyog ghadata rado man bhavschritri jado.

( May your motivating memories come to us always
May the blight and lust go away from our mind and intellect,
May we fall at pair of your lotus feet and resist being turned .
May we cry to be departed and may we enjoin your life.)

Arvind Khare
Khare_am@yahoo.com