The evenings of last week were spent in listening to the Namasankeerthanam program organized in connection with the Ramanavami utsavam.
I am always fascinated by stories and used to love katha kalakshepam (hari katha) as a youngster. This namasankeerthanam was new to me and thought it will be a story telling session. My hubby loves carnatic music and we found out the program was more of music and a little bit of story telling.
Any way it was enjoyable. It was by one Mr. Udaiyalur kalyanaraman accompanied by another singer, a harmonist and a mrindagist.
The music value of the program was really very classic. He was able to sing in sanskrit (ashtapathis) , tamil , telugu and kannada (purandaradasa). He could campare the ideas of poets like Tyagaraja, purandaradasa, narayana thirtha who have expressed the same ideas of bakthi in different languages through their music.
I never knew that this bajanai had a sampradayam. That is a particular way of performing.
So I was surprised that there was a seeta kalyanam day when people brought sweets, paruppu thengai, etc etc which is normally part of any tamil brahmin wedding.
One of the days some of the audiences joined in mild steps of dancing and ladies joined in kummi in the background of perfect rythemic music. and there was a kolatam also, each assigned to certain songs. It was sort of funny to see senior citizens dancing and singing. The Bagavathar insisted on each person joining the bajans and was often singing simple bajans so that all could join and tap or clap with the rythm.
There was food for every body after the namasankeerthana every night.
All this lead me to thinking. Is this is one way of Bakthi being spread in the form of audience participation so that people will not get bored. Is this one way of maintaining the traditions of the rituals like marriage rituals.
I was questioning myself is it some sort of entertainment which was needed in the villages where each person whether he is good at music or dance to participate and let his /her hair down in the name of bakthi.
The bajans was reaching a cresendo often with all singing in unison hare rama hare rama. This did remind me of the Rajnish Ashram where people were singing (or was it shouting) in the top of their voice.
The Bagavadhar was saying that this bajanais normally start in the night and sometime continue throughout the night.
My grandmother used to say that when they were children they used to be awake whole night on krishna jayanthi and used to participate in kummi , kolatam and some small skits. some expression of art?
Though this raised a lots of questions in me, the point is I did enjoy the evenings and liked the rendering of the keerthanas and his telling the meanings of those keerthanas.
Such traditions I feel should be continued.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Sunday, April 02, 2006
language
When I first came to Malaysia seeing the boards on the roads I used to laugh, seeing their spellings. Since it was all Roman alphabets I could read them, and thought these people were weak in spellings and used to laugh at spellings like 'klinik'(clinic) , 'bas' (bus), 'doktor'(doctor)etc.
It took me some time to understand that they have adopted the roman script for their language and they write their words phonetically and all these days what I was reading was not english but bhasa malayu the local language. Slowly I understood that c is 'cha' and k is ka and ' i' is ee and so on.
At one time I thought it is a easy way of learning a language. I was thinking if only we could read all the indian language with roman script learning will be easy . Many of the tamils who don't know the 'deva nagari' script and many of the north indians who don't know the tamil, telugu etc script can learn the other language easily.
Now suddenly it dawned on me because of the roman script of bhasa malayu, when I try to spell many english words I am getting confused. Now also , I see lot of boards on road and try to pronounce them and decipher them with a bhasa malayu dictionary. The result is when it comes to queen's language I am faltering. (Not that I was very strong in that language before.)
So I came to a conclusion that our languages are good as they are and any body trying to learn it let them learn the script also . Another thing I did was went and bought an english dictionary. (our big dictionary is back at home in India) . I am still not comfortable using a dictionary in the net.
It took me some time to understand that they have adopted the roman script for their language and they write their words phonetically and all these days what I was reading was not english but bhasa malayu the local language. Slowly I understood that c is 'cha' and k is ka and ' i' is ee and so on.
At one time I thought it is a easy way of learning a language. I was thinking if only we could read all the indian language with roman script learning will be easy . Many of the tamils who don't know the 'deva nagari' script and many of the north indians who don't know the tamil, telugu etc script can learn the other language easily.
Now suddenly it dawned on me because of the roman script of bhasa malayu, when I try to spell many english words I am getting confused. Now also , I see lot of boards on road and try to pronounce them and decipher them with a bhasa malayu dictionary. The result is when it comes to queen's language I am faltering. (Not that I was very strong in that language before.)
So I came to a conclusion that our languages are good as they are and any body trying to learn it let them learn the script also . Another thing I did was went and bought an english dictionary. (our big dictionary is back at home in India) . I am still not comfortable using a dictionary in the net.
some tv programs
We have here a facility to watch some movies in the tv by paying a certain amount 9.99 Ringets in a particular channel. They show some 9 movies again and again at different times for a whole month and we can watch them. This is one of the advantage of set top box I suppose.
After knowing that June R a tamil movie will be shown this april , immediately I subscribed for the channel over phone. The additional attraction was The Emperor's journey.
About June R I had read quite a bit of write ups in magzines before release itself. It had a very good cast also. Jyotika, Saritha, Kushboo. To add to all this the movie was directed by a woman, some Revathi Verma. So with great expectations, I made my hubby also sit for it the first time they showed on April 1st. It became such an april foolish thing to do.
It was not as good as it was promised and I felt it was an incomplete film. May be the movie was short, but that is not what I mean. I felt it was abruptly ended.
The same kind of experience I got when I went and saw a movie by name'viswa thulasi' a movie again highly hyped by the magzines ( I read basically ananda vikatan, kalki and kumudam which are three decent tamil magzines ) Again a good star cast of mamooty and nandita das and a woman director. I saw that in the local theatre. There also I had the same abrupt ending feeling. I don't think audience will want to pay their hard earned money to see such movies where the director wants to show their talent rather than entertain the audience.
May be I am not used to such kind of movies, or may be the high expectations made me get this disappointment. Here I should mention movies like 'kannathil muthamital', and 'aszagi'. I enjoyed those two movies and they were also sort of off beat movies.
A great relief was ' The emperor's journey' and I wonder how it could have been taken in such a lovely way and how it could be told as a story. It is about the Penguins in the antarctica . It is indeed a wonderful movie.
After knowing that June R a tamil movie will be shown this april , immediately I subscribed for the channel over phone. The additional attraction was The Emperor's journey.
About June R I had read quite a bit of write ups in magzines before release itself. It had a very good cast also. Jyotika, Saritha, Kushboo. To add to all this the movie was directed by a woman, some Revathi Verma. So with great expectations, I made my hubby also sit for it the first time they showed on April 1st. It became such an april foolish thing to do.
It was not as good as it was promised and I felt it was an incomplete film. May be the movie was short, but that is not what I mean. I felt it was abruptly ended.
The same kind of experience I got when I went and saw a movie by name'viswa thulasi' a movie again highly hyped by the magzines ( I read basically ananda vikatan, kalki and kumudam which are three decent tamil magzines ) Again a good star cast of mamooty and nandita das and a woman director. I saw that in the local theatre. There also I had the same abrupt ending feeling. I don't think audience will want to pay their hard earned money to see such movies where the director wants to show their talent rather than entertain the audience.
May be I am not used to such kind of movies, or may be the high expectations made me get this disappointment. Here I should mention movies like 'kannathil muthamital', and 'aszagi'. I enjoyed those two movies and they were also sort of off beat movies.
A great relief was ' The emperor's journey' and I wonder how it could have been taken in such a lovely way and how it could be told as a story. It is about the Penguins in the antarctica . It is indeed a wonderful movie.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Maintenance
More than creating or aquiring new things , one has to understand it is important to maintain anything we aquire. It is true of any private or public possessions.
I have seen in the local malls, or airport or even railway station, people cleaning not only the floors but also the hand rails and also the glass doors and partitions with a cloth very meticulously. No wonder the airport appears brand new.
Many of us feel once we aquire something or build something the work is over. That is why many of the things does not work properly after some time and breaks down.
This reminds me of an incident. Hubby and me were waiting for our train in the Egmore platform. Suddenly we heard a very disturbing noise. We saw a railway employee dragging a six wheel empty trolley. The small tyres in the six wheels had worn out and hence the noise. It would have taken a few minutes and very little expense to put some tyres in the wheels if only any body had cared . No body in charge bothered and it was causing such noise pollution and harming many ear drums.
Simple things like the silver lamp which we light every day needs good maintenance. One of my friends was commenting that her silver lamp always is just black. I found out that the reason for Syamala manni's lamp being so bright is that she is cleaning it twice a week regularly and polishing it with 'vibuthi'. maintenance!
Any proud car owner will talk for hours about car maintenance I suppose.
I have seen in the local malls, or airport or even railway station, people cleaning not only the floors but also the hand rails and also the glass doors and partitions with a cloth very meticulously. No wonder the airport appears brand new.
Many of us feel once we aquire something or build something the work is over. That is why many of the things does not work properly after some time and breaks down.
This reminds me of an incident. Hubby and me were waiting for our train in the Egmore platform. Suddenly we heard a very disturbing noise. We saw a railway employee dragging a six wheel empty trolley. The small tyres in the six wheels had worn out and hence the noise. It would have taken a few minutes and very little expense to put some tyres in the wheels if only any body had cared . No body in charge bothered and it was causing such noise pollution and harming many ear drums.
Simple things like the silver lamp which we light every day needs good maintenance. One of my friends was commenting that her silver lamp always is just black. I found out that the reason for Syamala manni's lamp being so bright is that she is cleaning it twice a week regularly and polishing it with 'vibuthi'. maintenance!
Any proud car owner will talk for hours about car maintenance I suppose.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Sentosa
We all had been to Singapore. I have been to Sentosa island there many times and each time I have spent time there in a set pattern. Each time we go there , we see some of the important attractions like, underwater world, climb up the merlion, watch the dolfin show, go to butter fly park or go to some other attraction and finally come and sit in the muscial, laser show fountain. That used to be the routine. All these attraction entrance fee costs are quite high.
This time it was really different. I am amazed at Singapore how they keep on improving things where generally one feels that there is no scope for improvement. I saw notice in singapore embassy here in KL, which said if your tourist guide book of Singapore is more than one year old please throw it away as it won't be valid any more as there are so many new things around. I thought they were bragging but it appears it is true.
when I first went to sentosa about 10 years back, we could reach the island only by steamer or the rope way. Recently they have constructed a road and sentosa can be reached by buses and cars. This time we went in our car and entrace fee of 2 singapore dollar is taken for each individua). The transport inside the island from one attraction to the other is free so we could park our car in the parking lot and take the ride in the sentosa transport.
This time we just spent time in the beach, playing flying disc, and cycling the double cycle, watching the sunset and spending time for ourselves instead of rushing from one attraction to the other.
One of the new addition was Sentosa Luge which was like gocarting. We had to reach a high place in a rope way and while coming down each will come in a gocart (on a curved sloping road) which is very simple to operate. I was quite scared as I am not used to driving any vehicle (only I am used to driving people crazy). But after Anand's cajoling or forcing I did come down in the gocart which they call as luge. It was enjoyable. Tejas was the one who enjoyed maximum and was happy that he could come down faster than his grand pa and grand ma.
Indeed I could see Singapore in a new perspective, and for once my trip to Singapore was complete without visiting the 'mustafa' in little India.
This time it was really different. I am amazed at Singapore how they keep on improving things where generally one feels that there is no scope for improvement. I saw notice in singapore embassy here in KL, which said if your tourist guide book of Singapore is more than one year old please throw it away as it won't be valid any more as there are so many new things around. I thought they were bragging but it appears it is true.
when I first went to sentosa about 10 years back, we could reach the island only by steamer or the rope way. Recently they have constructed a road and sentosa can be reached by buses and cars. This time we went in our car and entrace fee of 2 singapore dollar is taken for each individua). The transport inside the island from one attraction to the other is free so we could park our car in the parking lot and take the ride in the sentosa transport.
This time we just spent time in the beach, playing flying disc, and cycling the double cycle, watching the sunset and spending time for ourselves instead of rushing from one attraction to the other.
One of the new addition was Sentosa Luge which was like gocarting. We had to reach a high place in a rope way and while coming down each will come in a gocart (on a curved sloping road) which is very simple to operate. I was quite scared as I am not used to driving any vehicle (only I am used to driving people crazy). But after Anand's cajoling or forcing I did come down in the gocart which they call as luge. It was enjoyable. Tejas was the one who enjoyed maximum and was happy that he could come down faster than his grand pa and grand ma.
Indeed I could see Singapore in a new perspective, and for once my trip to Singapore was complete without visiting the 'mustafa' in little India.
kinabalu
Malaysia has two States in the East which is separated by the main land Malaysia (which is called West Malaysia ) by Sea and takes around two and half hours by flight to reach there. These two states are Sabha and Sarawak and are in Borneo Island. These two are big states of Malaysia and have unspoilt equotorial tropical forest.
I had visited Kuching which is the capital of Sarawak two years back with my hubby and was lucky to see the biggest flower in the world 'Raffelasia' . We had to travel to interior forest and climb for half an hour to see the flower. The flowering is monitared by the forst department. The flower takes 8 months to bloom and it stays as bloomed flower for just two days. We were lucky that a flower was blooming the day we went.
Now this time we all went to the other state Sabha. The capital is Kota kinabalu. I found Kuching much more cleaner but, Kota kinabalu attaracts more tourists as there are many tourist attractions , like water rafting, scuba diving and mountain climbing etc. It has one of the highest mount of south east asia 'mount kinabalu'.
Anu and Anand went for rafting and I was told it was level 4 which means the rapids were quite rough. I had thought it was level 2. But they did enjoy it and said it was an experience. Anu said whether she would like to get the experience once more is questionable.
Next day Vinu also joined and they all went to the Kinabalu park for climbing . It is compulsory that climbers take a guide and they fixed up all this with a local tourist agent. They climbed to the height of 3300 metres the previous day and stayed over night in the camp site there. Next day early morning Anand and Vinu did the summit which is 4095 metres high. They climbed from the kinabalu park which is around 2 hours drive from Kota kinabalu and I went with Tejas to recieve them. They said the Orchids and other flora in that place is out of the world. I wonder if I can do the first part of 3300 metres. They said more than climbing the coming down is much more difficult though it is faster . By and large the tourist guide and the tourist agent a lady were very very friendly. She had arranged the guide, staying etc for them in the kinabalu park and also the guides for the rafting . She herself drove them to the park the previous day and next day took me there to bring them back. She told me she was the owner of her tourist/ travel company.
I might return to kinabalu to try the climbing.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Economics of Household
I have been thinking about writing this for quite some time. But am not sure how to put it. This may be a hafazard article jumping here and there. This is all about economics of house hold as I see from my point of view.
We have to spend within our means then we can live comfortably is the motto.
You save money so that you spend your retirment comfortably.
How much to save is the question.
My view is if you are earning 100rs. save 20rs. well that is great.
But when you are earning 1000rs. don't try to save on percentage basis that is 200rs. On the other hand don't save only 20rs. Find a via media and save a little more and spend a little more.
You can buy some property while young say house so that you can repay what ever loan you take. But this also you have to think properly. You can not just lose your today for the sake of tomorrow.
When I was young, I did not want to go for a house loan. I thought because of the loan, I might start thinking whether to give a cup of coffee to a guest who has come on a visit. This is what I call losing your present. This is just an example there may be umpteen examples which a loan might put a hindrance to.
I never go in for any instalment purchases. Even though you start enjoying the benefit of the product from day one of first instalment, the interest and hidden costs, even though they say zero percent blah blah adds up to quite a sum . It is better to wait and keep the instalment money in bank and then buy the product. This is especially true for products which are not utility items and which can be done without till you have saved the money.
But some house loans etc especially in India is beneficial for tax saving purposes. In that case the pros and cons have to be weighed and the benefits, repayment capacity, etc have to be properly calculated and then one can go ahead with the loan.
It is very very important to write the accounts every month. You will know where your money is going. It might look silly to write what we are spending. But when you look at your accounts in the month end, you will be surprised to see expenses which otherwise would never have been noticed.
Personally, I always feel it is very good to invest in gold, not in the sentimental way. Buy some jewels not the one with stone and intricate designs. If you are buying for investment purpose, buy gold ornaments with designs which use minimum wastage. Use it happily and when ever you need the money without any qualms just sell it to raise capital. This way you have the satisfaction of using the jewels also. This many may not agree but again, I find it very useful.
One should never be a compulsive buyer. I have seen the urge to buy things when we see them in shop is just too much to resist. some times we do buy and wonder later why we bought it at all. To out do the urge the best solution is you just tell yourself to go around the shopping area and come back again and then buy. once you are out and when you come second time I have found out, many times the urge is gone and you understand that you don't need that thing at all.
The maximum expense we make in modern days I feel is on clothes. We tend to buy them left right and centre and end up with pile of clothes in the house. since modern day clothes last longer because of good quality, you see clothes every where in the house. my hubby always says that my house becomes a mess because of the clothes I buy and he says our house will be neat the day you stop buying heaps of clothes. (I think) I have learnt some lessons and do not buy much clothes.
One another best way to save money is to stop wastage. We tend to waste so many things starting from electricity, water, food, groceries, and what not. Just by being not lazy and switch off the fan not needed will help you save. I don't mean to say switch off the fan the moment you get up irrespective of any other person sleeping in the room!!
I have seen people who had retired with lot of benefits, suddenly in problem when they fall sick, as medical expenses are quite high today. even tests cost you quite a lot.
Of course the medicare and other medical insurance is catching up in India, but still one has to have some savings to take care of medical expenses as the cost increases as age increases.
One important thing is money should not make you lose your interest in life. Life is to be lived is very important and if we just concentrate on creating wealth you end up not living your life at all.
But one should understand that for everything bottomline is money and surely while earning well it is better to save judiciously.
We have to spend within our means then we can live comfortably is the motto.
You save money so that you spend your retirment comfortably.
How much to save is the question.
My view is if you are earning 100rs. save 20rs. well that is great.
But when you are earning 1000rs. don't try to save on percentage basis that is 200rs. On the other hand don't save only 20rs. Find a via media and save a little more and spend a little more.
You can buy some property while young say house so that you can repay what ever loan you take. But this also you have to think properly. You can not just lose your today for the sake of tomorrow.
When I was young, I did not want to go for a house loan. I thought because of the loan, I might start thinking whether to give a cup of coffee to a guest who has come on a visit. This is what I call losing your present. This is just an example there may be umpteen examples which a loan might put a hindrance to.
I never go in for any instalment purchases. Even though you start enjoying the benefit of the product from day one of first instalment, the interest and hidden costs, even though they say zero percent blah blah adds up to quite a sum . It is better to wait and keep the instalment money in bank and then buy the product. This is especially true for products which are not utility items and which can be done without till you have saved the money.
But some house loans etc especially in India is beneficial for tax saving purposes. In that case the pros and cons have to be weighed and the benefits, repayment capacity, etc have to be properly calculated and then one can go ahead with the loan.
It is very very important to write the accounts every month. You will know where your money is going. It might look silly to write what we are spending. But when you look at your accounts in the month end, you will be surprised to see expenses which otherwise would never have been noticed.
Personally, I always feel it is very good to invest in gold, not in the sentimental way. Buy some jewels not the one with stone and intricate designs. If you are buying for investment purpose, buy gold ornaments with designs which use minimum wastage. Use it happily and when ever you need the money without any qualms just sell it to raise capital. This way you have the satisfaction of using the jewels also. This many may not agree but again, I find it very useful.
One should never be a compulsive buyer. I have seen the urge to buy things when we see them in shop is just too much to resist. some times we do buy and wonder later why we bought it at all. To out do the urge the best solution is you just tell yourself to go around the shopping area and come back again and then buy. once you are out and when you come second time I have found out, many times the urge is gone and you understand that you don't need that thing at all.
The maximum expense we make in modern days I feel is on clothes. We tend to buy them left right and centre and end up with pile of clothes in the house. since modern day clothes last longer because of good quality, you see clothes every where in the house. my hubby always says that my house becomes a mess because of the clothes I buy and he says our house will be neat the day you stop buying heaps of clothes. (I think) I have learnt some lessons and do not buy much clothes.
One another best way to save money is to stop wastage. We tend to waste so many things starting from electricity, water, food, groceries, and what not. Just by being not lazy and switch off the fan not needed will help you save. I don't mean to say switch off the fan the moment you get up irrespective of any other person sleeping in the room!!
I have seen people who had retired with lot of benefits, suddenly in problem when they fall sick, as medical expenses are quite high today. even tests cost you quite a lot.
Of course the medicare and other medical insurance is catching up in India, but still one has to have some savings to take care of medical expenses as the cost increases as age increases.
One important thing is money should not make you lose your interest in life. Life is to be lived is very important and if we just concentrate on creating wealth you end up not living your life at all.
But one should understand that for everything bottomline is money and surely while earning well it is better to save judiciously.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
silly childhood
Some mention by Vinu in his mail about an incident has inspired me to write this.
Well this is about a lakhsa deepotsvam at a local temple which my friend Saroja and myself went with my little brother Gopi and her little sister Radha. (They must have been around 4 to 5 years of age). It was crowded like any usual fare, and suddenly we wanted to go and lit the diyas. We asked the kids to sit in a place and went to the diyas. When we came back after 10 minutes hey and presto there was no Radha or no Gopi. We panicked, and we started crying profusely. Then some body suggested public address system which was used to render some music. So the whole, maidan was reverborating with Radha, Gopi where ever you are come here in kannada. Mean while we both started praying to God and bargaining with Him as to what all we will do and will not do once we get back our siblings. We were roaming here and there when suddenly we saw Saroja's elder sister. She was surprised to see us crying and the announcement. She chided us as to what the hungama was about. When we were perplexed she said Gopi and Radha are back home long back and you are here searching for them. It never occured to us that we should go home (which was about half a kilo meter from the temple ) and see if they had gone home.
We got good scoldings from our moms and our siblings got the same from us is a different story.
Even now when I visit the 'mallikarujuna' temple I just smile
Well this is about a lakhsa deepotsvam at a local temple which my friend Saroja and myself went with my little brother Gopi and her little sister Radha. (They must have been around 4 to 5 years of age). It was crowded like any usual fare, and suddenly we wanted to go and lit the diyas. We asked the kids to sit in a place and went to the diyas. When we came back after 10 minutes hey and presto there was no Radha or no Gopi. We panicked, and we started crying profusely. Then some body suggested public address system which was used to render some music. So the whole, maidan was reverborating with Radha, Gopi where ever you are come here in kannada. Mean while we both started praying to God and bargaining with Him as to what all we will do and will not do once we get back our siblings. We were roaming here and there when suddenly we saw Saroja's elder sister. She was surprised to see us crying and the announcement. She chided us as to what the hungama was about. When we were perplexed she said Gopi and Radha are back home long back and you are here searching for them. It never occured to us that we should go home (which was about half a kilo meter from the temple ) and see if they had gone home.
We got good scoldings from our moms and our siblings got the same from us is a different story.
Even now when I visit the 'mallikarujuna' temple I just smile
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
India trip
I am back from India. It was a nice trip personally.
I have some observations to make.
When I landed in Bangalore, it was not like going home, as I am always used to going by train and the restlessness which used to start when the train reached krishnarajapuram and started its snails pace (it was an express till then and used to become a passenger stopping at all sundry stations) was absent.
The roads in bangalore have become worse to say the least. This I noticed in national high way from trichi to palani also, which previously used to be a smooth ride. This was due to rains I understand but wonder when they will repair it.
The traffic in Bangalore has reached a nadir. I wonder when the whole city will come to a stand still. Our driver commented, that we might go and come back from tirupathi again, by the time we could reach home, in the city's traffic, once we reached the city limits. It might have been an exaggeration but it was a chaiotic traffic.
Chennai, when I alighted in the Rly. station in the early morning the visibility was almost zero. It was not even 'boghi' festival. I was told that for few days chennai was witnessing this fog, which I had heard about only in Delhi when vinu used to go back after his christmas holidays to Pilani. The result, for the prepaid auto we were charged 90rs. instead of the usual 70rs. One thing which is a blessing in Blore which has not changed is the auto fares and the good drivers.
We had a good darshan at palani and a new addition is the rope way (sky way). We went by it and the scenery was breathtaking from the carriages!(what is it called) They could have got a nice ones like Genting, what they have the rusted iron carriages which are not even painted brightly. The helpers or what ever they are called lock them mannualy and open then with a key . Maybe we have more man power.
We had a wonderful darshan in Tirupathi and thanks to the computer and the webcam, we could book our darshan time from blore it self. The climb was also nice with lovely shelter throughout and nice coffee shops and knick knacks and what not available on the way to the temple town. We were told the crowd was very very negligible and so we could have darshans on both days and our queue time of darshan was less than an hour for 50rs and 100 rs tickets. At one point I thought there may be a stampede as they let in too many people but while nearing the sanctum sanctorium the crowd was thinned out. Though we could have darshan for only a couple of seconds or may be one or two minutes, it was worth it because of our faith. It is a miracle that they manage day in and day out such a large gathering with such ease and I was satisfied with the darshan as hordes of people were waiting for their turn.
One thing which was lovely through out was the food we had in different restuarants. The annapoorna in coimbatore was nice and so also the arya bhavan in dindugal, and palani and the best was the kamat yatri nivas in hoskote on the way back to bangalore.
The fruits and vegetables in Bangalore Gandhi bazar was excellent with north indian gajar to mattar and mocchkkai and what not. The pomegranate was of the best variety which used to be available only in Delhi and was known as kabul variety. The cost was quite high but the quality of the products were really good.
So with mixed feeling I came back only to read in samachar the day I landed here that the airport authority employees were on strike and there was delay in all the international flights and utter confusion in the airports. I thanked God that the strike did not start the previous day.
I have some observations to make.
When I landed in Bangalore, it was not like going home, as I am always used to going by train and the restlessness which used to start when the train reached krishnarajapuram and started its snails pace (it was an express till then and used to become a passenger stopping at all sundry stations) was absent.
The roads in bangalore have become worse to say the least. This I noticed in national high way from trichi to palani also, which previously used to be a smooth ride. This was due to rains I understand but wonder when they will repair it.
The traffic in Bangalore has reached a nadir. I wonder when the whole city will come to a stand still. Our driver commented, that we might go and come back from tirupathi again, by the time we could reach home, in the city's traffic, once we reached the city limits. It might have been an exaggeration but it was a chaiotic traffic.
Chennai, when I alighted in the Rly. station in the early morning the visibility was almost zero. It was not even 'boghi' festival. I was told that for few days chennai was witnessing this fog, which I had heard about only in Delhi when vinu used to go back after his christmas holidays to Pilani. The result, for the prepaid auto we were charged 90rs. instead of the usual 70rs. One thing which is a blessing in Blore which has not changed is the auto fares and the good drivers.
We had a good darshan at palani and a new addition is the rope way (sky way). We went by it and the scenery was breathtaking from the carriages!(what is it called) They could have got a nice ones like Genting, what they have the rusted iron carriages which are not even painted brightly. The helpers or what ever they are called lock them mannualy and open then with a key . Maybe we have more man power.
We had a wonderful darshan in Tirupathi and thanks to the computer and the webcam, we could book our darshan time from blore it self. The climb was also nice with lovely shelter throughout and nice coffee shops and knick knacks and what not available on the way to the temple town. We were told the crowd was very very negligible and so we could have darshans on both days and our queue time of darshan was less than an hour for 50rs and 100 rs tickets. At one point I thought there may be a stampede as they let in too many people but while nearing the sanctum sanctorium the crowd was thinned out. Though we could have darshan for only a couple of seconds or may be one or two minutes, it was worth it because of our faith. It is a miracle that they manage day in and day out such a large gathering with such ease and I was satisfied with the darshan as hordes of people were waiting for their turn.
One thing which was lovely through out was the food we had in different restuarants. The annapoorna in coimbatore was nice and so also the arya bhavan in dindugal, and palani and the best was the kamat yatri nivas in hoskote on the way back to bangalore.
The fruits and vegetables in Bangalore Gandhi bazar was excellent with north indian gajar to mattar and mocchkkai and what not. The pomegranate was of the best variety which used to be available only in Delhi and was known as kabul variety. The cost was quite high but the quality of the products were really good.
So with mixed feeling I came back only to read in samachar the day I landed here that the airport authority employees were on strike and there was delay in all the international flights and utter confusion in the airports. I thanked God that the strike did not start the previous day.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Grand Parents
Vasu's post about sathabisekam has inspired me to go down the memory lane.
The first satabisekam I attended was of my great grand parents in our village. (my mother's grand parents) I was 8 years old and I remember my great grand parents were really old. Now a days 80 year olds do look much younger! My dad (was the only one) had a camera and we had some few black and white snaps with our great grand parent's vague picture amid smoke. That was my first visit to our village and I remember taking lot of 'elnirs'.
Later after my great grand mom passed away my ggfather came to live with my grand parents. He could never recognnise or remember our names and always used to call me 'karuppayee'or 'olakkayee', may be the names of some farm helpers from his village. This used to make my brother laugh so much and tease me to tears. my grand mother(his daughter in law) never used to talk to him and we were the mediators when my grand father went out for work.
The next sathabisekam was of my own grand parents (father's parents). This was when I was 11 years old. These two were much smarter and the function was held in the local choultry in Bangalore. (where I got married 8 years later). All the grand children were given 10rs. each and I had made a wire bag myself with that money and used it as my school bag. My grand mom liked the bag and wanted one for her which I made and gave her. ( she had kept it with her and used it for another 4 years till her death.) This grand mother wanted to use shampoo which I think had just been introduced in the market and was afraid to use it. So I helped her in shampooing her hair and I think she was thrilled though I don't remember her expressing it.
The next one was to my maternal grand parents who were very very close to all of us. As my mom was the only daughter all the seven of us siblings were the world to them. This was in 1983 and we all joined in organizing it, and was done in chennai with major contribution in organizing by my brother at chennai. We had lost our father by then and my mother was very happy that we all were doing this to her parents. By then I had understood the serenity of the occasion and what it means to live and see a thousand moons (which is what is said about significance of the sathabisekam)
Fortunate are those children who are blessed to celeberate the sathabisekam of their elders, which brings happiness all around.
The first satabisekam I attended was of my great grand parents in our village. (my mother's grand parents) I was 8 years old and I remember my great grand parents were really old. Now a days 80 year olds do look much younger! My dad (was the only one) had a camera and we had some few black and white snaps with our great grand parent's vague picture amid smoke. That was my first visit to our village and I remember taking lot of 'elnirs'.
Later after my great grand mom passed away my ggfather came to live with my grand parents. He could never recognnise or remember our names and always used to call me 'karuppayee'or 'olakkayee', may be the names of some farm helpers from his village. This used to make my brother laugh so much and tease me to tears. my grand mother(his daughter in law) never used to talk to him and we were the mediators when my grand father went out for work.
The next sathabisekam was of my own grand parents (father's parents). This was when I was 11 years old. These two were much smarter and the function was held in the local choultry in Bangalore. (where I got married 8 years later). All the grand children were given 10rs. each and I had made a wire bag myself with that money and used it as my school bag. My grand mom liked the bag and wanted one for her which I made and gave her. ( she had kept it with her and used it for another 4 years till her death.) This grand mother wanted to use shampoo which I think had just been introduced in the market and was afraid to use it. So I helped her in shampooing her hair and I think she was thrilled though I don't remember her expressing it.
The next one was to my maternal grand parents who were very very close to all of us. As my mom was the only daughter all the seven of us siblings were the world to them. This was in 1983 and we all joined in organizing it, and was done in chennai with major contribution in organizing by my brother at chennai. We had lost our father by then and my mother was very happy that we all were doing this to her parents. By then I had understood the serenity of the occasion and what it means to live and see a thousand moons (which is what is said about significance of the sathabisekam)
Fortunate are those children who are blessed to celeberate the sathabisekam of their elders, which brings happiness all around.
Monday, January 16, 2006
pasar malam
This word pasar malam always brings little smile to me. The first time I heard this, was from one of my husband's collegue's wife whom I had gone to visit in KL. It was evening time and she suddenly said Hum pasarmalam karenge. I did not understand what she was wanting to do. I said fine. Then she took me to an evening bazaar, the puzzled me got an answer from my hubby later that pasar malam is nothing but an evening market.(pasar is bazar in malay and malam is evening).
Over the years I have learnt to appreciate and like the 'pasar malam' concept and I don't do a pasar malam but I do shop in this market. This is an evening market which is once a week affair, in different locations. Each location has a specific pasar malam day rather evening. The shops are temporary, set in a street (quite busy streets) on the platforms, with battery operated proper lights and tents like shops. You can get flowers, vegetables, fruits, meat and fish and any other non vegetarian items, cooked foods, both veg and non veg, ready made dresses, toys, utensils, knick knacks and what not. The shopkeepers bring their wares in vans and some times sell them from their van also. Each slot is earmarked and numbered the shop keepers pay money to the majlis or the corporation/municipality. Once the market is closed in the night around 10.30/ 11 p.m., the majlis cleans the whole area and the next morning there won't be any trace of the wares or kachadas generated by the shops and the street will be as usual busy buzzing with traffic . The beauty is even while the market is going on cars will be moving in the streets in a snail's pace.
The vegetables and fruits which I buy every week from the pasar malam is fresh and cheap compared to any other shops or super markets, which sell them. We get many times special vegetables which you don't see in the normal markets.
The concept of old santhai or shanty has been modified for the modern day needs and it is done week after week with perfect professionalism where people in mercedes come and buy the things, the place is left as clean as it was before, after the market is over.
We normally buy our urgent needs from our local pasar pagi that is weekly morning market from near by morning sunday market and for our special items, we go quite a distance once a week for our purchase.
This is indeed one of the unique things in malaysia.
Over the years I have learnt to appreciate and like the 'pasar malam' concept and I don't do a pasar malam but I do shop in this market. This is an evening market which is once a week affair, in different locations. Each location has a specific pasar malam day rather evening. The shops are temporary, set in a street (quite busy streets) on the platforms, with battery operated proper lights and tents like shops. You can get flowers, vegetables, fruits, meat and fish and any other non vegetarian items, cooked foods, both veg and non veg, ready made dresses, toys, utensils, knick knacks and what not. The shopkeepers bring their wares in vans and some times sell them from their van also. Each slot is earmarked and numbered the shop keepers pay money to the majlis or the corporation/municipality. Once the market is closed in the night around 10.30/ 11 p.m., the majlis cleans the whole area and the next morning there won't be any trace of the wares or kachadas generated by the shops and the street will be as usual busy buzzing with traffic . The beauty is even while the market is going on cars will be moving in the streets in a snail's pace.
The vegetables and fruits which I buy every week from the pasar malam is fresh and cheap compared to any other shops or super markets, which sell them. We get many times special vegetables which you don't see in the normal markets.
The concept of old santhai or shanty has been modified for the modern day needs and it is done week after week with perfect professionalism where people in mercedes come and buy the things, the place is left as clean as it was before, after the market is over.
We normally buy our urgent needs from our local pasar pagi that is weekly morning market from near by morning sunday market and for our special items, we go quite a distance once a week for our purchase.
This is indeed one of the unique things in malaysia.
Language
I have lot of nice memories about my college days and till today I am maintaining good friendship with my college friends. But this blog is not about those things.
When I sit and think about myself in those days, I feel I was very immature and silly compared to todays kids.
I distintly remember the days when the great language war was raging in tamil nadu. That was in late 60s. There was a big strike in Tamil nadu and it was called hindi agitation which helped DMK to come to power. The hatred was so much that a small time college student was able to defeat a big wig like Kamaraj in State election.
It had small repercussion in Bangalore also. There were lot of speeches supporting kannada, one's mother tongue and sanskrit! also. It was sort of anti hindi and ani english too.
Having brought up in karnataka, (bangalore) and tamil being my mother tongue I always had dual loyalty and love? so to say. Every summer holidays spent in Madras used to drag me into arguments with friends over there, supporting kannada and karnataka. I used to argue so vociferously that my grand ma used to scold me for being so boyish!
Back in Bangalore with my school friends some of whom used to childishly rag me for being a tamilian , it used to be a vociferous argument again but this time supporting tamil and tamilnadu.
Coming back to the agitation, we were so charged up, we refused to answer the roll call in english. Some of my friends answered in kannada and some others answered in sanskrit which I remember distinctly saying 'asmi boh' and I answerd saying 'irukken ayya' (which has been refined these days to 'ullen ayya').
Come to think of it, all those things were just emotional outbursts without thinking properly, just talking and doing things for the sake of doing them. It was all just superfluous ideas without actually going through the topics and things in depth.
Now at this age I can understand that language is for communication and each language has its own sweet ness and it is indeed a blessing to know many languages and to read the literature in each language with its naunces is indeed a great thing.
I wish I had such an understanding at that age and had some mentor who could have talked to us without instigating us with more raw emotions, and taught us how to look at life with a calmness.
Or is it a privelege only age can bring.
About today's kids I do feel they know what they want from life which we especially, I did not know. Some might call today's kids selfish, but if each one is to persue his life without harming others, this world will be a better place to live.
When I sit and think about myself in those days, I feel I was very immature and silly compared to todays kids.
I distintly remember the days when the great language war was raging in tamil nadu. That was in late 60s. There was a big strike in Tamil nadu and it was called hindi agitation which helped DMK to come to power. The hatred was so much that a small time college student was able to defeat a big wig like Kamaraj in State election.
It had small repercussion in Bangalore also. There were lot of speeches supporting kannada, one's mother tongue and sanskrit! also. It was sort of anti hindi and ani english too.
Having brought up in karnataka, (bangalore) and tamil being my mother tongue I always had dual loyalty and love? so to say. Every summer holidays spent in Madras used to drag me into arguments with friends over there, supporting kannada and karnataka. I used to argue so vociferously that my grand ma used to scold me for being so boyish!
Back in Bangalore with my school friends some of whom used to childishly rag me for being a tamilian , it used to be a vociferous argument again but this time supporting tamil and tamilnadu.
Coming back to the agitation, we were so charged up, we refused to answer the roll call in english. Some of my friends answered in kannada and some others answered in sanskrit which I remember distinctly saying 'asmi boh' and I answerd saying 'irukken ayya' (which has been refined these days to 'ullen ayya').
Come to think of it, all those things were just emotional outbursts without thinking properly, just talking and doing things for the sake of doing them. It was all just superfluous ideas without actually going through the topics and things in depth.
Now at this age I can understand that language is for communication and each language has its own sweet ness and it is indeed a blessing to know many languages and to read the literature in each language with its naunces is indeed a great thing.
I wish I had such an understanding at that age and had some mentor who could have talked to us without instigating us with more raw emotions, and taught us how to look at life with a calmness.
Or is it a privelege only age can bring.
About today's kids I do feel they know what they want from life which we especially, I did not know. Some might call today's kids selfish, but if each one is to persue his life without harming others, this world will be a better place to live.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Twin Tower
This january first while driving in the elevated high way, the sight of petronas twin tower gave me a very great feeling. I felt like telling the building 'hey you have made my day, rather year'. I don't know if any one can understand this feeling. I have always got a great attachment to this building which is at present the tallest building in the world. It is as if it belongs to me. I have been lucky in seeing it being built watching from our 14th floor apartment. I used to read a lot of titbits about this building. I remember reading that the crane operator who worked in such a heeeight was an Indian. Just to see that crane it self gave me a dizzy feeling is another matter.
This building has a character. If you see it in the day time the sunlight reflecting on the steel gives it a majestic look. If you see it in the evening, the lights reflecting gives it a magical feeling. I remember my friend telling me in New york while showing me the buildings in Manhattan that they have a character of their own. That does apply to this building.
The magnificient feeling one gets while looking at Taj while entering that Arch and looking upto it which is awe inspiring , is what I get when I look at this lovely Twin Tower.
While sitting on the front steps of this building, watching the small water fountain in front of it, I felt I missed my parents very much. This was three years back. That inspired me to coerce my brother to visit this place with my manni and I was so proud to show them the place which inspired me to invite them!
I never get tired looking at the building. Alas we have changed house and we don't have the 24 hours view which we had from our drawing room in our 14th floor earlier apartment. But every time we go out we do get the view and since we are much nearer the twin tower we go there often just to relax in the park around or shop in the shopping complex in that building.
This building has a character. If you see it in the day time the sunlight reflecting on the steel gives it a majestic look. If you see it in the evening, the lights reflecting gives it a magical feeling. I remember my friend telling me in New york while showing me the buildings in Manhattan that they have a character of their own. That does apply to this building.
The magnificient feeling one gets while looking at Taj while entering that Arch and looking upto it which is awe inspiring , is what I get when I look at this lovely Twin Tower.
While sitting on the front steps of this building, watching the small water fountain in front of it, I felt I missed my parents very much. This was three years back. That inspired me to coerce my brother to visit this place with my manni and I was so proud to show them the place which inspired me to invite them!
I never get tired looking at the building. Alas we have changed house and we don't have the 24 hours view which we had from our drawing room in our 14th floor earlier apartment. But every time we go out we do get the view and since we are much nearer the twin tower we go there often just to relax in the park around or shop in the shopping complex in that building.
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Televsion programs
Yesterday I had the opportunity of watching the 'saptha swarangal' program in sun tv. It was amazing. Little kids under 12 years of age were singing songs from the old movies to the latest hits. Even the accompaniments like, drums, key board, flute etc were also handled by kids. It had to be seen(heard) to be believed. What a talent. Really India is a big country with a big population. But I am able to see the talent is also very very vast. I see lot of yougsters singing carnatic music which is of very high quality. They all achieve this by lot of practice and hard work and talent.
I watch one more program 'arattai arangam' which is a program where common people are given a chance to voice there opinion. It travels from place to place from small towns to big cities and even to foreign locatins where tamilians live. I am amazed to see the rural people talking so authoritatively voicing their opinion and lot of good work is also being done through this forum of arattai arangam.
Another program is achamillai achamillai which is anchored by actress laksmi in jaya tv which also covers a lot of social and cultural issues. some of them may be hyped but many of the episodes are good .
Apart from the movie based program which is aired the whole day there are these good programs which are watchable, which makes me feel proud to see so much talent in our country.
I watch one more program 'arattai arangam' which is a program where common people are given a chance to voice there opinion. It travels from place to place from small towns to big cities and even to foreign locatins where tamilians live. I am amazed to see the rural people talking so authoritatively voicing their opinion and lot of good work is also being done through this forum of arattai arangam.
Another program is achamillai achamillai which is anchored by actress laksmi in jaya tv which also covers a lot of social and cultural issues. some of them may be hyped but many of the episodes are good .
Apart from the movie based program which is aired the whole day there are these good programs which are watchable, which makes me feel proud to see so much talent in our country.
science and religion
Lot of controversy is going on about the evolution theory and the biblical theory of independent design. I can not understand how religion can be taught under the heading science or vice versa.
I read a lot about people saying that brought up with religious belief that God created mankind, evolution theory should not be taught in science classes as the independent design theory has enough proof as it is written in Bible. They can not accept the evolution theory which contradicts the biblical theory as to how the world was created.
I am not very much aware of the independent design as I have never read bible, but one thing is certain that I know that evolution theory based on which the the whole biological science is built has lot of proof and it should be taught under science.
I do believe in God and Super natural power or what ever, but that does not stop me from studying science as I am clear that Science and Religion are in different level. When one is science the other should definitely come under philosophy. My religious belief does not stop me from studying science and I don't understand where the controversy is.
Why should independent design be taught instead of the theory of evolution in the heading Science. Let the evolution theory be taught under science as it has scientific proof and the independent theory can be taught under philosophy.
We in India have so many philosophies which just exist side by side and we never have any confusion or moral guilt while studying science.
Just changing the curriculam in school and not allowing the study of theory of evolution is another form of fundamentalism.
I read a lot about people saying that brought up with religious belief that God created mankind, evolution theory should not be taught in science classes as the independent design theory has enough proof as it is written in Bible. They can not accept the evolution theory which contradicts the biblical theory as to how the world was created.
I am not very much aware of the independent design as I have never read bible, but one thing is certain that I know that evolution theory based on which the the whole biological science is built has lot of proof and it should be taught under science.
I do believe in God and Super natural power or what ever, but that does not stop me from studying science as I am clear that Science and Religion are in different level. When one is science the other should definitely come under philosophy. My religious belief does not stop me from studying science and I don't understand where the controversy is.
Why should independent design be taught instead of the theory of evolution in the heading Science. Let the evolution theory be taught under science as it has scientific proof and the independent theory can be taught under philosophy.
We in India have so many philosophies which just exist side by side and we never have any confusion or moral guilt while studying science.
Just changing the curriculam in school and not allowing the study of theory of evolution is another form of fundamentalism.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Shopping trolley
Yesterday I had been to the local chain of super stores here which is called as Carrefour. This is a place where you get almost anything and everything from tv/computer to vegetables, fruits, to your clothes and mops.
While in the parking lot I could see some change which I had not seen earlier. I could see lots of shopping trolleys here and there scattered. I thought may be coming from US which is much more orderly place I am making up things.
When we went inside, I was waiting to take the trolley out with a one ringett coin. This shopping complex has a unique way of having all the trolleys lined up one behind the other connected with a chain. once you put an one ringget coin you can take out the trolley. when you finally finish the shopping and if you keep the trolley next to an existing one and connect it your one ringett can be taken out.
My husband said that the one ringett coin has been taken out of circulation by the Govt. and only an one ringett note will be there and no more coins. So we can just take the trolley without the need to put in the coin.
Now it dawned on me why I saw so many trolleys here and there at the parking lot. The human tendency!!! The people who used to meticulouly keep the trolleys in the place designated for them so that they can take out their one ringett, no longer bothered to keep the trolley in the designated place.
But I have to put it in records that Americans still meticulously keep the trolleys in the designated place without any of the coin system. We Asians have to learn to become real developed (country) I suppose.
While in the parking lot I could see some change which I had not seen earlier. I could see lots of shopping trolleys here and there scattered. I thought may be coming from US which is much more orderly place I am making up things.
When we went inside, I was waiting to take the trolley out with a one ringett coin. This shopping complex has a unique way of having all the trolleys lined up one behind the other connected with a chain. once you put an one ringget coin you can take out the trolley. when you finally finish the shopping and if you keep the trolley next to an existing one and connect it your one ringett can be taken out.
My husband said that the one ringett coin has been taken out of circulation by the Govt. and only an one ringett note will be there and no more coins. So we can just take the trolley without the need to put in the coin.
Now it dawned on me why I saw so many trolleys here and there at the parking lot. The human tendency!!! The people who used to meticulouly keep the trolleys in the place designated for them so that they can take out their one ringett, no longer bothered to keep the trolley in the designated place.
But I have to put it in records that Americans still meticulously keep the trolleys in the designated place without any of the coin system. We Asians have to learn to become real developed (country) I suppose.
LA Airport
Well I am back in KL. I am so used to cribbing about my own dear India and its condition, let me crib about some thing (body) else.
I left Desmoines (Iowa) surrounded by snow and landed in LA taking another flight at Denver. All fine and great and I am in the Domestic terminal at LA around 10 p.m and am to take the Internation flight Malaysian Airlines which is at 11.30 p.m. Very surprisingly unlike any other major airport which I have seen (I have seen quite a few) the International terminal in LA is to be approached from outside about a kilometer or so. (something like in chennai, the domestic and international airport ) . I was told I can take a bus or simply keep walking towards the International terminals. As there was so many cars and other vehicles which were there to pick up passengers, I preferred to walk. I kept walking and arrived at a dark place which was supposed to be the place where I had to go. I found out it was arrival hall and was asked to go to the third level. When I stepped out of the elevator for one second I was really shocked to see a big pandemonium in a big hall. People, people every where and it was like a bus station or may be a fish market. I just elbowed everybody and managed to go towards the malaysian airlines counter. There was a big crowd waiting with lots of heavy suitcases and I did not know where the queue ended or for which flight they were all checking in. I was supposed to be a transit passenger whose luggage had already been checked in and all I needed was a boarding card. There was a counter for that but there was no one there . I just elbowed my way telling who ever cared to listen that I am a transit passenger and plonked myself squarely near the counter which was open. (when it comes to survival read it as catching a connecting flight you forget your manners and queue jumping and what not) By then I was quite agitated and worried. To my woe the lady at the counter was talking to the passenger about some hotel accomodation on their return journey.
I was like what is happening here??? At last I was issued a boarding card and when I asked the lady if this is what it is like every day, she just raised one of her eyebrows and said how long have you been waiting madam in a tounge in cheek expression.
Job done now I rushed out from the crowd in search of the entry point to the innumeable gates. Here again lot of people with lot of luggage and no end or beginning to the queue. All luggages have to go thro' the x ray machine and then only it is checked in whether it is hand luggage or the check in luggage. I managed to find a queue which was for people with only hand luggage by shouting transit passenger(again), and entered the checkpost. As usual we are the ones targetted due to our color at the supposedly random check they carry on and the chains and bangles we wear beeping like crazy and at last I was out cleared and ran to my gate. At last I could see that the passengers were not yet boarding and I could call anu and tell her that I have reached LA.
So conclusion every thing is due to the explosion of people. While catering to more people you end up in confusion. India is no exception with such large population to cater to.
I left Desmoines (Iowa) surrounded by snow and landed in LA taking another flight at Denver. All fine and great and I am in the Domestic terminal at LA around 10 p.m and am to take the Internation flight Malaysian Airlines which is at 11.30 p.m. Very surprisingly unlike any other major airport which I have seen (I have seen quite a few) the International terminal in LA is to be approached from outside about a kilometer or so. (something like in chennai, the domestic and international airport ) . I was told I can take a bus or simply keep walking towards the International terminals. As there was so many cars and other vehicles which were there to pick up passengers, I preferred to walk. I kept walking and arrived at a dark place which was supposed to be the place where I had to go. I found out it was arrival hall and was asked to go to the third level. When I stepped out of the elevator for one second I was really shocked to see a big pandemonium in a big hall. People, people every where and it was like a bus station or may be a fish market. I just elbowed everybody and managed to go towards the malaysian airlines counter. There was a big crowd waiting with lots of heavy suitcases and I did not know where the queue ended or for which flight they were all checking in. I was supposed to be a transit passenger whose luggage had already been checked in and all I needed was a boarding card. There was a counter for that but there was no one there . I just elbowed my way telling who ever cared to listen that I am a transit passenger and plonked myself squarely near the counter which was open. (when it comes to survival read it as catching a connecting flight you forget your manners and queue jumping and what not) By then I was quite agitated and worried. To my woe the lady at the counter was talking to the passenger about some hotel accomodation on their return journey.
I was like what is happening here??? At last I was issued a boarding card and when I asked the lady if this is what it is like every day, she just raised one of her eyebrows and said how long have you been waiting madam in a tounge in cheek expression.
Job done now I rushed out from the crowd in search of the entry point to the innumeable gates. Here again lot of people with lot of luggage and no end or beginning to the queue. All luggages have to go thro' the x ray machine and then only it is checked in whether it is hand luggage or the check in luggage. I managed to find a queue which was for people with only hand luggage by shouting transit passenger(again), and entered the checkpost. As usual we are the ones targetted due to our color at the supposedly random check they carry on and the chains and bangles we wear beeping like crazy and at last I was out cleared and ran to my gate. At last I could see that the passengers were not yet boarding and I could call anu and tell her that I have reached LA.
So conclusion every thing is due to the explosion of people. While catering to more people you end up in confusion. India is no exception with such large population to cater to.
The rains
I am a bit worried about the incessant rains which is lashing Chennai/ India again. Anand and me were chatting about this phenomenon and this lead to some interesting observations by him.
We are faced with such change in the climatic conditions all over the world and this year especially in tamil nadu it is rains and more rains. We look at this in a entirely different perspective and many a time I hear ourselves saying , 'ok at least next summer Chennai will not have water problem'
We refuse to see the big picture as anand pointed out. These are all due to the Global warming which is happening around the world and this rain and more rains is all due to many reasons, one of them being the difference in temperature of land and the sea to put it simply and the other major reason being the melting of the glaceirs in a fast pace due to global warming. This can be seen clearly from the satellite picture of Gangotri glacier which can be seen in the link below. (I don't know how to incorporate images in my blog)
http://www.gesource.ac.uk/hazards/images/1557.html
For some time it will be more floods, rains, this will result in the increase in the ocean level and some islands/lands will be submerged. After some time, once the glaciers runs dry what next, there will be no rains, no floods, no water and rains will fail which will lead to famine and draught. This may not happen in the immediate near future but clearly that is the direction we are heading towards . But we tend to think oh it may not happen in my life time so why bother?
It is high time we sit up and take notice and do something about this.
But alas it is the people who are at power who have to take action. But what do we see, America the biggest contributor to global warming is refusing to sign the Kyoto treaty, which is approved by almost all the countries in the world, to do some thing collectively to reduce the global warming. The major culprit is the automobiles. The 'oil' lobby is so strong in America which made the president go to war in Iraq and no wonder it is making him refuse to sign the treaty and stopping some fast action like putting a cap on the emission and other pollutants which is being set on the nature.
I would like to end this with a postive note though. Human race I feel has a tenacity beyond imagination, and I feel that the tapping of solar energy might be a major contribution in reducing the global warming . We need a lot of research in this field so that solar energy becomes cheaper for the common man to use. I only hope people understand the gravity of the situation and start
an awareness program. Let us start by going to nearby places by walk rather than use that automobile.
We are faced with such change in the climatic conditions all over the world and this year especially in tamil nadu it is rains and more rains. We look at this in a entirely different perspective and many a time I hear ourselves saying , 'ok at least next summer Chennai will not have water problem'
We refuse to see the big picture as anand pointed out. These are all due to the Global warming which is happening around the world and this rain and more rains is all due to many reasons, one of them being the difference in temperature of land and the sea to put it simply and the other major reason being the melting of the glaceirs in a fast pace due to global warming. This can be seen clearly from the satellite picture of Gangotri glacier which can be seen in the link below. (I don't know how to incorporate images in my blog)
http://www.gesource.ac.uk/hazards/images/1557.html
For some time it will be more floods, rains, this will result in the increase in the ocean level and some islands/lands will be submerged. After some time, once the glaciers runs dry what next, there will be no rains, no floods, no water and rains will fail which will lead to famine and draught. This may not happen in the immediate near future but clearly that is the direction we are heading towards . But we tend to think oh it may not happen in my life time so why bother?
It is high time we sit up and take notice and do something about this.
But alas it is the people who are at power who have to take action. But what do we see, America the biggest contributor to global warming is refusing to sign the Kyoto treaty, which is approved by almost all the countries in the world, to do some thing collectively to reduce the global warming. The major culprit is the automobiles. The 'oil' lobby is so strong in America which made the president go to war in Iraq and no wonder it is making him refuse to sign the treaty and stopping some fast action like putting a cap on the emission and other pollutants which is being set on the nature.
I would like to end this with a postive note though. Human race I feel has a tenacity beyond imagination, and I feel that the tapping of solar energy might be a major contribution in reducing the global warming . We need a lot of research in this field so that solar energy becomes cheaper for the common man to use. I only hope people understand the gravity of the situation and start
an awareness program. Let us start by going to nearby places by walk rather than use that automobile.
Monday, November 28, 2005
cricket and we
Well first of all I wonder whether I should also join in the fray by commenting on this game. But I am reading too much nonsense ( it is a strong word) in the media, I had to have my say.
Majority of the people will not share my sentiments but I would definitely want to air my opinion.
Once upon a time I was a great cricket fan, coming from the family of great cricket playing brothers, (three of them being the captains their college team) and used to miss college to hear the radio commentary.( those days tv had not yet come into existance).
But once the scandal of the match fixing hit us with a big bang I felt like a big fool, who had watched in tv every single cricket match. When it was proved that there was indeed match fixing, I felt why I did waste my time watching it when the players (some of them at least) were not playing for the game but for money. It was such a disgusting feeling that I stopped watching cricket even though I was a great fan of the game and of some great players.
Till today I don't watch the matches and feel that undue importance is being given to the game because of the foolish fans (read it indians) while the executives of board of cricket control are rolling in the money they are getting out of advt. (I remember how only 4 balls in an over is shown in the tv , the first and the last ball of the over taken over by some advt.) and players are also getting exorbitant amounts. Be that as it may, let them have money my grouse is not that, my point is , why not they be professional.
Till last minute we don't know who the captain is. The captains, if they are not the blue eyed boys of the board or the influential members, can be just booted unceremoniously after just a match or two like what happened to Venkata raghavan's captaincy long ago.
The latest row about fans wanting the arrogant young(is he young any more) Ganguly to be taken in the team just because he is from Calcutta is too much for me to take. To add to the fuel some stupid coach who happens to be from some other country does something with his finger and almost riots are erupting in our cities.
We should stop playing this game for some time . Once Salem starts quacking we will get the concrete details about the match fixing. This sport which has become an underworld's game and the game of the Board of Cricket control who think they are some demi Gods. If they have to wake up, every body should stop watching this game. It can be done only when people stop watching for one's principle of not being taken for a ride, the game can come back later with a better respect for the people who watch it and make it such a big game in the first place.
But we don't have such collective wisdom of boycotting such things which insult the public.
So cricket will be played as if it is a fiefdom of some few big wigs.
Majority of the people will not share my sentiments but I would definitely want to air my opinion.
Once upon a time I was a great cricket fan, coming from the family of great cricket playing brothers, (three of them being the captains their college team) and used to miss college to hear the radio commentary.( those days tv had not yet come into existance).
But once the scandal of the match fixing hit us with a big bang I felt like a big fool, who had watched in tv every single cricket match. When it was proved that there was indeed match fixing, I felt why I did waste my time watching it when the players (some of them at least) were not playing for the game but for money. It was such a disgusting feeling that I stopped watching cricket even though I was a great fan of the game and of some great players.
Till today I don't watch the matches and feel that undue importance is being given to the game because of the foolish fans (read it indians) while the executives of board of cricket control are rolling in the money they are getting out of advt. (I remember how only 4 balls in an over is shown in the tv , the first and the last ball of the over taken over by some advt.) and players are also getting exorbitant amounts. Be that as it may, let them have money my grouse is not that, my point is , why not they be professional.
Till last minute we don't know who the captain is. The captains, if they are not the blue eyed boys of the board or the influential members, can be just booted unceremoniously after just a match or two like what happened to Venkata raghavan's captaincy long ago.
The latest row about fans wanting the arrogant young(is he young any more) Ganguly to be taken in the team just because he is from Calcutta is too much for me to take. To add to the fuel some stupid coach who happens to be from some other country does something with his finger and almost riots are erupting in our cities.
We should stop playing this game for some time . Once Salem starts quacking we will get the concrete details about the match fixing. This sport which has become an underworld's game and the game of the Board of Cricket control who think they are some demi Gods. If they have to wake up, every body should stop watching this game. It can be done only when people stop watching for one's principle of not being taken for a ride, the game can come back later with a better respect for the people who watch it and make it such a big game in the first place.
But we don't have such collective wisdom of boycotting such things which insult the public.
So cricket will be played as if it is a fiefdom of some few big wigs.
Culture
I have been getting lot of questions in my mind about culture. What is a culture? Is it a feeling felt by a group of people. What can we identify specifically as Indian culture? Is it is the food habits? In that case India has innumerable variety. what about language? Again we have so many. When I was much younger I used to think the temples are the connecting thread as Rameshwaram in south and Kasi in north plays a big role in connecting North Indians and South Indians. But I know now it is just Hindu culture and India is made up of people of other major religions. Is it race which has a specific culture. But we are told that we have Aryan and Dravidian Race and there are different religions within these two races. So my confusion continues.
According to Anand there is nothing which can be specifically called as a culture as it keeps on changing and we get assimilated over the periods of years and years of absorbing and incorporating many things which we call as our culture.
Till the period of British invasion, where the Britishers kept a strict distance between the rulers and the ruled, I think all the other conquerors by and large merged with the local culture(?)and mixed what ever their habits(?) with the local way of life and a new culture(?) emerged.
On a lighter note I can say that when I was much younger while in punjab I was sort of surprised that they did not have any specific marriage sign. like what we south indians have the 'thali' or mangal sutra. when we asked some one he said it is the lipstic and being modern, the girls have also started using it which is strictly to be used by married ladies. This evoked a great laughter among us and used to be one of my anectodes of Jullundar days to who so ever cared to listen for many years.
But now I am at a loss. Is mangal sutra the real symbol of marriage. But many don't wear it in their daily life any more and use it only for some special occasion! it does not make me raise by eyebrows any more to see many not wearing it. Girls /Women go for work in westernised outfit to office and feel that, t his does not gel.
So I can see during my life time itself some thing which I thought was a symbol of culture, no more seems that it is.(Again another question to myself does culture need any symbol?)
Incidentally in vedic period there was no 'thali' and even today until a man and woman take the 'sapta padi' (seven steps) around the fire together, according to hindu marriage Act they are not considered as man and wife legally . The significance of it being any two people taking seven steps together is considered as friends. So basically according to vedic rites a husband and wife is primarily considered as friends.( This concept I simply love very much)
Well I have digressed and am still wondering what is culture? Especially when hue and cry is being made about tamil culture by the self proclaimed guardians of tamil culture in the name of protecting it, but in turn encouraging barbarism.( I am referring to the Kushboo issue)
Like hinduism I think culture is also a way of life, which keeps on changing from time to time and the feeling of good ness we get when we live in a certain way without affecting the sensibilities of others may be called as culutre. When a group of people live in a similar way is this the culture?
A simple thing like cake cutting in a wedding can become a ritual after some years and in a thali tying, tamil wedding it would become a part which no one would realize was borrowed from western culture say some hundred years from now. This may be a trivial thing but that is how culture develops I feel.
So we should not look upon others way of living from an elevated platform and say our way is the best. Everything is a way of life I suppose.
According to Anand there is nothing which can be specifically called as a culture as it keeps on changing and we get assimilated over the periods of years and years of absorbing and incorporating many things which we call as our culture.
Till the period of British invasion, where the Britishers kept a strict distance between the rulers and the ruled, I think all the other conquerors by and large merged with the local culture(?)and mixed what ever their habits(?) with the local way of life and a new culture(?) emerged.
On a lighter note I can say that when I was much younger while in punjab I was sort of surprised that they did not have any specific marriage sign. like what we south indians have the 'thali' or mangal sutra. when we asked some one he said it is the lipstic and being modern, the girls have also started using it which is strictly to be used by married ladies. This evoked a great laughter among us and used to be one of my anectodes of Jullundar days to who so ever cared to listen for many years.
But now I am at a loss. Is mangal sutra the real symbol of marriage. But many don't wear it in their daily life any more and use it only for some special occasion! it does not make me raise by eyebrows any more to see many not wearing it. Girls /Women go for work in westernised outfit to office and feel that, t his does not gel.
So I can see during my life time itself some thing which I thought was a symbol of culture, no more seems that it is.(Again another question to myself does culture need any symbol?)
Incidentally in vedic period there was no 'thali' and even today until a man and woman take the 'sapta padi' (seven steps) around the fire together, according to hindu marriage Act they are not considered as man and wife legally . The significance of it being any two people taking seven steps together is considered as friends. So basically according to vedic rites a husband and wife is primarily considered as friends.( This concept I simply love very much)
Well I have digressed and am still wondering what is culture? Especially when hue and cry is being made about tamil culture by the self proclaimed guardians of tamil culture in the name of protecting it, but in turn encouraging barbarism.( I am referring to the Kushboo issue)
Like hinduism I think culture is also a way of life, which keeps on changing from time to time and the feeling of good ness we get when we live in a certain way without affecting the sensibilities of others may be called as culutre. When a group of people live in a similar way is this the culture?
A simple thing like cake cutting in a wedding can become a ritual after some years and in a thali tying, tamil wedding it would become a part which no one would realize was borrowed from western culture say some hundred years from now. This may be a trivial thing but that is how culture develops I feel.
So we should not look upon others way of living from an elevated platform and say our way is the best. Everything is a way of life I suppose.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)