Slice Of Life

Book that I read recently

2006-06-24T08:31:00.000-07:00

The Diary Of A Young Girl by Anne Frank

Written by the young jewish girl who along with her family had to live in hiding for fear of being caught by Nazis almost for two years.

Poignant narration of horror filled days during the 2nd world war is very touching. The growing up years of a teenage girl during 1940’s in the troubled times where Jewish people were butchered in the concentration camps by Nazis. Her relationship with friends and her parents are simply told with socio political backdrop of a teenager's understanding. She shares her dreams (she aspired to be an actress in Hollywood) ,talks of her little friendships with boys of her age etc .The tragic death of this 14 year old spirited girl Anne Frank in Poland only recounted by witnesses and later recorded by her father who survived the camps proves that wars may be won and lost by nations , but the humanity is always a loser of such numerous young budding lives.

Separated at Birth?/////

2006-06-11T23:13:00.000-07:00

How many times have we wondered about striking resemblances of faces.
watching French open I thought Roger Federer, the No 1 Tennis champion resembles Arbaaz Khan ,the actor (more than an actor we all know him as Salman’s brother and Malaika”s husband).
what do u all think?

Democracy at work

2006-05-12T23:59:00.000-07:00

What interested me these days was political scenario in Tamilnadu .
Full steam campaigning

promises-counter promises...freebies of color tv and pcs,rice and gold

and actor and actresses were roped in to campaign,caste feelings were aroused to persuade the voters....
and then
"one day elections "(one phase only)
and counting....
one party wins and a new regime takes over so smoothly....very few states have this distinction.

Tamil nadu voters are law abiding and it showed.

Hats Off to Sh.Naresh Gupta,the Chief Electoral Officer for T.N for conducting the same peacefully.

Surprises of this elcetion
Coalition govt,
emergence of vijaykanth and lok paritran
very strong opposition

Long Live Democracy!

Pilgrimage -KUMBAKONAM,Tamil nadu

2006-03-13T09:33:00.000-08:00

I was on a visit to temples around Kumbakonam in Tamil nadu . These temples were built around 10th century as part of revival of Hinduism to check the spread of Jainism and Buddhism.

It was called the Bakthi movement. Many saints both Saivaits and vaisnavaits spear headed the movement rebuilding the temples and reviving the traditions of these temples, preaching to the people about the importance of faith through language and literature which rulers of the times like Cholas and Pallavas had promoted .
In the north, Chaitnya and others took the lead.
So the temples I went visiting are called in tamil as “ Padal Petra Thiruththalangal” ie these places had the significance of being sung in praise of the place and the deity by the 12 Alwars (for vaisnavism) and 64 Nayanmars (saivism ) and the God is said to have appeared to people those who had faith .
The names of these temples are
Ramasamy temple, Sarangapani temple, Kumbeswarar temple, Nageswara Swami temple, Patteswaram, Darasuram, Thiru Shakthi Mutram, Uppiliappan koil, Nachiyar koil.
Due to recent rains in the state, all the ponds and rivers were full. Lotus and Lillies in the ponds added beauty to the places.

Many French tourists were seen in these temples .It was nice to see them show so much interest in our culture and architecture

Two Scenes: What do u think?

2006-02-13T08:48:00.000-08:00

Scene in a two bedded room of a Delhi hospital: ----------------------------------------------------------------------

I was visiting a friend of mine after her delivery. She had delivered a cute baby girl . There was another young lady sharing the room who had also delivered….but we all found her crying …mother and her baby are healthy and safe yet she was crying …people around her (in laws ) were grim.. learnt later that she was upset as the baby was a female baby.

And there , we saw the infant" smiling" at all of us unaware of the "welcome".

Another scene in an office bus:
-----------------------------------------------

One evening, we (staff) were returning home in Office bus. One middle aged lady (who had been posted in various countries like U.S, Nepal etc) opened her bag, took out a banana and had it …(Obviously after a hard day's work, she was feeling hungry).
and then she wanted to dispose off the banana skin ….she thought for a second ….
and said “ While in India , Be like an Indian” and opened the window of the bus and threw it happily on the road.
Discipline is individual in a country specific or country specific?

hypocrazy at its best?!

“RANG DE BASANTI"

2006-02-06T05:56:00.000-08:00

Great theme :
what do we do when we hear of the ills ,corruption of our country:
Crib , crib and give up, this movies says “ do something about it” which is the need of the hour.

Good narration :…the link to the rebels of Indian freedom movement is a new thought.

Music: ARR excels … some songs have been wasted .....not done justice to them....but it is okay.

Cast ; All the actors have done well . Aamir keeps his promise so also the others have done justice to their roles,except Soha.
However it is not flawless…..

But, the effort covers it all at the end.
It requires courage to make such films in the present context.
Hats off to Rakesh Mehra...

BEATING RETREAT CEREMONY

2006-02-05T09:06:00.000-08:00

The official closing ceremony of Indian Republic Day celebrations on 29 th January every year is a special occassion on a national calender.The idea of Beating retreat which is planned at the dusk of the day is taken from the olden day war ethics where guns fall silent after the sun set with the Army band music.
The ambience of the Raisna hill in the Vijay Chowk of the Capital is a wonderful setting where the decorated camels take guard.The bands of Army,Navy and Air Force played the various tunes including Sareh Jahan Se Achha,Kadam Kadam Badeye Ja and the National Anthem.The drummers were the best..
The President Abdul kalam took the salute.
Once the music ends then comes the light....the entire area...Raisna hill,the Rastrapathi Bhavan and the Parliament is illuminated ...The view is breathtaking ..and the reflection in the nearby fountains of the lit area is just beautiful.

The event was a treat to one's eyes and ears.

TWO SCENES: WHAT DO U THINK?

2006-01-28T02:27:00.000-08:00

Scene in a two bedded room of a Delhi hospital:
--------------------------------------------------------------

I was visiting a friend of mine after her delivery. She had delivered a cute baby girl . There was another young lady sharing the room who had also delivered….but we all found her crying …mother and her baby are healthy and safe yet she was crying …people around her (in laws ) were grim..
learnt later that she was upset as the baby was a female baby.

And there , we saw the infant" smiling" at all of us unaware of the "welcome".

Another scene in an office bus:
----------------------------------
One evening, we (staff) were returning home in Office bus. One middle aged lady (who had been posted in various countries like U.S, Nepal etc) opened her bag, took out a banana and had it …(Obviously after a hard day's work, she was feeling hungry).
and then she wanted to dispose off the banana skin ….she thought for a second ….
and said “ While in India , Be like an Indian” and opened the window of the bus and threw it happily on the road.
Discipline is individual in a country specific or country specific?
hypocrazy at its best?!

Thavamayi thavamirundu- A WONDERFUL FILM

2006-01-28T02:24:00.000-08:00

After a long time, one feels like having watched a film ie made with lots of sincerity and warmth which leaves ur eyes wet.

Regional tamil (of Madurai –Sivaganga belt dialect), typical village naughtiness in the dialogues (Saranya’s ) is really good. After Thanneer Thanneer of 80’s , this film has the same regional flavour.
In contrast to the so called formula directors with gana songs, hero oriented (underworld goons ) subjects ,some comedy and a dancing heroine ….
Cheran with his simple story.... depicting the times and tribulations of younger generation vis a vis the hardships parents go through to bring up their kids narrated in a realistic manner with the backdrop of smell of the soil (mannin manam) makes this an interesting film.
Actors have done a controlled performance and we see only the characters not the personalities.

After Mani Ratnam ,Cheran holds some hope … .promise .
Every son /daughter so also every parent has to watch this film.

Autograph was good. This is equally good. The director has succeeded in sustaining the expectations of his audience.

TRENDS IN INDIAN CINEMA....

2006-01-16T08:12:00.000-08:00

Any art form reflects its times esp the most visible form- the cinema

1950’and 60’s saw the themes being very idealistic - fresh from Independence where big dams were built of which heroes were engineers mostly on development backdrop or historical /family dramas preaching high and moral ethics.

1970's brought angry young man to the fore …with socialistic / right demanding hero.And there was a distinction of masala and parallel films which produced many artistes like Smita patil, Shabana azmi, Om puri,and Nasheerudin Shaw

1980’s brought the advent of latest technological advancements in the movie .Also Masala and art films shared the space.

1990"s saw the themes where the cinema had to fight the onslaught of cable tv invasion.So in order to bring the audience to halls,big budget and
cinematically excellant films were made.

The New Millenium has seen themes of violence and skin show and some sensible (" I,Me Myself attitude " of the generation (Dil Chahta Hai kinds)) also stories based on rampant corruptionin the society and on variety of subjects like AIDS etc.

Art /serious /parallel films ..small budgets films are being made for multiplexes.
And Shahrukh Khan –Karan Johar formula vooing the new found audience ie NRIs with the global Indian living all across the continents (buying tkts in foreign currencies ) .
Now the multiple star cast + masala + comedy seems to stay here …other than these films Mahesh / Pooja Bhatts –low budget+ new faces + skin show themes +some sleaze+ some good music also sell.

Still that one film which leaves the audience spell bound and speechless is yet to come?
though Lagaan...was good.

WORDS OF WISDOM FOR 2006

2006-01-08T07:01:00.000-08:00

It has taken a week for me in this new year to post a message. Virus was visiting me and (so I was visiting the doc )down with fever….and the Capital is too (freezing) cold to do anything .

So, I thought of posting few quotations from my collection to pep up the spirits.

Don’t waste time waiting for inspiration. Begin... and inspiration will find you.

*

If you want to do something and you feel it in your bones that it is the right thing to do, Do it.
*

Volunteer. Sometimes the jobs no one wants, conceal big opportunities.
*

In the absence of certainty, instinct is all you can follow.

For peace of mind, make decisions in concert with your values.
*

When you lose, don’t lose the lession.
*

Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

*

Strive for perfection, but settle for excellence
*

Maestro Zubin Mehta enthralls Delhi

2005-12-29T07:11:00.000-08:00

IG Indoor stadium was full. First the Bavarian Orchestra conducted by the great conductor played Our National Anthem.
To listen to the 60 member talented team, play the Jana Gana Mana with saxophones, so many violins, flutes and drums, clarinets was an overwhelming experience.
And then the anthem of Germany. Later, the

.The finale was provided by Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. While all three compositions expressed some struggle and the triumph of the human spirit in times of adversity, the almost martial tunes of Beethoven struck an instant cord with the audience.

…our Ilayaraja was inspired by one of the notes played here.(opening piece in a song which goes like“Ye thendrale ennalum pada va”is certainly an inspired work

Arrangements were excellent. Parking was in a different place near Pragati Maidan. So buses carried the listeners (who were in thousands) from the parking space to the auditorium.
Pt Ravi Shankar was there, Zubin paid tribute to him.

ttp://www.hindu.com/2005/12/29/stories/2005122917191400.htm

One hour in Our Parliament

2005-12-16T08:41:00.000-08:00

Visiting the abode of democracy….Going to the parliament is an experience by itself.

Last week we attended one of the Winter sessions of Parliament.

Though we were anxious that on Volcker Committee issue, MPs may walk out or there would be an adjournment

we still wanted to visit Lok sabha to see how our elected MPs ….the representatives and Ministers are working /enacting the laws for the welfare of its people.

We went in the Zero Hour.

Zero hour is the hour between 1200hrs and 1 pm.

Where questions are raised on urgent issues.

How was it
========

In the question hour that day opposition was raising an issue of murder of regional leader for which ruling party kept mum stating that is a regional issue. The speaker told a member to sit, he would not…others then started shouting….total chaos. The speaker has tough time controlling them.

Later members from Orissa raised an issue on National Institute meant for their state being given to Calcutta…..and we thought now there are discussing something useful, then one member came inside the well of the house demanding a reply from the HRD Minister…then 4 more members followed suit making the life of the speaker miserable. Finally,Defence Minister replied. Not satisfied, they again started shouting. Then, the troubled speaker adjourned the house for lunch .

Generally, discussions in Rajya sabha are educative and useful.

Titbits
---------
We saw most young MPs sat together led by Rahul Gandhi,Jyothiraditya scindia,Naveen Jindal etc.They were all getting restless like we did when the senior members stalled the proceedings by shouting.

Rahul found fiddling with his mobile phone, may be he was sending sms.
Omar Abdulla,( MTV-Most stylish parliamentarian ) walked in…he saw the chaos and immediately left.
Only one fourth of the members were present.

Vinod Khanna,the actor MP came late.

About the building
-------------------------the structure and shape ( oval ) of the building is elegant and impressive ..to see ….the majestic pillars and the huge statutes of Gandhi and Patel…are overwhelming with the fountains…in between.

Security is very tight (especially after the terrorist’s attack on Parliament), we are not supposed to carry anything….mobile, bag, purse etc.

The public is seated on the visitor’s gallery which is in the first floor besides journalists on the other side. So one can view the members from top..

Visitor’s gallery is in semi circular shape

How to visit :
----------------
(Though I have been there once before officially) , For others one has to get the passes made through ministerial staff .

A trip to Uttaranchal- RaniKhet, Nainital

2005-12-11T09:06:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, we went on a trip to Uttranchal.

Ranikhet -Unspoilt hill station is the place if u just want to relax and laze around, to take walks at the road overlooking the Himalayan mountain peaks... and
to trek in the wild jungles.

we trekked in the jungles of Chaubatia among pine trees...

It is a wonderful sight to see the neatly arranged peaks Nanda Devi, Trishul...panchuli and others while u walk.

visited the orchids and garden....also Ma Jhula Devi temple...where Goddess had come to rescue a shepard from leapards.

Also went to Nainital where clouds come for stroll....

The huge Naini lake is the center of attraction. We enjoyed the Boat ride (Pedal Boat) thoroughly. There are other interests like rope way ride, horse rides, suicide and lovers point for scenic spelndour which normally most hill stations have to offer.

Prepaid hand pulled Rikshaw in the Mall Road is a novelty. Candle shopping (which are made locally) is a big draw.

How to reach (for budget travellers)

Ranikhet express from Delhi took us to Kathgodam. From there, taxi ride for 2 1/2 hrs to reach Rani Khet.

Read FIVEPOINT SOMEONE

2005-12-01T08:16:00.000-08:00

FIVEPOINT SOMEONE

Chetan Bhagat (IIT,Delhi & IIM Passout)

The book is a critique / statement on the way the so called educational standards are maintained by our premier institutions which kills the creativity of young minds…in the guise of heavy grade system.

Friendship, madness, the illusion of campus portrayed beautifully….I am sure everybody will identify themselves with the characters.

After a very long time, I completed a novel within 2 days with all the other sundry works and errands meaning the book could hold my interest to that extent.

Music In The Park

2005-11-25T06:50:00.000-08:00

Come Winter…The Capital gets busy and dizzy with the musical events (till it gets unbearably cold and venturing out itself becomes a problem)

The Music In The Park Concept was started few years ago which are planned in pleasant weather seasons…as the city has vast expanses of green spaces (parks) in the central locations of Delhi.
The programmes both classical and western vocal and instrumental programmes are organised by both Delhi Govt and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).

It is a nice setting to listen to some wonderful music.

Yesterday, we happen to go to one such event organized in Nehru Park under the Project sister cities Chicago and Delhi, where John Primer performed with his band BLUES of 70’s music and Indian band Gautam Gosh Collectives with his multi tasking musicians.

The audience swayed to the music braving chill of the weather .Memorable evening.

Fast Food- Delhi Style –Chinese Chat and Momos

2005-11-16T07:22:00.000-08:00

Delhi, we all know is famous for its Chat items …Aloo Chat, Aloo Tikki, Pani Poori, Chat Papdi etc.

Though I am from South, thanks to my friends from all states, I developed a taste for these items .

Now there is a new item in the markets….called Chinese Chat which includes a combination of all Chinese appetizers such as Chicken Munchurian, Chicken Winglets, Chilli Chicken and Ginger Chicken etc for Rs 50 .

Similarly veg items too are available.

The way they have been laid out is so good…that mouth starts watering….I wish I could post a pic of it.

Another Craze is Momos, a Tibetan delicacy which is prepared with maida stuffed chicken or vegetables by steaming. It is a contribution from North Eastern States.

So no hazard - health wise ( and is better than fried items )…is a big hit …It has both Veg / Non Veg versions.

It is served with a Chilli chutney which is quite spicy and hot.

Any one visiting Delhi, try them .

OF PLEASANT WEATHER AND A LAUDABLE EFFORT THAT I READ ABOUT .

2005-11-13T08:56:00.000-08:00

Delhi weather -----------------------

Winter in Delhi is slowly arriving ….the weather is pleasant ….trees full of pink…white flowers are blooming…
soon sweaters would be out from the closet.......

Following is the piece of inspring work done by certain NRIs that I read about .....

IndiCorps
-----------------

An Ahmedabad based organization set up by young Non Resident Indians (NRIs)… Anand Shah, Sonal and Roopal Shah is serving a greater cause of making NRIs contribute to the well being of their homeland. These young people work for the local populace here. It was heart warming to know that…they have set up schools, giving fellows to interested NRIs to visit India and make them involved in various projects .The brain drain is flowing back by any means welcome…
The effort would attempt to change the perception of resident Indians of the NRI as Non Returning Indians (NRIs)… otherwise the general tendency of people gone abroad is to compare the ills of our country with the developments of the developed nations serves no purpose.

source The Hindu

Delhi ‘s DATE with BOMBS

2005-11-10T06:02:00.000-08:00

The bomb blasts in the markets of capital was horrifying.. My friend who is 7 months pregnant went to Sarojini mkt on the fateful day with her husband.
She was on the blast site but had a miraculous escape as she moved to a public toilet to attend nature’s call, one minute after that, the bomb scattered many dreams and lives. The toilet glass panes came down.She had a severe shock ,went thru medical tests to recover.But she was witness to another pregnant lady being thrown up who she came to know had burnt legs and in her tests the foetus was found to be have undergone shocks .

Delhi is not new to bomb culture….It used to be a routine affair during Punjab problem ….Even now threats of terrorists' outfits looms large during Republic Day and Independence Day.It is a sad reminder of terrorism taking innocent lives...When there is an attack like this in India ...World (esp Western world )seems to take things for granted ..whereas when it strikes them ....then loss of human lives becomes a big issue...

Is the value of human life is cheaper in a developing country than that of developed nation?

LIGHTING A LAMP

2005-11-01T09:16:00.000-08:00

TO ALL MY FELLOW BLOGGERS
WISHING A PROSEPEROUS DIWALI!

This is one festival celebrated thro out the country... rest of the fests like holi ,puja festival and karwa chauth,pongal being regional functions based on the climatic conditions and seasons of the length and breadth of the our country.however

there is a little variation in celebrating....

in south of this country people get up early in the morning and start puja etc...here it is little late ....in the south keeping lit lamps outside their homes is not done (only selective few do)...here u see even outside a hut also , lamps made of clay....beautifully adorning the entrance of the house.

....sweets ,new clothes and crackers are common factors...

I love lighting lamps infact collecting traditional lamps....making kolam(rangoli)...munching murukkus(chakli),firing crackers.....
CELEBRATING VICTORY OF FIGHT OF GOOD OVER EVIL
happy diwali again!This year there were designer diwali lamps too in the market a mix of wax filled but Indian looking (traditional ) fusion lamps....

GUESS TIME AGAIN

2005-10-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

The picture posted here is a celebrity('s) kid.......

Think .....Think and reply.........
i know this one is very easy....

REMAKES- ORIGINAL DUPLICATES????

2005-10-24T06:21:00.000-07:00

HINDI movies are remade in Tamil and vice versa since ages.

But very few remakes are true to the original

I was watching Badri (Tamil film) last Saturday..realized it is a remake of Joh Jeeta Wohi Sikander directed by Mansoor khan.

Badri was ok, vijay is so so. JJWS was so good and convincing ….They made Aamir a School boy and in a country where cricket is the staple food for the sports lovers, they made cycling as a major sporting event in the film and yet it was appreciated…aamir was very good,who can forget the song "pehla nasha"?

but where is this director who made wonderful films like QSQT now.?

Some true copies I liked are

Droh Kaal –kurudipunal

Sathi Leelavathy - Biwi no 1

Any other....?

Book-currenlty reading -On Balance ...Autobiography of Mrs Leila Seth

2005-10-18T07:35:00.000-07:00

I m currently reading “On Balance” an autobiography by Leila Seth who is the First Woman Judge of the Supreme Court and First Woman Chief Justice of any State High Court…. and the (mother of writer Vikram Seth) makes interesting reading.

Her life is inspiring however she was honest in saying that she studied at law at Bar (Barrister) out of chance not of design….in London that too she thought she can afford to miss her classes if need be in order to look after her child (she had already had viram and pregnant with second son) otherwise she wanted to study nursery teaching ….,her grit and persistence even while she was pregnant to pursue her course is amazing…and she topped her Bar exam …

Her life also throws light on how it was to be brought up in British India, to be educated in missionary school in Darjeeling and
how freedom struggle affected ordinary lives..
Her sons(vikram and shatum) and one daughter (Anuradha) have also done very well in their chosen careers which also goes to the credit of her efficient parenting..
.ofcourse she had a supportive husband
(for whom she had to move from Calcatta to London to Patna and Delhi...with every move of hers she had to rebuild her career/practice all over again.

She also explains that how ...for a woman even small things become challenging to do what she wants to do…along with daily household chores and motherhood
However she made right decisons and the choices to balance her career and family

When i was reading the book,I remembered a hostelmate (she) of mine ....who didnot want to pursue her career seriously ...was in the habit of finding fault with all successful carrerist girls stating that career minded women donot enjoy a happy married life....
and she used to dig out examples of Kiran bedi to Indira gandhi to support her argument....which we all found ridiculous....(Finally this girl got married to sw engr and was off to U.S,Last I heard about her was she was trying to pursue a career there as there was less socialising unlike here in Indio,so she had time )

Mrs Leila Seth"s life is a story of courage and determination to do well both in court and home which is inspiring and educating .
.. for the working woman of today.

Salaam Namaste in Chanakya Hall

2005-10-09T09:15:00.000-07:00

We watched this movie in Chanakya Hall. Watching it in a “really big screen “ is an experience by itself ( after multiplexes, the real big screen has become a rarity…)

This cinema hall too is going to be demolished to pave way for multiplex.Rakesh Mehra has also written about the experience of movie watching at Chankya in the current India Today edition .

Now to Salam Namaste..... was a good movie…
Entertaining.

It has adult content story line…about the changing social trends like living-in….giving chance to an affair to blossom in to love…being altruistic ….living life to the full…vs living for others etc

It depicts the dilemma of youngsters who want to try new things but don’t know how to go about it
and remain confused ….the location makes it look like a cross over (australia ) kahani....the idea is universal

Finally time tested Indian values winning their minds .
Preity Zinta was in her baring best and yet graceful in the first half (though …in the later half her jumping around and dancing in full pregnancy was little awkward which could have been aesthetically shown ).
Saif has come of age.But will he ever graduate to play any other role other than that “ carefree ‘ I me myself” roles.

RAIN WATER HARVESTING - A Thought and A Reality

2005-10-03T22:44:00.000-07:00

This year the Rain God has been very kind throughout the country…and the monsoon is still active….….atleast 7 states were affected with floods…Mumbai was flooded like hell.Capital too had its share of booty….

But we also hear of the water scarcity problem across the nation in th peak of summers…This contradiction continues….for years

The simple step that can be taken to save water is Rain Water Harvesting.
(as we all know uniting all rivers to check floods by constructing dams etc will take loooooong time.)

The Chennai city has perennial problem of water shortage …here the Govt has made it compulsory (public paid 30% and the Govt paid the rest) …and the entire city is at it .

Now it is high time that the other cities where the population is more …and where the water scarcity is prevalent should follow suit...

The govt should make it mandatory to all the new buildings being constructed for taking clearance from the municipal and metro authorities

Water next to oil is gradually vanishing ….so privatization of water has started …before it is late …something should be done.

GUESS WHO???????

2005-09-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

The childhood picture of a great celebrity....is posted here....any guesses...in case of guessing rightly ...there is a free ticket to go to Moon...try hard...dont give up

WEEK END GETAWAY---- PUNJAB

2005-09-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we visited Amritsar which is approximately 450 kms away from Delhi towards Northwest

Details …..We took Golden Temple Mail…starts at 7 30 pm but ours got delayed by an hour due to incessant rains that day….

Over night journey---reached at 6 30 am (scheduled time) ‘who says Indian Railways is not efficient…’

GOLDEN TEMPLE

- ….the Harmander Sahib….is the main sanctum sanctorum is just beautiful…its majestic marble tombs all around – and the huge expanse of the space with the sarovar in the middle adds to the beauty of the place….colourful fishes in the lake ….are wonderful… the place surrounded with rooms where langer and water serving is organized are built from funds donated by public and many army regiments shows as to how much people from all walks of life had taken interest in building this temple

One thing I appreciate about the gurudwaras among all the worshipping places of Indian religions is its sparkling cleanliness ….

JALLIAN WALA BAGH

is 5 minutes walk from the temple
one finds a memorial to the massacre of British Raj….pages of blood stained history of our freedom struggle where Michael O Dwyer ordered to fire 100s of innocent Indians to death on the 13 th of April 1919…..It is a ground now surrounded by houses …

where an amar jyoti burns bright and a memorial stands …
the well in which panic stricken people jumped to death is closed now.
there is a small museum which has paintings of the incident and freedom fighters associated with it….

The general Dywer was assassinated by Uttam Singh (one of the fire brands of our freedom struggle) in London in the same year….who was hanged later) .

WAGAH BORDER

Wagah border … was recently in news for exchange of prisoners who were languishing in jails across the borders….

A place to visit ….it is about 30 kms from Amritsar ( 45 minutes drive)…one important point is that to see the parade of forces of both countries …

right time to reach there is 4:30 pm ..Once u reach there , among the green fields of Punjab, we find the barbed wire for a border between our country and Pakistan.

There is small stadium kind of setting to see the march of our BSF jawans ..similarly we find the Pakistani people also waving their flags and chanting “Pakistan Zindabad’ so also people at our side cry the slogans” Vande Mataram and “Hindustan Zindabad”. BSF control room plays almost all the patriotic songs to add to the nationalistic fervour.

It is patriotic frenzy one goes thru while being there ….and the brisk march past by jawans on both sides marking the flag removal at 6 pm ( sharp) by both sides is a sight to watch…amidst the chants of Hindustan and Pakistan zindabad by respective people …they say during hostilities jawans march past is so fast and full of anger that it is a virtual emotional war on the border. It is a half an hour programme. The
crowd was around from 10,000 people from our side. On our side men and women shared the seats together and in the Pak side men and women were seated separately.
The experience of visiting the above places enriched my religious ,cultural and historical perspective .... one country ....many religions...when we shouted vande mataram at the wagah border the differnces vanished like a bubble..
Ma tujhe salam!

Faith of Ladhakh- Buddhism (in pics)

2005-09-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

The apostle of peace .......in Gold here...This Golden Buddha is 5 story tall....is placed inside the monastry u see below...

thikse gompa ( ‘gompa” is other name for monastry) where a golden Buddha stands (five story tall….)

where the small kids walk in red robes chanting Buddhist hymns…

walls of these painted with stories of Buddha (jataka stories) in the thanka style(which is a form of painting followed by Tibetan Buddhist people using rich colours)

This is the place where a dance sequence of Dil Se ( "satrang re "and "dil se re") was picturised . (Monisha Koirala walks with a
lamp….here.)

There is a temple of kali where puja is performed by buddhist monks ...unique feature of this place...where Hinduisim and Buddhism coexist...harmoniously...These monks we see here are waiting for the puja time to commence their puja...looking at the Indus (sindhu) river flowing down....

Fairer sex ? Unfair facts....

2005-09-09T07:19:00.000-07:00

….

I attended a “Course on Incorporating Gender Concerns in Public Policy “…at Indian Institute of Public Administration…. (Govt keeps training its staff for improving the administration)….

Some startling facts about the condition of women of our country…

The so called developed states of Punjab and Haryana has got worst sex ratio

read this

Fateh garh sahib district in Panjab has the worst-726(women) /1000(men)….against the national average of 927/1000 (We are talking of ecological balance)

As a result

Haryana do not have enough women of marriageable age for its men ..so they are going to Kerala looking for women for marriage…("national integrity" at the cost of number of women)

The cause:

female foeticide /infanticide

The novel way

of medical termination…mobile vans carry all the equipments for medical termination of the foetus and it is done at your door step. Thus the avoid the Pre Natal Termination Act and its consequences.

And there were eminent people talking such as Mrs Mohini Giri, ex chairman, National Commission for Women,

Mrs Sarala Gopalan, former secretary Dept of women and child development, Govt Of India,

Mrs Padma Seth, ex member, NCW

The discussion sessions were good. I made a presentation on “violence against women”.
More on this later.....watch these posts...

TAJ VIEW

2005-09-04T03:39:00.000-07:00

The monument most photographed is thru our lens .....
I did not know till yesterday, there is Urs function for Shahjehan and Mumtaj too
. ... my husband clicked this picture.....on one winter day

can u all guess which side was it taken?

Music by S Janaki- "then vandu paynthathu kaathinile"

2005-08-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

An evening of wonderful music of Smt S Janaki, the south Indian films play back singer ………….last Friday….

New Delhi’s Talkatora Indoor Stadium swayed to the sweet voice of Isai Kuyil S Janaki…..

Nostalgic music of songs of 1970 to 1990’s of this singer brought back memories of my childhood ….

Since most of her songs from Ilayaraja era ….it was also like his concert

Some statistics of the singer:;
17,000 songs

8 languages………..

4 national awards …

countless state awards and

the list goes on.

Some of the songs

Uru sanam thoongituchchu”

paadava un padalai (naan paadum padal)

natham en jeevane (kadhal oviyam)

vellaipura onru (puthu kavithai)

machchnai partheengala (annaikili)

ponmeni uruguthe (moonram pirai)

rasave chitterumbu ennai (walter vetrivel)

rojavai thalattum thendral (ninai vellam nithya)

9.chinnathayaval (thalapathi)

10 katril endan geetham kanatha unnai theduthe (jaani)

sendure poove (16 vayathinile)
ninaivo oru paravai (sigappu rojakkal)

adi athadi (kadalora kavithagal)

poongatru thirumbuma? ( mudhal mariyadhai)

nenjinile ( uyire)

IARI, Pusa, New Delhi students in good numbers hooting and cheering …dancing…..(the best slogan was “ Isai Kuyil Janaki Ammavukku Oru O Podu “)

(Note: IARI…Indian Agricultural Research Institute has predominantly students from Tamilnadu in M.Sc Agri and Ph.d courses ….most of them land up in Civil Services and Indian Forest Services. .literally monopolizing at the national level…. )

reminding of my college times........

a versatile singer she is ,sang in 4 languages, in different modulations like a child (kanna nee enge?)

and a old woman ,vamp etc

finally she said …. … I don’t know how I sang…the listeners / fans are more important (rasigarhal ketpatharkaha paduvathuthan santhosam tharukirathu, )

she was very humble......

SUN SET IN ARABIAN SEA

2005-08-26T10:52:00.000-07:00

As Clouds darken

As the sun touches horizon

As the colours paint the sky

As Birds return

Four Men plunge in to the sea

Looking for livelihood….

The day .....breaks…..

for some

With the sun set.

the picture was taken by me at the beach,Cochin,Kerala....Arabian Sea...

SOME ANGER, SOME HAPPINESS,INSPIRATION....CELEBRATION OF SENSES

2005-08-22T07:50:00.000-07:00

What angered me

-------------------------

It was disgusting to see, one of Jatin-Lalit duo insult a girl-participant of Sa Re Ga Ma pgme on Zee tv, when she sang a song on Lord Krishna (“More pangate pe nand lal ) stating that it was as worse as a mujra song in front of a national audience.

The participant Miss Joyeeta wept inconsolably on camera but managed to point out indirectly before the results were out. But the main judges Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma and Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia cleared her name for next round.

Who gives license to public figures to hurt the sentiments in the garb of judging the talents and to be vehemently critical of anybody’s performance …

Are these wannabe singers to wear Emotional proof jackets while they contest in such popular talent hunts.

Public act that made me happy-

-------------------------------------------------------

The Public Interest Litigation which an advocate filed against the newspapers The Times of India and Hindustan Times for their titillating content in their newspapers everyday was a happy news.

For my own, I calculated the space for such news on one Tuesday- 60% of the TOI contained news of porn value…

I was only concerned of children of adolescent age who consume these material on a day to day basis, there are other sources to offer such news.

Why so called national newspapers should indulge in yellow journalism?…

Is that the only way they can sell their commodity?

What I saw and heard

The music pgme in Siri Fort with sitar by Ustad Sujath Hussain Khan ( son of Ustad Vilayat Khan) was just great. Thanks to SPIC MACAY which kindled my interest in classical music during my college days....

Music takes one to different level… be it classical or light …and it relaxes…

Follwed by a Jugal Bandi of Hindustani classical vocal music by Pandits Rajan and Sajan Mishra,

Tabla by Pandit Krishna Maharaj and

Kathak performance by Pandit Birju Maharaj

was a feast for eyes, ears and soul

Who inspired

---------------------

PERSONALITY

Dr PREMA DHANRAJ who was" burns” victim at the age of 8….went on to struggle with her 50% burns in her face and after numerous corrective surgeries …because of which she could not go to normal school like us

finishes her class 10 th in private studies …does her BSc and MBBS .She then does PG in Plastic Surgery and joins Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore where she took treatment years ago . Now she is HOD there …also helping countries like Ethiopia and others in such treatment. (source: Sunday Hindu Magazine).

My salute to such persevering and hardworking souls who toiled against all odds.

UPCOMING EVENTS IN DELHI-DANCE,MUSIC,FILM

2005-08-18T10:04:00.000-07:00

1 20 TH AUGUST 6 30 PM SIRI FORT..... KATHAK BY BIRJU MAHARAJ ...AMAR JYOTI

2 26 TH AUGUST 5 PM MUSIC PGME BY S JANAKI THE FAMOUS PLAY BACK SINGER OF TAMIL TELUGU FILMS AT TALKATORA STADIUM

3 27 TH AUGUST - MY FAV DIRCTOR MANI RATNAM IS PARTICIPATING IN A WORKSHOP BY HABITAT FILM CLUB ON MOVIE MAKING-ANALYSIS OF HIS FILM KANNATHIL MUTHTHAMITTAL---A PECK ON CHEEK..ON SRILANKAN CRISIS THROUGH AN YOUNG GIRL'S POINT OF VIEW

FLIGHT OF A BIRD AND TWO BRAVE HEROES

2005-08-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

As I walked towards the park on a breezy Aug 15 th morning , saw a crow entangled among the electric wires of a lamp post trying to wriggle out .The crow community helplessly cried out for help by making noise and flying all around thereby wying for attention….

All those who passed by were anxious …

and there came two guys suddenly from the house nearby to help the troubled bird with a long stick in thier hands

…after a struggle they succeeded and …

.the crow to flew to freedom…

what a fitting scene on a independence day!

Everyone in us has a hero / heroine hidden…waiting for a chance to realize it….

Thought for INDEPENDENCE DAY

2005-08-14T04:28:00.000-07:00

BETTER HALF OF THIS COUNTRY (IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL )

ARE THEY SAFE HERE? THE ANSWER IS NO

If on this independence day….we feel proud of many achievements of our nation,,,and its daughters…be it Kiran bedi, Indira Gandhi and Kalpana Chawla, Sania mirza and many others…then there is also a shameful fact that they ar not being protected by the administration and its men. what is highly disturbing is the way they are treated in public and harassed.

And we cry foul of terrorists sabotaging the unity and peace of the country, are not we hypocrites ?
every rapist in this land is no less than terrorist who kills the dignity of a woman .

But its women folk in the capital are subject to endless agony everyday but no relief at sight?

Almost everyday there is a gang rape in this city… nobody gets punished …the list of such cases is long….police is only a mute spectator …which only emboldens the pervert criminals to commit the crime …on the hapless victims .

Once a Police commissioner of the city said “women should dress up decently to avoid such acts.”

But my point is that women who are semi clad in that manner don’t travel by bus ,,or get raped ….they commute by car meaning they are from the upper crust of the society.
women who go fully covered are only mostly subject to this heinous crime while on the work…or when they travel by bus or such circumstances .instead of catching the culprits …such advices only show the police in a bad light

the state has a woman chief minister …country has a defacto (almost ) woman prime minister…all living in Delhi

I wish a country which provides safety and dignity to its women is truly independentand we may call MERA BHARAT MAHAN…
hope we achieve this aim some day… till then read the sad stories .

SOME MORE PICTURES OF PANG TSO LAKE IN LADHAKH

2005-08-11T10:55:00.000-07:00

THESE PICTURES ARE TAKEN BY ME AND MY FRIEND PREETI DURING OUR VISIT TO LADHAKH..CHECK MY PREVIOUS POST ON THE SAME SUBJECT...EXPLAINING THESE PICTURES IN WORDS WOULD BE DEMEANING..JUST SEE THE BREATHTAKING VIEW AND CHANGING COLOURS OF THE LAKE

ABOUT A COP AND A CRIMINAL

2005-08-08T08:16:00.000-07:00

1 The conviction of KPS Gill, the former DIG (the so called ‘protector’) in the sexual harassment case by Mrs Rupen Deol Bajaj, a senior IAS officer of Punjab proves a point that perversion is not only limited to rowdy elements……

2 The hype and media coverage of wedding of daughter of the International Criminal Ibrahim Dawood is no means of upholding the journalistic ethics…it was disoppointing …to find the media persons standing outside ( to get a glimpse of the ‘Don’ than the couple) looking for scoop where there were not even allowed entry…

After all, it is a criminal’s family matter…the wastage of prime time and media resources on it, is disgusting …the proliferation of TV channels has forced the media to look for trivial news like this making rouges as heroes

RIVER RAFTING AT SHIVPURI (RISHIKESH)…

2005-08-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

Any one with some adventure spirit should not miss out on River Rafting (also called white water rafting ) in the Ganga waters at SHIVPURI near (RISHIKESH)…

As one glides through the running waters of the river surrounded by the mountains the feeling is beyond explanation…as if u have got control over the turbulent waters….

the real thrill is when u cross the RAPIDS….which is whirlpool of water formed due to rocks on the way and so the water flows with full force…

and ur raft goes haywire but u hang on to it like life amidst death ….

Rafting expedition are graded as per the no of rapids available in the route…

How to reach:

From DELHI, 1 take a bus or train to Haridwar (haridwar express starts at 10 30 pm from old delhi reaches Haridwar in early hours 5 30 am)

2 then from there reach Rishikesh by bus/jeep –30 mts

3 local adventure trip organizers start by 10 am .

depending upon the no of participants …(more the merrier, it boosts team spirit too) ,the charges come down too (say rs 500 to 800 per head)

the time taken 3-4 hrs

the cost is Rs 500 to 800 per head

BEST TIME : APRIL TO OCTOBER (when the water flow is good for rafting)

CHENNAI Vs REST OF INDIA..…

2005-07-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

This Is No Cricket Match…

but a case of relative deprivation…

and of consumer rights….

The entire country is enjoying the benefits of cable TV with all the pay channels on the payment of just Rs 100-200 per month.

Only in Chennai, pay channel problem vis a vis Set Top Boxes still exist thanks to Chennai High Court stay…

Victims:

The viewers in Chennai are deprived of watching Hindi, English movie channels, Sports including Cartoon Network…such as Star,HBO Etc while their counterparts across the country have a happy viewing of all the channels incl History, NGC, Discovery Channel….

Compulsive viewing of south Indian channels is not always welcome.

What about freedom of choice…?

Is right to choice is limited only one group of people .

Is it not against fundamental rights?

How many can afford to buy a set top box?

Are Chennai folks considered to be having more purchasing power….

Consumer is king in rest of India … he is a slave in Chennai?

The sad part is ....chennai is not fighting …having reconciled to the fact…

Beneficiaries:

Vernacular TV channels are growing or the Manufacturers of Set Top Boxes…are reaping the advantage…?.and the cable guys too?

infact very few takers for these boxes…

Personally When I go to Chennai, I cant watch certain pgmes in TV…of so called pay channels?

Do they know what they are missing out?

There are/were some wonderful pgmes in Discovery, History Coffee with Karan, Brittania’s

India Child Genius of Siddartha Basu and many more

Deprived chennai vasis should file a Public Interest Litigation rather than keeping quiet…

LIFT A FINGER PLEASE!

2005-07-21T08:45:00.000-07:00

Generally, when there is a complaint about any civic amenities in our cities, we promptly crib…, discuss , blame the Central, State and Local govts and next minute forget abt it and walk away….

Feeling helpless don’t take us anywhere…a little act would take care of things…

so what do I do?

1 I take up the issue with the press of local problems that I face in the surroundings .by bringing to notice in the local newspaper in their local area issue columns

ex-Once there was this road blockage problem due to stagnant water in the colony where we lived in South Delhi and nothing was being done.

So I wrote….in Hindustan times…highlighting the problem during the rainy season…

The municipal counselor woke up…to pursue with the CPWD…and there was improvement.

2 Next about this Dirty Sub Way in Old Delhi opposite Red Fort…

2 years ago….I happened to pass thru with some guests and felt peukish due to filth in the subway… I wondered

what kind of image these foreign tourists crossing the subway to go to Jama Masjid would carry after seeing the majestic Red Fort of 16 th century and foul smelling subway of this century besides being such a health hazard…

wrote to HT again….this time a news channel also covered after the publication of this letter…it was cleaned then.

3 Recently even after paying the bill of MTNL ,it was shown as outstanding and my phone was disconnected…

ran pillar to post…in vain,

The Hindu carried my grievance…and promptly the AGM, Nehru Place clarified about the reconciliation and regretted the discomfort to me.

4 Last Saturday, Times Of India carried my letter for construction of flyover in Tito Marg, South Delhi where scores of women and children cross the road braving the speeding vehicles from flyover…

Let us see if the MCD acts!!

As for me, I feel satisfied that I did not keep quiet or turn away from the problem

but…voiced my opinion…

because self help is the best help…

Little acts like this will bring results…It may take time….Help may come from any quarter

it could be…. Press…or the local authorities….or a polictician…

keep trying

“muyarchi thriuvinaiyakkum”…”The efforts will bear fruit”

someday.

A FILM OF SANTOSH SIVAN ON THIRD GENDER

2005-07-18T07:09:00.000-07:00

A film on the Third Gender …NAVARASA (Nine Emotions )

by Santosh Sivan,
the Cinematographer turned Director ( of “Malli “and “ Terrorist” fame) in Tamil showed in the Siri Fort was very thought provoking.

The protogonist , a 13 year old girl Sweta narrates the story of her uncle (chittappa) who happens to be woman traped in a male body…. eunuch in a normal family through her eyes ….of the complications the they go thru emotionally and otherwise… ,how family and society ostracizes them..

The real characters /events especially the Annual Festival at Villupuram and Koovagam have been captured poignantly to show the pain of being one from the third gender and their struggle for decent living.

I congratulated Mr Santosh Sivan who was present at the first screening of this film which is part of Indian Competition in the fest.

Also seen were Govind Nihalani, Mita Vasisht, Rajat Kapoor, Shehnaz Patel etc

A FILM FEST IN NEW DELHI

2005-07-16T23:08:00.000-07:00

A film festival of Asian countries is on at SIRI FORT Audi from 15 to 22, July ...by Cinefan is worth attending,
I have been catching up with the best of Asain Cinema from films of Taiwan,Hong kong,malaysia Iran,Isreal to Khazagistan along with our films makes it great viewing.

Metro Train Joy Ride In Delhi

2005-07-16T22:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went on a joy ride in Metro (tube train) between Central Sectt and Chawri Bazaar.

Feel Good Factor

When anything new is introduced for the improving standards of life of common man, ie when the technology touches an ordinary life…it feels good.

Advantage

The journey was only for 7 minutes whereas it takes 1 hour plus in the bus. It would improve the traffic bw Old and New delhi

It would benefit the business in Chandini Chowk, Chawri Bazaar …otherwise congested places.

A PARADISE ON EARTH and I was there...

2005-07-14T07:50:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share the best of my travel experiences in Ladhakh where I went with another friend of mine, here
with pictures,
these were shot by me

The pictures are of Pangang Tso lake in Ladhakh in Indo China border looks like a dream for its beauty….picturusque setting

spl features about the place :

1 length 145 kms, India has 45 kms and rest is with China

2 surrounded by small hills snow covered ,

3 some has precious stones…garnets…there is a garnet hill too

4 Due to clear conditions because of the high altitude of 11000ft

the passing clouds keep changing the colour of the pristine pure water

of the lake…which one can see here…

5 Another mystery is that it is a salt water lake, at this height in a cold desert finding a salt water lake is a geographical wonder

wonder why people go to Srilanka …etc without seeing our’s country’s best places
how to get here....

:Location: Ladhakh, J&K

Step 1:
from Delhi 1 and 1/2 hr flight or
by road from Manali 72 hrs,

Step 2 reach Leh,

Step 3 From here it is 100 kms + by
road beyond Tangste valley

of changing dress styles of women folk...of chennai...

2005-07-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Half Sarees (THAVANI) are on the way out ?

A traditional attire of young south Indian girls…. (Assam has their form of half sarees…in meghla chardr)

Half Sarees among the south Indian haute coutre

is in the verge of extinction, … thanks to influence of north/WEST ….

…some good changes are always welcome

within last 10 years , gradually….. age old girls’ schools in Chennai have changed the uniform to salwar kameez from half sarees

it is good in a way as it is comfortable….

Except for village lasses heriones of Ramarajan films or …telugu movies, one gets to see few half saree clad young girls in South with the exception of rural areas….

Every dress has its beauty… so also the half saree...

I recall while while serving the state govt, when I happened to wear salwar kamiz in chennai,

some people (mostly men) from old school of thought said’

"u r wearing a North Indian dress and not a tamil dress (they meant a Saree)

…for which I responded that
“all u men are wearing western dress which is a pant and shirt and not wearing a dhoti and shirt)…atleast I m wearing a Indian dress ie salwar suit”

of course,they didnot like the reply...

Selective dress code for women only..so much for the patriarchal dictation of terms..

Some day in year 2100 AD, if anyone has to visit the Madras museum ,we may find a preserved half saree...stating that tradtional tamil young women of south used to wear the above dress in the last century.....

Thavaniye ..kanavulagividum....

what I detest most is the " nighty mania" in chennai....every woman seems to have taken a liking to it... and find women in nighties going to drop kids in school in the day light....is a great sight????

fact,quote,good ,bad

2005-07-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

One Fact
********

A baby under 2 years ( after 18 months) learns a new word every 90 minutes….

One Quote
**********

“DON’T BOTHER JUST TO BE BETTER THAN YOUR CONTEMPORARIES OR PREDECESSORS.

TRY TO BE BETTER THAN YOURSELF”-William Faulkner

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One beautiful Thing …..
*******************

Drizzling Delhi…
----------------
Tt has been raining here daily like never before….seems like we are in for a highly active monsoon,
generally the wet months are July ,August and September…..

but it did not pour like cats and dogs… it was like music played by nature….rhythmic and melodious…A steady stream of drizzle…..

One Ugly Incident
*****************
The terrorists attack on Ayodhya Complex….
-----------------------------------------
now politicization and criminalisation of the issue would follow….

A commission of Inquiry by a judge….

Blame game by political parties….dharnas…bandhs… and election manifestoes

Will there be any respite for people from all this?

Ever??

For all those who are single wanting to mingle ...

2005-07-05T06:42:00.000-07:00

For all those who are single wanting to mingle …(.no its not a post about dating) in a marriage…
And who have faith may visit

The place :
Nithya kalyana perumal temple,a vaishnavite temple of 10 th century at thiruvidanthai

The location:
On the East Coast Road next to Muttukadu.. 35 kms from Chennai

The belief
Manavala Perumal or the Nithya Kalyana Perumal (one of the Alwars )the main deity of the temple gets married to (of course to the same) Goddess ie kanagavalli thayar) everyday.. so the God blesses the person with marriage who prays to him within a year of his /her visit.

The procedure:

1. The girl (the prospective bride ) or the boy ( the prospective groom) who wants to get married should wear the garland given at the sanctum sanctorum of Aadhi Varaha perumal after the puja .

2. Then he or she should take 9 rounds of the prahara ie the temple
3. After this, he or she carries the garland home and preserves it.

Within a year of marriage, the newly wedded couple should go to the temple to return the preserved garland .

VENUS AT THE WIMBLEDON

2005-07-03T07:15:00.000-07:00

WHAT A GAME IT WAS....LIKE NIRMAL SHEKAR SAID IN "HINDU" "
IT WAS THE TRIUMPH OF WOMEN'S TENNIS"

LONGEST BATTLE OF NERVES BETWEEN TWO WOMEN PLAYERS

VIVA VENUS! SHE MUST BE JUMPING STILL

2005-07-02T22:52:00.000-07:00

MORE PICS OF AIRSHOW

2005-07-02T03:26:00.000-07:00

AIR SHOW PIC

2005-07-01T22:56:00.000-07:00

OUR AIRFORCE -

2005-07-01T09:40:00.000-07:00

IS NOT THAT GREAT?

ANNIYAN

2005-07-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

REVIEW

Seems like season for split personality character stories….

PLUS POINTS
------------

1 Vivek ‘s comedy was best

2 Writer Sujatha”s touch every inch –Mix of science and mythology

3 Coverage of Thiagaraja Aradhanai Festival

4 The bottom line of the pic- “only an insane person can attempt to reform this country…..”

MINUS
--------

Ø Heavy Idealism

Ø Too many factual details in dialogue

Ø Disappointing Music

Ø Violence

Some Friendships Endure.

2005-06-24T05:03:00.000-07:00

I remember the time when I cried uncontrollably…when my friend Selvi left Madras when I was 12,

that was first time ever I realized that friendship is a bondage one can have outside ur family and we feel lost when that friend moves away.

Time passes….we sign autographs (at the end of any course) of friends mostly hoping that we may never be able to meet up again…
wishing luck.. we all depart….promising to meet again every year ( a la Dil Chahta Hai)
….
But then, there are always exceptions to rule….
some relationships last change of locations ,marital status, jobs and children and familial responsibilities …..

I met a friend in a coaching center…about 12 years ago…
we used to be backbenchers ….later went on to give our exams …she took up a job of lecturer after qualifying UGC Lecturership test in the same college from where she passed out ….later she shifted base to Bangalore…
and we kept in touch…those were the days of snail mail… letters by postal dept….she worked for Ashoka group (ITDC) for sometime met her Mr Right and tied the knots…

Meanwhile I moved to Delhi to take up my job …..
She after having a child moved to Delhi along with her hubby…
There we met after 3 yrs….and kept alive our friendship …then she had to move to Khazakistan with her husband again
and we said bye bye to each other again wondering whether we would be able to keep in touch again…
but this time technology - internet took care of continuity of our contacts….

We all grow emotionally…with age…in any relationship. So I have grown up in handling friendships and hence I don’t feel bad that way as I used to cry any longer because I know ,the loved ones come back, with efforts from both sides…
friendships endure.
like the one between me and my friend Rashmi as she is moved to Chennai with her family after 13 years and I met her last week.

FOUR INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT CHENNAI

2005-06-18T01:34:00.000-07:00

ON MY ROUND UP OF CHENNAI,FEW THINGS CAUGHT MY EYE....

1 TSNAUMI COUNSELLING CENTRE IN ST ISABELS HOSPITAL,MYALAPORE

2 A EXHIBITION HALL NAMED BEST SELLER HALL IN ADYAR

3 A MEDICAL SHOP NAMED PILLS AND PLASTERS IN VELACHERY

4 A HUUUGE AD HOARDING OF SWIFT AT SATYAM COMPLEX

ELIOTS BEACH

2005-06-16T22:41:00.000-07:00

KAATHU VANGA PONOM ....ME AND HUBBY DEAR....IN SEARCH OF BREEZE...
BUT EVERYTHING WAS STILL...
HAD VALAKKAI BAJJI...WERE GOOD...
YET NO BREEZE
THEN A BOY CAME SELLING SUNDAL...WHEN WE ASKED THE PRICE ..SAID 'FOR LOVERS 10 RS ONE PACKET BUT FOR FAMILY IT IS 5 RS.NEENGA FAMILYTHANE ,SO 5 RS...BUT ENDED UP SELLING FOR 10 RS TO US(2 PACKETS).....I ASKED HIS NAME "MARI "AKKA
HE WAS A GOOD SALESMAN.

YET NO BREEZE...

WE WERE ONLY WISHING SOME ONE COULD SELL BREEZE ALSO..

"KAATHU VANGA PONOM...BAJJI,SUNDAL VANGI VANDHOM"

WE ARE NOT KANNADASAN AFTER ALL....

Chennai after 6 months

2005-06-10T02:07:00.000-07:00

NOTABLE CHANGES

The green quotient in the city is increasing, Corporation seems to be giving right impetus….( my first blog was about the need of greening chennai)

There is competition among newspapers…,the Hindu is advertising itself…

Some constant factors..... rude auto drivers.... water scarcity and sweating heat.

BEHEAD ALWAYS

2005-06-10T02:05:00.000-07:00

There is a graffiti of GULF lubricating oil …all over the walls of city….I came across one at the Velachery Main Road near Glaxo…since it reads ….”BEHEAD ALWAYS”….as the wall has a fold after BE and where AHEAD starts .A got under the fold….be ahead always looks like what I read as above

Mylapore Diary

2005-06-10T01:59:00.000-07:00

While Walking through the Luz Church Road,

I happen to read the foundation stone of the old and greener park of chennai, (there are very few parks of Chennai that are really green) …it reads “ Nageswara Rao Panthulu Park was inaugurated by shri Kumarasamy Raja, the first premier of Madras State on 20/10/1949.

Considering the time such parks came in to being , we should have had more parks….

Marutheeswarar Temple

2005-06-07T00:12:00.000-07:00

A Visit to Maruntheeswarar Temple in Tiruvanmiyur was worthwhile.The main deity siva is called so as it is beleived that he cures all ailments of his devotees.The temple seems to be ancient,and one hears hymns from vedas and siva puranam being recited all around.

Medical Tourism

2005-06-03T02:16:00.000-07:00

When I was travelling to Chennai by train,
met few people who were visiting the place for treatment.
Its nice to know considering the fact that we don’t have snow clad peaks and running waterfalls throughout the year to promote tourism in Tamilnadu

Courtesy Tsnaumi

2005-06-03T02:12:00.000-07:00

Dr Radha Krishnan, the hardworking Collector of Nagapattinam has been invited to visit and talk about the calamity and its rehabilitation in U.S Cities. Is n't that Great

Udit Narayan....tamil

2005-06-01T02:07:00.000-07:00

I m in Chennai,
switched on the FM…
First it was Udit Narayan’s song,
next again was his song,
another one, and another…. So he seems to have taken over playback singing here….
Initially when I heard his QSQT numbers, I used to wonder if only his voice can be heard in tamil songs as I used to think his voice is a blend of SPB and TMS and he has unique freshness about his voice
unlike Kumar Sanu ( who survived on imitating Kishore Kumar)
After few years, when he started singing, thought his Tamil needs to be improved or else we will have sub dialect of “Udit Narayan Tamil” like (TV serial) "Junoon Tamil…"
Now it looks as if he has done his home work in Tamil learning ( rather its pronounciation.

Search for Livelihood

2005-05-28T01:05:00.000-07:00

We all agree that we move out of our home towns for better prospects…rightly stated in Tamil as early as in sangam age “Thiraikadlodiyum Thiravium Thedu “ meaning “ search for wealth even crossing seas”…

those days kings conquered kingdoms across seas …brought the booty…

.now our engineers in Europe and U.S( technical colonialism?, tech qualified people from our country to middle east…practice the same for prosperity…like me and my few friends moved out of Tamilnadu for Govt Jobs.

But what surprises me was the labourers moving from Tamilnadu working in construction jobs and garbage clearing etc in Delhi. I have been noticing the rapid increase in their numbers for the few years.

Is this an indication of decreasing number of job opportunities for such people in Tamilnadu….any body has any explanation….?.

Advertising differently

2005-05-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

Today Abhishek Bachchan and Rani mukherjee were reading actual news in prime time in NDTV India to promote their upcoming film Bunty and Bubbly

Good idea

Why do majority of the NRIs think “everything is bad about India

2005-05-25T07:21:00.000-07:00

Recently a friend of mine settled in U.S (for the 5 years) was on a visit to India …. I went to meet her, invariably this topic popped up…’.’the roads are bad….the water is polluted ….ac does not work” “ why cant be it changed overnight….and so on and so forth

i do understand one can”t help comparing that too after being exposed to comfortable life. . however, I was surprised about the fact… she was very much aware of the conditions of this country….

Why do u compare the living conditions of a country which had got independence in 1787…of the first world with sufficient resources to develop themselves with that of the country which got its freedom in 1947…

Call me a ...counsellor....agony aunt...??

2005-05-25T06:51:00.000-07:00

Today for the most part of the day, I was counseling my friends...besides my office work… ..
May be I can taken up this seriously…someday….
have a help line…..somebody had not qualified the Civil Services interview…someone had to decide about marriage…another had to face an official enquiry .....
At the end of the day, I was exhausted...
who says advising is an easy job?

ITS RANKING TIME

2005-05-24T05:50:00.000-07:00

Now the Ministers are ranked according to various surveys….

Finance minister ranks first, petro minister also ranks first…yet ranking helps….

Time Magazine lists 100 best films-5 indian films find place including Mani Ratnam’s Nayagan…with products of veterans like Satyajit Ray and Gurudutt…

so what if our films don’t find a place in Cannes this year?

And every year we crib about not making to Oscars…which has a totally different criteria to judge the films…or. is no authority for judging the Indian bollywood pictures

When things dont work as u planned..Tips for Second Best Plans

2005-05-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

Working in Govt has its advantages:

Three days off, weekend + holiday today too as it is Buddha Purnima

Now we may all argue about it why so many holidays for Govt Servants (I ll save it for some other time). Recently Shashi Tharoor (our man in U.N ) wrote an article in Hindu about it .

Now coming ,what I set out to convey,the second best plans

A week preceding this weekend, we three friends decided to go out ,

considered Dalhousie in H.P, Wagah Border in Rajasthan…then Ranikhet in Uttaranchal ….Wagah was rejected for its special heat in summer….Later when we checked for tkts in the train for other places only to find to our great disappointment , that no tkts were avl. So settled for going around Delhi with a package of

One film

(Jo Bole So Nihal ,thankfully the bomb blasts happened next day where the film played , otherwise we could have become martyrs….unless u have time to kill pl don’t watch the film )

Eating out (Saravana Bhavan where u have to wait for 30 mts for ur name to be announced), Golden Dragon)

Shopping at Lajpat Nagar & Janpath

Fun and Food Village trip

And lots of chitchatting

India 's Child Genius Contest

2005-05-23T09:11:00.000-07:00

For chennai- happy people

Some news…..

Rinitha, 12 year old girl from Tuticorin, Tamilnadu, was in the top six of Britannia India’s Child Genius Contest conducted by Siddarth Basu .

^ND Runner up is from Chennai’s Vidya Mandir student Aswath Ravindranath.

The winner is Subham Prakhar from Muzafurpur.

Good to see children from all over the country sharing their dreams and winning the contests.

"Girls outshine boys again”"

2005-05-19T07:21:00.000-07:00

Every May, news about Class 10,12 School results

read “Girls outshine boys again”

So, it has become a pattern now,
but the point to ponder over here is that why boys don’t do well as good as the girls do?

Its high time that our education system considers improving the pass percentages of boys in school with special efforts which would increase the overall pass percentage in schools and not just feeling happy with the fact that girls are doing ok.

The world in 2050

2005-05-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

Political And Economic Future Of The World

I happen to glance thru the news on lecture by By Arwind Virmani, Director, ICRIER on

Tripolar world by 2050

Where in the power would be shared between U.S, INDIA and CHINA

And China would dominate economically. The interesting and genuine observation was like this

“ India ‘s “Will to Power” which had followed Japanese model and gave up on the will to be powerful which would make it a U.S satellite

my point of view

Or is it in the Indian psyche not to have the killer instinct and not having

the guts to go all out on development ( like china does) inspite of its enormous human and intellectual resources…

In this regard somehow the performance of Indian sports and cricket crosses my mind..

Note:I was recalling the civil service exam preparation days,

when we friends used to discuss all matters of international relations ,

now the difference of learning is that one is not doing it keeping the marks in mind

but for pure pleasure of knowledge enrichment.

To blog is to slog...help

2005-05-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to change the look of my blog and add some links ….tried …trying no break through so far….i don’t know how to paste the html for links in the webpage…

For chennai- happy people

Some news…..

#Out of 23 who got in to MIT, in U.S …..12 are from chennai….
#In Arakkonam, 100’s of women have made a kolam –rangoli with 4 lakhs dots…(pulli) to make a record…entering the Guinness too…

#Shri R D NazeemIAS, of Chennai is making a presentation to the prime minister tomarrow at vigyan bhawan ,New Delhi ..he is one among 10 dt collectors chosen from 350 collectors of our country to give a presentation.
He happens to be our family friend makes the news more spl.

Latest Dowry Extracting Technique

2005-05-17T08:36:00.000-07:00

Why do they do it ?

Fix the date of the wedding and start bargaining for Dowry….seems to be the latest technique of extortion….

Recently two of my friends had called off their weddings a week before the D day,

as the grooms’ side had assumed that the black mail would work now that the wedding date is decided and bride’s family has no choice but to arrange for dowry and wedding. ,

But girls boldly sprang a surprise to say “NO, shocking the boys, …..

Yet why do they do it?

2 Interesting advts

2005-05-13T22:09:00.000-07:00

2 Interesting advts

No 1 is Indica V2…creativity at its best…. the idea is great .the model has such a comic face… so I stop to watch everytime it is aired
Lifebouy Soap for the lovely message –use of children to convey the message of community cleanliness and their own cleanliness…its worth a documentary yet captivating…

Big B and RAP

2005-05-13T05:50:00.000-07:00

Big B is doing a RAP Song in” Bunty and Bubbly”…..He should be enjoying himself more now as he tries new things than before as he was typecast mostly as angry youngman… in his heydays…

Time to read..in the hectic routine

2005-05-13T05:44:00.000-07:00

My friend said she bought the book “Da Vinci Code” the otherday and wondering when to read it as her daily routine does not allow her to read ….next day it so happened that she fell from staircase and broke her leg….ironically she is happy that she can read the book…now that she is on leave…..?? blessing in disguise...

A moment to feel good...

2005-05-12T06:01:00.000-07:00

Finally ,we have a TOPPER in IAS Civil Service List of this year from Tamil Nadu..... after a very long time….Srinivasan Nagarajan, a B Tech from BITS, Pilani is from Tirunelveli…..

The Innova ride of CEO, Delhi Metro Rail Project

2005-05-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

I peeped out at the familiar face in the car passing by…it was

E Sreedharan, CEO & MD, of Delhi, Metro Project

My fellow passengers were looking at the car as it is the new car in the market, the Innova in which he was travelling….

Rarely one gets to see such inspiring personalities who is retd, yet working and who is changing the way people commute in maddening cities of this country ( and a Magsaysay Winner) ….just like that.

Fact and Fiction -Rape Cases...

2005-05-09T06:37:00.000-07:00

This week saw two interesting judgments on rape cases where the accused have been convicted of the crime.

In one case, the victim was offered a marriage proposal by the rapist to avoid compensation.

She rejected and he has got life imprisonment.

In another case, the rapist has given the marriage offer and the victim has accepted it.

I remember a film titled ” Pudiya Padhai” in Tamil ( Seetha and Parthiban starrer which won a national award –this was made in to a hindi film too where Juhi Chawla and Anil Kapoor had acted ) where the victim chases the rapist and gets married him to reform him.

Is it a natural justice suiting Indian (convenient) morality? Do women have a choice over such a issue?

What a contradiction between reality and fiction.!

CBI AND TIGERS

2005-05-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

Now,CBI FINDS OUT THAT THERE ARE NO TIGERS IN SARISKA,

Nobody thought things would come to this far,that
country's prime investigating agency would be sent to jungles to search for tigers....

That makes me and friends and scores of other tourists ,stupids who went looking for signs of tiger movement on a safari to Sariska about 3 years ago (inside Rajaji National Park), the temp was only 43'c

but had a glance at some peacocks and deers .

Programmes that interested ...

2005-05-08T04:42:00.000-07:00

NDTV ‘s Pgmes on New Age Job?

It was interesting to know that young people are thinking unconventionally and taking up whatever fulfills their aspirations leaving their IIM and MBBS degrees driven jobs to running a "kids camp " at Surat and Blore where they read stories for kids and plan activities for them
and setting up forest camps in Jim Corbett and kinnaur in himachal .
YET MAKING GOOD MONEY....

Finally youngsters are following their heart... boldly with the support of education.

Thinking creatively to solve problems....

BBC Showed a pgme on NGO called Development Alternatives which is run by Ashok Khosla (who left his high paid diplomat job).

As part of its activities, they have built check dams, use cotton waste to make paper instead of wood etc, which protect the environment and at the same time has brought changes in lives of rural masses of U.P.

how fair are we?

2005-05-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

Women folk in Indian society are called “ Ma Sakthi” and praise them as Fair Sex not for silly reasons.

Indian men have certain birth rights because they are born with some spl chromosomes, get every thing on a platter whether it is education, sporting activities …etc worth a huge a dowry and get married …continue to indulge in vices like drinking and womanasing give birth to kids and

One fine day, these souls depart to the heavenly abode leaving his young illiterate wife to fend for herself and for her children.

The case study is my servant maid. Her hubby was a drug addict.

Forget about Reservation in Parliament, the highest law enacting body of this country….
.women do not have right to life, education and right over her body….thanks to female infanticide, dowry deaths, rape …..crimes against women in various avatars.

Double standards is the word for it. On one side, put her on a pedastal and another side dump her ..

No MBA can can help....

2005-05-05T06:52:00.000-07:00

Personnel management (literally ) rather man management ( men out weigh women folk in central govt offices)
is really taxing, tackling their egos and preferences…
breaking their web and
making them work needs lots of tact….

Rain in summer...

2005-05-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

I was busy like hell today, don’t know about hell, I do know about my office….

There was no time for anything, to eat...., to reply to friend’s calls (one of them from a friend wanting to convey her wedding day scheduled for the month of june) ….to see if its raining outside…how tragic… not to watch rain drops falling in the hot afternoon of May 4 th

And I carried some work home which is against my principles…..in the evening pushing my fatigue aside , managed to go the mkt

Then I saw the left over rain drops on the leaves….smelling the wet earth walked along.

Naming the days.....

2005-05-03T10:31:00.000-07:00

Everyday is some day.

Today, is World Asthma Day and Press Freedom Day,

How do we remember these days?
Every pressure group, every professional association declares some day with some theme…. .

One hit song,
its played everywhere from FM to Marriage halls to discotheques,

now it is the turn of “ dhoom machale dhoom…” number…

Sunidi Chahaun manages to hit the charts with every song of hers

its never too late

2005-05-03T06:07:00.000-07:00

Its never too late to be what you might have been’

GEORGE ELIOT

HOW TO CHEER YOURSELF UP....

2005-05-03T05:52:00.000-07:00

HOW TO CHEER YOURSELF UP…

When things don’t turn up as they should inspite of your best efforts

Don’t get bogged down.

Like presently, MTNL is harassing me with disconnection of my telephone line though I have paid the bill in time. I ran from pillar to post and wasted my valuable Saturday only to hear “our records say unpaid”.

Instead of getting depressed ( infact I was irritated), decided to invite a friend in the neighbourhood for dinner just to cheer myself up.

So Do something crazy….constructive, channelising ur energy positively

(sounds like Saurav ganguly talking?!!!!!!!) .
But,then ,I have already written to press about my grievance,so waiting to see if it works out....

A VIEW OF TWO CITIES

2005-04-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

Every city has its good and bad elements unique to it.

Like Delhi is more greener than any other city, bangalore may come close to it,

I wish Chennai also takes to this habit of greening itself in a big way, though there is water scarcity most of the months in a year, efforts at govt and individual level gradually bring changes over a period of time.

In Delhi u find people organizing functions in the roads by putiing up a tents and furniture etc, bring food and then leave the road dirty not bothering to clean the wasted food and paper plates. So much for the cleanliness where the govt slogan reads “lets make Delhi cleaner and greener

Greener fine but cleaner no…..

Young Turks in CNBC tv is interesting to watch as it shows the young ,upcoming talent in almost all the fields are shown.

women and films

2005-04-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

A film festival of women directors to be held in India Habitat Centre next week,

it is interesting to watch Iranian and Israeli films, Such movies throw different light on these societies contrary to what the Western media projects.

My favorite newspaper....

2005-04-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

Articles in Hindu, on career etc made good reading.
These days we find more such essays than the actual opportunities

Mallika Sherwat....end means everything,not the means

2005-04-29T09:08:00.000-07:00

It is a joy to see a bud bloom to a flower. I thought the jasmine plant, would not survive this long, when I planted it last year, in my little garden. First flower bloomed yesterday night, I was ecstatic.

Jasmine is called Malligai in Tamil, so it was common to name the girl children in Tamilnadu as Mallika once upon a time. The name Mallika seems to be in fashion again in the other side of vindhyas now after Mallika Shehrawat (though we have a Mallika Sarabhai , the great dancer but she has a tamil connection) going national and now global. She has finally arrived at Cannes Film Festival in her own way (with lot of attitude) where every actress is vying to step in .And, every designer is after her to present clothes so that she wears them in Cannes.

slice of life: weather

2005-04-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

slice of life: weather

weather

2005-04-28T09:27:00.000-07:00

So the freak weather continues…sandstorms in UP, dust strom and rain in Delhi,

heavy rains in Blore and snowfall still in HP and so Rohtang Pass could not be opened yet.

Is it really freak weather or a pattern emerging? Effects of Global Warming…?.

Comments any one?

NDTV these have started showing live temperatures of World Cities with

live pics .Interesting .

VANAKKAM

2005-04-24T04:53:00.000-07:00

GOOD EVENING !
LIFE TAKES US PLACES.
YES,IT IS A JOURNEY.
WE ALL MOVE.FROM SMALL TOWNS TO CITIES.VILLAGES TO TOWNS.ONE COUNTRY TO ANOTHER.
IN SEARCH OF OPPORTUNITIES IN EDUCATION AND OCCUPATION.

WE ARE ALL GLOBAL CITIZENS.HOWEVER, THE PLACES WHERE WE HAVE GROWN HAS DEEPER IMPACT IN WHAT WE BECOME.

I AM FROM CHENNAI....