Mysore Sandal Soap – A Refreshing “Feel Good” Bath

A “Feel Good” Bath

REFRESHING BATHING and LINGERING FRAGRANCE

Mysore Sandal Soap

By

VIKRAM KARVE

I am feeling good. 

Summer has arrived in Pune. 

It is a sultry hot morning – blazing sun, terrible heat. 

Yet – I am feeling good. 

I am feeling good because I have just had a bath with Mysore Sandal Soap. 

I feel clean and refreshed. 

I smell very nice and pleasant – with the lingering spicy fragrance of Sandalwood. 

I clearly remember my first tryst with Mysore Sandal Soap. 

Way back in the 1960s – we used to travel twice a year – from the “upcountry” – to Pune – for our vacations. 

Those days – Air Travel was a luxury – and – everyone travelled by the Indian Railways. 

Those days – there were no direct trains from “upcountry” stations to Pune (then known as Poona) – and – we had to travel via Mumbai (then known as Bombay). 

So – we came down from the “upcountry” by famous trains – like the Frontier Mail, the Howrah Mail, the Calcutta Mail or the Punjab Mail – feeling all scruffy and weary – covered with coal dust.

In Mumbai – we got off Dadar in the morning – and went to my grand-aunt’s house in Hindu Colony nearby.

The old-style house had a huge spotlessly clean tiled bathroom – and – it was there that I first discovered “Mysore Sandal Soap”

It was a leisurely relaxed bathing experience – the soothing lather of “Mysore Sandal Soap” softening my skin.

And – I would emerge from my bath – fully refreshed – exuding the tantalizing yet subtle lingering fragrance of sandalwood.

Then – after a sumptuous breakfast – we would board a bus from Dadar TT – or catch a local train from Dadar Station to Mumbai CST (then known as Bombay VT) – spend the day loafing in South Mumbai – window shopping, browsing books, a movie and a meal – and then head to Mumbai CST Railway Station – to catch the Deccan Queen to Pune.

Since then – “Mysore Sandal Soap” is my all time favourite bathing soap – and – I truly enjoy the luxurious bathing experience every morning – and – in the evenings too. 

Being an “old timer” – I prefer the subtle lingering natural fragrance of sandalwood – rather than the overpowering synthetic scent of present day deodorants. 

I believe that it is better to maintain body cleanliness and personal hygiene – which prevents body odour – rather than try to mask your foul body odour by spraying your body copiously with strong smelling deodorants and perfumes. 

A nice soothing bath – skin feeling soft and nourished – feeling clean and refreshed – smelling natural – gently exuding the lingering gentle comforting fresh fragrance of sandalwood  – that is what makes me feel good – rather than the present day practice of profusely deodorizing one’s body – till one reeks of artificial overpowering standardized perfume all day. 

Mysore Sandal Soap celebrated its centenary (100 years) two years ago in 1916.

(Mysore Sandal Soap has been manufactured since 1916 when Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV, the King of Mysore, set up the Government Soap Factory in Bangalore) 

Here is a picture of the carton of Mysore Sandal Soap. 

I am sure you have tried out “Mysore Sandal Soap”.

No...? 

You haven’t used “Mysore Sandal Soap” yet...?

Then – you must have a bath with “Mysore Sandal Soap” soon. 

Do have a tantalizing bathing experience with “Mysore Sandal Soap” – especially on a hot summer day – and tell us how you liked it.

Morning and evening – on a hot summer day – have a bath with “Mysore Sandal Soap” 

You will smell nice – you will feel clean – and – you will feel “good”.

You can take my word for it. 

Have a nice day...!!! 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

This is a revised repost of my article on MYSORE SANDAL SOAP written 14 years ago in 2004 and posted online by me earlier a number of times including at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2010/09/mysore-sandal-soap-lovely-bath.html  and  http://vikramwkarve.blogspot.in/2010/09/tantalizing-bath-and-lingering.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/02/refreshing-bath-and-lingering-fragrance.html  and  https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/04/a-feel-good-smell-good-bath.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2017/03/feel-good-bath-mysore-sandal-soap.html etc

Humor in Uniform : Art of “Cleanship”

Humor in Uniform

“CLEANSHIP”

In the civilian world – the “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” (Clean India Mission) was launched on the 2nd of October 2014.

But – in the Navy – this initiative is going on since time immemorial – only – it is known by a different name – it is called “cleanship” – and – in the Navy – all ships, shore establishments (stone frigates) and Dockyards are required to be kept spotlessly clean. 

Also – in the Navy – an Officer is supposed to be a “Jack of all Trades – and Master of One”

The one “Trade” in which you are supposed to be a “Master” is your professional job at sea and ashore (what they call “core competency” in the corporate world and industry) – but beyond that – you can be tasked with anything and everything – including “cleanship”.

So – in addition to your professional “tradecraft” (your primary duty in which you are supposed to be a “Master”) – in the Navy – you are given a lot of “secondary duties” – which you are supposed to perform to the best of your ability.

And – one of the most important “secondary duties” at which all officers and sailors are adept at is “cleanship”.

Like there is humor in all Naval activities – there are plenty of hilarious “cleanship” stories.

Let me tell you one such “cleanship” story from my wonderful Navy Days – this happened many years ago...

ART OF CLEANSHIP

A Spoof

By

VIKRAM KARVE

During my long service in the Navy– especially in Naval Dockyards – I have observed that it is easy to create a junkyard (or garbage dump) anywhere you want to.

All you have to do is to dump some trash at the “selected site” for a few days.

Soon – others will follow suit – and they will start dumping their garbage, junk, litter, and debris (whatever they want to get rid of) at the same place – and in due course you will have a full fledged garbage dump or junkyard in place over there.

This is exactly what happened in a Naval Dockyard.

A desperate Manager was conducting a frantic “full-night overtime” last minute “cleanship” of his department workshops for a sudden “surprise” VIP visit the next morning.

All the junk, scrap, litter and debris removed from the shop-floors were meticulously piled up in a newly created trash-heap.

The Foreman was careful to ensure that this newly created junkyard (“garbage dump”) was strategically located well away from his department.

The Foreman believed in the “cleanship” dictum: 

“Never keep your “shit” in front of your doorstep. Shift your “shit” in front of someone else’s doorstep”

(The word “shit” is used metaphorically to denote all types of garbage, rubbish, junk, debris, trash etc)

That is why the innovative Foreman had ingeniously created the new “garbage dump” near the entrance of a Naval Unit which did not belong to the Dockyard – though the unit was located inside the premises of the dockyard.

The VIP visit was a success – and the “Top Brass” complimented the Manager on the excellent cleanliness of his workshops.

Meanwhile – the newly created “garbage dump” started growing in size – since everyone nearby conveniently started using it to dump their garbage there – rather than carry it to conservancy bins located some distance away.

Some construction work was in progress nearby – and workers found it convenient to dump debris here at this newly created “garbage dump” – rather than cart it all the way to the officially designated debris dumping site.

In a matter of days – the place looked like a full-fledged junkyard – with all sorts of rubbish, waste, junk, scrap, litter and debris heaped up in a huge pile of garbage.

I am sure a few officers – including me – must have noticed the trash heap – but in typical “mind-your-own-business” mentality they must have thought to themselves: “It is not my job to clear garbage – so why should I bother about it”.

(Of course – this did not prevent them from conveniently dumping their own garbage in that “junkyard”)

One day – the Navy Unit adjoining the “garbage dump” was visited by an Admiral from Headquarters – Rear Admiral “X” – who was the direct boss of the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the unit.

The Admiral was surprised to see the huge trash-heap near the entrance gate of the Naval Unit – and he was appalled.  

Rear Admiral “X” told the OIC that he did not remember seeing this “garbage dump” in front of his unit – and the Admiral asked the OIC who had created this huge “junkyard” right next to the entrance of the Naval Unit. 

The OIC was clueless.

The furious Admiral ordered the OIC to remove the garbage pile immediately and render a completion report by evening.

The OIC “officially” asked Yard Conservancy Services to remove the “garbage dump”.

Yard Conservancy Services “officially” told the OIC to “hop”.

Yard Conservancy Services said that this new “junkyard” did not fall under their “jurisdiction” – as it was not in their “official list of garbage dumps”.

The hapless OIC then personally went across to Manager Yard Services and pleaded before him.

“Okay – I will have the debris cleared next week when the scrap dealer comes to take away the scrap,” the Yard Services Manager said.

“No, No, my Boss, Rear Admiral “X” wants a completion report by today evening. Please help me…” the OIC was on the verge of tears.

Seeing the pitiable state of the OIC – the Yard Services Manager decided to help him.

But the real reason was that the Yard Services Manager wanted to earn some “brownie points” with Rear Admiral “X” – who was a “rising star” in the Navy.

“Okay – I will relocate the garbage dump to a temporary place till the scrap dealer comes next week,” the Yard Services Manager assured the OIC.

“Thanks,” the OIC said gratefully.

“And you don’t bother about making the completion report to your boss. I know Rear Admiral “X” very well – I will personally make the completion report to him once the job is done,” the Yard Services Manager told the OIC of the unit.

The “garbage dump” was relocated in the evening – after working hours.

By a strange irony – the garbage pile was dumped near the entrance of the very same department which had created the “junkyard” in the first place. 

The new “garbage dump” was 10 times the size of the original trash-pile.

On seeing the huge “garbage dump” in front of his workshop – and – recognizing some junk which had emanated from his workshop – the wizened Foreman laughed – and he said to himself: 

“If you shift your “shit” in front of someone else’s doorstep – you may find even greater “shit” in front of your doorstep”

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

1. This story is a spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.

2. All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

This is a repost of my story DOCKYARDS AND JUNKYARDS posted by me online earlier in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Blog at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/06/humor-in-uniform-dockyards-and-junkyards.html