Dinesh Kamath’s Autobiographical Diary which he had maintained in the Blog

Dinesh Kamath’s Autobiographical Diary which he had maintained in the Blog

THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010

About Myself

Today I'll tell you some things about myself. I did most of my schooling at Bandra (West). I studied in St Theresa's High School which is located between Bandra and Khar. I studied in St Theresa's Convent, Goa from 1964 to 1970. During my times we had to pursue 11 + 2 + 2 course and not 10 + 2 + 3 like the students today pursue. After my schooling I joined Parle College, which is today called Sathye College. After that I did a course in journalism at Bombay College of Journalism which was conducted at K C College at Churchgate. Although my ambition was to become a journalist I was forced to take up a job at Mumbai Customs owing to my father's demise. My father was the top intelligence officer in Directorate of Revenue Intelligence which is a kind of extension of Customs. Since he died on duty I was taken in Customs under the quota that was reserved for children of custom employees who died while on duty. I worked in Customs for around 14 years. I resigned from Customs when I was working there in capacity of a Custom Officer. After that I did a course in medical transcription and even worked in a security agency for sometimes. Then one fine day I got a big break. I got a job of a sub-editor in the weekly newspaper of Navi Mumbai. The newspaper was 'In New Bombay' which is today called Newsband and which is a daily. I made the best of that big break. I proved my worth as a daily cartoonist and columnist. Besides that I also started a brain teaser column. Today I'm still employed in Newsband and I'm doing fine. I hope that everything will go fine with me in the future too. That's all for today. I promise to write more about myself and things that interest me from time to time in the future too for the benefit of those who would want to read me. Bye!

TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010

Dinesh Kamath's views about Navi Mumbai city

I had come to Vashi somewhere in the early eighties and I had found it to be a very isolated and undeveloped place. I had even come to Panvel for picnic with my classmates of Bombay College of Journalism. That was also in the early eighties. Panvel, at that time, was also an isolated, mountainous and grassy place devoid of any buildings. It was, in other words, totally undeveloped place. But it was a good site for picnicking purpose. In the year 2004 I was trying for a job in the newspaper. I couldn't make it in any newspaper in Mumbai. So I went through the Tata's Yellow Pages to find out whether there was any newspaper where I had not tried for a job. At that time I became aware of the existence of newspapers like In New Bombay, Twin City and Vashi Times in Vashi. Now I was not even aware of the fact that there was such a city called New Bombay. I thought that Vashi was the same undeveloped place which I had visited in the early eighties. But yet I decided to try to get a job in one of these Vashi newspapers. When I came to Vashi I was stunned to see the extent to which the place was developed. I got the job in the weekly newspaper 'In New Bombay' with ease. (For your information, The weekly 'In New Bombay' is today become the daily 'Newsband') After beginning to work in this newspaper I became aware of how developed Navi Mumbai was. I became aware of the opportunities that this city provided to people with talents. Gradually I fell in love with the city. This city has a great future. I won't be surprised if New Bombay becomes more developed than Mumbai in the near future simply because it is progressing with that much rapid pace. I think the main reason why this city developed so rapidly is the rapid springing up of many English schools and colleges here. Right from Vashi to Panvel, you find many English educational institutions which educate, discipline and instill right culture and morals in their students. You find the city full of cultured youngsters moving around. It is indeed a pleasant sight. I seriously think that Mumbai should take a cue from Navi Mumbai and follow the same method of development which this satellite city has adopted. If this is not done, Mumbai will find itself lagging behind Navi Mumbai one day. That's all for today. Before I bid you good bye I would like to tell you my e-mail id if you want to contact me. My e-mail id is dknewsband@rediffmail.com Bye!

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2010

Dinesh Kamath's views about his birth place - Bandra

Today I'll tell you something about my birth place which is Bandra. Bandra has been rightly called as Queen of Suburbs since a long time. I was born and raised in Bandra (West) which is undoubtedly much more developed than Bandra (East). The special aspect of Bandra at the time I was born was that it was full of English convent schools and there were hardly any vernacular schools. Owing to this fact all the parents, whether anglicized or vernacular, were forced to admit their children in convent schools. That made my generation who grew in Bandra West almost entirely anglicized. At the place I was residing, I and people of my generation were all the time communicating in English. That's the reason I couldn't speak any language other than English fluently till I grew up to be twenty three and till I was compelled to take up a job at Indian Customs. It is in Customs that I got the opportunity to learn Hindi and Marathi. My mother tongue is Konkani but I feel ashamed to say that I can't speak this language as fluently as I can speak English. If I'm become a prolific English writer today I owe it to the place I was born and raised in and that place is Bandra (West). At present I reside in Andheri (East) but I still remember Bandra (West) which I badly miss. That place had its own charm and beauty. There are, in fact, very few places like Bandra (West) in India. To be brought up in Bandra (West) is like growing up in America or Great Britain. That advanced was Bandra (West) during my time. Today it surely is much more advanced. I thank God for letting me get born in such a beautiful place like Bandra (West). I pray to him to let me get born in Bandra (West) every life. That's all for today. I'll pass on to you more and more information as and when I get inspiration. Bye!

MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2010

Dinesh Kamath about himself

I belong to the caste which is called GSB or Gowd Saraswat Brahmins. My father is a GSB belonging to Mangalore and my mother is a GSB belonging to Karwar. Both Mangalorean and Karwari GSBs speak Konkani. But there is a great difference in the Konkanis the two speak. Mangalorean GSB knows Kannada in addition to Konkani. While Karwari GSBs know Marathi in addition to Konkani. There are GSBs in Maharashtra too. Sunil Gavaskar, the great test cricketer, is a GSB. GSBs are supposed to be very good in mathematics. That's why you'll find most of the GSBs working in Banks. If you want to know more about GSBs you can get those information from the Googles site.

My family came to Mumbai for the first time four generations back. My great grandfather came to Mumbai and settled over here. His son, who is my grandfather, did wonders. When he was in his teens he had hardly any money. But before he had reached the age of thirty he possessed chains of hotels. They were quite decent hotels ( not ordinary types). I was told that he possessed more than eight hotels and he was so generous that he gifted (free of cost) a couple of hotels to his sisters. But the poor chap died at a very young age of thirty four. He died of Tuberculosis which those days was like cancer (incurable ailment). After his death, his hotels were all grabbed by God-knows-who and his wife and three small children were left with not even a single hotel. I was told that he possessed all these hotels in a region called Phanaswadi which I think is somewhere near Girgaon. Had my grandfather lived for two decades more my family would have been owners of chains of five-star hotels today. But what has happened has happened. There is no point in brooding over the past.

Now I'll tell you something about my dad. My dad was a customs officer when I was born. I still remember the white uniforms he would wear and proudly go all the way to his office at Ballard Estate from his residence at Bandra. Today we find custom officers feeling shy to come in uniforms in front of the public. God knows why! My dad was transferred to Goa Customs somewhere in the year 1964. He was many a times the part of the squads who did seizures of contraband goods. I know about this because I would constantly read my dad's name in the Goan newspapers. My father impressed all his superiors with his intelligence, honesty and devotion towards his duty. When he returned to Mumbai in 1970 he was straightaway appointed as superintendent in Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). This is the department where only special officers of Customs and Excise are deputed. No ordinary officer gets entry in this powerful department. It was while working for DRI that my dad got the opportunity ot handle Haji Mastan's case. Haji Mastan, for your information, was the most dreaded smuggler of those days. He was the man who two decades later was going to be succeeded by Dawood Ibrahim. Even in DRI my dad cracked many cases, made many seizures and even detentions. He expired in 1982. But just before he expired he had received the news that he was the recipient of President of India Award for the year 1982 for the meritorious service he rendered to the department of Customs for 33 years. That was the proudest moment for him. But unfortunately he could not survive to receive personally the prestigious award. The award was received by my mother whom I accompanied to Delhi. My mom received the award at the grand function held at Vigyan Bhavan and the award was given by the hands of then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. It was at that time that all the winners of the award were presented with the souvenir which described in details the terrific exploits of all the award winners. It was while going through this souvenir that I became aware of the fact that my father, during his entire career. was the part of seizures of contraband goods worth Rs 4.2 crores and 76 detentions. My father was so humble a man that not once had he mentioned to any of his close ones about the magnificent feat he had performed.

I would like to pass on to you another interesting information. My father and mother met in Customs where both were working. They fell in love and got married. The result was my late brother and I.

I will pass on to you more infos later on. Till then, bye!

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2010

Dinesh Kamath's views about God and religion

What is my idea of God? I believe that God is not any particular idol. God is goodness. A man doesn't become religious just by uttering mantras and performing rites and rituals. A man who carries out all the religious practices but chooses to be bad cannot be called religious. A man can be called religious only if he is good. He need not utter any mantra. He need not perform any rite or ritual. But he has to be good. Only then he can be called religious. Being good is being religious.

Nature has created both good and bad things in this world. It is man who accumulated all the good things and gave it a name. He called all these good things God. All the bad things put together was referred to as Devil. Nature has made Rose. Nature has made Cactus even. Man loves Rose. Man hates Cactus. What I mean to say is that world has both good and bad elements in it. All the good elements are constantly in war with all the bad elements. There is good and bad things even among our own selves and we find the conflict between good and bad taking place even within our own selves. History has proved that Good always triumphs over Bad ultimately. I'll talk more about this some other time. Bye!

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2010

From the heart of Dinesh Kamath

The first movie I remember having seen is a film which had Sanjay Khan and Meena Kumari playing the lead roles. I remember having loved one song of that particular film. It was a romantic duet picturized on Sanjay Khan and Meena Kumari. The song was 'Pyar hua hai jab se, mujhko nahi chain aata' (something like that). I remember I kept humming that song for many days after I watched the film. That song would literally haunt me. Another movie I remember having seen when I was very small is 'Milan' which had Sunil Dutt and Nutan playing the lead roles. The film was about reincarnation. Almost all the songs of that film were hit. I saw, for the first time Pran, the actor who played villain's role frequently those days. He terrified me to a great extent. I feel Pran was a villain who knew best how to make himself most hated and dreaded by the audience. No other actor who followed him could play the villain's role as convincingly as Pran could do. I personally feel that Pran is the best Screen villain of all times. Even after he stopped playing villain's role and decided to play character roles instead, he proved to be the best charactor actor. I liked Pran in 'Zanjeer'. What a way he danced to the tune of the song 'Yaari hai imaan mera yaar meri zindagi'! Sunil Dutt was my most favourite hero when I was a child. I liked his role in Mother India. I admired those days the way he acted to the tune of the song 'Na main Bhagwan hoon, na main saitaan hoon, Duniya joh chahe samjhe, main toh insaan hoon'. Sunil Dutt and Nutan were my favourite male and female actors until Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore came into the scene. I saw the two for the first time in the film 'Aaradhana'. I remember having got completely stunned by Sharmila's beauty. I was just staring at her throughout the time while I was watching the film. She became my dream girl. I also fell in love with Rajesh Khanna's style of romancing. I've never seen a more loveable romantic hero than him. After watching 'Aaradhana' I would try not to miss any film which had Rajesh Khanna or Sharmila Tagore or both starring. I loved Rajesh Khanna while he danced to a tune of the song of Prem Nagar. The song was 'Bye bye miss good night, kal phir milenge'. Those were the days when any song picturized on Rajesh Khanna would become a super hit. Rajesh Khanna reigned as a super star for a long long time. He could be replaced only by a star of the stature of Amitabh Bachchan who with his angry young man's image diverted the attention of audiences' towards him. I love one song that was piturized on Amitabh. The song is 'Main pal do pal ka shayar hoon, pal do pal meri kahani hai, pal do pal meri hasti hai, pal do pal meri jawani hai'. Another song that was picturised on Amitabh and which I liked was 'Dilbar mere kab tak mujhe aise hi tadpaonge, main aag dil mein laga doonga woh pal mein pigal jaoge, ek din aayega, pyaar ho jayega.....' Before I stop writing I'll tell you which is my favourite modern song. It is 'Do baatein ho sakti hai, sanam tere inkaar ki, ya duniya se tu darti hai ya kadar nahi mere pyar ki'. I'll talk more about films and subjects I like as and when I feel inspired. Until then, bye!

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2010

Dinesh Kamath talks about his best moments

There were two best moments in my life. One was when my daughter Dhanashree was born. The second best moment was when I got a break as a journalist. When my daughter was born I felt extremely happy. I always wanted a daughter more than a son simply because I didn't have a sister. My daughter looked extremely cute when she was born. Today she is in her teens and is doing extremely fine academically. When my daughter was born there was no English medium school at a walking distance from my home. But my daughter was lucky because just during the time when she was in the womb of her mother, a superb English medium school called Bombay Cmbridge School sprung up just outside the compound of my home. It was a school that belonged to American Education Society. My daughter did her entire schooling over there and she passed SSC by scoring a little more than 86 percent. My daughter proved lucky for me too because when she was in sixth or seventh standard I got a job in the weekly newspaper In New Bombay at Vashi. Today it has been converted into a daily newspaper called Newsband. I used this golden opportunity that I got to prove my worth as a sub-editor, columnist and cartoonist. My ambition is to one day start my own newspaper or magazine. I am waiting to be financially fit enough before I can start working to achieve that goal. It will not be enough for me to start a newspaper or mag. That newspaper or mag should click too. Only then can I say that my ambition is fulfilled. Starting a newspaer or mag is very easy. To make it click is difficult, if not impossible. But I have a feeling that I can click as publisher of newspaper or mag once I've accumulated enough money. Let's see when this particular dream of mine will materialize. Bye!

Journalist Dinesh Kamath and cricket

When I was in third standard I was taught the basics of cricket. After that I fell in love with that sport. Cricket became my passion, my dream, my everything. Even beautiful girls would not appeal to me as much as cricket would do. Those days there was no Television. Hence I would listen to cricket commentaries on radio. I would never miss a single test match. Among the commentators I would adore Anant Setalwad, Suresh Saraiya and Raju Bharatan. Initially I would play with the tennis ball or rubber ball. But when I reached standard five I began to play with the season or hard ball. When I newly became the fan of the game called cricket, my heroes were G R Vishwanath, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Farokh Engineer, Eknath Solkar, E A S Prasanna, B S Chandrashekhar, Bishen Singh Bedi, Abid Ali and so on. Later on, when I grew up, I became the fan of Sunil Gavaskar, Dennis Lillee, Thomson, Vivian Richards, Kalicharan, Imran Khan and so on. I had developed an ambition of becoming a test cricketer. By the time I reached standard eight, I had become an extremely speedy bowler, a fantastic fielder and a hard-hitting batsman. I was fit for test cricket but my school didn't give me the encouragement I needed. Also my excessive love for cricket led to my scoring a low percentage in SSC exam. I was not only brilliant in sports but also clever when it came to academics. I had scored distinction in every standard, right from first standard to tenth standard. But in SSC (those days it was eleventh standard) I fared badly. I held cricket resposible for my poor performance in SSC. Gradually I began to lose interest in cricket. Then there came a time when I lost total touch with the game Today I just don't know the who's who of cricket. Once upon a time I used to know those things about cricket which no other person would know. But today I'm an ingnoramus as far as cricket is concerned. Today my passion is film, politics and journalism. I wish to show interest in cricket once again. But the thing is time doesn't permit me. Bye!

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2010

Diinesh Kamath on Sadhana

Today I'll talk about my most favourite Bollywood actress who is none other than Sadhana who is an actress of the past and who was part of many hit Bollywood films. Sadhana was a stunning beauty. She had her own style of acting. Her best feature was her extremely beutiful eyes. She had ice-cool eyes. She would stare in such a way that she appeared extremely romantic to the audiences. I liked her in the film Saaya when the song 'tu jahan jahan chalega mera saaya paas hoga' was picturized on her. That was a haunting song which suited her haunting look. Then I liked her in a romantic duet which was picturized on Sadhana and Sanjay Khan. The song was 'Parda hata do, mukhda deekha do, hum pyar karne wale hai koi gair nahi'. Then I liked the way she danced to the tune of famous number from Saaya. The song was 'Jhoomka gira re Bareilly ke bazaar mein'. What a way she danced to that tune! In the same film (Saaya) Sadhana had played a double role. One of the character she played was supposed to be a dacoit. The film depicted a court scene where Sadhana gave a memorable performance. She literally acted like a psychopathic dacoit at one stage. When I saw that particular scene I could not believe that she was the same romantic and cool actress who had won my heart while I was watching many of her movies. She had played the role of a ghost in a movie 'Woh Kaun Thi'. One particular song that was picturised on her impressed me the most. The song was 'Lag ja gale ki phir ye hasin raat ho na ho shayad phir is janam mein mulaqat ho na ho'. I liked Sadhana also in a romantic scene that she shared with Sunil Dutt in a scene in the movie 'Waqt'. That scene consisted of a romantic number 'Aage bhi jaane na tu, peeche bhi jaane na tu, jo bhi hai, bus yahi ek pal hai'. Sadhana looked extremelu cool, romantic and seductive in that particular scene. Whenever I try to recall all my favourite heroines of Bollywood, Sadhana doesn't fail to dominate in my memory. Very rarely do you get to witness an actress and beauty of the caliber of Sadhana. She is indeed one of the most unforgettable beauty of the past. Bye!

WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2010

Journalist Dinesh Kamath and Journalism

I was brought up in a family where reading English newspaper was a part of our culture. My dad, mom, brother and myself had the habit of reading the latest newspaper early in the morning everyday. When I was small I would read newpaper to know maximum about what was going on in the cricket world at the national and international levels. Today I don't read even a word about cricket and hence am totally ignorant about who's who in international and national llevel cricket today.

I developed interest in lournalism when I was doing Jr. BSC (14th std) at Sathaye College. I would read books which taught how to write for newspapers. I would read many English newspapers which got published in Mumbai those days. I simply loved to read certain columnists. Among the columnists I liked most were Busy Bee (Behram Contractor), Shobha De and Bikram Vohra. Busy Bee would write for Midday which had a special corner in its last page reserved specially for him He would write regularly. He would write around 400-600 words every day. He had his own style of writing which I simply loved. He would write very lucidly and effortlessly and he would always end his column with a punchline that would not fail to make me smile. I would read Busy Bee practically every day. I too have been writing my film columns for News Band newspaper since last more than three years practically everyday. I was inspired by Busy Bee and Busy Bee alone to become a regular columnist. There are hardly any columnist in the world who write columns practically everyday. They either write once forthnightly, once a week or twice a week. So I feel proud to say that I'm one of the few columnists in the world who had been writing columns practically every day since last three years. My idol, my inspiration was none other than late Behram Contractor or Busy Bee. Another columnist I liked was the great Shobha De. Shobha has done India proud today by becoming the only prolific Indian novelist. She is compared with great American and British female novelists. When I read Shobha De for the first time I fell in love with her. I would try not to miss any of her columns since then. She has a style of writing. She has a sophisticated style of writing. She is an excellent speaker too. I've heard her talk quite many times on TV and video film in the computer. She was a model initially who later became a columnist and then the editor of magazines like Star Dust, Socieity and Celebrity. After that she became a author. I read somewhere that today she is occupying the top position in Penguin Publications. If that is so then I would like to congratulate her for having another feather to cap which is already full of feathers. Bikram Vohra too was my favourite as far as writing a column is concerned. Bikram Vohra would write every week humorous columns which would never fail to make me laugh. He would also do compering for Quiz shows for Doordarshan those days. But he was in the limelight only for a short time after which he disappeared from public view. God knows where he got lost. Another writer whom I admired was Russy Karanjia. He was the editor of Blitz which was in the tabloid form and which would come out once a week. Karanjia had an attacking style of writing. He would use strong language. He was a delight for readers like me who loved reading sensational pieces. So these were the Indian writers who inspired me to beocme a writer too although in a small way.

Now I'll tell you how I fell in love with cartooning. When I was very small I would read comics like Phantom and Mandrake. I adored these two heroes. I had a huge collection of Phantom and Mandrake comics. Those days I would attempt to sketch my heroes by referring to the comics. That is how I discovered my drawing talent. After I grew up a little I got hold of a cartoon book by the famous cartoonist of those days who was none other than Shanker. That book contained a huge collections of Shanker's cartoons based on Nehur Era. I would not only enjoy watching the sketches but relish even the punch lines. After that I became the fan of cartoonists like R K Laxman, Mario Miranda, Sudhir Dhar, Vikas Sabnis and so on. It was R K Laxman who inspired me to become a regular cartoonist. And for last three years I have been making cartoons based on the characters Alooramji and Puno almost regularly for Newsband newspaper. Before that, Newsband was a weekly called 'In New Bombay" for which too I would draw cartoons practically every week. Today I got the collection of more than 2000 published cartoons of my own and I owe this success to the above mentioned cartoonists without whom I would never learn the art of cartooning. The number of published articles I got to my credit are more than 1200. Today I really feel that I've done something worthwhile for the society. I feel really great and nice. I'll stop here and I'll pass on to you still more interesting information as and when I get inspiration. Till then, bye!

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2010

Dinesh Kamath writes about his two saddest moments

Today I'll tell you about my two saddest moments. The first saddest moment was when my dad had expired. He had passed away on 18 February 1982 at around 8 am. On 26 January 1982 my father had received the news of him having been conferred upon the President of India Award for rendering meritorious service to Customs department for 33 years. The whole family was in a rejoicing and celebrating mood. But just a few days later the atmosphere in my house became one of extreme sorrow when my father suffered the first heart attack. He was rushed to Nanavati Hospital at Vile Parle where he was kept in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). But in a matter of few days he suffered three more strokes and on February 18 he breathed his last. His funeral was attended by many custom officers - all in white uniforms. They offered him their final salute. I personally felt all shattered after his death but slowly and gradually I recovered and started living life normally as before.

My second saddest moment was when my elder brother expired just recently. He passed away on 26 February 2009 at around 3 am. My brother had one valve of his heart which was damaged. Just few days before his death, he had got it replaced by a metallic valve at Bombay Hospital. It was a very expensive operation. The surgeon who had operated him had told me that he would survive for another 25 years after the operation. But he didn't survive for more than two years after he got operated. His death was another shattering moment for me.

Just a few days back, I had told you about my two happiest moments. I had forgotten to mention my third happiest moment. My third happiest moment was when My neice (my brother's daughter) became a new guest at our home. In fact, she came into this world just a few months before my daughter was born. Her name is Pragnya and she is today coming closer and closer to becoming twenty. I like her as much as I like my own daughter. I would like to see both - my daughter and her - settle down in life in most comfortable manner. Today both are coming closer and closer towards completing their academic education. I wish both of them best of luck for the future. Bye!

SUNDAY, JULY 4, 2010

Dinesh Kamath speaks about his favourite hero Rajesh Khanna

Rajesh Khanna was my favourite actor once upon a time. I would never miss any of the film in which he played the lead role. He is the best romantic actor of all times. Only other Bollywood actor who can give him a tough fight for the position of 'Best romantic actor of all times' is Rajendra Kumar and nobody else. There are many movie goers who are unable to decide whether it is Rajesh Khanna or Rajendra Kumar who is the best romantic actor. Of course, Rajendra Kumar too had his own typical style of playing his romantic roles. What makes Rajesh Khanna score over Rajendra Kumar is his style of deliviering dialogues, his superb voice quality and the way he modulates his voice while delivering romantic dialogues. Rajesh Khanna, for your infomation, was the first actor who was referred to as super duper star. He had many female fans who simply adored him and even worshipped him. He would receive those days love letters from his fans written with their blood. To that extent Rajesh Khanna was admired and loved. Rajesh Khanna-Mumtaz pair was very popular those days, and so also Rajesh Khanna-Sharmila Tagore pair. There were two films in which Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan played the role of best friends. One was the film 'Anand' in which Rajesh Khanna portrayed a character who was suffering from terminal ailment, while Amitabh Bachchan played the role of his doctor. Another film in which the two were included was 'Namak Haram' in which Amitabh was shown as the son of a rich industrilaist, whilae Rajesh Khanna portrayed a character who is poor and yet Amitabh's best friend. The film 'Namka Haram', I remember, had one beautiful song which was 'Diye jalte hai, phul khilte hai, badi mushkil se magar duniya mein dost milte hai'. What a way Rajesh Khanna had sung it! I like many songs which were picturized on Rajesh Khanna. Some of them are 'Mere naseeb mein hain dost, tera pyar nahi', 'Ye reshmi zulfein, ye sharbati aankhen, inhe dekhkar jee rahe the kabhi', 'Dil ko dekho, chehra na dekho, chehrone lakhonko loota, dil sacha aur chehra Jhoota', 'Yeh jo mohabat hai, unka hai kaam, mehboob ka jo bus lete hue naam, mar jaaye, mit jaaye, ho jaaye badnaam', 'Yeh kya hua, kaise hua, kab hua, kyon hua, jab hua, tab hua, O chodo ye na socho', 'Kuch to log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna', 'Zindagi Ka Safar, hai ye kaisa safar, koi samjha nahi, koi Jaana nahi', 'Jeevan se bhari, teri aankhen, majboor kare jeene ke liye', 'Rup tera mastana, pyar mera deewana', 'Maine tere liye hi saat rang ke sapne choone', 'Kahi door jab din dal jaaye, saanj ki dulhan badan churaye, chupke se aaye, mere khayalo ke aangan mein kohi sapno ke deep jalaye', 'Ek Ajnabee Haseena se jo mulakat ho gayi', "Nadiya se dariya, dariya se saagar, saagar se gehra jaam', 'Bye bye miss good night', Zindagi ek safar hai suhana, yaha kal kya ho kisne jaana and so on. There are many popular duets too which were picturized on Rajesh Khanna along with heroines like Mumtaz, Sharmila Tagore, Zeenat Aman and so on. Rajesh Khanna era was indeed one of the best eras in the history of Bollywood. If there is anyone who intends to be a top romantic hero in Bollywood films, he should do thorough study of all the works of Rajesh Khanna since there is no better romantic hero than Rajesh Khanna. Bye!

Dinesh Kamath passes on more information about Rajesh Khanna

I had written last time about my most favourite hero among all the romantic actors who is none other than Rajesh Khanna. Today I would like to tell you still more things about him. There were certain duets of Rajesh Khanna which had appealed to me to a great extent. There was one duet picturised on Rajesh Khanna and Asha Parekh which was a real master piece. The song was 'Achcha To Hum Chalte Hai, Phir Kab Milogi, Jab Tum Kahoge.....' Then there was a song picturized on Rajesh Khanna and Farida Jalal. The song was 'Bagon mein bahar hai.....' Then there was a song 'Shayad meri shaadi ka khayal dil mein aaya hai, isi liye mummy ne mere tumhe chai pe bhulaya hai' picturised on Rajesh Khanna and Tina Munim (now Tina Ambani). Then there was a beautiful duet picturised on Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz. The song was 'Duniya mein, logon ko, dhoka kabhi ho jaata hai....' Lastly I would like to tell you about two songs which was picturised on Rajesh Khanna alone and which I had forgotten to mention last time. They are 'Goro ki na kalo ki, yeh duniya hai dilwalon ki' and 'Yeh public hai joh sab jaanti hai, yeh public hai'.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2010

Dinesh Kamath on Friendship

Friendship is the most valuable commodity. Nobody can live without friends. Friendship is more precious than blood even. An outsider who is your friend is much more useful than your blood relative who is not friendly towards you. What I mean to say is that friendship is more important than blood relationship. In the modern world we see most of the people living in nuclear family. A joint family is become a thing of the past. In the past the family members used to be our friends. But ever since the families got divided and this thing called nuclear family has come into existence, man has been feeling isolated. He misses his own people. In such a circumstance, he finds it necessary to cultivate friends. He badly need friends. Man, after all, is forced to be interdependent. No man can be independent all the time. He has to depend on others every now and then. This is a world where we have to help others and be helped by others. Of course, sometimes, we have to help our own selves too.

There are many Bollywood films which have talked about friendship in great details. There was one bollywood movie in which Jeetendra and Shatrughan Sinha were depicted as friends. There was one beautiful song picturised on them. The song was 'Duniya mein Logon, kuch bhi nahi rehta, rehti hai sirf dosti. Zindagi ka naam dosti, dosti ka naam zindagi.' Then there was a song picturised on Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra who had played best friends in Sholay. The song was 'Ye dosti hum nahi todenge, todenge dum magar, tera saath na todenge'. Then there was a song picturized on Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha in the film Dostana. The song was 'Bane chahe dushman zamana humara, salaamat rahe dostana humara'. Then there is a famous song picturised on Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan in the film Namak Haram. The song is 'Diye jalte hai, phool khilte hai, badi mushkil se magar duniya mein dost milte hai'.

There are also Bollywood songs which talk about the betrayal by friends. Those songs are 'Dost Dost na raha, pyar pyar na raha, zindagi hume tera, aitbaar na raha', 'Dushman na kare dost ne joh kaam kiya hai, Umer bhar ka gham hume inaam diya hai', 'Achcha sila diya tune mere pyar ka, yaar ne hi loot liya ghar yaar ka' and so on.

At the end, I would like to say that both blood and friendship is important. But if one has to choose between blood and friendship, then my choice would be friendship. A good friend is more reliable than a bad relative. I'm sure all of you will agree with me.

I'll talk still more about this subject 'Friendship' some other time. Bye!

FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2010

Dinesh Kamath speaks about his favourite film actors

Today I'll talk about actors whom I consider as ace actor. I'll talk about both Bollywood and Hollywood actors. Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar are the best bollywood actors of all times. The most memorable performace of Amitabh was in the film Deewar, while Dilip Kumar gave the most sterling performance in the film Shakti. It is difficult to say as to who between Amitabh and Dilip Kumar is a better actor. Both are superb actors, each in his own way. In Shakti, Dilip Kumar had played the role of Amitabh's father. And what a way he played that particular role! I've no words. No wonder Dilip Kumar is referred to as Marlon Brando of India. Amitabh became a cult figure after his magnificent performance in Deewar. In this particular film, Amitabh is shown as speaking to God in one particular sequence. It appeared as if he was talking to a real God and not a stone idol. That brilliantly he performed in that particular sequence. The film also has scenes where there are verbal clashes between Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh, which just don't fail to impress the audiences. Even in the film Shakti, there is a verbal clash between Amitabh and Dilip Kumar. This is another mrmorable sequence. Both Amitabh and Dilip Kumar exhange dialogues in such a way that you can't make out who between the two is a better actor. Both are outstanding in that particular scene of the film

Now I'll talk about my most favourite Hollywood actors. I can never forget Marlon Brando's fantastic performance in Godfather. What a way he performed! He gave a demonstration on what is genuine acting. In the same movie there was another actor who gave s splendid performance. He was James Caan who played the role of Sonny in that film. James Caan became extremely popular all over the world after his magnificent performance in Godfather. He undoubtedly gave a memorable performance. He played the role of a gangster who is hot-tempered and flirt but at the same time very kind, loving and generous and one who possesses a powerful military mind. He lives like a hero and dies like a hero in the film. There is still one more actor who excelled in Godfather. He was Al Pacino. He played a character called Michael who is just the opposite of Sonny but yet very impressive. Al Pacino was shown as a survivor and he went on to impress the audiences by his performances in two more sequels of Godfather that followed. I liked Al Pacino's performace in the film Scarface too. What a splendid performance it was! In Scar face, Al Pacino played a character who is just the opposite of the character Michael that he portrayed in Godfather. Al Pacino played a gangster called Tony Montana in Scarface. There is still another Hollywood actor who impressed me to a great extent and he is Jack Nicholson whose performance in the film One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest was simply brilliant. He played the role of a patient in mental asylum. In this film, Louise Fletcher had played the role of the strict nurse in the smae asylum where Jack Nicholson is admitted. The interactions between liberal Jack Nicholson and strict Louise Fletcher in this film are real treat to watch. The movie was a masterpiece and so also the performances of the two actors I mentioned above. For your information, both Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher received Oscar for this film. The film itself too was given an Oscar.

I'll talk more about the films and actors sometimes later. Bye!

WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2010

Dinesh Kamath talks about how his father Keshav Vaman Kamath inspired him to be a writer

Today I'll tell you how I fell in love with the pen. My father, as I told you earlier, was an intelligence officer. He would do a lot of writing work. He would bring his office works home. He would have with him a lot of blank papers and a pen. He would then go on writing and filling up page after page after page in English language of course. I was a small boy who would keep watching him writing and filling up pages. I too tried to do the same. I took a paper and pen and started writing. After that paper and pen became my best companion. I would simply enjoy writing whatever I could on the paper. My dad should get the credit for instilling in me the love for writing. I was in Goa when I fell in love with paper and pen. Near the place where we were residing. there used to be Marathi stage plays taking place very often. I could see and hear the whole play just by standing in the balcony. I saw many plays and after that I tried to write my own plays. Guess in which language I would write the plays? I would write in Marathi. The Goan school, viz. St Theresa's Convent (Vasco), didn't have Marathi subject. But I had Hindi as one of my subjects. Since the alphabets of Hindi and Marathi are almost the same I learnt to write in Marathi too with the help of Hindi alphabets. In fact, I learnt to read Marathi too by using my knowledge of Hindi alphabets that I had learnt in school. Thus I would write stories, poems and plays in English as well as Marathi. When my dad got transferred to Mumbai in 1970 I found myself among the neighbours (at Bandra) who hardly knew Marathi and who all the time talked in English. It was after I came to Mumbai that I just stopped writing in Marathi but continued to write in English. This love for writing has made me today land in a small newspaper office (Newsband) in a small city (Navi Mumbai) where I'm working as a writer and journalist. I find my knowledge of Marathi too very useful since I come across many Marathi news items which I have to translate into English. I can do that with ease. I've been working for Newsband for more than six years now and during this period I've written much more than 10 lakhs words which are published under my name. I feel great for having performed this feat (if you call it a feat) and I owe this success of mine to my dad who inspired me to weild the pen.

Now my dad was in Intelligence department. People generally are under the impression the Intelligence department consists of physically tough people who hardly do any kind of writing. That's not true. Intelligence department consist of two types of people. One type is physically strong. The other type is very intelligent. The department requires the services of both types of people. My dad belonged to the intelligent type. He was physically quite tough too. He would do lot of writing work. In fact, he would solve cases by writing on the paper. I'm sure that as an intelligence officer he must have done record amount of writing. He wrote mostly on legal matters since he had a powerful legal mind. Whenever he was not writing I would see him reading legal books. In my home there was a cupboard which was full of his legal books and files of his writings. Even in his office, he had legal books kept close to him and the cupboard over there used to be full of his files. I feel he should have become an eminent journalist rather than an unknown intelligence officer. Had he been a journalist, he would have broken all records of writing. He was that powerful a writer. Had he not inspired me to be a writer I would not have become even a small time writer which I am today. I once again say that this little success that I've got as a writer, I owe it to my dad whose name, for your information, is Keshav Vaman Kamath. Bye!

THURSDAY, JULY 22, 2010

Dinesh Kamath on his mother Tara Kamath

I've told you quite a lot about my father. I hardly told you anything about my mother. My mom is the daughter of a Head Master of a school in Ankola ( near Karwar). Her father was an expert in English. My mom's mother was a strong-headed and intelligent but strict lady. My mom did her school education in Ankola itself after which she migrated to Mumbai where she got a job in Customs. It was in New Custom House that she and my dad met and they fell in love with one another. They got married and gave birth to two kids (One of them is me, of course). When I was very small, my mom would tell me stories which were mostly mythological in nature. She had a very fat Marathi book called 'Katha Kalpataru' which contained the entire stories of Lord Vishnu. She would read the book and then translate into Konkani for me to understand. I would enjoy listening to those stories. It was my mom who would take me for movies since she simply loved to watch films. I've inherited my love for films from my mom. My dad just avoided watching movies. Ever since I was born till the time he expired he hardly saw any movie. I've inherited my dad's legal mind and my mom's story-mind. Both prove very useful today when I am pursuing the career of a journalist. My mom's name, for your information, is Tara Keshav Kamath. Bye!

FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2010

Dinesh Kamath talks about his late brother Purnanand Kamath

Today I'll write a few words about my late brother Purnanand Kamath who expired on February 26, 2009. Purnanand was my only brother. He was a quiet chap but a genius of a sort. He was superb in mathematics. That's the reason why he got employment in Central Bank of India when he grew up. I remember those days (in 1960s) when the two of us would play many games together at Vasco in Goa. We would together play games like cricket and marbles. He was a right-handed batsman and a left-handed bowler. I was a much better cricketer than him. He was not very interested in cricket but he would agree to play with me just to give me company. Since I was a better cricketer I would do a lot of batting while he would mostly bowl. He has bowled countless balls to me during those days and owing to this I, when I grew up, went on to become a hard hitting batsman. He gave me so much of batting practice that few years later I could bat in a way that made me fit to play even test cricket for India. That I could not make it to test cricket is a different matter. That is another story. Purnanand was very good in general knowledge. He simply loved going through books on general knowledge. Had he participated in any Quiz Contest, I'm sure he would beat all his opponents in a big way. Another thing he loved was watching TV prorams and listening to Radio. He had a terrific memory when it came to road routes. Whenever he was with my family during any long journey by road, we would have no problem at all since he could guide the vehicle driver absolutely perfectly. Today he is survived by his wife and daughter Pragnya Purnanand Kamath. May his soul rest in absolute peace! Bye!

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2010

Dinesh Kamath talks about Publisher and Editor of Newsband

I had told you earlier that I am employed with the daily newspaper 'Newsband' which is located at Vashi in Navi Mumbai. The publisher of Newsband is Kailash Gindodia while its editor is K R Bhat. Newsband was called 'In New Bombay' when I joined it and it was a weekly newspaper. It was K R Bhat who had interviewed me before I became a part of the weekly newspaper 'In New Bombay'. After the interview K R Bhat found me fit for the post of sub-editor and after consulting with publisher Kailash Gindodia he decided to make me the part of 'In New Bombay'. I worked for the weekly paper for three years after which it became a daily called Newsband for which I've been working since last more than three years. Publisher Kailash Gindodia is also the owner of a construction company. Running the newspapers 'Newsband' (in English) and 'Aaple Nave Shaher' (in Marathi) is his side business. He is the first man in Navi Mumbai to have been able to make a daily newspaper click for so long time (i.e for more than three years) within the city of Navi Mumbai. No other person in Navi Mumbai has been able to perform this feat so far. The little success that I personally have been able to achieve as a journalist is owing to the encouragement given to me by both publisher Kailash Gindodia and editor K R Bhat. They are the ones who gave me the big break that I badly needed to show my prowess as a newspaper man. It is their belief in my abilities that has kept me going for last more than six years. They gave me the opportunity to get to know quite a lot about newspaper business. I thank both the publisher and editor for giving me the chance to exploit my journalistic talents. I received excellent cooperation from other members of the Newsband staff too and I thank them also. I am also grateful to those readers of 'Newsband' who cared to read my works and helped me to achieve that little success as a scribe. I am looking forward to becoming a still better journalist. Bye!

SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010

Dinesh Kamath wishes his readers Happy Friendship Day

I wish all my readers a very happy friendship day. Friendship day is the greatest of all days simply because friendship is the best possession anybody can have. Friendship is more valuable than gold or diamond or even money. Friendship is the true joy of life. There is nothing more enjoyable than spending time with your friend or friends. Friends are very essential. You can't stay alone in this world. You need friends. You need friends to love and be loved and also to combat the enemies. A life lived without friend or friends is worse than death. A genuine friend is he who remains your friend throughout. A friend who leaves you halfway can never be called a genuine friend.

Now I would like to use this opportunity to request those who read my blog to please put your comments on what I write in the space alloted to you below. I will feel greatly obliged if you will kindly do so. I'm just curious to know how the readers of my blog find my writings. Bye!

Dinesh Kamath talks about Indira Thakur and Rucha Kamat, the two journalists who showed him how to start the BLOG

I feel extremely grateful to two journalists of Navi Mumbai. They are Indira Thakur and Rucha Kamat. I feel grateful to them because they were the ones who showed me how to start a blog. They gave me a medium to share my thoughts and feelings with my readers. Indira Thakur is my colleague in Newsband newspaper office. She works as a Reporter for Newsband Daily. Rucha Kamat works as a Reporter for City Plus which is a weekly newspaper in Navi Mumbai. Both are quite popular with Navi Mumbai newspaper readers. Before Indira and Rucha showed me how to start the Blog, I didn't know as to what exactly was this Blog. I had heard a lot about Blog. I had read somewhere that great Indian cine-star Amitabh Bachchan writes for his blog. I had heard my friends making mention of a thing called Blog. But it was Indira and Rucha who gave me the exact idea as to what is Blog. They helped me start my own Blog. This Blog gave me the opportunity to share with my readers my most personal thoughts as well as my works which appeared in the weekly newspaper 'In New Bombay' and daily newspaper 'Newsband'. Actually, one fine day, I happened to ask both Indira and and Rucha as to how I could start my own website and they replied, 'Why don't you start your own Blog? A blog is as good as website." Then I asked them, 'Do you know how to start a Blog?" They said, "Yes! It's very simple!" After that they helped me to start my Blog on my computer. It was somewhere in March that I had started my Blog. Since then till now I've been communicating with my readers every now and then through this Blog. I once again thank both Indira and Rucha for introducing me to Blog. Bye!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

Dinesh Kamath talks about Sonny Corleone and Tony Montana

Today I'll talk about two Hollywood film characters who impressed me immensely. They are Sonny Corleone and Tony Montana. Sonny Corleone was the character played by James Caan in the film 'Godfather' while Tony Montana was the character played by Al Pacino in the movie 'Scarface'. Both of them are impressive characters. It is difficult to say who between the two is better.

First I'll talk about Sonny Corleone whose role was played by James Caan very convincingly and impressively. He was a dynamic character who was responsible for making his father Vito Corleone the topmost Godfather in the city. Sonny had played an instrumental role in making the Corleone family the topmost among the five families of New York. He got the opportunity to play the role of acting Godfather when his father Vito was shot and had to be hosptialised in an injured state. It was then that Sonny got the opportunity to show his skill in playing the role of Godfather. He became a terror to all the other mafia families of New York. This particular sequence was not shown in the movie Godfather. But I came to know about this after reading the book 'Godfather' by Mario Puzo. Had the filmmaker cared to show this sequence in the film Sonny would have appeared still more impressive and heroic. The movie just depicted his hot tempered nature, his flirting acts and his suicidal tendency. The movie didn't depict his total military achievements. Actually it is his powerful military brain that makes him the most impressive hero the Hollywood films have ever depicted.

Tony Montana was another impressive character depicted in the film 'Scarface'. His role was played by Al Pacino. Tony Montana is one hero who can compete with Sonny Corleone. Tony was supposed to be a refugee who migrated to America from Cuba. He got converted from a nobody to one of the most dreaded gangster in a very short span of time. Tony Montana and Sonny Corleone share a lot of common traits. Both are hot tempered, ambitious, powerful military brains and passionate lovers. Both got terrific body language and fantastic style of delivering dialogues. Both of them live and die in the most heroic style. It is extremely difficult to judge as to who between the two is better.

The movie 'Godfather' was released somewhere in 1972. James Caan had become very popular with the world movie lovers after the release of the film. 'Scarface' was released in 1983 and this time it was the turn of Al Pacino to earn the kind of world recognition that James Caan had got after the release of the film.

Both James Caan and Al Pacino will ever be remembered for the fantastic way in which they played the roles of Sonny Corleone and Tony Montana respectively. Both of them are two of the best actors the world has ever witnessed. Bye!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

Dinesh Kamath asks whether Law comes above family or vice versa?

Should you live and die for Family or should you live and die for Law? Does Family come above Law or is it Law that comes above Family? It is possible for any man to sometimes fall in a situation where he has to choose between Family and Law. If you are born in a criminal family, would you support your family or would you take resort to Law to bring your own criminal family to book? All these questions are very tricky. While asking these questions I'm reminded of two films which dwelt on this theme. The first film was 'Deewar' in which one brother is shown as a police officer and the other brother is a smuggler. There is a clash between the policeman played by Shashi Kapoor and Smuggler played by Amitabh Bachchan. Ultimately it is the policeman who triumphs over the smuggler. In the end we have the policeman brother killing his own smuggler brother. Thus the film preaches that Law comes above all relations. It teaches that Law is above Family. There was a similar film called Shakti in which Dilip Kumar played the role of Father who is police commissioner. The role of his son was played by Amitabh Bachchan who portrayed a smuggler. In this film too the policeman father kills his smuggler son ultimately. There are some more films based on similar theme and all these films preached that Law comes above all kinds of relations, even family.

There can arise a case where all the relatives, except the immediate family, of a person are criminal. Then what role that particular individual should play? If that person and his immediate family supports Law in finishing all their criminal relatives, the family will be reduced to size considerably. But if they support the criminal relatives they will be betraying the Law and they will be called unpatriotic or traitors. Under such circumstance, wouldn't it be wise to support Law against the criminal relatives? That's all for now. Bye!

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

Journalist Dinesh Kamath's photograph and profile in brief

Dinesh Kamath, the journalist working for the daily newspaper Newsband. He works as sub-editor, columnist and cartoonist for that particular newspaper. He specializes in making political cartoons and children cartoons and writing film columns. He has tackled subjects other than films too in his columns. He also makes a column called 'Brain Teasers' for Newsband. He is trying to make it big as a film-script writer. First, he did his SSC through Poona Board after studying in St. Theresa's High School at Bandra (West). After that he did Inter Science through Bombay University after studying in Sathaye College at Ville Parle. He has done Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, History and Sociology through Osmania University and he has earned certificate in Journalism from Bombay College of Journalism (at K.C. College, Churchgate). He has also got a certificate in Medical Transcription. He is an ex-custom officer. He had served Indian Customs for 14 years after which he voluntarily retired from there. He has been working as a journalist since 2004 and has become quite a big name in the city called New Bombay. He is married and has a daughter who is doing her First Year B.Sc. at Mithibai College at Ville Parle (West). He belongs to Gowd Saraswat Brahmins' community and he is the son of Ex Intelligence officer of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Keshav Vaman Kamath (the recipient of President of India Award in 1983). His ambition is to make it international. Can he make it?

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2010

Dinesh Kamath talks about his experiences while working for security agency

After resigning from Indian Customs I tried to be a freelance journalist and I also tried to get a job in any newspaper but in vain. At last I managed to get a job in National Industrial Security Agency (NISA) for whom I worked for around one and a half years. NISA appointed me as security supervisor although I was fit to be area manager. The NISA authorities told me that the moment there would be a vacancy for area manager's post, I would be made area manager. They told me to work as security supervisor or security officer till then. These security agencies normally give preferences to ex-servicemen (people who have retired from Army, Navy or Air Force services). They also prefer ex-policemen. Now I was an ex-custom officer and customs service is to a great extent equivalent to police service. The security agencies have great respect for those who have served Indian Customs too. Hence I got a job in NISA. As I told you I served NISA for one and a half years and during this period I was posted a seven places. The first place I was posted at was Reliance Company at Cottongreen. That was the most challenging posting. Reliance Company, which belongs to Ambanis, was a very big complex and I had many security guards working under me there. My duty was to position the guards at the entrances and exits of the company and then supervise them. It was twelve hours duty and we didn't have off even on Sundays. The advantage of working for security agency was it made me very tough and it made me prepared to face any challenges in life in the years to come. Another thing was I came across many ex-military people who would narrate their experiences while they were in the army, navy or air force. I came across people who occupied high positions as well as low positions in the military in the past. The common aspect about them was they were all disciplined, punctual and dedicated towards their duties. Before I was posted at an industrial estate I was given both theoretical and practical training. Theoretical training was imparted to me by a man who was an ex-colonel of the Indian Army while the practical trainer was an ex-Captain in the Indian Army. Both were impressed by my performance and they told me that I had a great future in this security business. After working for more than a year in Security I came to know practically everything about security business. In fact, there was a time when I was thinking of starting my own security agency. I was also about to get the post of recruiting manager in one of the security agency and they had promised to give me a good salary even. But newspaper was my first and primary interest. While working for security agency I was side by side trying to get into any newspaper too. Just when I got the offer for manager's post in a security agency, I also got the job of sub-editor in the weekly newspaper of Navi Mumbai 'In New Bombay' (which is today Newsband daily). I preferred the newspaper job to security job although it was less paying. I knew that although I was initially paid less in newspaper office, I had a great future over there. Newspaper job had any day more charm and glamour than security job. Today I've completed more than six years in the field of journalism and I'm happily placed. I've still a long way to go and my ambition is to reach still greater heights in the field of journalism. But one thing is sure and that is I'll never forget my days in security business. It is this business that made me extremely tough and capable of doing even the most challenging job that existed under the Sun. Doing the security job was like serving the Indian military and this job did a lot of good to me. It really boosted my spirit and confidence to a great extent. The success that I've acquired today in the newspaper world is owing to the enormous strength that I acquired while doing the security job for just one and a half years. Bye!

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2010

Dinesh Kamath talks about his love for film acting

When I was around twenty years of age I had to choose a career for myself. I personally felt that I was fit for the career of a journalist, cartoonist, novelist, film script writer or film actor. I was also interested in politics but I felt that I should wait to cross 35 before I take to politics seriously. First I tried to get a job of journalist and cartoonist in newspapers like Times of India, Indian Express and Free Press Journal. I was moving around with samples of my writings and cartoons but the thing is there was no vacancy in any of these three big newspapers of 1980s. I tried to get a job as a film journalist too but I met with failures even there. I could write novels but the problem was there was hardly any novel publisher in Mumbai. All the big publishers were in Delhi and I could not afford to go to Delhi every now and then. Had I been in a place like Britain or America I would have become a prominent novelist because I had all the making of a terrific novelist. Then I thought of trying to be an film actor. Now I was staying at Bandra those days and Bandra, for your information, is located in Bollywood area. The region from Bandra to Andheri can be considered as Bollywood area. Today I stay at Andheri and that also falls under Bollywood area. While I was trying to be a film actor, a tragedy occurred. My dad expired. Since my dad was an employee of Customs I was offered a job in Customs under the quota which is reserved for children of custom employees who die while on duty. I reluctantly took up the job in customs. But I had decided that the moment I got a job of a journalist or film actor, I would leave customs. But the thing is I got stuck up in customs for 14 years.

Today I'm a successful journalist. As far as film acting is concerned I'm still willing to accept a role in film provided it is a meaty role and I get good signing amount. I had got a modelling offer when I was in Indian Customs. But the thing is Indian Customs was a Central Government organisation and its employees were not allowed to do any kind of side business. I did ask Assistant Commissioner of Customs whether I could do modelling side by side with customs job but she refused to grant me permission and she told me that if I did modelling along with the government job, disciplinary action would be taken against me and I would be facing the risk of losing the government job. Hence I had to reject that big offer which if I had accepted might have had catapulted me to a great height in modelling world and also might have had made me land in film acting business.

For your information, somewhere in the year 2000, I was called for screen and audition tests by a prominent producer and I even passed those tests and got a lead role to play in a TV serial. I even attended the shooting. But after two sequences were shot the serial got shelved. And then I dropped the idea of trying for acting assignments. Somewhere in 1996, one casting director called Shetty rang me up and offered me a role of police inspector in a film which had Manisha Koirala as the leading lady. It was a role of a side hero. The main hero too was a newcomer. I read the script and I found that I was suitable for the main role. I then told the producer that I either be given the main role or I quit. I refused to do the role of side hero. The producer tried to persuade me to do the role of side hero but I refused and left the set. If you ask me whether I had performed anytime on the stage then my answer would be 'yes'. I had performed a Japanese dance along with five other boys and six girls when I was in fifth standard in St Theresa's Convent at Vasco Da Gama in Goa. The dance was taught to us by the foreign nuns and after the performance my role in that particular dance program was appreciated the most by the audiences present over there. After that I did participate in debates and elocutions in school as well as college. These were my only experiences on the stage. But the thing is I never felt drawn towards theaters. I was attracted towards films. I like to perform in front of camera rather than on a stage.

Anyway, I can contribute a lot along film line even today. I'm already a film journalist. But besides that I can even write film scripts and act in films. I can even become a film maker. Since I'm already a successful journalist today, I'm wondering whether now I should try to make it big in Bollywood as a film script writer, actor and film maker. I can't decide. But if I get a good acting offer and paid good signing amount I might accept that offer. So i would like to wait and see as to what the future has in store for me. Bye!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2010

Dinesh Kamath tells how the course in Medical Transcription helped him considerably as a Journalist

Today I'll tell you about the experiences I underwent while doing the course in Medical Transcription Medical Transcription is an interesting job. Is is an American-based job. In America medical transcriptionists are needed in very big number. What is medical transcription? Medical transcription is a job where you have to type out on the computer the speech delivered by American doctor on the tape. In America, almost all the citizens of that country, possesses medical insurance. Hence every doctor in America has to keep a record of every patient and his or her illnesses. This is to ensure that the concerned patient doesn't have problem when he claims the medical insurance. Also it is to ensure that nobody indulges in malpractices while claiming the medical insurance. But American doctors are so busy people that they need the services of medical transcriptionists to type out the whole medical history of the patient. So the doctor just records verbally the medical history on a tape recorder and then passes on the tape to medical transcriptionist so that he or she types out the whole history on the computer by referring to the tape. The medical transcriptionist is expected to not commit even a single error while typing or he or she should commit minimum errors. The computer of a medical transcriptionist is modified to suit the transcriptionist. The computer is leg operated or hand operated. Leg operated computers are found more convenient by the transcriptionist who listens to the speech of the doctor on CD and at the same time keeps typing on the computer whatever he or she hears on the tape. With the leg he or she can make the speech move in slow motion, or move backward or forward, anyway he or she wants. The transcriptionist is then paid according to the number of words he types.

Now I had done the course in medical transcription at the institution called Health Net which was located in Goregaon West. It was an interesting course. It was a six-month course. There were theory classes as well as practical sessions. In the theory classes we had subject called American English and Medical information. Now American English is little different from British English and we were taught as to what was that difference. In practical session we were taught typing on computer and later on we were made to listen to the tapes of American doctors and type out accordingly on the computer. In the beginning I found it difficult to pick up the accent of the American doctors but gradually with practice I began to understand almost every word that the doctor was uttering. The Texan doctors particularly had the most horrible accents. Many words they uttered were very difficult to pick up.

This course was going to help me a lot in the future when I was going to pursue the career in journalism. The advantage of this course was that I became almost perfect in English and I learnt to type with a reasonably good speed on the computer and also I learnt all the basics of the computer. After the course we had to give an exam and I passed with flying colours in American English, Medical subject and practicals. I was given a certificate which was recognized by the International Association of Medical Transcriptionists. The reason why I could not take up a job along this line was I fell sick immediately after the course. I was on bed for quite a long time and during this time I lost my speed in typing and also there was a negative effect on the coordination between my listening to doctors speech on tape and my typing on computer. This job, for your information, requires powerful coordination between ears and fingers which can be acquired only through practice. If you don't practice even for fifteen days or one month this coordination suffers. I then dropped the idea of pursuing the career of medical transcriptionist. But I didn't want to lose the typing ability that I had developed while pursuing this course. So I purchased a second hand portable typewriter and made it a point to keep practicing typing until I got the job as a sub-editor in the weekly newspaper of Navi Mumbai, 'In New Bombay'. My idea of keeping my typing ability alive now proved to be a great boon. I was made to do a lot of typing initially when I joined the newspaper. In fact, there was a phase when I was typing the entire twelve pages of the newspaper and that too before the deadline. So although the course that I did in medical transcription did not help me to become a professional medical transcriptionist, it at least helped me to gain a strong foothold in the field of journalism. Even my English had become so perfect owing to the course that I did in Medical Transcription, I had no problem at all while performing my duties as sub-editor and proof reader. Thus I benefited a lot by doing the course in Medical Transcription. Today I am a successful journalist and a big part of the credit for this should go to this medical transcription course that I did. I had done the course in the year 2002 and I became a journalist in 2004. Bye!

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2010

Dinesh Kamath says success is how much you contribute to the society and not how much society gives you in return

What is success? This question reminds me of a man who resided in a backward country. I don't want to name the country since I don't want to insult it. This man was a writer. He had written a great amount and all his works were also published under his name. In fact he had written more than any of his countrymen had ever written. But he was poor since he was very meagerly paid for his works. He however had a big number of readers who appreciated his works. This writer had no car, no proper house to live in, no luxuries of life. He lived like an ordinary man. But yet he would go around saying that he was the most successful man. One critic of his casually asked him, "You have practically nothing. You have no money, no bungalow, no car, no any kind of luxury. Then how is that you call yourself a successful man?" The writer replied, " I have the proof of all that I have contributed to my society. I call myself successful on that basis." The writer took the critic to his humble home and showed him a huge heap of his written works which were all published under his name. The writer then told the critic, "These are the contributions made by me to the society. I agree with you that society hardly paid me anything in return. But success of a man is judged by how much he or she contributes to the society and not how much the society pays him or her back." The writer further said, " If I had to be in one of the advanced countries of the West and if I had to contribute the same amounts of works over there I would have become a billionaire. My name would also have been recommended for a Nobel prize. So now you understand, my dear friend, why I call myself successful. I believe that success of a person is judged by how much he contributes to the society and not how much society pays him in return." The critic was not convinced. He asked, "But what about the quality of the work? I agree that you have produced a huge quantities of works. But are they of good quality?" The writer replied, "That is for the reading public to decide." He then showed a heap of letters of appreciation that he received from the members of reading public. His readers had showered on him lots of praises and had greatly appreciated the high quality of his works. The critic had nothing to say now. He had to admit that the writer had every right to call himself successful. He also realized that success is indeed decided by how much you contribute to the society and not by how much the society pays you in return for your services. Bye!

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2010

Dinesh Kamath confesses why he resigned from Indian Customs

I was never interested in working for Indian Customs. I landed there when my dad, who was an intelligence officer over there, expired and I was offered the job under the quota reserved for children of custom officials who die while on duty. I had no problem performing the duties of a custom official but I just didn't like the job. I had always dreamt of and had worked towards becoming a journalist or film actor. But I never had imagined that I would land in a place like Customs. Throughout the 14 years during which I worked there I felt guilty that I was doing a job that I had acquired owing to my dad and not due to my own merit. I never liked that feeling. There were people who said that I could do nothing on my own. I would feel like proving them wrong. And today I have indeed succeeded in proving them wrong by becoming a successful journalist by my own merit. Every moment while I was working in customs I was searching for reasons to quit that job. I found the reason in the year 1996. I had come in contact with a maker of B-grade films, Pappu Yadav, with the help of Custom clearing agent (Import), Shafique. Pappu Yadav had his office at Ranjit Studio, Dadar (East). I invested a big amount for a film that Pappu Yadav was making. After the film was made it did great business and I got double the amount that I had invested. I became adventurous. I decided to go for film producing in a big way. I submitted a resignation letter to the Commissioner of Customs. Then I invested on three films that Pappu Yadav was going to make. This time I put in more than 80 percent of the money I had. I thought I would surely make roaring profit after which I could go on to invest in A grade Bollywood films. I was also dreaming of using in a big way my film script writing and film acting abilities along with film producing power. But I was shocked when the three films flopped extremely badly. One fetched me only ten percent of the money I had invested. The second fetched me five percent. While the third fetched me just twelve percent. I was almost bankrupt It was then that I regretted having left the Customs job. I had submitted my resignation letter on March 1996. It was in January 1997 that I went to Customs to withdraw my resignation letter. But to my horror my resignation was already accepted somewhere in May. Nobody had cared to intimate me about this. There was a rule that you can get the resignation withdrawn if you submit an application for withdrawal of resignation within certain period of time after the resignation is accepted. But it was too late for me. But I did apply for withdrawal of resignation immediately after I got the information that my resignation was accepted. I had a strong point that I was not intimated by Customs about my resignation having been accepted. But the Customs authorities refused to withdraw my resignation. I then made a case against Customs at Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). I was represented by a husband-and-wife couple who were both lawyers. The case went on for four years after which I got a verdict against me. I could have gone to High Court and appealed. But I was in no mood to waste my time and money. I appealed directly to the President of India who after taking a lot of time gave the verdict against me. I was expecting a reply from secretary of Indian President but it was someone from Customs Board who sent the rejection letter on behalf of the President. The thing is this court case and other procedures wasted my five precious years. Now I had to do service since I had no money left to start my own business. I did get offers from Customs Clearing Agencies but I rejected those offers since I didn't want anything to do with Customs. Then I did a course in accountancy and tried to be an accountant. I did medical transcription course and tried to be a medical transcriptionist. But both my attempts failed. I even tried to be film and TV actor but in vain. I tried all possible things to get myself employed once again but in vain. I then joined National Industrial Security Agency (NISA) and I got a job of a security officer/supervisor. This job I did for one and half years after which I got a big break as a journalist in weekly newspaper of Navi Mumbai, IN NEW BOMBAY which is now a daily newspaper called NEWSBAND. The rest was history! Now I've no fear of being jobless anytime in my life. I brought myself to this position by my own merit and not with the help of anybody. I feel triumphant today! Bye!

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2010

Dinesh Kamath talks about his success and his ambitions

I do feel like a successful journalist today. But I'm not satisfied with just this much success. I want to be still more successful. I have achieved success just at the local level. My ambition is to become a National celebrity after which I would like to make it big internationally.

I have written for my newspaper more than 1200 columns on Movie and TV (each column has around 1000 words). I've written all these columns under my name. I've organised all these works and converted them into seven volumes of books. I'm making attempts to sell these books to the right publisher who will be in a position to pay me a good sum and also distribute my books all over the nation and also all over the world. These books can be considered as History of Bollywood and TV. The book contains quite a big number of articles on Hollywood too. So I am expecting these books to become quite a big hit not only in India but also in the entire world if only a good publisher decides to print, publish and distribute them in a big way.

I have also got my political cartoons on Alooramji converted into six volumes of books. These cartoons are around 1200 in number. I'm sure these books too will be bought in a big way all over the nation and probably all over the world, again if only a publisher undertakes to publish and distribute them. Next, I have a good number of children cartoons on Puno converted into five volumes of books. These cartoons are around 1000 in number and show promise of getting sold both in national and international markets. Lastly I've got all my brainteasers too compiled into book forms and they too can find market at both national and international level.

I forgot something. Here it is. When the Daily newspaper 'Newsband' was a weekly called 'In New Bombay' I had written 33 articles on useful tips, 50 humorous articles and 41 children stories. I had written all three of them under three different pen names of mine and I've made three books out of all three of them. All the three books show promise of getting sold in a big way in both national and international markets if only the right publisher agrees to print, publish and distribute them.

So now I'm just waiting to come across the right publisher who can help me get all these works of mine published and distributed in a big way. In case these books get sold I'm expecting to earn quite a big sum by virtue of which I will be in a position to start my own publishing house. My ambition is to start a newspaper or magazine and publish books too if I can get reasonably good money out of selling the above-mentioned books of mine. Just one good publisher can make all the difference to my life. Many readers of my works that appear in Navi Mumbai's daily newspaper Newsband have suggested to me that I should make it national and international and not be just content with local fame since they have found that I possess the potential to become both national and international celebrity. I thank these readers of mine for giving me such a useful suggestion, and their love and encouragement makes me feel confident that I will surely succeed in making it very big in the publishing world in the future. I am looking forward to continuing winning the love and affection of my readers in the future too. It is they who have made me a local celebrity and it is they again who are inspiring me to make it big both nationally and internationally. I will ever feel very grateful to them and I hope that they'll continue showering on me their love and affection even in the future. Bye!

MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2010

Dinesh Kamath is a member of Film Writers' Association

For your information, I am a member of Film Writers' Association. How did I become the member of this Association. Well, In 1995, I happened to write an interesting film script. I approached some Bollywood film producers with the script but it was rejected. I didn't lose heart. I kept on trying to sell my script. One producer whose name was Liaqatullah liked my script so much that he bought the script and paid me a reasonably good amount. He made me sign a contract paper so that I don't sell the script to anybody else. With the help of this contract paper I could become a member of Film Writers' Association. One of the rules of this association is that you can become its member only if you have managed to sell at least one film script of yours. I satisfied that requirement and hence I became a member of the association which boasts of having many prominent writers of film industry as its members. Those writers include even Javed Akhtar, one of the legendary film writers I became the member of Film Writers' Association in 1995 and even today I'm its member. This association protects the copyright of your film script by registering it. Nobody else then can steal you work. I would like to remain a member of Film Writers' Association lifelong. My ambition is to write still more film scripts and I would like one or few or all my scripts become big hits like Salim-Javed's Zanjeer, Deewar, Shakti, Trishul, Sholay etc. Will this dream of mine materialize? Let's wait and see! Bye

MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2010

Dinesh Kamath talks about BABA NAGAR the place where he was born and grew up

I was born in one of the most interesting places of Bandra (West) and that place was Baba Nagar. Baba Nagar is located on St. Peter's Road, the road which connects Hill Road to the junction of three roads viz. Bazaar Road, Chapel Road and the road that goes to Mount Mary. I appeared in the womb of my mother when we were residing in Baba Nagar. I got born in Patkar Hospital which is somewhere near the famous Band Stand of Bandra (West). I spent a big part of my childhood and teens and youth in Baba Nagar. A small part of my childhood I spent at Vasco Da Gama in Goa. This place too was somewhat similar to Bandra (West).

Now Baba Nagar was a popular place in Bandra (West). Some even called it a notorious place. I'll tell you why. Baba Nagar was known for having variety of youngsters residing there. There were scholars, sportsmen and even few gangsters. A few youngsters of Baba Nagar who indulged in drug addiction and boozing did spoil the name of that place. But I personally belonged to the group of scholars as well as sportsmen. Now I was one of the very few youngsters who was not only a scholar but also a sportsman. Almost all the scholars of Baba Nagar were not sportsmen. And almost all the sportsmen of Baba Nagar were not scholars. I was one of those very few youth who was scholar-cum-sportsman. I excelled in academic studies as well as in sports.

Baba Nagar consisted of five blocks or buildings - A. B, C, D, E blocks. Each was a two-storeyed building. I lived in B Block. Another thing that I forgot to mention about Baba Nagar is it had a big number of Catholics as well as a big number of Hindus residing inside it. I remember that there was only one Muslim family residing in the entire Baba Nagar.

Baba Nagar boasted of having sent some of its youngsters to Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). This colony had architects, doctors, scientists, technologists and other professionals too. This colony boasted of having contributed to schools, colleges, State and even Nation brilliant sportsmen - especially Hockey players. Baba Nagar Hockey Team was Hockey Champ. The only hockey team in entire Bandra that could give tough fight to Baba Nagar team was Bazaar Road team which also boasted of having hockey stalwarts. There would be Hockey Tournaments taking place every year at St Stanislaus ground which was just opposite Baba Nagar colony. The two teams that would most of the time clash in Finals were Baba Nagar team and Bazaar Road team.

This colony had a big playground which was entirely made of concrete. I've played games like cricket, hockey, football and badminton at this place. I've also played indoor games like chess, table tennis and carrom. I used to excel in any sport that I would undertake to play. Those were the days when we youngsters would play games together, study together, love each other and even fight with one another. Another special aspect of Baba Nagar was when any outsider or outsiders proved to be the threat to someone in Baba Nagar then all the youngsters would unite to negotiate that outsider or those outsiders. As far as sports is concerned, I regret for never having attempted to play Lawn Tennis and learn swimming.

During my school days, most of the boys of Baba Nagar went to the nearby St Stanislaus school My brother and I were two of the few who went to St Theresa's High School. Both these schools were boys' schools. The girls of this colony would go to convent schools nearby which were meant for only fair sex. One thing I forgot to mention is Baba Nagar boasted of possessing beautiful girls. Some were real class beauties. The colony had handsome boys too. Another thing about this colony that needs mention is all the youngsters of my time would communicate with each other in English language. So the colony even boasted of possessing many scholars in English language.

If you go to Baba Nagar today you'll find that most of the youths of my time have left the place and have gone to stay at places which has much more space. But I'm sure that none of them must have yet forgotten their young days which they spent in a very colourful colony called Baba Nagar. Today Baba Nagar no more possesses the charm and colour that it possessed during my young days. That's sad! Bye!

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2010

Dinesh Kamath admires Shobha De and James Caan

The two persons I admire most are Shobha De and James Caan.

I admire Shobha De because she is a wonderful writer and also looks beautiful. She writes in a very sophisticated style and I just enjoy reading any of her works. She is the first Indian who succeeded in becoming a prolific English novelist. She is compared with the best American and British novelists. That is a thing of pride for all Indians. She began as a model after which she became an eminent journalist and next she became the author of many books. I've been following her career ever since I was in college. I am impressed by the progress she has made as a writer. She is in her sixties today but yet she has managed to retain her youth as well as beauty. She still writes as brilliantly as she used to do in the past. I am looking forward to reading more and more works of great Shobha De.

I am an admirer of Hollywood actor James Caan simply because of the way he played the role of Sonny Corleone in the movie Godfather. Only he could have played that particular role so convincingly and so brilliantly. He could display accurately Sonny Corleone's hot-tempered nature, flirting tendencies, violent behaviour, loving abilities, leadership qualities and, most important of all, his powerful military mind. He managed to portray Sonny Corleone just the way he was described in the novel Godfather written by Mario Puzo. He did play an anti-hero but I loved the way he lived and died for the kind of love he possessed for his family. I don't think any other actor can play a character who is equal to or better than Sonny Corleone. So brilliantly did James Caan portray Sonny Corleone in the movie Godfather. Hat's off to him!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2010

Dinesh Kamath's ambition to become a successful Editor of newspaper got fulfilled

In newspaper Newsband, I am a Senior Sub Editor and next-in-rank to Editor K R Bhat. Hence whenever K R Bhat is absent I play the role of Acting Editor or Editor. My ambition to become Editor of a newspaper got fulfilled when I got the opportunities to play the role of Acting Editor of newspaper Newsband not once or twice but more than 60 times. I not only played the role of Acting Editor but I also proved to be a big success as an Acting Editor. Now an Acting Editor is as good as Editor and I'm happy that I got the chance to display my prowess as a Newspaper Editor time and again. I played the role of Acting Editor of Newsband whenever the Editor of the Newsband, K R Bhat, went on leave. Bhat had taken two weeks leave twice and he had gone on one week leave more than four times. You can say that Bhat was absent more than sixty times and every time when Bhat was absent it was I who played the role of Acting Editor and many Readers of Newband appreciated the way I performed my duties as an Acting Editor. In fact, the copies of newspaper Newsband got sold in bigger number than usual whenever I was the Acting Editor. There were times when I brought out the newpaper on time in spite of the fact that I had very less staff working under me. I brought out the newspaper on time in spite of tremendous pressure on me. In spite of the pressure, I would bring out standard and high-quality newspaper. I displayed my abilities to control my staff in most competent manner during the absence of Editor and during my reign as Acting Editor (which is as good as Editor). As an Acting Editor I wrote editorials which were greatly appreciated by the Readers. In fact, I have written so far more than 300 Editorials during my career as journalist and every time I wrote an Editorial the Readers were impressed and they praised me. I also proved my prowess as a writer of political, crime and general news items. There were many readers who appreciated in a big way my ability to write excellent news items. Another thing is since I have in the past played the role of successful Reporter I knew exactly how to handle the reporters working under me whenever I played the role of Acting Editor or Editor. So now that my ambition to not only play the role of Editor of a newspaper but also become a successful Editor got fulfilled, my only ambition left is to become not only a Publisher but also a successful Publisher. The day this ambition of mine gets fulfilled, I will be the most satisfied man. I thank those many Readers of mine who came forward and congratulated me whenever I as an Acting Editor brought out the newspapers. They told me that the newspapers I brought out were very readable, of the best standard and worth more than the money they paid for them. This reaction of the Readers has more than satisfied me. Now what is left to be seen is whether I manage to make my dream of becoming Publisher get materialized. Bye!

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2010

Dinesh Kamath had worked with great journalist Behram Contractor (Busybee)

I am proud to say that I had worked with one of India's greatest journalist who was none other than Behram Contractor who would write his articles under his popular pen name Busybee.

When I was doing my course in journalism at Bombay College of Journalism at KC College, Churchgate, I was sent to Midday office to work as intern for 12 days. The editor of Midday at that time was Khalid Ansari. The very first day I went there I got the opportunity to sit face to face with the greatest newspaper columnist, Busybee (Behram Contractor). Now I was one of the greatest fans of Busybee whose articles I would read practically everyday. Busybee had a special space reserved for him on the last page of daily newspaper Midday. He had his own style of writing. He would write in a simple, lucid style very humorous articles and sometimes even emotional ones. He would write under the heading 'Round and About'. Busybee was also fond of eating. There was a phase in his career when he would go to new restaurant everyday, eat the best dish available there and immediately after that he would write detailed article on the dish he ate and also the restaurant he visited. During his career as a journalist, he visited a great number of restaurants, ate a great number and varieties of dishes and wrote innumerable articles on the restaurants he stepped into and the dishes he simply relished. Well, I was telling you about my personal meeting with Behram Contractor or Busybee. I had never seen Busybee's photograph and hence I didn't know how exactly he looked like. But I had seen his cartoon sketched by the great cartoonist Mario Miranda. Hence when I came face to face with him in Midday office on my first day as intern I immediately recognized him. I asked him, "Sir, are you Busybee?" He just nodded. Next I asked him, "How do you get all those ideas?". He just made a gesture which meant 'God knows how!" After that my training as intern began. Throughout the time I worked as intern there I would observe Busybee while at work. Those days there were no computers. Busybee would type on a manual typewriter. He would type his daily article directly on the typewriter and that too with just one finger. While typing he would have chats with his neighour who was also a journalist and whose name was Carol Andrade. I also wrote some articles just the way Busybee would write and then showed those works of mine to none other than Busybee himself. He would get impressed. On my last day as intern he told me, "Dinesh, you are a good writer. Go and join the Times of India's evening newspaper 'The Evening News'' You can definitely be like me." I had never felts so much pleased in my entire life. Imagine such comment coming from a legend like Busybee! I did go to 'The Evening News' office but unfortunately it was on the verge of shutting down. For your information, Busybee would work for 'The Evening News' before joining Midday. It was in The Evening News that he had started his popular column 'Round and About'. A huge number of people would buy The Evening News just to read Busybee's columns. (The Evening News had to shut down once Busybee left that paper. So great a man was Busybee.) After that Midday grabbed him and he did the same magic for Midday too. If Midday today is one of the prominent newspapers in Mumbai it is solely because of the solid foundation that Busybee single-handedly laid to it in its initial stages. Had it not been for Busybee, nobody would know about Midday which would die a silent death. For your information, Busy-bee in the later years started his own newspaper called 'Afternoon' of which he was the publisher and editor. He continued writing his column 'Round and About' for his own paper 'Afternoon' too. The newspaper became a big hit overnight. Busybee or Behram Contractor is no more today but his best works are still alive on many book stands in the form of many volumes.

Here is a short biography of Behram Contractor, also known as Busybee. He was born in 1930 and he expired on 9 April 2001. He was one of the greatest figure in Indian journalism during his times. He worked at the Free Press Journal, Times of India (Bombay) and Midday before forming his own newspaper 'The Afternoon Despatch and Courier' (better known as Afternoon) in 1995. His column 'Round and About' was the most loved editorials in the city. He also wrote "Eating Out' which featured one of the best Mumbai restaurants giving a glimpse of many Indian and international cuisines. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1990 and the Goenka Award for Excellence in 1996. In 1998, Contractor published From Bombay to Mumbai, a collection of the best of Busybee's columns from 1996 and 1997. Behram Contractor died in 2001 from a heart attack. That was one of the saddest days for me! Bye!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2010

Dinesh Kamath speaks about his experiences as a Newspaper Reporter

I was given my first reporting assignment when I was pursuing the course in Journalism at Bombay College of Journalism at KC College, Churchgate somewhere in the year 1980. I was asked to do reporting on the topic 'Child Labour' for the magazine that was brought out by the students of Bombay College of Journalism. Menka Shivdasani was made the editor of that magazine. Menka Shivdasani, for your information, is today the editor of Times Of India's supplement 'Property Times'. I think, if I'm not mistaken, the name of the magazine was 'Student Journalist'. I enjoyed doing that reporting assignment. I interviewed quite many child labourers and then made a report which was appreciated by many. The report was published in the magazine. Well, that was my first experience as a Newspaper Reporter. I remember I had even contributed a cartoon strip in which I had made the caricatures of all the lecturers of Bombay College in Journalism. Against each caricature I had written a comment that suited the lecturer whose caricature I had drawn. I remember I had drawn the caricatures of more than twelve lecturers. This work of mine had become quite controversial too. I regret that I don't have even one copy of that particular magazine with me. I should have retained at least one copy.

When I got the job as sub-editor in the weekly newspaper 'In New Bombay' ( which is today a daily newspaper called 'Newsband') I did quite a lot of reporting initially before I began to concentrate almost totally on the desk work. There are some reporting assignments that I really enjoyed doing. One was the report on Assam Bhavan. Here I had to interview the deputy resident commissioner of Assam Bhavan, Devashish Sharma. He was the man who played an instrumental role in making Assam Bhavan a popular institution in Navi Mumbai. I liked the way he spoke. He spoke very fluently in English and he passed on to me many vital information about the Bhavan and this enabled me to come up with an extremely interesting report which was greatly appreciated by many readers of the weekly 'In New Bombay'.

Another reporting assignment I enjoyed doing was the one where I had to interview Stephen Bourne, CEO of Cambridge University Press. He had come to Nerul at Navi Mumbai for the inauguration of Cambridge House. He talked to me in great length about his idea of spreading education all over India via satellite. It was a very interesting topic. His idea of spreading education free of cost via satellite especially to remote Indian villages was a very noble one. I hope he succeeds in achieving this dream of his.

Another piece of reporting I enjoyed doing was one where I had to interview Probir Kumar Bose, the resident of New Panvel. If you look at this man you will not think much about him. But once you come to know the feat that he has performed, you will be totally impressed. The hobby of Bose was to keep writing letters to great personalities, not only of India, but also the world. The best thing is he has a collection of replies to his letters that he received from many great personalities. I not only made a report on him and published it but also published with it the photos of the manuscripts of the letters that he had received from great personalities like Indira Gandhi, the Pope and former President of India, Shankar Dayal Sharma. Bose also has a huge collection of rare coins and stamps. I received quite many letters of appreciation for writing this report on Probir Kumar Bose.

Another piece of reporting that I enjoyed doing was the one on Span Mahila Vikas Charitable Trust. I got to interview the top people of this Non-Government Organisation and I got to know many interesting things about this organisation. This meeting between the Navi Mumbai Press and the NGO was organised by Varghese, the publisher and editor of the weekly newspaper 'Sunny News', at a five-star hotel.

I've done many more reporting assignments, besides the ones I mentioned above. But I felt that I should talk to you about some of my most memorable works as a Reporter and hence I passed on to you some of my great moments as a Newspaper Reporter. Bye!

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2011

Dinesh Kamath talks about his ancestral property at Karnatak

When my grandfather's father had come to Mumbai to settle down here he had left behind ancestral property in Karnatak. Today four families have a claim to that property as per the will made by my great grandfather and his brothers. The four families are my dad and his family, my dad's brother and his family, My dad's cousin aunt (daughter of my great granfather's brother) and her family and my dad's cousin uncle (son of my great grandfather's another brother) and his family. The Will clearly states as to how this ancestral property is divided among four families I have mentioned above. Yet that ancestral property is under dispute today.

First I'll tell you where this ancestral property is located. It is at a place called Mulki which is near Mangalore (Karnatak). The exact place where this property is located is Chiranjipet. A part of this particular property is a small hotel (or Bhansali) which belongs to my dad as per the will. Just this hotel, if it was sold, could have fetched my dad a few lakhs rupees had he sold it when I was born and this would have made him a very rich man (since those few lakhs those day was worth atleast a couple of crore or more today). But the thing is one local person took possession of this hotel at that time and till now he is occupying it. He has no intention to quit that place and he has the support of local goons and also, I guess, the local government. The matter was taken to the court but yet the dispute was not settled.

When I was born my dad needed the money badly and he had the intention of selling off the ancestral property. He had the right to do that. But the property came under dispute and even today it is under dispute.

In 1982, when my dad suffered a heart attack he was admitted to Nanavati Hospital where he was asked to do open heart surgery which could have cured him and kept him alive till today. But he didn't have the money required for that major operation and that time it was our wish that the ancestral property be sold and we get the money that could have helped my dad to undergo the major operation and save his life. But the property continued to remain under dispute and my dad lost his life.

Well, that's all I know about my ancestral property. I am telling you all this because someone the other day happened to ask me whether I didn't own any property at my native place like all the other people do.

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

Dinesh Kamath points out similarities between Bandra (West) and New Bombay

I find a lot of similarities between Navi Mumbai and Bandra (West), the place where I was born and grew up. Bandra (West) boasted of having a lot of convent schools. Navi Mumbai too has plenty of convent schools as well as non-convent English schools. Bandra (West) had plenty of beautiful females. Navi Mumbai too boasts of possessing a big number of beauties. That's the reason I feel at home in Navi Mumbai. Whenever I'm in Navi Mumbai I get the feeling that I'm in Bandra (West). Another similar thing about both Bandra(West) and Navi Mumbai is that at both the places sports like football, hockey etc. are given a lot of importance. Both the places have a big number of churches too which is the prime reason why there exists so many convent schools in these two places. So, you see, I find Bandra (West) and Navi Mumbai as if the two are one and the same. Both the places possess the same kind of glamour. It's great to see that Navi Mumbai encourages staging of fashion shows at many places from time to time. This will help in adding to the glamour of that place. But there is one thing that Bandra (West) has which Navi Mumbai doesn't possess. In Bandra (West) there are many film stars residing. Bandra (West) is a big part of Bollywood area which extends from Andheri to Bandra. I feel if a few film studios springs up in Navi Mumbai too, this city will attract many film personalities towards this place and they might even prefer to have their residences here. This move on the part of Navi Mumbai authorities will help convert Navi Mumbai into a totally glamorous place just like Bandra (West). Bye!

TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2011

Dinesh Kamath completes seven years as journalist in weekly 'In New Bombay' and daily Newsband

Dinesh Kamath, Sr Sub-editor and currently Acting Editor of Newsband, completed seven years as journalist for the daily newspaper Newsband which was a weekly 'In New Bombay' before 1 May 2007.

I completed seven years as journalist in Newsband. Seven is a lucky number for me. I just love this number seven. I was just waiting to achieve this target and now i feel relieved that i achieved it. I had joined Newsband when it was a weekly called 'In New Bombay'. I had joined on 12 April 2004. I completed seven years on 11 April 2011. I feel quite satisfied with my achievement as a journalist during this seven years. The thing that I care for most is the readers' appreciation and this I've received in great quantity. Many readers have appreciated my contributions as a journalist and this fact gives me the most satisfaction.

People who love to read about films and filmstars have praised my column 'Movie and TV World' which I have been writing almost regularly since last seven years. Many of the readers told me that they just enjoy solving Brain Teasers that I've been making since last many years. The readers have also expressed their love for my cartoons based on 'Alooramji' and 'Puno'. Even my editorials were appreciated in big way. For your information, I have fans belonging to all the ages and both the sexes. That's what makes me feel great.

Don't get the impression that I received only bouquets during last seven years. I received a lot of brickbats too. If there were huge number of people who appreciated my works, there were also lot of readers who criticized my works. Some, in fact, criticized me so severely that I almost felt depressed and felt like giving up my career as journalist. But later I realized that all the public figures have to face such severe critics some time or the other during their career. So I began to ignore such critics especially if they were unjust and destructive critics. For your information, I did take very seriously just and constructive critics and these are the people who helped me to improve myself at every stage of my career. My fans gave me more joy and pleasure than the money that I earned during these seven years. My fans loved me so much that I didn't pay attention to my bank balance. Love of my fans means more to me than the bank balance. There were times when dirty politics that prevailed around me was discouraging me but it was the love of my fans that kept me going even in worst circumstances. If it was not for my fans I would have broken down and given up this career long time back.

But today, after completing seven years as journalist, I feel very strong. Experience instills a kind of strength - mental, physical and emotional - into a person. That's what I'm feeling. I'm feeling very strong and I feel confident that I will be able to continue contributing as a journalist for many more years to come. Bye!

FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2011

Dinesh Kamath talks about Sonny Corleone who is his favorite hero

Today, I'll talk about Sonny Corleone who was one of the most important characters in the movie Godfather. This character impresses me for several reasons. I loved his military mind, his love for women and his love for his family. I loved his body language, his style of delivering dialogues, his temperament, his legendary love and his legendary temper. If I had to get a chance to act in films I would love to play Sonny Corleone. That much I love this character.

In the movie his father's role was played by great Marlon Brando. Brando had played the role of Godfather Vito Corleone. Vito Corleone was not happy with Sonny's lifestyle. But he could not help but admit that it was Sonny who made him the number one Godfather. He had to admit that it was Sonny who made his family the number one family among the five mafia families which existed in New York. Sonny, for your information, never got a chance to play the role of Godfather. But he did play the role of Acting Godfather twice. First time he became Acting Godfather, it was when Vito Corleone was shot by someone and he had to be hospitalized. Sonny then became the Acting Godfather and he used this opportunity to take full revenge against the other mafia families. He got the opportunity to display his powerful and legendary military mind. It was he and his henchman Luca Brassi who together created havoc among all the mafia families in New York. It was at this time that he managed to make his father Vito Corleone the number one Godfather in New York. He had also made his family the number one family among all the mafia families in New York. When Vito Corleone was discharged from hospital he took over again as Godfather. But this time, he was number one Godfather, thanks to Sonny and his powerful military mind which helped him to humble all the other mafia families who now feared him, dreaded him and respected him.

Sonny Corleone once again got the opportunity to play the role of Acting Godfather when Vito Corleone was once again shot owing to which he had to be hospitalized. Sonny Corleone once again waged a war of vendetta and he lived up to the reputation of one with a powerful military brain. But unfortunately his legendary temper proved to be his downfall. His enemies banked on this weak point of Sonny and got him trapped and killed in the most brutal manner. Thus Sonny Corleone could not survive to become a Godfather after his father Vito Corleone. It was his younger brother Michael Corleone who became the Godfather and his style of functioning was different from that of Sonny Corleone but he proved to be the most successful Godfather. For your information, the role of Michael Corleone was played by another great actor of Hollywood who was none other than Al Pacino.

The role of Sonny Corleone was played by James Caan. I got all this above information from the novel Godfahter. It is unfortunate that the movie Godfather didn't depict Sonny in a proper light. The movie 'Godfather' didn't depict Sonny's military mind to the extent the novel had depicted. If the movie had shown Sonny's military exploits, the movie would have been much more appreciated by the audiences and also Sonny would have been much more loved and adored by the world audiences. Bye!

THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2011

Dinesh Kamath compares Michael Corleone with Tony Montana

Al Pacino is the great Hollywood actor who played the role of Michael Corleone in the movie 'The Godfather' and Tony Montana in the film 'Scarface'.

Michael Corleone in 'The Godfather' was a quiet fellow as compared to Tony Montana in 'Scarface'. Tony was a loud character and a man of action. Michael was the son of Godfather of one of the most powerful mafia family. After the death of his brother Sonny Corleone, it was Michael who took over from his father Vito Corleone and occupied the seat of Godfather. Michael turned out to be the most powerful Godfather. He turned out to be a powerful decision maker. Actually, Michael, after his schooling, had joined the Navy and he was least interested in the family business. But after his elder brother Sonny got brutally murdered by the enemies and his father became too old to look after his mighty empire, Michael made a decision to take over from his father and become the mafia chief of one of the most important family among the five mafia families that existed in New York. And what a chief he turned out to be! Michael's ability to lead his family was underestimated by his elder brother Sonny when he was alive. He thought Michael was a kid and too weak to look after the mighty empire belonging to their father Vito. But Michael turned out to be just the opposite. He proved to be extremely tough - in fact, tougher than his brother Sonny. He turned out to be more dangerous and brainier than Sonny. He managed to do for his family what Sonny could never have done. He made the Corleone family the toughest among all the Mafia families and his family continued to enjoy the number one position for a long, long time until his natural death at a very old age.

Tony Montana of 'Scarface' was a refugee from Cuba who enters America and after doing all kinds of odd jobs rises to the position of one the most dreaded and powerful gangster. But it was Tony's addiction to cocaine that proved to be his downfall. But you'll admire the way he fought the enemies till his last breath. He didn't give up till he was shot from behind and he lay dead. It was Al Pacino who portrayed Tony Montana. Tony was just the opposite of Michael. While Michael was cool and intelligent, Tony was hot-tempered, rash and a man of action. Michael was not much interested in womanizing while Tony was a terrific womanizer. If you will see both the characters on the screen, you won't believe that both the characters were portrayed by the same actor Al Pacino because both the characters are just opposite to each other. That's the reason why Al Pacino is called the most brilliant actor Hollywood has ever witnessed.

It is difficult to judge as to who between Michael and Tony is a better character. People who believe that Brain is superior to Brawn will enjoy watching Michael perform on the screen while those people who get excited only when they witness a man of action will prefer to see Tony on the screen (they will find Michael too boring to watch). But I personally loved both Michael and Tony since both had their own strong and weak points. While Michael was cool and brainy, Tony was hot-tempered, rash and a man who obeyed his heart. But hat's off to Al Pacino for playing these two characters, who are totally opposite to each other, so brilliantly and convincingly. Bye!

TUESDAY, JULY 5, 2011

Dinesh Kamath reveals the reason why he resigned from Indian Customs while he was posted there as Intelligence Officer in SIIB

Just before I resigned from Indian Customs I was working as Intelligence Officer in Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch (SIIB). I was investigating into a very serious case. If I could only solve that case it would become the best piece of investigation ever done by any Intelligence Officer. But I would get threatening calls telling me that I should stop investigation into this case simply because there were top custom officials as well as top celebrities involved in a big way in this case. The caller didn't want the names of these important people to get exposed. But I kept pursuing the case. The reason for my penetrating deep inside the film industry was connected with this case. The fact is I was pursuing this case in the capacity of freelance journalist even before I joined Indian Customs. I continued to pursue this case even after I joined Indian Customs. But I found that the powers of an Intelligence Officer was not enough to get to the root of this case. That is the reason why I resigned from Customs and pursued the case in the capacity of a freelance journalist once again. Today I'm pursuing the same case in the capacity of a staff journalist as well as freelancer. If I succeed in solving this case this story will be considered as the best piece of investigative journalism anytime anywhere. So pray that I succeed in cracking this case. Bye!

SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2011

Dinesh Kamath talks about his role as journalist

Today I'm playing the role of an Acting Editor. I've not yet become Editor officially. I'll consider myself as Editor only when I'm officially made an Editor. Till then I don't consider myself as an Editor. But I do consider myself as an Acting Editor because I have been literally playing the role of an Acting Editor since a long, long time.

After I had finished my college, my ambition was to become a columnist and cartoonist. Today I feel pleased to say that I'm both successful columnist and successful cartoonist. So my dream is fulfilled. When I achieved success as columnist and cartoonist, my critics were saying that I was columnist and cartoonist at local level only. But these critics had to shut their traps when I put many of my cartoons and columns on my Blog and many people, not only from New Bombay (Navi Mumbai) but also all over the world, went through my blog and appreciated them in a big way. Blog has made me an International Journalist. For your information, I'm also in the Googles in a big way. I thank those people who are in charge of Blog and Googles for giving me the support I badly needed. Today, I feel tremendously satisfied as far as my career of a journalist is concerned.

I should have become a prominent journalist at the age of twenty-one. But I was not given the break I needed when I was in my twenties. I got that big break at the age of forty five. Since then I never looked back and went on to make up for the time I lost. Today, as a journalist, I've contributed more than almost all the other journalists who, I'm sure, must have not contributed as much as I did during their entire career. I feel triumphant today! Bye!

SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2011

Dinesh Kamath says a journalist is more superior than custom officer

Before I became a journalist I was a custom officer. I was working for Indian Customs. There are people who consider custom officers as kind of policemen. I agree that they are a kind of policemen but they are privileged policemen. They don't have to deal with things like murders, suicides, assaults, petty thefts etc. the way Khaki-clad policemen do. A custom officer is like a peacock. He is clad in white uniform and he just has to deal with smuggling of contraband goods like jewelleries, electronic goods, sandalwoods and other precious items. Another duty of custom officer is to collect the Revenue. Now you must have come to know why I call Custom Officer a privileged policeman. So I enjoyed the privilege of working as a custom officer once upon a time. Today I'm playing the role of a journalist, and to be frank, I enjoy being a journalist more than a custom officer. I believe that a journalist is more superior than a custom officer. A custom officer does not enjoy the kind of fame a journalist enjoys. A journalist can become a celebrity, the privilege which custom officer can never enjoy. After I had finished my college many people were telling me to become a custom officer like my father. But my personal wish was to become a journalist. I found the career of a journalist more attractive than that of a custom officer. Since I've played the roles of both custom officer and Journalist I can tell you with guarantee that life of a journalist is more enjoyable than life of a custom officer. Since I've played both the roles I know best. Bye!

MONDAY, JULY 25, 2011Dinesh Kamath has been verbally declared as the next Editor of Newsband

Hi,

Publisher of Newsband Kailash Gindodia had verbally declared that I would be the next Editor of Newsband after K R Bhat. He had made this declaration during his birthday party celebration and just before the 4th Annual Celebration of Newsband newspaper. He had made this declaration in the presence of many employees of K D Constructions Pvt Ltd and Newsband and Aaple Nave Shahar. He had said that it would be just a matter of some time after which I would be officially made the Editor of Newsband. I'm thankful to him for considering me worthy of occupying this big post. Bye!

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2011

Dinesh Kamath was made offers to contest elections

Hi,

The moment I got the break as journalist in New Bombay (Navi Mumbai) it didn't take time for me to achieve popularity. Just few months after I worked as journalist I was made an offer to contest an election for corporator's seat at a particular part of New Bombay (Navi Mumbai). But I refused to contest since I had not become very familiar with the city and I needed time to learn still more about New Bombay (Navi Mumbai). A few more months passed and I was once again asked whether I would like to contest election - this time for MLA's seat. Now I was indeed quite familiar with the city but yet I felt it would be wise on my part not to contest any election and to continue concentrating on my career as a journalist. Many more months passed and just recently I was asked to think about whether I would like to contest election for the seat of MP. For your information, I was made these offers by more than one political party. I am giving a lot of thought to the idea whether to contest or not election in New Bombay (Navi Mumbai). I fact, I am debating with myself in great length. At present, I am not sure whether I will accept the offer. I am indeed interested in politics and would love to serve the country in any capacity but I feel that I should contest election only when I am absolutely sure that I'll win the election. There is no point in contesting the election before that. I would not like to contest and then lose any election. I strongly feel that if I contest the election I should win too; otherwise I should forget the whole idea of contesting the election. But I feel privileged that I was made offers to contest elections more than once. I do have a lot of ideas pertaining to how I can contribute in the matter of development of our country as well as the place around me. I know that if I get political power I will be in a position to implement all those ideas. But I'm not in a hurry and hence would like to wait patiently for that time when I will be absolutely sure that the time is right for me to contest election. Only after that I will enter politics in a big way. Not before that. Bye!

MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2011

Dinesh Kamath talks about the art of photography

Hi,

Today I'll talk about photography. Photography is an interesting art. Each photographer has his or her own style of clicking photographs. This is clear from the way my above 24 photographs are clicked. A good photographer can make even a ugly person look handsome. A bad photographer can make a handsome person look ugly. How the photographs of a person turns out to be is dependent on how the photographer uses his or her camera. Photography is not an easy art. It is not all about just clicking. There are many things a photographer needs to learn before he becomes a professional photographer. Photographer needs to know many things like how to position himself, how to hold the camera, which feature of his subject he or she should focus on, how much light should fall on his or her subject, how far from his or her subject he or she should stand etc while clicking a photograph. I personally love to click photographs of others and at the same time get my own photographs clicked by others. While going through my own photographs I get to know many things about my own self. I begin to understand my own self better. I like to go through photographs of other people too. That's because by doing so I learn a lot more about human nature and human behaviour. In the past photography used to be an expensive art and only privileged people could afford to click photographs and become professional photographers. But today we find every Tom, Dick and Harry enjoying the privilege of clicking photographs with the help of their mobile phone cameras or digital cameras. Photography is no more an expensive business as it used to be in the past - thanks to the modern types of cameras that have come into the market. These cameras can be purchased by even the common man. Since anyone can possess a camera today the profession relating to photography has become very competitive. You have to be an excellent photographer to survive in today's competition. There are possibilities of a person with just the mobile phone camera performing better than a photographer who possesses the most expensive camera. Well, that's all I wanted to talk to you about photography today. Bye!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2011

Dinesh Kamath thanks those people who are in charge of Blog and Googles

Hi,

I would like to thank those people who are in charge of Blog and Googles for letting me display my cartooning and writing talents to the whole world. If it was not for them I would remain a journalist who is just popular at local level. The people in charge of Blog and Googles have helped me to reach international level and hence I feel extremely grateful to them. I will also not forget the help rendered to me by two journalists who are Indira Thakur and Rucha Kamat. These were the two ladies who introduced me to Blog. After that there was no looking back for me and I went on to contribute more and more materials to Blog. I feel privileged and honoured for having been discovered by people who are in charge of Blog and these people then went on to bring me in Googles in a big way. I am extremely thankful to them for doing me this big favour. I will continue to contribute more and more of my stuffs to my Blog in the future too. Bye!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

Dinesh Kamath studied in St Theresa's High School, Bandra (West) Dinesh Kamath pursued most of his secondary education at St Theresa's High School, Bandra (West), Mumbai.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

Dinesh Kamath and the place he pursued his education

Dinesh Kamath had done most of his primary education at the above school viz. St Theresa's Convent at Vasco Da Gama, Vaddem in Goa. Now the school is referred to as St Theresa's High School and is located at Mangor Hill, Goa.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

The place where Dinesh Kamath pursued his education

Dinesh Kamath did his fifth and sixth standard at the above school which is St Theresa's Convent, Mangor Hill, Gao. Now this school is referred to as St Theresa's High School and is located at Mangor Hill, Goa

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

The place where Dinesh Kamath pursued his education

Dinesh Kamath did most of his college education at Parle College, Ville Parle, Mumbai. Now Parle College is referred to as Sathaye College.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

Dinesh Kamath is the new Editor of 'Newsband'

Hi,

Publisher of Newsband Kailash Gindodia has at last declared that I am the new Editor of Newsband. I've thus occupied the post that was left vacant by former Editor of Newsband K R Bhat. I'm thankful to publisher Kailash Gindodia for considering me worthy of occupying the post of Editor of Newsband. I will try my best to live up to his expectations. I feel honoured and privileged for having been officially declared as the Editor of Newsband. I thank those many readers of Newsband who greatly appreciated my contributions to this newspaper when I was a Sub-Editor. It is also owing to them that I've been promoted to the post of Editor. I thank them too! Bye!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2011

Dinesh Kamath, Editor of Newsband, wishes his readers Happy and Merry Christmas and (in advance) a Happy and Prosperous New Year

Hi,

Today is 25th December 2011 and it's a Christmas Day. During this day I remember Bandra - the place I was born and grew up in. I also remember Vasco Da Gama - the place where I spent six years of my childhood. Both these places were densely populated by Catholics who would celebrate Christmas Day in a big and grand way. On this day there would be loud and sweet music all around. One could get the sight of all the Catholics clad in beautiful dresses going to the Church early in the morning for mass prayer held specially for Christmas Day. Big parties were held in most of the Catholic homes on this day and the sound of party people singing in unison would emanate from houses that belonged to Catholics. One could even get the sight of them dancing to the tunes of popular Western and Indian songs. Christmas Day would be a special occasion for all residing in Bandra and Vasco Da Gama. Varieties of sweets would be distributed and all would wish each other 'Happy and Merry Christmas'. So these are my remembrances of Christmas Days. I take this opportunity to wish all my readers 'Happy and Merry Christmas'. I also wish them 'Happy and Prosperous New Year' in advance. Bye!

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2011

Dinesh Kamath is planning to be a big time English playwright and English play producer

Hi,

I am seriously trying to be a professional English playwright and also Producer of English plays. I've tested myself and I've found that I can write minimum one one-act English play every day. I've also found out that Mumbai is a paradise for those who are interested in English Theater. There are theaters like Prithvi Theater at Juhu, Tejpal Hall at Grant Road, St Andrews Auditorium at Bandra, National Center For Performing Arts at Nariman Point and still more which provide enormous scope for those interested in English Theaters. These places provide the talented ones a platform to display their arts. The best thing is there is a huge audience in Mumbai who can appreciate English plays. That is the reason why I'm seriously thinking of trying my luck in English Theaters. Will I achieve success as an English playwright and Producer of English plays? That only time can tell! Bye!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2011

Dinesh Kamath wishes all his readers a very happy and prosperous New Year

Hi,

I wish my readers a very happy and prosperous New Year. The year 2011 has at last come to an end and 2012 has begun. 2011 was not a bad year for me at least. I hope that 2012 will prove to me a still better year than the last one. I hope my readers will continue reading my works this year too. I promise that I'll come up with still better materials for my readers to read. I also invite my readers' opinions about my works, may they be positive or negative. That way I'll be in a position to improve myself as a writer and cartoonist. Man cannot survive without oxygen and a writer cannot survive without readers. Thus for any writer a reader is a very important person. So I pray to God to continue giving me inspiration to write stuffs which can be appreciated by a large number of readers. Bye!

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2012

Dinesh Kamath's comparison between Sonny Corleone and Michael Corleone; the same above subject, the text of which was lost but later recovered

Today I'll talk to you about Michael Corleone and Sonny Corleone who were most important characters of the movie Godfather. The two are supposed to be brothers. But both were opposite of each other.

I strongly feel that Michael was a much more powerful character than Sonny Corleone. That's the reason why Michael turns out to be a survivor while Sonny loses his life when his enemies brutally gun him down. Sonny's weak point was his temper while Michael's strong point was his absolute coolness. Sonny could never become a God-father although he did get the opportunity to play Acting God father twice. Michael becomes the God father after his father Vito Corleone decides to retire and his brother Sonny dies in an ambush.

Michael never wanted to join the family business and he had preferred to serve his country by joining the Marines. This attitude of Michael had provoked Sonny to a great extent and he called him 'Stupid'. Sonny had underestimated Michael's power when he was alive. But their father Vito had more confidence in Michael than in Sonny. Vito turned out to be right since Michael went on to become the most successful God father who kept his family on top position in New York for a long, long time.

The fact is even the powerful families who were rivals of Corleone family dreaded Sonny a lot because Sonny was a powerful character with terrific temper and a fantastic military brain. He had the ability to terrorize the other families when the situation demanded. So these rival families wanted to see the end of him since they thought that after his exit the Corleone family could never dominate over other families. These rival families do succeed in finishing Sonny brutally but they were shocked when Michael took over Corleone's family business and he proved to be much more dangerous than Sonny. The other families were taken by surprise since they too, like Sonny, had underestimated Michael's abilities. Michael was able to avenge all those enemies who had hurt the Corleone family and he kept his family leading over all the other rival families till his natural death at a very old age.

Michael never used his fist. Sonny was superb in fist fight. Michael could talk and reason coolly which Sonny could never do. Michael proved to be a man who had much more powerful military brain than Sonny. Michael would never make any move in a hurry the way Sonny would do. These are the reasons why Michael turned out to be a much tougher character than Sonny although at the early stages Michael's abilities were totally underestimated by all while everybody were overawed by Sonny's way of functioning. But ultimately all were shocked by the cool way in which Michael took care of his mighty empire after Sonny falls a prey to his own rashness and hot-temper.

Thus Michael Corleone turns out to be the ultimate winner after initially it was wrongly felt that it would be Sonny who would win finally.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2012

Dinesh Kamath compares Sonny Corleone with Michael Corleone; says that in the movie Godfather, Michael was a much tougher character than Sonny

Hi,

Today I'll talk about Michael Corleone and Sonny Corleone. I strongly feel that in the movie 'Godfather', Michael Corleone was a much tougher character than this elder brother Sonny Corleone who initially appeared to be much stronger than all his brothers.

Michael was not interested in family business and he had chosen to serve the country by joining the marines. Michael was an educated man and hence could think sanely. Sonny felt that Michael was betraying the family by not choosing to join the family business and he called him 'Stupid' for placing country above the family. But their father Vito Corleone had more faith in Michael's abilities and he never approved of Sonny's hot-tempered nature and his tendency to make hasty decisions. Vito turned out to be right when Sonny is badly gunned down by the enemies and then Michael changes his decision and enters into the family business and he proves to be the most successful Godfather. He manages to do what neither Vito nor Sonny could have done.

Michael would never use his fist. Sonny was very good at physical fight. He would get involved in physical brawls time and again. Michael could talk and reason out coolly and this Sonny could never do. All the families who were the rivals of Corleone family dreaded Sonny because of his powerful military brains and mass-killing abilities and they had thought that once Sonny ended, the Corleone family would cease to become the top mafia family in New York. But Michael proved them wrong after he took over the Godfather's position from Vito Corleone, who retired due to old age, and after Sonny was brutally gunned downed by the rival families. Michael coolly and one by one wipes off all the enemies of his family and sees to it that his family remains the topmost family till his natural death at a very old age. Thus Michael managed to prove that he was a much more powerful military brain than Sonny or even his father Vito Corleone. Bye!

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2012

Dinesh Kamath, as Editor of Newsband, brings out his 100th issue of daily newspaper Newsband

Hi,

30 September 2011 was a great day for me because on that day, as an Editor, I had brought out the first issue of daily newspaper Newsband. 28 January 2012 is also a great day for me because on this day, as an Editor, I brought out the 100th issue of daily newspaper Newsband. Thus I've succeeded in bringing out 100 issues of newspaper Newsband till now. I owe this success to publisher of Newsband Kailash Gindodia and my entire staff members who gave me excellent cooperation. I hope to continue performing in similar manner even in the future.

For your information, as an Acting Editor and later Editor, I brought out more than 300 issues of daily newspaper Newsband. I'm not boasting. I'm just stating the facts and figures supported by evidences. I owe my success to my beloved readers who care to read my works. I thank them from the depth of my heart. Bye!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2016

Dinesh Kamath, Editor of Newsband, completes twelve and a half years in Kailashchandra Prakashan on 11 October 2016. His joining date was 12 April 2004.

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017

Dinesh Kamath completes Five and a Half Years as Editor of English Daily Newspaper 'Newsband' on 31 March 2017

Hi Friends,

I completed five and a half years as Editor of English Daily Newspaper 'Newsband' on 31 March 2017. I had acquired the post of Editor of Newsband on 30 September 2011. Today I've completed five and a half years. I thank all those people who made it possible for me to achieve this feat. Bye!

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2017

Dinesh Kamath completes 13 years in Kailashchandra Prakashan

Hi Friends,

I completed 13 years in Kailashchandra Prakashan. I had joined this publication on 12 April 2004. I thank all those people who helped me achieve this feat. Thanks a Lot!!! Bye!

SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2017

Dinesh Kamath completes 10 years in English Daily Newspaper 'Newsband', more than 13 years in Kailashchandra Prakashan and more than five and a half years as Editor of Newsband

Hi Friends,

I completed 10 years in English Daily Newspaper 'Newsband', more than 13 years in Kailashchandra Prakashan and more than five and a half years as Editor of Newsband. I thank all those persons who helped me to perform this feat. Bye!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017

Dinesh Kamath completes Six Years as Editor of Daily Newspaper 'Newsband'

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018

Dinesh Kamath completes 14 years in Kailashchandra Publication and more than six and a half years as Editor of Newsband, on 11 April 2018, and will complete 11 years in Newsband on 30 April 2018.

TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2018

Dinesh Kamath completes 11 Years in Daily Newspaper 'Newsband' on 30 April 2018. He has completed more than 14 years as Journalist in Kailashchandra Publication. He has also completed more than six and a half years as Editor of Newsband.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

Dinesh Kamath completes Seven Years as Editor of English Daily Newspaper 'Newsband' on 29 September 2018

I completed 7 years as Editor of English Daily Newspaper 'Newsband' on 29 September 2018. Seven is my Lucky Number. I thank all those people who made it possible for me to achieve this feat. I also completed 28 years of Married Life with Divya on the same day.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2018

Editor of Newsband Dinesh Kamath completes fourteen and a half years in Kailashchandra Publication. He had joined this Publication on 12 April 2004.