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 As time passed, with the advent of the fast food culture, the traditional birthday sweet meal has been replaced by the modern ice cream.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