Joy in the room is infectious. I too started smiling.
Every one looks so happy…Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and IT pros, commodity traders, investment bankers, Ivy League graduate students and teachers, scientists, doctors, retired actors of Hindi cinema…
They are not ordinary people. They are Marathi speaking Masters of the Universe (MMU). Naturally, they are based in center of the universe: US of A.
It wasn’t easy. But MMU did it. They won and now have projected their prize- All India Marathi Literary Meet अ भा म साहित्य संमेलन -on to the moon. India’s moon mission must have witnessed it from the close quarters.
Or are MMU catching reflection of their crowning glory that had already reached the moon via America's space missions?
Only Vasant Sarwate वसंत सरवटे knows.
Like every thing MMU have done to possess what they do in their personal lives, they pursued this matter until they laid their hands on the 'grand prize'.
Notice the lady, serene like Kausalya. She is reading out Rama’s story to her healthy and cute looking son named Ram.
Notice how Ram is trying to sit in Vajrasana. Notice his expensive pair of Nike. Do you know he speaks Marathi better than many back home? He knows his epics better than his Desi cousin! Do you know he recites Sanskrit Shlokas every second Saturday and fourth Sunday of a month? Do you know Kausalya writes a weekly column for a popular Marathi daily whose editor, by the way, will be attending the meet and staying with Ram's family?
Therefore, when he grows up, Ram is likely to protect the ‘Marathi' culture far more effectively than his poor, disease-prone cousins back home. That is the reason his father follows his religion more vigorously than he ever did in India, donates to “religious" organizations back home and supports self-styled stone-toting “culture protectors” of Maharashtra...
Artist: Vasant Sarwate Lalit Diwali वसंत सरवटे ललित दिवाळी 2008
It was indeed enjoyable to read your blog on Lalit's Diwali number cover. Vasant Sarvate has been depicting this kind of MMU in USA in the past so many covers of Lalit. Your comments add the humour. Thanks a lot. Recently, Granthali, Mumbai has organised one open session with Vasantrao and we could see Vasantaro on stage along with his cartoons, the day from his Kolhapur till date. You should have been there. I would suggest next time when Vasantrao draws any future cartoon, it should appear with your comments. What do you say?
ReplyDeleteThanks.
ReplyDeleteI am an ultra-sideshow but I will discuss your suggestion with Sarwate-sir.
Dear Aniruddha,
ReplyDeleteI read what Shri mangesh has suggested while praising your blog. Shri Madhukar Dharmapurikar is one of the fans of Vasantrao, who writes articles on Sarvate's cartoons.You three together will make a good forum for us. I am not in Mumbai, but some Mumbaikars should arrange such get together with Grathalee. Any comments?
Thanks Nikheel.
ReplyDeleteToday I morning I spoke to Sarwate-sir.
I often speak to Shri. Dharmapurikar.
Therefore, in a sense we are together on a platform. And aren't you there too? Why do we need any other platform?
Dear Aniruddha,
ReplyDeleteThis one is from deep down South India. I havn't met any of these two bloggers who are in love with your blog. But I read them in Sadhana Saptahik from Pune. You must be reading it being in Pune. So why not you start some new regular column in this 61 year old weekly? This is my request to you, because the way you write on web, it will be a great success on print media. What do you say?
Thanks Waman for your words. They encourage me.
ReplyDeleteI have not see Sadhana issue for a long time. I will try to do so.
I am a lazy guy with almost no ambition.