The IT job market in Australia is expanding rapidly because of the ongoing digital transformation across multiple sectors. High demand exists for roles such as cybersecurity specialists, software developers, cloud engineers, and data scientists. Cybersecurity, in particular, is a priority, with the sector projected to reach AUD 7.6 billion by 2024, and professionals in this field earning substantial salaries. Software developers and cloud engineers also enjoy strong demand, driven by the need for custom applications and remote work infrastructure. Emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain are seeing increased adoption, further fueling job growth. Cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane offer competitive salaries, with roles in areas like AI and data science commanding up to AUD 190,000 annually.
Cybersecurity Specialists
Cybersecurity remains a top priority for Australian companies, particularly as digital threats continue to rise. By 2024, Australia’s cybersecurity market is projected to be worth AUD 7.6 billion. As a result, positions like cybersecurity architects and managers are in high demand, with annual salaries reaching as high as AUD 190,000 in cities like Brisbane
Software Developers
The need for software developers continues to grow, especially in custom software and mobile app development. These professionals rank among the top 20 most in-demand jobs in Australia, with solution architects and technical leads earning up to AUD 190,000 per year in IT Industry in Australia & Tech Trends 2024.
Cloud Engineers
Cloud computing is another booming sector, driven by the shift to remote work and digital-first operations. Cloud engineers, particularly those working with platforms like AWS and Azure, are earning an average of AUD 112,000, while specialists such as DevOps engineers can earn up to AUD 170,000
Data Science and Analytics
Data scientists and business analysts are playing a crucial role in helping businesses leverage data-driven insights. In Perth and Melbourne, salaries for these roles range between AUD 170,000 and AUD 190,000. They also rank high in the top IT job trends
Emerging Technologies: AI, IoT, and Blockchain
Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain are gaining momentum in Australia. AI, in particular, is now present in about 40% of industries. And IoT is being adopted in fields like healthcare, education, and agriculture. Blockchain is slowly becoming more prominent, especially in sectors like finance
Note: Figures used here are just based on random research, so must not be taken as exact figures
Running through 103 tunnels and 969 bridges, and 919 stunning curves, the Kalka Shimla train track is one of the world’s unique and most scenic railway tracks. Having a total distance of 96 Km from Kalka to Shimla, this track has 18 railway stations and 5 level crossings. The rail track rises from Kalka at 640 m to the cool climes of Shimla at 2.060 m. Compared with the Australian oldest railway of puffing Billy, I named this article, Kalka- Shimla railway, as Indian Puffing Billy.
Himalayan Queen going through a tunnel on the Kalka–Shimla Railway route
Both railway tracks were built almost simultaneously in the early twentieth century. Though the Kalka Shimla train route was completed on November 2, 1903, they opened it to the public only on January 1, 1906. It is said that this railway line was first drawn in November 1847, almost 50 years before they actually constructed it. Lord Curzon, the then British Viceroy to India, inaugurated this magnificent train in November 1903. The Kalka-Shimla Railway was built to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India during British rule, with the Indian rail system. The five-hour journey is one of the best train journeys for tourists operated by the Indian railway.
Train track passes through scenic landscapes
Natural beauty and pleasant weather greet you whole the way. A cool breeze sweeps across faces as the train crosses one station after another, like Taksal, Gumman, Dharampur, before reaching Barog, which is the almost mid-point of Journey. This journey encompasses a vast display of awe-inspiring landscapes. Barog is a colonial showpiece with bougainvillaea clusters tumbling down the walls. This station is one of the most beautiful and well-maintained on this track. From here, you can see the towering mountains. At Barog, we pass through the biggest tunnel.
Train passing over the Arch Gallery Bridge
A tragic tale of Engineer Barog
A tragic story is associated with the construction of this railway track. The longest tunnel at Barog is named after engineer Barog, who sacrificed his life when he attempted to construct the tunnel but failed resulting in the wastage of government funds. Barog committed the mistake of digging the tunnel from both ends of the hill. The ends of the tunnels could not meet because of a mistake in alignment.
It is said that the British authorities lay a fine of Rs 1 on him for wasting government money in the tunnel. The British engineer could not digest this humiliation and shot himself in sheer desperation while walking with his pet dog. He killed himself near what now is the state government-run Barog Pine Wood Hotel. After his death, tunnel work done by Barog has left aside, and a new tunnel was constructed a little farther from the old one. After Barog comes other beautiful destinations like Solan, Shogai, and Koti, all these have wonderful scenery with towering mountains with green and deep forests. You feel like being amid nature throughout the entire journey.
UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage in 2008
It is a heritage train, a journey with breathtaking views and stunning scenery throughout the entire journey. Track passing through beautiful surrounding takes you near to nature and is a wonderful experience. Its speed slows down as the train ascends through steep mountains and curves. This journey runs on a narrow gauge, taking passengers with breathtaking views of rugged mountains. On the way, there are lush pine forests and waterfalls. And picture-perfect hill stations along the way that will definitely tempt you to disembark and bask in their beauty. The entire journey takes about five and a half hours.
Earlier the train used to run by a steam engine, but now a diesel engine is used. It runs at the speed of 40 to 45 km per hour as against the earlier speed of 22 km per hour. To preserve the heritage roots of the railway, it is suggested that steam engines be preferred, like the Puffing Billy train of Australia.
In July 2008, UNESCO’s world heritage committee added the Kalka Shimla train track to the world heritage list. On 9th Nov 2008, UNESCO officially declared this railway line a world heritage site. Also, the Guinness Book on Rail Facts included this track as the greatest narrow gauge engineering achievement in India.
Special Trains on specific days
They equipped this train service with standard car seats and have nine halts. Passengers can get off at the stations along the way and nourish their eyes and soul with beautiful scenery. There are also two heritage carriages operating on this route: Shivalik Queen and Shivalik Palace Tourist Coach. Both are luxury services, with ultra-modern facilities, including an onboard kitchen, refrigerator, dining table, and folding cushion beds. These trains usually operate once a week, from March until September. During the high season (May-July, September-October, and December-January), several special holiday trains also run on this route because of a heavy tourist influx.
Culture and heritage always attract human minds, and their roots give blood to our growth. No doubt life moves every moment in the future, but still past plays its role to shape our present and future. Many things of the past can be the reason for making our life more beautiful and worth living.
Puffing Billy’s steam train is one of those things of the past that are worth being preserved forever. I visited this dreamland during my visit to Melbourne in June 2010. As I feel on every travel, you see beautiful things; it was really a wonderful and memorable experience to see the rail preserved in its original look.
It is a railway track of 24 km running through dense and beautiful forest. Volunteers of Puffing Billy Preservation Society are putting their efforts to ensure the continued preservation and operation of the historic narrow-gauge steam railway between Belgrave and Gembrook.
Engine Front View
Built in 1900, Puffing Billy is Australia’s oldest steam railway. On the 18th of December 1900, this narrow-gauge railway was opened to serve the farmers in the area to transport their goods to the markets in Melbourne.
…reaching there
Belgrave, the gateway to Dandenong Ranges, is situated 35 km east of Melbourne. You can plan your way to get there. If you are not going in your own car, there is a second option to use public transport. Metro train service is available from Melbourne City to Belgrave via Ringwood. Belgrave is the primary starting point of this railway. It would take approx. One hour to get there. When I visited this place the first time, I used public transport, which is quite easy and cost-effective. After reaching Belgrave Station, take a short walk to puffing billy station.
Open-sided carriages add more fascination to the travel experience as you feel closer to the forest and nature. The whole track passes through many curves, where you can easily get the train’s view captured in your cameras. You can’t ever forget the thrilling sensation when you pass over an iconic wooden bridge. On the train, there are also several enclosed carriages, both saloon and compartment cars.
Belgrave Station
Menzies Creek, Clematis, Emerald, Nobelius, Lakeside, Wright, Cockatoo, and Fielder are the main railway stations between Belgrave and Gembrook. Neal Menzies Creek station, there is a narrow-gauge railway museum.
During my first visit to Puffing Billy
Emerald is a good place to stop off and eat and Lakeside to have a walk. Emerald is also the destination as well departure point of many trains of Puffing Billy.
..stop to relax at Lakeside
At Lakeside, there are many café refreshing points, lawns, supervised swimming pools, playgrounds, barbecues, and other picnic facilities, so passengers can alight here for a few pleasant hours and enjoy bushwalking, swimming, or just relaxing in peaceful surroundings. This station is 13.2 Km from Belgrave.
The operations and administration center, main refreshment room (also selling souvenirs), and ticket purchasing are located at Belgrave station.
Most trains start from Belgrave and travel to Lakeside and return. Except for Christmas Day, the railway operates every day of the year. One service each day has the option of first-class carriages and lunch.
..once decided to close, but preserved
This railway track was blocked in 1953 after a heavy landslide but again reopened in 1962 to Menzies Creek and in 1988 at Gembrook Station. A plan was made to close the line and a farewell day was organized. However, when people gathered to say goodbye, a dedicated group of train enthusiasts came together to save the Puffing Billy.
Children hanging their legs out of the steam train’s windows. The court banned this practice in 2019 after an accident.
Before you plan your trip, there are a few important things that you need to take care of. You must know the timetable of daily trains that starts from Belgrave. There were four trains daily when I last visited. You must check it while planning to go there. Trains have tickets that you also need to book well in time to avoid any issues later.
Traveling on the Puffing Billy train is like recapturing the romance and charm of the bygone days of the steam engine era. Puffing Billy steam train takes you through the dense and beautiful forest of the Dandenong hill ranges, and you feel like moving in some dreamland. It’s really worth visiting again and again.
Special events train for couples & families
If you are thinking that the puffing train is all about kids, families, picnics, and fast food, you are not very right. Sometimes on some occasions, special carriages are set out for parties with special cuisines, delicious foods, drinks, chocolates, soups, baked chicken, and different desserts. If you are looking for a unique and lifelong experience, you must plan to join special event trains. Puffing Billy is great for families and children, but it is also fantastic for couples, singles, and groups.
The century-old tradition of leg tangling outside train windows is banned
A minibus driver crashed the iconic pugging Billy train in March 2018. One passenger on the bus was injured, but no one was injured on the puffing Billy. The court ended the century-old tradition of children hanging their legs outside the train. Many people protested the court’s decision, but it ended what was a long tradition practice. Safety is more important than anything despite that, people love it as a kid, so they bring their kids, then they bring their grandchildren. Generations of families have done it for years. It would just be so sad to see that tradition disappear forever. Court’s decision is also taken as a complete overreaction by a group of masses.
I will end my article by saying that traveling always helps us understand the meaning of life, become better people, keep traveling, and keep exploring and never forget to visit once in a lifetime, this beautiful adventure of puffing billy train in Melbourne. Read about more Beautiful Places around Melbourne
Sharing this blog on Teacher’s Day…A young man saw his primary school teacher at a wedding. He went to greet him with all the respect and admiration. He said to him “Do you remember me, Teacher?” The teacher said: “No, please introduce yourself.” The student said: “I was your student in the 3rd grade. I am the one who stole the watch of a child in the classroom. I will remind you, but I am sure you remember the story.”
One boy had a beautiful watch
One boy in my class had a beautiful watch, so I decided to steal it. He came to you crying that someone had stolen his watch. You asked us to stand to search our pockets. I realized it would expose my action in front of the students and teachers. I will be called a thief, a liar and my character will be shattered forever.
A Teacher nourishes the soul of a child for a lifetime
You asked us to stand and face the wall and close our eyes completely. You went searching from pocket to pocket, and when you reached my pocket, you pulled the watch out of my pocket, and you continued until you searched for the last student.
Great idea of search
After you finished, you asked us to open our eyes and to sit on our chairs. I was afraid you will expose me in front of the students. You showed the watch to the class and gave it back to the boy, and you never mentioned the name of the one who stole the watch. You never said a word to me, and you never mentioned the story to anyone.
Throughout my school life, none of the teachers nor the students talked about me stealing the watch. I thought to myself, you saved my dignity that day.
The teacher said: “I can’t remember who stole the watch that day because I searched the pockets of all of you while my eyes were also closed.”
Education needs wisdom. As teachers, parents, leaders, we should be able to understand the consequences of our actions. Let’s do something logical to celebrate teacher’s day.
Protecting and reforming is tougher than exposing and expelling… #Teacher’s Day
I am beautiful. That’s why he loves me, or I am beautiful because he loves me. I am writing this article titled ‘Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’ thinking of a girl who is very sweet, simple and soft-hearted. She loves everything that comes her way. Never complaining and is always very social. She loves to make friends and pass time with her friends. She can’t even recall a day where she is alone, as she hates being alone. Her life is simple going and without stress, she is vivacious and enthusiastic. She adds charm to the party and is an eye-catcher and always spreads positive fragrance where she is present. She is so motivated that I can’t express it in words.
One day I walked close to her and asked her a question about how do you remain so motivated, lively and smiling all the time. She turned back and hugged me and said, darling when you will fall in love you will understand this yourself. I was too young to understand what she meant by saying this. But then I was waiting for the time when I fell in love and feel like her on top of the world.
One day, after waiting for a long time, I came across my love. And then somewhere I was thinking of her words. Life was going well, and I was so happy and fully motivated, but something was still missing. One day I asked myself, looking in the mirror, that I am looking different from my usual personality. I could not find the reason behind my change in personality or in outlook. But then I was all time busy finding an answer to my question.
One night I was sleeping, and I got the answer to my question in a dream. I woke up and thanked God for everything he has given me in life as I was not aware of what I got after having my love in my life as my beauty lies in his eyes.
Then again, one day I think, is it he loves me because I am beautiful or because he loves me so I am beautiful? Then I looked into his eyes and realized that every girl is beautiful if she has a beholder to praise, her beauty is worthless without a beholder.
Beauty is God’s gift but still to complete it need an admirer.
In this blog, I’m writing about a lady, whom I call my Angel friend. She was in her eighties, and her skin had wrinkles despite that, her blushing eyes know the way to make people in love. In her old age, she is still exquisite and attractive. I know her for few years. We used to meet occasionally in a shopping mall near to my residence. We became good friends. I still remember the day when we met the first time. She was in the same shopping mall searching for something. I liked her at first sight, tried to talk to her that day. ’ I think you are searching for something. May I help you?’ She turned to me with a smile on her face and since then we became friends. We shared coffee; we had a good chat that day.
She was living on a different side of a shopping mall. That day, we waved goodbye and went our ways. During our conversation, one thing shocked my soul and mind. On my asking what she did whole life like a profession, firstly she was lost in her thoughts, closed eyes and then with all pain in her voice, she said, ’I was escort’. It stunned me to hear her words. I said nothing. On my way home, I was thinking of her only. How such a beautiful and calm lady can say this. Is she really had such a past? My mind did not believe her words.
My Angel
After that day, we met many times, but I never dared to ask again. I always liked her beautiful eyes and graceful smile.
A few days back, when I went to church, I saw her sitting in one corner praying with closed eyes. I saw her from quite a distance. She was looking like some angel. On the back wall of the church, I also saw a picture of Mother Mary. Felt so much resemblance.
I wanted to ask her that why she said she was an escort but I was having neither the courage nor words to ask. I was sitting and praying and suddenly someone asked me,’ where you are lost, my child’. It was the father of the church. I shared my doubt with him. He knew her well and what he told me really stunned me. He told me she is a fantastic lady. She was not an escort. What she told me was not true.
She loved someone
In fact, in her youth, she was in love with someone. She loved a man in his hard times, gave him a better lifestyle, supported him and done all she could to love him, but that man had different intentions in his mind. He was with her not for love or care, but his reason was selfishness. She was a beautiful and innocent girl. She couldn’t understand the materialistic selfish reasons of his man to be with her. Time passed and by one day he left her all alone in the world with debt on her shoulders and tears in her eyes and sickness and pain in her heart. She cried alone for so many days.
She started inhaling drugs and alcohol but nothing was helping her she was still in his memories and was in the hope of him coming back.
I saw her standing and waiting at the door for him. One day she heard him saying, ’I befooled you’. She started crying louder and then when the next morning she woke up she said to herself it was not you who befooled me; it was me who got befooled; I knew at every step that u don’t love me; you have reasons to be with me but I thought u will change because I love you so much.
Having frustration and thinking that she slept with a man who was using her as an escort for the tenure of time for his selfish motives, she engraved deep a thought in her mind that she is an escort. With this thought, she lived her whole life.
Hearing all this, my eyes were full of tears, completely voiceless. I turned back, but nobody was there. I came back home with a heavy heart. Never met her again.
History is not only a subject full of kings, queens, fights, conspiracies, and power-capturing strategies. It also has many other things than dry tales and discussions. Love, emotions, and sacrifices also remained an important part of pages of the past. All kings are not behind power politics; few set their priorities in their own way. They left the crown for their love, their passion as well other values. The love tale of Prince Edward and Mrs. Wallis Simpson is a perfect example to say that love and passions can really drive the lives of a few, and those few make life really beautiful and more liveable and meaningful.
When Prince Edward fell in love with Wallis, she was not only already married but also divorced. Prince himself was also involved with other women. Mrs Simpson entered his life, but being American was a big hurdle in their love story, as Americans were not highly regarded in British. Their relation grew up into a deep friendship, and then it crossed all limits to be a ‘perfect love story. Nobody in the Royal family liked this relation. The passion in relation was so intense that it sparked a constitutional crisis. Despite all this, King was happy to give up the British throne, and ultimately, Edward VIII renounced his throne in December 1936 with his brother Albert crowned King George VI.
Following his abdication, the pair married a year on, and remained in union for 35 years until Edward’s death in May 1972.
The first meeting of Edward & Mrs. Simpson
King Edward was a good-looking person with blonde hair and blue eyes, a boyish look on his face. He maintained this look throughout his life. Yet Prince Edward preferred married women. Because of his appealing personality, many women got attracted. Before meeting Mrs Wallis Simpson, he was having relations with different ladies. One of those was lady Furness, who hosted a party on 10 January 1931, where she invited both Prince Edward and Mrs Simpson and her husband, Ernest Simpson. It was the first meeting between Prince and Mrs Simpson. No doubt it did not leave any powerful impression on Prince. Thereafter, they met on different occasions during the next few months. Very truly, it was not love at first sight for either of them. Edward continued his affair with Lady Furness, although he and Wallis met at various house parties.
Prince Edward’s style
Prince Edward’s other relations:
In 1918, Prince Edward met Mrs. Winifred (“Freda”), Dudley Ward. Although they were about the same age (23), Freda had been married for five years when they met. For 16 years, Freda was Prince Edward’s mistress.
Mrs. Simpson also remained a frequent guest to Prince Edward for the next two years. They came close to each other when Lady Furness was on a trip to the USA in January 1934. Thereafter other ladies, including Lady Furness, were cut out of Prince’s life. Freda Dudley Ward was also one who remained close to Prince until 1934 and the beginning of Prince’s relationship with Wallis Simpson. In January 1934, Thelma Furness made a trip to the United States, entrusting Prince Edward to the care of Wallis in her absence. Upon Thelma’s return, she found she was no longer welcome in Prince Edward’s life—even her phone calls were refused.
Mrs. Simpson & her earlier life
Simpson was born on June 19, 1896, in Pennsylvania but grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. She was a socialite who had been married twice when she met Edward at a party. Mrs Simpson was not only exquisite, but she also had a sense of style and posed in her personality. She was 35 when she met Edward at a house party hosted by Lady Thelma Furness.
When she grew into a young woman, she married Lieutenant Earl Winfield, a pilot for US Navy, in 1916. This marriage lasted until their divorce in December 1927. After a few months of divorce, she got married to Ernest Simpson in July 1928.
As said earlier, it was in the year 1934 that Prince and Wallis became closer. There was a reference to when Prince invited both Mrs. Wallis Simpson and her husband to cruise, but Ernest Simpson could not accompany his wife because of his business involvement. On this cruise, they crossed the limits of friendship and fell completely in love with each other.
The testing phase of their relationship
The relationship between Prince and Mrs. Simpson entered a testing phase when King George V, father of the prince, died in January 1936, and thereafter Prince became King Edward VIII. The New King was occupied with big state affairs responsibilities, but no one in the King’s circles welcomed his infatuation with Mrs. Simpson. Then-Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin believed people would not accept divorced women with two living ex-husbands as queen. In fact, this relation rocked Britain’s most prominent institutions – Parliament, the monarchy, and the Church of England – to their cores. But Edward was excited and wanted to make her Queen, but he couldn’t.
The Duke & Duchess of Windsor, Style Setters: at resorts in Miami, 1941.
King left his throne to be with the women he loved
The Church of England did not allow divorced people to remarry if their former spouses were still alive, and as King Edward was the head of the Church, so it was believed that he could not remain king and marry Wallis Simpson. Ultimately, he was left with simple options, either leave Simpson or abdicate Thorn. As he was very much committed to being with his love, King Edward finally left the thorn in December 1936.
In his famous abdication speech, he said, “I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility, and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do, without the help and support of the woman I love.” His brother, Prince Albert, who became George VI, acceded to the throne. Edward went off to marry Wallis in France and was rarely seen in Britain again.
It was certainly a significant decision where he proved that love is more important than anything in life. More interestingly, Edward abdicated the throne for her, even though she was still married to her second husband. Later on, she sued for divorce, and it was granted. Edward and Wallis got married on June 3, 1937, in a minimal ceremony.
Voluntary exile in Paris
After the abdication and marriage of Edward to Wallis, the Royal family shunned the couple. Their ‘wedding day was also the first day of the rest of their lives in permanent exile. Once Edward abdicated, he lost his title as King and was referred to immediately after Prince Edward. Given the titles of Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the couple lived in voluntary exile in Paris, where they were known for their elegant dinner parties. They continue to attend the galas, fashion shows, and dinner parties that had always been her natural environment. Publically, they were always looking elegant and well-dressed. Edward loved the 12,000-acre secluded estate near Tallahassee, where he was preoccupied with outdoor pursuits including hunting, picnics, and horse riding, which he enjoyed immensely. They were also sent to the Bahamas as Governor for a short period.
Edward & Mrs. Simpson in 1942
Edward passed away in May 1972, as his health fell down because of heavy smoking, Mrs. Wallis lived fourteen more years till her death in April 1986, at 89, when she was buried beside her Duke of Windsor. The couple had no child. They could never return to Britain unless Edward came to attend the funeral of King George VI in 1952 and again for his mother, Queen Mary, in 1953. Wallis didn’t accompany him to either funeral, but she could return for Edward’s funeral in 1972. With many difficulties, their love tale is really touching.
The Duchess and Duke of Windsor, 1946
Royal Family relation in later life
Although their marriage forced Edward into exile (which explained the move across the English Channel to Paris), Wallis was granted some acceptance from the royal family as the years went on. When Edward died, his funeral was held in England, and she stayed at Buckingham Palace for the event, according to Anne Sebba, the author of the book, That Women: The Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor
Eyes for each other: Wallis and Edward in more tender moments in Florida, 1956
Love ultimately proved
Love certainly is more than just going on dates holding hands and kissing. It’s about accepting each other’s weirdness and flaws. Sometimes people also say ‘Love is being stupid together. This love tale ended years ago it has many aspects to remember for ages to come. Their tale remained a hot topic for the entire world for the last more than a half-century. Few say it is the greatest love story, while others see it as the ultimate royal scandal. Still, their romance is certainly mired in controversy because, to be with the woman he loved, Britain’s king paid a truly extraordinary price – he gave up the British throne for his love.
A king left his throne to be with the woman he loved. Duke of Windsor has become a romanticized figure over his devotion to American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Few believe that this was the love story of the century, but for others, it was a scandal that threatened to weaken the monarchy.
While reading some notes from a book, it diverted my curiosity towards someone in 60s Bollywood names. I searched for further information, but there was nothing much available. Whatever I got is really a tragic tale of a beautiful lady who was certainly a wonderful personality in her time. She was Bollywood actress Vimmi. Born in Jalandhar, Punjab in 1943, she was the shining star of Bollywood in her time.
Vimmi: Amazing Beauty
How she became a star?
Vimmi dared to marry the son of an industrialist against the wishes of her parents. She was not an actress when she got married. She got stuck in the eyes of music director Ravi at some party in Calcutta because of her fascinating personality. With the initiative of Ravi, she, along with her husband Shiv Agrawal, was invited to Bombay, where Ravi introduced her to filmmaker B.R. Chopra, who launched her in the lead role in the film ‘Humraj’. The movie proved a success, and she became a star. Her parents, who regarded acting in films as a disreputable profession, cut off all ties with her and disowned her. They were not happy about joining her film industry. Same way Agarwal’s family too disapproved of Vimmi working in films, they also cut off all ties with them.
Kisi pathar ki murat se
Her enchanting beauty was so amazing and magical that famous lyrist Sahir was impressed to write the famous song ‘Kisi Patthar ki Murat se, Mohabbat ka irrada hai, praschit ki tamana hai, ibadat ka irrada hai..’ She did few more successful movies after Humraj. Patanga(1970), Vachpan(1974), Aabroo (1968), Kahin aar kahi paar (1971) are other movies of Vimmi. Although she became a star with her first movie, she has been more concerned with how she looked and what she wore than her acting.
With actor Raj Kumar
Family life of Vimmi
It was not all good in her life. When she moved to Bombay to become an actress, this decision was not acceptable to her in-law’s family, and they disowned her for this step. Good and bad things were moving along in the life of this dream lady. Her relationship with her husband was not running smoothly. He uses to interfere in her career, which producers did not like. Financial problems are further added to make relations tougher. Ultimately, they got separated, and her husband returned to his family.
Soon after the success of Humraaj, her next big project, Aabroo, was released in 1968. This film, however, was unsuccessful at the box office. Even veteran actors like Ashok Kumar and Nirupa Roy, who were also part of the film, couldn’t do much to save it. Patanga, her 1971 film with Shashi Kapoor, also failed to strike a chord with the audience. Thus, after successive flop films, she went into oblivion. B R Chopra never repeated her in his upcoming films. The one silver lining for Vimi was the Punjabi devotional film, Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai (1969). The film was very successful and celebrated a silver jubilee. But it did not set again her career.
She was left alone, and fate was not on her side. Vimmi started living with Jolly, a dubious filmmaker. She did not have any work. In such a miserable situation, she found solace in alcohol. She did not have any money. Alcohol, particularly cheap alcohol, killed her ultimately in the year 1977.
Vimmi with Sunil Dutt
Tears of the mystic rose
Here I want to share the book’s relevancy that I was reading, which attracted me to the life of this exceptional lady. The Book titled ‘Tears of the Mystic Rose’ written by Swami Rajneesh is a sort of life sketch of the writer. Rajneesh is a disciple of ‘Osho Rajneesh’ and the son of the same Bollywood actress Vimmi and her industrialist husband, Shiv Agrawal. There are few references in his book where he is narrating his childhood memories. In the book, he has admitted his disliking towards his father because of his arrogant nature. In contrast, he described his mother as beautiful, kind, humble, sensitive, radiant, and full of compassion toward all those who met her. He further writes that she was from an elementary and honest family. Her parents were simple school teachers.
He also narrates the days when the matter of separation was in process. As he was always supporting his mother, his father did not like him. When he was on winter vacation from his boarding school in Darjiling, he saw his father having alcohol and making sexual advances with film actresses every night. One such night there was a fight between them, and the son left the house and never returned.
One morning in November 1977
As the book described, ‘One morning in November 1977, I woke up to see the newspapers announced the untimely death of my mother and under mysterious circumstances. No one was with her at the hospital at the time of her death, and it prevented my father and that side of the family from seeing her due to a court order. Unfortunately, her body was taken for cremation with none of us present such a tragic story… that a famous movie star was cremated with very few people present for the last rites.’
Nothing much is available on this lady who was gifted with ultimate beauty and worst fate. Her end was harrowing. She died broken-hearted and penniless, unloved, uncared. A few friends and well-wishers arranged her cremation. No family member was present at her cremation. They reported the cause of her death to be heavy drinking. She was still in her mid-thirties when she bid adieu to the world. Source References: Wikipedia, Tears of the Mystic Rose
