Memories of Dakshesh Pathak with Mumbai Samachar
Someone called me from Mumbai Samachar in 1994 during world cup football that, the owner of Mumbai Samachar Mr Mancherjee Cama wants to see you at Cama hotel this weekend if possible. Obviously, I went to see him, as it was a great honour that the owner of the oldest newspaper wanted to see me. After a few minutes, the ever smiling Mancherjee opened his file and brought out this article written by me a few weeks ago in my regular column Square Cut, on the suspension of Argentina great footballer Diego Maradona under the charges of drugs. I was so surprised. He said he regularly reads my column, being a great sports follower and what I had written about Maradona, reflects his views too, 100 percent. He straightaway offered me to join Mumbai Samachar and said, ' Tamne hu 7000 rs salary aapu to chalshe '? I was happily surprised for the way he knew and appreciated me and offered me to join Mumbai Samachar. It was more than double which I was getting at Gujarat Samachar at that time. Still, I humbly refused that I am happy with Gujarat Samachar and won't join for more than double salary. He said, ' at times, it's good to take a break and go back whenever you feel. From my side, I will permit you the day you wish. Please talk to Shreyansbhai. ' It worked out the way he told and I joined Mumbai Samachar in July 1994 and left in June 1995. It was great working with friends like Dhimant, Prashant Dayal, Ghamandee kaka, Mayank Vyas, Pankaj Desai and R.E. Girishbhai Trivedi and so on. Satish Mori used to Bring Sikandar khari sing from Surendranagar and we collectively used to request to sanction his leave whenever he wanted to go to Surendranagar. The mischievous cartoons of Giri, when he used to draw to show us, not to fax, are still vivid ! The response head Krunal Chakravarty mimicking actors and so on, are fond memories. The greatest salute to Mancherjee Cama who passed away a few days back, what a lively and sporting soul he was.
There are other stories too, to forget about the office, why the Ahmedabad edition couldn't be started, but let's remember the best one only, especially about the great Cama.
The day Mumbai Samachar's peon Om Prakash recited these 4 lines to me, I never asked for even a glass of water from him since then, which he used to as soon as we reached office everyday. I treated him as my colleague after that, as the stature of a poet, is a poet, above any formal position. I don't remember whether it was his lines or quoted, but he told me that in Mumbai, ' Cama sheth ' used to call him often to recite his poetry. These are the lines he recited me which I have never forgotten since 1994. An eternal poetry is relevant in every age.
मुल्क तो जलता दोझख की आग में,
और तुम मस्त हो अपनी जन्नत लिए,
जब की बीरान होता है सारा चमन,
सिर्फ दिल्ली सजाने से क्या फायदा ।