Aditya Vikram Birla - The real Sun of India

Today I am inspired to share this true story from Living Legend of India Dr V N Shrikhande from Mumbai.

Sometime in 1981 got a call from Mr Birla to meet him. When I met, he immediately explained that his sickness was not my domain of expertize however the reason for meeting was that he had heard about my unique thought process from my students.

I met him once but he remembered me and got a new year diary with my name duly embossed from him. Once I had to speak on topic 'Excellence in Medical Profession' and happen to see his thoughts on excellence.

I wrote a small note to Mr Birla. My secretary told me, not to waste your time writing to such a busy man. I told her, I do not expect any reply but let me communicate. Matter ends there, once I finish my letter. Surprisingly, within 10 days got reply from him:

Quote:

Dear Dr Shrikhande:
Thank you for your charming, educative and inspiring letter of January 9th. I agree wholeheartedly with whatever you have written.

You will be surprised, what is true for you as a doctor is also relevant to me as a business man. There is great similarity. Many of the paragraphs reflect thoughts that I often propagate to my colleagues.

It was refreshing, reassuring and very enlightening to go through your letter.

Unquote:

After many months he spotted me in a party hosted by the Governor of Maharashtra. He introduced his wife Mrs Rajashree. He told her: You remember my correspondence over excellence with Dr Shrikhande. Here he is.

I realized why these people become Leaders and people love to follow them with smiling face.

Taken from: Autobiography of Dr V N Shrikhande in Marathi: ....Anee Doan Haat. Popular Publications. Mumbai

Viktor the Victor

Dr B K Goyal. The Living Legend

A grand mother was alone @ JFK Airport of New York returning back after assisting her daughter during maternity. The Maharastrian lady was quite emotional remembering her grandson and wanted to call her daughter and inform her that everything was okay and flight was getting ready.
Alone and being a first time traveller, her anxiety was quite high.

A tall, handsome Indian gentleman approached her and asked: 'May I help you?'. She said to herself, God has come to help me. She told him that she wants to talk to her daughter and I am totally confused and lost.

'Don't cry, Don't cry...come with me. He took her to the telephone Booth and helped her to make the call. He helped her with luggage and even changed his seat next to her till Mumbai. During that flight he talked and made her comfortable till she went to sleep.

Later while departing he gave her his card and told her to come to him if she needs any help. Repeatedly till they parted away. She discovered that he was son in law of Dr Muranjan whom this lady knew.

This gentleman was Dr B K Goyal. A real living legend worth a Bharat Ratna. It is persons like this which makes our country great and us proud of ourselves.

Taken from autobiography of Mrs Nirmala Deshpande titled in Marathi: Bhali Gondan Chandan: Publisher: Popular Prakashan. Incidentally, Mrs Deshpande happens to be neighbour of SachinTendulkar's family for many years and close friend of his father late Prof Ramesh Tendulkar.

Monsoon Magic @ Kihim Beach, Alibaug

Last 40 years or more been experiencing the joy of monsoon magic in and around Mumbai. This year it was Kihim just across the Gateway of India where all the Page 3 people have cottages. The area is dense with forest greenery and coconut orchards. Paradise on earth.

Started @ 7 am with 5 close friends and we stopped @ Wadkhal Naka @ Kshoodha Shanti Gruha for a hearty breakfast. Kshoodha Shanti Gruha means Home for Bringing Calmness to Hungry Stomach. We ordered 5 Missal Pav's and 1 Ussal Wada with hot and fresh Laadi Paav. Ussal Wada is fresh and crisp Batata Wada floating in hot & spicy Ussal with local flavours. We got some crispy Kanda Bhajia's with Gun powder. Gun powder is Raigad version of red chutney given by Mumbai Wadapav vendor. Here, they add bit of roasted chana powder to make it more meaningful. You break that Kanda Bhajia and dip into Gun powder and......be happy. Washed down all the stuff with Adrak chai. Param Sukh!!!! Param Sukh!!!!!!!!

Then we moved to Sai Sanidhya Resort which is 2 minutes walk away from the Beach. Ninad who is a qualified professional with a degree in hospitality management runs the show. He is tall, dark, handsome, smiling and a gentleman. He treats each customer as God and fortunately he has discovered early in his career who are his CUSTOMERS.

In order to enhance our pleasure we got some pure water of Carlsberg and holy water from Scotland and Red colour Drakshasav from Dindori (Nasik).

For Lunch he served us special hot chappaties which are prepared with wheat flour and stuffed with rice flour. It is a delicacy never tested before. Great Chicken curry and Gulab jamuns to end the lunch.

For Dinner he served us with freshly fried Surmai and Crab Curry with Rice Bhakri and to end the creamy vermicelli pudding garnished with dry fruits. Let me not describe the great breakfast and invite your envy.

The joy of monsoon picnic is enjoyed in following way: Let me try to describe it in words:

1. The smell of water soaked and satisfied mother earth. A unique smell coming from paddy fields and water drenched trees.

2. The sensation of sharp rain drops hitting your face on the Beach. Plodding through the water puddles and jumping there and splashing it.

3. Hearing the sound of Silence, Rain, birds and the ocean. Within minutes our mind calms down so much @ zero cost. Why is that so? Ask this question to friends and no satisfactory answer come to me.

4. Joy of looking @ the cloudy sky. Every changing moment to moment. If one is lucky we may get bit of sunshine too for a moment. The joy of looking at giant waves coming to shore and wetting my feet. This is ultimate.

5. Great local food. Fresh, organic, hot. We unanimously agree that it is worthwhile to drive down to Kihim just for great food and nothing else. Those who are sea food lovers: Breaking News! This time of the year one can enjoy a special fish called Jitada only available here. But the problem is it is rare and very expensive. If you are really chosen one you may get it. We did not!!!

Ninad has a website www.sannidhya.com or you can call him on his cell +919822999085.

Promised Ninad to come again and asked him the best time to visit Kihim exclusively for Sea Food. He told shocking to visit during Navratri. The best and testiest sea food is available during that time and he says the most of the Bengali's from Mumbai make it a point to come down during that time.