The Times and I - (Part 3)

The Times and I - (Part 3)

In my third year in medical college I went home to Bombay for holidays and saw a Times of India ad inviting applications for training in journalism. By then the original British publisher of Times Group  had been bought over by a major Indian company. For fun, I applied. I sent in cuttings of articles and stories I had published in newspapers and magazines (one of the diversionary tactics I was busy with in medical college), including Times Group publications. I was called for an interview. The business head of the company did not ask me any questions. He just said I was selected. I told him I was in the third year of medical college and had applied hoping I could have a weekly column in the Times. He said he was not authorized to do that, but I could join as a trainee next day. I thanked him and walked out of a professional journalist's career.

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Ms. Jagjit Daniel's Dreams of One Country. Novel: United States of India Rises! In the midst of historic events a Love-inspired woman's campaign for Humane Values launches India's ascent... to join the world's elite developed nations!

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The Times and I - (Part 2)

The Times and I - (Part 2)

Later, however, my contacts with the Times continued. My father wanted me become a doctor. He felt that was the best way I could help the family. Those days the middle class choices of career were medicine, engineering or, at worst, law. I had no such interest. I was busy through junior college and medical college in a rare variety of diversionary tactics (more on that later), which included writing freelance humor and short stories. They were published in Times of India, Indian Express, Midday, Femina, Shankar's Weekly, Thought etc.
One of the Times Editors, the one who wrote a humorous third editorial, M. V. M., became a friend. I would drop in on him whenever I went from medical college to Bombay for holidays. Depending on when I met him, we would go to the 1st floor of the VT Station for lunch or to the Excelsior Cinema's open air restaurant for coffee - and discus the latest  scientific discoveries or writing.

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Ms. Jagjit Daniel's Dreams of One Country. Novel: United States of India Rises! In the midst of historic events a Love-inspired woman's campaign for Humane Values launches India's ascent... to join the world's elite developed nations!

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The Times and I - (Part 1)

The Times and I - (Part 1)

My visits to The Times of India began when I was a school-kid. In those days it was no problem for a youngster to travel from Dadar to Fort, the main business area of Bombay, by a slow-coach tram or a 'local' suburban train of either the Great Indian Peninsular (G.I.P.) or the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway (B.B. and C. I.). Later, as the population of Bombay and suburbs multiplied, getting in or out of a suburban train became a matter of expertise. 
My father had enrolled me as a member of the Petit Library in town when I was eight.
Opposite the G.I.P's Victoria Terminus (V.T.) on the main thoroughfare of town were Times Group's offices. At V.T. I would cross the street and go to the ground floor Stores of the Times Group, which was run by one of my father's best friends. I was sure to get a pastry or an ice-cream if I visited him, before heading for the library.  
But my first visit to the Times Group editorial offices came after I submitted a poem to the Illustrated Weekly. At that time the Times was still a British newspaper run by Bennet, Coleman and Co.  I got a letter asking me to call at the office of the Weekly Editor C. R. Mandy, an Irishman. He was surprised to see a school kid. He said he liked the refrain repeated at each verse's end: But she was a goddess on a pedestal! He said he couldn't publish the poem, but he wanted to see more work by me.

That ended my poetic career. I don't think I ever wrote a poem again.

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Ms. Jagjit Daniel's Dreams of One Country. Novel: United States of India Rises!
In a time of historic events a Love-inspired woman's campaign for Noble Values launches India's ascent... to join the world's elite developed nations!

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Jagjit's India Novel: Dreams of One Country: A Key Clarification

Jagjit's India Novel: Dreams of One Country: A Key Clarification

Dreams of One Country: Novel: United States of India Rises! Set in the midst of historic events, it

is the story of a young woman's noble campaign that launches India's ascent... to join the world's elite developed nations!

This clarification is meant to make an internet search for the book easier. Type in Jagjit's Dreams of One Country - and you'll get it. It's the only novel or book by that exact name. Penned by my wife and me, it's available on Amazon as an e-book or paperback. You see it in two different covers. The red-covered book is the one that is downloaded as an e-book. The original one has a picture on it and that's the one home-delivered as a paperback. But it's the same book. 

All rights - like translation, print publishing, movie etc. - remain with me as co-author.

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A Letter to Mo (or Maureen) - Part 4

A Letter to Mo (or Maureen)  - Part 4

(In parts, my light-hearted story published in The Illustrated Weekly of India on September 7, 1969)

(Dear Mo,)
Because all though your messej has changed my affecshuns Im still quite a little bit fond of you. You might be even surprise to know that just before your messej I was planning to propose to you at next Catholic Inst dance. So I was learning fine propossing words from a book I bought purposely but have stopped knowing it is all sadly washed up.

Still remembring you with love.

 Yours formerly,

 Antao

 P.S. Please one more thing. In case by chance you think of good old times and me and want to cancel messej you know where to meet me. Same old C bustop same time as we usaly did and Ill be there. Till then dear Mo goodby. (Ill bring 3 special smuggled Paris parfums I bought only the other day before messej.)

(Concluded)

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Ms. Jagjit Daniel's Dreams of One Country. Novel: United States of India Rises! A Love-inspired woman's youth campaign for Humane Values launches India's ascent... to join the world's elite developed nations!

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A Letter to Mo (or Maureen) - Part 3

A Letter to Mo (or Maureen)  - Part 3

(In parts, my light-hearted story published in The Illustrated Weekly of India on September 7, 1969)

(Dear Mo,)
Let me ask you whats the use of being ejucated if you cant understand that here Im fitter making more money than any silly (eccept you) clerk. And in this finest formerly English company of Bombay, where Im sure Pathan wont let new bofreind in through the door even. I strongly hope he is not Andrade. Because if he is Im waiting to catch him and give him one on the nose not perticulally because of taking you away but from 10 Nov 1968 he is owing me Rs 30 borrowed at Mahalaxmi races. Could be Jos? Then he must not have told his job is temprary.
And just by the way if you and new boyfriend want to go for evening walk hope you know the way. Go strate on Churchgate street not stopping ofcorse when you reach M Drive and soon you both will be right in where you belong. In the blue Arabien sea with the other fishes.
Since in any way it is all over dear Maureen I want to wish you all best in the world and that we had good times together which I hope you will at sometimes remembre, as I will and extra specialy that night on Malbar hill when I sang Dark Moon and as you said exackly like Tony Brent.

  (To be continued...)

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Ms. Jagjit Daniel's novel Dreams of One Country. Story of how India Rises! (at present on Amazon; print publishing, movie etc. rights available): Set in the midst of historic national events is a great love story, a noble campaign for Humane Values, and the launch of united India's ascent...to join the world's elite developed nations!

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A Letter to Mo (or Maureen) - Part 2

A Letter to Mo (or Maureen)  - Part 2

(In parts, my light-hearted story published in The Illustrated Weekly of India on September 7, 1969)

(Dear Mo,)
And mensioninng skirts and things I am remembring now the oh so peculyar sting. S-T-I-N-G in capital. Though ofcorse with my nose close with cold often I never used to bother much about sad fact. And havent mensioned before being as I said a gent hoping not to hurt your feelings, which now Im sure you do not have any the way you behave with me. (So oh God I say Im lucky to escape from a girl like that!!!)
You say in your letter and proudly like that this new boyfreind of your is like you S.S.C. pass and a clerk. One thing great about me is if something good happens to a girl who is or was a girlfreind of mine I always usaly feel happy. Just from my pure goodness of heart. But this about the new boyfriend Im sorry. Youre making a big mistake and Im sure you will regret. He is ejucated all right but most only thing he is superior is may be his spelings are more correck than mine. So be careful. Spelings dont make a good man I say.   
Kindly also forgive me for not enough comas in my letter. Comas are like my left hand. I cant use them. Any way not to worry your pretty head. You can tell new clerk boyfreind put them in.    (To be continued...)

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Ms. Jagjit Daniel's novel Dreams of One Country. Story of how India Rises! (at present on Amazon; print publishing, movie etc. rights available): Set in the midst of historic national events is a great love story, a noble campaign for Humane Values, and the launch of united India's ascent...to join the world's elite developed nations!

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