Weird Military Habits That Stick With You.

...........Long after you leave the service.

1. Keeping short hair.

Can't have hair growing over ears or collar.

2. Attention to detail.

.....and performing a task to standard.

3. Eating quickly.

Veterans could eat an entire dinner during a commercial break.

4. Your vehicle bug-out bag.

Even if you don't have this, you think you need to get one.

5. They walk fast.

They walk with a purpose, as if their trip to the shopping mart is actually a Ministry of Defence briefing!

6. They are unbelievably punctual.

1900 hours, for them, can become 1855 hours but not 1905 hours.

7. Shouting on the passenger seat.

That includes instructing the driver in a little louder voice.

       *       *       *

Never Forget The Goalkeepers of Your Life.

In Dec 1937, a match between Chelsea and Charlton football clubs at the Stamford Bridge Stadium London was stopped in the 60th minute due to heavy fog. Charlton's legendary goalkeeper Sam Bartram remained unaware and kept on guarding the goal 15 minutes after the game had stopped, as he did not hear referee's whistle because of the crowd behind his goalpost. He stood there with his arms out stretched and completely focused, looking forward so as not to be surprised by the opponent's shots. 15 minutes later, when the stadium police approached him and informed him that the match had been abandoned. Sam Bartram said these famous words with great sorrow "how sad that my friends forgot me when I was guarding their goal post". There are so many players in the field of life whose goal post one defends with enthusiasm and support but when the situation becomes like a wave of fog, they walk out of field and leave.....Always pay attention to goalkeepers of your life. Never abandon the the one guarding your goal post.  

     *       *        *

How Old Were You.....

* How old were you when you realised that the word "HOSPITAL" stands for "House Of Sick People Including Treatment and Labour"?

* How old were you when you realised the word "POLICE" stands for "Public Officer for Legal Investigations and Criminal Emergencies"?

      *       *       * 

A Red, Red Rose

O my Luve is like a red, red rose

That's newly sprung in June;

O my Luve is like the melody

That's sweetly played in tune.

So fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

So deep in luve am I;

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi' the sun;

I will love thee still, my dear,

While the sands o' life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only luve!

And fare thee weel awhile!

And I will come again, my luve,

Though it were then thousand mile.

- Robert Burns

Tailpiece.

Got up around 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. The morning sky looked as though it would rain all through the day but by about 11 o'clock, the sun was out and it remained a bright, sunny day for the rest of the time.

Sent my musings of July before having my forty winks!

A quiet evening thereafter.

Knick knacks.

The Essential Ingredients of The Perfect Friend

* Always happy to see you.

* Loves to share a smile.

* Good for holding and helping.

* A warm spot in the heart for you.

* For standing by your side.

* Available to lean on.

* Ready to listen on a moment's notice and

* Full of great advice.

    *       *        *

Border Dispute - Assam vs Mizoram

The basic reason for dispute is land encroachment near Hailakandi district, Cachar and Karimganj and sharing of border between the two states. Mizoram shares 164.6 km long border with Assam. The hill state of Mizoram was part of Assam till 1972 when it was carved out as a Union Territory. It became the 23rd state of India on 20 Feb 1987 with Aizawl as its capital.

The chief secretaries and police chiefs of Assam and Mizoram at a meeting called by the Union Home Ministry, in Delhi, agreed to the deployment of a neutral central armed police force along NH 306, headed by a senior central police officer to maintain peace along the border of the two states.

      *          *           *

Operation Pawan - The Intervention In Sri Lanka

It had begun on 29 Jul 1987, 34 years ago and lasted for 967 days having taken the lives of 1,155 brave Indian solders and seriously maimed over 3,000 soldiers. It began as 'Operation Aman' and on commencement of hostilities, towards Oct '87, renamed as Op Pawan.

Was in command of INLCU L36 and had operated off Kankesanturai, off the Jaffna lagoon, off Delft, off Point Pedro, off Mullaitivu, off Trincomalee and off Batticaloa. The ship broke all records of continuous deployment, without touching base, for 57 days - a stupendous task for a minor war vessel.

      *          *           *

An Excerpt From Ramayana

Bali, the king of Kishkinda, was the elder brother of Sugreev. He was a son of Indra who had given him a celestial necklace. It was a necklace with special properties, in that, after wearing it, if Bali battled with anyone, half the strength of his opponent would be transferred to him.

Sugreev's wife was Ruma/Roma and Bali's wife was Tara.

Bali was invincible during the Thretha Yuga. Rama killed him by hiding behind the trees. 

After Bali's death, Sugreev reclaimed the vanara kingdom, took back his wife, Ruma and also took over Bali's wife, Tara, who became the empress and her son by Bali - Angad - became the crown prince.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by 10. Had run a short errand in Hameed's auto rickshaw. The morning saw a heavy shower accompanied by strong winds.

The afternoon was sunny.

Participated in the Aazhchakkoottam : "The Female Characters of Ramayana" by Adv Bindu Krishna, Kollam DCC President from 1600 - 1700 hrs.

 

  

Corruption.......a self examination.

If you usually put more sugar in your tea when in a hotel than you do at home, you're most likely to be corrupt.

If you use more tissue in a public washroom than you do at home, you are a potential thief; if given the opportunity you would take what's not yours.

If you serve yourself more food that you can finish just because someone else is footing the bill; proves the greedy streak in you.

If you usually jump queues; shows that, if given a powerful position, you have the potential to abuse your office.

If you usually overlap while in a traffic jam or have no regards for the traffic lights; then you are one who would easily embezzle public funds, if you're given a position at a public office, since you have contempt for any form of regulation.

If you channel waste or dirty water from your compound to a neighbour's compound rather than manage it, you're ill-mannered and selfish.

If you look at this post and wonder whether it was really necessary to talk about these issues; then you are dishonest. You would not hesitate to cover up ills in the society, for your own benefit.

Let us try to be people of character wherever we find ourselves.

A country is as good, or bad, as its citizens make it.

   *        *         *

Tree at my window

Tree at my window, window tree,

My sash is lowered when night comes on;

But let there never be curtain drawn

Between you and me.

Vague dream head lifted out of the ground,

And thing next most diffuse to cloud,

Not all your light tongues talking aloud

Could be profound.

But tree, I have seen you taken and tossed,

And if you have seen me when I slept,

You have seen me when I was taken and swept

And all but lost.

That day she put our heads together,

Fate had her imagination about her,

Your head so much concerned with outer,

Mine with inner, weather.

- Robert Frost

Tailpiece

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by 10. Finished quite a few pending work and spoke to friends with whom I haven't been in touch for a long time.

The panchayat rep had come home to collect the house tax but did not collect mine as she said that she had to cross check at her office, yet again.

Pidavoor amma has been admitted in the NS Hospital at Kollam for chest congestion and Aji is her attendant. Everything is under control reports Padmakumar. 

A quiet day otherwise!

 

 

The logjam in Parliament. Just not on!

The monsoon session of the Parliament had commenced on 19 Jul and will end on 13 Aug. It hasn't functioned even for a single day, till date. The opposition has been agitating in front of the Parliament building, citing the following reasons :-

* The Pegasus spyware snooping on a number of people including that of the opposition.

* The continuing farmers' agitation against the three farm laws enacted by the government and

* The price hike of most commodities because of the increasing fuel prices.

The government has agreed to discuss all the issues on the floor of the house and has asked the opposition to take part in meaningful discussions on all the points raised by them. However, the government's pleas have no takers among the opposition. 

And let's take note of a variety of connected activities that have been taking place in the meanwhile :-

* About 200 farmers have been permitted to conglomerate at the Jantar Mantar to protest against the legislation of three farm laws throughout the duration of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament. The Delhi Police has been on vigil ever since - mind you, just before the commencement of the Parliament session, the Khalistan supporters abroad had asked the farmers to tear down the Indian tricolour from the Parliament building! (It's a public secret that Tikait and his men is being sustained by enormous funds coming from abroad, espousing the Khalistan cause which has become an obsolete and a redundant cause!).

* The opposition parties have been holding placards and agitating in front of the parliament building, making their intentions clear in disrupting the session.

* Fresh from her victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections, Mamata Banerjee is in Delhi meeting the opposition leaders to stitch an anti-Modi alliance to fight the general elections of 2024.

* Meanwhile, there are reports of a third wave of Covid-19 hitting the country in the coming weeks. 

* The Communists have been maneuvering to prevent the legislation of the Uniform Civil Code in the days to come.

As a concerned citizen of this country, I've been asking myself a whole lot of questions to myself and would like to share them with you. They are :-

* What's the main purpose of blocking the functioning of the Parliament? There are 43 bills that the government had announced that it intended to pass during this session of the Parliament.

* By not allowing any legislation to take place is the endeavour on to show the government in bad light?

* Is the Delhi Police fully on their toes to prevent any sort of hooliganism by the farmers' crowd at Jantar Mantar as a repeat of the Republic Day mayhem?

I've two statements to make because of the fact that I love my country and want proper law and order to be enforced across the country.

(a) Why can't the opposition behave in a responsible manner? Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party has been given a mandate by the people of this country to rule for five years. Just allow them to do so or face the consequences.

(b) The parliamentarians are being paid from the tax payers' money and they've no right to avoid carrying out their responsibility. The people will definitely make you accountable for your misdeeds.

And my last question - which is not directly connected but it has a bearing on the overall scheme of things - is, "How can Mamata Banerjee become the leader of her party's parliamentary party without being an MP?" 

The logjam of the Parliament needs to be removed forthwith and don't worry if the opposition has a loss of face in the bargain. It's for the good of the country!

Tailpiece.

Got up a few minutes after 6, the chores and was ready by a few minutes before 10. Lekha had ordered for grocery on the Harisree Supermarket.

It was a quiet day, otherwise. 

 

English words used only by Indians!

 1. Mother Promise

For ages, you have always used this word without even knowing if it was legit word, haven't you? So we decided to burst your bubble! While the word 'promise' features in the Oxford Dictionary, there's no mention of 'mother promise'. Surprised? Wondering how 'mother promise' came into being. It's the literal English translation of 'ma kasam' or 'aai shapath'. The next time you want to stand by something you really mean, try using just 'promise'. You don't really need to drag your mother into everything, do you?

 2. Cousin Sister and Cousin Brother

According to the Oxford Dictionary a 'cousin' is a child of one's uncle or aunt. And Grammar Nazis would insist that the word 'cousin' does not need to be followed with words like 'sister' or 'brother'. Did you know that 'cousin sister or cousin brother' are words used only in India? The right way is just to say 'cousin'. Wondering how you'd get to know their gender? Well, that's what names are for, aren't they?

 3. Good Name

When Indians meet strangers, why do they ask the question, "What's your GOOD NAME?" Every parent or grandparent who has named the child, does it with a GOOD intention. So there's nothing bad about a name. The next time you meet a stranger, you could say "What's your name?"

 4. Revert Back

Now this one's tricky! Because that's what you have been writing in e-mails, haven't you? Well according to The Free Dictionary 'revert' means 'to reply to someone'. Why use 'revert back' when you can just say 'revert'?

 5. Rubber

In India the 'eraser' is also called 'rubber'. But in the rest of the world, 'rubber' is a slang for 'condom'. Now it makes sense why your relatives and friends in foreign countries complain that people there burst out laughing when they ask for a 'rubber' instead of an 'eraser'.

 6. Picture

When was the last time you mentioned that you were going to watch a 'picture'? No one really knows when 'picture' became synonymous with 'films' or 'movies' in India. According to the Oxford Dictionary, 'picture' means a drawing or painting. You could say "I am going out to watch a movie or film".

 7. Mention Not

Isn't it funny that every time someone thanks an Indian, they quickly turn around and say 'mention not'. We are still scratching our heads wondering how the word originated and what it means. There are plenty of ways you can accept someone's thanks. You can use any of the following:-

* You're welcome.

* It's my pleasure.

* That's alright.

* No problem.

 8. Pass Out

How is it that every Indian graduating from college is passing ou? Confused? Let's tell you the difference. When you are really drunk and become unconscious, you 'pass out'. But when you refer to a successful completion of a course or training, you use the word 'graduate'.

 9. Cheatercock

We all have used this word in our childhood. Once, twice, thrice.....we have lost count of the number of times we called someone a 'cheatercock'! But ever wondered what does the word mean? We are still wondering! According to the Oxford Dictionary, cheater is a person who acts dishonestly in order to gain advantage. Won't it be sufficient if we just said 'cheater'?

10. Would Be

How would you introduce your fiance?

Raj.     Hello uncle!

Uncle. Hello Raj!

Raj.     Uncle, I would like to introduce you to my 'would be!'

Unfortunately Raj doesn't know that 'would be' means nothing. If you want to introduce your to-be bride, then simply use 'fiancee'. How easy is that!

May you chuckle, grin, smile and be safe! 

Tailpiece.

Got up at a trifle past 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. It was a wet day to begin with.

Lekha had gone across to the 'ration shop' to buy our quota of rice which is of a good quality.

  

Mirabai Chanu could be awarded the gold medal!

Chanu had won a silver after lifting a combined weight of 202 kg.

Pride of India, Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Mirabai Chanu stands a chance to be awarded the gold in the 49 kg women's weightlifting competition. China's Hou Zhizhi, who bagged the gold in the category, has been asked to stay back in Tokyo for a dope test. If the latter ails the dope test, the Indian will be awarded the gold.

"She has been asked to stay in Tokyo and the test will be done. The test is definitely happening", a source told ANI. 

The Chinese had won the gold in the category by lifting a record weight of 210 kg and was eight kg ahead of the Indian lifter. On the other hand, Chanu had lifted 87 kg in snatch and 115 kg in clean and jerk category. The third spot went to Indonesia's Windy Cantika, who lifted a total of 194 kg.

After the monumental effort of the Indian, News 18 Lokmat caught up with her who was lost for words after her historic performance in Tokyo. "I cannot explain in words how happy I'm feeling. I am feeling very proud, it's our second medal in weightlifting. I want to thank the federation, my coach, family and all support system", the 26-year-old said in an exclusive chat.

Mirabai further said her target was to win a medal at the Tokyo games and hence she made several sacrifices to make her dream come true. "I have worked quite hard for this and made sacrifices. My target was to win a medal at Tokyo Olympics", Mirabai said.

With this medal, Chanu had become the first Indian female to bag a medal in weightlifting after Karnam Malleshwari's bronze-winning effort in the 69 kg, back in Sydney 2000.

Apart from Chanu, it has been a disappointing show by the Indian athletes at large. Shooting, which was considered to fetch a few medals for the country; the athletes have crumbled under pressure.

Courtesy : News 18

My take.

Here's me wishing Mirabai Chanu the very best!

Tailpiece.

Got up half an hour late, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. It was a wet day, to begin with. But the sun was out by lunchtime.

A quiet day, otherwise. 

  

Mirabai Chanu is the toast of India.

The inspiring words of Mirabai Chanu, the silver medalist at Tokyo Olympics making India proud.

"Whilst growing up, my siblings and I would have to walk kilometres to find firewood for our food to be cooked. Mummy ran a tea stall while my brothers would work in the fields and sell sweaters in the market to make both ends meet. We were barely making it through each day.

One day, my brother and I were collecting firewood from a nearby hill - he looked exhausted. I told him, "Let me carry it". He couldn't believe I said that. So I showed him I could by picking it up. His jaw dropped when he saw me, a 12-year-old girl, lift heavy firewood. As we neared home, a crowd gathered around me; they asked, "Did you carry this all the way?" and I proudly replied, "Yes!" I heard someone say, "She should take up weightlifting".

When I was in school the next day, I read about weightlifter Kunjrani Devi; she was from Manipur too and had made it to the Olympics! I wanted to be like her, but the only weightlifting centre near my home was 22 km away.

My family took me to the centre for admission. My strength and muscle power were tested, after which the centre accepted me; I was ecstatic!

Mummy would wake me up up on cold mornings and get me ready for practice. My siblings would travel with me to the centre. I'd travel almost 50 km everyday and just make it on time for school after that. I'd often fall asleep in class; I was always exhausted.

Mummy was my biggest supporter; "I'm with you", she'd say. She'd massage my body when I was in pain. I remember lifting more than my weight in a national competition - I stood third but seeing Mummy tearing up and my family clapping for me, made me feel like I could achieve anything.

I worked harder everyday - I'd have two-hour training sessions thrice a day. And it paid off - I was selected to represent India in international competitions and I won gold at the Commonwealth Games! I was confident that I'd win a medal at the Rio Olympics too but on D-day, I froze and didn't perform well.

I was so upset that I contemplated quitting weightlifting. That's when Mummy told me, "It's easy to give up! Are you going to quit what you've worked so hard for?" She helped me get back to the gym again.

I put Rio behind me and started afresh. And in 2017, I became the second Indian to win a gold medal at the World Championships! But after that, an injury set me back. I lost muscle since I couldn't train.

The Olympics were around the corner and I was running out of time - I could barely lift my own weight! 

Thankfully, my coach took me abroad to treat me and I returned stronger. I ended up breaking the world record at the Asian championships after being out of the sport for a year!

And today, I really believe anything is possible and I'm taking that mindset to the Tokyo Olympics!

Some are born strong but I've made myself strong because of my circumstances. And I'm going to lift with the same confidence that I did as a 12-year-old, knowing that if I have the willpower I can and I will, make history!"

She said this before reaching Tokyo and made history......True to her words. 

Proud of such an inspiring daughter of India......

Tailpiece.

Got up half an hour late to a wet day. The chores and was ready by about a few minutes to 10.

It was a quiet Sunday.    

From here and there.

You can make a difference by how you treat people especially when they make mistakes.

His phone rang in church by accident during prayers.......

The Pastor scolded him.

The worshippers admonished him after prayer for interrupting the silence.

His wife kept on lecturing him on his carelessness till they reached home.

You could see the shame, embarrassment and humiliation on his face.

He has never stepped foot in the church ever again.

That evening, he went to a bar.

He was still nervous and trembling.

He spilled his drink on the table by accident.

The waiter apologised, gave him a napkin to clean himself up.

The janitor also mopped the floor.

The female manager offered him a complimentary drink.

She also gave him a huge hug and kissed him while saying "Don't worry man. Who doesn't make a mistake?"

He has never stopped going to that bar since then.

     *        *        *

If Titanic was made in India.

(a) There would be 10 times as many people on the ship.

(b) There would be a song with Kate Winslet in a white saree and of course singing in the rain.

(c) The movie would be called "Pyar Kiya To Marna Kya".

(d) Hero and heroine would float in cold water for days and still survive but the villain would die on the first dip.

(e) The iceberg would be sent by the heroine's father to teach the hero a lesson.

(f) None of the women would float due to heavy designer sarees and last but not the least

(g) Half the rescue boats would be reserved for SC/ST/OBC.

       *        *         *

Why men are always happy?

* Whole life, one surname.

* Maximum time on phone - 30 seconds.

* Five days trip - one jeans is enough

* Five days trip - one pair of jeans is enough.

* Even when not invited, friendship remains intact.

* Whole life.....same hairstyle (if there is some left).

* Any type of shopping......15 minutes sufficient.

* No comparison with other males. Shirt worn today can be worn for tomorrow's party.

In short.....

Men are like potatoes. They adjust with any type of vegetables.

Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a few minutes to 10. Suma had asked for leave as she wanted to go to the doctor to show her problematic hand.

Participated in the Aazhchakkoottam : "Zika Virus and Children" by Dr Anju K Kanmani, Consultant Paediatrician, CPMU-Covid, DMO, Tvpm from 1600 - 1730 hrs. Interesting.

My midshipman on board the old INS Krishna, Cmde MV Seshu Kumar died of a massive heart attack last night around 2200 hrs at his residence, in Guntur.

 

Seeing off Ammu and Mithun.

A new study in the UK has found that Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccines, manufactured and administered in India under the trade name Covishield, offers protection which may last a whole lifetime.

As per the study, the vaccine does not just generate antibodies against the SARS-COV-2 virus but also created "Training camps" in the body, to enable search-and-destroy T-cells to even kill new variants. It could possibly keep making them for life.

"The T-cells that come from these cellular training camps appear to have a very high level of fitness", said researcher Prof Burkhard Ludewig of Cantonal Hospital in Switzerland. He continues, "Adenoviruses have co-evolved with humans over a very long time and learned a lot about the human immune system in the process".

As per the study's findings, adenoviruses have the ability to penetrate long-lived tissue cells. These cells, called fibroblastic reticular cells, can act as T-cell "training grounds".

The new findings add weight to recent studies that showed the Astra Zeneca Vaccine as more effective at generating the T-cells in comparison to Pfizer and Moderna which are both mRNA vaccines.

As per Prof Paul Klenermann, of Oxford's Nuffield department of Medicine, said, "Millions of people have received adenovirus vaccines around the world. The ultimate goal with these vaccines is the induction of long-term immune system protection using both antibodies and T-cell. This research helps us to understand more on the process of vaccination and why the effects on killer T-cells are so prolonged".

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 8. I'd placed my offering to the crows, on our courtyard, as today's the 30th Remembrance Day of my grandmother, Mrs PN Panicker, as per the Malayalam calendar.

Ammu and Mithun, in the meanwhile, had gone for a darshan at the Mammiyoor Siva kshetram.   

Lekha, Ammu and Mithun went to Thrissur town and had carried out a lot of work that were pending. George was the sa'arthi. They returned by a half past 2 and we, then, settled down for a quiet lunch

They were seen off on the Payyannur bus by a quarter to 12, at the Mammiyoor junction. To make matters worse, it was raining cats and dogs. Suraaj had dropped me back at home.

And it continued to pour as we tucked ourselves into bed!

Gotra vs Gene.

Do you know why every time you sit at a puja, the priest asks you for your Gotra. The science behind Gotra (Genetics) is nothing but what is, today, popularly known as GENE-MAPPING.

* What is Gotra system?

* Why do we have this system?

* Why do we consider this to be so important to decide marriages?

* Why should sons carry the Gotra of the father, why not daughters?

* How/why does Gotra of a daughter change after she gets married? 

* What is the logic?

In fact this is an amazing genetic science we follow. Let's, therefore, see the SCIENCE OF GENETICS behind our great GOTRA systems.

The word GOTRA formed from two Sanskrit words GAU (means cow) and Trahi (means shed).

Gotra means cowshed.

Gotra is like cowshed protecting a particular lineage. We identify our male lineage/gotra by considering to be descendants of the 8 great rishis (Sapta rishi + Bharadwaj rishi). All the other gotras evolved from these only.

Biologically, human body has 23 pairs of chromosomes (one from father and one from mother) on these 23 pairs, there is one pair called sex chromosomes which decides the gender of the person.

During conception, if the resultant cell is XX chromosomes then the child will be a girl, if it is XY then it is a boy.

In XY X is from the mother and Y is from the father.

In this Y is unique and it doesn't mix. So in XY, Y will suppress the X and the son will get Y chromosomes. Y is the only chromosome which gets passed down between male lineage (Father to son to grandson).

Women never gets Y. Hence Y plays a crucial role in genetics in identifying the genealogy. Since women never get Y, the Gotra of the woman is said to be that of her husband.

They are 8 different Y chromosomes from 8 Rishis. If we are from the same Gotra, then it means that we are from the root ancestor.

Marriages between the same Gotra will increase the risk of causing genetic disorders as same Gotra Y chromosomes cannot have a crossover and it will activate the defective cells.

If this continues, it will reduce the size and strength of the Y chromosome which is crucial for the creation of a male.

If no Y chromosome is present in this world, then it will cause males to become extinct.

So the Gotra system is a method to avoid genetic disorders and attempt to protect Y chromosome.

Amazing bio-science by our Maharishi. Our heritage is unarguably THE GREATEST.

Our rishis had the "GENE MAPPING" sorted out thousands of years ago......

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a couple of minutes to 10. Lekha, Ammu and Mithun went to Thrissur town in George's cab but had to return as none of the shops were opened and they'd returned before lunchtime.

Siesta had given way to yakkittiyak about the good old days.  

The prime video was commissioned and our vaccination certificates were downloaded.

It was a late night, well beyond midnight!

The unsolved code of Kedarnath temple.

Today's science suggests that the Kedarnath temple was probably built in the 8th century. The temple has existed for at least 1,200 years.

The terrain has unique features. Kedarnath hill is 22,000 ft high on one side, Karachkund is 21,600 ft on the other side and Bharatkund is 22,700 ft high on the third side. The five rivers flowing through these three hills are Mandakini, Madhuganga, Chirganga, Saraswati and Swarandari.

The process of creating an artwork in a place where there is a huge amount of snow on a cold day and water flowing at very high speeds during the rainy season must have been tremendous work.

To this day, one cannot drive to the place where the Kedarnath Temple stands. Why was it built in such a place? How was it built in such unfavourable conditions? Scientists speculate that if the temple was put in place in the 10th century, it would have been a short "Ice Age" period.

The Wadia Institute of Geology, Dehradun conducted a test of lignomatic dating on the rocks of the Kedarnath temple. This was done to determine the "life of the stones". The test showed that the temple was completely buried in ice from the 14th century to the middle of the 17th century but there were no damages.

Most of us are aware of the catastrophic flood that hit Kedarnath in 2013. The magnitude was :-

* Rainfall was 375% higher than the average.

* The ensuing floods killed 5,748 people.

* Damaged 4,200 villages.

* 1,10,000 people were airlifted to safety by the IAF.

But even during the catastrophic flood, the entire structure of the Kedarnath temple remained intact! The Archeological Society of India and IIT had conducted "NDT testing" subsequently. The studies reaffirmed the strength and the safety of the temple structure.

Science further affirms that the method of stone and structure used in the construction of the temple is the reason for its ability to survive in the flood. It is built on the "south-north" axis while most of the temples of India are on an "east-west" alignment. Experts believe that this is an important contribution to its invincibility!

The second aspect is that the stone used in it is very hard and durable. The uniqueness is that the stone used for the construction is not available there and even after so many years, there is no difference in its properties!

The strong stones of the temple are glued together in an "Ashler" manner without the use of any cement. And the effects of the temperature variations do not affect the stone joints. Kedarnath is the highest of the 12 'Jyotirlingas', coupled with its grandeur. 

The discussion was to show as to how advanced the Vedic Hindu religion and culture were.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a 10' to 10. It was another rainy day.

Another of those quiet days!

 

  

 

What the NDA has taught me.........

Lessons from Kharakvasla.

Years ago, I'd joined the National Defence Academy as an Army Cadet. The experience that unfolded over the next three years was dotted with what Churchill famously promised the British.......blood, sweat, toil and tears (well, not much of the last). As I look back at those days, I can't  help but feel a sense of elation over what they came to mean to this boy from the civvy street, who was the first from his family to join the Services.

So what does NDA mean to me?

* It means being part of the final 250 who made the cut after a rigorous selection process.

* It means being part of a melting pot of cultures and languages.

* Where Kipling's immortal poem 'IF' has inspired successive courses.

* Where the Cadet's Prayer is truly uplifting.

* Where 'officer like' conduct is the norm and anything that is contrary to this norm is simply not acceptable.

* Where the term 'manage' has its own unique connotation!

* Where the words 'Oh, so you have ideas' is not necessarily encouragement!!

* Where usually cadets ride cycles but the roles are often reversed!

* Where, to get permission to visitthe city of Poona one needs to apply for 'Liberty'!

* Where being "hit for a six" is truly bad news and not in the cricketing sense.

* Where Equitation isn't necessarily equitable......I succeeded in falling off them horses pretty regularly!

* Where one may be rewarded as well as punished by being 'Excused'!

* Where 'feeling funny' is not a laughing matter.

* Where the NDA Ball each term is the talk of Poona town because mothers lock up their daughters for a week before the event and the male-female ration is approximately 10:1, if you're lucky!

* Where Scotch eggs at dinner on Tuesdays were worth dying for.

* Where liveried waiters would feed the entire Academy of 1,500 plus hungry cadets their 3-course breakfast comprising cereal, eggs-and-a-side-dish and God knows how many toasts in the space of 30 minutes.

* Where you were 'awarded' Sinhgarh hikes like it was some sort of treat.

* Where the Drill Square was an anachronism, since it's a rectangle! It is a revered spot and being slack on the Drill Square would earn you a sharp reprimand from the SM sa'ab.

* Where the jump from the 7-metre board had little to do with physical ability or swimming prowess, it was more a matter of conquering fear and showing moral fibre.

* When the item called 'course mate' has first call on your loyalties, even after a span of 30 years of not having met.

* Where the bonds that are formed are stronger than even family.

* Where one learns to deal with the ups and downs of life with panache and equanimity.

* Where a young boy enters the hallowed portals and after three years of tempering, leaves as a Man ready to lead men into battle, ready to face all that life has to throw at him and still come up tops!

Truly it's the 'Cradle for Leadership'.

I've been asked whether I'd do it all again if I could rewind my life. The answer to that is a resounding and unhesitating Yes!

Courtesy. A senior and a veteran!

Tailpiece.

Got up at 4, thanks to Lekha's cellphone alarm, the chores and was ready well before a half past 6. Sajish had come by and we had kicked off for Ayoor soon after. The route we took was Angamali-Perumbavoor-Moovattupuzha-Ettumanoor-Kottayam- Chengannur-Kottarakkara and reached Sanil's house by a quarter past 1.

Spent time at Ayoor amma's cremation spot as well as at the place where her ashes kept in an urn, will be preserved for a year, before immersion. The memories of most of my earlier meetings with her came flooding back into focus as she kept smiling from a large photograph readied for the purpose. Thank God, Lekha and I could make it on the 16th day after her passing away.  

Mini, Ammu and Mithun had quickly trooped in from a trip to Pidavoor and Thalavoor. Yakkitiyak followed by lunch and we'd kicked off on our return trip by a half past 2. This time we took the KP Road and resumed our journey via Kayankulam. Reached 'The Quarterdeck' by a quarter past 9.

Strip the shroud. O Afghanistan!

Why is it that a proud people like the Afghans continue to suffer in perpetuity?

You will not find the bodies of 14,500 Soviet soldiers who died during their government's obsessive nine-year occupation (1979 - 1989) of that war savaged country.

Nor will you see the body-bags containing the remains of 2,442 US troops killed, nor over 3,800 US private security contractors (The Pentagon does not track their deaths!)

Do not expect to see the corpses of 1,144 personnel from the 36-nation NATO coalition that supported the US retaliation for 9/11, nor a memorial to 72 journalists and 444 aid workers. These collateral casualties were shipped home for a dignified burial.

They died so that 70,000 Afghan troops could sacrifice their lives defending a US-backed regime. They died so that 47,000 plus uncounted Afghani civilians could become grist to the Pentagon's iron tread-mill. They died so that over 3 million would be forced to escape into Pakistan and 2 million more into Iran and Europe. They died so that another 4 million Afghanis could be displaced from their insubstantial homes.

To date, which means up to the date of the US's precipitate, ignominous departure, the  US has expended over US $2.26 trillion in a still-born attempt to modernise Afghanistan's archaic tribal society. It leaves behind 5,000 troops as 'caretakers' in a war cemetery without tombstones.

Despite an almost 200-year long, unequal association between Afghanistan and Great Britain, Afghanistan escaped becoming a British colony and therefore a member of the Commonwealth.

It cannot benefit, therefore, from the assiduous attention of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, whose mission is to 'honour and care for the men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars'. The CWGC maintains 23,000 graveyards of world war casualties across the globe, including one at Rawalpindi which was deemed important enough to be visited in 1991 by Diana, the Princess of Wales.

Since the conflict in Afghanistan began, the country has endured four US Presidents, 3 Afghani presidential puppets and 3 Heads of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

It has survived Pakistan's gratuitous appropriation (for its own security purposes) of inhospitable territory under the doctrine of 'strategic depth'. If its history is any measure, Afghanistan will remain sovereign without a sovereign, a state but no nation, unstable, never free, never at peace.  

Afghanistan will never experience the post-war renaissance that post-1945 Germany and Japan did. It will not become the post-1975 tourist haunt that Vietnam is nor can it aspire to become another Lebanese phoenix.

The West has left it to scavenge for its future amongst its ruins, just as ragged Iraq, Libya and Yemen are being forced to do.

Days after its troops fled their show-pice air bae at Bagram, the US government, in an act of posthumous generosity, delivered 1.4 million Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccines under the Covax Facility's dose-sharing scheme. Another 1.9 million doses are in transit. How a rump Afghani government, besieged within its beleaguered capital Kabul, will vaccinate so many Afghans across the country no one knows, nor cares?

Covid-19 is a scourge of Biblical proportions. It has ravaged mankind, disturbed social orders, wrecked economies and exposed luxurious vanities such as wedding extravaganzas and the Olympic Games.

One can understand why, in 1964, the Japanese were keen on hosting the Summer Olympic Games. They wanted to demonstrate that, within twenty years of being defeated in the second world war, they had 'arrived', were at par with the victors. The same ambition motivated the Chinese to host the Summer Olympic Games in 2008 (Being an underdog can be a powerful, painful spur). The Chinese are now determined to repeat their summer success at Beijing in 2008 by hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics. The Chinese should anticipate a boycott.

In 1980, a sanctimonious US and 65 of its acolytes boycotted the Summer Olympics in Moscow. They had condemned the Soviets for invading - guess where? - Afghanistan!!!

- Forwarded.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a 10' to 10. It was raining during the forenoon. Lekha had gone across to the ration shop, along with the maid, to collect the ration kit.

Sreejith had come by and we drove across to the Geeyem Motors at Puzhakkal - by about a half past 12 - to hand over our Chevy for a relook of the work done on the clutch, the defective a/c system and any other defect. 

By the way, it was bright and sunny all through the afternoon!

The grand finale of the PN Panicker Reading Day/Reading Month activities was held in a public meeting, at the courtyard of the Foundation, presided over by the state's education minister, Mr Sivankutty. 

The Olympics That No-one Really Wants!

The Olympics that no one really wants is set to begin at Tokyo on 23 Jul '21 with the opening ceremony at 2000 hrs local time. The 32nd Summer Games in the Japanese capital is going to be unlike any other Olympics. With fans barred from attending, the Olympiad will be devoid of the atmosphere that the athletes feed on. In other words, the spectator stands will be empty!

The rules that make this Olympics unique :-

* All participants must live by 'The Playbook' - IOC's guidebook which lists out various Covid-19 countermeasures during their stay in Tokyo.

* No spectators, daily testing, strict protocol and possible penalties include disqualification and deportation.

.....This Olympics is like never before.

  1. Activity Plan. Rules come into force before the Games. Participants are expected to monitor their health 14 days pre-arrival. They are expected to go through the rules and get accustomed to measures.

  2. No Sharing of Equipment. All equipment must be disinfected. Athletes must disinfect their hands before and after use. Items such as towels, drinking bottles and headphones must not be shared.

  3. Distancing Rule. Physical distance must be maintained when changing or showering at all times. Athletes are encouraged to use facilities at the Olympic Village instead of those at the venue.

  4. Mask Up At All Times. Athletes seated at the 'Field of Play' should wear a mask at all times. Won't be a requirement on team benches. Shouting, cheering and singing should be avoided at all times.

  5. Medal Ceremony. Athletes as well as dignitaries will be required to wear a mask during medal presentation ceremonies, which will take place at the competition venues. No exceptions.

  6. Games Village. Athletes should avoid congestion at Village Main Dining Hall keeping meal times as short as possible. Even outside the dining area, athletes have been advised to maintain distance.

  7. Testing Times. Participants must take two Covid-19 tests on two separate days within 96 hours of flight departure time. On arrival, quantitative saliva antigen test will be conducted.

  8. Daily Dose Of Test. Daily testing with a saliva antigen test (saliva PCR). For press, it will either be daily testing (saliva PCR) or every four days (based on the level of contact).

  9. 24/7 Monitoring. Athletes are required to install the 'Online Check-in and Health Report App' and Confirming Application and fill in the information that will be needed during check-in and monitoring.

10. Hospital Check-up. If someone tests positive, they will be asked to go to a facility or be hospitalised, depending on the severity of the symptoms. Length of the isolation will be determined by the health authorities.

11. Press Conference. All PCs will be made available online. Press can access the Olympic Village using a guest pass that will allow entry to the Venue Media Centre and to the mixed zone in the Village Plaza.

12. Failure To Obey Rules. If a participant is found to be breaking the rules, he or she could face disciplinary action. Failure to comply with rules during the Games could lead to disqualification/exclusion.

- Adapted from Swaroop Swaminathan's article in the New Sunday Express! 

My take.

Extraordinary situations require extraordinary actions! 

Tailpiece.

Got up at a quarter past 6, the chores and was ready by a 10' to 10. It was a thoroughly wet day though the rains weren't heavy.

A lot many calls were made and we were able to get in touch with quite a few people.

The Ramayana Month.

Today is the 1st of the Malayalam month of Karkkidakom and the Ramayana recital month has begun. Lekha, had begun the recital from last evening and she does so both in the morning and in the evening. I sit beside her to listen to her recital which gives me a tremendous sense of satisfaction. We have become strict vegetarians from today which will be followed for the entire month.

However, Kittu our cat, will get his share of meat or fish and the handling of non-vegetarian food for his sake is acceptable!

Touching upon this tradition in brief. In the days of old, people followed the joint family system and Karkkidakom - being the last month of the Malayalam calendar - used to be identified as the 'humbling' month when the families dipped into the final levels of their grain storage in the receptacles known as 'pathaayams'. The situation changed during the following month of Chingam, when the harvest took place and the 'pathaayams' would be once again brimming with an abundance of grains! 

To keep the family together and to help them tide over the 'no-work-situation' with the added woes caused by the monsoons, the patriarch used to gather the family twice a day where they would hear the recital of the Ramayana, usually carried out by the lady of the house.

Lekha and I are just following the traditions passed on to us by our grandparents and parents!

    *        *         *

                                  An interesting interpretation of the Ramayana!

               Ram is your soul. Sita is your heart. Raavan is your mind that steals your heart 

               from your soul. Lakshman is your consciousness, always with you and active 

               on your behalf. Hanuman is your intuition and courage that help retrieve your 

               heart to re-animate your soul!

     *        *         *

Just in Jest!

Teacher :  Ramu is climbing a tree to pick some mangoes. (Begin the sentence with mangoes).

Student :   Mangoes, Ramu is coming to pick you.

Definitely not easy to be a teacher!

Teacher :  What do you call mosquitos in your language?

Student :   We don't call them, they come on their own.

Teacher :   How can we keep our school clean?

Student :    By staying at home.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a 10' to 10. 

Participated in 3 webinars ;-

(a) "Digital Resources for the Disabled" by Prof Partha Pratim Das, IIT, Kharagpur from 1100 - 1230 hrs. An in depth researched subject.

(b) Aazhchakkoottam :  "The Ramayana Month and Karkkidakom" by Pannian Raveendran, Former MP from 1600 - 1730 hrs. Very interestingly narrated.

(c) "National Education Policy 2020" by Dr M Mohandas from 1800 - 1930 hrs. Well explained. 

       

A fable!

Humorous as it is, I'm sure professionals are made of sterner stuff and this remains a fable!

A couple went to the emergency room with pain in the tummy and met the doctor.

"How can I help you, Ma'am and Sir?"

"Doc, I'm five months pregnant and I have unbearable pain in the tummy".

"What is the reason for the pain?" the doctor asked while noting down the points.

"You're the doc here, how should we know", the husband replied, little annoyed.

"Sorry, usually people have some Googled diagnosis, that's why I asked. Sorry for causing annoyance to you".

"It's okay doc, she's in real pain, please do something", hubby replied regaining his composure.

"What should I do?" the doc asked innocently.

"You could check me and find the reason, doc", she replied with masked irritation.

"Sorry ma'am recently a lady went to a bone specialist with backache problem and when he tried to touch her back, she lodged a complaint against him for molestation. So, unfortunately, I cannot examine you unless you bring a court order permitting me to examine you", the doctor shrugged his arms to show his helplessness.

The dazzled couple looked at each other.

"Why can't you do an ultrasound scan and see if everything is normal?" The exasperated husband pleaded.

"Good suggestion, wow and we have an ultrasound machine here too but the caveat is that if I do a scan, I would be arrested for sex determination and our machine and hospital will be sealed. I'm very sorry", the doctor shrugged his arms again.

The couple took a deep sigh.

"Please write some drugs for her, she's in real pain, doc", the husband stood up from his chair angrily and almost tipped the chair over.

"Branded or generics?" the doctor replied, keeping his cool.

"How does it matter?" the lady asked meekly, tired of pain and exhaustion.

"According to new amendments, I being a registered doctor cannot write branded medicines and we don't have generic drugs here, So I'm helpless again".

"So what should we do?"

"You can go to any foreign country of your choice like our politicians", the doctor replied while wearing a helmet anticipating a blow on his head.

"Why can't you just admit her?"

"I can; however, I won't since film star TV anchors, movies and press will blame that, we make money by admitting, doing lab tests and putting on a ventilator, so we stopped admitting unless there's a court order to admit", the doctor said prepared to run away at the slightest of the cue. Many of his colleagues were attacked in the Emergency Room recently and the government did nothing to protect the innocent doctors yet.

Exasperated, the husband asked, "What else do you do sitting here?"

"I fill up the files and papers: we are NABH accredited. Rest is done by journalists, politicians, the public, Google and cine actors and judges".

Somewhere in the background, the death knell of modern medicine was heard......

and modern medicine had indeed died.

My take.

A diehard professional, who knows his stuff, can never be bothered by distractions. It's also a warning to all of us who act upon half baked information about ailments and remedies! The pandemic has taught us this harsh reality!!

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by 10' to 10. It was pouring throughout the forenoon that had begun at night. The Sun eventually came out around lunchtime and continued till teatime when the sky was overcast all over again.

Kittu had come late and insisted on his evening food, which was given to him.

Lekha began the Ramayana recital, as from tomorrow begins the Malayalam month of Karkkidakom and the 'Ramayana recital month'! Both of us will be vegetarians during the period.

......And it has begun to rain, outside, as I punch in this post.

Cell phone and cancer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1 . Do cellphones emit radiation?

A. Yes.

2.  What kind of radiation?

A.  Non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation.

3.   What is non-ionizing radiation?

A.  It's a type of low-energy radiation that does not have enough energy to remove an electron from an atom, molecule or tissues. Non-ionizing radiation includes visible, infrared and ultraviolet light; microwaves; radio waves and radiofrequency energy from cellphones.

4.   How is cellphone radiation measured?

A.  Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)value; every cellphone manufacturer mentions SAR on their products.

5.   What is the safest SAR?

A.  Jury is still out as there is no convincing standard of measure.

6.   What's the safest SAR in India?

A.  India follows the US in defining SAR, which is 1.6 Watts per kg.

Vital Stats

* 46 different studies on mobile phone use and health statistically analysed

* 1,000 hours of use over 10 years can increase the risk of developing cancerous tumours by 60%

* 10 inches is the ideal distance at which mobile phones ought to be kept away from body

* Using a mobile phone for 17 minutes a day for a decade can increase the risk of developing cancerous tumours by up to 60%, a study at the University of California (UC) has found. While the jury's still out on whether there is substance to the claims, all the sides of the nearly four-decade-old debate on whether mobile phones can make you sick

* 10,000 times reduced exposure to radiation if ideal distance is maintained

Recommendations

* Use speaker or an earphone. There's a high probability that radiofrequency radiation emitted by cellphones causes two types of brain tumours.

* Radiation from cellphones interferes with cellular mechanisms, creates stress proteins, damages DNA and even kills the cell.

* Refers to a National Institute of Health's Toxicology Program (NTP) research on male rats that warned cellphone radiation does cause cancer.

* The NTP found 'clear evidence' that high levels of cellphone radiation can cause cancers of the heart, brain and adrenal glands in male rats.

* The NTP study, the biggest in 21st century, cost $30 million.

Counter-Argument

* A day after the NTP study was out, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the US on 02 Nov 2018, said the risks did not apply to humans

* FDA refused to extrapolate NTP evidence to humans

* The WHO, too, had earlier said radiation from cellphones did not cause tissue damage but causes heat generation in negligible amounts

* Dr Paul Heroux, a McGill University physicist and toxicologist, differs from WHO in that he maintains that the idea that wireless microwaves can only harm the body by heating is ridiculous, as our cells are damaged and impaired in their function before heating

Further Cellphone Stats

* 3.6 billion users in 2016

* 6.05 billion users in 2021

* 7.5 billion users expected by 2026

* $100 million spent by phone industry (in the US) to lobby Congress in keeping legislations loose, study claims

My take

A cellphone is the biggest technological advantage that is provided to an individual. Provides information and knowledge at the fingertips and that gives a tremendous sense of power! Cancer be damned!!

Tailpiece.

Got up around a 20' to 6, opened up the house and made a cup of tea for Rahul so that he could be packed off early. He, eventually, left by a quarter to 7 by Hameed's auto rickshaw and reported that he had reached home at lunch time! Sajish, the khalifa, had come by at 7 to chop off Lekha's hair.

The chores and was ready by a half past 10. It was a rainy day all through.

Participated in the webinar : "Creation of Learning Material for NDLI" by Prof Pratim Chakrabarti, Professor Computer Science and Engineering, IIT, Kharagpur from 1830 - 1930 hrs.   

    

 

Terrorists are born to be killed!

I firmly believe terrorists are born to be killed and they do not deserve any rights, forget human rights. A great feedback from an Army veteran on Supreme Court's order on Human Rights in Kashmir.

An Army veteran, who lost a family member to a militant's bullet, has raised an agonising poser to the Supreme Court, 

* "How much do you know about the brutality of war?

* How many of you have sent your progeny to the armed forces?

* Have you ever lost a family member in the defence of the country?

* Do you know the pain of losing a young son or having a widowed daughter or seeing your grandchildren grow up without their father? 

If not, please do not impede our war effort.

Human rights sound very nice when you and your families are safely ensconced in secure air-conditioned homes but not when you are facing bullets and stone of an unruly religious fanatic mob".

Applying the Court directions to the Pulwama incident, an FIR will be lodged against Gunner Rishi Kumar who risked his life and killed two terrorists despite being hit on his headgear.

Police investigations will carry on for years haunting him even when posted to other places in India.

Courts will issue summons and demand his presence. He will be accused of depriving the 'innocent' jihadis of their human rights and asked to justify the killings.

He will be queried, "Are you sure they were terrorists? They did not kill you, why did you kill them?"

He will be asked, "Did you give them adequate opportunity to surrender and reform themselves? Did you give them a fair chance to escape? Did you fire warning shots in the air?"

Instead of lauding his bravery, he will be subjected to judicial witch hunt. What a disgrace for the nation.....!

Subjecting active military operations to judicial review is an outlandish idea. 

Whereas all nations empower their soldiers to vanquish enemies of the state, India takes pride in shackling them.

While addressing the US Naval Academy in Apr 2010, Secretary of Defence Robert M Gates of USA had said, " You have answered the trumpet call. For my part, I consider myself personally responsible for each and everyone of you as though you were my own sons and daughters. And when I send you in harm's way, as I will, I will do everything in my power to see that you have what you need to accomplish your mission and come home safely".

Apparently, India's Supreme Court thinks differently. 

Human rights of the enemies of the state appear to be far more important than the security of the nation.

Finally, as a serving officer commented, "The Supreme Court has given us two options - Get killed and the country will honour your martyrdom or kill the terrorist and face police/judicial investigation for years".

His apprehensions are genuine and shared by the most. Wonder which soldier will look forward to serving in such antagonistic environment!

- Colonel AN Roy

Tailpiece.

Got up on the dot, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. A thoroughly wet day till lunch time.

Participated in the webinar "Youth and Vaccination" by Dr Ranbir Singh Guleria, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi from 1600 - 1730 hrs.

Our Chevy, finally, fetches up in our porch, 78 days later. Phew!

The Indian Constitution.

Many things, many of us will not know about. Truly a great effort has gone into producing the master Manuscript copy of our Constitution.

We know that Dr Ambedkar is the father of the Indian Constitution but how many of us know that this huge constitution is handwritten. No instrument was used to write the whole constitution. Prem Bihari Narayan Rayzada, a resident of Delhi, wrote this huge book - the entire constitution - in italic style, with his own hands.

Prem Bihari was a famous calligraphy writer of that time. He was born on 16 Dec 1901 in the family of a renowned handwriting researcher in Delhi. He lost his parents at a young age. His grandfather Ram Prasad was a calligrapher, who was a scholar of Persian and English. He taught Persian to high-ranking officials of the British government. 

The grandfather used to teach calligraphy art to Prem Bihari from an early age to acquire beautiful handwriting. After graduating from St Stephen's College, Delhi, Prem Bihari started practicing calligraphy art, learnt from his grandfather. Gradually, he began to be known for his beautiful handwriting. When the constitution was ready for printing, the then PM of India, Jawaharlal Nehru summoned Prem Bihari. Nehru wanted the constitution to be in handwritten calligraphy, in italic letters.

When asked as to how much he required as payment for the work, his reply to the PM was, "Not a single penny. By the grace of God, I have all the things and I am quite happy with my life". And then he made a request to the PM, "I have one request - that on every page of the constitution I will write my name and on the last page, I will write my name along with my grandfather's name". The PM accepted his request. He was provided with an accommodation while writing the constitution. 

On  29 Nov 1949, before beginning to write, Prem Bihari went to Santhiniketan to discuss the details about the manner in filling up each page with the famous painter, Nandalal Basu. Without obscuring the contents, the gaps in each page have been filled with impeccable imagery that encompassed  a pictorial representation of the history and geography of India - according to the content and paragraphs of the constitution! Prem Bihari needed 432 pen holders and nib number 303. The nibs were brought from England and Czechoslovakia. 251 pages of parchment paper were used to write the constitution and he took six long months in a room in the Constitution Hall of India, to finish his work. The weight of the constitution is 3 kg 650 gm. The document is 22 inches long and 16 inches wide.

Prem Bihari died on 17 Feb 1986. The original book of the Indian Constitution is now preserved in the library of the Parliament House, Delhi. Later, a few books were published in print under the supervision of the Survey of India, Dehradun.

Tailpiece.

Got up around a half past 6, the chores and was ready by a 10' to 10. It was a thoroughly wet day during the entire forenoon.

It turned out to be bright and sunny from the lunchtime onward but we'd to go through the misery of a long power interruption.

  

Maria's new hat!

Received this as a forward and on reading the contents, thought I must share it with you.

Maria lived with her mother in a small apartment in NYC. She wasn't too young or too old....not too short or too tall.....not particularly beautiful nor ugly.....She was just an average woman.

She worked as a secretary at a large company and her life was pretty much boring and mundane.

No one at work paid any attention to her.....Those that did considered her to be as boring as her life was.

One morning, on her way to work, Maria saw a new hat shop that opened down the street.

In a spur of curiosity she walked in. In the shop was a little girl and her mother, who came to pick the girl a hat and another customer who was trying on hats......

Maria also tried on a few hats, until she found one she liked. She put it on and it looked nice!

First to notice was the little girl : "Mommy, look how pretty that woman looks with the hat on!"

The mother said : "Ma'am, I must say, this hat looks wonderful on you!" The second buyer also came to look : "Ma'am, you look lovely with that hat on!"

Maria went to the mirror. She looked at herself and for the first time in her adult life, she liked what she saw.

Smiling, she went to the counter and bought the hat.

As she walked outside a new world revealed itself to her. She never before noticed the colours of the flowers.....or the scent of the fresh air....

The sound of the cars and the people......sounded like a harmonious melody....She walked as if drifting on a cloud.... with a song in her heart.....

When she passed by the coffee shop she walked by every morning, one of the young handsome men called out to her : "Hey darling....looking good! Are you new here? Can I buy you a cup of coffee?" She smiled slyly and kept walking......Floating on her cloud......

When she got to the office building, the doorman opened the door and wished her Good Morning....Never before had he even noticed her!

The people at the office, as if seeing her for the first time, flattered her on how lovely she looked today. The manager asked her out to lunch to talk about how she felt at work!

When this magical workday was over she decided to take a cab home instead of the bus. As soon as she put her hand up two taxis stopped! She took the first one and sat in the back seat.....Thinking about the miraculous day she had and how her life changed!! Thanks to the new hat!

When she got home, her mo opened the door. The sight of Maria took her breath away!

"Maria" she said surprised "How beautiful you look! Your eyes are all lit up like when you were a little girl!"

"Yes, mother" said Maria "It's all thanks to my new hat, I had the most marvelous day!"

"Maria" said her mother "What hat??"

Maria panicked.

She touched her head and saw that the hat that changed her life was not there.....She didn't remember taking it off in the cab.....Or at lunch....Or at the office.....

She thought back to the store where she had bought it......How she noticed it for the first time....She put it on....Paying for it at the cashier's. And she remembered painfully now. How she put it on the counter. To get her purse out to pay.....And how she forgot the hat right there.....On the counter....Then she walked out to the street.....Hat-less yet glowing!

It wasn't the hat that freed Maria, it was the quality of her thoughts!

Our thoughts can enslave us into a horrible bondage or liberate us towards sweet freedom : to be, do or have anything we wish for!!!

You mind is so powerful that it can create poison as well as nectar.

You just need to know how to create it.

Ask and you shall receive.....believe and you will get it.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a quarter past 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. The mechanic's promise of getting my Chevy today, went for a toss as there were some hiccups.

Much to our angst, one of the four kittens Kittu had sired, had passed away on our balcony for reasons unknown and the body was cremated.  

The mechanic has promised to bring the Chevy tomorrow. It's gonna be a long wait!

Participated in two back-to-back webinars viz.:-

 (a) "Importance of Space Science in Education" by G Madhavan Nair, Former Chairman, ISRO from 1700 - 1800 hrs.

 (b) "NDLI in Indian Languages" by Prof Plaban Kumar Bhowmick, NDLI from 1830 - 1930 hrs.

Also heard the webinar of yesterday which I'd missed, "Tribute to Shri Narendra Kohli - A doyen of Hindi Literature" by LS Bajpai in conversation with Gaurav Bansal.

 

Two interesting stories.

1. It Is All About Honesty and Ethics

Kenyan runner Abel Mutai was just a few feet from the finish line but became confused with the signage and stopped, thinking he had completed the race. A Spanish runner, Ivan Fernandez, was right behind him and realising what was happening, started shouting at the Kenyan to continue running. Mutai didn't know Spanish and didn't understand. Realising what was taking place, Fernandez pushed Mutai to victory.

A journalist asked Ivan, "Why did you do that?" Ivan replied, "My dream is that someday we can have a kind of community life where we push and help each other to win". The journalist insisted "But why did you let the Kenyan win?" Ivan replied, "I didn't let him win, he was going to win. The race was his". The journalist insisted and again asked, "But you could have won!" Ivan looked at him and replied, "But what would be the merit of my victory? What would be the honour in that medal? What would my mother think of that?

Values are passed on from generation to generation.

What values are we teaching our children?

Let us not teach our kids the wrong ways and means to win. Instead, let us pass on the beauty and humanity of a helping hand because honesty and ethics are winning! 

     *        *        *

2. The Story From Georgia

Surrounded by Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Black Sea, Georgia sits at a crossroad between Asia and Europe. From its location itself, one can figure out the bloody history the region and the country must have been subjected to.

Part of that history is Queen Regent of Kakheti (a kingdom in Georgia) - Saint Ketevan. Also known as Ketevan, the Martyr.

In order to stop impending bloodshed, she offered herself as a hostage to the oncoming armies of Shah Abbas I of Iran.

For refusing to convert from Christianity to Islam, Shah Abbas I tortured her to death by red-hot pincers, nearly 400 years ago.

Interestingly, her remains landed in Church of St Augustine in Goa, most likely brought in by missionaries who were eyewitnesses of her death.

Teams from Georgia alongside the Archeological Society of India found the remains in 2005 and confirmed it to be hers via DNA testing in 2013.

She is greatly revered by the people of Georgia, so the country has been requesting return of her remains ever since.

And yesterday, it happened.

EAM Jaishankar, during his visit to Georgia, handed over Queen Ketevan to her rightful place.

The event at the Georgian Orthodox Church was telecast live, with a thankful and emotional nation watching in veneration......the return of their Queen.

Tailpiece.

Got up leisurely around a quarter past 6, the chores and was ready by a 10' past 10.

A quiet and rainy day. Feeding Kittu was a gigantic task because he doesn't like dried fish.

Meaningful questions and a poem.

Meaningful Questions

* Why is the place in a stadium where you SIT, called a STAND?

* Why is that everyone wants to go to HEAVEN but nobody wants to DIE!

* Shall I say that there is racial discrimination even in chess, as the WHITE always moved FIRST.

* We have FREEDOM of SPEECH, then why do we have TELEPHONE BILLS?

* If money doesn't grow on TREES then why do banks have BRANCHES?

* Why doesn't GLUE stick to its BOTTLE?

* Why do you still call it BUILDING when it's already BUILT?

* If it's true that we all are here to HELP others, what are the others HERE for?

* If you aren't supposed to DRINK and DRIVE, why do bars have PARKING lots?

* If all the nations in the world are in debt, where did all the money go?

* When dog food is 'New with Improved Taste', who Tests it?

* If the "Black Box" flight recorder is never damaged during a plane crash, why isn't the whole airplane made out of that stuff?

* Who copyrighted the copyright symbol? 

* Can you cry under water?

* Why do people say "You've been working like a dog", when dogs just sit around all day?

      *       *        *

From Blossoms

From blossoms comes 

this brown paper bag of peaches

we bought from the boy

at the bend in the road where we

turned toward

signs painted Peaches.

From laden boughs, from hands,

from sweet fellowship in the bins,

comes nectar at the roadside,

succulent

peaches we devour, dusty skin and

all,

comes the familiar dust of summer,

dust we eat.

O, to take what we love inside,

to carry within us an orchard, to eat

not only the skin, but the shade,

not only the sugar, but the days, to

hold

the fruit in our hands, adore it, then

bite into

the round jubilance of peach.

There are days we live

as if death were nowhere 

in the background; from joy

to joy to joy, from wing to wing,

from blossom to blossom to

impossible blossom, to sweet 

impossible blossom.

- Li-Young Lee

Tailpiece.

Got up on the dot at 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. 

The ayurveda acharya, Dr PK Warrier passed into the mist of time today. We'd just celebrated his 100th birthday last month. Om Shanti! Sadgati.

Participated in the Aazhchakkoottam : "Impact of PN Panicker National Reading Day/Reading Month Celebration" by Dr B Shadrach, Global Library Expert from 1600-1730 hrs. Interesting!

Participated in the webinar : "School Health Programme and Vaccination" by Dr Pankaj Srivastava, Cardiologist, Janus Initiatives. Interesting!