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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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.

India's first indigenous engine for battle tanks.

Defence PSU Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) carried out the maiden test-firing of India's first indigenously made 1500 HP engine for main battle tanks. This is a far-reaching milestone as the country had lacked engine-related technology.

The test-firing was conducted at BEML's engine division in the presence of the Defence Secretary. The1500 HP engine represents a paradigm shift in military propulsion systems, possessing cutting-edge features such as high power-to-weight ratio, operability in extreme conditions including high altitudes, sub-zero temperatures and desert environments.

The phases of development :-

 * Generation One. The test firing of the 1500 HP engine where the focus is on technology stabilisation.

 * Generation Two. BEML will produce engines for various trials at Combat Vehicles Research and

                                and Development Establishment for their integration into actual vehicles for user

                                testing.

 * The project is slated for completion by mid-2025.

 * The project was initiated in Aug 2020.

Courtesy. Mayank Singh in the NIE.

My take

A great milestone in indigenous technological innovation! BZ to BEML!!

Tailpiece.

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

Lekha had gone across to the temple to have a 'darshan' of the good Lord.

Drove the Chevy to do work and top up with fuel and check tyre pressure.

The curtains were put in place, the wall-mounted fan fixed, the fridge serviced and the coconuts were plucked.

Shut down The Quarterdeck systematically.

Is our water from outer space?

Asteroid Bennu has building blocks of life, say scientists

Bennu's sample show presence of glycine, the simplest amino acid and a crucial ingredient of proteins, according to a new report.

Water minerals found in the sample

The sample also has other water-bearing minerals such as carbonates, sulphites, olivine and magnette, leading to a tangible evidence that Bennu's parent body witnessed multiple water-related episodes befor fragments coalesced into the asteroid, the report says. Scientists also found a reservoir of magnesium phosphate, a rare find in astromaterials.

Did earth get water from outer space?

* Scientists have found abundant water-altered compounds called phyllosilicates which may have been

   the cradles for organics, water that scientists suspect were delivered to Earth early in its history.

* Sample of Bennu was brought by NASA's Osiris-REx mission in a protected capsule in 2023 and  

   kept in Houston where study is on.

Courtesy. The NIE

Tailpiece.

Got up a trifle late, the chores and was ready by a half past 10.

The curtain guys, the electrician and the servicing guys let us down by not fetching up as promised

earlier!

Cleaned up Crazy.

From the EurAsian Times.

While Chinese PLA Navy, despite its increasing size, is still working towards becoming a true blue-water navy capable of operating much beyond its shores, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force pooled their resources to paradrop marine commandos from a Boeing C-17 Globemaster to rescue a hijacked merchant vessel 1400 nautical miles (2,600 km) from the Indian shores.

The message was loud and clear that India is the 'First Responder in the Indian Ocean Region'.

It was the first insertion of marine commandos through airdrop on high seas. A rescue right out of the Hollywood flick "Captain Phillips", the Indian forces executed the anti-piracy operation on the high seas that unfolded for over 40 hours.

Indian Navy's stealth-guided missile destroyer INS Kolkata intercepted a merchant vessel, MV Ruen, which was hijacked by Somali pirates on 13 Dec 2023.

The pirates had sailed in the ship to conduct more acts of piracy when they were stopped by INS Kolkata.

My take

Three cheers to the IN and the IAF for the flawless execution of a fantastic operation. Mera Bharat Mahan!

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 3, thanks to Lekha's cellphone alarm, the chores and was ready by a half past 5. We'd kicked off for toothy Mallan's clinic, at Muhamma, by a quarter to 6.

Reached our destination by a half past 9. The breakfast - a combo, shared by Lekha and me as always. Lekha's top palate's furniture was also in place and her smile had that wholesome look. We left the clinic by a quarter to 12 and took the Thanneermukkam Bund road for our return.

Had lunch at the Aaaryas, close to Kalamasserri around a half past 1.

Spent time with Commodore IP Antony, whose wife Thressiamma had passed into the mist of time at 8 mts past midnight on 29 Feb.

Picked up a wall-mounted fan from Gopu Nandilath showroom, two potted bougainvillea plants from a nursery enroute and our fruit basket, before reaching home at about a half past 6.  

 

Kerala's entrepreneur to revolutionise Malawi's transportation!

Brijesh Balakrishnan, a young entrepreneur hailing from Kozhikode, has forged a partnership with the government of the southeastern African country. His innovative electric-vehicle company is poised to export eco-friendly two-wheelers and three-wheelers to the land-locked nation.

Malawi, a country known for its commitment to sustainability and green initiatives, sees the introduction of e-vehicles as a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions and promoting cleaner modes of transportation. Balakrishnan's company, Axeon Ventures Pvt Ltd, has been making waves in the e-vehicle industry with its cutting-edge technology and commitment to the environment.

With his experience in the automobile industry, Balakrishnan believed in going to the core of sustainable development and coming up with the most creative and high-end solutions. In 2017, he along with his friends started building e-vehicles after an extended period of trial and error. 

The manufacturing unit of Kozhikode-headquartered Axeon is in Coimbatore. The company has already sold around 500 e-vehicles in different parts of the country. His vehicles have garnered attention on the global stage, thanks to their affordability, reliability and eco-friendly design.

The partnership marks a new chapter in the relationship between India and Malawi.

Courtesy. Pooja Nair in the NIE.

My take

A venture, about which, all of us can be proud of! 

Tailpiece.

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

Frequent power-cuts were the order of the day.

Finished up my work by lunchtime. 

A quiet evening.

India extends DDT production for Africa

India has decided to continue production of DDT(Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane) for another five years though the deadline to phase out the deadly chemical is ending this year under the Stockholm Convention.

The Convention outlawed the production and use of DDT limiting it mosquito control. Senior officials. Officials say that the demand from African countries made India to continue DDT. The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) will inform the Convention secretariat in September about the decision.

Developed in the 1940s and used to control vector-borne diseases like malaria and typhus, it was soon realised that DDT is a potential carcinogen. Despite being banned in agriculture use in 1972, India continued using it to control vector-borne diseases.

MoEF&CC has received consent from the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCP) for continuing DDT production to meet its export obligations. Currently, Hindustan Insecticide Ltd (HIL) is under obligation to meet the demand of 36 MT from five African countries by march-end.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), a major buyer of DDT to control vector-borne disease, has said it does not need the chemical further as alternatives are available. Moreover, MoH&FW has stocked 578 MT of DDT.

Besides being toxic to environment, studies show mosquitoes are developing resistance to DDT. India has been working on environment-friendly alternatives. A joint project with UN agency UNIDO will come up with world's first neem-based biopesticides and Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis)-based biopesticides. "Its commercial production would be started by the end of 2025 as the facility is being set up, HIL says.

Courtesy. Jitendra Choubey in the NIE.

Tailpiece.

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

A quiet Sunday.

Kerala's Forest Department's Initiative.

Lawyers, professors among 2,400 certified snake rescuers!

A lawyer by profession, he entertains two types of phone callers :-

  * Those who get in touch with him for legal advice and

  * Those who have sighted a snake and want it rescued.

The first are his bread and butter but he pays equal attention to the second group as he is one of the 2,400 rescuers in the state, trained and certified by the state department.

Since 2020, the department has been training those interested in rescuing snakes under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which bars such activity by unauthorised persons. The initiative followed several untoward incidents during rescues by untrained persons. In the past four years, the department has trained over 4,000 people. Of these, those exhibiting extreme proficiency were deemed as certified rescuers.

Among the 2,400-odd certified rescuers are more than 200 women, who regularly conduct rescue operations. As volunteers, these men and women stand out in their passion for handling snakes. "Snakes have fascinated me from childhood", says one. While studying Kathakali at Kerala Kalamandalam, he was suspended from the hostel for rearing a snake. Most of the volunteers have similar interesting anecdotes.

The assistant conservator of forests and state nodal officer of SARPA (Snake Awareness Rescue and Protection App) says that people from diverse backgrounds are opting for the training and enhanced public participation has increased the extent of rescue operations.

Number of snakes captured, over the years, across the state by rescuers trained by forest department

Species                                                    Year

                                               2021          2022            2023 

* King cobra                           54               81                82

* Indian rock python            1,159         1,768            2,568

* Spectacled cobra               1,537         2,797            3.428

* Others                                1,703         2,297            2,902

   Total                                  4,453         6,943            8,980

Courtesy.     AS Shan in the NIE

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 5, the chores and was ready by a quarter past 9.

Today happens to be :-

    * the 8th remembrance day of Lekha's dad by the Malayalam calendar

    * the 24th remembrance day of Bruno

Lekha goes to the Perunthatta Siva kshetram to offer a thila homam on her dad's memory.

The maid was at work but she left after lunch as she was going to collect a loan from the bank.

India bans 18 OTT Platforms.

Centre bans OTT platforms for vulgar and obscene content

The Information & Broadcasting ministry blocked 18 OTT platforms, 19 websites and 10 mobile apps for exhibiting obscene and vulgar content.

Multiple warnings by I & B ministry ignored

The ministry said all the banned entities were given multiple warnings before action was taken against them. Those on the banned list are listed below :-

      * Dream Films                                                   * Rabbit

      * Yoovi                                                               * Xtramood

      * Yess Ma                                                           * MoodX

      * Uncut Adda                                                     * Mojflix

      * Tri Flicks                                                         * Hot Shots VIP

      * X Prime                                                           * Chikooflix

      * Neon X VIP                                                     * Prime Play

      * Besharams                                                       * Nuefliks

      * Hunters                                                            * Fungi

Wide consultation before crack down

* The content on the platforms showed nudity, sexual acts in various inappropriate contexts such as 

   relationship between teachers and students and incestuous family relationships, the ministry said.

* Before banning, inputs from various ministries, domain experts in media, entertainment, women's

   rights, child rights were taken.

Courtesy. The NIE

My take

Appropriate action! BZ!!

Tailpiece.

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

A quiet forenoon.

Lekha goes out for sundry purchases.

The centre - state governments' tussle in the Supreme Court.

The Kerala government rejected the central government's conditional offer of additional borrowing  worth Rs.5,000 cr in this financial year as a one-time measure during the hearing at the Supreme Court. The court will now hear the state government's plea for being allotted Rs.10,000 cr.

At the hearing, the Additional Solicitor General informed the court that the Centre was ready to allow additional borrowing to the state under five stringent conditions viz. :-

   (a) The amount will be adjusted from the state's net borrowing ceiling for the first nine months in the

        next fiscal.

   (b) No adhoc borrowing will be allowed.

   (c) The state government should implement Plan B for resource mobilisation before the last quarter

        of 2024-'25 (Plan B was a budget announcement of the state government).

   (d) The consent for borrowing will be given only if the state government submits certain documents.

   (e) Also, the consent for borrowing for the first nine months will be issued on a quarterly basis. This

        would be for up to 25% of eligibility, arrived after deducting Rs.5,000 cr.

My take

Kerala is galloping toward a debt-trap on the same lines as Sri Lanka due to sloth, overspending, misgovernance, corruption and the government's inability to collect taxes and other dues that are rightly its. Another thing that needs to be observed is that, now, the state government is not talking about its dues because of GST! 

So, it's evident that the Kerala government's arguments need to be studied, by the court, for the authenticity of facts.

Tailpiece.

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

Shaji, the curtain man from Kunnamkulam, had come to take measurements for the white lace curtains at 10. So did the PCI's Ranjoo for carrying out the quarterly servicing.

The maid was at work.

A quiet evening. 

The first crash of Tejas fighter jet.

In the first such incident since its first test flight in 2001, a Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) of the IAF crashed near a residential area in Jaisalmer, around 1400 hrs, yesterday. The pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft before the crash and there were no casualties.

A court of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident, said IAF sources. The accident happened when the indigenously built fighter jet was returning to the Jaisalmer air base after taking part in the Bharat Shakti military exercise in Pokhran.

Jaisalmer is roughly 100 km away from the exercise venue in Pokhran. The aircraft crashed into a five-room hostel for the Bhil community in Jawahar Nagar near Jaisalmer. There were three students in the hostel compound at the time of the crash but they were unhurt as the fighter jet damaged one of the rooms.

It is set to replace the ageing squadrons of MiG fighter jets and become the mainstay of the force in the coming years. It is significant as the sanctioned IAF combat squadrons are 42 but it has come down to around 30. A squadron in the IAF comprises 16-18 aircraft.

Currently, the IAF has two operational Tejas squadrons. The first IAF Squadron to induct the Tejas was No.45 Squadron, the Flying Daggers in Jul 2018. Flying Bullets, raised in 2020, is the second squadron.

Manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics, the aircraft is a potent platform for air combat and air support missions.

Courtesy. Rajesh Asnani and Mayank in the NIE.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 3, thanks to Lekha's cellphone alarm, the chores and we were ready by a half past 5. Set off for toothy Mallan's clinic soon after.

Breakfast was at Ananda Bhavan at 7. Reached the clinic by a half past 9. Lekha will have to visit next Tuesday also. Scaling was done on my teeth.

Returned to The Quarterdeck by a half past 5 but not before initiating the acquisition of the white lace curtains and the buying of fruits. 

India enters the multi-warhead club.

India successfully test-fired an Agni-5 missile, which has the capability to deploy multiple warheads and has a range of 5,000+ km, effectively bringing the northern most part of China within striking distance.

The test was named Divyastra and by doing it successfully, India has joined a select club comprising the US, the UK, Russia, France and China that have the capacity to deploy multiple warheads under the MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles) technology.

The technology makes a missile capable of carrying and delivering multiple warheads at one or multiple targets. Designed by the DRDO, the Agni-5 missile is a canister-launched system transported by truck. The Agni-5 is an intercontinental surface-to-surface ballistic missile It can carry a payload of 1.5 tons and weighs around 50 tons.

My take

Yet another step toward becoming a superpower!

Tailpiece.

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

Drove down to town to do my work and topped up the Chevy with fuel and check tyre pressure.

Met Dr Rani Menon, the ophthalmologist to have my right eye checked. Both eyes are healthy, she said but has given me drops to administer on both the eyes, to overcome dryness, if it were to come by.

A quiet evening. 

The obnoxious side of 'Mallu', the tourist!

The Malayalam movie Manjummel Boys is currently running to packed houses and have set the cash registers ringing. The film aptly portrays the mindset of Malayali tourists who drink and puke throughout their trips. They are sans common sense and social sense and are not concerned with anything else.

Writer-screenwriter B Jeyamohan has kindled a controversy with his blog post related to the Malayalam movie 'Manjummel Boys'. The film was irksome as it is a real-life story, noted Jeyamohan in his blog post.

According to him, the film aptly portrays the mindset of Malayali tourists who drink and puke throughout their trips. They are sans common sense and social sense and are not concerned with anything else, he writes adding that he has witnessed, at least a dozen times, Malayali drunkards misbehaving in public at tourist centers like Ooty, Kodaikanal and Kuttaalam.

His blog has been written in Tamil. "Just as the movie proudly portrays, they throw away the liquor bottles negligently onto public roads. Such bottles, broken or unbroken, can be found throughout the Sengttai-Kuttalam as well as Koodalloor-Ooty roads. The vehicles of these drunkards have puke stains on both sides. They answer every question in Malayalam and expect others to learn Malayalam as well", it roughly translates.

My take

A fact check for all Malayali tourists!

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready by 10. Earlier, Sajish had come by and given me a good haircut and massage.

To the town to wrap up pending work and to pick up grocery from Harisree Supermarket.

The maid was down for work. 

At Raj Nivas, the left window has been repaired as well as the doorstep between the sitting room and the television room. And Ganapathy's boys have cleared the wild growth at the northern boundary and the requisite granite will be unloaded later tonight.

The construction of the breakwater wall will commence soon after.

The all-weather Sela Tunnel.

The Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, which was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi, will ensure all-weather connectivity to Tawang and forward areas and facilitate smoother movement of troops.

Built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under Project Vartak, the Rs.825 cr strategic project is a component of the Trans-Arunachal Highway system and the longest two-lane tunnel in the world at 13,000 ft. The tunnel will bypass the treacherous Sela Pass. The Balipara-Charduar-Tawang Road, on which the tunnel has been constructed, is an important axis connecting Tawang region and provides connectivity to the hinterland up to Tezpur.

The road had various bottlenecks but the BRO addressed them by constructing Sela and Nechiphu Tunnels and Bomdila Bypass. The 500-metre long Nechiphu Tunnel was dedicated to the nation, last year, on 12 Sep.

The foundation stone for Sela Tunnel was laid by the PM on 09 Feb 2019 and the construction commenced on 01 Apr, that year. The first blast took place on 31 Oct, that year.

The tunnel has been completed in five years overcoming challenges of difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions. The Sela Tunnel system consists of two tunnels measuring 1,003 mts and 1,595 mts with 8.6 km and link roads. The second tunnel has an escape tube adjacent to the main tunnel as per international norms.

My take

The communications along the LAC has acquired the necessary impetus ever since the coming of Narendra Modi as our PM. BZ!

Tailpiece.

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

A quiet Sunday.

The evening chores.

 

Historian's findings.

In the popular imagination, Salafis or Mujahids in Kerala are the progressive face of the Muslim community, who fought for the rights of women, while traditional Sunni Muslims are considered obscurantists and misogynists. But a researcher has come up with with a finding that the Salafis have, in fact, dismantled the matrilineal system of family that allowed more rights to Muslim women, including property rights.

In a recent book, "Matrilineal, Matriarchal and Matrifocal Islam : The World of Women Centric Islam", edited by Dr Abbas Panakkal, a historian with UK-based University of St Andrews' School of History, argues that Salafis joined hands with British colonialists to destroy the 'marumakkathaayam' or matrilineal system, existing among Muslims in Kerala.

"Salafi-Wahhabi and other political Islamist movements attacked the distinctive nature of matrilineal Islam and labelled its practices un-Islamic", he writes.

Dr Panakkal argues that Wahhabis condemned the integration of local customs into Islam because they thought that it would corrupt the religion. They wanted to purge Islam from all its regional and local 'contaminations' and to impose the 'real Islam', which in effect was the Arab variety of the religion.

"From the last quarter of the nineteenth century onwards, these 'reformists' campaigned against local practices and admonished Malabar Muslims to revert to the 'real Islam', " writes Dr Panakkal.

My take

Witness what's being done in the name of religion. It's important that the clergy, the socio-cultural leaders and the other stakeholders get around and ensure that the religion becomes flexible to accept right thinking!

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Breakfast, consisting of poories, were ordered from Hotel Welcome. The maid was in for work.

A quiet and a helluva hot day!

Carried out my complete set of exercises after early Sep '23, when I'd gone in for my cataract operation.

  

Today's MahaShivaratri.

1. Two Women, Two Different Roles

Two women, two different roles

The one who gave birth to me

And the one I gave birth to.

One gave all the love she had,

The other got all the love I had.

One strived in the life chosen for her,

The other - for the life she chose.

One made sure I didn't have tears,

The other ensured I face my fears.

One hears my voice to know if am well,

The other can read my face and tell.

One had her eyes moist as she saw me go,

The other made my eyes moist as I let her go.

My past and future when shall meet,

Will be a picture ever so complete.

Two women, two different roles.

If only I could be a little like them,

The one who gave birth to me,

And the one I gave birth to.

- A Poem.

2. Women

God created someone

Who is wise

Who only knows to Love..

Make sacrifices one

Who Encourages one

Who never gives up

God created WOMEN.

3. [22] Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man and He brought her to the man.

    [23] The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be 'Woman', for she was taken out of man".

    [24] That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife and they become one flesh. Genesis 2:22-24 NIV

My take

Today's MahaShivaratri and today's also the International Day of the Woman!

Tailpiece.

Got up at 5, thanks to Lekha's cellphone. Went through our chores and was ready by a half past 7. Rema had fetched up from Pidavoor and the three of us left for visits to the Padinjaattinkkara Shiva kshetram

and the MahaGanapati kshetram. 

Earlier, the caretaker had bought us breakfast and our sa'arthi, was ferried by us from Kottarakkara after landing there an hour earlier from Guruvayur.

Sealed the deal with contractor Ganapati for the work on the support-wall on Raj Nivas's northern boundary with the stream. 

Left home by 1000 hrs for Guruvayur. Lekha had her pedicure at Floria's at Kochi and I'd handed her watch to the Titan showroom at Broadway.

Reached The Quarterdeck at a quarter to 8.

A quiet evening, thereafter!

 

An old joke that I came across.

Student who obtained 0% in an exam despite all correct answers!

  1. In which battle did Napoleon die?

  A. His last battle.

  2. Where was the Declaration of Independence signed?

  A. At the bottom of the page.

  3. River Ravi flows in which state?

  A. Liquid.

  4. What is the main reason for divorce?

  A. Marriage.

  5. What is the main reason for failure?

  A. Exams.

  6. What can you never eat for breakfast?

  A. Lunch and dinner.

  7. What looks like half an apple?

  A. The other half.

  8. If you throw a red stone into the blue sea what will it become?

  A. It will simply get wet.

  9. How can a man go eight days without sleeping?

      No problem, he sleeps at night.

10. How can you lift an elephant with one hand?

 A. You can never find an elephant that has only one hand.

11.  If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in the other

       hand, what would you have?

 A.  Very large hands.

12. If it took eight men ten hours to build a wall, how long would take four men to build it?

 A. No time at all, the wall is already built.

13. How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it?

 A. Anyway you want. concrete floors are very hard to crack.

Tailpiece.

Got up earlier , the chores and was ready by 10. Had lit the lamp and opened up the house.

Left for the KIMS, Hospital by a half past 10, from Pidavoor. Rema and Padmakumar accompanied us.

Returned by 7. Offered condolences to Leela chechi's family.

A quiet evening!

 

Young and Old.

When I was young,

I was worried about

My pimples.

When I am old,

I am worried about

My wrinkles.

When I was young,

I was waiting to hold her

Hand.

When I am old,

I am waiting for someone to 

Hold my hand.

When I was young,

I hated being advised.

When I am old,

there is no one around to talk

or advise.

When I was young

I felt I was eternal. 

When I am old,

I know soon it will be my turn.

When I was young,

I found it difficult to wake up.

When I am old

I find it difficult to sleep.

When I was young,

I wanted to be a heart-

throb.

When I am old,

I am worried when will my

heart stop.

At extreme stages of our

life,

We worry

but

We don't realise,

Life needs to be 

experienced.

It doesn't matter whether

Young or Old.

Life needs to be lived

and Lived with love.

Courtesy. What'sApp

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready by 10. Our packing was over and we squared up Mini's house, Anjanam.

After placing our stuff at The Quarterdeck, we left for Padmakumar's house for lunch.

A quiet evening, thereafter!

Arrange - Rearrange.

This has got to be one of the cleverest messages. Someone out there either has too much spare time or is deadly at Scrabble.

  1. Dilip Vengsarkar

      When you arrange the letters : A sparkling drive.

  2. Princess Diana

      When you rearrange the letters : End is a car spin.

  3. Monica Lewinsky

      When you rearrange the letters : Nice silky woman.

  4. Dormitory

      When you rearrange the letters : Dirty Room.

  5. Astronomer

     When you rearrange the letters : Moon starer.

  6. Desperation

      When you rearrange the letters : A rope ends it.

  7. The eyes

      When you rearrange the letters : They see.

  8. A decimal point

     When you rearrange the letters : I m a dot in place.

  9. Mother-in-law

      When you rearrange the letters : Woman Hitler.

Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready in a leisurely manner. Sheela gave us our breakfast and the curries for lunch.

Sanil remained in the ICU today too.

A quiet evening!

  

Sesquipedalian Expressions.

It's fun for English lovers.

  1. Scintillate, scintillate asteroid minute.

     Twinkle, twinkle little star_.

  2. Members of an avian species of identical plumage congregate.

      Birds of the same feather flock together.

  3. Surveillance should precede saltation.

      Look before you leap.

  4. It is fruitless to become lachrymose over precipitately departed lactose fluid.

      Don't cry over spilt milk_

  5. Freedom from encrustation of grime is contiguous to divinity.

      Cleanliness is next to godliness_

  6. The stylus is more potent than the claymore.

      The pen is mightier than the sword_

  7. It is fruitless to attempt to indoctrinate a superannuated canine with innovative meaneuver.

      You can't teach an old dog new tricks_

  8. Eschew the implement of correction and vitiate the scion.

      Spare the rod and spoil the child_

  9. The temperature of aqueous content of an unremittingly ogled saucepan does not reach 212

      Fahrenheit.

      A watched pot never boils_

10. Neophyte's serendipity.

      Beginner's luck_

11. Male cadavers are incapable of yielding any testimony.

      Dead men don't talk_

12. Individuals who make their abode in vitreous edifices would be advised to refrain from catapulting

      petrous projectiles.

      People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones_

13. All articles that coruscate with resplendence are not truly auriferous.

      All that glitters is not gold.

14. When there are visible vapours having their province in ignited carbonaceous material there is

      conflagration.

       Where there's smoke there's fire.

15. Sorting on the part of mendicants must be interdicted.

      Beggars can't be choosers_

16. A plethora of individuals with expertise in culinary techniques dilapidates the potable concoction

      produced by steeping comestibles.

      Too many cooks spoil the broth_

 17. Exclusive dedication to necessary chores without interludes of hedonistic diversion renders john a

       hebephrenic fellow.

       All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy_

 18. A revolving lathic conglomorate accumulates no diminutive glaucous syrophytic plants.

       A rolling stone stone gathers no moss_

 19. The person with the ultimate cachinnation possesses, thereby, the optimal cachinnation.

       He who laughs last, laughs best.

 20. Missiles of ligneous or petrous consistency have the potential of fracturing my osseous structure 

       but appellations will eternally be benign.

       Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me_

 21. Pulchritude possesses  solely cutaneous  profundity.

       Beauty is only skin deep_

 22. You are cordially invited to the theological place of eternal punishment.

       Go to hell.

Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Sanil wasn't keeping well and he

didn't want us to go to Raj Nivas today.

Had called for an ambulance and had transferred him to the KIMS Hospital. He has been admitted into the ICU for observation. The reason for bleeding needs to be ascertained!

We returned by 5 and Mini would spend the evening at Sanil's uncle, Sajeev's place at Sreekaryam.

A quiet evening at Anjanam.

      

it is fruitless to attempt to indoctrinate a superannuated canine with

Observations from a dear friend.

My course mate stays in Calcutta as his wife hails from there. I respect his observations and opinions about life in general. Deeply analytical in his thinking, he pulls no punches. when he wants to say about something.

"I know very little and don't have an analytical mind so my views may not be right. I do observe as a layman.

I think the Commies (CPM) did more damage to the state than the Naxalites. They ruined the work culture, hierarchical social order to include Law and Order and most important, the higher education from where the best brains were churned out. The TMC is riding the same tiger (system) so no change is possible. I'm not born and brought up in Calcutta but my wife is, so I am here. 

No.2 observation.

There are 28 kids of my wife's relatives including 2 of mine. 24 are out of West Bengal for good and will never come back. My point is that educated have left so how will this state improve?

My observation no.3

The void of the next generation moving out has been filled up by Hindi-speaking rowdies mostly Hindus, at least in cities. The fringe areas around borders and mofussils are filled with Muslims from all over the world, I think. The silver lining is that the Hindu rowdies have kept a check on the Muslims. I'm sure if proper census is done, this state will have the highest percentage of peaceful ones.

My 4th observation.

In any train accident like the one in Orissa recently, the West Bengal governrnent is is proactive b'coz most trains are packed with skilled/semi skilled labour from this state to make a living. This labour force goes to improve other states and those who don't go are simply unemployable. So the state of West Bengal can't improve.

No.5 observation.

It's surviving bcoz of its fertile land and locational advantage from trade point of view. 8 northeastern states, Bangladesh and Nepal partially have to access West Bengal for many things. Also, it is the nearest sea route from Delhi. 

All said and done, the Bong literature is too good so most Bongs who know their vernacular are very enlightened and sensible people. I hardly know Bengali!

My take

The actual ground situation!

Tailpiece.

Got up around 6,and went about my chores leisurely. A quiet Sunday with yakkitiyak.

 

What is blood pressure?

In order to deliver oxygen and nutrients to each and every cell in our body, our heart pushes blood through tubes called blood vessels. As the blood moves, it exerts force on the vessels' walls. The measurement of this force of blood on the walls is called blood pressure. The ideal blood pressure reading is about 120 over 80 millimeters of mercury or slightly below it.

But, why does the reading have two numbers?

It is because our heart is constantly contracting and relaxing. During a phase called systole, our heart contracts to push the blood through arteries, thus increasing the pressure. So, the bigger number indicates the systolic blood pressure. Whereas during diastole, our heart relaxes, decreasing the pressure. So, the smaller number indicates the diastolic blood pressure.

My take

I used to get confused between the two but now the doubt is cleared! 

Tailpiece.

Got up at a 10' to 6, the chores and was ready by 9. Earlier, had taken permission to return to Thalavoor today, from Maman though Ammayi was not happy.

Was at the office till a half past 1. Thereafter, I took an autorickshaw to go to the bus stand and boarded the first FP going to Pathanamthitta. Lunch was a pair of big bananas. Reached Kottarakkara by a quarter to 4. Had tea and a snack.

Off to Mohan's Boss Workshop. Sat with him to touch upon a whole host of subjects.

Meanwhile, Lekha and the others had gone to see the matinee show of 'Premalu'. She joined me after going to Thalavoor, exchanging clothes by 7. 

Reached Mini's house by 8. A pleasant evening! 

How to detect a deepfake.

Look at the video carefully for telltale signs

Eyes sometimes don't blink or blink too much, lip movement that doesn't sync with words, an unnatural shadow on the face or under the eyes.

Unusual movement of hands and feet

Check to see if the movement of the body seems incongruous to the face, compare body movements to facial expressions.

Focus on details

Details are a weak point for deepfake software. Look for unrealistic facial hair, overly smooth or wrinkled skin, unnatural lip colour, etc.

The deepfakes in demand

* AI-powered audio calls

   Simulating the voice of a politician using AI to deliver personalised response in the voter's preferred 

   language.

* AI digital avatar

   Generates content where a politician (dead or living) addresses multiple audiences at the same time 

   with customised messaging in various languages 

* Holobox

   A digital avatar is created, allowing the AI politician to interact with the audience (party workers or

   voters) in a conversational style. This is more realistic than a hologram.

My take

The fall out on the advent of Artificial Intelligence!

Tailpiece.

Got up around 5, the chores and was ready by 7. We went off to Poojappura for the floral-tributes to Muthachhan at a half past 8. Pannian led us.

At a half past 10, the next sequel was inaugurated by minister Roshi Agustin. It was well attended followed by lunch and an entertainment program.

The final event began at 4 PM which was inaugurated by minister Kadannappalli Ramachandran. He sang a song, too, on request. Very sweet of him!