They are back !! The mask makers ! Only this time they are from Hollywood and not London. Christein, the celebrated and Academy Award winning make up artist was not happy with the effort done so courageously by enthusiastic Elstree Studio personnel and so sent some of his boys from Los of Angeles.

The process was almost the same, except the material used this morning was a lot more, how should I put it, maleable. There were some anxious moments as the final touches and bandages were being rubbed in. The claustrophobia and the breathing was taking its toll. But it all worked fine in the end. And they seemed happy.

Well.. they said the same in London too..!!

Aishwarya came in, full of bubble and laughter and Padma Shri. And the mobiles from media kept a strong presence for bites on her achievement. How do you feel today sir. How do I feel ? How would anyone feel when daughter wins accolade and distinction !

Some respondents on blog needed an explanation for the Awards. These are Government Awards acknowledging contribution made in the various professions. They are announced every year on Republic Day. Starting from the highest it is the Bharat Ratna - the Jewel of India, then Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The President of India, at a sombre and dignified ceremony in the Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, built by the British for the Viceroy, now housing our Head of State, decorates winners with a medal and a certificate. I have been in there 4 times. Once to see my Father receive the Padma Bhushan, twice when I received the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan and once to see Jaya get the Padma Shri. Now we shall be proudly entering the magnificent portals of this majestic structure to see Aishwarya receiving this decoration. Actually… I have been there one more time. It was when the King of Morocco decorated me with their medal of Honor, on one of his official visits to our country.

So there now…

By 4 pm we all drove down towards Versova for the opening of the Kokilabehn Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, an extraordinary facility that has an individual and personal angle attached to it.

Dr Nitu Mandke, was an exceptional heart surgeon from Mumbai. A most respected physician and one that exuded confidence and trust the moment you met him. He had a desire to build a heart Hospital in the suburbs and set about the job with great earnestness. I had contributed and been part of an enterprise that was collecting funds through charity, for this dream of his. I had actually forgotten this little detail, until this evening when his daughter came up and reminded of it.

Anyway.. so Dr Mandke got the land from the Government and set about constructing a rather huge facility around 4 bungalows. Suddenly one morning Dr Mandke passed away, ironically of a heart attack. He was a young man in his 40’s I presume, but Mumbai lost him.

Some years after, my family doctor, Dr Barve came in one morning to see me and with him was Dr Mrs Mandke. She was distraught at the sudden passing away of her husband, but was resolved in fulfilling his dream of building the Hospital, which now stood as a mute witness to the tragic events that unfolded in front of it. She wanted me to talk to affluent friends of mine and seek some solution in completing the building of the Hospital. I spoke to my friend Mr Anil Ambani of Reliance and organised a meeting between him and her. I urged Anil that he must look at this case compassionately. He relented, took up this very worthy cause and has constructed a most awesome Hospital; massive and technically among the best in the world.

The ceremony was simple and sweet and emotional. Kokila behn the wife of the legendary Dhiru Bhai Ambani and Mother to Anil dedicating the Hospital to the people of India, contributing handsomely to it and giving one of the most endearing speeches at the formal ceremony that followed after a select few of us were taken around the premises to judge and gauge the hospital and the facilities it was providing.

The Hospital is 7-Star !! And boasts of some of the most modern and efficient medical machinery in the world. Diligently worked on through great personal interest by Mrs Tina Ambani, the wife of Anil and at a time a leading lady in Hindi films, the interiors are elegant beyond compare and every conceivable detail and execution to medical need taken care of. Simply incredible !!

The electronic media attack, soon after the formal function was over resulted in all of us being shunted into the conference room and locked in, till order was restored outside. It was here that a bizarre story was narrated to me by Dr Mandke’s elder brother, a professor in the Indian Institute of Technology.

He came up to me and stated that I had been responsible for saving his life some years back. He was on a posting to Assam our North-Eastern State which was among one of the seven sister states, fondly referred to by the geographics of India. These States also housed Nagaland a dense forest area inhabited by the Nagas a warrior tribe that are still identified by their robust build, and the presence of traditional javelins, spears and swords on their person. On a trip back home Mr Mandke suddenly in the thick of the night and the forest found himself being surrounded by a large bunch of Nagas, spears and swords ready in combat position. Alone in the car with just his driver, he made, what most would have advised as foolish, the mistake of stepping out to ask what they meant by surrounding him. Their demeanor looked hostile and fierce and before they could be moved into action, the professor blurted out -

“I am Bombay Babu”…. Amitabh Bachchan !!

On hearing this name, so the professor tells me ,a complete reformation took place. They dropped their weapons, saluted him by submitting themselves to his feet, picked him up with great enthusiasm, took him to their houses and fed him food till he could digest no more and then broke into their traditional dance, for hours !!

This is amazing. Similar stories have been narrated to me from episodes that occurred to tourists apprehended by violent tribesmen in Egpyt and Iraq and Iran. I had never realized I could be a life saver to someone. God has been very kind to me. Thank you Lord !!

2:59 am now… and before I get nagged from hundreds that come on blog on my sleep habits, I end.

More tomorrow from Shweta land and Agastya and Navya-Naveli…

Amitabh Bachchan