wedding-Kerala style!

My wife's schoolmate and childhood friend Rema Jaikrishnan(DTEA 1973) invited us to attend her son's wedding at Kochi on the 9th January, 2010.  My wife was excited and so was I to see my wife getting enthusiastic and excited!  We decided to attend the wedding- a traditional Kerala type wedding in Kerala!!

The Kochi airport greeted us in with its beautiful architecture built in traditional style! The airport was proud to retain its original name and not stand on borrowed names of politicians unlike other airports in the country!

We were booked in Periyar club along with other guests from all over. There was a sense of joy all over and the guests and the family members mingled with each other freely, displaying happiness!  The parents of Rema , Mr & Mrs Nair welcomed and greeted everyone with affection and love.

The marriage was conducted at Le-Meridien Hotel, Kochi in a grand style and manner.  The local orchestra consisting of a lead violinist accompanied by a flutist, mridangam, Key board and a drum pad kept the audience engrossed in music and presented a concoction of carnatic and film songs from Tamil, Hindi and Malayalam.  The sound quality was so good because of proper acoustics provided within the hall.  The stage was illuminated with traditional Kerala type lamps which added glitter to the entire function as it radiated yellow and golden light to the stage and made it look like a place above the earth!

The marriage was a simple affair with both the boy and the girl's side climbing on to the stage.The parents exchanged Tamboolams. The Mangalya Dharanam was performed and it was all over in about 15 minutes with out any smoke or fire!  Unlike our south Indian marriages, this way of conducting the marriage without much noise impressed me .  The registrar of marriages took the signatures of the bride and the groom and the

marriage was over with the young married couple bowing and offering Pranams from the stage to all those who had come to witness this unique event of 2 hearts consenting to merge with each other!

There was a huge spread of traditional Malayala sadhya which was being served neat and clean on plantain leaves by about 40 young looking men, clad in traditional Mundu and vastra!  The experience was so satisfying and blissful.  Our friends Rema and Jai got elevated in their social status by becoming parents-in-law and the happiness of this elevation was quite obvious on their faces.

The Kerala style wedding looked very neat, clean and easy in comparison to our Tamil iyer/iyengar style of  weddings.  There were no Pandits, no fire and no noise of Nadaswaram and the Ketti-Melam which would rebound from the four walls of the halls making life miserable for your ear drums!!  Its worth adapting and following such  marriage rituals in our system as well!  God bless the young married couple with a long happy married life.

Australia- the Mirage Land!

There used to be a time when  flying was confined only to the rich and the affluent.  Travel by Airplanes were only for the top rich and a few!  The middle class felt satisfied seeing the landings and taking off of flights from outside the airport boundary walls.  The deep sigh within and the buried feelings of affording luxuries appeared like a Mirage in the Dessert!  I include myself in this context, having lived my childhood in delhi and often visiting Safdarjung Aerodrome to watch domestic and international flights taking off and land which entertained my brain and heart without any cost!!  It would not be out of place to mention that our parents were so conservative that they would not allow us to go for jobs which involved night-shifts!  I had to forgo a traff - assistant's job with Pan-Am airways as the job involved only night duties.   There was a  necessity of having a motor-cycle to commute and the route was considered dangerous for travel between Karol Bagh and Palam via Buddha jayanti park!! All these factors were enough for my mother to disapprove this job!!  I took up the next in line Banking job which was well approved by one and all saying " I have struck a gold mine"! Honestly, we had no guts to defy or go against the wishes of our parents.

In order to fulfill the cherished but missed ambitions, We encouraged and  allowed our children to pursue courses abroad without even willing to know about their interests and decided the courses that they have to study!  Some children could successfully completed their studies and some could not as their interests were not in tune to the parental thinking?  This theme is well narrated in the recent film 3 idiots and which is very true in most cases.

The statement issued by our foriegn minister Mr S M Krishna and carried by all newspapers is quite relevant and true.  He is intrigued by the fact that many young students have gone to Australia to get trained in courses like Hair styling, Facial course etc.. This is absolutely ridiculous as these do not warrant any special training abroad.  These students can get trained for these courses in India itself  which will be  ideal  to suit Indian conditions!  The parents are foolish to spend money on such courses for their wards and to send them to an alien country expecting that they would eventually settle abroad and get a permanent resident status which will entitle them to migrate and get settled!  This is  shortsighted thinking on the parents.  I have seen students originating from Punjab, U P and other states who can not even speak a sentence of English, desperately trying to find a job to augument their living expenses abroad.  Money flow is stopped from their Homes and there is a pressure to  earn and support their studies and living and this drives the young Indians to take up all kinds of odd jobs much against the Australian visa rules. Mind you, it is quite impossible to find a student job or a part-time job in a country like Australia which is mainly dependent on the educational earnings from students specially from India and which constitutes 20% of their foreign exchange earnings!!  Even the professors who teach in the Universities are mostly Indians and Chinese!  The number of Australian Professors can be hand counted!  This goes to prove that Australia is clever in engaging our own Indians to teach our own Children abroad for which We are giving them a hefty fees besides all mental tortures and tensions!  Finally, the students have no time to study and invariably fail in their academics and eventually kicked out of the country.  Its time the Indian Government sets up a Monitoring cell which will be a pre-condition for all  student visa-seekers who wish to go abroad so that filters can be applied  and prevent Indians from crowding a state in a foreign country leading to unhappy incidents that are occurring currently. The cell would also do well in directing the students to do courses within India without the need for going abroad.  There will also  be a considerable savings in foreign exchange outflow.

One question which comes to my mind is "What is the cause of this Educational- emigration"?
If only the government can curb and control Capitation fees that are gobbled by the institutions within our state and increase the number of Educational Institutions that could par with the best in the country and bring out a legislation that Education is  for all, we can successfully encounter these kinds of problems and find a remedy as well.  The foreign minister will do well talking to the Education Minister and both taking this problem Head-on!

Fog delays

Its a known fact that during this time of the year, fog engulfs  the Northern states and flights get disrupted.  The Media publicises this year after year and the  travellers are quite aware of this problem.  It is quite saddening to note and read in newspapers about passengers holding the carrier for such delays and even creating ruckus and chaos at the airports demanding explanations from the airlines staff for such woes!

Nature is something which no one can predict and fog and snowfalls fall under this umbrella of nature and  beyond any human analysis.  The passengers who are deemed to be educated and well behaved  constantly  shoot bullets  with their tongue to know the reasons for such delays and the probable time of  the aircraft to take off etc..?  These questions can not be answered by any human being as this aspect is controlled by nature which is a big puzzle all by itself!

The travellers should anticipate this dilemma whenever they plan a trip during these months and possibly try and avoid travel during this period or have sufficient cushioning to their length of travel in order to facilitate such delays due to nature for which  the airlines can not give any explanation? The airlines will also do well in educating the passengers through some advertisement campaigns about this and  reduce the tension and brickbats faced by the front line staff manning the counters at the airports?

Apollo God on earth!

He walks like a Badshah surrounded by a group of aspiring and ambitious young doctors and assistants who dream of making a name and a career like their boss who leads them.  The corridors of the hospital come alive seeing this dynamic doctor and the floors of the hospital feel the gentle massage as he walks into his room no 107, considered auspicious.  Patients become impatient on seeing this doctor to have a private consultation  to get rid of their bone related problems!  The four walls of the room brightens up on seeing their master with whom they have built relationship since the past 25 years!  Once in the hospitals, on duty and call, this gentleman is transformed into a personality out there  to serve the patients and to bring some cheer into their lives!

Meet Dr R Gopal Krishnan, Chief Orthopaedic Surgeon of Apollo Hospitals, Chennai who has a string of Degrees and qualifications attached to his name and who is ever happy to be in the operation theatre of the hospital to serve the patients and to relieve them of their miseries!

This "Vaidyanathan" the equivalent of a doctor in sanskrit is never tired of surgeries and has the label of a singing doctor! He is well versed with the film songs right from the 1950s and up to date be it Tamil, Hindi or English!

I had the opportunity of having watched one of his surgeries live and I could brave it as the entire operation theatre came alive with some of the old Kishore Kumar songs played by one of his assistants which kept my thoughts and vision away from the operating table but for RGK, the music was a "non-hired assistant" which helped him better his performance in surgeries day after day and for all these 25 years of glory!

The personality that he is relates to that of a Maharaja and his palace where scores of people come in and go, many come to consult, many come in as house guests and where the burner in the kitchen has never known the definition of " Being cold" ! The house is comparable to "Akshya Patra" where food is provided to one and all.

This story goes back 25 years back when RGK joined Apollo Hospitals, Chennai to join hands with Dr P C Reddy with  a quest to put the hospital prominently in the country's map of health care and to carve a niche for himself. Dr  P C Reddy honoured Dr RKG recently when the hospital celebrated its 25th silver jubilee. The growth of the hospital has its cascading effect on this doctor as well in terms of growth, prosperity and recognition in the field of Medicine.  He is also instrumental in creation of several Orthopaedic consultants personally trained by him who are placed in different hospitals all over the country and finding popularity and footing on their own. He has a long list of young aspirants who have expressed their willingness to work and get trained under him.

 Shoba, his better half gave 100% support both physically and morally in all the efforts that Dr R G K took to shape his career.  There were days in her life when this doctor would go to the hospital and only to return after 3-4 days attending to duties in the hospital to which he was totally dedicated and committed. All these things would not deter Mrs shoba Gopal Krishnan who was always ready to perform the duties of the household without a shrink on her forehead!  Such was the extent of patience and support that she exhibited which allowed and enabled Dr R G K to go after goals that he cherished to become what he is today! The age old saying that behind every successful man is a woman is so apt in this context!

He travelled to Siberia 2 decades back to work with an eminent IInd world war Russian surgeon named Dr Illizarov to master the technique of limb lengthening and demonstrated to the world that Limbs can be grown to certain specified lengths and became a boon for many physically challenged persons who thronged the hospital to find a permanent cure for their problems. sometimes, he jokes saying that he can lengthen only those parts with bones and nothing else!!!

Sometimes, the doctor does get annoyed when people in the house start prescribing ways and methods to overcome a bone related problem to patients, in his abscence, which they might have acquired through knowledge and by being with the doctor all these years! Like the alchoholic spirit, the anger just evoporates in seconds and does not percolate into his mind ever!  This quality of this amazing doctor is worth copying by all means!

A great lover of sports, this doctor devotes at least 2 hours in a day to maintain his physical conditions well.  Squash is the favourite game that he would prefer even when woken up at nights!  The only complaint he has is that Team India never wins when he sits down to watch them playing anywhere?

Archana and anand are the 2 pupils of his eye with his wife shoba occupying his heart! There are scores of others friends and relatives who are very dear to this doctor as well.  He is a great Philanthropist and a reader of books of all sorts that enhances knowledge.  He always advocates that one must go in depth to understand the essence of the subject matter.  He is a true friend, indeed!!!

--
Raju
9840151819

"Give a handful from your plenty"

Multi layer pricing in India

"We sell morning coffee@ Rs 78/- per cup only" was the curt reply from the young girl (wo)manning the coffee counter at the departure hall of Indira gandhi International airport, New Delhi.  My wife countered saying "last evening i bought the same coffee for Rs61/- per cup"! how come the coffee instead of percolating, shoots up within a span of 9 hrs?

we were on a stand by ticket to fly back to chennai from New Delhi on the 22nd and waited till about 10pm with a hope to get seats but were asked to come the next morning  and so began the saga of coffee!  My wife stuck to her advocate style of questioning the girl on the counter and she was never willing to give up on her argument that she sells coffee only @ Rs 78/- per cup in the morning!  My wife took out the receipt for the coffee that she paid the previous evening which stated Rs 61/- and showed it to the young girl and by this time at least 3-4 people had gathered to buy their morning coffee and became curious onlookers!

The young man who was grinding coffee seeds behind the stall jumped in to rescue the girl saying " oh! you want a regular coffee?" My wife was relentless in saying " I never said I want a spl coffee"! The man ordered the young girl to give a regular coffee to my wife @ Rs 61/- which was not different from the other cups of coffee that he made and gave to customers and charged Rs 78/- per cup!! "To each according to his needs and ability to pay" seems to be the Mantra adopted by the vendors who adorn the airport at all the centres in India.

This policy defeats the principles and ideologies of socialism which was the driving force that governed India all these years! The objectives of social distribution will be crushed if there are no regulations and control over the pricing of  products.  At this rate, we should be prepared to pay Rs 2000/- for a cup of coffee and may be 17000 for a pitza or a masal dosa in the near future!!?? The rupee will have no value and there will be no food available even if you have bags full of money to pay?

The government should invoke MRTP act and regulate the market mechanism of pricing.  With common wealth games in sight, it will be worthwhile looking at these anomalies and plugging the loopholes so that we can stand tall amidst the visiting athletes and delegations coming into the country  and give them a strong sense of security.  Otherwise, our brothers and sisters in Delhi and the neighbouring states will do well in stripping the foreigners who come in to watch and enjoy the games and hospitality of our nation! The dailies abroad should not carry the front page saying" They came in suits and left New Delhi in Under wears!!!"

World Space Radio- out of breathe!

World Space Radio- out of breathe!

It is quite saddening to learn from today's newspapers about World Space shutting down its shutters owing to bankruptcy! I have been advocating this channel to all my friends and relatives and have at least 2 subscriptions operating in my house itself.

one would ponder the reason for its decision to close shop not only in India but all over the world.

When I subscribed to this channel about 3 years back, I had written a mail to their customer service as to why did they spend a whooping 5 crores (as I hear and gather)of Indian rupees on A R Rehman by asking him to lend his voice for the promotion of their satellite radio. I am yet to get any reply for this question.

As said in the papers the satellite company has nearly 4.5 lacs subscribers and its not small by any count? No other corporate has come forward to buy this company so far. If only the company had desisted from squandering money for unwarranted starry advertisements and spending huge chunk of money, the channel would have survived and would have had surplus to reduce the subscription and passed it on to the subscribers! anyways, it is not prudent business done by the radio channel who have just squandered away money for unproductive causes resulting in bankruptcy of the company! there is a good old saying in Hindi "aam dhanni attanni, Kharcha ruppaiah"! This is what was being followed by the company! The subscribers will have to wait if the brand Ambassador A R Rehman comes to their rescue as he has been advocating "so much to listen"? Alternatively, the company can ask A R Rehman to run the show as he has been the first and foremost beneficiary cutting a huge chunk of revenue from the Radio channel by advertising for them?

Ultimately, I will miss out on Jhankar, Farishta and many other channels which keeps me amused in the morning hours while i get ready to go to work.

Sitar vadhan @ Gandhi Nagar club

Pandit Janardhan Mitta, disciple of the great sitar exponent Pandit Ravi shankar treated us to an enchanting musical evening on Friday, 4th December, 2009 at the conference Hall. The programme was well attended by all those members who had interests in Hindustani classical music and was well appreciated. Pandit Mitta explained the subtle difference in the Swara sthanams and highlighted the parallels between Carnatic and the Hindustani classical music. The mastero explained and traced back the origin of Sitar to about 700 years back and invented by the great Urdu poet and musician Amir Khusro who brought Hindustani classical from the Indus Valley into India! The instrument which had only 7 strings to start with is now flowered with an additional 13 strings right below the parental 7 strings to give more resonance to the music that is produced.

Pandit captivated the audience by playing several ragas and carefully chose those which also have the touch and stamp of carnatic music so that the participating audience were at ease recognising the ragas that he played and understanding them. The fingers of the pandit on the Sitar seemed to be talking to the strings so affectionately that it appeared that they were conversing and agreeing to produce the best music ever to be heard!

The highlight of the programme was a mixture of raga Darvari with Malkhons which took the hearts and minds of the audience to sublime levels! the power of music is so much that it brings everyone to a common platform from where one can not imagine anything but Music! Yes, Music is divine!

The audience left the venue hoping for many more of such concerts in the club.