Tag Archives: Indian

Lohanas … from Wikipedia

Posted on by
4

Lohanas (from Wikipedia) (Persian: لامياحاءأنأ, Gujarati: લોહાણા, Sindhi: لوها ڻا, Hindi: लोहाना) or ‘Master of Swords’ are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group and are a suryavanshi Kshatriya[citation needed] community ofIndia that originated in Iran and Afghanistan. In India, they mainly reside in Gujarat, Mumbai and other parts of the country. They have also spread to all parts of the world.

 
Languages
Indo-Aryan languages, primarily Gujarati,Kutchi, Sindhi and Hindi. Also English in the UK,USA and Canada, Arabic in Afghanistan.Swahili is spoken as a second language by some Lohanas in East Africa.
Religion
Primarily Hinduism. Those who converted toIslam are referred to as Memons or Khojas and are now separate independent communities.

[edit]Overview

Originally Lohanas were a prominent community of the Kshatriya jatt caste (Sanskrit क्षत्रिय Kshatriya) that originated in Iran and Afghanistan[citation needed], then in the region of Punjab and later on migrated to Sindh and present day Gujarat state in India around 800 years ago[citation needed]. As administrators and rulers, Kshatriya Lohanas jatt were assigned with protecting the people, and serving humanity. Over time, however, as a result of economic and political exigencies, the majority of Lohanas are now mainly engaged in mercantile occupations.

Some of the Lohanas converted to Sunni Islam, they are called Memon (Gujarati: મેમણ).

Ismaili Dai’ Pir Sadardin converted many of them to the Ismaili sect of Islam. They are known as “Khoja” (ethno Khawaja).

[edit]History

[edit]Early History

The Lohanas, also known as Thakkar (and hence often holding surnames including Thakkar and Thakrar ), trace their roots in history right up to the emergence of Aryans[citation needed], a linguistic of Indo-Iranians in the Indian sub-continent (which then included today’s Afghanistan). It is believed by Legend that the Lohanas are descendants of the hero Rama (Raghuvanshi, descendant of King Raghu), who bore two sons: Luv (Also spelled as Lava) and Kush. From the elder son Luv, the Lohanas are supposed to be originated along with Kurmi (later settled in North-East and some Western part i.e. UP, Undivided Bihar, MP, Gujrat, Maharashtra of India.)

Descendants of Kush are known as Kushwaha. His younger son Luv was given the North (uttar Kaushala) of his kingdom (Refer :Valmk Ramayan Uttar Kand sarg 107), which came to be, called Luvalka or Luv’s land consisting of present day Lahore (Pakistan) as it’s Capital.

Luv is portrayed in the Ramayana as a great warrior. In one of the episodes of the Ramayana even though he is a mere boy in the hermitage, he brings the entire army of his father Lord Rama (under the command of his uncle Laxman) to a standstill by the prowess at archery (of course along with his older brother Kush). His descendants too were cast in the same mould, but they were not satisfied with Luvalka and pushed to the west and annexed today’s Afghanistan and adjoining areas.

Around 580 BC., when king Bimbisara ruled over Bharat (India), the society came to be divided into different communities based on their occupation. One of their communities was called Kshatriyas and King Luv’s descendants were classed with them and came to be known as Luvanam, which was also referred to as Luvana. The Luvanas from Loharghat became known as Loharana (masters of swords; or iron (“Loha”) chiefs (“Rana”)), which later became Lohana.

Chinese traveller Fa-hien, who visited India between 414 and 399 B.C., calls Lohanas a brave community ruling the northwest territory of India,[4] in his diary. Another Chinese traveler, Kurmang who came in the eleventh century A.D. speaks of a Lohana kingdom as a mighty power. Historian Burton writes Lohanas were brave people and says they were spread over today’s Baluchistan (Pakistan), Afghanistan and eastern fringes of Central Asia. Col. Todd, who delved into history of Rajasthan, describes Lohanas as one of the oldest Kshatriya community.

The likely reason for this title of bravery is that they were the first line of defense for the Indian subcontinent in the direct path of invaders from northwest like Persians, Macedonians, Huns, Mughals, etc. Meanwhile, Muhammad established Islam. His followers spread out in different directions to establish his religion world-wide and in due course they turned East towards India.

Between the 7th and 11th century the Lohanas held their grounds in Afghanistan, blocking the advent of Islam eastwards. In the 11th century, they finally had to fall back and moved initially to the Sindh province of today’s Pakistan, where again for over two centuries they provided the frontline of defense against the invading hordes. Finally, at the turn of the 13th century, the Loharana king, Chahir Ray, was betrayed by his confidant Kualnger, who turned traitor for a large fortune in gold and gems. The Lohana kingdom disintegrated into smaller segments. After the community split, a new leader emerged who again unified the Lohanas. Veer Jashraj, who is revered as Veer Dada Jashraj, was born in the city of Lohar (today’s Lahore in Pakistan), which was the capital of Lohargadh. His domain extended from Lahore to Multan (also in Pakistan today).

As the folklore goes, Mongol invader Changez Khan, attacked Multan and was killed by Dada Jashraj, Rana of Lohargadh.

This finds mention in Mongol folklore, which say, “King of Mongols was killed by Mirana, the tiger of Multan fort”. His descendants who proudly carry the surname of ‘Mirana’ preserve the memory of this great warrior king. Dada Jashraj was also treacherously killed when only 28 – a life so short but full of heroic deeds.

After the death of Dada Jashraj, the decline of Lohana kingdom began and their reign at Lohargadh ended. King Dahir ruled for a while from Narayankot (today’s Hyderabad, Sindh). After his demise in a war against Muslims, Narayankot and Sindh fell to Muslims. It was around this time that some Lohanas converted to Islam. Many migrated to far-off regions like Kutchchh, Saurashtra and Gujarat and gradually became a trader community like Agarwals and Baranwals.

[edit]Recent history

In 1422 AD, 700 Lohana families comprising of some 6178 converted to Islam at the hands of one Yusuffuddin Qadri in Thatta Sindh — these are now known as Memons.

It was around this time, that Uderolal who is revered as Jhulelal (by Sindhis) or Dariyalal (by Gujaratis), son of Ratanchand Thakur and Mata Devki of Nasarpur, about 90 miles from Narayankot (now Hyderabad, Sindh) took on the mantle of Lohana leadership. Uderolal fought with Muslim chief Mirkshah, and initiated him into the true meaning of religion. Uderolal won the freedom of religion for Hindus from the Muslim rulers and devoted the rest of his life to spiritual and community service. Today Uderolal is revered as Jhulelal, the patron saint of Sindhis, both Hindus and Muslims visit the site of his samadhi.

The Lohanas felt their identity was increasingly threatened in Sindh and they began to migrate towards Kutchchh, Saurashtra, Gujarat and even as far as Thailand.[5] In Gujarati, Lohanas performing the puja (ritual worship) of Dariyalal are known as Pujaras and Dariyalal’s descendants as Ratnani.

Famous warriors once, Majority of Gujarati Lohanas took to trade and business. However, their mettle as warriors past was again tested in 1764, when Gulam Shah Kora attacked Kutchchh and they had to account for themselves in the battle of Zora. Lohana women fought alongside their men in this battle and the land of Kutchchh is strewn with memorial stones marking the deaths of Lohanas. A saying in Gujarati eulogies Lohana women thus: Only Rajputani, Loharani and Miyanai bring forth gem of children.

[edit]Lohanas today

Lohana culture has diverged over the centuries between different regions. Thus there are significant differences between the culture, professions and societies of Sindhi Lohanas, Kutchi Lohanas and those of Gujarati Lohanas.

Gujarati Lohanas gravitated towards trading since the eighteenth century. A large number of Hindu Lohana from Gujurat migrated to theBritish colonies of East Africa during the early part of the 20th century. Gujarati Lohanas in East Africa were great entrepreneurs. The Ruparelia, Madhvani, Mehta and Jobanputra families being the prominent industrialists in Uganda. The descendants of these East African settlers have moved to either Kenya and Tanzania or Great Britain in recent decades. Many of them can be found in North West London andLeicester.

Today, a good number of Gujarati Lohanas reside in Gujarat and in other parts of India. In Gujarat, many of them are in Rajkot, Jamnagar, Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat. Outside Gujarat, they can be found in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Bangalore, Mangalore, Kolkata, Varanasi, New Delhi. and other major Indian cities. Also, Gujarati Lohanas own the majority of food businesses, especially “farsan marts,” in Ahmedabad and Vadodara. They also have a noticeable share in other businesses. A significant number of Gujarati Lohanas also reside outside India.

Sindhi Lohanas, including the Bhaiband community, were primarily engaged in Agriculture, Industries and Professional Services before thePartition of India. However, after the partition, Sindhi Lohanas dispersed throughout the world, and having lost their agricultural property, have focused on Industry, Trading and Professional Services. The Khudabadi Sindhi Swarankar (Sonara) community, also affiliated with the Sindhi Lohana faction of the warrior Kshatriya caste of Hindu society, were mostly in the jewellery business. In fact, the 1911 Encyclopedia Brittanica stated in the article about Sindh that:

“ More than half of the Hindus are Lohanas, originally traders, who have almost monopolised government service and the professions.[6][7][8] ”

Lohanas are still to be found in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which are now Islamic states. In Afghanistan, they still maintain their Hindu religious identity and are known as Lokhathra. The Lohanas who keep their Hindu identity in Sindh are known as Sindhi Lohana.

Those Lohanas who converted to Sunni Islam are known as Memons. Those who converted to Shia Ismaili Nizari Islam or became IsmailiNizari Muslims are known as Khojas. Many of them retain their Hindu surnames from which many are ancient Persian surnames. Among them was the creator of Pakistan, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, whose father’s name was Jinabhai Poonja and grandfather was Poonja Gokuldas Meghji, a Hindu Bhatia from Paneli village in Gondal state in Kathiawar.[9]

Not only Khoja Ismaili Muslims but Memon Sunni Muslims also retain their Hindu and Persian surnames, among the most famous of these isLakhani.Some of the major groups derived from the principal professions they follow or the crafts they practice, for example, the cattle-breeding group takes the significant name of Gawli, derived from a Sanskrit word for cow. The names of the shepherd castes seem to be derived from words meaning sheep. Such is at least the case with Gadaria from ‘gadar’, on old Hindi word for sheep. Many others of these major groups called castes bear merely tribal or ethic names. Such are for example: Arora, Gujjar, Lohana, Bhatia, Meena, Bhil, Dom,Oraon, Munda, Santal, Koch, Ahir, Mahar, Nayar, Maratha, Gond, Khond, etc.[10]

[edit]Notable Lohanas

  • Late Shree Premjibhai Bhawanji Thacker – (1) prominent Lawyer of Kachchh District (2) Member of Raj Shabha – 1952 (3) Advisor to Chief Commissioner of Cutch C State 1956-1958 (4) Deputy Minister P. W. D.Departement in State of Bombay 1958 – 1960 (5) Minister P. W. D. in Gujarat State 1958 – 1960 (6) Cebinet Minister for Revenue and Law and Justice portfolio in Gujarat State 1967 – 1972 (7) Member of Gujarat Legisletive Assebmble – 1975-1976 (8) Pionior of Kachchh Rastra Bhasha Prachar Samiti and Today’s developed Kachchh visionary.
  • Padmabhushan (Late) Shri K. J. Somaiya, Industrialist
  • Lord Dolar Popat, founder of TLC Group also known as Lord Popat of Harrow.
  • Dr. S. K. Somaiya, Industrialist and Philanthropist
  • Sagar Thakker – Investment Banker, Industrialist and Philanthropist
  • Uday Kotak – Investment Banker
  • Cheteshwar Pujara – Cricketer
  • Bhairavi Raichura – T V Actress
  • Karishma Tanna – T V Actress
  • J.D.Majethia – Gujarati film star , T V Actor and producer ( producer of serial like Baa, Bahu aur Baby and Sara bhai vs Sara bhai
  • Deven Bhojani – T V Actor( Gattu)
  • Mr Shashikant Lakhani (Lawyer & ex Minister Gujarat State)
  • Mr Kirit Somaiya ( B J P leader Mumbai)
  • Mr Shailesh Bathiya (Leading Chartered Accountant)
  • Cheteshwar Pujara : 1st Lohana to play Test Cricket for India…
 http://www.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/32540.html

[edit]See also

Harshil kotak-student Shree Chatrabhujbhai Juthabhai Kotak-1st lohana president,bussinessman,social worker,president ofcloth merchant’s association and sister to Lt. Shrimati Indira Gandhi

[edit]References

  1. ^ http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OJlpWwZkRDAC&pg=PA17&dq=Lohana+population&hl=en&ei=Wmp5TMutNpO94gahqZmPBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CFAQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=Lohana%20population&f=false
  2. ^ http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?rop3=112775&rog3=IN
  3. ^ http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nUsOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA34&dq=Lohana+population&hl=en&ei=Wmp5TMutNpO94gahqZmPBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Lohana%20population&f=false
  4. ^ http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/itihas/fa-hien.htm
  5. ^ http://lohanamahajantrust.com/whoarewe.asp
  6. ^ http://www.foamcorinthiancapitals.cz.cc/wiki.php?q=Sind
  7. ^ http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Sind
  8. ^ http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/SHA_SIV/SIND.html
  9. ^ Ahmed, Akbar S. 1997. Jinnah, Pakistan and Islamic Identity: The Search for Saladin. London: Routledge. 320 pages. ISBN 0-415-14966-5. page 3.
  10. ^ Caste And Race In India by G.S. Ghurye (an eminent sociologist) Popular Prakashan 2004 reprint page: 31,32,33.
  11. ^ “Lohana History: Where do Lohanas come from?”. Lohana.info. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
  12. ^ “INSIDE STOREY -Youngest doctor joins UCLH”. uclh.nhs.uk. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
  13. ^ http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nZ2SHSk3k6cC&pg=PA101&dq=Lohana&hl=en&ei=UT95TPPoJoqm4AbxhbCeBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Lohana&f=false

Oonk,G, The Changing Culture of Hindu Lohanas in East Africa, in Contemporary Asians Studies, 13, 2004, 83-97.

[edit]External links

Share

WHO BUILT BOMBAY AND NOT MUMBAI … from Rohit Shah

Posted on by
8

WHO BUILT BOMBAY AND NOT MUMBAI … from Rohit Shah

An interesting review of the history of Mumbai

According to ancient history, a grouping of seven islands comprising Colaba, Mazagaon, Old Woman’s Island, Wadala, Mahim, Parel, and Matunga-Sion formed a part of the kingdom of Ashoka the Great of Magadh, ironically in North India.

The Bhaiyas and Biharis whom the Thackerays accuse of being outsiders in Mumbai, come from the region, which was a part of Ashoka the Great’s empire.. We judge everything according to history and the history of Mumbai proves that its earliest known ownership was with a North Indian.

The seven islands of Mumbai passed through many hands, the sultans of Gujarat, the Portuguese and the British. Every ruler left behind proof of residence in Mumbai.

The Mauryans left behind the Kanheri, Mahakali and the caves of Gharapuri more popularly called Elephanta.
The sultans of Gujarat built the Dargahs at Mahim and Haji Ali, the Portuguese built the two Portuguese churches, one at Prabhadevi and the other St Andrews at Bandra.

They built forts at Sion, Mahim, Bandra and Bassien. The Portuguese named the group of seven Islands ‘Bom Baia’, Good Bay. The British built a city out of the group of seven islands and called her Bombay.

The original settlers of the seven islands, the Koli fishermen, worshiped Mumbaidevi, her temple still stands at Babulnath near Chowpatty. The Kolis called the island Mumbai, ‘Mumba, Mother Goddess’.

In 1662, King Charles II of England married the Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza, and received the seven islands of Bom Baia as part of his dowry. Six years later, the British Crown leased the seven islands to the English East India Company for a sum of 10 pounds in gold per annum. It was under the English East India Company that the future megapolis began to take shape, after the first war for independence Bombay once again became a colony of the British Empire.

History has forgotten this but the first Parsi settler came to Bombay in 1640, he was Dorabji Nanabhoy Patel. In 1689-90, a severe plague epidemic broke out in Bombay and most of the European settlers succumbed to it. The Siddi of Janjira attacked in full force. Rustomji Dorabji Patel, a trader and the son of the city’s first Parsi settler, successfully defeated the Siddi with the help of the Kolis and saved Bombay.

Gerald Aungier, Governor of Bombay built the Bombay Castle, an area that is even today referred to as Fort. He also constituted the Courts of law. He brought Gujarati traders, Parsi shipbuilders, Muslim and Hindu manufacturers from the mainland and settled them in Bombay.

It was during a period of four decades that the city of Bombay took shape. Reclamation was done to plug the breach at Worli and Mahalakshmi, Hornby Vellard was built in 1784. The Sion Causeway connecting Bombay to Salsette was built in 1803. Colaba Causeway connecting Colaba island to Bombay was built in 1838. A causeway connecting Mahim and Bandra was built in 1845.

Lady Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, the wife of the First Baronet Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy donated Rs 1, 57,000 to meet construction costs of the causeway. She donated Rs. 1,00,000 at first. When the project cost escalated and money ran out half way through she donated Rs 57,000 again to ensure that the vital causeway was completed. Lady Jamsetjee stipulated that no toll would ever be charged for those using the causeway. Today Mumbaikars have to pay Rs 75 to use the Bandra-Worli Sealink, connecting almost the same two islands. Sir J J Hospital was also built by Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy.

The shipbuilding Wadia family of Surat was brought to Bombay by the British. Jamshedji Wadia founded the Bombay Port Trust and built the Princess Dock in 1885 and the Victoria Dock and the Mereweather Dry Docks in 1891. Alexandra Dock was built in 1914.

A Gujarati civil engineer supervised the building of the Gateway of India. The Tatas made Bombay their headquarters and gave it the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel and India’s first civilian airlines, Air India. The Godrejs gave India its first vegetarian soap.

Cowasji Nanabhai Daver established Bombay’s first cotton mill, ‘The Bombay Spinning Mills’ in 1854. By 1915, there were 83 textile mills in Bombay largely owned by Indians.

This brought about a financial boom in Bombay. Although the mills were owned by Gujaratis, Kutchis, Parsis and Marwaris, the workforce was migrant Mahrashtrians from rural Maharashtra. Premchand Roychand, a prosperous Gujarati broker founded the Bombay Stock Exchange. Premchand Roychand donated Rs 2,00,000 to build the Rajabai Tower in 1878.

Muslim, Sindhi and Punjabi migrants have also contributed handsomely to Mumbai.

Mumbai is built on the blood and sweat of all Indians. That is why Bombay belongs to all Indians.

Apart from its original inhabitants, the Kolis, everyone else in Mumbai, including Thackeray’s ‘Marathi Manoos’, are immigrants.

The “Mumbai for Marathi Manoos” war cry has once again been raised to shore up the sagging political fortunes of the Thackeray family.

When the Shiv Sena-BJP combine came to power in 1993, under the guise of reverting to the original name they replaced Bombay with Mumbai.

I wonder when they will discard the anglicized Thackeray and revert back to their original Marathi surname Thakre?
________________________________________________
This article was written on February 7, 2010 by Tushar Gandhi, founder/president, Mahatma Gandhi Foundation, and the grandson of Gandhiji.

Share

Good Hair … from Viv

Posted on by
Reply

Paras Note: One more way Indians and Africans are connected.

Chris Rock, a man with two daughters, asks about good hair, as defined by Black Americans, mostly Black women. He visits Bronner Brothers’ annual hair convention in Atlanta. He tells us about sodium hydroxide, a toxin used to relax hair. He looks at weaves, and he travels to India where tonsure ceremonies produce much of the hair sold in America. A weave is expensive: he asks who makes the money. We visit salons and barbershops, central to the Black community. Rock asks men if they can touch their mates’ hair – no, it’s decoration. Various talking heads (many of them women with good hair) comment. It’s about self image. Maya Angelou and Tracie Thoms provide perspective. Written by

If it doesn’t load watch it at http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/xkCM6c3CA4Y/

Share

The Parables of Kryon by Lee Carroll

Posted on by
1

The Parables of Kryon by Lee Carroll
You could call it fables for adults. From what I get Kryon is like god and tells Lee Carroll these stories. Each chapter is a story and has an intro (Author’s Note) on where it was told or how it came about. Then the story and finally a breakdown of what it all means (Author’s Postscript). Since I love symbolism in the scriptures I was curious about that aspect in the book. Does not do a bad job as it’s a quick read, simple to understand and sticks to the oldest form of teaching lessons…. Story telling! Most of them are pretty straight forward, some need more explaining, hence the authors postscript. The theme includes spirit guides, reincarnation and my favourites… karmic lessons and contracts (the ones you make before you take birth here to experience them). Sometimes I felt Kryon was trying to play into the stereotypes but it’s not a big issue. Big up Viv again for hooking it up… sometimes getting into the deeper knowledge you forget about the basic stuff so it was a welcomed refresher.

Contents
- Introduction

The Parables
1. Parable of the Tar Pit
2. Wo and the Rooms of Lesson
3. The Big, Fuzzy Caterpillar
4. The Missing Bridge
5. The Father and the Son
6. Sarah and the Old Shoe
7. The Two Groups of Warriors
8. Jason and the Cave
9. Jessica the Angry
10. The Infant’s Questions
11. Marla the Mouse
12. Angenon and Veréhoo
13. Story of the Two Farmers
14. Angela and Her Guide Friends
15. David the Indian
16. Past Lives, Present Fears
17. John the Healer
18. Five Karmic Lessons
19. Aaron and the Globe of Essence
20. Wo and the Big Wind

- Afterword
- About the Author

Share

ART Excel Acton Town 31st May – 4th June 2010

Posted on by
12

ART Excel Acton Town 31st May – 4th June 2010

31st May Monday – Wake up one last time at the ‘Animal House’. Pack, hoover, reconcile with BK and move. See BK had taken my cash and bag and promised to return it one a certain day and it was way past that day so the previous night when I really needed the bag he was a no show and I kinda unleashed Landlords issues on him too. Anyway so move, new Landlord sorts out my room key, unpack, worry about my deposit from old place but Landlord comes through. Take a nap before my journey. Tube to Gunnersbury, buses to Ram and Vita’s place. Meet Lil Vikram, Josh and Sonali. Su, Carolina, Joanathan, etc… come over. We do some fun and crazy yoga. It was jokes when Jonathan led it coz he’s tall and there was jumping and it was just funny. Long Kriya after ages. Vita’s amazing man… I think the only Lithuanian that speaks Hindi too. She knows how to make proper Indian food and every thing. And she’s been taking care of us and baby Vikram and still so peaceful. Don’t know how she does it. Oh and coz I was sleeping on the floor I could hear the guys watching TV downstairs through the tempura mattress and pillow.

1st June Tuesday – I gotta wake up first, at 4.30, for the shower coz I need 30 mins just to wake up before the shower. Yes the power of snooze to the power of 3. Do padma sadhna and then have a disturbing short Kriya with people burping and jumping and alarms and baby Vikram. Get to the school and it’s usual, get the kids to write their name tags and make their ART Excel books. This time they were much younger so some needed help with reading. Already spotted the problem kid (Robert) and like the previous one (Egli) he’s from Albania too. This time it’s pretty mixed, Polish, Russian, Afghani, Iranian, Iraqi, Somali, West Indian, etc. Don’t know whats up with me but when it was time for kids to lie down I knocked out too. Lunch. Game time was funny, football with no rules. Abdulrahim didn’t wanna play right from the start and then he came and told me he’s better and analysing the situation than being in it so I’m like ok you be referee then. Robert wanted attention which he wont getting from me. Just when we had to get back in I hear the coach on the other field shouting Egli’s name and making Egli do a lap. Was good seeing him, he looked so different but it was just a hairstyle change. Anyway… usual games and this and that and I fall asleep again and get caught by the kids. After a long debriefing we come back and do a meditation that felt like a week of bliss. Eat some amazing food Vita made, shopping, get locked out and watch Zeitgeist part 1.

2nd June Wednesday – Wake same as yesterday. Vita didn’t get any sleep coz Vikram was up all night coz of the chicken pox. Weird bit is, when I was locked outside I went through my phone to delete numbers I wont call and came across this one number that got me thinking about the person… and today morning I get a friend request from the person. One of them thangs. We hit traffic so we knocked out while Debbie sang us lullaby. Games. Kids walking off… don’t know what that means. They learn Victory/Ujjay breath and Happy breath. Poor Wiktoria looked miserable she had tummy issues so her mom picked her up. She’s def the Prima Donna in the group. Painting meditation. Debrief. Come back Tesco shop with Carolina. Walk into Su and Debbie and all doing pranayam and I was like … what again? So I half did mine and after the meditation there was gonna be satsang and I was dying for some alone time so thought I’d go read for a few minutes and join them but the lady downstairs got hold of me and bless her heart she talked my ears off. She’s like her name is Prince… I was like what? Then she pulled a James Bond on me and went Dorothy Prince. It went like this… I was at the entrance of the building near her window so she opens the window and asks me ‘don’t you have any gardens where you come from’. I was like no I’m trying to get in but the people upstairs are singing and it’s so loud they can’t hear the doorbell. She thought I said something else and that’s how the pattern followed. So instead I just listened to her as she took me around the building showing me all the problems thinking I stay in the building and will help her with her issues. The bins were empty but the rubbish was out in the corridor. Cleaners don’t come and cameras and do you think I should also complain about so and so… let me show you where the offices are. She even caught this other dude but he escaped early. And if I haven’t mentioned already these buildings are like posh projects just high rises all over and on the first day I took an early turn and started in the 400s when I was meant to be around 30s. By the time I finished and got back to the crew satsang was over but at least food was next. And some great food, everyone made or brought something. Dry potato and yogurt followed by fruit salad and ice cream did it for me. The Magic Tree system AOL have in the South is amazing with all these activities… much better than forcing folks. Josh was so so wired it was fun and funny. After finishing the washing I was so ready for sleep but we find Vikram asleep face down, butt in the air. And coz he’s been training to peepee he’s usually not wearing any pants so it was a sight to see this little creature look like a drunk frog and chicken pokie skin. I was just happy he didn’t wet the duvet or anything. Get my read on and knockout.

(Grrrr… was promised pics with me in them but I promise I was there!)

3rd June Thursday – Another day can’t believe we already half way. Skip padma. Most of us were kinda late for that anyway or not feeling it… think it was coz of one of the members distracting the rest during Kriya. While waiting Carolina had stuff to sort out and Josh brought up the burping during Kriya issue. Dorothy Prince starts again but not for long this time she was just like ‘did you see him come in (the cleaner)’. And I was like um no. It was my turn to do the day chart with some kids. Then trust games… Mudasa and Wiktoria looked the cutest during the blindfold game. Animal yoga and my team sucked… Abdulrahim had his ‘I’m always right tantrum’. Then Muna followed and… well it was crack day. Breathing. Lunch. Painting as our service project. Now I’d brought rough clothes but didn’t know it was gonna be like paint that would be hard to take off so I’d bought cling film and tied carry bags on my shoes. And just as I look like a clown a hottie decides to join us for painting. Games. Get Mustafa in trouble he punched me enough and was being difficult. Today the F bomb was dropped by Ahmed too. It was funny coz 3 kids were like ‘he just said Fuck off’. Carolina had to get away but something made her stay… we do yoga and meditation before pizza and debriefing at Franka Manka. Note for later: Had extra chilli oil on mine and as usual stole their serviettes. Get dropped and Vita had given me keys so let the guys in and nip off to Tesco to negotiate the release of some brown hostages… man we’ve been eating so much we’re full of gas and the Tesco dump was a memorable one. Even thought of buying myself a gift. Back to Vita’s and even our patience is being tested. One’s asking too many questions, anothers hogging the couch, net and TV, I don’t know what I’m doing. So Vikram and parents get back and they spot this helicopter toy Sonali got for Vikram and what bad timing coz Carolina was going to sleep and Sonali was about to while Josh and I were listening to the siren go off in the living room. Oh well, last time we’re gonna see the brat so make the most of it. Note for later: Had ice cream to counter the chilli oil and drink lots and lots of water before sleeping.

4th June Friday – Now everyday my wake up time would start at 4.15 but the mix of chili oil, ice cream and water made me need to GO at 3.30 but someone was inside. And I REALLY had to go. I’m in bed thinking I’m gonna explode, then I remembered tissue was finished too… see how the notes for later are adding up. The serviettes came in handy. Catch a few minutes of sleep, shower and watch the new Naruto… he’s back and he’s graduated to Sage Mode. My eyes were welling up at 5am watching this kid turn from brat to gangsta ninja. Pack… really wanted to say bye to Vita but she was sleeping and just as we leave she comes out… the sweetest thing man. Yo all our tummies were funked up. Sign cards for Su coz she’s leaving for Italy, cards for the school and cards for the caterers who were not AOL but still nice enough to seva with the food. Trust games. Lunch. Short game time today coz we had to prepare for a presentation for the guests and parents. Guests come, sun salutation, singing, etc. Cake and the girl that silenced the world vid. Pack, byes. Confide in Josh about being in love with a married woman. I’ve converted him into discussing bowel movements like the way we do with the cousins. Sleep the rest of the journey home. Squeeze in an hour of running at the gym… wow Friday evenings is packed. While doing my alternate nostril breathing after yoga this dude got curious so explain stuff to him… skip steam room coz it was boiling as it was. Get home and meet the Albanian roomie… Ella… soooo my type man! Short and voluptuous and naughty but her boyfriend Max came by and ruined my game! Order a late pizza… oh and met the Bangla housemate too … Shahid… man he’s like studying law and the way he talks is the same… so we’re all chilling and he’s ‘presenting his case’. And before sleeping teach him a lil about picking convos with girls and ploughing. Fall asleep watching a DVD I got from the gym. Spend my first night in the new place.

Notes: Terrell was a playa, Madiy was on top of things, Shabnam was very open and warm, Mustafa was a problem, Shannon has potential.

Share

Mugged (at some school) 2005

Posted on by
1

Mugged (at some school):
At Puj’s school about kids too scared to cross the park coz of the gangsters. Quite realistic… in this case they killed of the Indian dude. Then there was the Chinese Whispers lol and of course the Preacher man/boy I couldn’t stop convulsing from laughter… even though Meera POKED MY PALMS OUT! Of course it was with love. Had Thai after that and reminisced about my ‘experimentations’. Yo Hemil had cracked me up earlier ‘Paras does your cousin think I’m a Robert?’ LMAO! So I retold it and Puj thought I said rowboat.

Share