Writing Since Free

Four Shirts from my Father

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 15:49:00 +0000

Start here

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For the last few people who would have visited my blog. Apologies. I had promised to write about my Love in detail. I wrote my first part and then the second part is pending. No, the love still remains the same. Just that we got our second baby recently and I have been terribly quoting that as a reason to procrastinate on almost everything. So, do wait and I will get the right mindset to write about my Love journey again.

Meanwhile, something interesting happened in Life. I thought I will better share it with you all. I know all your ears are already ears to know about this cover picture and the article title. But you got to listen to the seven year old pre-story to come to the present-story.

Shirt starts

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Ever since this word called “sustainability” hit me I have been behaving a different animal. I have been watching what I consume day in and out. Not very seriously judging my lifestyle, but seriously observing what I am consuming. Thanks to videos like this by the Story of stuff guys (to quote one of the many who influenced me). I limited the number of cloth I use. While at Chennai, I spent three years with three jeans and half a dozen T-shirts. I got tired of jeans and those jeans understood me well. They also tore apart, mainly in the knees and the buttocks. I rested them in peace.

Then I moved to three pairs of Dhoti and two pairs of cotton pants. The T-shirts didn’t went very well with the Dhoti and pants. So, slowly I accumulated half a dozen shirts. All these were never bought in a day. All are accumulations over a slow period of time, generally one in 4 months or more.

Some months I would iron my shirts, some months I would question my logic of wasting energy in ironing and won’t iron. Three years passed and my shirts kept losing confidence in me. Some shirts attracted serious unwanted attention from friends and well-wishers. May be I was way too beautiful in my dresses. In the lower end, I was rich with too many dhotis. But the cotton pants aren’t good companions. They tore off their knees very soon. I kept them all in Khakhi colors so that I don’t have to think much on my color selection everyday. It is better to keep something fixed everyday. Anyways, there are way too variables in life. Why add a variable in pant color selection.

Birth of our second baby gave a good opportunity for my family to intervene in my dresses. They took away all my dhotis citing the need for good used cotton fabric for the baby. Well they were really well-used for long and were totally soft and safe for the baby. The shirts decided to part away on their own. Ya, I missed to add about the colors I get added to my shirts every now and then. We have this screen printing setup in our office to print on our cloth bags. Every time I cross that area, surprisingly a new color gets added to my shirt. So, some of my multicolored shirts and pants got torn away.

Shirt ends

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After long years of living separately, our family lived with dad and mom for two month. You are right. We need more people when a small baby is born. May be when I was deeply in love with my baby girl, my Dad was seriously concerned about his baby boy(me!!). He advised me to get dressed well. Well, I have given away that well-looking man to the logic of inner beauty and satisfaction. A dress was more of a trouble to maintain for most days except for few days where I wanted to look well. So, Dad went to shop, picked up four fabric which matches the colors that I have been using all these years. He should have observed my shirts for the last six years. Gave the fabric to a tailor along with a sample of a good looking shirt I gifted myself 6 months back. Thus..giving birth to four nice new shirts to me.

I already have three good shirts which my screen printing colleagues are yet to connect with. So, now I have I guess more than half a dozen shirt. I have reserved one for Diwali. Too many shirts now. Don’t want to gift it to anyone as they are gifted with loads of expectation from my dear Dad.

So, no matter we talk minimalism, no matter we talk conscious consumerism, we all get over consumed by the abundance of Love in this earth.

That’s the story of my four new shirts. Happy relationships to you all folks!

Love of my times

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 06 May 2018 18:05:00 +0000

Time has passed. Seventeen years since this thought of Love hit me so strong. My wife Gowri is with me ever since then. If there is something which I have been passionate about in my whole life, it is my efforts to attract her while in college. Till date that is the best decision I have ever taken in life. We live happily since then. I am going to spend this part of my life peeling off my skin to realize the beauty of my own memories.

Pic: Naveen Gowtham fb.com/naveengowtham.ng

So, we are talking about the year 2000. Movies were more about boy sacrificing his blood, eyes, tongue, kidney, limbs or even life for her beloved. Those were the sacred love days where you can only fall in love with only one girl in your whole life. It will be christened as Sacred Love (Punithamaaana Kadhal). If it fails, you lose your life or stay single whole life. Words like break-up, affair were not much known. Live-in relationship is a crime society couldn’t think of. I did not even know that the word girlfriend only means a romantic relationship. I thought every girl who is a friend is a girlfriend and every boy who is a friend is a boyfriend.

The movies, especially songs of my days were the bible for the society to feel, interpret and understand Love. I think it might hold true for people of all ages. So, that’s how I think I was also groomed about the thought of Love.

Not just that, you have the whole group of close friends who fall for one girl or the other. One by one, all wickets were lost. You can’t stay single. So, I also started the feel to have the feeling.

Society thought me the theory and friends thought me practical. I was alone and waiting for my turn to get into the feeling. I join college. First day of college I guess. No, not really the first day; it was the admission day. I see her there. We were the only two students (with parents) at that time slot. You should know that I studied all my school days in a Boys-only school.

At the first sight I kind of had a good feeling for her, but not really ‘that’ ‘love’ feeling. Today it proves me that I didn’t fall flat like a cow hitting the pond after months of no water. It really didn’t hit me on the first meeting, but it certainly set directions. If you don’t believe in butterfly effects, you might believe it though my story..

Back then, you might know Computer Science was a secured option to get a Job. Her father asks for my score and I say I scored 923. She had scored a little less than me and was declined a seat in Computer Science. I got a Computer Science seat already confirmedJ. They had come to pay fee and confirm admission for Maths. They see a worthless guy like me securing a Computer Science seat. They did not pay the fee and decided to re-negotiate with the college.

I didn’t know of all these. I joined college. I went for the first day. I saw her walking into this room. In my mind I thanked her dad. That set the direction even focused. Still, I didn’t get ‘that ‘love’ feeling. But I was all destined to get that feeling soon. After all, butterflies don’t flutter at random.

‘that’ ‘love’ feeling shall be discussed in the next post soon..

Happy Teachers Day

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 07:26:00 +0000

We recently had the Joy of bringing home an ornamental Betta fish. The fish bought in a lot of Joy and excitement to our five year old daughter. We started thinking of a name for the fish. As adults, we started suggesting typical pet names like ‘jumbo’, ‘micky’ and as a child she started suggesting various sounds like ‘kiya muki’, ‘mee keere’ and it went on without a decision.

Suddently she shouted “Mythili”. She said “let us call it Mythili”. We asked her “why?”. She responded “It is the name of my teacher at Bodhana. I like her.” Such is the love kids can show to good teachers.

Happy Teachers Day!

The Uneducated Education System

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 08 May 2015 12:23:00 +0000

Straight to the point. There are three incidents which made me write define today's education as "The uneducated education system".

1. There was a natural calamity in my mind when I read this. "Life on this planet earth depends upon a variety of goods and services provided by the nature, which are known as Natural Resources" This is from a book on Environment education meant for Engineering students. Almost all Engineers coming under AICTE would have read this.

In what sense does the author defines natural resources as products and services. Are they consumables? If the student understand water as a good and clean air as a service, then God help the Planet.

2. This was written in an UKG kids book. "What does the cow give for us?", "What does the Honeybee give for us?".

Only a semi-literate can write such sentences. Are we teaching the kids that the cow and honeybee has no other job than creating milk and honey for us?. We take it from them. That is the fact. There is a lot of emotional difference between someone giving us something and we taking it from them. The system tends to teach the kids that we are supreme over all the other living organisms. Sirs and madams, Please teach them inclusiveness, inter-dependence and not dominance.

3. A fifth standard kid approached me to help him in his school project, He has to build a wind mill model. He said he has a small motor using which he can rotate the windmill. I had to explain him that wind mill runs on wind and hence he can probably use the motor to create a fan to generate artificial wind in the model. Windmill running on motor will defeat the purpose of doing the model.

He went on to check with his teacher and the teacher disapproved of doing it as I suggested. She simply said that is not the way to make a model. The wind mill ran on a battery powered motor and there was a model done which looked like a windmill but behaved as something else. Long live the application based learning method which sells well today, but doesn't get implemented the way it should be.

The uneducated education system trying to educate the next generation. God help!

I have God in my stomach

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 06:58:00 +0000

-A father's note as noticed from his 4 year old little daughter.

It wasn't a regular weekend. My wife and I were completely occupied with meetings and local traveling for two days and came to rest only by 12 midnight on the Sunday night. Our 4 year old daughter was with us for most part and she too got to sleep only by that time. She got to go to school by 9.00am the next day.

12th Jan 2015: We got to wake up by 7.30am atleast to set things right for the day. It didn't happen so. It was 8.00am when we woke up. We could wake her up by 8.30am and she wanted to watch the rhymes video which she has asked me to buy the previous day. She was still sleepy but demanding for the video. We haven't shown her nursery video's for long time now. I knew it wouldn't be possible for me to win over her on the video issue. I allowed her to watch. We weren't sure of sending her to school and we decided not to send her to school that day.

By 9.00am, may be her biological clock indicated her that she should be at school. On a casual note, we indicated her that the kids at School might be preparing for Pongal celebration. May be she realized what she is missing on. May be, she also realized that she should have woken up early to be at School. She started crying, slowly but loudly. It wasn't a regular cry demanding something. It was the sound of a genuine guilt from the heart. Her guilt couldn't settle down soon.

She blames us in many situations where we miss to buy her something. Today, she did not blame us. She was definitely blaming herself. She couldn't stop crying. I offered a hug. She rejected it. Instead, she opted to move a little away from us. She moved to another room. She kneeled down and bent down. With her heads touching the ground, she wept for minutes together. Then, she kneeled towards the Pooja shelf. The shelf was open and we have different idols of God. She folded her hands. She stopped weeping for a second. She then stood up, folded her hands and started weeping again. She was in that posture for a lengthy few seconds. I watched all these without she noticing me. I managed to take a silent picture. Is she praying to God? I am not sure if she knows about praying to God. Her routine with God is just about stopping by and wearing the scared ash on the forehead. Occasionally singing a sloka or touching our feet for blessings. I am not sure if she knows God as someone who could heal her, help her.

She came back to the hall and then we could convince her with food. She was emotionally down for having missed her school. She turned back to silence in about an hour. I was still curious to know of her interaction with God. I asked her once "What did you do at the Pooja Shelf?". She opted not to respond. I did not insist. I know that she will let me know on another occasion.

I left for office before she could completely recover. I requested my wife to ask her about what she did at the Pooja shelf. She asked it to her post noon when she was completely recovered. The little one did not respond. My wife too did not insist. Post noon, her day went on as cheerful as any other day.

I met her again in the evening. We were talking about something and happened to be in the same Pooja shelf room. I sat at the same position where she sat in the morning. She sat next to me. I wanted to make an attempt to get my question clarified. I decided to ask her the same question one last time. "What did you do at the Pooja Shelf today morning?"

This time, I was lucky. She has recovered well to talk about it. She said "I prayed to God. I asked God to take me to School. I also asked God to wake me up early." I was confused, how could a four year old end up to God as her last resort. May be the issue of missing School on the day before Pongal celebration is so important to her. May be the most important thing in her life at that moment.

I asked a follow up question "What did God say?" She said "God said OK. God also prayed back at me." I asked "Why did the God pray at you?". She said " I have God in my stomach. Hence God prayed to me. We all have a God in our stomach. God prays at it". I said OK and discontinued that conversation.

I am still amazed at how could a little girl be so excited about School. May be, her school follows Montessori methods which keeps the children first and respects them. She can't do injustice to the school by missing it. May be she misses all her friends and fun.

I am still amazed at how could a little girl have her own understanding of the concept of God. She knows that God isn't a fairy tale. If so, she should have prayed to Chotta Bheem and not to God.

I realized kids do have strong emotions and a stronger understanding of reality. It is just that adults couldn't see their reality as real. Can we understand what she meant as "I have God in my stomach."?

Every Bag Has a Story to Tell

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 07:40:00 +0000

Charmi agreed to be the model
and promote this bag

There is a bearded, well mannered old man in Madurai. He has inherited the art of making cloth canvas bags. For three generations he says, his family has survived on this business. His bags are not for the very rich, but for the traders who need a strong companion to carry their stuff.

He goes to the cloth market and sources good quality canvas cloth. He is worried as the price per kg of this cloth has shooted above Rs.200. This old man in his early fifties brings the cloth home in a cycle (the cycle looks half as old as him). He carefully cuts it and stitches to make awesome bags like the one shown in this picture.

He carries couple of dozens in his cycle. Hangs them in the front handle bar. He has made it the right size so that the bags can swing , but not touch the front wheels of the cycle. It is a customer expectation for him. His customers will not buy if it is long and could touch the front wheel. Now, he says it is a market standard size for these bags.

His place of business lies about 9kms from his house. He does not ride his cycle. He just walks with the cycle. Walking with the cycling slows him down, but attracts the passers by and shop keepers. He could sell 1 or 2 bags on the way to his place of business. He reaches his place of business by 9.00am. He makes sure he is ready to be there till 7.00pm. It is an old and dynamic trading spot. You could see people selling everything from onions to ornaments. The sellers and the buyers would need a bag. His bags are not sold in super markets or in the shops. They all have moved on to plastic bags. Those who see the value of Rs.120 in his bag are his customers. They negotiate and he will be happy to sell it at Rs.110.

Once the sale is made, he makes a value addition. He says, "I can attach rivets to the handle. My bags are strong enough , but the rivets will make it stronger for ever". If the customer is convinced with this sales pitch, our bag maker earns Rs.10 extra.

At the end of the day, he is happy to sell 4 or 5 bags. I asked him, "Why not 40 or 50 bags a day?". He replied "These are expensive bags, do you expect to sell 40 or 50?". I saw the business-man missing in him, but I could see a man who loves his livelihood. He has to now walk back the 9kms home. I asked him, why not leave the goods and cycle somewhere nearby. He says, that will cost me Rs.25 a day. Why spend that when I can make some extra money by walking my way back.

Do you want to meet him? You should go to Thermutti in Madurai. You could locate a cycle on the platform near the first Ther (Temple Car). You might see a cheerful, bearded old man with colorful bags near that cycle. He says, I'm open 9.00am to 7.00pm every day.

Such wonderful people, makes us believe further in our www.theyellowbag.org initiative. Happy to be the messenger.

மாற்றுத்திரனாளிகள் உலா வரும் வீதி, சாத்தியமா?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 07:34:00 +0000

நமக்கே இங்க நடக்க நடைபாதை இல்லை, இதில் மாற்றுத்திரனாளிகளை பற்றி கவலை பட முடியுமா சார்? நமக்காவது உடைந்த குறைந்த நடைபாதை இருக்கு. அவங்களுக்கு அது கூட இல்லையே. அவங்களுக்கு சாலையை சரி பண்ணி கொடுங்க, நமக்கு தானாகவே நல்ல சாலை கிடைக்கும். அமெரிக்க பயண சிந்தனை வரிசையில் இன்னொரு ஒலிப்பதிவு இதோ. பேசுவோமா?

அமெரிக்காவில பிச்சைக்காரர்கள் இருக்காங்களா?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 07:12:00 +0000

குப்பையும் அமெரிக்காவும்: அமெரிக்காவில் குப்பை மேலாண்மை சார்ந்த சிந்தனை.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 19:17:00 +0000

சாலையில் நடப்பதை பற்றியும், அதை சார்ந்த சமூக மனநிலையையும் பற்றியும்

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 04:06:00 +0000

The Social Smile of the United States

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 05:12:00 +0000

I am staying in Seattle, WA, United States for about a month. This article is written on the second day of the stay.

I am a novice in my knowledge of the west. This trip to the United states has made me think through the US as a society; Appreciate what they seems to be good at. I like the way they smile and talk to everyone. If you happen to meet someone, making eye contacts seems to be a basic thing to show respect. A smile and hello is preferred over just a nod. I think this is a perfect way to make a happy society.

People look just relaxed. I am yet to come across an husband who constantly irritates his wife while shopping. A common sight we see while shopping in India. I am yet to come across a parent shouting at their kid for being naturally crazy. A common sight we see everywhere in India. I am yet to come across arguments with the Hotel Waiter or any other Service provider for silly things. A common sight we see in India wherever we see the richer Indian buying something from the poorer earning staff.

I have heard about the traffic sense in US, but had to see it to believe. They are really patient and respectful for pedestrians. It is unbelievable to see cars stop and wait for me to cross the road. It is unbelievable to see Zebra crossings been given with its real meaning.

All these are good at the moment. Need to see through this society in detail to understand how much of the smile is really from the Heart. Need to observe to understand if the care for Pedestrians is a show of sensitivity or the fear of the Law. Many questions in mind! Got to explore the place and people.

Me, Madurai and Mock Interviews

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 15:05:00 +0000

I belong to a culturally rich city called Madurai in Tamilnadu, India. It has been 10 years since I moved out of the city with a B.Sc degree. Going back to my roots is an idea I am nourishing ever since I moved out. I have been working with people in various capacities over these years. As a specialist in Training and Development, my primary job with Corporates is to develop people and make them skilled for the Job they are expected to perform.

I learn from experiences. When I look back, I am amazed at how I have acquired the required skills in the last ten years. I think, developing others have helped me grow as a Professional. I would sincerely love to take back these skills to my native and work for the development of the student community there. When I was a student in 2003, I would have loved to have someone like the current me as a mentor. I didn't get any. In 2014, I should give that opportunity to the students who would love to make use of me. I can mentor, guide and help them to get a good launch pad.

With this in mind, I scheduled a mock interview session for students in Madurai. A mock interview will provide students with a real experience of an interview. It will help them evaluate their strength and weakness. During my MBA days in Gurgaon, I have benefited extensively through such interventions by the college.

17 students from various colleges in Madurai signed up for the mock interview. I was feeling extremely happy and fulfilled after meeting them all over a period of three days. I spent about 30 to 40 minutes with every student. Asked them questions to understand their logical thinking, basic technical and communication skills. The small house that my Dad built long back helped us as a free venue. My Alma mater, Sourashtra College gave their classroom for one of the interview days.

Here is an analysis of their performance:

Here are the shockers:

The quality of students have not changed in the last 10 years. Most of them sounded like me and my friends ten years back. We were under-qualified to get a Job then.
Even today,listening to movie songs is their primary Hobby. They do not have any other hobby.
Most were unable to answer basic technical questions from their specialization.
Huge vacuum in their ability to relate concepts to practical applications

There is one good news too:

Everyone showed great interest in improving their employability. Unfortunately, those who are supposed to guide them(Teachers,Parents) do not have the required exposure. Hence, students alone can not be blamed.

What would they need:

I will have to spend more time with them to be precise at explaining their need. Till that time, I think they will need the following:

Someone to mentor them on choosing a career path

Exposure through practicing professionals

Self development interventions on communication skills

Freedom from their parents and the society to think as they wish
Better teaching staff who can create an interest than just cover the lesson plan

I am determined to work on the first three needs. Have to make better use of my time to be able to do that. Hope I can, as I want to...

Here is the next Mock interview schedule(24th to 26th April) and registration form. If you are a student or know of a needy student, please use this opportunity.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Tjghb12ycGONwQvUrxPjCG1t7fErSrkmHY60ZKHhMVM/viewform

எனது ஒட்டு ஆம் ஆத்மி கட்சிக்கே...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 07:51:00 +0000

நண்பர் திரு வா.மணிகண்டன் அவர்கள் மோடி அவர்களால் நிலையான அரசு கொடுக்க முடியும் என்ற கருத்தில் ஒரு கட்டுரை எழுதியுள்ளார். அவருடைய கட்டுரையை படித்த பிறகு தோன்றியவை..

நிலையான அரசு தான் வேண்டும் என்றால் காங்கிரசை கூட ஆதரிக்கலாம். அவர்கள் கூட கடந்த பத்து வருசமும் சீட்டை தேய்ச்சார்கள். வளரும் நாடு என்ற நம்பிக்கை போய், வளருமா என்ற சந்தேகமே மிஞ்சுகிறது.

மோடி சூரப்புலியாக இருந்தாலும், அவரை வளர்க்கும் கட்சியோ பழமைவாதிகளின் சங்கம் என்று சொல்லக்கூடிய அளவுக்கு பழசு. இவர்கள் இது வரை செய்தது என்ன என்பதை சுவிஸ் பாங்கிடமும், இந்தியாவின் பெரும் பண முதலைகளிடமும், முஸ்லிம் சகோதரர்களிடமும் மட்டுமே கேட்டறிய முடியும்.

தமிழகத்தின் விதி அய்யாவிடமும் அம்மாவிடமும் மாட்டிக்கொன்டதை போல், இந்தியாவின் விதி பி.ஜே.பி மற்றும் காங்கிரஸிடம் மாட்டிக்கொள்ளவேண்டுமா?

எதிர்காலத்தில், நமக்கு இவர்கள் அற்ற ஒரு மாற்று தலைமை வேண்டும். அந்த மாற்றத்தின் ஆரம்பமாக நான் ஆம் ஆத்மி கட்சியை பார்க்கின்றேன். இவர்கள் ஆட்சிக்கு வந்தால், உடனே லஞ்ச ஊழல் அகன்று விடும், இந்தியா வல்லரசு ஆகிவிடும் என்று சொல்லவில்லை. இதற்க்கான ஆரம்பம் கட்டாயம் வரும். தகுதி உடையவர்கள், அரசியலில் ஈடுபட முன்வருவார்கள், லஞ்சம் வாங்கும் ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் மக்கள் மீதான பயம் வரும். வளர்ச்சி திட்டங்கள் பண முதலைகளுக்கு மட்டுமே வளர்ச்சியை தராமல் மக்களுக்கும் வளர்ச்சி தரும் என்று நம்புகின்றேன்.

எனது ஒட்டு ஆம் ஆத்மி கட்சிக்கே...

பி.கு: இதற்க்கு எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்து பலரும் இங்கு என்னை திட்டுவீர்கள். திருத்துகிறேன் என்று அறிவுரை கூறுவீர்கள். நேரமின்மையால் என்னால் பதில் அளிக்க முடியாது என்று தாழ்மையுடன் தெரிவித்துக்கொல்கின்றேன்.

Madurai Talks - Learning on the Road

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 04:39:00 +0000

Today is the second day of my one week long vacation of going back to my roots. Gowri & I went for a 9KM run covering Teppakulam and Sundaram Park in Madurai. These are well known public places for fitness enthusiast in Madurai. The word Teppakulam would make most Madurai guys remember their old Cricket days.

When I was about to finish, by around 7.15am, I saw an elderly man standing near the road. He had a walking stick in his hand. Dirty clothes. He was walking and then he stopped. He stood still for about a minute.

I observed him from the other side and then I walked across. I thought, he needs help. I was not sure if I can, but wanted to see what he wants. Usual thoughts in my mind... He would need food, water, an auto fare to reach back home or may be he wants a Home.

When I reached him, he started walking again. I opened the conversation..

"Are you fine Thatha(grandfather)"

"Yes..Just walking"

"Walking?"

"I will walk around the Teppakulam and then come back to this spot. Later I will take an auto and go back home"

I was confused and amazed. Teppakulam is a one Kilometer walking loop. In commercial terms, you can burn around 40 calories by walking around the Teppakulam. I asked him "Do you do it regularly?"

He replied, "Morning and evening everyday"

I was thrilled. He wasn't able to stand straight. His has reduced listening sense and has to stop and raise his head to listen to me. Still, he makes it a point to walk 2KMS a day!

Now, I was ashamed for thinking that he needs help. I continued "What is your age thatha?"

"Whatever it is. Why think about that? Thinking about age will make one weak. I was walking without the stick. Now, the leg pain has increased and hence I need the stick. I do nor care about age."

Finally "Can I take some Photos?"

With a laugh "Take it. Will anyone say No to Photographs?"

I knew, this elderly thatha in dirty clothes should be around 80 years if not more. At this age, he walks 2 KMS a day and doesn't worry about his age.

The people who can inspire, motivate and educate us are there on the road. Not in YouTube Videos.

நாட்டை ஆழ கிளம்புவோமா?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 11:22:00 +0000

ஒரு ஊரில் ஐந்து நண்பர்கள் இருந்தனர். இவர்கள் ஐவரும் டிரவுசர் போட்ட காலத்தில் திக் பிரெண்ட்ஸ்.

முதல் நண்பன் பரம்பரை பணக்காரன். வெளி நாடு சென்று பெரும் படிப்பு படித்தான். பல நாடுகளுடன் வியாபாரம் செய்யும் திறமை பெற்றான். அவனுடைய தந்தையின் இந்திய வியாபாரத்திற்க்காக பல தேசங்களில் இருந்து முதலீட்டை வரவழைத்தான். அவனுடைய வாழ்வு முறை 'எவனை கெடுத்தாலும் பரவாயில்லை தான் சம்பாதிப்பது மட்டுமே முக்கியம்' என்று சர்வதேச அளவில் வளர்ந்த்து.

இரண்டாவது நண்பனும் பரம்பரை பணக்காரன். அவன் சிறு வயதிலே கல்வியை விட்டுவிட்டு வியாபாரம் செய்ய ஆரம்பித்தான். அவன் வாழ்ந்து வந்த நகரத்திலே மிக பெரிய ரியல் எஸ்டேட் வியாபாரியாக வளர்ந்தான். அரசு அதிகாரிகளை கவனித்து, அவர்கள் மூளமாக அரசு ரோடு காண்ட்ராக்ட், கல் குவாரி, மணல் குவாரி போன்ற கொள்ளை வியாபாரங்களில் செழித்து உள்ளூரிலே பெரிய பணக்காரனாக வளர்ந்தான்.

மூன்றாவது நண்பன் ஒரு சாதாரண குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்தவன். கஷ்டப்பட்டு படித்து டாக்டர் ஆனான். அந்த ஊரிலே கிளினிக் அமைத்து படிப்படியாக வளர்ந்து, வங்கியில் லோன் வாங்கி, சொந்த வீடு, சொந்த கிளினிக் என்று நிதானமான ஆனால் குறைவில்லாத ஒரு வாழ்க்கை வாழ்ந்து வந்தான்.

நான்காவது நண்பன் உயர் கல்வி படிக்கும் அளவிற்கு வசதி பெறவில்லை. பள்ளி முடிந்தவுடனே வேலைக்கு போய் சம்பாதிக்கும் நிர்பந்தம். அங்கும் இங்கும் என்று பல வேலைகள் பார்த்துவிட்டு பிறகு நீரந்தரமான வேலை ஒன்றை தேடிக்கொண்டான். ஊரில் இருக்கும் பஞ்சு ஆலையில் மெக்கானிக்காக சொற்ப சம்பளத்தில் எளிமையான ஒரு வாழ்க்கையை அமைத்துக்கொண்டான்.

ஐந்தாவது நண்பன், பிறப்பாலே ஏழை. பள்ளிக்கு சென்றதே மதிய உணவு திட்டத்தில் கொஞ்சம் சோறு கிடைக்கும் என்பதனால் தான். ஆறாவது படிக்கும் பொழுதே காயலாங்கடை ஒன்றில் வேலைக்கு பொய் சேர்ந்தவன், இன்று வரை குப்பைகளுக்கு நடுவில் தன் வாழ்க்கையை தேடிக்கொண்டு இருக்கின்றான். வீடு வீடாக சென்று பழைய பேப்பர் மற்றும் பொருட்களை வாங்கி பணம் ஆக்குவதே அவன் தொழில். குடும்பத்துடன் மூன்று வேலை கஞ்சி குடிக்க முடிந்தது, யாருக்கும் நோய் என்ற செலவு இல்லாத நாட்களில் மட்டும்.

இவர்கள் பிரிந்து இருபது ஆண்டுகள் ஆகிவிட்டது. முதல் நண்பன், இரண்டாவது நண்பனுடன் இன்றளவும் நட்பு வைத்திருந்தான். சர்வதேச வியாபாரிக்கு தேவையான உள்ளூர் விவகாரங்கள் எல்லாம் செய்து முடிப்பது உள்ளூர் ரியல் எஸ்டேட் நண்பன். இரண்டாவது நண்பனுக்கு இருக்கும் அரசியல் மற்றும் அரசு அதிகாரிகளின் நட்பு, முதல் நண்பனுக்கு பேருதவியாக இருந்தது. அரசு அதிகாரிகளுக்கு மிகவும் பிடித்தவர்களாக இருந்தனர். முதல் நண்பனின் ஆசியில் இரண்டாம் நண்பன் செழித்தான். இரண்டாம் நண்பனின் ஆசியில் அரசு அதிகாரிகள் செழித்தனர். அரசியல் கட்சிகளும் கூட செழித்தன.

நான்காவது நண்பன், ஐந்தாவது நண்பனுடன் இன்றளவும் நட்பு வைத்திருந்தான். இவர்கள் இருவரும் அவ்வப்போது சந்தித்து தத்தம் வாழ்க்கை மற்றும் வறுமையை நினைத்து நொந்து கொள்பவர்கள். அரசு என்றாவது ஏதாவது இலவசம் கொடுத்தால் முதலாவதாக வரிசையில் நின்று வாங்கிக்கொள்பவர்கள். மற்ற வகையில் வறுமை கோட்டுக்கு மேலும் கீழுமாக நித்தம் தத்தளித்துக்கொண்டிருப்பவர்கள்.

மூன்றாவது நண்பனுக்கு பிரச்சனை என்று ஒன்றும் இல்லை. அவனுக்கு அவனுடைய மருத்துவ வட்டாரத்தை தவிர்த்து நண்பர்கள் தேவைப் படவில்லை. தொழிலில் கவனம் செலுத்தினான். வரும் பணத்தில் ஒழுங்காக வரியும் கட்டினான். இவனுக்கு அரசை பற்றியும் சிந்தனை இல்லை, சுற்றி இருக்கும் மக்களை பற்றியும் கவலை இல்லை. இவனுடைய கவலை எல்லாம் சம்பாத்தியத்தை எப்படி பெருக்கிக்கொள்வது, குழந்தைகளை எப்படி படிக்க வைப்பது என்று தன்னை சுற்றி மட்டுமே இருக்க முடிந்தது.

இந்த நிலையில், அவர்கள் ஊரில் பாராளுமன்ற தேர்தல் நடைபெற்றது. நம் ரியல் எஸ்டேட் நண்பனுக்கு பதவி மீது ஆசை, முக்கியமான கட்சி ஒன்று ஒரு சீட்டுக்கு முப்பது கோடி என்று விலை நிர்ணயம் செய்தது. இரண்டாம் நண்பன் முதல் நண்பனுடன் கலந்து ஆலோசித்தான். முதல் நண்பன் முழு பணத்தையும் கொடுப்பதாகவும், இதற்க்கு கைமாறாக தனது பதவியை முதலானவனின் நலனுக்காகவே பயன்படுத்துவதாகவும் உடன்பாடு ஏற்பட்டது.

தேர்தல் களம் சூடு பிடித்துக்கொண்டு இருந்த்து. இதுவரை தன் நண்பர்கள் எங்கு இருக்கிறார்கள் என்று கூட கவலை படாத இரண்டாமானவன், உள்ளூரில் இருக்கும் மூன்று நண்பர்களையும் அழைத்து விருந்து வைத்தான். தனது வெற்றிக்கு தோள் கொடுக்குமாறு கேட்டுக்கொண்டான். தனது கட்சி சின்னமான "முதலை வாய்" சின்னத்துக்கே வாக்களிக்குமாறு கேட்டுக்கொண்டான். வருங்கால MP நமது நண்பன் என்று சொல்லிக்கொள்வதில் இவர்கள் மூவருக்கும் மிகுந்த பெருமை.

மருத்துவன், அவனது நண்பர்கள், நோயாளிகள் அனைவரிடமும் "முதலை வாய்" சின்னத்துக்கே வாக்களிக்குமாறு பணிந்தான். மெக்கானிக்கோ, அவனுடைய பஞ்சாலை தோழர்களை அழைத்துக்கொண்டு வீடு வீடாக சென்று "முதலை வாய்" சின்னத்துக்கு வாக்கு சேகரித்தான். காயலாங்கடைக்காரன், போஸ்டர் ஓட்டுவது, கொடி கம்பு நடுவது, ஒலிபெருக்கி கட்டுவது போன்றவற்றில் பின்னி பிணைந்து பிசியாகிவிட்டான்.

தேர்தல் முடிவுகள் வந்தது. 'முதலை வாய்' தமிழகம் எங்கும் அனைவரும் வாய் பொலக்கும் அளவிற்கு பெரும் வெற்றி பெற்றது. ஐந்து நண்பர்களும் கொண்டாடினர். இருவர் அவர்கள் மாளிகைக்குள். இருவர் ரோட்டில். இன்னொருவன் அவனது வீட்டில்.

ஒரே மாதத்தில், ரியல் எஸ்டேட் வியாபாரியின் வியாபாரம் தமிழகம் முழுவதும் பரவியது. ஒரே வருடத்தில், முதல் நண்பனின் நட்பு பிரதமருடன் உணவு அருந்தும் அளவிற்கு வளர்ந்தது, அவனுக்கு சாதகமாக நாடாளுமன்றமே நகர்ந்தது .

ஐந்து ஆண்டுகள் ஆகிவிட்டது. அரசாங்கத்தின் கொள்கையினால் வீட்டுக்கடன் மற்றும் வங்கிக்கடன் வட்டி விகிதம் எரிப்போயிருந்த்து. மருத்துவர் இன்னமும் கடன் அடைத்துக்கொண்டு இருந்தார். MP செய்த மணல் கொள்ளையினால், ஆறு சின்னாபின்னமாகி, பஞ்சு ஆலைக்கு தேவையான தண்ணீர் வற்றி, பஞ்சாலை மூடப்பட்டது. மெக்கானிக் உள்ளூரில் வாழ வழியில்லாமல், அரபு நாடுகளில் வேலைக்கு முயற்சி செய்துகொண்டு இருந்தான். வீட்டு வாடகை முதல் வெங்காயம் வரை எல்லாம் விலை ஏறிப்போய் இருந்தது. விலை ஏற்றத்தை சமாளிக்க முடியாத காயலாங்கடைக்காரன், தனது மூத்த மகனின் படிப்பை நிறுத்தி குப்பை அல்ல அனுப்பினான்.

சத்தற்ற வெள்ளை சோற்றையும், மரபீன மாற்றம் செய்யப்பட்ட காய் கறிகளையும் சாப்பிட்டு அனைவருமே நோய்க்கு அடிமைகளாக இருந்தனர். எதோ மருத்துவன் நண்பன் என்பதால் பிழைத்தனர். அப்படி ஒரு சந்தர்பத்தில் மருத்துவர் வீட்டில் எளிய நண்பர்கள் மூவரும் சந்தித்தனர், மெக்கானிக் சொன்னான் "நாட்டிலே 90 விழுக்காடுக்கும் மேல இருப்பது நம்பளை போன்றவர்கள். நாம ஏண்டா கிறுக்கன் மாதிரி அவனுக்கு ஓட்டு போட்டோம்? அவனுக அவங்க வளர்ச்சிய பாப்பானுகளா இல்ல நம்பள கவனிப்பாங்களா?. அடுத்த தேர்தலில் நாம நிக்கனும்டா. ஏழைகள், நடுத்தர வர்க்கம், வல்லுனர்கள் இவர்கள் எல்லாம் நாட்டிற்க்கான திட்டத்தை தீட்டணும். பெரும் பணக்காரர்களையும், நாட்டின் வளத்தை சுரண்டும் சுயநல கொல்லைக்காரர்களையும் தொடப்பம் வைத்து அடித்து துரத்த வேண்டும்" என்று சொல்லி முடித்தான். இல்லை ஆரம்பித்தான்...

தமிழக மக்களே, இம்முறை கட்டாயம் வாக்களியுங்கள். சிந்தித்து சரியான பிரதிநிதியை தேர்ந்தெடுங்கள்.

Picture Book: Little Rabbit Goes to the Moon

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 18:07:00 +0000

Rape: An End Which Should End

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 17:41:00 +0000

A short story. Fiction based on the Uma Maheswari rape and murder case in Chennai.

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She was breathing; just breathing; and then she decided to stop it.

Born to a bus conductor, no one expected her to be an engineer. Engineering! a degree, and not a profession. This is still a popular course of choice for parents who have nothing else to dream for their kids but want them become an IT coolie at a Multi-National Company.

Meena being the only child was given with all the love and affection of her parents. They grew her up to be an Engineer; to make her father proud and prove his relatives wrong. They grew her up to get a Job; to ensure she gets a better groom than the girls without Jobs. They grew her up to get married; married to the men of their choice. A nice girl from an orthodox family, Meena never questioned herself to chase her dreams. She knew she has to grow up like what her parents expected. This is exactly how all the girls she knows of behave.

Her protective parents made her join an Engineering college in a suburb. Meena’s scores would have let her join a better college away from her town. Being a girl, her parents did not want her to stay away and face life on her own. They feared the distant city; they feared the likely hostel mates; they feared the boys with whom she might have to interact and they decided to keep the butterfly in its pupa. Meena joined an average Engineering college in the neighboring town which was a good one and a half hour journey from home. The college offered exclusive bus service for girls. The college was also strict on boys not interacting with girls. That made it the right choice for many parents like Meena’s.

The boys in the college were banned from interacting with girls. Since they can’t interact, they don’t know them. For the boys, girls are just objects of desire which are kept out of reach. For girls, boys are just objects of desire which are kept out of reach. They never talk to each other. If they had, they would have understood that they both are normal people with dreams; dreams to be something on their own. They were safely kept on either side of the wall by their families and society. Like many girls, Meena too passed out of the college as an object of someone’s desire. She too had someone as her object of desire with whom she talked twice during those four years. However, she did pass out of her parent’s first dream with a good percentile.

Within couple of months, the day finally arrived. The day on which Meena’s family went to all the temples in their town and thanked God for Meena’s hard work. They also announced everyone in the family about their daughter getting a “Software Engineer” job with a MNC in Chennai. Along with it went the message that the girl is now ready for marriage and they are seeking suitable alliance.

It is a matter of mixed feeling for her family. They feared sending her to Chennai. However Meena’s parents knew that today’s hot grooms expect the bride to work in a metro like Chennai. Having spent all their life for Meena they wanted her to get the best groom possible. They knew that they have already conditioned their Girl to lead a life of their choice. Now, they were willing to send the butterfly out of the pupa.

The first two weeks in Chennai was exactly like ‘Alice in Wonderland’ for Meena. Meena’s family stayed in their Uncle’s home, who has got settled in Chennai two decades back. Meena could not even get along with the Uncle’s daughter. She did not fit into the City’s modern standards defined for Girls.

By the third week her father have visited all the paying guest accommodation and finalized on a place. Many were rejected as they were close to boys PG. Some were rejected as the girls in the PG appeared too modern and loud. Finally, they landed at a PG run by a person who hails from the same town as theirs. Half of her salary will go for the PG rent. Remaining might be sufficient for her other expenses which includes visiting home every alternate weekend.

Tears filled everyone’s eyes. She has to say goodbye to her parents. Meena, just like any other girl kid grew up in the parent’s safety net. Well immunized against the evils of the society. As time passed, she started getting into the reality of Chennai. At office, she could see many men among the type of boys she know of. She could also see the same type of boys among the men she met. By the end of first year, she has got used to it all. She was able to judge a person not just by how he looks but also by ‘where’. The nuisance uncles in the bus and the sticky and stinky fellow rider in the share auto did not bother her anymore. After all, she knew being a girl is still just an object of desire to many.

Back home, her parents have improved enough in the society to reject grooms whom they felt were not earning enough to uplift the girl’s lifestyle. Someone who has a house, car and property was on the hunt. Grooms living in a foreign land seemed to be an ideal candidate than those many boys whom they see working in their own town. Finally they found the guy who matched their requirement of color, height, weight, salary, family background, properties and social status. Mutual compatibility was left for them to stumble upon post marriage. After all, they are male and female and expected to be compatible. Their marriage date was also fixed.

Back in Chennai, Meena has realized that the popular beauty of working in a MNC is just ugly. The shiny bright glass offices do not have Windows; windows for her to get some fresh air and see the real world. She inhaled what the company provided through the central air conditioner. Like a chained Dog, she was chained with Mobile and e-mail. She was supposed to catch the target balls thrown by her bosses. She has to react the way she is expected to and not the way she wants to.

There are policies which are designed to benefit the company and its shareholders. However if someone can get affected by it, let it be the employee. One example is their cab service. The company wants to accommodate few thousand people together in the same building to reduce cost. This forced them to run the office from a place far away from what can be considered a safe place to live. At the same time, they wanted to recruit some of the best minds like Meena. Hence they offered cab service for employees who leave office at late evenings and night. It again came with its own rules which are more of an operational convenience than employees’.

It was one of those days on which the rules did not work in her favor. She had to leave office at 10.00pm which was not new for her. What was new was their denial to provide an office cab. Her Boss has missed to approve her cab request out of his negligence. She had the option to call her boss which might not be a good idea with so many pending works to complete for the day. The second option for her is to go home on her own. Little did she knew that choosing the second option is going to cost her father’s dream and may be her fiancé’s dreams too. Anyways, she never had a dream to loose.

Night was just as dark as a night should be. The moon was just as bright as a full moon should be. The air was as gentle as the night air should be. Little did she know than men in the street at this time, will not be as good as Humans should be. The one kilometer stretch from office to the nearest bus stop was deserted. She was the only person walking. Meena realized this and reached out to her phone for the much required company. She connected her headset and switched on the radio. A radio jockey was talking…

Hello Chennai.. Before we say Good night and go to sleep, let me ask you something. What if God appears in front of you and asks “What can I offer to make World a better place for you?”

What will you be your wish to God?

Meena was smiling at responses given by the listeners. Some asked for 3BHK apartments, some wanted a Car, some wanted their kids to join IITs and some wanted just cash. Meena too wanted something and she dialed the radio station. Just like many other days, the line was busy.

Amidst the noise of the FM, Meena realized that someone is approaching her from the back. Her heart skipped a beat and her hands removed the headphones. There were three men behind her. She has seen them may times. They are men of no importance to Meena and the other white collared employees in the IT Park. They wear reflective jackets and hang around construction sites in the IT Park. No one bothers about them as they are just migrants from a different state. They are the less than average citizen of the country who live amidst the luxury and greed of the more than average citizen.

For the first time they made themselves important to Meena. Their position made it clear that Meena is in danger. One snatched her handbag and the other snatched her Gold chain. Meena wanted to run, but the third person was holding her tight by her waist. She shouted but it was not audible to anyone other than the three men there.

The three men had originally approached her to rob, but their intention changed as they felt her body. The money that they targeted made less sense as they have lost their senses to the alcohol in their blood. In Tamilnadu, Alcohol is sold by the Government for the people.

As they dragged her to the nearby bush, Meena spent all her energy in shouting and pushing them off. She couldn’t out power these three men who have handled brick and iron all their life. She was weak and helpless. Inside the bush, as the dogs took their turn one after the other, Meena was losing her chance to survive with respect.

After they were done with her, one of them got back his sense. He realized that they will be caught if Meena survives. He hit her hard in her stomach, three times. A distant siren of a police or Ambulance broke the monotony of the events there. The three men buckled up, bundled the loot and ran away from the spot. They dropped two things, the dying Meena and her Phone.

She was breathing. She wanted to survive. She wanted to study English Literature and become a Writer. She wanted to tour around the planet. She wanted to talk to her object of desire from college for the third time and then forever. However, she knew it might be a dream. In reality she would like to live for her Parent’s dreams.

She was breathing. She wanted to survive. She wanted to live a normal life preferred by her Parents. Will her Fiancé agree to marry her anymore? Will anyone marry her ever? Will the Society consider her as a normal Woman anymore? She questioned her options.

She was breathing. She wanted to survive. She wanted to take revenge on the men who caused this to her. She wanted them to be left in the same helpless situation like hers. She wanted them to be punished to something equivalent to a rape. Will that be possible? The men took less than one hour to change her life; will the courts be able to give her justice at this speed? Will the Police and Lawyers treat her with dignity during the enquiry? Will she get proper medical attention for the next few critical hours for survival? Will anyone even know about her for the next few hours? Last of all, will she get relieved from the pain in her body? Pain in her mind?

She looked at her companion, the Phone. She pressed a button and it dialed the FM Radio station. She got connected to the RJ. He asked the same question. “What will be your wish to God?” Meena answered “Respect for Women” and then the telephone line got disconnected. She was breathing; just breathing; and then she decided to stop it.

Raping Drug Sold by Government

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 11:50:00 +0000

Selective insanity towards Women is the reason behind sexual abuse. Government can not go to each Individual and plead to maintain sanity. Education is expected to do it, but it is happy making products for the corporate. Society is expected to teach this, but it is constantly brainwashed by the greedy capitalist. Judiciary is expected to threaten it, but it is already safe inside the pocket of the rich and powerful. I do not see these change agents work in favor of Women in the next 10 years(optimistic?). So, Insanity within a sane man will prevail till we see a dramatic change in the way we perceive Women in India(every part of it!).

On the other hand, alcohol leads to insanity. The same insanity which led to the sexual abuse and murder of a 24 year old girl in Chennai this month. Can this be controlled? Can this be abolished? Can this is systematically reduced?

Yes, it can be; If the Government takes over the sales and distribution of this insanity tonic. The Tamilnadu Government led by ADMK Chief Selvi Jayalalitha Amma did this part well. They took over the sales and distribution of this insanity tonic. After taking over, the Government tasted the revenue out of it and was addicted to it. On top of it, the capitalist who control (manufacture) this legally illegal business are from the two top parties in the state. They contribute heavily to the monitory upliftment of these draculian political parties. Now, the Government is in a dilemma on whose interest to protect. The interest of its society and safeguard the people(We)? The interest of the Government and safeguard its unethical revenue? The interest of the alcohol manufacturers and safeguard the revenue to their Parties?

Unfortunately, we know that "We" in Indian democratic Government these days does not include "We- The People". It just includes "We-The Ruling Party", "We-The Capitalist who feed the Party", "We-the Families of these Politicians".

When what is possible/practical is not right, we got to defeat it and make the right thing possible/practical. Many good souls are fighting to abolish Alcohol from this State. The event conducted on 1st March led by Gandhian Ayya Sasiperumal is one effort to fight it. He is already fasting for last 30 days to abolish this. I went with my wife and daughter to support this cause. Because, no Husband, likes his wife to walk down a road full of drunkards; no father likes her daughter to be married to an alcoholic.

Book Review: The Little Prince ( Kutti Ilavarasan)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 02:17:00 +0000

Every Year, The Chennai Book Fair has some book to offer, the purchase of which I would not have justified. However, later I would have appreciated my decision. This year, the book that I came across under Children's literature in couple of stores was an interesting Tamil title called 'Kutti Ilavarasan' (The Little Prince). The cover pages mentions that the book has been translated in many different languages. I flipped through couple of pages only to go clueless on what is this book about. On my second visit, a friend and volunteer at the Iyalvagai Publisher stall recommended that I should read this book. With already my to-read list piling up, I took the Tamil version of this small 117 page book.

Luckily, this book grabbed my attention and this was my third book to read this year. When I started, I thought this book talks about 'Children's way of thinking'. The next couple of pages proved me wrong. As I read further, the beauty of the book unfolded. The story talks about an aircraft Pilot's interaction with a little Prince from a very small planet. The aircraft has crashed in a lonely desert. You can consider this story as the Pilot's Hallucination.

The little prince is in a search. His search is the narration. His findings will be up to the reader to interpret. As this little prince moves from one planet to the other, he meets different people. People who are not very different from the people we meet everyday. Except for the fact that they all live in their own planets which can not accommodate more. For example, let us meet the Business man who lives in a lonely planet. He thinks he owns the stars, since he was the first one to think that someone can own the stars. He counts the stars and keeps a record of its count. He does it all-through his life and keeps those records in a box. He keeps it to buy more stars if they appear. His life's purpose is to accumulate all the stars and keep it safe in his bank. Author does not interpret the life meaning of this, but the little prince responds saying "If I have a flower, I can pluck it. What will you do with the stars?"

Another interesting character is the drunkard. He says 'I drink to forget'. 'What do you want to forget?', asks the little prince. 'To forget my embarrassment', replies the drunkard. The little prince gets curious and asks again 'What are you embarrassed of?'. The drunkard replies, 'I am embarrassed that I am a drunkard'.

The author also has interesting watercolor paintings to illustrate his point and state of mind. In the very beginning, to set the baseline for the story, he uses the below painting with lines like "Elders do not understand things...". Let us try it with our readers. Look at the image below and think of what you understand from it.

Okay let me give you some options 1) Hat 2) Elephant 3) Rock
If you have one of these as an option, then you are wrong. The first image is a snake which has eaten an elephant. Since adults can not visualize it, child in the author has helped us by showing what is inside the snake's stomach. Unfortunately, as adults we can not visualize the real picture from the second picture also.

Understandably, the story and its characters are cute and highly creative. The non human characters like the tree, flower, snake and fox are equally exciting and thought provoking. For example, there is a tree which should be cut before it grows big. If you allow it to grow, it will grow huge enough to occupy the compete planet. Like an idea?

This is one of those books which I was able to bite a bit; smile, relate, relish, think and get ready for another bite. This story can be adopted as an excellent stage drama, but not for kids who are early readers. It has lot to offer for teenagers and adults who have better Life experience to relate to the story. After reading this book, I read more about it in the internet, I realized that I am so small to even write about it. This book has been published by more than 250 languages and more than 140million copies sold worldwide. More details about the book here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Prince

If you want to buy this book, you can do it here:

Republic day competition for Chief ministers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 09:54:00 +0000

President of India has announced a Republic day competition for all Chief Ministers. I guess it is designed to make every chief minister win at least once.

Event 1:

Power Nap - Participants should sleep in a cold night on the road side. Do not think that a powernap is for a very short duration, it is actually a POWER-Nap. Game lasts for one full night. Participant will be scored based on the number of blankets less-used.

Event2:

The PR-CM -Participants should use their PR power to color the nation saffron. Participant should make the nation believe that you are the messiah, though you are from an evil brotherhood. Participant will be based on the number of followers in Facebook and Twitter.

Event 3:

Fast Finger - Participant should write maximum number of letters to the Prime Minister within a defined period. The issue can be on broad issues ranging from water, electricity and Srilanka. Participant should have the patience to just write and not expect any reply for years and years together. Participant will be scored based on the number of letters sent.

Event 4:

Statue - This is not the statue game you played in your childhood. This is a game for few elite CMs. Participant should build statues throughout the state at war foot. Once built, participant can spend the remaining years in debating the cost and rationale of building them. Participant will be scored on the number of statues built.

Event 5:

Breakup-Mashup - Participant should be caught in corruption and hence break up from his original party. Start his own party which makes him clean of corruption. Join back the old party with the same saffron thilak. Participant will be scored on the number of times he cried in Public media.

Event 6:

Don't talk - Participant should be bold enough to get hold of anyone talking against her and put them in jail. Any bad mouth should be termed as naxal and a threat to the CM. Participant will be scored on the number of arrest made. Extra marks for arresting professors and students.

When Plastic Bags Bugged Me

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 11:37:00 +0000

For the last few months, I have become sensitive towards not using use-and-throw plastic bags and vessels. If I have to buy something on my way back from office, I use my lunch bag. At home, I have a shelf full of reusable bags which comes handy for planned shopping. Still, I forget to take cloth bags at about 50% occasions.

Yesterday, I had to buy five things for home. I went shopping with a cloth shopping bag hoping that I will not take plastic carry bags from the shop. Check this picture, when I returned I took five plastic bags back home. It is absolutely alarming to see this. I felt ashamed and helpless on observing this.

One for packing the red chillies

One for packing eggs

Two bags for the company packed oil

One for packing idly batter

This is after rejecting two more plastic bags offered by the shopkeeper.

One as an additional layer of protection for the idli batter

One very big bag to carry all these

If I have taken these, my plastic bag count would have been seven.

I need not talk about the ill effects of plastic bags here. I am sure everyone has that awareness now. Our way of packing has been so dependent on these bags that we end up throwing a lot of plastic bags to the garbage every day.

In the good old days, when plastic bags were not commercialized widely, things were very different and environment friendly. People would have carried a big cloth bag to hold all items shopped. All those small dry items(chilli & egg here) would have been packed in a newspaper. Foe eggs, people used to carry a container designed to carry egg. Oil was always taken home in a stainless steel container. After this incident, I have decided to carry more than just a big shopping bag while going shopping.

After all, in the name of modernization, hygiene and convenience we are rapidly losing our opportunity to live in this world. Some small steps required from each of us.

வரம் தருவாய் பராசக்தி (Prayer)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 17:33:00 +0000

விரிந்த பார்வை

ஆழ்ந்த அறிவு

உயர்ந்த எண்ணம்;

இவை மூன்றும் ஒருசேர,

எனக்கருள்வாய் பராசக்தி.

Note: This is a self composed prayer for me and my daughter. Do not just read this. Read this with emotion. Let the animal in you and your kid come out and roar.

கண்ணே கண்ணே (தாலாட்டு பாட்டு)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 16:33:00 +0000

கண்ணே கண்ணே

எந்தன் கண்ணே

பெண்ணே பெண்ணே

என் வீட்டுப்பெண்ணே

முத்தே முத்தே

ஆழ்கடல் முத்தே

சொத்தே சொத்தே

இந்திரன் சொத்தே

ஒளியே ஒளியே

சூரிய ஒளியே

கனியே கனியே

மாவெனும் கனியே

சுவையே சுவையே

தேனினும் சுவையே

மலரே மலரே

தாமரை மலரே

நிறமே நிறமே

பச்சை நிறமே

அழகே அழகே

என் தாயினும் அழகே

மொழியே மொழியே

தமிழெனும் மொழியே

தமிழே தமிழே

என் பாரதி தமிழே.

Note: This is a self composed lullaby for my daughter. Do not just read this. Sing this in your own tune. Dance with your kid. Be a grown up kid.

Four Sides (Nursery Rhymes)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 16:26:00 +0000

To my right there is a Dog,

Bow Bow..

To my left there is a Cat,

Meow Meow...

To my front there is a Duck,

Quack Quack...

To my back there is a cock,

Cock-a-doodle-doo.

Note: This is a self composed Activity Rhymes for my daughter. Do not just read this. Sing this in your own tune. Dance with your kid. Be a grown up kid.

Green Song (Nursery Rhymes)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 16:09:00 +0000

Small Green Frog;

Sitting on a..

Big Green Ball.

Rolling...

Rolling down the Hill!

Falling down the well!

Note: This is a self composed Activity Rhymes for my daughter. Do not just read this. Sing this in your own tune. Dance with your kid. Be a grown up kid.