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The Vaishnodevi Experience 2023

My first trip to Vaishnodevi was unimpressive. Climbing was hard, and it only served to highlight how badly out of shape I was, while my in-laws managed to cope so much better. Further, I hadn’t quite realized that the cave experience wouldn’t be the same as I had imagined, since the original cave was only opened at certain times a year, and that we only entered a newly created tunnel, one far easier to access, and hence more manageable with the crowds that thronged the mountain shrine. The resulting experience at the shrine, for barely a fraction of a second, hardly compared to what I had expected / imagined / heard about. So, for me, Vaishnodevi was like any other temple, nothing to write home about, something that was reflected (though not explicitly mentioned) in the blog post I wrote then.

Utterly Butterly Amul....

These days, reading the newspaper hardly gives me the pleasure it used to, which is why I barely scan through it as I have my coffee, a habit which continues simply because it is hard to break.....In today's newspaper, there was just one item which captured my interest - here is a link to the same... take a look.


It is an obituary to Eustace Fernandes, the creator of the Amul girl, and words are simply not enough to describe the importance or the beauty of his creation. An ad that started way back in 1966, almost 10 years before I was born, is still going strong enough. I am not qualified to write an obituary for the creative man, but I thought of putting up some of the beautiful hoardings which have brought a smile on my face every time I set eyes on them...


First escalator at Chowpatty seaface, Mumbai

On compulsory sterilisation introduced during Indira Gandhi regime.

Indian Railways introduces cushioned chairs in the first class compartments. 

Proposal for 90% reservation for SSC students admisssion to colleges in Maharashra - June'09 

Amul congratulates the success of the first test-tube baby. 


Tribute on the untimely death of King of Pop - Michael Jackson - June'09 

Inauguration of the Bandra Worli sea link in Mumbai - July'09 

Longest and most spectacular eclipse of the 21st century - July '09 

Growing popularity of Facebook - July'09 

The recent move by a few to divide and create additional states - Dec.'09 

Bill for 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies gets passed by Rajya Sabha- March'10 

If you still haven't had your fill, please click on the link below to go to the Amul site, where they have each and every hoarding put up between 1976 and today.... You won't know how fast the time passes!

Amul Topicals through the years

The Amul Topical Story







Comments

  1. This is a nice post Anu. Kudos to Mr. Fernandes creativity. We used wait every week for his fantastic ads.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Amul ads were always creative and wonderful. Thanks for sharing it..

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  3. amazing these Amul posts

    lovely link

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very nice compilation. Hope they keep the creativity going, even after the passing of Mr. Fernandes.

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  5. Gud one !!! I just love the amul ads.... there was one hoarding on my way to college.... and everytime there was a new ad, I couldnt help but smile.

    ReplyDelete
  6. @Chitra: thanks.... yes, these ads were always much awaited.... which is why i wrote this...

    @Clipped in...thanks a lot...

    @ssstoryteller: they really are.. did u go through all of them???

    @tilo: thanks... i dont think he had anything to d with the recent ones... they have continued so far, hope they will continue further too..

    @shyam: thanks

    @Shona: absolutely!! that was one thing common all over India....

    ReplyDelete

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