Kgnzblog!!

இரண்டு நாள் யாத்திரை

2011-12-09T22:05:00.000+05:30

இரண்டு நாள் யாத்திரை

அவளிடம் பேச,

காத்திருக்க வேண்டும்

இன்று மாலை வரை

பேசும் தொலைவில் அவள் இல்லை

எளிதில் பேச கைபேசி இல்லை

பொது தொலைபேசி சிக்கும் பொது

அவள் கனவுலகில் தொலைந்து சிக்கும் பொழுது

பயணத்தில் களைப்பாற்ற நிறுத்தும்

இடைவெளியில் இடைவிடாது

தொலைபேசியை துளாவியது கண்கள்

கிட்டயும் பயனில்லை

மறுமுனையில் அவளில்லை

வெள்ளி முடிந்து

வெள்ளி முளைக்கும் வரை

வெறுத்திருக்க வேண்டும்

பொழுதை மறந்திருக்க வேண்டும்

கண்வரை அவளிருந்ததால்

தொடர்ச்சியை கண்களில் தூக்கமில்லை

கனவுகளிலும் அவளில்லை

விடிகாலை விடிவு வரும் என

வீதிகளில் விதியற்றவன்போல்

பொது தொலைபேசியை தேடி

அலைந்தேன் ஒரு கடையும் திறக்கவில்லை!

புதிய ஊரை சாடியும் பயனில்லை!

ஒன்றரை நாள் கழித்து பேச

இரண்டரை மைல் நடந்து, தொலைபேசியில்

மூன்றரை நிமிடம் கழித்து,

நான்கரை கட்டையில், ஹலோ என்றாள்-தூக்ககலக்கத்தில்

ஐந்தரை அங்குலம் விரிந்தது என் உதடுகள், அவள் குரல் கேட்டு

விரிந்து என்ன பயன்?

என் குரல் அவளுக்கு விளங்கவில்லை!

எனக்கிருந்த ஏக்கம் அவளுக்கில்லை

பேச்சில் சுரத்தில்லை -ஏமாற்றத்தில்

அப்புறம் என்றேன்!

விழுப்புரம் என்றுரைக்காமல்

ஏதோ வெட்டியாய் சில நிமிடங்கள்

ஏக்கத்துடன் பேசினேன்-அழைப்பை துண்டிதபின்

ஏமாற்றத்தில் முகத்தில் அசடுகள் சில வடித்தேன்

நான் சொல்லவா வேண்டும்?

2011-12-09T21:54:00.000+05:30

இன்பம் துள்ளும்போதும் துன்பத்தில் நொந்தபோதும்

உன்னை இறுக்கி அணைக்க ஏன் தோன்றவேண்டும்?

வம்பு தும்பு முதலில் சொல்ல

மனம் உன்னை மட்டும் ஏன் நாடவேண்டும்?

கள்ளம் கள்ளம் குறும்பு செய்ய

எந்தன் கைகள் உன்னிடையை ஏன் தேடவேண்டும்?

நட்டநடு கும்பலுக்குள்ளும் இரகசியம் பேச

நம் இருவர் கண்கள் ஏன் மோதவேண்டும்?

ஊடல் தினம் நாம் கொண்ட போதும்

அருகில் நீ இல்லையென்றால் மனம் ஏன் நோக வேண்டும்?

நாள்முழுதும் உன்கூட இருந்தபோதும்

விட்டுப்பிரிய ஏன் கசக்க வேண்டும்?

கேள்வி பல, விடை ஒன்று அது உன்மீது

நான் கொண்ட காதலென்று நான் சொல்லவா வேண்டும்?

How to pray to God- By Thirugayana Sambandar

2011-12-01T07:31:00.003+05:30

ஒல்லையாறி உள்ளம் ஒன்றிக் கள்ளம் ஒழிந்து வெய்ய
சொல்லையாறித் தூய்மை செய்து காமவினை அகற்றி
நல்லவாறே உன்றன் நாமம் நாவில் நவின்று ஏத்த
வல்லவாறே வந்து நல்காய் வலிவலமே யவனே ( திருமுறை 1-50)

ஒல்லையாறி- Controling those thoughts that impact external world and looking inward
உள்ளம் ஒன்றி - with concentrated mind
கள்ளம் ஒழிந்து- Even after practicing such control and concentration, at times, our naughty mind that has been hitherto wavering uncontrollably, would tend to get

attracted towards materialistic pleasures and therefore we have to remove such naughty materialistic attraction
வெய்ய சொல்லையாறி- When we are in the process of above three, we may tend to experience some improvement in the self (both spritual and Materialistic).

however, once again our untrained mind, will tend to compare self with others. Since there has been some conginzable improvements, one may get feeling of

greateness and start finding faults with others and become sarcastic. தூய்மை செய்து- Such behaviour should be carefully avoided.
காமவினை அகற்றி- Removing all attractions towards the materialistic and worldly pleasures
நல்லவாறே உன்றன் நாமம் நாவில் நவின்று ஏத்த வல்லவாறே வந்து நல்காய் வலிவலமே யவனே- guide thus to get a proper way to utter the name and proper way

to pray

2011-11-28T08:18:00.002+05:30

Good, Bad and the Inbetween

In “Bagavatham”- an ancient sacred text about the God and His various manifestation, a poem advises the king that in his kingdom people can be divided in 4 categories: Good people, Bad People, People who look bad but good, People who look good but bad. It further says that the king has to be very cautious about the people who look good but bad. A king can take obvious precautions against the bad but cannot take against those people who look good but bad. It continues: the king should also analyse people who look bad but good-- and adequately take caution that they are not penalized for they have nothing bad in them.

There has been always a grey area between the good and bad. Good and bad are not difficult to identify and are not difficult to understand as they are very obvious. But what we really get fooled at is the deceptiveness. There are ‘Good’ looking like ‘Bad’ and ‘Bad’ looking like ‘Good’. These can be identified only when the mask is removed.To remove the mask and understand the depth is an art which can only gained by experience, and perfect observation capabilities.

This principle applies in all parts of our life.

When we take a business situations, there are options that look good and bad and there are also options that fall in grey areas. We end up in losses when we take the option that seems to be favourable but turns unfavourable. And loose opportunity when we neglect an option that finally may turn to be profitable.
There are friends and there are enemies, also there are people who we think as friends but actually they turn out to be not as friends or worst as enemies and there are people who we don’t bother to care or ignore or think as enemy but they turn to help us better than any friend.

The lesson that we have to learn is "Looks are deceptive. Do not underestimate, look beyond the obvious"

The Importance of Six

2011-02-24T21:20:00.001+05:30

The number Six has some predominance in our every day walk of life- hold on I am not going to speak about numerology.

Work Life

In work life from the minute a new resource joins, the first 6 hours makes the impression about the place, in six days he should have an understanding what he is recruited for else he would be in the soup; in six weeks the reporting manager has to give feedback on the performance else the resource will derail from the normal course and it would be difficult for the manager to correct it; in six months the resource should know how he could build the career in the organization else there is no hope for the resource to grow unless luck favours; in six years the resource should have assumed higher responsibilities else it is the time for the resource to look for other oppurtunity elsewhere or it is the time for the management to chuck the resource out-whosoever initiates- pleasure is theirs.

Married Life

In married life, within six hours the bride overcome all the marriage ecstasy and comes to reality while it takes 6 days for a bridegroom to overcome the ecstasy in some worst cases, it takes 6 weeks to feel the reality. If the marriage is sustained in reality for six months without either of them hiding their ulterior thoughts then the marriage can be suspected to be sustained for atleast six years. And if the suspicion is proved the marriage is expected to continue until either of them aparts

Child Conception

If the sperm released germinates an egg within six hours probably the child is going to be a male or if it germinates in six days then the probablity is the child is going to be a female. Upon germination, the first six weeks the mother needs to be careful to avoid any chances of abortion. The quality and quantity of food the mother consumes in the first 6 months of the child will determine the growth and maturity of the child

After Birth

Once the child is born the first 6 weeks needs to be throughly monitored to detect any deficiency; the food that the child takes for 6 months determines most of the growth; the habits that it develops for 6 years sticks unto death

A love story...

2010-04-30T13:42:00.002+05:30

I got this as a forward and I liked it; could not stop posting in my blog. Due credits to whosoever written it (if it was a fiction) and my wishes (if it was a real story) and sorry for posting it without your permission—its already in circulation hence I don’t think it would affect the sentiments.

Rgds.. Kgn

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

It’s a story of a Brahmin gal who loved a non-Brahmin and due to father’s compulsion married a Brahmin guy and leading a perfect life with little happiness!! This may be a story, but the content, characters and the sentences of the story were “Heart Throbbing” and “Breath Taking”.. Do read it completely.. Its worth reading this story..

(Some tamil words included)

      Dearest Appa,
      27th Jan’1965

Hope this letter finds you, Amma, Raji and Seenu in good health. The weather here in New York City is icy cold. But Avar sollraar- I have missed this winter’s biting cold. I still wish I had seen the snow… But then, I still wish I had not left Trichy at all. I do miss Trichy, Appa. You, Amma, Raji, Seenu, pakkatthaathu Rama, Vikatan,Ucchi Pillaiyaar Koil, filter coffee, Holy Cross College, the Maths Department and of course Sakthi. I know you wish I hadn’t brought his name in this letter.But not to worry Appa, I understand that you got me married to Visu because you thought it was best for your daughter.

I still remember Amma wiping her silent tears with her madisaar thalappu and you shouting at me the day I told you about Sakthi.Later, when the initial shock wore off you patiently listed umpteen reasons why I should not marry Sakthi. I agree Appa, that 20 is too young to decide, that Raji and Seenu would have been affected greatly by my ‘mistake’, the Agrahaaram would have scoffed at you… a meat eater was not a good match for someone who had never even tasted onion and garlic. The reasons were innumerous. I knew you’d still have objected and offered other reasons even if he had become a Dhigambara monk.

Visu on the other hand, wore a poonal, he is the son of Neelakanta Sastri, an Engineer and he researched about computers which is what made you jump for this alliance. Am not complaining Appa, Visu is a nice man. Tell Amma that I could not try her kozhakkattai recipe this Pongal because coconuts were too expensive and Avar nenacchar that it was ridiculous.

Anyway, we went out on Sankaranthi day and dined out. He thought it would be a good idea to invite the Chatterjees also. But I didn’t speak Bengali and Mrs.Chatterjee spoke English in an accent that comes with living years in America. Hence I made myself busy with the menu card. They ordered various species of fish,shrimp and a lot more of items I had never seen in my life. I ordered orange juice and a sandwich. The other diners thought it was queer coming to a seafood restaurant and settling for a sandwich. That day, I learnt that Avar prefer pannradhu beef, pork, bacon and seafood.

Do you know, Appa… Sakthi gave up meat because of me? I didn’t ask, he just did. But then, Sakthi is not Neelakanta Sastri’s son and that made it imposible for Subramania Iyer’s daughter Kalyani to marry him.I will keep you posted on what happens here. I don’t think I can make it to Seenu’s Upanayanam. Tell Amma not to get me a pattu podavai for the poonal, I don’t use them here. I wore it once and felt like a clown here.

Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.

Dearest Appa,
20th Oct’1968

We are fine here. Gautam is speaking his first words and I swear they sounded like ‘Dosai’. But Visu claims it’s just gibberish. From your previous letter, I gather that pakkathatthu Rama is married and settled in Jamshedpur. Nice to know that. Please find out her address from Saarada maami and write it to me. I want to keep in touch with her. I hope Raji is happy with her husband in Madras. I spoke to her last month, great to know that she has a phone. Do tell Seenu to study well and prepare for his school final exams.

Raji also told me that Sakthi is married now. I wish him good luck, but I could not convey the message to him. Raji refused to be the messenger and I know you have severed ties with Sakthi’s father, your long term friend Sankaravel, thanks to me. I hear his wife is his cousin… He must have succumbed to his mother’s wishes.

How did Avani Avittam go? Visu’s mother gave me a bunch of new poonals for Avani Avittam but Visu was in Boston that day. He wouldn’t have used it anyway, I haven’t seen him wear one in the last three years. Gautam is now playing with the spool of thread- mere thread it is, what else can I call it? Gautam will not even know what it signifies, I guess.

Visu is making sure Gautam grows up listening to English only. He says it will make his life easier. But I do read out passages from Ponniyin Selvan and Bharathiyaar’s poetry when I am alone with him. It’s more of reading to myself, I guess. I actually got that poetry book as a present from Sakthi, it still has his scrawling signature in the first page.

By the way, Visu saw that book and asked me about Sakthi, I told him. Hold your breath Appa, he didn’t throw me out of the house. He is a good man, no question. He said it is okay and that he doesn’t mind. And then he told me of his American girlfriend whom he was once in love with, when he first reached America- Amy, a fellow Researcher who was in a brief relationship with Visu when she was in New York. They lived together for 3 months and decided against marriage, somehow. Amy once dropped home when she was in New York. Nice lady, she was.

Ask Amma to send me Sambar Podi for this whole year. My friend Sudha is coming to Madras next week. Ask Seenu to catch the Rockfort Express and give it to her. I will collect it from her here.

Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.

      Dearest Appa,
      3rd June’1974

We have arrived here safely. After two months in India, I find it hard to adjust back to normal life here. Gautam and Ranjana demand vadai,paayasam and vaazhai ilai here. Visu’s relieved to be back in America. I left a set of my books there. If it’s not in Trichy it must be in Visu’s parents’ place. If you find them, safeguard them until my next trip. They mean a lot to me since they were gifts from Sakthi. By the way, Appa, I found out Sakthi’s present address in Madras from Rama and Saarada maami. I wrote to him. I am extremely proud to know that Dr.Sakthivel is a cardiologist much in demand there in Madras. He was thrilled to hear from me after so long. You know what he has named his daughters? Kalyani and Raagamaalika. He called me. You know what, he’s still a practising vegetarian, Appa. He didn’t revert back just because he lost me… He asked me if I still sang and whether Gautam and Ranjana could sing. I could see a proud father in him, when he claimed his daughters could sing upto Rara Venu Gopala. That’s when I remembered that I was once a good singer. I wonder why I stopped singing, wonder why I never exposed the kids to Music and Dance. But then, I realize that I had buried all that deep inside me when I left Trichy; after bidding farewell to my best Rasika, actually. Sakthi. After the call, I tried singing ’Kurai Onrum Illai’. I could not rquite reach Charanam, because of the lack of practice and more importantly because of the tears that filmed my eyes and the constriction in my throat. I sang to Visu and the kids one of these days. Though Gautam was impressed, father and daughter could not just wait for me to finish! By the way, next time some friend comes to India, send me a Sruthi Box. I would like to start singing again.

Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.

Dearest Appa,
14th Aug 1978

Just back after our tour to California. Find our photos, picture postcards attached herewith. After you are done with showing all family members,relatives, friends and neighbours, pass them to Visu’s parents. It was a welcome break for the four of us. But I missed my paattu class students all along and was happy to resume the classes again last evening. Did I mention in my previous letter, before we left on the tour - I finally got my driving license here. I sent a few photos to Sakthi too. He has sent me quite a few records and cassettes. I loved it! I’m reminded of AIR, almost! I’m circulating them among my friends too. And of course, playing them for my students too. They are picking up beautifully. Funny news is, I, a Tamilian, is teaching Telugu and Sanskrit kritis to a cross section of Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada,Telugu, Marathi, Bengali students in an English speaking nation. The music sessions have resulted in a reborn Kalyani, Appa. Thanks to Sakthi, really. I would have never taken it up had it not been for his reminder. I am now thinking of what life would have been like if I had indeed married him. I would have of course lost you and Amma. But right now, with this life in America, Visu and these monthly letters to you, Rama, Raji and Seenu what have i gained? I don’t find an answer, Appa. Neither do I think I ever will. Again, as I have always reiterated, Visu is a good man, no complaints there. He is every bit the son in law you wanted. Researcher, American Post-Graduate Degree holder, a dutiful husband and father,earning a comfortable income. I know it is too much to ask for anything else. That is a fantasy I left midway in my life… Once upon a time in Trichy with someone else.

Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.

      Dearest Appa,
      14th Apr’1984
                           Met Dr.Sakthivel after 19 years… He had come to New York for business purposes and paid me a visit. Visu and the kids welcomed him home with great pleasure. And they liked him too. Infact, they did most of the talking initially. And of course, he got me a whole load of books, cassettes, Mysore Paak and lots more.

Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.

Dearest Appa,
20th Jan’ 1990

I just went through all these letters lying in my closet draw for years together. These are letters I started writing to you and then decided not to post. For obvious reasons. I could not mention Sakthi to you even though I was itching to. Not because I was afraid to invite your wrath. I just did not have the heart to hurt you, I know these letters would have hurt you. Because deep inside, I know you were disturbed- you knew Sakthi was a good man, you knew he was a man of substance, yet you didn’t want to go further. Society, I know. ..Family… I know… And all these letters would have only wounded you more.Today, 2 years after your death, and 6 months after Dr.Sakthivel’s untimely death in a road accident, I somehow felt like re-reading all these letters. To me, all these unstamped, unposted letters mean a life that could have been.

Kalyani Viswanathan.

Value, Values and Valuation!

2010-03-31T21:15:00.007+05:30

Well, I am as young as the average age of this country. Where are people in my generation leading to? How many of them are behind false glamour in life? Is life all about glamour? Are we camouflaging ourselves under the name of comfort and glamour and forget the common sense? There is an urgency for everyone to prove that they are better? Do you think, they are proving that they are better to themselves, are they proving that they are better from what they were yesterday? Or, are they proving that they are better than the others?

Well, its human nature to compare! People compare themselves with their peers, friends, relatives, neighbours-- and comparisons always happen on the apparent things like the status, the designation etc. To prove the point that people are in a superior status they showcase themselves explicitly glamorous in all possible way, right from the dress people wear, the car that they drive, the count of girl friends they have, and in worst case they make their spouse as commodity to show that he has married a beautiful wife or she has married a rich guy. And in the course, the guiding principles in life is lost. Are these things mortal? Or the change that we bring to the world in good would be mortal?

Most of the current generations are hyped by the stars from the glamour industry. The Movies, Tele-vision programs, Advertisements thrive only on glamour. Sadly, those self proclaimed God-mans who are supposed to have denounced all things in life too, to sell their concepts and market it, use glamour. Not only the current generation has lost themselves in the glamour but they are spoiling the new generation too.

To show the status, people go to the extent of spending all that they earn-- not the current earnings, but the earning that they would make for next 20-30 years. Credit is good for the economy to grow, but not for the individuals. Credit used for business will help the business to grow, Credit used for education will help the individual to get the immortal knowledge, but credit got for glamour-where does it go-- no where but that it vanishes, get disolved into our ego.

My boss, a profound thinker, use to say, that one should increase his value by strictly adhering to one own values and by this the valuation automatically increases. Whereas, in common, people think they increase their valuation by comparing with others, and by showcasing the glamour they discount all the values in life and never realize that their value finally become nothing.

Light at the end of the tunnel

2010-03-30T22:42:00.002+05:30

This one is ofcourse copied... Source unknown...

My desk... Clean desk policy

2010-03-30T22:37:00.004+05:30

Recently, i have started to re-kindle my interest on drawing. My small time, timepass. Some sketches that takes 3-5 mins. Few of them are my own creations, some are copied....So due credits given to original thinkers....

F.R.I.E.N.D.S

2010-03-18T13:12:00.004+05:30

Early morning today, I had a dream. I and my friends are playing in a lush green open ground. The image was so vivid… so something made me to draw this cartoon… in the board near my desk….

Manjunath Rao

2010-01-02T17:25:00.003+05:30

Manjunath Rao-- One of the great person, I have met. He was President of D & B Africa. He is a happy go lucky person, a perfect Marketing and Sales professional. I met him in Morocco for my first assignment. He was the one who gave the confidence in me as I had just joined the organisation and was with team to visit for a presales along with the CEO.

Two years back, when I was travelling to Libya, unfortunately, I got struck in Egypt Airport for nearly 36 hours without food, water, sanitary facility. I coudn't communicate properly to any one for language barrier. Nor there was any help from any other quarters. And he was the man who came to my rescue. He was very fatherly.

I am now in my vaccation and was checking my emails occassionaly. One message got me shocking-- conveying condolence. Mr. Manjunath has reached the lotus feet of almighty on 29th December, 2009.

The best I could do to convey my condolences is to post this blog. I am very sad.

May his soul rest in peace.

Let God give the courage to his family to accept his demise.

Neeya Naana: English- the way we use

2009-09-20T23:17:00.002+05:30

20th Sep 2009:

I missed the introduction part of this episode. The subject of this episode is to discuss about the way we use English in our day today life. Are we using English in appropriate places to appropriate persons? Are we misusing it against those who really don't use English in their day to day life? Is it really worth it or is really needed?

Side A: We misuse English to the commoners; unnecessarily using English to show the hep in us; we are trying to ape west

Side B: We are least bothered whether we misuse of not; and so be it, we are gaining out of it.

The views placed by Side A:

~While speaking Tamizh with friends, suddenly we start speaking in English when we meet someone whom we are damn sure that they too know Tamizh. For e.g. to the friends என்னடி மாதுளை ஜூஸ் குடிக்கலாமா? and to the shop keeper "one pomegranate juice please"
~Speaking English even to the less educated people such as door keeper, billing person in grocery shop, labourers, security guards etc
~Looking down at someone who cannot speak English properly
~Speaking with an air and showing off as if they were of high class

The Views placed by Side B:

~We get a kind of satisfaction and bring in confidence when we speak in English
~We use it as a weapon to have a upper hand in a conversation
~We get attention and get things done in a short time

The counter Views placed by Side A for Side B's views:

~The satisfaction or confidence should be accepted if they were spoken amongst those who are equally educated / professionals
~If they are using it as a weapon then what is the difference between the ruffians and these people-only thing is the weapon is different but the intent is no different.
~One should question their character if they would take other person's ignorance as an advantage
~If they get hurt / get injured if someone throws stone at them, would they be crying ஐயோ அம்மா or "Oh my god" / "ouch"

The counter views placed by Side B for Side A's Views:

~We use English in our day to day conversation so that we think high and want to get placed high
~ By passage of time, when we regularly converse in English, perhaps we would be crying as oh My my! Ouch! Oh my God! etc

Special Guests' take:

Guest A: Mr. Narsiah, whose mother tounge is Telugu, born and brought up in Tamilnadu, has written many books in Tamizh, well traveled person, a post Vietnam war social worker- says that it is due to Colonial Hang over. He also says that most of the Non-Asian-non-English countries do not speak in English and in fact they feel contempt when we speak to them in English.

Guest B: (I couldn't recollect his name) says his native language is not Tamizh but he could learn it from the common man and he also said that he felt sorry for the Tamilians as many of them do not know the richness of their own language.

My take on the discussion:

Many of them who know me a little would know that to the extent possible, I speak in Tamizh (though I am not good at it). From my personal experience, in most of the time in office, even in some meetings, while other speak in English, i have responded to them in Tamizh (if the whole of the members understand Tamizh). And none has objected it rather i have seen people immediately switching their conversation to Tamizh. Of course, I don't have any native Tamizh speaking female in my team.

I feel pitty for those who speak English to the commoners. Of course I don't mean to say that we have to speak only in Tamizh for many of the proper nouns we do not have equivalent Tamizh words or if used many do not understand. But even for அம்மா அப்பா if we start calling them Mummy and Dady it is ridiculous.

I do agree that one need to improve their English knowledge so as to maintain a statu quo with rest of the colleagues especially when we have team that is cross culture, cross races. But it doesn't mean that one has to speak in English even to the commoners. One should get the maturity of striking a balance between official environment and personal environment.

Confidence should come from the way we carry ourselves and the depth and breath of the knowledge we possess on the subject that we are experts and not by speaking English to the commoners.

Those who speak English to the commoners - How many of them know how to write a proper letter to any Officials? How many of them speak a paragraph without any Grammar mistake? How many of them can write without any spelling mistake (Had MS Word do not have spell check, career of many of them would have been a question mark)- how many of them know where to use commas and where to use semi colons -how many of them know what are the various parts of a speech?

We have to realize that we are not Native speakers of English. As a mater of fact, though i studied in a English Medium school, English was taught in Tamizh. So my English was pathetic until my higher secondary and it got improve a bit during these years.

Though one may feel elated when they speak in English, there is nothing gained when they speak it with commoners or when they speak it even though the situation does not call for it.

By acting ourselves as if we are Brits and Americans and trying to ape them-we miss the richness in both English as well as Tamizh.At the end most of them end up neither being good in Tamizh nor good in English.

Neeya Naana: Introduction

2009-09-20T22:43:00.002+05:30

Many of us would be watching Neeya Naana in Vijay TV. Some of the topics are interesting and some might not so interesting. This series of blog would be about those that i happened to watch and those that were interesting. I would be presenting my views and counter views; readers may also present their views or counter views on a given topic.

All the series would have the label "Neeya Naana" and the topic title would also start with the same so that the readers can easily filter it.

Bicycle Expedition: My return

2009-09-11T10:11:00.006+05:30

I have returned yesterday after cycling 220kms. My father developed an acute discomfort and we decided it was unwise to continue anymore as his discomfort would then aggravate. We cycled first to Madurantakam 75 Kms away from my house on the first day, then to vizhupuram 84 Kms away from Madurantakam and then to Vadalur 66 Kms away from Vizhupuram. From Vadalur we returned by bus.
All in all, it was a good experience testing our stamina, confidence and perseverance. It also shattered our ego- slept under tree on roadside; took food along with the laborers (idly costs Rs. 2 /-); but for once we did not buy any packaged water bottle and hence we have to ask someone in the houses on our route.

On our route we visited ‘Eri kaatha Ramar kovil’ in Madurantakam, ‘Panakattu Eshwarar’ in Vizhupuram and ‘Vallalar’s Sutha Sanmaarga sangam ‘in Vadalur. We also learnt about existence of very important (very ancient) temples in panruti (which were not listed in internet) but missed to visit those places.

Few things that I noted are (though many of them have noticed it before):

* Everybody have mobile phone- saw some unheard mobile models-Recollected Dr. Ashok Junjunwala’s speech in our company's function Unicode 2009
* Nothing moves without touch of political party. Everybody is associated with some or other political party.
* Lots of usage of English words in normal conversation.

* When we travel by car/bus/bike we miss to note how our city / towns were rotten by pollution-which is very apparent when we commute by some slow moving vehicles such as cycle. In many a places I couldn’t breathe because of the foul odor, especially

- From Madambakkam to Tambaram

- From Tambaram to Guduvanchery

- Singaperumal kovil

- 5 Kms to Thindivanam

That is all the places nearing the city/towns were polluted heavily.

May be our government is doing their best, I don’t know. But what I feel is, unless these are kept clean we are creating a very bad world for our generations to live. May be some trust/ NGO should take such activities and employ some labor to clean such areas. It cannot be done by an individual. It should be done by some group of individual / Government. Lot of awareness campaign is required in this area.

* In the route, every two kilometers, there is a SOS telephone call booth- I was not aware of that earlier. Such SOS phones are on both sides of the road. While appreciating the idea, the one who implemented it could have given little more thought to the idea and make it still more useful. Instead of having SOS phones on both the sides of the road opposite to each other it could have been kept at interval of one km on alternating side of the road. By this, with the same number of instruments, easier access to phone could have been made. After all, one who wants to make a call can always cross the road to use the phone booth.
* Few of the villagers, without any inhibitions, asked us why we were travelling in cycle. Few could appreciate the task and few criticized it. When our objective was clear to us, such criticism did not affect us (I was wondering why I was not hitherto reflecting it in work environment)

Thanks for your support and wishes.

Bicycle Expedition: Starting

2009-09-07T05:55:00.003+05:30

Hi Friends,

Today I am starting to the expedition. The time I am posting this, all things are set ready.
Will update the happenings through my wife, who would help me in posting this, whenever i could not reach internet.

See you...

Pray God that the trip should be fine...

Bicycle Expedition: Itinerary

2009-09-04T22:21:00.001+05:30

In previous blog, I said, I would disclose my itinerary and here it is...

Day 1: Maturantakam
Day 2: Vizhupuram
Day 3: Srimushnam
Day 4: Kumbakonam
Day 5: Thiruvarur
Day 6: Seerkazhi
Day 7: Thirunallaru
Day 8: Pondicherry
Day 9: Marakkanam
Day 10: Thirukazhukundram
Day 11: Madipakkam (Home sweet Home)

Approximately each point is distancing 60-80 Kms and totals up to 700+ Kms.

We would be starting the journey at 530 / 6 AM depending on the sunlight and cycle up to 4 continuous hours, stopping in between for tea / breakfast and stop by 10-1030 AM by 12:30-13:00, we would be having a lunch and rest for another 1 hours before we start by 14:30 we would once again start to cycle up to 18:00-1830 to reach that day's destination.

Since we have targeted major towns, we would be having some lodge to rest in the night. Probably, I would request my wife to summarize the day's events, as I dictate to her over phone.
I am planning to track the cost of all things we do, so that should someone else try to do cycling, they would be informed.

Many of my friends and colleagues wished me luck; hope the readers would also wish us luck for our safe travel.

Bicycle Expedition: Practice

2009-09-04T22:16:00.002+05:30

To have practice, yesterday and today, I have cycled around 50 Kms. Yesterday, early morning, I went for a 10 Kms ride in 1 hour. I was bit scarred about my fitness, so I cycled it bit slow as I don't want to lose my enthusiasm by overdoing it. Then this gave me confidence that I can cycle 10 Kms at a stretch. So I wanted to try once again. I decided to come to office in cycle itself. My office is in Perungudi, which is 10.5 Kms away from my house. This time, too, I clocked it and it took around 40 mins. The wind was calm so it was neither in my favor and nor to my adverse. When I reached the main road, the friction in the road is less and hence it took less time.

I felt thirsty and down poured the rain and drank the rain water. I remembered Chakravagam bird that drinks only rain water.

Today, I bettered yesterday's timing. I reached my office in 35 minutes. I don’t know how many people noticed; today Sun was seen encircled with rays in VIBGYOR. It was beautiful. Unfortunately, many missed it as they were speeding their vehicle.

I am satisfied with my pratice sessions. But still, i would do it for next two days too. Lets see how i am bettering in next two days.

Bicycle Expedition: The preparations

2009-09-03T08:46:00.004+05:30

My father and I are going for this expedition. My father already has a old cycle- but thats in good condition. I got a new cycle (Hercules MTB Matrix)last Sunday from BSA GO in Velachery near Guru Nanak College. It costed Rs.3090/-

Initially, I thought i would purchase a geared Bicycle. But then the joy of normal cycle is lost. So i decided to go on with a regular one-without gears.

The old cycle, though it is in good condition, I want it be doubly sure that it works fine. After nearly 5 years, i rode a bicyle and checked whether things are working fine. To me, the cycle was bit awkward. Then I understood that it was because of such a long gap. I rode it to the cycle repair shop, Sigamani Stores, Nanganallur and asked him to check the vehicle. The mechanic suggested to change the Chain, free wheel, balls in the rear wheel, the cups in the handle bar. All these changes and labour costed Rs. 360/- Then additionally, i covered the seat with a new cover, got two side mirrors, a chain, and Pucher repairing equipents (a pair of levers, Bharath Solution, stickers, Scrubbers). All these put to gether it costed another Rs.220/-. I fitted one side mirror in each of our cycle. Then attached the seat cover.

I am yet to do the following:

-Attach rubber sheet to Mud-guard

-Tighten all the nuts and bolts

-Stick a reflector

That's it for the vehicle. The cycle is all set to go. But there are few other things that need to be purchased for the trip. i would detail what other things that we are taking with us in the next post...

Bicycle Expedition

2009-08-31T22:23:00.004+05:30

Watch this space, i am going on Cycle expedition and will update the journal of events.

The highlighted path is the tentative route covering approximately 700 Kms.

The plan is to complete the travel within 12 days as i can't leave my sweet wife so long....

So watch this space....

Learnings from Sri Paramacharya on Sri Vidya

2009-08-14T10:07:00.003+05:30

I happen to read a translation of a discourse made by His Holiness Sri Paramacharya Swamigal during Opening cermony of Sri Vidyaniliyam. Swamigal explains succintly about the diffence between the Kalai ( கலை) and Vidya (வித்யா)
Kalai, Swamigal says, is of 64 types. When any of these Kalai is learnt and used for earning food, it does not give much of happiness, but it is necessary of one's livelyhood. However, one's Kalai reaches a higher pleatue, Vidya, when one use it not for earning food, but to bring happiness of self.
He urges everyone to learn and practice atleast one Vidya and spread such vidya by teaching it to others.

சைவம் மற்றும் வைணவத்தின் நம்பிக்கையில் உள்ள தாத்பர்யம்

2009-03-23T14:59:00.001+05:30

சைவர்களுக்கும் வைணவர்களுக்கும் உள்ள வேறுபாடு முக்தி கொடுப்பது ஈஸ்வரனா அல்லது பெருமாளா என்று. எனினும், இன்று நான் அறிந்தது முக்தி பெறுவது முற்காலத்தில் குறிப்பிட்டது ஈஷ்வரனையோ அல்லது பெருமாளையோ அல்ல.
நமது உடம்பில் ப்ரஹ்ம கிராந்தி, விஷ்ணு கிராந்தி மற்றும் ருத்ர கிராந்தி என்று மூன்று முடுச்சுக்கள் இருக்கின்றது. அதில் முக்தி கிடைப்பது விஷ்ணு கிராந்தியாலா அல்லது ருத்ர கிரந்தியாலா என்பதே சர்ச்சையாக இருந்திருக்க வேண்டும். அதுவே காலப்போக்கில் விஷ்னுவாலா அல்லது ருத்திரனாலா என்று மருவி இருக்க கூடும்.
விஷ்ணு கிராந்தியில் ஐம்புலனை அடக்கி எல்லாம் அன்பு மயமாக காண்கிறோம். ருத்ர கிராந்தியில் அன்பையும் துறந்து தன்னையும் துறக்கிறோம்.

Some one line lesson: The story of a fox

2008-11-14T13:11:00.003+05:30

நரியின் கதை

ஒரு நரி அதிகாலை எழுந்து மேற்க்கு நோக்கி வேட்டைக்கு புறப்பட்டது. கிழக்கே இருந்து எழுந்த சூரிய ஒளியில் அதன் நிழல் வெகு நீளமாய் பிரமாண்டமாய்த் தெரிந்தது. நரிக்கு ஏக குஷி 'நான் ரொம்ப பெரிய ஆளாக்கும். இவளவு பெரிய எனக்கு பசி தீர வேண்டும் என்றால் குறைந்தபட்சம் ஒரு யானை அல்லது ஒட்டகமாவது கிடைத்தால் தான் கட்டுபடியாகும்!' என்று ஊளையிட்டது.

கொஞ்சம் சின்ன விலங்குகளை ஏளனத்துடன் அலட்சியபடுத்தியபடி தன் பசிக்கு குறைந்தபட்சம் ஒரு யானை, யானை என்றபடி காடு முழுவதும் ஓடிக் கொண்டே இருந்தது. தேடிக் கொண்டே இருந்தது; பாவம், ஒன்றும் கிடைக்கவில்லை. மதியம் தலைக்கு மேலே உச்சியில் சூரியனால் நரியின் நிழல் சிறுத்து அதன் காலடியில் விழுந்திருந்தது.

' ஆஹா... பசியால் நாம் எவ்வளவு இளைத்து போய்விட்டோம்...' சிறுத்து விட்டோம் என்று வருந்தியது நரி. இளைத்து போன நமக்கு ஒரு ஆட்டுக்குட்டியோ, கோழியோ கிடைத்தால் கூட போதுமானது என்று தேடியது. ம்ஹும், பயனில்லை. மாலையில் மேற்க்கே வந்த சூரியனால் நரியின் நிழல் நரிக்கு பின்பாக விழுந்தது. அதனால், நரிக்கு தன் நிழலே தெரியவில்லை...

'ஆஹா ... நாம் வெகுவாக இளைத்து விட்டோம். நாம் இல்லவே இல்லை போலிருக்கிறது. ஒரு வேளை இறந்து போய்விட்டோமோ? என்று பயந்தது. பிறகு, சீச்சீ... நாம் உயிரோடு தான் இருக்கிறோம். இந்த பசிக்கு ஒரு கோழிக்குஞ்சு, ஏன் ஒரு சின்ன எறும்பு கிடைத்தால் கூட போதும் என்று நாக்கை தொங்க விட்ட படி தள்ளாடி தள்ளாடி நடந்தது.

இந்த நரியின் கற்பனை மாதிரி.... சிலர் தங்களை வெகு பிரமாதமாக எண்ணிக் கண்கொண்டு தங்கள் திருப்திக்கு எதை, எதையோ தேடுகின்றனர். கிடைத்த பல பரிசுகளை ஒதிக்கிவிட்டு அலைகின்றனர். முடிவில், ஏதாவது கிடைக்காதா என்று ஏங்கி வாடுகின்றனர். இரண்டும் வேண்டாமே! போன்மூட்டையில் 99 பொற்காசுகள் தான் இருக்கிறது, 100 ஆவது இல்லையே என வருந்தி காலத்தை வீணடிக்காமல், கிடைத்த 99 வைத்து சந்தோஷமாக இருக்கலாமே?

Some oneline Lesson: My brother rejoiced that I conquered Death

2008-09-23T04:53:00.002+05:30

Lesson 2:

This, in fact is a very small story but with profound meaning that I read couple of days before.

Beggar: "Can you spare some old clothes, if you could!"

Me: "Certainly I could, but why don’t you come tomorrow?"

Beggar: Dejected and returns

My brother: "Wow! My brother has conquered death! He is certain that he is going to live tomorrow. He has asked the beggar tomorrow to collect the old clothes"

Bull’s eye!

Some One line Lessons: How long was Ambani’s beard?

2008-09-22T17:23:00.001+05:30

Lesson 1

This incident happened some 8 yrs back. I was 19-20, doing my Apprenticeship for my chartered Accountancy. As usual I woke up did the morning chores and started to office. My office timings start at 09:30 in the morning. Though I am not punctual to office, I won’t go earlyJ. That day I reached my office at 9:27, I saw my boss at office. He asked me if I have got anything scheduled today. You know during apprenticeship, we would be waiting if the partner of the firm would have a look at you, will he give any job to you so that you can prove yourself etc. So obviously, I said nothing important. And that is the first time, rather first chance I got, he asked me to prepare for section 80- I of the income tax act, I vaguely recollect, it should be related to holiday period allowed for Hotel Industry. I was jumping in Joy and started to prepare the notes. The meeting was at 14:30 and by 12:30 I was ready with my all notes. I was rushing here and there and to get the print outs etc. Was fuming at my colleague who gave a print out for 250 pages. And I need to take just 2 pages of printout. It’s a small office, so I don’t have the choice of alternative printers. Everything went fine. And by 1:30 I went to his office and proudly presented my notes of the case, points to be highlighted, points to be discussed, points in our favour and points that were not in our favor, how to handle if points in favor was quoted, relevant previous case laws etc

Suddenly out of the blue he stopped me and said, Karthik, you have not shaved. It was wired- I was presenting him the case for the first time and he commented that I have not shaved. Was wondering, if he ever turned his ear towards what I said. But was careful I didn’t show any facial expression. I just dismissed his comment by saying “No time Sir” and started with the next highlight. He laughed cynically. I wondered if I made a grave mistake in the highlight. “Pardon me Sir, have I committed some mistake”, he replied “No, No nothing- was just wondering how long beard Ambani should have grown” Ambani the most successful business man in India (Name a business, he had it). I realized that he pointed that if Ambani could find time to shave despite all his business dealings, why can’t I?

I realized 24 hours is common for all. The only thing that matters is what we prioritize and how better we utilize the allocated time.

Subconsciously Conscious

2008-09-22T01:48:00.001+05:30

Can anything and everything be Analyzed and calculated? Could a scientific approach be made on all activities? Should we sometime realise that there is a science behind everything?

I am riding my bike from my house to office. A distance of 14 kms in Chennai. There was a heavy rain in the morning and its drizzling now. The roads are drenched with water and made it impossible to identify the pits and the holes in the road.

I am taking my regular route to office today. The drizzling is getting heavier as a rain and I could hardly keep my eyes open to see the traffic. A new car overtook me but started to slow down and it went below my average speed and its blocking my way and to ride slow is a pain. I decided to overtake the car. The car driver sensed that I wanted to overtake him and he isn’t happy about it. He accelerated but I am no one to give it up. We were almost at same speed, accelerating and were neither of us could overtake each other for about a hundred meters. Out of the blue a van came in the opposite direction and I sensed that he is no mood to slower down and wait for us to pass through. The danger is approaching. I need to take a quicker decision. I am going at 60. The road is no good to go more than that. The van is just a 20 mts away. If I apply the break, then I loose to the car and probably some vehicle behind me in the road may hit me. If I keep the same speed, I can make sure a bed is ready in near by hospital. Ten meters ahead I saw a small pit on the left, if I overtake the car by a meter, then the car may not wish to go over the pit, it’s a new car and the driver is a chauffeur and he won’t dare to make the care dirty when someone, a lady is at back seat. I accelerated to 70kmph for just a sec and was ahead of him by a meter or more the car slowed and I made a mirror S cut and overtook the car. All this happened in matter of three to four seconds. After crossing I was wondering how was it possible for me to decide that if I sped some more at that particular point of time I can overtake the car and save my life and as well as to satisfy my ego of overtaking the car? Did I make any analytical calculation at that point of time? Was my action scientific?

Yes I had made a calculation and yes my action was scientific. But did I make the calculation after realising the distance accurately? Did I make my action scientific after analysing the calculation? It took me nearly 10 minutes to write whatever crap is written above. It would have taken at least 10% of the time to describe this orally to some one which is 1 minute. It would have taken half the time if I do a mental calculation after realising that it’s a calculation. But the whole process is over in couple of seconds. Then I realised that when one starts riding a bike or any vehicle for the matter of fact, one’s subconscious mind calculates all these kind of calculations and stores it. To take a decision, there was some order from somewhere and I obeyed it. Where was this order from? Why did I obey the order? It was the subconscious mind that makes the order. How did it know correctly that I can over take? How did the actual data like chauffeur driving the car, the pit in the left of the road, the rain, the speed, the van opposite direction were used? Any other guesses….?

31-July-2007