LATE ARVIND ( BABASAHEB ) HAJARNIS.

To day ( 20-12-2011) Babasaheb passed away rather peacefully compared to the suffering he had to put up with for last few years. It was almost a rebirth for him 18 years back. Never fully recovered. The pain kept him away from cheer forever.
He was the one who broke the news of our love affair and convinced my in laws for marriage. He was elder brother not only in Hajarnis family but also amongst four of us Sadus. He behaved like elder one. He was perfect son-in -law and neighbour for my fattier and mother-in-law. It continued for so long that it became rather difficult to see him relegated to secondary position. But that how it slowly became. He lost confidence so much that was unable to leave independently. No more head of the family. It was disturbing for us to watch.
He was lucky to leave with wife, 2 sons, 1 daughter-in-law and a grand son. It’s a luxury in this age of nucleus family. Most of people of our generation are leaving miserable life of loneliness and exclusion. Couples are worried about single future ahead. With children in India or abroad ( more in abroad ). It must be said in fairness that sons did not neglect him even if they fought with each other. It must be mentioned that the most positive support came from his real brothers. Great family held together in close bond. This quality is fast becoming rare.
The death has been obviously striking me in my 64 year life. Some times coming out of turn. But today I cant help but feel that it has now come to our generation.
R.I.P.

Arvind Khare

GANDHARVA BHOG

Gandharva is invariably cursed. It is believed that ordinary human can become GOD by penance and achieving super powers thereby. A well advanced one becomes Gandharva if and when tempted by lust or greed and falls from the virtuous path. Super powers do not necessarily be magical like vanishing or entering some body else’s body. The equivalent word to GOD in Sanskrit is DEVA. The noun is derived from adverb “ Div “ which means “to shine”. The GODs are e seldom dark and ugly. That image is for demons. They are conceived as handsome with sparkling glow. The Gandharvas too are conceived as handsome and sparkling but do not posses all qualities of GOD. English language has only one word ANGEL to sum up what are called as Ganhdarva, Yaksha & Kinnara in Indian mythology. They are supposed to have their own LOKA or state of existence supposed to in between the earth and Heaven. Their main role is to please the GODS with there art skills like Music , dance and drama joined by feminine counterparts in Apsaras and Paris. ( Again only one word fairy in English both ). In Maharshtra we consider Gandharva as epitome of music while Karnataka it is Yaksha gana. Kinnara are Aphrodites like Shakhandi or Brihannala.
The Word BHOGA has different shades to the meaning. In north India it refers to the offerings made to the GOD like CHHAPAN BHOG, while in Maharshtra it is referred to as the inevitable sufferings. Being Marathi myself I have used the word to mean suffering. This background must be known to fully understand what is meant by the curse of Gandharva or GANDHRVA BHOG.
In my childhood I was called as Kinchit Gandharva ( Minuscule Angel ) by my elder cousin sister because I would sing all the time. Never took to anything seriously. I am conceived as well read well cultured mature person with loving disposition. I could speak and fool people that I am well read person. Read I do but casually only. I could write but never bothered to concentrate more than 10 minutes. I could sing but never learnt it seriously. I went to Architectural school more by whim than plan. I did social work but more as show than real urge. I loved people around me as my bards. Every talent remained at nascent level due to casual approach. Now when I am at the fag end of life I realize it as Ghandharva Bhog.

Arvind Khare

BAL GANDHARVA

Many have written about him before the film. Many will wrtite for time to come. He was a legend. Legends never die.

I want to record two things that struck me.

The way Anand Bate has rendered his immortal songs. Outstanding ! I heard original records of Bal Gandharva and and Anand Bhate back to back. Similarity of voice and style is remarkable. There are many and there will be many who aspire to sing like Bal Gandharva. Both male and female have tried as singers. So far I thought Jaymalabai is nearest to him. Now I will hand that honour to Ananad Bhate. The freshness of voice was vital to bring that era alive on the screen. That is where he scores very high.

Other is Subodh Bhave. Outstanding performance. I have seen many male actors mimicking Bal Gandharva draped in female attire. Horrible would be correct word for them invariably. Again I have seen Jayamalabai playing his roles in his style. She is a lady of grace but a lady after all. I have seen Balgandhrva only at very late stage of his life when he turned to Devotional music. I would not able to understand how this toothless bald man ruled Marathi stage. Only the smile was electrifying. Jaymalabai would give some glimpse of it. Subodh Bhave has left undying image of Bal Gandharva. After Tukaram was produced Vishupant Pagnis became icon for Tukaram face. Subodh Bhave has done same.

I think both are lucky to get such great opportunity. They will go down the history for perfect rendering of a legend.

But at the last we cannot forget “ ASA GANDHARVA ATA PUNHA NA HONE.”

Arvind Khare

LION THE KING OF JUNGLE.

Once upon a time there was a thick limitless jungle. The nature displayed its full splendor. All kinds of plant were blooming and all animal species were fighting, loving and grooming happily. The kingdom of the jungle was ruled by king of animals the LION. All animal subjects happy and obeying him. Things were fine for some time before the LION became ferocious. Instead of protecting he would kill them just for fun even when he was not hungry. Being angry became good cause to kill instead of being hungry. Slowly other maladies like lust, greed, jealousy made their way to the LION mind.
All animals were scared of him but nobody dared to complain. Ultimately all animals called a meeting to discuss how to get rid of the tyrant LION. In the meeting, committees appointed, reports tabled, long discussions held where every body participated in most rhetoric fashion but no solution came forward. When every body was thoroughly exhausted, a cunning fox volunteered to get rid of the problem. Happy by his initiative, all animals happily endorsed him as their Representative to face the LION.
The cunning fox went to the LION and started singing all praises for him. Pleased by the flattery, the LION granted him audience. The fox began with some more praises and won the confidence of the LION. Gently threw challenge to him. Says “ how come there is another LION who looks and rules just like you ? “. The LION was taken aback at the thought of having another LION. Soon both took to the road leading to it. The Fox took LION to a well and asked to look into it. Sure there was reflection looking same as him, roaring as him.
Original LION was about to jump at the reflection and drown himself when deep in his mind he heard a voice not heard till now. It urged him to take a step back which he did. The reflection disappeared. A step forward and reflection reappeared, a step backward and reflection disappeared. Now he became quiet and listened to that inner voice once more. It told him “Your likes and dislike brings you forward and backward. Stop looking at the reflection and there will be nothing left to see” Now he came once again to the edge of well but refused to see at the bottom of it. There was no water and no reflection. Eventually he went back and became the true ruler of the jungle kingdom. He began to rule with justice without fear or favor and no longer effected by moods like anger, fear, depression, excitement.

MORAL : The LION is our mind. The jungle is the field granted to us by GOD for experience. The moods are our accumulated desires. Overcome them and you are true ruler. Listen to the FOX and you are drowned.

Arvind Khare
khare_am@yahoo.com
khaream47@gmail.com

BAIKO

Tichi gammat nastana kalte
Karan ti tumchi baiko aste
Lavkar uthala mahnun oradate,
Ushia uthala mahnun karvadte
Nemki vel matra sangat naste
Karan ti tumchi baiko aste.
Kam valya baichya takrari karte
Kadhun tak mhantle tari chidate
Kamala haat lavu det naste
Karan ti tumchi baiko aste
TV samorun uthat naste
Serialchi chesta chalet naste
Break break madhe jevan karte
Karan ti tumchi baiko aste
Aai sarkha jamla nahi tar chidte
Aai sarkha jamla mhantle tari chidte
Aai kadech kha mhanun vaitagte
Karan ti tumchi baiko aste
Pahunyansamor tiche Aho aste
Ekte aslat ki Are mhante
Aaplech khare karat baste
Karan ti tumchi baiko aste
Gharat gharkombda mhante
Baher gelat tar befikir mhante
Aaplya bhisha chalu thevate
Karan ti tumchi baiko aste
Sanasudila sonyat bolate
Dene ghene hazarat tharvate
Kadki asli tar sodun dete
Karan ti tumchi baiko aste
Mulanbarobar drista kadhte
Tuumchyasathi ratra jagvate
Aaple dukhane angavar kadhate
Karan ti tumchi baiko aste
Tumhi ghasarlat tar savrat aste
Tumhi kosalat tar ubhi karte
Takraritun prem karte
Karan ti tumchi baiko aste
Kadhitari hi kavita vachel
Tyat kay mhanun nak udvel
Hyala tyala dakhavat basel
Karan ti tumchi baiko asel
Jithe asha baika gharoghari astat
Tithe mera Bharat mahan mhantat

I WAKE UP AS ME

HOW FUNNY

WHEN I WAKE UP I WAKE UP AS ME.
NOBODY ELSE BUT ONLY SIMPLE SINGLE ME
BY BITS AND PIECES INTO THE WORLD CREEPS
NOT KNOWING IF FOR GIVING UP OR KEEPS
ALLLURING NUDGING PUSHING OR KILLING
FLEETING OR STICKING OR MEMORY DRILLING
ALWAYS HAVING DOUBT IF REAL OR IMAGE
BUT I AM ME AT EACH AND EVERY STAGE
MAKE NO MISTAKE I WAKE UP AS ME
FOR I GO SLEEP AS NOBODY ELSE BUT ME.

REALLY FUNNY

Arvind Khare
khare_am@yahoo.com
khaream47@gmail.com