Special Day Celebrations! Do We Really Understand Them?

Valentine’s day or Women’s day celebrations are purely western concepts. A few people initiated such celebrations in our country and in the recent years, everybody seemed to have jumped into the fray. Last month and this month, I witnessed the Valentine’s day and Women’s day celebrations in my office and in the IT Park, in which my present office is located. On Feb 14, I saw some shops in our building putting up sale for Valentine’s day celebrations and this month, it was women’s day’s turn. Hope they won’t put up a similar sale on April 1st :).

I personally don’t celebrate all these A days and B days, however, I have no qualms against people celebrating them. They are free to celebrate them provided they don’t hurt the sentiments of others. The question is do they really understand the spirit behind such special days? For instance, on women’s day, most companies had asked the women employees to wear a saree and conducted special games (no intelligent games, all kids stuff) and gave feast for women employees alone in a separate room. One particular company gave special neck massage from a beauty parlor for women employees alone. Almost, all companies including mine gave roses to all women employees alone. The gift shop in the complex gave away free mehendi cones for women visitors alone on that day (I was given a free mehendi cone that cost 12 bucks for the greeting card that I bought for 10 bucks:).

Now, do you think these women’s day celebrations have actually served the women community in any way? According to me it has only taken us a step backward. It has reiterated the fact that:

• Women still like roses and mehendi cones (why not give away a key chain or a pen as gift? It could have proved to be much cheaper than mehendi cones).

• Women should wear only sarees for special occasions (why not ask wear whatever you are comfortable in).

• A service from beauty parlor is a must-have.

• Women require special care (on that day alone) and the day is strictly meant for women (why create a chasm between the male and female employees by not including the male crowd in the celebrations. Including them will only increase their respect for women and will help them appreciate the magnificence of women).

So, my humble suggestion for all women’s day or Valentine’s day or mother’s day enthusiasts is don’t blindly celebrate a day without appreciating the spirit behind them. Try to do some justification for the day by understanding the rationale behind them.

The New Grading system for CBSE Class X: A boon or bane?

The ministry of human resource development (MHRD) has finally taken the plunge and directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to replace the present system of awarding marks with grades for Class X board examinations from this academic year (21010-2011). Accordingly, the CBSE has also made the Class X board exams for this academic year optional and has advised the schools affiliated with it to convince their students to choose the grading system instead of taking up exams.

The response for the grading system is mixed among various stakeholders, such as parents, teachers, and students. The major attraction of this grading system is that it reduces the stress of scoring high marks on the students and they do not have to burn the midnight oil in a bid to score more marks. The parents can also heave a sigh of relief as they no longer have to worry about the marks scored by their children. The grading system addresses the critical issue of increasing student suicidal rate year after year. It allows the students to study in a relaxed curriculum. It also focuses on the over-all development of students instead of emphasizing only on academics. Students can now study with better understanding rather than by hearting to score more marks. The homework, assignments, and project works has more weightage than written exams. Many experts feel that this system can make the students industry-ready as it focuses on developing the creative and soft skills of the students, thereby preparing them to face the job market. The teachers can also focus on imparting the knowledge rather than completing the portions on time.

However, many students think that they are in for more trouble. They feel some teachers may be biased and can sideline the students who are not favorable to them. Schools may also have their own standards and can play favorites while awarding the internal marks.

Apart from this, students who can score good marks may be demoralized. They will be sharing the same grades with the students who have scored eight to nine marks lesser than them. Also, making the exam as optional has only created confusions among the students. Parents and teachers may convince them to do away with their decision of taking up or not taking up the exams. Moreover, many teachers think that there will be more pressure on the them. According to this new order, there will be two assessments in an academic year and the teachers have to evaluate the students twice and keep a track of their performance. Therefore, teachers have more responsibility than before. Similarly, this system may stifle the competitive spirit of the students and may encourage mediocrity. Students would become insouciant and nonchalant.

Critics also pose questions like what if a teacher quits and another teacher has to evaluate in the middle of an academic year? How will they track the previous performance of the students? On what basis will the students be admitted in class XI? What if a student wants to join the State board form class XI onwards? How the CBSE board proposes to map the CBSE X grades with the State board HSC marks? The CBSE board and MHRD should address these questions and give the final shape to the grading system. If some of these issues are resolved, the grading method may take our education system to a new level.

Bade Adieu

Yesterday was my last working day in the organization that I was working for the past two and half years. What started as a normal day turned out to be a surprising day.Yes.To my utter surprise,I was inundated with gifts by my project managers,reporting managers and fellow colleagues.

Many people from various sources, viz.skype, gtalk, mails and phone were asking me whether it was my last day and wishing me good luck.It was out of the blue.I never thought that so many of them came to know or remember that it was my last day.I am truly honored. One common question that everyone asked was how do you feel? And my answer was I neither feel good nor bad. I am nuetral. I don't feel good because I am leaving an organization that I was part of for the past two and half of years. I will no longer meet my friends and other supportive colleagues.I will miss my van journey, my van mates and the chat and fun etc On the other hand, I don't feel bad because I am moving forward. I have taken a decision that will further my career goals.

People I Admire

We come across many people in our everyday lives. I wonder how some people alone can make a visible mark in the work they do and influence our way of thinking and personality. When I say people I admire, I am not talking about people those who have made it big in the society or celebrities. Ordinary people, who have carved a niche for themselves in the work they do, no matter what it is, or people who have grate personality, attitude, communication skills, dressing sense, or sense of humor are the subject matter of this post.Some of the modern home makers among my friends and relatives are such people, who have made a grate impact in me. They have given a new dimension to home making. Their attitude towards their lives is amazing. I don’t have any name that needs a special mention here. All of them have more or less same qualities and temperament. In a country, where many women see marriage, children etc as an end to personal preferences, these women give importance to personal grooming, personality development, and communication skills in spite of being home makers. They are well updated and modern. On the other hand, they can score well on home making as well. While they can make the world’s most piquant food, keep the home spic and span, and take good care of the children, they can also enjoy themselves in an evening party, get absorbed in Sidney Sheldon, and talk endlessly about politics or current trends in cinema. Many of these women have a burning desire to prove themselves, but don’t have the right opportunities to prove.

The person who comes next to my mind is one of my friends, let’s call her Prajitha, who did a short-term course with me. We became very close in a short span of time. Sooner or later, we were looking up to each other for opinions and suggestions for landing in the right job at the end of the course. Prajitha has lost her mother when she was in her early twenties. When her mother was down with cancer, it seems she used to nurse her mother, cook and run the entire household at the young age. Besides carrying a lot of responsibilities in her slender shoulders, she managed to secure a top rank in her post graduation and a first class in her computer course. But she didn’t have her mother to share her happiness. Troubles did not end there. After a few years of her marriage, Prajitha had delivered a blue baby. One day, the baby fell sick and was hospitalized. Around the same time, her husband also met with an accident and was admitted in the same hospital, where her baby was admitted. By god’s grace, her husband recovered but, she had lost the baby. However, today, Prajitha has recouped her losses. She has a cute daughter to die for and a supportive husband. What surprises me is Prajitha do not have an iota of self pity or negativity. She remains positive despite seeing all the odds at a young age.

Apart from these people, some of my classmates, colleagues, relatives, and friends, who can stand by their opinions and put their foot down firmly in case of disagreement, are responsible for shaping the way I think and act. I take a leaf out of their lives and apply it to my life situations with gratitude.

Contemplation

The last day in my present organization is round the corner. I wish I take a brief sabbatical to reflect on life and internalize the valuable lessons that I learned not only in my two and half year stint in the present organization, but all through my life. I wish I have the time to take stock of my experiences - good or enchanting experiences and bad or learning experiences and thank those who made my life easy and also those who acted tough to only bring out the potentials that were dormant in me. How I wish I could take time to recount the moments that almost reduced me to tears as well as relive the moments that kept me in high spirits. I also wish that I can look back and analyze where I have gone wrong and what was right and plan the life ahead accordingly.

However, I still have my plans charted out. It doesn't mean that I have taken decisions on the spur of the moment without any forethourght or I have ventured into uncharted waters. It only means that my fast- paced life doesn't provide the leeway to take time off for such musings. It means that I can take more charge of my life if I introspect. However, some of the lessons that I learned by the virtue of my experience are still etched in my mind as a beacon of light. They come handy as and when needed to steer me towards the right path.

You may wonder what is the necessity for such contemplation now. Isn't it too philosophical? Can't we take life as it comes? I don't subscribe to the idea of living life as it comes. We should imbibe the valuable lessons that each experience teaches us and reflect those lessons in our life.

Yesterday, I happened to visit Tiruporur (Murugan) Temple with my mom. I was shocked by the filthiness of the place.Visitors and devotees have dumped all the possible garbages inside this temple- crushed plastic water packets, water bottles, crushed paper plates, soiled papers, and leaves. You have to literally walk on these bits and pieces. To make the condition worse, some visitors also pour water, break coconuts, light lamps and camphor balls anywhere on the wayside. The cleanliness sense of our people is appalling. There should be stringent laws to monitor such inorderliness and protect the cleanliness and decorum of temples.

Updates in My Life

I have finally taken the plunge and put my papers in my present organization. I did not take the decision on the spur of the moment, but was actually dilly-dallying for quite some time. I arrived at this decision after giving enough thought to it. But what next?? Well!! I have many plans up my sleeve. However, it is too pre-mature to announce it to the world. Hope everything goes well!!

On the other hand, I did a small research on when one should leave their present job. The list goes like this:

• You are stagnant/ in the same post or position for a long time
• Your interest in your work is on the wane
• You feel you are under paid
• You are not appreciated or encouraged
• Your moral values are not in line with the values of your organization
• You feel insecure/ threatened

Apart from the above reasons, people leave their present job for better opportunities, due to problems caused by co-workers or boss, marriage, child birth and other family situations. Some of my colleagues have had left their jobs for supporting their son or daughter appearing for board exams.

Waking Up to Realities

It has been quite some time since I posted my last entry. Of late, I wonder what do I blog about. I am bereft of ideas. However, I am back to blogging after a long sabbatical. My heartfelt gratitude for the readers and fellow bloggers, who were kind enough to shoot a mail and instigate me to resume blogging.This post is about my recent realizations.

Realization 1

If you are feeling a little low, go for a make-over. It need not be a complete make-over that will burn a big hole in your wallet. It can be a simple yet stylish hair style, a little hair coloring or highlighting, a mini spa or anything that you can afford. If it is possible, invest in a few new outfits. Otherwise, wear well-pressed and fresh clothes. Voila!!! You cannot believe the energy your make-over will produce. You will be in high spirits. I have tried and tested it.

Realization 2

Never under estimate your abilities. For that matter, don’t overrate too. Have a bird’s eye view of yourself. Weigh your abilities and shortcomings from a distance. Judge yourself from a third person’s point of view. This has helped me carry out some difficult tasks with ease. I couldn’t believe that I have done them.

Realization 3

Never pay heed to the discouraging remarks of others, blindly. See through people and find out whether their remarks are genuine or due to vengeance. Accept only if you feel their true motive is to help you. Even if their motive and intention is all for your good, they will know you only in a particular situation. You will know yourself better than anyone. Only you can be your best critic. But never ignore a mistake on your part. If you know that you have committed a mistake, accept it immediately.

Realization 4

I used be a stingy person till my post graduation. I would even walk several kilometers to save a penny. With the passage of time, I have become a spend-thrift. I realized we cannot save and build any grate wealth by depriving ourselves of happiness. Whereas, we can become even bankrupt by being a spend-thrift. BALANCE is the keyword.

These four realizations are nuggets of my personal experience and not a piece of fiction.

Are We Becoming more and more Unethical?

Why many of us do not give attention to small mistakes that can have bigger impacts? All mistakes cannot be punished by the law. Some mistakes are legal but not ethical. For instance, many of you would have watched the movie, Anniyan, the magnum opus creation of Shankar. For the uninitiated, Anniyan is a Tamil movie directed by one of the leading directors of south India, Shankar. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is a person who would not stop his car for taking a seriously injured person to hospital would be killed by Anniyan. Later, he would also argue with Anniyan that there is no law that says that we should stop the car to save a person met with an accident. This is a classic example for a mistake that is legal but not ethical.

I can see more and more people becoming unethical of late .... Being unethical is unfortunately mistaken for being smart and shrewd in many instances. Instances such as one partner cheating another or children not taking a good care of their old parents are becoming common in our country. In the wake of 2010, let's wake up to the human being in us.

Two-in-One Post :Paa Review and Besant Nagar Round-Up

Here is another two-in-one post amidst my punishing deadlines. Again the post is about my favorite subjects. You would have guessed it right if you had even taken a glance at my previous posts. Yes.The post is about Movie and Shopping.

Paa-A Review

I visited Sathyam theater to watch Paa recently. As I was waiting in the lounge for the show to begin, I was looking forward to watch a grate movie.The movie had also set the bar very high in its very first reel itself.I would have been disappointed even if the movie, as it progressed, failed to meet my expectations by a few brownie points.Instead, it maintained its standard till the end.It is a must watch for all in particular, for the differently-abled. The director could have made Auro (played by Amitabh Bachan), a child affected by progeria to sing a sonnet on account of his rare illness throughout the movie. Instead he has depicted his character as a witty and humorous one. This is one of the strongest points of the movie.The director, R.Bala Krishnan should be appreciated for the script and his exceptional narration. The jokes that auro cracks with a touch of brilliance is amazing.For instance, in the climax scene, when the whole family was grief-ridden, Auro says to his grandfather (Paresh Rawal), who talks seriously to him that the visiting hours is over. Amitabh Bachan has stolen the whole show through his extraordinary actions. The actor, whose experience in the industry spans for four and half decades, has carved a niche for himself in this film. Special accolades for the make-up crew for the prosthetic make-up. Amitabh's make-up brings a child affected with progeria alive. Abhishek Bhachan has also proved that he is an exceptional actor through his subtle actions and exceptional emotions. Vidya Balan is gorgeous and looks like a woman to die for.In her present looks, she can easily be passed off as the mother for a 12-year old. However, she should shed a few pounds for the other stylish roles. Other actors such as Arundathi Nag (Vidya's mother), Paresh Rawal have done full justice to their respective roles.

Ilaiyaraja has proved that he is a meticulous musician.Though he has taken a leaf out of his previous works, the music is soothing and compliments the movie well.Another interesting aspect of the movie is the brief climax. The director could have dragged the climax and left a depressing hangover in you.But he has made the climax short and sweet without making you to reach out for a hand kerchief. At the end of watching this movie, I felt happy for witnessing a brilliant movie in my lifetime.

Besant Nagar-A shopping Round-Up

This Saturday I visited Besant Nagar with one of my friends, Niranjani.We kick-started our day with the lunch in the PlanetYum in the Besant Nagar beach. Then, we headed to a bag mall called Dora bag mall near Velankanni Church in Besant Nagar.The shop is a heaven in the earth for bag lovers. I was amazed to see two room full of bags in all possible varieties in this shop. For patient and decisive buyers, there is no dearth of choice. But others will have a difficult time to arrive at a decision. If you come as a family, you will find bags, purses and pouches for everyone in the family.For ladies, they have formal office bags, party bags, clutches, jute bags, beach bags and the list is never ending. Similarly, for guys, they have purses, office bags, and pouches.For kids, they have school bags, lunch bags etc They have bags for all occasions-travel, evening outing, party, dinner etc So if you are a bag freak , don't wait. Head straight to Dora bag mall.

Then, we continued hunting for new shops in Besant Nagar and its nearby areas . We went to a shop called Mishmash in Valmiki Nagar in Thiruvanmiyur. I heard about this shop in a TV program. From the moment i heard about it, I couldn't resist dropping by. But what I witnessed after reaching there was a small room (read store room) with all the nice stuffs sourced from various locations of the world and the country. Even a small box, which will leave you wonder what its utility is, will burn a big hole in your pocket. But if you want to source some stuff from some foreign land, then you can get in touch with the owner of the shop. She seems to know what to source from where. At last, wanna know what we bought on that day? A son papdi in Tiruvanmiyur beach .

Remembering 26/11

It's been one year since the Mumbai terror attacks happened. As usual, our inept politicians think paying homage and giving an emotional speech would suffice. Have they implemented their action points? How many of them have turned their words into actions? Has our security system improved? Answers to none of the questions are satisfying. Security is still far fetched for an average Indian.

In this first anniversary of those who died on the three-day long attacks, the politicians should not stop with paying tribute but should explain the people those who elected them, what steps they have taken to avoid such tragedies. We are entitled to know that. Will they do?

Read this article on the Mumbai Terror attacks. Read my previous articles on the same here: The Unsung Heroes and Mumbai Terror Attack: Let the Dawn Crack the City Soon!

Two-in-One Review: The Secret and Wake Up Sid

The Secret Movie-A Quick Review

Recently, I bought "The Secret" movie from The Landmark. Believe me, purchasing the DVD was such a herculean task. I had to place the order and then wait for a call from the Landmark personnel for grabbing hold of this self- help documentary. Though "The Secret" movie was released first and the book was made available subsequently, I had read the book first and bought the movie only later. "The Secret" movie is distributed through DVD and internet (streaming media).It contains a series of interviews of around 25 authors. The packaging of the movie is awesome just like the packaging of the book. The quality of the picture and sound, the demonstration of the concepts of the law of attraction through appropriate scenarios, the background music and the interviews of some of the experts of the law of attraction are the pluses of this movie. The major shortcoming of this movie is its length. The teachings could have been crisp and short to suit the movie format. Then, the downsides of "The Secret" book are also applicable to the movie (read the review of "The Secret" book here). However, I enjoyed reading the book more than watching the movie. It doesn't mean that the movie is anything less than that of the book. I personally enjoy reading self help books than watching as movies. But if you enjoy watching motivational videos and lack the much needed impetus to lead a happy life, then "The Secret" movie version will appeal to you.


Wake Up Sid-A Brief Review

Here is another review of a mainstream movie, Wake Up Sid. As the title sugests the movie is about a boy, Sidharth, who wakes up to the hard realities of life.The movie is a splendid entertainer. Ranbir Kapoor perfectly fits for the "boyish" Sid role. He steals the show through his innocent expressions and natural actions.Incidentally, his slim figure and cute face makes his job easy. His performance is completely convincing that it is hard to believe that he is only acting as Sid and not Sid in the real life.Konkan Sen Sharma has also done full justice to her role as an ambitious writer who makes a positive influence in the life of Sid. Other supporting actors such as Anupem Kher (Sid's father), Supriya Pathak (Sid's mother) have fulfilled the demands of their respective roles. The music complements the movie well and adds value for the narration.We can give a thumbs-up for the song "The Wake up Sid" rendered by Shankar Mahadevan. Apart from the "Bombay" controversy, there is no major downside in this movie.

A Medley of Thoughts

I think I posted my last entry eons ago and while resuming blogging I was completely overtaken by writer’s block. To overcome it, I am goanna make this post a medley. I want to resume my blogging sessions in a happy note, so I choose my favorite subject in this post. Yes. It is shopping!!! In the past one month, I have visited various shops that have put up their sales. But sadly, most of them passed off their old stocks as new ones in the name of discounts. In a retail store in Pondy Bazaar, I saw identical pieces for different prices. The prices vary according to the quality of the stock. If the quality of a product is poor, then the price is low. Then, why call it a discount, sale, bonanza etc I think the most appropriate term would be “annual clearance”. Some shops describe their sale using this term. Hats off to them. As I have mentioned in one of my previous posts, we only pay the actual price of the product. Ok…. Let me stop boring you to death with my never ending lecture about shopping.

A few weeks ago, I attended a training program called “The Culture of Execution”, which was sponsored by my company. It was organized by a training organization called “People’s Craft” and conducted by one of its founders, Mr. Anil Chawla. It was a power packed program, in a true sense. It provided the impetus to grapple with my “now” highly-pressurized work environment. The program is all about amazing your customers by going an extra mile with the team effort (at last, I have incorporated various objectives of the program in a sentence). If you get an opportunity to attend this program, never miss it.

Back to my shopping experience, I checked out the landmark sale as well. A book recommended by Mr. Chawla, “Think and Grow Rich” by Nepolean Hill was calling for my attention in the stand. Luckily, it was reasonably priced. So I grabbed it instantly. But only after venturing into reading the book, I realized that it is priceless. I will post my insights about that book later.

The Secret - Book Review

I was introduced to "The Secret" by one of my uncles. I got hold of a personal copy of the book and ventured into reading it with expectations soaring high. I found it very interesting and inspiring. The design of the book is awesome and caught my fancy at a single glance. Every aspect of the design is breathe-taking. In my opinion this book defies the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover”. The feel-good factor flows through its content as well.

The author Rhonda Byrne claims to have captured the essence of the most powerful philosophies, teachings and knowledge in the world in this book. She says that she discovered the glimpse of "The Secret" through a 100 year old book. Since its discovery, she was consumed by the desire to share her wisdom to the world and it lead to the birth of "The Secret". Apart from Byrne, there are 29 authors for this book. The profiles of these authors is the most attractive part of "The Secret". There are some of the prominent personality developers, quantum physicists, authors, teachers, and philosophers among many others. It is noteworthy that the author of the Chicken soup for the soul series, Jack Canfield is also one of the authors.

The core concept of "The Secret" is "The Law of Attraction". The authors describe this law as the most powerful universal law. But the whole book preaches this law to a sickening extent. It inundates us with an over dose of information on the law of attraction. However, there are apparently less or no concrete action points on using the law of attraction. The readers can merely read the book as if they read a story book. There is no appropriate call for action.

In the same way, the authors say that our thoughts attract their corresponding results. They say that our “thoughts become things”. However, the book fails to address how thoughts alone (without appropriate actions) can become things. Similarly, the authors say that "The Secret" techniques work best for self but not others. They have only contradicted themselves here because in one of the chapters called the secret to the world, one of the authors recommends us to visualize the people around the world being happy during disasters. If "The Secret" techniques can only work for self, then how visualizing other people being happy can better the situation?

In the same way, the book says that people those who succumb to disasters, invite themselves to such situations through their thoughts. It further says that the person may not necessarily think of the same situation but may have some or other negative feelings such as fear, separation etc If a few or more people have died in a disaster, how could all of them been in the same frame of mind?

Similarly, many people have criticized "The Secret" for being impractical and focusing more on material goals. "The Secret" is still a welcome addition to the self help genre. Though it may not turn your life around in a single day, it is an effective tool for shifting our thinking and understanding the thought process.

The supporters of "The Secret" including the big names such as renowned talk show personality Oprah Winfrey hail this book as a mind-blowing and ground breaking phenomenon. However, I am not sure whether or not this book can have the same life-altering impact in you because the reviews and reactions for the book are mixed. But I understand one factor here. Any change should start from You. This book is only a good vehicle for the change. If you are looking for a change, ride on it.

Here is the link to "The Secret" website:
http://www.thesecret.tv/

After a Short Break !!!

It's been quite sometime since I blogged. The crunched time lines in office kept me super busy. Yesterday,I managed to finish my office work on time and did not have any spill over, luckily.So that left me with ample time to blog today. For the past two weeks, I am witnessing what I would call as perhaps, the worst patch of my work life.But luckily, it helped me to discover a new facet of myself. It made me to take up assignments that I used to previously consider as difficult.It gave me a sense of satisfaction. At the end of every chaos, we will have some key takeaway - a moral lesson,a new dimension to life,discovery of thyself and true quality of others, and many more.It is one such learning experience for me.So next time when you venture in troubled waters, think what key takeaway does it has.You will realize that your experience is worth its pain. So does it sounds philosophical? Then, I"ll switch over to something light.

Did you watch the new NDTV Hindu channel?It looks like a lifestyle channel, more or less, like NDTV Goodtimes, but with the primary focus on the Chennai city.But the look and feel of the channel is not on par with NDTV Goodtimes.Moreover,the same programs are recast over and again.The slots are not filled up.However,it has got some interesting programs such as, Super Shopper, which takes us for a ride to various interesting shops in the city. A must watch for shopaholics.The channel is targeted at the middle and upper-middle classes and intends to capitalize on the wider readership that "The Hindu" enjoys in the city.If you find time, check it out!

Realization

Sheena woke up with all smiles and got ready for the school. She was jubilant since the last evening. She was over the moon. Her father had agreed to send her for the school tour to Kodaikanal for three days. She started dreaming about her travel in the night-long train for the first time with her friends, her stay with them in the hotel room, sight-seeing, shopping, boating…….. one thing after another came to her mind. She had already decided on the dresses that she should wear during the trip. She had also decided to get herself a pair of slippers from her savings. All her memories were around the Kodaikanal trip from the time when her father assured her to arrange the money for the trip, by hook or by crook. After all, for the first time in her life, she was going to go for a trip along with her friends. She will be in the sixth grade by next year. Since her present school offer only up to primary education, she and her friends have to move to different schools for the sixth grade. Afterward, they can no longer meet. Sheena thought it is a good idea to spend a reasonable time with her friends and then bid a farewell to them.

Sheena reached the bus stop. As usual, she started thinking about her trip while waiting for the bus .She thought that she should confirm her teacher about her participation in the trip as soon as she reaches the school. All of a sudden, a loud voice shook her out of her reverie. A biker, who stopped at the bus stop, was talking loudly in his mobile phone. Sheena was quietly eaves dropping on his conversation. “How long will you take to return back the money? You borrowed the money to pay the picnic fee of your son and promised to return it back in one month. It’s been three months since you took the money and gave only few thousands as the interest. You don’t even earn enough to meet out your personal expenses. Then, why do you send your son for the tour? Knowing your status, your son should confine to your home. At least, you should’ve told him that he should not fancy such pleasures, given the fact that his father is capable of earning only peanuts. No matter what, if you don’t settle the money along with the interests before today evening, I will take all the goods from your home and sell it”. After a heated conversation, the biker started his vehicle and flew away.

Sheena returned home. She walked up to her father and told him in a firm tone “dad, I don’t want to go to the trip”. Her father looked at the child strangely.

Don't Judge a Book by its Cover!!

I boarded a long route bus from Pondicherry to return home from office two days ago. I didn't have the exact change( 10 rupees) to give the conductor. So I gave a 100- rupee note (which is usually accepted in these buses).On that particular day, the conductor got irked and demanded the exact change. He took my 100-rupee note saying that I need the change now, no matter what.I rummaged through my hand bag, but in vain.I was helpess.

A fellow passenger, who was clad in an ordinary dothi came for help.He asked "madam,how much change you need?".I told him that I have around five bucks.He generously offered me a five rupee coin.But I was not willing to accept his offer.Why should I accept money for free? I was very thankful to him, but didn't take the money.Then, the conductor himslef gave back the changes understanding that I truly didn't have change.He must have thought that I was simply lying.

But what I understood from this incident was that we should not judge anyone based on our pre-conceived notions.The man, who came for help was looking very ordinary.He was clad in a not-so clean dhothi.However,he had the willingness to help, which not many what we call as "classy looking" people may have.But unfortunately, we don't believe them and we doubt the motive behind their actions.Have you not judged someone based on their looks? Ask yourself!!

A Trip Down My Native Village

This weekend I visited our native village called Nagainallur, which is situated near Thottiyam in Trichy district. This small village sports a festive look during Sri Rama Navami, one of the biggest events that happen in the village every year. This year Sri Rama Navami happened on Sunday.

To attend the event, myself, my parents, my aunt, and her boss went to Nammakkal(a popular town, which is famous for Anjaneya temple) by car.We stayed in Nammakkal and traveled to Nagainallur from there .

We started on Saturday morning by around 7 a.m from Chennai and reached Namakkal by 1 p.m. We stayed in a three star hotel called Hotel Golden Palace.We were awestruck to see a reasonably posh hotel in a small town, such as Nammakkal.

The flower arrangement

This flower arrangement was warm and welcoming.The flowers were fresh even on our arrival by 1.00 pm.

A warm painting

This painting on the top corner of a wall in the reception also caught my fancy.

The double-bed rooms were spacious. It had all facilities. You name them and it had all of them− air conditioner, television with cable connection, mini refrigerator, wardrobe, bathtub, shower and waiter-on call.The food and services were also good. The entire hotel, including the rooms was spic and span. In short, the hotel lived up to its name, Golden Palace.

(Note: Click the images to see the bigger versions of them.)

The full meal

Coming back to my trip, after the lunch, in the late afternoon, we headed to a village called Musiri to get the blessings of a Dhikshadar residing in that village.

The trip from Nammakal to Musiri was not very scenic. Most of the fields were dry and infertile. In addition, the sun was also scorching. Moreover, the Cauvery River running across these towns apparently had less or no water. My heart wretched to see a string of lorries waiting to ferry the sand from the river.

A lorry waiting to carry sands in the banks of the river Cauveri

There seem to be a brisk business of the sand, which poses grater risks to the ecological balance. The driver informed us that these sand businessmen are given a free hand by the policemen. Hope the concerned authorities take up this issue seriously and bring about some rigid measures against it.

Now back to my trip. We reached Musiri and located the Agraharam (a stretch of Brahmin houses), where the Dhikshadar was residing. We got his blessings and headed to Nagainallur.The people in Nagainallur were in a festive mood. The village hardly has 15-20 houses, out of which, people reside only in 5-6 houses permanently. Other houses will have its residents only during this Sri Rama Navami celebrations. People those who are native to the village and others from various parts of the country flock together during this event for 10-15 days. On our arrival to Nagainallur, many people from various places were already present.

A hall that is named after my late grand father

We participated in a low-key celebration and headed back to our room in Nammakal. My parents chose to stay back to participate in the night-long bhajans. Later, in the early morning, my parents came back to our hotel for a few hours of rest. Then, we started to Nagainallur to participate in the Sita Kalyanam (the marriage ceremony of Ram and Sita) that is organized as part of the Sri Rama Navami. It is believed that if those who are waiting to get married or those who want a child participate in the Sita Kalyanam and eat the marriage feast, marriage or child birth will happen for sure. There are many success stories of people those who have achieved what they wanted by participating in this event. The proof of pudding is in eating. Isn’t? The power of the god (Ram) residing in Nagainallur was evident by the crowd that participated in the marriage ceremony. There were hundreds of people from various parts of the country. The heads referred to the crowd

as “jana samudiram” which means ocean like crowd. There

The vigraham or distinctly styled statue of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshman along with Hanuman

were also scores of bhajan troupes present.

The bhajans were enthralling. The entire Sita Kalyanam procedures were performed through bhajans. Another major attraction of the Sri Rama Navami celebrations is its food. The food is delicious and heavenly. It is said that King Nalan, who is famous for his exceptional culinary skills, had left his serving spoon in this village several centuries ago.So this serving spoon is believed to be the reason for the delicacy of the food .

But on the flip side, the hall had thatched roofs and was packed with people, people and only people. The weather was also very hot and there were only a few fans. So the humidity and stickiness was unimaginable. The only saving grace was the panakkam (a drink made of jaggery and lemon) that was available abundantly. It seems they prepared the drink by using 300 kgs of jaggery. We drank many cups of pannakkam and butter milk to beat the heat. Finally, the most awaited moment arrived. It was the thali-tying (mangal sutra or a thread tying) moment. It is believed that whatever we ask for during that moment, the god will grant us. It was the most defining moment. I was literally reduced to tears.

After Sita Kalyanam, the lunch begins. The lunch was served to people in batches. It is believed that Lord Ram will have his food in the first batch. So, after the food, the banana leaves in which the food was served for the first batch of people were not removed.

A typical village house

Men would perform “anga pradarshanam” (rolling on the ground) in these leaves. I personally feel this practice facilitates breaking one’s ego and surrendering to god. Otherwise, who would roll on the left-over leaves? I was moved to see several CEOs and heads to perform anga pradarshanam. At the end of the day, we are all equal before the god. Isn’t it? This anga pradarshanam marks the end of the Sri Rama Navami in Nagainallur. After this ceremony, we reached Nammakkal and packed our bags and headed towards Chennai. The memories of Nagainallur are etched in our minds.

(Note: Click the images to see the bigger versions of them.)

Spare a Thought Before Hitting the Forward Button!!

Imagine you have got an email forward that calls for an action like this:

Forward it to 20 people, otherwise you will lose your job or fail in your exam.

Certainly many of you would have got forwards like this.What will you do with them? Will you treat them with disdain and push them into the trash or dutifully forward it to 20 people? I generally give a damn about them.Some idle people those who have nothing to do, draft such mails and spread them.I will treat such mails as mere spams and would delete them instantly. More often than not, such mails will have an image of a god to create a fear factor.Some mails may also have case studies(?) explaining what happened to people those who failed to heed their instructions.

Here is a sample from one of the forwards that I got:

Class 1 Officer of Indian government received this picture and called it 'junk mail', 8 days later his husband died.

T. Ratan received this picture, gave it to his secretary to make copies but they forgot to distribute: she lost her job and he lost his family.

My humble request to people those who forward such mails is please remember that you have better work to do.Internet is a powerful medium. Please don't use it to promote superstitions. I have seen some people forwarding them by adding a sentence, such as "I don't believe in this.....but still". What difference does it make? If you don't believe in the content of the mail, why should you follow the instructions in it? Spare a thought!

Arundathi:My View

I seriously regret for watching this movie in the first place.Since I am not in a mood to draft a proper review, I simply provide my general insights about this movie.The reason I wanted to see this movie was it is said that this movie is doing well in the box offices in Tamil Nadu.My quest to understand the "why" behind it instigated me to watch the movie.

The plot is Arundathi is a brave princess of an empire.She buries her devil brother-in law, who had acquired super natural powers to take revenge of her, alive.Even after his death, his devil spirit remains in the old palace, where he was being buried alive. Arundathi reincarnates into the same family again as Arundathi after one generation .The evil spirit of the buried brother in-law is still waiting to take revenge of Arundathi.In this battle between the evil and good, how the good destroys the evil power forms rest of the story.

Pluses
Anushka's appearance and her body language


Minuses
A very high dosage of superstition( a general phenomenon in all the mystery thrillers)
Absence of a gripping story( the story is not new)


The conclusion is I couldn't able to find the "why" part that I set out to find.