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Showing posts from October, 2008

Lift Manners?

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I had been to city center in mylapore Chennai recently to see a movie.The show timing was at 7.10 and it got over at around 10.We decided to take the lift because our 67 year old grandmother was rather scared to take the escalator.It seemed to be an endless wait.I am a person who doesn't mind taking the stairs that waiting endlessly.But I did wait as per my mothers instructions.I did insist that I and my sister should take the stairs instead of waiting.But my mother wanted all of us to go together.At long last the lift came but alas! it was full of people.There were a bunch of rural folks who were waiting near the lift.The were like a pack of hyenas guarding the lift entrance.The did not even let people from the lift get out.It was a pitiable sight.I thought that man was evolving to be more civilised and here we are fighting to get into a lift?Are we going to die if we wait for another 5 minutes?I know money is time but I also know that manners make a man humane. It is not where al

Diwali

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Diwali is the festival of lights.It brings both inward and outward joy to one and all irrespective of their religion.The word Diwali might have meant only new clothes or good food and family get-together for me 1 years back.But my view on Diwali was changed by a old lady who was my co-passenger in a local train. It was 10 in the morning.I was waiting in the Guindy train station in the ticket counter.I wanted to go to central station to get books.I got my ticket and went to the platform-1.I was rather impatient as I waited for the train.I kept glancing at my watch regularly.I was already late.My day did not have a great start.I got up only at 9 that too due to my mothers persistent effort to wake me up.Then after finishing my morning rituals the time was around 9.50.Then I asked my mother to drop me in the train station ten minutes form my home.I had promised to be in the station at ten.I am a person who likes to maintain my promise and punctuality.Well may be today was one of that exce

Better to have loved and lost...

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Aradhana a woman 23 years of age.Her looks can make any man go gaga.You cant say if it was her slender figure of the long black hair neatly tied into a pony or those bright beautiful eyes which attracted us to her.All this might be for the first timers but it was her heart of gold or so her friends would say.She was blessed with deep bronze complexion.It was a gift form her paternal end.Her father was from Andhra Pradesh.He had multiple business.His daily life went about taking care of it.Her mother had a beauty saloon.Aradhana form her childhood wanted to pursue her engineering.She might have been inspired by her uncle who was an electrical engineer and working in the U.S.A. If it was any other day you can see that bright smile on her face.She was always a pleasure to be with.her smile gave that beautiful dimple on her tender cheek.But today all was wrong or so she thought.Her smile was upside down.It was a frown.Her eyes were all swollen with tears.Aradhana was one of the brave kind.

Bubbles

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Sitara a pretty young girl just 7 years of age was very happy.She was going to see her nani(Grandmother).Her grandmother lived in a very remote village in the foothills of the Himalayas.Every year in her summer vacation Sitara would go there with her parents.She was the only child of Rahul a stock broker in Mumbai and Radha a classical singer by profession.So Sitara's life was mostly spent with her friends and neighbours.The summer vacations were the only time when she got to spend some quality time with her near and dear. But Sitara was not ready to complain.She loved her nani very much.Every time she went she had something new to learn from nani.This is one such a story of compassion between sitara and her nani.It would be better if I narrated it to you as an extract for nani's dairy. EXTRACT FROM NANI'S DAIRY: DATE:12.10.1995 Today was all hassle and joy.I do know that my words sound like an oxymoron but that is what I felt.It is the time of the year when my daughter her

Princess of the rain....

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Some of you might think that I have some kind of eternal love for rain or some thing what to do it seems to enthrall me and drag all my attention.But this is not a tale about rain but a little girl who made me feel humble.Here it goes. My water proof fast track watch showed 7.30pm.I was caught in traffic.The traffic in Chennai's suburb is very bad.I was on my trusty green scooter.It was drizzling hence I was on full gear with my raincoat and helmet.I had kept all my so called prized possessions like my cell phone and books safe and out of the rain.It was getting late.I kept staring at my watch since I had nothing better to do other than that.As if staring at my watch could make time run faster of make the traffic clear.Well I didn't have anything else better to do anyway. The rain god became more furious hence all people sought refugee under roofs of shops and trees or what was left of it.There has been illicit felling of trees in Chennai in recent month.Well coming back to my

T.V...Boo Hooo

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One of the worlds favorite pass time is the TELEVISION. The T.V. is the soul entertainment which does not involve any strain or burden all you have to do is sit and stare.Some may argue that it is just a sort of 'relaxation'.Yes indeed it serves that purpose only for some time.Beyond which it gets irritating same old shows same old people.It is indeed a powerful tool.Any good or bad news happening anywhere in the world is conveyed within seconds.However all is not fair and good. My mother tongue is Tamil.So I generally prefer Tamil channels to English.However I do not see anything creative in them.Some reality shows were good but such shows have been copied by other channels and has caused an aversion.The worst of all are these so called MEGA SERIALS.The height of stupidity.It can contaminated the mind of any innocent soul.The portrayal of women is very wrong.OK let us let alone the entertainment.What about news? Most news channels or channels them self are owned by a

Thank you anand

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This is a big thank you to my cousin brother,mentor,friend,role model,enemy,and everything else Anand Nataraj:)I thank you for this article http://www.anandnataraj.com/sonata-for-a-good-writer [Sonata for A Good Writer - To MM, with recommendation I’d like to dedicate this blog to my first cousin Madhumitha, she is doing her graduation but she has lot is oratorical and narration skills. She has helped me to do my MBA assignments even when she was in her school. I don’t mean to say her whiz kid, but she has an odd one out in our family, I often wondered if she originally hails our genes ;). She is an avid reader of books and we have often shared our thoughts on the books we read. In my busy schedule I asked her to read books and share the crux with me, which she promptly does. Having seen her narration in writing I’ve asked her to take up writing as a career and also made arrangements for her to pursue that. But she has not taken those thoughts seriously. I’m happy that she at least too

Worth a read..

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Possessed by Love The Ghostly Shadow Kathryn Keats awoke in a panic, convinced she'd heard the curtains in front of her bedroom's French doors swaying. In the dim glow from a bathroom night-light, she made out a ghostly shadow on the wall and froze, terrified. The suburban wife and mother had spent much of her adult life eluding a man bent on killing her, and now she was certain he had finally found her. I am going to die, she thought. The figure lunged toward her. But instead of the assault of a murderous stalker, Keats, 43, felt her seven-year-old son wrapping his arms around her. Frightened by a bad dream, he'd come to his parents' room for comfort. "All I could think was, If I'd had a gun, I would have shot him," Keats says today. "No one could understand how scared I was." Photographed by Tim Tadder Kidnapped and tortured by her schizophrenic boyfriend, Munger found a way to survive. No one could understand because not even her closest frie

Rain

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The rain it has inspired many poets and writers.I am also one amoung that group of budding poets who are wattered and nourished by the rain. Sitting under the stary sky, In the warmth of my porch, With the monsoon in my eye, My heartfeeling the sun's scroch, I lay lost in the world of thought, I can see the cars go by, I see them till they become a dot, I shouldnt and musnt cry. I was lost in this large world, All alone I felt, Being strong I did not let a tear, I started to walk in the lawn, Then the sky struck gold, I was amazed and before its power I knelt, I felt soothed and the solution near, The rain had brought me a dawn. There are problems in life, They can cloud your thoughts, They make your eyelids heavy, And when you cannot with hold it any more, Just let it flow down those cheeks, Like how the cloud does to the rain, It is not a sign of weakness but strength, So I did shead those tears, The rain washed it for me, Along with my tears my sorrows too.

Food not just a concept....

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I am a person for a reasonably well off family and hence have never experienced lack of food or any other such discomforts faced by the have-not's.To me food is joy a sense of pleasure to my taste buds.It was always given it the right time in the best way available.I could never think of the other side of the reality where people cannot even afford a square meal a day.Yes it is true day too in an developing country like India it is True for a large number of people. I have read about people dying due to lack of food all that was just news to me before I had an experience with the have-not's.It is a very small yet moving experience after which food became bit more divine in my eyes.Here is that tale for you. It was a special day.It was my the 50 th marriage anniversary of maternal grandparents did I realise that truth.It was a very special day.We all got up early and got ready in our finest clothes to go to the temple where the rituals were to be held.It was very nice

Chocolates my first crush

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You are my tall dark and handsome, You are sweet there to bring cheer, You symbolise joy and happiness, You when melted are a substitute hug, You with milk can make magic, You melt in my mouth, You are the worlds favourite, when pure you are good for health, your shear sight can please me, Your a perfect gift, You are the CHOCOLATE. by a chocolate fanatic.......

A Tale to tell

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I fancy my self to be some kind of a writter and often indulge in writting just for sheer joy of it.Here is one such an attempt... Maya a girl of 13 was staring out through the window of her school bus. She had her biology book in her hand but her mind drifting sumwhere else. She tried to read but she coudnt.It was her birthday.She generally is a very happy person and is flocked by friends who are mostly true to her.Today was even more special. She was all dressed up like a princess.She wore a beautiful salwar in her favorite red colour.Her long black straight hair was let down loose.Her tiny fringe brushing her dusky cheeks.She in all was a delight to the eye-"a walking candy bar".Her friends gathered near her and wished her.She gave the sweets and cake rather mechanically with a fake smile. She was not in her regular self. In the corner of her eye tear was ready to make its way out. She saw a blue swift go by.The only thing that flashed her mind was her dad.She wa

One article I loved...

Came accross a good article from a fellow blogger "Ravi" Is your life like my wife’s driving? My wife hates taking unfamiliar routes when driving. If she is not fully confident of the route, she simply will not drive. Fortunately, her “thing” stops with driving. Unfortunately, most people “live” this way - they go through their entire life without ever once taking the road less travelled. They continue to do only the things they are comfortable with, never once wandering outside their comfort zone. Keep doing what you have always done, and you will get the results you’ve always gotten. Go on - do something that makes you uneasy. Something that you feel guilty for not doing. Something that you’ve always feared. Something you were always terrified to do. Grab the mike in front of that crowd. Try a new dish at that restaurant. Try a new restaurant. Ask your boss for a raise. Tell that nasty SOB what you really think about him. Get a better job. Get a better life. Propose to your

Exams!

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They haunt your dreams,they fill our hearts with sorrow n anxiety.All students can understand what I am talking about...EXAM!! There is a small article which I read: Researchers at Ohio State University have based their findings on two studies of over 400 students, which found that those who did not use unfair means scored highest in tests of courage and empathy. In addition, the bravest students also scored higher than cheaters on tests of honesty, it was found. "The honest students have a more positive view of others. Students who don't cheat seem to be in the minority, and have plenty of opportunities to see their peers cheat and receive the rewards with little risk of punishment. "We see avoiding cheating as a form of everyday heroism in an academic setting," lead researcher Prof Sara Staats was quoted as saying. The students also completed measures that examined their bravery, honesty and empathy. Those who scored in the top half were less likely to have re

Bad buses

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I am a person who loves to travel.I belive in this saying"Life is a book and a person who has not travelled has read only one page."I love to sit peacefully in an amicable ambiance and absorb all that I can from the surrounding.I used to hate travelling before.But soon I learnt to slowly love the journey because it is an experience.I am generally an optimistic non fussy person who can adjust to my surroundings but ma last travel to Pagasalai(a place near Mayiladuthurai,Tamil Nadu,India) brought me to my wits end.Pagasalai is my native my maternal grandparents live there till date and are engaged in farming.My grandfather is a brave n sturdy 78 yr old man and ma grandmother is 68yr old swt old lady.Both of them have this never ending love for farming.Inspite of my mother and uncles and aunts asking them to quit farming they are not intending to do that any timesoon.My grandfather is a retired headmaster of a school.since my child hood I have had a very good rapport with m