Amol Apte

Three immortal songs to take you through the first day of your weekend. Tere Bina Zindagi Se The unmatched team of Gulzar sahab, RD Burman, Kishor Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar will easily take you through the first half of your day with this gem of a number from the film Andhi.  If you go deeper into the lyrics, it remains etched in your heart.  "Tere Bina zindagi se koi shikawa to nahi, tere Bina zindagi bhi lekin zindagi to nahi" Listen to the song and be amazed at how Gulzar sahab can convey such deep thoughts in easiest possible way and how easily RDB brings out a tune that you don't need to see the song to feel the emotion. Not to forget how Kishore da and Lata didi bring out each and every emotion in the song to life. Is Rang Badalti Duniya Me Team consisting of Shankar-Jaikishan, Hasarat Jaipuri and Mohd. Rafi, immortalizes the old school romance. This song from the movie Rajkumar will sooth you through the afternoons. The songs reaches its pinnacle with Hasarat Jaipu...

As compared to the month of July, the crowds here at the hospital seem to have returned. It may not be as big a crowd as it was before Covid happened, but still there are hundreds of patients. Staff seems to have made extra arrangements and rules for the patients to follow to prevent covid. Waiting outside the HBB 101, I look at my token. It's still just token number 150 that is called, and I have to wait untill 239. While you know it's going to take time, you still keep on checking, just in case your number comes earlier than you actually imagined. Trying to keep your mind engaged while you wait in the queue is a huge task. There's so much happening around you. Suddenly I heard an irritated voice of a kid, screaming and at the same time crying and telling something to his mother. I see a small pale, thin kid with needles at the back of his tiny palms with heavy bandages for administering medicines, sleeping on the lap of his mother, who by the way doesn't look older th...

Somewhere around the month of March all (ok almost all) sporting events across the globe came to a screeching halt. The pendamic had brought down yet another industry. However, after a gap of almost 2.5 months sporting events atleast the European Football has started to return. Developed markets like Germany and UK were among the first ones to bring guidance notes towards return to play. #Bundusliga was the first one to return with several guidances on #returntoplay, spectatorless stadiums, player and support staff safety SoPs etc. in place. #laliga and #epl too have guidances in place and are are going to return soon. In India the biggest sporting event the #ipl too was no different and it's organizer #bcci is moving cautiously towards announcing it's return. Sports Authority of India (#SAI) has come up with #letsplayagain guidance note to ensure retune of sports in phased manner. While most of the Leagues/Boards/Federations will have player/support staff safety in their minds...

I've stopped usually writing about anything that people might consider as a political view. The idea behind it is just to avoid all negativity that it brings along without any purpose. But today, I want to write. Write about an individual, his selfless and brave efforts in doing something that brings meaning to his life. Write about an organisation, which inculcates these values of Selfless Seva (Service) of humanity. "Nitin Tamhankar", a childhood friend, actually an year junior from school days. A person who comes across to me as a constant knowledge seeker, a person who constantly strives to do things that add value to the society and give purpose and meaning to his own life in return.  He has been a part of a volunteer organization which helps collate/analyse data that helps pridict landslides during monsoon seasons. This prediction helps government take appropriate steps to avoid accidents on various highways across the state of Maharashtra. Nitin is also a staunch R...

Oblivion 13th of December 2006, after all rituals of our marriage ceremony were almost over and we were preparing for the 'bidai' and subsequent 14 hours journey back to Indore, my sisters in law gathered and told that as per the customs, I will have to do something to impress the family so that they can allow their sister to go with me.  It could be anything. May be sing a song. I thought that would be easy. I mean it's just a song and they don't even expect me to be Melodious. At least that wasn't a condition. Story of we getting married was of course for some (including me) unbelievable in many ways.  I remember, I sang a couple of songs. Both of them my all-time favourites.  Two songs that came to my mind and which I sang are centered around the theme of being in oblivion (knowingly or unknowingly).  A few days back, in a moment sitting alone listening to one of these songs and thinking about that day when I look back at the situations in t...

आज सुबह, चाय पीते हुए, जब कोयल की मधुर आवाज सुनी, तो बचपन की कुछ यादें ताज़ा हो गईं।  ऐसा नहीं है की मुंबई में कोयल की आवाज सुनने को नहीं मिलती और इस कठिन परिस्थिति में जब सब और शांति फैली हुई हे तभी कोयल की आवाज सुनने में आ रही है। पर यह भी सच है, की पश्चिमी द्रुतगति मार्ग के पास सोलहवीं मंज़िल पर रहते हुए,  वाहनों की तेज आवाजों के बीच, पक्षियों की मधुर ध्वनि पर कम ही ध्यान जाता है। खैर, बात १९८०-९० के दशक में उन दिनो की है जब परीक्षाएं समाप्त हो चुकी थीं, और बीमानगर में हम सब की गर्मी की छुट्टियां शुरू हो चुकी थी।   सुबह-सुबह पक्षियों के चहकने के बिच, मेरी आवाज गुंजी।। क्षितिज, क्षितिज, क्षितिज। सामने के घर से, पहली मंज़िल पर, आखरी खिड़की से आंखें मलता क्षितिज आया। "अबे साले इतनी जल्दी जाएंगे क्रिकेट खेलने ? अभी तो साढ़े छै ही बजा है।" जवाब आया "अभी उठाया है तब तू  सात तक मैदान पर आएगा". हमारे दल में तब मैं, क्षितिज, सुदीप, आनंद, अमित, बब्बू, दुष्यंत, हर्षल, गुलजीत और हाँ मधुरा भी हुआ करती थी। मधुरा, दुष्यंत-हर्षल ...