"Kazra Muhabbat wala…"

Oh my my what a treat for a musical night.. Thank you all Sa Re Ga Ma friends..

I can close my eyes and still hear those beautiful melodies.. It was a treat for all of us.I don’t sing but I enjoy music, being with you all made the long drive worth it. Thank you Sudarshan, I enjoyed introducing everyone and being with all.

Now I will try to put down my happiness on paper.

First of all I would like to thank Sunanda and Praveen Sahay for arranging the clubhouse for us. Thank you Meena and Brij Singh for hosting the event.

Its always a challenge to be the first one.. After a quick introduction to the whole group Meena did a great job starting the night for us. The Classical she sang was the perfect night opener.

Then came our Ms fun Gauri Chandana  with song "Tumhe ho na ho mujho itna yakeen hai" – Oh my we were back in those Golden days of our life, when the playfulness was the fun of love. Thank you Gauri, to take us back in time machine.

It was the first time I heard Praveen Sahay and now I am sure we all want him to sing Hemant Kumar all the time, "Ye nayan dare dare".. We needed this tranquilizing melody after Gauri’s song.

The Chatterji Couple was the next – Chat sang – "Chalke teri ankho se sharab aur jyada" he just took us in another romantic era reminiscent of Goblets and Ghazals , and Shobha di brought us back to Meera’s devotional world – "Payo ji maine Raam rattan dhan payo"..

Every month we get to meet new people and listen to new styles of singing.This Friday wasn't the exception and we got to hear couple of new singers.

Anisha was a delight to hear.( we named her Sanyukta for the night because she was with Prithiviraj last night. She sang "Mera kuch saman tumhare paas pada hai". It was a tough song and she did a great job with a deadly combination of Asha and Gulzar’s sublime dance of words and notes on Pancham Da's composition.

Thank you.. we cannot wait to hear more and more from you. It was a very soothing song and then came the Phatakha song of the night..Another great new face to the group – Suraiya and I thought her name is musical enough. I grew up listening Suriya and couldn’t wait to hear what was she bringing to us and yes “Kazra Mohhabat wala”

That is an evergreen song, older than me and wow Suraiya was too good. Asha Bhosle and Shamshad Begum were right there with all of us.. I just couldn’t stop and many of danced to her tunes.

Sudarshan was the next with "Jindagi bhar nahi bhoolegi" – we all were soaked drenched in feelings.. His is always very good with his mesmeric eclecticism.

Then Vinay Goel sang another - Hemant Kumar gem - "Seene me sulgate hai arman".. his voice was perfect for the song.

Last night was a perfect combination of fun and different songs. After the calmness of Hemant Kumar , Chanchala sang a

Bhojpuri song for us -"Jheeni jheeni ahrachea ke paar goria", Anuj, Next time you will sing for us.

Rohini Mehta- sang the title song from "Kabhi alvida na kehna".

Then came my favorite part of the night - The couple song

Brij and Meena singh- "Bahut shukria badi meharbani".  

That song has lot more than just words.. It takes us to another world of love.

I grew up in MP in India. So listening Ruma Sing in Bengali opens up

another dimensions for me. I didn’t understand the words but it felt great.- "Amra sabhai raja"..

Another fun song last night was Manjul Nigam singing "Bemurawaat bewafa begana ye dil aap hain" to her husband :) he was sitting right there and we all enjoy listening to her and watching him.

Meetu Gupta sang "Daba daba sa sahi dil me pyar", a tribute to Jagjit Singh..Its his signature song and was a perfect choice for the evening.

Then came Sesha with his charm and fun style and sang

"Jeevan ke safar me rahi milte hain bichad jane ko" and

"Lekar ham dil deewana dil phirte hain manjil manjil" .. we cannot wait for next month to hear more of our Kishore Kumar.

The good bye song of the night was a timeless classic– "Aaj jane ki zid na karo".

Sudarshan, Meetu, Manju and Anisha sang together and yes none of us were ready to let the night end.

Here is the list for second round and third round.

After 11 we all were supposed to wrap up and clean the place and I asked  Sudarshan to sing another Mohd. Rafi hit – "Ehsaan tera hoga mujha par" And apart form his singing the fun part was Mustapha and Prakash Bhaiya singing with him, Then all of us. That was the best way to end the night. I am sure we all drove back home singing the same song.

Thank you folks for the memorable night , hope lot more to come and sweep us off our feet.

Next round -

Praveen Sahay - "Na tum hame jano"

Shobha di & Chat - "Kahin door jab din dhal jaye"

Guari - "Saiyan dil mein aana re, aa ke phir na jana re"

Suriya - "Piya tose naina lage".

Vinay goel - "Kahan le chale ho musfir . Sitaro se aage"

Rohiti Mehta - "Aati rahengi baharen"

Ruma Neogyi - "Nache re .. aache re"

Gauri - "Chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko"

Sudarshan - "Kal chaudawi ki raat thi"– special Thank you

from me

Suraiya - "Raat akeli hai bujh gaye diye"

Gauri - "Ye mera dil pyar ka deewana"

 Sudarshan, Prakash bhaiya and Mustafa and all of us- "Ehsaan tera hoga mujh par"

RIP - Don't rest in peace - Return please..

After mourning for over 2 weeks today I write to pay tribute to two special men in my life. Steve Jobs and Jagjit Singh... Will my techy and musical life would ever be the same?

Jagjit Singh is not just the name of a singer he was an experience to listen or see him sing. I would say could I ever see him sing no it was to feel him all around you.

I remember I was 11-12 when I heard my uncle play his LPs. My dad was never into ghazals so my summer trips to my uncle’s home were the starting point. I still remember his collections of LPs. That started my love affair with Jagjit Singh’s voice. Slowly I collected his cassettes first then cds and now I can say I almost have all his ghazals.

Jagjit Singh gave different meanings to emotions. When Ashish and I were apart it was Jagjit Singh's ghazals which kept me going, made my tough days bearable. He was the one who could sing “mere jaise ban jaoge jab ishq tumhe ho jayega” or “socha nahi achha bura dekha suna kuch bhi nahi” and forever changed what Love is. We lost our dear friend in 97 and I remember it was Jagjit Singh who sang “aapni marzi se kahan ke kidhar ke hum hai” and I felt he was just narrating our loss. It felt so close to heart and i cried in every live performance for Ashutosh when he sang that.

For me Jagjit Singh is the memory of my newly wedded life. Ashish and I could stay up whole night listening to Jagjit Singh. I cannot thank that silken voice to make my years beautiful, in love. We both are not even bathroom singers but Jagjit Singh sang for us to each other.

Now when I think of it he practically lived in my bedroom to kitchen to the basement. Thanks to my another love, Steve Jobs, I could carry the magical voice everywhere.

The first concert Ashish took me to in Pune was the experience I would hold close to my heart all my life. I had no idea when I left my seat and walked to front and just stood there. All I remember later that Ashish held my hand and brought me back. It has been a joke that I was in some other place that night.

I had been lucky to listen to him live few times and was amazed how he could be so entertaining. So much energy and enthusiasm and so professional. Last  year I saw him in Boston and I feel blessed that I could make to that show.

But is that enough for me? I feel that one part of me is just empty now. I have his ghazals but what would I look forward to. He sang enough to last lifetime but still the feeling that he is not around is very depressing.

It was Steve Job’s death when I realized that I chose to ignore the truth, didn’t want to face it.  We all knew we won’t have him for very long but I was expecting miracle. But sure enough Steve Jobs was needed more someplace else.

I have been an Apple fan forever. But when I look back I wasn’t just an Apple fan, I was a Steve Jobs devotee. It was his personality which drove me to Apple. His iPhone introduction speech was the first thing I heard from him and oh boy I was hooked.

I did wait for a year before buying my first iPhone but after that I have been in love with Steve jobs and his ideas.

I had owned an iPod and bought a touch for Ajey but it was the iPhone what changed my world. I was addicted. He always thanked his team and talked about team efforts but I respected him for his vision. He is the one who changed the way we have music in our life. Just music nah, how we live our life. So when I turned 40 all I wanted that damn iPad and lucky for Ashish just a week before it was announced.

My 40 birthday was great, thanks to Steve Jobs. I loved my gift like no gift ever.

I mourn for a visionary and I hope Apple can continue his legacy. But for me I just cannot go to Apple like before. It’s been days and I push myself everyday to move on but what I would do to the emptiness I feel. We would get new singers, innovators but I don’t feel hopeful. This is the time when I want to believe in Hindu believe of Reincarnation and don’t wish Moksha for them. Please come back, don’t rest.. we need you.

Is my new Salary jinxed?

I took this new job two months ago. I had been working with previous group for over 3 years.. It was fun when I started but later it was a different story, just put it that way I was so ready for the change.

Have been going to school and I thought it would be another few months before I should look into something.

Things changed in my group and one day I just thought I had enough of it, and to my surprised there were job postings in the company. After that it was an easy sail. It felt so quick, my screening and job interview and offer.

The offer part for the most lucrative thing. The job was something different and I felt it was a good beginning for my entry in technology world.

On top of that it was the change I was longing for. The ride was little longer but shorter working hour made it up. I love the office and building and the cafe.. Did I say I was in love ;) Its one of the biggest office and I call it happening place. That’s what I wanted..

And another big love part was the pay hike it came with.

I would be lying if I say money is not important. I think I was happy with everything but was in love with the money part which came with the job.

I didn’t exactly plan How will I spend that Extra money but me being a traveler in heart, I could picture taking boys to Europe soon.

Anyway, that’s not the point. I would have been happy with not doing anything with it for a while. But here comes the jinx part.

I heard so many colleagues saying I was lucky, I heard that many times in my life so I am used to saying thank you and move on. But the way things are going on I don’t feel that "Lucky" anymore.

The second week at work and I banged someone's car while taking my car out. Broke the headlight. Went to security because I felt that is the right way.

They found the owner and he was a nice man. In a week's time those $ 350 Moved out of my account.

My mom used to say that small incidents are to avoid big accidents.

(Bala tal gayi, koi bada kissa hone se rah gaya) So that afternoon I drove home with that feeling, ok I should be fine.

After few weeks we went to Salisbury beach and inside the state park I thought of giving Ashish a break from driving and within 10 minutes I was caught speeding. Damn did I ever mention I hate his car? You just give a little gas and next thing you know you are flying. I was driving at 40 the cop said in the area of 25. :( That $125 was just gone like anything. We drove 80 miles for that state park and after this ticket and sad driving we reached to a point where we had to drive on gravel for few miles and the cop said we may not even get the parking (and the way he said enjoy the park and have a great day I had enough of state park) So we turned back without even going to that state park.. Finally Ashish took me to Salisbury beach and that was a sight. I loved the place and I had fun time. I just say we paid 125 for the parking that day, how does that sound to you?

Now here comes the bigger shock. My car needed the new break pad and I took it to shop Monro in Franklin. I get a call saying the rooters in my car won’t come off and they have to use few things. At that point I didn’t have any choice but the thought came to my mind, oh well here goes my second month’s plus money. And yes the car repair costed me extra $550. I was ok with 400 plus it would have costed me for breaks. That $1000 check was one of the hardest I had to sign.

See I have worked for new job for almost 2 months and I practically have spent extra money I would get with my new job.

One of my best friend was saying to me after my accidents in April that I should changed the car, the same friend told me to take care and take life easy after my accident in office parking lot.

After this break saga she was like Jaya, go back to your previous job.

It’s so funny how things turn out for you sometimes.

I cannot ask for husband's shoulder, he is the man beyond all these apprehension. For him its just part of life. I was happy beyond imagination and now I feel my money is jinxed.. Should I just keep that in some hidden account for unseen Incidents Any suggestion welcome :)

This draft sat on my computer for couple of days and another incident happened. A young driver didn’t see Ajey Crossing the Street and hit him.

 Thank goodness they both were slow, my son is safe and sound. but his couple of months old bike is broken. Now another expense is waiting for the weekend. We all are very happy and relieved that he didn’t get hurt. The driver girl was terrified so Ajey didn’t feel like asking the phone no or anything. My gentleman son…anyway, Hopefully things will go better now on.. I can use all the good wishes from my well-wishers so please keep us in your prayer and thoughts J

An evening with Ghulam Ali

Last night was the perfect end to my long weekend.

I went to Ghulam Ali concert with Ashish, Thanks to Neha Sahni and Mirza .

I bought the tickets a week ago and felt oh my.. I should use this money some where else, but I the wish to see Ghulam Ali live won and I couldn’t wait for Sunday.

I had been to few of Jagjit Singh's but never to Ghulam Ali, so didn’t know what to expect.

We were there by 5.25 PM the show was supposed to start at 5.30. The venue was little confusing and lot of people were calling to get the right place. We waited and waited but Ghulam Ali sahib was no where in sight. Finally we got to know that his driver also got lost. I couldn’t stop comparing to the latest Jagjit Singh show I had been to. It was in Boston and was very well organized.

Finally the show started around 7 PM and Ghulam Ali stared singing –

Lakho ke bol sahe sitamgar tere liye. And we all just forgot that we waited and were restless. That was one fabulous ghazals to start the show.

Then he just took over every emotion, feeling and made us feel the way he wanted us to.

He made us feel the sadness of an aashiq with Karoon na yaad magar kis tarah bhulaoon use.

Then he sang Faasle eeasi bhi honge ye khabhi socha na tha. I was just speechless and couldn’t think of anything else in the world.

Then he sang Dil me ek lahar si uyhi hai abhi.. And played/sang the lahar in variety of styles. People went crazy over that variation.

Then came the crown jewel – The Chupke chupke and he just made us feel helpless and deeply in love. The way he sang I felt I was back in my years when love was the most important aspect of life. I was surprised to see that he had the same effect on Ashish too. He sang his first sher and Asish said to me that the concert was worth everything just with one ghazal.

He added few more sher to popular movie version. I am adding those here for you..

Berukhi ke saath sunna darde dil ki daastan-
Woh kalai main tera kangan ghumana yaad hai

Waqte ruksat alvida ka lafz kehne ke liye-
Woh tere sookhe labon ka thar tharana yaad hai

aagaya kal wasl kee shab bhee kahi zikr-e-firaaq-
Woh tera ro ro ke bhi mujhko rulana yaad hai

ba hazaran istirabo sad hazaraan ishteyaque - 2
tujhse vo pehle pehel dil ka lagana yaad hai

It was a long ghazal and he sang it beyond words. He knew very well how to woo the audience. Once he finished I had tears in my eyes and smile on Ashish’s face.

 And then he sang Chamkte chand ko toota hua tara bana dala.. It was a very sad song,

Then he asked the audience and someone shouted tere shahar me aaye hain, he smiled and said han, man aapke shahar me aaya hoon and he sang Ab tere shahar me aaye hain musafir ki tarah another Ghulam Ali gem.

Later he sang 3 punjabi songs, I couldn’t understand much of it but audience had good time with rhythm.

Then came a very light and fun ghazal Mehfil mein baar baar kisi par nazar gai..words for lover of any age..this ghazal had a very nice jugalbandi with Indrojeet on Sitar.

Then he sang Apni tasveeer ko aankho se lagata kya hai another easy to ears ghazals.

Then he sang 2 Punjabi songs and here came my all time favorite

Humko kis ke gum ne mara ye kahani fir sahi.. it brought back memory of my high  shool when I heard this ghazal for the first time.

And then it was time to end the mahfil –e-Ghazal and what could he sing more than Hungama J First he explained and sang the aalap and then came the hungama. The whole auditorium was in different mood by then. It was time to go back in real world and yes none of us were ready for that. We all could just sit and listen to him more and more.

During the show he had many jugalbandi with Tabla (sabir Hussain) sitar and benjo. It was very obvious the repo he had with benjo player Mohmd Basheer khan.
Overall i had one memorable evening and cannot wait for next one :)

Tiger mom - Shouldn't we all be ..??? with some exceptions...

It was fascinating enough to read Ms. Chua’s article and even more fun to read the reactions of readers, I just cannot understand that it was just her thoughts not the “how to” journal why it offended  so many moms. I was reading and thinking that she might be little extreme  but it worked for her children. She got great kids and I would for sure give her the credit.

I am from India and I have somewhat (but not so) strict upbringing  and as a mom I definitely agree to the discipline part (not the force or not listening to the children).

I keep telling my son there is no life without good grades. I knows that world needs artists and other professionals but still good grades are the first step to success in any field. You have to be not only good, extremely good in anything. Deep down we all know how difficult this world will be and we are afraid of it. Our job to make our kids ready for future not to pamper their ego right now and be unhappy all our and their life.

It was a very popular article and looks like she started an international debate over parenting. We all have our ways with our children but we all share a common goal as parents.

Successful and happy children. The debate will go on but one thing is for sure that Eastern parenting style made Ms. Chua very famous and very very rich J

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754.html

A proud Tiger Indian mom..

Ajey got the trustee scholarship offer from Xaverian Brothers high school. We somehow knew it that he will score some good scholarship but that letter made me a proud mom.

He scored 99 percentile in entrance exam and I was like typical Indian tiger mom , the first thing came to my mind was where did that 1% go J I am glad that Divya convinced me that its very good not just good ;)  Thanks Divya… But real pleasure was the interview. I so enjoyed being in that room with him and saw him talking to Dr. Crowley that afternoon. How confident and full of questions he was. He wasn’t afraid about his views and opinions ( oh yes he is a man with opinion) . I really am happy and very happy.

That’s another story that he will not go to Xaverian and go to Franklin High but I am sure he would do good as Mr. Crowley said kids like him knows what they want and how to get there. I just hope he stays focused for few more years. Love you Ajey and we are proud of you.

My son is all ready to be a chef :)

It was a wonderful morning. I am an experimenting cook and enjoy it. Today was the big day for me, taught Ajey to make breakfast. He makes very good Tea ( it was his mothers day present to me couple of years ago) and today he did very good with Sausage and veggie omelette's and bacon and toast. I am so happy. My son is growing up :)
He is learning to clean his mess after cooking that is another big deal for me :) I am a happy mom today. Love you darling. Next weekend something new :)