A mail forward ................

EVER SINCE I WAS A CHILD, I'VE ALWAYS HAD A FEAR OF SOMEONE UNDER MY BED AT NIGHT. SO I WENT TO A SHRINK AND TOLD HIM . . . 'I've got problems. Every time I go to bed I think there's somebody under it. I'm scared. I think I'm going crazy.'

'Just put yourself in my hands for one year,' said the shrink. 'Come talk to me three times a week and we should be able to get rid of those fears..'

'How much do you charge?'

'Eighty dollars per visit,' replied the doctor.

'I'll sleep on it,' I said.

Six months later the doctor met me on the street. 'Why didn't you ever come to see me about those fears you were having?' he asked.

'Well, Eighty bucks a visit three times a week for a year is an awful lot of money! A bartender cured me for $10. I was so happy to have saved all that money that I went and bought me a new pickup!'

'Is that so!' With a bit of an attitude he said, 'and how, may I ask, did a bartender cure you?'

'He told me to cut the legs off the bed! - Ain't nobody under there now ! ! ! '


GO HAVE A DRINK & TALK TO YOUR BARTENDER!

Whatever happened at Mumbai, I don't want to forget and wish everyone remembers this. Last few days was one of most disturbing days of my life. I have seen some riots at Jamshedpur but was not affected much, because there were no media coverage those days. I am scared to switch on tv these days, god knows what new news will come.

Going thru the mails and attached photographs made me cry and worried for coming future. We need to take all precaution and keep our ear and eyes open rather than believing our minister's hollow promises.

We can not provide better arms, bullet proof jackets, will not take information seriously and more on that use dirty words for our jawans.

I will keep this fire burning within me. You may like to see snaps of entire incident in my photo gallery in Mumbai album. Deleted some disturbing snaps.

Just listen what CM of Kerala was saying "Had Major Unnikrisnan not died like Fighter and become Shaheed, even dog would not have come to his house". He was denied entertaimaint my Major's father. He did not wanted to politicise this son's sacrifice. This Ravana in God's own country wanted to encash mass popularity by visiting Major Unnikrishnan's house, was he really worried or went for sympathy. All these as.......les should be brought in public and beaten like common thief.

Watch this on TV.

A monument to love – Mumbai's Taj Mahal

Russi M. Lala


A horrific terrorist attack has ravaged one of Mumbai's most-loved symbols and taken the lives of many of its dedicated staff. This heritage hotel was not started as a commercial venture. It was Jamsetji Tata's gift to the city he loved — as the Taj Mahal of Agra was Shah Jahan's memorial to the woman he loved.


MUMBAI'S PRIDE: Before the Gateway of India was built, the Taj Mahal offered the first view of the city of Bombay to ships sailing into the harbour. Even now, with many more tall buildings on the skyline, the hotel engages immediate attention.
The 1880s and 1890s were a time of great construction in Bombay. The Grand Victoria Terminus was built, and after it the Municipal Corporation building, another beautiful structure, followed by the Churchgate headquarters of the B.B. & C.I. Railways (now Western Railways). But there was no hotel worthy of the growing city.

Being an ardent fan of Mark Twain, Jamsetji Tata may have read of the writer's fate in the so-called 'best' Watson's Hotel: Mark Twain and his family were roused every morning at dawn by doors slamming, servants shouting, and "fiendish bursts of laughter, explosions of dynamite." The Irish chef at the hotel was apparently more conversant with the French language that with French cooking, "serving up Irish stew on 14 occasions under 14 different French names." Sir Stanley Reed, Editor of The Times of India, said Jamsetji had an intense pride and affection for the city of his birth, and when a friend protested against the intense discomforts of hotel life in Bombay, he growled: "I will build one."

One day without consulting anybody, not even his sons or partners, he announced his plan to build a grand hotel. It was his personal contribution and money he was putting in — not that of Tata & Sons. Along the present Yacht Club at Apollo Bunder was a little bay where yachts used to scull. The British were reclaiming the land and he bought a substantial site of two-and-a-half acres on November 1, 1898 on a 99-year lease. There was no formal laying of a foundation stone but a traditional coconut was broken and a Parsi diva (oil lamp) was lit, perhaps by the well or spring between the present swimming pool and the lifts. This ceremony took place in 1900.

Many an interesting story is invented round the Taj being designed by an Italian/French architect who, after his exertions, went home and returned to find the building was put the wrong way around — what should have been in the rear was in front and vise versa. Heartbroken he went to the top floor of the Taj and flung himself out of the window. Dramatic! Touching! But not true. As anyone who stayed at the then-non-air-conditioned Taj in the summer would attest, the late afternoon breezes that blow across Colaba do not spring up from the harbour but sweep in from across Back Bay. The U-shaped wings of the hotel were positioned to trap this breeze and extract the most benefit.

Indeed, the necessity to draw whatever relief there might be from the torrid heat of western India was certainly the inspiration behind the hotel's two most original features. At the time, the clientele Jamsetji expected was from abroad and his endeavour was to make the hotel as cool as possible. Thus it had high ceilings and wide corridors, which would be conducive to air circulation. Furthermore, the Wellington Mews — another property Jamsetji bought — behind the hotel site was where the horses and carriages were housed and these could roll in directly from the west side.

One convincing explanation comes from the daughter of a Goan customs officer, Francis Xavier D'Mello, who was stationed in the customs shed at Apollo Bunder and witnessed the Taj rising stone by stone: "Jamsetji Tata came regularly to watch his great hotel being built. The customs shed provided the only shelter from the blazing sun, so Mr. Tata used to come there and have long chats with my father. Once my father asked him why he had put the entrance to the Taj at the back, and Jamsetji told him that he wanted the majority of his hotel guests to have rooms overlooking the sea. Jamsetji surely had some hand in his broad instructions to the architect."

Go to comment section for remaining part.........

Just received this in my mail.

Interesting and shocking observation...Are the dates pre-planned or mere coincidence?

13 May -------- JAIPUR

June -------------------

26 July ------------ AHMEDABAD

August ---------------------------

13 September ------------ DELHI

October -------------------------

26 November --------------- MUMBAI

December ----------------------------

13 January ----------------- What Next?

A lovely mail forward, like to share with you all.

Once there was a young man. He was rather immature and inexperienced, but was ready to learn new things. He had a strong liking for antiques and was happy to visit different antique stores when he was on holidays. He traveled all over the world and collected many antiques. Over the time he developed a strong interest in antique pottery and especially in tea cups. He felt that they all had their unique stories to tell.

Once while he was in an old fortress in Serbia which had been partially transformed into a museum, he spotted an exceptional tea cup in a dusty antique store which clearly had Turkish influences. He asked the seller: "May I see that exceptionally beautiful tea cup over there? It seems to come from Turkey. As the man handed him the tea cup, our young man suddenly heard the tea cup speak up:

"Thank you for liking me but you does not understand," it said, "I have not always been a tea cup. There was a time when I had no idea what service meant. I was just a dumb lump of red clay. Let me tell you my story and I am sure you will learn from it.

I've lived for many, many thousands of years. I've witnessed wars and peace coming and going. Whole civilizations rolled over me as I sat there waiting. Then one day my master came. He took me, brought me home, rolled and pounded me on a wooden table. Again and again, he poked his fingers into me until finally I yelled out "don't do that!' Imagine someone would take you like this. , Leave me alone!' But he only smiled and gently said "Not yet!"

The tea cup became more and more alive as he spoke to the shocked young man "Then, whoommmm! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly spun around and around and around until I lost all my sense of direction: Stop it, don't you see that I'm getting sick? Quickly, take me from the spinning wheel!' But the master only nodded in understanding and quietly said "not yet!'

He only bent me in and out of shape to suit his plan with me.. "Then he placed me carefully into an oven. I never felt such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door: It is hotter than hell - I'm burning to ashes. Please get me out of here before it is too late.' I could see him through a tiny hole. I could only read his lips as he shook his head from side to side and silently pronounced, "Not yet!'

"When I thought I could not bear the heat for another minute, the door opened. He carefully took me out and put me on a shelf where I began to cool. It felt so good to be left alone. "But more was going to come. After I had cooled down he carefully picked me up, looked at me and brushed some dust away. Then he brought the colours and something transparent - the glaze. The fumes were horrible! I thought I would suffocate! , I said please,... have mercy! Don't you understand my misery? Please, please, please! Stop it! "But he only shook his head and said "Not yet, you're not yet ready!"?

"Then unexpectedly and very quickly he put me back into the oven. Only it was about twice or trice as hot as the first time - this was the most intense. From the beginning I felt... this is my death... I begged... I pleaded ... I threatened ... I screamed ... Finally, I cried without tears. Not even hot tears. I was convinced I will never make it. I was ready to give up.. "Just then - in the last second as I was slowly fainting, the door opened and he took me out. And again placed me on the shelf - where I cooled and waited... and waited ... and waited.

"What was he going to do next? An hour or so later he came back and placed a mirror before me and said: ,Look at yourself!' And I did. "What I saw amazed me. It is what you see now. That's not me! I said. That cannot be me... It is too beautiful, "With a very compassionate voice my master spoke "This is what you are meant to be"? and then he explained everything that was needed for me to look so beautiful.

He said "I know it hurt you when I rolled and kneaded you on the table. But if I had not gotten the air out of you, you would have broken.' "I knew you must have lost all your sense of orientation when I was spinning you. But without this you would never have come into this form. I know the fumes of the colours in the glaze were intolerable when I painted you all over. But if I had not done that, you would not have had any colour in your life and you would not have hardened. And when I placed you in the second oven I knew that this would be the most severe part. But without it you would have broken very easily when the realities of life would have come. Believe me all I did was for your good. Now you are what I had in mind when I first saw you on the ground. Now you are a finished product."

With this the tea cup stopped speaking - but there was a tear of gratefulness coming from its beautiful rim.

cont..

Question I would like to ask everyone, are our leaders a real leaders? Home minister of Maharashtra says, small incidents like this often takes place in big city like Mumbai.

Solution is simple, just take back all commondos serving as body guards of ministers and politicians. Let them walk and move like normal people. Let them get killed like other innocent peoples, then only thet will realise the value of one's life. I sure then they will act seriously, instead of playing blame game, politics of vote bank and announcing financial aid to victims.

They are are leaders, no trailers rather, because they never lead from front, love to stay behind curtain of black cat commandos.

Non violence or self defence, which is right?

A small story------

Once Gautam Buddha was passing by a village. People complain that, there is snake in near by bush, who has been a terror for kids and many people has been bitten and died. Buddha went and found that snake and gavehim a lesson on ahinsa and asked him to not to bite anyone. Snake promised not to bite anyone again. Gauma Buddha left for another place.

After some time he was returning back through same village and saw, childrens are pelting stone on something. He went closure and found that it was the same sanke, who promised to follow ahinsa and was bleeding from everywhere, because of wound given by childrens. He asked him, what happened, why are you suffering like this. Snake said, you told me to follow ahinsa and change my nature and not to bite anyone. Therefore these childrens are no more affraid of me and they are treating me like this. Snake was taking his last breath, Buddha took him on his lap and told him, but I never told you to stop hissing in your self defence.

What s the moral of story? I think, it says we should not forget our nature. A tiger may become vegeterian, but that does not mean a dog will be able to fight with him, and he will never forget to roar.

We are talking about non violence, many of members have put their views on MS. But in my view, after first slap, I will offer my other cheek and after second slap I will act as to defend my self and give a proper reply.

Excess of anything is bad. Zulm karnewalon se jyada gunahgar zulm sehne wale hote hain.

Forwarded mail........

God was in the process of creating the universe.
And he was explaining to his subordinates
"Look everything should be in balance.

For example, after every 10 deer there should be a lion.
Look here my fellow angels, here is the country of the United States .
I have blessed them with prosperity and money.
But at the same time I have given them insecurity and tension....
And here is Africa .
I have given them beautiful nature.
But at the same time, I have given them climatic extremes.
And here is South America .
I have given them lots of forests.
But at the same time, I have given them lesser land so that they would
have to cut off the forests...
So you see fellows, everything should be in balance.
One of the angels asked...
"God, what is this extremely beautiful country here?"

God said....... "Ahah...that is the crown piece of all.
" INDIA "
My most precious creation.
It has understanding and friendly People.
Sparkling streams and serene mountains.
A culture which speaks of the great tradition that they live.
Technologically brilliant and with a heart of gold.....
The angel was quite surprised:
"But god you said everything should be in balance."
God replied --
"Look at the neighbours I gave them."

I returned to Jamshedpur today morning 10 am. While on the way to CMC Vellore, I was little nervous and tried to keep my father, mother and my mind away from the problem. We reached Vellore on 17th Nov and went to hotel suggested by one of my father's colleague, but the room was not good. Moved to another hotel, little away from CMC stayed there for one night and next day shifted to another hotel right in front of main gate of CMC.

We already had our appointmaint fixed with Dr. Kenkre (Urologist). After some formality and registration we waited for our turn. We went to his cabin on announcement and he greeted us and asked "Well Mr. Sharma, what can I do for you?". My father reminded his discussion on telephone and he immediately responded, "Yes Sir, I remember you". after brief introduction and going thru all the reports, he explained entire treatment process of prostate cancer and answered all our queries. He clearly told my father and me that the cancer has not spread outside and suggested for some test. He gave us almost 30 mins and then directed to radiologist. Here, one junior doctor asked many questions to my father and made a case history. Then we were called by Dr. Rajesh (Radiologist) and he explained the radiation process and asked us to deposit MRI and bone scan report for re-examination.

Next two days passed and all the test was done in these two days. On 21st Nov, both the doctor after going thru entire reports, confirmed that, cancer is withing prostate only and since harmon therapy was already done at Jamshedpur to stop further spread, they can start radiation only after gap of three months from date of operation. Therefore we need to start radiation in the last week of Jan '09 to kill remaining cancer cells.

They told us, that, there are two type of radiation process, one with more side effect (costing 25000) and another with computer guided and less side effect (costing 100000), but in both case duartion will be 40 days (excliding sat and sun), which means about two month. They also told us that this treatment is availble in many part of India, including Delhi and Kolkata, which is easily accessible from Jamshedpur and a familiar place for us.

Now we have to decide the place where it will be easier for us to stay and get treated and Delhi comes first in choice, since my sister is there and lots of other relatives are also there. In next few days we will discuss and find out the best choice.

I would like to Thank all my friends for their wishes and prayers, I do not have words to express my happiness. I just can not forget the way u all responded and gave me encouragement and sent good wishes for my father. My entire family joins me to thank u all at MS.