It took a conflict…
Bachi Karkaria's Erratica and its cheeky sign-off character, Alec Smart, have had a growing league of followers since 1994 when the column began in the Metropolis on Saturday. It now appears on the Edit Page of the Times of India, every Thursday. It takes a sly dig at whatever has inflated political/celebrity egos, and got public knickers in a twist that week. It makes you chuckle, think and marvel at the elasticity of the English language. It is a shooting-from-the-lip advice column to the lovelorn and otherwise torn, telling them to stop cribbing and start living -- all in her her branded pithy, witty style. LESS ... MORE
To tell us that not only world, nation too is one family
Several weeks ago, I 'columned' a diverse family that had lived happily together for ages but splintered when Biggest Brother began ordering everyone on how to love, pray, even eat. All the smaller brothers had to obey, or face his wrath. He pushed around second biggest brother mostly saying, 'Some relative of yours had fought with us 70 years ago, and moved to a separate house, so you too should leave this ancestral home and go live there!' Arre bhai, what logic was that? But, biggest is mightiest, no?
Then, three weeks ago while some members were enjoying a lovely picnic, a terrible thing happened – but which miraculously restored their past proud unity. A quarrelsome neighbour had eyed the family's vast property right from the start – and now resented its growing stature in the community. That April morning, he brazenly swooped down, started getting violent, grabbed stuff and generally created mayhem of the most intolerable kind. Well, you can be sure our strong family leader wasn't going to have any of this nonsense. No, Sir-ji, he was going to protect his home with all his superior might. Not just that, he was going to teach the belligerent marauder such a lesson that it would 'make him remember his nani' – as an earlier head of household had so colourfully put it.
Now here's the beauty of it. Biggest Brother stopped doubting second biggest brother's loyalty. Instead, he immediately coopted him to show the land-grabbing lout and world that the entire clan was united in this fight to the finish-off. Second biggest brother did not sulk, 'You kept isolating me, so why should I join.' No-ji, not for a nanosecond. He – indeed all smaller brothers – jumped into the fray, declaring, 'We are one family and we will uphold its honour as one.' Such a united stand won the day. And they all again lived happily ever after – nobody ever forgetting that 'Dividing, we fall.'
Biggest Brother even coined a motto, 'Garv se kaho, hum Bharatiya kutumbakam hain!'
***
Alec Smart said: 'New greeting thanks to our Star Warriors: 'May the Forces be with you'.'
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author's own.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Shah Rukh Khan's manager denies claims of complaints over Mannat renovation, claims they are following guidelines
Mumbai's iconic sea-facing bungalow Mannat, home to Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, came under scrutiny this week after activist Santosh Daundkar lodged a complaint alleging unauthorized construction. In response, a joint team from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the forest department visited the premises to inspect potential violations. According to a report by the Times of India, the officials were seen at Mannat, which comprises a heritage structure, Villa Vienna, and a modern multi-storey annexe currently undergoing renovation. Shah Rukh and his family have temporarily moved out during the revamp and are residing in a luxurious four-floor apartment at Puja Casa in Pali Hill, Bandra, owned by film producer Vashu Bhagnani. During the site visit, Shah Rukh Khan's staff received the inspection team and assured them that all relevant permits and documents for the ongoing renovation would be submitted in due course. The actor's long-time manager, Pooja Dadlani, dismissed any allegations of wrongdoing. 'There are no complaints. All work is going on as per guidelines,' she told TOI. A forest department official told the publication the visit saying that a team carried out inspections after they received a complaint. Also Read | Shah Rukh Khan to add two new floors to Mannat at a cost of Rs 25 crore, wife Gauri seeks permission: report The complaint, filed by Daundkar, gained weight following claims made by former IPS officer YP Singh. Singh alleged that Mannat's annexe was constructed in 2005 by circumventing the Urban Land Ceiling Act. He claimed that 12 small flats were initially approved on the property but were later combined into one luxurious residence for Shah Rukh and his wife, interior designer Gauri Khan. Singh accused municipal authorities of collusion and demanded the original layout be restored to comply with housing regulations. Mannat has been Shah Rukh Khan's residence since the early 2000s and remains a landmark in Mumbai's Bandstand area.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Panchayat actor Sanvikaa shares cryptic note on not being treated equally: ‘I wish I was an insider'
Panchayat actor Sanvikaa, whose real name is Pooja Singh, has shared a cryptic post on the lack of respect and not being treated equally in the entertainment industry. Taking to her Instagram Stories recently, Sanvikaa also talked about wanting to be an "insider or maybe from a very powerful background". However, Sanvikaa didn't share any further details about what incident made her feel this way. (Also Read | Panchayat is like a government job for me: Sanvikaa) Sanvikaa spoke about her life in the entertainment industry. (Instagram) Sanvikaa, who plays Rinki in the comedy-drama series, said that if she received what she wished for, her "battles would have been lesser". She wrote, "Sometimes I wish I was an insider or maybe from a very powerful background, things would have been so much easier (maybe, I don't know). As basic as getting respect and being treated as an equal. The battles would have been lesser. Hanging on... (smiling emoji)." Taking to her Instagram Stories, Sanvikaa shared a note. About Sanvikaa As per a Times of India report, Sanvikaa is from Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur, who quit engineering to pursue acting. She moved to Mumbai and worked as a costume assistant before starting auditions. Apart from Panchayat 2, she has also starred in the web series Lakhan Leela Bhargava and Hajamat. Last year, speaking with Hindustan Times, Sanvikaa had compared Panchayat to "a government job". "Panchayat is a big support system for me, it's like (the security offered by) a government job so I can experiment with the choice of work which I do. The makers were very clear about the progression of my character. A few seconds cameo in the first season to gradual progression in preceding seasons, they had it all planned," she had said. About Panchayat The season four of the series will premiere on Prime Video on June 24. The upcoming season will see the return of Jitendra Kumar as Sachiv Ji, alongside Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, Durgesh Kumar, Sunita Rajwar, and Pankaj Jha--each contributing to the growing political tension in Phulera. Season 3 of Panchayat concluded on a tense cliffhanger, and the stakes were raised considerably. The series had built up to a shocking confrontation between the villagers of Phulera and the goons of MLA Chandrakishore. The escalating tension between the two sides culminated in a violent face-off, leaving viewers eagerly awaiting answers. The cliffhanger featured an attack on the local leadership, with Pradhanji sustaining a gunshot wound to the shoulder, while Abhishek's preparations for the CAT examination were disrupted by the ensuing violence. Season 4 promises to pick up right from where season 3 left off, delving into the aftermath of the political violence and the unresolved questions surrounding the Panchayat elections. If the teaser trailer is anything to go by, Phulera appears to have turned into a political battleground, with campaign slogans, fiery rallies, and underhanded tactics. The contest for the Pradhan's seat intensifies between Manju Devi and Kranti Devi. Created by Deepak Kumar Mishra and Chandan Kumar, and directed by Mishra along with Akshat Vijaywargiya, the new season promises to bring back the show's signature blend of satire, warmth, and rustic charm. with ANI inputs
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Illegal construction work at Shah Rukh Khan's Mannat? Manager Pooja Dadlani responds to reports
After an activist complained about illegal construction work at Shah Rukh Khan's palatial Mumbai home Mannat, a team of BMC and forest department officials was spotted there. As per a Times of India report, they were checking for any violations following a complaint by an activist. Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan is not living in Mannat anymore, which is undergoing renovation work. Mannat, which includes a heritage bungalow and a multi-storey annex, is currently undergoing renovation. With the actor and his family temporarily relocating to a nearby residence in Pali Hill, officials who arrived for inspection were met by his staff. They assured authorities that all required renovation permits and related documents would be duly submitted. Even Shah Rukh's manager Pooja Dadlani denied any illegal activities. She told TOI, "There are no complaints. All work is going on as per guidelines." A forest department official told the publisher, "A team did carry out a site inspection as we received a complaint about renovation permissions. A report will be prepared based on the findings and submitted soon." It was also mentioned that the BMC members was part of the investigating team just to support the forest officials. Activist Santosh Daundkar filed a complaint over construction at Mannat. Former IPS officer Y P Singh claimed Mannat originally comprised a heritage building, Villa Vienna, and in 2005, a seven-storey annex was built. To bypass the Urban Land Ceiling Act, 12 small flats were approved but later merged into one luxury residence for Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan. Singh alleged municipal collusion and said the owners must now restore the flats to uphold the law and ensure housing objectives are met. Where are Shah Rukh and family living these days? Shah Rukh Khan has lived at Mannat for decades now. It is a multi-million dollar property designed by his wife, interior designer Gauri Khan. They lived there with their three kids, Aryan, Suhana and AbRam. They are now temporarily living at four floors of the luxe Puja Casa building in Pali Hill area of Bandra. It is owned by film producer Vashu Bhagnani.
