SAYANORA TO 2010 WELCOME TO 2011

It is certainly not one more new year as far as i am concerned,It is a new year, worth the word "NEW" in many ways.Exactly an year back when the new year ushered in, i was feeling lost, confused and was in serach of something with out knowing what it is.It is perhaps the burden of 2009 which possibly clouded the thoughts and memories of 2010.

But with the clock ticking towards the dawn of another new year(Hardly 32 hours to go) i feel that the New year is going to be one which will fulfill many of my dreams and ambitions.At this point of time i also feel that the worries and anxieties which haunted me at the beginning of the year were more of my own imagination rather than reality.

First let me have a look at the most important events which had an impact (PAIN OR PLEASURE OR BOTH)on me during 2010.(ON A PERSONAL LEVEL)

1.My daughter's transparent mail to me in the beginning of the year(It appeared as if i was expecting the same and hence i took it with out batting an eye lid.)
2.My brother's demise which shocked me beyond words and infact made me to feel guilty and depressed for almost a few months .(One of extreme pain)
3.My son's astounding achievement in completion and submission of his thesis in record time by any standards(Oone of complete satisfaction and happiness)

Next comes the events in official atmosphere :
1.My elevation to the highercadre in my official capacity(possibly the last one before my retirement) which became effective in February 2010 , though the promotion list was released an year back.(The long waiting period has really taken away the charm and hence i was highly balnced-Neither pain nor happiness)
2.Successful completion of the 9th ANNUAL REPORT(with possibly one more annual report awaiting my dedication and focus) of my organisation amidst various time and management pressures/expectations.(It gave a mixed feeling of joy and sorrow, joy emanating on completion of the task and the sorrow , due to the results not being in tune with expectations).
3.My successful efforts in getting promptions to all most all those who were working under me and satisfaction derived in forming the second line who can take over any time when i am destined to leave,(This gave me unadulterated peace and happiness).

And then follows the events of a general nature:
1.The scandals at the state and national level all at the cost of innoscent common man pained me beyond words.The fact that the perpetrators did not have the decency to aplologise for their misdeeds make me wonder as to whether we deserve democracy at all?
2.The votes being auctioned for a price and the public also becoming a prey to the
vily intent of the dirty politicians again disturbed me a lot.
3.Some movies with a very good sense of purpose and with high technological excellence, some of the coveted feats in the world of sports(though COmmon welath games may not be equated to Olympics)gave a sense of satisfaction to some extent.

Over the entire period of one year my Religious fervour and my belief in the supreme being went up higher and higer with each passing day, because it made me to come to an understanding with my own self, enabled me to maintain my peace of mind and also stood as testimony to some of my prayers being fulfilled within the time by which i expected the same to fructify.

SO THE NEW YEAR 2011 STARTS WITH MORE SATISFACTION AT THE PERSONAL LEVEL, A SHADE OF LESSER SATISFACTION ON AN OFFICIAL LEVEL AND WITH NIL STISFACTION AS FOR AS ISSUES RELATING TO COMMON MAN ARE CONCERNED.

LET ME HOPE, WISH AND PRAY THAT OUR JOINT PRAYERS BRING WEALTH, HEALTH AND PROSPERITY TO ALL AND LET THERE BE VICTORY OF GOOD OVER EVIL IN THE NEW YEAR.

WELCOME HOME- HAPPY JOURNEY

I have often wondered about the speed with which time flies. At times the whole world appears to be crawling at such a slow speed that you feel that it has stopped its movement all together. And at other times you see that time has passed in such a great speed that you were taken by surprise at the out come of the events at the end of the period.

LAST 2YEARS , ESPECIALLY the period between October 2008 todate (Dec 2010) stand testimony to my sttaements. I saw the time coming to a stand still and i also winessed the time galloping at a breakneck spped, alternatively in the past two years,

And when i sit back, bring back my senses to a focus and start analysing things, wisdom dawns on me that time has always flown in the same manner in which it was flowing in the past and the manner in which it is going to flow in future also.It is my emotions, anxities and fears with which i have approached the issues that made me to believe otherwise.

October 2008...Personally and officially one of the most challenging times in my life journey.In retrospect i find that this time followed exactly an year after the wonderful phase that i had, in HYDERABD in the company of my son.It was not known then what was in store in the next year to come.Every thing was great, pleasant and satisfying in 2007.It all turned topsy turvy in 2008 .Conflicts of hearts went thru by siblings, the hurt that was witnessed, the depressing moments that followed all broght the time machine to a stand still/The gravity was felt more with the office atmosphere also becoming demanding each moment, with stiff targets and still stiffer schedules .In short nothing was going right in 2008.

The dawn of 2009, spent in a train journey from Mumbai to CHENNAI along with my wife marked a new beginning. WE had been bid fare well by our son a couple of hours back at DADAR.The parting is always sad and that moment when all of us were in varying depressed moods did not benefit either.I I got up right at midnight awakened by the chantings of group of women who were proceeding to Adi sakthi beedam at Melmaruvaththur .Right at the dawn of the new year i saw the lamps being lit and slogans peing chanted right on the paltform of a station where the train had come to a halt, in praise of Goddess Parasakthi.

I had always been an ordent baktha of Lord Srinivasa(Balaji of thirumala).And ever since i spent a couple of years at kolkatta, i had become equally attracted to the prowess of Goddess Sakthi, in her many forms.So when i was awakened that midnight, i took it as a message from the goddess that the future is going to be bright and shining.My sentiments proved right. There were welcome changes in the home front, there was a much awaited break thru for betterment which happened to my son and things started returning back to normalcy . Even at this point of time the extent of change that is going to sweep thru, in the career of my son was not felt by us and it was just perceived to be a change for the better , when it happened.

We had to wait for the dawn of 2010. It again had in store some surprises(SOME POSITIVE AND SOME NEGATIVE).while 2010 witnessed the bereavement of my dear brother, it also witnessed the home coming of my beloved daughter after a hectic, tyring and rewardless career of 2years in a private sector bank.It gave the elevation in my posting as DGM of a nationalised bank,But by that time all charms in elevations /promotions have all ceased to exist.

2010 WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR ONE UNIQUE EVENT.MY SON'S ACCOMPLISHMENT IN LESS THAN 6MONTHS IN SUBMITTING A THESIS ON A SUBJECT, WHICH IS DEAR AND NEAR TO HIM.At the point of posting this blog there still seems to be some uncertainties as to whether he will have the privilege of submitting it in person or whther he will have to authorise some one to submit the same on his behalf, to fulfill the time limit prescribed for submission.It is an irony that a feat which calls for recognition and appreciation of the highest order, is getting in to the usual Bureakratic rules and not getting the desired reach.Any way that is aprt of the game .NO regrets on that.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT A JOURNEY WHICH STARTED IN JULY 2006 IN HYDERABAD IS COMING TO A BEAUTIFUL END IN DECEMEBR 2010 AND THE SENSE OF PRIVELEGE ENJOYED AS A PROUD FATHER IS SOMETHING BEYOND DESRIPTION.WORDS FAIL ME AT THIS TIME.THEREFORE I STOP AT THIS JUNCTURE, JUST WISHING MY SON THE BEST WISHES ON HIS HOME COMING.LET HIS JOURNEY DOWN TO CHENNAI BE FULL OF HAPPINESS AND WONDERFUL MOMENTS SO THAT WHEN HE LEAVES FOR HONGKONG IN ANOTHER FORTNIGHT , TO START ANOTHER CAREER WITH PASSION AND ZEAL, ALL THESE GLORY AND HAPPINESS WILL FOLLOW HIM FOR EVER...

WELCOME HOME MY DEAR SON

FRIENDAD

HAPPINESS IS A STATE OF MIND

I had been to Hyderabad , one of the places i have developed an instant love,and returned yesterday night.

The reason is purely personal and despite that being a personal visit i was able to do some official work also incidentlaly.

No more suspense:),the visit was intended to spend some time with my son, who had been working like a Robo for the past 4 months to bring his thesis to a shape before the d day..meaning the day of departure to Hongkong.

Let me admit that i am totally naive in so far as his studies and pursuits are concerned. I have infact been a clasic example to vouchsafe for the title of this blog"ignorance is bliss" especially on this count. Perhaps my leaving his path open with out any abstruction is the only contribution, i have made to enable him to reach his goal!!ANy way that is besides the point.

I wanted to be by his side , when he was nearing one of his cherished goals, despite the odds that he had been going thru , exactly an year back.In july 2009, it was not even clear as to how long it will take for him to settle and then to proceed on his pursuits .But as people say, good people and honest people never need to be anxious about the outcome.The Gurus (Ref his mentors from his school life to the life at IFL university), the peers, the collegues and host of his friends had a deep faith in him and faith begets faith.He has not let them down.I am given to understand that once my son submits his thesis, that possibly would be the one completed in the shortest possible time.It does not meant that it lacks in content or quality.the fact that every chapter of his thesis is vetted by one of the authorities on the subject, who is known for his widom, domain knowledge and accepatance at International level , is enough evidence to indicate the quality of the thesis .

Infact i wanted to spend a couple of hours with his mentor at the University , (despite the embarassment that my son was indicating to me , in doing so,) by inviting him for a dinner.But as luck would have it (despite my son inviting him and his agreement in readiness to join for dinner) due to some trouble at the campus site ,his movements were restricted and hence he could not make it. It was my misfortune in not being able to convey that single word "thanks" to him which would have made my trip whole some and complete.

No regrets. I am a firm believer that every thing which happens is for our own good. MAY BE BETTER AND MORE APPROPRIATE TIME, POSSIBLY WOULD BE WHEN MY SON IS CONFERRED PhD and i will wait for that moment to meet the great mentor and guide for my son, during his campus life.

And the days flew fast, as expected. I landed at Hyderabad on a Saturday night and returned back to Chennai on Tuesday night.While Hyderabad welcomed me with cool breeze and a lovely climate, on return Chennai welcomed me with thunderstorm and showers.And when you have been in your best of moods , climates really do not matter. And if the climates are those which you have always liked(I love rains, cool breeze and the streets having a clean look after the thunderstorm)it is a two in one gift/treat from the forces in heaven.

And the day after i landed i was told by my son that his chapters have been given a Green signal, by his mentor. and our joy knew no bounds.We celebrated like kids, going into any hotel/bar that we happened to see, ordering food at random, retiring to bed as and when we feel like, visiting places together (places which we used to frequent in my earlier sojourn in Hyderabad during 2008)viewing TV at odd hours , ordering coffee/tea as and when we liked and so on and so forth. The only thing we did not accoplish was going together to a movie (Not that we had any craze for movies, but only to loosen ourselves to the last bid).that is because the theatre timings did not measure up to our energy levels and expectations!!

And these 72 hours will be etched in memory in golden words,for we know that it is a prelude to the seperation that we are required to handle which is in the offing for the next 720 days, the days he is going to be on his pursuit of another PhD at HONGKONG, another place which has developed me in a positive manner, during my stint in late 90".Like father . like son, is proved again and again.

NOW I LOOK FORWARD TO HIS CROWNING NEW HEIGHTS IN HIS ACADEMIC PURSUITS WITH GREAT MENTAL BALNCE AND WONDERFUL PHYSICAL HEALTH.I AM FOR SURE THAT HIS JOURNEY OF 1000 MILES HAD STARTED WHEN HE LEFT LOYOLA AND AM SURE THAT HIS STINT AT HYDERABAD INDICATES AN INTERVAL TIME.( A TIME TO LOOK AT THE PAST AND A TIME TO GAZE THE FUTURE TO BALANCE HIS JOURNEY) THE CLIMAX OF HAPPINESS AND BLISS AWAITS HIM AT HONGKONG AND WITH WORTHY BLESSINGS OF HIS SUPERIORS AND LOVE AND AFFECTION OF ALL OF US, I AM SURE 720 DAYS WILL PASS LIKE A WINK OF AN EYE.

hip hip hurray, My friend son, i am proud of you and bless you from heart of hearts,

MONEY VS HAPPINESS

HI,

I AM JSUT REPRODUCING AN ARTICLE ON THE SUBJECT.I LEAVE IT TO INDIVIDUAL SELVES TO DRAW THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS.I FOR ONE BELIEVE, THAT MONEY, WHEN ADEQUATE BRINGS HAPPINESS AND WHEN IT IS N ABUNDANCE, BRINGS YOU WORRIES.THE BEAUTY IS THAT MONEY CAN CREATE OR MAR HAPPINESS , NOW CHOOSE YR WAVE LENGTH.


The Economics of Happiness
By John Robbins Research is clear: Money doesn’t buy happiness, reports best-selling author John Robbins. So why do we continue to think that it does?


When I was 21, I told my father that I didn’t want to work with him any longer at the ice cream company he co-founded, Baskin-Robbins, and I didn’t want to depend on his financial achievements. I did not want to have a trust fund or any other access to or dependence on his money. I wanted to discover and live my own values, and I knew that I wasn’t strong enough to do that if I remained tethered, even a little, to my father’s fortune.

I left Baskin-Robbins and the money my father had made selling ice cream because I didn’t want to live a life of affluence based on a product that could harm people’s health. I also recoiled at the idea of inheriting a life of privilege while so many others had to struggle for their basic livelihood.

I didn’t take the steps I did because I thought money is bad. On the contrary, I believe money is good and important. Without it, it’s impossible to thrive in the modern world and difficult even to survive. But money isn’t a god. It’s something to use. Not something to crave or to worship, and certainly not something that should rule our lives.

There seem to be two schools of thought about the relationship between money and happiness: On the one hand, there are those who say money isn’t that important. “You can only become truly accomplished at something you love,” writes Maya Angelou. “Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.”

In her camp is the environmental advocate John Muir, who once said that he was better off than the billionaire E. H. Harriman. “I have all the money I want,” Muir explained, “and he hasn’t.”

On the other hand, there are those who say that money is essential, and that there is something spiritually pretentious and elitist about pretending otherwise. It’s not the love of money that is the root of all evil, they would say, but the lack of money.

Maybe money can’t directly buy happiness, but it certainly can buy lots of things that contribute tremendously to happiness. While it is possible to be happy with less, it is far easier to be happy with more. They would argue that those who believe money is not important have probably never watched their children go hungry.

I believe there is truth in both camps. Up to a certain point, money is vital to happiness for almost everyone. It can buy food, clothing, and housing and provide for other basic needs. Once a person’s basic needs are met, though, money takes on a different meaning.

For a family barely scraping by, $500 could be the difference between paying the rent or being evicted—between having a place to sleep and being homeless. To someone more affluent, $500 might simply mean a few hours spent shopping for clothes, or that much more financial security and increased savings.

But what does science tell us about the relationship between money and happiness? A vast amount of research about the question has been conducted globally in the last few decades. As more and more scientists have become involved, the studies, experiments, and forms of research have become increasingly sophisticated. No longer must scientists simply rely on what people tell them. What people say can be verified. Well-being can be assessed by various empirical measures with high consistency, reliability, and validity.

This research has consistently pointed to a conclusion that might surprise some: Money brings happiness only insofar as it lifts people out of poverty. Once that point is clearly passed, the link between monetary wealth and happiness is actually very small.

Why money is like beer

Take, for example, the people of Denmark and Sweden, who have consistently been found to be among the happiest in the world. These prosperous societies score at or near the top of most measures of quality of life, happiness, and social well-being. What makes things interesting, though, is that the people of Costa Rica, according to these same studies, are actually happier, even though the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of Costa Rica is only one-fourth that of Denmark and Sweden.

Similarly, the Guatemalans are happier than people in the United States, despite income levels only a tenth as high. And the people of Honduras are as happy as those of the United Kingdom, even with a per capita GDP that is only 12 percent as great.

In fact, the more you look at the data comparing people’s monetary wealth with their levels of happiness, the harder it is to see any correlation at all once you get past the poverty line. Surveys of the richest Americans, for example, show happiness scores identical to those of the Amish, a people who intentionally live almost entirely without cars or telephones.

Of course, the lowest life-satisfaction scores come from the world’s most destitute people. The happiness numbers for homeless people in Calcutta, India, for example, are among the lowest ever recorded. But, according to research by psychologists Robert Biswas-Diener and Ed Diener, when these people have enough money to move off the street and into a slum, their levels of happiness and satisfaction rise and become nearly equivalent to those of a sample of college students from 47 nations.

Psychologist David Lykken, summarizing his extensive studies on the subject, says that “people who go to work in their overalls and on the bus are just as happy, on the average, as those in suits who drive to work in their own Mercedes.” How about the ultrarich? According to a study by Ed Diener and his colleagues, the Forbes 100 wealthiest Americans are barely happier than the average person. The happiness scores of the richest Americans, in fact, are only slightly higher than those of Masai tribesmen, a semi-nomadic African people who live without electricity or running water.

After analyzing more than 150 studies on wealth and happiness, Diener and his colleague Martin Seligman, two of the world’s top experts on the science of happiness, wrote: “Although economic output has risen steeply over the past decades, there has been no rise in life satisfaction . . . and there has been a substantial increase in depression and distrust.”

Money, it seems, is a little like beer. Most people like it, but more is not necessarily better. A beer might improve your mood, but drinking 10 beers not only won’t increase your happiness tenfold, it might not increase it at all.

Yet we keep thinking that having more of the things money can buy will make us happier. Despite our current economic problems, we still have bigger homes, more cars, more appliances, and more possessions than any people have ever had at any time in history.

But has acquiring all this stuff been worth the costs? While we’ve been on this multidecade shopping binge, our rates of depression, obesity, heart attacks, divorces, and suicides have skyrocketed. Antidepressants are now the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. As a nation, we consume two-thirds of the global market for drugs prescribed to combat chronic sadness and hopelessness. One study found that today, the average American child experiences higher levels of anxiety than did the average child under psychiatric care in the 1950s. And yet, when Americans were asked in a survey what single factor they believed would most improve the quality of their lives, the most common answer was “more money.”

Maybe we’re caught in ancient fears of not having enough to make it, primal fears of not having what we need to survive. Maybe we’re stuck believing that nothing is ever enough, that true satisfaction is impossible because danger lurks around every corner. Maybe we’ve been bombarded from an early and vulnerable age with the message that money and the things it can buy are our only ticket to happiness. And maybe we’ve been hampered, as a people, by the fact that the primary index we have created to measure our economic well-being is absolutely guaranteed to get everything wrong.

Pointing us in the wrong direction

For the past 75 years, the GDP has been the fundamental measure of a nation’s economic progress. The reason the United States is considered the world’s most prosperous nation is because it has the largest GDP. Economists, politicians, and other leaders take for granted that the higher a nation’s GDP, the better off are its people.

Unfortunately, using the GDP (and its nearly identical twin, the GNP) to measure well-being and genuine progress makes about as much sense as using a fork to eat soup: It’s the wrong tool for the job. Two months before he was assassinated,

Robert F. Kennedy explained why:

Our gross national product counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors, and the jails for the people who break them. It counts the destruction of the redwoods, and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl. It counts napalm, nuclear warheads, and armored cars for the police to fight the riots in our cities. Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country. It measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.

How can we develop a healthy relationship to wealth and to genuine economic progress when our most fundamental gauge to assess societal well-being is so askew? The GDP, like the GNP, simply adds together all monetary expenditures. The GDP does not care one whit what it is we’re consuming, about how equitably distributed a country’s wealth might be, nor whether the money we spend is ours or is borrowed from future generations. It is entirely possible for the nation with the world’s highest GDP to also have the world’s highest poverty rate and the world’s highest level of national debt.

The GDP rises whenever money changes hands. When families break down and children require foster care, the GDP grows, but not so when parents successfully care for their children. People who max out their credit cards buying things they don’t need make the GDP look good. People who save their money and live sensibly don’t. Seen through such a lens, the most economically productive people are cancer patients in the midst of getting a divorce. Healthy people in happy marriages, in contrast, are economically invisible, and all the more so if they cook at home, walk to work, grow food in a home garden, and don’t smoke.

In recent years, the GDP has gotten substantial boosts from toxic waste spills such as the Exxon Valdez disaster and the boom in prison construction. Meanwhile, natural resources such as rivers and oceans, topsoil and forests, the ozone layer and the atmosphere, are seen as essentially valueless, unless, of course, they are exploited and converted into revenue. But even then, the GDP measures the resulting economic activity in a manner that is fundamentally misleading. As economist



Mark Anielski points out, by counting the depletion of natural resources as current income rather than as the liquidation of assets, the GDP “violates both basic accounting principles and common sense.”



Alternatives to the GDP

One of the reasons the current financial crisis took so many economic experts by surprise is that the systems we use to measure our economic well-being failed us. They did not register that the euphoric growth performance of the world economy prior to the 2008 downturn was, in fact, utterly unsustainable. It is clear now that much of the then-heralded economic growth was a statistical mirage, based on real estate and stock prices that had been grossly inflated by bubbles. If we had had a better measurement system, would we have seen the problems earlier? Would governments have been able to take precautionary measures to avoid or at least minimize the present turmoil?

As long as we continue to rely on the GDP, our leaders will lack a timely and reliable set of wealth accounts—the “balance sheets” of the economy. Fortunately, many efforts are underway to develop economic indexes that are far more reliable measures of genuine wealth and progress than the GDP. Amartya Sen is a Nobel laureate in economics from Harvard who has received more than 80 honorary doctorates for his work in understanding the underlying mechanisms of poverty, famine, and gender inequality. He is also one of many leading economists who recognize that, as he put it in 2008, “the gross domestic product is very misleading and something must be done to get better measures of well-being.” Professor Sen and another Nobel laureate in economics, Joseph Stiglitz, are co-chairmen of the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress, established in 2008 by French president Nicolas Sarkozy to develop an alternative to the GDP.

The government of China, similarly, is increasingly recognizing that the nation’s torrid economic growth has come at a growing ecological and social cost. Anielski, author of a groundbreaking book on alternatives to the GDP, The Economics of Happiness: Building Genuine Wealth, is working with the Chinese government on how to adopt “green GDP accounting.” The goal is to take quality of life and the environment into account when measuring the country’s economic health.

There are many other alternatives under development, including one being created by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, an international consortium of 30 countries that are committed to democracy and the market economy.

I’m heartened to see the many efforts under way to develop alternatives to the GDP that take into account the health of our lives, the strength of our communities, and the sustainability of the environment. And yet it is no simple task to develop a monetized system that can measure the real determinants of happiness and well-being and do justice to the vast complexities of modern economic life. It may be that no single alternative index will emerge to entirely replace the GDP, and we will come to rely on a variety of indexes, each with its own perspectives, to provide us with as complete a picture as possible of the real state of our economic affairs and our societal well-being. And then perhaps we will be able to develop policies that lead to our ultimate goal—a sustainable prosperity shared by all.

DEEPAVALI-PART 2

My earlier blog post on DEEPAVALI dated 4th NOV 2010 was a sort of an appetiser and this post is a follow up of the same.

This year , i did not celebrate Deepavali, as i have lost my beloved elder brother.Besides the little accident that i had , resulting in injuries on forehead and eyes have dampened the spirits further.And the fact that my son was away at Hyderabad(not that he is very fond of celebrating DEEPAVALI-SEE HIS BLOG ENDLESS HORIZONS on his views on the same subject)and the reality that possibly this would be my last occasion to celebrate Deepavali with my daughter (as perhaps next year she might be the worthy DIL of some other house hold)all left a feeling , a mixed one at that.At the end of all those thoghts i was a little puzzled and dazed at the same time as to whether i wanted to celebrate it or not.

And that brought me to my sences and a memory down the lane to recall how many times i have celebrated the festival with passion and how many of them i could really recall at this juncture.

The first memory i could recall with certain amount of certainty was when i was doing my scholling in CHENNAI.My BIL's brother who is no more now and who was such a pleasant and positive personality is the one whom i am reminded of now.He was running a commercial type writing institute in those days in the busy USMAN ROAD, at T.NAGAR. DEEPAVALI's arrival will be known well in advance as he used to run some cracker shops with his friends, more as fun than anything else.So atleast a week in advance the crackers of all sorts will be at home,and to add sweet memories to DEEPAVALI my sisters and the elder sister's daughter (who is my wife now)will all be spending their time in kitchen preparing various sweets and savouries.I still recall how earnestly they used to prepare atleast 3/4 types of sweets and 2/3 types of savouries.Infact what is prepared for Deepavali will last atleast oone month and used to take care of evening snacks' requirements for the next one month.

The chain of sweet shops one sees today are not heard of in those days.Infact neighbours will check with each other to check the sweets and savouries being prepared so that there will be no duplication when the delicacies are exchanged on the eve of deepavali.It was one such deepavali, when the whole family had retired to bed earlyto wake up next day morning(we used to get up at 2-3 am those days so as to claim that we were the first to burn crackers in that street ).It was midnight when there was continuous sound of crackers which was deafening.There was also noice of vessels being thrown about. It took a few minutes for us to realise when and where the sound is coming from.It was from the kitchen where we have kept the crackers on a stove(at low levels of burner) to keep the crakers warm to escape the rainy climate as there would invariably be rains around DEEPAVALI TIME.(This year the rains were delyed by 24 hrs.Ref JAL JAL). Crackers worth Rs 1000 (in those days) were burnt to ashes in no time and along with it all sweets and savouries prepared were all thrown down on the floor. The entire neghbour hood has ssembled in no time (as there used to be atleast 8 tenants in each house in those days).Fortunately the new clothes purchased were saved as they were kept near the pooja room.And the house is probaly really strong to have escaped any major disaster. There was not even a crack in the walls.By the time all of us have cleaned up the whole thing (after reckovering from the initial shocks)and were getting ready to have the GANGA SNANAM , there was the sound of an auto in front of the house. To our utter surprise my BILs brother has arrived , clad in his new garments, (white was his favourite) with another big box of latest variety of crackers, the sweets from the BOMBAY HALWA HOUSE(Only known sweet shop in those days)and the whole atmosphere sudenly changed from sort of gloom to overwhelming brightness and cheers.That was the first deepavali etched in my memory.I was about 12 years old then.

Exactly 13 years later when i turned 25, the scene shifted to Kolkatta, wherein i celebrated deepavali in the company of new find friends and in my latest passion Viz Tamil literary activities.Atleast a minimum of 20 houses would have invited for deepavali and in each house it was a case of warmth and hospitality at its peak. "Sevikku unavillatha pothu, sirithu vayitrukkum eeyappadum" STATEMENT WAS PROVED IN THAT NIGHT OF DEEPAVALI at Kolkatta.

The scene after 10 years , shifted back to Chennai.In the owned house, in the company of beloved son(who is to become the best friend in the later years) deepavali was celebrated taking care to ensure that the sound of crackers were kept minimal so as not to scare way the little child.An year later another joyful addition to the family , in the form of goddess laxmi,arrived and the circle is now complete. Thereafter each DEEPAVALI was an wonderful experience, acting the role of a husband, the role of a son and the role of a father to take care of the little needs of all around me.(ofcourse the major burden was handled by my beloved wife and my role is to say yes to what ever she says:))..

Deepavali after a couple of years in 1996 was noteworthy. That was the time when the news of Hongkong posting has been received. The undersigned flew from Delhi to Chennai to celebrate DEEPAVALI .No crakers, no sweets nothing. It was the closeness and warmth of the family knot, which was the hall mark of this Deepavali. The recognition that the next deepavali to be celebrated will be only after 3 -4 years (as i have decided to go alone to Hongkong due to family compulsions)added to the glitter and glory of the Deepavali, in 1996.

It was a long await thereafter. It was in 2002, when i returned back from Hongkong that we celebrated DEEPAVALI together as a family, after 5 years.The years in Hongkong saw again a repeat of KOLKTA days,the warmth and friendliness and the mantle worn by the undersigned as the President of Hongkong Tamil cultural association, enabled the undersigned to spend days of DEEPAVALI in great moods of happiness, not withstanding the seperation from the family.2002 will be remembered as the year when i celebrated DEEPAVALI with my grown up son and daughter(in their teens) and that was the time when i came to know that as a protest against child labour, my son has stopped burning of crakers.It was a new wisdom to me.

Next couple of years saw my daughter and son drifting away to various places in pursuit of career and thus Deepavali, just came and went year after year with no specific feelings associated with it.AS my son drew reference in his blog, the DEEPAVALI of 2007 was significant in the sence, me and my son were theretogether enjoying the cosy comforts of Hyderabad and its hospitality .

2o08 and 2009, less said the better. Both my son and daughter were away from us on their job compulsions.Personally and shychologically there were many challenges to be faced and conquered.Thus no real chrm in those years.

2010-The expected storm showed mercy and went away to some palce in AP.BUT THE SKY BECAME OVERCAST TO provide the right kind of back drop.AS i indicated in the earlier part of this blog, because of demise of my brother there is no Diwali for us. But atleast 3 new couples(including my cobrother's daughter who got wedded last Novemeber) were celebrating their THALAI DEEPAVALI. And two couples celebrating Thalai deepavali belong to my own street. In the last 25 years of my existence at MADIPAKKAM i have not seen such a DEEPAVALI , CELEBRATED WITH FRENZY AND FAN FARE. What started off as a mild sound of a cracker on Thrusday night became deafening as the night progressed and the entire sky had a colourfullook on the morning hours of Friday.It apapeared as if the entire city was celebrating to compensate for our inability to celebrate.

And at the end of the day when i retired to bed my mind was thinking about 2011 already..where it will be with whom it will be and so on..but the lesson of DEEPAVALI AS THE VICTORY OF GOOD OVER EVIL is already engraved in memory and with those prayers, i retired.

HAPPY DEEPAVALI

Deepavali, the festival of lights . Every one would have seen its beauty and splendour in many forms and some like my son would prefer to keep away from the sound and noice created by it for his own justifyable reasons.BUt the purpose of this post is to establish an instant contact with every one reading this blog, however distant they are (I meant not only distance of places but also distanced hearts), and to make use of the festival,,an alibi!, to wish them good luck and happiness in all endeavours that they are presently in and those that they are going to embark on in days to come/ for rest of their life.

Deepavali has many symbolic messages,Hindus , atleast those in southern INdia , consider it as a victory of Goddess (God took the form of Mohini, the eternal beauty)to avenge on NARAGASWARAN.At the request of Naragarawaran, the god gave the last boon to the dying soul, that his death will not be an occasion for any one to shed tears, but it would be a moment for every one to celebrate and rejoice,for his death symbolically represents the victory of GOOD over EVIL forces.

AND HERE COMES THE WORTHY LESSON. Day in and day out we suffer, we fight, we are challenged,we are overcome and exhausted by evil forces in many ways. Corruption,falling ethics, deterioration in values, dis regard to elders and superiors and so on and so forth. Despite all these odds and the limitations in which we function(the famous author NA PARTHASAEATHY, IN HIS FAMOUS NOVEL PON VILANGU draws a beautiful reference to this state of affairs when he uses the word "SOOZH NILAYIN KAITHI..TRANSLATED AS "PRISONER OF CIRCUMSTANCES"S) at the end of the day when we retire to bed, if wec ould recall the way in which we have spent the day, we will recall how many odds have been overcome and how subtly and how deftly we have conqured many evils (internal and external) at the same time. Thus every day in fact is worth celbrating as Deepavali by those who have steadfastly stood by their goals/karma and did every thing to attain it. AGAIN i did not mean the effect of it, i mean the efforts towards it.AND THAT IS ENOUGH!!

Coming back to the festival perse, it is also called the festival of lights. In fact down south there is a seperate festival of lights, called Karthigai deepam. The famous temple in South called Thiruvannamalai,(Malai neans HILL) willbe the centre of attraction on this day when the HOLY LIGHT willbe spotted on the top of hills when all houses and all temples simultaneously will be litting lights .The whole town will suddenly becomw acity of lights and perhaps the diwinity and unity seen in that moment is GOD himself.

Deepavali is associated in my earlier times(or as per my eraliest memories) with purchase of new clothes, firing of crackers, eating of sweets and more particularly exchanging pleasantries with neighbours, friends and relatives. With communication becoming an explosive force in the currrent century, and with every house hold having atleast as many cell phones as the number of persons in the house..Note..I am yet to possess one:)the visits to homes and to exchange pleasantries have almost stopped.With DIABETES, the silent monster entering every house hold, sweet consumption has also halved. Still the wonder remains as to how so many sweet shops (chain stores at that) are making a merry kill during these festive seasons!!Waht still remains is the arrival o9f rains (almost always around deepavali), slippery streets, the deafening noice of crakers, and the smog created by the fire, smoke and the glloomy sky atleast as far as Chennai is concerned.

My child hood charm of deepavali is identified with new clothes. In those days there was only one occasion(deepavali) when you are assured of atleast a new shirt, if not pants. NEXT CHARM is the visit to elder's houses when you will get lot of things to eat.At home the carm lies with Steaming IDDLIES served with Milagai podi and nallennai. I remember consuming thru out the day , only iddlies, iddlies iddlies in that order.Still, to date, my weakness for the same have not subsided a bit!

Over a period of time, as would normally happen with the widening of knowledge horizon, it has dawned now that the festivals are meant to bring about an econonmic upheaval. Think of the number of shops that survive during these periods by wooing any one and every one with their products.But that is at a macro level At a micro level the festival is intended to bring about a bondage among the family, friends and relatives.With TVs coming to the centre hall of each home, even this bonding is threatened nowadays.

BUT THE BOND OF LOVE AND AFFECTION IS SO STRONG THAT IT WOULD SURVIVE ANY NUMBER OF THREATS.HERE AGAIN IT WOULD BE A SUCCESS OF THE GOOD OVER THE TEST AT THE END.

LET us therfore celebrate deepavali to bring to gether our love and affection and may the world in that process become a better place of peace and prosperity to live in.

THI JANAGIRAMAN...LIFE REVISITED

I look back in awe the years that i have traversed, the challnges that i have faced and the mile stones that i have crossed.And though i would not like to make any comparison at any levels(based on wisdom gained in late forties) still in the heart of hearts , a silent comparison goes on. Your self with your peers, yourself with your superiors and last but not the least your self with your enemies!Hold a moment. At this age and experience i do not want to call any one as my enemy as life has tuaght me that more we are against some one it would onley mean our own inner hurt and injuries and hence better to give them a decent burial and move on.

And coming to talk about the internal hurt and injuries, obviusly one can not miss the external hurt and injuries.And ofcourse the internal hurt (i mean those relating to heart and mind)is a silent killer while the external hurt and injuries(obvious ref is to the phusical well being)are some thing and at most of the times are mangageble by your own lelf with little or nil outside help. Still when the outside atmosphere is one wherein your hurt and pain , whether internal or external, are shared and understood the recovery becomes faster.

My reference is to the none too serious hurt (in retrospect) which i sustained by tripping and falling on a rainy day near the footsteps of my house, resulting in a blood stained shirt and a few deep cuts just above the left eye.And the result is this post and few days of compelled rest and recuperation.

The challenge which i made a reference to in the earlier part of the post and the comparison i drew are with reference to my long innings(32 BALANCE SHEETS.NOT OUT)as an executive of a nationalised bank.After what appeared to be a dream come true of finalisation of accounts, atleast a week before its approval and in really relaxed setting,(possibly letting caution go to the wind, and in that split second, the tripping and falling all at the same moment) , brought back the basic lesson. Be conscious even when you relax.And that resulted in understanding what is happening all around at a more surfaceous level.And it also helped in knowing how much people care and respond to your problems and worries.And with each such sharing the pain eased and with each such inward mail the recovery is becoming faster.Thanks to every one of them who cared...And very often in life, it is this little caring , shown at the appropriate time that can do wonders to the outside world .Let us practice it at every moment as if it is a "THAPAS". More importantly it enabled me to move towards some of my child hood goals , which as an adult i have started attending to with some regular consistency in the recent past.

The goal which i mentioned has got nothing to do with career or ambitions. AS i mentioned once, my pain and my happiness , i know are bound to come and go in circles and i know that it is important to treat them alike to reach the level of utmost inner peace, I feel at times this recognition it self is as good as reaching the goal itself.Still the goal or rather the apt word is the dream, which i have accomplished in these days of compelled rest is to visit the Short story collection of Thi Janagiraman.I have finished almost 800 pages of his book in a span of little over two days and the more i read, the more i feel better and better,Few authors and their writings can have such a beautiful influence on you.

The fact that THI.JA.RA, belongs to the very same soil to which i belong ,(Tanjore) is besides the point.The fact to be appreciated is that once you are with the stories you feel as if you are revisiting your birth place, experiencing the experienc of each character therein and more importantly understanding the subtle messages that are thrown in plenty, in between the lines.Just as variety flowers and their fragrance his characters portray the strength, weakness, success and fall of the human beings .The characters are those whom you meet day in and day out. They belong to you or rather you are what has been portrayed in various shades thru these chracters.And once you finish reading teh same, you hve an immense experience, serene peace within and a charm which lingers within as if it is born along with you.

YES. SOME ONE SAID THAT BEST FRIENDS ARE BOOKS.THI JA RA PROVES THAT POINT .

And the recovery from the accident becomes faster, when you start reading a book like that, when the thick clouds and the drizzle in the sky make a beautiful back drop to the settings.All are possibly intended to make the lesson clear, the life merrier and the experience stronger.

At the nd of it the comparisons vanish, the enmity is overtaken by friendship, love , pure love rules the golden moments.

with that great feeling i sign off,

ENTHIRAN-MASTERPIECE!!

Let me at the outset clarify that i am not a great fan of Rajnikant.In fact i am an ordent admirer of KamalHasan and possibly this blog will not have sufficient space to record my appreciation of kamal's great avatars.

But that should not stand in the way of my sincere appreciation of the movie 'enthiran" and hence this post. Again i would like to make a disclaimer to the effect that whatever has been conveyed thru this post is not another advertising gimmick on behalf of "Sun pictures" who in my opinion had slightly over done their part in so far as advertisement and publicity goes, with the result some of the natural chrams of the movie, which would have been otherwise relished by a movie goer when he sees it first time,had already been A CASUALTY.

NOW COMING TO THE FINER POINTS OF THE MOVIE , let me say it as short and sweet as possible>

> The three roles played by Rajni, as "Scientist,as Robo with Constructive features and as Robo with Destructive features" are brilliantly portrayed with very deft and subtle chAnges in hair style, walking style, intonation and delivery of dialogues and semblances of Rajni of 16 vayathinele & 3 mudicchu come back with a vengence after decades.Cudos to dance masters WHO HAD PERCEIVED THE LIMITATIONS OF RAJNI IN DANCING AND STILL CHOREOGRAPHED apt movements for him in his song sequences as a scientist and as a Robo.While the dance steps itself may not be very challenging, what is to be applauded is the body movements exibited by Rajni when he is singing and dancing as a human lover and as a robo lover. The transition of feelings to Robo and its after math, the kissing by Ishwarya Roy voluntarily first and by force later are shots which are beautifully scripted and consummated.HATS OFF.
> Ishwarya Roy-Awesome is the word which comes to my mind.There is none to equal her beauty and grace in the present day cinema, in my opinion. And her dances are full of elegance and some of the dresses that she wear are so attractive to her and to her alone ( for any other actress it might have appeared to be a mis fit or even bordering on vulgarity). From the days of Jeans (ANOTHER MOVIE BY shankar) she has come a long way. But years have added to her beauty .The expressive blue eyed girl, with her natural charm as "Ulaga Azhagi" justifies her role 100%. IN FACT IT IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW MOVIES WHEREIN HEROINE is present in every frame of the movie as hero himself and not with out valid reason.Her body movements, her mannerisms and eye movements especially when she meets with Robo FIRST AND TAKES HIM AS TOY FRIEND, first, later as BOY FRIEND and still later as a Wicked Monster are something to be chrished upon by every Rasigan of cinemas.
> The story line , simple and straight.What happens when A ROBO created by man kind tries to imitate the man kind itself? MAY BE FOR "C" class audience the movie might have appeared to be a show of technology , hard to digest unless they had access to Electronic yuga.That should not however take away the credit the stoty line demands, and the credit in full measure should go to my favourite author SUJTHA (out of admiration for whom my daghter has been christened by me as Sujatha).And even his nick name RANGUSKI,(in the movie the character or name pertains to a mosquito which bites Ishwarya roy leading to hilarious movements thereafter)shines thru the screen as his writings richly deserve.Three cheers to Sujatha, Shankar& Shankar in that order.
>the movie, if it is to be voted for first half and second half respectively, in my opinion the first half steals miles over the second half. And perhaps this impact of the first half gives enough momentum for the second half.Three scenes are note worthy.The first one when the Robo is tutored by Villain to attack Rajni himself, the second one when Robo saves people from a major fire disaster and the third one when the Robo supervises safely a complicated delivery to a woman.The dialogues show the class of SUJATHA.Eg:When the Robo goes to save the naked woman taking bath from fire, the woman protests saying that she is not wearing any dress. Quips the ROBO"I ALSO DO NOT WEAR ANY DRESS'.Similarly when Rajni admonishes RObo indicating that the woman is not having any dress quips the robo"she is having life".The fact that the media glare drives the woman to commit suicide is another event which distubs the hearts of the viewer.
>SONG SEQUENCES ARE APT AND BRILLIANT.AR RAHMAN has done his home work admirably well.Technological excellence is the best part of the movie.The fight sequences are grand and new to TAMIL CINEMA. Especially the second half steals the thunder when the Destructive Robo takes over complete charge.

Some of you might rise an eye brow as to whether there are no weak links at all.Yes there are few, like the wastage of two comedians, talent of a great villain of Hindi cinema NOT BEING PROPERLY TAPPED and slightly over extended fight scenes in the second half.BUT VIEWED IN THE TOTAL BACKDROP OF STORY, SONGS,PICTURISATION AND SPLENDID DIRECTORIAL TOUCHES BY SHANKAR BESIDES THE ACTING PROWESS OF RAJNI AND ISHWARYA, THE MOVIE CAN BE CONSIDERED AS WORTH WAITING FOR ITS RELEASE BY MORE THAN 2 YEARS.After quite a length of time , interms of production value and action sequences, Tamil Cinema is really giving a tough competition to Holly wood cinemas and that is what matters most..
...

vijaya dasami celebrations

The Hindu functions (please do not treat this as a post from a fanatic Hindu)like any other religious functions of other castes have their variety and charm.It is quite unfortunate that these functions are now being carried out more to prove that they belong to a particular caste/creed/religion etc rather than to understand the inner significance and appreciate the nuances of the same.

Possibly the persons to be blamed are persons like me who witness the transition , with out being in a position to influence them in any way..Silent spectators to the events around us. REASON IS SIMPLE. One generation previous to ours had the time , enery and willingness to stick to the laid down values, principles and dictums of their religion.No questions asked.Mere compliance. And they had their say in those days.Possibly they understood why they did certain things and why they chose not to do certain things.But the generation to which i belong to seldom asked questions. HAD WE ASKED QUESTIONS WE WOULD HAVE GOT THE ANSWERS.Whether we are comfortable with teh answers which we got is a different issue . But atleast we would have done some thing or stopped doing some thing with a reason for the same.This did not happen and therefore we blindly followed the previous generation.

Then came the present generation.A generation, with energy, high IQ levels and a tendency to ask questions on any thing and every thing, whether it be religious beliefs, whether it be scientific discoveries, whether it be the acceptance or other wise of the existence of GOD.Our generation which simply copied the earlier generation did not have convincing answers to the questions of the present generation.The result is , non compliance, diversity of thoughts, a journey which will take place only when answers are known.

It is in this back drop i sit to analyse the deep rooted meaning of Durga pooja.Whether one believes in existence of god or other wise is immaterial. Every body will agree to the existence of MOTHER, as they owe their presence in the present world to them.MOTHER is some one who has given her life, blood and life to her siblings. AS some one remarked "God can not be every where and therefore he created mothers".Some one else remarked that "there may be good or bad women around us, but all mothers are good."

Thus Durga is nothing but the manifestation of the Mother.We celebrate Durga pooja in various forms, in style. In Mysore it is Dussera, In Tamil nadu it is NAVARTAHRI,in Kolkata it is 'Durga Pooja".By what ever name you call it it is nothing but thanking the mothers.Mother has given her children the wealth of life, Knowledge and power / Her blood is the milk with which the present generation has come to stay and grow with energy.With out her love and affection life would have lost its relevance and its meaning.As one grows up the love and affection of father, sisters and brothers, near and dear, lover and wife and so on and so forth will be enjoyed. But the first point of love and affection is due to the mother .

Mother teaches confidence, makes the baby strong, fight against ailments,feed the food, gift the child with apt dresses and other valuable gifts from time to time.MAY BE THE MONEY IS DERIVED IN THE YESTER YERS FROM FATHERS, But today when the women have started ruling the world, they are capable of gifing any thing and ever thing to the children by themselves.

Durga poja MANIFESTS ITSELD AS SARASWATHI POOJA(GODDESS OF EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE),LAXMI POOJA (GODDESS OF WEALTH) and KALI POOJA(goddess of STRENGTH-of mind and body alike).By praying on these days to the three goddesses what we really do is to symbolically crave the blessings of all mothers in the world who made their children proud by extending comfort and affection, at all times, not withstanding their own ailments/limitations.

Mother is the symbolic epitome of "SAKTHI(POWER)" and Durga pooja symbolises worshipping all three powers which make the humans to lead the present life with happiness and peace of mind.yes, WEALTH, HEALTH AND KNOWLEDGE,three ingredients of a peaceful and puroposeful life in our material world..

LET US UNITE TOGTEHR TO INVOKE THE GODDESSES WITH OUR PRAYERS ON THIS VIJAYADASAMI DAY and offer our gifts to the living GODDESS OF THE HOMES..MOTHERS.

MAY VIJAYA DASAMI bring every one prosperity,peace of mind and ever lasting happines in all walks of life. .

ENDRENDRUM ANBUDAN
(with ever lasting love)
VISION

COMMON WEALTH GAMES

I did ponder over the title even when i started penning this blog.Whether Corruption Wealth GAMES WOULD HAVE BEEN AN APPROPRIATE TITLE?

But by giving such name i will be insulting 101 medalists who have performed and shown their talent & patriotism to this country..38 GOLDS,27 SILVER AND 36 BRONZE is the medal tally at the end of the games for India and in the process India also took the second place in the top 3 slot, beating England by a narrow margin of one gold medal.

ALL 101 WINNERS NEED OUR APPRECIATION IN TOTO.THEY HAVE DONE IT NOT WITHSTANDING THE LIMITATIONS INCLUDING THE LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE WITH WHICH THEY HAVE TO COME TO TERMS WITH.GREAT CHEERS TO THEM FOR THEY DESERVE EVERY ONE OF THOSE CHEERS.

At the same time, what is painful is that the glory and honour that these athletes brought to India had been engulfed in the after math of corruption charges levied against kal madi (STONE UPSTAIRS!!).It is quite possible that the persons who are really the culprits will escape any punishment , thanks to the manner in which the political parties will fall head on heels to back them and the inability of the law enforcing agencies to do any thing against the wishes of the top brasses.

But the fact remains that this country can do wonders if there is only proper life line from those who are at the helm of affairs. Imagine the extent of medal tally, had our athletes got the same environment and infrastructure and support facilites as their competitors did enjoy.

THE LOUD AND CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE WORLD AT LARGE IS THAT INDIA IS CAPABLE OF ACHIEVEMENT AND ATTAINMENTS.ITS YOUNGSTERS CAN DO MARVELS TO BOOST THE IMAGE OF THIS COUNTRY.AND LET NOT THE DIRTY POLITICIANS WITH THEIR VULGAR AND SORDID ACTS OF CORRUPTION DO ANY THING TO MAR THE GLORY OF FUTURE INDIA..LET US MARCH TO 2020 WITH THE CONFIDENCE OF YOUNGER INDIA SURGING AHEAD.

birth day celebrations

I have often wondered and often passed stringent comments on thsoe who used to celebrate birth days.In fact i do not recall any celebrations in my house hold itself till i turned 15, of any bith days, be it that of father , mother , sisters or brother.

Perhaps my hardened stance on birth days is due to lack of celebrations of any such birth days in my younger years or perhaps it may be attributed to my own revulsion at the way in which some of the political leaders used to make it as an advertising compaign to reach their ends.

I think my first remembrance of a birth day was when my father turned 60 (Shastiapthapoorthi celebrations).And mind you i was hardly 5years old and thus the memories of this event were as temporary as a passing shadow.

The time when i realised the importance of a birth day was when i moved to my sister's house, when i was about 13years old.My sister and brother in law, in their income, which was then just sufficient to make both ends meet used to celebrate their birthdays, those of their siblings and that of mine too.Even then i used to think it as a waste of money as i knew how difficult to earn a rupee in those days.But my brother in law(in his best moods) is a person whose passion, enery and enthusiasm in such matters is sort of contagious and whether you wish or not you will be engulfed by it.

There will be invariably a visit to the temple in the morning hours, follwed by some sweets at the house, some outing to a theatre near by in the evening ,preceded by a session at a near by hotel (it used to be invariably My coffee bar near Shathi theatre in those days).The sessions at the hotel used to be fun (and at times embarassing too) as he(my BIL) used to order for a plate of bajji or Mangalore bonda(to which my wife developed an instant liking in those days and may be for the same reason i developed an instant dislike!!) and then start cutting it and distributing to the memebers of the family.(If you count it there will be atleast half a dozen members ).Obviously with the first round of distribution the tiffin is over.

What was behind that distribution is love and affection,A desire to treat in the best way possible not withstanding the limitation of resources and ensuring every ingredient is present (thogh in limited manner)to make it lively At this point of time in life when i spend hundreds of rupees on any outing and when i compare the outings i used to have then and now, and the levels of satisfaction derived,then and now, the former is a winner, hands down.

And the habit imbibed from my BIL slowly grew and as it normally happens , found its outlet when i became a lover/husband/father in that order.And slowly the pleasure of giving, rather than the pleasure of receiving started sinking in.And also the message behind such celebrations.

The birth is a god send gift to us and lease period is in suspence..In the intervening period, it is not merely enough if we have our love and our affection on those around us unless the same is given an outlet in some form, be it words, be it some gifts ...

And only very few people like my son have a gift of words to show their love and affection with out any contamination whatsoever..Those who would like to have a glimpse of his vocabulary , reach and depth may pay a visit to his blog "The endless
horizons" .

This post is not intended to have a reference to the blog, it is a reference to the
energy, love and affection that such words can show on one's birth day making him/her feel as if he/she had really done something worth justifying their living in this universe.

If that be the case every birth day is worth celebrating, for it is reiteration of values, bonding, friendship and ever lasting love and affection..AND THAT IS THE LESSON LEARNT ON THE 60TH BIRTH DAY....

Hi,
CAUTION;LOOKS LIKE IT IS BECOMING MORE LIKE AN AUTOBIGRAPHY, SO DO NOT VENTURE TO READ IF YOU DO NOT LIKE IT..
At times i used to wonder how i have succeded all these years(ofcourse it is my own judgement and my interpretation of success and therefore if there is any difference of opinion,i am glad to welcome the same)despite my shortcomings.I list out the short comings as perceived by me and as perceived by others.
laziness
forgetfulness
shorttemper
lack of dress sense
MASTERY OVER NONE
Lack of friends
Adamantness
Weakness for home food
shortsightedness(I mean myopia)
Shortness(I mean, physical trait , only normal height and not impressive height)
Tendency to insist for punctuality from others...
List is endless. Then for fear of driving away the scant readership i hold, i refrain from describing them.

Then it struck me that i should pssibly do a soul searching to find out whether at all i have got any good qualities/traits which have possibly been sustaining me despite my weakness/shortcomings.

they are as under:
My poor memeory is the first to be voted for .It enabled me to forget the wrongs others have done to me soon and it also enabled me to fogive them.
My friends are far and few.But they are all God send gifts. THEY have always been faithful, transparent and prepared to accept me the way i am. I mean both genders.THAT ENABLED ME TO build confidence in my own self.Whether they are far or near does not matter. WHat MATTERS IS THE BELIEF that they will stand by me 100%in case of a crisis.
My passion for my studies and for my job.I will not claim to be extraordinarily brilliant in what i do.But i strive to do them as perfect as possible/within my set limitations.
My myopic sight prevented me from indulging in any thing which is possibly fraught with slightest of risks and to that extent life was smooth and flowing.
LACK OF dresssence, enabled me to bring a fort around me wherein only those who know me can freely enter and the others keep away.To that extent relationship prblems are less.
My two smart children(now adults) who never made any extra ordinary demands on me and were content with me as a father.AND THEIR BRILLIANCE IN WHAT EVER WALK OF LIFE THEY HAVE CARVED OUT FOR THEMSELVES.
My wife. my worst enemy and my best friend, who made things at home lively at every moment by doing things to my like and to my dislike all at the same time, thereby bringing a spark in the otherwise dull and dreariness which would set is after a few years of marriage.The fact that we have diametrically opposite tastes in all walks of life make it all the more better,Opposite poles attract each other ..right!!
My love for books,fiction, non fiction,biography,poetry call it by any name. And my profound taste for literature , classical dance and music,..

ABOVE ALL , THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.THE RECOGNITION AND WISDOM WHICH CAME TO ME IN MY MID FORTIES to accept that every human being is either 100% perfect or 100% imperfect and the fault is not on them, but on the circumstances(which could have been caused by any number of factors including my own likes and dislikes )and therefore accept all those around you with their plus and minus (in totality).AS a
ZEN story goes, hatred and enmity and anger are not doing any thing to the person aginst whom it is directed but it does all the more damage to the person who is having all these feelings, Shed them , you become free and relaxed all the more.

LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST ,MY ABSOLUTE FAITH IN THAT COSMIC FORCE (BY WHATEVER NAME YOU WISH TO CALL IT) AND THE CONFIDENCE THAT I DERIVE OUT OF THAT TO BELIEVE THAT"THIS WILL ALSO PASS THROUGH" AND THERE WILL CERATINLY BE" THE SUN SHINE AND FESH BREEZE "TO BLESS MY WALK OF LIFE...

I wish my friends and others like to have this frame of mind to convert weakness into strength, challenges to opportunities, hatred to love and see how there shortcomings have themselves proved to be the source of their strength.

Taking things for granted

Quite often in life we take things for granted.Of course we also take people for granted!!. A seperate psot about it later.

This post is to highlight the difficulties encountered when we take things for granted and how a few precautions in the normal course would be of great assistance in mitigating the same to a great extent.Let me also make it clear that the purpose of this post is not one of fault finding.

Very often we tend to assume that since we continue to handle a function/work in a particular way and since every thing is going on smoothly ,ther eis nothing to suspect the bonafides or todoubt the pitfals if any which may not be to our knowledge.Let me elaborate.

We continue to handle a bank account.WE have given the nomination particulars. We have given proof of identity. WE have given the pan numbers. We have given standing instructions for renewal of deposits or trnasfer of balances to another account.WE therefore presume/believe that tax will be properly deducted and credited , the proceeds will be automatically reinvested on maturity, and in the event of an worse scenario the nominee will get the proceeds.In other words we have taken for granted that instructions, once given will automatically be implemented by every one concerned.Far from reality.

You have to check and ensure (even it is embarassing to you and even your fine manners prevent you from doing so )that you have a confirmation regarding nomination made by you, a confirmation of updation of your instructions in the master reord of your account.Otherwise , as it happened to me , when my brother passed away and when we stepped into the bank to get the proceeds as nominee, it transpired that the nomination was not at all recorded any where and added to that the account opening form itself was missing. A fit case for reference to banking ombudsman.Still the finer qualities of gentleman, prevented from creating a scene at the bank and instead a mediocre approach of cajoling and convincing was to be taken.But some people will never listen to reasoning and that wisdom dawned after half a dozen attempts to meet the bank manager. The fact that they have lost the nomination form as well as account opening form itself would be sufficient reason to pin point that the bank was at fault.However attempts to convince them indirectly , to give comfort level to them(as after all they are protecting the money on our behalf with out allowing access to the same !!)by indicating to them that all along the account was operated by my wife(as my brother was physically challenged) and all along they have been honouring the with drawals made by her, that the account was one of the very few accounts to be opened on the inaugural day of the branch itself and that the self had been made as nominee in respect of a few other possessions of my brother (like LIC policies-fortunately these nominations were available)were of no avail.Thee were very polite(is it so..my wife fumes)but maintaining the stand that i should get a VAO (VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER )certificate to make the claim.

Here begins the journey again.All those who happened to read this post , beware.This post is not to scare them away, but to make them understand not to take things for granted.VAO office is one in which tables and chairs will always be there, but the personnel, atleast those who can respond will be missing.Again a dozen attempts to reach them. Once you establish a contact with them, you get the wisdom that to enable them to take up your case you shold get a clearance from a THASHILDAR'S OFFICE, directing the VAO to take up the issue.AGAIN SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO THASHILDAR'S office. MANY A TIME YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO Meet them, and in case you are successful, you are put off by their initial remarks that the issue do not fall under their domain or that they are not the authorities to decide on the isssue.One has got to be extremely patient, resourceful, energetic and also dumb (outside appearance atleast ) or extremely smart to get to know who should be approached, what is to be done and hoe to handle the whole affair.Then you are given the stamped clearance to proceed back to VAO directing them to examine.

Here once again whole lot of queries (which make you understand how many things you have taken for granted 0 will be asked.This would include among other things , death certificates of your father, mother,brother, brother's wife and so on. Most of them we would not have obtained (because they seldom left any properties or they have passed away decades back) or would have been obtained and lost somewhere in dust bins.IF YOU DO NOT PRODUCE these certificates the doubts that they have will vary from your having driven away your parents to old age homes(to deny them the due share of the property !!)or having committed the murder of your brother's wife, or still further your brother having married more than once and having ditched all of them with out giving them even a penny of his earnings !!!hahaha

ASSUMING YOU ARE ABLE TO REASON WITH THEM , they will give you atlast set of papers advising you to get signature of atleast 20 people (respectable!!) of your locality certifying correctness of various particulars furnished by you (the fact that all residents of my locality have come in after a decade of my occupying that place does not matter).Once you do this exercise and revert back to their office, it would have been shifted elsewhere ,about 20-30 kms from where it was operating as the owner would have evicted them for the peanut rent that they were giving.Here again you have taken for granted that they will continue to operate in the same office !!!Then once you locate and hand over the papers (and please take a photo copy of the entire set before delivery as you can not fault them for missing it since they have not faulted you for not keeping in possession the death certificates of your ancestors), they will keep you guesiing as to the date on which you should call on them .Bettr note down the name of VAO, the name and telephone (read as cell ) number of the assistant to VAO etc as you should atleast clal them a dozen times before you can get their disposal.

After you get the VAO's disposal you are required to call upon the Revenue officials who will have his own question and answer session before finalising his remarks on the claims made by you.After disposal of the Revenue official , you will be directed to meet the THASHILDAR (whose office earlier directed the VAO to examine the case and submit the proceedings).HOLD YOUR BREATH NOW........

Thashildar WILL ASK YOU WHO HAS DIRECTED YOU TO HIM/HER as it is not within his powers/authority to give a disposal on your claim to the property....HOWEVER HE WILL BE GRACIOUS TO TELL YOU THAT HE WILL RECORD HIS INABILITY TO EXERCISE HIS AUTHORITY AND THAT HE WILL REFER YOU TO COURT TO take an appropriate approval from the court. SOOOO KIND OF HIM...

All because i have taken too many things for granted, including that my brother will outlive me!.PLEASE THEREFORE MAKE A WILL RIGHT AWAY(EVEN IF YOU HAVE NO PROPERT AS OF NOW) BEQUEATHING ALL OF THE SAME TO YOUR NEAR AND DEAR so that they will not scold you in the extreme happening, BY RUNNING FROM PILLAR TO POST..

A MOMENTOUS DAY AFTER 4 YEARS

3/10/2010

The sky was overcast.There were welcome drizzles.Only for a short time. But enough to create the right mind set for us to rejoice the day in full.

Yes an occasion that calls for celebration and celebration of the highest order.This was the day when my choice of a female child was honoured by the almighty, 25 years back.It was the birth day of my beloved daughter.

And we were together to celebrate the event, after a span of 4 years of seperation when she was busy and away from us with her academics first and with her career later.Yes of course, the absence of her beloved brother ,to be with us, on this day was to some extent a dampening one .But then we overcame that by talking with him atleast 3/4 times ,there by making it appear that he was there with us mentally if not physically.

And when i look back these 25 years, i have got more than one reason to feel contended and grateful.From a child (when she beat her brother in taking the first subtle step to walk) till now, it had been a colourful episode, marked by her stunningly passionate(yet underlined by a very subtle and soft undertone)escapades .The first ever memories however point out to a child always leaning and longing for her mother.BuT AS DAYS PROGRESSED THERE WERE MORE SIMILARITIES between father and daughter(as my son used to recall often) in various walks of life, including taste for chilly food and an admiration to carrer options.

Getting the state rank in economics, completing the career at college by travelling thru a rode, which was under construction (from the start of her graduation till she finished it!!), getting involved in an accident which could have proved fatal, but coming out of it with no grudges or complaints, all point out to a firm personality behind the facade of that lean outer traits and that ever ready smile on the face.It is a beautiful flower with lovely fragrance but which will not be withered by outside happenings. There is a steel of nerve and a passionate heart within ,which makes the life growing and flowing all at the same time.

You can leave a house in rambles and come back after an hour to see that every thing is in place, bright and beautiful under her care.Whether it be her willingness to extend a helping hand (or a scratching hand!!) to relieve me of the itching which develops only when i sit for my dinner, or whether it is the soothing words with which she address me and my wife when ever we are about to make an argument into a war of words, or whether it is the swiftness with which she changes her dresses (Her fondness of new dresses, Chappals ,gadgets etc ,not necessarily in that order is itself a trqat to watch), the speed with which she addresses a problem ...oh the list is endless. She is a precious child and a gift of god .

May all her wishes come true and all her dreams become a reality. To mark that special day, we went for a break fast at one of the secluded but still popular restaurant in the morning, followed by a movie(seen by her for the second time in twenty four hours, to keep us company), and then a lunch at Sangeetha . I was teasing her for a commission on taking her to Sangeetha(details are personal).
By the time we returned back home, it was a day lived in its true colours , befitting the occasion and possibly setting the right tone and a note of music to linger for ever indays to come in her future.

My dear daughter
I ADMIRE YOU,
I ADORN YOU AND
I PRAY FOR YOU &
above all
MY DEEPEST AFFECTION AND LOVE TO YOU
on this momentous day...and every day that follows..

LOVING A CITY

New places have never been uncomfortable to me. In fact i love visiting as many places as possible,in the span of next 10 years or so (when my mobility is still intact)so that i can mingle with these places and get to know their nuances.

Perhaps all this liking started because of my father's employment in Raiways.He used to get passes for journey for himself and his family atleast once in an year.Possibly that was the greatest charm of railway employment in those days.I remeber travelling with him to quite few places during my child hood(i.e for about 5-6 years) as my father retired from active service when i was just 5 years old.Still there were visits occasionally after his retirement too,but these were far and few.

In the cosy comfort of the first class(you may hve to travel 30 years back to imagine what a first class compartment would look like in those days),in the warmth and security of father's arms , each station that passes by is a treat to watch. More importantly , because of the position that my father occupied in Railways and due to the respect shown in those days to those travel by first class(mind you it wasa luxury to travel in first class those days,A/C trains were not heard then), in each station uniformed railway staff would keep enquiring about food/coffee /tea requirements.And the food that is served used to be of great taste and quality.MEALS USED TO BE SERVED IN LOVELY designed plates(with no spilling over) with a beautiful cloth wrapped around the contents till it is served.Similarly the tea/coffee jars will have a unique style and greatness about them(Possibility of the british culture inculcated in them).To supplement the same, mother (who is equally fond of travels) used to bring some select items (nothing when compared to waht my wife packs of fro a train journey when she is in the right mood to travel).But a mother's touch is always different ..is it not? That much as reasons behind my fondness for travel.

The earliest journey green in my memory was the journey from Villupuram(Tamil nadu) to Vijayawada(Andhra pradesh).The hot iddlies on arrival at Vijayawada (with its great combination of Gongura chutney..my mouth waters even writing about it)the sound of train when it passed over the river Krishna, the rushing waters of Krishna below, the beautifully illuminated Goddess KANAGA DURGA temple at Vijaya wada all engraved in my memoery, instantly.SInce then there were quite a few small journeys between Chennai and Kumbakonam where my brother was staying.It used to be a night train and when we get down at Kumbakonam in the early morning hours the wind will carry a chill (courtesy , the river Cauvery which used to run at the back yeard of the houses, to its brim in those days) , the different types of Holy songs from the loud speakers from various temples in and around(Kumbakonam is called as City of temples for obvious reasons), the flavour of steaming coffee (from the famous Mangala Vilas -Brahmanal coffee kadai in those days)again stole my heart.

Then there were journeys to various places on account of career/Job.To Hyderabad,To Bangalore, To Kolkata ,To Mumbai ...all most all main metro cities .I had never felt alien or disturbed in any of those places. Instead i used to feel the very moment of my lnding at these places as if i used to belong to these places for ages.I am still unable to decipher the reson for the same(one of the points which used to be the cause for chiding by my wife who loves Chennai, Chennai , Chennai in that order!!) .Probably this made my stay/settlement at thse places much faster as compared to siblings of my age in those days.When you like a place(or for that matter a person, with out anticipating anything in return) i belive that there is more than reciprocation form the other end too and that has made my living an easy task in these places.

Yes, When you go to alien places, start developing a natural liking to the place, you will find that all other routine obstacles of anew place will fade into oblivion.And all said and done, i havae to admit one thing...The charm of journey under the warmth of my father , is not felt since then..Perhaps it is my turn to pmart that warmth to my children..I have been trying to do it whenever i can, and i think that they will also enjoy these conmforts and satrt liking the places they vist in their journey of life.

change is constant

The one thing which is constant in life is"change".The cahange could be of various dimensions. It could be a change of palce, change of relationship, change of job,change of career goals and so on and soforth.Though it is accepted by any one and every one that the change is inevitable, still when it happens, very few have welcomed this chang with open heart and head!. I am consciously making use of both the words heart and head as one is connected with emotions while the other one is connected with intellect.Infact many times there is a cnflict at this stge itself, i.e between the heart and head and the end is forewarned.

I am not stipulating the theory that all changes are to be welcomed always, whether you like it or not. What i am envisaging is that seldom you have a choice over the changes that are happening. If the changes are effected at your choice, then the acceptance follows automatically. When the same is thrust on a person, it is not viewed with favour and the resultant turbulence.

As a person who had witnessed cahnges quite often in life at crucial moments of life , with majority of them having been thrust upon me i pondered over the manner in which i have got accustomed to it.

The first, i recall is the time when the change is thrust on me when i have been forced to leave my parents (and in the process the wondeful warmth of the village wherein i was growing up and the few friends with whom i have developed a liking in those tender ages), and to move to chennai to continue my studies by staying in a close relative's house.The first reaction i remember was as if my freedom had been lost. i do not know whether i shed tears or not but i remember that i have spent a copule of sleepless nights(and remember i am a guy who used to love to sleeep (spg intended)for hours together).Then THE WISDOM DAWNED UPON ME THAT I DID NOT HAVE A CHOICE.I can not go to a job as i was hardly in 8th standard or so and i can not go back to the parents due to very personal family reasons.The outlook changed immediately. What can not be cured shall be endured..Is it not? Then came the ways and means.I developed a passion towards my new school, a liking to wards my teachers and a habit to become more friendly with any one around (from an introvert to an extrovert)and that brought about a sea change. And a change for the better. I remember the day when the news poured in at my village (where i returned back the day after writing my last of SSLC exams)that i have stood school first, i have secured the Government of India Merit Scholarship and that i am topper both in English and tamil language exams from among all students of Ramakrisha Boys and Girls High schools at Chennai.

Thus the change which brought me tears initially proved to be the ladder for my stardom at a later date. Yes my acceptance of the change is the starting point and that is possibly the beginning. There were friends, relatives and teachers who helped in various measures(within their limitations ) to enable me to continue my ride up.a special thanks to every one of them.

The next change took place when i shifted my job from a private company in Bangalore to a nationalised bank in Kolkatta and then from Kolkatta to Chennai to join in another nationalised bank.Mind you all these changes at my choice. So acceptance came naturally.But then after the last change to a nationalised bank in Chennai , the events elsewhere proved that my decision to switch over was not properly timed.The timing diiffrence was hardly 3 months between my batch and the previous batch It was not known then that this timing diffrence of 3months is going to result in promotional difference by 3 grades. Yes those who joined 3 months earlier rose to the level of General managers and even EDS while those who joined 3 months later were caught up (for no fault of theirs)in a turmoil of management vs association conflict with the result, a promotion which ought to have within 7 years (maximum) took 12 years .A career thus appeared doomed and the charm on loosing streak.The change in this case was at own choice, initially with a welcome smile , but then the change proved to be counterproductive.Here again i cant allow my self to be a prisoner of circumstances.After all i am not responsible for events beyond my control .In other words the change(arising as aresult of strained relationship between management and association)though not to my liking can not be wished away and hence to be accepted.This acceptance enabled me to look in to my own strngths and to project them properly over the years.With the result thogh i have not reached the level where i ought to have reached, i have nevertheless attained heights which give immense self satisfaction of having done my job well/Thus the acceptance of the change has again brought me , at the end of the day, a contentment.Hereagain there were superiors, collegues and host of others who took pains to understand my calibre(behind my rough ouside facade)and potential and i owe gratitude to all of them.

IF THE READER OF THE BLOG HAS THE PATIENCE TO COME UP TO THIS POINT, HE/SHE MAY BE WONDERING ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF THIS BLOG BY NOW.SIMPLE...

ACCEPT THE CHANGE AS IT COMES,WHETHER BY CHOICE OR OTHERWISE, LEARN TO ACCEPT THE OUTCOME OF YOUR DECISIONS,PUT IN YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD WITHIN THE FRAME OF LIMTATIONS THAT YOU WORK....THAT IS THE STORY OF CONTENTMENT AND SUCCESS(IF YOU MAY CALL IT SO)

A JOURNEY DOWN THE MEMORY LANE

Scene-1
It was a saturday after noon when i got the message and rushed from office.It was some 25 years back .

I had the first look.At this time i could not exactly recall the feelings which i had then,But i remembered heaving a sigh of relief.I was not knowing then that this relief is going to revisit me often during my life journey.

Scene -2
it was the vijayadasami day, 5 years later.Both me and my wife have been preparing ourselves as to how to prepare our selves for the event and how to handle should there be cries/tears.Then came the surprise.He just went in, with out even batting an eye lid or even turning back to wave at us.Again a sigh of relief...

Scene -3
It was an year later at school day celebrations,Fancy dress competition.A cute smart child takes the audience by storm, by walking onto dais, with calm eyes in saffron cloth and declares in a serene and firm voice 'SARVO JANA SUGINO BHAVANTHU".It was probably an indication of events that are to follow wherein the role of wiping the tears of others by being emphatetic to cause of others , is going to be witnessed.This time it is a sigh of pride..


Scene-4.
15 YEARS LATER.Airport at Hongkong.It was a wait since morning.The air craft arrived about an hour ago and still no trace .Anxieties keep building up.No way to enquire and find out.Then when the unnecessary fears and anxities almost reach the point of blowing up, the big screen out side the arrival lounch indicates arrival, and then follows another sigh of relief.Heavens open to rejoice and down pours last almost thru the journey from airport to City.

Scene -5
It was a holiday in chennai , and a septemeber evening.Through a chat over the computer (which used to be on and often),comes a message wallowing in self grief, but clearly indicating the firm decison rising out of pain of doing some thing which is not to the liking.The pain, when shared gets released and then follows relief..

Scene -6
It was 3 years later.A message awaits at the office that there will be an event to reward the outstanding graduates. Office routine prevents any luxury or even a freedom to attend such important event.It was excatly a week later the photograph depicting the moment of triumph comes in hand and now it is a sigh of great honour,pride and pleasure, all at the same time.

Scene -7
It was 2008.March.Hyderabad.Over a cup of coffee, in the back ground of a drizzling sky , the news is broken.War of hearts.Initial reaction was surprise and then a sigh of great relief-for it signifies the adult hood, acceptance of good and bad mutually.

Scene -8
2008 again.A saturday.Heavy heart and agonising moments.October, for a change is causing hurt.Second seperation in a span of 3 days . More than the physical seperation, the fall out of the relationship and the hurt that it inflicated.This time it was not a sigh of relief but a sigh of anxiety and anguish.

Scene-9
2009-July-Hyderabad.Life has come through an whole circle.The results announced indicate the topper, proving to the self and the world outside the tenacity within and the desire to fight and conquer than to lament and perish.This time it is a sigh of great joy, for it is the confidence which has been restored at levels beeter than at any time in the past.

Scene-10
2010-MARCH

News from Hongkong .Exactly reunion after a decade with another great city, in the offing.It is now received with such a balance of mind wherein there is no great celebration.Now the life has taught what the goal is and how to go about it.There is only a sence of purpose, sence of acievement and a sence of gratitude.

NOW COMES THE GREATEST OF RELIEF.AN ADULT WHO KNOWS HOW TO CARE FOR HIMSELF AND IN THE PROCESS TO CARE FOR OTHERS HAVE ARRIVED.

"MAGAN THANTHIKKATRUM UDAVI,IVAN THANTHAI
ENNOTRAN KOL ENUM SOL"

thanks to Thiruvalluvar....

A TRIBUTE TO TEACHERS

I do not know at this juncture, whom i should recall from my memories to honour them on this day devoted to Gurus,and i indeed feel guilty that i have not done it all along in the span of last 58years.My son is a guru, to me at this moment and the first heart felt thanks to him , for having reminded me about my omission, by his post, which is a classic tribute to his teachers.

And coming to the word "Guru", is it confined to only teachers(School, college etc0 or does it extend beyond that.To me before broaching on this issue let me place my gratitude to my teachers who made me what i am to day...

It goes back to Sita teacher(SRI DEVI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL), who took care of me during my first years of schooling, and in the same breath i must acknowledge my other teacher(my own sister Jayam)who with out teaching any thing, lives day in and day out as a role model to be pursued .

Then the memory lane takes me to the next important teacher of my life, who taught me the values of life, a strong belief system in God,self confidence by identifying, accepting and making me a leader to lead various debates, classes etc , who taught me mathematics and English and made me to secure state rank and a school first rank in my school.MANY OF THE VALUES IN LIFE WHICH I HOLD EVEN ON DATE , I OWE it to Sri Vijayaraghavachariar(RAMA KRISHNA MISSION HIGH SCHOOL-North branch).

My college days brought me back the passion for English language as well as Tamil langauge, and since then they were my two eyes.The ease and expertise with which i was able to handle the behavoural science classes ,in both languages , simultaneously later in my life as a faculty , the taste that i have developed to authors like Jayakanthan, Thi Janagiraman, NA Parathasarathy , JK, etc all flowed from my two teachers at College Sri Jagannatha Chariar(Tamil) and sri K.Srinivasan
English).I still recall with agony and pleasure at the same time, when my professor of English did the last part of Antony and cleopatra, the death scene of cleopatra.The entire class was moved and in tears at that moment when he acted like cleopatra,and none of us could take lunch on that day. All of us skipped our lunch as no one was in a mood to go to lunch.And that was the day i recognised the greatness of true love.

Then when i moved in to the professional pursuit, Sri Sadagopan, a chartered accountant by profession, taught me the values about the profession and th need to maintain the highest clarity and integrity, backed with practical wisdom in issues of importance.

LATER WHEN I HAVE TAKEN BANKING AS MY CAREER THE ONE PERSON WHOM I SHOULD MAKE A reference to for all the guidance that he gave to me is Sri Ganesan, who made my career graph to ascend the way in which it is presently progressing.

That much about the teachers, i.e the manner in which the term is loosely understood by masses-then there are many more teachers, like a friend in need, a father's untold love, a mother's spoken love, a sweet heart's timely advise, the actions and words of near and dear, a son and a daughter, and even the opposition of an enemy ,events in society which revolve around you all these are great masters of life. And as my son succinctly put it the life itself is the greatest leveller and to that extent a great teacher too.

I dip my banner in acknowlegement to all those who have contributed directly and indirectly in so many ways for shaping my life.

September 6, 2010 1:20 PM

Surya -The sun

Surian in Tamil langauge means the Sun God,and i would like to clarify at the outset that this post has no connection what so ever with the Sun-god.It is more with reference to the human beings, with Surya as their names whom i had occasion to move with/learn about..

And believe it or not, true to the names the incumbents, whichever gender they belong to, exhibited the warmth, brightness and the energy like the sun.

I recall that in my memory path , the first reference to Surya is to one of the siblings of my close realtive.I used to visit their home when i was alone In New Delhi(due to job compulsions) and used to frequent their home.,during week ends.
POssibly a child at the age of 8 or 9 perhaps, she has always been roaming around with a smile which is natural which normally comes out when a person is not under a compulsion to smile.With both her parents employed, i have seen her taking care of her younger sibling (2 yerars younger) till her parents return.The hospitality shown to visitors is always a treat to watch.To top it all she has been continuously arank holder in her academics that she pursued.The seed shows the quality of the tree. And yes , now in her adult hood she is employed with one of the leading financial institutions in MUMBAI and is perhaps taking home a salary , at double the levels of mine(which i have started drwaing only an year back!!.The point is not about the money /salary. The point is that even as of now, she is the same old kid Surya , in her approach, attitude marked with pleasantness, and the brilliance.

The next Surya, is the one belonging to Bolly wood.Perhaps i have seen almost all his movies though i am not a regular movie goer.What has impressed me about him, other than his acting talents is his sincerity of love when he wedded Jothiga, his coactress, possibly surmounting the family obstacles and patiently waiting to win any one and everyone's support for the same in due course of time.And his contribution to the society.Quite a few actors have been conscious of the society and have been contributing their mite(my first idol in this regard is KAMAL) , but the way in which Surya has started his association with noble causes (even before he became a celebrity so to say) including his participation in 'SAVE THE TIGER COMPAIGN" show his down to earth personality and the deep concerns that he has to wards uplifting society and his love for animals too.(i am specifically drawing reference to his love for animals as those who are capable of love , love every thing...human or other wise..and that is the major grandeur in life..to be in a position to love, whether it is reciprocated or not, for true love brings the harmony and peace within).

My last reference to Surya, is to a kid, hardly 2 years old.I remember the occasion when i went for the Seemantham celebration,to mUmbai, when the kid was in the womb of its mother waiting to see the world.Then the dawn arrived and so also Surya. The next time it was when i went to spend some time with my son who was working in Mumbai, who had the lively company of little Surya to give him some smile and comfort whenever he returns from a busy day at office, lonely and tired. And when i visited tahn i was attracted by 2 main features, one the dark,beautiful and energetic eyes and the second, its smile, readily available as and when you call the kid by its name.The third occasion was in Oppiliappan temple, the event being the first birthday of the kid, when its dark , dangling hair all over the head, had been cleanly shaven., a dazzling "mottai" in tamil, and i love "mottais" and i get happiness by a touch of such young children .And when ever i touched, Surya acknowledged with a smile.Then in the recent fortnight when i had been to Bhopal to visit my siter.Surya has also arrived with his patients. And two days with Surya, the games that we played(a fifty eight year old with a two year old), the echoing sounds which Surya emiited, the tingling of laughter all tru the day, the teasing moments we encountered when Surya gave a nice kiss to every one , except my wife who was begging for it almost from the time she arrived(Surya compensated later by hugging her and kissing her in exchnge for some "kalkandu")Alas , she has to bribe the child for a kiss, where as we all got it as a matter of right..Enough stuff for me to keep teasing my wife on that count ...

Children are really a reflection of the God.Their presence and their nearness is adequate to give you a smile and comfort.Possibly it is the quality exhibited from the child hood which mark the later part of life as an adult. If that is true,Surya, the kid, is going to tempt women around him in days to come with his teasing smiles, mischivous cries, and hide and seek games.And yes, the eyes are going to be his weapons to destroy the opposition, in split seconds..Glory to Surya..