CHRISTMAS GREETINGS AND REMEMBERING THE SWEDISH COFFEE SHOP'S KINDNESS AT STOCKHOLM-ACKNOWLEDGING INDIA

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS AND REMEMBERING THE SWEDISH COFFEE SHOP'S KINDNESS AT STOCKHOLM-ACKNOWLEDGING INDIA


Dear Readers,

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
Many Friends of the World who follow and practice the faith of Christianity (although I do not, no issues on that), have given so much of Love and Affection that, it would be unfair, not to convey Christmas Greetings to them around the World.

I happened to work for a Spanish Organization, and EU Major, in the past, while their Owners and Promoters and many colleagues of the Organization were Catholics and practiced Christianity (while I said above I do not follow it), it is a fact. The way they have treated with maximum love and affection, without any difference and distinction or demarcation in the past, it is difficult to forget and not acknowledge and not send them the Christmas Greetings, I do send to them a Common Christmas Greetings through the Chairman of the Organization every year without fail. Many friends in India who also follow the faith of Christianity, have been very kind all through and it would be acknowledging them by sending Christmas Greetings.

Our Dr.V. Kurien, known for the Dairy Development in India and "Amul" not in the world today and must be in Heaven, came from a Syrian Catholic Family of India, he used to love and definitely respond with a warm and kind message when I used to send him a Christmas Greetings Card (when Paper Cards were in practice) and later electronic message every year till he was in life. You deal with Dr. Kurien, directly and from very close, you will know him only and his inside, it was very soft. Tears were not dearer for his eyes, he had a very nice positive emotion I have seen and those who worked with him closely should have marked it. It is easy to ridicule and laugh at on anything, and it is very difficult to assimilate the reality most humbly.

Now coming to the experience of the Swedish Coffee Shop at Stockholm on Christmas, it is really unforgettable and let me share with all of you....
A few years back, I landed at Stockholm, Sweden, flying back from Barcelona, Spain where I had gone for some official meeting, and I wanted to take 2-days off in holidaying, and it was just the Christmas Day of that year. I had never seen so much of Snow Fall in my life time. This year (2024) I hear there is lot of Snow Fall at Kashmir and Shimla in India. Then at Stockholm, when I checked into the Hilton Hotel, a Full and Big Lake in front of the Hotel had just got Solid not with water but all ICE. What a Beautiful Scene. The accumulated Snow out side the Hotel Room Window was almost 5-ft, and nothing visible through the window. The Hotel Room temperature was maintained by heaters.

It was a very enjoyable scenario for me as I had never seen such Snow Fall, but it was also very scary and difficult, as I had no Warm Clothes. I asked the Hotel what to do, I was also not in position to buy warm clothes. The Hotel took me to one of their Store Rooms which had lot of Warm Clothes Hanging, real Good Ones, the Hotel Guests had left there under various circumstances, normally when the Guests buy the new ones, they leave the old ones (to reduce luggage load normally) at the Hotel and the Hotel Stores there. I picked a couple of Warm Clothes as per my size to manage the situation comfortably. Then I book tickets on Warm-Buses to have a tourism of the city. While moving around the city, I landed at the Notable Coffeeshop. I had a Mug Full of Warm Coffee stretching time to feel warm in so much of cold.
As soon as I finished drinking the Mug Full of the Warm Coffee, I asked the Coffee Shop Owner for the Bill so that I can pay its price. Imagine, the Coffee shop Owner asks me; "Sir, are you from India?". I said, "Yes, I am from India, from Mumbai". 
To my Surprise, then the Coffee Shop Owner says; "Sir you are my Guest. You don't have to pay any price for the Coffee you drank at my shop. What ever more you may need from the Snacks, please consume freely by your choice, from what I have, no Bill and No price for you". I was more surprised. Then he says "I have travelled to India, the People are so nice and hospitable, they have treated me so well and such a nice country, what price should I charge and collect from you for the Coffee, to make myself ashamed".

I said to the Coffee Shop Owner, "Thank you very much for making me so proud of my Country India, and thank you for saying so loud and good of my country. I am grateful for your Coffee and Hospitality today. This is my number and next time you travel to India, do remember me. You have given your heart and taken my heart today".

What else do I need to hear on Christmas Day? When the Swedish Coffee Shop Owner says so loud and good of my Country India that to at Stockholm making me so happy and feel so proud of my country? I remember it for years now and I would keep remembering it on every Christmas Day during my life time. I am waiting for the Coffee Shop Owner to visit India, he hasn't done so till date, neither my number I have given has changed, it is very much there to hear his call..... I do not need more.

Best regards,
Dr. Nimain Charan Biswal,
Mumbai, India

About the Author: Dr. Nimain Charan Biswal is a B.Sc.(Agri. Science and Technology), M.B.A. and Ph.D.(Management Area ) by qualifications; and he has 38+ years of work experience in Social, both industrial and Development sectors in diversified fields of Social Importance. He has been educated at Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT)-Bhubaneswar, Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) and Gujarat University (with Resource Support of IIM-Ahmedabad). He is further educated at IIM-Calcutta, XLRI-Jamshedpur, Apple Computer Industries and Spar Inc., USA. He has worked for reputed National and International Organizations in Senior/Top Management Capacities at Board level as well as Managing Director and CEO. He is a management expert covering extensive areas from management in Social, industrial sectors, management in Agriculture and Dairy, Development Management to management of public systems. He is a prominent professional of India and known Internationally as well. He is also a Political Strategist. He lives at Mumbai in India

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