Posted on: August 1, 2008 - 12:20 am
New York, NY July 31, 2008 11:30 am/11:45 pm
A moment of silence for the loss and the aggrieved in the bombings in Bengalaru and Ahmedabad
A lethargy sets in. A desire to do nothing. Just be the way we are. Finish the essentials and then just remain. No interest in stepping out, no interest in wearing anything special, or in eating anything beyond the usual. Just be.
Communication too suffers. No desire to speak, to express to comment, nothing.
I write too today without any specific agenda. I am just typing. It is an essential in my life. Like brushing my teeth in the morning. Like getting up to see the sun. An essential for continuity. There has been not a single break. It is DAY 99. Tomorrow, DAY 100. No breaks.
Many of you that respond express joy and astonishment at this revelation.
100 days of non stop communication, of writing the blog, of uninterrupted connection !!
Why is 100 such a celebratory figure ? Why celebration for any multiple of 5 ?
25, 50, 75 !! Silver, golden, diamond jubilee !! Why these specific glowing titles ?
And the one ! Why the 1 ?
First year completed ! In India, the significance of the 1, after the multiple of 5.
11, 21, 101..!!
When you give ‘shagun’ to someone, it is always the one extra !! So, if the multiple of 5 is celebratory, why the additional ?
Or rather how ? How did it emerge !! I have no answers. It was something that one grew up with and accepted and practiced and never questioned. But it would be interesting to know.
Its almost like the pricing of certain common goods in general stores in America, or well, all over really.
6.99$ or Rs or Sterling !! I mean, its merely .01 away from 7. But 7 looks expensive and 6.99 does not. At least not psychologically. Great marketing strategy.
The flight time from San Francisco to New York, showed an arrival of 6:59 am !!
What is the strategy here ! Never know. And never will know the significance of the euphoria behind the others stated above. Perhaps you do and perhaps you will enlighten.
But the significance of lethargy is not healthy. They say if you rest beyond a given time and space, you actually tire. It is an indicator for complacency. Not a good indicator at all. You accept everything the way it is. Without question without reason, you merely accept. No effort to push or drive, just allowing the body and mind to conveniently remain the way it is. Dull and clouded and vacant.
And is it just coincidence or fate, that some of the most important and valuable decisions to be taken come upon us at this juncture ? And is it not true that we often have succumbed to those moments and filled ourselves with regret years later !
So the need to be active and alert and involved and concerned and inquisitive and conscious.
And so the need to get up and get across the street and get into the gym and ‘work the body’ so it can ‘work the mind’, as one friendly fellow response suggested. Dictated !!
See you in a bit then. Hopefully with refreshed intellect and blog.
*
Gym was interesting. As soon as I got onto the tread mill, management came and objected to my trainer and family friend, who has travelled with me from India, being in the gym.
I said she has bought temporary membership just as all other members with me have.
Sorry sir these are the rules.
So what, she cannot use the gym facilities even after paying for membership.
No she can but she cannot talk and train you.
Oh ! Why ?
She needs to gat qualified through us, then take an insurance and then be able to talk to you to train.
But look we are just here for a couple of days.
Thats ok sir but it eats into the income of the professional trainers that we employ in the gym.
But your trainer does not know my body or how it needs to be exercised.
Its the rules.
But we have paid a large amount to become members so we can use the facility.
Its the rules.
Fine. If she cannot be in the gym, we shall go some place else. Can we have our refund for all the members.
Err.. could you just give me a moment, I need to talk to the management.
Subject returns. Asks us to follow him. Takes us into a separate room. Closes the doors. Looks around as though he was about to disclose some serious confidential matter, and whispers. Its fine.
(some stifled straight faced sniggers !!)
Work out was good and exhaustive and invigorating. The walk across the warm humid New York street was invigorating too. One doesn’t get to do that too often. But once in the room it was ’stay put’.
My nephew Bhim who works here came over and the rest of the day was spent attending the tutorial he conducted on the delicacies of the MAC and various insights into the hidden facilities it has of which I was so ignorant. I do not now have to go back to my server bigadda for every little assistance I require to efficiently run this operation. Hurray !!!
The fresh photographs you notice are posted by yours truly without any help and there are some very interesting other features that I have been educated on, the results of which shall soon be presented with great aplomb. Ha ha ha !!
The lethargy is broken. I have an exciting toy in my hands now. To discover to reveal to experiment.
Life seems normal.
And its back to the concert tomorrow. To Houston…
“anwarat samay ki chakki chalti jaati hai….”
the unstoppable wheel of time keeps moving on…
My love
Amitabh Bachchan
Dear Amitji, Many more success and wishes for you and family.
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I know Jayadi has such a fantastic energy level and I see you with the same- and both of you smiling and cheerful despite all the (sometimes, unreasonable) demands on your time and energies…
Cheers to you. Love and Smiles.
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WOW!!! i have been reading all your posts till now but this is the first time i have commented on your blog. Actually the fact that i would be the first to comment tempted me to right something.
So now that i have broken the ice with you, i shall make this a regular habit.
Cheers
b
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Dear Amitji,
It is really very difficult to make a plan and execute on it and that is why the one who executes becomes Amitji and the rest are the common man. I can bet that no other stars in bollywood can have commitment like you have, forget bollywood stars there are very few people who plans and execute as planned. It is really praiseworthy as many more are inspired by you. it is not only your fans but there are so many who have started reading just out of interest. Many many congratulation on your 100th blog and i wish you to write many many 100th blog like this.
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Hey Mr. Bachchan: You say there are no visual of your 1998 tour. Here it is you fans have them and posted on youtube.
Big B Entry on a Horse … can any one beat that……huh….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulnLvj12RM4&feature=related
Mere Angane main tumhara by Big B.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr9pNRinIfY&feature=related
There is a whole London 1998 show on you tube. just search ‘AMITABH LIVE’
Enjoy.
Take Care and god bless you Mr. B.
Your Fan forever.
Jay Patel.
Jay.
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The bit about the gym inciedent was very interesting :).
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Interesting to know all this. So you are going to Houston for another show. Best of luck Mr. Bachchan and you know i’ll pray for my friend’s success.
Regards,
Ayesha (Lahore)
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“anwarat samay ki chakki chalti jaati hai….â€
a fine line..
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Well, its just so amazing to see you write every single day and trust me is a great feeling…for us and for you as well….. so be it India or anywhere in the world thumbrule whenever u ask for refund u get what you want and all services are granted….the rules can take a backseat since they are meant to be broken in any case !! u know somehow i prefer writing to you when theres hardly anyone else whos written cos i feel or else our messages may get lost in the other messages of the sea of fans that you have and probably would never even read what we have written to you…… just another thought….. Do take good care of yourself !!!! Loves & Regards for all !!
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Great!
Thoda soch-vichar-chintan ka samay - shayad ye bhi libran trait, lock kar diya jaye.
Aha on the photo you put up without assistance- and here’s to many more!
Naya kitna kuch hain na!
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Even you are entitled to your share of lethargy once in a while, especially when recuperating from illness.If you were hyped up and on the go 100% of the time, there would be no variation to measure against. And there’s that number-100. I often think about all celebrations being totally artificial and made up by humans, although 1 year of course has to do with our planet Earth.
Your experience at the gym was funny but not surprising. There have been times when I asked an authority figure why such a rule exists and they say “because that’s the way it is.” I was at a rockabilly concert outdoors at a park in Lincoln Center and they wouldn’t let anyone dance in the aisles. I kept asking why and it was because that was the rule. Of course in your case when you threatened to hit them in the pocketbook, things suddenly changed.
Congtatulations on time well spent here in New York on learning your new computer skills.
I’m glad your workout went so well. You sound as though your health is improving.
Have a good flight to Houston. I’ll see you there.
Love,
Rochelle
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Hello sir.. Sori 4 da first comment was just experimenting something.. Firstly want to applaud the remarkable work u r doin by communicating with us via this blog.. It feels reli nice to kno how a superstar’s life is on day to day basis. It is just so satisfying the fact that all this we are reading is coming straight from u, instead of reading it from the media who we dont kno when they are speaking the truth… well din kno about the existence of this blog but must say ever since i have known its a daily stop over.. Just want to say have a blast with ur tour in the U.S and hopefully next year or something u can organize a tour in australia.. until next time cya…
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Dear Sir,
very interesting writing. Pls. share such incidents in future also…….very light but interesting for UR fans.
ALL THE BEST FOR HOUSTON. ROCK THEM TO THEIR BEST.
Take care
Pranam
Tumpa Ghosh
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dear sir,
now a days i am bit busy..so am not able to comment on all blogs of u.
sorry for that.
but i make it sure that i readit every day.
todays was good…u said u had nothing to say..but thos simple notes u have made of our daily life are very complex if we think deeply.
but no one has time nd courage to think so deeply on so we blindly follow it. may be thats how it has to be always. no sure..well no idea…so leave it.:-)
nd congrats for ur 100th post.
its been a wonderful journey through your life all this days..i hope it continues to millions of days ahead.
love * regards
Krishna Raj
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Fantastic pics sir!!
ATLANTA??!?!?!?!?!?!?!
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why the 1 ?
purely from a layman’s point of view…
as kids during a b’day, the same question arose- why gift rs.11? why not 10?
the answer was simble! whenever we gift someone, it should not end with a shunya (a zero). that brings things to a deadend.
good wishes need to on forever. prosperity for the giver, and the receiver.
so the additional 1.
and so we continue til this day. n wil keep doing so.
nothing to do with modern marketing.
nor bata shoes that goes 199.99.
nor the ambernath 5.47 local. or the andheri 10.01…nor any tax laws.
simble good wishes. from the heart. believe it or not!
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With lots and lots of respect Sir— कहाठराजा à¤à¥‹à¤œ और कहाठगंगू तेली but still I love the fact that I too had been feeling lethargic lately but the only difference is that you probably read babujee’s books to come out of that mood and I watch your movie. I watched Mili and I am back to face life with a smile.
Lots of bloggers have written that you haven’t spoken about the bombings in Bengalaru and Ahmedabad and I often wonder that why do they expect you to talk about it. You don’t hold a government position so your comments on this are not mandatory. As a citizen of India, needless to say like any other Indian, you must have felt horrible but to demand and condemn if you don’t comment on it is beyond my understanding. Your picture on the monitor and mention of the moment of silence says it all that long before bloggers started complaining, you had paid your tribute to all deceased in bombings.
Thy gym incident— I could see this happening in front of my eyes. We are so लकीर के फकीर in North America and when one raises a voice than you get your way. Poor fellow, I feel sorry for him didn’t know who he was talking to and how fortunate he was.
Your nephew, your brother Ajitabh Jee’s son Bhim— yes remember reading his name here and there in Babujee’s biography.
हाठरे मेरी किसà¥à¤®à¤¤ random selection में à¤à¥€ मेरा नाम नहीं आया. But I am not leaving you alone Sir, 1977 to जीवन के अंत तक.
Thanks for Jaya Jee’s picture, I was wondering, you had posted everyone’s picture but not her. Thanks.
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Ever dearest Sir, Your blog makes you sound so much like most of us ! Only very few can actually break out of the lethargy and get going with the essential work of living fruitfully .
Most of the times there is so much to do ,with so much time in hand(i speak for my self and others like me ), but the day just flies away with out a constructive addition and the next day is loaded with the previous burden as well ! So you see the realization that you too in your own way go through periods of mindless lethargy ,makes me feel “if on man can come out of this state with the sheer power of his will another can too ” .You may feel your life to be ordinary because you live if daily ,but for me your descipline is inspirational .Your will to
get a job done well,shows in the results .God bless you. Lots of love ,
Monika .h.
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DEAR SIR,
HOW ARE YOU SIR?HOW WAS YOUR DAY?I PRAY TO GOD FOR YOUR HEALTH AND THE SUCCESS OF YOUR SHOW.PLEASE TAKE CARE.
BEST WISHES AND WARM REGARDS
HIMMAT SINGH GREWAL
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Good luck for Houston! Just got back from work, and straight to your blog!
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Hello sir,
You are an actor of great stature yet it is so easy to associate one’s self with what you write, it seems as if you are speaking the language of a common man. I admit on being a bit cynical when you started this blog and thought maybe you have entourage of writers who write for you. But over the past couple of weeks and days, it has made me realize my folly…I used to always think how do you manage to squeeze in time to write the blog so religiously everyday. I maintain a blog too and I am so lazy, that I usually end up ignoring it. Somehow you seem to give me the inspiration to write a little everyday….
I use a mac too and seriously there’s nothing to match a mac….
So happy exploring…
Btw I do hope that we get to see your world tour someday on DVD atleast….though thanks for posting all the lovely pictures….
and thank you for inspiring…
Sujata
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Thank u Amitji for the wonderful blog which u write with such regularity and discipline. Its become a part of routine for me to read it every morning.
Take care & keep blogging.
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‘Its the rule’ - this is a thing that I just love and hate about USA. Everyone works so much within the confines of the rules that in some situations, it becomes a burden. Like rules are more important than life. I have myself been in many situations where the person is just not ready to listen, to understand, that the ‘rule’ is stifling and suffocating. This is the inhuman side of the law, the rule.
A small example - I once went to dine in a restaurant on a business meeting, a couple of days after landing in the US, and ordered wine. I was not carrying my passport and the waitress just wont let me have the wine - at the pretext of I not having a “valid” ID card to check my birth date. Even though I had my Indian drivers license (which incidentally I could use to drive), which showed my age in bold - no! “It’s not valid here” was the reply - beyond reason and logic. So embarrassing in front of all the folks! Spoiled the whole mood of the meeting and to extend me courtesy, no one drank anything. So awkward. And the rule lives on.
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*DEAR AMITJI*
Thanks a lot for your thoughtful post and the fantastic photos (Day 100 and Day 100i). I’m especially delighted to see a photo of Jayaji.
HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS FOR BLOGGING 100 DAYS!!!
All your fans are looking forward to further 100 days with you and very much more. For the today’s show I wish you, your family and all the others of the unforgettable team good luck and lots of fun!!! I’m sure it will be as always a huge success.
My love, best wishes and prayers are always with you.
Keep rocking! Keep blogging! Keep smiling and always cheers!
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dear sir,
how are u?ur posts have become addictive so much so that i open it befor i check my mail.thanks for all the brilliant posts and also for sharing ur insight on various subjects along with everyone else.
u truly lead by example
good day!
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Hi Amitji,gud for you as on the gym incident ,hehehe…grt pics…its always nice t get enlightened as far as computers etc are concerned,i am glad you share the same excitemet which i generate when i come accross new thinbgs etc ,as in i get deeper into the pc etc…love and regards gurpreet
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Great Aby,
So you are becoming well versed with the nick-nacks of computers now…Keep it up!!
Will see the next blog entries now…bye…for some moments.
Nive..
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Hi,
You are cooped up in your room and the frustration is soooo evident.
Then, you go to the gym and return to learn about technical connectivity and There You Are!! All charged up once again!
Take care!
Cheers for HEALTH AND HAPPINESS
gilga
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Dear Boss,
Seems like you are human after all and not the superhuman that we know you as. Need to do nothing is very important and one must fullfill that need time to time. It relaxes you and rejuvenates you.
Lots of love,
Later
G
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Good Evening,
Glad you’re feeling better.I know you all will do wonders in Houston—-your tour just gets better with age. The performances are absolutely un imagible from what I’ve seen on other tapes of each concert. I wish I was able to be there but you know I am in spirit. I’m glad you stood up to that gym, that’s how it’s done in the US. Don’t let them push you around !!!! I think what you say is true about keeping busy. I have not & you know to think of it I don’t even have a dream or goal. I guess that my depression. I do look forward daily to your blogs.You know I write to you regularly. Good luck & best wishes on your concerts & luggage !!
with love & sending a warm hug,
Tressa Sheriff
Glendale, AZ , USA
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Dear AmitJi,
Congrats on the completion of your 100 posts! R u really reading my posts…
This time, I assume, you might read, it is in the very beginning.
I’m glad, you had your workout in the gym as you wanted. This is the problem in America. For everything they go by rules. We have to pay attention for minute details specially for paying bills or signing up anything…READ THE FINE PRINTS.. If we miss anything, we will be charged ridiculously. NOTHING IS FREE IN US.
Good to hear that you are becoming computer literate..(:- But hey… don’t get too much involved… Couple years back, when I was studying my masters, I had a small desktop at home. My dad out curiosity, logged in.. surfed the computer. After couple days, I was shocked to see my dad sitting in front of the box writing software programs and couple of ‘C’ language books lying around.
Looking forward for more posts…
The most happiest day will be when U read all my posts and send me a HELLO!
Take Care!!
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great….good to see hear that u are doing good!
Love
Komal
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Hi,
I streamed one of your old interviews from Lincoln center retrospective and feel Charlie Rose was so inapt, he clearly hadn’t done his homework. I know you have strong views on Indian media, but this one was no different.
I am from Pakistan and currently doing masters in Photography here in New York and a regular reader of your blog. Also, a big Mac fan. You should check out the Mac book air, if you havent already. Not suitable to high end multimedia tasks but it is as thin as an envelope and amazing to carry around. It is a nice feeling to know that you are in the same city as I am.
best wishes,
Madiha
Karachi, Pakistan
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The zeal to learn all the time. That enthusiasm is the secret of life, of doing as much in 24 hours as you do, of living life to the fullest.
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Hi, Mr. B. …
The lady who does did my cable installation … a delightful Hawaiian lady … was driving by while I was trimming the bushes in the front yard, and stopped in for a minute. Since she and I became great friends while she was doing the cable setup, she comes in now and then for a chat.
She stayed two hours, because she saw “To Be Or Not To Be” on my dining room table and said, “Who is that?”
When someone asks me that, it’s like taking their finger out of the dike. I’m off to the races telling them all about you. I dug out “Sharaabi” and showed her the scene with NatwarlalJi’s mustache. I showed her the dance at the beginning of “Silsila” and took her in here to the office to watch “Mere angane mein” on YouTube. She took down the names of all the movies I recommended and will begin watching them on Netflix. “Sharaabi” first, then “Satte Pe Satta,” “Silsila” and “Bunty Aur Babli.” She was all excited when she left and ready to put them in her queue as soon as she got home.
Such fun. I love showing your movies. If they’re escapist, so what? We need to escape. And they’re not entirely escapist anyway. They’re serious sometimes and tragic sometimes and generally interesting.
Thank you. Thank you again. For being you, for bringing such fun and happiness to the world.
Okay, I know I’m gushing. Sometimes it’s good to gush.
Aloha from Hawaii …
Love, Dorothy
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Dear Mr Bachchan….
Woke up to three posts no less! No way I can rapid fire back replies so quickly with all these three! Too early! LoL!
The gym incident is funny. And a scenario which isn’t so uncommon. Money talks eh! LoL!
Have only just read this one.
Just saying Goodnight first. I hope in your desire to do nothing you had a good rest. Well it looks as if you had time to at least ponder anyway. But to ponder over numbers?? Interesting! LoL
Hope you have a goodnight…
Rose C
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My dearest Mr. Bachchan, there are so many feelings and thoughts that I wish to share with you, but this being my first posting on your beautiful website, I will keep my introduction to you “short and sweet”: I am one of the many who flew a great distance to see you - I live in Seattle and saw the show in Los Angeles - and I must tell you that it was truly a dream come true, as I have been an admirer of your artistry for many years. And to not only feel your very palpable charisma, radiance, and talent, but to also witness the brilliance of your family (of course that includes your exquisite wife Jaya in addition to Abhishek and Aishwariya), Madhuri, Preity, Ritesh, Vishal, Shekhar, and all of the dancers, musicians, costume designers, lighting techs, etc.: well, to be genuinely honest, it WAS truly UNFORGETTABLE! I was looking forward to this performance for months, and now having seen it, it is remaining with me so powerfully. Thank you from the depths of my heart for sharing your “infinite light” with me and with all of us who deeply cherish you: you are a precious gift from God, and I am humbled to be alive now so as to be profoundly touched by you. Well, so much for “short and sweet”! Have a great time with the remainder of the tour,stay well and strong, and please know that I will will be reading your rich and expressive blog each day, and will check in with you from time to time. May God continue to bless you, and may you live long!
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i think that this once-in-a-while complete mind numbing lethargy is a peculiar Libran trait. ….”A desire to do nothing. Just be the way we are. Finish the essentials and then just remain….just be” ….very familiar! - a fellow Libran
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Sir,
It is invigorating for us to hear from you every day. Every day it breaks any lethargy that we might have to see you being so active under all daunting conditions. If BigB can be active under the strain of antibiotics and fever and cold and congestion; so can we!
You raise a very pertinent question on our love for fractions and multiples. I am sure there are mathematicians in your fan following who would be able to enligten us on our love of .99 / multiples of 1 and 5.
Praying for your speedy recovery.
With respect,
Kaushal V
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Your last line on time reminds me of the well-known Rafi song from Mela — Yeh Zindagi ke mele. Of course the film starred your idol, Dilip Kumar. In the same way I am also reminded of Whitman’s haunting poem, Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, which I reproduce in its entirety below and which happens to be one of my favorite poems in the language:
Crossing Brooklyn Ferry
1
Flood-tide below me! I see you face to face!
Clouds of the west–sun there half an hour high–I see you also face
to face.
Crowds of men and women attired in the usual costumes, how curious
you are to me!
On the ferry-boats the hundreds and hundreds that cross, returning
home, are more curious to me than you suppose,
And you that shall cross from shore to shore years hence are more
to me, and more in my meditations, than you might suppose.
2
The impalpable sustenance of me from all things at all hours of the day,
The simple, compact, well-join’d scheme, myself disintegrated, every
one disintegrated yet part of the scheme,
The similitudes of the past and those of the future,
The glories strung like beads on my smallest sights and hearings, on
the walk in the street and the passage over the river,
The current rushing so swiftly and swimming with me far away,
The others that are to follow me, the ties between me and them,
The certainty of others, the life, love, sight, hearing of others.
Others will enter the gates of the ferry and cross from shore to shore,
Others will watch the run of the flood-tide,
Others will see the shipping of Manhattan north and west, and the
heights of Brooklyn to the south and east,
Others will see the islands large and small;
Fifty years hence, others will see them as they cross, the sun half
an hour high,
A hundred years hence, or ever so many hundred years hence, others
will see them,
Will enjoy the sunset, the pouring-in of the flood-tide, the
falling-back to the sea of the ebb-tide.
3
It avails not, time nor place–distance avails not,
I am with you, you men and women of a generation, or ever so many
generations hence,
Just as you feel when you look on the river and sky, so I felt,
Just as any of you is one of a living crowd, I was one of a crowd,
Just as you are refresh’d by the gladness of the river and the
bright flow, I was refresh’d,
Just as you stand and lean on the rail, yet hurry with the swift
current, I stood yet was hurried,
Just as you look on the numberless masts of ships and the
thick-stemm’d pipes of steamboats, I look’d.
I too many and many a time cross’d the river of old,
Watched the Twelfth-month sea-gulls, saw them high in the air
floating with motionless wings, oscillating their bodies,
Saw how the glistening yellow lit up parts of their bodies and left
the rest in strong shadow,
Saw the slow-wheeling circles and the gradual edging toward the south,
Saw the reflection of the summer sky in the water,
Had my eyes dazzled by the shimmering track of beams,
Look’d at the fine centrifugal spokes of light round the shape of my
head in the sunlit water,
Look’d on the haze on the hills southward and south-westward,
Look’d on the vapor as it flew in fleeces tinged with violet,
Look’d toward the lower bay to notice the vessels arriving,
Saw their approach, saw aboard those that were near me,
Saw the white sails of schooners and sloops, saw the ships at anchor,
The sailors at work in the rigging or out astride the spars,
The round masts, the swinging motion of the hulls, the slender
serpentine pennants,
The large and small steamers in motion, the pilots in their pilothouses,
The white wake left by the passage, the quick tremulous whirl of the wheels,
The flags of all nations, the falling of them at sunset,
The scallop-edged waves in the twilight, the ladled cups, the
frolic-some crests and glistening,
The stretch afar growing dimmer and dimmer, the gray walls of the
granite storehouses by the docks,
On the river the shadowy group, the big steam-tug closely flank’d on
each side by the barges, the hay-boat, the belated lighter,
On the neighboring shore the fires from the foundry chimneys burning
high and glaringly into the night,
Casting their flicker of black contrasted with wild red and yellow
light over the tops of houses, and down into the clefts of streets.
4
These and all else were to me the same as they are to you,
I loved well those cities, loved well the stately and rapid river,
The men and women I saw were all near to me,
Others the same–others who look back on me because I look’d forward
to them,
(The time will come, though I stop here to-day and to-night.)
5
What is it then between us?
What is the count of the scores or hundreds of years between us?
Whatever it is, it avails not–distance avails not, and place avails not,
I too lived, Brooklyn of ample hills was mine,
I too walk’d the streets of Manhattan island, and bathed in the
waters around it,
I too felt the curious abrupt questionings stir within me,
In the day among crowds of people sometimes they came upon me,
In my walks home late at night or as I lay in my bed they came upon me,
I too had been struck from the float forever held in solution,
I too had receiv’d identity by my body,
That I was I knew was of my body, and what I should be I knew I
should be of my body.
6
It is not upon you alone the dark patches fall,
The dark threw its patches down upon me also,
The best I had done seem’d to me blank and suspicious,
My great thoughts as I supposed them, were they not in reality meagre?
Nor is it you alone who know what it is to be evil,
I am he who knew what it was to be evil,
I too knitted the old knot of contrariety,
Blabb’d, blush’d, resented, lied, stole, grudg’d,
Had guile, anger, lust, hot wishes I dared not speak,
Was wayward, vain, greedy, shallow, sly, cowardly, malignant,
The wolf, the snake, the hog, not wanting in me.
The cheating look, the frivolous word, the adulterous wish, not wanting,
Refusals, hates, postponements, meanness, laziness, none of these wanting,
Was one with the rest, the days and haps of the rest,
Was call’d by my nighest name by clear loud voices of young men as
they saw me approaching or passing,
Felt their arms on my neck as I stood, or the negligent leaning of
their flesh against me as I sat,
Saw many I loved in the street or ferry-boat or public assembly, yet
never told them a word,
Lived the same life with the rest, the same old laughing, gnawing, sleeping,
Play’d the part that still looks back on the actor or actress,
The same old role, the role that is what we make it, as great as we like,
Or as small as we like, or both great and small.
7
Closer yet I approach you,
What thought you have of me now, I had as much of you–I laid in my
stores in advance,
I consider’d long and seriously of you before you were born.
Who was to know what should come home to me?
Who knows but I am enjoying this?
Who knows, for all the distance, but I am as good as looking at you
now, for all you cannot see me?
8
Ah, what can ever be more stately and admirable to me than
mast-hemm’d Manhattan?
River and sunset and scallop-edg’d waves of flood-tide?
The sea-gulls oscillating their bodies, the hay-boat in the
twilight, and the belated lighter?
What gods can exceed these that clasp me by the hand, and with voices I
love call me promptly and loudly by my nighest name as approach?
What is more subtle than this which ties me to the woman or man that
looks in my face?
Which fuses me into you now, and pours my meaning into you?
We understand then do we not?
What I promis’d without mentioning it, have you not accepted?
What the study could not teach–what the preaching could not
accomplish is accomplish’d, is it not?
9
Flow on, river! flow with the flood-tide, and ebb with the ebb-tide!
Frolic on, crested and scallop-edg’d waves!
Gorgeous clouds of the sunset! drench with your splendor me, or the
men and women generations after me!
Cross from shore to shore, countless crowds of passengers!
Stand up, tall masts of Mannahatta! stand up, beautiful hills of Brooklyn!
Throb, baffled and curious brain! throw out questions and answers!
Suspend here and everywhere, eternal float of solution!
Gaze, loving and thirsting eyes, in the house or street or public assembly!
Sound out, voices of young men! loudly and musically call me by my
nighest name!
Live, old life! play the part that looks back on the actor or actress!
Play the old role, the role that is great or small according as one
makes it!
Consider, you who peruse me, whether I may not in unknown ways be
looking upon you;
Be firm, rail over the river, to support those who lean idly, yet
haste with the hasting current;
Fly on, sea-birds! fly sideways, or wheel in large circles high in the air;
Receive the summer sky, you water, and faithfully hold it till all
downcast eyes have time to take it from you!
Diverge, fine spokes of light, from the shape of my head, or any
one’s head, in the sunlit water!
Come on, ships from the lower bay! pass up or down, white-sail’d
schooners, sloops, lighters!
Flaunt away, flags of all nations! be duly lower’d at sunset!
Burn high your fires, foundry chimneys! cast black shadows at
nightfall! cast red and yellow light over the tops of the houses!
Appearances, now or henceforth, indicate what you are,
You necessary film, continue to envelop the soul,
About my body for me, and your body for you, be hung our divinest aromas,
Thrive, cities–bring your freight, bring your shows, ample and
sufficient rivers,
Expand, being than which none else is perhaps more spiritual,
Keep your places, objects than which none else is more lasting.
You have waited, you always wait, you dumb, beautiful ministers,
We receive you with free sense at last, and are insatiate henceforward,
Not you any more shall be able to foil us, or withhold yourselves from us,
We use you, and do not cast you aside–we plant you permanently within us,
We fathom you not–we love you–there is perfection in you also,
You furnish your parts toward eternity,
Great or small, you furnish your parts toward the soul.
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अपेकà¥à¤·à¤¾
अपने इस जीवन-यापन में
कहीं ऎसा कà¥à¤› कर जाना है
जग याद रखे इस दà¥à¤¨à¤¿à¤¯à¤¾ में
à¤à¤• ऎसा à¤à¥€ है इंसान हà¥à¤†
जिसे मोह जाल ना बांध सका
करà¥à¤®à¥Šà¤‚ और विचारॊं का
वह à¤à¤• अनूठा संगम था
जग से मांगा ना कà¥à¤› à¤à¥€ कà¤à¥€
देने को सब कà¥à¤› आतà¥à¤° था
à¤à¤¾à¤·à¤¾ रंग और धरà¥à¤® जाति के
बंधन कब के था काट चà¥à¤•à¤¾
मानव से मान को जोड़ रहा
नही शांति दूत था वह कॊई
और ना ही कोई मसीहा था
कहता था इतना ही जग से
ना पानी ने हमें जब बांटा है
ना à¤à¥‚ख हमें है बांट सकी
ना किया हवा ने बंटवारा
फिर कà¥à¤¯à¥‹à¤‚ कर हम विदà¥à¤°à¥‹à¤¹ करें
हम अà¤à¤¯ बने बस पà¥à¤°à¥‡à¤® करें
अमृत सी हमारी हॊ वाणी
करà¥à¤£à¥‹à¤‚ को पà¥à¤°à¤¿à¤¯ हम मधà¥à¤° बनें
- अà¤à¤¯ शरà¥à¤®à¤¾
Though I had posted this poem on the death of Dr. Bachchan some years back five to be exact. I wish to add here that you as his manifestation by the virtue of him being your father is indeed a great gift from him to us besides his beautifully worded poetry. I have no hesitation to add here that you are an extension of Dr. Bachchan to the most of us who held the great poet in high esteem.
You would find more such links and cross-links to my assoication with you and the Bachchans of India in future.
Abhaya Sharma, Mumbai, 1st August 2008, 11.39 AM
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Big B- what’s in a name some may say- but i do want to ask.. — inst it interesting when people call you - BIG B ..
I wonder if you know the roots to this name that has been given to you.. a person who has a larger than life image. Who gave you this name?
1. what was the context?
2. Did you like it in the beginning and what about now ?
3. What does the name mean to you ?
4. How does it impact you as you actual name is sometime not mentioned.. does it hurt you? or is it become life ?
5. Who calls you BIG B in your personal life/circle
6. Is it only the media
7. What do loved ones call you - any nick name you can share
8. Your thoughts ” what’s in a name” anything your father may have written on this?
PS: My internet name “shimlaite” yes there is somethin in the name .. but then this one I gave to ones own self as an internet identity meaning a person who hails from “Shimlaite” as I am proud of where I come from ..
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Dear Amitji,
I am afraid the gym management might be sued by the trainers that could claim they lost business because of your being in the gym and getting training from someone else who is not in the contract. If this happens, probably you will feel bad. But nevertheless, its a fantastic “story” that you can show in some of your coming movies. For long, we are missing your humour from your movies
Loved the pictures posted by you ….. missing everything but being able to feel them is great as we continue to read your blog like we read sports news.
regards,
Kaushik
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Dear Amitji,
I am totally down with fever. not gone to office……….but had the courage to get up and on my PC to read your blog its become a routine like brushing the teeth etccccccc. Have a good day ahead….. am back to sleep.
Rajasekhar Pillai
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Dear Mr. Bachchan,
In this blog you have raised couple of questions which are left unanswered till date. It is like “Pichhe se chali aati hai” - without understanding the logic behind it, people just go on performing it. I am happy to inform you that I have broken that tradition of “add one”, for till date I am not replied by anybody in this regard. The second question is - “Pravritti” or “Nivritti”. It is answered nicely by scholars with more examples in favour of both. So it is upto us to decide that at what time what is more suitable - “Pravritti” or “Nivritti” - And we behave accordingly.
Very nice photos. I am more happy that you have uploaded it without anybody’s help. Bravo!!!
Best wishes for Houston show.
Regards,
Naishadh Vyas
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Well! Well!! Well!!!
“SOUL CURRY for you and me” just arrive through the post!!
This should be interesting!!!
The cover with your face. Your eyes intently studying and is that a smirk or a smile? Definitely a smirk I’d say!
Wish I had time to read it now! Best to read it tonight when there is no disturbance.
So it looks like tonight is spent with you and me then! Ha! ha! ha!
My love still remains…
Rose C X
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Hi……….Congrats ,we were keep in touch for 100 days continously,i have never received such writings even from my boyfriend un interruptdly…good,God Bless….
So after the tour what will you bring for us?????(kidding)
Take care dear
This time tooo my name isnt in ur list…sad but ok
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sir you are mind blowing…who said you are 65yrs old, you are the only 35yrs old superstar and rock the world……….
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ehe, he he..you have tried to be bit humorous by mixing these different topics, with different emotions and even different timings to one. it’s innovative writing but can’t put your mind into one place, it’s like soccer changing place one to another, but yes there is a goal infront and it may come, but i’ll love to have a pleasant reading instead of humorous.
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So, 100 days!!(on July 31st,2008 not on August 1st) Incredible and congratulations to all of us! Thank you for the pictures. I always thought
Abhisekh and Aishwarya made a wonderful couple ever since I saw “Kuch Na kaho” and I wished that they would get married one day… random instinct…
regards,
pallavi
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Namaste Mr. Bachchan!!!
This events in Bengalaru and Ahmedabad where very terrible.
It’s so scare that people can kill other people. It’s so sad. ;-(
*****************************************************************************
Numbers not important but events yes.For me my lucky number is 8 because
it’s the day of my birth. God with You
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Today’s blog
well after the interval it is more interesting.
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~
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Ha! Numbers! Numerics! Numerology! Numerologists..!
All are FUNNY! No Logics… nothing.
5, 25, 75… they look GOOD as numbers and have thus become some kind of ‘milestones’ unto themselves…
1, 21, 51, 101… numbers ending with ONE… well, they’re so entwined into our religious things and have become so conventional that we don’t even think about them or beyond them.
Maybe we don’t offer anyone something ending with a ZERO with a belief that what ends with a zero ends up with being zero… or something like that (even though we have ourselves invented the Zero)!
I mean whatever…. but when I myself think about it sometimes, instead of telling myself WHY, I end up questioning myself WHY NOT?
After all, for whatever reasons, if you’re giving a wedding or birthday gift, an envelope of Rs.101/- as present looks far better, and APPROPRIATE, than a Rs.100/- one!
Ha! Some things are better left unexplained… and we should just follow some such conventions to keep up with the traditions!
Well then…
…in keeping with our traditional values,
…on to the 100th CELEBRATORY blog…
…and then to the 101st AUSPICIOUS blog!!!
with love & regards,
Rajesh Kejriwal
BigB Yahoo Groups
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Sir,
Hope you’re enjoyng the trip..And that was a cool way to handle the gym guys!!way to go!
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Samay ki chakki…
It is about 1:46 a.m. and the restless mind, sans sleep has caused me to come to my toy and read the very percetive observations:
You took me back to the days when I first joined Sophia College. The class was Mass Com. The teacher was a petite parsee woman. We had to write an essay describing our lives and ambitions. Living in Juhu with good friends and family by my side, Prithvi Theatres on my right and ofcourse an artist like you not too far, life was good! So, I go on with how wonderful everything is and how satisfied I am!
The petite parsee woman commented at the end of my essay, “Moha, you are too complacent”. Shake it off! Complacency hampers progress, and yet routine is the anchor of life…another dichotomy?
Well, as we say, Onward and Upwards!
The GYM:
In my very humble opinion do not get irked by the gym incident. Unfortunately, any organization leaves very little wiggle room for the “unforseen” because of fear of being sued. With lawsuits breathing down their necks, they get very cliched and many times fail to see the human element. I used to get, and still do get frustrated at this, even though it is 20 years in this country!
“Abey yaar…jaane dena! Kaahe Ko itna Dam?
Arre Bhai…yeh nahi chalat ihiya…………Paisaaa!
Anyway, it is good that you emerged refreshed and did not lethargy overtake you. Though I must slip this in to you…just be.
It is ok Bacchanwa(Sorry, I had the sudden urge to call you that)
Kabhi Kabhi, we have to just be! It helps us regain our inner self!
P.S. The 9.99 marketing startegy is genius! The fool that I am, always announce the price to be 9 dollars instead of 10. God knows how many shukan ke rupaiyye I have lost in that math!
Lots of love…
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Mr. Bachchan-
Did you know you were running for Prime Minister of the United States?
Check out http://www.badmash.tv/dishoom/
Episode 1: Big B enters the Race is the best!
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I had some knowledge (emotional, psychological, etc.) behind the whole minus one-hundredth unit of currency pricing strategy. BBC seems to endorse it : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7522426.stm
And, one of the readers their commented this interesting “historic” reason :
“There’s a historic reason for this: in the first department stores the till held no money. Payment was put in a vaccum tube or similar and fired to the back office where a clerk wrote down the transaction and returned the change. By making something £9.99 rather than £10 (obviously this pre-dates the metric system) the check-out girl had to use the system in order to give the penny change to the customer rather than just pocket the £10. That was the theory anyway…”
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Hello Hello Hello Again.
Nice write up day 99.
Humorous about the gym incident. Was funny - Money speaks louder than words. The moment you asked for refund they had to bend their rules and bow down to you - Awesome.
And the rest was just pleasure to read.
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Dear friend,
HI, how are you?
Normaly people like to celebrate, so 25,50,75……… We achieve something, so the celebration. celebration gives a happy feelings, add colours in life.
In INDIA it is our tradition to give Shagun as 11,21,51,………
LO I’m VE with U
smita_nine@yahoo.co.in
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Dear Amit ji,
Photographs posted in blog are wonderful. Send some photographs of Jaya di, Abhishek. Today you have a program at Houstan, is it not ?
Your health seems to be far better than previous days.
Take care,
subir
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haha gr8 mix of humor sir!!!!
lov u..
Amit pandey
hyd
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yippe!!
didnt know you were using mac.nice to know you experimenting with the toy!
Cheers,
Vaishali Adwant
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Sir
We give shagun in 11, 21, 51 or 101 because 1 gets added to 10, 20, 50 or 100. This shows an upward trend as the number doesnt stop at 10 but theres an extra 1 to it. It shows the progressive trend…
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sir you hv not updated your photo category since long time ;(
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Sir,
It is interesting to observe how a value system can be broken either by giving money to influence what we want or threaten to take money away and change them to what we want. Here the value system was “the rule not to allow a trained professional to use the gym for training without the required qualification”…
It is a shame that you and your team couldn’t come to our part of the world, down under (Sydney!!)…. We would miss all the fun and opportunity to see you all….
Take care,
SaiRam.
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Dear Amit Ji,
Thats really true………time goes on and we have to also match with it.
Otherwise hum samay se pichhey reh jaayengey.
Time doesn’t stops for anyone…..aur yahi satya hai.
After reading so many blogs i use to wonder that you always sounds so fresh and energetic.
Here i read that you feel what to write…..no desire to express..
I wonder one more thing that you never make a spelling mistake…
May be you read your blog once or twice before posting out here.
Anyways, take care and have a wonderful time……samay.
Thanks and regards,
Susmita
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