Simple Solutions by Vandana Lekhi

This is my second ebook I’ll be releasing shortly on Amazon kindle . It deals with a friendly witch helping children and aged with the poweful ointment of love . Soon I’ll be placing on this my blog the working of Tis Hazari Court before bifurcation . Hope you enjoy my work as much as I enjoyed writing it for you .

This ebook is a detailed account of my succombing to undetected depression since childhood , of two nervous breakdowns and the enfeebling effect till my late fifties . My failures  and mistakes and my final cure . It is written with complete honesty and will serve as a guide to patients and their families suffering from this dreadful ailment .

Every relationship requires effort to prevent it from breaking . A friendly relation may witness sometimes happiness and other times may be trying . The depth of feelings determine  whether to make or break .

The family witnesses the most pure relationships . However that also requires adjustment . The ideal relationship of paerent and child also requires give and take . That of love and learning by the child and compassion and patience by the parents . One must remember respect by most children and parents towards each other is also an important element of a happy relationship .

Going further into the relationship between husband and wife there should be substantial communication of aims to be achieved and ideas and values each cherishes . A similarity of views on how to bring up their children . One should not waste time in expecting perfection in each other . Romance should be found in developing some hobby . Thanking each other for being thoughtful about their likes and dislikes  . Motivating and assisting ones spouse in various activities . Reducing misunderstanding by letting the brain direct rather than the heart ie. by not letting emotion overpower one and finding the solution to the problem . For both a sense of humour and a kind nature could work wonders .

After my parents passed away I had many regrets .I always admired them but remained at loggerheads with my father . I also don’t remember how many times I said ,” I love you ,”and ” thanks”to my mother . Or discussed about their personal views on life . Now when I meet children I tell them to say those precious words to their parents as often as they can .

Those were the days ! No television , no computers . Blissfull ignorance for children , awakening to life’s realities and secrets very gradually . Sometimes leaving them spellbound ! I remember myself standing in the school playground amongst swings . Suddenly I was struck by the powerful awakening  .  That their existed several worlds encircling the lives of every individual . There were so many families with multiplicity of diverse activities . I alone was not the centre of existence . The realization of this simple truth is etched firmly in my brain even today .

A little further down I saw a Hollywood movie in which an elderly lady was stabbed to death . I was horrified that death can be inflicted by one human being against another and this was called murder . Simple pleasures were the cause of ultimate everyday joy . Waiting expectantly by the window sill for the arrival of a neighbourhood friend . Our daily journey to a nearby shop with my elder sister , which usually ended in the purshase of two lollipops . The brown one was savoured by my sister whereas I chose the red one . What heavenly delight in the delicious flavour with every lick .

Papa making the mango or rose milkshake meant participation in a grand ceremony . All the family members would gather around him , mummy would cut the mango slices or keep the rose syrup ready . Ice would be crushed and with great skill (that was the only food preparation Papa knew) and a flourish the much awaited drink would be ready .

The car rides at night where my sister and I recited all the poems and songs we knew while our parents would have intellectual discussions . The walls at home were witness to all our fights containing warring scibbles whenever we sisters fought . Aman my younger brother taking out his wrath on the walky talky doll and breaking her as soon as he got taller than her .

Crayons , colour pencils , water colours , drawing books , story books and enchanting encyclopaedias were sufficient to keep children engrossed , busy and completely satisfied . With additional tools such as intense and vivid imagination we would transport ouselves into a dream land of make belief and pure joy . Our room would be converted into a classroom , a railway compartment or even a hospital with our doctor set game .

Simple childhood pleasures but everlasting memories of a bygone era !

India has given birth over the ages more glorious and immortal than Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi . Matchless Chhatrapti Shivaji Maharaj , awe-inspiring Maharana Pratap , revered Tatia Tope , acclaimed Bal Gangadhar Tilak , venerable Guru Gobind Singh to name a few .

The Mughal plunderers handed out exceptional , bloodthirsty , barbarity on the Indian population unheard of ever in the world . This was confronted with formidable pluck by a number of freedom fighters some mentioned above .

A narration of these freedom fighters courage would require much detail  and I begin a summary of their heroism by my first legend Chhatrapti Shivaji Maharaj . Shivaji was an unforgettable Maratha ruler . An ingenious King he governed using various heads of administration . He stood for honour of women and during victory in battle saw to it that no women were taken prisoners . Rape and molestation were brutally punished . Muslims would abduct Hindu girls and hand them over to muslim harems which they termed – ‘Nazrana’ . It so happened that a Maratha General presented the daughter in law of a Muslim Subehdar as ‘nazrana’ to Shivaji . The gallant King scolded his General for the intolerable act and laid down that any similar act would be punished with the chopping off of the hands .

He knew the necessity of a powerful army and invented first-rate warfare manouvres . An intelligence unit helped in mastering guerrilla warfare . In case of facing iminent death he advised his soldiers to retreat and regroup . He thus won many battles despite being outnumbered .

He was not a fanatic and tolerant to all religions . He had many Muslims in his  army .He was not harsh to the soldiers of the vanquished army and admitted them in his ranks on their submitting to him . However he encouraged conversion to Hinduism .

Shivaji formed a Maratha navy to safeguard India fom foreign invasion . For him India was superior to his own kingdom . He wanted to free India from invaders .

Shivaji defeated the dreaded Afzal Khan single handedly inspite of the latter being more powerful and much more huge in size .

A study of Shivaji is a must for all and would well provide material for a nail biting historical thriller .

Papa , Pran Nath Lekhi was a freedom fighter since childhood along with being exceptional in studies . Boundless struggle witnessed by the family together with a dynamic , uncompromising mould , singular inventive foresightedness and unflinching values had created a fiery temper in him which would erupt like a volcano whenever it went out of control .

It always happened that whenever his mother made “kaanji ” a popular drink from black carrots the British police would come to arrest young Pran . On papa’s marriage Mataji his mother warned mummy never to make “kaanji ” at home .

Pran’s flaming temper was once witnessed when as a child he burnt all his books which had been purchased with great difficulty .

After marriage to my mother Kamla his first assignement was as Military Estates Officer . In his career in the Cantonement service he along with mummy was posted at Lansdown , Dakshai , Dalhousie , Sagar and finally Jalandhar . Till today he occupies a position of exceptional veneration for his honourable and heroic performance . His interminable battle against corruption like dealing with the timber mafia and other wrongdoers unsettled those exercising power by disordering of their opprobrious activities of loot . “He neither takes bribes nor allows anyone to take bribes ” was the woeful chant of the corrupt .

Papa carried out alot of reforms amongst others for the wellfare of Karamcharis (workers ) . His daredevil and honest work as military estate officer created inconceivable obstacles in his promotion . So he resigned and studied law clearing his exams brilliantly with a gold medal .

My parents life is a saga of greatness and they are Gods most precious gift to me – my inspiration and perfect guide to life as Karamyogis .

Right to privacy has become a fundamental right . Surprisingly it has led to speculation and debate on an earlier Supreme Court judgement to play the national anthem in cinema halls and people to respect it .

Justice D.Chandrachud has got so carried away with his eloquence on the right to privacy that he has also raised doubts whether one has a private right to be nationalistic or not . In view of his going overboard on the right to privacy he seems to have enshrined the principle of being a traitor to our Country as ones birthright .

History is overflowing with examples to the present day of how India has been looted and plundered by disloyal traitors . If we are to accept his large hearted liberal views the law of sedition should be abolished .

The recent arrest of evil Hurriyat followers and expose on their money minting nexus with Pakistan in the disguise of liberation of Kashmir is a shocking eye opener of antinational activities of a very private group . The Maoists and Naxalites like wise have private views . It is alltogether to be ignored the heavy price the Indian Army has to pay for Chandrachuds and his likes whimsical fancies . Now the so called intelligensia is condemning the playing of the National Anthem as an attack on their right to free volition .

Come friends do you want the fate of Rohingya people with no national origin ? Where is the spirit -” Sar firoshi ki tammanna ab hamare dil mein hai    Dekhna hai zor kitna bazua quatil mein hai ”

Translation – We strongly desire to sacrifice our heads before the enemy  We challenge the imperialist to demonstate its full might in taking our lives .

This was the voice of our Freedom Fighters who now must be turning in their graves .

The appalling , antiquated practise of Triple Talaq bears the name talaq-e-biddat . By uttering the word talaq thrice in the presence or absence of the wife a Muslim can get instantaneous divorce from his wife. The word talaq can be spoken thrice or written or even posted by mail. After divorce is pronounced , reunion with same divorced husband is not permitted unless the wife first remarries another person . This process is called nikah halala . The custody of their children remains with the divorced mother till she remarries.

This outrageous form of divorce does not emanate from the Holy Quran and most Muslim countries have reined in and abolished it . However this atrocious form of talaq finds fierce misguided protagonists in the All India Muslim Personal Law Board an NGO a private organisation and not statutory one . Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal represented them in the recent historic case before the Hon’ble Supreme Court . Six courageous petitioners the main being Shayara Bano had challenged the validity of triple talaq . Shayara’s husband divorced her after 15 years of marriage by just saying “ talaq , talaq , talaq “ over the phone .

The valorous step by the bold six petitioners resulted in Supreme Court’s milestone judgement whereby triple talaq was declared unconstitutional and void by a 3:2 verdict . Salman Khurshid appeared as amicus curiae and while denouncing triple talaq as “sinful “ said it was “legal “ . The truth is that it is not even legal . This form of divorce has no roots in the Holy Quran . It is actually getting sickening and loathsome support of organizations like the All India Muslim Personal Law Board not empowered with any binding enforceable legal powers.                            

Truly , dogs are matchless , bewitching most faithful friends people can ever have . They are extremely intelligent and of great service to the nation . Find it difficult to believe ? Ever heard of the Dog Squad . Well Delhi Police will be engaging in their service 100 more dogs in their Dog Squad . Their duties include hunting for drugs and explosives , finding lost people , detecting evidence where ever criminal activity is suspected and showing firm and constant support to their handlers  .

Dog squads are used internationally . In Canada their assistance is required in apprehending those involved in criminal activity . They receive foremost training along with their handlers . Germany has military police dogs . The perfect breeds for such heroic duties are the German Shepherd , Belgian Malinois and Rothwaiter .

In fact dogs have been used for these matchless duties since the Middle Ages . Surprisingly the word “sleuth “ ie. Detective is derived from bloodhounds which were called “slough dogs “ in Scotland while performing similar jobs . In the 19^th century Night watchmen took the help of dogs against offenders . However it was in Ghant , Belgium that the original formal police dog service was established in 1899 .

Now I will introduce you to my winsome , darling animal friends in my neighbourhood . You’ll be amazed at the multifarious variety they display in their individual nature and temperament . Fluke for eg an adopted stray is an extreme extrovert , captivatingly friendly . Whistle or throw a ball and he will come prancing playfully , jumping and standing on his hind legs , his front paws trying to grasp your hands . He can open doors effortlessly by turning the handle with incomparable dexterity .

Toss on the other hand is more of an introvert . He demonstrates matchless faithfulness to his owner and please don’t attempt to pat him . He is a VIP and gets easily irritated . Humans just don’t seem to understand his feelings , that’s what Toss strongly feels . He loves playing with toys and will condescend to acknowledge you if some meat is offered .

Then there is Basanti a Spitz . She loves being massaged and is a connoisseur of good food . Be it dal makhani , samosa , momos , chowmein , and you name it she is ever willing to devour it in huge gulps . Her best friend Gusto a Dalmatian often bathes my face with his warm licks . Not so friendly with all humans he does not dislike other dogs and often becomes a victim to their bad moods .

Pari and little Boondi the street dogs wildly chase most cars and scare people on bikes . Pari is boondis idol and will copy whatever the former does . They are however harmless and cherished by the labourers children of a nearby construction of a new building .

When the brilliant Neurologist Dr (Colonel ) J.D.Mukherjee observed that mummy at 88 had become childlike with alzheimers I vehemently disagreed . She would always be my Durga Ma , my supreme Guru , my heroe my heroine . Kamla Lekhi whom lucky me , God , gave as my mother was born to Devki Aggarwal and Dr Diwan Chand Aggarwal . Her parents were lovingly called Manji and Chachaji by their entire family .

As a child mummy was simply outstanding in studies . Due to the insistence of her elder btother and sister Kamla”s father admitted her to Sir Ganga Ram school in Lahore which was english medium . Kamla not knowing a single word of english , her previous school being hindi medium , failed in her mid term exam . However the tough and impossible circumstances only inspired the courageous child to face the challenge with calm determination . She got hold of dictionaries and the classic  , ” A Tale of Two Cities ” and not only taught herself english but mastered the language . After that it was continious success in school , topping year after year . She actively participated in inter-school and later inter-college debates .

When Kamla told her father that she would like to marry Pran ( Pran Nath Lekhi ) Dr Diwan Chand Aggarwal made necessary inquiries in Punjab through his relatives  for necessary details about the boy and his family . He was informed that if he wanted to throw Kamla in a dust bin only then should Kamla wed Pran . Hearing these comments from her father she strongly replied that she preferred the dustbin . She was told to invite Pran to Delhi .

Pran had to make preparation for meeting Dr Diwan Chand Aggarwal . Penniless and without a job he desperately searched for something woolen as it was the winter season . A run doun shop in Hoshiarpur displayed a sale of thin blankets called kambal . That was all he could with great difficulty mannage . So he boarded a train for Delhi dressed in ordiniary white pyjama kurta with a kambal draped along .

On reaching Delhi he was shocked and embarassed to find that even the staff at the railway platform accompanying his prospective father in law  were more smartly attired . Shortly before his death Papa recounted to me that when he overheard my grandfather say that this boy will make a name for himself one day he was terrified about it ever being possible .

It was actually a compliment by the proud father Dr Diwan Chand Aggarwal demonstrating immense faith in his unusual daughter Kamla . Anyone Kamla would give her heart and soul to was bound eventually to succeed against all odds .