As a kid who grew up in Delhi, I have seen my mother feed the crows before the domestic consumption of food which has remained an unsolved mystery and puzzle in my mind till date. It is said that crows represent our forefathers and sometimes I shudder to even think that our forefathers wore the look of a crow!! I have seen our south Indian neighbours doing the same almost everyday! In most of the Punjabi households in Delhi, they have at least one sonu or pappu or kaka as their nick names! I have watched my father doing Shradh ceremony for his parents and during this time, me and my sister were just pushed into a room and not allowed to eat anything until the ceremony was over!! At one point of my father went up to the terrace and yelled out "KA-KA" which brought smiles in us signalling that we are going to eat soon and address those musical sounds of enzymes within our stomach waiting to be food ed!!
As the loud yell of KA-KA went up the air, my padosi little boy, my friend, came to the open varandah to look for my dad as the boy was nick named KA-Ka!!!! We tried our best to control our laughter and that was fun!!
The Pooja Park in 15 A block near Ajmalkhan road was the centre of avenue for all religious festivals that the south Indians celebrated every year. It was during one of the festivals a priest conducting the Pooja went into some kind of trance and was yelling Muruga-Muruga.... when one of my sardar friends living in the corner of the park suggested to me as to why we are not giving him Murga when he is wanting it so much?? It took quite a few days to explain to him that it was a divine call and a blessing since I myself did not know the matter so well during those times!!(not that I am well versed now!)
In Chennai, the custom of feeding the crows is so rampant that it is difficult for anyone to sleep after 6 am with the windows open as there is always an army of crows flying around and crowing!! The feeding has rejuvenated the population growth of the crows to such an extent that the crow stares at you from the edge of the kitchen and daring you! I think the time is not far off when the crows will come into your living room and share your meal right on the dining table? Quite a few years back, the Malaysian government invited many enthusiasts to bring as many dead crows possible and be rewarded @RM 10 each! This step was taken after the citizens complained to the authorities of crow droppings all over their cars because of which they were put to hardships!! It will take lot more years for our government to listen to the citizens and their grievances like this.
There are numerous people on the road who feed the stray dogs every day. I am not able to understand this concept as I feel the food could be given to people who can not afford a meal. The stray dogs feeding has gained so much of popularity that every street in the colony has at least half a dozen stray dogs running here and there and sometimes darting towards people who carry some bags thinking it to be food. I have seen persons running in fear when the dogs come charging at them and result in their falling on the roads and carrying pleasant memories of bruises that occurred due to the dog menace! My next door neighbour goes wild when he sees one particular dog answering the nature's call every morning at a specified time only on his gate and in front of his house. It may bring lots of humour to those on lookers but hear of hearts, i must say it is not done. with due respects to all the dog lovers and animal lovers, can I start this debate whether feeding of dogs and crows is necessary for bettering our living conditions?? In what way is this going to help the economy or even those stray animals which are encouraged to increase the population by virtue of abundance in food that they are able to get every day!! I want my friends who read this blog to respond and contribute their thinking? I would beg to apologise to all the dog lovers for being so open in my views. surely, I don't mean to hurt them?
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Sikkim
Sikkim is a paradise within India!
Its a good escape from the sweltering summer heat in chennai or for that matter anywhere in India.
People who are reluctant to go to Kashmir can find this place a good alternative.
There is a lake named changu which is frozen all through the year except in the month of may and june.
one can also go to see the chineese border and the army in Nathulla pass.
its a great place to visit and quite economical too!!
you have an air link up bagdogra airport from where you hire a taxi to go to Sikkim. the journey takes about 2 1/2 hours. You cross a river named Teesta which flows mighty powerful like the ganges in Rishikesh! Its a treat to watch nature and the climate keeps you and family in cool tempers! try it out??
Its a good escape from the sweltering summer heat in chennai or for that matter anywhere in India.
People who are reluctant to go to Kashmir can find this place a good alternative.
There is a lake named changu which is frozen all through the year except in the month of may and june.
one can also go to see the chineese border and the army in Nathulla pass.
its a great place to visit and quite economical too!!
you have an air link up bagdogra airport from where you hire a taxi to go to Sikkim. the journey takes about 2 1/2 hours. You cross a river named Teesta which flows mighty powerful like the ganges in Rishikesh! Its a treat to watch nature and the climate keeps you and family in cool tempers! try it out??
Friday, May 15, 2009
Woh Subah Kabhi tho aayegi?(Hope to see light at the end of the tunnel?
This shoe shiner whom we call as Shoe polish wallah has been shining shoes of millions on the side walks of Ajmalkhan road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi ever since 1971 when I used to work in Bank of Maharashtra, Ajmalkhan rd branch. I was shocked beyond imagination when I found this guy polishing or shining shoes of people when i visited Delhi a month back. The only difference is that he used to charge Re 1/- in 1971 whereas he charges Rs10now. This sector is an unorganised one and there is no employment gurantee.
though he does not remember me or any of my then friends working in the Bank, he was much pleased to shine my shoes with lots of enthusiasm and interest. I did tip him a 100 bucks for this job which he has been doing to brighten the appearance of shoes but some thing inside me kept asking if it is a sin to be born Poor?
He has remained stationery in the same area for decades without any change in his life style and will leave this world as a road side shoe shiner. There is nothing that the governments which were in power for nearly 37 years could do to change the life style of this person? Isn't there something wrong with our economic policies or the program of Gharibi Hatao coined by the congress which remains only as a slogan?
The unfortunate thing about this great country is that the dividends of economic development is cornered by a few affluent class and there is no equality in distribution of prosperity. unless we address this grass root problem, the shoe shiners will remain as shoe shiners for ever and ever without seeing the dawn of the propsperous era.
though he does not remember me or any of my then friends working in the Bank, he was much pleased to shine my shoes with lots of enthusiasm and interest. I did tip him a 100 bucks for this job which he has been doing to brighten the appearance of shoes but some thing inside me kept asking if it is a sin to be born Poor?
He has remained stationery in the same area for decades without any change in his life style and will leave this world as a road side shoe shiner. There is nothing that the governments which were in power for nearly 37 years could do to change the life style of this person? Isn't there something wrong with our economic policies or the program of Gharibi Hatao coined by the congress which remains only as a slogan?
The unfortunate thing about this great country is that the dividends of economic development is cornered by a few affluent class and there is no equality in distribution of prosperity. unless we address this grass root problem, the shoe shiners will remain as shoe shiners for ever and ever without seeing the dawn of the propsperous era.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Election results- fractured verdict
The Election process is over and India is eagerly awaiting results as to who is going to be our next PM and which party is going to take us ahead to the next prosperous century? The exit polls and other surveys are encouraging parties to woo various regional parties just to capture the seat of power! Those who have ideological differences are trying to come to an understanding with a common minimum program and take control of the country!
According to me, this election and the verdict to be has given an opportunity to the country and its law makers a chance to finish off all the regional parties at one go. Both the congress and the BJP can come together with a common minimum program or agenda and share the governance for a full term with each one ruling for 2 1/2 years and project their best! There could be some kind of understanding between the 2 parties that they would respect the decisions taken by the other and work only for the economic development of the country. This could be quite shocking to all the other mushroom parties who have a few seats for themselves and aspire to become national level ministers or even eye the post of the PM.
I think both congress and BJP should come together and keep the entire clout of regional parties away and govern the country. This way our country will be blessed and all the regional parties will be compelled to merge with one of them sooner or later. The Elections will be more effective and the people will not have confusion as to whom they should vote for??
The country will also save a major chunk of money which could be well spent on economical development programs.
The undercurrent in this topic is if the parties can come to an understanding keeping their principles and ideologies apart, why can't the Congress and the BJP come to-gather for the sake of the country and finish off all the small and tiny regional parties in the national interest. The common man will be happier to vote either for Congress or the BJP whoever has done good for the country and its people!
I request this thought to be circulated amongst all your friends and contacts as well so that everyone becomes aware of this option as well and voice them in the appropriate forums.
According to me, this election and the verdict to be has given an opportunity to the country and its law makers a chance to finish off all the regional parties at one go. Both the congress and the BJP can come together with a common minimum program or agenda and share the governance for a full term with each one ruling for 2 1/2 years and project their best! There could be some kind of understanding between the 2 parties that they would respect the decisions taken by the other and work only for the economic development of the country. This could be quite shocking to all the other mushroom parties who have a few seats for themselves and aspire to become national level ministers or even eye the post of the PM.
I think both congress and BJP should come together and keep the entire clout of regional parties away and govern the country. This way our country will be blessed and all the regional parties will be compelled to merge with one of them sooner or later. The Elections will be more effective and the people will not have confusion as to whom they should vote for??
The country will also save a major chunk of money which could be well spent on economical development programs.
The undercurrent in this topic is if the parties can come to an understanding keeping their principles and ideologies apart, why can't the Congress and the BJP come to-gather for the sake of the country and finish off all the small and tiny regional parties in the national interest. The common man will be happier to vote either for Congress or the BJP whoever has done good for the country and its people!
I request this thought to be circulated amongst all your friends and contacts as well so that everyone becomes aware of this option as well and voice them in the appropriate forums.
Polling during elections
I woke up fully charged and with a feeling that the destiny of Tamil Nadu is in my hands! yes, it was polling day and I pushed my wife and children to get ready for voting. I was in a bit of hurry. The last time when I went with my family to cast our votes a bit late after lunch, the officials remarked that I can not be voting for the second time!! yes, some one had already cast my vote!!
Luckily, we reached around 7.45 am and stood in the line for more than an hour and successfully cast our votes in the Electronic vending machines!! we sighed a sense of great relief and pride that our votes will count in the destiny of our nation!
Even while I was in the queue, i could see lots of heated exchanges between the voters and the officials as in many cases the names of the voters did not figure in the list or some one had already impersonated the voter and cast his vote! Despite issuance of Voter id cards, there were many complaining that their votes have been cast by someone else.An 80 year old man named Venkatraman Krishnamurthy who was escorted by his son to the polling booth was told that his vote was already cast and this poor old man who had taken the trouble of travelling from his house to the polling station was at great loss and shock that his valuable vote was already cast!! He was naturally very angry and murmured that he will not be surprised if someone else is found on his bed when he reaches home! Many of the voters standing in the queue understood the sense of humour in him and laughed. The reality is quite disturbing and makes one think if this is the kind of Democracy that our country deserved?
I distinctly remember the time during my school and college days in Delhi in the late 60s and 70s during the elections. Around 3PM some volunteers of parties used to come to the house and request the household to go over to the booth to cast their votes. this used to be the courtesy. In modern times, there are truck loads of impersonators available in any name as the situation warrants and who are ready to sell their conscience for a few hundred bucks and go to vote on behalf of somebody to bring electoral gains to a political party who is ready to spend the money for them. The degeneration of morale and cultural system is alarming and calls for attention and redress. I am sure there will be a few hundreds or even thousands of elderly people like Venkatraman Krishnamurthy who would be disillusioned by the erosion of values and virtues brought to our society by our leaders and people alike?
It is time that minds are applied to check this erosion of values and restore confidence in people of all ages who are eligible to vote that they will surely find their name on the voters list and will vote for sure. That will be a day when we proudly call ourselves the largest Democracy!!
Luckily, we reached around 7.45 am and stood in the line for more than an hour and successfully cast our votes in the Electronic vending machines!! we sighed a sense of great relief and pride that our votes will count in the destiny of our nation!
Even while I was in the queue, i could see lots of heated exchanges between the voters and the officials as in many cases the names of the voters did not figure in the list or some one had already impersonated the voter and cast his vote! Despite issuance of Voter id cards, there were many complaining that their votes have been cast by someone else.An 80 year old man named Venkatraman Krishnamurthy who was escorted by his son to the polling booth was told that his vote was already cast and this poor old man who had taken the trouble of travelling from his house to the polling station was at great loss and shock that his valuable vote was already cast!! He was naturally very angry and murmured that he will not be surprised if someone else is found on his bed when he reaches home! Many of the voters standing in the queue understood the sense of humour in him and laughed. The reality is quite disturbing and makes one think if this is the kind of Democracy that our country deserved?
I distinctly remember the time during my school and college days in Delhi in the late 60s and 70s during the elections. Around 3PM some volunteers of parties used to come to the house and request the household to go over to the booth to cast their votes. this used to be the courtesy. In modern times, there are truck loads of impersonators available in any name as the situation warrants and who are ready to sell their conscience for a few hundred bucks and go to vote on behalf of somebody to bring electoral gains to a political party who is ready to spend the money for them. The degeneration of morale and cultural system is alarming and calls for attention and redress. I am sure there will be a few hundreds or even thousands of elderly people like Venkatraman Krishnamurthy who would be disillusioned by the erosion of values and virtues brought to our society by our leaders and people alike?
It is time that minds are applied to check this erosion of values and restore confidence in people of all ages who are eligible to vote that they will surely find their name on the voters list and will vote for sure. That will be a day when we proudly call ourselves the largest Democracy!!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Sadabishekam
Sadabihekam of my chitappa was well conducted @Mumbai on the 9th May, 2009. He is running 82 years and my chitti 78 years! the entire function was well attended by over 1000 people and looked like a marriage! so many friends and relatives, grand children etc... it was a great sight and i feel lucky to be blessed for witnessing such an event!
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