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The pandemic seems to have been the catalyst for a new genre of writing,  reminiscences from persons ranging from consultant physicians and surgeons to, in this case, a retired Air India inflight supervisor. Mostly anecdotal, Noshir Sanjana’s memoirs exude a naïve charm. He is a natural raconteur.
Pecked out using one finger on his Samsung smart phone, the crew member’s stories take the reader on a journey through his childhood, youth, career and retirement. The trauma of the five-year-old whose family has to flee for their lives in the aftermath of the partition of India is touchingly told, as are the accounts of how they relocated to Bombay to start anew. Schoolboy pranks. Falling in love with the girl he would eventually marry — in six ceremonies! The overwhelming love for his family. The lifelong affair with Air India (as Confucius said: "Love what you do, and you will not work a single day in your life”). Assignments and layovers abroad. Young colleagues who perished in air crashes. Health scares involving his beloved wife Meherangiz (Maloo) and the plea bargain he made with the Almighty that he would give up smoking if she was spared (she was and he did!). His own triple heart bypass. Encounters with Mother Teresa and African dictator Idi Amin (who invited Sanjana to join him in the hotel jacuzzi because Amin liked his white skin).
A few photographs in the book show Sanjana as a child, with Maloo, Mother Teresa with him in the aircraft, his parents Jala and Nader dancing at a fancy dress event, his father wearing a maharaja’s costume. The book has been dedicated to them. The cover depicts Sanjana with the Air India mascot, the iconic Maharaja.
The amateur writer has a penchant for using far too many adjectives, mostly four and sometimes more, often labored, which detract from the felicity of the sentences. Also, more careful proofing, especially of punctuation, would have enhanced the quality of the book. There are some unfortunate inaccuracies in names. Air India’s deputy chief air hostess Colleen Bhiladvala, she of exquisite face and form, has been referred to as Collin Bhiwandiwala! Come on!
But overlook these lapses. The congenial octogenarian’s inherent warmth and sincerity shine through. Sanjana is undoubtedly one who loves his fellow man. Read his stories, laugh with him, marvel at his adventurous spirit and escapades, admire his sincerity and even grieve with him. It will be a fulfilling exercise.                          

SHERENE VAKIL