Gerald D'Cunha

Pic.: Chirjiv Nagpal T here is a popular proverb in Kannada. It goes like this:   “Rogi bayasiddu haalu… Vaidya heliddu haalu.”   It means: The patient craved for milk… the doctor prescribed, too, milk.   I would, often, hear it from my mom, when I was a small boy back in our village… Whenever I and my brothers would jump in joy on seeing some favorite dish prepared by her… She knew how her little-ones had craved for it… So, with a mischief in her eyes and a silent joy in her heart, she would dish out the folklore: “Rogi bayasiddu haalu… Vaidya heliddu haalu.”   Another occasion on which we would hear it from mom was when we came back from school and jumped before her: “HEEEEEEEEEY! No school… Head Master died (Or a Trustee, a Minister or just a torrential rain!)”   Mom knew how badly her little-boys hated to go to school that morning… how they wished someone important had died or some tragedy had struck our town! ...

Pic.: Malabika Ganguly T oday, Malabika, my friend, was so thrilled… Her little boy, Alaak, like millions of kids all around the world, loved the Christmas tree. “Merry Christmas every one,” she wrote while sharing the pictures of Christmas tree decorated by her son. She had added, “We are not Catholics (Christians); but, my little son loves Christmas tree…” Both, Malabika and her hubby, Amit, had involved in their little boy’s joyful mission… Yes, in decorating and arranging the gifts… My mind, immediately, rolled back to my own childhood days… How much time we kids would spend in putting together the Star, Crib and the Tree!  Ours was a village… So, everything had to be the rustic way… There was no electricity; forget cash for those pretty gifts and decorations that you see today! Baby Jesus was born in a humble manger… amidst cows and lambs, on a bed of hay… But, then, we believed he was our ‘King’! T he legend has it that Magi – the th...

For Aakash, today is the last day of school. He has just concluded his second standard. Sometime in June second-week, his school will re-open, and our Aakash will be in third standard. So, from tomorrow, the summer holidays will begin for Aakash! Will they? Let us see. At 7.30 sharp, tomorrow morning, Aakash’s Tennis class will be starting. It will go on till 9.00. 9.00 to 9.30 will be breakfast at the ground itself. ! Sharp at 9.30, the Speech & Drama session will kick-start which will end by 11.30. Aakash will be brought home for lunch. At 2.30 sharp, he has Calligraphy class. At 4.30, the dance class is scheduled. At 6.00, the Football coach will be waiting for him. That will go on till the darkness falls... And, this will go on throughout our little Aakash’s summer vacation…  And then, the June second-week will come… And then, his school will start… And then, his tuitions, too– Maths, Science, S...

In the Disney movie, The Jungle Book, the hero is our little Mowgli. Yes, our chaddi buddy – the cute, little Mowgli. His two steadfast friends and well-wishers are Bagheera, the black panther… and, Baloo, the big bear.  Now, what is so endearing about this amazing relationship is that Bagheera, has a no-nonsense outlook towards life. He is exceptionally sensitive, concerned and cautious. He wants the best for Mowgli, the man-cub. He is extremely focused on his mission – coasting  little Mowgli to where he belongs: the Man-village. It is in his blood to express his anxieties and concerns. Counseling comes naturally to Bagheera; caring and standing by his loved ones is very, very important to him. He is ready to walk any distance, meet any challenges which he may have to encounter along the mission.  Laughter doesn’t come to Bagheera, easily. He sounds serious about life… almost a dead-pan! Mowgli’s other care-taker, the bes...