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Brush with Politicians / Celebrities ....can be memorable

Those were the days of internship with a prominent daily in Mumbai. It still is, as charted by popular standards.It would be wise to avoid names but then they respected some principles of life. Journalists formed lobbies in the corridors of power backed by money bags. We (interns) were so naive to discern money bags and chamchas (lobbyists).

The umpteen pressers attended were low profile or insignficant and that whether the reports would see the next day's sunrise. But then these reports most of the time were buried or shelved. Sad no coffins were needed.Once I had the fortune to attend a presser called by the then CM at his conference room. He rolled his eyes to see a young lady like me with a notepad and eagerly waiting to put in a question in Marathi. Of course my senior reporter introduced me to him .....'Intern aahay'.  Then the CM says Hmm and proceeds with his utterances quickly. A man of few words / sentences. Reporters all alert with ears pricked. On his way out he walks briskly towards me and smiles with a quick line - Sahi Sahi Lihaa....means present facts correctly. I nodded as if I was showered with gifts galore. It was good to interact with politicians then.

Industrialist ....an odd encounter.

Attended a presser and was in a hurry to reach the newspaper office but Lo, I gate-crashed with a Marwari 'rich man' near the lift. His secretary and chauffeur in tow. How dare the liftman stop me from taking the lift (SNDT Building - Marine Lines) 'Nahi Nahi Saheb Pehle'..............(I was stopped). The lift looked spacious enough to accommodate me, then why? The Marwari gentleman was kind enough to call me into the lift. Asked me who I was. Smiled and kept mum. Who was he? Mr Ramnath Goenka. Such dignity and gravity at such an age contrary to public opinion that he was brash and outspoken.

Fortunate to watch & talk to fortunate souls ?

 Anita worked with the sales clan of a jeweller (TBZ @ Oberoi Towers).She was smart, chubby and ever-smiling.A co-commuter on the Churcugate-Borivili local at 9.15 a.m.She often narrated her fortune with elan of having met all filmstars or celebrities at her shop. Diamonds,gold and precious stones were the wares she dealt with but she feasted on the looks(filmstars) and words that dropped from her clients.We listened to her blah-blah that went on and on"....Hema Malini only bought diamonds...Jaya Bachchan the only client who bought black pearls....etc"So what? Well, that was not I waited for, whether there was an odd snippet to talk of ...None...just looks, haughtiness, snappy orders...This sums up celebrities.


AAP man will not bear apmaan

 If only popular persons wouldn't throw tantrums, the world would be a better place to live in.A recently turned popular politician? activist? dogmatist? Arvind Kejriwal is one person I would like to meet and get a handshake. Of course it cannot be compared to the R.Castro and B.Obama handshake. Because I am apolitical.

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