Friendship Day

Today is friendship day and I am reminded of my childhood friend and an office colleague, two individuals who really gave a new dimension to friendship.

Abdullakunhi, a Muslim boy in the neighbourhood was my first pal. I met him when I joined the primary school in my village. We were classmates for four consecutive years. We used to walk to the school and back together. He was from a middle class family engaged in business. Unlike me, he always used to carry pocket money with him. He was a really bosom friend. Never selfish. So loving and caring. He used to share with me whatever he could buy with his pocket money. Be it toffees or nuts. In those days I could not give him anything in return as I seldom had pocket money. But he never bothered. All he wanted was my friendship. Whenever he had enough cash he would take me to the cinemas or for a cycling trip using hired bicycles. We completed our upper primary education together and then I had to leave my village as my family was relocating to a distant town. Pangs of separation filled our parting day. But we continued our friendship through post for a very long time. We used to spend time together whenever I had the opportunity to travel to my village during school vacations. Even now we try to meet whenever there is an opportunity. He is the one who showed me the real value of friendship.

Friendship has no barriers or boundries.

One day when I was employed abroad, a junior technician joined our office from Bangladesh. A real village simpleton. Quite new to a city like Abu Dhabi. On the first day in the office he made acquaintance with all the staff members and introduced himself as Mohd Jashimuddin. A soft spoken, shy guy, he presented an innocent look. He spoke Hindi with Bengali accent.

Let me quote some interesting anecdotes. There were a couple of unforgettable experiences. In that, a few days after he started working, he came to the office with a large cake. I asked him what it was for. He said - just like that. Then I told him not to give the same reply if the Manager asks him what it is for. Rather say it is your birthday although it is not. We had a British Manager at that time. The Manager walked in and Jashimuddin greeted him with a piece of cake. Thank you Jashimuddin said the Manager and as expected asked him what the cake is for. For which Jashimuddin told it is his birthday. How old are you, the Manager asked. Jashimuddin was not prepared for that. So pat came the reply. I am twenty six and a half Sir, An innocent submission.

On another occasion, Jashimuddin was glancing through the newspaper. He came across an item which read "The ruler sends cable to the world leaders on the eve of National Day". Without thinking twice he rushed to the Sales department and told the Sales Executive. Look at this, why can't we supply cable to the Ruler (our company used to distribute electrical and data cable). He did not know that the word cable had another meaning as Telegram. Such was his dedication, diligence and devotion to duty, always willing to do something for the company.

Our friendship grew. He used to call me Venubhai. For him I was a big brother. We used to party together and have beer in pitchers every weekend. He used to treat me as his role model. His Hindi was really weak when he first started. In course of time he was able to refine his Hindi dialect. With the passing of time our friendship grew stronger and stronger and when I finally retired we parted as friends. A friendship which lasted for 30 plus years overseas and which continues even now. Jashimuddin calls me on his cell phone at least once a month to this day. For him I am always his Bhai.

I dedicate this to all the friends the world over.

Appreciation

A friend of mine sent me the following story requesting me to forward it to as many as possible and I decided to use this blog for that purpose with the fervent hope that this blog will be viewed at least by a handful of friends who value the word "Appreciation"

Quote

One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the first interview, the Director did the last interview, made the last decision. The Director discovered from the CV that the youth's academic achievements were excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research, never had a year when he did not score.

The Director asked "Did you obtain any scholarships in School? the youth answered "none".

The Director asked "Was it your father who paid for your school fees?. The youth answered. My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school fees. The Director asked "Where did your mother work?". The youth answered "My mother worked as a clothes cleaner. The Director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect. The Director asked "Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?". The youth answered "Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than me. The Director said, "I have a request. When you go back today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning".

The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back, he happily requested his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to her son.  The youth cleaned his mother's hand slowly. Tears rolled down from his eyes as he did that. It was the first time that he noticed his mother's hands were so wrinkled and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother shivered when they were  cleaned with water. This was the first time that the youth realised that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fee. The bruises in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his graduation, academic excellence and his future. After finishing the cleaning of his mother's hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother. That night, mother and son talked for a very long time. Next morning, the youth went to the Director's office.

The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes, asked: "Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?". The youth answered, "I cleaned my mother's hands, and also finished clearing all the remaining clothes" The Director asked, "please tell me your feelings" The youth said, Number 1, I know now what is appreciation. Without my mother, there would not be the successful me today. Number 2, by working together and helping my mother, only I now realise how difficult and tough it is to get something done. Number 3, I have come to appreciate the importance and value of family relationship. The Director said, "This is what I am looking for one to be my manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. You are hired.

Later on, this young person worked very hard and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and as a team. The company's performance improved tremendously.

A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop "entitlement mentality" and would always put himself first. He would be ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. For this kind of people, who may be good academically, may be successful for a while, but eventually would not feel sense of achievement. He will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying the kid instead?.

You can let your kid live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it. After a meal, let them wash their plates and bowls together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you  do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in the right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow grey same as the mother of that young person. The most important thing is your kid learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to get things done.

Unquote

You would have sent or forwarded umpteen mails and messages to many and many of them would have communicated with you too on similar subjects but try to read this story and encourage others to read whenever and wherever possible......that may change somebody's fate and even destiny. Thank you for your valuable time.

Father's day

Today is Father's day and memories of my late father keep flashing before me. Major Thekkanmar Veettil Karunakaran Nair was his full name and he was known as Major Nair in official circles. He was a strict disciplinarian and a true soldier judging by his character. Although he was a terror and even nicknamed Tiger Nair by some, he carried a soft heart within his strong body. He was a member of an aristocratic family, his two uncles having served the legal profession, one as a High Court Judge and the other as a District & Sessions Judge in those days.

After graduating from St. Joseph's College in Tiruchirapalli (Trichy), my father did short stints as a Teacher and also as an Inspector in the revenue department during pre-independence days. In the year 1930 he joined the supply corps (ASC) of the Indian Army  (then the British Royal Army) as a commissioned officer. He was a real task master and this stood him in good stead and earned him accolades from the British commanders for whom duty and discipline were of paramount importance.

My sister who is the eldest in our family recalls her childhood days when she used to be the pet of my father. Talking of him, she becomes emotional as she was lucky enough to have enjoyed life as a child, my father holding a prestigious position. But lady luck never smiled at him.  Unfortunately most of the decisions that he took went wrong resulting in misfortune and misery.

My sister was narrating an incident during the days she spent in Ernakulam. My father was offered a  duplex villa on MG Road at Jose Junction for just Rs 5,000/-. At that time my father had a bank balance of Rs 50,000/-, a substantial sum in those days, but he declined the offer, my sister distinctly remembers the reason that he gave was that as an army officer he is entitled to a well furnished accommodation wherever he is posted, so why invest his money on a house in Ernakulam when he is on the verge of a transfer. Such was his nature.Just imagine what that property is worth now. He was good at giving commands but a poor listener. Self respect was his forte but he never allowed others to give him a piece of advice even if it was for his own benefit.

When India gained independence, he was a Captain. As part of the reforms introduced by the government, defence officers were given the option to join IPS direct without going through the Civil Services examination. But my father had a different vision that if he continues with the army,  in course of time he can rise to the position of a Lieutnant General before he retires. But ill luck willed it otherwise. When he was a Major he became diabetic but for the next few years he somehow cleared the annual medical tests and then he was promoted to the rank of Lieutnant Colonel. Before he was confirmed in that post, he had to undergo the mandatory medical test which unfortunately he failed. He lost his promotion and soon was asked to retire on medical grounds as he was declared medically unfit for service. This shattered his dream of becoming a Lt General. His colleague another Captain Nair who opted for IPS later became the Inspector General of Police in Kerala.

After leaving the army, my father settled down in Trivandrum and accepted an offer from the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation as their Catering Advisor. He was recovering from the earlier shocks in life and slowly getting back to normal.  But bad luck followed him like a shadow. During an official trip to Ernakulam he suffered a massive stroke and succumbed. He could not buy a home in Ernakulam but his soul rests in the city of Ernakulam.

I thought of this blog as the best way to pay homage to my great father.

I salute you Major Saab with love and respect.

Reader's Day

We attach great importance to Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day, Valentines' Day and so on and so forth. But how many of us give vent to Readers' Day. Ironically only a few, the obvious reason being we read something or the other everyday.

It was a real treat to the eye, while reading Mathrubhumi, the largest circulated news daily in Malayalam on the 19th June 2015, I came across a full page length report with the headline "Today is Readers' Day" (in Malayalam "Vayana Dinam" which translated to English becomes "Reading Day"). To be frank, I myself, was not aware of a Readers' Day ever before. So for me it was an invigorating experience. I could not stop appreciating the initiative of the daily in creating an awareness among the masses on the importance of reading. And to coincide with this drive, a week long programme has also been organised together with an exhibition cum sale of a wide variety of books in different languages offering big discounts in order to lure more and more to take to reading.

Alarmingly the number of serious readers among the new generation is dwindling and  slowly  reading is becoming a thing of the past as they spend more and more time glued to the i-phones busily browsing and chatting on trivial matters. This needs to change. For this social organisations should hold seminars with the sole aim of encouraging and inculcating the habit of reading among the young and old alike.

Reading rejuvenates our mind, enriches our knowledge, helps us keep abreast with the developments taking place everyday around the world. We start the day scanning the newspaper to keep ourselves upto-date on varying subjects, be it politics, sports, world affairs, weather, fashion, food, technology and what not?. The list is endless. Unless we utilise our time in useful reading we fail to connect with the world and grope in the dark leading a miserable meaningless life.

Readers fall into different categories like those who read for pleasure, for gaining knowledge, for preparing themselves for competitive examinations, for personality development and even to while away time and escape boredom and loneliness.

Apart from giving us knowledge, reading stimulates our senses which in turn improves our bodily functions. It helps refresh our mind and body. It moulds our character. The benefits of reading can be attributed to the subject that we choose and the content. By reading we are able to share the experiences and thoughts of others which in the right perspective will shape our character and destiny.

When we are alone, reading materials keep us good company. While in a happy mood reading elevates our joy and while depressed or dejected reading soothes and consoles our troubled minds.

We must keep pace with the changing world and if only we give importance to reading regularly this can materialise.  During our morning stroll we often come across people in different age groups engrossed in newspapers. Their interests may vary. But they have one purpose in common. Move with the times and know what the world has in store for them.

A few months back, I happened to read an article about a politician whose only interest was reading (of course other than politics) and who virtually invested all his earnings on books. After spending over four decades in active politics when he finally returned to his native place in Kerala he brought along three truck loads of books numbering 25000. Really a staggering number considering it is an individual's private collection. I made a rough calculation and came to the conclusion that he has been reading on an average two books a day. Is that not astounding?. For an ordinary person it is a wee bit difficult to emulate him. But he is a glaring example when the topic "Reading" comes up for debate or discussion.

Whenever I think of the subject "Reading" I travel down the memory lane tracing vivid memories of my mother's elder sister who was an avid reader. But her choice of books was unique. She was interested only in detective novels and ghost stories in Malayalam. It was the duty of the children to get her books from a local lending library everyday and she could easily finish a two hundred page book in one sitting. And at night before the children retire to bed she will share what she has read with the children. These stories get embedded in their tiny minds. But the bookish knowledge that my aunt acquired had only an adverse impact on the children and she too did not get knowledgeable. As a result when they grew up the word courage was not synonym with them. The thoughts of thieves and ghosts always haunted them.

In short, we must be selective in choosing the books, should read with a purpose and always give vent to the time factor. We must read with absolute concentration so that we are able to memorise and put what we read into action at a later date. We should never read haphazardly as it will only be a waste of our valuable time and energy. Reading is to the mind what food is to the body.

That reminds me of an interesting anecdote. Winston Churchil met his cousin Londonberry, himself a writer, at a party. Londonberry casually asked - Hi Winston haven't you read my latest book,  for which Churchil replied - Oh no, no way, I read only for pleasure or profit.

In conclusion, let me assert that the new generation imbibe and understand the virtues of good reading and endeavour to make reading a part and parcel of their daily lives and strive to do their best even if they find it a herculean task to match the amazing feat of that political wizard and a voracious reader with a huge collection of books.

MONSOON

Monsoon is here with its fiery spell
Lashing at roads and rails like a yell

Though rain has come a little bit late
What a respite from the heat we hate

Clouds keep painting the sky so dark
Lightnings draw silver lining so stark

For those indoors rain is a marvel
But those outside see in it a ravel

Ponds and potholes spring up in rain
For commuters it poses a severe pain

Children rejoice the monsoon shower
Watching the raindrops from the tower

Although they like bright sunshine
For them monsoon rains are pretty fine

Rains at night are always welcome
During daytime a havoc they become

Rains do not spare even the woods
Trees adrift downstream with their roots

The distant thunder rocks the ground
Although fearsome it is a soothing sound

Rain water fills up backwater upstream
Ocean waves gain strength extreme

Fishing gets into a strenuous stage
When the sea gets rough and rage

Fisher-women cry and pray onshore
So that their men return safe ashore

Rivers overflow flooding paddy field
And sadly destroy crops before yield

Playgrounds turn a watery place
Putting an end to games and race

Without rains drought alone prevail
But too much rain is of no avail

Rainwater harvest is an ideal norm
If only rain does not bring along storm

Rain has its own ups and downs
Nevertheless it is a heavenly boon

For all on earth water is life
Rain alone can make that hype

My mother

Today is world mothers' day
My mother looks at me from far away

She was an angel in full blossom
A woman of fame that was awesome

She was revered like Mother Teresa
And she treated all alike sans chasm

For her disparity was a distant norm
Children encore were always welcome home

Her life was full of trials and tribulations
Yet she stood ground with devotion and dedication

For elders she was a sister so unique
And youngsters treated her like mother supreme

She only longed for peace at large
And always spread the message of love

She was a woman with guts and substance
Yet so humble and down to earth

For me no day passes without her thought
And I feel her presence round the clock

If rebirth is a universal truth
Then I have just one wish

That I want to be born again and again
As my mother's loving son

There is a list of unfinished tasks
For which I yearn for my mother again

If I am born again as her son
I can complete those tasks for her

Wherever you are my darling mother
Let me touch your sacred feet again

Tension needs attention

Tension, a word so common in our daily lives. I bet you cannot find one who has not experienced this at least once in his or her lifetime. I would rather say that it starts at home as you obviously wake up at home and not in your workplace.

Children getting up late, allowing them only a few minutes to go for a wash, dress up and have a grub, the reason their mother overslept and failed to wake them up (she has been watching a late night movie on TV). Adding fuel to the fire, the children miss the school bus. Now it is the turn of the dad to accept moral responsibility for this debacle. Tension filled moments follow.

My first assignment abroad was with a British firm and I was made responsible for managing the service contracts. Having overcome the early tension of the day, I am at my office desk all set for more. A pile of problems passed on to me (passing the buck is the reckoning in any office). What more do I need for added tension?. I am about to clear the pile and the boss dashes in with a big list of complaints. The door closer is malfunctioning (as if I am a carpenter). Get it fixed before any wanted face breaks in. There is coffee stain in the carpet (I do not drink coffee in the office). Get it cleared as we have some important visitors (all heavy coffee drinkers). I assume the role of an acrobat leaving the pile of work half done. Two third of the morning is lost. Finally when I get back to the chair the telephone keeps ringing ruthlessly. A technician from the field calls "Hellow there, am going on leave tonight. Will be there at 7.30 pm for my salary and passport" (well knowing that the office closes at 6 pm). No sooner than I keep the phone down, an unfamiliar face appears at the door with a tricky smile of a typical insurance guy ready to take my life rather than protect it. As soon as I struggle out of that vicious circle the phone rings again, this time an offshore operator requesting for emergency leave. Now the hunt for a replacement begins.

So after a hectic day full of tension, I will be trying to heave a sigh of relief. There comes the boss again with yet another complaint that there is no water in one of the company flats. And for the next couple of hours I will be encountering departments disowning responsibility.

After all these, when I finally reach home, I usually come across a wife a kids putting up stiff faces with that pertinent question "Why are you so late?".

Having completed 12400 tension filled days in active service overseas, I finally decided to call it a day. Enough is enough, I concluded. Somehow I was confident (or was it overconfidence?) the days ahead in retirement will keep tension at bay. The children are now grown up and on their own. So we can expect ample support from them instead of tension unlike the days bygone. With retirement, stress at work will become history. But tension follows human beings like a shadow.

Before relocating to Kerala (God's own country) I spent a month of cheer and jeer with my son in San Francisco in the company of my wife and daughter. We had a really wonderful tension free time there and enjoyed life to the brim.

It took us a little while to settle down in Kochi. I felt completely at ease devoid of the stress at work. Barring minor dissents on petty issues at home, life was at its best. Tension is a foregone conclusion, I sufficed.

Having spent a peaceful year in retirement, we decided to make a trip to Singapore and Malaysia. After a fun-filled joyous ten days sojourn we took the return flight from Singapore. My sister was also with us during that flight. We had to be in transit at Kualalampur airport for about eight hours before flying to Kochi our final destination.

We boarded the aircraft at Changi airport. My wife and sister were in the front row and I was given a seat in the middle row. Before moving to my seat I kept my backpack and camera in the luggage hold right above the front row as it was virtually empty.

When the flight landed at Kualalampur my wife and sister alighted first. Being in the middle row, I had to wait in the queue for my turn. When I reached the first row I opened the luggage hold and found it empty. I assumed my wife has carried the backpack and the camera. I came out of the aircraft and walked towards the waiting area to join my wife and sister. On seeing me my wife asked "where is your backpack?". I was startled. Then only I realised that my wife removed the backpack and camera from the luggage hold and left them on the seat for me to collect. But I failed to observe it. I was left with no choice. I mustered strength, called out Almighty for help and dashed towards the aircraft which was preparing for take off. Pushing the passengers who were waiting to board the aircraft, I rather jumped into the aircraft and retrieved my backpack and camera and without caring for the Captain and Crew who were busy discussing about the unclaimed items on the seat, ran out of the aircraft. Had I been five more minutes late, the aircraft would have gone with belongings I would have lost them for ever. For a while I thought I was about to collapse as I was completely stressed with tension at its height. I sat down on the floor for a while till I could breathe properly and then slowly moved further.

Six months have elapsed without any untoward incident since we completed our near east trip. Life is back to normal.

If someone argues that "Tension reduces life span", I will have only "No" for an answer because I am still alive. But tension definitely needs attention.

Birthdays

Have you ever celebrated your birthday? I never have. But I used to celebrate the birthdays of my children as they have always been looking forward to it and longing for it, till they turned teens. As teenagers they felt that they have come off age and should have the liberty to celebrate the birthdays the way they choose. So we parents were relieved of our responsibilities of arranging the birthday parties except the finance part.

A couple of days back when I opened my Face Book page, a handful of birthday greetings was awaiting me. It made me foray into the significance of birthdays. When we think of birthdays what immediately come  into focus are the date and month in which one is born as the year is incremental. And for all practical purposes that date is the milestone for calculating one's age. However it is interesting to know that in so far as Kerala (customs vary from place to place and Country to Country) the Hindu community in particular attaches greater importance to the star under which a child is born. Matter-of-factly the star birthday invariably falls on a day other than the actual date of birth. Sounds whimsical. This practice is still prevalent and elders continue referring to the almanac (which is an off-shoot of astrology) for observing the star birthday.

During my childhood, the concept of birthday parties was insignificant as we grew up in a tiny village where birthday celebration was an unknown event. For us it was only the star birthday which assumed importance. My mother used to check the Malayalam calendar as almanac and astrology were the basis for finding out the planetary position and the Malayalam calendars carried the appropriate details drawn from the almanac.

On the star birthday, my mother will arrange for special poojas (prayers)  at the nearby temple. That day used to bring lot of excitement as I could relish the taste of the special sweet meal (payasam) which is symbolic of the star birthdays in those days. But things have changed drastically and nowadays very few people follow star birthdays. As time passed, with the advent of the fast food culture, the traditional birthday sweet meal has been replaced by the modern ice cream. Children prefer burgers, fries and soft drinks for the main course. The only delicacy which continues to be the part and parcel of any birthday is the specially made delicious cake.

Infrastructure development has brought radical changes in the village life and has helped bridge the gap between the villages and the cities remarkably. IT revolution has taken cell phones and internet even to the remotest village. Citizens are able to communicate and interact with their friends and dear ones at the flick of a button. Villagers started getting accustomed to the city life as the facilities which were only available to the cities in the past started spreading to the villages. Coffee shops and supermarkets sprang up in villages. TV channels gave an insight into different social functions and with that birthday parties also became a household affair in the villages.

During my childhood, birthday party was quite unfamiliar in our village.  Get together in a family was limited to a couple of occasions. One during a marriage and the other to condole the demise of a family member.

If my recollection is right, I had the first bite of a birthday cake when I was fifteen or sixteen years of age and that too after we migrated from a village to the city. And that was the very first time that I could take part in a birthday celebration. I was rather flabbergasted to view the arrangements for cutting the cake with snacks and drinks arrayed on the table followed by the lighting of candles with the children and their parents singing the birthday song in unison. And that day the birthday boy or girl turns a celebrity. The birthday child is greeted by the guests and showered with gifts (That reminds me of a rare gift - an Airbus A320 presented by the richest Indian in the world Mukesh Ambani to his wife Nita on her birthday). A common man can have such a gift only in his dream. But the happiness that a birthday child radiates while receiving the miniature of an aircraft as a birthday gift  carries more intrinsic value than the multi million rupee worth aircraft.  For a while I thought that I was in a totally different world. That was my first experience of a birthday party.

I tried to figure out as to who was the first to celebrate a birthday party on this planet. Is it Adam or Eve?. Has anyone ever tried to conduct a research on this? Or is it the innovation of the modern age?. Nobody knows. Birthday greetings do not just remind you that you are growing or getting old. There is more to it than meets the eye.

Thanks to technology. We continue to send greetings to each other from any corner of the world regardless of age. That indeed is a great way to celebrate birthdays.

Litter bugs

A news item in the daily Mathrubhumi on the evils of littering really was an eye-opener. Littering is nothing new in our city and it would not have brought shock or surprise in the normal course but what is appalling is the naked truth that the villain in this case is a village called Cheranallur which once upon a time was hailed for cleanliness and even bagged some prestigious awards for its anti-littering drive. Ironically this village is the home for the prestigious Aster Medicity, a multi speciality hospital. It is really sickening to hear that the whole village now stinks.What a melancholy?.

"Littering is punishable" reads one road sign. "Keep the city clean" says the other. The pedestrian looks at both the signs simultaneously and in a casual manner drops an empty can right outside the dust bin on the pavement. A motorist drives along. Stops at the traffic lights. Lowers the window of the car and pushing his head out spits on the road. An auto driver in the adjacent lane stares at him - nonchalant. Pulls a tissue paper, wipes his face and throws it on the road. Reflex action, it seems. This is a very common scene we often come across in any city (Kerala in particular and India in general). If I say with the exception of countries like Singapore, will you agree with me?. I am sure, you will, because Singapore is a success story.

Now that we have observed the unruly actions of the handpicked three on the road, it goes without saying that they all know well that ignorance of law is not an excuse.  But habits die hard. Why?. Why can't we change for the better. If Singaporeans can educate themselves on this subject and other expatriates domiciled in Singapore can follow suit, why not here?. It cannot be endemic at any stretch of imagination. What you really need is good governance and an awareness of civic sense.

I had the good fortune of spending a month in San Fransisco with my son. A city so scenic with well kept roads and pavements that you tend to forget what littering is. Buildings and roads stay spic and span day in and day out. Even pet owners are warned of severe penalties if their pets dirty the pavements. Here no such rules can be imposed (as we have only stray dogs on the roads, no one claiming ownership).

How many of us do realize that littering is a real menace, leave alone the health hazards it poses. Go to a public park. You invariably come across empty dust bins and litter all around on the ground. The parody of the popular rhyme reverberates in your ears "Litter Litter everywhere not a place to rest".

It is high time that we all valued the merits of the "Keep the city clean campaign". For this you need to regulate your habits. Habits are correlated to your character and the question of disciplining oneself arises. Gandhiji said "Education which does not mould character is absolutely worthless".

A few days back, I happened to come across an anecdote of a Doctor who was passing through Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. She could not use the wash room as there was a heap of used facial tissues and toilet papers lying unattended on the toilet floor. If this is the standard of a place of prominence then what to expect of the dwelling of a very common man in the lower strata.

We live in the city of Kochi and let us review the situation here. Municipality workers and Kudumbasree members keep moving around the city clearing the litter. Does it imply that they alone are responsible for keeping the city clean?. If you answer is yes, then let me warn you that you are failing in your duty as the resident of a modern city which affords you all the luxuries of life.
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Need for speed

In aviation terms near miss refer to nearly missed accidents. But we can relate it to nearly missed flights as the context demands.

My daughter and son-in-law were returning to Bengaluru after spending a week-long vacation in Kochi. The flight was scheduled to depart at 2210 hrs and as per the norms of the carrier, passengers were required to report strictly by 2125 hrs lest they fail to board and obviously miss the flight.

We got a driver at 1930 hrs and were about to leave when my wife called and asked us to wait for her as she was travelling to Kochi by train expected to reach Ernakulam Town station by 2015 hrs. We were rather apprehensive as it allowed  just above an hour for us to make it to the airport in time considering the usual traffic jam.  But hesitantly we decided to take a chance. The train finally arrived at 2020 hrs and by the time we started it was already 2030 giving us just 55 minutes to cover 33+ kms veering through the nasty traffic. We were all tensed up with very little hope of reaching the destination on time.

Time was ticking off and the vehicle was moving at snail's pace and it took nearly 30 minutes just to cover the first 10 kms.  We had no other option but to tell the driver to ignore the speed limit, come what may. It really worked.  But we are not sure whether there were speed cameras on the highway. That only added to the tension. Anyhow the driver used full throttle wherever he could and amidst our silent prayers the vehicle finally touched the departure gate on the dot.

We were under tremendous pressure and finally heaved a sigh of relief when my son-in-law called to say that they have checked in.

We have been in similar situations in the past. But we continue taking chances valuing sentiment. Is it really worth to put yourself at risk by over speeding just to say goodbye in person to near and dear ones before embarking on a trip when cell phones can radiate your voice or flash your messages in a jiffy. Please ask yourself.

India of the 21st Century

                                                               

                                                           


A prize winning essay by my son Venkat Karun Venugopal during his school days at Abu Dhabi Indian School (Year 1997)

I have a dream, a Nostradamus vision, of a phoenix arising, rejuvenated and vibrant, that of India as a superpower. As the dawn of millennium approaches, India will sparkle a hope for Asia, a hope for the world.

In the field of technology, India will surge forward and attain global leadership in terms of production and distribution.  More and more technocities and silicon valleys will develop . India will be the pioneer in the development of the fifth generation computers, the computers which can think like human beings and act logically.  India's superiority has already been demonstrated with the development of the Param series. Further, Bangalore will possibly become the silicon capital of the world.

In the field of medicine and biology, our scientists will revolutionise the field with breakthrough such as a cure for the HIV virus which by then would have been a monstrous epidemic with several millions mercilessly and brutally wiped out by it. Moreover, we would have also completed the final phase in the development of a cure for cancer.  We will have achieved tremendous success in the field of genetic engineering such as cloning human organs, the need for which today is very apparent. Further, Indian healing techniques such as Ayurveda and Yoga will spread to each and every corner of the world with overwhelming results.

In the field of space technology, we have already displayed our prowess with the development of the INSAT series. Further, we will have revolutionised the techniques of remote sensing wherein weather forecasting and geographical surveys will  enter a new phase.  We will also have played a major role in paving the way for human settlements on the moon. Furthermore, in the field of nuclear power, we will have harnessed the full capacity of the Uranium atom, mainly in resolving the present energy crisis, which has a dastardly effect on our economic development.  Further, India will play a major role in condemning the use of nuclear and biological weapons in warfare.

India will hold a prominent position in the United Nations entering the Security Council and leading the UN in the attainment of peace and harmony in the world. Further, India will play a major role in the development of the third world countries by means of monetary and technical support, and lead the world to bridge the chasm believed that there will be peace in the world only if all the countries follow the policy of disarmament. I shall see to it that there won't be any war in the world.

These are not just empty promises made to make the people believe that I am the ideal Prime Minister for India. These are promises that are made by a man who has gone through his experiencing the sorrow of illiterate and poor people.  These promises will be kept and I hope that the world will cooperate with me for I think I have made up plans for the best use of my money. Oops! I have run out of time, so I will just put my dream ahead of me and strive to achieve although I know it will just remain as a distant dream for me.

Together, Forever

                                                     

               

A prize winning poem by my daughter Ashwathi Venugopal written during her school days at Abu Dhabi Indian School


My never failing friends are they,
With whom I converse day by day
Friends, who are very well - known around,
friends, whom you can never even dream about

They are always with me in the mornings,
they are always with me at night
You can find them with me in the twilight hours
when the weather is neither too dull nor too bright

They accompany me to school everyday,
they welcome me when I get back
And whenever I feel ill or depressed
they are always there for a reassuring pat

They share such a lot of secrets with me
They are my closest source of information
And we confide in each other so much that,
together we can save the nation!

I trust them from the depths of my heart
and I know that we will never depart
Deep in my heart is a special place for them
a place which is more valuable than any gem

My friends do not give me a chance to feel bored
They are what I call my hobby
And believe me, friends like these
are better than any Tom, Dick or Harry

My friends have a cure for all diseases
and unlike doctors, they can be quite fun
I consider them to be the best chefs on earth
their recipes are one in a zillion

Whenever I need help with my schoolwork
my friends do not laugh at me like some nerds
Trignometry, algebra, whatever may be the problem
They conjure up answers like magical wizards

My friends are very concerned about the depth of any knowledge
they always ponder about how much I know
they try to talk to me as  much as they can
to see that in the best way, I develop and grow

My friends have a very unique and special feature
and that is, that they will never ever die
Hold on, do not mistake them to be some extra terrestrial creature
but believe me, this is not a lie

You might be waiting with bated breath
to know who these special friends of mine are
well, why don't you take a very wild guess
hey, you're guessing cannot be that far

Well, for those of you out there who still not have guessed
please, don't threaten me with those killing looks
Alright, I will give you the answer and here it is
the very obvious answer , and that is books

Yes, it is right that my very best friends
are none other than books which I deeply treasure
And I know that even when I am gone
They will always be there for me together, forever.

Palmist's prediction (Part two)

                                                           

Image courtesy: Google

Time was ticking. The prediction of the palmist continued haunting me. It was really disturbing. Anything could happen any time, I said to myself.  Years rolled by. Life moved on as usual. With its ups and downs of course, but nothing disastrous.

Five years elapsed since I turned 55 and joyfully I completed sixty years on this planet in the year 2009. It so happened that I was destined to complete sixty years with my friends and their families, my wife standing by my side at a function in Guruvayoor temple organised by my friends, not to celebrate my birthday but something more spiritual (only me and my wife were aware of my age). Anyhow it turned out to be a real birthday treat with the blessings of the Lord and a sumptuous lunch.

Memory of the meeting with the palmist started fading with the passage of time. I could not visualise what was in store for me.

22nd June 2009, the day dawned as usual. After the routine morning chores I drove to work. Around half past three that afternoon a colleague of mine came to me and asked "Hey are you retiring in December this year?. I heard so as this topic is spreading around", he continued. I was totally numb unable to react as I have never ever thought of retirement upto that moment. And I was not mentally or financially prepared to call it a day.  It was a sudden shock and it gave me a severe jolt. I felt totally depressed and dejected. I could feel the impact of this shock all over my body.

On reaching home I went straight to the bedroom and sat on the couch. Suddenly I started shivering uncontrollably and shouted for help. My wife and nephew took me to the hospital where I was administered necessary first aid and then allowed to go home. I was back to normal.

On 23rd June 2009 around six in the evening the symptoms reappeared. This time it was a bit severe and I could not balance my body and I kept swaying. I was rushed to the hospital and taken to the emergency unit for a diagnosis. I was eventually moved to the ICU and blood samples were taken. I was finding it difficult to breathe.  The doctor on duty observed that I was not responding to the medicines. A team of doctors was busy discussing the seriousness of the situation. They kept on trying different types of medicines and finally came to the conclusion that it was a case of blood infection. As the breathing problem persisted I was put on ventilator.

I was lying down staring at the ceiling constantly praying in silence. I knew that my wife was waiting in the hospital premises without food or sleep the whole night and frequently checking with the nursing staff on my condition as she did not have free access to the ICU. Later in the night the attending doctors told my wife that the chances of survival are dim as the vital organs have started failing one by one. I realized this (as a flashback) only after I was discharged from the hospital. They asked my wife to inform my children.

I went into a deep slumber. I dreamt that a supernatural force was consoling me, with the words that two angels will take care of me, one being my wife and the other my cousin's daughter, a doctor herself. Without my knowledge, my health status was being monitored at regular intervals. My condition remained the same till next morning. My kidneys stopped functioning. It was then decided to transfer me to the renal section for a possible dialysis. I was put under the care of an Iraqi doctor who decided to delay the dialysis (This doctor later revealed that he used to be the personal physician of Saddam Hussain before he moved to Dubai).

Then the miracle happened. I started passing urine and I could hear the doctor say "Thank God, he is out of danger and dialysis will not be necessary".

Around nine 'o' clock on the third day of my hospitalisation I saw my daughter standing near my bed, tears rolling down her eyes. She presented an artificial smile hiding her worries and handed me a picture of Sai Baba of Shirdi.  The very sight of the picture suddenly brought a ray of hope and I indulged in silent prayers.

On being informed by my wife,  my son rushed to Dubai crossing the seven seas just to have a glimpse of me. He was looking sad and jet-lagged. I smiled at him and whispered, I am OK.  Then there was a flow of visitors and well wishers.

The doctors finally diagnosed the disease as Septicaemia but they could not investigate the source so they vaguely concluded that it could be food poisoning, blood transfusion or a deep and sudden shock. It is common knowledge that the chances of survival is nil in most of the Septicaemia cases.

For me it was nearly fatal. It would have been disastrous as the palmist predicted years ago, but for the divine hands and the God-sent angels.

I heard a few years back that Professor Kutty passed away, passing the mantle to his son. I feel like shouting at the top of my voice "Professor Kutty, you are really marvelous but you are no match to the prowess of the all pervading phenomenon. That unseen force, unknown power can change anything and everything, even the fate line on your palm".

Rememberance

Image courtesy: Google

Nehru was a hall of fame
Jawaharlal his real name
Pandit he was widely known
For his prudence and renown

His face indeed in fulsome bloom
His eyes that speak always zoom
Day in and day out with that aim
India must gain freedom and fame

Children always his lovely dream
For him they were a glorious beam
Their winsome smiles of rare joy
He moved with them like a wayward boy

Chacha Nehru they all adore
Who wins from all, love encore
He always fills their heart with gleam
His birthday for them is an endless seam

Palmist's prediction

Image courtesy: Google

Long long ago a world renowned palmist Professor Kutty from Kerala happened to visit Abu Dhabi. Out of curiosity I decided to meet him. It was brief and looking at my palm he said only two things - don't ever dream of making millions and there is a disaster awaiting you after age 55. I did not take it seriously and rather cold shouldered it. 

Time moved fast days turning to months and then to years and when I reached 55, I unknowingly recollected the meeting with the palmist. For certain, over the years I have not managed to secure a place in the Forbes list of millionaires either in UAE or in India. So one prediction has proved right.

I completed 55 years of my existence without any untoward happenings.  But how can this prove the palmist wrong in so far as the second prediction. Because he said a disaster after age 55.  Was it bound to happen? 

Wait for my next blog post on this subject coming to you soon.

Vishu through the ages

Image courtesy: Google

Vishu for me is of nostalgic importance. Because it brings back vivid memories of my childhood. So I am getting into the time machine and travelling back to my childhood days. 

I grew up in a joint family. The family headed by my grandmother and assisted by her eldest son (my uncle) and three daughters (my mom being the youngest), with an array of soldiers (Kuttipattalam you may call in Malayalam) comprising six brothers and four sisters (for me my cousins are also my own sisters). It was a well knit family sharing the pleasures and pangs of life together. A true example for the universal truth - Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. We had a fairly large house (using the standards of those days as a parameter) but with minimum amenities. There was no electricity, water or gas connection. Kerosene was used for lighting, water for all purposes drawn from the well and firewood used for cooking. For us, fast food in those days was the one which took lesser time for cooking. Junk food was an unknown substance as the refrigerator was not yet born. We enjoyed both summer and monsoons using umbrella as the only regulator in the absence of any other gadgets. Ice blocks were used only for commercial purposes and ice was a rare commodity in households. 

I heard about Vishu for the first time from my mom. She used to tell us about the myths and mythologies covering Vishu in greater detail. So three things were most welcome to us - Vishu, Onam and of course the school holidays as these three were the direct source of merriment. Vishu brought lot of excitement with the bursting of crackers and sparklers, as also a sumptuous lunch (which other than Vishu came only with Onam). My mom and her sisters would wake up before sunrise and decorate the prayer room with flowers, fruits and vegetables, welcoming the new year and the festive season, and paying reverence to the deities so that there will be peace and prosperity throughout the year, as it is strongly believed. Before the break of the dawn it is customary for the elders to wake the children up and make them walk in their sleep, their eyes covered, holding their hands and leading them to the prayer room. Then the children are asked to open their eyes and to their utter surprise and enchantment what they view in the prayer room gets embedded in their tiny little minds, bringing light to their lives. Our uncle being the only male head in the family then distributes coins in small denominations to all the members of the family regardless of their age. 

For the children it is a real treat as Vishu is the only time that they get a coin in their hands, unlike the children of this generation, for whom pocket money is a birthright. Things have changed over the years. The world has changed for the better. From stone-age we have travelled long and reached cyberage. But it is really exhilarating that these rapid changes have barely affected the age old customs and we continue following our culture and tradition in their original form without deviating an iota from the customs formulated by our forefathers.

So let us look forward to another Vishu which brings with it worldly peace and an era of friendly coexistence.

Tribute to Guruvayoor Kesavan

Image courtesy: Google

Guruvayoor Kesavan he is ever hailed
His height and might never rivalled
He was a tusker so calm and humble
He lived for the Lord at Guruvayoor temple
With his trunk touching the ground
His poise was that of a mound
For Guruvayoor town he was an icon
He moved around like a never ending beacon
He was the pet of the Lord and the land
And was greeted in a manner so grand
But time always takes it toll
And Kesavan too had his call
His admirers all around mourned his demise
His statue was erected as a tribute sublime.

Reflection

Image courtesy: Google

Oh Ganges! The river of holiness
I come to thee for peace of mind
Thou art, beauty and serenity,
Make me immerse in divine thoughts.

Make me forget the present and past;
I go back to the world of miseries
the moment I take leave of thee.
I bow before thee, Oh Holy river,
Adieu thee and forget me not.

Reverance

Image courtesy: Google

Gandhiji as we all know
Was indeed a man divine
Mahatma he was rightly called
For his great and noble cause.

Against tyranny he stood like a fort
Patriotism alone as his forte
He lived through the ages like a sage
Spreading his words, "none wins with rage".

His life has been an open book
And his voice echoed in every nook
Non-violence was his only option
And with that he saved a nation.

Let us salute the departed soul
For his valour and worthy role.

Recollection

Image courtesy: Google

Tricolor unfurled atop the mast
Unionjack folded and returned at last
Indian soldiers in uniforms so starchy
Marching past the Red Fort so catchy
Saluting the Republic born this day
Jai Hind in rhythm they all say

With painful memories of bygone years
And victory sound of bugle in their ears
Patriotic surge in their body and mind
Stern discipline of an implicit kind
Pledging to play the perennial role
Of protecting India with heart and soul.

Reminiscence

Image courtesy: Google

Bracing the coast of the Arabian Sea,
A tiny little village you can see.
A resplendent lighthouse its only attire,
which guides the sailors in despair.

With his roots deeper to ground;
Palm trees and plantations all around,
Stood that sturdy banyan tree bold,
A sign of wisdom, this bark of old.

Spreading his branches full of leaves,
A sigh of relief he always gives,
In scorching sun and lashing rain,
For passers-by in his rein.

Always a shelter for those who lap,
when they stop for a quick short nap.
Time passes like a racing deer;
Taking its toll on this tree so dear.

He loses his strength like a fallen hound,
His roots unable to base him sound.
It was the day of the dreadful storm,
Poor old banyan sway and infirm,
He looked upon the coast in bemoan
And tumbled to the ground for all to mourn.

                     ~~~~~~~~~