WELCOME THOUGHTS TO MY SON

திரும்பி பார்கிறேன் விரும்பி பார்கிறேன் ஆம் என் அன்பு மகன் எங்களிடம் சென்னைஇல் இருந்து விடை பெற்று சென்ற நாள் முதல் (17/10/2010) இன்று வரை நடந்த நிகழ்வுகள் (இரண்டு வருட முடிவில்)அவை ஏற்படுத்திய சலனங்கள், அவை கற்று கொடுத்த அனுபவங்கள் என்று வரிசை படுத்தி போகலாம் .எல்லா அனுபவங்களுமே நல்லவை தாம் , அவற்றை எடுத்து கொள்ளும் மனப்பாங்கு மட்டுமே வேறு படுகின்றது என்று "யாரோ" கூறியது நினைவில் வருகின்றது. தசரதன் தன் பிள்ளை ராமனை விட்டு பிரிந்த போது அவர் அடைந்த மன வேதனைகள் பற்றி பல முறை பல வேளைகளில் , பல அரங்குகளில் , பல்வேறு வயதினில் கேட்டாகிவிட்டது.என் தந்தை என்னை விட்டு இருக்க வேண்டிய நேரங்களில், அதிகம் பேசாத அவர் தன் பாசம் பற்றிய உணர்வுகளை வெளிகாட்டிய விதமும் அனுபவித்து ஆகிவிட்டது.தந்தை மகன் என்றாலே ஆடும் புலியுமாக இருந்த உறவு விரிசல்களும் பார்த்தாகிவிட்டது. முதலில் நான் தசரதன் என்றோ என் மகன் ராமன் என்றோ நான் சொல்வதாக அர்த்த படுத்தி கொள்ள வேண்டாம் .தசரதனிடம் இருந்து நான் ஆரம்பித்த காரணம் எவ்வளவு காலங்கள் ஆனாலும் சில விஷயங்கள் மாறுவதில்லை என்று காட்டத் தான்.இன்று கணினி யுகம்.நினைத்தால் தொடர்பு கொண்டு பேசவோ. அல்லது(சற்றே பண வசதி கூடுதல் ஆக இருந்தால்) நேரிலே கூட விமானம் ஏறி வந்து பார்க்க வோ முடியும்.ஆயினும் பிரிவுகளும் அவை கொடுக்கும் வேதனைகளும் காலம் காலமாக அப்படியே தான் இருக்கின்றன.இன்னும் பார்த்தால் நான் சுட்டி காட்டிய சில விரிசல்கள் கூட பாசத்தின் மிகுதியால் அவற்றை சரியாக வெளிப்படுத்த தெரியாமல் போனதால் இருக்கலாம்..மன்னிக்கவும், எண்ணங்கள் தடம் புரண்டு விட்டன...மீண்டும் ஒருமை படுத்தி பார்க்கலாம் . மேற்சொன்னவை வைத்து நான் மிகவும் துயரத்தில் உள்ளதாக அர்த்தம் இல்லை.வலி இல்லை என்று சொன்னால் அது பொய்.அந்த வலி யை துடைக்கும் மந்திரம் என் மகனிடம் உள்ளது என்பது தான் உண்மை.நங்கள் இருவரும் ஒரு தந்தை மகனாக இருக்கும் நிலை தாண்டி நல்ல நண்பர்கள் என்ற நிலைக்கு எங்கள் உறவை வளர்த்து கொண்டதால் ஏற்பட்ட பகிர்தலும் புரிதலும் இந்த கால தூர பரிணாமங்களை ஒரளவு எதிர் கொள்ள எங்களை தயார் செய்துள்ளது. டிசெம்பர் 17,2010 அவன் விடை பெற்ற நாள்.2011 , ஜூன் மகளின் திருமணம் காரணமாக அவன் வந்து சென்ற நாட்கள் என் மனோ பலம் கூட்டிய நாட்கள்.மே 2012 தன் சகோதரியின் ஆசை மகனை அணைத்து உச்சி முகர அவன் வந்து சென்ற நாட்கள் நான் இல்லாத இடத்தை (வேலை நிமித்தம் நான் வெளியில் இருந்த நாட்கள் இவை)அவன் இட்டு நிரப்பிய நாட்கள். இப்படி பல முறைகளில் அவன் தன் வருகையால் வசந்தம் ஏற்படுத்தி சென்றாலும் , அவன் வந்தவுடனேயே , அவன் திரும்பி போகவேண்டும் என்ற நிலையே அவனின் முழு நேர அண்மையை முழுதும் ரசிக்க விடாமல் செய்து விடுவது வழக்கம் .மனம் என்ற குதிரை வசப்படுத்துவது எவ்வளவு கடினம் என்பதை உணர்த்திய நாட்கள் இவை .இந்த இடர் பாடுகளும் ,மன உளைச்சல்களும்,இவற்றுக்கு மேல் அவன் எடுத்து கொண்ட ஆராய்ச்சியினை குறிப்பிட்ட காலகெடுவில் , ஒரு அந்நிய நாட்டில், ஒரு அவ்வளவு இணக்கம் இல்லாத சூழலில் முடிக்க வேண்டிய நிர்பந்தங்களும் அவனுக்கு அதிகமாகவே உண்டு.அப்படிபட்ட நேரங்களில் ஒரு சாட்சியாக மட்டுமே இருந்து கொண்டு, எந்த விதத்திலும் அவனுக்கு உதவ முடியாத சுய இரக்கம் எனக்கு மிக உண்டு. ஆனால் அதையும் மீறி அவன் முயற்சிகளிலும் ,அவன் ஆளுமையிலும் அவன் சுய நம்பிக்கையிலும், இவை எல்லாம் அவனுக்கு வெற்றி கொடுத்து அவனை எங்களிடம் கொண்டு சேர்க்கும் நாள் அதிகத் தூரம் இல்லை என்ற மனோ திடமும் எனக்கு உண்டு . அவன் தனது மூன்றாவது வருடம் துவங்கும் நாளை முதல் எல்லா பாதைகளும் அவனுக்கு ரோஜா மலர் சாலைகள் ஆக வேண்டும் என்று நான் வாழ்த்துகிறேன்.அவனின் சிந்தனையும், அவற்றின் திடமும் அவன் பயணம் செய்கின்ற பாதை வெற்றி பாதை ஆக வாழ்த்துக்கள் .இந்த வருடத்தின் இந்த நாள் அடுத்த வருடம் உதயம் ஆகும் நேரம் அவன் தன் முயற்சியில் புதிய சாதனைகள் படைத்து மீண்டும் தாயகம் திரும்பும் பொற்காலம் என்ற நிச்சயத்துடன் , நிறைவு செய்கின்றேன்.

MERCURY POOKKAL-BY BALAKUMARAN

மெர்குரி பூக்கள் பாலகுமாரனின் மெர்குரி பூக்கள் சுமார் இருபத்தி ஐந்து வருடங்ககுக்கு முன் ஆனந்தவிகடனில் தொடராக வந்தபோது நன் முதல் முறை படித்தேன். பின்னர் திருமணம் முடிந்த பின் கல்கத்தா பட்டி மண்டபம் ஒன்றில் நானும் என் மனஈவியும் இரு வேறு கட்சிகலக பிரிந்து இந்த தொடரின் சாதக பாதகங்கள் பற்றி விவாதித்தோம்.அதன் பின் பலமுறை பலவேறு கல கட்டங்களில் மெர்குரி பூக்கள் என் விவாத பொருளாக மட்டும் இன்றி என் வாழ்வின் பரிமாணங்களை உயர்த்தும் தொடராகவும், வாழ்வின் பல செயல்களின் தர்ம நியாயங்களை அந்த செயல்களில் இருந்து விலகி இருந்து புரிந்து கொள்ளும் பக்குவம் பெற எனக்கு உதவி புரிந்தது. ஆண் மற்றும் பெண்களின் உறவுகளின் மேன்மை மற்றும் அதன் விளைவாக தோன்றும் மன மயக்கங்கள் ,,அதை பார்க்கின்றோரின் பார்வையின் விரிவுகள் என கதை சுருக்கம் சொல்லிவிடலாம்.சங்கரனும்,ஷியாமளியும் ,சாவித்திரியும்,கோபாலனும் முக்கிய பாத்திரங்கள்.நீங்களும் நானும் தினம் பார்க்கின்ற உலகத்தின் சில சாயல்களே இவர்கள்.கதையின் களம் கார் உற்பத்தி செய்யும் ORU தொழிற்சாலை.அங்கு ஏற்படும் தொழிலாளர் பிரச்சனை , அது தொடர்பாக ஏற்படுகின்ற உரசல்கள், இவை காரணமாக மேற் சொன்ன கதா பாத்திரங்களின் வாழ்வில் ஏற்படும் உறவு மயக்கங்கள். கதையின் மிக நேர்த்தியான படைப்பு சாவித்திரி.பாரதி கண்ட பெண்ணாக, தெளிவான சிந்தையும், உரமும், ஆண் பெண் உறவு பற்றிய தெளிவும் கொண்ட பெண் .இதற்கு நேர் மாறாக உணர்வுகளுக்கு அடிமை ஆகும் பெண்ணாக ஷியாமளி,அவளின் படி தாண்டிய செயல், அதற்க்கு இருக்கும் நியாயம், கவிதை நேசிக்கும் சங்கரன் , அவனை நேசிக்கும் ஷியாமளி,அவள் வீட்டில் இருக்கும் புருஷன் மற்றும் மகள் அவர்களின் ஒட்டாத உறவு என கடை புலன் விரிகின்றது.சாவித்திரியும் கோபாலனும் சந்திக்கும் இடங்கள் ஆண் பெண் உறவின் உன்னத உச்சங்களை சொல்கின்றது என்றால் ,சங்கரன் ஷியாமளி உறவு, ஆண் பெண் சறுக்கும் இடங்களையும், அதன் காயங்களையும், வலியையும் சொல்கின்றது. ஒவ்வொரு பெண்ணின் மனத்தில் இருக்கும் கற்பனைகளும், அவை நிறைவேறாதபோது ஏற்படும் சிக்கல்கள் ஒருபுறமும், பெண் என்பவள் எப்படி மாபெரும் சக்தியாக, , நல்ல துணையாக, நம்பிக்கை நட்சத்திரமாக உரு பெற முடியும் என்பது மறு புறமாக, நீரோடை போல் பாலகுமாரனின் கதை செல்கின்றது. ஒரு ஆடவனின் துயரங்கள், மற்றும் பெண்ணின் துயரங்கள் மிக நேர்த்தியா சொல்லப்படும் அதே வேளையில் , அவர்களின் புரிதல் இன்மை எப்படிப்பட்ட உறவு விரிசல்களை ஏற்படுத்தும் என்பதற்கும் இந்த புத்தகம் கட்டியம் சொல்கின்றது. மழை தாலாட்டும் ஒரு மாலை நேரத்தில், என் மகளின் மகவு என் மடியில் அயர்ந்து உறங்கும் இரண்டு மணி நேரங்களில் மீண்டும் நான் மெர்குரி பூக்களில் முத்து குளித்தேன்.எதிர்பார்ப்பு இல்லாது அன்பு செய்வது ஒன்றே உலகத்தின் அமைதிக்கும், ஆண் பெண் உறவு மேம்படவும் வழி வகை செய்யும் என்ற பதிவு சாவித்ரியின் மூலமாக, கோபாலனுக்கு சொல்வது போல் எல்லோருக்கும் .கூறப்படுகின்றது. தி ஜானகிராமனின் மரப்பசு அம்மணியும் ,மோகமுள்ளின் யமுனாவும் மனதில் வந்து செல்கின்றார்கள்.intha செய்தியும் இதன் தாக்கமும் உடனே intha மின் அஞ்சல் செய்ய உந்தல் செய்தது.யாம் பெற்ற இன்பம் அனைவரும் பெருக.

FRIENDSHIP DAY

FRIENDSHIP DAY While no one has a choice regarding one’s father, mother, brother and sister and sometimes even with reference to his/her better half, certainly each has a choice on friends. And friends are always friends and there is nothing known as good friends and bad friends. If someone is bad and evil to a person, he/she cannot be a friend at all to that person.And such friends make the life beautiful and enjoyable . They are like a soothing breeze when you are in pain and they are like rocks to support when one is in distress. They are the ones who enjoy your success more than you do and they are the one who suffer when you go thru a lean period or fall. Right from child hood to date, one might have cultivated friendship with many. Few of them come along thru out the life cycle and few of them disappear half way thru. Few of them play hide and seek all the same. So what!!When you are in their mist, you feel free, warm and happy and that feeling can not be measured in terms of money.Here thru this column I wish all of them A VERY HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY .And this day reminds me of some of my greatest Friends and this blog post is in honour of every such friend and in particular my friend son!! Whether they be in touch with me on date or not. I recall my wonderful times spent with every one of them thru this blog.

Mid week reviews

My initial enthusiasm at the beginning of the week when India Registered its second win over srilanka to take the lead in the 5 match one day cricket series, finally saw its logical end when india clinched series, with a win over srilnka yesterday.The fact that i was with my friends in front of big screen to see the final moments of some glorious batting by Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina added to its charm.Now the last mmatch is only for records and may not kindle any specific interest. Monday was spent by me in a meeting of Retirees where in i could see some old pals and rewind a bit, It also showed the strength of the retirees as a group , taking the second innings in great gusto ( if not by all atleat by a significant percentage).Seeing such people is an inspiration in itself. Tuesday was really disturbing to start with The sad news of tamil nadu express coach no 11 catching fire and the subsequent loss of lives ( 28 as i am penning this blog) once again made me to curse with anger at the systems in place with scant regard to common man's saftey,Though considering the size and volume of traffic handled by Railways,in INDIA, ACCIDENTS OS SUCH NATURE ARE are bound to happen once in a while, the lack of adequate precautions to reduce their recurring , is what adds tothe agony. When i was working at BANGALORE as a visiting faculty with MUBC when ever i have travlled toBANGALORE , I have been frustrated with the journey, time and again because of simple reason,Viz The unreserved passengers occupying reserved compartments at their own will and fancy, making the system of reservation of tickets it self , to be a mockery, as neither a seat/berth nor safety of reserved passengers is ensured. Added to this the TTEs always appear helpless in controlling such passengers who occupy the compartments, meant for reserved, I have taken thepains to send SMS to railways helpline atleast 3 times, pointing out to the conseqences of such unreserved passengers blocking the path ways and toilets, with scant regard to resrved paasengers, and had been greeted with a standard ack every time regretting inconvenience and promising remedial action.But nothing ever happened and the trajedy at TAMIL NADU EXPRESS confirmed my worst fears. It had come to notice that the unreserved passengers occupying the door ways, vestibule space and toilets prevented the escape of reserved passengers during the accident which took away precious lives. The worst part is that since the entire bogie was burnt and the passengers charred to death, it had become difficult evven to identify bodies as in a compartment which is supposed to carry 72 reserved passengers , more than that number have travelled and succumbed.It is a pity that the near and dear notonly lost their loves but were also not able to do the final rites because of difficulties in identification.Unless and until Railway force takes stringent action againsst such unauthorised travel and also control the crowds in train to some specified numbers (even if it be the unreserved general compartments) and also prepares itself to attend tovictims with first aid in the least possible time, these tragedies are going to make us speechless and dumbfounded. To overcome this trajedy, the meet with friends late in the evening helped in a significanr manner. And i was also able to take care of the requirement to complete formalities relating to registration with a couple of entities(with an eye on assignments to flow in the year 2012-13( which helped me to overcome atleast to some extent, the gory details of the trajedy which struck in TN Express. And Mr Chidambaram back as FM in ministry is the latest news with mixed response.It is no doubt a great honour for him, but whether he will do good to the sagging economy is to be waited and seen. To be continued.

A week that begins well

The news of India Registering its win by 5 wikets in their third one day match,against SriLanka, thanks to some sensible knocks by Gambhir,Raina and Irfan Pathan, made the happy reading in Sunday;s newspapers.Ofcourse nowadays people (that incldes me too ) have started wondering as to how many of these games are played so as to get the results as its outcome or whether results (i,e which side to win ) is first decided and then the game is played to reach that result!!However this comment should not however be construed to undermine the knocks of these three batsmen, who had been consistent performers in their outings in recent series,And all said and done, when one's nation wins, it gives a sence of satisfaction, nodoubt about it. Pat came the call from Yonus bhoy, immediateky after he went thru my forward post in Ramayana , wherein the author has succinctly and beautifully narrated Ramayana with each word beginning with the first letter in TAMIL .That is the quickest and an enjoyable response. Younus bHOY IN HIS OWN WAY made a comprehensive analysis of the 'forward' and was all praise for its author , which has been duly passed on by me.It requires, understanding, benevolence and a broad heart to openly acknowledge and admire a good work of a person, especially when the work relates to a Regious belief which is not the same as the one which one follows.That precisely adds to the greatness of Younus Bhoy.MAY PEOPLE OF HIS TRIBE, MULTIFOLD. Then there was a news item of a Hindu Establisment, serving Vdas and Kanji, in Triplicane area to all the fasting brethern during the entire period of Ramzan festival.Not the first time, but allmost for the past two decases. My salutations to such entities which aim in bonding the relationship of mankind. Another item which made me to sit and scream related to a scntific discovery made in Pakistan.It is the news regarding a car being run on water, instead of petrol.It is claimed that a litre of water can eneble a car to run 40 kms while a two wheeler can run 150 kms.So there is a solution to the ever increasing price of fuel.In the same breath another worry entered my mind. When water levls them selves are dropping (and with predictions that a third world war will be only for water) how do one can substitute water as a fuel!!More discoveries are needed then:) And the flavour of hot tea(prepared with Thulasi and Rose petals) served by my wife frcefully remove me to take a gulp at it and so i sign off with promise to return sooner than later.

What impressed me most thiis week!!:

The week started with thick clouds, but rains no where in consonance with density of clouds. It was in trickles , but any thing is welcome by the lands which had become hot and dry with continuing hotspells.The worst feared NANO effect is likley to bring disturbing days and nigyhts, if the trend is not reversed in time.And what impressed me in this spell was th availability of electricity all most round the clock and the voltage fluctuation being all moost under control.Whether i owe it ti TNEB or to lower temperatures is another million dollar question with no answers so far. The news of Abhishek Bachhan & Ishwarya Roy going in for piercing their ears to keep company with their kid, during the earboring ceremony brou ghtto me memories of the function(27 YEARS BACK) when my son was undergoing the same pain with a gold smith who is not an expert in the field and my loosing temper with him and deciding against piercing his ears once and for all, Had i not done that perhaps he might have had half a dozen PhD s by now:).pARENTS ARE PARENT ALWAYS ,Is it not?? And the two one dayers , one beuatifully fought and balanced while the other , simply one country;s upmanship against the other, at Srilnka.Still Ghambir, Raina and LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST Virat kohli hold the key to Indians comimg baack in the tournament.Shevak's sensible innings in the first match was also a welcome sign.What happened to Zahir Khan's bowling talents is another disturbing question to be answered. Then there was a news item of a mother in law donating her kidneys to her DAGHTER in law when serial after serials were projecting the discomfort and misundestanding of the relationship from time to time. Let such models grow in size. Olympics is due in London and quite a few of my close fiends/relatives live there. I wish the function to be held devoid of any unfortuante incidents as time and again such Global events become the target of hooligans and militants to show their mite. What followed after the killing of innoscent few in a theatre at US was still mmore unbelievable. The killer's room had enough detonator to kill a whole street in which he lived. The movie "vettAyadu vilayadu" came to my mind as the room in which the killers are aprehended by Kamal in the movie is simiolar to the one in which the real killer , in the present issue had lived. Yes, movies are not mere fictions and they depict reality. LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST, AFTER A GAP I WAS TREATED TO THE poetic beauty of my son when he described the twin rain bows in his latest blog post. One must read to feel it... More to follow later

Thoughts as they flow

The shocking news of the day was the killing of GM(HR) by an arrogant work force on one of the MAruthi manufacturing plants.He was charred to death with 100% burns. An act of barbarism, to say rhe least.As more news poured in it turned out that many more EXECUTIVES of the rank of DGMs/GMs have been injured , some of them badly in the incident. MY immediate recollection was the novel "Mercuri pookkal" by Balakumaran, whose hero was killed in a factory strike by anti social elements, creating irreparable damage in the relationship of the management and workers and how the wife of the deceased play an unforgettable role in soothing the anger of workers on one side, while the relaisation dawns on the factory owner , from the words of his mother.She says :Hunger has got one solution only and that is food" If one is deprived of food consequential effects are irreparable damages, I do not know whether it holds good for the events in MARUTHI FACTORY and even if it holds good, i could not digest this in human act of the muRder of a GM who was in his mid forties. Today marks the death anniversary of the legend actor Sivaji Ganeshan,It is a strange coincidence, that the day coincides with the day when the ashes of RAjesh Khanna will be dissolved.My thoughts flew a decade back when under my presidentship we organised a tribute at Honkong in memeory of the great legend Sivaji Ganesan.It was a musical performance wherein select songs of Sivaji were sung by the Tamils living in Hongkong accompanied by brief but fitting critcal acclaim and commentary .The programme which lasted a little over 3 hrs was a run away success, just bacause of two reasons Reason number one is that a progrmamme on the legend can not fail and the reason number two is that there was instant acceptance when the theme was floated from one and all and the tem work, dedication and passion made the rest. Even as i am on this blog post, news of India winning the toss and electing to bat at the first one day at Srilanka had ticked in/LET US LOOK forward to AN INTERESTING TUSSLE between the bat and the ball and let the better side win.

RANDOM THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

iT IS TIME FOR CRICKET AGAIN. A TEAM WHICH HAS SUFFICIENTLY RESTED is on its way to Sri Lanka,and this should do good for our cricheters to play their role effectively in Sri Lanka,I will be particualrly looking for ward to the return of Yuvi in team who had really staged a come back from his killer decease too. The presidential elections are almost over and the winners are known. It will be a real acid test for the two incumbents, who had come or who will come to presidency with the help of Congress party , to steer away from the dirt and bad name retained by Congress in the past few years, They should really act as statesmen. Great people or successful people have some traits about them, enviable ones at that , and they practice these traits fervently.the other day in my efforts to get some assignments to keep me busy, i have sent an email to my former ED and present CMD of a bank and even before i saw the delivery report, there was a call on my cell from MADAM NP.she was all warmth and helful and that act of hers threw me flat, making my admiration for her to grow further.I may or may not get an assignemnt , but there is certainly a seed sown for long term relationship.So also is the assuring tone of an email received from another ED Sri SC( a former GM to me) of a nationalised bank at Kolkutta.tHAT KEEPS ME expectant and full of positivity for days to come. Since retirement , i have seen that events take shape of their own accord and make my days busy. In other words, my path is prelaid for me by forces, some of them known and some of them unknown to me and all for good,And in tune with that my August month is already filled with events of sorts.There will be a couple of trips down south, with friends and relatives and there will be an assignment from my erstwhile bank. Roughly 15 days will be consumed in the process and the remaining 15 days will be spent with my daughter and frand son who will be preapring to move to their Home by August. more thoughts to share will follow later....

random thoughts (continued)

The news papers flashed thenews of death of Rajhesh Khanna and my thoghts flew to the days when i became an admirer of Hindi movies. Yes The movie Aradhana and the ambience of Safire theatre of yester years came in mind in lightning speed.I have admired Rajesh kahnna for many things and most imprtantly his subtle ways of cmmunication of his love feelings.ARADANA, AMAR PREM AND ANAND are movies which i have time and again seen in thosedays which left lifelong imprints in mind.After death of Sivaji Ganeshan and Savithri Ganesh of TAMIL CINEMA the death of Rajesh khanna unsettled me .And tehn came to my mind the famous couplet of Thiruvalluvar. 'THIS WORLD IS FAMOUS FOR THE FACT THAT HE WHO LIVED YESTER DAY IS NO LONGER ALIVE TO DAY" and hence the urgency and the need to live each day to its fulfillment. That takes me to an achievement of sorts by one of my nephews who had spent his lonely time in Malaysia to focus on Haiko poetry and carved a niche for him in a short span of time .He already had a BOOK to his credit on Haikoo in 2012 and his name Ramesh Anand is a well known name in Haikoo circles in more than half a dozen countries.That indeed is an attainment poiting to the way in which our energies can be dovetailed. The question which i often ask myself , thanks to my favourite authors Balakumaran and Jeya kanthan (in reverse order) is as to whether i have lived my life with a purpose. And the question keeps raisng more often after retirement since more time is available to ponder.And when i look at the list of rsponsibilities that i have to discharge, the passions that i have to justify and the goals that i have set for my self (which ofcourse keeps cahging) i can say with contentment that i have always been scoring more than 80% in my self appraisal. And that is good, because the moment i rate my self as 100% achiever, i think life will become boring. And i wonder as to why our scientists keep spending their time and energy on things which have been settled long back, (when there was no modern equipments and lab to support their findings)in INDIA. WHETHER it be discovery of God particle, or the discovery of likely availability of water in MARS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.Indian sastras talk about 14 logas (worlds) , seven above and seven below the earth.And what is now being unearthed is one of the 14 worlds probably.And the amount spent is in trillions of dollars which can very wellbe pent to remove the poverty of crores and crores of population on this earth itself. And the types of crimes being committed which are on the rise is a cause for concern.The recent incident in Gauhati SHOULD MAKE US TO HUNG OUR HEAD IN SHAME.tHERE used to be classes in yester years imparting moral instructions and value systems to the students.But now in modern worldwith every student as well as their parents under a series pf pressures to perform and excel, there is no room or time for imparting values.I pray for the reversal of this trend if this world is to remain worthy of living. More thoughts to flow>>>

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Days appear to be flying with lightning spped with the arrival of GOD SEND liitle angel to our home.I meant my grand son. And that is one excuse(I mean baby sitting for my grand son) i can confidently and assertively tell to any one for my inability to be present or particiapte in a function or a meeting. And hence the focus is not on any thing nowadays except the little acts, smiles, whispers and tears that he often exhibits to convey his moods to those around. As MR Younus Bhoy, rightly said the other day (when he called me over phone on 16th July) we are now blessed with opportunity to document and treasure hold the growing of this little gift from god, minute by minute, thnaks to the technological advancement.Gone are the days when parents seperated due to work schedule, visits abroad have to wait for months to have a glimpse of their child.Now with instant recording of voice/photos go thru internet/cells in no time.And waht a relief it is to the parents! There are quite a few things which were narrated by Younus Bhoy .AND THE MORE HE TLAKS THE MORE I GET ENRICHED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE SHARED BY HIM.His talks this time hovered around the CINEMA INDUSTRY OF HIS DAYS and how his family had a share to contribute to the same, his thoughts on Buddha (Recall the discussion forum's views from Ram and prasad on the same), his impressions about the great city of joy Kolkatta(and how he endorsed my views , perhaps to the dislike of Ram??) , his ideals on secularism (with particualr reference to Sri Gurumurthy;s essays on the same in Thuklaq), his praise on the excellent attempt of Sri Sridharan in bringing a taste of Chinese literature to Tamil minds and so on and so forth.I was amazed as usual at his remembrance, choice of chaste language used by him , the diversity of topics that he is able to discuss at ease .I wish that Ramanathan, Chitra Sivakumar and others at HK make use of his presence to the most to share his wisdom and experienceover decades at appropriate forum. The ILAKKIYA in the recent past had not been active.The recent elections to the presidential cndidate could be a topic for sharing views. Rest of thoughts later as my grand son had already sent signals for his wish to sleep on my lap.

My lessons from those around

LIFE IS FULL OF ROLE MODELS When i sit and relax on the corridors of my spacious house enjoying a steam of coffee with a copy of TOI and a novel of BALA KUMARAN to keep me company and the bewitching smiles of my grand son adding to the beauty of the here and now momnents my thoghts travel down the memory lane . In particular it revolves around some of the people in public and private life with whom i had been dealing with in the last one year who made every moment spent with them worthy of rememberance and invaluable.And that made every minute of the life in the past one year July 11-June 12 filled with meaning and a sence of purpose. I list them below and it is not any reflection of my priorities as all of them are to be prioritised on equal footing. It starts with my friend Mr PRASAD in Hongkong who took time to complete a thirteen posts blog entiled as ' NINAIVALIAGALIL KAMABAN" beutifully focussing on his first attempt . on some of the ever green unforgettable poetic beauty of kamban and making the reading a loveable experience by enriching each episode by correlating his experiences of similar situations in his own life. It is not to be mis construed that his life is equated to that of Rama. On the other haNd it is to make us understand that RAMA, THE SUPREME, lived the life of a human BEING, setting in the process beautiful learning points in times of challenges.I am awaiting the beginning of next series by him. It moves down to my friend and collegue Ms Sarada , who moved to Singapore , under very challenging and unenviable circumstances (even making her to think abt resigning her job due to pressures of one kind or the other )and who had successfully accomplished a term of three years service under very tryig and challenging domestic and office environment and returning back to India with grace and confidence to add to the strengths of my erst while department.She left with a new born baby of 3 months old and she will be returning with a lovely kid of 3 years old with accompanying experinces to share . As a person who had tried to create a second line of qulity personnel at the dept level my personal joy is manifold on her return. I look forward to her come back. And there is always the figure with fatherly attitudes and affection.Sri Younus Bhoy , whose book about his escapades in Burma penned by MU Ramanathan is only an appetiser of sorts. Every time when he talks to me ( which is like a flowing river, very balanced and composed and lasting easily half an hout to 45 minutes ...mind it is a distance call from him from Hongkong) it is like experiencing an encylopeadia.His experinces with film industry, in tester years, his awareness about the roots of India and the problems that it faced after independence, his down to earth understanding of the basics of the Tmailanguage and his talk in chaste tamil are all some things to be experience to be believed. I am sure that HK tamils like Mr Ramanathan, Ms Chitra sivakumar and last but not the least Sri Guru ( an apt name based on his wonderful knowledge on tamil literature)would make use of this great man;s experiences to the full. Then it is also time to reflect on my daughter and son.Daughter for her becoming a matured woman in the past 12 months knowing to balance between her parents in laws and the new gift of god (her son of 39 days old) and also for having successfully proved her credentials to her employers which resulted in her second promotion in her second year of service , a feat which possibly makes her options difficult at the moment , but which she is sure of handling in time to come. Softness where required and firmness where it is needed are her assets which she is nursing to the best of her abilities to stay put in the competitive world and seeing her in action is a real treat to treasure. Equally fitting, if not more , is the contributions from son. Probsbly one of the very few to pitch for his second Phd within an young age of 26 -27, he was always around when needed and with out being asked for.To be by the side to share, witness, enjoy, and to excell (some times by participation and at other times by silence )in apt measures , again the moments are to be experienced and can not be explained.I am awaiting for his tenure to complete by this time next year and looking forward to his return with glory and in style. Last but not the least, my better half.A working engine round the clock, always looking for perfection (ofcourse in what all she does) and full of energy unmindful of the physical ailments and the limitations of sorts often cropping up.there is a biologicalclock in every one of us to control us and our activities. But she carries biological clocks for the welfare of all around. One to wake up, the other to take care of grand son's needs, the third to attend to daughter;s wants, the fourth to address the loneliness of son and the fifth to attend to an ailing mother. There used to be times of complaint that we were not devoting time to each other. Now that has been replaced by prayers that we should have time to sit and relax atleast for a couple of hours each day.And am sure that is the way i can reward her for all that she has done and been doing for the family. And each of them had shown me the way to live the life in totality.TO live the life with an understanding and love and in peace. A BIG THANKS (IS THAT THE RIGHT WORD!!) to all

HAPPY Father;s day to one and all

8 MOTHS TO THIS DAY (`11/6/2012) had gone past since my retirement on 11/10/2011. Like for many of those who retired, to me also it started with lot of questions and more importantly as to what next and when. I had a few ideas and desires and I was not sure as to how to go about them.then it struck me that if I had lived these 60 years to my satisfaction I could live thru the remaining phase too with satisfaction. It also dawned upon me that the force which showed me the way al along ( Call it as God or destiny or the inner guiding force)is there to guide me and I have to keep listening to it and I precisely did the same. And the responses were astounding. The responses came from many directions and each of them came as if it is a continuation of an earlier communication.They also came at the right intervals to make me to halt and take my decision in the proper perspective. And when I look back I feel I should feel contended with the journey in the last 8 months. I have lived my dream (though short and sweet ) of sharing my experiences and expertise as a seasoned banker with my faculty chore helping in the right dosage;First as consultant with Manipal Global university Bangalore and later with Centralised Training Solutions Mumbai as Domain expert. Remuneration was secondary. PRIMARY THING WAS the confidence reinforced in me that I can be a successful sought after faculty even after retirement and the satisfaction derived out of training young aspirants which made one forget the age difference and start feeling youngish.In the process I had used the interaction I had with participants to make use of the same successfully when I was called upon to interview candidates for Probationary officers in my erstwhile bank during the first week of June at Delhi.It enabled me to read thru the insights of candidates, their aspirations, their wants and needs and to take the appropraiate decision as to the suitability or other wise. And during the interugnum I was also making use of my professional qualification to assist those in need in finalysing the credit/compromise proposals and in completion of statutory branch/central audits of banks in time.Here again I was concentrating on the satisfaction component arising out of my contribution in work rather than the fees that it fetched and in fact many of the assignments are on a friendly basis and no regrets as each day was unique in giving me fresh experiences which can not be valued in terms of money. And when I am penning this mail few openings both in professional body as also in y erstwhile bank are available as a faculty besides number of joint prospects with like minded friends. I hav €e decided to flow along the tide instead of forcing any decion or any path to choose. And I must thank a whole lot of friends and well wishers in this journey.All my collegues and well wishers from my erst while bank and department who time and again made me strong and going, all my professional peers who joined with me in my bank some 33 years back ( some of them no more and some of them not in contacts but those few who are regularly in contact to share the precious moments of frendhip), my friends from Hongkong stint ( Especially Mr Prasad whose writings on Kamban made me to make my browsing experience richer,Mr Gurunathan whose approach to literature and the deep knowledge that he exhibits in analyzing an Issue is a treat to watch, Mr YOUNUS Bhoy who makes it a point to call and share his rich heritage and experiences every now and then, Mr Ram , Mr Sekar(SBI)Ms Chitra sivakumar, Ms Geetha Barathi,Mr Ramanathan and a host of other tamil friends who make the experience with Ilakkiya blog an invigorating one, Mr Sridhar who has made a unique contribution with his research work on Chinese poetry all of them keep this journey afloat and last but not the least all my family members WHO SHOWED WHAT a boon it is if a person has the good and understanding wife son and daughter. . Some things are required to be shared then and there as other wise it may loose its significance or it may not reach the deserving person at the right time.And hence this blog post to thank one and all for the journey all along and for journey still to be made. MAY THE JOURNEY GO ON MAY THE FRAGRANCE OF JOURNEY LAST LONG MAY CHEERS AND HAPPINESS BE IN EVERY DWELLING AND MAY PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING REIGN ALL THROUGH. SAMPATH KUMAR

world is worth living

Little darling called as Angel Suddenly life has become full of beauty , love and charm. Every worry disappears like salt in ocean, Every argument becomes a win win for every one around The schedule of sleep goes for a sixer outside the window panes The minority rule prevails over the majority. It started all 36 days back on the mid night of march 9th Little angel. Called as my grand son arrived He became the chief guest and he also became the chief host. He became the fulcrum of the entire family. His smiles brought laughter around And his tears brought the world to stop a beat His cries became a dictionary of sorts and Salutations to him created a new vocabulary He brought the best out of every one and Any thing that is bad disappeared into oblivion in his presence His habits became the law of the home And his little cries lead to debates on his wants Finally to conclude that all that he wants is a hug from a dear one. He brought his uncle from abroad over night He made the rare friends and guests to come for a glimse He made every one retired or in service equally busy And rewarded them with his million dollar smile every now and then. He made this father;s day special when I got the call from son abroad AS HE SHOWED THE VALUE OF FATHER SON RELATIONAHIP ONCE AGAIN!!!

woman turns into a mother-engengu kaninum sakthiada

Life is full of joys for those who are prepared to wait and watch.For others it is a race run with out knowing the destination and direction. And the more one is prepared to live the life, the way it unfolds , the journey becomes peaceful and harmonious . Therefore for a man at 60 plus, it is but natural to wait , watch and start experiencing things in a perspective, totally different from the one earlier accustomed to. Yes the occasion is Mother's day and the experience relates to seeing my daughter who bloomed in to a house wife, last year, blossoming into an affectinate mother last week. Seeing the woman in all her grandeur and beauty is only when she becomes a mother.There are a few things , (however much the counterpart male members can boast oftheir capabilities to achieve), which can not be equalled by stronger gender is mother hood.The fathers can be good friends , taking responsibility to lead and guide and enduring endless strains to see that their wards occupy the top slots in their life journey, but the credit in totality goes to mothers who are instrumental in shaping the child, in their womb, for nine to ten months ,to deliver it safely and securely in to the world at large. There is a great proverb that God can not be present every where and therefore he created mothers.Every mother is an embodiment of energy imparting life and character into her child and the transformation a women undergoes from womanhood to motherhood is some thing seen to be believed.Woman may miss out on responsibilities as a sister, wife ,lover or as a friend in need, but then as a mother they are all embodiment of Goddess herself.Maha kavi Subramanya Bharathi wrote "Engengu kaninum sakthiada"and followed it with his exponential description of "YATHUMAGI NINDRAI KALI , ENGUM NEE NIRAINTHAI. IN THE journey of life. we miss out on experiences when it personally happens to one self as we are part of the same and do not know how to distance oneself from one's own experiences.Yes when i became a father i missed out on little precious joys like, rejoicing at the first cry of the baby, enjoying the first smiles of the baby, clapping on the occasion when he/she first wet your clothes and so on and so forth. But then as a grand father when i sit and watch the little tresure of my daughter, with out any mental tensions and worries of jobs left incomplete at the office,a tight time schedule for a meeting , a difficult boss to handle, a work force difficult to handle and so on, these little acts of the kid, and every one of these acts, right from the time the kid opens his eyes to greet in the morning, the cries that follow for mother's lap, the bewitching smiles, lasting for few seconds now and then,the continuous movements of legs and hands throwing away all clothes and bedding into disarray in no time, (the list is endless ) makes these as golden moments of joy and peace. And the PATIENCE, RESPONSIBILTY, LOVE AND AFFECTION, THE SACRIFICE OF SLEEP AND FOOD, for the good of the little kid,exhibited by my daughter are traits possibly exhibited by all mothers , but then when witnessed in close quarters touch a chord in you as a lovely note of music and a warm kiss of fresh cool air on sunny afternoon. ETHTHANAI KODI INBAM VAITHTHAI ENGAL IRAIVA.....salutations unto thee and entire mother hood

YOUNUS BHOY-THE HUMANITARIAN

My first post for the fiscal year 2012-13 and my 100th post in my blog attracted various comments, some of them with dire criticism and some of them with overwelming enthusiasm.In fact after quite a few months this post has evoked quite a lot of response .And i must first of all thank all those who commented whether in agreement or in disagreement as i have always believed that there are always two sides to a coin and individual perspectives differ. This post, as a sequel to the same has arisen because of the call which i had from one of my role models,a senior citizen from Hongkong, and more importantly a balanced man in his approach to issues and on his comments on various aspects of life.Sri Younus Bhoy!It started with his appreciation of the finer aspects of my post on City of Joy, the pains that he took to convince those who had a different opinion on my post and his own experiences about the city of joy all formed part of his interesting conversation. Despite the limitation of his age and the distance that seperates us he has invariably made a point to call me when ever there is an occasion that calls for warmth and understanding, there by reestablishing his contacts, in his own inimitable style of chaste tamil which comes to him so naturally that it is a pleasure talking to him for hours to gether. My first association with Younus Bhoy was in 1998-99 when i was first introduced to him by Sri MRS.The acquiantance established then moved from strength to strenghth, when he chaired a number of tamil debates organised by the HK cultural association, in which i took active part either as an orgnaiser or as a speaker and later in the meetings and picnics organised in which Sri Nirmal (Exnora)Sri YG Mahendra and Crazy troupe and a lot of HK FRINDS which created opportunities to become closer to him. IN FACT ONE OF THE debates wherein i took the stand that a community need not be blamed in a blind manner for the atrocities perpetrated by a mindless few , in which Sri Ramanathan , heavily thrashed my comments for a six, paved the way to understand the brilliance and balance of this great man Younus bhoy.Later Mr Ramanathan himself penned the book on behalf of Younus Bhoy stand testimony to his winning charms over rhe rest by his approach. His insatiable appetite for Tamil language , his down to earth converastion with warmth and affection with any one and every one (despite the fact that he would have met them only for the first time)his recollection of his days in Burma (the heights and fall which he witnessed )the tenacity and iron will with which he moved to HK wherein he established his roots again, and his hospitality whenever any one visits him at his palce in HK are all qualities that every individual who would like to make life meaningful and peaceful should emulate from him. Though we were seperated by thousands of miles , the first call invaribly will always be from him,to greet me/comfort me whether it be my promotions up the ladder , whether it be my retirement, whether it be my daughter's marriage or whether it be my son's attainments in the field of linquistics and phonetics.This morning the call coincided with his greeting me on my daughter's becoming a gifted mother (and the day happens to be the mothers day-by his choice) and the feeling that it gave me could not be described in words.the fact that it also coincided with my completion of 32 years of married life yesterday, gave more meaning to such blessed talks.Unlike many who just makes it a formality to wish , Younus bhoy, has taken pains to search for my residential number from quite a few of HK friends (including Ram, another post in the offing later on the thoughts shared by them abt my post on City of Joy) and chosen the day when routine will not be a pressure (either to the called one or the caller) and takes his time off to concentrate only on the called person at the other end.Thoughts that he shares,the memory lane that he walks down, the quotable quotes that emerge in the process and warmth and affection that oozes out ofr each such conversation, so naturally are some things to be experienced and can not be explained. His book on Memoirs of Burma (Authored by Ramnathan ) indicates many facets of his personility.But his personality as a caring human being and above all a warm friend and a guide, comes out in such conversations. Salutations unto SRI YOUNUS BHOY, FOR HIS EVER LASTING AFFECTION, AND GRATITUTE UNTO THEE for having blessed me with such unfogettable VALUABLE relationships. sampath kumar

CITY OF JOY FOREVER

Kolkatta-The city of joy It is a strange and lovely coincidence that my first post in the fiscal year(sorry for that usage of accountants ) happens to mark my 100th post in my blog and relates to one of the cities which to a significant extent directed my life while i was in my mid 20s. Kolkatta , is known as city of joy , for any number of reasons, spelt and not speltfor many ;but to me it remained to be a city of joy for three important reasons.Reason number one it showed me what true love and affection means ....coming from a family whom i met there the first time ....Family of Sivamani.One may get close and friendly with one memebr of a family but to get so close and affectionate with every member of a family is unique. I developed such warmth and friendship with this family thAT it lasted for all most a decade with that intensity before i moved over to Delhi and tehn to Hongkong, loosing contacts with them. But as some one said, true friendship need not be measured in terms of the number of calls made or the number of meetings had, and the same would come in at the most wanted time with out any efforts.So let me count on that to establish the lost contact. Reason number two is the Bharathi TAMIL SANGHAM and Tamizh mandram wherein i was attrated like an iron ore being attracted by a magent .This association later paved the way for my particiaption in various debates and speeches (some of them still green in memory not only because of the contents but because of the contenders and the so called calf love association developed then (perhaps not mutual as i am already hooked to my sister's dear daughter)and the opportunities it created to meet and spend time with some of eminent personalities like KI.VA.JAGANNATHAN, Sandilyan, DEEPAM Na.Partha sarathy,Saraswathi Ramanathan, Kavi perarasu Kannadasan , MALAN, and a score of other distinguished writers and speakers.The fact that i donned the role of secretary of Tamil Mandram in its 25th year of existence and had the fortune of meeting and spending time with one of the down to earth chief ministers that the country ever encountered (MR Jothi Basu)in the celebrations of 25th year and that i got three coveted prizes , one for the critical write up on THI,Janagiraman's marappasu,the other for a short story written (which in fact is my mirror of reflections of my association with Number 5 , thakur bari road,Lake market,where the family of Sivamani and K lived ) and the third for my winning a sppech competition (at the end of which the judges called me and said that it is high time i stop particiapting as a debater and instead should occupy the role of a judge)from hands of the special invitee kaviarasu Kannadasn are events which are etche strong and green in memory.Time spent with Kannadasan in the journey to Shanthi niketan , is a dream come true in those years.With out making a rference to KA/SU MANI and MU.NA (the latter i met during this visit almost after 27 years)the association with Tamil mandram will not be COMPLETE who in their own ways contributed to the growth of TAMIL LITERARY activities in those years.And the innings stArted here W.R.T MY literary tastes, later bloomed further when i landed in Hongkong, when i was offered the opportunity of becoming the president of HK CULTURAL ASSOCIATION ,25 years later. Reason number three is the KALI MATHA of Kalikhat, who taught me lessons in my walks of life, in her own inimitable style. rewarding for pains taken and punishing for misdeeds and giving proper directions.And ofcourse the fourth reason and fifth reasosn are the friend circle (Consisting of Thirumoorthy, Subbu, Raghavan, Venkat ramani and Sreedhar --out of whom i am still in touch and close contact with the middle three having lost contact with the first and last)and the Popular canteen which provided food for 30 days with a coupon book of Rs 23 in those days, irrespective of power shedding or floods or draught. And the memory down the lane,now, is because of my recent visit to kolkatta when i spent a week at the famous Lindsay hotel, near park street, overlooking the city market and adjacent to the famous Eden gardens , bringing the memories of ever dynamic dada Surav Ganguli and the affectionate personality called Subir Chakraborthy who retired as a GM of the bank in which i worked over 4 decades.I was there for the audit of a State bank associate and it coincided with the first IPL match of the seasn, the curtains having risen the previos day at Chepauk, CHENNAI.oNE SHOULD BE IN EDEN GARDENS TO KNOW why the cit y is called as city of JOY.Kolkattans live their life with a passion, never ever seen else where,Whether it be watching sports, or whether it be bargaining and buying goods on the street side shops, or whether it be the travel thru any numberof modes available Viz tram,metro, minibus , taxi, Hand pulled rickshas (The first and the last still avl only in Kolkatta), whether it be the enthusiasm with which they go for morning Jilebi with pot tea, whether it be the craze for sambar which they exhibit in indian restaurants Komala vilas and Prema cafe, whether it be the devotion that they show when they rise as a sigle united force in celebrating Durga pooja, there is no comparison and no equals / At the beginning of my first innings of career it was Kolkatta which paved the roots for the same and the start of my second innings after retirement again enabled ne to have a relook at Kolkatta.I went to Kaligaht, The Dkshineshwar temple, the Belur matt, the south indian restaurants that i used to visit in lake market, the Ram mandir at Lake gardens , walked thru the sarat bose road and nTahkurbari road RELIVING the memories of the yeater years and spent couple of hrs with one of the oldest acquaintance in UCO bank , who joined the bank and remained there to rise to the level of its GM. sOME CITIES DRIVE YOU AWAY.SOME CITIES ENGULF YOU WITH WARMTH AND AFFECTION WHEN EVER YOU VISIT. AND THE CITY OF JOY, TRUE TO ITS NAME BELONG TO THE SECOND CATEGORY. Hats off to the city, its tradition and culture and to all its warmth and loving memories!!

Bangalooru-City of garden-namma ooru

Every city has its own charm.And every one who has atleast a reasonable time to spend there develops a like or dislike to wards the city, based on one's own experiences witnessed there.
Some are known to be very adpatable to which ever cities they move in, and start enjoying the city, from day one while some others are die hard fans of their own home cities only and refuse to budge in.And if the experience encountered by these die hard fans of their own cities,happens to be a bad one, they become tough in their attitude and refuse to give the city, its due credit for so many other good aspects of the city.Any way that is the interesting part of the human pscychology.
This post is not about Psychology.It is about the city Bangalooru(Formerly Bangalore)wherein i started my career with HMT INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, in Cunninghams Road,near Shivaji NAGAR about 35 years back.I had to visit BANGALORE again on an assignment i had undertaken as a consultant in the recent past. And it is now almost a month since my association with the city had been revived . The city then and the city now had under gone a sea change.Ofcourse, as it happens in any other cities, the change is happening here too..But that is besides the point.
There are still some basic qualities or characteristics of BANGALOORU which remain unchanged.
The first one is the Good, steaming cup of cofee , with a fragrance which is difficult to resist, when you step out of Contonement or Bangalore City Railway Station.
The second thing is the orderliness which you can still witness in Auto satnds and taxi stands when you wait for your turn to take a token for a prepaid auto/taxi service.
The third (and in order of ranking this should come first)is the weather. Be it hot summar or spring or winter, the weather by and large remains pleasant in BANAGALORE.The cool breeze which embraces when you take a morning stroll in the back ground of a rising Sun is an experience to be felt to be believed and can not be explained in words.Similarly the evenings also become chill right from 4 pm onwards giving relief form the oppressive heat , witneseed once in a while.
Fourth and the best according to me are the steamimg IDDLIES dipped in Hot
sambar(which will have the slight taste of Sugar as is the practice in KARNATAKA-imbibed from famous Udupi tradition)and the ever teasing Vadas
available allmost round the clock in many of the eating outlets.
I must add in same breath that the IDDLIES of Hyderabad and Murugan IDDLI Kadai MADURAI , are equal favourites on any given day.
Fifth is the courtesy still evident in the way people treat you. By nature they are soft people and if politicians keep away from playing with their temperaments on one issue or other, Bangalore will win the prize for the best courteousness.Remember that stalwards of Cricket , both Kumble and Rahool Dravid hail from this place which is the greatest evidence of soft ness and courtesy.

The city represented the place where i had started my first innings of my career.It also coincides with the start of my second innings.I am a strong believer in fate and also in the saying that events in life comes often in circles.
We go back to the same people and same cities decades after our first visit by sheer coincidence and not by any plan or design.My first innings at BANGALORE lasted for 4 months before i moved to another city of my like Kolkatta to further my professional aims.My son also had a stint of around 4-5 months before changing his academic directions. Credit in full to my daughter who made it a point to finish her MBA with IBA at Bangalore with a continuous two year stint.
My present innings at BANGALORE is also initially contracted for 4 months with a proviso to continue further if both sides agree.Unlike earlier times when i had commitments to fulfill and expectations to be achieved, i am enjoying this innings with an open mind and am prepared to take which ver way the life leads me from here.And i believe that is a great feeling, viz doing some thing to one's liking with out any strings attached to it.
I have said too many good things about Bangalore,But then to give a disaml note at the end is not my intention. However the fact remains that BANAGLORE is also falling a prey to the industrialisation and commercialisation around and the air is thick with pollution.But for that the city is still loneable one on any day!!

welcome and send offs

Since child hood i have been always accompanying some one(Mostly my dad or my parental uncles) either to receive some one or bid fare well to some one else.When i look back down the memory lane, a few of them stand itched in memory while most of them had got drowned into oblivion.

While i had not gone thru any mental disturbances (positive or negative)due to such events of send off /welcome of late i had been experiencing some sence of happiness or sorrow whenever i go to send off some one or to receive some one.Whether it is due to age or whether it is due to the close bond of love and affection experienced, is a moot question.
My wife had her lines drawn up clearly. If it is to welcome some one, she will be inclined and if it is send off some one it will always be an emphatic no.Thus invariably i have to take the reins in my hand either to receive some one or to send off some one else.

My memories go back to my days spent in my village Asokapuri when all members from my dad down to all his brothers and their siblings who used to come to the big BANYAN tree either to receive some one or to give send off to some one. It used to be a bus called Natana Rani (translated as Dancing queen)whose drivers and conductors had the great regard and res pect for my dad and his brothers who were always known as Asokapuri mirasudars and by pet names such as Sivappaiar,bankiyer, karuppaiyar and so on.My wife who is a fan of Rajinikanth (WHILE I HAPPEN TO BE A FAN OF kamal) would still win an argument over me when it comes to any issues relating to Colour by saying that my father and her mother (who happens to be my father's elder daughter and my mother in law)are also black like Rajinikanth.Reason as to why my father is nick named as KARUPPAIYAR.
Sorry that i have digressed a bit.TO put it simply the timings of the bus used to be punctual and all of us used to be assembled near the banyan tree atleast half an hour before arrival/departure and would be excitedly involved in some conversation or other and now in retrospect it appears that all of them were stage managed by some one senior in the family, so that the pain of parting is not felt and the joy of union is also not overtly enjoyed.

Now that long prelude and comments are all reflections arising as a result of send offs and welcomes that i have been associated with in the past one year or so..It all started last year when my son (first) and daughter(next) left for Hongkong and USA in a span of 15 days. My daughter returned first after completing her project within a record 45 days to be just in time for her betrothal.My son returned later availing his annual leave in advance for my daughter’s marriage.He left exactly a week after the marriage and returned again last week to qualify for his doctorate at EFL, Hyderabad.Having successfully qualified for the same(one of the few doctorates at his age of 26)he left back for Hongkong today by theChennai- Kualalampur flight leaving at 12.30 pm.The same flight which i took about a decade back when i first landed in Hongkong.History keeps repeating itself.

And the feelings that arise as different points of time when you come to see off different persons, or the same person keeps changing all the time.Some times you were overjoyed. Some times you had a tinge of sorrow.Some other times it is a mixed bag of feelings.And the re4ason as to why a particular person feels in a particular manner is verey difficult to decipher.But with all my experience which i narrated in the earlier part of this post my feelings were under control or well balanced..or so i thought.And this time my only thought was about the next time when i will be visiting the airport to welcome my “doctor son.” This next trip of my son one is important to me,. as important as his recent visit, for by the next time he visits i expect him to have secured one more doctorate up his sleeves besides also earmarking for him some great heights and place in the history of linguistics and phonetics .This would ensure him to look at the world and those with whom he moved with , radiating confidence and self reliance.

And then there will be suitors waiting to win his hands, provided he is in the mind set to stop his academic pursuits at that time and decide to settle in to a harmonious family life.In the process there will be sighs from those who missed out on him and there will be competition amongst eligible girls to woo him.

If that be so where is the need to feel dejected or sad??And that is the reason i was feeling high and happy when i bade him good bye for i knew that when he comes back he will be a role model in many aspects including that of a great son to his dear parents.And the fact remains that the three days fever which made him/ rather forced him to cancel his flight and settle for a flight on the next day, according to me , is an indication that “DRUSTI KAZPPU “ had already happened which means he is free of the evil looks of the envied eyes.

The point therefore is that as and when we go to meet some one or send off some one let us wish all good luck to them with full of happiness and affection which enables a positive energy to engulf both the parties.

DOCTOR -U MADE US PROUD

It was a wait of more than 15 months.
A thesis which was submitted with a record speed in a span of 15 months had to wait for another 15 moths to get its share of honour.
Yes. there is a time for every thing and during the interugnum, one has to only keep trying and leave the results to the time and destiny, or in short to GOD.And sincere attempts and the passion for the perfection never lets anyone in dismay.

It was Feb 14th and the whole world was celebrating the Valentine day. It was a day of celebration. The air was already filled with joy of the lovers and happily married couples.It was smelling sweet and i was waiting to join the celebrations, not with a view to CELEBRATE THE VALENTINE DAY BUT TO celebrate another one of those life time attainment.

LET me not prolong the suspence. The occasion represent the day of VIVAVOCE for my son in respect of his thesis submitted in Non 2010 at EFL, Hyderabad.He flew from Hongkong to CHENNAI on 12 th early morning hours and left for Hyderabad on the morning of 13th(An unlucky number for most , and a lucky one for him ..strange coincidences...he started his journey to this Phd some time back in the year 2003 on another day of 13th, when he entered Loyola).

I still recollect and remember the gleam in his eyes when he got the admission, after a hectic 9 month period when he was in and out of two colleges at cHENNAI AND Bangalore in quick succession for his own valid reasons.How valid they were is proved beyond doubt on this day.And the observation of one of the principals when he chided mefor backing my son with a cryptic comment that an year's loss would turn out to be an irreparable one was haunting him than me and he did every thing to prove that he did not waste even a second thereafter.

And it was exactly 5pm on 14/2/012.The much awaited call came from my son.As usual there was a run to the phone both by me and my wife and as sual, i gave the freedom to her to pick the receiver first.And the voice from the other end reverberated simultaneously in our ears.The voice said with claity, and confidence"You are talking to Dr Srinivas".

Our joy knew no bounds. It was a great moment. Words can not expressit.
The struggeles underrwent and the battles fought to wards this journey are matters which can fill up naother blog later.

Forthe present, thank u may dear son. you have made us proud, is suffice to say.
CHEERS ALL THE WAY TO YOU.

sleep and thereafter

The famous tamil poet Thiruvalluvan said in one of his couplets that Sleep is akin to death and the difference is that one is a temporary death, as one can wake up to the present world after sleep, while in death, the person wakes up in a different world.

I wish it becomes so easy to appraoch the cocept of death in the aforesaid manner so that it reduces the pain which arise as a result of death to the near and dear.Lot of things have been wriiten about life and death and also about life after death. Especially the Hindu REligion is strongly founded on the concept of Rebirth after death. Right now there are umpteen programmes in Tamil TV world dealing with this subject(First credit goes to VIJAY TV , which has started the programme titled :PUNAR JENMAM:.other tvs known for their copy right credentials have followed with serials like Bairavi and Sivasankari with out loss of time.Women folk will find it engrossing to remain glued to their seats, till such time they are woken up by the burning smell from the kitchen.

The post is not intended to give publicity to these TV shows.It has a different purpose. The killer decease CANCER had consumed one more life in the last week.The victim was my cousin's daughter at USA, who had left behind her German Husband and a daughter of 7 years old besides her parents (both of whom are senior citizens) to mourn her death.It was exactly six months back when i lost a friend of mine , who was suffering from cancer for decades ,In the case of my niece, the decease was more benevolent in the sence it took her life within 6 months of its identification.World, we calim had advanced by leaps and bounds.I am however yet to come across osme one, atleast in my experience, who had been totally cured of the killer decease.This is where the helpless ness of humanity is often broughtinto galring light.Despite the himalyam achievements that the Human race can claim for itself, it becomes a hapless victim in such circumsatances.

When i went to console my cousin and his wife , i was shocked to see them silently sitting side by side, in a sofa, iN a spacious home at Nungambakkam
waiting for the news of delivery of death body to the near and dear who were waiting at US , 74 HRS after the death had struck,for want of completion of various formalities at US, as my niece lived in one place, died in a hospital else where and the body had to cross one more state inbetween.

DEATH ITSELF IS CRUEL.TO WAIT FOR HAVING A GLIMPSE OF THE BODY FOR HOURS TO GETHER ADDS TO THE AGONY.NO WORDSOF SOLACE CAN BE APT AT THAT MOMENT.

I simply sat witht hem for an hour,pressing their hands alternatively and left .At times silence can be a better communicator than words.This is one such time .

MAY THE DEPARTED SOUL REST IN PEACE....

kolaveri vs kodvasri

By now the whole world had been on its feet dancing to the tunes of Kolaveri.
Whether by merit or by sheer coincidence or because of the good times or by a sheer combination of all three put togther the song had been termed as major hit and the originators of the song themselves have already admitted that they never expected this song to be come so popular.

Any one who is in CHENNAI by now would have been bored to the hilt after seeing the copious appreciation and the Hype that the nmedia has created for this song.There is in fact a tough competition maongst channels as to which channel should be the first to telecase the live show exhibition of song and its creators.

Dhanush, the author, Anirudh, the music director and Ishwarya, the director of the movie NO 3 ALL have appeared in various TV programmes to the extent that they themselves would have become tired by the frenzy that the song had created. THANKFULLY Shruthi hasan has been given a rest ,whther by choice or due to some other reason is not yet known.The fact that celebrities like Amitabh bachhan had paid tributes to this song added to the popularity.

Except a show in JAYA tv, where in the anchor Baski and the host of participants including Deva and NEELU were wondering as to what is so big about the song to woo such praise and appreciation, every other TV was vying with each other to find new meanings in to the song which even the composer or the writer would not have even imagined.

And there were TVs and newspapers trying to bring a rift by claiming that the Dhanush jodi is trying to steal the show at the expense of Anirudh who only is responsible for the greatness of this song.And there were stories that SONY had got the copyright for this song for a song much before its popularity and had made fortune by selling CDS at premium prices much to the dismay of the those responsible for the song.What the gullible public is not aware is that Anirudh himself is related to Dhanushjodi in the sense that he is the son of Ravi Raghavendar , brother of Latha rajnikant.

Thus there were songs which got appreciation much more than they desrved and there weree also songs which were more valuable , which went unnoticed ...the statement is equally true of its authors.My intention in this blog post is not intended to either praise this song or to throw dirt on the song. Already my friends have gone on record that those who do not apprecaite the song obvoiusly belong to the older generation where as the song is the heart throb of the new generation.Even thogh i pretty well knew that even maongst the younger generation there were many who were not vey enthused about the song, the purpose of posting this in my blog is more singular and focussed.

Yes, Suddenly my blog which had only a hnadful of visitors/readers had been frequented by many and the reason is simple. Possibly Kodvasri, my nickname(invented by my son) and kolavery (invented by Dhanush) sound moreor less or look more or less similar with the result the search engines work over time to direct the audience of Kolaveri to my site.

Of course i can guarantee that my blog will not cause any irreparable damage to my visitors. AT THE SAME TIME I CAN also pity with them when they approach my blog with great expectations and end up seeing some thing which they were never prepared for.

So be cool my friends..My blog is running for the past 18 months and is a senior to Kolavery blog. So if not for nay thing me and my blog may be excused for its seniority.And next time whne you spell Kolaveri, be sure that you do not type Kodvasri.The blogs are miles apart by their contents and focus.

KODAVSAL=ABODE OF LORD SRINIVASA

This is my first post in the blog in the new year 2012 .it is quite surprising to me (and quite a relief possibly to my followers of the blog who are small in number!!) that despite the time available at my disposal,in the post retirement saga , i had not posted a blog for the last 26 days.

Then it struck me that there is a time for every thing. And only when it strikes the chord in you, you tend to execute a thing,though thoughts and plans may be in the mind for quite some time.

And the time has come now, after visiting my native place(In quick succession , twice in a fortnight-on 7th JANUARY earlier and again on 26th JANUARY(yesterday)to pst this blog.

Kodavasal,(also referred to as Kudavasal)a place which is supposed to me my native as per records(as is true to many whose roots are now shifted far away)
enteases me when ever i go there(Whether it be in short intervals or after a lond time).May be the genes within me, or may be the beauty of the lord Srinivasa there, may be the still green paddy fields which are a treat and comfort to the eyes which got exhausted after years of living in Concrete jungles, or may be a combinaton of all these factors propel me to this palce like a Magnet which attracts the Iron.

The place has a sthala purana which is quite impressive and intersting at the same time.The sthalapurana has all the box office ingredients of a present cinema/Only difference is that one is real and the other is fantasy/
Lord Srinivasa is blessing his devotees with his consorts Boodevi and Sridevi in this temple which is sitauted just behind the Kodavasal bus stand, hardly 3 minutes walk away.Kodavasal itself is well connected from Kumbakonam with buses plying to Thiruvarur/NAGAPATNAM every once in 30 minutes or so,Besides there are buses from Kumbalonam via oppikiappan koil too.

Lord Srinivasa is facing north to bless Guberan(Lord of wealth )at this temple/Cutting details short the purana is as under. Lord srinivasa, in order to perform his marriage was in need of money(it proves that in those days it is the male who has to spend to win the hands of female!)and he has borrowed the same from Lord Guberan.Guberan had a passing doubt as to whether Lord Srinivasa will be able to repay his debts.(One may recall that Lord Srinivasa at Thirumala is still only paying interest in debt and principal repayment is yet to start!!!). Here is where lord Srinivasa at Kodavasal acts smartly and differently.He ensures the copious repayments of money i all its forms on a continuous basis and Lord Gubera finds it even difficul to account or store them.Then he relaises his mistake and prays to Lord to bless him.Sice the direction of Kubera is north, Lord Srinivasa in this temple faces North and bless him.Lord is in Kalyana thirukkolam(Marriage attire)and so also his godesses.Since the lord and his wifes are in Kalyana thirukkolam all those who come to this temple with a prayer for marriage will be blessed accordingly by Lord Srinivasa.Since Lord has given this boon, Goddess Boomadevi on her part has blessed devotees with DhanyaM/Nilam ,thereby meaning that those who pray for well being,shelter and food will be blessed with accordingly.Seeing this Goddess Sridevi has woved to bless her devotees to this sthala with SANTHANA Bhagyam,(Blessings for child birth).

Thus this sthala fulfills all prayers leading to a happy married life with wealth, and good children.

I had been to this place in 2009 during samprokshnam when the whole temple got a face lift with contributions from all devotees (Including us who belong to Rayar family, a family title bestowed on our ancestors by King Krishnadevarayar who was instrumental in fulfilling dreams of a brahmin in whose dream Lord Srinivasa appeared and directed for building a temple herein).the place Kudavasal also had another great trait, in the sence that this represents the mouth of the pot in which the Amirtham (FROM PARKADAL)was kept which spilled to this place.In 2010 I was accompanied by my brothers and sisters.IT WAS an occasion filled with great memories ,love and affection and above all a great sence of oneness with the lord.2010 , EXACTLY AFTER AN YEAR my brother left the earth to join the heavenly abode.In 2011 i had been alone to this temple to pray for the marriage of my daughter which went along with grace and beauty in June 2011 .In the first week of January 2012, self and wife went along with a friend;s family to pay our prayers to the lord and yesterday we had been to the temple along with my daughter and son in law/sambandhis to pray for the next auspicious event to take place in the home smoothly.

Trip was exactly for a day and it was hectic. Due to tight office shedulef my daughter the trip was planned for 26th Jna, a declared public holiday which even MNCs can not deny to Indian citizens.We reached Koyambedu, to board a bus at 10 pm (after some anxious moments of traffic jam which enabled us to reach only at 9.50 pm despite ourleaving home 2 hrs in advance)and reached Kumbakonam at 6am.thanks to our earlier visit in first week of January 2012, during which itself i have blocked the rooms at Andavar ASHRAM and also booked a car, right from landing at KMU till departing by Rockfort express at 7.55pm, everey thing went as meticulously as possible with grace of God.In the morning we had also finished dharshan at Lord oppiliappan koil(Where we initially planned to perform the marriage of my daughter which was later shifted to CHENNAI due to exigencies),Thirunageswaram and Garba rashambigai temple.

By the time we finished our day's itineary and boarded the Rock fort , with hot tiffin purchased and packed minutes before the train departure from Krishna bhaan,(oppposite to station)ready for consumption, our hearts and minds were alreay full with peace, content and happiness.

Of course,I missed my son as it is the third or fourth occasion that me, my wife, and my daughter had been to temple but he could not accompany us, as he was earlier away in Bombay and later , now at hONGKONG.But then i firmly believe, as reiterated in the initial para of this blog, that there will be a time for every thing and we should wait for the same, leaving the rest to HIS MAJESTY.I surrender unto HIM in totality.

May the blessings of Lord Srinivasa be bestowed with out limit on every reader/non reader of this blog and their families.