Y - DIARY PAGE-28 OCTOBER 2002

DIARY PAGE - 28 OCTOBER 2002

Today when opened my eyes, felt the chill in the air. The breeze smelt
so sweet. I knew that it was time for me to say my prayers before
starting the day.

In my childhood, I had been very attached to my granny who filled up my
spare time with such beautiful stories. She was a wonderful
story-teller and at times read out stories from the books. She used to
say, "The day the Devi (Goddess Durga) is immersed in the river waters,
winter creeps in". With the Durga Puja's just gone we can feel the cold
air all around. Diwali, the Festival of Lights is coming and will be
celebrated in India in the first week of November. Diwali, who has not
seen it just cannot imagine that night, when all the houses are decked
up with burning earthen lamps and the sound of the crackers fill the
air. Festivity fervor is everywhere with the exchange of greetings and
sweets.

Taking advantage of this season, many N.R.I.'s (non resident Indians)
come to visit their homeland. October and January is the time of
festivities and marriages here in India. These N.R.I.'s have been
coming in a large number back to their country in fulfilling two works
at the same time ???.

visiting their hometown, meeting relatives and friends and refreshing
old memories which were lying dusty all those years they were away from
home.

another thing they have come for is not only that their heart aches to
be back in India but it is also the tooth ache (dental problems) that
has drawn a lot of them back to their country.

These people have taken the home-bound plane to get rid of their dental
woes as treatment for dental problems abroad is a very expensive
matter. Those N.R.I.'s who have already completed their dental
treatment are very happy. They say that in the U.K. and the U.S.A. and
in other foreign countries the cost of dental treatment is very high.
Getting a set of dentures and the treatment in a private dental clinic
in India does cost a few thousand rupees whereas the cost could be in
lakhs if they got it done in the place they stayed. Getting the dental
problem solved in India they felt that as if the whole treatment was
done for almost free and they also got an opportunity to catch up with
the family members here by spending a small amount on the to and fro
airfare.

The expenditure in India is so cheap that scores of Non Resident
Indians are availing this opportunity of getting rid of their dental
woes back in India. At the same time they are going back happy after
seeing their near and dear ones. So all that can be said about this is
that pulling the teeth out and getting a set of teeth in India is
cheaper.

Preparations are on the way in celebrating Diwali. Unless you are in
India during this festive season you cannot understand how much all
this means to the people.

But of course one cannot just live only with thoughts of recreation,
entertainment, merrymaking and good food but has to work out their
living for survival. So work has to go on.

Days seem to fly past so soon.

It's already late, time to go to bed and take a good night's
rest.

11.30 p.m.