Lest We Forget

As the year 2008 comes to an end, lets go down the memory lane and think about events that made the year unforgettable.

To me it occurred on 26th Nov and in Mumbai.



A fidayeen was arrested alive by a hawaldaar of DB MARG Police Chowky.



The man who was arrested was carrying an AK47 and had loads of ammunition. On the other hand, the hawaldar had a lathi.



From all that I have read, heard and seen, this is what I make of the incidence.



On the night of 26-27 November, Ombale and several other policemen were on alert in the Girgaum Chowpatty area. They had been told that two terrorists were on the run in a Skoda. The twenty policemen out there had a grand total of two self-loading rifles and two bullet-proof vests. The vests were given to the men with the rifles, who were placed at vantage points around metal barricades. The rest of the policemen carried only lathis.

Those (virtually unarmed) policemen tried to stop the Skoda. The driver fired at them. The police shot back from the pre-determined vantage point and got him. The other man slid out, pretending to surrender, but carrying an AK-47.

Ombale rushed to secure him when the terrorist started pumping away with the AK-47. Call it guts or instinct, dedication or sacrifice but Tukaram Gopal Ombale refused to let go of his assailant. Later something like 30 bullets were recovered from his body.

His colleagues took advantage of Ombale's last act as they rushed at the terrorist with their lathis. The plainclothesmen were later identified as a 'mob' in grainy footage shot by someone on a mobile phone!

Tukaram Gopal Ombale died for his bravery. Assistant Police Inspector Sanjay Govilkar received bullet injuries. But those ordinary policemen -- some in their forties, laughably ill-equipped -- succeeded in doing what nobody else could, they captured a terrorist on a suicide mission alive. They also recovered artillery dwarfing their modest weapons -- AK-47s, several magazines, 9mm pistols, and grenades.

Qasab had so much of ammunition that he could have killed each one of these policemen and then shot himself. After all he was sent to die. But this was not to be. I feel that Qasab had it written in his destiny to get the media attention. He was captured by 3 different cameras at 3 different places before he was finally arrested. Of the 10 terrorists who entered the city, he is the only one who was identified. He has now become the FACE OF TERROR

Now, look at the bigger picture. Politically, Qasab has become a most valuable prisoner. Due to his confession, the states that support terrorism have come under a lot of pressure to eradicate it. Things have been so heated that even a war is not of equation

The end is nowhere to be seen. But what can be seen is the beginning of the end. To protect humanity from such people, we need to overcome this mentality. That will take a lot of time and dedication. We need someone as strong as the Mahatma to bring this change.

But whatever the outcome is, the reason behind it will be the brave deeds of Assistant Police Inspector Tukaram Gopal Ombale and other officers of DB MARG Police Chowky.

Jingle all the way !!!

The only time I cherish my school memories is during Christmas.


As a student of a convent school Christmas was the most religiously celebrated festival of our school days.
The Christmas parties were the most awaited thing of our annual calendar.

The sight of the Santa Clause used to make me feel very special. When he handed me those chocolates I used to feel that here is a man who really cares.

I loved every part of it.

The charisma of Christmas ended along with the end of our school days. Since then Christmas has been just a vacation and nothing else.

There were times when I realised that I did not miss anything. I was living a life that was perfect. I pitied people who though I need to change. I had the best place to live. The best friends to be with. The best Motorcycle. The best team to play for. And I loved being what I was.

After a few years I found that I was stagnant.

Then, gradually I had to give up on a few things. I came across people who, earlier, had no part to play in my life.
Many of them introduced me to a new dimension of life.

From a very monotonous and predictable lifestyle I was pushed into this multi dimensional way of living. Gradually I found that I could deal with any person in any situation. And even then I could hold on to my own peculiarities.

I was engrossed in so many different things that life became confusing. Dilemma became a routine. To be or not to be was the 1st question. To be here or to be there was the next.

Suddenly, I felt like a child at the toy shop. I wanted that big green trash truck toy in my hands but I also wanted to ride this cycle.

There started this never ending phase of catching up. Catching up with responsibilities, catching up with irresponsibilities.

I had to play a role everywhere. A boss in the office, a coach on the ground, a naughty guy among friends and zany among relatives, a sincere fella at home and so many more...

When I was playing one roll I missed being the other.

This was a fresh feeling. I missed something.

To miss something is the gist of being alive.
I miss something cos I demand it. I demand something I want it in my life.
Hence I prove that I am alive.


At times it makes me feel desperate, helpless, hapless etc etc etc...
But then I like to believe. I believe that I will have what I want and it is just a matter of time. It makes the journey enjoyable.

Dear Santa,

Please give me dreams - impossible dreams - dreams which I can chase throughout my life.
I would love to be known as 'chaser' - even if it is at the cost of being an 'achiever'.

Give me so many dreams that I miss being contented.

And give me the energy to chase those dreams.

After all, what is life without that impossible dream?

For others ... do give them hope.

Thank you Santa

Merry Christmas

Korechilam, Lorechilam, Jeeteychilam

If anyone happens to explore my room, he will happen to come across this piece of wood.
It is not very neatly preserved or highly decorated. It is just lying on my table under a pile of papers and books and what not.
It feels like an art craft excavated from the reigns of some ancient civilization, a bit muddy and a bit damaged.

It is not a masterpiece or a glorifying piece of art. In fact it gave me a depressing feeling when I 1st saw it.

But when you go through the citation, you will find a small line at the bottom.

"Group Winner 7 Star C.C. "

The appearance of that whole thing changes when I read that line. This is a trophy that our team has won. This is a memento that reminds us that a few guys who just love the game of cricket, played it whole heatedly and eventually won the tournament.

So whats the fuzz about? Is it the 1st time I have received a trophy? Is the the 1st time my team has won? Is it the world cup that we have won?

Let's look back.
The 1st trophy we had won was .. I don't remember when.
We had players playing at different levels and almost all of them aspired to play at the highest level some day. We were the guys who measured our fitness, practiced daily, had team meetings, and did all sorts of other things which made the game a bit boring.

The level of competition was so high that you had to perform even as a 12th man to be in the hunt.

The only reason we played was to win. Loosing was sin.
When we won a trophy then, it was just as a milestone. There was nothing enchanting !!!

Then I was lucky to play for my college. I had a group of street fighters who came together to enjoy the achievements of the team. It was a privilege to lead the boyzes. We played for pride, pride of the team, pride of the college. It was important the the college wins. The event was not important .. the team .. not at all.

If I was happy that we won the cricket tournament ... I was happy that we won the basketball tournament. We received the trophy and handed it over to the director. I did not even care to see it.

Then, I got an entry into the 7 stars. Well .. getting entry here is not at all difficult. You just have to be on the ground. Generally, we play with not more that 9 players. So if you are available... you are in.

We termed ourselves as ready made players. We don't need to practice, we are always fit and we have a super understanding so we we don't waste time in team meetings. We did not care about our team combination. There are not many available with just 9 players, you see!!!!
If you have heard about visiting professors in universities, we were like visiting players on the cricket ground.

The fact is .. that this team won. It won all matches and it won convincingly. There was a big margin between us and the second ranker.
It is still hard to believe. Whenever I look at that trophy, I believe that magics do happen.
If you enjoy your job, you will get through it successfully. This trophy will remain special to me not because it reminds me of the victory. It will remain special because it reminds me all those things that happened for us to make us victorious.

And as Sachin Zende always says .... we must stretch our hands for the catch ... if the ball sticks its a wicket... If it doesnt, it is well tried.