They are also humans

It is very rare that one gets to meet a fellow blogger (at least for me)

So it was a pleasant surprise when I got a mail about a month ago from Dr Hema Hirlekar which said “I keep reading your blogs and just love your amazing photos. I have written a book and the launch is on Saturday 7^th Jan. It would be really great if you could attend the function. Attaching invitation”

So I decided to attend the book release (again a first for me)

Before the book launch, there was a flute recital by the young and budding flautist Mr Azharuddin Shaikh. I enjoyed the light music. Later while reading about him I realized that he has to his credit a six foot long flute which he himself developed, probably a first in the world. 

The crowd was an elite crowd mostly from defence background. 

There were some celebrities too. I noticed Dr Mohan Agashe sitting quietly in a corner taking in everything. 

The book that Dr Hema wrote was titled “Life of an army wife”  

After the formality of the release of the book she read out some excerpts from the book. She made the reading very short, probably not very comfortable being in the limelight. As she was reading, I recollected some of the blogs that she had written a few years ago. 

I realised that signing those books was the difficult part for her as practically every one queued up for an autograph. 

Sale was brisk and I found many taking multiple copies, probably for relatives and friends 

Hema’s husband Shridhar made sure that everything went off well as per the flow chart. He even introduced me to Dr Mohan Agashe. 

The ambiance was good, with the golf course on one side. 

I found this poster mounted on the club walls. Probably an old one (going by the truck model) but very relevant even today. 

   

Made a one minute video on the book release, especially for those who could not attend it.

Later at home I started reading the book and found it interesting. Some down to earth facts from the life of a defence personnel and his family, sprinkled with some light hearted humour. I liked the simple illustrations in the book. 

The book is available on Amazon.

There is this part where she goes to the border with her husband and her child. (this is in the early seventies) From across the border two jawans came. She was apprehensive. “Were they theirs or ours? What would happen now” They came forward and saluted her husband and said “Baby ko le jaye?” (can we take the baby?) She almost turned back when her husband said “Jaroor” (sure)

She was shocked and looked at her husband who nodded and indicated that she should hand over the child to them. She was too stunned to react when the child was taken from her hand. All sorts of questions went through her mind “They are our adversaries. What if they don’t bring her back?” She voiced her opinion to which he replied “don’t be ridiculous, we are not at war. They are also humans like us” 

illustration by Dr Hema Hirlekar

I paused reading. I was comparing it with the present day situation at the borders. Indeed, they are humans like us. So what made things change in a few decades. . . . . .

Sarees

There are many things in the above picture that looks appealing, it could be the greenery, or the hanging nest or the vermicompost khamba.

But what interests me here is the saree that is hanging on the clothesline. Not that it was washed or dried but I hung it there to click a good picture showing the complete saree with the pallu. Some like smaller block prints while others go in for bigger bold ones. But this is no print.

All the colours and designs that you see in the saree is hand painted.  And it was done by a young lady who is 93 years old. Yes the same “Lata’s mummy” about whom I wrote a few years ago.

When I had been to her place recently she was busy painting one of these. She says that people are buying plain sarees and giving it to her to get it custom painted. She is running short of time as there are many sarees to be completed.

I picked up two sarees of different colours and got it home to be photographed in daylight.

If you look at the border you will notice that each pattern is different though it may look the same from far.

I was just marveling at the patience and skill of this lady who could come out with different ideas and artistry skills.

Earlier I had seen her doing table cloths with figures painted all around the border.

The colour combinations are also appealing whether it is a peacock or a pharaoh

One of the pillow cases that she painted. 

A picture that I clicked on her 90th Birthday. 

And a recent one.

clicked in June 2014

A real inspiration for all I say.