A loving gift to my friend, Anil Sawant

My dear readers,

I start this blog, today, Thursday, 24th June 2010, as a loving gift to my dear and close friend -- the amateur writer, Anil Sawant.

We discovered his passion for writing, while we were working together in a Pune company. Its internal newsletter "MSMT" was the unlikeliest of places for our literary friendship to begin, develop and flourish.

When I ran through "Blogger", looking to see if the title "Gajalee" had been taken, I was surprised that none of the lakhs of Konkani speakers had yet pounced upon the word. I am thrilled for Anil that the word -- "Gajalee" -- he chose for his column in MSMT now adorns a blog in his name.

I invite Anil to inaugurate this blog, by uploading his writings here. And I promise him that I will be honoured to edit his pieces (and others to come) with the same care and love that I bestowed on him in MSMT.

In time, Anil will agree, this blog will and should become a show-case for deserving amateur writers in India. I request Anil to draft the editorial policy that should guide this blog.

Your support is our strength (Thanks! Sushma Nair, nee Menon),

Yours sincerely,

Peace and love,
- Joe.

Thursday, 24th June 2010, Pune, India.