tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142174372012-05-02T19:53:28.089+05:30crusadertvmopinions.thoughts.experiences.sightings.travel.
music.fights.egos.concerts.people.morons.losers.celebrations.movies.leaders.festivals.
explorations.cultures.feelings.discoveries.deaths.revolutions.births.life.Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.comBlogger350125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-22940288750818937782012-03-10T23:16:00.000+05:302012-03-10T23:16:05.293+05:302012-03-10T23:16:05.293+05:30Nurses strike: White Revolution 2.0<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ugGszt-r4zE/T1uSdN6rkCI/AAAAAAAAGK4/Jd7IEc-r--U/s1600/nurses-strike1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ugGszt-r4zE/T1uSdN6rkCI/AAAAAAAAGK4/Jd7IEc-r--U/s1600/nurses-strike1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b>pic courtesy- doolnews</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
John (not original name) is not used
to raising slogans. He prefers to give words of comfort to patients. But in the
last one week, sloganeering is all that he has done. He is one among the 1500
nurses who braved the extreme heat and gathered in front of the Victoria memorial
hall near Madras Central three days back to fight for their rights. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He has been working in the Fortis
Malar hospital in Madras for the past two years. His salary of Rs.5000 is less
than even the monthly interest on his education loan amount of Rs. 5 lakhs. Leave
alone savings, this youth hailing from Trissur district in Kerala has to depend
on his not so well-to-do family to even repay his loan. This is not an isolated story. It is a sad
commentary on the nursing profession in India that this is the case with most
of the nurses working in private hospitals in India. A Government nurse gets a
starting salary of around Rs. 20,000 while abroad it is in lakhs. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Many of the nurses I met talked
about the pathetic working conditions that they are subject to. In many
hospitals, they end up doing the work that is meant to be done by the
housekeeping staff. They pointed me to an ad for nurses put up by one of these
hospitals on Naukri, listing food preparation and cleaning as part of their
duties. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The case of night duties is even
worse. “We are stipulated to work eight hours daily. But usually that stretches
to ten hours and sometimes to double shifts. We are not paid extra for that.
For night duty, we get a paltry 15 rupees per night,” says John. Most of the
hospitals have put up cameras to monitor whether the nurses are sleeping while
on duty. “Even if we close our eyes for a minute, we have to give explanation
the very next day,” he added. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Removal of the bond system is
another of the nurses’ demands. By this system, if they have to resign from the
hospital within 2 years and go for a better option, they have to pay Rs.1 – 2 lakhs
to the management. Their certificates are with the management. So they can
choose to not return it and scuttle the plans to resign. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The nurses’ strike got its first
spark in October last year at the Mumbai Asian Heart Institute when Beena Baby,
a nurse committed suicide as she was unable to pay the amount for breaking the
bond. From there, it spread to Kerala, where it snowballed into a major strike
with nurses from almost all major private hospitals staying away from work.
This resulted in the managements agreeing to revise the salaries.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The strikes in Kerala saw the hospital
managements unleashing dirty tactics on the striking nurses. When the strike
started in the Amrita hospital in Ernakulam, the management there spread the
rumour that Christian groups are behind this. The strike also saw the unveiling
of the real ‘kind’ face of the MATA with many of the association leaders
getting beaten up ‘mysteriously’ inside her abode and getting hospitalized. Maybe,
this was part of ‘Her’ magic trick to bring the nurses back to the hospitals. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
When the strike reached Angamaly
Little Flower hospital, the nurses were branded as having anti-christian
leanings. The church joined the management in support by reading out statements
against the nurses during the Sunday mass and by even taking out a protest
march. Thankfully, most of the people didn’t fall for this religious propaganda
and even jeered the church authorities who took out the march. In the end, all
of these hospitals fell in line and agreed to the nurses demands.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Jinu Varghese, National Secretary
of All India Private Nurses Association said, “Till few years back, the nurses
used to join the hospitals in India just to get the experience certificate to
go abroad, where we are highly paid. But after the recession, the jobs there
have shrunk and so most of us are working here for the long term. That is when
we started questioning the ridiculously low wages and other unfair practices
like the bond system and confiscation of certificates that are followed by hospital
managements all over India” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Ideally, it should be 8 hours
work, 8 hours of sleep and 8 hours for ourselves. But after the duty which
exceeds 10 hours, we hardly get any time for anything else.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
They also talked about the
procedure called ‘Code blue’ used in hospitals. This is used to indicate a
patient requiring urgent attention. In case of an emergency, the person who is
with the patient raises this alarm and within a minute a specified team of
doctors and nurses rush to the spot. This is mostly used in case of cardiac
arrest. But even if it was not a case of cardiac arrest (patients do get
unconscious sometimes), once code blue is raised, the particular patient is
billed Rs.10,000. The reason the hospitals cite for this is usage of ‘manpower’.
But nurses who are part of this ‘manpower’ are not paid anything. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Most of the private hospitals
have very high nursing procedure charges are part of all hospital bills. Though
this particular item in the bill is for the services rendered by the nurse,
little of that goes to their salary slip. The main aim of the private hospitals
is to increase the number of patients and decrease the number of staff. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The nurses’ strike started in
three private hospitals in Chennai last week. Apollo, Fortis Malar and Madras
Medical Mission Hospital, reeled under the impact of the strike as the nurses
stayed away from work en masse. To tide over the crisis, Fortis Malar had flown
in 70 nurses from their Delhi branch this Sunday whereas Apollo depended on the
student nurses from their medical college. Even then, these hospitals could not
handle the situation and refused to take in new cases, unless it was an
emergency. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The strike at Madras Medical
Mission hospital ended on Monday itself with the management agreeing to double
the current salary of Rs.6000 and also to do away with the bond system. The
week saw many failed rounds of mediations with the labour commissioner acting
as the go-between. By the end of the week, both Fortis and Malar agreed to increase
the salary to Rs.12,000. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“There is no doubt that the hospital
managements are exploiting the nurses and they have every right to protest. But
before going ahead with the strike they should’ve approached the labour department
and tried to sort it out. They should’ve kept in mind that nursing is an essential
service,” said C.Subburajan, Additional labour commissioner.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Lekha(name changed) says that
they had given prior notice to the management and went ahead with the strike as
there was no response to the notice. “We are not paid enough or given enough
respect for the kind of work that we do. We can’t even pay off our education
loans with the salary that we get here. We had no other way but to go on
strike.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Last year, Fortis Malar had a
profit of over 100 crores(I went through the annual report and realized that it
is actually 136 crores). Even if they agree to pay us the salary that we are
demanding, only 3 crores will be reduced from the overall profit,” she
added. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Most of the hospital managements
refused to talk to me on this issue. Apollo people redirected me to their HR
department, where the HR head seemed to be in a perpetual meeting mode. The
phone number that they gave me never answered the call.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
One of the officials from a
private hospital here agreed to talk after I made a second visit. According to
him, his hospital is providing accommodation and transport (which they've valued at about 7000) to the nurses. So effectively they are already drawing a
salary of more than Rs. 10,000. He evaded my question on how one can survive
with less than Rs.5000 in a city like Chennai, even considering the accommodation
and transport part. He also pointed to the huge number of private nursing
colleges churning out nurses who are not up to the standard. This prompted a
question on their selection process which he said is stringent. But he did
agree to the fact that the nurses were paid very less all over the country
owing to a lack of wage standards.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In the coming days, we will most
probably see this strike spreading to other parts of the country. The private
hospital managements should appreciate the efforts of nurses, who are the
backbone of the health sector. When you make crores out of this business, when
you pay lakhs to a doctor, you should also acknowledge the poor souls who are
doing the maximum work.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-2294028875081893778?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-75302900154056828952012-02-25T01:34:00.003+05:302012-03-11T13:01:41.240+05:302012-03-11T13:01:41.240+05:30Jaipur and an 1850s Camera<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
For anyone visiting Jaipur, the main reason for doing so is
to soak in the 'periodic sets' of the umpteen palaces and to saunter along the
streets immersed in pink. But for us, there was one more reason - Tikam Chand
and his camera from the 1850s. It all started some months back, when we came
across some black and white images in Ra's wallet. He and his friends looked
like they came straight out of 19th century because of the slightly faded, high
contrast images. So, we all wanted one for ourselves too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cKXL3GMDpes/T0fmrOMglCI/AAAAAAAAGIo/WlmnRwcTpNw/s1600/oldcam1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cKXL3GMDpes/T0fmrOMglCI/AAAAAAAAGIo/WlmnRwcTpNw/s320/oldcam1.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The 1860s camera</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As you walk down the road from Hawa Mahal, you are bound to
hear a weird whistling sound that goes "oooohooooo, ooohoooooo".
Well, that is Tikam Chand calling out to his customers. He stands there on the
footpath with his huge wooden camera. Tikam tries to bring in the business, the
actual photography being done by another man. When we reached there, a family
was already getting themselves photographed. It all happens in that crowded
street. Against a background of garments strung out from a nearby shop, he made
them all pose, one by one. Passersby sometimes walk right in front of the lens.
Tikam keeps an eye out to avoid that too. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y5DCV7whNwE/T0fnJ4UYLkI/AAAAAAAAGJI/qHslboh4Sp0/s1600/oldcam2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y5DCV7whNwE/T0fnJ4UYLkI/AAAAAAAAGJI/qHslboh4Sp0/s320/oldcam2.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Tika Ram and his assistant with the camera</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Even though the huge camera is right in the middle of the
footpath, few give it a second look. And so, Tikam and his assistant were happy
to see our interest in the camera. We proceeded to spend the next three hours
there. He gave us a run down on the history of the camera and also demonstrated
to us the process of taking photographs with that monster. According to him,
his grandfather got the camera as a gift from the royal family, who were
impressed by his photography. It was later handed down to his father, who
started the photography on the street and later Chand took it up. He proudly
showed us a number of articles about him and his camera that came in
international newspapers, among them the LA times and the Vancouver sun.<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M3G4okoCxFs/T0fnnX1SRxI/AAAAAAAAGJw/YqGV7veSRmo/s1600/oldcam7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M3G4okoCxFs/T0fnnX1SRxI/AAAAAAAAGJw/YqGV7veSRmo/s320/oldcam7.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Tika Ram in L.A. Times</i></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t_-Z-Erq-tk/T0fntpq5TgI/AAAAAAAAGJ4/bfIuvku66Sc/s1600/oldcam8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t_-Z-Erq-tk/T0fntpq5TgI/AAAAAAAAGJ4/bfIuvku66Sc/s320/oldcam8.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Tika Ram in Vancouver sun</i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
To adjust the camera’s focus, he makes use of a sliding
lens, a much less sophisticated version of that seen in our DSLRs. The photo
paper is slid behind a glass plate and if you look closely through the back of
the camera, you can see the inverted image being formed on the plate. A piece
of cloth is attached to the backside of the camera. The dark room is inside the
box itself. The photo paper is treated with the developing and fixing chemicals
inside this. And it’s all done by just feeling the plates. Then this negative
is used to produce a ‘positive’ using a similar technique. While explaining all
this to us, he even drew it all out on paper.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Du4ylv2cv1k/T0fngXPJ0bI/AAAAAAAAGJo/vEr0uDgd4v0/s1600/oldcam6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Du4ylv2cv1k/T0fngXPJ0bI/AAAAAAAAGJo/vEr0uDgd4v0/s320/oldcam6.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2wX20gwtFeQ/T0fnZdsertI/AAAAAAAAGJg/kJqNi753SnY/s1600/oldcam5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2wX20gwtFeQ/T0fnZdsertI/AAAAAAAAGJg/kJqNi753SnY/s320/oldcam5.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Vikram's inverted image being formed inside the camera</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GEAoANcUJLo/T0fnQFHVBsI/AAAAAAAAGJQ/U0iVWAfHS6A/s1600/oldcam3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GEAoANcUJLo/T0fnQFHVBsI/AAAAAAAAGJQ/U0iVWAfHS6A/s320/oldcam3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qDQT1sqdBII/T0fmzd9gN4I/AAAAAAAAGIw/uQz9GOSy88g/s1600/oldcam10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qDQT1sqdBII/T0fmzd9gN4I/AAAAAAAAGIw/uQz9GOSy88g/s320/oldcam10.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UApcFfRLT2E/T0fnVD5h0_I/AAAAAAAAGJY/Cttd9TACICs/s1600/oldcam4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UApcFfRLT2E/T0fnVD5h0_I/AAAAAAAAGJY/Cttd9TACICs/s320/oldcam4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i> washing off the chemicals</i></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_IK3p8VL8OU/T0fn18AXw6I/AAAAAAAAGKA/tsiDKVpeRXQ/s1600/oldcam9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_IK3p8VL8OU/T0fn18AXw6I/AAAAAAAAGKA/tsiDKVpeRXQ/s320/oldcam9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="text-align: center;"></span></div>
<i> A couple posing for a photograph</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHFFxLTJMIg/T0fm74fu9rI/AAAAAAAAGI4/tD0SxI6jGno/s1600/oldcam11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHFFxLTJMIg/T0fm74fu9rI/AAAAAAAAGI4/tD0SxI6jGno/s320/oldcam11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i>Us with the camera</i></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VXfvHqMupgg/T0fnDTQAIiI/AAAAAAAAGJA/G_3Sl_MkB7I/s1600/oldcam12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VXfvHqMupgg/T0fnDTQAIiI/AAAAAAAAGJA/G_3Sl_MkB7I/s320/oldcam12.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-al6T5UGIkEg/T0foNgZdk6I/AAAAAAAAGKY/0RE9FKROoPU/s1600/old+cam+jaipur+group+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-al6T5UGIkEg/T0foNgZdk6I/AAAAAAAAGKY/0RE9FKROoPU/s320/old+cam+jaipur+group+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
a collage of our group shots (courtesy niti)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dJH0vpVcj_w/T0foarbLRzI/AAAAAAAAGKg/PwWtVhbE6mU/s1600/group+pic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dJH0vpVcj_w/T0foarbLRzI/AAAAAAAAGKg/PwWtVhbE6mU/s320/group+pic+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
ok..me :P</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GNJbmjB4dQQ/T0fojI3C_LI/AAAAAAAAGKo/wzIVxBv2lsQ/s1600/group+pic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GNJbmjB4dQQ/T0fojI3C_LI/AAAAAAAAGKo/wzIVxBv2lsQ/s320/group+pic1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
a collection of our group shots</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEvS3hGOF4s/T0fosbSPmHI/AAAAAAAAGKw/CWBDfewPb_Q/s1600/ra+tikam+ram+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEvS3hGOF4s/T0fosbSPmHI/AAAAAAAAGKw/CWBDfewPb_Q/s1600/ra+tikam+ram+image.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The pic that Tika Ram took of Ra during his last trip.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
We went mad posing, with everyone taking more than one individual
photograph. And yes, the epic group pictures! Though to be honest, the end
result didn’t have the timeless quality of the photos that Ra took here last
time. We decided to visit the Jantar
Mantar before sunset. On the way, Sid K was particularly attracted to a man selling
‘cheap violins’. For the next few minutes, all of us became virtuosos as we played
or rather ‘think we played’ our masterpieces. Sid K bought one of those from
the man as a tribute for his patience with our tunes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D_gCHb-T9sg/T0foD8YmegI/AAAAAAAAGKQ/FkKIHwWo4jc/s1600/sidk+on+violin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D_gCHb-T9sg/T0foD8YmegI/AAAAAAAAGKQ/FkKIHwWo4jc/s320/sidk+on+violin.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Sid K gleefully playing the 'cheap violin'</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4XLiMPKQNVA/T0fn9EMUN4I/AAAAAAAAGKI/cG6HNbYeVU4/s1600/random+strangers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4XLiMPKQNVA/T0fn9EMUN4I/AAAAAAAAGKI/cG6HNbYeVU4/s320/random+strangers.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Will you click us?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Jantar Mantar was like a maze for me. A sundial here,
another complicated dial there, a throwback to the engineering days, and all I
wanted was to get out from there fast. A huge bunch of Japanese was gleefully
running around and studying about the dials. As our group didn’t have any
nerds, we beat a hasty retreat from the Mantar. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ew9rI088dc/T0fmlaLxFzI/AAAAAAAAGIg/JWolraHEBL0/s1600/nikhil+eating+pappad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ew9rI088dc/T0fmlaLxFzI/AAAAAAAAGIg/JWolraHEBL0/s320/nikhil+eating+pappad.jpg" width="213" /></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i> Nikhil eating a huge pappad</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
An evening walk along the busy Jaipur streets was a perfect
way to end our stay in Rajasthan. It was kite flying season and the twilight
sky was filled with shapes cutting across each other. There were shops exclusively for selling
kites. Right from the Indian team to B-grade Bollywood posters, they have kites
with pictures of just about everything. There was another aim for the aimless
walk too- to buy black and white films and chemicals for developing film. But
many kilometers of walk turned out to be futile. And all hopes of some inches
from my belly being reduced from that long walk were vanished when we entered
Akbari hotel. On the contrary, some inches were added to the belly, thanks to
some of the best mutton and roti that I’ve ever had.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PtpVTLz-A4o/T0fmckzkpNI/AAAAAAAAGIY/E34BgeBa5QQ/s1600/akbari+hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PtpVTLz-A4o/T0fmckzkpNI/AAAAAAAAGIY/E34BgeBa5QQ/s320/akbari+hotel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>The Akbari hotel in Jaipur</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
At the Jaipur bus stand, there was this tall well built guy
dressed in business attire, who behaved like someone planning to bomb the
place. He had a book open on his hands but he kept on observing everyone
around, the kind of observation which has ‘cruel intentions’ written all over
it. Then his attention fell on us and he kept on staring at us. We decided to
stare back and before long he started walking around, looking all unsettled.
That was one hell of a mysterious guy! Soon we bid goodbye to Rajasthan..<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mahindraxuv500.com/" style="background-color: #525252; color: #ff6633; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">http://www.mahindraxuv500.com/</a>
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-7530290015405682895?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-77030013255567359382012-02-10T03:18:00.000+05:302012-02-10T03:23:55.403+05:302012-02-10T03:23:55.403+05:30Don Ke Baad Kaun, History and Kolaveri<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It says a lot about how much happened on the very first day
of the trip that am still left with things to say even after two blog posts.
After the biology lessons in Ranthambore fort, we decided to walk around the
Sawai Madhopur town in the evening. The chilly weather was back with a
vengeance by then. Ra was insistent on finding the local theatre and watching a
movie. Talking about movies, the first thing that caught our eye was the poster
of a movie called ‘Don ke baad kaun?’, which had C- grade written all over it.
It was being marketed as a sequel to ‘Don’, and to top it all, they had fixed
the poster just adjacent to the poster of the original ‘Don-2’. Much time was
spent on analyzing the poster of a local porn movie called ‘Madhu ki baatein’.
Pondering on the socio-political and aesthetical aspects of the movie, we made
a ‘deep’ study of the visual elements in the poster.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mm5mV7R7N70/TzQ39UXeDdI/AAAAAAAAGHE/RiACtkfPaE8/s1600/don+ke+baad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mm5mV7R7N70/TzQ39UXeDdI/AAAAAAAAGHE/RiACtkfPaE8/s320/don+ke+baad.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> Kaun?Kaun? Don Ke baad kaun?</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rfcnxGPL4Iw/TzQ5Slb1AiI/AAAAAAAAGIE/H1kL3Bjmq4Q/s1600/madhu+ki+batein+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rfcnxGPL4Iw/TzQ5Slb1AiI/AAAAAAAAGIE/H1kL3Bjmq4Q/s320/madhu+ki+batein+2.jpg" width="213" /></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Film studies...Me and Vikram discussing the nuances involved in the design of this particular poster :D</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A particularly disturbing sight for us all through the trip
was the mysteriously covered statues of Dr. Ambedkar that we saw at many
places. There should be more to it than the oft repeated reason of renovation.
Spurred by this sight or maybe due to his usual habits, Ra went from shop to
shop in search of the state syllabus text books for high school social studies.
No idea if he has read it, but it indeed is a good idea to look through these
texts to study how the state redefines history to suit it tastes. We walked on
in search of the theatre, until we came face to face with ‘Prem Mandir’, where
‘Don-2’ was running. What an apt name for a theatre! We didn’t linger much, as
we had better things to do. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MjBvB39etYo/TzQ3rLmBXhI/AAAAAAAAGGU/Qzqlxc8mfGs/s1600/ambedkar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MjBvB39etYo/TzQ3rLmBXhI/AAAAAAAAGGU/Qzqlxc8mfGs/s320/ambedkar.jpg" width="213" /></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> Ambedkar covered up?</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
On the walk back, we heard the ubiquitous ‘kolaveri di’ song
from a small hotel, sending Sid K into a fit of clenched fists, gritted teeth
and unrecognizable rants. This was not the first or last time that we were
treated to this scene, during the trip. All through the 8-9 days, wherever we
went, be it in trains or local shops or at the Varanasi ghats, we came across
this song, either as a recording or from someone’s vocal chords. At a shop in
Varanasi, the guy there asked us, “Chennai? Kolaveri people? Mast Gaana hai!”
(Sid K was luckily not present at this time). We were truly surprised at the
reach of this song. And of course, worried at the flurry of similar songs that
will follow. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b> [Drinks break]</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It was a huge task waking up early next morning to catch the
train to Jaipur. And even worse was the task of waking up Ra, blissfully snoring
in his sleeping bag. We somehow reached on time and got onto the second class
with general tickets and occupied the vacant berths. The TT was a surprisingly
kind guy (unlike the ones in my homeland) and didn’t throw us out. After a
quick sleep and more kolaveris and jawanis from a Rajasthani kid’s
speaker-like-headphone, we chugged into the pink city. Ra’s old contacts made
sure that we had a place to keep our bags safely while we roamed around. The
above house has the smallest room for a toilet that I’ve ever seen in my life.
You can’t sit in that Indian toilet without touching one or more of the four
walls. And, the door can’t be bolted. It doesn’t matter because once you are
inside no one can open it since your body will obviously block it. I consider
it as one of the greatest achievements of my life to have successfully completed
my bowel clearing activities inside this. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Our first destination in Jaipur was the Amber fort, a 16<sup>th</sup>
century marvel overlooking a lake. A perfect reflection of the imposing frontal
view welcomed us into the fort. A notable thing about this fort was the huge
number of pigeons that were flying around it. It spelt doom for Vikram, the
lone guy without a camera, as five of us went crazy clicking them in flight. Vikram
made up for it by running behind them gleefully like a nursery kid (Check video
for proof).<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/t_Bu0rRswTo" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Vikram chasing pigeons</i></b></div>
<br />
As usual in other historical monuments, here also we came across ‘X
loves Y’ and ‘heart symbols’ neatly carved into the walls. A million love
stories are becoming part of history here…Rejoice!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VHME7G7YD2c/TzQ36t2GskI/AAAAAAAAGG8/3pf8T8FRPS0/s1600/chasing+pigeons1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VHME7G7YD2c/TzQ36t2GskI/AAAAAAAAGG8/3pf8T8FRPS0/s320/chasing+pigeons1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<i style="text-align: center;"><b>'Tiger' chasing pigeons</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WndgMU_nGhA/TzQ3_X9nj9I/AAAAAAAAGHM/M7NJsRMUb2s/s1600/fly+away+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WndgMU_nGhA/TzQ3_X9nj9I/AAAAAAAAGHM/M7NJsRMUb2s/s320/fly+away+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yxI0lnDmBjc/TzQ4CvD6bEI/AAAAAAAAGHU/aCn0KfXgfys/s1600/fly+away.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yxI0lnDmBjc/TzQ4CvD6bEI/AAAAAAAAGHU/aCn0KfXgfys/s320/fly+away.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Am not qualified enough to describe the architecture of the
palace. Let the pictures speak the rest…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gRd3Q-jzoHc/TzQ3tjeEdmI/AAAAAAAAGGc/Y_qXI2-txhY/s1600/amberfort1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gRd3Q-jzoHc/TzQ3tjeEdmI/AAAAAAAAGGc/Y_qXI2-txhY/s320/amberfort1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cXAeOcqc9QA/TzQ3xW4CKbI/AAAAAAAAGGk/cYuPrFd3_cE/s1600/amberfort2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cXAeOcqc9QA/TzQ3xW4CKbI/AAAAAAAAGGk/cYuPrFd3_cE/s320/amberfort2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0W5G5iXQjiU/TzQ303dpmWI/AAAAAAAAGGs/zwzTg3yyguU/s1600/amberfort3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0W5G5iXQjiU/TzQ303dpmWI/AAAAAAAAGGs/zwzTg3yyguU/s320/amberfort3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sw_W_7B8QBU/TzQ33E6IcTI/AAAAAAAAGG0/owpt-UFZxgo/s1600/amberfort4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sw_W_7B8QBU/TzQ33E6IcTI/AAAAAAAAGG0/owpt-UFZxgo/s320/amberfort4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p>We also met a traditional puppet seller inside the fort. We ended up buying a pair of puppets each.</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f2UQoL3J3qw/TzQ4FR4K9CI/AAAAAAAAGHc/3UNpoUPepqQ/s1600/puppet+man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f2UQoL3J3qw/TzQ4FR4K9CI/AAAAAAAAGHc/3UNpoUPepqQ/s320/puppet+man.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IRFeEuLqSMQ/TzQ4Jhe4lpI/AAAAAAAAGHk/Vc_SVuosJZU/s1600/puppets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IRFeEuLqSMQ/TzQ4Jhe4lpI/AAAAAAAAGHk/Vc_SVuosJZU/s320/puppets.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NG-0ZxvF92w/TzQ4NrbLm_I/AAAAAAAAGHs/_rBcPjSM5wA/s1600/puppets2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NG-0ZxvF92w/TzQ4NrbLm_I/AAAAAAAAGHs/_rBcPjSM5wA/s320/puppets2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UmTE59o6vLs/TzQ4RfSKGvI/AAAAAAAAGH0/A0Q_Sk52w28/s1600/puppets3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UmTE59o6vLs/TzQ4RfSKGvI/AAAAAAAAGH0/A0Q_Sk52w28/s320/puppets3.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eWQhyhxBqk0/TzQ4XBQiswI/AAAAAAAAGH8/T5KUEVaBByo/s1600/saree+man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eWQhyhxBqk0/TzQ4XBQiswI/AAAAAAAAGH8/T5KUEVaBByo/s320/saree+man.jpg" width="205" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b>Its a dull day...Let me get some rest.</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Another of the gems from the streets of Jaipur. Two porn movies for the price of one.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SG8R70grTF0/TzQ5akkK5bI/AAAAAAAAGIM/mb32PW-l3PM/s1600/1+ticket+2+movies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SG8R70grTF0/TzQ5akkK5bI/AAAAAAAAGIM/mb32PW-l3PM/s320/1+ticket+2+movies.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Are Karnataka ex-cooperation minister Lakshmana V Savadi and ex-women and child development minister CC Patil listening? Stop watching porn on your phone and watch it in the big screen, idiots! Coming to that whole brouhaha over them watching porn, its pathetic that most of them are making a noise about the porn as such and not about watching it in the assembly. It is hypocrisy of the highest order at work here since a majority of those making a noise in online platforms have watched porn at least once in their lifetimes(many of them regularly, for sure). Who said watching porn is a crime?! But watching it in the assembly, when the drought situation in some districts were being discussed, is certainly one. This episode also exposed the hypocrisy of the saffron brigade who are the self proclaimed wholesale dealers of 'Indian culture'. Ban on live music, Ban on liquor+live music, Ban on beef, attacks on pubs, 11 O clock deadline in Bangalore city- a sample of the measures devised by the BJP. Now, what do they have to say?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-7703001325556735938?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-54758399744511798542012-01-23T21:20:00.002+05:302012-02-10T03:19:09.436+05:302012-02-10T03:19:09.436+05:30Do birds fuck?...and other unrelated things..<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ok. The title is n't an allusion to anything else. This post
is exactly about what the title says. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
And so, continuing from where I left off at the last post,
after that encounter with tigers at Ranthambore and eating a truckload for
breakfast, we set off to the Ranthambore fort. The fort is part of the
Ranthambore National park. A bumpy ride through some not so dense forest took
us to the really 'touristy' looking front gate of the fort. Guides jumped
forward from all around offering to take us to secret passages which no one
could ever reach. Braving this relentless assault, we started our way up the
stairs. The fort looked more like a breeding ground for monkeys and a variety
of birds.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so, on a tree were sitting two parrots. Rest the
pictures will tell…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b5UdSw-dgvQ/Tx1wueeMeEI/AAAAAAAAGDM/syjYXIL4jqM/s1600/parrots+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b5UdSw-dgvQ/Tx1wueeMeEI/AAAAAAAAGDM/syjYXIL4jqM/s320/parrots+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
courting...from a distance</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wsaIC7wttVY/Tx1wwq__6jI/AAAAAAAAGDU/Ogl_ZL-k_zw/s1600/parrots+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wsaIC7wttVY/Tx1wwq__6jI/AAAAAAAAGDU/Ogl_ZL-k_zw/s320/parrots+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Then they flew away and sat on a tree which had more branches and leaves</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5hvSBQT35Ek/Tx1wy4EtCRI/AAAAAAAAGDc/ii02EyOIYbU/s1600/parrots+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5hvSBQT35Ek/Tx1wy4EtCRI/AAAAAAAAGDc/ii02EyOIYbU/s320/parrots+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It all started with a kiss</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8gy7JuJMWes/Tx1w07Zhi3I/AAAAAAAAGDk/oLjwuOjP8ks/s1600/parrots+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8gy7JuJMWes/Tx1w07Zhi3I/AAAAAAAAGDk/oLjwuOjP8ks/s320/parrots+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
and then some foreplay</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ddzs8BEV-Yg/Tx1w3OKzK1I/AAAAAAAAGDs/dtz-_wvwbKo/s1600/parrots+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ddzs8BEV-Yg/Tx1w3OKzK1I/AAAAAAAAGDs/dtz-_wvwbKo/s320/parrots+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
and then he moved closer</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YhwjdkCMX40/Tx1w5XrsAkI/AAAAAAAAGD0/0JEnHre5i5s/s1600/parrots+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YhwjdkCMX40/Tx1w5XrsAkI/AAAAAAAAGD0/0JEnHre5i5s/s320/parrots+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
and he's about to get on top..</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e0BAUA4CLpo/Tx1w7d-LAgI/AAAAAAAAGD8/2u8NANyA5FM/s1600/parrots+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e0BAUA4CLpo/Tx1w7d-LAgI/AAAAAAAAGD8/2u8NANyA5FM/s320/parrots+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
self explanatory</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nSG1koZELF0/Tx1w9vqGpcI/AAAAAAAAGEE/xYPX2WtgayI/s1600/parrots+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nSG1koZELF0/Tx1w9vqGpcI/AAAAAAAAGEE/xYPX2WtgayI/s320/parrots+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
self explanatory- 2</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kd555MigwDk/Tx1xBlxFVZI/AAAAAAAAGEU/4nOStLwJjQ4/s1600/parrots+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kd555MigwDk/Tx1xBlxFVZI/AAAAAAAAGEU/4nOStLwJjQ4/s320/parrots+10.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
top gear</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yHvWbI_vSGU/Tx1w_3l0osI/AAAAAAAAGEM/fY9BMtLHs-0/s1600/parrots+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yHvWbI_vSGU/Tx1w_3l0osI/AAAAAAAAGEM/fY9BMtLHs-0/s320/parrots+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
'climat'e change</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uVc-wcLhyXs/Tx1xD-6B4KI/AAAAAAAAGEc/TqsWet5XsBo/s1600/parrots+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uVc-wcLhyXs/Tx1xD-6B4KI/AAAAAAAAGEc/TqsWet5XsBo/s320/parrots+11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
some more lingering on top<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NOttaXJDUMg/Tx1xGDvcEaI/AAAAAAAAGEk/m11qW7Da8Vc/s1600/parrots+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NOttaXJDUMg/Tx1xGDvcEaI/AAAAAAAAGEk/m11qW7Da8Vc/s320/parrots+12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"I hope no one has seen us"!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ok.So at last I learned a lesson in biology, that birds do indeed 'fuck'. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And, back home after going through the net, I realised that many people had actually asked this question. Copying one from answer.com- <i>"how does the sperm from the male bird get into the female?
How can they have intercourse without any external male organs, such as a
penis? The male's sperm, produced in the testes, passes to the cloaca where it
is stored until copulation (act of sex). The female also has a cloaca that
leads from the ovaries. The female bird unfans her tail, moves it to one side
while the male climbs up onto her back or gets close to her. Their cloacas are pressed together and
the sperm moves from the male to the </i><i>female. This act is called a cloacal kiss...The sperm is
stored by the female for at least a week, in some species over a hundred days.
Then as each ovum from the ovary moves into the oviduct, it gets fertilized
with the stored sperm, producing a clutch of many eggs, all with the sperm from
that one cloacal kiss."</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I hope all your doubts on avian sex are cleared!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Some of the other stuff that we saw at the fort</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TA33gzhzYHc/Tx19q46vIyI/AAAAAAAAGEs/PeUDgNgDx7g/s1600/appop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TA33gzhzYHc/Tx19q46vIyI/AAAAAAAAGEs/PeUDgNgDx7g/s320/appop.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><i>He stays alone
in a small mosque like structure amidst a few burial mounds...Light peeps in
through small holes at the top of the building and pigeons keep on flying
around him..</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bK62QXyHiNI/Tx19yOxSChI/AAAAAAAAGE0/k--9SqjPvxg/s1600/appop2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bK62QXyHiNI/Tx19yOxSChI/AAAAAAAAGE0/k--9SqjPvxg/s320/appop2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OVjRREIGzrQ/Tx190HYCiiI/AAAAAAAAGE8/CbLW8mWHbYU/s1600/chasing+my+own+tail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OVjRREIGzrQ/Tx190HYCiiI/AAAAAAAAGE8/CbLW8mWHbYU/s320/chasing+my+own+tail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>chasing my own tail </i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XXLuvWFEbdg/Tx193QFx-wI/AAAAAAAAGFE/JRgYhwxtKo4/s1600/deep+in+thought.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XXLuvWFEbdg/Tx193QFx-wI/AAAAAAAAGFE/JRgYhwxtKo4/s320/deep+in+thought.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Will Obama win in 2012?!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K8h745c5u-M/Tx1954iBDXI/AAAAAAAAGFM/-yE2dO-88l0/s1600/peacock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K8h745c5u-M/Tx1954iBDXI/AAAAAAAAGFM/-yE2dO-88l0/s320/peacock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q-rNpH7k8yo/Tx1985x5JlI/AAAAAAAAGFU/So33IAVqDwI/s1600/ranthamborefort1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q-rNpH7k8yo/Tx1985x5JlI/AAAAAAAAGFU/So33IAVqDwI/s320/ranthamborefort1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XuqRT6SiEFM/Tx19_raAXGI/AAAAAAAAGFc/dpGRSr_65TM/s1600/ranthamborefort2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XuqRT6SiEFM/Tx19_raAXGI/AAAAAAAAGFc/dpGRSr_65TM/s320/ranthamborefort2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
view through one of the small openings on the fort wall</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S6h2gUkV8-E/Tx1-DZ_3dwI/AAAAAAAAGFk/97VhudXILcw/s1600/ranthamborefort3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S6h2gUkV8-E/Tx1-DZ_3dwI/AAAAAAAAGFk/97VhudXILcw/s320/ranthamborefort3.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
battered...bruised..</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tyQgBTFp6PQ/Tx1_DVc7xxI/AAAAAAAAGFs/skQvo2QoYRc/s1600/ranthamborefort4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tyQgBTFp6PQ/Tx1_DVc7xxI/AAAAAAAAGFs/skQvo2QoYRc/s320/ranthamborefort4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P5gyf-eG6EM/Tx1_G7qGWBI/AAAAAAAAGF0/cNXYITL9TSM/s1600/ranthamborefort5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P5gyf-eG6EM/Tx1_G7qGWBI/AAAAAAAAGF0/cNXYITL9TSM/s320/ranthamborefort5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LAHC_CYC7Ow/Tx1_LBEoiEI/AAAAAAAAGF8/AucOx4Xll6I/s1600/ranthamborefort6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LAHC_CYC7Ow/Tx1_LBEoiEI/AAAAAAAAGF8/AucOx4Xll6I/s320/ranthamborefort6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-swYwIMTgq-k/Tx1_QOxE2kI/AAAAAAAAGGE/zCniA2W6o4M/s1600/ranthamborefort7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-swYwIMTgq-k/Tx1_QOxE2kI/AAAAAAAAGGE/zCniA2W6o4M/s320/ranthamborefort7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Ra in a 'poser' mood :D</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-5475839974451179854?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-17417971648084847552012-01-09T02:27:00.000+05:302012-02-10T03:19:28.367+05:302012-02-10T03:19:28.367+05:30On a tiger quest in Ranthambore<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And so, after almost 20 days, am back in Chennai. 5 days at home. 8-9 days of tripping around Rajasthan, Delhi and Varanasi. One week of field work in some villages in Kolar. It doesn't feel that great sitting in a room and staring at a screen after so many days of not reading newspapers and not logging on to the net. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It all started from the masterplan prepared by Darshan to trip North India in the chilling winter. And in came the shady bunch from college- Ra, Sid K, Vikram and Nikil. Depending on the Indian Railways completely, when trains were getting cancelled everyday due to fog, was a bit risky. But everything went perfect according to plan in the end. An epic 35 hour train journey took us from Madras to Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan. A kid who refused to stop crying and his equally naughty sisters made sure that none of us slept for a long time. We were on a healthy diet through that journey, rather we were constantly eating. From a huge carton of choco pies to local food from various stations digged out by Ra, our stomachs never really got any rest.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BlQSkW2Ok3U/Twn_DFDTrlI/AAAAAAAAGCM/uIW4JWftqlE/s1600/trippers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" height="219" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BlQSkW2Ok3U/Twn_DFDTrlI/AAAAAAAAGCM/uIW4JWftqlE/s320/trippers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The fellow trippers, The shady bunch- Ra, Darshan, Sid K, Vikram...and Nikil is hidden somewhere!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DlbmhMEufnU/Twn_rd0hCCI/AAAAAAAAGC0/BHG-Tj5GXqI/s1600/kid+on+train+collage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="86" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DlbmhMEufnU/Twn_rd0hCCI/AAAAAAAAGC0/BHG-Tj5GXqI/s320/kid+on+train+collage1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The kids who kept us entertained all through the day...and sleepless all through the night!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At 3 AM the next day, we set foot on a freezing Sawai Madhopur. The immediate plan was to have a trip around Ranthambhore National park. It is not an easy task to get tickets for either the gypsy or the big cantor. Agents call the shots at the ticket counter. No outsider can go straight in and get tickets. Some tried and failed miserably. The lazy us went the agent way. Just past sunrise, we set out in our gleaming green gypsy. Before long, we spotted huge tiger footprints. Apparently, some tiger had walked through the place at 4 in the morning. Perhaps, for an early dump. We could see how excited Darshan was getting at the prospect of spotting a tiger. Now, he is the kind of guy who wears 'save the tigers' t-shirt and would be happy if he gets one for a life partner. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3a6C-GdfBdc/Twn-v1CNVWI/AAAAAAAAGBU/bDxZx83uhQY/s1600/ranthambore1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3a6C-GdfBdc/Twn-v1CNVWI/AAAAAAAAGBU/bDxZx83uhQY/s320/ranthambore1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A gypsy traversing the Ranthambore National Park terrain</i></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uoliD18PDq4/Twn-x8heTEI/AAAAAAAAGBc/tzBQsPhChPI/s1600/tiger+footprint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uoliD18PDq4/Twn-x8heTEI/AAAAAAAAGBc/tzBQsPhChPI/s320/tiger+footprint.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Tiger footprints</i></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The dry grass looked golden in the early morning sun. We spotted huge vultures sitting on the branches of a dead tree and some others circling menacingly further away. The sight of deers evoked very 'cold' response from us, thanks to our proximity to the deer hub in IIT Madras and also due to the frequent tresspassing that they make to our own college. Parrots were also not in short supply. The driver reminded us that spotting a tiger is not so easy and all depends on luck. Everyone kept scanning the bushes for any glimpse of those stripes. Other gypsies and cantors were moving around in different directions, all with the same purpose of spotting the beast. Our driver took the gypsy to a hilly region, swtiched off the engine and seemed to be observing the sounds of the jungle. This activity went on for a few more moments when we all relaxed and stood up on the seats with our cameras. Suddenly the driver screamed, 'Get down' and soon we were accelerating down the slopes at top speed. More vehicles joined the same path from different directions. They all seemed to have telepathically suddenly got the exact location of the tiger.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yq_WIABR-1w/Twn-gMQ21TI/AAAAAAAAGA0/e0_O0YNeues/s1600/deer+in+forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" height="153" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yq_WIABR-1w/Twn-gMQ21TI/AAAAAAAAGA0/e0_O0YNeues/s320/deer+in+forest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>who's there!?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WESr-LtoQI4/Twn-j61BE_I/AAAAAAAAGA8/ZnKEVKuM848/s1600/deer+in+forest2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WESr-LtoQI4/Twn-j61BE_I/AAAAAAAAGA8/ZnKEVKuM848/s320/deer+in+forest2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFoVyY9x5DY/Twn_PmBIiLI/AAAAAAAAGCs/Go6acYjPSGs/s1600/vultures+silhouete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFoVyY9x5DY/Twn_PmBIiLI/AAAAAAAAGCs/Go6acYjPSGs/s320/vultures+silhouete.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Two vultures sitting on a dead tree.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mq2Mvr1kHyQ/Twn_GVCXYXI/AAAAAAAAGCU/0QjYU6OVKI0/s1600/vulture+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mq2Mvr1kHyQ/Twn_GVCXYXI/AAAAAAAAGCU/0QjYU6OVKI0/s1600/vulture+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mq2Mvr1kHyQ/Twn_GVCXYXI/AAAAAAAAGCU/0QjYU6OVKI0/s320/vulture+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i> Couldn't get any clear shots of vultures cos of them being against the light. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H6gj7FDBn6Q/Twn_KNaknTI/AAAAAAAAGCc/KOFRflEgb5c/s1600/vulture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H6gj7FDBn6Q/Twn_KNaknTI/AAAAAAAAGCc/KOFRflEgb5c/s320/vulture2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HXUe26ykR6s/Twn_L3FdGAI/AAAAAAAAGCk/CvG39jM6TAM/s1600/vulture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HXUe26ykR6s/Twn_L3FdGAI/AAAAAAAAGCk/CvG39jM6TAM/s320/vulture4.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And, at a clearing, all the vehicles stopped. Everyone was craning their necks quietly. Some morons still kept on chattering and shouting. Before long, we saw HIM walking from behind a tree. It was a calm relaxed walk without caring for all the human noise around him. He seemed to say 'I own this place'. Soon, another giant followed. The driver told us that this guy is the first one's son. He too walked just like his father. It all finished in less than a minute as they disappeared into the woods. We later gathered that the two of them were lying peacefully on the road when an over enthusiastic group tried to get a little too closer. They were later seen justifying their action with the comment that "This is the first time in six trips that we are getting to see the tiger". No wonder they didn't get to see it earlier! Darshan was probably a little unhappy at not being able to flash his 'save the tiger' t shirt due to the chilly weather.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Here goes the tiger series...Not anything great photographically. But seeing them in their own backyard was something else!</b><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kAG1L20nUZk/Twn-1reDl_I/AAAAAAAAGBk/GvM1Znj3sMs/s1600/tiger1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kAG1L20nUZk/Twn-1reDl_I/AAAAAAAAGBk/GvM1Znj3sMs/s320/tiger1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kk-Mic1ob_4/Twn-4wE1KiI/AAAAAAAAGBs/BpT7PSyFMPo/s1600/tiger2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kk-Mic1ob_4/Twn-4wE1KiI/AAAAAAAAGBs/BpT7PSyFMPo/s320/tiger2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wd4nI0rIw58/Twn-7BvbIyI/AAAAAAAAGB0/PasAPw2nW2E/s1600/tiger3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wd4nI0rIw58/Twn-7BvbIyI/AAAAAAAAGB0/PasAPw2nW2E/s320/tiger3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rzfIVZjlT68/Twn-9qKor_I/AAAAAAAAGB8/KkwTX90vqtQ/s1600/tiger4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rzfIVZjlT68/Twn-9qKor_I/AAAAAAAAGB8/KkwTX90vqtQ/s320/tiger4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v5IKWMUyyQ0/Twn_A28pXFI/AAAAAAAAGCE/Ml7gh7K19co/s1600/tiger5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v5IKWMUyyQ0/Twn_A28pXFI/AAAAAAAAGCE/Ml7gh7K19co/s320/tiger5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Having seen the tigers a bit earlier than expected, the rest of the safari was relatively uneventful, except if you are the type who thinks that 10 monkeys sitting on an electric tower is an event. We also spotted a Nilgai and some unknown birds. The chill had begun to subside by then. As we got back from the forest to the town, the first thought was on how to satiate our hunger. With that aim, we attacked(literally) a small 'Bhojanalaya' near our hotel. For the next one hour, the two guys at the Bhojanalaya did more work than they ever did in their lives, as we kept on ordering for more and more. In the end, the billing was so complicated that they apparently brought in a man who looked like the 'village mathematician' to solve the riddle. Last heard, the old men had closed the shop and is tripping in South India to exact revenge. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hW_OciYxPsg/Twn-nkK0OgI/AAAAAAAAGBE/NpVOLWw_CS4/s1600/nilgai1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /> <img border="0" height="201" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hW_OciYxPsg/Twn-nkK0OgI/AAAAAAAAGBE/NpVOLWw_CS4/s320/nilgai1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<i> Nilgai</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pIJNO6pNUYk/Twn-sDPVM2I/AAAAAAAAGBM/js028vVDF_o/s1600/nilgai2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pIJNO6pNUYk/Twn-sDPVM2I/AAAAAAAAGBM/js028vVDF_o/s320/nilgai2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x99Kqt46hrg/Twn_t-ozC-I/AAAAAAAAGC8/Fp7N_SRvYSk/s1600/monkeys+on+tower1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x99Kqt46hrg/Twn_t-ozC-I/AAAAAAAAGC8/Fp7N_SRvYSk/s320/monkeys+on+tower1.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Its electric!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xuJqa6Rx3V4/Twn-cRl_ioI/AAAAAAAAGAs/N3-_rEgLRcY/s1600/bhojanalaya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="201" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xuJqa6Rx3V4/Twn-cRl_ioI/AAAAAAAAGAs/N3-_rEgLRcY/s320/bhojanalaya.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The small Bhojanalaya which ran out of the year's stocks after our attack</i></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After this destruction, we went to Ranthambore fort and did a short trip of the town, more on which will come in the next post...</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-1741797164808484755?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-47023537338330129642011-12-14T21:21:00.001+05:302011-12-15T19:28:06.021+05:302011-12-15T19:28:06.021+05:30From Chennai to Mullaperiyar<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The two lane road from Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu to
Kumily, the border town in Kerala, is around 140 kms long. In this stretch, I
could notice a marked difference from the barren lands which characterised most
parts of the highway from Chennai till Dindigul. Paddy fields were visible all
around on both sides of this rather narrow road. Halfway through this road, we
entered Theni district which shares its border with Kerala. The variety of
crops increased even further. Vast sugarcane fields, corn fields, vineyards,
banana plantations and a myriad other cereals and millets, many of which I
failed to identify.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Some glimpses of the prosperous Theni district </b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BPvmH89y9yY/TujAKlPV5uI/AAAAAAAAF_8/CklBP-No0BA/s1600/theni1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BPvmH89y9yY/TujAKlPV5uI/AAAAAAAAF_8/CklBP-No0BA/s320/theni1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V8WRtm6TyPc/TujAMVAb-dI/AAAAAAAAGAI/tuYFVKeoHt4/s1600/theni2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V8WRtm6TyPc/TujAMVAb-dI/AAAAAAAAGAI/tuYFVKeoHt4/s320/theni2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MNVAKAJ_ivU/TujAO_BmDII/AAAAAAAAGAQ/AAhYqTGB8H4/s1600/theni3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MNVAKAJ_ivU/TujAO_BmDII/AAAAAAAAGAQ/AAhYqTGB8H4/s320/theni3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The rain poured intermittently. A bike trip spanning 600 Km
one way, when the meteorology department had already given a prediction of
‘heavy rains all over south India for the next 48 hours’ , slightly bordered on
the insane. It did not help matters either that we were travelling in a bike
that was meant for short city rides only. But, this did provide us with the
luxury of stopping at each of those fields and see for ourselves what is being
cultivated and where the water was coming from. Yes, the water, flowing out
from a dilapidated 115-year-old dam situated in another state.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zg3O5RAQ75s/TujAAiVAWRI/AAAAAAAAF_g/WrElMLWjHMY/s1600/an+indian+agricultural+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zg3O5RAQ75s/TujAAiVAWRI/AAAAAAAAF_g/WrElMLWjHMY/s320/an+indian+agricultural+family.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>An agricultural family near Dindigul</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EH6yvFVspI0/TujADMQAFGI/AAAAAAAAF_o/_xmbTM0zr6U/s1600/theni+corn+fields+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EH6yvFVspI0/TujADMQAFGI/AAAAAAAAF_o/_xmbTM0zr6U/s320/theni+corn+fields+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Corn fields in Cumbum, Theni district</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xUqdCT8kwkE/TujAFFsT5sI/AAAAAAAAF_w/MqOc2Qv5_OM/s1600/theni+corn+fields+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xUqdCT8kwkE/TujAFFsT5sI/AAAAAAAAF_w/MqOc2Qv5_OM/s320/theni+corn+fields+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FTxZF25nMwk/TujAHl1Xq9I/AAAAAAAAF_4/gGICXpcK-6A/s1600/theni+corn+fields+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FTxZF25nMwk/TujAHl1Xq9I/AAAAAAAAF_4/gGICXpcK-6A/s320/theni+corn+fields+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The story of Mullaperiyar dam is now familiar to everyone.
Or, so we think. In my interactions with random people in Chennai, I realized
that the massiveness of this issue is confined to the borders of Kerala. Most
of them were unaware of even the basic facts or believed the Sun TV version of
it. They do not know the fact that the engineer who built the dam way back in
1895 gave it a life span of 50 years. They do not know that it was built with
surki and that currently it has a crack running through its full span. They
also do not know that it is situated in a highly seismic zone and a quake above
6.0 in the Richter scale can bring this dam down. And, it is this realization
that led two of us to travel down to the place, study the issue and spread the
message. Let’s get back to the journey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Cumbum and Gudalur are the last villages on the Tamil Nadu
side. After this, the road starts winding up. The air gets misty. Kerala is
situated on the other side of these hills. As we neared the Kerala border, we
came across the penstock pipes of a hydro electric power generation plant at
lower camp. This is the Periyar power plant, where Tamil Nadu generates
electricity using the Mullaperiyar water. The original deed was signed in 1895
with the agreement to use the water for irrigation purpose alone. And, here we
have a full fledged power plant. Tamil Nadu had tried to get permission from
Kerala for the power plant in the late 40s. But when they saw that support was
hard to come by, they started work on the power station in 1955 without waiting
for the permission. According to the data presented in Sasidharan Mangathil’s
book on Mullaperiyar, Tamil Nadu is now generating 100 crores worth of
electricity from Mullaperiyar, whereas Kerala is paid just 7.75 lakhs. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
By the time we reached the
border, it was well past 12 noon. The border check post was still hidden in the
mist. We got into the first shop at the border to ask for directions. There,
few people were discussing three small quakes (measuring around 3 on the
Richter scale each) that happened near the dam that morning. According to the Kerala Government, the
Mullaperiyar area has experienced 22 earthquakes of around 3.0 in the richter
scale since July this year. The Tamil Nadu Government has alleged that this is
a gross exaggeration and claimed the number to be not more than two. But I
could see from the ground that these reports of earthquakes were not fake.
These are people who experienced it firsthand. The tension in the atmosphere
was palpable. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Our first aim was to visit the
dam, the success of which we never truly believed in. After long talks with
forest officials and calling up some others, we realized that getting anywhere
near the dam is impossible. And so, we set out to visit the protest venue in
Chappath and to meet the locals living in the areas close to the dam. A board
hung in front of the protest venue read ‘1801’. The Mullaperiyar samara samithi
(Mullaperiyar protest council) began its protest movement for a new dam exactly
1801 days back. It is an apolitical
movement started by the people in the border villages of Idukki. Prof C.P.Roy,
the man who started this movement says, “We are ready to give more than enough
water for Tamil Nadu. We are just begging for our lives. We want a new dam here.”
This sentiment is shared by most of the people in these areas.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lGth8TAifzM/Tui_iCf_CXI/AAAAAAAAF_Q/piQEgUQl7Vw/s1600/1801+days+of+Mullaperiyar+protest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lGth8TAifzM/Tui_iCf_CXI/AAAAAAAAF_Q/piQEgUQl7Vw/s320/1801+days+of+Mullaperiyar+protest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>A local farmer stands in front of the Mullaperiyar protest venue in Chappath. The board reads '1801', the number of days since the protests started</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5CTZwNQZlBU/TujGjXMYSsI/AAAAAAAAGAY/bCAdKw4hG80/s1600/mullaperiyar+protest+venue%252Cchappath+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5CTZwNQZlBU/TujGjXMYSsI/AAAAAAAAGAY/bCAdKw4hG80/s320/mullaperiyar+protest+venue%252Cchappath+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The protestors</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tAtCnBlVzFw/TujGmK4MnyI/AAAAAAAAGAg/8znimoVP18A/s1600/mullaperiyar+protest+venue%252Cchappath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tAtCnBlVzFw/TujGmK4MnyI/AAAAAAAAGAg/8znimoVP18A/s320/mullaperiyar+protest+venue%252Cchappath.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The protest venue</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
One thing that surprised me was
the number of Tamilians sitting at the protest venue demanding a new dam. Curious to know their take on the issue, I
started talking to some of them and surprisingly they had harsh words to convey
to Jayalalithaa and Vaiko. Majority of those living in Peerumedu, Devikulam,
Munnar etc are Tamils. “Jayalalitha says she cares for the lives of Tamils. So
what about Tamilians like me living downstream this dangerous dam? What about
our Malayali brothers and sisters? ,” asks S. Daniel, a supervisor at a corn
estate in chappath village, one of the places that will be affected first if
the Mullaperiyar dam breaks. Daniel’s father Selvaraj was one of the lakhs of
Tamilians who migrated from different parts of Tamil Nadu and settled in the
border district of Idukki many decades back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FBmWDitWm7A" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>One of the Tamilians whom we interviewed. He has been living in Idukki for the past many decades. He has harsh words for Jayalalithaa and Vaiko (with English subtitles)</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
There are no hate speeches or violent slogans
here, only a populace living under constant fear of a massive flood. From tea
shops to Government offices, the subject of discussion is just the same. Mini,
a medical shop owner here says, “My daughter finds it hard to sleep at night.
Elders in our locality take turns to sleep at night. Everyone is living under
the fear of being washed away in sleep.” Her daughter celebrated her 6<sup>th</sup>
birthday by joining the relay fast at the protest venue in Chappath. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
There have been allegations from
various quarters that the media and politicians in Kerala are creating a mass
hysteria with ulterior motives. But the people in these areas refute any such
suggestions. “We have been living under constant fear since the 1970s. Our
voices started going outside only recently,” says Shaji Joseph, one of the
protestors. The fears have also led to small scale migrations. According to an
employee in a tea plantation here, some of his former co-workers have left this
place after selling off their meagre properties. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Mullaperiyar protestors speak..about their protests, about the history of the issue. (No subtitles...Too lazy to add!)</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Jtoq2LQPCeI" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>The protestors talk about migration from the area and other issues</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dDEInU5uZmI" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Contrasting with this hysteria is
the nonchalance or rather the lack of awareness about the problems related to
the dam, in the border districts of Tamil Nadu.
Even those who are aware see this as Kerala’s trick to deny them access
to water. When asked about Kerala Government’s written promise to give same
amount of water from the new dam, Murugan, a farmer in Theni said-“It is hard
to trust such assurances from politicians. Our lives depend on that water.” It is
true. Without this water, they will all starve to death and it’s natural that
they react in anger when there is a question on their livelihood. It is up to
the activists and politicians on either side to come together and educate the
masses on the true situation of the dam. And then arrive at a solution that
will save the lives of Keralites and at the same time safeguarding the livelihood
of the Tamilians.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DBsTvRw3_l0/Tui_j7kwQqI/AAAAAAAAF_Y/_Ju9Xfy8Utk/s1600/water+level+indicator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DBsTvRw3_l0/Tui_j7kwQqI/AAAAAAAAF_Y/_Ju9Xfy8Utk/s320/water+level+indicator.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="text-align: center;"> The water level indicator at the Thekkady side of the Mullaperiyar reservoir</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="text-align: center;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As aspiring journalists, we are
told to be balanced in whatever we report, even if it involves your personal
interests. But, after studying the facts in this case I can see only a lopsided
balance, which is not because of the conflict of interest of being a Malayali
myself, but because the realities of this case are so. Besides Mullaperiyar, Kerala is giving water to Tamil Nadu
through many other dams like Siruvani, Neyyar, Parambikkulam etc. Even when the decibel levels
rose on the Mullaperiyar issue, for not once did Kerala think of cutting off
water from these dams.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Some voices from the streets of Chappath, Idukki district</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BLKombtZvDw" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
According to the precautionary
principle, in any given scenario when lives are stake any decision taken should
be to save those lives. This should take precedence over all other factors. But
even considering all these facts, the construction of new dam is not going to
be an easy task (even if Tamil Nadu agrees to it) since the area is
biodiversity hotspot consisting of the Periyar tiger reserve. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
PS- The situation has grown worse in
the two weeks since I made this visit. The border districts on both sides are
simmering with angry protests. And, some sections of the media are trying to
milk this situation by planting false stories like this, and some others (CNN
IBN & NDTV) stoop down even further by spreading it without checking facts.
The full page Ads in National newspapers by Jayalalithaa was severely
criticised by Supreme Court yesterday.
Both states were also asked to be restrained in their opinions related
to the dam. Hope better sense prevails and both states reach a settlement for a
new dam. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-4702353733833012964?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-67493722807243130162011-11-30T20:26:00.001+05:302011-11-30T20:40:05.895+05:302011-11-30T20:40:05.895+05:30ASEAN-India FTA: Death knell for small farmers?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E-uXDfCvqhI/TtZGRZjP72I/AAAAAAAAF_I/CPgYbIJbBIQ/s1600/article3-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E-uXDfCvqhI/TtZGRZjP72I/AAAAAAAAF_I/CPgYbIJbBIQ/s1600/article3-a.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As the issue of allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail trade is being widely debated for its pros and cons, here's a look at the Indo-ASEAN free trade agreement signed in 2009 and how it adversely affect Indian farmers(especially those in Kerala). Though the technicalities of FDI in retail are entirely different, some after effects are similar. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Trade barriers are a thing of the past in a post liberalised world. As more and more trade treaties are signed, limitations which used to exist in trade between two countries have reduced to a large extent. The advocates of free trade project this as a win-win situation in which both the countries involved will benefit. But at the other side, the reduction in tariffs of agricultural and marine goods is bound to hit farmers and small and medium enterprises (SME) hard. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India signed the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods (TIG) Agreement in Bangkok on 13 August 2009. It paved the way for the creation of one of the world’s largest free trade areas consisting of 1.8 billion people and a combined GDP of US$ 2.8 trillion. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the main features of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA) is the tariff reduction commitments which provides for a phased reduction of import duties on Indian and ASEAN member countries’ agricultural and non-agricultural goods between January 2010 and January 2016. The products are classified under 4 broad headings-Normal track, sensitive track, special products and exclusion list. For the products in the exclusion list, there is no tariff reduction. Excluding the products in this list, India has made commitments to reduce or eliminate tariffs for over 89% of all of its agriculture, marine and manufactured goods by 2016. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
India’s exclusion list contains some of its major agricultural products like coconut, cotton, dairy products, wheat, paddy/rice, sugarcane, apples, etc. But the presence of a product on the exclusion list does not guarantee protection from all competition. Local producers of the agricultural and other products listed in the list could face increased competition from imports of cheaper substitutes whose tariffs are being reduced under different tracks in the FTA.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Tariffs for many agricultural products which are included in the other lists will drop to zero by 2016. This will result in a drastic reduction in demand for local agricultural products. Under the safeguard provisions of the FTA, countries are allowed to raise tariffs in case of emergencies. But it cannot be above the levels stipulated in the Agreement. With tariffs dropping to zero for most products by 2016, this becomes meaningless. Therefore India’s commitments under AIFTA are likely to cause significant negative impact on livelihoods and food security across several segments of the rural population in the country.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
South India, especially Kerala will be the most affected by this scenario because it shares a similar tropical agro climatic condition as South East Asia. Both regions cultivate the same kinds of crops. The marine fisheries resources are similar too. Natural rubber, coconut, tea, coffee, spices, cashew, and tropical fish varieties etc are common to both regions. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The CPIM politburo in a statement released on the day that the FTA was signed said, “Eliminating the tariff in 80 percent goods traded between India and the ASEAN countries would be harmful for domestic industries, agriculture and fisheries, which have already been adversely affected by the economic slowdown. This would have an adverse impact on the economies of the states, particularly Kerala. The claim made by the government that excluding some items from the list of tariff concessions would address the sensitivities in agriculture and other sectors did not hold much water. The sharp cuts in import duties in the future would affect the livelihood of a very large number of people in the country”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But Union minister Vayalar Ravi disagreed with this view saying that, “This is far from the truth, because in today’s world none lives in isolation and the farmers can look forward to a positive future because of the agreement. This pact would enable our farmers to compete with the rest of the world and the central government would help them through proper policies and support”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Added to this scenario, some key products like black tea, coffee, pepper, crude palm oil and refined palm oil are kept in a separate category called special products. The products in this list are subject to tariff reduction commitments unlike those in the exclusion list. No other country has kept any products under this category. It is still unclear why India opted for such an arrangement which directly affects the business of small enterprises. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On the brighter side, import liberalisation in intermediate goods like electrical machinery, optical, photo, medical apparatus, chemical products, plastics, copper etc will benefit the Indian MNCs that are active in the region, in the chemicals and iron & steel sectors. It will also be advantageous to some extent to the services sector. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, the Indian establishment has to grapple with the dilemma of being an active partner in ASEAN to counter the primacy of China in the region and at the same time isg faced the problems of livelihood of farmers and small enterprises in a world of unfettered trade. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
References: </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Financial liberalization and agriculture: An overview of the challenges before developing countries by Smitha Francis and Murali Kallummal.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>ASEAN-India FTA- Noises of dissent from deep south by K.N.Harilal [Kerala State Planning board Occasional Paper]</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>ASEAN investment report 2011</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-6749372280724313016?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-72693023176527180212011-11-20T13:13:00.001+05:302011-11-20T13:19:28.787+05:302011-11-20T13:19:28.787+05:30Interview: Author Ashokamithran<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Ashokamithran is one of the most
celebrated writers in post-independence Tamil literature. As part of a writing
project on translations, I had an opportunity to meet him to get his thoughts
on translations. I decided to convert this into a full fledged interview for
this blog. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ajn1BJCwLd4/TsiwWDJ7i9I/AAAAAAAAF_A/QGxdCW5-1Us/s1600/ashikamithran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ajn1BJCwLd4/TsiwWDJ7i9I/AAAAAAAAF_A/QGxdCW5-1Us/s320/ashikamithran.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Ashokamitran, whose real name is
Thyagarajan, has written eight novels and numerous short stories. <span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">He won the </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">"Sahitya Akademi" award in
1996 for his work "Appavin Snegidhar", a collection of short stories. He worked in the Tamil film industry in the
50s and 60s and then went on to become a full time writer. At 80, he is still bursting forth with energy
when he talks about writing. Though his voice is feeble and sometimes broken,
his memory is still impeccable. He recounted many stories, a few of which am
sharing here. And yes, this was my first ever interviewing experience.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>How did you start off? Have you always wanted to be a writer?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In those days, writing was very
much part of everyday life. Nowadays, telephony and internet has taken out
writing from our daily routine. We used to write letters regularly. Office work
also involved a lot of writing- memos, notes etc. Now we have paperless
offices. In school also, we were encouraged to come up with our own works of
creativity. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Have you ever thought about doing any other work, other than writing?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
No. My father died prematurely
and I was quite young at that time. I was in Secunderabad at that time. I
lacked elder's guidance. So, I had to make my own decisions. Then I shifted to
Chennai and worked in the film industry for about a decade. And then, slowly
writing began to take up most of my time. So I left the industry and took up
writing full time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Some of your books are set in the film industry.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, I've written quite a lot
about it. I was working as a public relations officer. Replying to letters was
my main job there. We used to get a lot of letters from students and others
asking for permission to visit the studio. I was supposed to reply that they
can't visit the studio, at the same time I had to convey it pleasantly. So we
had a convoluted way of writing those replies-diplomatic, feel good replies.
Film shooting was at private places. Now they shoot everywhere from Chennai
streets to Alaska.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>I was reading the translation of your book 'Karaintha Nizhalgal'(star
crossed). There was this scene where one of the technicians brings his whole family
to the studio to watch the shooting.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, yes. But we used to avoid
the general public. Then, there will be officials whom we couldn't say 'No' to.
For example, this income tax officer who used to insist on visiting the studio
often. We couldn’t say no to an income tax officer! There was this one time in
1956 when Chinese premier Chou En Lai was visiting Chennai and he wanted to
visit the studio. So we made arrangements for the visit. The problem was, at
that time the young Dalai Lama was also visiting. The film that was being shot
then was about kings and people who were loyal to the king. Chou En Lai did not
like it because it went against his brand of communism. On the other hand,
Dalai Lama was a pleasant fellow and he enjoyed every bit of the song and
dance. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>So, you had started writing while you were in the industry?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Yes. I started with short
stories. Then, I started writing a novel for some contest. I couldn't complete
it on time. I completed it about ten years later, the novel 'Viduthalai'(liberation).
That was a bit pompous.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>But, I've read somewhere that you concentrate more on intense
experiences of small lives than grand sacrifices, public protest and posturing.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, yes. That's very true. I
don't carry an explicit social message. The reader can derive anything he
wants. Otherwise, the essence of the story is lost. Anyway, am not a very
popular writer!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Whatever I've read about you and heard from others, tells me otherwise<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
(laughs) It’s a very slow
process. As a writer, you become known to people very gradually.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>After 1980s, your books began to be translated more. Your fame spread
outside the state during this period?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, I became known in Bombay,
Delhi, Calcutta after that. I think I became more known in those places than in
Tamil Nadu. That was the time when there were a lot of fights over languages,
the anti-Hindi agitations and such movements. There was so much antagonism
against the Hindi speaking people here and vice versa too. They make a fuss
over these languages all the time. Each language has its own beauty. I've
translated the biographies of Bankim chandra chatterjee and the Mother of
Aurobindo ashram. I've also translated Anita Desai's 'Fire on the mountain'. It
was not a great novel, but it did win a Sahitya academy award. Whatever fuss
they make about ours being a classical language, we are yet to produce a work
comparable to those of Sarat Chandra Chatterjee. Devdas is one of his weaker
novels. Even to its level, we haven't reached. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>That's the only work of his that most people know about.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Yes. He never prescribed drinking
as a solution to lost love. It was a written in a very realistic framework. But
somehow, people interpreted it in the wrong way. He was extremely unhappy. He
used to say that if I had known that people would interpret it this way, I
would never have written that. So, what I was saying was, in Tamil we have big
novels which run to thousands of pages, but those can't match the sublime
quality of his work. Much needs to be done here. In Tamil, we do have some great
poetry though. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>You are one of the few fulltime writers in Tamil? Why don't we have
more people who take this up as a profession?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
How will you survive as a writer
in this age! And there are no institutions which gives jobs to writers. Even
your college would n't give me a job. Also, you wouldn't always get paid when
others use parts of your work. For example, many situations from my books have
appeared in a number of films but they have never credited me. It can be by
accident, but this is what happens.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>You had said long time back that people with integrity can never make a
film. Was it based on your experience in the industry? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, It is difficult to be honest
in this industry. In my book 'karaintha nizhalgal', based on the film industry,
the character Reddiar who is a producer is a straight forward man. He goes
bankrupt and he never completes his project. There are thousands of films that
are in different stages of completion. There are thousand others which are
completed, but no one is ready to buy it. There is so much happening behind the
scenes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>So, how do you feel about the current state? The studio system that
existed here has crumbled. What are your thoughts on the monopoly that is
running the industry?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It is financially in the clutches
of a team, the Marans and their cousins. Now they are selling it as an
international product rather than catering to the local audience. I don't understand
the films these days. I still remember the days of going to theater to watch
Chaplin or Fellini.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>You've written in your book 'Mansarovar' that "A man living in his
hometown is under various constraints. This is why everyone seeks to be free,
live in anonymity away from their native towns." Was it written from your
own experiences?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It is true for everybody, not
only a writer. In a place where you are not known, you can do anything. The
anonymity helps. It is a fact. But, somebody has to point it out. That is what
I did.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>You moved to Chennai from Secunderabad, where you spend your early years.
The novel '18th parallel' was set there. So, the early days must've influenced
you during writing the book.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
18th parallel is the line that
passes through Hyderabad. When you create a character, you have to provide some
context, some location. It was set in the background of the Indian govt taking
over Hyderabad after independence and the preceding turmoil. Not much has been
written about the place. It was my first book to be translated to Telegu. It
was received with great respect there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>So, are you a writer who writes mostly from things which you've
experienced, places you've seen?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, experiences feeds into your
writing all the time. And also, you’ve to give a context or a background to
your characters. So it’s easier to set them in familiar places.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Are you writing anything now?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I am suffering from cramps for
the past weeks and I am tired too. So haven't written much recently. Before
that I wrote a story that was published in some magazine few weeks back. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
And then I made a request for a
click. What happened next floored me, and also showed how down to earth this
man is. He told me-“Wait. I’ve to respect the camera and the photographer. So,
let me wear a clean shirt, comb my hair and come”. Even after I requested him
not to take all those troubles, he insisted on it and within a minute, came
dressed in a white shirt and with neatly combed hair. As I started clicking, he
was worried whether there was enough light in the room and was even prepared to
walk out into the balcony. Those troubles, I didn’t let him take. And so, an interview which was supposed to finish in 20 minutes went on for an hour...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As I walked out to my bike, he
was there waving from the balcony. A lesson learned in humility…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-7269302317652718021?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-59235158857293580882011-11-14T18:16:00.001+05:302011-11-14T18:31:10.812+05:302011-11-14T18:31:10.812+05:30Reverse colonization or a quest for food?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TXGKljn-HNI/TsEPO0ZkFUI/AAAAAAAAF-s/iIjBQUCrxWQ/s1600/539w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TXGKljn-HNI/TsEPO0ZkFUI/AAAAAAAAF-s/iIjBQUCrxWQ/s320/539w.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
In the past one year, the drought
in the Horn of Africa consisting of Ethiopia and Somalia has morphed into the
biggest humanitarian crisis in history. People migrating to refugee camps
perish before they could reach their destinations. While this painful process
is going on, a new wave of agriculture is taking shape in these countries.
Agricultural companies from developing countries like India and China are
making huge investments in Ethiopia and neighbouring countries. They are buying
up lakhs of hectares of arable land, sometimes after evicting the original
inhabitants.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A feature of these African
countries is that the farmers do not have any rights on their land. Government
owns majority of the farmlands in Ethiopia. The peasants use ancient techniques
of cultivation. When rains fail, their survival depends on the food aid. To breathe
life into this agriculture sector, the Ethiopian Government began wooing
foreign investors in the later part of the past decade. They were offered large
tracts of land at rock bottom prices. They were also given tax breaks and
Government built the roads and other infrastructure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The biggest investor in Ethiopia
currently is Karuturi Global ltd., a Bangalore based neo agricultural company.
In the province of Gambella, they were given 300,000 hectares of land on a 50
year lease, at 10 dollars a hectare. They are cultivating palm, rice, sugar
etc. They had promised homes, schools and clinics to be built in the locality
but these are yet to be fulfilled. Thousands of farmers were evicted from the
land they have farmed for generations. Compensations were not given because
they do not have ownership on their land. Recently, Ethiopia slashed the size
of Karuturi Global Ltd.’s land concession that was larger than Luxembourg on
concern it was too big for a single company to manage and to enable an annual
migration of antelope. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Forests across hundreds of
hectares are being felled and burned to the dismay of locals and
environmentalists concerned about the fate of the region's rich wildlife. There
have allegedly been a number of arrests and killings of local people who oppose
the recent land investment. The deals are signed in such a way that there are
no limits to where the companies can sell their crops. So, most of these agro
products are exported. David Hillam, Deputy Director of the FAO, told a
conference in Washington DC in 2009, "Imagine empty trucks being driven
into, say Ethiopia, at the time of food shortages caused by war or drought, and
being driven out again, full of grain to feed people overseas. Can you imagine
the political consequences?" However, Karuturi's CEO, Sai Ramakrishna
Karuturi, denies such allegations when he says, "We are putting money into
Africa and making the lives of these exploited people better." </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In Ethiopia, some of the land now
being used by foreign companies had formerly been used for the production of
teff, the staple diet of most Ethiopians. Now the land is being used by
companies like Karuturi to produce such crops as maize for export. It is
believed such shifts have contributed to the recent local price increase in
teff, the supply of which has decreased as demand has increased. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The Indian Government and the
Indian business associations have provided strong support for these companies’
endeavors in Africa. The stagnant food grain production and dependence on
international food imports prompted the Government to look for other avenues.
Rapid industrialisation and conversion of farmland for other uses has reduced
food grain production. Water availability, exacerbated by climate change and
increasingly erratic rainfall has also hit Indian agriculture hard. The opening
up of some agricultural items to International trade without proper
restrictions, have also impacted the domestic prices. In this scenario, the Indian Government has
supported a host of initiatives to facilitate Indian agricultural companies in
their overseas investments in Africa.
They support conventional new greenfield foreign direct investments,
merger and acquisitions, public-private partnerships and specific tariff
reductions on agricultural goods imported to India. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Another major way the Indian
government has financially facilitated the process is by giving concessional
Lines of credit to various African governments, banks, and financial
institutions through the Indian ExportImport Bank (Exim Bank). Often such lines
of credit are for the purpose of national development projects, and where these
projects involve agricultural development, Indian foreign investors stand ready
to win concessions and contracts for agricultural development in the form of
their foreign direct investment. The Indian government has also liberalised its
regulations on allowing outward foreign direct investment by Indian companies.
The Confederation of Indian Industries and the Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce and Industries have organised several buyer-seller meets between
African delegates and Indian businesses to facilitate agricultural investments
in these countries.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vBJ-REFqji8/TsEPP3KukRI/AAAAAAAAF-0/tjiVJgVIhW8/s1600/karutiri-6nov2009-300x199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vBJ-REFqji8/TsEPP3KukRI/AAAAAAAAF-0/tjiVJgVIhW8/s1600/karutiri-6nov2009-300x199.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In 2009 the FAO along with the
World Bank and other organizations drafted the Responsible Agricultural
Investment (RAI) principles, a set of best practices and principles that
foreign investors ‘can’ adhere to. These set of rules were supposed to govern
the international transactions of farmland and also expected to incorporate the
rights of the local residents. However the RAI principles have been widely
criticised by activists and scholars as an insufficient response that can
actually result in legitimising a process many feel is rife with exploitation
and rights abuses. Critics say the fact that the principles are only voluntary
falls far short of actual laws and strict regulations that could be enforced. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In June this year, Obang Metho,
Executive Director of the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE), a
non-violent, grassroots social justice movement, wrote <a href="http://ecadforum.com/ethiopian-news/8649/">an open letter to thepeople of India</a>. She raised some pertinent questions-“Any who resent the
colonial past of your own country, should know that it began through the
British East India Trading Company; where some of the more unscrupulous often
colluded with corrupt indigenous government officials. What would Gandhi say
today were he to know that Indians, who were only freed from the shackles of
colonialism in recent history, were now at the forefront of this
“land-grabbing” as part of the race for foreign control over African land and
resources; currently being called the Neo-Colonialism of Africa?” The Indian
media was largely silent on this issue except for an article by <a href="http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2819/stories/20110923281911300.htm">Jayati Ghosh in frontline</a> two months back. The rest of the media were largely celebratory with
regard to companies like Karuturi. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
So, are we trampling upon the
rights and lives of these innocent Africans in our quest to become a developed
country? Or, are processes like these inevitable in a world which is
increasingly finding it hard to feed its millions?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p>References for this post- Rick Rowden's study on <a href="http://www.macroscan.org/anl/aug11/pdf/Rick_Rowden.pdf">'India's role in the global farmland grab'</a></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Youtube video reports by guardian and other media.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-5923515885729358088?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-13385905904198645792011-11-10T00:16:00.001+05:302011-11-10T00:20:20.352+05:302011-11-10T00:20:20.352+05:30Book Review: Sikandar<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IqwQcmZ85mQ/TrrKL6bV8YI/AAAAAAAAF-k/B1ExPcOtTMk/s1600/sikandar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IqwQcmZ85mQ/TrrKL6bV8YI/AAAAAAAAF-k/B1ExPcOtTMk/s1600/sikandar.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When I finished reading the novel ‘Sikandar’ the past week, little did I know that it was something prophetic. Originally written in Bengali by Binayak Banerjee and translated into English by Soma Ghosh, it chronicles a reality show called 'sikandar' modeled on the same lines of Bigg boss (yes, with that stupid extra G). Being an ardent hater of all kinds of 'reality' shows, I was reluctant to read this. But then, lines of praise like 'remarkable insight into the depths of human existence where passing personalities engage in a life and death existential struggle to attain one's true human destiny' on the blurb, made me read this. And by the end, I was disappointed!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Coming back to the prophecy, I was quite surprised yesterday when Sami Agnivesh announced that he is going to enter bigg boss. My first reaction was- ‘this must be the hangover from that book’. Because, one of the ten contestants in the ‘sikandar’ reality show is ‘Swami Samyuktanand’, an ascetic like Agnivesh. I guess Agnivesh must have got this book through the ‘book reviews’ program and took it to heart. Like the character, Agnivesh seems to have plans to preach at the wrong place. This comment from him yesterday is a primer for what to expect from him- "The girls inside the house don't seem to have any social responsibility. I want to make them realize just how many girl children are killed in the womb and how many women are burnt alive in the name of sati”.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Enough of Agnivesh’s ramblings. The first problem with the book is that it confuses you right from the introduction. The introduction throws at you a set of ten highly confusing Bengali names and their brief background. By the time you are done with it, you will be highly disoriented and you will have to keep on going back to these introductions to make sense of who is what and which, unless you are related to these people. Talking about relations, another funny thing is that all of the ten contestants are related or rather know each other in one way or the other. Some had shared fights. Some had shared beds. Some had shared stages. And it is an eclectic mix of characters- actor, industrialist, former revolutionary, prostitute etc.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I read this one right after I finished Jose Saramago’s classic ‘Blindness’, which also handles a similar, but REAL situation. There also, a group of people are quarantined in a building after a mysterious contagious blindness grips a place. It chronicles the change in their behavioural patterns, captures their quirks and builds it up into a larger picture of how humans react in peculiar situations, with the use of sublime prose peppered with philosophical overtones. In ‘Sikandar’ also, the author seems to have similar intentions, but the ‘pearls of philosophy’ from every other character looks out of place at several passages. Having said that, I did like certain sections and certain characters, most notably Rangajoba Sanyal, the ex-revolutionary who is in the show to get enough money to cure her daughter’s cancer. But, most of the characters are half developed, especially the ones who are eliminated from the show in the earlier stages itself.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By the time I finished the book, I had only this to say- “So?” I kept on reading the book expecting for something to ‘happen’. There were too many loose ends and many things which were not explained. Having recently done a project on translations and the problems associated with it, I have a feeling that some things were actually ‘lost in translation’. How I wish I has some Bengali knowledge! But then, I don’t want to read another novel on ‘reality shows’, which are anything but REAL!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On a serious note, Swami Agnivesh’s big boss news comes as a disappointment. After his recent pivotal role as the Govt’s mediator with the Maoists and that epic NDTV show in which he silenced Barkha Dutt, this was something that he could’ve avoided.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This review is a part of the <a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2011/05/04/indian-bloggers-book-reviews" target="_blank">Book Reviews Program</a> at <a href="http://www.blogadda.com/">BlogAdda.com</a>. Participate now to get free books!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-1338590590419864579?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-123593144451491052011-11-03T23:40:00.001+05:302011-11-03T23:41:37.205+05:302011-11-03T23:41:37.205+05:30Metallica in bangalore: When the bell tolled for us!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VtHqPkUPKpc/TrLXHL15MfI/AAAAAAAAF68/mS6ZTLmwpdA/s1600/metallica+Bangalore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VtHqPkUPKpc/TrLXHL15MfI/AAAAAAAAF68/mS6ZTLmwpdA/s320/metallica+Bangalore.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>The picture worth a frame. Metallica thanking the Indian crowd after the concert. <b>29/10/11</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In the past 5-6 years, I’ve
attended almost every concert by international bands in India- from Maiden to
Porcupine tree to Meshuggah. Each of those was like a dream come true. But one
name on top of my band wishlist remained uncut, a band which served as the best
possible introduction to my favorite genre of music. It was towards the end of
high school that someone lend me an overused cassette of the black album. I was
told that I will either love it to the core or hate it to the extreme. Those
days, the term music band used to bring to my mind such illustrious names as
'backstreet boys', 'westlife', 'boyzone' etc. Songs with pumping beats were
'rock' to me. I didn't know that something called metal existed. I pushed that
old cassette into my not so big tape recorder. The opening strains of 'Enter
sandman' were heard. The next one hour was like a blur. I couldn't make any
sense of it. All I knew was I felt really pumped up hearing some of the songs.
Metallica, the name registered in my brain. I didn't know how big they were nor
was I big enough to appreciate how good that album was. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In the next two years, I heard
more music of the same genre. I discovered Priest, Maiden, Sabbath, Megadeth
etc. Slayer and Pantera came in later. But Metallica remained the eternal
favorite. And, after watching classic concert DVDs like the 'Monsters of Rock'
in Moscow, I wanted to be one among those screaming madmen, forced against the
front barricade. In the past decade,
Metallica released some albums which many felt they shouldn't have. From being
a bunch of four guys who were angry at the system, they (Lars Ulrich, to be
precise) flaunted their elevation to bourgeois class by cracking down on kids
downloading their music. They shifted from the raw fast paced pure thrash of the
80s to the mellower mainstream tone of the late 90s. But still for those first
five albums, for those evergreen riffs and for those five discs of immense
expression of anger, we love them. Maybe, worship them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It has been months of
anticipation, from the day 'Metallica in India' concerts were announced. The
events in Delhi on Oct 27 made us all frantic. A veil of uncertainty remained
over the Bangalore concert as I got on the train from Madras. I was dying to
click this concert but before long it was clear that any such dreams are best
forgotten. The weekend was the coming together of many old friends in
Bangalore, all united under what James Hetfield termed as the 'metallica
family'. As we travelled to the concert, we could see the road from MG road to
palace grounds was chockablock with traffic, and all of those vehicles had
groups of people wearing black metallica tees. Strangers flashed the horns at
each other.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Passing through the gates, we got
a taste of how big the crowd was going to be. It was a task to locate our huge
group sitting under the 'blue tree', enjoying the power of jagermeister.
Familiar faces, glimpsed and forgotten at many concerts, passed by. I was
getting restless to go in and tried to pull in the others. They lounged around,
even as most of the crowd went inside the concert arena. At a distance, we saw
a convoy of cars riding into the ground, in our direction. Three of them passed
me by. The fourth one had a familiar face sitting by the side and smiling.
Familiar to me, not the other way around! It was Lars Ulrich. I stood there,
dazed. The next second, I could sense myself running alongwith the car flashing
the horns at him. He looked straight into my eyes and flashed it back. I felt
like I was caught in one of those slow motion scenes, which take an eternity to
finish. Or was it my senses slowing up!? The next car had caught up with my
running by then. I turned my head and there he was, my favorite Metallica man-
James Hetfield. Now I was screaming incoherently, running alongwith the car and
with the horns still flashing. I realised that lightning can strike the same
place twice when Hetfield also did what Ulrich had done few seconds back.
Somewhere, I caught a glimpse of Hammett too. The next five minutes, a few of
us ran around screaming in random directions. It still didn't sink in, whether
it was jagermeister's trick or whether it all actually happened.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
We entered the concert arena on a
high, of having seen them up close. Rain started pouring and the slush was
getting heavier. We had missed two opening acts by then. The Scottish rock act
Biffy clyro was playing in the rain and they were surprisingly good. By then,
our group had got lost in the huge crowd and I managed to get five of us
together. After Biffy Clyro, it was a wait of almost an hour for metallica to
start. Old rock and metal hits were heard from the speakers as the technicians
went about their job. In between, one of the band's representatives asked the
crowd to step back a little from the barricade and they promptly obeyed. The
spirit was building up by then. And at 10 minutes past eight, the strains of
'ecstasy of gold', that classic Ennio Morricone score from 'The good, the bad
and the ugly', were heard. A staple of all metallica concerts from the 80s, the
theme accompanied by scenes from the movie projected on the screen, had the
crowd screaming in anticipation for the band's appearance. Then, at the
crescendo, Lars popped in behind the kit and played the opening beats of the
epic 'creeping death'. All hell broke loose when Hetfield, Hammett and Trujillo
joined in. There was a sudden surge forward and the moshpits started.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XGL7CMgEqO0/TrLXOXkhUbI/AAAAAAAAF7k/eAHx0772r5s/s1600/trujillo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XGL7CMgEqO0/TrLXOXkhUbI/AAAAAAAAF7k/eAHx0772r5s/s320/trujillo.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Trujillo during one of his famous antics</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The Hemingway inspired 'For whom
the bell tolls' followed. 'Fuel' fit in with the racing mood that India was
gripped in over the weekend. Hammett
launching into the solo amidst the pyrotechnics brought in goosebumps. Their
own knowledge of how fans perceive their recent albums was best exemplified by
James asking the crowd permission to play the song ‘Cyanide’ from the ‘Death
magnetic’ album. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30inuDe8fEE">The best moment of the day</a> came at the end of 'The memory
remains', when the crowd chanted non-stop for three minutes. The look of
astonishment on Hetfield's face had to be seen to be believed. This chanting prompted
him to say, "Bangalore, you are beautiful". ‘One’ was another of the
much awaited songs of the night. When those intro gunshots and helicopter
sounds replicating a war scene were heard, the screams were louder than for
most other songs. And how they pulled it off, Oh boy!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Gz7gWgPi30/TrLXM6Zc_pI/AAAAAAAAF7c/EGMNX1GW58Y/s1600/pyro+metallica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Gz7gWgPi30/TrLXM6Zc_pI/AAAAAAAAF7c/EGMNX1GW58Y/s320/pyro+metallica.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Hetfield in full flow as the pyrotechnics go off during 'fuel'</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
This Metallica was surely
different from the ones that we caught a glimpse of in recent times in youtube,
going through their motions and looking almost bored on stage. It looked like
they were truly excited in discovering so many fans in a country that they
never been before. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: justify;">This perhaps was the
band discovering their lost form and it all looked like a throwback to their
heydays in the 90s. With the exception of 'sad but true', almost every song was
perfectly rendered. The tightness was best on display in 'Master of puppets'. When
Hetfield went to the upper stage, raised up the mike and sang the 'master,
master' chorus with the crowd, the excitement had reached a crescendo. Many (including
yours truly) had tears in their eyes, having fulfilled a dream of 20 years. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: justify;">And, then he gave us that evil laugh too!
Could this have got any better?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3nAAZVDSZjY/TrLXKMyBZrI/AAAAAAAAF7E/fRdXhTZYmRE/s1600/hammet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3nAAZVDSZjY/TrLXKMyBZrI/AAAAAAAAF7E/fRdXhTZYmRE/s320/hammet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Kirk Hammett with Trujillo in the background</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Nothing else matters’ was another
highly anticipated song and as with every other song, the whole crowd sang to
it. With ‘Enter sandman’ ending in fireworks ending in fireworks lighting up
the sky, the band bid the customary ‘goodbye before the encore’. With the crowd
crying out for more, they were back before long with the cover song ‘Am I evil?’
The song ‘battery’ was one unexpected inclusion in the set list. ‘Seek & destroy’
provided a perfect end to the best concert that I have watched till date. The
crowd of almost 50,000 clearly surpassed the previous attendance levels in
international concerts in India. Lars Ulrich soon announced that they will
surely be back in India soon. So, all is not lost for those of you who missed
it this time. They hung around on the
stage for more than 10 minutes after they finished playing, distributing more
and more plectrums and drum sticks. It looked like they just couldn’t get
enough of the Indian crowd. As we walked back through the heavy slush, I
mentally struck off that name from the top of my band wish list. Now, left on
top is one more from the Big four, Slayer and AC/DC.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nh3z0Q_ATX0/TrLXKxt1LdI/AAAAAAAAF7M/RQCUeqWJtbA/s1600/james+hetfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nh3z0Q_ATX0/TrLXKxt1LdI/AAAAAAAAF7M/RQCUeqWJtbA/s320/james+hetfield.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Hetfield and Trujillo</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Metallica is more than just a
band to many of us. It is an emotion that binds a million black tee sporting
people worldwide. They gave us the first taste of metal music, when we did not
know any such thing existed. Over the years, we have listened to a thousand
more bands. But Metallica remained the eternal favorite. And, after watching
classic concert DVDs like the 'Monsters of Rock' in Moscow, I wanted to be one
among those screaming madmen, forced against the front barricade. In the past decade, Metallica released some
albums which many felt they shouldn't have. From being a bunch of four guys who
were angry at the system, they flaunted their elevation to bourgeois class by
cracking down on kids downloading their music. They shifted from the raw fast
paced pure thrash of the 80s to the mellower mainstream tone of the 90s. But
still for those first five albums, for those evergreen riffs and for those five
discs of immense expression of anger, we love them. Maybe, worship them. This
concert was a slap on the face for those posers who said that ‘Metallica is passé’.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p> </o:p><o:p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bef_A37pGCo/TrLXML46aLI/AAAAAAAAF7U/G5zjSP1giOM/s1600/lars+ulrich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bef_A37pGCo/TrLXML46aLI/AAAAAAAAF7U/G5zjSP1giOM/s320/lars+ulrich.jpg" width="320" /></a> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p><i>Lars Ulrich</i></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Setlist:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The Ecstasy of Gold (Ennio
Morricone's theme song from 'The good, the bad and the ugly')</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Creeping Death </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
For Whom the Bell Tolls </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Fuel </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Ride the Lightning </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Fade to Black </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Cyanide </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The Memory Remains </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Welcome Home (Sanitarium) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Sad But True </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
All Nightmare Long </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
One </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Master of Puppets </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Blackened </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Nothing Else Matters </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Enter Sandman </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Encore:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Am I Evil? (Diamond Head cover)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Battery </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Seek & Destroy</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
All pictures courtesy- Metallica.com</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-12359314445149105?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-60375859950850963832011-10-18T18:05:00.000+05:302011-10-18T18:05:06.621+05:302011-10-18T18:05:06.621+05:30A trip to Thalankuppam<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thalankuppam is a small fishing hamlet to the north of Chennai, near Ennur high road. The place's claim to fame is that the climax of the Tamil movie 'Kaakha kaakha' was shot here. When SidK suggested this place to us, we weren't exactly jumping up with excitement. But, we were all eager to get out after many rusty unproductive weekends in Chennai. We set out from the college in the afternoon sun and traced our way along the Marina beach. The route was pretty easy as it runs parallel to the beach in most places. Nikhil, sitting behind Sidk's bike was having a stupid 'high' smile all the way through.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m-52Ks8TSyY/Tp1n3M1brkI/AAAAAAAAF5Y/dDTzle1eYfc/s1600/pillion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m-52Ks8TSyY/Tp1n3M1brkI/AAAAAAAAF5Y/dDTzle1eYfc/s320/pillion.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pillion riding..</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After you went past the gates of the Chennai port trust, we faced some heavy truck traffic. For about 9 kms, we could see a long line of trucks. Its dusty and a little carelessness can land you under some big wheels. We almost had a truck tipping and falling on our head, after it well into a ditch. Thankfully, when it reached halfway through the tipping, it felt its not worthwhile and went back to normalcy.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XQrBSg2VIZ4/Tp1ol4L-f3I/AAAAAAAAF6g/tQzBg1oCglw/s1600/lorry+traffic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XQrBSg2VIZ4/Tp1ol4L-f3I/AAAAAAAAF6g/tQzBg1oCglw/s320/lorry+traffic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The heavy truck traffic near Chennai port trust. This line stretches for 9 Km.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
All of Chennai's industries are situated in North Chennai. Right from the legendary bullet factory to Ashok Leyland, the road is chockablock with factories on either side. So, naturally one can see smoke billowing out from high walled compounds. And if you look closely on the beach sides, you can see parts of pipes running to the sea, to dump out the effluents from the factories.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SQlbJx8WC40/Tp1n0DmMy0I/AAAAAAAAF5Q/CFtOW5jV0VU/s1600/obscuringthesun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SQlbJx8WC40/Tp1n0DmMy0I/AAAAAAAAF5Q/CFtOW5jV0VU/s320/obscuringthesun.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Eating up the sun</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b0NhUaS0dAo/Tp1wsocFNrI/AAAAAAAAF6o/5DajaPQO6kw/s1600/pipes+to+sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b0NhUaS0dAo/Tp1wsocFNrI/AAAAAAAAF6o/5DajaPQO6kw/s320/pipes+to+sea.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pipes(the red ones) carrying effluents from the factory to the sea</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HaudQYgvW0Q/Tp1nzOMTR8I/AAAAAAAAF5I/2R8PFhymVyU/s1600/group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HaudQYgvW0Q/Tp1nzOMTR8I/AAAAAAAAF5I/2R8PFhymVyU/s320/group.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The team enjoying a short rest.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The tea shop at Thalankuppam junction took me back to the days in shanghumokhom beach in Trivandrum because of the chilly bhaji and the strong tea, which tasted exactly like what we get back home. The tea shop owner was a cool dude whose T-shirt screamed, "Sorry girls, I date only models." From the junction, it is just a matter of one kilometer before we reach the Thalankuppam pier. On the way, we saw groups of old women sitting on the ground and playing cards. Some kids were having a competition on spinning tops.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IY0jeRFHQOU/Tp1nxv_R6kI/AAAAAAAAF5A/G8B5Jz2NLTc/s1600/chaayakkada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IY0jeRFHQOU/Tp1nxv_R6kI/AAAAAAAAF5A/G8B5Jz2NLTc/s320/chaayakkada.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The tea shop guy and his family. Checkout his cool t-shirt.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The bikes doesn't go till the pier. We stopped at a place which looked like a small boat jetty. There were so many rusted cylinders, cans, pipes and other industrial wastes dumped in the vicinity, a picture perfect "urban decay". A short walk took us to the pier, near where the river flows silently into the sea, forming an estuary. There were only very few people at the place, and all of them were from the locality. Some old men were sitting on the edge and fishing. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j8ahWSu414o/Tp1oFqIxNPI/AAAAAAAAF6I/lZXwIVSxygc/s1600/urban+decay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j8ahWSu414o/Tp1oFqIxNPI/AAAAAAAAF6I/lZXwIVSxygc/s320/urban+decay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-twqfDGXsyKQ/Tp1oCviY_8I/AAAAAAAAF6A/JwRMSmHm61k/s1600/urban+dcay2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-twqfDGXsyKQ/Tp1oCviY_8I/AAAAAAAAF6A/JwRMSmHm61k/s320/urban+dcay2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Scenes of urban decay..</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The pier was nothing like the sea bridge back home, which even in its widely concreted pathway of safety scared me sometimes. This consisted of two beams on either side running till the end. And connecting beams in between at regular intervals. Like Rahul said, 'looks like a railway line'. Only that, under the line you have waves crashing in and walking is precarious at first. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A country boat passed under the bridge and naturally, I pointed the camera at the boat. Just then, the man in the boat, who looked like some kind of anofficial, pointed his fingers and shouted-"switch off the camera. This is a prohibited area. I'll call the police". This old sea bridge beside some industrial dump, prohibited area! This was not my first run in with moronic officials who get agitated on seeing the camera. And as always, to satisfy his ego, I said, "Sorry sir, I didn't know". After some more repetitions of "I'll call the police", he went on his way. Case of frustrated middle aged officials taking our their anger on hapless travellers and harmless photographers!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Anyway, we started walking on the thin ledge towards the end of the pier. Rahul, the 'master of cliches' that he is, started playing the song 'uyirin uyirae' from 'Kaakha Kaakha', possibly a respectful nod to that movie which was partly shot here :P . Halfway through the walk, Rahul and Nikhil abandoned the idea of reaching the end and sat down. We continued walking. The wet ledges on some places scared us. But, it was all in the mind. After sometime, we started walking casually. Inside the dilapidated structure at the end of the beach, two men were getting ready to return after the day's catch. The sunset was on the side opposite to the beach. In Chennai, we are not lucky enough to see the sun going down into the sea and since am an early riser, watching it coming up is out of the question.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qLp0kB5XEVQ/Tp1n7jcvfzI/AAAAAAAAF5o/7gy-Y1w5nwU/s1600/thalankuppam+pier+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qLp0kB5XEVQ/Tp1n7jcvfzI/AAAAAAAAF5o/7gy-Y1w5nwU/s320/thalankuppam+pier+top.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A walk over the sea..</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p7I8CUA7k0Q/Tp1oAY0Ix4I/AAAAAAAAF54/NSYdRgne4mo/s1600/thalankuppamunder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p7I8CUA7k0Q/Tp1oAY0Ix4I/AAAAAAAAF54/NSYdRgne4mo/s320/thalankuppamunder.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or a swim under the bridge</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After sunset, it was time for some long shutter speed experiments under the bridge. Rahul got a local cigar from one of the locals. Even the non-smoker in me was attracted to the romanticism of smoking a cigar. We all had our brains blasted by it. It was getting pitch dark and the return journey started. The "master of cliches" played the title song from the latest Tamil flick 'Mankaatha', as he saw a group of guys playing cards under the street light.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d7lYn8LEWB8/Tp1n5LTTGoI/AAAAAAAAF5g/5nc_jX6J5sI/s1600/thalankuppam+paalam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d7lYn8LEWB8/Tp1n5LTTGoI/AAAAAAAAF5g/5nc_jX6J5sI/s320/thalankuppam+paalam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c_O264K0CAk/Tp1n-ijoWpI/AAAAAAAAF5w/_t2m2Z56LNg/s1600/thalankuppampier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c_O264K0CAk/Tp1n-ijoWpI/AAAAAAAAF5w/_t2m2Z56LNg/s320/thalankuppampier.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Long shutter experiments under the bridge</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BcMK-2mNPlo/Tp1okPgdG6I/AAAAAAAAF6Y/lfInqMnmcQc/s1600/industry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BcMK-2mNPlo/Tp1okPgdG6I/AAAAAAAAF6Y/lfInqMnmcQc/s320/industry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Capitalism, Industry,Pollution...death.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nlgLAzo7Dyo/Tp1oYfXxsQI/AAAAAAAAF6Q/SshqqyswiXk/s1600/boatsonshore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nlgLAzo7Dyo/Tp1oYfXxsQI/AAAAAAAAF6Q/SshqqyswiXk/s320/boatsonshore.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The boat jetty at night</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f61woZr_-rA/Tp1nqSRvWeI/AAAAAAAAF4o/Z4o7El-cHZ8/s1600/bjp+thattukada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f61woZr_-rA/Tp1nqSRvWeI/AAAAAAAAF4o/Z4o7El-cHZ8/s320/bjp+thattukada.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The BJP 'Thattukada' was one of the highlights of the return trip. We are so used to seeing the faces from the Gandhi family everywhere. And so it was a surprise when I saw photos of Advani and Vajpayee in a small shop in North Chennai. I had to say that I am a BJP supporter to make the shopkeeper pose with the pictures.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The return ride was difficult, with the darkness, dust and the heavy truck traffic. When visiting North Chennai, better leave your cars behind and trip in bikes if you don't want yourself sandwiched in between two trucks. We stopped near the Burma bazaar to savour Burmese street food. We ordered more and more of 'Attho', 'Fry', 'onion filled eggs' and ofcourse, had our fill with free unlimited soup. We went back to our dens with a vow to do 'this' more often. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_qEZWIXtT_A/Tp1nsZSS9OI/AAAAAAAAF4w/inxADGCM1qY/s1600/burmese1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_qEZWIXtT_A/Tp1nsZSS9OI/AAAAAAAAF4w/inxADGCM1qY/s320/burmese1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Zjqh1a84Qk/Tp1nubFk2jI/AAAAAAAAF44/1DIQXvbYOk0/s1600/burmese2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Zjqh1a84Qk/Tp1nubFk2jI/AAAAAAAAF44/1DIQXvbYOk0/s320/burmese2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Burmese street food...Attho,fry,stuffed eggs etcetera etcetera<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-6037585995085096383?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-18307274885388852182011-10-12T23:11:00.000+05:302011-10-13T01:40:40.769+05:302011-10-13T01:40:40.769+05:30The 'business' of open letters<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MWoLywFbwdo/TpXQ-TwRecI/AAAAAAAAF4g/tE8sE54b1Ns/s1600/openletter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MWoLywFbwdo/TpXQ-TwRecI/AAAAAAAAF4g/tE8sE54b1Ns/s320/openletter.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is the season of open letters. From Narendrabhai Modi(whose usual line of thought is that the sword is mightier than the pen) to Rajdeep Sardesai, everyone is writing an open letter. Then, there was an over-the-top <a href="http://raagshahana.blogspot.com/2011/09/open-letter-to-delhi-boy.html?commentPage=8">open letter from a Madrasan</a> to a Delhi boy, which resulted in this particular Madrasan girl trending on twitter and which spawned a 100 other equally over-the-top open replies. The latest open letter is by the bleeding hearts of India Inc(minus the likes of TATA and Ambanis). <a href="http://profit.ndtv.com/news/show/india-inc-writes-second-open-letter-to-govt-182579">The letter</a> is addressed to the govt of India. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The letter is divided into four parts. The first three parts vaguely deals with issues related to corruption, eradicating which will supposedly make our country heaven. They talk about how the common man suffers because of corruption and also on the need to come up with reforms to fight this. There are also brave references to the corporate-politician nexus. Suggestions are made to enact a law similar to The Bribery Act, 2010 of U.K. And then there are suggestions for a proper redressal mechanism and cleansing of the judiciary. But when it comes to the last point, one will realise why India Inc(one of the biggest benefactors of corruption) is suddenly so concerned about corruption. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The fourth point talks about 'environmental clearances which continues to delay several investment proposals and hamper economic growth'. The environmental clearances, tied up with the Forests Rights Act is a particularly touchy issue which even resulted in the 'transfer' of <a href="http://www.tehelka.com/story_main49.asp?filename=Ne120311COVERSTORY.asp">former environment minister Jairam Ramesh </a>to another ministry. When he was the minister, he refused to give clearances to many projects and later had to cave in, most notably <a href="http://www.tehelka.com/story_main49.asp?filename=Ws020511BUSINESSII.asp">in the case of the POSCO project</a>. It was a constant tussle between him and the 'development at any cost' advocates in the government and the PMO. It is no secret that these tussles and pressures from vested interests in the industry resulted in his job change. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Forests and natural resources are being raped and reaped across the country over the last few years. The arrival of huge FDIs and the need for more land has resulted in indigenous communities getting uprooted and huge amount of land being given to corporates for a pittance. The 'environmetal clearances'can be an effective tool in able hands. So, it serves the corporates well if they can take the sting out of these regulations. The letter says-</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"it is worthwhile considering the introduction of an on-line AUCTION process for allocation of natural resources which will provide the much needed TRANSPARENCY and prevent discretionary and irregular practices. Owing to several such impediments, fresh investments are not forthcoming at the pace required for a rapidly growing economy such as ours. Policy uncertainties and delays in approvals are forcing many large corporate entities to seek out opportunities in other geographies"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It looks more like a heartfelt appeal to the Govt to give every available land to the corporates. The first three points on corruption looks like a cloak to cover this intended request. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Are we all writing Open letters?</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Talking about open letters, we all seem to be unknowingly writing open letters. <a href="http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/google_hands_wikileaks_volunteers_gmail_data_to_us.php">This report</a> about google handing over a wikileaks volunteer's gmail data to US government is a shocking reminder of how our privacy is at the mercy of google. Even though google can save itself from some of the blame by pointing to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act under which they had to reveal the information, it is no excuse for not fighting it out for their clients' privacy. <a href="http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/governmentrequests/userdata/">The google transparency report</a> gives some disturbing figures. It is a report on the requests to google from government agencies and federal courts around the world to remove content from their services and hand over user data. The number of requests from India(1700) and the percentage of compliance(79%) tells some tale. And as expected, Switzerland, that country which is the symbol of secrecy, has made 'zero' requests. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
image courtesy-earthpm.com</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-1830727488538885218?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-44233313354704156042011-10-06T21:03:00.002+05:302011-10-06T21:05:36.660+05:302011-10-06T21:05:36.660+05:30Where did the funds from India go?<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And so, I was reading up on the <a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/spotlight/hornofafrica/">current crisis in Somalia and the entire horn of Africa</a>, as part of an assignment to write an essay on it. There is a huge requirement for funds there and countries and organisations from world over are contributing. So, naturally I was curious to know what India did for the cause. All the figures are available at United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs <a href="http://fts.unocha.org/">(OCHA)'s financial tracking site</a>. Suffice to say, it was a huge disappointment to see India's table. We had pledged an amount of $ 8,000,000 and ended up contributing zero(as on oct 3, 2011). </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MkXyPsZPxng/To3IJeQBoeI/AAAAAAAAF4Q/4FftSp_fhIE/s1600/funding+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MkXyPsZPxng/To3IJeQBoeI/AAAAAAAAF4Q/4FftSp_fhIE/s320/funding+2011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>2011- Pledge of $ 8,000,000 for Horn of Africa drought and that of $ 1,000,000 for Myanmar earthquake not honoured</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The site has an easily searchable archive of contributions that each country has provided during various disasters the world over in the last decade. India had failed to honour their pledges on three previous occasions in this decade-2010,2007,2005. </div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3PRMHeMs4hk/To3IJrUH3kI/AAAAAAAAF4U/F6S7fhr2pKE/s1600/funding+2005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3PRMHeMs4hk/To3IJrUH3kI/AAAAAAAAF4U/F6S7fhr2pKE/s320/funding+2005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>2005. Pledge of $ 25,000,000 not fulfilled for earthquake in South Asia</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6wDtyu9C4ks/To3IKLH_XWI/AAAAAAAAF4Y/mUS0nxMAjow/s1600/funding+2007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6wDtyu9C4ks/To3IKLH_XWI/AAAAAAAAF4Y/mUS0nxMAjow/s320/funding+2007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>2007-Pledge of $50,000 for Peru earthquake and that of $ 1,000,000 for Bangladesh cyclone, not honoured.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mPQR3tyoBZs/To3IKhSTgFI/AAAAAAAAF4c/RoTTcd9fDow/s1600/funding+2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mPQR3tyoBZs/To3IKhSTgFI/AAAAAAAAF4c/RoTTcd9fDow/s320/funding+2010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>2010-Pledge of $ 5,000,000 for Chile earthquake not honoured.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At the same time, it has to be said that India did contribute to various other causes during the same time period. But pledging help and then failing to honour it is an entirely different matter. The question is, was this money ever released? And if so, where was it re-routed to? Or, whether it is a case of just pledging some money and then forgetting about it? I have no idea where to look for, to answer these questions. Can someone help?</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-4423331335470415604?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-54577516722967537552011-09-26T20:46:00.005+05:302011-09-26T20:49:44.567+05:302011-09-26T20:49:44.567+05:30Book Review: The Shiva Trilogy<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Immortals of Meluha</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sEz6my6ukhI/ToCXCbwFJoI/AAAAAAAAF4I/JRyEYLs36PA/s1600/immortals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sEz6my6ukhI/ToCXCbwFJoI/AAAAAAAAF4I/JRyEYLs36PA/s320/immortals.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
My only reason for picking up 'The immortals of Meluha' was the eyeball grabber of a cover. Well, it required something like that to catch my attention, simply because this was not my kind of reading. To be frank, I was taken aback a bit at first. A pot smoking Shiva uttering words like 'Dammit', came in as a surprise. Maybe, what I liked in the book was also the same- a shiva who was more of a human than a mythical God, a Shiva with all the confusions and oddities in behaviour that are characteristic of humans. And then, a whole 'nauseatingly perfect' community of people pinning all their hopes of redemption on the arrival of a blue-throated man from a foreign land. It works well, being the page turner that the book is, setting the context, fixing the geography and ethcing the characters for the next parts of the trilogy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Secret of the Nagas</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqfB4eC0Qtw/ToCXC6B31cI/AAAAAAAAF4M/YnltDKhOKus/s1600/secret+of+the+nagas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqfB4eC0Qtw/ToCXC6B31cI/AAAAAAAAF4M/YnltDKhOKus/s320/secret+of+the+nagas.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Secret of Nagas takes off right where the first book left
off, landing you in the middle of some serious action. Amish then proceeds to
redefine the true meaning of evil. A heartening thing about the trilogy till
now is that the author has avoided the typical 'black & white'
picturisation of good and evil, the way it was done in many of our old texts.
Most of us have grown up reading the simplified versions of the epics, with the
likes of Raavana and Duryodhana seen as personifications of evil. Visual
adaptations of these epics also follow the same line. There is no scope for the
good qualities that they possessed. And all of it remains unknown to us, until
we read those alternative texts, which are not that popular.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The Shiva trilogy, though not anywhere near in stature or
content when compared to those alternative texts, triumphs in not giving us any
clear cut demarcations of good or evil. Just when you decide in your mind that "here
comes the bad guy!", the story turns on its head revealing a completely
new side of the 'bad guy'. There is goodness and God in everyone. At the same
time, no one is a complete paragon of virtue. Even Shiva is not infallible.
Even he is prone to uncontrolled and misdirected anger. In the first part, you
are led to believe that Meluhans are the perfect race except for aberrations
like the 'vikarma tradition'. Then slowly, you get to see the problems that
come with such insane levels of perfection. Then you see the creativity of the
unorganised Chandravanshis and you are suddenly thinking from an entirely
different angle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Shiva's is unsurprisingly the most well etched character in
the book. The next one is perhaps Parvateshwar, the Meluhan general and the
true follower of Lord Ram. The way he reacts to Shiva, his unquestioning
devotion to Meluhan and Lord Ram's principles and then his slow transformation
to seeing Shiva as his Lord, are well crafted. And to be honest, I liked
Anandmayi's character more than Sati's in the second book. Have to agree that
part of it is due to the oozing sexiness. I feel that except Sati, most other
characters weren't expanded as much as they deserved to be. And Bappiraj, was that a nod to the king of
bling? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Though I didn’t find both of the books as worth all the
hype, it did set me thinking on larger questions of history and how we see it.
In an ‘arts and culture’ class in college last month, the lecturer was telling
us how history is anything but the truth. To make this point clear, he gave us
the simple analogy of how the things that happened in that class will get
misreported to someone who didn’t attend the class, and how this will be
subject to further misinterpretation as it is passed on to the next one. If
such a simple thing is prone to so many errors in reporting within the span of
a day, how believable are our historic texts, which are written by some random guy
from another century! That realization helped me in seeing this series of twisted
history through a new light. Forgot to add, the Naga cover ROCKS!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This review is a part of the <a target="_blank" href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2011/05/04/indian-bloggers-book-reviews">Book Reviews Program</a> at <a href="http://www.blogadda.com/">BlogAdda.com</a>. Participate now to get free books!</span></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-5457751672296753755?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-53124510234974665182011-09-14T23:04:00.000+05:302011-09-14T23:04:35.841+05:302011-09-14T23:04:35.841+05:30General reservations<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Thoongathe Thambi thoongaathe"(Don't sleep brother, don't sleep)- It was irony at its best when he sat there, opposite to me, with his eyes closed and mouth wide open and clutching his 'star singer' mobile. To add to the profoundness of the moment, this was happening in the tightly packed general compartment of the Ananthapuri express from Trivandrum to Chennai. As is my luck with getting train tickets, I end up in the general compartment atleast once in two months. The speciality of the journey this time was that I sat in the same place for 16 straight hours, without EVER getting up. I had to, because the compartment was chockablock with people and moving around was out of question. I made myself feel better by contrasting it with the nine hour day journey in the general compartment last year, with an added flavour of loose motion. That time, I ended up crowd surfing back and forth atleast 4 times in those shitting adventures. Another episode that comes to mind was when a few of us had to sit and sleep on the floor, right next to the toilets. Olfactory bliss!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But keeping aside the obvious hardships that are part of the general compartment, it is the place where so much happens that you don't need the book or ipod to keep yourself engaged. The first thing you've to make sure is that you are sitting in the side berth, else be prepared to be squeezed. Because that is one seat where you can be sure that another pair of asses will never come and lay claim for three inches. What happens usually in the long seats meant for three is a tussle among atleast fifteen pairs of asses(u do the arsematics). In that packed compartment, there was this lady who came with her baby. She had carried the cloth to tie a cradle. I've seen cradles in trains before too. But what was special here was how few strangers got together and tied up the cradle. What followed was a beautiful scene. The baby was in the cradle in between the berths with 9 people sitting on each side(3 on top) and all of them looking at him and smiling. The ones sitting on the ground lowered themselves to the floor for the cradle to swing through. How I wished I could click that scene! But, I couldn't reach for my camera amidst the crowd.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As it chugged into Madurai, I doubled up as the chaiwalah's assistant. The side berth and the deep sleep of the guy sitting opposite to me made sure that the job of collecting money, asking for chai/coffee preference and then passing it on to each person, fell on me. I ended up serving upwards of 20 chais that night. Added to that was the requests for mineral water, biscuit etc. All this while, the man's mobile was still playing, sentimental songs all! With one of those slow songs in my ear, with the wind crashing on my face, amidst the cacophony in the compartment, I fell asleep...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-5312451023497466518?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-86300115975977621932011-08-28T01:04:00.010+05:302011-08-28T11:28:33.144+05:302011-08-28T11:28:33.144+05:30Musings on 'Ramlila square'<div style="text-align: justify;">The India against corruption movement version 2.0 has reached a point where all that is left is a victory lap from Kiran Bedi. The fast might get over tomorrow, but the real work remains- the process of deliberations and arriving at something which is not as downright sloppy as the Govt's version or bordering on the authoritarian as the Jan Lok Pal. The purpose of this blog is something else though, a lens view of how people generally reacted to the movement and also the various other things which were very much part of the movement.</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last time around when Anna went to fast for the first time, I was also there on the first day, fasting at the Freedom Park in Bangalore. But then within two days, I started having my own doubts about the movement. So, on August 16th, when the second phase started, I decided to step back and watch from a distance. I guess the rationality that comes automatically from being one step away from both sides helps to judge the movement better.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I set out to the Chennai centre of the movement to study how the people are generally reacting to the movement. It was also a chance to know the thought process of those who are coming out to support the movement. Following are some of the scenes from in and around the protest venue. And, some general thoughts on the various facets of the movement.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The entry point resembled a wayside shop with the volunteers trying hard to woo people in. Some pretended not to see them, some just shrugged and walked away. Some had a look of contempt. Some others were ecstatic at having got an opportunity to 'fight' corruption. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TLBRYfQzmTg/TllKG-jwijI/AAAAAAAAF38/Mlk3K7tOTYY/s1600/iac1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TLBRYfQzmTg/TllKG-jwijI/AAAAAAAAF38/Mlk3K7tOTYY/s320/iac1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645625091618277938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I have better things to do</i>!</div></div><div>
<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1OK57yMyR-U/TllJNwQF2FI/AAAAAAAAF30/4MMppbwr-Us/s1600/iac2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1OK57yMyR-U/TllJNwQF2FI/AAAAAAAAF30/4MMppbwr-Us/s320/iac2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645624108525148242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>No, I didn't hear you calling...I din't see you guys too :D</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>
<br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xd_3EMPNLf0/TllH7yoyRGI/AAAAAAAAF1s/h6Rbld2qsZQ/s320/iac19.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645622700416320610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>glass palaces are shielded ...Hear nothing, see nothing, say nothing.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>
<br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FnqJLA6khWg/TllH8H2GVMI/AAAAAAAAF10/Z-pebgKZy1o/s320/iac18.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645622706109306050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 196px; " /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">this way...</span></i></div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fzEYTupqFdE/TllJNRBpo-I/AAAAAAAAF3k/M6DuyrLzImc/s320/iac4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645624100143080418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i>Building blocks of tomorrow....or illegal construction?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i>The protest venue in Chennai was an under construction building.</i></span></div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I walked in. Various counters were setup infront of the under construction building, which was the venue for the fast. You could register yourself with the movement by sharing your mail id and phone number. Probably a commentary on the support base of this movement. I wrote in my fake details as am still being subjected to a flurry of SMSes after I signed up the last time in Bangalore. </div><div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NzyEu9AKa8c/TllIWp80O3I/AAAAAAAAF2M/hMbKD2NTzL4/s1600/iac15.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tllu6SPEVDo/TllIWY38Y0I/AAAAAAAAF2E/bbxqfvlZc9c/s1600/iac16.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tllu6SPEVDo/TllIWY38Y0I/AAAAAAAAF2E/bbxqfvlZc9c/s320/iac16.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645623157357044546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NzyEu9AKa8c/TllIWp80O3I/AAAAAAAAF2M/hMbKD2NTzL4/s320/iac15.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645623161940884338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then there was the donation cum sales desk, with this board proclaiming "SALE!SALE!". From 'I am Anna' t-shirts and caps to bumper stickers of IAC, this counter had it all. Your one stop shop for 'revolutionary dress materials'. </div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The social media served as one of the fuels of this movement and so there was an active social media centre too, with 3-4 volunteers working on facebook and twitter round the clock. </div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The People</b></div><div>Our focus turned to the people sitting on the fast. We began talking to some of them. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FCivhtXJJbc/TllIueyBwGI/AAAAAAAAF28/CcUUz9cE2Ig/s320/iac9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645623571259703394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">This journalist working with a Tamil daily was even "prepared to die" for Anna. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Then there was Sivadas Yogi.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qWNsJYZA0xk/TllIuuaVXzI/AAAAAAAAF3M/WBjN0Bu5YIY/s1600/iac7.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qWNsJYZA0xk/TllIuuaVXzI/AAAAAAAAF3M/WBjN0Bu5YIY/s320/iac7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645623575455293234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">There is more to Sivadas Yogi than the long beard, the saffron outfit and the radiant smile. He is someone who walks the talk, literally. He doesn’t belong to Chennai. He came all the way from Haridwar, on foot. At 64, he prefers to push the limits rather than spend time reading a book in a reclining chair. This man began his journey on January 14th, much before the anti-corruption movement gathered steam. The walk itself was a campaign, as Yogi spread his ideas against corruption wherever he set foot. The seven months on the road has taken him to the length and breadth of the country. He says he used to walk 30 kilometres daily. When asked where he used to sleep, he smilingly said, “National Highways”. After that walk of 6000 odd kilometers, he straightaway joined the indefinite fast at LB road, Thiruvanmiyur. On the 10th day of the fast yesterday, Yogi was much weaker when compared to the first day. But the smile and the spirit were intact. Having said all that, I wonder why yogis and swamis are attracted to activism these days!</div></div><div>
<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FVfMZYYI-Ok/TllIuZ7SiDI/AAAAAAAAF3E/cG7nHeTuQKc/s1600/iac8.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FVfMZYYI-Ok/TllIuZ7SiDI/AAAAAAAAF3E/cG7nHeTuQKc/s320/iac8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645623569956374578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">AppaIndruvel, who came alone from the other end of Chennai to protest. On the second week, all his family members came to visit him at the fast venue. Even he was visibly tired when I went back on the 11th day. And he had grown a thicker beard too. </div></div><div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center; ">
<br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FCivhtXJJbc/TllIueyBwGI/AAAAAAAAF28/CcUUz9cE2Ig/s1600/iac9.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6d2zxaN1xNM/TllIt8zaaXI/AAAAAAAAF20/i2fwrcGAS0o/s1600/iac10.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6d2zxaN1xNM/TllIt8zaaXI/AAAAAAAAF20/i2fwrcGAS0o/s320/iac10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645623562138708338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I didn't talk to this man. I still can't decipher the meaning of this look.</div></div><div>
<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XFox1X_x6tI/TllItgMme8I/AAAAAAAAF2s/AFADeNZrKqM/s1600/iac11.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XFox1X_x6tI/TllItgMme8I/AAAAAAAAF2s/AFADeNZrKqM/s320/iac11.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645623554459728834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I dream of protest marches..</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lMieVD50qsc/TllJNNrUZ8I/AAAAAAAAF3c/Fg3sXRk9elE/s1600/iac5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lMieVD50qsc/TllJNNrUZ8I/AAAAAAAAF3c/Fg3sXRk9elE/s320/iac5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645624099244107714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">something will happen..</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gzc5K5yzwkY/TllJM5uKi5I/AAAAAAAAF3U/ctH06p6kaHQ/s1600/iac6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gzc5K5yzwkY/TllJM5uKi5I/AAAAAAAAF3U/ctH06p6kaHQ/s320/iac6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645624093887335314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Television spectacle!</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zhmGD9GFPXQ/TllIW1eBCoI/AAAAAAAAF2c/xKr6dSmtUvc/s320/iac13.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645623165032925826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Television channels played a big part in the movement. It almost bordered on the absurd when they went overboard with the coverage. I quit watching TV pretty long time back. From the 'always on' TV at the college canteen I gauged one fact that, in the last 2 weeks, they covered nothing else. All 5 headlines on most of these days were related to Anna and the movement. I am not exaggerating when I say that I didn't see absolutely anything else covered in these channels. This, at a time when there was so much happening, from the latest oil grab in Libya under the garb of a revolution to the unmarked graves with thousands buried, in Kashmir. And, even the coverage of the Anna movement had nothing to write home about. Shallow debates and twitter updates of celebrities talking about Anna, masquerading as news, were the order of the day. Also, the screen split into 9 or 10 panels with the debates ending up as conversations in the Tower of Babel. Times Now and Arnab Goswami best exemplified this TV fuelled revolution. Loud mouthed, partisan coverage subverted meaningful discussions on the bill. Sharad Yadav hit the bulls eye with his clever jab at Arnab today in the Parliament. Times Now was the preferred channel at most protest venues, for reasons best left unexplained.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The aimless...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>
<br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-weight: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MFPUVhULX38/TllIW-im1oI/AAAAAAAAF2U/PpwkUazNTxI/s320/iac14.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645623167468099202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 197px; " /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">what am I doing here??!!!why am I holding this??</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SH-Jkqc3BF4/TllJNkg7SsI/AAAAAAAAF3s/OYG7IMbDy54/s320/iac3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645624105374534338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /><div style="text-align: center;">hmm...maybe!</div><div style="text-align: center; ">
<br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qWNsJYZA0xk/TllIuuaVXzI/AAAAAAAAF3M/WBjN0Bu5YIY/s1600/iac7.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XGnsT2nsneQ/TllIXODErfI/AAAAAAAAF2k/kh-pUKu3iy0/s1600/iac12.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XGnsT2nsneQ/TllIXODErfI/AAAAAAAAF2k/kh-pUKu3iy0/s320/iac12.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645623171630804466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 320px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">wired...connected....</div><div style="text-align: center; ">
<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There were many who aimlessly wandered in without knowing head or tail about the Lok pal bill. There were groups of friends who came just to have a good time, as observed by a friend who stays near the protest venue. One of these days I saw a group of guys walking on the road with the tri colour painted on their faces and crying out "Bharat Matha ki Jai". I had a sense of dejavu, of coming out of the chinnaswamy stadium last year, after India's series victory against Australia. And the stories about drunk flag waving biker gangs in Delhi as well as near Marina beach here in Chennai are quite disturbing. But not as disturbing as the sight of one of India's biggest crooks, the man with a ponytail who runs that famous management institute which urges us to think beyond IIMs, delivering a speech at RamLila maidan yesterday. Wonder why Anna and his friends give space to such dubious characters! But I dont really subscribe to the cliched criticism of the middle class who are the major strength of the movement. Atleast some of them are in it with good intentions and also with a thorough understanding of what it is all about. So, a generalised criticism of the great Indian middle class is unwarranted for.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I was walked out through the flurry of OB vans and the chatter of reporters, I still coundn't make up my mind on how good this movement actually was. Sivadas Yogi, the man who walked from Haridwar to Chennai, perhaps signifies the signs of our times, a spurt in activism by the common man. Whether it augurs well for the strength of our democracy is a moot question. But whatever is the outcome of this anti-corruption campaign or whichever side you are on, you can’t help applauding the spirit of men like this Yogi. Feats like his transcend the ephemeral and sometimes over the top movement itself. At the same time, one cant help thinking about the naivety all around, regarding the workings of parliamentary democracy. A first lesson towards understanding this can be done by acknowledging the fact that this movement can't be compared to the revolutions named after sweet smelling flowers that played out in Tahrir square and elsewhere. Many even doesn't seem to have an idea of how lucky we are to be living in this democracy. There are status messages updated daily with ideas like "India needs someone like Hitler", "All politicians are crooks. Kill 'em all"(an idea reflected even by our news channels) etc. The focus on science and engineering in our education system seems to have affected the new generation's history and civics knowledge. Existence of thoughts like these are something that our 'civil' society as well as the 'made to look uncivil' society needs to ponder on. On a lighter note, as my friend quipped, "All this is because of that rang de basanti!" If you go through the history of this blog, you can stumble on some 'rang de basanti' fuelled posts of 'revolutionary ideas' too. Thankfully, I've no such illusions now. But even given all this, it can't be denied that some kind of movement like this was needed to wake up this government which is so drunk on power. Let's not have any illusions about corruption disappearing from tomorrow. For that, each of us needs to get our own houses in order.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I got out of the gate, the volunteers were still pleading at people to get in and support the movement..."oru sign podungaaa(please put one sign)", so the cry went..</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NzyEu9AKa8c/TllIWp80O3I/AAAAAAAAF2M/hMbKD2NTzL4/s1600/iac15.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6FPAZleLs3I/TllH8IWuLQI/AAAAAAAAF18/DpguA8bKOkk/s1600/iac17.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6FPAZleLs3I/TllH8IWuLQI/AAAAAAAAF18/DpguA8bKOkk/s320/iac17.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645622706246135042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 198px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">please get out of the bus and sign...he seems to say.</div><div style="text-align: center; ">
<br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FnqJLA6khWg/TllH8H2GVMI/AAAAAAAAF10/Z-pebgKZy1o/s1600/iac18.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center; ">
<br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xd_3EMPNLf0/TllH7yoyRGI/AAAAAAAAF1s/h6Rbld2qsZQ/s1600/iac19.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-38K2JM5NUkw/TllH7tzni-I/AAAAAAAAF1k/zmHLnrH4mIU/s1600/iac20.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-38K2JM5NUkw/TllH7tzni-I/AAAAAAAAF1k/zmHLnrH4mIU/s320/iac20.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645622699119578082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">pleeeease staaap maaadam!</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SmwFBKoXFDM/TllH7aX-ExI/AAAAAAAAF1c/5d1pvDeG-BQ/s1600/iac21.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SmwFBKoXFDM/TllH7aX-ExI/AAAAAAAAF1c/5d1pvDeG-BQ/s320/iac21.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645622693903340306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">ok..wats going on!?</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a video that I compiled from the protest venue...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><iframe width="420" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/knSts4-G65Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-8630011597597762193?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-88654811007112122552011-07-04T22:08:00.002+05:302011-07-04T22:11:59.662+05:302011-07-04T22:11:59.662+05:30Changing Careers...Goodbye infosys!<div style="text-align: justify;">Today I quit my job as design engineer at Infosys Technologies limited. Its been an association of 3 years and 8 months. I've decided to switch careers and take up journalism....</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's my last day letter...:)</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">This might probably rank as the last day mail with the longest planning period. Those close to me know that I been writing this over and over in my mind for the past 3 years. I am one among those lakhs of 'accidental engineers' found all over India. After school, the automatic choice for everyone around was to write the engineering entrance. As a youth with no specific aim, the best option was to do what everyone was doing. Our society's logic seems to be this-If you don't want to become a doctor, then ofcourse you should be an engineer. I waded through engineering even after realising half way that am not made for this. After the four year holiday, there was no need to think 'what next?'. The campus selections make our job easy. I joined in with a bunch of friends at the mammoth Infosys campus in mysore. A four month long vacation called 'training' followed. From watching the Ind-Aus test series(after bunking classes) in the AC hostel rooms to making use of every facility provided, we had the time of our lives.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The day I landed up in Bangalore to start working, I realised I don't belong here. Yes, the friends were there here too. But somehow, the idea of sitting inside a cubicle and taking your anger out on the hapless keyboard was not my idea of 'work'. During those first weeks here, I remember one of my team leaders asking me, "Hey, Did you actually study engineering!?". One of my usual designing blunders forced him to ask that. Around that time, the recession set in and all the companies started using that as an excuse to terrorise employees. New policies were implemented everyday. And, so we had the working hours policy(9.25 hours of your day eaten up!), leave policies and even policies to control your movement through the gates. It was the time of pink slips too and one of my close friends(who is much better off right now) also got one. During that period, I hated this place more than anything. But we did devise ways to get around some policies. Like how some of us even shifted our morning rituals to the office restroom to clock up the requisite 9.25 hours. And then the long rides in the night to swipe out to make up the quarterly average. And the post meal brainstorming sessions near the pool side. Then there was the tea time, which is still the time I look foward to the most on each day(I can see 3-4 knowing smiles now!). Which sums up why the dialogue my superiors used the most was, "You are never found at your seat!"Now, dont get the impression that I was a complete slacker. I've done my share of slogging. But 'IRacial discrimination' meant that I remained a consistent performer with 2 consecutive CRR 3s. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Inspite of all this, inspite of never really fitting in, I was slowly getting used to the place. In that classic movie Shawshank redemption, the character Red played by Morgan Freeman talks of getting institutionalised- "These walls are kind of funny. First you hate them, then you get used to them. Enough time passes, so you depend on them. That's institutionalised. They send you here for life, that's exactly what they take. The part that counts, anyways." Each day that thought killed me. I couldn't imagine myself working here even the next week, forget next year! Each sunday evening, we all went into the great depression, thinking of the bluish monday waiting for us. Its not a coincidence that I wanted a monday to be my last day here. Yeah, I really wanted to smile on a monday morning! And so, to prevent getting institutionalised, I decided to follow my passions-writing and clicking. It was during the second year of engineering that I realised that I wanted to be a journalist. But, then it was too late(rather, too early, thinking from the 'now'). So, I went in with the flow and spent the last 6 years doing something which I really didn't like. Concerts and constant travel kept me sane! And, then I decided to take charge. So, after tests and interviews, I landed up admission at 2 places- Asian College of Journalism, Chennai and Xaviers, Mumbai. I'll be becoming a Chennaiite next week.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was never easy throwing this away and taking up something which the society didn't approve of. The 'engineering/medicine syndrome' is so deep rooted that I got looks of contempt whenever I mentioned my new career plan to someone. Convincing my parents was the first part. It helps a lot when you've friends who are able to convince your parents, something which yourself failed to do. Then comes the relatives and 'concerned' neighbours. "Journalism??Are you crazy?", "But, you are too old for that now", "This is utter foolishness"- These are some of the reactions that I heard. There was no one around who saw the positives. At those times, I remember what one of my friends constantly used to say, "One life, man!". So, I decided to give it a try rather than cry over not having tried somewhere down the line. I might stumble, but I won't repent not having tried. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What really lighted up my stay in this company was 2 things- Infyblogs and SLRBB. As a regular blogger, when I stumbled upon infyblogs during training, I felt truely happy. And that's where I got some of my best friends here. It was also that platform which helped me hone my writing skills. Its a sad thing that infyblogs is now almost dead with the departure of some of its leading lights. I just hope that some of the new talents on view will take it back to the heights that it achieved 2 years back. Coming to SLRBB, this was THE place where I learned almost everything related to photography. I came to infy armed with an archaic film camera and a mobile camera. Vivek taught me the basics and introduced me to SLRBB. Its the skills acquired at this place which helped me in my freelancing career. Its an irony that infyblogs and SLRBB did play a big part in me charting out a new career path. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Having said all that, the last 3.8 years were truely a roller coaster ride. And, if given a chance to rewrite my history of this period, I would just take a photocopy. I am not mentioning any names because there are too many of them...:) So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish! Meet you at some crossroad...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-8865481100711212255?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-65514681703182430252011-06-30T22:21:00.000+05:302011-06-30T22:22:13.112+05:302011-06-30T22:22:13.112+05:30I apologise...<div style="text-align: justify;">Over the last few years, I've written quite a few blogs which am not proud of right now on a second reading. Some of those blogs were written in a fit of anger, as reactions to some off incident. The lack of proper research shone through, as did the unwanted usage of expletives. There was lot of rhetoric and as much lack of substance. I would like to use this post to set some of those wrongs straight and apologise to some personalities who were subjected to unwarranted criticism due to lack of knowledge and proper research. And added to that, writing in the heat of the moment resulted in clouded judgement thus producing one sided articles. I would like to apologise to...(Not that any of these personalities gives a damn to what I write...Just that I thought its better to own up your mistakes) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. Arundathi Roy</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've n't bashed anyone like I bashed her. From making noises about her supposedly pseudo-intellectual behaviour to calling her a bitch, I've done it all in this blog. Till sometime back, I was a firm believer in the unlimited goodness of the nation that is India that I failed to see the shades of grey or rather the total blackness on its part in several cases. And when she talked exactly about those greys and blacks, it made me uncomfortable. For me, anyone who questions the nation was equivalent to a terrorist and so it was easy for me to brand her as one. The idea of state sponsored terrorism was hard for me to swallow, until a certain Binayak Sen went to jail. That opened my eyes to a new world where the state was even worse than some of the so called terrorists or maoists. It was all there for me to see, just that I closed my eyes and shielded my ears to something which went against my beliefs, until a hard enough knock made me wake up. I used to view human rights activists as pests who were out to demean the nation and hog the international limelight. The idea that their presence is a necessity for a healthy democracy dawned on me much later. We need people who risk their lives and ask those hard questions. We need people who lays their reputation in line while expressing their views which might be mis constructed as anti national by vested interests and mis-informed bloggers! I still don't agree with many of Roy's views but now I know that atleast half of which she speaks is true as far as India is concerned. Sorry Ms. Roy, for all those harsh words. You didn't deserve any of those...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. M.F.Hussain</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, here comes a double flip. First, I started off as a flag waving member of the 'tolerance' club. I had seen only the 'bharatmata' painting and I found nothing wrong with it. Then I came across a site where some of his 'selected' works were featured. It consisted mainly of Hindu gods and godesses in compromising positions with titles which were formulated to stir up anger. There were one or two paintings of a fully clothed muslim lady(again titled). From that day, I been a strident critic of the man without ever caring to do a research on his body of work. I never had a problem with hindu gods painted in whatever positions he liked. It was the double standards that he supposedly displayed in portraying muslim ladies fully clothed which angered me. And then, recently he passed away. My first reaction was, 'good riddance'. Then, out of curiosity, I decided to dig a little and what it throwed up shocked me. His body of work was massive and the ones featured in the site were drawn sometime in the 60s. Most of those titles in the site(which were designed to stir up anger) were made up by the site owner. Until mid 90s, no one in India really bothered about these few paintings. That was when the Hindutva brigade came into limelight. Once the Ayodhya issue was milked to its capacity, they needed something new to latch on to. Someone digged up the old paintings and thus started an orchestrated campaign to kick Hussain out of India. Sadly, most of us fell prey to that game, hating the man till his death. A quick run through of his work will tell you how these few paintings were insignificant compared to his mammoth repertoire. The bigots never talked about the other beautiful paintings he made of Saraswathi, Gandhari or Mother Teresa. I am not an art connoisseur, but some of those paintings touched even a layman like me(although a large percent just flew over my head!). You can view some of those works here- http://www.mfhussain.com/paintings/ . I feel guilty as well as sad for inadvertently playing a part in drumming up hatred against a great artist. I am no different from those bigots of the Hindutva brigade!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">3.V.S.Achuthanandan and the leftists</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My criticism of Achuthanandan came with the package of being a staunch anti-leftist(for the first 24 years of my life). I could never empathise with the ideology of a party or a man who came with a red flag wherever some development was about to happen. I could never digest the fact that someone was making such a big fuss about a few huts being relocated for an IT park or some other mega development project. That was until words like corporate plunder, land grab etc entered my dictionary. Come 2008 and there was all the hullaballoo about Achuthanandan's 'dog' remark at late major Unnikrishnan's residence. The night I saw that, I sat down to write and all I could see was an old filthy useless politician making fun of India's slain hero. Once it was published, I got calls from many, including one lady from Mysore who was particularly emotional, asking me whether I've atleast heard of the land reforms that VS helmed. Truth be told, I didn't have an idea of the man's history in Kerala politics before the 90s. I didn't bother to read it up at that time too. It was after several months when I saw 'reason' and 'consistency' on the left side that I bothered to read some history. And boy, din't I repent! The anti-leftism is a thing of the past for me. The left and the few who still believe in that ideology(or atleast the watered down version of it) are an absolute necessity in the Indian political landscape, even if it is in a handful of states. The day the red flag bites the dust completely would surely upset the balance of our democracy. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Stop scrolling Barkha Dutt and everyone of that ilk....am not gonna apologise to you! My opinions on you still stands the same and I don't think I'll ever change it, because some more research did harden that opinion...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">From today, I vow never to write anything without proper research. I vow never to use expletives in my writings, so that the message don't get lost in all the din. I vow never to write when I am angry. I vow, even after all this I won't hold it back in cases where it necessitate the presence of a raised finger...!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-6551468170318243025?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-65000619634748028372011-06-08T22:04:00.001+05:302011-06-09T01:34:46.214+05:302011-06-09T01:34:46.214+05:30God Inc., Religion Ltd.<div style="text-align: justify;">I am not a regular visitor of places of worship. The only time I do visit is once an year on my birthday after several requests from amma. The past week, eventhough it was not my birthday, I accompanied my friends to a famous shrine associated with the 'krishna consciouness cult', here in Bangalore. I had faint memories of visiting the place as a school kid with my parents. But, over the years, it had changed a lot. What strikes as soon as you enter the compound is how well maintained the whole setup is. The feeling I got was similar to entering a corporate office rather than a temple. Later I were to learn that its not only the exterior that gives this feeling. Infact, most of the big temples fail to give me that feeling of devotion. Its those nondescript small temples in the countryside which evoke such feelings usually. No amount of huge buildings or gold plated deities manage to do that.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The entry point was the biggest example of the 'business of religion'. A guy sitting at a counter called out to us and offered us a pass. By buying that pass for Rs.250, we can go straight inside and have the 'darshan'. Else, you have to stand in a long queue, chant 'hare rama hare krishna' at every step till you reach the temple door. Its a process which takes 30 minutes. By paying some money, you can sidestep that and get a direct appointment with God. Now, is n't that something exciting? Am reminded of how some bollywood stars gets a direct darshan of Thirupathi Balaji using their VIP status. They might be having delusions about buying a place in heaven too.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">And so, after a long wait in the queue, we walked inside for the 'darshan'. I could see some people clicking the deity with their mobile cameras. And one of them was promptly driven away by the security. The ropes to regulate the queue were arranged in such a way that once you get the darshan, you are forced to walk straight to a counter selling devotional books and cds in all languages. While I was wondering at the business mentality at play here, I never knew that this was just a start. What followed was shocking for me. The ropes and barricades lead the 'involuntary' you expertly through an array of shops spread over several huge rooms. There's no way you can get out without passing through each of these shops. The items ranged from pastries to household stuff. There were shops selling bags, toys, stationaries and even a vegetable market! Everything you need to setup a small temple at your home are also available here. It was nothing less than a supermarket, all inside the temple complex. The Gods probably occupied 5% of the total area of the complex.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">When everything around us is commercialised, we can't expect religion alone to stay away. Infact, Religion Inc. makes much more profit than most of the big corporates. Donations continue to pour in. Sinner billionaires donate a part of their billions in the hope of cleansing the blood from their hands. No higher authority dare ask a religious establishment on the amount of donations that they recieve every year. No questions are asked on how all that amount is spent. Its a free ride for many. When Baba Ramdevs become billionaires overnight, we can be sure that there's something wrong with the way many among us see their relationship with God. Atleast some does think that God can be bought.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div> </div><div>And its best to end with this song from motherjane, which I've quoted in some old posts too..'</div><div> </div><div>motherjane- 'Soul corporations'</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>The cross maybe the ultimate metaphor</div><div>For religion sold as a brand</div><div>A sacrifice exchanged for the almighty dollar</div><div>with the tacit blessings of the Vatican</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>we all have guardians trading faith for power</div><div>businessmen by whom we swear</div><div>betraying everyone from eshwar to allah</div><div>with their holy wars for market share.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>We're losing our religions, entrusting our gods</div><div>to corporates that prostrate before balance sheets</div><div>Unsuspecting pawns inititating brethren</div><div>into the oldest MLM to stalk our streets</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>Behold the soul corporations, the spiritual supermarts</div><div>dispensing salvation with a price tag</div><div>mocking the truth that resides in our hearts</div><div>Paralyzing the human conscience with practised art</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>And of the various hues of desecration</div><div>this makes them the hardest to beat</div><div>the unsure can't endure the liberation</div><div>the pious don't discern the need</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>for if there's a truth to be told</div><div>religion's just a shadow of god</div><div>illuminated by thought and understanding</div><div>sullied by the ambiguity of words.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>[you can listen to the song at motherjane.in]</div><div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-6500061963474802837?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-28876872166803641112011-06-02T21:50:00.006+05:302011-06-02T22:22:14.824+05:302011-06-02T22:22:14.824+05:30Alone in Old Hyderabad[Photoblog]<div style="text-align: justify;">Till last month, my only experience of Hyderabad was during the 15 day all India trip from college, few years back. And so, when some strange circumstances required me to go to Hyderabad for a weekend, I decided to explore the sights and sounds of this historical city.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hyderabad gave me a hot reception the 2nd time around too. I was sweating profusely right from early morning, when I landed at the place. The hot winds didn't make life any better. The plan for the first day was to visit the old hyderadbad area around the charminar, with a friend. The travel in the state transport bus took us halfway when an old lady asked my friend where we are heading to. When she heard the place name, she advised us against going there as the old city is in a tense situation due to some shoot out. We got down from the bus to rechart our plan. Later, we learned that an MLA was shot at by some goondas of a real estate king(read land grabber). Seems like the MLA led a crusade against the land grabbing activities of this businessman and they gave him some bullets in return. And, so the rest of the day was spent at the majestic Golconda fort(about which I'll write later).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Having got my day one plan spoiled, I decided to go back to the old city on the next day. I had enough time in the afternoon, all for myself. I hauled an auto and asked him to take me to the old city. He said its risky to go there as tensions are still running high. But I had decided that I'll go whatever happens. After a minute of convincing and an offer of extra 10 rupees from the metre charge, he agreed to take me there. During the journey, he kept on talking about how big a risk he was taking by taking me there. But, when we reached there I realised that life around charminar was back to normal, although the crowd was lesser than normal. I got down...I had 5 more hours.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Framed inside the huge entry gate was the charminar at a distance. The street teeming with thousands was a great invitation for any photographer. I perched myself at the end of the median right in front of the charminar, for a close shot of the monument. And then, I saw through the view finder, a biker coming at top speed right through the centre, towards me. It was a freeze frame moment, as I instinctively clicked and then froze myself at the prospect of getting hit. At the last moment, he swung away expertly with a non chalant expression. Folks, Welcome to Hyderabad and its legendary drivers. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-46FGBSHVS2A/Tee7Li_sahI/AAAAAAAAFvI/WUHhsg_Hl8Y/s320/charhyd14.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613661267587525138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i>A biker coming straight at me as I sat down at the end of the divider to click the charminar. </i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9KH8Q5SPWd8/Tee8QgDCmZI/AAAAAAAAFwY/ZaL1S6GpwXA/s320/automan.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613662452207229330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px; " /></span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i>On a ride</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wKQKTkRUGn0/Tee8Rxp0RHI/AAAAAAAAFww/NmLxIu6h0fI/s320/charhyd1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613662474113139826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i> retro</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The sun was beating down hard. I stood under the shade of the minars. Then, a middle aged man approached me and started enquiring about the camera. It turned out that he's a professional photographer who is still shooting with a film SLR camera. He spoke at length about how the advent of the digital camera spoilt his business. I felt a pang of guilt when he said that. He has plans to buy a digital for himself, but at the same time says he is not used to 'technology'. After bidding him goodbye, I walked all the way up the spiral steps inside the minar to the top of charminar. It provided a great view of the nearby mecca masjid and the hundreds of pigeons flying around it. I met a group of 3 guys who wanted their group pic taken, ofcourse with requests to mail the pics. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x9OnZ9QfbpM/Tee5syB2UqI/AAAAAAAAFu4/XNfJsSJMZMo/s320/charhyd16.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613659639535522466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A view of mecca masjid from the top of the charminar </i></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jkSWNcaGFb0/Tee8RCpOCZI/AAAAAAAAFwg/6Y_v6lthzRw/s320/charhyd3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613662461494167954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div style="text-align: center; "><i>“Remember how the english teacher sat down on the bubble gum stuck on the chair?”</i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><i>“yea, and then Mukul was thrown out of class…poor guy!”</i></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was slowly getting used to the friendly people around old Hyderabad. Nowhere else have I been approached by so many people wanting their pics to be taken. A drunk tender coconut seller wanted his portrait taken with the coconuts. A young boy selling biscuits wanted his portrait taken with his biscuits. When I offered to click another portrait of him alone, he shied away. Then, there was a group standing on top of a masjid calling out at me from the other side of the street. After the click, they wanted to know where I will put the pic. I said 'the internet' and saw their beaming faces. At another place, a scooter suddenly stopped beside me and the men on top of that smiled at me and gestured to click them. I clicked and showed it to them, when they happily rode off. Wherever I looked, I saw a hundred interesting faces. And each of them had a unique expression or unique mannerism. Human beings can amaze you no end, if only you look at the right places and at the right faces. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TkQA-wVaExc/Tee7M8iE6UI/AAAAAAAAFvo/o4lonhmWazY/s1600/charhyd10.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TkQA-wVaExc/Tee7M8iE6UI/AAAAAAAAFvo/o4lonhmWazY/s320/charhyd10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613661291622492482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>happy faces </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hqF7w-ksy3w/Tee7MkDlK_I/AAAAAAAAFvg/w5i5oNdbfMo/s1600/charhyd11.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MYGW4c6jLPo/Tee7MTMA9oI/AAAAAAAAFvY/NUMrkim7aIo/s1600/charhyd12.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MYGW4c6jLPo/Tee7MTMA9oI/AAAAAAAAFvY/NUMrkim7aIo/s320/charhyd12.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613661280524105346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>clicking me?ehh? </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WgUqOSlwgjY/Tee8RrDrxgI/AAAAAAAAFwo/jSsRexWSjG0/s320/charhyd2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613662472342586882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i>iStand iPose </i></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><i><br /></i></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9lj6MRekkt4/Tee7viEDFCI/AAAAAAAAFv4/rTzYfX_BroY/s320/charhyd7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613661885812642850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span></i></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i>a view of the charminar from the other side<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> </span></span></i></span></span></i></span></span></i></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><br /></i></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nM-Yccg7opU/Tee7Lz3RJOI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/Udfn2394MNQ/s1600/charhyd13.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nM-Yccg7opU/Tee7Lz3RJOI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/Udfn2394MNQ/s320/charhyd13.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613661272115586274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i>Rush!</i></span></span></i></span></span></i></span></span></i></span></span></i></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nM-Yccg7opU/Tee7Lz3RJOI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/Udfn2394MNQ/s1600/charhyd13.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K9ad_zqa46k/Tee5sjKvSfI/AAAAAAAAFuw/BTGsdLiOOmc/s1600/charhyd17.jpg" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K9ad_zqa46k/Tee5sjKvSfI/AAAAAAAAFuw/BTGsdLiOOmc/s320/charhyd17.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613659635546278386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">know why they keep the rear view mirror this way? To save space when riding fast through the crowded roads... </i></span></i></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VhzvK60QIGA/Tee5sMFK6_I/AAAAAAAAFuo/Knu_gBIt9jY/s1600/charhyd18.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VhzvK60QIGA/Tee5sMFK6_I/AAAAAAAAFuo/Knu_gBIt9jY/s320/charhyd18.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613659629348908018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i>the biscuit boy </i></span></i></span></span></i></span></i></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_P9kYVxWUg/Tee5r-c0ypI/AAAAAAAAFug/Lc60--nHa9k/s1600/charhyd19.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_P9kYVxWUg/Tee5r-c0ypI/AAAAAAAAFug/Lc60--nHa9k/s320/charhyd19.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613659625690024594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></span></i></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">He stopped the scooter...and asked me to click...and then they left with a smile </span></i></i></span></i></i></span></i></i></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i><br /></i></span></i></span></span></i></span></i></span></span></i></span></i></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Its been about 4 hours since I started walking in this old city. The weather was changing. Its almost nearing sunset, but dark rain clouds have obscured the sun. Gusty winds picked up the dust and whirled it around. It was one mean task to shield the eyes and the lens from the dust. Before long, the rain gods blessed old Hyderabad. A welcome rain after a long dry spell. People ran for cover, while some ran out to enjoy the rain. Burqa clad women took shelter under a temple. A man stopped in his tracks while he was running for cover and said 'Assalamu alaykum' to his friend. I took shelter in an old shop. A young boy came running outside and happily held his hands outside. Rainwater collected in his cupped hands, which he drank with zest. The simple pleasures of childhood...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hqF7w-ksy3w/Tee7MkDlK_I/AAAAAAAAFvg/w5i5oNdbfMo/s320/charhyd11.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613661285052132338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><i>and the rain arrives...after many weeks...and people take cover..</i></i></span></i></i></span></i></i></span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9KH8Q5SPWd8/Tee8QgDCmZI/AAAAAAAAFwY/ZaL1S6GpwXA/s1600/automan.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tBtf_rLV8kw/Tee7wtwZZbI/AAAAAAAAFwQ/0ZzgyAZMZQY/s1600/charhyd4.jpg" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tBtf_rLV8kw/Tee7wtwZZbI/AAAAAAAAFwQ/0ZzgyAZMZQY/s320/charhyd4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613661906131314098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><i>A man greeting his friend in the rain..”As-Salamu Alaykum”</i><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9lj6MRekkt4/Tee7viEDFCI/AAAAAAAAFv4/rTzYfX_BroY/s1600/charhyd7.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6UCQ37ZRPes/Tee7veVBpQI/AAAAAAAAFvw/H0Q8o4bwLwk/s1600/charhyd89.jpg" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6UCQ37ZRPes/Tee7veVBpQI/AAAAAAAAFvw/H0Q8o4bwLwk/s320/charhyd89.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613661884810110210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><i>A young boy came running outside and happily held his hands outside. Rainwater collected in his cupped hands, which he drank with zest. The simple pleasures of childhood.. </i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><br /></i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8O_ts_830MA/Tee7wDyBE5I/AAAAAAAAFwI/LMZxQzZd6Zg/s1600/charhyd5.jpg" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8O_ts_830MA/Tee7wDyBE5I/AAAAAAAAFwI/LMZxQzZd6Zg/s320/charhyd5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613661894863819666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U9p5ZZVVGAI/Tee7v2-UAWI/AAAAAAAAFwA/soSHhis8rII/s1600/charhyd6edit.jpg" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U9p5ZZVVGAI/Tee7v2-UAWI/AAAAAAAAFwA/soSHhis8rII/s320/charhyd6edit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613661891425730914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 198px; " /></a></span></i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i>The wait</i></span></i></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><i><br /></i></i></span></i></i></span></i></i></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And so, after 5 hours of walking and clicking, it was time for me to bid goodbye to the sights and sounds around Charminar. I felt bored not for a single minute of those 5 hours. Sometimes, travelling alone can help you to be yourself and soak in the spirit of the place and its people. You will end up taking in everything around you and get enriched in many ways. The encounters with strangers and being a listener to their stories can be a surreal experience. That high you get when those strangers leave you with a smile is untold, because smiles, especially from strangers are a rarity these days...</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-2887687216680364111?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-36812629765365728892011-05-23T19:49:00.007+05:302011-05-23T20:31:20.284+05:302011-05-23T20:31:20.284+05:30The Thrissur pooram experience<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LcxIO19fGvc/Tdp2A7vF5II/AAAAAAAAFto/FS2qBbu4AME/s1600/vedikettu.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: justify;">As a malayali, it was a matter of immense shame for me, to say that I've n't watched the Thrissur pooram. But not anymore. After many unsuccessful plans over the last few years, I finally made it this year. And so, we took off from Bangalore on a date that cannot be disclosed(which if disclosed can bring down a pack of lies) in the karnataka state owned airavath volvo, the name of the bus being a nice coincidence. We could always say we went to Thrissur pooram in(on :P ) an Airavath. We were treated to some cheesy romantic talk over the phone by a guy sitting behind us. Wonder how the girl tolerated the 'mangalam vaarika(weekly)' inspired 'panjaara adi'(flirtations). In between, we turned around to look at this specimen and saw a thing wrapped in blanket from head to toe and mysterious voices coming from inside. Ipod saved the rest of the night!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OVNMi5HWoFk/TdpwyVPYi6I/AAAAAAAAFtI/9XBR3iw_PPE/s320/elephantbath.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609920295840811938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i>Elephants getting ready for the pooram</i></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FasEKytnIEY/Tdpvqo0-MRI/AAAAAAAAFsQ/y_KNidQ7y9c/s320/paperpooram.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609919064148160786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i>Poorangalude pooram</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sunrise. All roads lead to Thrissur today. There's a frenzy of activity seen everywhere right from the morning. We headed straight to Raja's uncle's place. Now, here's one guy who has relatives on every corner of earth, every city, every village. And so, finding a place to stay while travelling is never a problem. His uncle being a pooram connoisseur, we got details of the various rituals associated with the festival, and their timings. The house was located close to Thiruvambady temple, one of the temples participating in the festival. The proceedings on pooram day starts from this temple. Elephants bearing the deity of the temple walk out majestically through the temple doors accompanied by chenda melam. The procession goes on through the city and reached Naduvil madam. This is where an important ceremony of the festival happens called 'madathil varavu'. This involves taking the Thiruvambadi devi and krishna deities to Brahmaswom madam. A reasonably long panchavadyam performance takes place in this square. We could see people all around, on top of buildings and trees. The town was fully soaked in the festive mood by now.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e9kf433S_TA/Tdpvqd31QmI/AAAAAAAAFsI/3aWZCezKYok/s320/pooram1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609919061207368290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ezhunnallathu(procession) from Thiruvambady temple</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ysyPQGzWwcQ/TdpwOxdFb5I/AAAAAAAAFtA/ZwZJeAr-U-A/s320/ezhunnallathu.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609919684939181970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3gqzm4gg7sc/TdpvMaJtoZI/AAAAAAAAFro/MxHCfgKv_BQ/s320/pooram5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609918544812548498" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i>Madathil varavu ceremony at Bhrahmaswom madam</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next ceremony being the ezhunnallathu(procession) of the deity from Paramekkavu temple(the second temple partcipating in the festival), we had to walk almost half of the distance around Thrissur round(or thekkinkaadu maithanam). Its in this big ground that the Vadakkumnaathan temple is situated and where the 'Kudamattom', the most important ceremony of the 'Thrissur pooram' takes place. On Pooram day, the whole town converges to this round. We walked towards Paramekkavu temple, stopping to drink sambharam in between. I had an encounter with an old drunk man during that stop. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Old man-"Ithu auto zoom camera aano?" (Is that an autozoom camera?)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Me-"alla" (No)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Old man-"Oho...Hmm!..evde ninnanu?"(where are you from?)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Me-"Trivandrum"</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Old man-"Prem nazeerinte veettinte aduthaano?"(Are you staying near prem nazeer's(an yesteryear popular malayalam actor) house?)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Me-"Alla, athinte 2 veedu appurathanu" (No, 2 blocks away from that)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">and he walked away. I was left wondering what the hell is an auto zoom camera and why did he ask about an actor who's long dead and gone and whom I was not sure had a house in Trivandrum. The Paramekkavu procession was grander with 15 elephants lining up in front of the temple and a huge crowd cheering wildly. I perched myself on top of a makeshift stand to get a clearer view over the crowd's head. There are 10 temples participating in Trissur Pooram, out of which the major ones are 'Paramekkavu' and 'Thiruvambady'. The other 8 temples will take out their processions at various times to the Thrissur round. But only these two participate in the 'kudamattom ceremony'. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8I_ggroD1pU/TdpwMQTOfsI/AAAAAAAAFsg/t4c5bHvyUjU/s1600/nettipattam.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8I_ggroD1pU/TdpwMQTOfsI/AAAAAAAAFsg/t4c5bHvyUjU/s320/nettipattam.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609919641679724226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Nettippattam</i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bCcxsQZhz0Q/Tdpvq3DFjJI/AAAAAAAAFsY/RZdHGJmjMKc/s1600/oldmanatpooram.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bCcxsQZhz0Q/Tdpvq3DFjJI/AAAAAAAAFsY/RZdHGJmjMKc/s320/oldmanatpooram.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609919067965459602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Old man @ Pooram </i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e9kf433S_TA/Tdpvqd31QmI/AAAAAAAAFsI/3aWZCezKYok/s1600/pooram1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3gqzm4gg7sc/TdpvMaJtoZI/AAAAAAAAFro/MxHCfgKv_BQ/s1600/pooram5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a></div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WNnlvItNvgA/TdpvMOTFvVI/AAAAAAAAFrg/1Tii1fh55-k/s320/pooram6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609918541630651730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 187px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ezhunnallathu(procession from Paramekkavu temple) </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><br /></span></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first highlight of the afternoon is the 'ilanjithara melam'. Also known as pandimelam, this has a huge fan following. 'Paramekkavu' temple has the right to conduct 'ilanjithara melam'. Padmashree mattannoor shankaran kutti maarar led the melam. It happens inside the 'ilanjithara' in Vadakkumnaathan temple. Getting inside itself was a luxury considering the rush at the temple gates. Once inside, we somehow got ourselves among the crowd listening to the melam just outside the 'pandal'. The pooram fans of Thrissur has this habit of holding their hands up and following the beats of the melam. Its a great sight to see thousands of hands moving in unison with every beat. They are also so proud of their elephants that some of the more famous ones even have fan clubs like film stars do. The expert pooram watchers will even tell you the strengths and weaknesses of each elephant. Once the melam gets over, its time to walk outside through the north gate of the temple. Its in this huge lawns where the legendary 'kudamattom' takes place.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JPTmqcEO9xE/TdpwN6GqfrI/AAAAAAAAFs4/sMQLKSUKKNM/s320/framed.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609919670081191602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Framed!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FDQrHKKNn2E/TdpueJ9De4I/AAAAAAAAFqw/EIExCpOD1es/s320/vencharamaram.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609917750190504834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i>Aalavattom and Venchamaram</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tD8sA7BdItM/TdpvpxZo5iI/AAAAAAAAFsA/nZuwFepgkhA/s1600/pooram2.jpg" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tD8sA7BdItM/TdpvpxZo5iI/AAAAAAAAFsA/nZuwFepgkhA/s320/pooram2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609919049269569058" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center; "><i>Melam! </i></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center; "><i><br /></i></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnBt8hj_MsA/TdpwNR-wOvI/AAAAAAAAFsw/cjR9ecLOJnw/s320/kathinavedi.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609919659310594802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px; " /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center; "><i>Run,Forrest Run!..This is how you run after lighting a powerful Kathinavedi(Cracker)</i></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center; "><i><br /></i></div></span></i></span></div></span></i></span></div></span></i></span></div></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As we walked down, I could see the media pavilion raised up right at the middle of the lawn. This wil provide a vantage view and lets you see the kudamattom happening at both ends of 'paramekkavu' and 'thiruvambady'. As I walked towards it, the policeman asked for media pass and then tried to drive me away. Without a media pass, my only hope was some kindness from the media guys sitting on top. I looked at them with pleading eyes and voila! they asked me to come up. Within seconds, I was on top, just in time to see the 15 elephants of 'paramekkavu' walking out from the northern door of the temple. They walked quite close to the pavilion, so much so that I could've jumped on top of the one going through the side. As they reached the other end of the lawn, there was this great surge of people from both sides and the whole ground was filled up. And then, the 15 elephants of 'thiruvambady' also walked out through the northern gate. It was a sight to behold! 15 elephants on each side facing each other and a sea of humanity in between them and around them. Treetops, building tops, hoardings, all were filled with people. The men on top of the elephants started their performances with 'aalavattom' and 'venchamaram'. And then started the 'kudamaattom' ceremony. Colourful jewel clad umbrellas were paraded on top of the elephants. Its a competition between the two sides on who shows the best design. There were double umbrellas, lighted umbrellas and umbrellas adorned with deities. As the kudamattom goes on for an hour, the supporters of each group cheer for each umbrella change. Its a healthy competition on view. Though to be honest, what excited me more is that huge gathering of people of various religions, castes and languages than the actual ceremony of 'kudamattom'. Few things can match the spirit that a Thrissurkaaran (native of Thrissur) has towards the Thrissur pooram. As dusk set in, the 'Kudamattom' was over and people started walking back to gear up for that early morning treat-'The pooram vedikkettu'[Fireworks].</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uzsYCgwFUws/TdpvK6POdkI/AAAAAAAAFrQ/k5ouWPRhvJY/s320/pooram8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609918519065867842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i>The elephants of Paramekkavu walk out through the northern gate for Kudamattom</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_dHgp0WMyfE/TdpwzDiBR-I/AAAAAAAAFtY/unhJbnXT9aw/s1600/chendamelam.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_dHgp0WMyfE/TdpwzDiBR-I/AAAAAAAAFtY/unhJbnXT9aw/s320/chendamelam.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609920308267010018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i>The melam which accompanied the paramekkavu elephants</i></span></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tIzcYkaUv9s/TdpufDfyhsI/AAAAAAAAFrI/JIMr5JnaHU8/s320/pooram9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609917765637015234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i>The crowd fills up the space as the paramekkavu elephants passes the centre of the ground</i></span></span></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center; "><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Vy_UOtkIv8/Tdpwy5ZGwTI/AAAAAAAAFtQ/nrWQ7UV4go4/s1600/crowdkudamattom.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Vy_UOtkIv8/Tdpwy5ZGwTI/AAAAAAAAFtQ/nrWQ7UV4go4/s320/crowdkudamattom.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609920305545265458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><i><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i>crowd goes into a frenzy during kudamattom</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div></i><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j4cIfq6bXWs/TdpwMxIoT8I/AAAAAAAAFso/eeKe35rqbQw/s320/lorrytop.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609919650493648834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /><i><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i>There were people all around...here, on top of a lorry </i></span></div></i><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MC2m64F2RQc/Tdpuesxh05I/AAAAAAAAFrA/NjZ0GLi_cHY/s320/pooram10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609917759537402770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 201px; " /><i><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i>Thiruvambady elephants lined up in front of the northern gate of Vadakkumnathan temple</i></span></div></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wj_Pc5uKeYM/Tdpuecnlj5I/AAAAAAAAFq4/FC0dsWtDO3Y/s1600/standing%2Btall.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wj_Pc5uKeYM/Tdpuecnlj5I/AAAAAAAAFq4/FC0dsWtDO3Y/s320/standing%2Btall.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609917755200737170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div><i><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i>standing tall..two guys who managed to prop themselves up above the crowd during kudamattom</i></span></div></i></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We went for a walk around the round at midnight and the place was still very much alive. The melams were still going strong and there were people everywhere. Many where sleeping on the streets, a much needed rest before the fireworks starts. There were the highly drunk walking around too, singing double meaning laden parodies of 'naadan paattukal' [country songs]. One among those asked me, "Athu thokkano chetta?"[Is that a gun?], seeing my tripod. We went back and took a quick nap. By 3 AM, we were back on the round. Our legs were paining by this time, having walked close to 15 km altogether on this day. Even the pooram vedikkettu[fireworks] is a competition between 'paramekkavu' and 'Thiruvambady'. We had heard a lot about the fireworks, but nothing prepared us for the sheer power of this one. Rather than the visual element, it is the physical element which strikes you. What I meant by 'physical' is that thumping feeling that you get on your chest while those mammoth bombs goes off. It can be a shocking as well as exhilarating experience for a first timer, which I was. And then the aural element. 'Defeaning', will be an understatement. Then I realised, why 'Thrissur pooram vedikkettu' is known as the greatest fireworks experience in this part of the world. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wz0IvYrgdxw/Tdpud7clA-I/AAAAAAAAFqo/ecEy5OncOz8/s320/vedikkettu%2Bcollage1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609917746296194018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 298px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; "><i>This is what Thrissur Pooram vedikkettu[fireworks] can do to you...you shield your ears, you cringe, you open your mouth in amazement...you are truely overwhelmed</i></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(Check the big 'gundu' on right side top)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LcxIO19fGvc/Tdp2A7vF5II/AAAAAAAAFto/FS2qBbu4AME/s320/vedikettu.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609926044250662018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px; " /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next day was the day of the 'Pakal pooram'[Pooram fest in the daytime]. This is when all the ladies and families attend the festival. By this time, the outside visitors and the huge crowd would've left Thrissur. The same ceremonies of yesterday are repeated. We saw the remnants of last day's fireworks lying around in the ground. They had already dug up more holes for the concluding fireworks. Two men each were carrying huge bomb like things and putting it carefully in each of these holes. Then we knew where that thumping in the chest was coming from. The whole ground was evacuated and the fireworks started, for one last time this year. Now, this was more shocking than the night's fireworks. The thumping in the chest changed to a deep kick. The pooram ended with the loudest and meanest of fireworks! We missed the 'vida chollal[goodbye] ceremony wherein the 2 main elephants of 'paramekkavu' and 'thiruvambady' bearing the deities come face to face in front of the vadakkumnaathan temple entrance and bow to each other. Its a kind of goodbye and a hope that we'll meet next year too...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That was our great pooram experience which ended in a 'chaayakkada'[tea shop] near the Thrissur bus stand.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">PS-Check here my old post on the temples and palaces of Thrissur with more info and pics of these temples - <a href="http://crusadertvm.blogspot.com/2010/06/temples-palaces-of-trissur.html">Temples and palaces of Thrissur</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-3681262976536572889?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-67974808296189190952011-05-18T21:29:00.008+05:302011-05-21T00:16:13.055+05:302011-05-21T00:16:13.055+05:30In print, over the moon<div style="text-align: justify;">And so, after few years of running around with the camera and freelancing stints for few online magazine, I get few of my shots printed in a magazine, which actually has a print edition :D. It feels good to see your clicks in a publication, especially when its for the first time. It all happened thanks to the fireflies all night concert that I attended(and clicked) some weeks back. The guys at the score music magazine saw some of the pics which I uploaded in my facebook photography page(<a href="http://www.facebook.com/myopiclensesphotography">http://www.facebook.com/myopiclensesphotography</a> -yeah, cheap marketing:P) and contacted me asking for the pics. The only condition being I should send unpublished pics. Thankfully, I hadn't uploaded my whole collection and was able to supply them with enough pics. And last week, they mailed me the magazine with the pics adorning 2 pages. You can also read the magazine online at <a href="http://www.highonscore.com">highonscore.com</a>. They got a really good interface where you can flip the pages and read in fullscreen. BTW, Skip to page 40 :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hTB7eLUv3hw/TdPuPV7YzHI/AAAAAAAAFoQ/987rFX2EFQU/s1600/score%2Bmag.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hTB7eLUv3hw/TdPuPV7YzHI/AAAAAAAAFoQ/987rFX2EFQU/s320/score%2Bmag.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608087908358081650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 200px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>screenshot of the page(yea, all shots r mine :P </i>)</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7USWHkQH5ac/TdPuPJCmR_I/AAAAAAAAFoI/kceli9rsk70/s1600/score%2Bmag2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7USWHkQH5ac/TdPuPJCmR_I/AAAAAAAAFoI/kceli9rsk70/s320/score%2Bmag2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608087904898664434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 177px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The magazine</i></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here are some of the published and unpublished shots from fireflies music festival. The fireflies fest was an all night affair starting at 7 PM on a saturday evening and going on till 8 AM on sunday morning. The stage was set under a banyan tree inside the fireflies ashram, a peaceful place about 40 kms from Bangalore city. 5000 people sat jampacked in the amphitheatre while a few hundred more lounged around in bedsheets in the outside lawn. Fireflies is an annual affair and it truely is India's version of the legendary woodstock festival. This year, we had a whole array of bands and artists spanning various genres. It was where I discovered the band yodhaka which fuses sanskrit lyrics,carnatic slide guitar,acoustic guitars and some great percussion. Swarathma were there with their brand of folk rock. Moonarra added flavour with visual representation of their music in the form of 3 brilliant dancers. The highlight of the night was when Thermal and a quarter sang a cover of the beatles' classic 'Hey jude'. The whole crowd sang along the end chorus at 3 O clock in the morning. A truely goosebump moment that was! Other notable performances of the night were something relevant, spinifex, bicycle days etc.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here are some published and unpublished pics from that great night</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Yodhaka</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zfcZTvJtVVE/TdPuQOSRb8I/AAAAAAAAFoo/rY7xF0QQCik/s1600/yodhaka4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zfcZTvJtVVE/TdPuQOSRb8I/AAAAAAAAFoo/rY7xF0QQCik/s320/yodhaka4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608087923486453698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zUM00W2y374/TdPuP6DaI_I/AAAAAAAAFog/5r470Zjj9qE/s1600/yodhaka2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zUM00W2y374/TdPuP6DaI_I/AAAAAAAAFog/5r470Zjj9qE/s320/yodhaka2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608087918055400434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RrnCh-hQFWI/TdPuPtEh8NI/AAAAAAAAFoY/RQAyDNq6f8c/s1600/yodhaka1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RrnCh-hQFWI/TdPuPtEh8NI/AAAAAAAAFoY/RQAyDNq6f8c/s320/yodhaka1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608087914570445010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 195px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Something relevant</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_cNGWm50ofU/TdPvg0XQqKI/AAAAAAAAFp4/B69Yqw9zlQw/s1600/somethingrelevant3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_cNGWm50ofU/TdPvg0XQqKI/AAAAAAAAFp4/B69Yqw9zlQw/s320/somethingrelevant3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608089308097456290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Di-2dp-mGE4/TdPuxwPWM2I/AAAAAAAAFow/vlfDo4rbnHg/s1600/bicycledays4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Di-2dp-mGE4/TdPuxwPWM2I/AAAAAAAAFow/vlfDo4rbnHg/s320/bicycledays4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608088499536671586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px; " /></a><b><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b>Thermal And A Quarter(TAAQ)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ir-MjGKYRHQ/TdPyFWNX3qI/AAAAAAAAFqI/3tugKrhTyTE/s1600/taaq2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ir-MjGKYRHQ/TdPyFWNX3qI/AAAAAAAAFqI/3tugKrhTyTE/s320/taaq2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608092134681337506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lEoLXt4dPAA/TdPyFKu4rXI/AAAAAAAAFqA/snVpKK0KvAc/s1600/taaq1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lEoLXt4dPAA/TdPyFKu4rXI/AAAAAAAAFqA/snVpKK0KvAc/s320/taaq1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608092131600674162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_cNGWm50ofU/TdPvg0XQqKI/AAAAAAAAFp4/B69Yqw9zlQw/s1600/somethingrelevant3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b>Spinifex</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n193tgVz6aY/TdPvfo9lcCI/AAAAAAAAFpY/N5P_H_r2-QU/s1600/spinifex3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n193tgVz6aY/TdPvfo9lcCI/AAAAAAAAFpY/N5P_H_r2-QU/s320/spinifex3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608089287857106978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vd5uvzgJ8GM/TdPuy1pni3I/AAAAAAAAFpQ/HQ6EaqSoXy8/s1600/spinifex2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vd5uvzgJ8GM/TdPuy1pni3I/AAAAAAAAFpQ/HQ6EaqSoXy8/s320/spinifex2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608088518168906610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><br /></b></span></div></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jp-Gtkcj3zo/TdPvgnhr4oI/AAAAAAAAFpw/pCLj9IOVeAY/s1600/spinifex6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jp-Gtkcj3zo/TdPvgnhr4oI/AAAAAAAAFpw/pCLj9IOVeAY/s320/spinifex6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608089304651522690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VKXVQgxE_ZM/TdPvgIB2SJI/AAAAAAAAFpo/28eHx0AtI6E/s1600/spinifex5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VKXVQgxE_ZM/TdPvgIB2SJI/AAAAAAAAFpo/28eHx0AtI6E/s320/spinifex5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608089296196487314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P3uhw2rmlbo/TdPvf6YCXzI/AAAAAAAAFpg/qmmDft_CjI4/s1600/spinifex4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P3uhw2rmlbo/TdPvf6YCXzI/AAAAAAAAFpg/qmmDft_CjI4/s320/spinifex4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608089292531457842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Bicycle Days</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n193tgVz6aY/TdPvfo9lcCI/AAAAAAAAFpY/N5P_H_r2-QU/s1600/spinifex3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCgPA0HGuYA/TdPuypIUh6I/AAAAAAAAFpI/_TjeognRfss/s1600/bicycledays1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCgPA0HGuYA/TdPuypIUh6I/AAAAAAAAFpI/_TjeognRfss/s320/bicycledays1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608088514808022946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uRidbA4j7Ws/TdPuyfhKN4I/AAAAAAAAFpA/z0Kdw4jMzzY/s1600/bicycledays2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uRidbA4j7Ws/TdPuyfhKN4I/AAAAAAAAFpA/z0Kdw4jMzzY/s320/bicycledays2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608088512227850114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2LfphaWdpI/TdPuyFZ28LI/AAAAAAAAFo4/w080uClXsQc/s1600/bicycledays3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2LfphaWdpI/TdPuyFZ28LI/AAAAAAAAFo4/w080uClXsQc/s320/bicycledays3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608088505217904818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Moonarra</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SbIkYfCy1Uk/TdPypKb4glI/AAAAAAAAFqY/dqcVL7QG5hQ/s1600/moonarra1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SbIkYfCy1Uk/TdPypKb4glI/AAAAAAAAFqY/dqcVL7QG5hQ/s320/moonarra1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608092749996261970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 186px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBMfrRMC2qE/TdPyonCko9I/AAAAAAAAFqQ/wWPVVDYFg88/s1600/moonarra2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBMfrRMC2qE/TdPyonCko9I/AAAAAAAAFqQ/wWPVVDYFg88/s320/moonarra2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608092740494861266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 203px; " /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBMfrRMC2qE/TdPyonCko9I/AAAAAAAAFqQ/wWPVVDYFg88/s1600/moonarra2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Di-2dp-mGE4/TdPuxwPWM2I/AAAAAAAAFow/vlfDo4rbnHg/s1600/bicycledays4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: left;">your crusader Praveen</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zfcZTvJtVVE/TdPuQOSRb8I/AAAAAAAAFoo/rY7xF0QQCik/s1600/yodhaka4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-6797480829618919095?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-24820663378455227492011-05-04T22:12:00.008+05:302011-05-04T22:34:10.738+05:302011-05-04T22:34:10.738+05:30Idukki in Rain-II<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-af06KaQiXqc/TcGFsglyLtI/AAAAAAAAFng/CQ2l-4pn8b8/s1600/thotta%2Bcollage.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: justify;">The second day of the Idukki trip started with a round table conference munching biscuits and drinking tea, at a place overlooking a vast valley. Blue sky was on view, so were white clouds floating over the greenery. Right when we started our journey for the day, the rain clouds came on view. Infact, this was a story which repeated all through the trip, rain while riding and those occasional dry spells when we got down at some place. The breakfast was also the same on the two days, that typical mouth watering kerala combination of appam and egg curry, the only difference being one was super good and the second one was not that good.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aA7HSpBmgrU/TcGFhPsjbcI/AAAAAAAAFnY/i5sbGPUgg24/s1600/idukkic1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aA7HSpBmgrU/TcGFhPsjbcI/AAAAAAAAFnY/i5sbGPUgg24/s320/idukkic1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602906217621188034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 186px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the round table conference(chaaya kudichittu biscuit thinnano biscuit thinnitto chaaya kudikkano</i>)</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p7hlpCWY3is/TcGFg3wnshI/AAAAAAAAFnQ/SXWmo5OsAuA/s1600/idukkic2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p7hlpCWY3is/TcGFg3wnshI/AAAAAAAAFnQ/SXWmo5OsAuA/s320/idukkic2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602906211195793938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>laughter from the heart</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-af06KaQiXqc/TcGFsglyLtI/AAAAAAAAFng/CQ2l-4pn8b8/s1600/thotta%2Bcollage.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-af06KaQiXqc/TcGFsglyLtI/AAAAAAAAFng/CQ2l-4pn8b8/s320/thotta%2Bcollage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602906411134758610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 160px; " /></a><i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i>nalacharitham aattakatha</i></span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YWnX4Apkuwc/TcGFG6zF-iI/AAAAAAAAFnI/rSjRwWb867k/s1600/mist.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With the idukki dam tragedy behind us(open only on onam/christmad), we reached kulamaavu dam, over which the main road passes. The dam was covered in mist, with only the starting point visible from a distance. As I got down to click with the car parked on top of the dam, I heard the whistle blowing from behind. It seems you are not supposed to get down on top of the dam and the guards were getting ready to prosecute us. We sped on and the next hour was spent looking for a kallu shaap(toddy shop) which serves (SLURP!!!) kappa(tapioca) and beef(yea, take that you anti-beef idiots!). As our luck would have it, either we stopped at a toddy shop with no food or a hotel with no toddy. On a downhill path, one of us spotted a toddy shop board. Sudden break, reverse. The shop owner came outside and began guiding us to the 'parking lot'- "aaa poratte, porattee...(come on, come on)". Slowly we parked, opened our doors, took a look at the shop, closed the doors and left without a word. The look on the face of the shop owner and the drinkers inside was priceless. The reason for leaving? Nothing! :P Another feature of the winding roads was the jewellery and textile shop ADs placed right at the hairpin bend. Some of them were indeed good enough to stop one's breath, like the one featuring malayalam actress Bhavana in an yet unseen poses![winks] And then there was this jewellery called "kandirikkal jewellers"[roughly translated as 'sit and watch' jewellers]! Sit and watch what?, that is the million dollar question.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We were riding through a forest path when suddenly one among us had an idea-"a photo in this setting will look good!" We got out and was excited to see thick greenery stretching a bit downhill. We decided to 'explore'. We didn't walk much over the wet dry leaves when I had this sudden thought of there being leeches. The moment I mentioned it, Ajith, the army man and the 'bravest' of the lot, let out a scream..."athe, attaaa![yes, Leeeeech]". Within seconds everyone was on the road near the car. All of us except me had a good collection of atleast 2-3 leeches each. My collection was discovered much later inside the car and brave me let out this huge cry of horror! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YWnX4Apkuwc/TcGFG6zF-iI/AAAAAAAAFnI/rSjRwWb867k/s1600/mist.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YWnX4Apkuwc/TcGFG6zF-iI/AAAAAAAAFnI/rSjRwWb867k/s320/mist.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602905765334874658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>kulamaavu dam covered in mist in the afternoon</i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-17Vj0iKmPoU/TcGFGsZIO4I/AAAAAAAAFnA/P9gyF715AxQ/s1600/leech.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-17Vj0iKmPoU/TcGFGsZIO4I/AAAAAAAAFnA/P9gyF715AxQ/s320/leech.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602905761467874178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the leech attack</i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The highlight of the day was the trip to 'Ilaveezhapoonchira'[valley without any leaves]. The leaves doesnt fall on this hills because there are no trees at the top. Just a lush green hilltop filled with grass(the one which cows eat). It is located very close to thodupuzha. On the idukki-thodupuzha road, you need to take a left turn after kaanjaar. The road winds up with sharp curves and steep slopes for about 9 km from the main road. Then you've to get down and walk for about 1.5 KMs if you don't have an off roader. Its a fun climb with the scenery all around and the light winds cooling you in between. There's a lone rest house near the hilltop. The hilltop is the closest you'll ever come to heaven! There are a hundred small and big hill locks stretching on all four sides. Watching the subdued sunset in the slight drizzle was a treat. This is an unmissable place for anyone going anywhere near idukki or thodupuzha. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-15dCYhbbmIE/TcGFGRDJm1I/AAAAAAAAFm4/7IexcU8-a3M/s1600/ilaveezha1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-15dCYhbbmIE/TcGFGRDJm1I/AAAAAAAAFm4/7IexcU8-a3M/s320/ilaveezha1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602905754127932242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the guest house near the hilltop at ilaveezhapoonchir</i>a</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B9Dy4x-dXqE/TcGFF8j-eRI/AAAAAAAAFmw/BpmzFH6Voxc/s1600/ilaveezha2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B9Dy4x-dXqE/TcGFF8j-eRI/AAAAAAAAFmw/BpmzFH6Voxc/s320/ilaveezha2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602905748628470034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>view from the top at Ilaveezhapoonchira</i></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BmpXq2q8_5U/TcGFFhIv6CI/AAAAAAAAFmo/leahTeltmhI/s1600/ilaveezha3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BmpXq2q8_5U/TcGFFhIv6CI/AAAAAAAAFmo/leahTeltmhI/s320/ilaveezha3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602905741266511906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CVyNaqjBk4Y/TcGERYcoq-I/AAAAAAAAFmg/S_EBUA-KgAg/s1600/ilaveezha4.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CVyNaqjBk4Y/TcGERYcoq-I/AAAAAAAAFmg/S_EBUA-KgAg/s320/ilaveezha4.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602904845580807138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bawBofT7bDQ/TcGERHVx3xI/AAAAAAAAFmY/DitTRdqTLOs/s1600/ilaveezha5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bawBofT7bDQ/TcGERHVx3xI/AAAAAAAAFmY/DitTRdqTLOs/s320/ilaveezha5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602904840988647186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And then we started the group shots</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NBSQkIDVEWs/TcGEQoPm4SI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/nVoLrcewBR0/s1600/group1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NBSQkIDVEWs/TcGEQoPm4SI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/nVoLrcewBR0/s320/group1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602904832641261858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wSXSuKWTTm0/TcGEQK4pgiI/AAAAAAAAFmI/x5mE7jCI_as/s1600/group2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wSXSuKWTTm0/TcGEQK4pgiI/AAAAAAAAFmI/x5mE7jCI_as/s320/group2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602904824760336930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O4OpiESKcpo/TcGEP0Va5kI/AAAAAAAAFmA/jZn1hg3MyVI/s1600/group3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O4OpiESKcpo/TcGEP0Va5kI/AAAAAAAAFmA/jZn1hg3MyVI/s320/group3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602904818706998850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nK56Uk5GZT4/TcGDfHD1wFI/AAAAAAAAFl4/v3wAXLuiWQ0/s1600/group4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nK56Uk5GZT4/TcGDfHD1wFI/AAAAAAAAFl4/v3wAXLuiWQ0/s320/group4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602903981919944786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o5vsX2j1nKo/TcGDe3cbUWI/AAAAAAAAFlw/JkgNbHLZ_6w/s1600/group6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o5vsX2j1nKo/TcGDe3cbUWI/AAAAAAAAFlw/JkgNbHLZ_6w/s320/group6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602903977728102754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Hence proved:An umbrella can hold four people</i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IZQrHZsCxqI/TcGDeXyHaRI/AAAAAAAAFlo/XPoXgNg8RD4/s1600/group7.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IZQrHZsCxqI/TcGDeXyHaRI/AAAAAAAAFlo/XPoXgNg8RD4/s320/group7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602903969229138194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sM4faJ7LpKM/TcGDeDbKqdI/AAAAAAAAFlg/Ezw0zrg7tD4/s1600/group8.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sM4faJ7LpKM/TcGDeDbKqdI/AAAAAAAAFlg/Ezw0zrg7tD4/s320/group8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602903963764173266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CjkwkIKvOCE/TcGDduQ-RKI/AAAAAAAAFlY/fp8RBSG3Xzw/s1600/group9.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CjkwkIKvOCE/TcGDduQ-RKI/AAAAAAAAFlY/fp8RBSG3Xzw/s320/group9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602903958084273314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the walk back</i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-2482066337845522749?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14217437.post-56915228999442107492011-05-03T20:08:00.006+05:302011-05-03T20:29:06.935+05:302011-05-03T20:29:06.935+05:30Idukki in Rain-I<div style="text-align: justify;">The easter weekend was a good excuse for a getaway to Idukki with college friends. The hill range district is the home of Kerala's major hydroelectric power stations. Narrow roads winding up through lush green tea estates are the hallmark of this place. And, the slight drizzle and the occasional heavy downpour all through the two days made the place look even more beautiful.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At Parunthumpara(eagle rock), we were given a crash course on the formation of rain clouds and the onset of rain. As we stood there on the top of parunthumpara, we could see clouds black forming on top of a hill far away. Before long, we could see the white sprays of rain falling on the hills. Later, we saw the rain spreading towards parunthumpara...and then, it was time to RUN!</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WTZINuv890A/TcAT_h7v_hI/AAAAAAAAFkY/f4JmDxk0-xI/s1600/idukkirain1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WTZINuv890A/TcAT_h7v_hI/AAAAAAAAFkY/f4JmDxk0-xI/s320/idukkirain1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602499918610562578" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Garamond, serif; "><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >view from parunthumpara. check the rain fall in the V-part of the hills.</span></i> </div></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8PFoBop_j9I/TcAT_TcQXyI/AAAAAAAAFkQ/xbojdZ6EaYg/s1600/idukkirain2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8PFoBop_j9I/TcAT_TcQXyI/AAAAAAAAFkQ/xbojdZ6EaYg/s320/idukkirain2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602499914720370466" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Garamond, serif; " ><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the downpour</i></div></span></div><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v6MCUW9WmAQ/TcAT_AFLkdI/AAAAAAAAFkI/Z88c6Fdi2ds/s1600/idukkirain3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v6MCUW9WmAQ/TcAT_AFLkdI/AAAAAAAAFkI/Z88c6Fdi2ds/s320/idukkirain3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602499909523313106" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Garamond, serif; " ><i>dark clouds and heavy rains(extreme left)</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Garamond, serif; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">As we drove down further, we saw a mammoth tea estate. I got down to click as they went further with the car to explore. And, then I felt heavy droplets falling on top of me. I could see the car at the other side of the estate. All I could do was jump up and show gestures for them to come back. Then I saw an old man running up the hill through the plantations, with an umbrella. He happily provided me shade until the guys got back. He happened to be a worker at the planatations. Sometimes strangers help you in the most unexpected of ways...As I talked to him and then thanked him, I forgot the most important part, clicking him!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Garamond, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; border-collapse: separate; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rfmDtVEnOd8/TcAVKYeAQyI/AAAAAAAAFkw/Vye3VMLVwYM/s1600/teaplnt5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rfmDtVEnOd8/TcAVKYeAQyI/AAAAAAAAFkw/Vye3VMLVwYM/s320/teaplnt5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602501204560069410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Garamond, serif; "></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Garamond, serif; " ><i>the tea estate where I met the old man</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Garamond, serif; "><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J22hN2MAd0Y/TcAVMnGgF0I/AAAAAAAAFlQ/WShV5gDVJZg/s1600/teaplnt1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J22hN2MAd0Y/TcAVMnGgF0I/AAAAAAAAFlQ/WShV5gDVJZg/s320/teaplnt1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602501242847762242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Garamond, serif; "><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sBO2M9ucCv8/TcAVMfwCllI/AAAAAAAAFlI/EM_NCslQfVs/s1600/teaplnt2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sBO2M9ucCv8/TcAVMfwCllI/AAAAAAAAFlI/EM_NCslQfVs/s320/teaplnt2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602501240874505810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-23zOrgsiUdY/TcAVMId5bUI/AAAAAAAAFlA/QAkCToGdkJk/s1600/teaplnt3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-23zOrgsiUdY/TcAVMId5bUI/AAAAAAAAFlA/QAkCToGdkJk/s320/teaplnt3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602501234624392514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Garamond, serif; " ><div style="text-align: center; "><i>the long and winding roads..</i>.</div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v7_YbYPjzx0/TcAVKp1rjuI/AAAAAAAAFk4/IoV-2EUJB_M/s1600/teaplnt4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v7_YbYPjzx0/TcAVKp1rjuI/AAAAAAAAFk4/IoV-2EUJB_M/s320/teaplnt4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602501209222778594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rfmDtVEnOd8/TcAVKYeAQyI/AAAAAAAAFkw/Vye3VMLVwYM/s1600/teaplnt5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rfmDtVEnOd8/TcAVKYeAQyI/AAAAAAAAFkw/Vye3VMLVwYM/s320/teaplnt5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602501204560069410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Some more scenes from near the idukki dam. A fun fact about the idukki dam is that it opens to the public only during onam and christmas. At first I thought, the resort guy was joking when he told this. We learned it the hard way by driving all the way to the dam :P</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; border-collapse: separate; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8p-8TdeUAOM/TcAUAhpIu1I/AAAAAAAAFko/0uYJHZFUtcA/s1600/idukkidam1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8p-8TdeUAOM/TcAUAhpIu1I/AAAAAAAAFko/0uYJHZFUtcA/s320/idukkidam1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602499935712361298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Garamond, serif; " ><div style="text-align: center; "><i>somewhere on the roadside..</i>.</div></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7V0ME1YQ2I8/TcAT_wt_c4I/AAAAAAAAFkg/NFW6s29Eqq4/s1600/idukkidam2.jpg" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Georgia, serif; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7V0ME1YQ2I8/TcAT_wt_c4I/AAAAAAAAFkg/NFW6s29Eqq4/s320/idukkidam2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602499922579387266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px; " /></a></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; " ><i>shot at 2PM in the afternoon :D</i></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14217437-5691522899944210749?l=crusadertvm.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12538230438211738198noreply@blogger.com7