note on a boy from sadulpur to steel tycoon of the world

Few know that Lakshmi was not born in Kolkatta (a bustling Indian city with many narrow bylanes) but he was actually born in a small hamlet called sadulpur. Sadulpur? and I say with utmost pride that Sadulpur is a tiny hamlet in district CHURU (also the birthplace of former RBI governor Dr. Bimal Jalan), which is part of the SHEKHAWATI region of Rajasthan. The shekhwati region of Rajasthan is where the creme de la creme Marwari businessmen of India hail from.
The Birlas, the Singhania's and many more. The SHEKHAWATI region is made of mostly 3-4 districts on the eastern borders of the desert state of Rajasthan. The districts include Jhunjunu and Churu.
Pilani is a town in the Jhunjhunu District in Rajasthan, India. The town Pilani derives its name from Jat fighter with Pilania gotra. He died protecting the fort and was honoured by the king for his courage and sacrifice by giving his name to location. Pilani is part of Shekhawati region. In the winters it reaches sub-zero temperatures. The fresco paintings on grand Havelis are peculiarity of Shekhawati region.
The deep penetration of the marwari business man in all spheres and geographic locations, doesnt it amaze you? I am told that the penetration is due to the mass disemination of the marwaris post WW II, in the form of money lenders.
But, these boys from Shekhawati region I tell you they are a gendre in their own right. may be the water of that place has it in it. But, all business men from the Shekhawati region have found their place under the sun.
the plain B-Com. from Kolkata takes on the world.

Coming Sooon....

hey hi all,
havent been around for a while. Gonna hit the campaign trail very soon. I have always wondered what it would be like to run a cash rich company where you can take a lot of risky dicision. But come to think of it, when every buck counts in your co. every decision you take is a risk.
Gonna try to do some gliding this trip, (ever heard of the pinjore gardens) ? So just gonna log out now but coming soon, some intresting tit-bits from me soon.

• A mid summer nights dream
• Re-servation! who cares ( i dont sympathise with doctors any way)
• competitive strategy's for mid size pharma co's in outsourcing.

ayeee yeh hai bombay meri jaan

way back in the black and white era, one balmy sunday afternoon Mukesh and his musicians got to gether at the ernstwhile mehboob studios, there was idle chat and humidity in the air. And what did they come up with? ,"Bombay meri jaan".
Remember that slimy Keshto Mukherjee finding his way on Marine Drive and swaying in his own world, with the mouth organ playing in the background
"kahi saata, kayi paata, kahi chori, kahi rape,
Kahi daaka, kayi paaka kahi thookar, kahi thaes
Bekaro ke kahi kam hai yehaan
Ayyye dil hai mushkil jeena yaha
jaara hat ke jaara bach ke yeh hai bombay meri jaan"

it has always been my secret desire to film Bombay on the move in the rains, can you imagine the bustling Crawford market in the rains or the Kaneri Caves with its long waterfall. Absolutely mind blowing.

Ordinary men... Extraordinary life's

ORDINARY MEN EXTRAORDINARY LIFES

When major gen. R.C Puri was posted at the deserts of Rajasthan (INDO-PAK WAR 1979) little did he know that at 2:00 PM at 42 C dessert temp, he would be asked to rush to the small hamlet of LONGIWALA near the Indo Pak border.
By the time he reached Longiwala with a small company of 40 people. It was 8:00 PM. Some time before mid-night they heard the noise of tanks from the enemy side they quicky took their positions in the bunkers knowing that their ammunition was not enough to brave the enemy tanks they radioed and asked for air support. They were given two instructions.

1) To pull back if they are unable to hold the enemy at LONGIWALA.
2) The air support could reach them only at day break.

Maj. Puri made the obvious choice NOT to pull back, but to face the enemy’s 20 tanks with his 40 men. Head on.
What happened next is history, not only did he hold them at LONGIVALA till day break, but he was also able to destroy 16 out of the 20 enemy tanks.
Maj. R.C Puri was awarded the highest galantary award the Paramvir Chakra. For his bravery and courage. But little did he know that the enemy tanks he stopped at Longiwala planned not only to take over LONGIVALA but intended to go right up to JAISALMER.

Who are these ordinary people with extra ordinary lifes? Most people were worried and scared when family members did not reach home on the deadly Tuesday night of rains. Imagine these young jawans staying away from their families for 8 months at a go. At places like the Siachen Glacier winter temp reaches –220 C

SOHA ALI khan (do I need to say more)

The last time I was actually fascinated by a performer ? that was long back. But, Soha Ali Khan is such a breath of fresh air. She does not have the oomph of Kareena or the girl next door feel of Rani but she is definitely "girl you can take to meet mom".
Like most of us who read this blog I saw her in the movie "rang de basanti" in which she plays a young, chirpy but a jilted lover. Not much emotions from her character but she comes across as a care a damm DU student. (delhi university)
The movie itself runs on many parallel lines with a wiff of nationalism. Only, thing the director has not been able to hold the script or the direction towards the end. Mind blowing music "khalbali, tu bin bataye" There is this one religious punjabi hymn "ik onkar" and this hymn has been shot with the Golden Temple in the background. Don't miss it for the world.
That was that, so I have been traversing a good part of my home state. Heard of a god forsaken place called Jalna or may be Parbhani? I hadn't too until recently. It is macro interior in the true sense. I mean I met with an small accident not with a lorry or a speeding motorcyclist but with a Buick, yeah this guy fairly large just jumped out of no where to cross the road and banged into my car. So that was that, hope to receive and write more stories, and yeah before I forget Happy Valenties Day to all.
It is not every now and then that A person comes into your life and changes it for the better. It happend to me and could be happening to you, make the most of it my friend while it lasts.

Khardungla Calling........

When I started this blog the sole intention was to get some issues straightened out. Get some of my random thoughts a breath of fresh air and share some of my experiences. I have always thought of writing a travel diary on your blog to be cliche. But guess what, I am tempted to write mine too.
My b'day is just around the corner and mentally I have made a list of b'day gifts that I would like to have the most. Most of them are so unrealistic if you read them you would laugh your guts out. So over the next few days I plan to write some of my wishes (censored) right here. Offcourse, its not going to be the regular b'day cause one person will be missing from my life so much. So for that ONE person I borrow lyrics from Dolly Parton


I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you dreamed of
And I wish you joy and happiness But above all this
I wish you love

some randon birthday wishes

• One hour chat with Nikhil Gandhi (Sea King), Prof Patel and Dilip Sanghvi
• Ice skating at Central Park
• Personally autographed copy of "Godfather" by Mario Puzo
• A happy photograph with all at the Pang gong Lake (including Namyal)
• Tandem paragliding at Kamshet
• Visit my brothers office desk.
• one hour face to face chat with Amartya Sen and Neil Armstrong
• Snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef
• Life time subscription of Time Magazine
• To get published in Lonely Planet (visit GOA on a shoestring)

The approach to Khardungla is from Leh. For the uninitiated Khardungla is the world's highest motorable road. So? dude, a plane flies at 15000 mts and Khardungla pass is at 5802 mts. It is obviously a very cold place with its average temperature below zero degrees.

The final approach is via a steep climb from "pang" (lets call it Khardungla jr.) the pass connects Leh with many important army instilations on the Indo-China border. So, on one side of Leh you have the Leh Shrinagar highway, the same highway which has Kargil et all. And on the other side is the mighty Khardungla.

Just to step out at the peak and get your photo taken is a task on Khardungla because the air is so thin and breathing is very difficult. In case you going there I will give you a tip, tie a little bit of kapoor in a hanky, it works as a stimulant. Call it a desi shot of salbutamol inhaler. Just keep inhaling the fumes from the kapoor (it is called sublimation - process of solid turning to gas without going through the liquid stage). So, to be there even a few mins is a task. And, there are these brave army jawans who are there for six months at a shot. No breaks.

I was told that a posting at Sianchen glacier normally lasts for 2-3 years. What must be the average temperature at Siachen ?? Its -40 C the winter temperature is -300 C.

So thats all I wanted to write about my traverse from Leh to Nubra Valley via the Khardungla. If you have not been there, take some time out and salute the mighty men who protect us day and night at the cost of their health and life.

Soda, Mint and Go 92.5

Just as I get ready to head out of town for my business trips, its not my pet or my favourite bhelwala that I miss the most, its Go 92.5 fm (go925fm.com) that i miss the most.
You gotta be really lovin it (achha lagta hai) to be tuned to one station for the last 3 years. Go 92.5 fm for me has the typical metrosexual male flavour. It plays the "right" music, from Abba on sunday mornings to Strings on Friday nights.
I wanna share with you how I got hooked on to this station. The very first time I heard of this station I was at The Independence Rock 2002. They were one of the sponsorers and advertised themselfs as 92.5% music and the rest ads and RJ's. (well thoose days are all long gone).
The second event was when I casually tuned into the station and heard VJ Mallini introducing a song as "Bobby Deol getting hiccups" and you guessed it right she played "Gupt gupt yeh hai gupt gupt". RJ Mallini Agarwal is by far the most beautiful radio jockey on any station in India. Curious?? wanna see her pic?? read on I will not disappoint you.

"Last time I was sober and then I felt bad,
It took six Burgers and Choc all night, just to set me right"

Lastly, I want to tell you about the funniest and the hilarious of all, the badshah of comedy. More comic, then that godforsaken actor who played the lover in Pakistani stage shows (buddha ghar pe hai?) he is more funny then Sunil Pal and Eddie Murphy put together, friends I am talking about Jaggu (a.k.a ashish jagtiani) and Tarana. They team up every morning on Good Morning Mumbai.
You have to hear them to believe me, I have some sound bites from their show (available on request). Their web site is go925fm.com and yeah you wanna see Malini's pics log on to
www.aneeshbhasin.com
Wanna share your radio experience with moi?? write in at ashishsaraf@yahoo.com

you ain't swadeshi, just because you wear handloom..

yes there, the recent controversy about human bones being present in ayurvedic medicine is pretty disgusting. The last time I heard about bones and food was when a godman claimed that pan parag had lizard bones crushed in it.
Then and now, my stand has been very cliche. If there were lizard bones in pan parag there would be no way the manufacturer could retail it at as less as three rupees a pouch (10 cents).
Coming back to the ayurvedic medicines manufactured by swami ramdeo maharaj (Haridwar), a particular politician cum self proclaimed social worker "Vrinda Karat" claims that the medicines contain human bones! yeah, you heard it right human bones.
The damm medicines have not even been tested in any FDA approved lab for her to claim this and to add salt to injury the damm media is fulling her claim to no end. Harvard graduate, Mira Nair's, award winning film, Monsoon Wedding, (the movie was shot by a hand camera) featured a dialogue by Sunidhi Chauhan
" just because you wear handloom and talk in hindi, does not make you a swadeshi"
for whom this dialogue is more apt, I leave it for you to decide.

comments ? ashishsaraf@yahoo.com
watch this space for...... jaggu and tarana, yeah !!! go 92.5 fm

Foggy New Years Eve?

Tradionally, New Year's eve, is a time when the good guys head to the church and the bad guys head to the happening pub.
The Good guys go out with their spouse and be merry while the bad guys, go out, with any one but their spouse.
Me? I took the middle path, I headed straight out of the maddening city to a cosy adobe, a top a hill. Yeah! a cosy adobe, yeah!!! a atop a hill. Bang on the Khopoli -Pali highway, is Dr.'s Cottage. Complete with lush green lawns, a beautiful bulevard, a to be mango farm and the quenessential swimming pool. And how can I forget, lots and lots of clean air.
Our food (mostly veg) was typical Maharashtrian food minus the spices. There was a nip in the air and after a while it all dawned onto me...... My friends were not so enthusiastic about the long winding roads or the simple country side they wanted their dose of khamba (local name for alcohol).
So there we had it, as the lovely ladies sang and jived to Lionel Richie and Sophie Hawkins the men danced with the walls (these men I tell you such spoil sports). Pop, went the champagne at the strike of twelve as the bar tender sprayed it on the guests, my eyes were qued onto one single, simple lady. Just wanted to go up to her and tell her "you look wonderful tonight" but, tell you I just couldnt gather the courage.
Chatted briefly, with a North Indian keen to make a carrerr in Bombay (come on don't assume he wanted to make it in Bollywood) the revelieries went on into the night and got to hear about a powerful Shiv Sena leader.
Can you imagine getting up at 6:15 on the first day of the year?? well yours truly did. It was a beautiful morning complete with a generous dose of morning dew and the urge to get my hands on a freshly brewed coffee. The best way to nurse a hangover I tell you. I overheard some one say "ayye ghar mein bhi shadeswala" As the gang got up and got going, I felt that the party continued, some of them in the pool while some on the makeshift badminton court.
Couldn't have asked for more, a perfect way to start the new year, topped it all with a devil cares attitude downed two deep fried vada pau's on the way back. Talk about a foggy new years eve!!!

blogger by day, farmer by night

"say a little hi to my friend
just slip and slidding away"

just as I think of the sclerosis within, this blog is a mighty way of getting it out of my system. So, what is this blog going to be about? and who am I starting this blog for? well, the cats not out as yet and you have to be posted on this space to know more about me, my thoughts and perceptions.
So, hope to add an article (read as thought) at least once a week. In the mean while please do send in your comments to me on ashishsaraf@yahoo.com
Comments may be published but e-mail addresses shall be kept confidential.

Before writing ahead I would like to quote a old chinese saying

"who says that the sky is the limit?
there are footprints on the moon"
Thank you and god bless you all.