13 and still counting

Last Wednesday was the Ramnavmi Day. Exactly 13 years ago on the Ramnavmi Day of 1997I had reached Mumbai for making a career. I was 22 then, just appeared for B Com Final Exam and preparing for the CET for MBA Entrace to Maharathra Colleges. I wanted to do a crash course of the exam and that was the reason I was here.

I had been to Mumbai earlier, but it was under the able guidance of my parents. This time I was on my own. The only thing was, I had a place to stay. I joined the classes. The huge rush in Mumbai City was pretty exciting for a me as the normal life in Akola was quite easy. No rush at all. It was exactly reverse over here. Everybody seemed to be in rush and nobody seemed to have to have time.

I finished the course, appeared for the CET, got 9th Rank from my university, was 1st amongst boys in B Com Final Exam from the LRTCC (Laxmibai Radhakisan Toshniwal Commerce College) and yet landed in a relatively new and unreputed MBA college in Mumbai. The college started in Aug 1997. Being a shy, introvert kind of person from outside Mumbai, it was tough for me in the beginning. Whenever there use be presentations I literally had shivers. But I was not alone. We were a group of friends who were from outside Mumbai. We all were in the same boat. But as the time passed, our confidence grew. The results of the first two semesters helped boost the confidence.

3rd and 4th Semesters would be the university exam. 3rd Sem was the most tough one. I was amonst the only 35-40% of our batch who cleared the 3rd Sem exams. Later I cleared the 4th Sem as well, but was unemployed. During the last year of course, many things happened that hampered the job market adversely. A big hedge fund in US had collapsed in 1998 (never knew I would be working in company related to this hedge fund a decade after), India and Pakistan had done Nuclear Tests in May 1998 were imposed with all sorts of sanctions by the countries world over. The South East Asian Currency collapse had happened in recent past. In short, the jobs in the financial markets had dried up. My friends who had majored in Finance had taken jobs in sales and marketing field. I was not even getting that. From mid May 1999 to Aug 1999 I was unemployed. I had decided that once I complete my 4th Sem I would not call for money from my Parents. But after two three months also when I was unemployed, I had no other option that to call for the money. I had tears in my eyes while doing that. Not that my father said anything or he couldn't afford it but somehow I felt really bad doing that.
Later I got the job, changed the job thrice and have now settled in Mumbai. I am PAKKA MUMBAIKAR now. Thanks to the Almighty in these thirteen years I have gained so much, knowledge, experience, money, purchased two flats, sold one of them, got married, was blessed with a daughter, got so many new and good friends. The only thing I could not gain was Weight.

I had my shares of bad memories as well, but the good memories are more than them and I am thankful to the God for this. I wish the God Almighty continues blessing me all through out my life.

Agle Baras Tu Jaldi AAAAAAAAA

This is one my older posts poted on the Ganesh Visarjan Day last year. I am reposting it here FOR YOUR EYES ONLY.

Today’s day of Ganesh Visarjan always brings a bag of mixed emotion. Throughout the day you feel excited due to the processions of the beloved Bappa. The beats of the drums, dhols energises you. The visuals of males, females, kids, older people dancing in front of the idol makes you steps move too. But as the day ends I start feeling little saddened. I am sure that happens with most of you specially people living in Maharashtra or Mumbai. As the day comes to end, the sights of empty pandals without the Bappa, tired people going back to their home, small kids crying as Bappa is not with them makes you feel a little sad.



This day also brings the sweet old memories. As a child I used to wait for this day. The day would begin, with Aai preparing sweets for Ganeshji on his way back. The sweets would be the Khoya Modak and Khoya Karanjis. Wow, the only mention of the sweets brings water to my mouth. Later in the afternoon, we use to for the Visarjan. All the friends use to accompany each others Ganeshjis. After the Visarjan of all the Ganeshjis in the area, we use to go to the main procession where all the Big Ganesh Mandals in Akola use to join. Once there, we use to join any of the mandals and use to dance our heat out. I remember, in 1993 we were dancing till 1.00 AM and then returned home. Suddenly at around 4 in the morning I felt like somebody was shaking me up. Later I came to know that it was a earthquake. That was the Latur earthquake which had tremors felt in Akola too.



Later all the friends in our Area started our own Ganpati Mandal, called the Abhinav Ganeshotsav Mandal. We arranged the Ganpati for around 7 years in our Area. That too was fun. We would start roaming in all the area collecting funds for the Ganpati. Simaltaneously, work like ordering the Idol, arranging for the Band Party, Truck, Prasad for the 10 days, etc use to go on. After the Stapna of Ganeshji, we use to take turns being watchman at the Pandal. The 10 days would pass like 10 hours. After the Visarjan when the Pandal use to brought down, it would always bring tears in my eyes. Later when I moved to Mumbai and most of the friends went out of Akola for their studies and jobs, this Mandal was closed down.



I really wonder who must of thought of this slogan



GANPATI BAPPA MORYA, PUDCHYA VARSHI LAVKAR YA. We all know Bappa is going to come next year as well, but still out of our love for him, our faith in him and our worship for him, everybody shouts on top his/her voice



GANAPTI BAPPA MORYA, PUDCHYA VARSHI LAVKAR YAAAAAAAAAAAA