O- August Mantra

September 10, 2004.

Today I want to tidy up my August desk. Thirty one days, lying
scattered, I want to pick up the important ones, wrap them up in my
words. I know this is not going to be easy. My mind has to sail from
one end to another, and in this drift something may sink in the deep
ocean of memory, I will put them down as quickly as I can, I fear I may
lose them ? sometimes memory is short lived.

We had had enough showers throughout August, now back again to the same
hot sweaty days. "Enough of it", you will say. I am back to writing ?
on your mark, get, set, go ?

Where do I start? I am here at my computer, not with pen and paper to
write on. With pen and paper, sitting on my chair, the blank paper in
front of me, holding my pen I would start writing. A stop in between
words, it is not always easy to find words, I would look around, pen in
my hand, and the left cheek resting on the palm of the left hand whose
elbow sits firmly on the table and carries the weight of the face. Eyes
roving around, the mind has not picked up the right word, so the
writing hand is at ease. I would put the tail end of the pen in my
mouth and let my thoughts work. You give me a nudge, "You have the
keyboard, use your fingers to tap the alphabets and complete your
journal. Do you want to sit up the whole day for this?"

Nah baba nah, I have other work to do once I finish with this. Just
stop giving me that look of yours. And here I go:

The 13 of August, Greece is in the news. Ancient city of Greece is
hosting the 2004 Olympic Games. The last torch bearer lights the sacred
Olympic Flame in the stadium, the Games is declared open with the gala
Opening Ceremony. The flag bearer of the different countries followed
by the participants, march into the stadium, the crowd bursting with
applause. In the history of Olympic Games, the day, year and the name
of the hosting nation will be recorded. The host country, Greece is
flooded with people from all over the world. Participants, coaches,
officials, media persons and thousands of people have poured in to
witness this sporting extravaganza. People interested in the Games, in
their homes watched it on their T.V. screens. An assembly of
sportsperson from around the globe, the very best making their way to
enter into the different events, fighting with tough competition, 'AND
THE BEST' rewarded with medals of gold, silver and bronze. I have spent
hours watching the Games on my T.V. set, for it was not a matter of a
day or two but stretched for seventeen long days. With the closing
ceremony, Greece lost the hub-bub.

India put up a dismal performance at the Games. A lone silver medal by
the shooter R.S. Rathore, hockey players not up to their standards
ranking seventh and the hope in the women's long jump by Anju melted
when the Russians put in their best. It is high time for the I.O.C. to
think about the next Games having four years in hand.

Just a minute. I'll get a glass of coke and some chips - thirsty, and
to add with it a little bit of munching. I have named the chips 'Time
Pass'. Let me get back to writing.

This man had to die on his birthday. Not a story, a reality. 14 August,
2004. A man walked up to the gallows to be hanged to death - the man
Dhananjoy Chatterjee. The Supreme Court of India had given its judgment
in this case, the guilty to be hanged to death. Dhananjoy found guilty
of rape and murder of a school going teenager Hetal Parekh. The
President of India had turned down the mercy petition filed by
Dhananjoy, so he had to see this day. It was a twist of fate for this
man, his birthday falling on the same day he was hanged. It was his
kismet.

The hangman Nata Mullick, 82 years old, had been given the orders to
execute his duty. This was Nata's 25th and most probably the last tryst
with the gallows. This time Nata fell unconscious after pulling the
death lever on Dhananjoy. Dhananjoy had surprised the executioners - he
took his bath, dressed himself in new white kurta-pyjamas. He was calm
and normal. The man condemned to the gallows walked the scaffold
without any help and bid adieu to those present. Then Nata pulled the
lever. This was a hot topic for some days, some shouting against
hanging whilst others spoke for hanging for such a heinous crime.
Memory is short lived as I said earlier; people were back to their
normal life and this, a forgotten affair.

I want to remember another important day of August. The Indians
celebrated their Independence Day on August 15. It was the year 1947,
the day August 15, India became independent. This is India's 58
Independence Day celebrations. It is a great day for every Indian,
proud and happy. In these long years India has moved ahead and
progressed in many fields and those weak areas that we lag behind has
to be worked out to stand up with this fast developing world. We have
to make a place where we can stand tall. The Tricolour(Indian flag)
hoisted all over the country, the breeze giving a kiss to the flag and
the national flag fluttering in a joyous mood. This year Independence
Day fell on a Sunday and the people deprived of an extra holiday.

Sonia Gandhi is in the news again. In the Forbes list of the world's
100 most powerful women, Sonia Gandhi is rated third. She makes her
place to stand tall in the world arena by this rating.

Then of course there are religious celebrations finding their place in
August. The Jhulan Jatra of Lord Krishna started on the 25 and went on
for six days. Rakhi Purnima was celebrated on August 30. It's a great
day for the brothers and sisters, the sisters tie Rakhi on the
brothers' wrist, the thread that strengthens the brother-sister bond.
In return she gets gift from her brother. This day is auspicious and
people go to the temple to offer prayer.

I have to go shopping. After a long time One Eyed Jack, don't you
remember, the stray cat, managed to sneak in. One Eyed is very lucky,
there was fish and you should see how that fellow gobbled up rice and
fish I put out on a plate. Satisfied, he went away only after licking
his paw. I have to make my shopping list or else I will have to make a
second round to the store if I forget something.

Before going I want to tell you "aami aschi"'. You throw a sideway
glance. I know you don't know the meaning of this phrase in inverted
commas. This is a Bengali word, translated as "I'm coming", literally
it means goodbye. You can surprise your Bengali friend next time with
this simple phrase.

I'll be back with something different next time.

Till then ? "aami aschi".