Informal engagement of Rahul

Aless today be receiving the coconut and some token money the engagement of Rahul was confirmed my Pragyan's uncle Dilipjee in presence of Shri. Rajeev his brother-in-law. I have just dropped them to the station for boarding Karnataka Express for Mathura. In fact in this engagement I give all credit to Chi. Bhuvan and Geetu because of whose initiative this could take place. In the conversation with Pragyas both uncles I have spelt out my wishes about future of Pragya taking over reins of Rekha Gas Agency as next generation. Any way it is left for Rahul and Pragya to decide after marriage. The formal engagement will take place on Dashahara and the marriage on 23rd of January most probably at Jalgaon.

Arrangement for Rahul’s Marriage

It is all settled that we will have to take the marriage party to Mathura respecting the feelings of the elderly people in Rahul’s inlaw family. The confusion is whether January or March I think March-after the examination of all the young’s in our family all over will be an ideal date that would be borderline of winter and summer and I know well that season in Delhi/ Mathura will be the best that time we will the best that time. We will have to plan so well that the stay of the marriage party is comfortable, a tour in that area also could be arranged, and Rahul can pay tribute to Thanwale Baba our Kuldevta at Holipura Continue in next blog

The switch over to LPG distribution business

My father-in-law had an excellent business sense. I was happily working as Planning Engineer in MICO, there were advertisement for gas agency i n 1980-81 by Bharat Petroleum for Nasik, Jalgaon, Nanded on advise from my father-in-law I applied for the distributorship of Nasik the interview was carried out by Mr. Shantisingh, Prabhakar Konte and other two officials of the two oil company. There was no oil selection board that time but the interviews were carried out by the joint committee headed why the Divisional Manager of the oil company seeking distributor and shor listed three promosing candidates and the person offering. The best as personal quality and infrastructure were offered the distributorship. In Nasik I was shortlisted but I believe the infrastructure was not appropriate so the distributorship was awarded to the other gentlemen Prakash Vaishampain who is my brother distributor at Nasik today my father-in-law was very keen about me entering into the business and I was made to apply for the Jalgaon distributorship which had good member of applicant and the interview panel was also same. The DM even asked me why I was so much after getting the gas distributorship I thought he was very well aware who is inspiring me for this profession. After the interview it was almost a month when I received a telephone call, from the receptionist asking me to come on line of external call handset, it used be in the maintanance manager Mr. Murthy's cabin. It was Mr. Shanti Singh on the line informing me about me being selected for Jalgaon distributorship. I was not sure what to say but I thanked him and informed my wife as well as my father-in-law and father. I admite today that I was not very much interested to come in to the business but after lot of persuation by all the family member I went to Pune to the Bharat Petroleum Corpn. Divisional Office to receive the letter of intent I remember my father-in-law was so anseious to know that when I was sitting with Mr. Singh for the LOI he made three lightening calls to a Parsi Bakery cum liquor shop opposite to the office. The servent of the shop fcame to the Division office to inform me about that and when I informed him about me accepting the LOI be must have been really happy. Continued in next blog...

The two years at Nasik after marriage

After marriage I had to leave Sunanda at Rajnandgaon for one month for the rituals of "Gaurpooja" which are supposed to be carried out for a month. I came back to Nasik and searched for a house. It was a sort of paying guest accomodation in Gandhinagar with an employee of MICO itself a remember the house name 'Nandadeep'. For attending the factory I made arrangement with Mr. Giri a foreman in needle shop of our company for that I had to come to the main road at around 7-10-7-15 in the morning and he used to pich me up. While coming it was not always sure to match the timing but we used to manage coming together. In case I fail some or the other person would drop up to the Rajdoot Hotel at the corner of Satpur Road from where I could get the city has from there towards Nasik Road, the famous double decker Sunanda joined one after a month and my routine continued. Some how we were not happy as it was very inconvenient to come to the city for shopping I kept searching a house nearer to the city and ultimate got accomodation in CIDCO Nasik in the row housing N5/K55. For help I received a Bajaj Scooter from Jalgaon 9610, it became great help us the movements became easy and so attending the factory. Continued in next blog......

My Marriage

We got married on 21st May of 1979. It was an arranged marriage. In our communites other than arranged marriage was very rarely heard of in our community those time. I can see the Tourist Resort converted to Hotel Tourist where our marriage party stayed. The Maheswari boarding where marriage took place and the Panchu Banglow where me and Dhanesh rested for couple of hours between the receiption ceremoney and the 'Phere'. There was no formal receiption or garlanding each other was arranged my father-in-law Babulaljee was apprehensive of adverse reaction from my relatives if that was ananged today we think he was wrong me and Dhanesh my co-brother and husband of Alka my wife's cousin got married at the same time under the same MANDAP. Frankly, I had no opportunities to see my wife that to partially her face at the time of 'pheras' and 'kanyadan' and up to 'pahena'. I think my inlaws became bit bolder and I could see Sunanda's face clearly. That was the first sight, admiry wife's beauty it would sound toomuch formal or flattering but she is today also I can happly sing the song of "Aie meri Johrajabi tuzhe maalum nahi, tu abhi tak hai hassi aur mai jawa". The marriage was over with all the formalities by 22nd May evening and car journey back to Rajnandgaon started in the evening. Continued in next blog......

The Every day philanthropy

yesterday I attended a programe arranged by Lions club of Jalgaon it was for distribution of school books/kit to the Junior K.G. students for a muncipal school adopted by Lions. As usual a local leader who played the role of master of ceremoney in the programme prolonged the meeting in the felicitation activities. The chief guest of the function was Suresh Dada Jain the Honourable Member of Legistative Assembly. I could see the real philanthropist Suresh Dada speeking that day, the concerned for human kind concerned for have-nots, no touch of politics at all. Your learns a lot from these people and if you carry out even one percent of this is your every day life as every day philanthrophy it makes you a good human being what one should be. When I was felicited by him for the donation of school kits, I touched his feet to pay respect and the blessings were as an elder brother would give to young brother "Lambi Umer Ho". A great experience.

The Bride Match of Rahul

Ultimately after a search of practically two years Rahul has selected a girl from Jaipur. I talked to the matternal uncle of the girl this morning Leiutenent General Vishnu Prasad Chaturvedi a sitting General in Indian Army. The ingagement or the ring ceremony would take place after Navratra. I have seen the photograph of the girl and admire Rahul's selection and he rightly said so "Akher Meri Zindgi ka Sawal Hai" I would prefer 'Chat Mangni Pat Byah' as it would be very inconvenient in summers for every body whether in Jaipur or Jalgaon. Let us see how best it can be done. Continued in next blog.....