tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89737899442488926432024-03-12T18:00:25.290-07:00Viji petra inbamvijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-46164307321020422882023-05-01T06:44:00.002-07:002023-05-01T06:44:30.809-07:00 மாம்பழ மகாத்மியம்<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>மாம்பலத்தில் மாம்பழ நினைவுகள்</p><p><br /></p><p>நான் பாட்டி வீட்டிலிருந்து இரண்டாவது மூன்றாவது படித்துக் கொண்டிருந்த சமயம். மாம்பழக் காலம் வந்து விட்டால் போதும். கொண்டாட்டம் தான். வேலை விஷயமாக அடிக்கடி பெங்களூர் போகும் சித்தப்பா பெரிய பெரிய மாம்பழங்களாக வாங்கி வருவார். பெரியப்பா பெண்கள், நான், என் அக்கா என ஐந்து குழந்தைகள். </p><p>ஆளுக்கு ஒரு பெரிய மாம்பழத்தைக் கொடுத்து விடுவார்கள். தோல் கூட நறுக்குவதில்லை. அப்படியே சாப்பிடுகிற சுகமே தனி. மாம்பழக் காலம் என்றாலே ஈக்களின் காலமும் கூட. எனவே வீட்டுக்கு பின்புறம் முற்றத்தில் இருந்து சாப்பிட வேண்டும். தரையைக் கழுவி விடுவது சுலபம். அப்படி ஒரு முறை சாப்பிடும் போது ஒரு காகம் வந்து பழத்தையும் பறித்து என் கையையும் கொத்தி விட்டுப் போயிற்று. நடந்தது 1960,61இல். அந்தத் தடம் இப்போதும் என் கையில் உள்ளது. நினைவுகள் மனதிலும். அதனால் ஒன்றும் அயர்வதில்லை. இப்போதும் முழுதாக ச் சாப்பிடுவதே பிரியம்.</p><p><br /></p><p>மதுரையில் மாம்பழம்.</p><p><br /></p><p>இரண்டு வருட சென்னை வாசத்துக்குப் பின் பெற்றோருடன் மதுரை. என்றென்றும் மதுர நினைவுகள் தரும் மதுரை. </p><p>மதுரையில் அதிகம் கிடைப்பது கிளி மூக்கு மற்றும் காசாலட்டு மாம்பழங்கள். கிளி மூக்கு பெரியதாக இருக்கும். பெரிய குடும்பத்துக்கு ஏற்றது. சோடை போகாது. மிதமான இனிப்பு. காசாலட்டு லட்டு தான் பெயரைப் போலவே. மிகவும் நன்றாக இருக்கும். இனிக்கும். தோல் மட்டும் கட்டியாக இருக்கும். கசக்கும். செருப்பு போன்ற தோல் என்பார் அம்மா. செருப்பை சுவைத்துப் பார்த்ததுண்டா என்று நக்கல் செய்வான் தம்பி.</p><p><br /></p><p>வந்த இடம் நல்ல இடம்</p><p><br /></p><p>திருவனந்தபுரம் வந்த பிறகு வெள்ளாயணி மற்றும் கோட்டுக்கோணம் வகைகள். நல்ல சுவை. பல வருட பழக்கத்தில் மற்ற வகைகள் கிட்டத்தட்ட மறந்த நிலை. எப்போதாவது மாம்பழக் காலத்தில் சேலம் செல்ல நேர்ந்தாலோ இளைய தம்பி அங்கிருந்து வந்தாலோ மல்கோவா மற்றும் சேலம் ஜில்லா மாம்பழ பாக்கியம்.</p><p><br /></p><p>மும்பையும் மாம்பழமும்</p><p><br /></p><p>பிறகு சில வருட மும்பை வாசம். அம்மம்மா.</p><p>எத்தனை வகை மாம்பழங்கள். ரத்னகிரியிலிருந்து அல்போன்சா, குஜராத்திலிருந்து கேசர், கர்நாடகத்திலிருந்து பதாமி, ஆந்திராவிலிருந்து நீலம், பங்கனப்பள்ளி உ.பியிலிருந்து சில வகைகள் என்று தொடரும். காய் வாங்க போனால் மாம்பழங்கள் வாங்காமல் வந்ததில்லை. மூன்று மாதமும் காலை மாலை எந்நேரமும் மாம்பழங்கள் உணவின் பாகம். சாப்பிட அடம் பிடிக்கும் பேத்தி நவ்யா கூட மாம்பழம் இருந்தால் விரைவில் சாப்பிட்டு விடுவாள்.</p><p>மாம்பழக் காலம் தீர்ந்தால் என்ன செய்வது. அதற்கும் வழி உண்டு. மாம்பழ அப்பளம் (mango papad) செய்து விற்கிறார்கள். இளைய தம்பிக்கு மிகவும் பிடிக்கும். மாதக் கணக்கில் வைத்திருந்து(தீராமல் இருந்தால்) சாப்பிடலாம். Mango purée செய்து வைக்கலாம். மாம்பழத்தின் சதைப் பகுதியை மட்டும் பக்குவப்படுத்தி பாதுகாத்தல். ஒருமுறை அகமதாபாத்தில் குடும்ப நண்பர் வீட்டில் அதை ஆறு மாதம் வைத்திருந்து பழச்சாறாகத் தந்தார்கள். மிக அருமையாக இருந்தது. ஆனால் அதெல்லாம் சொந்த மாந்தோப்பு இருப்பவர்கள் செய்யும் வேலை. என்னைப் போல கடையில் வாங்கி கடாயில் வைப்பவர்களுக்கானது அல்ல. மாம்பழக் காலமா மனமார வாங்கி பழமாக, சாறாக வித விதமாக அனுபவிக்கணும். அது கழிந்தால் இருக்கவே இருக்கு தொடரும் ஆப்பிள், ஆரஞ்சு காலம். இருந்தாலும் மாம்பழம் மாம்பழம் தான். சும்மாவா சொல்கிறார்கள் பழங்களின் ராஜா king of fruits என்று.</p>vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-45511814430596487572022-04-11T18:58:00.001-07:002022-04-11T18:58:28.988-07:00Thiruvannamalai 2022<p> </p><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">5th and 6 th April 2022</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">திருவண்ணாமலை</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">சிவபெருமானே ஜோதிலிங்கமான</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">அருணாச்சல மலை வடிவில் காட்சியளிக்கும் மலையடிவாரத்தில் அமைந்துள்ளது பிரம்மாண்டமான கோவில். இருபத்தைந்து ஏக்கர் பரப்பளவில் நாற்றிசையிலும் உள்ள நுழைவாயில் கோபுரங்கள் உள்பட ஒன்பது கோபுரங்கள். அருணாச்சலேஸ்வரர் உண்ணாமுலையம்மன் என இரண்டு பிரதான சந்நிதிகளும் பல சிறிய சந்நிதிகளும் அக்னி தீர்த்தம் என்ற மிகப்பெரிய குளமும் அமையப் பெற்றது. கி பி ஏழாம் நூற்றாண்டில் கட்டப்பட்டது. விரிவாக்கம் ஒன்பது, பதினைந்தாம் நூற்றாண்டுகளிலும் தொடர்ந்தது.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">தேவாரத்தில் நாயன்மார்களால் பாடப்பட்ட பாடல்பெற்ற ஸ்தலம். மாணிக்கவாசகர் திருவெம்பாவை எழுதிய ஸ்தலம். அருணகிரிநாதர் முருகன் அருள்பெற்று முருகனால் முதலடி எடுத்துத்தரப்பெற்று முத்தைத்தரு எனத்தொடங்கி திருப்புகழ் பாடிய ஸ்தலம். இவ்வாறு பல பெருமைகள் உள்ள ஸ்தலம்.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">மகாவிஷ்ணு பிரமன் இருவரும் இறைவனைக் காண புறப்பட்டனர். விஷ்ணு வராஹமாக உருவெடுத்து திருவடி தேடியும் பிரமன் அன்னபட்சி உருவில் திருமுடி தேடியும் ஆதியும் அந்தமும் இல்லா சிவனை, லிங்கோத்பவனைக் காணப் புறப்பட்ட இடம் என்றும் சொல்லப்படுகிறது.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">தொன்மையான வரலாற்றுச் சிறப்புள்ள இடங்களில் வழக்கம்போல கதைகளும் புனைக்கதைகளும் நிறைந்தே காணப்படுகிறது.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">ராஜகோபுரம் எனப்படும் கிழக்கு கோபுரம் மிகப்பெரியது. 217 அடி உயரம். அழகிய சிற்ப வேலைப்பாடுகள் அமைந்தது. இதன் வழியாக உள்ளே நுழைந்தால் பெரிய நந்தி, சிறிய நந்தி, பாதாள லிங்கம் ஆகியவை தரிசித்து அக்னி தீர்த்த குளத்தையும் கண்டுவிட்டு சுவாமி சந்நிதி தொடர்ந்து அம்மன் சந்நிதியில் தரிசிக்கலாம். பிரகாரங்களுக்கு வெளியே ஸ்தல விருட்சமான மகிழமரச் சுவட்டில் ஒன்பது கோபுரங்களையும் தரிசிக்கும் இடம் இருக்கிறது. எல்லா கோபுரங்களும் அழகிய வேலைப்பாடமைந்த சிற்பங்களுடன் ஓங்கி உயர்ந்து நிற்கின்றன. பின்புலத்தில் கம்பீரமாக அருணாச்சல மலை. விசேஷ நாட்கள் முகூர்த்த நாட்கள் தவிர மற்ற நாட்களில் கூட்டம் அதிகம் இல்லை. அமைதியாக தரிசனம் செய்து வரலாம்.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">கிரிவலம்</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">ஆண்டவனே லிங்க வடிவில் மலையாக அமர்ந்திருப்பதாக நம்பப்படுவதால் கிரிவலம் செய்வது மிகவும் விசேஷமாகக் கருதப்படுகிறது. 14 கிமீ சுற்றளவு. காலை ஐந்து மணிக்குப் புறப்பட்டால் கடும் வெயிலுக்குமுன் சுற்றி முடிக்கலாம். அல்லது மாலை நான்கு மணியளவில் தொடங்கி முன்னிரவில் தீர்க்கலாம். முன்பு பௌர்ணமி தினங்களில் மட்டுமே அதிக ஆட்கள் பங்கெடுக்கும் நிகழ்வாயிருந்தது. இப்போது எல்லா நாட்களிலும் சௌகரியம் உள்ளது. கிரிவலப் பாதை முழுதும் நன்கு சாலைகள் அமைக்கப்பட்டு இருபுறமும் நிறைய மரங்கள் வளர்த்துள்ளனர். நடைபாதை சீரமைக்கப்பட்டு அமர்ந்து இளைப்பாற ஆங்காங்கே பெஞ்சுகள் அமைக்கப் பட்டுள்ளது. சிரம பரிகாரத்துக்கு இளநீர் மற்றும் குளிர்பானக் கடைகள் வழிநெடுக உள்ளன. எனவே நடக்கும் சிரமம் தொரியாமல் அவ்வப்போது ஓய்வெடுத்து நிதானமாகச் செல்லலாம். அவ்வளவு தூரம் நடக்க முடியாதவர்கள் ஆட்டோ அல்லது டாக்ஸியில் செல்வதுண்டு.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">நாங்கள் மாலை நான்கு மணிக்குத் தொடங்கி எட்டு மணியோடு முடித்துக் கொண்டோம். அவ்வளவு தூரம் ஒரே நேரம் நடக்க முடியுமா என்ற சந்தேகத்துடன் தொடங்கினாலும் தடையின்றி முடித்தபோது மனநிறைவாக இருந்தது.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">ரமணாசிரமம்</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">மறுநாள் காலை ரமணாசிரமம் சென்றோம்.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">1922 இல் தாயாரின் மறைவுக்குப் பின் திருவண்ணாமலையில் மலையடிவாரத்தில் தங்கிய ரமண மகரிஷி அதன்பின் </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">வேறு எங்கும் செல்லாமல்</span><span style="font-size: 15px;"> அங்கேயே வாழ்ந்து சமாதியடைந்தார். அதன்பின் அவரது சீடர்களால் ஆசிரமம் உருவாக்கப்பட்டது. சமாதி கோவில் போலப் பாதுகாக்கப் படுகிறது. இன்று மரங்கள் சூழ்ந்த பெரிய நிலப்பரப்பில் வாசகசாலையுடன் அமைதியான ஆசிரமமாகப் பரந்து நிற்கிறது. உள்மனத் தேடலுக்கான தியானம் செய்ய ஏற்ற இடம். உள்நாட்டு வெளிநாட்டு சீடர்கள் வந்தவண்ணம் இருக்கின்றனர்.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">மேற்கொண்ட பயணம் தடைகளின்றி இனிதே நிறைவுற்றது.</span>vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-4810943669930264242022-03-08T03:19:00.000-08:002022-03-08T03:19:12.227-08:00பெண் சாதனையாளர்கள்<p> சென்ற மாதம் திருநெல்வேலியிலிருந்து பத்தமடைக்கு பஸ்ஸில் செல்லும்போது பக்கத்து சீட்டில் ஒரு மூதாட்டி. பலகாலம் வெட்டவெளியில் வெயில் காய உழைத்தவர் என்பதை உலர்ந்து, சுருங்கி, கறுத்த சருமம் பறைசாற்றியது. அதேசமயம் அனுபவங்களால் இறுகிய ஆனால் பாசத்தால் இளகி வெளுத்த உள்ளம் என்பதை அரைமணிநேரப் பேச்சு உணர்த்தியது. இதுபோன்ற பரிச்சயம் இல்லாத, முறைசார் கல்வியறிவு அதிகம் இல்லாத கிராமத்துப் பெண்களிடம் பேச்சு கொடுப்பதில் ஒரு சௌகர்யம். நகர வாழ்க்கையும், ஏதோ கொஞ்சம் கல்வியும் நமக்குப் புதியவர்களைப் பொதுவாக சந்தேகத்துடனேயே பார்க்கும் நிலையைத் தந்து விடுகிறது. ஆனால் என்னைப் பொருத்தவரை அவர்களிடம் முன்விதிகள் இல்லாமல் பேசலாமே என்ற நினைப்பே மேலிடும். அத்தோடு ஓஹோ, அப்படியா என்ற சிற்சில வார்த்தைகளிலேயே மனம் திறந்து மடை திறந்தது போல் கொட்டுவார்கள் இவர்கள். என்போன்ற பேச்சுத் திறமை அதிகம் இல்லாதவர்களுக்கு இது பெரிய வரப்பிரசாதம். </p><p><br /></p><p>அவரது கதைக்கு வருகிறேன். அவருக்கு எழுபது வயதுக்குக் குறையாமல் இருக்கும். கணவருடன் ஒன்றரை ஆண்டுகள் வாழ்ந்த வாழ்க்கை நரகம். குடித்துவிட்டு அடித்ததில் முன்பற்கள் உடைந்து உதடுகள் கீறியதன் வடு நாற்பத்திரண்டு வருடம் கழிந்து இன்றும் தெரிகிறது. கணவன் போனபோது கையில் குழந்தை. அரவணைக்க இரண்டு சகோதரர்கள் இருந்தும் முழுவதும் அவர்களைச் சார்ந்து இருக்க விரும்பாமல் கட்டிடப்பணி, சாலை போடும் பணியிடங்களில் சிற்றாள் வேலை பார்த்தார். மகனைப் படிக்க வைக்க முயற்சித்தார். அவனுக்குப் படிப்பு வரவில்லை. இருந்தாலும் அவனை நல்ல மனிதனாக வளர்த்து ஆளாக்கினார். அவன் இப்போது கட்டிடப் பணியில் காலூன்றி வளமாக இருக்கிறான். மகனுக்கு மணம் முடித்து பேரன் பேத்திகளிடமும் அன்பாக இருக்கிறார் மூதாட்டி. மூத்த பேத்தி நன்கு படித்து மும்பையில் வேலையில் இருக்கிறாள். தாய்வழிப் பாட்டியைவிட நான் கண்டிப்பானவள் என்று தெரிந்தாலும் என்னிடம் அவர்களுக்குப் பிரியம் அதிகம் என்று உருகுகிறார். மருமகளும் அதேமாதிரி என்கிறார். அண்ணன்களும் அவர்கள் மனைவிகளும் அதுபோலவே என்கிறார். குறையேதும் இல்லை மறைமூர்த்தி கண்ணா என்று வாழ்ந்து காட்டுகிறார்.</p><p><br /></p><p>இப்போதைய தனிமைப் பயணம் எதற்கு என்றதில் ஆரம்பித்தது இந்தக் கதைகள் எல்லாம். கோவில்பட்டியிலிருந்து ஐம்பது கிமீ தொலைவிலுள்ள சிறிய கிராமத்திலிருந்து வருகிறார். கல்லிடைக்குறிச்சியில் மாமா இருந்தார்கள். இவருக்கு அங்கு கொஞ்சம் நிலம் இருக்கிறது. மாமாவிற்குப் பங்குள்ள நிலம். மாமா இறந்து இருபது ஆண்டுகள் ஆகிறது. பத்திரத்தில் அவரது பெயரும் இருக்கிறது. அவர் குடும்பத்திற்கு கொடுக்க வேண்டியதையெல்லாம் கொடுத்தாயிற்று. இருந்தாலும் பெயர் இருப்பதால் மரண சர்டிபிகேட் வாங்கி பத்திரத்தில் பெயர் விடுவிக்க வேண்டும். அங்கே உள்ள சித்தப்பா மகன் தேவையான உதவிகள் செய்வான். இருந்தாலும் நான் நேரில் போக வேண்டாமா. எனக்குப்பிறகு மகனுக்கு பிரச்சினை வரக்கூடாதே. அவனுக்கு அவர்களை அதிகம் பழக்கமில்லை. நேரமும் இல்லை. எனவேதான் இந்தப் பயணம். தனியாகப் போவது புதியதல்ல. பயமும் இல்லை என்கிறார். இவ்வளவு பாசத்துடன் இருப்பவரிடம் குடும்பத்தினர் அன்பாக இருப்பதில் என்ன ஆச்சர்யம்.</p><p>ஒரு சாதனையாளரை சந்தித்த நிறைவுடன் பத்தமடையில் இறங்கினேன். </p><p><br /></p><p>இவரைப் போன்றவர்கள் தானே மகளிர் தினத்தில் நினைவுகூர வேண்டியவர்கள்.</p><div><br /></div>vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-80327121326826843482021-08-26T21:11:00.001-07:002021-09-04T07:30:12.058-07:00Lost in the rain forest<p>Lost in the rain forest.</p><p>S<span style="font-size: 15px;">ort of. Literally and figuratively.</span></p><p>
<span style="font-size: 15px;">After a long time we as a family ventured out. Slowly opening the doors shut by the corona more than a year back.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px;">It was away from the lively concrete jungle that is Mumbai. To a place surronded by hills all around. Initially through the roads full of vehicles carrying many such people, making one wonder whether the corona fear has finally given way for the busy traffic to take over. Luckily the traffic started thinning and gave way for the monsoon scenery around to show its beautiful face.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">So off we were on our way to Igatpuri, a hill town in Nashik dist. On the way the hills were beaming with mini water falls and cascades due to monsoon rains. The sight never fails to make us feel happy to get out of the car not only to stretch ourseves a bit, but to breathe in more fresh air full of monsoon fragrance and for allowing the eyes more spectrum to enjoy the enthralling scenery of the green filled hills near and far. If the road travels along the sides of one set of mountains, another set lie far away, covered with rainbearing clouds that look like caps protecting them from the sun above. The sun accepts the defeat gracefully and hides behind the clouds. But plays fun with both the mountains and the clouds by peeping through a lazy cloud and lighting only a little patch of the mountain with its sneaking rays.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrGM0DSSkMYBF-DDdH-QxLE5011UhNixrCB2F7FEae6jGqZ8_QTXxGyqv_ThGhlhwfi5akQ0Zy0SYUzi4tezihWKdfcO2lKQLE0FnC0SdmSTlFBDxGN3w5MvTYZmrKJdt-09tadCFLvo/s4160/20210816_123657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrGM0DSSkMYBF-DDdH-QxLE5011UhNixrCB2F7FEae6jGqZ8_QTXxGyqv_ThGhlhwfi5akQ0Zy0SYUzi4tezihWKdfcO2lKQLE0FnC0SdmSTlFBDxGN3w5MvTYZmrKJdt-09tadCFLvo/s320/20210816_123657.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0nbEsyAbEXhw1noxpH8Ha4JWAqrl37vIJB_P2VzYIyYJTaqgIfvTiG8Gatx_wGoQezBCPoqQcbXEc51HNTOqg7KP1sb-TzeDRXHQMjXjmszop-WUFhquNArxnOrgCWxiSGsHZAJOqtk/s4160/20210816_123714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0nbEsyAbEXhw1noxpH8Ha4JWAqrl37vIJB_P2VzYIyYJTaqgIfvTiG8Gatx_wGoQezBCPoqQcbXEc51HNTOqg7KP1sb-TzeDRXHQMjXjmszop-WUFhquNArxnOrgCWxiSGsHZAJOqtk/s320/20210816_123714.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVjP6J2SKI3T2tg_zlK1dv4HypHaJXyY3n-YZgHg3hWNJktyG84YYkat7tPiwC5cRIJosAvQoop-014UxsDtUNmuNwmf9BvgOP1L6vHpjoVDfKAPAGbwhDJQ6uIfTUIF_jTZ2rzuORw4/s4160/20210816_123801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVjP6J2SKI3T2tg_zlK1dv4HypHaJXyY3n-YZgHg3hWNJktyG84YYkat7tPiwC5cRIJosAvQoop-014UxsDtUNmuNwmf9BvgOP1L6vHpjoVDfKAPAGbwhDJQ6uIfTUIF_jTZ2rzuORw4/s320/20210816_123801.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-RJGZqCkg1N8-jKUFKoe6-5YXsdzk70-wDP1js5q8zoL2NAo146-LNyp5t7pIBNby_cfJzQTDbk1eCsRrt3DDVyopzcYZL_lDnBgxhngnxnBjbgK6rV8oZoQLDgBkm8WEJUKmAgRHwCA/s4160/20210816_123807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-RJGZqCkg1N8-jKUFKoe6-5YXsdzk70-wDP1js5q8zoL2NAo146-LNyp5t7pIBNby_cfJzQTDbk1eCsRrt3DDVyopzcYZL_lDnBgxhngnxnBjbgK6rV8oZoQLDgBkm8WEJUKmAgRHwCA/s320/20210816_123807.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> </span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">And in the valley between the two sets of mountains railway lines, connecting Mumbai to Igatpuri and from there to some of the north Indian states, enjoy their privilege of providing the passengers with the beauty of the place around. After breathing in this breathtaking sight for some time we proceeded to our destination.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">Here we are. In Igatpuri. Hardly about a kilometre from the railway station. The area is surrounded by mountains on all sides. The mountains, covered with dark clouds, look so near. They are in fact very near. So near that you can see the clouds turning into rain droplets and see them moving towards you. So it was drizzling all the time. The temperature is so cool always. You can reach out to the mountains and start climbing whenever you feel like it. Since the restaurants provide food you don't have to go out of the area for anything. </span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">Just step out of the room, be there standing and enjoying the weather doing nothing else. Climb the mountains and enjoy the views the heights provide.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">On our way back we stopped at a place called Camel's back. One of the mountains is shaped lije a camel's back and hence the name. This was in fact the other side view of the mountain we had climbed the previous day. And in a valley nearby there is a beautiful lake with the beautiful background of green hills and grey clouds.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">Due to the high range location the internet connectivity was very poor and erratic. Even phone connection network was poor. So you feel like having got lost for two days in a rain forest, literally and figuratively. But you would inhale pleasant air and feel peaceful, far away from the maddening rush of the busy city and mundane routine, physically and mentally. Happy for getting lost.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_210827_083348_791.sdocx--><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cfPQhyQWhqFp7_p5U-NaFi52BdwrVxlpagos_uSJHun-etSBtiODVMzkNegxdm-U8GElIhiMgl5UlqQcTh7W3kgTLSllA6ZcgJhIPYpkdYYqBdNENtx7EG0Nd3ri8NJxDo_bGensz6E/s4160/20210816_101546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cfPQhyQWhqFp7_p5U-NaFi52BdwrVxlpagos_uSJHun-etSBtiODVMzkNegxdm-U8GElIhiMgl5UlqQcTh7W3kgTLSllA6ZcgJhIPYpkdYYqBdNENtx7EG0Nd3ri8NJxDo_bGensz6E/s320/20210816_101546.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BITNDoU0O2aovYO6lYmb2Tq4U4MCBqetPISLn3mysz7es4PlDeus1Qh4gR0i4slHR6GOmdSCdL5v13iT46z39eWopDp7NT2x5JpUYnzd2x17lWjrY649KawS70CTnS7CSE7IqNteWRE/s4160/20210816_101612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BITNDoU0O2aovYO6lYmb2Tq4U4MCBqetPISLn3mysz7es4PlDeus1Qh4gR0i4slHR6GOmdSCdL5v13iT46z39eWopDp7NT2x5JpUYnzd2x17lWjrY649KawS70CTnS7CSE7IqNteWRE/s320/20210816_101612.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0kLjN_EC4rBiHgNBnoKZZ6Q1GrA5XQfxK4piMJwrE-A-GnOTHCccYp-C2xG_ePCp58rTcMplvZhN129HNRMUNoZEDO3Sbfoeh7LvgUOXCX_JA5ChGOTT3XSgW8Q53JkWbLNm1ygT-ok/s4160/20210816_123331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0kLjN_EC4rBiHgNBnoKZZ6Q1GrA5XQfxK4piMJwrE-A-GnOTHCccYp-C2xG_ePCp58rTcMplvZhN129HNRMUNoZEDO3Sbfoeh7LvgUOXCX_JA5ChGOTT3XSgW8Q53JkWbLNm1ygT-ok/s320/20210816_123331.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-64490918135050491042021-06-22T07:23:00.003-07:002021-06-22T07:23:59.708-07:00Camping again in a tent with Navya<p><span style="font-size: 15px;">So we, that is Navya, my 8 year old granddaughter, and me made a tent in our bedroom with by tying </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">two blankets </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">together and securing the ends to a window grid and a door opposite. </span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">We made it a picnic spot by spreading another blanket on the floor. She took with her doll Sophia, her soft toys Binny the dog, Monku the monkey and two more. Timmy or Timothy the dog as in the Famous Five was also there and she renamed herself George, after her favourite character in the series.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">She pretended to check weather report which said it was going to rain in ten minutes. She counted down...10, 9, 8.....1 and it started to rain.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">She had brought an umbrella and used it to protect us all. Her little sister Sophia started feeling cold and she wrapped her and other animals with a blanket. </span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">Sophia felt sleepy. Navya sang a lullaby and put her to sleep. Ensured her comfort with a blanket.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;">We returned home after some time. So this was our outing indoors in corona times.</span><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_210622_195316_863.sdocx--></p>vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-3443978939018938822021-04-19T19:28:00.000-07:002021-06-22T07:14:24.694-07:00Of three cities I love<p> The Trivandrum that I came to live in four decades back was more like a big village, I felt. It was very hard to find a decent vegetarian restaurant. Of course mess, where homely food was available, were aplenty. You only would have to rely on word of mouth advice from friends to pick one that is apt for you. If tasty sevai and rasavadai were good in one such mess, karavadai was the masterpiece in another. But a person from Madurai, where paper thin delicious dosa followed by strong aromatic filter coffee were available in every nook and corner, was sure to miss both. But things are improving fast. (Especially if you are a foodie, in the present day terms, you have umpteen choices. There are atleast a dozen eateries in less than a kilometer from our house.) In those days in weddings also breakfast would not match that in Tamilnadu. But lunch served in Trivandrum was definitely a treat. What with aromatic aviyal, tongue liquoring olan, tangy ingikkari and to top it all the palpayasam, unmatched in taste.</p><p><br /></p>
Eventhough a big village, Trivandrum nevertheless is the state capital. That fact brings with it its own advantages. All the govt offices are at a stone's throw. The medical facility is admirable. Govt Medical College Hospital is among the best in the country. It is being improved and developed periodically. And due to its presence the private hospitals, in order to make themselves competable, provide good service at reasonable fees.<div><br /></div><div> <br />There are more reasons for my missing Madurai. Madurai was and is a தூங்கா நகரம். A city that is not only awake but lively throughout day and night. I am not talking about night clubs. That is beyond my scope or interest. I am talking about a normal citizen's life. I could land in the city at any time of the night and reach my parent's place without any fear or being alone enroute. That has never been the case in Trivandrum. While returning from work after seven in the evening, I could count the number of women in a bus with the fingers in a single hand. Roads would look deserted too. This has slightly improved of late. Still you would be an odd woman out in the roads after dusk.</div><div><br /></div><div><br />
The situation in Mumbai is totally different in this respect. Women can travel at any hour without feeling being alone. It is a relatively woman friendly metro. When you land in Mumbai for the first time from quiet southern states you would be awestruck by the maddening crowd moving in a fast pace. Rain or shine Mumbai moves on, literally. It would appear anyone you meet either on the road or in the jam-packed local trains just don't care a hoot for you or even blissfully unaware of your existence. But if you are humble enough to ask them something, say direction to a place, they would respond in detail and correctly as if you were friends from school days. This way Mumbai wins your heart quickly. And get used to the maddening crowd and practice to negotiate through it and you are sure to simply love the city. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It takes only a little time to realise that though it is vast in size and metro in looks it is just an assembly of friendly villages put together. Whichever part of the city you are in you can easily integrate and see a miniature India around you. Availabilty of abundant fresh vegetables and fruits specific to any part of the country at affordable price is a magic wand to make you feel at home.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>
Another thing you find fascinating in Mumbai is the crowd discipline. Be it in traffic jams or before drinking water taps or waiting in a bus station, if there are more than four people waiting for something, a queue would be formed so things could be managed smoothly. Traffic jams may appear chaotic but even auto drivers would follow some unwritten discipline, even in breaking traffic rules, however crude that might be. A new dimension of survival of the fittest, not the strongest.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>
Every city has its own characteristics. If you have the willingness to see through the same we can enjoy the beauty of life anywhere. <!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_210420_074918_903.sdoc--></div>vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-53248788686632120902020-01-03T02:05:00.000-08:002021-06-22T07:14:24.990-07:00Europe Trip Episode 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Off to
Venice the next day Day 4. Interesting boat ride to the island of Venice,
watching beautiful buildings on both sides of the river banks in clear waters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEAmzQ1TIJJHWkdA6bdZeeFXg2ICo6ES1CWrQzCs2KcaCljVqIUKNmbsSsMFpf_JBqTjm9FUP3njoWZeOT6U6NNE-nBonpGMAHx7Vb78ENaLeqmQpiIwLOd7iqbTL90ArhHKYAPJObSQ/s1600/boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEAmzQ1TIJJHWkdA6bdZeeFXg2ICo6ES1CWrQzCs2KcaCljVqIUKNmbsSsMFpf_JBqTjm9FUP3njoWZeOT6U6NNE-nBonpGMAHx7Vb78ENaLeqmQpiIwLOd7iqbTL90ArhHKYAPJObSQ/s320/boat.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejhDK9J3sQzwiB8gMDJf49XTW74XghxLXsuNNaQSfth7dO7X220imhJTLitxS322ypnQ3imFIq3ODL5vOajSF0u9Hz2fqk05LLDLHjydgR2nFLW8zRI7slXrNeF1PCbElyJUur99G13A/s1600/venice+boating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejhDK9J3sQzwiB8gMDJf49XTW74XghxLXsuNNaQSfth7dO7X220imhJTLitxS322ypnQ3imFIq3ODL5vOajSF0u9Hz2fqk05LLDLHjydgR2nFLW8zRI7slXrNeF1PCbElyJUur99G13A/s320/venice+boating.jpg" width="176" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Having
a hot delicious lunch served on the boat was quite enjoyable. There a long walk
through the riverside to St. Marks’ Square Palace with a Gate to Paradise. There
is a bridge called Bridge of Sigh connecting the palace to the prison. The
prison is for those convicts sentenced to death and those who went there never
came back. They could only watch the palace and the prison with a sigh. Hence
the name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then a
Gondola ride. It is a kind of boat, somewhat similar to the country boats in
Kerala called ‘vallam’. Of course a little more sophisticated with a good
painting and decorations. Passing under foot over bridges is a sight to
remember.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boat ride as such is nothing
new to us. But the cleanliness is. At places the boat passes through narrow
stream with tall and long buildings on both sides, which are fully occupied as
residences and shops etc. But no waste materials floating in the river. Dust
free clean air may be one of the reasons. I could not help recalling the
pathetic sight of the once beautiful beach in Rameswaram, that has been
littered with flowers and clothes in the name of tradition or some of the water
bodies in Kerala filled with litters and weeds due to neglect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a long way to go when it comes to
preserving Nature’s Gifts like rivers and beaches or Man’s toil like ancient
buildings. Well, after the ride, we went to a Murano Glass Factory and watched
a demo of making a unicorn. Quite interesting it was to see an expert melting
glass in hot flame and turning it into a well shaped animal. Then by bus to
Austria for night stay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
highlight of the next day. Day5 was a visit to the Swarovski Crystal Museum, in
Innsbruck, travelling thru Vienna, the capital city of Austria. Some walking
and a city tour in a road train in the pleasant weather in the streets of
Innsbruck thru the Golden roof and also doing some shopping. And for the
crystal museum, oh, what a sight. You are surrounded by exhibits made of
crystals, of snow white, of different colours, shapes and designs, on all sides,
front, back, sides, and above on the roof.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl4Z2mih_NU6fayr-SrB4qhYEuCrcEoMME-FXi8KSXc2UcFBoyVaKS5NDY8jTKasOONFEABZybmjadr2B1CU8xtOeMnAAD5r3ZUTVajQFOOvoZ8S00_2pIQW1Fth36K2MdNS4xcp1rBM/s1600/crys4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl4Z2mih_NU6fayr-SrB4qhYEuCrcEoMME-FXi8KSXc2UcFBoyVaKS5NDY8jTKasOONFEABZybmjadr2B1CU8xtOeMnAAD5r3ZUTVajQFOOvoZ8S00_2pIQW1Fth36K2MdNS4xcp1rBM/s320/crys4.jpg" width="176" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwOpDIdf0FPVI3MX16dQoUYNrcT3WmkMMEKzCHRxNHNfskakOpdDefiZ6XVc354lHFcIF6dly1FYG0muAWFpqcaPCGawLup5EadKcbdNOzDtR0SmfI-KJkvhGHpyKJHtNbIPiSuKpP2o/s1600/crys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwOpDIdf0FPVI3MX16dQoUYNrcT3WmkMMEKzCHRxNHNfskakOpdDefiZ6XVc354lHFcIF6dly1FYG0muAWFpqcaPCGawLup5EadKcbdNOzDtR0SmfI-KJkvhGHpyKJHtNbIPiSuKpP2o/s320/crys.jpg" width="176" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRNET_YvFRK0gLAj-Lbe4I_x8WNYaLeJIB23mI0xcz7xZ47H0kgBZjGMU4BraYw2czKk-b_-YUhBaa0LTwnxusb_SISFomewF-QW1Ug2DYgt6A4Ddy88_ZN1KPhZ-G27WxudMJV_1cck/s1600/crystal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRNET_YvFRK0gLAj-Lbe4I_x8WNYaLeJIB23mI0xcz7xZ47H0kgBZjGMU4BraYw2czKk-b_-YUhBaa0LTwnxusb_SISFomewF-QW1Ug2DYgt6A4Ddy88_ZN1KPhZ-G27WxudMJV_1cck/s320/crystal2.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYE7tBkaAKeSKbCXAzNpw9bQzHZrlMPpIatk4k21QAWnFiOELPiqGkSgEU2NV6jrr3XhwibBvBepF6NdzxfAYE2r_-UKspa_CekV20HXjkiO3yuGb5zbSqSrr60DOpVKl6yzjbB-JbJ0g/s1600/crystal3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYE7tBkaAKeSKbCXAzNpw9bQzHZrlMPpIatk4k21QAWnFiOELPiqGkSgEU2NV6jrr3XhwibBvBepF6NdzxfAYE2r_-UKspa_CekV20HXjkiO3yuGb5zbSqSrr60DOpVKl6yzjbB-JbJ0g/s320/crystal3.jpg" width="176" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5YulwOzBkfIXhRarO1tpE0y-i3NoNYo3SzOR-bSDz-cjhzcoU9e-G8Bi5OJyLTD8PNTMPRBLTy8JRproNPfOcaUf_a5-YWTtfp8u8qdcHGpwKwgd4hyphenhyphen6dG93fuXahgeIdv79Ornt7pw/s1600/crystal4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5YulwOzBkfIXhRarO1tpE0y-i3NoNYo3SzOR-bSDz-cjhzcoU9e-G8Bi5OJyLTD8PNTMPRBLTy8JRproNPfOcaUf_a5-YWTtfp8u8qdcHGpwKwgd4hyphenhyphen6dG93fuXahgeIdv79Ornt7pw/s320/crystal4.jpg" width="176" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkO3OMGbBNWVNSW_01DoYYeIuDGre7dRzp_9NV4aKHZrXk_eeP9AmIuGR61rTiHLNcOkhsJbO8hG_0Nm1iD1hG2J4aaS0eWTnsraEm3rpunNN-oZODdJ-Q51gw853VPS0IZ2ZJPH2cWPY/s1600/crystal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkO3OMGbBNWVNSW_01DoYYeIuDGre7dRzp_9NV4aKHZrXk_eeP9AmIuGR61rTiHLNcOkhsJbO8hG_0Nm1iD1hG2J4aaS0eWTnsraEm3rpunNN-oZODdJ-Q51gw853VPS0IZ2ZJPH2cWPY/s320/crystal.jpg" width="176" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the
afternoon stroll through the shops making some sundry purchases and watching
the Golden Roof on the top floor of a palace on the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDAujwn8BIEKwWTOFw7M7EHyqq3Tj3DrLA873_PTFAdJqGBOVkooXPJDIjuayVf0czzAjHFsWf6B_4YJBqThsRVJNCN5d8wRoSwanKpuBCWiXG_63B3b8luv3hDtAF6Pyy79Y8EUZlxs/s1600/river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDAujwn8BIEKwWTOFw7M7EHyqq3Tj3DrLA873_PTFAdJqGBOVkooXPJDIjuayVf0czzAjHFsWf6B_4YJBqThsRVJNCN5d8wRoSwanKpuBCWiXG_63B3b8luv3hDtAF6Pyy79Y8EUZlxs/s320/river.jpg" width="176" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33zykClPuiPQN4gPCcYrmOawIV51MVBn_Kr7dpuOnokffjRUqMqQ0dvplweUNFwipqJpfRMwx0l9XjQ44D3UrO5hLEShTc9OJjzO4ioCMruelCSv5rySxJ8E4ezSZUTMEdwbmL2JSQg4/s1600/riversidw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33zykClPuiPQN4gPCcYrmOawIV51MVBn_Kr7dpuOnokffjRUqMqQ0dvplweUNFwipqJpfRMwx0l9XjQ44D3UrO5hLEShTc9OJjzO4ioCMruelCSv5rySxJ8E4ezSZUTMEdwbmL2JSQg4/s320/riversidw.jpg" width="176" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURSr6wdGpVu6obspx2Nk6qI-UmmGFINKr2eKhj4heWda8Beje-ZBxBX-sVtsntP7GG59HBszs24qfhnOFNGQt0TVL8zDX6PRlb2zJQseOtp1-83kCziL9h9ww7_6y_-YHkoG7wxk65ts/s1600/golden+roof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURSr6wdGpVu6obspx2Nk6qI-UmmGFINKr2eKhj4heWda8Beje-ZBxBX-sVtsntP7GG59HBszs24qfhnOFNGQt0TVL8zDX6PRlb2zJQseOtp1-83kCziL9h9ww7_6y_-YHkoG7wxk65ts/s320/golden+roof.jpg" width="176" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Quite interesting to
watch people eat pizzas and bread for lunch in the roadside inns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Drive to St.
Moritz, Switzerland, a luxurious alpine holiday resort situated at an elevation
of more than 1800 meters above sea level for a cosy Indian dinner and overnight
stay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then four dreamlike
days in Switzerland, the most interesting part of the trip in a separate
episode.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-55375197817421043142020-01-02T22:27:00.000-08:002021-06-22T07:14:25.004-07:00vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-15035101773864447312019-12-30T05:30:00.002-08:002021-06-22T07:14:24.748-07:00Europe Trip 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It all
happened shortly and suddenly. Though I have always wanted to make it, never expected
it<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>would <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>come real. Contemplating, deciding planning
and execution all in a matter of a couple of weeks. And there we were on the
streets of Rome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What a breathtaking
experience. Fourteen days of travel through the Nature’s gift of mountains and
Man’s contributions of Ancient Historic Architecture. Right from Rome to Paris
by road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rome is a
city of walls surrounded by seven hills. They say Rome was not built in a day.
It is literally true too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of the
emperors, who didn’t like to use or live in the buildings constructed by their
predecessors, constructed new buildings to their own liking. We can see a
single building having different styles in its different floors proving they
added horizontally and vertically too. All with marble and preserved well to
this day. The enviably pleasant weather makes walking through these buildings a
very nice experience. The sky above is clear with some clouds presenting never
ending kaleidoscope through the pine trees with their branches groomed like
umbrellas, thus getting the name umbrella pine.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsWaCc7tANJkXOSvJn9ZIX-YSLncSllU9_99EqVu1eR62F2gtNqdY3SkBhUv-cpS8JN0ehxuM9ovWBVy8KFz5g9p29Stxh_6pI7T1I_9xMw3XHr8DUQddfbPQxfL1i8TfRcI2sqAcTaw/s1600/umbrella+pine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsWaCc7tANJkXOSvJn9ZIX-YSLncSllU9_99EqVu1eR62F2gtNqdY3SkBhUv-cpS8JN0ehxuM9ovWBVy8KFz5g9p29Stxh_6pI7T1I_9xMw3XHr8DUQddfbPQxfL1i8TfRcI2sqAcTaw/s320/umbrella+pine.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It started
with Trevi Fountain where the beautiful song ‘Oru Raja Raniyidam’ in ‘Sivanda
Mann’ starts majestically.</span></div>
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Then the gigantic Gladiator Building built in 72 AD.
There is an arch near the building which inspired Napoleon Bonaparte to build a
similar one in Paris.<br />
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History resonates
in each and every stone. To assist us to recap historical events, we were taken
to watch a film show on Roman History. The show was so designed as if Michael
Angelo was travelling in time and revisits his own glorious past. How he made
the paintings on the roof of the great St.Bascilica, hanging on the top for
hours together for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>years. Julius Caesar
and the conspiracy against him by his own Army General Brutus and the famous quote ‘you
too Brutus’ were also enacted in the show. This show helped me, a poor history
student, very much.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">St.Peters
Bascilica, the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel are really great. There is
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>definitely a positive vibration in the
air in the chapel. The paintings on the walls and roof and the sculptures are captivating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some 4 or5 kms of walk and climb through them
doesn’t make you tired at all.</span></div>
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Then you stand before the building where
Mussolini made his final speech. History resonates in the air.<br />
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<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rome was not
built in a day. How can you see it fully in a day? But we had to move off to
cover other places in the itinerary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Off to
Florence next. It is also a city full of magnificent buildings….ancient
Cathedrals and Baptistery and Sculptures. Walking through the city along a
river side we passed through many of them, one being the fourth largest
cathedral in the world. As for the life sized sculptures, made of marble stones
of different colours, looking marvelous you simply get awestruck looking at
them. In order to add to their natural looks the sculptures are depicting human
body in its natural form. No wonder Kannadasan said through Kanchana in the
same song “ naadu vittu naadu vandal penmai nanam indri poay vidumo”.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The next
stop is the magnificent Leaning Tower of Pisa. It invites you from a distance
and as you walk towards it, you cannot help feeling ‘it is no wonder it is one
of the Seven Wonders of the World’. You walk as if in a dream towards the tall,
slightly leaning tower without taking your eyes from it. Magnificent is a small
word to describe it. Some photo shoots near and around the tower and off we go
to retire for the day.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the body needs rest and there we are in
the hotel. Just have dinner and fall in the bed. All of this, travel route, travel
time with necessary breaks in between, food on time, that too Indian at least
twice a day and cozy accommodation are taken care of by the travel agency and
the tour manager. Thanks a lot Mr. Vincent and M/s Thomas Cook.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-HgobMPX3iztfQhJtNnbk96rxyFy1VGuqN8ECU9Ar3ghGBc8ICePD3XtIz-fG6a3dRC6ZUlalU4_AtCetGu6PzqXRUydWks7Htgx07KqxKHU-3gCtNFuvNhxVcICOemR9jsto3Im0Mg/s1600/rest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-HgobMPX3iztfQhJtNnbk96rxyFy1VGuqN8ECU9Ar3ghGBc8ICePD3XtIz-fG6a3dRC6ZUlalU4_AtCetGu6PzqXRUydWks7Htgx07KqxKHU-3gCtNFuvNhxVcICOemR9jsto3Im0Mg/s320/rest.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then next
morning by bus through the hills. Yes, literally through the hills, by roads
constructed by caving the hills. Rome is a city of walls surrounded by seven
hills. The road inside the tunnels, carved in the hills, is well lit and clean
and smooth. Mostly such roads are one ways and you can see the beautifully
carved ways for the opposite vehicles outside. What a beautiful sight. Beyond
that hills and hills and hills covered with greenery and cloud cast clear blue
sky above as far as your eyes can see. You only wish the bus journey never ends
so you can continue to enjoy the scenery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-27287858799403913522019-06-13T03:16:00.000-07:002021-06-22T07:14:24.831-07:00நிலமென்னும் நல்லாள்<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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காடு கொடுத்த கனியிருக்கு<br />
கழனி வெளஞ்ச நெல்லிருக்கு<br />
ஓடு திறந்த பஞ்சிருக்கு<br />
உண்ண உடுத்த வகையிருக்கு<br />
<br />
சிந்திய வேர்வை நிலத்தில் விழுந்து<br />
சிறுகச் சிறுக ஆறாச்சு<br />
அதை நம்பிய பேர்கள் வாழ்ந்ததாலே<br />
நாடு நகரம் ஊராச்சு<br />
<br />
தேக்கு சந்தனம் பாக்கு மூங்கில்<br />
நிறைஞ்சிருக்குது பூமியிலே<br />
அதைப் பாத்து நாமும் காத்து வந்தா<br />
கடனும் உடனும் தேவையில்லே<br />
<br />
எத்தனை அருமையான பாடல். நினைக்க நினைக்க வியக்க வைக்கும். நமது அடிப்படைத் தேவைகள் எல்லாவற்றையும் பூமித் தாயே நிறைவேற்றுவதை ஒவ்வொன்றாகச் சொல்கிறார் கவிஞர்.<br />
<br />
கனியும் நெல்லும் தந்து நமது பசியாற்றி பருத்தி தந்து மானம் காக்கிறது. இவை நமது தொடர் தேவை (recurring needs) என்பதனால் கறுகிய காலத்தில் விளைந்து கிடைக்கின்றன.<br />
<br />
அடுத்த தேவை உறைவிடம். பூமியில் ஓடும் நதிகளின் கரையில் நமது உழைப்பால் வீடுகள் கட்டி நகரங்களாக்கி நிறைவுடன் வாழத் தொடங்கலாம். உலகின் நாகரிகங்கள் எல்லாம் நதிக்கரைகளில் தானே தோன்றின, வைகைக் கரையில் மதுரை, காவிரிக் கரையில் தஞ்சை, சிந்து சமவெளி நாகரிகம், நைல்நதிக் கரையில் எகிப்திய நாகரிகம் என.<br />
<br />
மனிதனின் தேவை அடங்குமா? எதிர்காலத்துக்கு, அடுத்த தலைமுறைக்கென எதுவும் சேர்த்து வைக்க வேண்டாமா?<br />
தேக்கு மூங்கில் பாக்கு சந்தனம் போன்ற மரங்களைப் பயிர் செய்தால் முதலில் கொஞ்சம் பாடுபட்டால் போதும் சில வருடங்களுக்குப் பிறகு தொடர்ந்து பலவருடங்கள் பலன் தரும். கடனும் உடனும் தேவையில்லை சேமிக்கவும் முடியும். <br />
இதற்கான வசதியும் பூமித் தாய் செய்து தருகிறாள்.<br />
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ஆஹா மனிதர்களின் நியாயமான தேவைகளை வரிசைப் படுத்தி அதை பூமாதா நிறைவேற்றும் அழகையும் வரிசைப் படுத்தி இருக்கிறார் கவிஞர். ஒவ்வொரு முறை கேட்கும் போதும் புதிய அர்த்தங்கள் புரியும்.<br />
<br />
இலமென்று அசைஇ இருப்பாரைக் காணின்<br />
நிலமென்னும் நல்லாள் நகும்<br />
<br />
என்ற அழகிய குறளுக்கு அருமையான விளக்கம் இந்தப் பாடல் என்றே சொல்லலாம்.</div>
vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-18663805489273592282019-06-13T03:10:00.001-07:002021-06-22T07:14:24.788-07:00ந<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
காடு கொடுத்த கனியிருக்கு<br />
கழனி வெளஞ்ச நெல்லிருக்கு<br />
ஓடு திறந்த பஞ்சிருக்கு<br />
உண்ண உடுத்த வகையிருக்கு<br />
<br />
சிந்திய வேர்வை நிலத்தில் விழுந்து<br />
சிறுகச் சிறுக ஆறாச்சு<br />
அதை நம்பிய பேர்கள் வாழ்ந்ததாலே<br />
நாடு நகரம் ஊராச்சு<br />
<br />
தேக்கு சந்தனம் பாக்கு மூங்கில்<br />
நிறைஞ்சிருக்குது பூமியிலே<br />
அதைப் பாத்து நாமும் காத்து வந்தா<br />
கடனும் உடனும் தேவையில்லே<br />
<br />
எத்தனை அருமையான பாடல். நினைக்க நினைக்க வியக்க வைக்கும். நமது அடிப்படைத் தேவைகள் எல்லாவற்றையும் பூமித் தாயே நிறைவேற்றுவதை ஒவ்வொன்றாகச் சொல்கிறார் கவிஞர்.<br />
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கனியும் நெல்லும் தந்து நமது பசியாற்றி பருத்தி தந்து மானம் காக்கிறது. இவை நமது தொடர் தேவை (recurring needs) என்பதனால் கறுகிய காலத்தில் விளைந்து கிடைக்கின்றன.<br />
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அடுத்த தேவை உறைவிடம். பூமியில் ஓடும் நதிகளின் கரையில் நமது உழைப்பால் வீடுகள் கட்டி நகரங்களாக்கி நிறைவுடன் வாழத் தொடங்கலாம். உலகின் நாகரிகங்கள் எல்லாம் நதிக்கரைகளில் தானே தோன்றின, வைகைக் கரையில் மதுரை, காவிரிக் கரையில் தஞ்சை, சிந்து சமவெளி நாகரிகம், நைல்நதிக் கரையில் எகிப்திய நாகரிகம் என.<br />
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மனிதனின் தேவை அடங்குமா? எதிர்காலத்துக்கு, அடுத்த தலைமுறைக்கென எதுவும் சேர்த்து வைக்க வேண்டாமா?<br />
தேக்கு மூங்கில் பாக்கு சந்தனம் போன்ற மரங்களைப் பயிர் செய்தால் முதலில் கொஞ்சம் பாடுபட்டால் போதும் சில வருடங்களுக்குப் பிறகு தொடர்ந்து பலவருடங்கள் பலன் தரும். கடனும் உடனும் தேவையில்லை சேமிக்கவும் முடியும். <br />
இதற்கான வசதியும் பூமித் தாய் செய்து தருகிறாள்.<br />
<br />
ஆஹா மனிதர்களின் நியாயமான தேவைகளை வரிசைப் படுத்தி அதை பூமாதா நிறைவேற்றும் அழகையும் வரிசைப் படுத்தி இருக்கிறார் கவிஞர். ஒவ்வொரு முறை கேட்கும் போதும் புதிய அர்த்தங்கள் புரியும்.<br />
<br />
இலமென்று அசைஇ இருப்பாரைக் காணின்<br />
நிலமென்னும் நல்லாள் நகும்<br />
<br />
என்ற அழகிய குறளுக்கு அருமையான விளக்கம் இந்தப் பாடல் என்றே சொல்லலாம்.</div>
vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-16961862503072401782019-06-13T03:08:00.000-07:002021-06-22T07:14:24.770-07:00நிலமென்னும் நல்லாள்<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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காடு கொடுத்த கனியிருக்கு<br />
கழனி வெளஞ்ச நெல்லிருக்கு<br />
ஓடு திறந்த பஞ்சிருக்கு<br />
உண்ண உடுத்த வகையிருக்கு<br />
<br />
சிந்திய வேர்வை நிலத்தில் விழுந்து<br />
சிறுகச் சிறுக ஆறாச்சு<br />
அதை நம்பிய பேர்கள் வாழ்ந்ததாலே<br />
நாடு நகரம் ஊராச்சு<br />
<br />
தேக்கு சந்தனம் பாக்கு மூங்கில்<br />
நிறைஞ்சிருக்குது பூமியிலே<br />
அதைப் பாத்து நாமும் காத்து வந்தா<br />
கடனும் உடனும் தேவையில்லே<br />
<br />
எத்தனை அருமையான பாடல். நினைக்க நினைக்க வியக்க வைக்கும். நமது அடிப்படைத் தேவைகள் எல்லாவற்றையும் பூமித் தாயே நிறைவேற்றுவதை ஒவ்வொன்றாகச் சொல்கிறார் கவிஞர்.<br />
<br />
கனியும் நெல்லும் தந்து நமது பசியாற்றி பருத்தி தந்து மானம் காக்கிறது. இவை நமது தொடர் தேவை (recurring needs) என்பதனால் கறுகிய காலத்தில் விளைந்து கிடைக்கின்றன.<br />
<br />
அடுத்த தேவை உறைவிடம். பூமியில் ஓடும் நதிகளின் கரையில் நமது உழைப்பால் வீடுகள் கட்டி நகரங்களாக்கி நிறைவுடன் வாழத் தொடங்கலாம். உலகின் நாகரிகங்கள் எல்லாம் நதிக்கரைகளில் தானே தோன்றின, வைகைக் கரையில் மதுரை, காவிரிக் கரையில் தஞ்சை, சிந்து சமவெளி நாகரிகம், நைல்நதிக் கரையில் எகிப்திய நாகரிகம் என.<br />
<br />
மனிதனின் தேவை அடங்குமா? எதிர்காலத்துக்கு, அடுத்த தலைமுறைக்கென எதுவும் சேர்த்து வைக்க வேண்டாமா?<br />
தேக்கு மூங்கில் பாக்கு சந்தனம் போன்ற மரங்களைப் பயிர் செய்தால் முதலில் கொஞ்சம் பாடுபட்டால் போதும் சில வருடங்களுக்குப் பிறகு தொடர்ந்து பலவருடங்கள் பலன் தரும். கடனும் உடனும் தேவையில்லை சேமிக்கவும் முடியும். <br />
இதற்கான வசதியும் பூமித் தாய் செய்து தருகிறாள்.<br />
<br />
ஆஹா மனிதர்களின் நியாயமான தேவைகளை வரிசைப் படுத்தி அதை பூமாதா நிறைவேற்றும் அழகையும் வரிசைப் படுத்தி இருக்கிறார் கவிஞர். ஒவ்வொரு முறை கேட்கும் போதும் புதிய அர்த்தங்கள் புரியும்.<br />
<br />
இலமென்று அசைஇ இருப்பாரைக் காணின்<br />
நிலமென்னும் நல்லாள் நகும்<br />
<br />
என்ற அழகிய குறளுக்கு அருமையான விளக்கம் இந்தப் பாடல் என்றே சொல்லலாம்.</div>
vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-8660415384378839272019-06-13T03:05:00.000-07:002021-06-22T07:14:24.729-07:00நிலமென்னும் நல்லாள்<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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காடு கொடுத்த கனியிருக்கு<br />
கழனி வெளஞ்ச நெல்லிருக்கு<br />
ஓடு திறந்த பஞ்சிருக்கு<br />
உண்ண உடுத்த வகையிருக்கு<br />
<br />
சிந்திய வேர்வை நிலத்தில் விழுந்து<br />
சிறுகச் சிறுக ஆறாச்சு<br />
அதை நம்பிய பேர்கள் வாழ்ந்ததாலே<br />
நாடு நகரம் ஊராச்சு<br />
<br />
தேக்கு சந்தனம் பாக்கு மூங்கில்<br />
நிறைஞ்சிருக்குது பூமியிலே<br />
அதைப் பாத்து நாமும் காத்து வந்தா<br />
கடனும் உடனும் தேவையில்லே<br />
<br />
எத்தனை அருமையான பாடல். நினைக்க நினைக்க வியக்க வைக்கும். நமது அடிப்படைத் தேவைகள் எல்லாவற்றையும் பூமித் தாயே நிறைவேற்றுவதை ஒவ்வொன்றாகச் சொல்கிறார் கவிஞர்.<br />
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கனியும் நெல்லும் தந்து நமது பசியாற்றி பருத்தி தந்து மானம் காக்கிறது. இவை நமது தொடர் தேவை (recurring needs) என்பதனால் கறுகிய காலத்தில் விளைந்து கிடைக்கின்றன.<br />
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அடுத்த தேவை உறைவிடம். பூமியில் ஓடும் நதிகளின் கரையில் நமது உழைப்பால் வீடுகள் கட்டி நகரங்களாக்கி நிறைவுடன் வாழத் தொடங்கலாம். உலகின் நாகரிகங்கள் எல்லாம் நதிக்கரைகளில் தானே தோன்றின, வைகைக் கரையில் மதுரை, காவிரிக் கரையில் தஞ்சை, சிந்து சமவெளி நாகரிகம், நைல்நதிக் கரையில் எகிப்திய நாகரிகம் என.<br />
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மனிதனின் தேவை அடங்குமா? எதிர்காலத்துக்கு, அடுத்த தலைமுறைக்கென எதுவும் சேர்த்து வைக்க வேண்டாமா?<br />
தேக்கு மூங்கில் பாக்கு சந்தனம் போன்ற மரங்களைப் பயிர் செய்தால் முதலில் கொஞ்சம் பாடுபட்டால் போதும் சில வருடங்களுக்குப் பிறகு தொடர்ந்து பலவருடங்கள் பலன் தரும். கடனும் உடனும் தேவையில்லை சேமிக்கவும் முடியும். <br />
இதற்கான வசதியும் பூமித் தாய் செய்து தருகிறாள்.<br />
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ஆஹா மனிதர்களின் நியாயமான தேவைகளை வரிசைப் படுத்தி அதை பூமாதா நிறைவேற்றும் அழகையும் வரிசைப் படுத்தி இருக்கிறார் கவிஞர். ஒவ்வொரு முறை கேட்கும் போதும் புதிய அர்த்தங்கள் புரியும்.<br />
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இலமென்று அசைஇ இருப்பாரைக் காணின்<br />
நிலமென்னும் நல்லாள் நகும்<br />
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என்ற அழகிய குறளுக்கு அருமையான விளக்கம் இந்தப் பாடல் என்றே சொல்லலாம்.</div>
vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-48125754004435524672019-06-12T20:11:00.001-07:002021-06-22T07:14:24.972-07:00நிலமென்னும் நல்லாள்<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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காடு கொடுத்த கனியிருக்கு<br />
கழனி வெளஞ்ச நெல்லிருக்கு<br />
ஓடு திறந்த பஞ்சிருக்கு<br />
உண்ண உடுத்த வகையிருக்கு<br />
<br />
சிந்திய வேர்வை நிலத்தில் விழுந்து<br />
சிறுகச் சிறுக ஆறாச்சு<br />
அதை நம்பிய பேர்கள் வாழ்ந்ததாலே<br />
நாடு நகரம் ஊராச்சு<br />
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தேக்கு சந்தனம் பாக்கு மூங்கில்<br />
நிறைஞ்சிருக்குது பூமியிலே<br />
அதைப் பாத்து நாமும் காத்து வந்தா<br />
கடனும் உடனும் தேவையில்லே<br />
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எத்தனை அருமையான பாடல். நினைக்க நினைக்க வியக்க வைக்கும். நமது அடிப்படைத் தேவைகள் எல்லாவற்றையும் பூமித் தாயே நிறைவேற்றுவதை ஒவ்வொன்றாகச் சொல்கிறார் கவிஞர்.<br />
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கனியும் நெல்லும் தந்து நமது பசியாற்றி பருத்தி தந்து மானம் காக்கிறது. இவை நமது தொடர் தேவை (recurring needs) என்பதனால் கறுகிய காலத்தில் விளைந்து கிடைக்கின்றன.<br />
<br />
அடுத்த தேவை உறைவிடம். பூமியில் ஓடும் நதிகளின் கரையில் நமது உழைப்பால் வீடுகள் கட்டி நகரங்களாக்கி நிறைவுடன் வாழத் தொடங்கலாம். உலகின் நாகரிகங்கள் எல்லாம் நதிக்கரைகளில் தானே தோன்றின, வைகைக் கரையில் மதுரை, காவிரிக் கரையில் தஞ்சை, சிந்து சமவெளி நாகரிகம், நைல்நதிக் கரையில் எகிப்திய நாகரிகம் என.<br />
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மனிதனின் தேவை அடங்குமா? எதிர்காலத்துக்கு, அடுத்த தலைமுறைக்கென எதுவும் சேர்த்து வைக்க வேண்டாமா?<br />
தேக்கு மூங்கில் பாக்கு சந்தனம் போன்ற மரங்களைப் பயிர் செய்தால் முதலில் கொஞ்சம் பாடுபட்டால் போதும் சில வருடங்களுக்குப் பிறகு தொடர்ந்து பலவருடங்கள் பலன் தரும். கடனும் உடனும் தேவையில்லை சேமிக்கவும் முடியும். <br />
இதற்கான வசதியும் பூமித் தாய் செய்து தருகிறாள்.<br />
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ஆஹா மனிதர்களின் நியாயமான தேவைகளை வரிசைப் படுத்தி அதை பூமாதா நிறைவேற்றும் அழகையும் வரிசைப் படுத்தி இருக்கிறார் கவிஞர். ஒவ்வொரு முறை கேட்கும் போதும் புதிய அர்த்தங்கள் புரியும்.<br />
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இலமென்று அசைஇ இருப்பாரைக் காணின்<br />
நிலமென்னும் நல்லாள் நகும்<br />
<br />
என்ற அழகிய குறளுக்கு அருமையான விளக்கம் இந்தப் பாடல் என்றே சொல்லலாம்.</div>
vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-84755741436153355192019-06-11T19:47:00.000-07:002021-06-22T07:14:25.089-07:00நிலமென்னும் நல்லாள்<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
காடு கொடுத்த கனியிருக்கு<br />
கழனி வெளஞ்ச நெல்லிருக்கு<br />
ஓடு திறந்த பஞ்சிருக்கு<br />
உண்ண உடுத்த வகையிருக்கு<br />
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சிந்திய வேர்வை நிலத்தில் விழுந்து<br />
சிறுகச் சிறுக ஆறாச்சு<br />
அதை நம்பிய பேர்கள் வாழ்ந்ததாலே<br />
நாடு நகரம் ஊராச்சு<br />
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தேக்கு சந்தனம் பாக்கு மூங்கில்<br />
நிறைஞ்சிருக்குது பூமியிலே<br />
அதைப் பாத்து நாமும் காத்து வந்தா<br />
கடனும் உடனும் தேவையில்லே<br />
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எத்தனை அருமையான பாடல். நினைக்க நினைக்க வியக்க வைக்கும். நமது அடிப்படைத் தேவைகள் எல்லாவற்றையும் பூமித் தாயே நிறைவேற்றுவதை ஒவ்வொன்றாகச் சொல்கிறார் கவிஞர்.<br />
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கனியும் நெல்லும் தந்து நமது பசியாற்றி பருத்தி தந்து மானம் காக்கிறது. இவை நமது தொடர் தேவை (recurring needs) என்பதனால் கறுகிய காலத்தில் விளைந்து கிடைக்கின்றன.<br />
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அடுத்த தேவை உறைவிடம். பூமியில் ஓடும் நதிகளின் கரையில் நமது உழைப்பால் வீடுகள் கட்டி நகரங்களாக்கி நிறைவுடன் வாழத் தொடங்கலாம். உலகின் நாகரிகங்கள் எல்லாம் நதிக்கரைகளில் தானே தோன்றின, வைகைக் கரையில் மதுரை, காவிரிக் கரையில் தஞ்சை, சிந்து சமவெளி நாகரிகம், நைல்நதிக் கரையில் எகிப்திய நாகரிகம் என.<br />
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மனிதனின் தேவை அடங்குமா? எதிர்காலத்துக்கு, அடுத்த தலைமுறைக்கென எதுவும் சேர்த்து வைக்க வேண்டாமா?<br />
தேக்கு மூங்கில் பாக்கு சந்தனம் போன்ற மரங்களைப் பயிர் செய்தால் முதலில் கொஞ்சம் பாடுபட்டால் போதும் சில வருடங்களுக்குப் பிறகு தொடர்ந்து பலவருடங்கள் பலன் தரும். கடனும் உடனும் தேவையில்லை சேமிக்கவும் முடியும். <br />
இதற்கான வசதியும் பூமித் தாய் செய்து தருகிறாள்.<br />
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ஆஹா மனிதர்களின் நியாயமான தேவைகளை வரிசைப் படுத்தி அதை பூமாதா நிறைவேற்றும் அழகையும் வரிசைப் படுத்தி இருக்கிறார் கவிஞர். ஒவ்வொரு முறை கேட்கும் போதும் புதிய அர்த்தங்கள் புரியும்.<br />
<br />
இலமென்று அசைஇ இருப்பாரைக் காணின்<br />
நிலமென்னும் நல்லாள் நகும்<br />
<br />
என்ற அழகிய குறளுக்கு அருமையான விளக்கம் இந்தப் பாடல் என்றே சொல்லலாம்.</div>
vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-29396413398064158272018-03-20T06:30:00.003-07:002021-06-22T07:14:24.841-07:00My dear Kumar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black;">Today, the 20th March he would have turned 62. But he didn't wait. Why he had to hurry, I don't know, but hurry he did. Just a phone call during a power cut time made him fall down near the stairs, followed by a quick succession of events that culminated in his unexpected demise. Leaving his loving wife and innocent, if grown up children shocked beyond belief. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">For me it is loss of my dear brother, whom I have known for the past 62 years. With whom I grew up, went to school, watched movies. With whom I have had fights for reasons that look silly and make me laugh at myself now. Like who has the right to first read the new weekly magazine bought at home. Like whose turn it was to help mother in running small errands. With whom I have gone to relative's places to spend school vacations and continue the fights there. That was when we were in primary school days.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Then the fights gave way to better understanding and turned into beautiful friendship when we became teenagers. It was from him that I learnt some </span><span style="color: black;">joys</span><span style="color: black;"> considered exclusive to male domain in those days. Like learning to play chess, trying to follow cricket commentaries in the radio in those non_tv days, watching one or two english movies etc. Sharing our common interest in Numbers and trying to solve </span><span style="color: black;">logical</span><span style="color: black;"> puzzles. Sharing our love for old tamil movie songs and arguing about our difference of taste in that. Arguing whether MGR or </span><span style="color: black;">Sivaji</span><span style="color: black;"> was great and never coming to an agreement as the former was his favourite and the latter mine. The list of such sweet memories is long.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Later when we started our career lives and eventually got married we got busy with our new families, building up its finances and bringing up kids. In those days with no network or even phones, regular contacts shrunk to postal letters only, for which we were left with little time after attending to career and family demands. So the communications were less in those days. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">But again after some time, we had phones and then came social networks like fb and whatsapp. So we could pick up the threads where we had left them and </span><span style="color: black;">continue</span> our chatting in these media. Yes, arguments had given way to chats due to our age and maturity. For weeks, sometimes even months, we would not have talked except through the social media, but still once either of us ring up, we could continue where we had left. That was the bond.<br />
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But that came to a shocking halt when I last rang up his number, only to be informed by his wife that he was admitted to a hospital for a surgery following his fall. And he never recovered.<span style="color: black;">I c</span>ou<span style="color: black;">ld visit him in the days he was in the hospital, but the end was sudden and shocking. </span><span style="color: black;">I c</span>ou<span style="color: black;">ld visit him in the days he was in the hospital, but the end was sudden and shocking. I know his wife and children would suffer more. In addition to the loss of their beloved father/husband they sure have to face immediate tasks and financial drawbacks. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">But that </span><span style="color: black;">doesn't</span><span style="color: black;"> lessen my grief. I feel as if I have lost a part of me, though I keep reminding me that I have to get over that feeling and carry forward only sweet</span> memories. <span style="color: black;">Though I find it very difficult, I am trying. </span> <span style="color: black;">Yesterday I visited our ancestral village, </span><span style="color: black;">Pathamadai</span> that has a place in his name. Today on his birthday friends are remembering him. He was more familiar and at ease with his friends than with relatives circle. Some time back took pains to organise a reunion of school batch mates and college batch mates separately for which all the friends are very happy even now. They shall remember him always. Happy birthday Kumar.<br />
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vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-78072747118590792182018-03-20T03:21:00.000-07:002021-06-22T07:14:25.071-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-6380340057886083012018-03-08T07:04:00.001-08:002021-06-22T07:14:24.715-07:00In praise of unsung heroines<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black;">I wish to dedicate this piece to a kind and courageous woman called Lalitha. When she was left with four young children and a handicapped husband she was young and inexperienced with little educational or financial background. And this was more than fifty years ago when women leaving for work to another town was not kindly looked upon. But left with no other go she took up the challenge and joined as a hostel warden in a school run by a charitable trust for children who are orphans or from backward and downtrodden families. She cared for the children like her own.</span><span style="color: black;"><u> </u></span><span style="color: black;">She gave them healthy food. Made sure that they studied well. Instilled discipline in them. Taught them cooking, cleanliness and other practical livelihood skills in their free time. This they might not have got even in their homes given their family background. In short she helped them grow up into responsible citizens. Not one or two children, but hundreds of them, maybe thousands, batch after batch. Many of them have come up well in life and fondly remember Lalitha </span><span style="color: black;">akka's</span><span style="color: black;"> (as the children call her with affection) contribution in moulding them. At the same time she took care of her husband and gave decent education to her children. She has made it a point to attend functions in relatives' families along with her children even after her husband's death. Now they are well settled in life, bringing up their own children nicely. Now she has no financial commitments. Her children are only too pleased to have her with them. She can lead a comfortable life with anyone of them. But she can not leave the organisation that supported her when she badly needed support. The hostel now needs her dedicated service very much and is unable to find a substitute. So she prefers to be with the poor children and do whatever she can for their good even in her 70s. She visits her children and spends time with grandchildren during school </span><span style="color: black;">vacations</span><span style="color: black;">, sharing her time between her family and the </span><span style="color: black;">larger</span><span style="color: black;"> family of poor children. Such women are real heroines and make the World a better place to be in. Let us give them a big salute on this International </span><span style="color: black;">Womens</span><span style="color: black;"> Day. Hats off to Lalitha </span><span style="color: black;">akka</span>.</div>
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vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-29256728538948627182018-03-01T18:29:00.000-08:002021-06-22T07:14:24.836-07:00Pathemari<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJo3xXmrDQkBHQ-b9xJS_qrsJNPMOHVtyUSxXWlOLVo3jgUSMzZ9Ptalr1bwE1YzduBtKawoxXQeZ4jWQ4bkT1ZoZQFP7FioLQXdhqgfBAjbzSSz49Xe2HBwP-pxexKryQtrVWQkOirOg/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJo3xXmrDQkBHQ-b9xJS_qrsJNPMOHVtyUSxXWlOLVo3jgUSMzZ9Ptalr1bwE1YzduBtKawoxXQeZ4jWQ4bkT1ZoZQFP7FioLQXdhqgfBAjbzSSz49Xe2HBwP-pxexKryQtrVWQkOirOg/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Happ</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">e</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">n</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">e</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">d</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> to watch the malayalam movie </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Pathemari</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> with </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Mammooty as the protaganist</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">. I was very much impressed by the movie. The story spans around 25 to 30 years, starting with the hero leaving for gulf in an unauthorised country boat in search of greener pastures. He lands in some </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">menial</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"> job and manages to send money home regularly. In course of time he is able to clear the family debts, marry off sisters, help brothers' family do better, in the meantime he too marrying a girl and raising a family. During each of his visits to his home he declares that he will be back home for good the next time, which never arrives as t</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">he responsibilities keep mounting. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">His family look forward to his visits more for the presents he brings than for his presence, but he does not mind. Or does not show if it hurts. He even </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">manages </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">to fund the foreign visit of a neighbour who settles well in his own business in the gulf and is grateful to him. The</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> improvement of</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> financial status of all in the family is shown subtly as they find lesser and lesser time for his phone calls. As he toils he ages too. He even gifts a house he has bought for his family to a relative's daughter for her wedding. He is compelled to pay rent for that house till such t</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">ime he builds his </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">own.</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> He then makes money for a house for his family. By the time it is completed his children grow up. He is interviewed for a TV program on </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">NRIs</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"> who haven't made it big. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">He suddenly dies in sleep and his body is brought to his village. Ironically enough the relative refuses to allow his body to be kept in the house he got gifted as he intends to sell it and keeping the body there would reduce its market price. People are skeptic about keeping the body in his new house as it would be a bad omen to keep it in the new house. Hence it is decided </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">to take it to the funeral ground direct and the last rites are done.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">After the funeral the family relaxes </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">before</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> t</span></span></span><span style="color: black;">he TV. The interview he has given is telecast. He is asked was he happy about his nondescript </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">nri</span></span><span style="color: black;"> life, after all he has not made it big and was hardly able to make both ends meet. Given a chance would he like to lead a different life? He does not show if it hurts. Utters calmly when I </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">left for</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> gu</span></span><span style="color: black;">lf my </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">moth</span></span><span style="color: black;">er was ashamed of facing debtors and siblings </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">were</span></span><span style="color: black;"> struggling to get a square meal a day. I could satiate their hunger and give them a </span><span style="color: black;">decen</span><span style="color: black;">t</span><span style="color: black;"> life. I could give something for my siblings education and make them settle well in life. My wife and children have a carefree life. If I get another chance I would like to do the very same things to my mother, my siblings and my wife and children. Yes, I would like to be born again as the very same Narayanan as a son to my mother, brother to my siblings, husband to my wife and father to my children and nothing else. If you call it I have not made it big I </span><span style="color: black;">don't</span><span style="color: black;"> </span>mind. I am happy the way I am. </div>
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The interview is over. Tears start running <span style="color: black;">down everyone</span> <span style="color: black;">watching the TV, touching the hearts of those watching the movie.</span> Mammootty has done the role with ease and without showing off. But he makes the character a real hero of a man living next door.</div>
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vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-36573475251888940952018-03-01T17:57:00.000-08:002021-06-22T07:14:24.857-07:00vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-67880498869046212112015-11-14T18:02:00.002-08:002021-06-22T07:14:25.054-07:00அற்றைத் திங்கள் அவ்வெண்ணிலவில்<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif;">It was
on this day 41 years ago that our beloved athimber came into our
life. Yes, 'our' life. Usually when a man marries a woman we say he
entered her life or she his. But in this case he entered not only in
her life but walked into the entire family. Our beloved Gomathi got
married to athimber on 15-11-1974. From then on he was not only our
beloved athimber, but was more than a beloved brother. He became my
elder brother, the privilege I did not possess until then but longed
for. He became the eldest son to our parents and elder brother to my
younger siblings. We have heard stories of eldest daughter-in-law
donning the role of the mother of the family, but sons-in-law at
least in those days kept their distance. That was not the case with
him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif;">He was
affectionate, kind and considerate not only to the immediate family
members. He was in fact all these qualities personified. All the
children, be they from family, relatives, neighbours or friends
families who have ever come across him fell for him like gopikas were
said to have been attracted to Lord Krishna. He would play with them,
feed them laugh with them make them happy as if they were his own
children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif;">Cricket
was his passion. He used to play cricket with love and did his best
to make his sons play the game. And finally he did everything in his
power to make his grandson excel in the game. Even when he was not
well enough he would muster strength to play with him or take him to
coaching ground to encourage him. May God bless the child to become a
great player as his grandfather wished him to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif;">With
elders he gave them respect, affection and above all gave them their
space. He had his own strict values which he followed religiously.
But he never imposed them on others or judged them based on their
faith or lack of it. If only we could emulate at least some of these
qualities we can become better persons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif;">He and
my sister would compete with each other in the art of giving. All
their relatives, friends, neighbours and domestic helps would
willingly vouch for this. It is a privilege that I was a part of his
extended family and had a ring side view of all of his kind acts.
Those who have not met him may find it difficult to believe that such
persons do occupy this planet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately
rheumatoid arthritis struck my sister and made her life miserable. He
looked after her as one would take care of a kid. And keep her bed and surroundings and the entire house neat and tidy. Domestic helps would be thankful for his thoughtfulness. Gomathi more than
repaid his kindness by managing the entire household even when she
was completely laid up in bed. She managed the cook, kitchen and the
entire house from her bed. She would never forget to wish us on our
wedding anniversaries and occasions like Deepavali, Pongal and New
Year. When the phone rings for the first time in the morning on these
days you can be sure that the call was from her. Whenever anyone
invited them for any function, be it wedding or engagement or
children's birthday, she would be the first one to call up the
concerned person soon after the designated time to enquire if the
function went off well. All from her sick bed. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif;">Gomathi
would say athimber was taking care of her as a kid and he would say
she was leading him like a mother would hold her kid's hands. Both
were true. Both were truly made for each other. He took care of her
till her end and after she passed away in March 2014, he waited for
one year so that year long rituals were conducted as required without
any hindrance. May be he thought his life's mission was complete.
Then he got ill, was hospitalised and passed away within a couple of
months in June 2015. All this was so sudden that their children who
looked after them with deserving affection and care and we in the
extended family are yet to recover from the shock. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif;">Today is
their 41<sup>st</sup> wedding anniversary. I am reminded of one
Purananuru song in ancient Tamil literature in which daughters lament
their father's demise as follows.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Attrai
Thingal Avvennilavil</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Enthaium
KondOm, Nam kundrum pirar koLaar</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Ittrai
thingal Ivvenilavil</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Vendru
eri murasin Venthar em</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Kundrum
Kondaar; yaam enthayum ilame</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Last
Full Moon</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">We
had our father, we had our hill</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">This
Full Moon</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Kings
play the drums of victory</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">They
have our hill, We have lost our father.</span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif;">I only
pray to the almighty that their soul rest in peace and that their
unfulfilled wishes be fulfilled. May God bless their offspring.</span></div>
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vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-4901431403071532812015-11-14T06:44:00.001-08:002021-06-22T07:14:24.705-07:00அற்றைத் திங்கள் அவ்வெண்ணிலவில்<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">It was
on this day 41 years ago that our beloved athimber came into our
life. Yes, 'our' life. Usually when a man marries a woman we say he
entered her life or she his. But in this case he entered not only in
her life but walked into the entire family. Our beloved Gomathi got
married to athimber on 15-11-1974. From then on he was not only our
beloved athimber , but more than a beloved brother. He became my elder
brother, the privilege I did not possess until then but longed for.
He became the eldest son to our parents and elder brother to my
younger siblings. We have heard stories of eldest daughter-in-law
donning the role of the mother of the family, but sons-in-law at
least in those days kept their distance. That was not the case with
him.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">He was
affectionate, kind and considerate not only to the immediate family
members. He was in fact all these qualities personified. All the
children, be they from family, relatives neighbours or friends
families who have ever come across him fell for him like gopikas were
said to have been attracted to Lord Krishna. He would play with them,
feed them laugh with them make them happy as if they were his own
children.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">Cricket
was his passion. He used to play cricket with love and did his best
to make his sons play the game. And finally he did everything in his
power to make his grandson excel in the game. Even when he was not
well enough he would muster strength to play with him or take him to
coaching ground to encourage him. May God bless the child to become a
great player as his grandfather wished him to be.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GykmLSa22a_fHhjJrAami6e5_POVUCuVeD0iDwtZqX3OyIv6N4PdsaFoRsz-LIq5E_C4wGxQ-KRtOKdXRu9mZnuDWRsPASbs7zbHUbn1lko8REZdikn3GgvdvhtLOW-1zFmxQFf8vPs/s1600/gomathi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GykmLSa22a_fHhjJrAami6e5_POVUCuVeD0iDwtZqX3OyIv6N4PdsaFoRsz-LIq5E_C4wGxQ-KRtOKdXRu9mZnuDWRsPASbs7zbHUbn1lko8REZdikn3GgvdvhtLOW-1zFmxQFf8vPs/s320/gomathi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">With
elders he gave them respect, affection and above all gave them their
space. He had his own strict values which he followed religiously.
But he never imposed them on others or judged them based on their
faith or lack of it. If only we could emulate at least some of these
qualities we can become better persons.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">He and
my sister would compete with each other in the art of giving. All
their relatives, friends, neighbours and domestic helps would
willingly vouch for this. It is a privilege that I was a part of his
extended family and had a ring side view of all of his kind acts.
Those who have not met him may find it difficult to believe that such
persons do occupy this planet.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">Unfortunately
rheumatoid arthritis struck my sister and made her life miserable. He
looked after her as one would take care of a kid. She more than
repaid his kindness by managing the entire household even when she
was completely laid up in bed. She managed the cook, kitchen and the
entire house from her bed. She would never forget to wish us on our
wedding anniversaries and occasions like Deepavali, Pongal and New
Year. When the phone rings for the first time in the morning on these
days you can be sure that the call was from her. Whenever anyone
invited them for any function, be it wedding or engagement or
children's birthday, she would be the first one to call up the
concerned person soon after the designated time to enquire if the
function went off well. All from her sick bed. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">Gomathi
would say athimber was taking care of her as a kid and he would say
she was leading him like a mother would hold her kid's hands. Both
were true. Both were truly made for each other. He took care of her
till her end and after she passed away in March 2014, he waited for
one year so that year long rituals were conducted as required without
any hindrance. May be he thought his life's mission was complete.
Then he got ill, was hospitalised and passed away within a couple of
months in June 2015. All this was so sudden that their children who
looked after them with deserving affection and care and we in the
extended family are yet to recover from the shock. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">Today is
their 41<sup>st</sup> wedding anniversary. I am reminded of one
Purananuru song in ancient Tamil literature in which daughters lament
their father's demise as follows.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Attrai
Thingal Avvennilavil</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Enthaium
KondOm, Nam kundrum pirar koLaar</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Ittrai
thingal Ivvenilavil</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Vendru
eri murasin Venthar em</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Kundrum
Kondaar; yaam enthayum ilame</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Last
Full Moon</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">We
had our father, we had our hill</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">This
Full Moon</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Kings
play the drums of victory</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">They
have our hill, We have lost our father.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">I only
pray to the almighty that their soul rest in peace and that their
unfulfilled wishes be fulfilled. May God bless their offspring.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
</div>
vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-70833117159505644632015-08-13T18:25:00.000-07:002021-06-22T07:14:25.060-07:00A travelogue --- அழகே உன்னை ஆராதிக்கிறேன்<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">This one
is about a welcome escape from the concrete jungle called Mumbai. I'm
talking of our recent trip to Nagaon </span><span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">and Kashid beaches, situated
about 150 k.m from Mumbai.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">To begin
with it was not easy to believe that such peaceful roads covered with
greenery on both sides exist at a distance of a stone's throw from
the maddening crowd and nauseating traffic in Mumbai. The fact that
you also add to all that by being there does not make it any better.
So you set off in the early hours of a long weekend morning and find
the roads almost empty. The entire moving population has already left
the metro, may be in the previous evening itself. The rest of them
happily in bed still, perhaps trying to clear some of the backlog in
sleep accumulated during the busy week. Whatever the reason it made
our start hazzle-free and monsoon breeze added to the pleasant
coolness. We were off from the concrete jungle soon and on to the
Konkan route. The roads were lined thick with trees on both sides
instead of high rise buildings. A welcome change for the eyes and
mind too.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">I'm sure
some of you would have noticed it while travelling through straight
roads with trees on both sides. When you keep looking ahead branches
of trees from both sides join together to give us a visual treat. The
gap between them would form images varying from human faces to animal
forms to India maps and what-nots. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5ej17zGdEzHOCnGCrDdxY9KgIlvWvZPTCmAd4E9WFuL8URMng4LaYpVx4OrbgvsK_WIJ1VzHkT8j7CaoxH4lEiNBKLqPB0O8gJ4naQAoYWs-AH3Rh-wusXV4fUonjtXyywGpRh18Ivk/s1600/trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5ej17zGdEzHOCnGCrDdxY9KgIlvWvZPTCmAd4E9WFuL8URMng4LaYpVx4OrbgvsK_WIJ1VzHkT8j7CaoxH4lEiNBKLqPB0O8gJ4naQAoYWs-AH3Rh-wusXV4fUonjtXyywGpRh18Ivk/s1600/trees.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">Even while you are watching these
images would transform into another and suddenly the branches would
give way to reveal a bright sky. If you are lucky to travel during
monsoon, as we were during this trip, clouds would conitnue the
kalaidoscopic treat of forming faces looking at each other now,
animals fighting with one another next and so on and so forth. The
swiftness and speed with which the clouds change(here the trees too
did the same) the pictures they form always remind me of Kannadasan's
lines "</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">எந்த
வேதனையும் மாறும் மேகத்தைப்
போல</span></span><span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">". </span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">Soon
trees give way to paddy fields on both sides. We could see people
busy with paddy transplanting work which has never failed to
fascinate me. In a few fields full grown paddy dancing in the breeze
is again an ever pleasing sight. It also as usual brought to my mind
Kannadasan's lines </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">பூத்
</span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">தொ</span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">டுக்கும்
கையாலே</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">and other lines in my
all time favourite song </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">ஏரு
பெரிசா இந்த ஊரு பெரிசா</span></span><span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">;
</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">சொல்லடி
நெல்லு பெரிசா பயக சொல்லு
பெரிசா </span></span><span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">in
the film </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">விளையாட்டுப்பிள்ளை</span></span><span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">.
(I don't know why they don't telecast it in TV.)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqNSO62jB65JKpcm1vgVXnoNdIzh8KTVEAhFoqPwwT63udkUSQChu8jwjPQyRcs832d9eGByG5nQPazf_8woKPvFe3Xar7Xz_qlClNMYtZXuDVGn7j5WEtPkUNRfc_IvDuKdRunWXdkk/s1600/rice-women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqNSO62jB65JKpcm1vgVXnoNdIzh8KTVEAhFoqPwwT63udkUSQChu8jwjPQyRcs832d9eGByG5nQPazf_8woKPvFe3Xar7Xz_qlClNMYtZXuDVGn7j5WEtPkUNRfc_IvDuKdRunWXdkk/s320/rice-women.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbV768V47ZLYn_NDIthT2hk9t-vaUtMaZhZVKqOwfY2Cnf8YmBcdGZIVjZBXHYMiRX3zventwBfV7Zdwe4hQZ65gsXsqcaOhUKmKz87GDL-QIBjhNVsOBp63ZJCD36pYqSyhFEMO_8IX8/s1600/paddy+field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbV768V47ZLYn_NDIthT2hk9t-vaUtMaZhZVKqOwfY2Cnf8YmBcdGZIVjZBXHYMiRX3zventwBfV7Zdwe4hQZ65gsXsqcaOhUKmKz87GDL-QIBjhNVsOBp63ZJCD36pYqSyhFEMO_8IX8/s1600/paddy+field.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtxAd-LaZsizNcFG7Hj9Wd5Qf8JL4iHkoG99qe9NQ1MZN-NhyroMnJm0WnNPwsWuMXZKw_T0xr3YnyiD_L7LcSYyJ7e3ejhT7tWfLPZwZl-yM6PUSNa5hFqhHccfVXH0gKFMxdodrtL8/s1600/golden-paddy-rice-field-16891914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtxAd-LaZsizNcFG7Hj9Wd5Qf8JL4iHkoG99qe9NQ1MZN-NhyroMnJm0WnNPwsWuMXZKw_T0xr3YnyiD_L7LcSYyJ7e3ejhT7tWfLPZwZl-yM6PUSNa5hFqhHccfVXH0gKFMxdodrtL8/s1600/golden-paddy-rice-field-16891914.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">After
some time you are surrounded with thick bushes and wild plants on
both sides that you feel you have entered a forest area. Monkeys jump
hither and thither to confirm your doubt as does the Sun playing hide
and seek with monsoon clouds.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">Thus you
reach your destination wishing the journey to continue. After taking
some rest you proceed to the beaches, one after the other. For one
coming from the land of God's own country with beautiful and clean
beaches such as Shankumughom, Kovalam, Varkala and Kanyakuamri (the
last one though not in Kerala, quite nearby) the beaches as such were
not much. Still considering the Mumbai beaches polluted with the
city's population and industrial waste, Nagaon and other beaches were
good enough. The tides changing their force, frequency and height
quite often is a fascinating scene. That part of the beach which was
dry a while ago would suddenly get flooded with waves. Also waves
would be coming from left and right unlike in Kerala. The sand also
is not as coarse as in Kerala. In fact used to seeing the coarse sand
in Kerala and Tamilnadu I have often wondered how people manage to
ply vehicles in the coarse sand in films, that must be only a
photographic trick. But the sand in these beaches are finer and you
can actually see vehicles being driven touching the waves.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2g1iSbDlxBIKPIlwrTmQpBYBShB6bx9x7BRTryEnj4FhlNrix0gv8vz93NOCnElcYGSE-hyEpg_CqAG8jbUjZQhjvDOHrqNiJeHslQbRMl3qEZTx3pPJATZlXa96kj92FrKfPRBTzVQw/s1600/nagaon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2g1iSbDlxBIKPIlwrTmQpBYBShB6bx9x7BRTryEnj4FhlNrix0gv8vz93NOCnElcYGSE-hyEpg_CqAG8jbUjZQhjvDOHrqNiJeHslQbRMl3qEZTx3pPJATZlXa96kj92FrKfPRBTzVQw/s1600/nagaon.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdya1Fxs-KXrNAXkifMpDjZl67QFrXH7ROGK1M-yaacFj5wUjUDx36T0-i7I219oVG7wYxDYf1JTZGgxdZiL15EIRpGMzG_VNLbC16EGMs6oTHEwYvxyb0OGpNgeukjDCe4bVySA63ouM/s1600/neach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdya1Fxs-KXrNAXkifMpDjZl67QFrXH7ROGK1M-yaacFj5wUjUDx36T0-i7I219oVG7wYxDYf1JTZGgxdZiL15EIRpGMzG_VNLbC16EGMs6oTHEwYvxyb0OGpNgeukjDCe4bVySA63ouM/s1600/neach.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;">My two
year old granddaugher got so excited seeing the waters and bathing in
it that it was quite difficult to get her out of it when it was time
for us to return. She keeps talking in her baby language of the
'moattaa paani', bathing in it, horses taking people for joy ride and
the balloon purchased there which burst making a sound while we were
returning and such other things even after three weeks. Perhaps she
too has started realising that ' A thing of beauty is a joy for
ever.'</span></div>
</div>
vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-16529276160184320562015-01-18T03:22:00.000-08:002021-06-22T07:14:24.759-07:00Me and the month of Markazhi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The month of <i>Markazhi</i>
always brings nostalgic memories. With its early morning <i>bhajans, kolam</i> decorations in the front yard, <i>Thiruppavai </i>renderings in the radios and temples and of course
early morning temple visits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These things were happening during my high school days in
T.V.S Nagar also. But that had limitations due to half-yearly exams looming
large in the early parts of the month and the call of blissful sleep taking
over in the latter parts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was during my <i>Karaikudi</i>
days in the beginning of my official career that the <i>Markazhi</i> days were more memorable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I still remember well the water boiler my mother used to keep
warm, rather hot, water ready for a bath at 4 a.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpEImgW-S5nJU8odtnLY0dIXZ5Se7TBIZ5tXRYYq0128hQufXZf3qqhxLj-FlJLo3x015VED5QmJ_fz_eh0Oq8yzEpIyAfYFiF9AxQSSS3H0fAO0jL0Go6h_wcRJifG6blRkPef01ea0/s1600/tea+boiler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpEImgW-S5nJU8odtnLY0dIXZ5Se7TBIZ5tXRYYq0128hQufXZf3qqhxLj-FlJLo3x015VED5QmJ_fz_eh0Oq8yzEpIyAfYFiF9AxQSSS3H0fAO0jL0Go6h_wcRJifG6blRkPef01ea0/s1600/tea+boiler.jpg" height="265" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many might not have seen the cylindrical brass vessel used in
homes those days for the purpose. A cylindrical vessel is kept on a three
legged iron stand. The lid would be opened for filling water inside. There
would be a wide tube like device running from just a little above the top of
the vessel to the bottom. A perforated plate with a handle will be inserted at
the bottom which would hold the charcoal dropped through the top of the tubular
device and lighted. The flaming charcoal would heat up the water and you can
collect it through a tap fitted in the bottom of the vessel. A nice piece of an
engineering design. It can be seen in roadside coffee shops in Madurai even
today. The vendor would keep the brass vessel cleaned and the shining piece
would be decorated with three stripes of holy ashes with <i>kumkumam</i> in the middle. And you can be sure that at least one such
shop would be open, offering you a cup of hot coffee even at the wee hours of
the night, be it 11 p.m or 2 a.m. and that is Madurai. <i>Babu Chittappa</i> had one such shop, Visalam Coffee Bar as his
favourite shop whenever he visited Madurai on official work or otherwise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Back to the <i>Markazhi</i>
track.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mother and I would get up at 4 and 4.30 a.m in that order and have a nice cup
of coffee and prepare the front yard for drawing huge <i>kolams </i>and do the <i>kolams</i>
half way. The boiler water would be ready by now. After having a satisfying
bath in the early morning cold weather we would start off to temples. My
younger brother and sister would join us on days they could muster the will to
part with the coziness of the bed. <i>Appa</i>
would have also got up for sure and had his cup of coffee and on his round of
morning walk. The pleasure of walking in the time just before dawn, (</span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Latha, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">விடிந்தும்</span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Mangal, serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Latha, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">விடியாத</span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Latha, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">காலைப்பொழுது</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">) is something splendid and has to be
felt to be believed. Devotional songs from temples at soothing volumes through
the loudspeakers would always accompany you. <i>Thiurppavai</i> from this temple, <i>Murugan</i>
songs by my favourite singer T.M.S from that temple and <i>Ayyappa</i> songs, due to <i>Sabarimala</i>
season coinciding, making the air pious and pure. And when you hear <i>Karpakavalli</i> by T.M.S, his masterpiece,
the day is blessed, you are sure to feel. Then you can have a peaceful <i>darshan</i> at the temples amidst a
disciplined crowd. <i>Prasadams</i> of <i>venpongal</i>, <i>Sarkarai pongal</i> or <i>puliyodarai
</i>on special days of <i>Thiruavdirai</i>
etc., were added attractions. You return
from temples to complete the <i>kolams</i>
that were waiting for you. Big and beautiful <i>kolams</i> with different designs for each day throughout the
month. There are certain specific types
of <i>kolams</i> for certain days. While
making the to and fro trips to the temples if you saw a new design of <i>kolam</i> attracting you, you are sure to
try it the next day.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULX2XPLCpvOSm_UfXOGP7-SEsl8N7XyussG2kbUVB7c9XBIGQ-Jg4MpRhZ_TTShRUyPxUEKo-B0RGlwhrSzQQWaEmln3Xt4zv-526CbSei6UPcZMn_HtrUXKBxbDLwqFbFzHjscw8cO4/s1600/kolam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULX2XPLCpvOSm_UfXOGP7-SEsl8N7XyussG2kbUVB7c9XBIGQ-Jg4MpRhZ_TTShRUyPxUEKo-B0RGlwhrSzQQWaEmln3Xt4zv-526CbSei6UPcZMn_HtrUXKBxbDLwqFbFzHjscw8cO4/s1600/kolam.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Vaikunda</i> <i>Ekadasi</i> when you fast for the whole day
with only a non-rice, one time only meal (having ten <i>pooris</i> is not barred, though) also falls in this month, followed by
<i>dwadasi</i>. On <i>Dwadasi</i>, you are supposed to break previous day’s fast after having
Tulsi water from temples and having a
sumptuous meal in the early hours, say 6.30 or 7 a.m. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Markazhi</span></i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> was not well received by my father.
He would say it is <i>Soonya masam</i>(void
month?), though Lord Krishna is supposed to have said that of the twelve months
he is <i>markazhi. Appa</i> had his own
reasons for fearing Markazhi. He would cite a list of important persons who
died in this month. The list would include <i>E.V.Ramasamy
Naicker</i>, a staunch non-believer and <i>M.G.R</i>.
and <i>Balachadar</i> recently. There was a
great loss in our family also in one <i>markazhi</i>
way back in 1975. Shankar chittappa passed away on <i>Thiruvadirai</i> day very peacefully in his afternoon nap. He was very
dear to all in the family and was especially fond of me. I still preserve
a sari he gifted to me. His was the
first death of a close and dear relative. It took me months to recover from the
shock. Even attending to office work was difficult for a long time. I thank a
friend in my office who helped me in recovery. Never does a <i>Thiruvadirai</i> passes without my
remembering him and keeping silence for a few minutes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Enough of sentiments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Markazhi mahotsav</span></i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> culminates with the onset of the
month <i>Thai.Pongal</i> day. <i>Uzhavar Thirunal</i>—Farmers Festival. <i>Makara</i> <i>Sankranti</i>, it has different names at different parts of India. The
day on which Sun is supposed to enter the northern hemisphere. Though there is
some scientific significance, my little knowledge of astronomy tells me that
there is some miscalculation. Leaving that side three days bank holiday is
reason enough to celebrate. In the place of one big <i>kolam</i> for thirty days, as many big and small <i>kolams</i> as there is space in the front yard are drawn leaving no
space to move about without stepping on one of them. Sometimes we would start
in the late night and continue till the morning. Then Thai is welcomed with
whole sugar cane, little turmeric plants and <i>pongal</i>, a sweet dish made of rice and <i>jaggery</i> with a rich supply of ghee, cashew nuts, dry grapes and
grated coconut. Some families make pongal in the front yard so as to offer it
to Sun god directly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The scene shifts to <i>Sankar
nagar</i>, Trivandrum after my marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Running a family and taking care of kids leave their marks on
many a thing. Visiting temples in the early mornings of <i>markazhi </i>started as one such casualty. Only drawing big <i>kolams</i> on all thirty days continued. People used to go round the
streets singing <i>bhajans</i> in the early
hours and my elder son used to be crazy about it when he was young,4 or 5 years
old. Even though it was his grandma who inculcated the habit in him, he used to
pester her on days she felt reluctant due to cold weather and would somehow
take her or go on his own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well times change and we move on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lack of available time or change of perceptions may alter the
<i>Markazhi</i> routine. But the memory
lingers on as vivid as ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I can hear a few murmurs as to why all this when <i>Markazhi</i> is long gone and Thai is well
settled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Latha, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">ஆடி</span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Latha, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">கழிஞ்சு</span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Latha, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">அஞ்சாம்</span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Latha, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">நாள்</span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Latha, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">கோடி</span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Latha, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">உடுத்துக்</span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Latha, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">கும்பிடத்</span>
தான்.<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973789944248892643.post-12596244945013407172014-11-19T04:02:00.000-08:002021-06-22T07:14:24.739-07:00Great Grand Fathers and great grandfathers <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">This one is about Great and Grand
Fathers metamorphosing into great grandfathers, caps intended. The GGFs used to
be great and grand in their good old days. Naturally this is mostly about my
own father. He really was our G G F like most men of his days. He never
bothered to help our mother in bringing us up. Let alone the fact that he had
never in his life attempted to help my mother in kitchen or with daily cores,
he could not even warm up a glass of water for himself in his whole life. And
as for us the children he never helped us with home work or uniforms or book
binding or preparing for exams or any such things. Amma used to joke that he
could not say which one of us was studying in which class without blinking.
That might well have been joke because he was greatly interested in our education
but for which fact we could not have reached where we are today. But let us
skip it as that is not the subject matter here. We used to watch </span><span style="font-size: 12px;">wonder struck</span><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> the
way in which his brothers helped their children, our cousins with their school related
works that I have just mentioned.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 9pt;">But he turned out to be a g gf with
the arrival of grandchildren. He would play with them like never with us. But that
is not much you might say. Just listen. Well, when my younger son was yet to
become three years old, I had left him with my parents for a couple of months
as I was particular that I would put kids in day care centres only after they
completed three. My unmarried younger sister who loves kids helped my mother
keep my son happy throughout. But they were living in Cuddalore some 17-18
hours of difficult bus journey from Trivandrum where I was living. The distance
made it difficult for me to visit them often and when I could no longer bear it
I decided to bring back my son to Trivandrum. But the question of who would
take care of him when I went for work remained. I told my mother that I would
take my father for that purpose. She threw a glance t me as if to ask “Have you
gone insane”, which I ignored. Off went the three of us to Trivandrum. From the
very next day I started going to office leaving my about-to-complete three years
in my father’s custody. Not only that my elder son who was six years old would
come from school in the evening. He had to manage them till I was back from
office. Not an easy job for even an experienced woman. I would prepare food and
leave instructions to my father. Believe me or not, when I came back in the
evening I didn’t hear any complaint from any one of the three on any single day
for about the nearly two months this arrangement was in place. Everyone in the
entire family including my mother was totally taken aback. He had food all by
himself, fed my younger son on time and took care of both the children when the
elder on was also back. He only missed his 4p.m coffee and had to wait for my
return to have it. So you could inspire confidence in anyone if only you tried
sincerely was the lesson I learnt from the episode. So my G G F had turned into
a g gf, no?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 9pt;">Other stories follow. Again, against
everyone’s advice I had the audacity to send them with only my father to take
care of them during the 7 hours long bus journey to Madurai.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 9pt;">Once he took my 9 & 6 years old
sons to my sister’s place, during summer vacation.</span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">We went to see them off in the
bus stand and requested the driver and conductor to take care of them and drop
them at Thirungar bus stop, a few kilometers ahead of Madurai junction. That
would make it easy for him to take them to my sister’s house situated at a
walking distance from Thirunagar bus stop. From the moment the bus passed
Thirumangalm my father kept reminding the conductor several times of his need
to get down at Thirunagar. At one point the conductor got so irritated and
started swearing at my father in an indecent language and the driver also
joined him in showering abuses. My father who ws not used to undertaking travel
with such great responsibilities and was very patient with my sons till then
also got irritated by that time and started shouting back. That he said to the
conductor, “You must have been Ravana in your previous birth” is all my son
remembers when he recalls the incident today. All said they reached my sister’s
place intact. While in Madurai he used to take all the grandchildren to a
nearby park for playing.(My elder sister’s three sons and my two sons in all aged
from 13 to 6). Once he took them all the way from Thirunagar to Town Hall Road,
near Meenakshi Temple some 10-12 kilometers in distance. He took a bus </span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.800000190734863px;">up to</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"> the
Periar bus stand and walked them for 2 kilometers to a sports shop in Town Hall
Road as vehicles won’t ply near the temple. This was absolutely normal in those
days as people were used to travelling by public transport and walking where
necessary in those good old days. But my father doing this surrounded by five
kids would have been a sight. As far s we knew he would walk any distance to
avoid confronting bus drivers, conductors and co-passengers. But taking pains
to do that with the kids around him is still a memory to cherish for all of us
in the family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Truly a g gf wasn’t he?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, all this took place some 28-25 years back and my Great
Grand Father turned great Grandfather left us in 20 years back in 1994 on this
day, November 19<sup>th</sup>. Now I too have become grandmother, but I miss
you so much my dear father. Bless us all from where you are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">November 19<sup>th</sup> happens to be the birthday of Indira
Gandhi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It also happens to be the birthday of my daughter-in-law Gaythri,
who is interested in listening to my golden memories. <br />
So let me dedicate this to her as a birthday gift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
vijayalakshmi rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763804115390996910noreply@blogger.com1