Friendship: A Beautiful Bond

                   

                         Friendship : A Beautiful Bond

         My own blog is an ideal place to express my own thoughts and opinions about anything I wish. So today I would like to share my thoughts and feelings about a divine bond of friendship. I value Friendship very much in my life. Sometimes more than anything else. For me, It is the second most beautiful bond after the mother & child bond. The love and care these two relations share are absolutely unconditional. In my opinion, True friendship is very deep and sensitive feeling that touches your heart and soul. 
        
         We meet hundreds and thousands of people in life. Many of them get attached to us. Some of them get closer. We call them "FRIENDS". Though we have many good friends, among them there are always couple of very special friends whom we consider as Best Friends.. Rather I would like to call them 'Soul Friends'. They become our lifelong buddies. 

       Everybody must find his or her Soul Friends in life sooner or later. Best friends definitely changes ones life. One can't exactly define the word 'Best friend' but only can feel it by heart.The moment you realise that certain person has become inseparable part of your life, you wonder that till that moment you were lonely inside, even though you had many so called friends. True Friendship is beyond the boundaries of age, gender or different natures.

      It's really an awesome feeling knowing that you have these amazing best friends with you. Not necessarily they have to be nearby you all the time. Distance of miles doesn't affect the bond of True friendship. In fact distance strengthens this bond. Because more you miss them, more you value them and when you meet them after long gaps,you get closer.

      

        True friends play every possible role in your life just like family. They love and care and also scold like mother and father. They back you up in troubled times as well as they fight with you like brother or sister. They complete you like partners. Even when they are sad, they seek your shoulder to cry on just like a child. 'Family may not take place of friends but Best friends can always become a family.'  

       

         Best Friend is always a person with whom you can share any damn thing in world, even the things that  you can't tell to family. Very openly and without any hesitation. Best friends share their joys as well as problems and sadness with each other. They don't consult Watch & Wallet, when its about their most beloved friend. Best friends don't need words to understand your thoughts and feelings. Expressions, silence, tone of voice speak instead. They just know in their heart  what their friend exactly need at different times, in different moods.

 

        

         True friends always wish happiness for each other. They love and care for each other unconditionally and without expecting anything in return. You Fight for them, you protect them. You find happiness in their joys and achievements and their pain brings tears to your eyes. If they are sad or hurt, you yourself spend restless days and sleepless nights, though you are far away from them, Because you can feel their pain. You just wish to be with them and ease their pain by any means possibles.
        

       But still, when there is love and care, there come fights & misunderstandings. Close friends too fight, get mad at each other, swear of not talking until other one talks first. But then even if you are angry with your dearest friend, you can't stay mad at them more than few hours. You or them eventually end up in calling or texting each other and saying sorry and laughing like nothing has happened ever. Sometimes you envy their other best friend for being their buddy more than you and little later, you realise how silly and funny your feeling of jealousy is, which is coming out of your unknowing possessiveness about them.

        Friendship is  not just about hanging around with your friends all the time or partying and drinking hard with them. True Friendship is all about understanding feelings of your friends and holding their hand in every good or bad situation and being there for them no matter what. I dream of such a wonderful and loving bond of friendship and soul friends.
           
      True Friendship is an Amazing thing, worth living for...!!!

        

          

           
        

        
          

                              RAFA: THE LIVING LEGEND

       
               RAFA: MY STORY! An Autobiography of Tennis Player Rafael Nadal. This book was on my wishlist for long time and now finally I bought it and read it. At instant it has become one of my favourite books. Not just because it's about my most favourite sportsman but also it's been written very gracefully. I couldn't resist myself from writing something about the book and Rafael Nadal. I am not an expert but as an amateur I strongly recommend this autobiography to all, specially to people with interest in sports. 

                     

      This book is written by Rafael Nadal and Co-author John Carlin. Already this book has been appreciated by experts as one of the best Autobiographies written by athletes. Remarkable thing is Nadal has written the book at the age of 26, such a young age. As there are two authors, it is written from point of view of both of them , which makes it more interesting. The book starts with the 2008 Wimbledon final match Nadal vs Federer and this match continues in every chapter till the end. Game to Game , Set to Set. The continuation is so smooth that reader doesn't feel cut off from the flow of reading when it switches from match to Nadal's life memories.  It is beautifully written book indeed. The whole book keeps the excitement till the end. I actually couldn't stop smiling while reading it till the end.

             

            We people only watch these players on screen in action. We cheer for them , we appreciate them when they win but we criticise them and doubt their skills when they lose. We never know actual hard work behind their success or hard times , injuries behind  their failure. That's why I feel that people should read this and other books about athletes so that they will know the hardship any sportsman faces to become what he is. After reading this autobiography my respect for Rafael Nadal has increased tremendously. In this book he has revealed all the things that made him a better player ,a better human being, how hard he trained since his childhood, how his family played a vital role in his life, his fears, his achievements, everything..

           

         Rafael Nadal belongs to  Mallorca in Spain. He lives with his whole family (parents , sister, uncles , aunts and grandparents) This is how they like in Mallorca, living together as big family, doing everything as family. Family is his greatest strength. Family which provides sense of security , peace and love. Rafa values his family the most in whole world. Same he feels about his friends and his team. He respects, loves and values each and every member of this little world of his. He says that whatever he has achieved today is because of his family and his team which is inseparable part of his life.

       

          In Childhood Rafael wanted to become a football player. His uncle Miguel Angel was a pro football player. Rafa himself is a Big Real Madrid Fan. He also likes to play golf. He admires Tiger Woods very much among all sportsmen. Then he Started practising tennis with his uncle and coach Toni Nadal and his uncle saw great potential in him to become pro tennis player. Rafa chose tennis over football and that choice proved very right for him. While training with his uncle , he never got special treatment than other boys,  rather he had to train much harder than others. His parents and uncle always taught him to keep his feet on ground, to respect his opponents. Nadal is always admired by world not only for his tennis but also for his humbleness and fighting spirit. He tells that this lesson of humility is given by his parents , uncle and Mallorcan Culture. In his hometown , he is only Rafael Nadal and not a celebrity. That is the only place where he gets the peace of mind and be himself. It is also surprising to read that whenever he wins tournaments or grand slams, they never make fuss of it , never throw big parties and he likes it that way.

        Tony Nadal ,his uncle and coach constantly gave him lesson of Endurance and dedication. Physical and mental Endurance. Rafa is well known for his incredible mental strength. He has won many great matches which he was about to lose because of his  ability to endure. He tells in this book about his one Tournament when he was a teenager. It was Spanish Under-14 National  Championship. He broke his little finger in first round but didn't pull out of the tournament. With that broken finger he fought through all rounds and won the final. What an incredibly strong  person he is... ! It reminds me of his Australian open final of 2014 against Wawrinka. He Was suffering from severe back pain from first set  but he completed the match. He lost but won respect of people. He completed match just for Wawrinka's sake. So That he wouldn't  feel his victory incomplete. That sense of responsibility make him great player.  Talking about Injuries, Rafa is full of them. He had been diagnosed with a very rare disease of a bone in his left foot. He calls it his own version of "Achilles' heel". It could have been finished his career. He has to wear specially made shoes to provide comfort to that bone which can't be cured totally.  Later he  suffered from Knee Injury for which he had to take Painful injections in his knee to get rid of it completely. Despite of all these injuries, he reached to the Top Of Rankings at the age of 25. He is  absolute Superhuman!!!

 

    There is one more very important part of his nature which makes him great human being. Humility, Humbleness. Though he is one of the elite tennis players, he keeps his feet on ground. He respects his every opponent whether that opponent is top seeded or not. He never underestimates his opponent and never presumes his victory unless he actually wins. Whenever his opponent hits a good shot, he immediately appreciates it on court. In person he is good friend of fellow tennis players. In his after match speeches also he always congratulates and appreciates his opponents for their good play. That's why he doesn't only win titles but also million hearts of people.

      

     World sees Rafael Nadal as A Gladiator , Perfectionist, Fighter,  Extraordinary  Tennis Player But As a Person , he is very simple ordinary boy . John carlin describes him as "Superman and Clark Kent". In book Nadal has revealed many amusing things about himself. He Craves for Olives but doesn't like cheeze. They say he is a fussy eater. He is very protective of his mother, sister. His mother and sister tell that he is uneasy with darkness, and swimming in deep sea, Speedy driving, storms and lightnings. Accepting weaknesses is not something everyone can do. But Rafa does. He is not ashamed of who he is and that makes him greatest. He keeps his personal family life away from Glamour of his celebrated life. His family and his girlfriend also likes to keep it that way.

       

         Now talking about his achievements its  incredible to see what he has achieved at such young age.

         He won his very first tournament at the age of 8 which was Under -12 Championship of Balearic Islands.

        His First ATP Title at the age of 15. Davis Cup at 18.

        He won First Grand Slam that is French Open at the age of just 19.

      In 2008 , he won his First Wimbledon Title, Olympic Gold Medal and took the Number One place in the World Rankings.

          2009 , His first Australian Open Title.

      2010, he Won 3 Grand slams in one year , including first US Open Title which completed his Career Grand Slam making him, at the age of 24 , the Youngest Player to achieve this in open era which is unbreakable record.

     & Now after 3 years of publication of his Autobiography , There are some more records on his name. Record of Most French Open Titles which is 9 times till date , is almost unbreakable record. Also record of winning 5 French open title in row. These numbers clearly prove that why he is called "THE KING OF CLAY."

          In next few years he will be breaking record of Roger Federer of most Grand Slam Titles which is currently 17.

       Also he holds record of winning atleast one Grand slam title per year in 10 consecutive years .

    There are  many ATP Tournament records he holds as well and more will be there. All these statistics are simply unbelievable. These numbers speaks for his greatness.

          There is too much to write about this awesome athlete but words are less. He is determined and hungry for more. His humble attitude as human Off court and ferocious , determined attitude as player On court makes him Bestest of the Best. More importantly A Good Human Being.

  

I AM AND I ALWAYS WILL BE DIE-HARD RAFA FAN.....!!!

  
    

      

       

           

            

           

                 

                 मराठी विसरत चाललेली मराठी पिढी
            
           पालक बनलेल्या सगळ्यांना एक प्रश्न हमखास विचारला जातो तो म्हणजे 'मुलाला कुठल्या शाळेत घालणार?' आणि विचारणाऱ्या व्यक्तीला सर्वाधिक अपेक्षित असणारे उत्तर असते ते म्हणजे ' इंग्लिश मिडीयम.' हाच प्रश्न जेव्हा मला विचारला जातो तेव्हा माझे ' मराठी शाळेत घालणार' हे उत्तर ऐकून विचारणाऱ्या व्यक्तीच्या चेहऱ्यावर ' काय मूर्खपणा करतायेत' असाच भाव असतो. मग पुढची १५ मिनिटे मराठी शाळेत घालणे कसे वेडेपणाचे आहे आणि इंग्लिश मिडीयम मध्ये घालून कसा फायदा होतो यावर सल्ले देण्यात जातात. यात सर्वात गमतीची पण वाईट वाटायला लावणारी गोष्ट म्हणजे हे भाषण देणारे अर्ध्याहून अधिक लोक शुद्ध मराठी कुटुंबातील आणि स्वतः मराठी शाळेत शिकलेले असतात आणि यातील बहुतेकांची मुले इंग्रजी शाळेत शिकत असतात.
          आजकाल मुलांना इंग्रजी माध्यमात शिकवणे हा स्टेटस सिम्बॉल बनला आहे. सुखवस्तू वर्गापासून अगदी कामगार वर्गातील लोकांचा मुलांना इंग्लिश शालेत घालण्याचा अट्टाहास असतो मग भलेही गरज असो व नसो, भरमसाठ डोनेशन भरणे  परवडत असो वा  नसो. अर्थात प्रश्न लोकांच्या दृष्टिकोनाचा आहे , शाळांचा नाही. शाळा मराठी असो किंवा इंग्रजी वा  हिंदी असो तिथे मिळणारे ज्ञान उत्कृष्टच असते. इंग्रजी माध्यमात शिकून फायदा होतो  हे बरोबर असले तरी मराठी शाळेत शिकून नुकसान होते असे म्हणणे पूर्ण चुकीचे आहे. जे पालक मुलांना स्वेच्छेने मराठी मध्यमात  घालू इच्छितात त्यांना वेडे ठरवणे हाच एक मूर्खपणा आहे असे माझे स्पष्ट मत आहे. सध्या लोकांचा असा दृष्टीकोन झालेला आहे कि इंग्रजी ही युनिवर्सल लँग्वेज आहे म्हणून ती श्रेष्ठ , ह्या कारणाने मुले इंग्रजीत शिकली कि समाजात जास्त प्रगती करणार. आणि ह्या उलट मराठी ही  मातृभाषा वा बोली भाषा असल्याने ती केवळ घरी बोलण्यापुरतीच मर्यादित असली तरी पुरे. हे बघून खरच वाईट वाटते. महाराष्ट्राच्या बाहेर गेले की  बघायला मिळते की गुजराथी , बंगाली, दक्षिण भारतीय समाजाला आपल्या मातृभाषेचा किती गर्व आहे. मग आपले मराठी लोकच स्वतःच्या भाषेला कमी का लेखतात कळत नाही. अर्थात सगळेच महाराष्ट्रीयन सारखे नसतात. मराठीचा अभिमान बाळगणारे कट्टर मराठी आहेतच पण त्यांची टक्केवारी अर्ध्याहूनही कमीच.
            आपली मराठी कशी आपल्याच लोकांकडून कमी लेखली जाते याची उदाहरणे  रोजच्या व्यवहारात बरीच पाहायला मिळतात. बरयाचश्या मोठमोठ्या ऑफिसेस मध्ये, हॉटेल्स मध्ये लोक एकमेकांशी बोलताना, समोरचा माणूस मराठी आहे हे माहीत असून सुद्धा त्यांच्याशी हिंदी व इंग्लिश मध्ये बोलतात. केवळ आपण कसे हाय-क्लास आहोत हे दाखवण्यासाठी. दुसरे एक उत्तम उदाहरण म्हणजे सध्याची शाळकरी आणि कॉलेज मध्ये जाणारी मुले. माझ्या बघण्यातच अशी बरीच मराठी कुटुंबातील तरुण मुले आहेत ज्यांना मराठी भाषेतले साधे साधे शब्दही माहीत नाहीत. जिथे मराठी धड बोलणे जमत नाही तिथे मराठी लिहिणे आणि वाचणे तर लांबच राहते. सर्वात असह्य गोष्ट म्हणजे हि मराठी मुले आपल्या मराठी घरातील मित्रांशी हिंदी आणि इंग्रजी मध्ये गप्पा मारतात आणि मराठीत त्यांना चार वाक्ये बोलणे जमत नाही. जेव्हा कोणी त्यांना या विषयावर काही समजवायला जाते तेव्हा ते वाद घालायलाही तयार असतात. अजून एक फॅड ह्या तरुण वर्गामध्ये बघायला मिळते ते म्हणजे अमेरिकन ढंगात इंग्लिश बोलायला जाणे. विदेशी लोकांप्रमाणे उच्चार करत भरभर इंग्लिश बोलणे बऱ्याच वेळा ऐकणाऱ्याला फार हास्यास्पद वाटते. पण बोलणाऱ्याचा आपण अगदी भारी इंग्लिश बोलतोय असा गोड गैरसमज झालेला असतो. बऱ्याचदा  असेही बघण्यात येते की इंग्लिश मिडीयम मधली मुले मराठी शाळेतील मुलांना कमी समजतात. त्यांच्यावर हसतात. वास्तविक पाहता त्यांचे  स्वतःचे भाषांचे ज्ञान सुद्धा व्याकरण दृष्ट्या यथातथाच किंवा काही वेळा चुकीचेच असते.
           ह्या पार्श्वभूमीवर जी मुले इंग्लिश मिडीयम मध्ये शिकूनही उत्तम मराठी बोलतात त्यांचे खरच कौतुक वाटते.  तसेच मराठी शाळेत शिकलेले कित्येक विद्यार्थी सुद्धा इंग्रजी उत्तम बोलतात आणि एवढेच नाही तर भारतातच नाही तर परदेशातही उत्तम व्यवसाय व नोकऱ्या मिळवून यशस्वी होतात. या सर्व परीस्थित पालकांची भूमिका ही मुलांपेक्षाही महत्वाची ठरते. कारण शेवटी मुलांचे शिक्षण आणि त्यांची घडण ठरवणारे पालकच असतात. आपल्या मातृभाषेचा अभिमान बाळगायला शिकवणे आई-वडिलांच्याच हातात असते. मुले जशी घडवली जातात तशी घडतात. घरी मातृभाषेचे धडे देणे तसेच हिंदी व इंग्रजी बोलण्याची सवय मुलांना करणे ही शिक्षकांपेक्षाही जास्त पालकांची जबाबदारी असते आणि ती त्यांनी निभावणे गरजेचे आहे. आणि इंग्रजी भाषा महत्वाची आणि मराठी केवळ बोली भाषा म्हणून कमी महत्वाची हा दृष्टीकोन बदलणे गरजेचे आहे. प्रत्येक भाषेचे आपले महत्व आहे आणि प्रत्येक भाषेचा यथोचित आदर करणेही तितकेच महत्वाचे आहे.

        समस्त जनहो, आपल्या मायबोलीचा रास्त अभिमान बाळगा !!
         

  
               

FROM DESERT TO ROCK

                       A JOURENY OF A SELF-MADE CHAMPION

    
               Being a proud friend is one of the best feeling in the world. When you hear people appreciating and praising your friend, it feels great and my dear friend Ankit has given me this opportunity once again. The occasion for this blog is really special. Ankit Sharma's Gold Medal Winning performance in Asian Youth Championship in 2009 has been featured in Limca Book of Records 2014 as he is the very First Male Indian climber to win a gold on international level. In the same event, along with Ankit, Debala Devi and Neha Prakash also Won the Gold Medals in Womens category. Today I am feeling so proud that I am the one to share Ankit's success story and his hard work behind all his achievements.
               Ankit is from Bikaner, Rajsthan. Who would have thought that a boy from a scholar family will make his mark in adventure sport like rock climbing. Son to a professor, brother to a doctor sister, found his passion in rock climbing. Ankit's journey as a climber had started at the age of 12. Before that he was a Gymnast, where also he got selected for national championship. But while practising gymnastics, he came to know about rock climbing. Found the sport challenging and switched to rock climbing. When he started participating in climbing competitions, first couple of times he failed to reach final rounds. Like any teenager he got disheartened but he didn't give up. At that time, one of the best known climbers in India, Ravinder Singh Rathod from Bikaner came forward to guide him. They trained hard for whole year and the efforts paid off. At Mumbai Zonals 2005, Ankit secured 3rd place and also 3rd place in following nationals in Delhi. That was his very first achievement. Indeed it was a great moment but he still had long way to reach to the top.

He got motivated by this achievement, kept dreaming big and working hard and next year he won the national competition held at NIM(Nehru Institute of Mountaineering), Uttarkashi. Due to that performance he also got selected in the team for Asian Youth Championship which was to be held in Japan but because of illness he missed the opportunity to participate in international competition. Also at same time his coach Ravinder shifted to Bangalore for job and Ankit found himself alone, without anyone to guide him any more.


              Meanwhile a person came in his life who has become inseparable part of Ankit's life.That person was Kishan Rajpurohit. Kishan was his classmate. They had a great bonding and understanding towards each other. Kishan landed in Ankit's life at very right and crucial time when he needed a friend so badly. He started climbing with Ankit. Route setting , Belaying, also Criticizing when needed, he did everything to keep Ankit in form. They used to climb on Bikaner wall all by themselves for whole year. Kishan became his best friend who cared for him more than a brother. He became cornerstone for Ankit. 
 

             One good thing was followed by another. IMF selected Ankit for the training camp along with other Indian climbers  for upcoming Asian youth championship in Kazakhstan in 2009. This championship was a milestone for Ankit. He was eager to prove himself, make his country proud. It was his first international event. Tremendous pressure, burden of expectations of people but he managed to handle it calmly. In lead climbing he stood 4th in finals and then it was time for speed relay finals. Ankit and his partner Debala Devi from Manipur got ready for finals with confidence and strategy. Their opponents were from Kazakhstan. They were strong but Ankit and Debala performed as per their strategy and skills and victory was theirs. They became first Indian climbers to win the Gold Medals on International Level. Standing on 1st place of a podium and watching Indian flag waving high, was the most proud moment for them and India. In that competition , India won 4 golds along with silvers and bronze medals by amazing performance of whole Indian team. Ankit gives all the credit of this Gold Medal to his buddy Kishan as he was the only one who stood by him when he was alone.

 

             It is a bitter truth that happy times don't last long. Every sportsman faces a bad patch in his career. That also happened with Ankit. After the Asian Youth Championship, he got stuck with fear of failing in domestic competitions because of high expectations from people. He didn't win a single title in 2010. That was the time when he met me and my husband Bhushan Pandharkar at Mumbai Zonals. Ankit was in state of depression due to his bad form. Any sportsman can understand the feeling of being out of form. We wanted him to fight back and we knew exactly what to do. We invited them both to Nasik to meet MR. BHISHMARAJ BAM. Bam sir is a well known personality among sportsmen. He has been a mentor to many world class sportsmen like  Rahul Dravid, Anjali Bhagwat and many more. We took Ankit and Kishan to meet Bam sir with the reference of our common friend. Bam sir guided Ankit very graciously. More importantly this meeting wasn't at all professional, But totally personal and was fixed by Bhushan to get further guidance and motivation. Ankit really got motivated by Bam sir's talk and Discussions with Bhushan on mental focus, Self-Confidence and Self-Motivation. The result of

this was unbelievable. The boy who was totally depressed and struggling with his form, Won the 8th Girivihar International Bouldering Competition at Navi Mumbai which we had attended in next 3 days. He also won a Dyno competition and stood 2nd in Natural Bouldering in the same event. That modest boy gave all the credit to Bam Sir and Bhushan for their guidance and motivation. That was an emotional and happy moment for all of us. I witnessed a big change that day. Exactly  year ago he cried because of his failure and that day he shed tears because of his victory. Surprisingly Mr. Bam himself called him that day and congratulated him personally.

             Though a sportsman makes a comeback after his bad patch he always gets mixed reactions. Its general tendency of people to appreciate and criticize at the same time. Its really hurting when people so easily forget that what a sportsman has done for his country and just focus on his bad form and keep reminding him that. In Ankit's case only Allied Petzl from Mumbai showed the faith in him and supported him by sponsoring him for Gravical Bouldering competition in Singapore along with two other climbers. They all had great time, experience and lot of learning from that event. Its really sad that a climber of such a good potential doesn't get recognized just because he doesn't belong to any climbing club or climbing background, or he is not from any big cities like Bangalore , Delhi or Mumbai where climbers get all facilities, advance equipments, sponsors and also natural rock areas to develop their skills. Few negative aspects like these slowly pushed Ankit away from climbing unknowingly. Even few times he was ignored by the authorities at time of selection for world cup even if he was eligible for that.

                 He was also preparing for CDS exams and studying for M.com side by side which also kept him away from his sport. Obviously belonging to normal middle-class family like most of us, he had to think of academics and career to secure his future. He couldn't afford to ignore studies just to devote himself to climbing even if its his passion. I really admire his rational thinking and practicality and I will always support his decision of choosing studies over climbing. Now even though he is not in touch with climbing himself as he used to be but he has inspired many children in Rajsthan to get into climbing. he trains them for competitions and these children are living up to his expectations by winning in competitions. so indirectly it is his victory too. He is always ready to guide new climbers to improve their skills.
                 It is said that "Once a Champion , Always a Champion". Ankit will remain champion in eyes of his family and his friends always, no matter what. We all are very much proud of him. We wish you all the good luck for everything you wish to do in future, Champ.... Keep Climbing....

"old is gold"

                                       " जूने ते सोने"   

            आजकालच्या विनोदाच्या दर्जाला झालंय काय तेच कळत नाही. आजच्या नव्या पिढीने डोक्यावर घेतलेले विनोदी सिनेमे,कॉमेडी शोज् प्रत्यक्ष पाहिल्यानंतर तीव्रतेने जाणवते की पूर्वीच्या आणि आजच्या विनोदाच्या दर्जात जमीन-अस्मानाचा फरक पडलाय. मी स्वतः लहानपणीपासून पु. ल. देशपांडे, शिरीष कणेकर यांची पुस्तके, विविध लेखकांची उत्कृष्ट मराठी विनोदी नाटके वाचत आणि बघत आलेय. या पार्श्वभूमीवर नवीन जमान्याच्या विनोदाची पातळी कमालीची खालावाल्याची खात्री पटते.  
            सध्या टि.व्ही. वर कॉमेडी शोज् च पेव फुटलय. कॉमेडी नाईट, कॉमेडी सर्कस, कॉमेडी एक्सप्रेस असे कार्यक्रम लोक आवडीने बघतात. हे कार्यक्रम सादर करणारे कलाकार हायेस्ट पेड कॉमेडीअन्स बनल्याचे ऐकण्यात येते. सगळीकडे त्यांना कौतुकाचे हारतुरे मिळत आहेत. परंतु हे कार्यक्रम जेव्हा अध्येमध्ये पाहण्यात येतात तेव्हा मला तर ते ५ मिनिटांपेक्षा जास्त बघवतही नाहीत. त्यातले कमालीचे वाईट विनोद ऐकून कानाला इंगळ्या डसल्यासारखे वाटते. तीच गोष्ट आजच्या विनोदी सिनेमांची. हे सिनेमे पूर्णपणे मेंदू आणि विचारशक्ती गहाण ठेउनच बघण्याचे असतात आणि हेच सिनेमे बॉक्स ऑफिसवर तुफान चालतात. अश्या परिस्थितीत खरच शंका निर्माण होते की वाईट विनोद सहन न होणारे आपण शहाणे की या तथाकथित विनोदी कलाकारांना आणि चित्रपटांना डोक्यावर घेणारे लाखो लोक शहाणे? 
            विनोदांचे विषय, त्यांचे सादरीकरण इतकेच नाही तर त्यांचे श्रोते या सगळ्याच घटकांमध्ये काळानुसार फरक पडला आहे. जुन्या व नव्यात तुलना करायची म्हटली तर हे प्रकर्षाने जाणवते. मराठी साहित्यात अनेक दर्जेदार लेखकांनी विनोदी लेखनाची भर टाकली. त्यात व. पु. काळे, शिरीष कणेकर या नावांना परिचयाची आवश्यकता नाही. आणि पु. ल. देशपांडे हे तर मराठी विनोदी साहित्याचे शिरोमणी. या लेखकांच्या कथांमधली बहुतेक कथानके ही
मध्यमवर्गीय समाजाला केंद्रबिंदू ठेऊन गुंफलेली आहेत त्यामुळेच त्या कथा वाचकांना आपल्या, जवळच्या वाटतात. वाचक त्यातील व्यक्तिरेखांशी समरूप होऊन जातो. या लेखकांची नुसती पुस्तके वाचतानाही पोट दुखेपर्यंत हसू येते. याच्या अगदी उलट चित्र आजच्या ह्या कॉमेडी शोज् मध्ये दिसते. या कलाकारांना विनोद निर्माण करण्यासाठी नट-नट्या, राजकारणी नेते, प्रसिद्ध व्यक्ती यांच्या सामाजिकच नाही तर खाजगी आयुष्याचा आधार घ्यावा लागतो. विचित्र पोशाख, बायकांसारखे वेश, चित्रविचित्र अंगविक्षेप करून लोकांना हसवावे लागते. त्याहूनही वाईट म्हणजे आजकालचे हे विनोद बरेचसे द्वयर्थी आणि अश्लीलते कडे झुकणारे असतात. त्यांच्यामूळे  मुलांवर चुकीचा  प्रभाव पडण्याचीच शक्यता जास्त आहे. यावरही कळस म्हणजे तिथे येणारे तथाकथित परीक्षक फुटकळ विनोदांवर असे काही गडगडाटी हसतात कि ते पाहून आपण हसावे कि रडावे हे कळत नाही. जुन्या पिढीचे श्रोते व वाचकही स्वतःला निखळ आनंद मिळावा या हेतूने विनोद जवळ करणारे आहेत. चांगल्या विनोदावर खरंच मनमुराद हसण्याचा आनंद घेतात. पण या कॉमेडी शोज् मध्ये समोर बसवलेले लोक हे केवळ टि. व्ही. वर दिसण्याच्या अपेक्षेने आल्यासारखे वाटतात. ( किंवा तिथे बसण्याचा आणि हसण्याचा मोबदलाही मिळत असण्याची शक्यता असावी.) या शोज् मध्ये मोठे मोठे नट-नट्याही हजेरी लावतात. तेही बहुदा स्वतःच्या चित्रपटांचे प्रमोशन करण्यासाठीच ( आणि मोठ्या मानधनाच्या बदल्यातच). या सर्व प्रकारात असे विनोद करणारे कलाकार आणि त्यावर खदाखदा हसणारे लोक यांचा राग येण्यापेक्षा कीवच करावीशी वाटते. 
               अश्या वेळी जुन्या लेखकांच्या लेखनाची आठवण होते. त्यांच्या लेखनात एक निरागस चावटपणा असूनही थिल्लरपणा चुकुनही दिसत  नाही. या पुस्तकांची कितीही पारायणे केली तरीही प्रत्येकवेळी डोळ्यातून पाणी येईपर्यंत हसू येते. प्रकाश नारायण संत यांचा ' वनवास , शारदा-संगीत, झुंबर, पंखा अश्या चार पुस्तकांचा संच माझ्या खूप आवडीचा आहे. लंपन नावाच्या छोट्या मुलाची ही गोष्ट. या लहान मुलाच्या दृष्टीकोनातून त्यांनी केलेले त्याच्या आजूबाजूचे जग, त्याचे आजी आजोबा, मित्र यांचे वर्णन फार सुंदर आहे. त्या मुलाचे निरागस विचारही वाचकाच्या

ओठांवर हसू आणतात. पु. लं. च्या अंतू बरवा, नारायण, चितळे मास्तर, पेस्तन काका यांसारख्या कथांमध्ये विनोदालाही एक कारुण्याची किनार आहे. त्यामुळे हसता हसता डोळेही पाणावतात. या सर्व लेखकांच्या कथा कितीही अशांत मनस्थितीत वाचल्या तरी क्षणात सगळी मरगळ दूर होऊन आनंदी वाटायला लागते. हि त्यांच्या विनोदाची ताकद आहे. पु. लं. बद्दल तर जेवढे बोलावे तेवढे कमीच आहे तरी अजून लिहील्यावाचून राहवत नाही. त्यांचे कथाकथनाचे कार्यक्रम पाहणे व ऐकणे तर पुस्तके वाचण्याहूनही अधिक मनोरंजक आहे. त्यांचे हावभाव, वेगवेगळ्या व्यक्तिरेखांसाठी काढलेले वेगवेगळे आवाज हे त्या कथेत जीवंतपणा आणतात. 
            आजची नवी पिढी या सर्व खजिन्याला मुकली आहे. म्हणूनच टि. व्ही. वाहिन्यांना सल्ला द्यावासा वाटतो कि मुलांवर चुकीचा परिणाम करणारे हे कॉमेडी शोज् बंद करून त्या ऐवजी जुन्या लेखकांचे कथाकथनाचे कार्यक्रम, उत्तम विनोदी नाटके परत दाखवणे सुरु करावे !!
             जाता जाता पु. लं. च्या चाहत्यांसाठी त्यांच्या 'पानवाला' या कथेतील पानवाल्याच्या दुकानातील एका चित्राचे वर्णन :- 
          "पानवाल्याच्या दुकानात काचेवर काढलेल्या चित्राची सर कशालाच येणार नाही. अहो, अजन्ठातल्या चित्रकारासारखे हे चित्रकार सुद्धा अज्ञात आहेत.  त्याने काढलेल्या सूर्योदयाच्या देखाव्यानी  तर साक्षात सुर्य-नारायणाच्या डोळ्यासमोर काजवे चमकतील. आकाशात विमान आहे. विमानातून बाहेर डोकावणारा आणि डोळ्यापेक्षाही रुंद काळा गॉगल लावलेला असा पायलट आहे. पुलावर आगगाडी आहे. पुलाखाली गलबत आहे. गलबताखाली खाडी आहे. खाडीत कमळे आहेत. खाडीच्या बाजूला राजवाडा आहे. राजवाड्याच्या कमानीवर वेलकम असा बोर्ड आहे. राजवाड्यासमोर एक बाग आहे आणि बागेमध्ये श्रीकृष्ण मुरली वाजवतोय आणि राधाबाला मुग्ध होऊन आगगाडीकडे पाहते आहे. स्थल, काल , विषय कसल्याही जुलुमी मर्यादा न मानणार हे कलेच प्रात्यक्षिक फक्त पानवाल्याच्याच काचेवर दिसू शकत."
     
            

                                         
                        हिमालय : एक सुंदर व्यसन 

               एखाद्या दिवशी भल्या पहाटे घराबाहेर पडल्यावर बाहेरची थंड हवा, हळूच सुरु झालेली पक्ष्यांची किलबिल ऐकली कि हिमालयात आल्या सारखे  वाटायला लागते . गेली चार वर्ष माझ्या हिमालय भेटीत खंड पडलाय आणि त्या आठवणीनी सारखे काहीतरी राहून गेल्यासारखे  वाटत राहते. हिमालयातल्या वातावरणाची इतकी सवय झालीये कि जणू ते डोंगर माझे दुसरे घरच आहेत.

          माझा हिमालयाशी सर्वात पहिला सामना झाला तो बारा वर्षांपूर्वी, माझ्या माउंटेनीअरींग कोर्स च्या निमित्ताने. हा कोर्स होता उत्तरकाशीला असलेल्या नेहरू माउंटेनीअरींग इंस्टीट्युट मध्ये. हिमालयाचा हा भाग म्हणजे गढवाल हिमालय. एक महिन्याच्या कोर्स मध्ये अठरा दिवस डोंगरात ट्रेनिंग साठी घालवायचे होते. आम्हाला या साठी नेले गेले ते गंगोत्रीला. ज्या दिवशी आम्ही गंगोत्री गावात पोहचलो आणि आजूबाजूचा हिमाच्छादित शिखरांचा देखावा नजरेत भरला तेव्हा मी अक्षरशः हिमालयाच्या प्रेमातच पडले. आमचा पहिला मुक्काम होता तो गोमुखला. गंगोत्री हिमनदीचे मुख ते गोमुख. भारतातील सर्वात मोठ्या आणि पवित्र नदीचे उगमस्थान. तिचे तिथे नाव आहे भागीरथी. गोमुखातून सतत उसळत , फेसाळत, गर्जना करत वाहणाऱ्या प्रचंड जलप्रवाहाकडे पाहताना सभोवतालच्या प्रत्येक गोष्टीचा किंबहुना स्वतःचाही विसर पडतो. तिथल्या वास्तव्यातला अजून एक अविस्मरणीय नजारा म्हणजे शिवलिंग शिखराचा. पहाटे सूर्याची पहिली किरणे शिवालिंगच्या माथ्यावर पडल्यावर तो डोंगरमाथा सोनकळसाप्रमाणे चमकताना पाहणे हे एक स्वर्गसुखच होते. या ट्रेक मध्ये भरल हे प्राणी हि पाहायला मिळाले. उंच कड्यांवर सहजपणे उड्या  मारत फिरणारा भरलचा कळप बघताना त्या जीवांच कौतुक वाटते.

शिवलिंग शिखर 

          त्या हिमालय भेटीनंतर मला हिमालयाची जबरदस्त ओढ निर्माण झाली. मग मी हिमालयीन ट्रेकला जाणे सुरु केले. मनाली भागात भृगु लेक हा माझा पहिला ट्रेक होता आणि त्यानंतर हमता पास. या दोन्ही ट्रेक्स मध्ये मी बर्फाची भरपूर मजा घेतली. कमरेपर्यंतच्या बर्फातून चालणे हे एक दिव्यच होते. त्यानंतर उत्तरांचल मधला पिंढारी ग्लेशियरचा ट्रेक मी केला. या ट्रेकचा बराचसा मार्ग नंदा देवी राष्ट्रीय उद्यानातून जातो. त्यामुळे प्राणी, पक्षी, फुलांची रेलचेल होती. बर्फ अजिबात मिळाला नाही पण पाऊस भरपूर. पिंढारी ग्लेशियरच रूप गंगोत्री ग्लेशियर पेक्षा खूपच वेगळे आहे. मूळ ग्लेशियर आणि जेथपर्यंत लोकांना जाता येते तो 'o' पॉइन्ट यांच्यात प्रचंड खोल दरी निर्माण झालेली आहे. काही वर्षांपूर्वी झालेल्या भूस्खालानाचा तो परिणाम आहे. त्यामुळे ही हिमनदी दुरूनच पहावी लागते. समोरच नंदादेवी,नंदाखाट, बलजौरी अशा अनेक हिमशिखरांची भव्य डोंगररांग दिसते. चालून चालून आलेला सगळा शीण हे दृश्य पाहून नकळत निघूनही जातो.

पिंढारी ग्लेशियर 

           अश्या प्रकारे दरवर्षी एक याप्रमाणे मी ट्रेक करत होते आणि प्रत्येक वेळी मनाने हिमालयाच्या जास्त जवळ जात होते. या मालिकेत पुढे आले ते मनाली परिसरातील देओतिब्बा बेस आणि सौर ताल हे ट्रेक्स. या ट्रेक्स दरम्यान हिमालयाच्या रौद्रतेचेही दर्शन झाले. भयानक पाऊस, गारपीट यांनी नाकीनऊ आणले होते पण त्यातही एक वेगळाच थरार होता. देओतिब्बाच्या ट्रेक मध्ये भरपूर प्राणी पक्षी बघता आले. आएबक्स,माउंटन विझल, हिमालयीन स्टोट असे क्वचित दर्शन देणारे प्राणी तसेच हिमालयन मोनाल हा सुंदर पक्षी जो हिमाचल प्रदेशाचा स्टेट बर्ड आहे. हिमालयन ग्रिफ़ौन, सिनारीयस व्हल्चर सारखे पक्षी दिसणे ही सुद्धा पर्वणीच होती. झाडा-फुलांची विविधताही भरपूर. ह्रोडोडेन्ड्रोनची झाडे पूर्ण सौन्दार्यानिशी फुललेली असायची. अक्रोडांची भलीमोठी झाडे अंगावर नाजूक फुले घेऊन उभी असायची. ज्युनिपरच्या झुडूपांनी पायवाटाही आच्छादलेल्या असायच्या. आयरीसच्या निळ्या-जांभळ्या फुलांची मैदानांमध्ये रांगोळी असायची. सभोवतालच्या या सृष्टीसौन्दार्यानी अवघड वाटांवर चढतानाही प्रसन्न वाटायचे. 

           अशा या हिमालयाचे माझे वेड दिवसागणिक वाढतच जाणारे आहे. खरे तर हे वेड नाही एक व्यसनच आहे. एक सुंदर, हवेहवेसे वाटणारे व्यसन. सगळ्यांनी आवर्जून करावे असे व्यसन. हिमालयातल्या त्या वातावरणात पक्ष्यांचा साधा किलबिलाटही भारावून टाकणारा असतो. शांततेच्या वेळी एखाद्या धनगराच्या बासरीची धून कानाला सुखावून जाते तर कधी रात्रीच्या अंधारात उठलेली कोल्हेकुई अंगाला शहारा आणते. हिमालयातली आभाळाशी स्पर्धा करणारी हिमशिखरे असोत वा प्रचंड खोल दऱ्या असोत; गोठलेली तळी अथवा सुसाट वेगाने वाहणाऱ्या नद्या असोत; सुंदर कलाकुसरीची मंदिरे असोत किंवा  लाकडी घरे असोत; हिमालयाची प्रत्येक गोष्ट तुम्हाला स्वतःकडे आकर्षित करते. तुम्ही जेव्हा रोजच्या कंटाळवाण्या आयुष्यातून वेळ काढून हिमालयाच्या कुशीत जाता तेव्हा तुम्ही पूर्णपणे भिन्न व्यक्ती बनलेले  असता. सगळ्या चिंता, त्रास मागे सोडून आलेले असता. हिमालयाचे भव्य दिव्य रूप पहिले की  माणसाला स्वतःच्या तुच्छतेची जाणीव होते आणि मग सगळा अहंकार मागे पडतो. निसर्गाबद्दलचा आदर दुणावतो.

           जेव्हा मी हिमालयाचा विचार करते तेव्हा जाणवते कि हिमालयाचे सौंदर्य केवळ तिथल्या हिमशिखरांत किंवा निसर्गातच नाही तर तिथे राहणाऱ्या लोकांमध्येही आहे. सुंदर चेहरेपट्टी आणि त्याहून सुंदर, निर्मळ स्वभाव. हिमालयाच्या छायेत राहणारे हे रहिवासी अत्यंत मैत्रीपूर्ण आणि सदैव हसरे आहेत. त्यांचे राहणीमान खूप कष्टाचे असूनही कधीही त्याबद्दल तक्रारीचा सूर त्यांच्या बोलण्यात डोकावत नाही. आणि या जीवनपद्धतीमूळेच कदाचित त्यांच्या वागण्यात नम्रपणा, प्रेमळपणा, निसर्गाबाद्दलचा आदर ठासून भरलेला दिसतो. म्हणूनच नेहमी मदतीसाठी तयार असलेले हे लोक मोठमोठ्या शहरांतल्या आत्मकेंद्रित माणसांपेक्षा जास्त आपलेसे वाटतात. 
           अशा या हिमालयाच्या कितीही वाऱ्या केल्या तरी त्या कमीच वाटतात. आजही लेह-लडाख , काश्मीर , ईशान्य भारत , नेपाळ, भूतान, तिबेट अशी कितीतरी ठिकाणे मला खुणावताहेत आणि तिथे भेट द्यायची इच्छा भविष्यात पूर्ण होईलही पण एक गोष्ट कायम जाणवते कि या विशाल हिमालयाचे सौंदर्य पूर्णपणे अनुभवण्यासाठी एकच काय पण सात जन्मही अपुरेच आहेत!!
           
              
              
                    

NASIK: A CLIMBING PILGRIMAGE

          NASIK: A CLIMBING PILGRIMAGE

              

              Maharashtra has been well known for its historical forts among the  trekkers. Many of these treks have climbing patches to get to the top. Some of these mountains have pinnacles which rock climbers are attracted to climb on. Decade ago rock climbing was less known than the trekking. But then people got to know the thrill in rock climbing and some of them got out specially to explore climbing routes in Sahyadri. Our Sahyadri mountain range has so many climbing sites along with beautiful forts. There are many pinnacles in Maharashtra like Vajeer, Ban, Bhatoba, Khada Parshi and many many more. Konkan kada of Harishchandra gad is epic climbing site for Big wall and Traditional climbers. 

              In earlier years, Nasik was known for pinnacles and traditional climbing routes. Pahine Navra, Pahine Navri, Dangya, Hadbichi Shendi, Sunday1 and many more pinnacles attract climbers to Nasik. Fort Harihar, near Trimbakeshwar has Scottish cliff which was first climbed by Doug Scott. Then sports climbing and bouldering got attention of Indian climbers. Advance climbing gears got available to climbers. In past few years many rock climbing areas have been explored in Pune and Mumbai region but Nasik hasn’t been that much explored. It was also because of lack of climbers in Nasik. But now climbing community is increasing in Nasik. And they are making efforts to discover more and more climbing areas in Nasik region. 

                                  (Pahine Navra and Pahine Navri Pinnacles Of Anjaneri)

             

               Our friend  Climbers from Mumbai( Vaibhav, Sandeep, Shyam, Mangesh, Vinay )and Pune ( Viakas Satarkar, Bhushan, Ranjit, Ganesh) visited Nasik few years back and we took them to Anjaneri fort where some good bouldering  routes were opened and some Boulders still stand tall as projects for climbers. In Last couple of years, a known climber from Nasik, Samiran Kolhe has bolted some nice sports routes at Ramshej fort and Anjaneri fort with fellow climbers Pranav Wamanacharya, Pranav Bhanose, Vinod Peerapur, and Tuhin Satarkar from Pune. That includes 5c to 7c grade routes at Ramshej and Anjaneri and one multi pitch route at Anjaneri  named High Ambitions. High Ambitions was climbed by Samiran in december 2013 and this climb was filmed by couple of Americans for a documentary film on climbing in India. In this February, Rockclimbers Nasik group explored some new boulders at Anjaneri with friend climbers from Bikaner. Kishan  Rajpurohit and Ankit  Sharma. They have enjoyed climbing sports routes at Ramshej and bouldering at Anjaneri and they are looking forward to explore more. 

               Anjaneri fort is a place which has potential for all kinds of climbing routes.  It has 5 pinnacles (Pahine Navra, Pahine Navri, Anjaneri Navra, Anjaneri Navri, Karavali). Also Sunday 1, Sunday 2 pinnacles are very nearby. Anjaneri has 300-400 ft of rock walls to open multi pitch sports routes. (5-6 sports routes are already  been bolted by Samiran Kolhe.) There are many boulders at the base of fort and at back side of fort, near Pahine Village. Some bouldering routes have already been climbed there, graded from V2 to V7 and there are still unfinished projects which can be more than V8. Members of Rockclimbers Nasik group Bhushan, Sanket, Jitendra, Bhupesh, Sagar have explored some awesome high boulders in last visit to Anjaneri which are around fifteen to twenty feet tall.

 

            There is still vast area, waiting to be explored by climbers. Countless rocks, waiting  to come out of shadows. Nasik has so much to offer to climbers. There can be routes for beginners to masters. An event like climbing competition or rock trip would be a good platform to bring Nasik on map of climbing areas. Rockclimbers Nasik group invites all the fellow climbers from India to visit Nasik and open new awesome routes for future generation of climbers. And bring this rock treasure to light.

                                      

                       SO LETS GO CLIMBING FOLKS...