AI & Cloud innovation.

India leads in AI and Cloud innovation.

In AI and data are now playing a crucial role across verticals of organisations. Companies are now involved in their digital transformational journey and are also enhancing their AI capabilities.

Data storage and infrastructure company NetApp in its Cloud Complexity Report reveals India heads the pack as an AI leader, with 70% of companies having AI projects up and running or in motion. This is in stark contrast with the global average of 49%. Additionally, the report found 91% of India-based companies will use half or more of their data to train AI models in 2024.

"The rise of AI is ushering in a new disrupt-or-die era. Data-ready enterprises that connect and unify broad structured and unstructured data sets into an intelligent data infrastructure are best positioned to win in the age of AI", says Gabie Boko, the CMO at NetApp.

The report also talks about a clear divide between AI-leading countries and AI-lagging countries as 60% of companies in AI-leading countries that include India, Singapore, UK and the US have either committed to AI projects that are already up and running or are in pilot. In AI-lagging countries such as Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Japan, that number is only 36%. And Japan trails at 17%.

The technology sector is leading in innovation and AI with 70% AI projects either in pilot or up and running. Banking and financial services and manufacturing are also AI leaders with 55% and 50% of AI projects either in pilot or up and running, respectively.

Healthcare is at 38% while media and entertainment is only at 25%. The report also reveals that data scientists and data engineers are embracing AI faster than C-Suite.

IT costs and security are the two biggest challenges in the AI era but they will not impede AI progress. Instead, AI leaders will scale back, cut other IT operations or reallocate costs from other parts of the business to fund AI, the report states.

Tailpiece.

The day started at 5 as we limbered up to be at the polling booth before 7 and we were at the RCUP School at Kottappadi accordingly. The queues had already begun to go serpentine but we were back home by a 10' past 8, after casting our franchise.

A quiet Friday, thereafter.

Justin of the Pure Flames had come by in the afternoon for servicing the cooking range and the chimney. 

Israel limbers up for the Rafah offensive.

Israel was readying to deploy two reserve brigades for missions in the Gaza strip for a Rafah offensive in the south. By doing so, it seeks to remove the Hamas terror group from its last major redoubt in the enclave.

The 679th "Yiftah" Armoured Brigade and the 2nd "Carmeli" Infantry Brigade, which had been operating on the northern border, were set to take responsibility for areas of Central Gaza that have remained under Israeli military control since troops largely pulled back from the other areas of the Strip earlier this month.

The move will free up Nahal Brigade troops currently holding the central corridor to join the rest of the 162nd Division in preparation for future operations, including planned offensive in Rafah and central Gaza.

The mobilised brigades were to be placed under the 99th Division. 

Israel appreciates that Hamas has six remaining battalions in the Gaza Strip, including four in Rafah and two more in central Gaza, in the Nuseirat and Deir al-Balah camps.

Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time. Lekha goes to Guruvayur to have a 'darshan' of the good Lord at 9.

A quiet Thursday.

Fixed up the timings to go for voting, at the RCUP School, tomorrow.

Near-Earth Objects.

Near-Earth Objects, including asteroids and comets, regularly zip past the Earth, as they roam the darkness of space. While collision with our planet is a risk, their study also reveals the secrets of life. Brace for impact!

                                 Earth Encounters

Close Approach

If an NEO is near the part of its orbit closest to Earth's, at the same time the Earth is at the part of its orbit closest to the NEO's, the object has a close approach, or, if the orbits intersect, it could even impact the Earth or its atmosphere. The first NEO known to have passed the Earth closer than the distance of the Moon was 1991 BA, which passed at a distance of 170,000 km.

Impact Event

When an NEO impacts Earth, objects up to a few tens of metres across ordinarily explode in the upper atmosphere, with most or all of the solids vapourising and only small meteorites arriving on Earth's surface (forming impact craters) while larger objects hit the water surface (forming tsunamis). The Tunguska event was a meteor air burst; the atmospheric explosion  of a stony asteroid about 50-60 metres wide that occurred near the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in Russia in the morning of 30 Jun 1908.

The explosion over the sparsely populated East Siberian taiga flattened 80 million trees over an area of 2,150 sq km of forest, killing three people.

Earth-Grazers

Some asteroids briefly enter the upper atmosphere of the Earth during their close approach, burning their surface. During this time, such an object can be observed as an Earth-grazing fireball. On 10 Aug 1972, a meteor. the 1972 Great Daylight Fireball, moved north over the Rocky Mountains from the US, south west to Canada. It passed within 58 km of the Earth's surface.

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Had carried out the Wednesday aa'rathi earlier.

Lekha had gone to the ration shop to collect our monthly dues.

Kittu comes in post-lunch.

A quiet evening.

It's been 40 years!

Operation Meghdoot

It's the 40th anniversary of the operation that was launched by the Indian Army on 13 Apr 1984 in Siachen. 

Strategically situated between the Saltoro ridge and the Karakoram ranges, the region overlooks Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. It is close to the Karakoram Pass, through which the Karakoram Highway connects Gilgit-Baltistan to China's Xinjiang Province. The Glacier region is also near the Shaksgam Valley, ceded to China by Pakistan.

The Siachen Glacier region holds military significance for the country and is recognised as the highest militarized zone globally, where soldiers contend with frostbite and high winds.

We lead peaceful lives knowing our brave soldiers stand steadfast at the borders.

Tailpiece.

Got up half an hour before my usual time, opened up the house, lit the lamp at the puja room, worked the motor to pump up water into the overhead tank and put on the music.

Sajeesh came and gave me a haircut and massage.

The maid had come for work and it was a quiet Tuesday.

The Radhakrishnans came by in the evening to offer condolences on Sanil's passing away.

  

Appropriate during election time...

A ll the

B eloved

C itizens come and do your

D uty to

E nsure that your

F uture is in

G enuine and responsible

H ands which is so

I mportant.

J ust

K eep your

L ong leave plans aside and

M ake sure you will

N ot miss the

O pportunity of

P ressing the button

Q uietly thereby discharging your

R esponsibility. Also

S pread the message

T o the 

U naware

V oters as to not

W aste their

X tremely important vote and do

Y our bit in building the future of

this

Z ealous nation

My take

Vote and spread the importance of voting.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 4, the chores, an early bath and we were ready by 7. All of us left for Raj Nivas where the land measurement was scheduled to commence at a half past 7. However, we'd gouged into the idiappam-stew-appam breakfast and tea brought by the caretaker.

The surveyors were late and to make matters worse, their machine had problems which had to be taken to Adoor for repairs. They'd returned by a half past 10.

Meanwhile, we'd dropped Mini and Ammu back at Ayoor and shaped our journey to Guruvayur. Lunch at Bharath Restaurant at Muvattupuzha around 2.

Reached The Quarterdeck by a half past 5. Settled down to a quiet evening.     

Earlier, had sent Kannan and the car back home without wastage of time.                                                                                                                    

The right response to 'idiotic' suggestions'.

Our lordships and milords keep quoting western democracies, at the drop of a hat. They should take heed that military is about winning wars, not providing equal opportunity or breaking the purported glass ceiling.

Trey Gowdy, South Carolina Congressman, recently responded to a reporter about the military in response to a question from a CNN reporter about the DoD ban of transgenders from joining the US armed forces. As Trey typically does so very well, he nailed it rather succinctly.

Q. How can President Trump claim to represent all US citizens, regardless of sexual orientation, when he banned transgenders from joining the military? Isn't that discrimination?

Trey Gowdy's response.

"Nobody has a right to serve in the Military. Nobody! What makes you people think the Military is an equal opportunity employer? It is very far from it - and for good reasons - let me cite a few".

"The Military uses prejudice regularly and consistently from joining for being too old or too young, too fat or skinny, too tall or too short. Citizens are denied having for having flat feet, or for missing or additional fingers". He went on to explain, "By the way, poor eyesight will disqualify you, as well as bad teeth. Malnourished? Drug addiction? Bad back? Criminal history? Low IQ? Anxiety? Phobias? Hearing damage? Six arms? Hear voices in your head? Self-identification as a Unicorn? Need a special access ramp for your wheelchair?"

"Can't run the required course in the required time? Can't do the required number of push-ups? Not really a morning person? And refuse to get out of bed before noon? All can be legitimate reasons for denial!"

"The Military has one job : Winning War.. Anything else is a distraction and a liability. Did someone just scream? That isn't fair? War is very unfair, there are no exceptions made for being special or challenged or socially wonderful".

"You must change yourself to meet Military standards and not the other way around".

"I say again : You don't change the Military - you must change yourself. The military is not about being fair, it is about taking advantage of others and about winning.

The Military doesn't need to accommodate anyone with special issues. The Military needs to Win Wars and keep our country safe - PERIOD!"

"If any of your personal issues are a liability that detract from readiness or lethality... Thank you for applying and good luck in future endeavours".

"......any other questions?"

My take

What clear perceptions! Wish we, too, displayed such clear thinking!

Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores. Recited my prayers and exercised.

A quiet Sunday.

Set off around a half past 4 in the evening to the Kottarakkara Maha Ganapathy kshetram, Padinjaattinkara Siva kshetram, pulled out money from the ATM, went to the Anchu Murthy kshetram and Chandra maman's house.

A lovely dinner and a comparatively early evening. 

   

Sanil has mingled with the elements.

The day had begun at 3 AM, thanks to Lekha's cellphone alarm and we went about our chores in right earnest. Lekha had provided tea at the appropriate time and all of us were ready by a half past 5. A Creta and Sanil's car were pressed into service for the 12 of us.

We reached the Varkala beach after an hour. The arrangements for the 'bali tharpanam' have been streamlined and this was our first trip after the immersion of Mom's ashes in Sep 2016.

Ammu had gone through the entire procedure with Mini being by her side. It was a poignant moment and by a half past 8, the earthenware urn carrying Sanil's ashes was tipped above her head by Ammu, into the Arabian Sea.

Sanil had intermingled with the elements and has become memory!

Sadgati bhava!

Tailpiece.

Since the eatery was taking time to 'arrive', we'd gone into Sreedharan Nair-Sreekumari's house to relieve ourselves. Had a bountiful of dates and bananas, satisfying the hunger albeit for a short while. We, finally, had our breakfast at the Paravoor 'kambolam'.

Sanil's car had sprung a puncture and some time was taken to get it okay.

Rema and Padmakumar left an hour after lunch after I'd reiterated that the four of us would always be there for Mini!

A quiet evening.  

Kudos to high morals!

When the Titanic sank, it carried millionaire John Jacob Astor IV. The money in his bank account was enough to build 30 Titanics. However, faced with mortal danger, he chose what he deemed morally right and gave up his spot in a lifeboat to save two frightened children.

Millionaire Isidor Straus, co-owner of the largest American chain of department stores, "Macy's", who was also on the Titanic, said "I'll never enter a lifeboat before other men".

His wife, Ida Strauss, also refused to board the lifeboat, giving her spot  to her newly appointed maid, Ellen Bird. She decided to spend her last moments of life with her husband.

These wealthy individuals preferred to part with their wealth and even their lives rather than compromise their moral principles. Their choice in favour of moral values highlighted the brilliance of human nature.

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time and watched Mini go through the paces of the 'bali tharpanam'. The crows played truant, today, too.

Today was the 'pulakuli adiyanthiram'. Most of Sanil's family had come by; about 49 people had food ordered from outside.

A quiet evening!     

Luxury reviewed and re-defined.

In the 1960s a car was a luxury..

In the '70s a television was a luxury..

In the '80s a telephone was a luxury..

In the '90s a computer was a luxury..

But today spending time in 

absence of all these is a luxury..

Luxury is no more going on a 

cruise trip or eating food

prepared by a renowned chef..

Luxury is eating fresh organic

food grown in your own 

backyard..

Luxury is not having an elevator

in your house.

Luxury is the ability to climb 3-4

storeys of stairs without

difficulty..

Luxury is not the ability to afford

a huge refrigerator.

Luxury is the ability to eat freshly

cooked food 2-3 times a day...

Luxury is not having a home

theatre system and watching the

Himalayan expedition.

Luxury is physically experiencing 

the Himalayan expedition..

Luxury is not getting treatment

from the most expensive hospital

So what is a Luxury now..??

Being healthy.,

Being happy.,

Having a loving family.,

being with loving friends.,

living in an unpolluted place.,

Luxury is inhaling fresh air.,

Luxury is getting pure water.,

Luxury is to get sunshine.,

and above all heartful of

laughter.

Have a Luxurious Life filled with

Happy moments.

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, watched Ammu go through the paces of the 'bali tharpanam' and crows continuing to play truant today, too.

Letha and sa'arthi, Kannan pick up Lekha and go visiting their cousin, Priya's house at Nangiarkulangara. They returned by teatime.

High tea with a lovely dish of tapioca made by the Mini and Rema.

Met Jailal, an ex-BSF constable, who narrated his terrorist encounter experience with a bullet shrapnel piercing through his right elbow and a grenade exploding just above his head almost simultaneously! The poor guy is now grappling with a varicose vein surgery, concluded just a month back. 

 

African proverbs.

  1. Respect the fools to avoid noise.

  2. A person who sells eggs should not start a fight in the market.

  3. No matter how far an eagle flies up the sky, it will definitely come down to look for food.

  4. A monkey that eats grass instead of banana is a goat.

  5. No matter how hot our anger may be, it cannot cook beans.

  6. Don't mistake a short man for a boy.

  7. Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers.

  8. We cannot convince a monkey that honey is sweeter than a banana.

  9. When the mouse laughs at the cat, there is a hole nearby.

10. A man who drives his father's car is not entitled to speak in a council of men who own bicycles.

11. Men would not tell lies if women asked fewer questions.

12. Everything happens for a reason. But sometimes the reason is that we're stupid and we make bad

      decisions.  

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time and saw Ammu go through the paces of the 'bali tharpanam'; the crows didn't play ball today, too. The chores and was ready by 11 AM.

A quiet Wednesday.

Rema and Padmakumar fetched up in the evening.

India-China border dispute.

Beyond the hype the reality of the LAC!

Talk of land loss in eastern Ladakh is gross exaggeration. Indian forces gave a fitting response to premeditated Chinese aggression in 2020. New government must continue to work on de-escalation.

The clamour of considerable land being lost to China in eastern Ladakh is political hyperbole - an agenda-driven narrative to bolster electoral prospects on national security grounds. The issue was raised in August last year by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi but no studies or expertise are available to verify such claims.

Ladakh has been and will continue to remain a serious flashpoint. There are no borders here except a 1,597 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC), a notional demarcation separating India and China since 1962. Even the LAC is not well defined. Both countries have differing perceptions. The patrolling is done till 65 earmarked Patrol Points (PPs) stretching from Karakoram to Chumur. The recent dispute points occurred at PP9, 10, 11, 12, 12A and 13 in Depsang, PP14 in Galwan, PP15 and PP16 in Hot Springs/ Chang Chenmo and PP17 and 17A in Gogra.

Chushul-Pangong sector

In the Chushul-Pangong sector, the situation in the Sirijap range on the north bank of Pangong, where Finger series 1 to 8 jut out, is stable. In May 2020, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) entered the Finger 3-4 are to prevent Indian troops from patrolling. After the disengagement agreement in Feb 2021, the status quo prior to May 2020vis being restored.

Kailash range

In the Kailash range, the PLA's provocative move in early Sep 2020 to capture Nyanlung Yokma/Gongma or the Kailash Heights, at an altitude of 15,000 feet located between Pangong Tso and Spanggur Gap, was foiled by the Indian Army in a major pre-emptive strategic maneuvering. Peace was restored after both sides agreed to disengage from north and south Pangong Tso in Feb 2021.

Chang Chenmo valley

PLA's intrusions in Galwan Valley, Changlung Nalla, Hot Springs and Kongrung Nalla of Chang Chenmo valley, where it had created area denial for Indian troops, are also relatively peaceful now. Both sides agreed to disengage in 2020.

The situation in the Gogra-Hot Springs area remained volatile until 08 Sep 2022, when both sides agreed to disengage. There are no forward deployments in this area though a buffer zone is being created with new patrolling norms. All temporary structures have been dismantled. However, the situation in the PP15 area remains tense as China is still adamant about restoring pre-Apr 2020 position.

Depsang and Demchok

Currently, only Depsang and Demchok remain points of friction, predating the 2020 stand-off. Since 2009, the PLA has frequently made offensive moves from Track Junction Nallah to the south at Burtse/Depsang Plains. In 2011, PLA built a 30 km road Raki Nallah to cut into the Depsang Plains. In 2013, Burtse became a flashpoint when the PLA set up remote camps 18-19 km inside Indian territory, preventing Indian patrolling from PP10, PP11, PP12 and PP13. The Shyam Saran Report of Aug 2013 made a chilling revelation of India having lost 640 sq km area due to "area denial" by the PLA.

Since 2019, the PLA has blocked the Bottleneck area, restricting India's patrolling limits to PP10 and PP11. The Chinese road construction along Jeevan Nallah towards the south, adjacent to our Murgo post, could potentially cut off supply line to the DBO at Murgo, like in the case of Galwan. Experts suggest that the Chinese are in control of 600-800 sq km of the southern half of Depsang Plains. The situation here remains complicated and deadlocked. Therefore, complete disengagement has been elusive.

In Demchok, the PLA has been violating LAC at Charding-Nilung Mallah (CNN) junction since 2018, obstructing Indian patrolling to that point. The dispute is stalemated.

As for Ladakhi Changpas losing grazing ground, their movements were restricted along the LAC because of heavy militarisation by the Chinese as well as Indian armies. India has shored up its defences, inducting artillery brigades, after the 2013 Depsang episode.

Infrastructure upgrades

One cannot overlook the fact that infrastructure in eastern Ladakh has been ramped up in recent years. Earlier, the Chinese bullied and coerced India because of the latter's lax attitude and grabbed a chunk of Ladakh territory between the 1960s and 1990s. The situation has changed now. India had stepped up construction activities under the UPA government but the projects were mired in corruption and scams. 

The BJP government has fast-tracked the connectivity projects, including the 260 km long Shyok-DBO road that was completed on a war footing. DBO can be reached from Dorbuk in eight hours now which gives Indian troops a major advantage in the difficult terrain.

India's growing dominance in far-flung areas has been one of the key factors that forced the PLA to react differently, accusing India of transgressions on the LAC and provoking the Galwan stand-off in 2020.

Our aviation infrastructure has also been upgraded after reactivating all the abandoned Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) at DBO, Fukche and Nyoma. The Nyoma ALG is being upgraded into a full-fledged airfield capable of operating cargo as well as fighter jets. This will boost the security of eastern Ladakh apart from the economic development of the Changthang region.

Fitting response to Chinese aggression

In all, one cannot deny that the Indian forces gave a befitting response to premeditated Chinese aggression and denied China a strategic victory in 2020. Beijing has been made to realise the cost of engaging in misadventures.

Certainly, the LAC situation remains in a stalemate, although the 21st round of Corps Commander-level meetings was held in February to reduce tension in the region.

The accusation of losing massive areas, therefore is a gross exaggeration. Technically, there has been no intrusion on our side of the LAC. The discrepancies have occurred only in the grey-zone patrolling areas due to differences in LAC perception. Both sides should grasp fresh opportunities to revive the stalled process of clarifying the LAC after the new government is formed in New Delhi.

Courtesy. P Stobdan, President, Ladakh International Centre, Leh

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, watched Ammu go through the paces of the 'bali tharpanam'. The crows didn't play ball today, too, despite Mini, preparing and offering Sanil's favourite - peas masala!

The chores and was ready by a half past 10 when Subi had arrived in his car. We went off to Raj Nivas to see the progress of work - he has done a neat job and should take the next week to complete it. We, then, rushed to Dr Hareendra Babu to get his advice on Lekha's lingering cough. Went to the supermarket, More for groceries.

Reached home by lunch time. Subi left, soon after.

A noisy evening - for Mini's good, of course - as Sanil's relatives had fetched up.  

 

7 Short Stories.

Each may change our attitude towards life and make us a better person.

Looking back

I interviewed my grandmother for part of a research paper I'm working on for my Psychology class. When I asked her to define success in her own words, she said.....Success is when you look back at your life and the memories make you smile.

Love conquers pain

After I watched my dog get run over by a car, I sat on the side of the road holding him and crying. And just before he died, he licked the tears off my face.

Togetherness

As my father, my three brothers and two sisters stood around my mother's hospital bed, my mother uttered her last coherent words before she died. She simply said, "I feel so loved right now. We should have gotten together like this more often."

Affection

I kissed my dad on the forehead as he passed away in a small hospital bed. About 5 seconds after he passed, I realised it was the first time I had given him a kiss since I was a little boy.

Joy

When I witnessed a 27-year-old cancer patient laughing hysterically at her 2-year-old daughter's antics, I suddenly realised that I need to stop complaining about my life and start celebrating it again.

Kindness

A boy in a wheelchair saw me desperately struggling on crutches with my broken leg and offered to carry my backpack and books for me. He helped me all the way across the campus to my class and as he was leaving he said, "I hope you feel better soon."

Sharing

I was traveling in Kenya and I met a refugee from Zimbabwe. He said he hadn't eaten anything in over 3 days and looked extremely skinny and unhealthy. Then my friend offered him the rest of the sandwich  he was eating. The first thing the man said was, "We can share it."

My take

Make it a principle of your life.....Celebrate life with gratitude.

Beautiful beyond words,

Grateful for the thoughts,

Leaving a divine feel of care,

compassion and selflessness.... 

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time and watched Ammu go through the paces of the 'bali tharpanam'. The crows refrained from partaking the offering today, too. Mithun had gone early morning for work and hence, I accompanied her to the nearest brook for disposing off the offering.

A quiet Monday.

Went about our chores, as usual.

Stop press

IIT Kharagpur has created National Digital Library for students for all subjects. Below is the link :

                     ndl.iitkgp.ac.in 

Serious Maths and English jokes...

Head breaker. Maths jokes and puns.

  1. Why was the fraction apprehensive about marrying the decimal?

       Because he would have to convert.

  2. Why do plants hate Math?

       It gave them square roots.

  3. Why did the student get upset when his teacher called him average?

      It was a mean thing to say.

  4. Why was the Math book depressed?

      It had a lot of problems.

  5. Why is the oldest triangle always so frustrated?

       Because it is never right.

  6. Why can you never trust a Math teacher holding graphing paper?

      They must be plotting something.

  7. Why was the equal sign so humble?

      Because she knew she wasn't greater than or less than anyone else.

  8. What do you call the number 7 and the number 3 when they go out on a date?

      The odd couple (but 7 is in her prime).

  9. What do you call a number that can't stay in one place?

      A roamin' numeral.

10. Did you hear the one about the statistician?

      Probably.

11. What do you call dudes who love math?

      Algebros.

12. I'll do algebra, I'll do trigonometry, I'll even do statistics.

      But graphing is where I draw the line!

13. Why should you never talk to Pi?

      Because she'll go on and on forever.

14. Why are parallel lines so tragic if they have so much in common?

      It's a shame they'll never meet.

15. Are monsters good at math?

      Not unless you Count Dracula.

16. What's the best way to flirt with a math teacher?

      Use acute angle.

17. Did you hear about the mathematician who is afraid of negative numbers?

      They'd stop at nothing to avoid them.

18. How do you stay warm in any room?

      Just huddle in the corner, where it's always 90.

19. Why is six afraid of seven?

      Because eight ("ate") nine!

20. Why does nobody talk to circles?

      Because there is no point.

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time to watch Ammu going through the paces of the bali tharpanam. Today, too, the offering was finally disposed off at the brook.

The chores and was ready by a half past 11.

A quiet evening.

      

The history of Baisakhi.

While the Sikhs celebrate Baisakhi across India, the rest of India wonders if it is all about doing bhangra and dancing. No, it is not. Baisakhi holds a lesson for all Indians.....especially in this day and age....

On this day in 1699, in a congregation of people from all across India....standing there listening to their Guru, Sree Gobind Rai. Gobind Rai ji asked for human sacrifice of five men one after the other. Five men from different castes from different parts of India stood up from the crowd of thousands:-

       

     * A shopkeeper, baniya called Daya Ram from Lahore.         

     * A farmer, jat called Dharam Das from Meerut.

     * A so called low-caste water carrier, called Himmat Rai from Puri, Orissa.

     * A tailor, of Cheemba caste called Mukham Chand from Dwarka, Gujarat

     * A barber, of naai caste called Sahib Chand from Bidar, Karnataka.

With his choice of disciples from five different corners of India, Gobind Rai ji visualised the national dream....from the coast of Gujarat along eastern Arabian Sea to coasts of Orissa along the Bay of Bengal; from the great plains of Punjab to the Ganjetic Plain and then onto the Deccan peninsula covering Karnataka.

Do not forget that at that time, all those were separate states; it was Guru Gobind Singh ji that thought of all of them as one....this Baisakhi day of 1699.

With the choicest of disciples from five different caste-groups, he visualised an integrated, classless society. The five were christened as the First Five Khalsa Sikhs and the five in turn christened their Guru as the sixth. Gobind Rai was now Gobind Singh ji. All caste names and surnames were dropped and a common surname was proposed for all Indians across India; a surname that denoted a caste-less, class-less creed of men willing to sacrifice themselves for the nation and against injustice.

And the Swaroop he chose for the class-less people was an amalgamation of the ancient Indian thought of Rishis (as mentioned bt Guru Gobind Singh in the Sarbloh Granth) and the Kshatriya tradition of Warriors, hence the jooda, the hair and the talwar. The concept of Miri-Piri was coded in the dress-system of this new society envisioned by him. A group of people who were strong in Miri (physical strength and material possessions) and Piri (spiritual strength and humility).

So, the five so called lower castes were given the temporal  strength of a Rishi (a Brahmin citadel till then) and the Physical responsibilities of a Kshatriya ( a duty till then limited to the Rajputs). This motley group of people uprooted Afghan and Mughal rule from the entire north India from the Yamuna to the Khyber pass, such was the power of this vision.

And this was the Indian that he envisioned, from the five corners of this nation. Guru Gobind Singh ji was a visionary par excellence. His vision has been diluted and limited to Sikhism, that is a travesty.

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, the chores and saw Ammu going through the paces of the bali tharpanam. Today, too, the crows didn't fetch up and hence, the offering was passed into the flowing brook, close by.

Recited my prayers, exercised and was ready by a half past 11. To Ayoor to fetch sundries.

In the evening, dropped Mini's friend Prasanna and her granddaughter, Vismaya at their house, met her daughter, Soorya and her mother, the 94-year-old Devaki Amma, who was truly excited when I touched her feet while taking leave!

A comparatively early night.

 

Thought provoking statements!

* Evaluate the people in your life; then promote, demote or terminate. You're the CEO of your life.

* 3 Power habits to elevate your life

      

      - Encourage instead of criticising

      - Understand instead of judging

      - Initiate instead of waiting

* I don't regret things I did wrong. I regret the good things I did for the wrong people.

* Sometimes in life everything goes smoothly

   And sometimes the unexpected happens

   The important thing is knowing how to turn

      problems into opportunities.

* Always take extra care of three things in life

   PROMISE, FRIENDSHIP & RELATIONSHIP

   Because they don't make noise

   But when they break they create silence.

* Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -

   I took the one less traveled by,

   And that has made all the difference.

* The life that you are living now,

   Is also a dream of millions.

   So always be satisfied with your life....

   Be happy in every moment of your life.

* We pray for our situation to change.

   We forget that the situation was designed

       for us to change.

* Everything is easy

   when you are busy

   Nothing is easy

   when you are lazy.

* It makes a difference in your life 

   when you stay positive.

      

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time and watched Ammu go through the ceremonies.

Went to the ICICI branch at Anchal to clear the vexed issue of clearing my credit card bill payment of Mar, today being the last day; Mithun had chauffeured me. Can you believe that their complete system had gone for a bunt? Rincy, the cashier went out of her way to help me. damn sweet of her. Sent her a thank you note, after reaching home after she'd reported "All clear, sir".

Everyone had gone away. Rema and Padmakumar had gone to Pidavoor; will return after the weekend.

The work on the boundary wall at Raj Nivas has been delayed due to thundershowers over the past two days and this evening, too, there's a threat!

This evening, the house has just Mini, Ammu, Mithun, Lekha and me! 

India posts DAs to several new nations.

Dateline 11 Apr

India has begun to post military and defence attaches to several new countries, in a big move to expand strategic ties with key regions across the globe and also push arms exports.

15 - 16 Army, Navy and Air Force attaches are being posted to countries like Poland, Armenia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast and the Philippines after "some rationalisation" by cutting down on the number of military officials posted at large missions in Russia, the UK and France.

Some of them have already joined their new posts. In the next phase, 10 entirely new defence wings will be created in different countries, with a particular focus on nations to which arms can be exported.

A special area of interest is Africa, which is in line with the stepped-up military outreach to the to the continent where China has made huge strategic inroads. Apart from the ongoing combat exercises, military exchanges and training programs with African countries. India is now trying to export indigenou Tejas fighters, Pinaka multi-launch rocket systems, missiles and Akash air defence systems to African Countries.

Among other African countries like Tanzania, Mozambique and Ivory Coast, the small but strategically located Djibouti will also get an Indian defence attache now.

The former Soviet republic of Armeniahas also emerged as a major arms exports destination, with deals inked for Pinaka rockets, Akash missiles, ammunition and the like, a few of them coming even during its clash with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. A defence attache is especially posted to Armenia for the first time.

With an eye on China's aggressive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific, including the South China Sea, Indais has also been steadily stepping up military ties with Asean countries. This led to the $375 million contract for three anti-ship coastal batteries of the BrahMos missiles being inked with the Philippines in Jan 2022.

India wants this first-ever BrahMos export order  to pave the way for more such deals with the Philippines as well as other Asean countries like Indonesia and Vietnam.

India is also trying to export the single engine-Tejas fighter to countries like the Philippines, Nigeria, Argentina and Egypt. India's bid to sell it to Malaysia, however, had failed last year with the Royal Malaysian Air Force picking South Korean supersonic fighter KAI FA-50 made by Korean Aerospace Industries.

Courtesy. Rajat Pandit @timesgroup.com

Tailpiece.

Got up a half past 5, to be in time for Sanil's Sanchayanam, that began at 7.

The elaborate ceremony took about two hours to finish. Sanil's charred bones were collected and put into a receptacle, which was placed at a spot got readied for the purpose.

Aravi maman, Radha mami, Rajan maman, Aniyan had come from Kottayam, Kala from Kayamkulam and Kannan, from Ernakulam had attended the function.

By evening, after all the guests had departed, the house wore an empty look.

Thundershowers followed by a long power interruption. Luckily, it was restored a trifle after we'd hit the sack.

Bhakti.

Not by the study of Vedas and

sacrifices, not even by rituals,

nor by severe austerities, can I

be known in My absolute form.

Then what is the use of these

disciplines?

Your nature is already divine. Any

amount of action does not make 

it any more divine.

Work only purifies your mind and

prepares the ground for you to

realise that divinity in you. That is

bhakti.

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready by 9.

Aniyan and Ambili dropped by and I couldn't complete reciting my prayers. It was nice seeing them after a long while.

Getting ready for the Sanchayanam, tomorrow. Of course, work done by the others.

Venu and Vidya come by; seeing them, too, after a long while.

 

A comparatively early evening.

India's indigenous satellite.

Tata's military-grade satellite successfully placed into orbit. Built by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) at its Vemagal facility in Karnataka, the TSAT-1A was on board the Bandwagon-1 mission launched by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket in Florida.

India's first military grade geospatial satellite manufactured in the private sector has been successfully launched and placed in orbit, with full functionality expected to be achieved within a few months.

The sub-metre resolution imaging satellite has given a signal that it is in the right orbit and tests will be run on it for the next few weeks before it is fully functional, TASL said.

The satellite will provide military grade imagery with high resolution of less than one metre per pixel that will be downloaded and processed at a ground centre in India that is being built by TASL.

While India has a few military spy satellites built by ISRO, this is the first such initiative in the private sector.

TASL plans to put up a constellation of such satellites in the future and its manufacturing facility is geared to produce up to 25 low earth orbit (LEO) satellites annually. The satellites are being manufactured in collaboration with Satellogic Inc, a leader in sub-metre resolution earth observation satellites.

Courtesy. The Economic Times app

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Began reciting my prayers after a lapse of four days and included Sanil in my prayers.

A quiet day. Met many people who'd dropped by to inquire about Sanil's untimely end.

Padmakumar and Rema fetched up back from Pidavoor.

A comparatively early evening. 

Why does God make good people suffer?

No, God neither gives suffering nor joy to anyone. These are the creations of one's own karma. God only delivers the result.

Let us take the case of Bhishma. Why did he get the boon of 'ichha mrityu'?

He was a devotee and a mahatma. Then why did he have to suffer on the bed of arrows for 50 days?

The answer for both is the same. To atone for the sins in this life itself. For Bhishma there was the prarabda which had to be exhausted. He had to delay his death till it was exhausted. Bhishma being wise, welcomed it.

Even good people come into this world with prarabda. It has nothing to do with the present goodness.

If one becomes wise, he does not lament the suffering. He takes both happiness and sorrow in the same stride. For him the delay is only till the prarabda lasts.

That explains why even saints like, Ramana maharishi suffered cancer.

Only God, as incarnation, suffer no bodily ailment, for he has no prarabda. So, we see Rama and Krishna willingly giving up bodies.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 8. Achu ferried us to Hareendra Babu's clinic. He was late, we met him and he'd ordered for cbc and crp tests. 

We, then, went to Pidavoor to drop Padmakumar and Rema, collected our washed clothes and went to the More outlet to collect grocery.

Met the doctor again for the prognosis and medicines.

And we returned to Anjanam.

A quiet day, subsequently. 

One line humour.

* Regular naps prevent old age especially if you take them while driving.

* Having one child makes you a parent; having two you are a referee.

* Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right and the other is the husband!

* I believe we should all pay our tax with a smile. I tried - but they wanted cash.

* A child's greatest period of growth is the month after you've purchased new school uniforms.

* Don't feel bad. A lot of people have no talent.

* Don't marry the person you want to live with, marry the one you cannot live without but whatever you

   do, you'll regret it later.

* You can't buy love but you pay heavily for it.

* Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.

* Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.

* Marriage is give and take. You'd better give it to her or she'll take it anyway.

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready around 9.

Soman's family had dropped by and befriended members of Sanil's family.

Interviewed by Neha Mhatre from Bangalore, regarding the IPKF Operations in Sri Lanka.

  

Wonderfully true!

  Dateline 06 Apr.

   1. Inspite of many colours, white is considered class.

   2. Inspite of so many voices and sounds, silence is considered ultimate.

   3 Inspite of so much to eat, fasting is considered healthy.

   4. Inspite of so much to travel and explore, meditating under trees and on mountains is considered 

       superior.

   5. Inspite of so much to see, closing your eyes and looking within is apex.

   6. Inspite of listening to all the outside world, voice from inside you is eternal.

   7. Inspite of a sweet charming life, a peaceful soul is solace and divine.

      Trust your senses. Live a great life.

 

A final farewell.

Dateline 05 Apr

Had spent the night at the flat-that-was-hired-for use-after-the-transplant, close to the KIMS hospital. Though all of us were dog tired, Sanil's memories kept us chatting till well past midnight.

Earlier, we'd overseen the shifting of Sanil's body from the ICU to the morgue and completed the formalities so that we could take off early in the morning itself.

Got up at 4, went through our chores and was ready by 5. The ambulance - actually, the hearse - left the hospital's premises a trifle after 5. And we sped towards Ayoor.

We were at Mini's house much before 8 and Sanil was lying in state, immediately thereafter. People came trickling almost continuously. Meanwhile the preparations for the cremation were in progress.

Around 2, the body after being accorded the farewell ceremonies, was placed on the pyre and Sanil was consigned to the flames. Ammu had lit the pyre.

A quiet evening thereafter. We'd gone across to Raj Nivas to collect our luggage as we were gonna be at 'Anjanam' for the next fortnight to enable Mini, Ammu and Mithun to tide over theses stressful times.

A comparatively early evening.  

Adieu Sanil!

Dateline 04 Apr

My younger brother-in-law and Mini’s husband, PG Sanil Kumar passed into the mist of time this evening around a half past seven. He was in the transplant ICU of the KIMS Hospital, plugged on to a ventilator, since 26 Mar after he’d spat blood lowering his haemoglobin and albumin. He was suffering from cirrhosis of the liver.

He was the VP and the HoD, Mathematics at the Padmakshi Seshadri Public school at the time of his retirement two years back. A Mathematics-teacher-par-excellence, he was respected and loved by his students for his professional acumen and teaching ability. He diverse knowledge in any topic was phenomenal, as he did a lot of reading.

He’s the eldest of three sons of the late Gangadharan Pillai and Padmavathy Amma, both excellent teachers. The former retired as the Principal of his school while the latter retired as the DEO.

Mini and Sanil have a daughter, Shamily aka Ammu. She was keen to donate a part of her liver to her dad but he was not in a condition to undergo the surgery.

Om Shanti! Sadgati.

Happiness chemicals.

Dopamine (The reward chemical)

* Complete a task

* Listen to music

* Eat good food

* Self-care activities

Oxytocin (The love hormone)

* Hug someone

* Play with pet or baby

* Get a massage

Seratonin (The mood stabilizer)

* Go for a run

* Sun exposure

* Walk in nature

* Meditation

Endorphins (The pain killer)

* Exercise

* Watch a comedy

* Eat dark chocolate

* Sauna

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, opened up the house, lit up the lamp in the puja room, the chores, recited my prayers, exercises and was ready by a half past 10.

To Dr Hareendra Babu for Lekha's review and my medicines.

A quiet evening.

Why no Animal or Bird can cross this line.

The mysterious Wallace Line

The line runs through Indonesia, such as Makassar Strait between Borneo and Sulawesi (Celebes) and through the Lombok Strit between Bali and Lombok, where the distance is strikingly small, only about 35 kilometers (22 miles) but enough for a contrast in species present on each island. The complex biogeography of the Indo-Australian Archipelago is a result of its location at the merging point of four major tectonic plates and other semi-isolated microplates in combination with ancient sea levels. Those caused the isolation of different taxonomic groups on islands at present relatively close to each other. 

Wallace's line is one of the many boundaries drawn by naturalists and biologists since the mid-1800s intended to delineate constraints on the distribution of the fauna and flora of the archipelago.

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time. The chores and was ready by a half past 9.

Rema and Padmakumar arrive by a half past 10. Letha, Archa and Devootty, along with Kannan reached by lunch time. We celebrated Rema's birthday by the Malayalam calendar.

Spoke to Mini, Mithun and Ammu regarding prolonging Sanil's stay at the ventilator. Spoke to them with clarity, though I'd reiterated that it's their wish that will be factored in.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Supreme Court refuses interim relief.

SC refuses to grant interim relief to Kerala in the borrowing limits case. The court has referred the larger question of whether a state can sue the Centre over fiscal issues to a constitution bench.

The Supreme Court has stated that the state has got substantial relief. The dispute between the two sides reached the top court in December after talks failed to yield results. A bench of justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan heard the two sides after Kerala rejected an offer by the Centre, allowing it an advanced and additional borrowing space of Rs.5,000 crores in the current fiscal on the grounds that it is insufficient. The first offer was made in Feb 2024. Kerala sought an advance borrowing of Rs.15,000 crores.

Timeline of the case

In its plea, Kerala alleged that the Centre was arbitrarily imposing a net borrowing ceiling, limiting the amount it could raise, leading to an urgent requirement of around Rs.26,000 crore to meet its financial obligations.

The LDF government has accused the union finance ministry of imposing a net borrowing ceiling in a manner that limits it from raising funds from all sources, including open market.

The Centre reduced the Net Borrowing Ceiling of the state by introducing aspects into the "borrowing", which otherwise are not considered "borrowings", it alleged.

The Centre said the Union has long relied on Articles 293 (3) and 294 (4) of the Constitution to control spending and borrowing by states. The limit is recommended by the Finance Commission based on a pre-approved formula.

According to the 15th Finance Commission's recommendations, the upper limit of states' borrowings can be set at 3.5% of their GSDP for FY24 and FY25. For the current fiscal year, 0.5% of the ceiling was linked to power sector reforms.

Courtesy. moneycontrol

My take

Kerala's case in the first place itself was a losing game! It's close to a Sri Lanka-like situation with regards to its fiscal health. It had better listen to the union government and follow prudent fiscal measures within the federal structure!

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 10.

No change in outlook regarding Sanil's condition.

No television for the second day.

India Zindabad!

Pakistani nationals after being rescued by the Indian Navy.

The 23 Pakistani nationals who were rescued by the Indian Navy chanted "India Zindabad" slogans. The Pakistanis were on an Iranian vessel which was hijacked by pirates and they were rescued after an operation that lasted over 12 hours. The crew were given a thorough medical check up before the boat was cleared for fishing activities.

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, lit the lamp in the puja room, opened up the house and switched on the devotional songs. The chores and was ready by a half past 10.

Pumped out my mail of March soon after.

Lekha's younger sister, Preetha and family dropped by at teatime.

Reasons behind the accidental BrahMos missile firing.

The IAF has for the first time disclosed reasons behind the accidental firing of a BrahMos combat missile which landed in Pakistan in Mar 2022.

In a reply filed before the Delhi High Court, the IAF has said that combat connectors of the BrahMos missile "remained connected to the junction box" which led to the accidental firing of the missile.

The IAF has further submitted that the convoy commander of a road convoy, which was to move to location as part of inspection "failed to ensure safe transit of convoy by not ensuring disconnection of combat connectors of all missiles loaded" on the mobile autonomous launcher prior to the movement.

The IAF has described the incident as one which had the "effect of affecting the relations" of India with Pakistan. It has told the HC that a "conscious and considered decision" was taken to invoke the "President's pleasure" clause to terminate the services of three officials.

The Court of Inquiry held that the combat crew "knowing that the combat connectors of combat missiles are connected to junction box, failed to intervene to prevent the Mobile Autonomous Launcher commander from committing an unsafe act of launching Combat Missile...resulting in a launch of missile into the neighbouring nation, thereby causing potential threat to any airborne/ground object/personnel and also causing damage to the reputation of the IAF and the nation at large and a loss of Rs.24,90,85,000.00 to the government exchequer".

My take

Care must be taken to avoid repeating the mistake.

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, the chores, lit the lamp in the puja room, opened up the house, the chores and was ready by a half past 9.

Lekha's cough and fever are taking an apogee.

Showed her to Dr Hareendrababu, at his clinic at Kunnicode. He has put her on antibiotics. 

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   Free initial legal consultation

* Tailored Legal Services.

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   Wealth of educational resources

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   To assist our bootstrapped veterans/families

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, opened up the music, lit the lamp in the puja room, the chores and was ready by a half past 10.

Plumber Murali came and repaired the water motor-related problem. hari was his helper.

A quiet evening. 

The Hawaiian Guitar.

As per music historian and curator John Troutman of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, the steel guitar instrument was invented by a Hawaiian teenager named Kekuku. After inventing the Hawaiian steel guitar in his high school, Kekuku became a world-touring guitar soloist. The instrument is played on the lap or on a stand and the guitarisr plucks the cords instead of strumming them while running a steel bar over the neck.

At the turn of the last century, the lilting sound of the Hawaiian steel guitar captivated Americans fascinated with the tropical islands that were newly annexed by the US. As Hawaiian steel guitarists started touring the US mainland, the ukelele and steel guitar were introduced to the public at expositions, 

Hawaiian steel guitar music grew wildly popular. In 1916, 78 rpm record featuring an indigenous Hawaiian instrument outsold every other genre of music in the US.

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready by 10.

Lekha has cough and fever. Medicines administered.

Rema and Padmakumar were with us for lunch. In fact, she had brought her part of the pot luck and the caretaker was the other contributor!

Back at Raj Nivas.

Last night, Mithun had called up to say that Sanil had spat a lot of blood early in the morning, was in acute discomfort and shifted to the ICU of KIMS. He further remarked that the doctor has said that the next six hours were extremely critical because of the following :-

      - Sanil's BP was low, the diastolic was hovering around 44.

      - The bleeding wasn't stopping and the cause was unknown and

      - There was an infection.

Lekha had chided me for returning to Guruvayur: in fact, she'd suggested to me that we went across to Rema's house at Thrippunithura and gone back to Tvpm, if and when we were required there! And because of that, felt guilty all through the day till I saw Sanil at the Transplant ICU and saw him breathing softly around 5 in the evening. Liji, the attending nurse, briefed me about Sanil's state.

We left soon after for Kottarakkara in a low floor a/c bus, reached by a quarter to 10. Rema and Padmakumar left for Pidavoor soon after.

Tailpiece

Got up at 3, the chores and was ready by 5. The talkative Kannan was our sa'arthi today and our journey was by a taxi. We'd kicked off from The Quarterdeck by a quarter past 5. Picked Up Padmakumar and Rema from near their house and continued with our journey.

Reached Raj Nivas, dumped our luggage there and continued southward to Tvpm and reached Mini by a 10' past 4. Phew!

A few interesting sayings.

1. "Success goes to those who dare and act

      It seldom goes to the timid"

2. "At ebb tide I wrote a line on the shore

     And gave it all my heart and all my soul.

     At flood tide I returned to read what I'd transcribed

     And found my ignorance on the shore".

3. Some men see things as they are

    And say "why?"

    I dream things that never were

    And say "why not?"

4. If you are a gentleman, nothing else matters.

    If you are not a gentleman, still nothing matters.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 3, the chores and set off northward by a half past 6.

Heard the sad news that Sanil had an emergency at 4 and was in the 'critical care ICU' at KIMS, Tvpm.

Breakfast was at Kottayam, at 9. Dropped Lekha at ShenoyCare by a quarter to 11 and then visited Bhat. Lunch at the ShenoyCare canteen Simple menu.

Shaped course to Guruvayur. Reached here by 5.

A quiet evening.

India deploys 11 submarines.

This deployment by the Indian Navy is a stark contrast to the submarine history of the last two decades that has seen the arm hit by dwindling strength, accidents and write-offs.

Marking a significant milestone for the Navy in three decades, India last Friday simultaneously deployed 11 conventional submarines for operations. This deployment starkly contrasts the submarine history of the last two decades which has seen the arm hit by dwindling strength, accidents and write-offs.

"It is indeed an important milestone for us. Since I joined the Navy, I have not seen such a high simultaneous deployment. This was basically because we did not have that many submarines in operations and the fleet strength was hit by several undergoing refits or repairs", told a source, who has completed over 25 years of service. 

Sources in the defence establishment said that the last time the Indian submarine arm was at its highest strength was in the early 90s when the Navy had 8 Kilo-class submarines, four HDWs and four Foxtrots of Russian origin.

"Since then, the submarine's arm has really been hit. Even the delivery of the Scorpene submarines was delayed", another source said.

Currently, India operates 16 conventional submarines, including five Scorpene class (French), four HDWs (German) and seven Kilo-class (Russian). An additional Scorpene class is still to be commissioned.

Tailpiece.

Got up a trifle earlier than usual, the chores and Kunjumon took me to the lab at Randalummoodu. Breakfast soon after that and went for the post-prandial test at 9.

My blood sugar results seem to be okay.

Lunch and siesta.

To the work-site at a half past 4. Discussed the onward progress of work. Earlier, had transferred the second tranche of payment to Ganapathi. 

Tidbits.

1. The Fact of Life

    "If everyone is happy with you, then

           surely you have made many

             compromises in your life".

     "And if you are happy with everyone,

        then surely you have ignored many

                     faults of others".

2.  Another fact

     Mount Everest. Height 8,848 meters

   More than 4,000 people have successfully

              Climbed Mount Everest.

      Mount Kailash. Height 6,638 meters.

  Even after many efforts till date no human

          has climbed Mount Kailash.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 5, the chores and was ready by 9.

Reached Animon-Vijayalakshmi's house at Kayankulam by a trifle after 11. Saw his son's - Vihan - 28th day birthday celebrations. It was nice seeing everyone from the family.

Returned by a quarter past 2. Siesta.

Which one are you?

What'sApp group results are out......

   1. Whatsapp Rooster. 

       Everyday wishing

       Everyone good

       morning and waking

       them up is their

       favourite job...they go 

       quiet after this.

   2. Whatsapp Baba

       They send only

       messages of God and

       give discourses.

   3. Whatsapp Thief

       They copy other

       messages and forward 

       them.

   4. Whatsapp Devadas

       They always send

       painful and sad

       messages and

       poems....and make

       everyone else sad.

   5. Whatsapp news reporter

       They update everyone

       about what's

       happening in the world.

   6. Whatsapp Vidushak

       No matter how sad

       their life is they keep

       replying to everyone

       and keep laughing.

   7. Whatsapp Mauni Baba

       They read everyone's 

       messages silently but

       never reply....many are

       unaware these people

       exist in the group.

   8. Whatsapp Thinkers

       They try to change 

       people by sending good

       purposeful messages.

   9. Whatsapp Poet n Poetess

       These people don't 

       know anything other

       than poems and kavitas and

       shayaris.

 10. Whatsapp Chatter

       They are not interested

       in anything other than

       chatting...they are

       always online.

 11. Whatsapp monkey

       They never reply...only

       say haha....hehe.

 12. Whatsapp Collector

       They only join but

       never message.

 13. Whatsapp All Rounder

       They express their 

       opinion on anything

       and everything. They

       know about 

       everything and try to

       elevate the over all

       mood.

Most of us belong to at least one group.

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, opened up the house, the chores and was ready by 10.

Meanwhile, Mo came and collected the Chevy for a look see. 

Kannan takes us in Archa's car, first to the MahaGanapati kshetram and then to

Ayoor. Padmakumar, Rema and Achu surprised us there.

Picked up a remote and got Lekha's new Aadhaar card laminated.

Got the television going by a quarter past 7 through online recharge.      

    

   

Finally, Arvind Kejriwal stews in his own juice.

This man always had a problem. If we were to follow his public life, it becomes amply clear that he 'preached something and did something else'.

As his first foray into public life, he hung on to the coat tails of the social activist Anna Hazare. After getting sufficient headway, he coolly dumped the surprised activist and began to project himself as the epitome of truth and promised the gullible public - who were desperately seeking a fresh and ethical(?) political leader - the moon!

His initial utterances about the monumental corruption in governance sounded sincere and the common man hoped that here was a guy who would be 'their man' and voted him to power in Delhi with a massive mandate, during his first elections. 

The thing that he was repeatedly found to excel in was to 'shoot and scoot' - speak about an allegation against somebody, reduce him to zilch and by the time he retrieved himself from the difficult position that he was brought to, it was too late.....the public was not interested. Arvind Kejriwal had, by then, moved on to demolish his next prey.

He used to lambast the states of Punjab and Haryana - the farmers, if you please, for burning the stubble - for exacerbating the pollution levels of Delhi's atmosphere. Wonder whether it was the public's way of teaching him a lesson, they handed the state of Punjab to him on a platter. He didn't dare lift a finger to regulate the 'stubble burning'!

His double standards were beginning to show - the broom, his party's election symbol and that stupid cap - showed he was very much the politician from the familiar mould.

The so-called 'farmers' agitation' by the Khalistani sympathisers, the 'chalo Dilli march' by them and the subsequent havoc created by them in and around the Red Fort, nurturing and silently supporting the Shaheen Bagh protestors and finally, his flawed Excise Policy exposed him completely. 

There's also a buzz that he was trying to whip up anarchy in the country with the tacit support of certain misguided political parties to form today's fifth columnists! What a shame? He doesn't have any qualm of conscience to let his country burn just to grab the Prime Ministerial chair!

Power at any cost, seems to have been his motto.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 4, the chores and kicked off from The Quarterdeck around a quarter to 7 through early morning rain.

Reached Raj Nivas by a quarter past 2.

Saw the massive concrete work going on at our northern boundary along the stream.

Settled down to a quiet evening.