बळीराजा

हे पोस्ट मराठीत लिहिण्याचे विशेष कारण म्हणजे जेव्हा आपल्याला कोणती गोष्ट मनापासुन सांगायची असते तेव्हा ती आपल्या मातृभाषेत सगळ्यात चांगली सांगता येते.

काल जवळ जवळ ५०००० शेतकरी नाशिकहून मुंबई ला दाखल झाले. त्यांना पाहून अक्षरशः अंगावर काटा आला. भारत हा अजूनही कृषिप्रधान देश आहे आणि बळीराजा म्हटला जाणारा शेतकरी हा भारताच्या अर्थव्यवस्थेचा सगळ्यात महत्वाचा भाग आहे. ह्याच शेतकऱ्याला आपल्या इच्छा पूर्ण करण्यासाठी एवढे काही करावे लागत असेल तर आपण अजून पुढारलेले नाही. गाडीत बसून, SPF 50 चं सनस्क्रीन आणि गॉगल लावून "बाहेर किती ऊन आहे" हे म्हणणं खुपच सोप्पं आहे. पण ह्याच उन्हात आपल्या बायका-पोरांना घेऊन, आपल्या गरजा पूर्ण व्हाव्यात अशी अपेक्षा ठेवून १८० किमी. पायपीट करत येणं खूपच कठीण आहे.

खरंतर त्यांच्या हिम्मतीला दाद द्यायला हवी. कर्जाबरोबर आपल्या दुःखाचेही ओझे घेऊन आले होते हे शेतकरी. पण स्वतःच्या विचारांवर मन ठाम असल्यामुळे त्यांना कसलीच भीती नव्हती. वृत्तपत्रात छापलेली काही चित्रे अगदी दयनीय आहेत. कोणाच्या पायातून रक्त येतंय तर कोणी सावली मिळायला साध्या पुठ्ठयाचा वापर करत आहे. अश्या परिस्थितीही शेतकऱ्यांनी दुसऱ्याचा विचार आधी केला. परीक्ष्यांमध्ये अडथळा येऊ नये म्हणून आपला मोर्चा सकाळी ऐवजी रात्रीच न्ह्यावा असे त्यांनी ठरवले. बऱ्याचश्या मागण्या पूर्ण झालेल्या असून, त्यांना काही आश्वासने हि दिली गेली आहेत. तरीही आमचा लढा चालूच राहील असे त्यांनी म्हटले आहे.

ह्याच बरोबर कौतुक करायला हवे तर ते आपल्या मुंबईकरांचे. हाकेला ओ देणारा मुंबईकर कालही आपल्या शेतकरी बंधूंसाठी धावून गेला. कोणी जेवण आणि पिण्याचे पाणी तर कोणी वडापाव आणि चहा देऊन मदत केली. पायाला झालेल्या जखमांना फुंकर मारण्यासाठी चपलाही वाटण्यात आल्या. काहींवर डॉक्टरांनीही प्रथम उपचार केले. विशेष कौतुक करायचे ते म्हणजे पोलिसांचे. ४८ तास ड्युटीवर असूनही न थकता आपले काम करत राहिले. मोर्च्याची जबाबदारी होतीच, पण त्याच बरोबर शहराचे दैनंदिन विस्कळीत होऊ द्यायचे नव्हते. त्यांनी आपली कामगिरी चोख पार पाडली. रेल्वे आणि एसटीनेही विशेष गाड्या सोडल्या.

एकूणच काय तर माणूस असलेल्या ह्या जगात थोडी माणुसकीही शिल्लक आहे असे म्हणायला हरकत नाही.

मयुरा प्रभुदेसाई

मार्च १३, २०१८

On turning 24

On turning 24, I feel exactly the same way as Joey does, "Why God why? Why are you doing this to us? We had a deal, others, not me."

But they say, life and wine get better with age. I feel life just unfolds. You gather a plentiful of experiences over the years, and if you are wise enough, you learn from them. Last year for me was quite eventful. I had some very happy moments with my family. I met some amazing people, some of who are my dear friends now, and made life cherishing memories with them. Last year was also about failing in areas I never thought I would.It was about realizing that you are never really alone, you are free.

I realized that in spite of having a more than average academic career till now, I will have to begin from scratch bottom for every new thing I do. The same methods and approach are not going to work, a change in your current perspective is the foremost characteristic of every new thing you do. What you can carry forward is the determination with which you work. My belief that you get only those things for which you pour your heart in, is now stronger. And that is because I failed. And it's fair and square. The simple law, 'As you sow, so shall you reap'. Failure cannot be justified with excuses. Now I know that life is going to be hard work. Things don't and won't come easy. Luck is notional. Whatever level you are already at, you have to work your ass off to go one step higher.

Another lesson, never lose your identity to someone else's. Be complete by your own self and just find someone who can fill in the blanks, whose fingers can fit perfectly between yours. Do not get carried away with anything or anyone. Also, never cling on to things. Never, ever. Let that shit go. Your room is too small for the past, the present and the future to fit in together. Holding on to the things you can never change ruins the things that you can. I learned this from Sita, the goddess, a magnificent woman with unimaginable courage and strength whose principles are going to stay with me forever.

Actually, I have missed myself for some time now. I miss that Mayura who could do college,classes, practice and 10 other things at the same time and never feel tired. She, who was ambitious and determined to achieve her goals. She, who was happy with her own company. She, who was fearless. She, who was the sunshine. And I am working towards getting her back.

Mayura Prabhudesai
February 25,2018

10.41 ki last local

There is a thin line between adventure and a nightmare and you should always pray and hope that your adventure does not turn into your worst nightmares.

It was 2nd of July, 2016. Indra Dev was a bit too pleased with us that day. Though most of the talk was absolute nonsense, after about a month of discussion over WhatsApp, 9 of us (as mentioned below) had made a unanimous decision of trekking Rajmachi fort.

Mayura, Chinmayi, Manali, Devyani, Sarang, Vijeet, Pushkar, Chinmay and of course Viraj. Or should I say, the messer and the fixer.

With people cancelling their treks due to excessive rains, none of us showed any sign of reluctance. Anyone except me and Chinmayi. I remember talking to her on call that, 'Are we sure we are going? Because it is raining too much.' But we did go. And the plan was that there was no plan. And it was too late when it hit us.

So on 2nd of July, 2016 we all met at Kalyan station at 11.00 pm and were going by Siddheshwar Express upto Lonavla station. We reached Lonavla at about 1.30 am from where 'The Journey' began. How little did we know that the next 24 hours we will be thanking God for saving our lives and helping us to reach home - safely.

At 1.30 am on 3rd July, 2016, 5 boys and 4 girls started the most adventurous trip they ever had been on.  When we got down at Lonavla, it was already raining too heavily.  We pulled out our windcheaters, caps, put our valuables safe inside our bag packs and started walking. We had had our dinner the previous day and were quite hungry.  We had tea and snacks outside Lonavla station. As no one knew the way to the fort, we asked a couple of people about it. They said that Rajmachi is way too far from there and it would take atleast 5-6 hours walking. They had also said that if girls are going along it would be better if we start walking after a couple of hours, by 4 or 5 am. But we did not wait. I was a bit unsure about it and remenber saying to Viraj, " Tula mahitye na amchi responsibility tumchyavar ahe?" I do not recollect what he had said exactly, but had said yes of course or something like that.

We came out of  Lonavla bus stand and there were two ways, one to the left and other to the right. We took the left turn and we were not right. At all. It cost us big time.

The road was dark, deserted and never ending. Rain poured largely without any mercy. Initially, there were hotels on the side of the way with ample traffic. I remember discussing career prospects with Vijeet and Sarang and Devyani and me cursing Sarang over why had he only watched 1 season of GOT yet. And he was justifying saying that you have to be very careful when you watch it at home    (And some further explanation which is better if not explained).

We walked for an hour or so, completely soaked in the tremendous rain, till we came upto a road which looked like a highway.We stopped there for a while and Pushkar and Chinmay had went to ask for help, to check whether we were walking in the right direction. And guess what? We were not. We turned around and walked the route back for about 10-15 mins where there was another way going to Della Adventure. I don't know why, we took that way. We went on for about half hour. This road did not have much buildings along the way. When we found one, we stopped and Viraj and Pushkar went to ask the way ahead. Like before, they said the road is straight ahead and they said that it will take 5-6 hours more.

We kept walking (Duh! As if we had any other choice!). After a while we saw some good hotel like buildings and came to discover that it was Della Adventure. Awesome! We were absolutely on the wrong path. The rain kept pouring. As we walked ahead from there, we saw a huge pool of water ahead and no road. The watery street had no lights. Rather none of the roads till here had. It was our good deed that we carried torches. I could literally understand what Dumbledore said, "Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light". So, the water was waist deep. Holding each other's hands, we walked through the muddy mini lake, not knowing and not even wanting to know "on" what or "in" what we were passing through.

The road had no end. It was a really really long way. Maybe a longer one than the one to the heaven.We stopped for a while under a shed. We were completely wet, top to bottom, both insides and outsides. Our shoes had now become a water carrying tub. Even our backpacks were completely soaked in water. The rain had itself cheated the wind cheater.

At around 6 am, we could see the Sun rising. We gave a rest to our torches and were literally enthralled to see the daylight. The rain was a little lighter now, but it was still drizzling. We were now waiting just there and enjoying the nature's beauty. There was a valley on one side of the road and beyond were beautiful mountains and waterfalls. It was like we had been outside after a prolonged period of darkness. Everyone looked very happy suddenly, after a tiring walk. Here's a picture we took at that spot.

Do you see the smiling faces? Yeah...that did not last long!

Because it was raining too much, yet again, the waterfalls were flowing heavily. We saw a chai tapri and I could not be happier. Chai is not a beverage. It is an emotion. (Though this statement is absolutely irrelevant now, I want to put it because this is my blog and I can write whatever I want to and I love Chai too much). And an icing on the cake, the chaiwala also served Maggi. Garma garam Maggi, Chai and a beautiful scenery surrounding you, what more could one want.

We met a few villagers on the way and when we asked them about the way to Rajmachi, we got the same answer. It will take 4-5 hours to reach Rajmachi Fort. We were doubtful that had we made any progress till now or were we trapped inside something where times moves very slowly. Because even after walking for about 5 hours, the damn Rajmachi fort was nowhere to be seen. The Sun was bright now, and it was photo session time. There was lush green grass on both sides, cows grazing and villagers passing by. We also saw a few trekkers like us. There was a mini accident here, and Pushkar had some problem with his toe. He exchanged shoes with Viraj and blah,blah,blah...

Today, that I am writing this, I do not remember a word we talked on our way then. We were now climbing a mountain, though not much of difficult one. They say 'People who love long walks and talks are the best people'. But what if the the walk is never ending and people are really really tired of walking and hungry and irritated and getting cranky? Yeah, that was happening. Every next step we took seemed heavier than the previous one. For self entertainment, there was a series of random old songs being sung loudly. Manali and me were chanting Hanuman Chalisa and Ramraksha (which we told each other later).

At about 9.45 am, we were finally, finally at the base of Rajmachi fort. There were many people or if we can call them "trekkers' now. Some of them had bikes and I wondered how had they brought it up here. Another 45 minutes walk took us to our destination. So all in all it was a 8 and half an hour walk and we hadn't felt so happy before.It was a typical village home, with trees around, and small shed just outside the house. We threw our bags down, took off our water soaked shoes and socks and just fell into the chairs. We had poha and chai ( I had 2, yayy!) for breakfast which tasted so good to eat because we were extremely hungry. We were also going to have lunch there itself and till the time we start our return journey, at about 3 p.m. (which was the time decided), we were supposed to relax.

I have a super huge water phobia, but I love rains. I like it more than winter season actually, however muddy it may be. No, I am not deviating from the topic. It is true that they say, "Too much of anything kills". I have never disliked rain as much as I did that day. Never. It never stopped. It felt as if it is going to rain forever now and this is what we live like. It felt like windcheaters and umbrellas would soon loose their seasonal importance and become a part of our everyday.

So, going ahead with the story, mind you, the worst part hasn't just yet come. We changed from
wet clothes into wet clothes and Viraj, Pushkar, Chinmay and Vijeet were planning to trek a little further, upto the actual Rajmachi fort and come back.Though it was just about 20-25 min way, the rest of us preferred staying indoors and take a quick nap. Thandi hava aur baarish main chaddar odhke sone ka maja hi kuch aur hai.:-)

These guys returned at about 2 and we had then we had lunch. It was the usual dal, rice, roti, sabzi but it felt so good! There was a mandir about 10 min away from there and I believe it was because we went there, we could come home that day.

It was 3.30 pm when we started our return journey. We were going to take the other route, the Karjat side route this time, which was apparently (I couldn't highlight it better) a 3-4 hour trek. We were mentally prepared already for a 4 hours walk. And another thing, for the rest of this post, unless otherwise specified, it was raining hopelessly.

We had planned (another joke!) to reach the base of the mountain before it gets dark. We were walking at a fast pace and there were people walking by us again. Initially the "road" was not much tough, but just muddy and wet. Then we could actually see that we had to climb down a mountain and we could not see the base. It was not easy. At all. And the rain made it more "pleasurable". Chinmay, Pushkar and me were walking ahead, me, crying out on every step to hold my hand and they in turn, "Cross legs taak, cross legs taak". Chinmayi, Sarang,Vijeet and Devyani behind us, Viraj and Manali after them. There was a patch, I clearly remember, which was almost 90 degree steep and I realized it when I looked back up.

It was almost 7 pm and the Sun had almost set. Then there came a time where there were two ways, and a problem. Having options sucks. Whether they be Derivatives-Call or Put Options(non CA students, probably you won't know them, lucky you!) or be about the road you have to choose when you have lost your way on Rajmachi fort and are completely clueless. We took one of the ways, I don't know whether it was 'Ram bharose' or whose bharose. We knew we had lost our way. It was completely dark, it was raining like hell, it was already around 8 pm and we had no way to go. It was pointless going ahead along the road we don't know whether is right or not. There was like a river there, where we stopped to decide what to do. Images began to flash my mind, 9 of us, sitting there, for the whole night, in the unstoppable rain, without any food, losing all hopes and just praying to be alive and for the next 9 hours and go home safely. But this time too, like always, ladies and gentlemen, God had other plans, but to our fortune. Viraj was trying to call Mr. XYZ, who in turn gave us another phone no. After repeated calls, Viraj was successful in telling him the entire story, that we had crossed Kondana Caves on our way, and we were near a waterfall that then becomes a river. The person on the other side of the call said he is sending two people to rescue us. God bless them!

Everyone started getting calls from parents, sisters, brothers to ask the whereabouts. What was important was not to panic, stay calm and believe. We decided to keep our torches flashing so that they could find us out. In turn, we looked out for signs of any other lights. There were many fireflies around. So at one point, what happened was, we saw some light flashing and thought it to be flash lights and started shouting and waving hands, "Ikde, ikde. Amhi ikde ahot", only to our discover the fireflies. We still laugh heartily when we recollect that incident.

About half and hour after, two people came in our search and I swear I was never happier in my life. Manali and Viraj then led the way, and the rest of us were walking with those two men, or can I say angels! We were in the village after about 20-25 mins. It was 10 p.m. by then. The person who had sent those two "angels" told us then that people often lose their way at Rajmachi and another statement that he made which I will never forget in my life, "Amhi tar dead bodies pan kadhlyat".

We got an auto to Karjat station from there and we had to catch the last train to CST which was at 10.41 p.m. which to our fortune was late. 

When you go to a place and come back, you are never the same person again. You come back with memories and experiences which influence you largely and this trek had successfully done that.

P.S - My belief in God strengthened that day! May He bless us all :-)


Mayura Prabhudesai
January 3,2018

Her

Amidst the crowd, just like many others, she realised that she was lost. She had run her way successfully till now, with minimal amount of problems that she could handle on her own. Little did she know that God had other plans for her.

She was not allowed to complain. She was bound by responsibilities. She was stuck in the middle of nowhere. At times she thought that she should give up and leave. Just run away. It would make life simpler. She hated for not having an ordinary life. She hated for not having problems just like any other girl. She pushed days, one after other, hoping for the best and with the thought that this is just a phase. Her problem was that she tried to keep everyone, but herself, happy. She thought she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders and that she was responsible to make things right. All she needed was someone to care for her too. She craved for a normal life. But normal, they say, is cliché. 

All that happens, happens for good. She realised that she was born for something more. The worst of times helped her to discover the best of her. She was not lost. She was starting a whole other journey, whole another life. There is this beautiful thing called hope, that kept her alive.

Through these times, she realised how brave and strong she was. She realised that she is more than enough to take care of herself. She is a fighter. She had the willpower of her mother and stubbornness of her father and a dream of her own. And the most important thing, she had belief. She knew that one day things are going to fall in place, just like she wanted them to be, she is going to live her dream, she is going to be happy, she is going to run wild, she is going to beat the shit out of everything, make herself heard, be extremely proud about herself and make a place for herself in the world, all on her own. 

And the day was not far. :-)

Mayura Prabhudesai
March 8, 2017

Just another one in the crowd

A couple of days ago I was travelling by metro train. It was quite crowded. I was holding the handle on the pole above to keep from falling when the train moved. When I just looked up, I saw ten other hands, holding handles the same way as me, forming a queue.

It struck me hard. The queue. The line. It made me realise that I was just another one in the crowd. Just another traveller like the hundred others. Just another person doing the same job daily, following the routine we have set for ourselves. Just another person running the race of life, in the quest of something wonderful. Just another person hoping and praying everyday, that this is going to be our day, when things will turn our way.

                                        

As a kid or even as a teenager, I always wanted a different life. Rather an unusual one. Something which is not common. I wished that life would surprise me.And God has fulfilled my wish upto some extent too. But it was not easy. After I started working, I often thought that whether this is what I wanted to do in my life? Really? Waking up at the same time everyday, travelling by the same train, doing more or less the same job daily, seeing the same faces again etc etc. Nothing much exciting. I hardly know people who really love what they are doing and these are the people who wait for Mondays.

If you are not happy with what you are doing, don't let time pass just thinking about it. Stop cursing what you have and start looking for what you want. Like me many of us would not even know what to look for. Help yourself. When you think you are screwed, think that you are a part of a big ball, floating in the dark, and it doesn't even matter. You are highly insignificant. It is practically not possible for us to leave our jobs and go exploring our lives, however good it may sound to hear. If not today, maybe tomorrow, or the day after, or in the days to come, you will find your way. The right thing is just around the corner. The first step is very important. If you never start, you will never reach the end. And like Harry says, 'Working hard is important. But there is something that matters even more : Believing in yourself. :-)

In today's world, you will be different if you are happy, as not many are. Do not get tangled in the vicious circle. Make your presence and absence felt. Do things that matter. SRK had once said on a show, 'Peace is boring'. Problems keep us on our toes and our brain in a working condition. Routine is cliché. And excess leisure degrades you. Struggle is important. And struggling for our dream will not tire us. 

Remember that what makes people stand out from the crowd is the bit different they do in their lives.

Keep smiling!:-)

Mayura Prabhudesai
February 11, 2017

The Minimalistic Approach

It is our fortune that we do not have to take out time seperately for breathing. With only Usain Bolt being closest to the ever sprinting 'Time', all of us are victims of it. Inspite of having technology dancing on its fingertips, the apparently most intelligent creature on the Earth is wracking his brains to overpower the Godfather of all, our dearest, Time. With so many things on the to-do-list and an overflowing platter already in the other hand, we try to squeeze in our schedule as much as possible and make ends meet. The success mantra is to 'Cut the Slack'.

We need to master the act of being brief but comprehensive. Not many will have time for us, and those who do, will have little. The crux is to understand what is important and what is not. Precise, concise but also impactful and influencing is what we must focus on. In order to be heard and acknowledged, one needs to stand out from the crowd. Time was never a luxury, it is the only thing that treats each and everyone on this planet equally. If we respect it, it will never be a matter of "Time". A conflict of interest between our heart and brain makes it a bit difficult to cut down on things that are of lesser importance and use our time more productively. Well, wisdom plays a role here. Knowledge is knowing that Tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit plate. Prioritising is the need of the hour. Of course it is a subjective matter, but everyone should at least take it into consideration.

Having been just went through the student phase of life, the best real life example I can  relate to where the Minimalistic Approach is a must was studying for my CA exams. The technique of preparation was to 'Work smart, not hard'. It was impossible to cover all the syllabus in just a day before exam. We had to do was revise only the important chapters for which we had to plan in such a way that nothing would be left out.

The Minimalistic Approach does not mean taking short cuts or limiting our scope. Nor can we avoid the hard work. In economical terms, a successful Minimalistic Approach would mean highest possible total utility, the highest amount of satisfaction a consumer can derive from a product, consumer being us, product being 'Time'. If something doesn't matter, get rid of it. Do not compromise on stuff, but there is a different kind of beauty in having something just of the perfect amount.

What we need to realise is moving ahead along the way is essential, but the thing that makes all the difference is moving ahead in the right direction. So just keep it simple, silly!


Mayura Prabhudesai
January 26, 2017

Are we adults already? When did that happen? And how do we make it stop?

Do you ever wonder like, "Wow! This must be what growing up is like!". Happy Realisation. For those who haven't yet felt this way, all the very best, and for others, well....

Growing up is reacting to things in a more decent manner, responding in a different way, not necessarily better, or like they say, 'Growing up is learning how to act in public'. Infact, sometimes, I wonder whether I have grown up enough to know what growing up actually is! Yes, you will never be younger than you are at this moment, and time is flying way too fast!

As a child we always fantasize the adult life. With freedom calling us with arms wide open, being a child or a teenager does not interest us at all. Our lack of authority over our own life and with decision making power in someone else's hands, we feel like slaves.

The grass being always greener on the other side, everyone hates being an adult too. The unfortunate fact of our life is that just after we grow up, we realise that we shouldn't have. With age, our priorities change, so do our choices. But the core human nature never changes. Maybe the way we approach a problem is different from what we would have done 10 years ago. Of course, the problems grow with time, but so do we. Here experience comes into picture. It is the best teacher in the world. 9 out of 10 times, experience beats intelligence. You never actually know something unless you do it yourself, however good it may be to read, to see or hear. The feeling can never be shared. God is so perfect in his job that he burdens us with only as much as we can carry. The right thing at the very right time.

When you grow up, you realise that all the things your parents said, were all true. The freedom you craved for once, is not so much fun. With freedom comes power, but with power also comes responsibility. Now you think that it was far better when you were not responsible for what you did in your life.

Mayura Prabhudesai
February 03, 2017

For the Harry in you...

"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?"

Dumbledore said it for you too, the very thought that runs through your mind when you read Harry Potter. Somewhere, subconsiously, you have created your own magical world, just like the one in the book, where you are Harry, the Chosen One, the Boy Who Lived, who is destined to fight the greatest battle against the darkest wizard of all times,Lord Voldemort, and you are the one in whose hands the fate of the entire wizarding community lies.

With every laugh that Harry had, with every tear he shed, with every moment he enjoyed, with every lesson he learnt and with every memory he cherished, you did it with him. It was difficult, at times even impossible to hold on, but hope and belief kept Harry's will alive. It was a fight, a fight against the evil, a fight for getting what belonged to him, a fight for all those who died fighting for him, a fight for his Godfather, for his friends and nevertheless, his parents....

This is for the Harry in you who is fighting his own battle. A battle which is as important and as difficult as Harry Potter had against Voldemort. Just of another kind. I have always believed that there is always something to learn from everything we come across, however insignificant it may seem to us. Harry taught us to be brave. He taught us that if we are determined enough, we can turn our greatest fears and weaknesses into our strengths. He made us believe that nothing in this world is greater that our mother's love.

Cheers for the Harry in you and for J.K.Rowling for introducing us to Harry. Like she says, "The stories we  love best live in us forever"

P.S.- If you haven't read it yet, you are missing something magical and adventurous, BIG TIME!

Mayura Prabhudesai
January 25, 2017