So many random thoughts are running around in my mind begging for attention, I need some discipline to corral them and put them down in some kind of a sensible order. Thinking about thoughts, I left some unfinished business regarding my thoughts on my previous trip India in Jan 2011. Some of them have become irrelevant by now; however, some thoughts do linger.
One of the main and pleasurable reasons for visiting India at that time was to attend Ravi and Sowmya’s wedding, which was thoroughly enjoyable. I did take lots of photographs of events related to the wedding, but they turned out to be duplications of what many others took and got shared via Facebook and other media almost immediately. I happened to be reviewing some of my photos and a horrifying thought crossed my mind: I better share some of these pictures before the newly married couple start having babies. Lo behold, my worry became a reality; Ravi and Sowmya have announced that Sowmya is now pregnant! The only sensible thing remaining for me to do would be to get those pictures out before the baby comes.
Even though it was less than a year, it all seems like a dream sequence now, the wedding, the food, seeing so many relatives all at one place, the food, acquiring a number of wonderful new relatives, and the food. The trip to Bangalore by train was memorable due to the company of several of my nieces and nephews. All that talking and eating was really enjoyable except for some minor inconveniences such as the turning off of the A/C (somebody complained it was cold in AC compartment!) and the uneven two halves of my sleeping berth which was not easy on my back.
After the wedding we flew back to Hyderabad. A word about Bangalore airport. Nice as it is (Hyderabad International is better), it has some excellent food opportunities. I especially enjoyed the Italian restaurant. Immediately upon our arrival in Hyderabad, we had to get ready to go to Kakinada for the groom’s reception. After considering several routes and modes of transport, my nice niece Pramila and I decided to take the car with driver Babu and make it kind of a road trip. Any road trip with Pramila is an adventure, and the highlight of this adventure was, on our way back from Kakinada, on the Vijayawada highway Pramila spotted a skinny guy riding a bicycle on the frontage road, carrying couple of pots. She immediately asked driver Babu to pull off the highway and follow that guy – for she knew that guy would lead us to Neera or even fresh Toddy. We were not disappointed. He turned out to be a very congenial guy, eager to oblige us in quenching our thirst!
I can't belive I drank the whole thing!!!!!!!!
Later, on the trip, at Pramila’s behest we took a detour at Vijayawada and made a quick, nostalgic trip to Guntur. The visit to our ancestral home (which is now a Govt office) at 2/6 Brodipet was, needless to say, a tear jerker (I was born in that house you know, and used the room I was born in till I left Guntur for further studies at Bombay University). We rounded off the trip with a visit to Seshu Bava (Dr. E.S.T. Sayee, Professor of Botany (ret), Banaras Hindu University).
I have always admired him and considered him as a sort of a pioneer (he got his Ph.D. degree in Botany from the University of London), as somebody to look up to, for his achievements, for his love of the family, and for his unpretentious life style. What an amazing man!
Then I left Hyderabad back to Stockton with the usual feeling of being on a roller coaster: amazing as to how much has changed since my last visit less than a year ago, and a depressing feeling of growing disparity of wealth and poverty, and corruption. It is a miracle that India is considered a giant in IT industry next only to the U.S., despite the acute shortages of power and water, and a lack of infrastructure. My next trip to India is coming up and I can’t wait to see what has changed and what has not.
P.S. My special connection to Dev Anand: In 1964 I was admitted to the University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT) of Bombay University, which is located in Matunga in the academic jungle consisting of UDCT, VJTI, Khalsa College, and Don Bosco High School. UDCT then was considered as one of the most beautiful campuses with a spectacular garden in the front. Soon after my arrival I was flabbergasted to learn that the movie starring Dev Anand, Now-do-gyrah (most of those spectacular songs) was filmed in the garden in our campus!! For a wide-eyed Guntur boy it was a thrill beyond imagination. Since the I alwalys felt a very special bond with Dev Anand. He was as handsome as they come and brought great entertainment into the lives of millions of fans.
Dev Anand, R.I.P.
