Way back, when I went to Bombay (not Mumbai) as a teenager wanting to be a lyricist (I did become one for a while), a well-known music director gave me the exclusive-directory of the music fraternity, the book which was supposed to be shared only by the insiders of the industry and had numbers of all the who’s who of the music world (…I still wonder how and why he trusted a skinny geek from Indore in just two meetings…). I rationalized by thinking that it was so because I was an immensely trustable person, ignoring the fact that it was more because he was an immensely trusting person – so much so for my much-hyped modesty!!!!!
As soon as I got it, I ditched all the alphabets from A to I and went straight to ‘J’, dialing Jagjit Singh’s residence-number…a woman picked the phone (in all probability it was ChitraJi). When I said that I wanted to meet Jagjit Singh as I was his biggest fan (while stretching the B…. sound as much as I could), she seemed absolutely unmoved…and when I played the sympathy card by saying “Main Indore se unse milne aayaa hoon…”, she, with absolutely indifferent tone said “Log unse Caneda se milne aate hain to bhi wo nahin milte…” (I have deliberately twisted the spelling of Canada to reflect her pronunciation when she said it…)…
When she put the phone down, I didn’t know whether to mourn over my lost-chance, laugh at my failed (and stupid) attempt to evoke sympathy or feel insulted on being turned down so clinically….(I actually chose to use the incident to pump my pseudo & petty self-esteem ending up eventually saying to myself “One day,….bla bla bla…..you know what…”).
Years after that incident, when the angels called up at his place, I wish ChitraJi would have said to them “Log unse Caneda se milne aate hain to bhi wo nahin milte…” I am sure I would have felt much better…knowing that the angels would have been going through the same predicament – whether to mourn over their lost-chance, laugh at their failed (and stupid) attempt to evoke fear or feel insulted on being turned down so clinically!
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To be continued…
About Sandeep Atre
Dr. Sandeep Atre:
• Counseling Psychologist and an internationally recognized ‘Emotional & Social Intelligence’ Expert, with experience of more than two decades in helping people ‘sort out’ and ‘excel in’ intrapersonal and interpersonal matters. He holds a PhD in Management and a Master’s degree in Psychology (www.dratrecounsels.com).
• Founder of Socialigence – a venture specializing in development of ‘Social & Emotional Intelligence’ and its offshoot interpersonal skills through workshops and an award-winning online course rooted in neuroscience and psychology (www.socialigence.net).
• Author of two books related to his domain, namely - “Understanding Emotions Logically” and “Observing Nonverbal Behavior”; and third book on various aspects of life, named “Two Paras of Everyday Wisdom”. Moreover, the collection of his Nazms and Ghazals is published as a book titled “Baat Jazbaat Ki”.
• Corporate Trainer, with experience of close to two decades. Has conducted 150+ workshops/sessions for 50+ organizations & institutions like CSC, Cummins, Piramal, Ranbaxy, Lupin, Bridgestone, Michelin, Eicher, Maruti, Force, Idea, Airtel, NBHC, SBI, HDFC, L&T, Zydus, Thapar University, Banasthali, Narsee Monjee, Symbiosis, IIFM Bhopal, Azim Premji University, Nirma, Welingkar & IBS Hyderabad.
• Co-Founder and Director of CH EdgeMakers – a leading ‘Coaching and Training’ organization of central India for more than 24 years. He has trained close to 100 thousand students for ‘Soft Skills’ & ‘Entrance & Recruitment Preparation’ (www.ch-india.com).
• ‘Management Speaker and Orator’. Has featured at platforms like TEDx, IIM, IIT, NIT, CII, YI, CII-IWN, TCS, IMA, ICAI, ECA, ISHRAE, NEN, Sahodaya, Aditya Birla Education Academy, Round Table, LinkedIn Local, Rotary International, MP State’s Teachers’ Training, Academic Staff College DAVV, Police University Rajasthan, Police Training Academy Indore & more than 100 institutions.
• Member of noted associations and boards. Has been an ‘Executive Committee’ member of Indore Management Association. Associate Editor of IMA publications. Governing Council Member of Banasthali University’s SBBJ Centre for Research in MSME & Promotion of Entrepreneurship in Women. Executive Member of IMS, DAVV Alumni Association. Member of Rotary International’s ‘Group Study Exchange’ team to Minnesota, USA. ESI Coach with FWSA Australia.
Note: For glimpses of work, watch YouTube Channel ‘Dr. Sandeep Atre at Socialigence’.
