It had to take literary and theatre icon Shanta Gokhale’s honest and thoughtful acceptance speech at a recent books’ awards ceremony to remind us to never forget the ones behind the scenes who make our busy lives easier
Shanta Gokhale at her Shivaji Park home. PIC/RANE ASHISH
Let’s invite Shanta Gokhale ji to the stage to accept the Crossword Books Lifetime Achievement Award,” and with that, veteran journalist and author Bachi Karkaria introduced the veteran cultural stalwart on stage amidst a standing ovation from the who’s who of India’s literary circles who were in full attendance at the lawns of an Andheri five-star last week. But prior to that, Karkaria, in her warm, charming, and typically witty introduction of her longtime friend, spoke from a space of familiarity, warmth and great respect for her celebrated, diverse body of work, as a writer, theatre person, as well as translator. She gave the audience an insight into their bonding over culinary exploits, where she reminisced about being thrilled to drop over at her home, where she enjoyed Gokhale’s Hungarian Roulade as much as her Maharashtrian pohe. “Thank you, Shanta, for your friendship,” was the line that warmed hearts the most, before she handed over the trophy to her friend of many decades. If the literary community in the city was yearning for that classic photo-op moment, this was it.
Next, the host Hrishikesh Kannan invited ‘Shanta tai’ — as she is fondly referred to by so many — to say a few words. Minus the false, rote-like laundry lists that we are so used to hearing at most award shindigs, this one was straight from the heart. Gokhale went on to single out two names, whom she called her “right hands” as she began her acceptance speech. The first was her house help of 50 years, Alka Dhulap. She was grateful for her support through thick and thin. The audience was in splits when she said, “I inform my publishers that not a word will be written in the month of May. It’s when Alka goes on leave, and I become Alka!”
The second name that Gokhale acknowledged was Sanjay Pashte, her Man Friday for 35 years. She narrated a recent episode where he helped her find a solution to the pigeon menace that’s led to new headaches for residents with the closure of kabutarkhanas. “He’s always around to sort out my problems,” she shared.
But her sign-off sentence was what left an indelible mark, for many, including myself: “If I write, a lot of credit goes to them.” Gokhale’s words had struck a chord. Just like her writing about the common man, and the slice-of-life, relatable experiences, her acknowledgment was an extension of her great understanding of this omnipresent workforce integral to our urban existence.
Seated there, I was instantly reminded of another literary icon, Ruskin Bond, who during an interview at his picturesque cottage in Landour, shared how his adopted family was the bedrock that gave him the care, comfort and love to do what he enjoys doing the best, for decades together. No coincidence that Bond also writes about the people around him; a world that he has so charmingly created over the years, in the numerous storybooks for children, which many adults, yours truly included, take great joy in devouring. During that precious hour where I had the opportunity of picking his brain about his writing process, he spoke extensively about their contribution to help keep him in a good head space, despite the quirks and routines associated with most writers; of course, he cheekily refused to share, when nudged to reveal.
More recently, during an interaction with Gokhale, who had contributed towards an anthology of Mumbai-centric stories, The Only City, she mentioned how the particular short story she had written for the book was deeply connected to one part of the city, Shivaji Park, where she had lived all her life. She wasn’t referring to the ‘new’ Shivaji Park of glass towers but the old Art Deco residences with open balconies inhabited by the middle-class, and the busy chawls, where its common corridors were inhabited by the lower middle-class.
That chapter, she said, was a tribute to the lower middle-class in particular who had always interested her. Those words came back to me as I sat there listening to her honour the existence of those two special people in her life. It took Shanta Gokhale to remind me of the special people in my life, who continue to make mine easier. I’m sure each of you, too, will have Ashas and Sanjays in your lives. Despite being in the periphery of your working life, your boardroom decisions and other key moments, they play a silent, but equally important role to help join the dots, to let you exist and carry on with your daily hustle.
Go ahead and give them your mini acceptance speech; tell them about what their contribution means to you, and watch a big, wide smile light up their faces. For them, it will be like receiving a lifetime achievement award.
mid-day’s Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the city’s sights, sounds, smells and stones...wherever the ink and the inclination takes her.
She tweets @bombayana. Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
