At Sidhi Kedar.

It was a dull day with the sun hiding most of the time behind dark ominous clouds though nothing much came out of it. There were a couple of showers during the forenoon. We finished our packing by 12 and I still find that I've missed out on taking our caps but these are vagaries that one must cater for. Anyways, such lapses give you a lot to laugh later.

Kittu came for his morning food but I'd accidentally dropped the serving spoon near him and he'd taken off with a fright - wonder what sort of a cat is he? It seems that he has not got used to us as yet. I'd to go to the porch to feed him, while systematically shutting down The Quarterdeck along with it. He didn't fetch up for his afternoon grub. 

We set off by about a half past 1, hit the petrol bunk next door, topped up the Chevy with fuel, checked tyre pressure and we were off on our journey. The weather was nice, the traffic was manageable and even the Paliyekkara toll gate did not hold us even for a minute! We passed through occasional showers, had our first break at the petrol pump soon after Muringoor. 

The tea break was at Ananda Bhavan at Chalakkudi, a place that has been our favourite but during our last three visits, it was closed. Today it had a spanking new look with every piece of furniture gleaming. The proprietor came and had a chat with us. The vadas were crisp and the filter coffee was good; and Lekha preferred tea.

Achu, Karthika and Rema had already arrived at Sidhi Kedar and once I'd turned the Chevy towards Thrippunithura Pettah, Achu had come by and guided me to his flat. It was a nice homecoming and that too after a long time. And of course, yakkitiyak was on.

Saw the maha episode of the Malayalam serial, 'Kudumbavilakku', went about our work and had our supper at our usual time. Finished up the day's work and called it a day because tomorrow is gonna be a long day.

Tailpiece.

Anian had called. Wished Malu and Rajish many happy returns as it was their wedding anniversary today. Remember their wedding when my mom was very active! 

  

Rajnikanth's humility!

Rajnikanth dedicates Dadasaheb Phalke to bus driver, Raj Bahadur.

While accepting the Dadasaheb Phalke award at the 67th National Film awards ceremony, superstar Rajnikanth said, "I dedicate this award to my bus driver friend in Karnataka, my colleague Raj Bahadur. When I was a bus conductor, he was the one who identified acting talent in me and encouraged me to join cinema".

Raj Bahadur was earning Rs.400/- as his monthly salary then. When he forced Rajni to go to Madras and join acting school, he didn't send him empty handed. Every month, he would send Rs.200/- to Rajni. Rajni survived in Madras out of this money for around 2 - 3 years.

For all the Rajni fans, Raj Bahadur is a known name. A simple, humble man living in one of the lanes in Chamarajpet area of Bangalore, he was the guardian angel that pushed Shivaji Rao Gaekwad to become Rajnikanth. It is he who taught Rajni to speak Tamil fluently.

No matter how big a star, Rajnikanth to his best friend is the same man who used have never ending conversations about everything under the sun. Rajni always pays surprise visits to Raj Bahadur's house. He visits in disguise to avoid public haze and arrives at wee hours and knocks on the door. No phone calls, no messages, just hops on to a flight and land's at the friend's doorstep. Theirs is a friendship of 50 years. There is a room in Raj Bahadur's house, reserved for Rajni.

It is a simple small room with a single cot and enough space for another person to sleep on the floor. Whenever Rajni comes, both friends shut themselves inside the room and speak for hours. Raj Bahadur sleeps on the cot while Rajni sleeps next to him on the bed laid on the floor. It has been like this for years. The friend and his family give Rajni the desired privacy.

Raj Bahadur is Rajni's man Friday even to this day. Whether it is decisions about joining or not joining politics or any personal matter, Rajni never takes any decision without consulting Raj Bahadur. Rajni was the conductor of bus no. 10A that plied between Majestic to Srinagar. He lived in Hanumanthnagar and Raj Bahadur, in Chamarajpet. Both areas are close to each other. He had those stylish mannerisms even then. He used to flip the coin while giving to customers and entertain them during travel. Even after all these years, 77-year-old Raj Bahadur has only one best friend and the world calls him Thalaiva! One can certainly agree to this when the superstar chose to thank his best friend on the stage instead of his own family.

Source. News18.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by 10. Went to Ganesh store to buy sweets.

Participated in two back-to-back webinars in the evening which were :-

(a) Aazhchakkoottam : "The Science of Forecasting Weather" : Dr PS Biju, Director, IMD from 1600 - 1730 hrs. It was a nice presentation.

(b) Military Literature Festival, Lucknow : "Climate of Conquest and A Presentation on Lucknow Cantt" : Dr Pratyay and Sonal Mithal from 1830 - 1930 hrs. Interesting! 

Drinking from my saucer.

Do you remember older generations drinking from their saucer? Grandpa always did and I thought it was because his coffee was too hot. Then today I came across this poem that made me feel there was symbolism to the coffee ritual.

Drinking From My Saucer

I've never made a fortune and it's probably too late now.

But I don't worry about that much, I'm happy anyhow.

And as I go along life's way, I'm reaping better than I sowed.

I'm drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed.

I don't have a lot of riches and sometimes the going's tough.

But I've got loved ones around me and that makes me rich enough.

I thank God for his blessings and the mercies He's bestowed.

I'm drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed.

I remember times when things went wrong, my faith wore somewhat

thin.

But all at once the dark clouds broke and the sun peeped through

again.

So God, help me not to gripe about the tough rows that I've hoed.

I'm drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed.

If God gives me strength and courage, when the way grows steep and

rough.

I'll not ask for other blessings, I'm already blessed enough.

And may I never be too busy, to help others bear their loads.

Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed.

- John Paul Moore

    *      *      *

Six Little Stories With Lots Of Meanings

1. Once all villagers decided to pray for rain. On the day of prayer, all the people gathered but only one

    boy came with an umbrella. That is faith.

2. When you throw babies in the air, they laugh because they know you will catch them. That is trust.

3. Every night we go to bed without any assurance of being alive the next morning but still we set the

    alarms to wake up. That is hope.

4. We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future. That is confidence.

5. We see the world suffering, but still, we get married and have children. That is love.

6. On an old man's shirt was written a sentence, "I am not 80 years old; I am sweet 16 with 64 years of experience". That is attitude.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by 10. Enjoyed the live streaming of the passing out parade of NDA's 141st course and the process, relived mine!

Medicare, Blackswan reps and the National Supermarket owner came to give us our stuff that were ordered. In fact, Jayan, the National Supermarket owner made three visits to our place to help us. Damn sweet of him.

A quiet evening.  

The debit card.

SBI says no one can use another one's debit card, the court agrees. A casual act of letting your spouse or a close relative/friend withdraw money from an ATM using your debit card could prove costly. This is what a Bangalore woman on maternity leave learnt, albeit the hard way. Banking rules categorically state that an ATM card is non-transferable and no other person apart from the account holder should use it.

On 14 Nov 2013, Marathahalli resident Vandana gave her debit card with PIN to her husband, Rajesh Kumar, to withdraw Rs.25,000/- from a local SBI ATM. Rajesh went to the ATM and swiped the card; the machine delivered a slip showing the money was debited but the amount was never released. SBI cited the 'non transferable' rule and said the account holder was not the account holder and turned down the money claims.

Vandana approached the Bangalore IV Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum on 21 Oct 2014, alleging that SBI had failed to refund the Rs.25,000/- she'd lost in the ATM transaction. She said she had just given birth and could not move out of home, hence had to ask her husband to draw the money on her behalf.

When the ATM did not release the money, Rajesh called the SBI call centre only to be informed that it was an ATM fault and the money would be reverted to the account within 24 hours. With no sign of the money after a day, he approached the bank's Helicopter Division branch at HAL with a formal complaint. But much to the shock of the couple, SBI allegedly closed the case in a few days, stating that the transaction was correct and the customer got the money.

After running from pillar to post, the couple obtained CCTV footage that showed Kumar using the machine but no cash being dispensed. They further lodged a complaint with the bank following which an investigation committee ruled that Vandana, the cardholder, is not seen in the footage.

Meanwhile, Vandana, through an RTI, obtained a cash verification report of the ATM for 16 Nov 2013, which showed excess cash of Rs.25,000/- in the machine. The report submitted in the court was later countered by the SBI counsel who produced a report showing no excess cash.

Before approaching the consumer forum, the couple made a final plea to the bank ombudsman who simply ruled, 'PIN shared, case closed'.

The case went on for over three-and-a-half years. Vandana said SBI should refund her money which was lost due to an ATM flaw but the bank stood its ground, citing the rule that sharing ATM PIN with someone else was a violation. Further, the bank produced documents, including log records, showing the stated ATM transaction was successful and technically correct.

In its verdict on 29 May 2018, the court ruled that Vandana should have given a self-cheque or an authorisation letter to her husband for withdrawal of Rs.25,000/- instead of sharing the PIN and making him withdraw the money. The court dismissed the case.

Befitting example of the final consequences of sharing of PIN.....whosoever he or she may be.

Tailpiece.

Our day had begun at a half past 3, thanks to Lekha's cellphone alarm, the chores and we were ready by 6. Sajish came with his vehicle at a 5' past 6 and we kicked off soon after. Breakfast of dosas and chutney, made by Lekha, was had at Aroor. We reached Mallan's Clinic at Muhamma by about 10' past 9. The doctor came by soon after and Lekha's dental problems were sorted out within a matter of an hour. Our next visit is three months from now, when the crowns would be fixed and the new furniture set up in toto.

We reached Chavakkad by a quarter to 1 and reached home by 2, as there were a few errands to be run. A short, swift lunch and siesta followed.

A quiet evening.

News views.

1. Nawab Malik Needs to Know What Life Is About

Nawab Malik, a minion of the NCP and a minister in the Maharashtra cabinet has been making personal

attacks on Samir Wankhede, the leader of the NCB team investigating the Aryan Khan-involved drug case.

He has been continuously making grave charges and resorting to personal attacks on the investigating officer. Why is he doing this?

  * Has he got a hidden loyalty for Shahrukh Khan?

  * Is he advocating for a different legal process for the spoiled star kid?

  * Isn't he a minister? Who's doing his job because he seems to have plenty of time to heap abuse on           the investigating officer?

  * Doesn't he want the investigation to go along the right lines so that the actual culprits are brought to

     book?

  * And why doesn't Sharad Pawar, his party leader, ask him to shut up and let the investigation team       do their job? Haven't you learnt from life, yourself, that falsehoods and innuendos do not go far in         life? 

2. The Anti-nationals Need To Be Put In Place

What does one do to Indians who cheer Pakistan when that country is playing against India? Firstly, I'm trying to understand their psyche, let me make a few guesses :-

   * They hate being Indians while enjoying everything of this country.

   * They don't wish anything good for their own country

   * They are mean and do not understand and value the meaning of 'motherland'.

   * Or are they Pakistanis who've wormed their way into this country because it offers them the best.

I'm glad that the police have taken note of their perfidy and it's my sincere hope that action is taken forthwith without any loss of time. I recommend the following actions :-

    * Their ration cards should be cancelled.

    * Their passports should be confiscated and cancelled.

    * They should be made to understand that 'freedom of speech' doesn't mean license to say things

       against their own country.

    * They should be named and shamed.

    * They should be ostracized from the society that they live in.

    * And pack them off to Pakistan at the first available opportunity, lock, stock and barrel.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores, the Wednesday aarathi of the house and was ready by 10.

It was a quiet day.

Things were tied up for our trip tomorrow to meet up with Dr Srikant Mallan.

       

   

 

What is Kali Yuga?

An interesting aside of the Bhagwad Gita!

Once the four Pandavas (except Yudhishthira who was not present) asked Krishna, "What is Kali Yuga?"

Krishna smiled and said, "Let me demonstrate to you, the situation of Kali Yuga". He took a bow and four arrows and shot them in four directions and ordered the four Pandavas to go and bring them back. Each of the four Pandavas went in the four different directions to search for the arrows.

When Arjuna picked up the arrow, he heard a very sweet voice. He turned around and saw a cuckoo singing in a spellbinding voice but was also eating the flesh of a live rabbit which was in great pain. Arjuna was very surprised to see such a gory act by such a divine bird, he left the place immediately.

Bhima picked up the arrow from a place where five wells were situated. The four wells were surrounding a single well. The four wells were overflowing with very sweet water as if they were not able to hold water and surprisingly, the middle of these four overflowing wells was completely empty. Bhima was also puzzled at this sight.

Nakula was returning to the place after picking up the arrow. He stopped at a place where a cow was about to give birth. After giving birth, the cow began licking the calf but continued to lick it even after the calf was clean. With great difficulty, people were able to separate them and by that time the calf was injured badly. Nakula was puzzled by the behaviour of such a calm animal.

Sahadeva picked up the arrow which fell near a mountain and saw a big boulder falling. The boulder was crushing the rocks and the big trees on its way down but the same boulder was stopped by a small plant. Sahadeva was also amazed at this sight.

All the Pandavas asked the meaning of these incidents: Krishna smiled and started explaining....

"In Kali Yuga, the priests will have very sweet voice and will also have great knowledge but they will exploit devotees the same way the cuckoo was doing with the rabbit.

In Kali Yuga, the poor will live among the rich, those rich will have enormous amount of wealth which will actually overflow but they will not offer a single penny to the poor same as the the four wells didn't have a single drop of water for the empty well.

In Kali Yuga, parents will love their children so much that their love will actually spoil them and will destroy their lives similar to the love shown by the cow to her newborn calf.

In Kali Yuga people will fall in terms of character like the boulder from the mountain and they will not be stopped by anyone, in the end only the name of God will be able to hold them from doom like the little plant held the boulder from further fall".

- Uddhava Gita, Srimad Maha Bhaagawatam.

Tailpiece.

Got up around 6, the chores and was ready by 10. After a lovely breakfast, Lekha and I'd gone to town to buy grocery, fruit basket and cloth material.

Cleared the backlog of work.

Power can change hands!

What's Happening?

From Maharashtra, we have been getting continuous news coverage about the manner in which the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), especially Samir Wankhede, the leader of the team investigating the Aryan Khan drug abuse case is going about his work systematically, sending shock waves on the drug cartel and the Hindi film industry. 

And tainted politicians have already jumped into the bandwagon to badmouth the professionally impeccable Investigating Officer and have come out with the latest charge of him being an extortionist! What are these scumbags up to? I've a few questions in this regard :-

   (a) Why are the politicians sucking up to Shah Rukh Khan?

   (b) Why are they making a case to treat the star kid with kid gloves?

   (c) Has Samir Wankhede gone to Delhi because of the state police's moves to arrest him on some

         trumped up charges?

   (d) Sharad Pawar's NCP has been the most vociferous in the anti-Wankhede moves. The Shiv Sena

         and the Congress have been silently complicit. (One doesn't have to look far; those three had put

         Republic TV's Arnab Goswami in jail - albeit, for a few days till the Supreme Court intervened

         and set the journalist free, in the recent past).

In this country, we go gaga over film stars and cricket players. Those guys are thoroughly spoilt and one has to just see the tantrums that they throw if an ordinary citizen goes near them forgetting completely that it's his/her support that has placed them on that exalted pedestal!

And the scumbags have not spared Wankhede's near and dear ones too! What they don't realise is that they can lose power in the not too distant future!!

India Bites Dust in T20 Match

Though there are many more games to go in the T20 World Cup matches and eventually, India might lift the Cup too, perhaps. And let's not forget that in any game there are victors and losers. Yesterday, the Indian team just went down to Pakistan without giving a fight leaving every Indian sad. 

But I've seen this time and again. Why do we suffer loss of confidence while playing against Pakistan?

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9.

Finished a few pending jobs. Another quiet day, otherwise!

 

'Karwa Chauth'.

According to Sanatan dharma, it is considered to be a romantic festival, symbolizing the love between a husband and wife. It is a one day festival celebrated by Hindu women from North India four days after purnima (a full moon) in the month of Kartika....On Karwa Chauth, the married women, fast from sunrise to moonrise for the safety and long life of their husbands. The wives start fasting after eating 'Sargi', a pre-dawn meal prior to the commencement of their fasting.

    *        *        *

Fasting

Fasting helps bring harmony inside the body, detoxify and balance the dishes.

As we know from June, the sun begins its downward journey, reducing the daylight hours in the northern hemisphere. Besides, monsoon leads to the cooling of the earth. The cooling of the earth leads to the slowing of the digestive system. This leads to an increase in 'kapha' and 'vata' dosha. Besides the equinox is a time when rain has bid adieu and people can once again begin eating delicious meals. Fasting in a way helps to build the reproductive system of women thereby increasing their childbearing capacity.

Fasting during the day helps in establishing self-control and focus. It is considered to be the perfect way of self-restraint and realization also. Fasting cures the disease of the body and it purifies the digestive system also. It also corrects you at every aspect of life and contributes to self-discipline and dedication. It is a kind of training given to the body and mind to withstand all hardships and makes an individual strong enough to persist under extreme difficulties. 

        *        *        *

Source of entry and exit is the same

Once a monk entered a small village. A little boy was carrying a lit lamp, obviously going to the small temple of the town to put the lamp there for the night.

And the monk asked, "Can you tell me from where the light comes?"

"You have lit the lamp yourself so you must have seen. What is the source of light?"

The boy laughed and he said, "Wait!" And he blew out the lamp in front of Junaid. And he said, "You have seen the light go. Can you tell me where it has gone?" 

"If you can tell me where it has gone, I will tell you from where it has come because it has gone to the same place. It has returned to the source".

The monk said, "I'd met great philosophers but nobody had made such a beautiful statement : It has gone to its very source. Everything returns to its source finally. Moreover, the child made me aware of my ignorance".

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. A quiet Sunday!  

Adieu Suresh Bahadur!

On the evening of the 11th, Captain Suresh Bahadur while on his evening walk, was hit by a motorcycle and sustained injuries, the most serious being a brain haemorrhage. He was operated upon at the Yatharth Hospital, Greater NOIDA and was in the ICU. Since all of us course mates, wanted him to get the best medical cover, Adm Sunil Lanba had ensured that he was shifted into the Army Hospital Research & Referral.

After ten days of a brave fight, Suresh passed into the mist of time early morning, yesterday. His body was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital for post-mortem this morning at 0900 hrs. His last rites and the final farewell took place at the Rotary Cremation Ground, Shafipur, Greater Noida at 1600 hrs this evening.

A white floral wreath was placed on behalf of the course. RK Pattanaik, Saroj Jha, Nalin Kant, Rakesh Saxena, V Prasad and Rajiv Wadera, of our course and who are residing in New Delhi, were there to bid him the final farewell.

He leaves behind his wife, Anjali and son, Devashish.    

May I take this occasion to remember Suresh Bahadur? I met him first on board the old INS Delhi, when I'd joined the 13th Integrated Course, as a cadet, during mid-Jan 1977. A humble, pleasant guy with premature grey hair, he was focused on the training like any of us. He was in the 'port chest flat' while I was in the 'starboard chest flat' during the entire course of our cadets' training. I must confess that we weren't very close during those initial days - especially because he was from the NAVAC and I, from the NDA.

As Midshipmen, we were on different ships viz. he, on board the old INS Brahmaputra while I was on the old INS Beas. Then, it was on to the year-long Sub's Courses and we were on different paths in the course of our career. He specialised as a Naval Armament Inspector and did some fantastic professional work. He was widely respected for his professional acumen.

And over a period of time, we got to be more friendly and were on one-to-one What'sApp contact, exchanging messages with him passing on appreciative messages on my posts! About two years back, he had come down to Kochi to attend Sashmira's - a course mate's daughter - wedding and had inquired as to whether I was available at Guruvayur as he wanted to have a 'darshan' of the good Lord. Unfortunately, I was away at my parents' place at Kottarakkara and couldn't host him but had met him and Anjali during the wedding.

Never knew that it would end up as our last meeting! Strange are the ways of life!! 

I have already included him in my prayers, since yesterday morning, by adding his name to the list of my close friends and relatives who have passed into the mist of time. 

Adieu Suresh Bahadur! My salute, prayers and tears for a fine, uncomplicated and helpful course mate. You will be missed! May Anjali and Devashish have the strength to tide over these stressful times.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. It was a quiet Saturday and there were no rains as predicted.

  

 

All about Dakshineswar Kali Temple.

The temple is located on the eastern bank of the River Hooghly.

How to reach?

Dakshineswar is a railway station on the Sealdah-Dankuni line and is around 14 km from Sealdah.

The legend

A night before Rani Rasmani was to embark on a voyage to Kashi, Kali appeared in her dream and advised her not to undertake the boat ride. Instead the goddess told her to construct and consecrate a temple in her town. That's how the construction began.

As Rasmani was from a lower caste, no Brahmin priest wished to officiate. That is when Ramakrishna Paramhans, the guru of Swami Vivekananda, took the mantle.

Dakshineswar Temple in West Bengal is considered a representative of the sophistication that an amalgam of the Bangla and the North Indian styles brought to Indian architecture. Besides the fabled story behind its construction, this temple on the banks of Hooghly has been the focal point of India's spiritual revivalism. 

1847 - '55

Construction.

Presiding deity

Bhhavatarini, a form of Parashakti Adya Kali, standing on the chest of a supine Shiva.

Architectural style

Composite type of architecture called Ratna, where elements of the Bangla and the Sikhara (North Indian Spire) styles are combined.

Introduction to design

* A gabled roof with an eight-sided pyramid structured roof is called "aath chala" or eight-faced roof, which resembles a dome. Dakshineswar temple is aath chala.

* Due to a lack of suitable stones in this alluvial delta, architects resorted to engineering other materials, giving rise to the use of burnt bricks and terracotta for temple construction.

* Almost every square inch of the temple is carved in intricate details with terracotta. This ornamentation is composed of rows of burnt-brick panels, each with a figure or geometric patterns.

Bengal temples are classified on Ratna basis

Based on the number of spires, temples were named as Pancharatna (five spires), Navaratna (nine spires) or Satero ratna (seventeen spires).

* 14 square metre area of temple

* 9 spires on temple top, hence the name Navaratna

* 1 spire equates to one Ratna

* 3 storeys to the south-facing temple

* 2 idols in garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum) of goddess Kali and Shiva.

* 1K petallotus throne made of silver to place the idols.

* 12 identical east-facing Shiva temples on either side of the ghat.

Nahabat, the chamber in the northwestern corner just beyond the last of the Shiva temples, is where Ramakrishna and wife, Maa Sarada spent a considerable part of their lives.

My take.

An imposing temple. It's a very popular shrine too!

Tailpiece.

Got up around 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

Participated in the Aazhchakkoottam : "School-going children's education, post-Covid" by Shri Jeevan Babu, IAS, Director of General Education, Govt of Kerala from 1630 - 1730 hrs. Very educative!

A proud moment!

Today is a proud moment for all of us Indians. Our health workers have administered 100 crores (One billion) of our population with anti-Covid 19 vaccinations. This is a world record thanks to sustained efforts towards achieving the target of immunising every Indian from the ailment. 

Mind you, this has been achieved despite the taunts and cynicism by many in our country who had opposed it squarely, not even hesitating to call the Covaxin vaccination a hoax and asked the people to boycott! Where are those idiots today, as we stand on the threshold of a major milestone?

I won't hesitate to say that it was made possible by the steadfast and firm leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

        *       *       *

What terrifies a true Masala Dosa lover?

Ask me.....the true masala dosa addict. Making and eating masala dosa is an art. It is an acquired trait. The most important rules to follow are :-

  1. Should be big and uniformly crisp till you finish the last piece.   

  2. It should retain its shape till the last bit is over.

  3. It should have a slight fermented taste.

  4. The filling should be thick enough not to sog the belly of the dosa.

  5. Arrey bhai....who asked you to add cheese in it?

  6. Same goes for tomato sauce/cooked noodles on it...? Fusion dosas are the worst insult to a dosa.

  7. Watery chutney or sambar which do not stick to the dosa. There should be a cordial adhesion between them.

  8. Soggy or over thick dosas have nothing to do with masalas. They are only for amateurs who eat dosa with lentil powders or sugar.

  9. Wash your hands (corona or not) and eat your dosas with your hands....eating with spoon and fork or fork and knife is a joke on our dosa's pride.

10. Dosas without enough oil poured when getting done is a letdown. Please be lavish in pouring oil.

11. Eating dosa with your mind on the smart phone.....terrible. Please throw away that phone.

12. Potato masala with too many ginger pieces......no way.

13. Potato masala in a pink colour because of the addition of a few beetroot pieces....no way.

14. Potato masala browned due to the addition of chili powder for want of green chillies.....no way.

15. Do not change the shape into oval, triangular or conical. Make a round one and fold it into halves like the orthodox one.

16. Packed dosas or home delivered dosas which get soft, bent or steam wet are a big spoiler. Dosas should be eaten straight from the stove to the plate......crisp and hot.

And most importantly....

- Eat it in style from the sides moving slowly to the cetre where the potato masala is waiting. Do not jump into the centre like Narasimha tearing the belly of Hiranyakashipu.

- Dosas are to be eaten decently not with two hands or brutally tearing into the middle of the elegant dosa.

"Oh my masala dosa....So much for making and eating you right".

   *       *       *

Adieu Sreedevi Pillai!

This morning while browsing the net, happened to see the farewells by the friends and relatives of Sreedevi Pillai on her Facebook wall. She had passed into the mist of time on the 8th of this month due to a massive cardiac arrest.

I have never met her but all that I know about her was that she followed my blog posts ardently. For that simple reason, we had a bond that connected us.

What I also know is that she was an accomplished lady with multifaceted talents.

Adieu Sreedevi! My tears and prayers. May god give strength to your near and dear ones to tide over this irreparable loss. And how I wish I'd reached out to you in time?

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. It was a quiet day. The much anticipated deluge never happened!  

  

Karma.

Buddha was sitting with his disciples. One of them asked him, "What is Karma?"

Buddha said, "Let me tell you a story.....

A king was touring his kingdom on his elephant. Suddenly he stopped in front of a shop in the market and said to his minister, "I don't know why but I want to hang the owner of this shop".

The minister was shocked but before he could ask the king why, the king had moved on.

The next day, the minister went to that shop dressed as one of the locals to see the shopkeeper.

He casually asked him how his business was faring. The shopkeeper, a sandalwood merchant, reported sadly that he had hardly any customer. People would come to his shop, smell the sandalwood and then go away. They would even praise the quality of the sandalwood but rarely buy anything. His only hope was that the king would die soon. Then there would be huge demand for sandalwood for performing his last rites. As he was the only sandalwood merchant around, he was sure the king's death would mean a windfall.

The minister now understood why the king had stopped and expressed a desire to kill the shopkeeper. Perhaps, the shopkeeper's negative thought vibration had subtly affected the king, who had in turn, felt the same kind of negative thought arising within.

The minister; a nobleman, pondered over the matter for a while. Without revealing who he was or what had happened the day before, he expressed a desire to buy some sandalwood. The shopkeeper was pleased. He wrapped the sandalwood and handed it over to the minister.

When the minister returned to the palace, he went straight to the court where the king was seated and reported that the sandalwood merchant had a gift for him. The king was surprised. When he opened the package, he was pleasantly surprised by the fine golden colour of the sandalwood and its agreeable fragrance. Pleased, he sent some gold coins to the sandalwood merchant.

The king also felt sorry in his heart that he had harboured unbecoming thoughts of killing the shopkeeper.

When the shopkeeper received the gold coins from the king, he was astounded. He began to proclaim the virtues of the king who had, through the gold coins, saved him from the brink of poverty.

After some time, he recalled the morbid thoughts he had felt towards the king and repented for having entertained such negative thoughts for his own personal goal.

If we have a good and kind thought for another person, that positive thought will come back to us in a favourable way. But if we harbour evil thoughts, those thoughts will come back to us as retribution.

"What is Karma?" asked Buddha. Many replied, "our words, our deeds, our feelings, our actions....."

Buddha shook his head and said, "Your thoughts are your Karma!"

Tailpiece.

Got up around 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. Earlier, had carried out the usual Wednesday 'aarathi' of the house.

Mithun from the National Supermarket had dropped by to give us grocery and vegetables. 

It was a comparatively quiet day.

The rains came in by evening. 

Sharad Purnima.

Date : 19 Oct 2021

Tithi begins : 1903 hrs on 19 Oct.

Tithi ends    : 2026 hrs on 20 Oct.

Moonrise on Sharad Purnima Day : 1720 hrs.

Sharad Purnima is one of the most important festivals in Hinduism. This festival takes place in the month of Ashwin (October). Sharad Purnima's other names are Kumara Purnima, Kojagiri Purnima, Navanna Purnima, Ashwin Purnima or Kaumudi Purnima. The full moon's brightness brings special joy and pleasure to that day. The word "Sharad" refers to the "Sharad Ritu"(season) of the year. In several Indian states, Sharad Purnima is also celebrated as a harvest festival.

Significance

On the day of Sharad Purnima, it is considered very important to worship God Chandra. As per Hindu scriptures, each human quality is connected with a different Kala, the combination of sixteen different Kala produces the ideal human personality. Lord Krishna was said to be born with all the sixteen Kalas.

Sharad Purnimais also referred to as Raas Purnima in the Brij region. On this day, Lord Krishna had performed Maha-Raas or divine love dance. The angelic dance of Lord Krishna with the Gopis of Vrindavan is also said to have lasted one night of Lord Brahma which was equal to billions of human years.  Also, it is believed that Goddess Lakshmi visits the world on the night of Sharad Purnima Hence, on the day of Sharad Purnima, worshippers also worship Goddess Lakshmi and receive her blessings.

Important Rituals

Women traditionally fast for the whole day and prepare bhog to offer to the Goddess. Rice kheer is a must as part of the bhog. Worshippers keep rice kheer out all night in the moonlight as the rays of the moon on Sharad Purnima have unique healing properties. Next day, the kheer is distributed among friends and family as a 'prasad'. The night of Sharad Purnima, one should do satsang, jaap, meditation. On the day of Sharad Purnima, devotees also take a holy dip in the River Ganga and other holy rivers.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. The house had hosted a lot of people :-

* Pushpaakaran, the farmhand, to clean up the house prior to Deepavali. The ceiling fans, lights and other fixtures have regained their gleam.

* Renju, of the PCI, came by to carry out the quarterly services as per the contract signed between me and the PCI.

* Selvam comes by to press the clothes.

* Gardener Ramesh and Appu had come by :-

   - Clip the grass at the courtyard as well as the backyard.

   - Replanted the growing plants whose seeds were sown by Lekha around a fortnight back.

   - Emptied, washed down and reset the wet waste receptacle.

* And of course, Latha, the maid.

A quiet day, otherwise!     

A wonderful dose of reality....

As time goes by,

You will loosen your grip on that rock,

The one you always thought was home,

And you will realise that home is not a place,

It's a state of mind.

As time goes by,

You will learn to see yourself more clearly,

The person who was always too much of one thing,

And too little of another, was actually everything that person needed to be.

Let that person out.

As time goes by,

You will let the simple things to become simple,

And that readjustment will be,

The day you really start to live.

As time goes by,

You will be forced to say goodbye many times,

And your soft little heart will shatter but,

It will still beat and that will bring you,

All the purpose you need.

Let it beat

As time goes by,

You will stop choosing wealth over peace,

You will stop choosing money over time,

And you will see that the treasures you need,

Are in the smiles and the laughter.

Let them in

As time goes by,

The moments you remember when your life flashes past,

Are never the awful memories,

it's the joy, The summer nights, the lazy days with loved ones,

The midnight chats and the morning hugs,

Let them happen.

- Donna Ashworth.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 3, the chores and was ready before the appointed time. Visakh, our sa'arthi, came in well before 6 and we cast off by 6.

It was nice to meet most of the PN Panicker - Chempakakkutty Amma family members. And we exchanged notes. 

We returned from there around 1330 hrs to be in the fitness of things. By the time we'd reached 'The Quarterdeck', it was a 10' to 7. Saw our favourite serials!    

Frustrating!

In Kashmir, targeted killings are taking place almost every day. The terrorists' targets seemed to be the poor migrant labourers from other states. The administration seems to be momentarily on pause, struggling to find a suitable counter action. Let's not forget the fact that the professional security forces will always be at a disadvantage while tackling cold-hearted terrorists who have no loyalties, no ethics and do not play by the rules!

But what amazes me is that why aren't the following happening:-

   * Why isn't the society reacting to the ghastly killings?

   * Why are the ladies in the families keeping quiet? 

   * The life in Kashmir has been improving, economy was on an upward trend with businesses slowly

      picking up.

   * More and more people from outside the state were coming into the area to do work.

   * Development of the state, be it the railways or the road network and trade has picked up at a rapid

      up at a rapid pace.

Consequently, who are unhappy?

   * The Pakistanis because that country, by itself, is disintegrating. It has reached a point of no return.

      They are jealous of India and its pace of progress on all fronts.

   * The 'Gupkar' alliance that have been sidelined completely.

   * The opposition doesn't want to accept the fact that the government has initiated the right steps.

And see the consequences.

   * Saifuddin Soz had said, a few days back, that the government must talk to the terrorists.

   * The idiot, Farooq Abdullah - he has no loyalty towards India. Why is he allowed to have an Indian

      passport? He has made the most number of anti-national statements.

   * Mehbooba Mufti makes atrocious statements from time to time.

These people have been given a long rope and need to be dealt with, forthwith. They have to be punished for their anti-national outlook and must not enjoy the benefits that this country provides to its citizens.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a quarter past 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter past 10.

After taking stock of the prevalent weather conditions in the state, by evening we've decided to go to Ambalapuzha tomorrow to attend Animon's wedding.

Participated in the Military Lit Fest : "War Correspondents - Abhijit Dasgupta and Ajai Shukla with Sanjay Kapoor from 1830 - 2000 hrs.

A comparatively early evening for the long day tomorrow.  

India's oldest bookstore.

The Stowaway who gave India its oldest bookstore.

Over 180 years ago a young Englishman, Abel Joshua Higginbotham boarded a ship. When discovered by the captain, he was thrown out at the port of the then Madras presidency. Luckily for him, being a librarian, he found employment as a store manager of Wesleyan Book Shop. The store catered to local theologians and largely sold religious works.

Abel was a sincere and dedicated worker but the mission was losing its profits and in 1844, when they decided to shut the store, they offered Higginbotham the option of buying out the stock.

Higginbotham's mother died when he was 12 and he was in the care of missionaries of the Church of Scotland. His obit, written soon after his death in 1891, states that he had two careers before he went on to become the owner of the bookstore. One was that of a seaman, an occupation he took up after he completed school. The vagaries of the sea and the rough life, evidently didn't appeal to him. When he tried to abandon his ship and return to India, he was caught and compelled to serve out his apprenticeship. A myth or two soon grew that he had been a stowaway, trying to steal his way into a seaman's career.

AJ Higginbotham took the opportunity. He bought the shop and renamed it 'Higginbothams'.

The store gained popularity for its quality of books and diversity of subjects. Abel was adept at tracking down and procuring rare and in-demand books.

A guide book published in 1859 by John Murray titled Presidencies of Madras and Bombay listed Higginbothams as a 'premier book shop'.

If you are a book-lover and live in Madras the name "Higginbothams" is bound to stir up a lot of memories. For all old-timers residing in Madras, whether it was where they bought their first book or the classic chequered flooring, its high arches or the wooden railings, Higginbothams brings fond remembrances.

The beloved bookstore once served royals, Prime Ministers and institutions for more than a century. India's oldest bookstore, still in business after 175 years, began with a stowaway and his sheer luck.

Higginbotham's opened its first bookstore in Bangalore at MG Road in 1905 in a two-storey Graeco-Roman-style building constructed in 1897. This is the oldest bookstore in existence in the city.

The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 provided Europe with direct access to Asia in record time. The three-month journey from England to India was reduced to three weeks. Trade and tourism increased and ships carrying foreign goods arrived quickly. Large crates for Higginbothams were being offloaded at the Madras port. They contained precious cargo - books and publications that were topping the bestseller lists in Europe.

Higginbothams became India's largest bookstore chain in the 19th century. As it grew, so did its reputation.

History has it that Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, was a voracious reader. Higginbothams was also appointed as his official bookseller when he visited India in 1876. They were called upon to provide the prince with appropriate reading material following his arrival at the Royapuram Station in Madras. This led the bookshop attract a large number of elite clientele. By the beginning of the 20th century, Higginbothams had already become the official book suppler for the government and expanded to publishing with cookbooks.

Their customers ranged from the British Prime Minister, Clement Atlee to the Maharaja of Mysore, Jayachamaraja Wodeyar. Hardly surprising then that Mulligatawny Soup and Madras Curry Powder became legacies of the British Raj only after Higginbothams first printed their recipes.

AJ Higginbotham passed away in 1891, leaving his son CH Higginbotham, in charge. After he took over, he went on to spread this legacy across south India. The bookshop shifted to its present location at Mount Road (now Anna Salai); the white building is one of the landmarks and heritage structures in the city.

By the 1940s, it had stalls at the Central Railway Station in Madras and the Ernakulam Junction Railway Station in Kochi, making books accessible to travellers.

After Independence, in 1949, S Anantharamakrishnan of the Amalgamations Group took over the bookstore - the year the company became an Indian company. Despite its long history, Higginbothams remains remains young by constantly meeting the ever-changing needs of its esteemed customers. Even in this digital age, physical retain their charm. Regional language publications have always been dear to Higginbothams. The Madras showroom has an exclusive section for Tamil books.

At present, the Higginbothams group has more than 20 stores spread across south India. The Madras store holds a special place in history as the first and the oldest bookstore, with an ambience that takes you back to a long time gone.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. The sky was overcast and it was almost like 'darkness at noon'. The maid, also, did not fetch up and chicken was home delivered; Kittu could have his fill!

My niece, Sree Rekha (Appukkuttan kochachhan's grand daughter) has won the best actor in a supporting role (Female) for her role in the movie, "Veyil" in the 51st Kerala State Film Awards 2021. Her mom and my cousin, Girija had called me up.

Heavy rain from about 2100 hrs.

Celebrating India's Diversity!

Navaratri - Poojo - Vijay Dashami...

I am in Delhi where Navaratri has just begun and people are either fasting or undergoing severe restrictions on food and indulgences for the next nine days. Most are surprised that Bengal does not go through such severities and are amazed to hear of our feasting on the chief days, from Maha-Saptami to Maha-Navami.

This brings us to the wider question of how the ancient Indic religion, Hinduism survived and prospered for millennia - without a designated holy book like the Bible or the Koran and with no Mecca, Vatican or Jerusalem to guide? In fact, it is this absence of a 'central command' and a non-uniform format that actually accounted for the intrinsically tolerant and federal structure of Hinduism, that historically brought together, without any force, different people scattered across this widely-varying subcontinent.

We continue to have quite distinct foods - diets, languages and customs but there is a general agreement on festivals, timings and deities but observances are quite different.

Let us look at Navaratri to observe how dissimilar customs and rituals came together in harmony and mutual respect - with no single theme thrusting itself on any. The important point to note, however, is that these are not really 'local variants' of some 'national-level standard' as is often claimed - for no standard exists at all. Many old regional traditions have actually taken several steps forward to 'sanskritise' and operate within the framework.

Broadly, we can decipher three zonal themes in Navaratri - in the North and West, the second in the East and parts of the North-east and the third in the South.

In the first zone, the Goddess is worshipped through fasts and rigorous dietary restraint over nine days but it is ultimately Ram's victory over the evil Raavan that is really the climax on Dussehra.

Bengal, the east and North-east celebrate not Ram but Durga, in her most belligerent form and the tenth day, Vijaya Dashami, commemorates her triumph over evil - as personified by Mahishasura. In Andhra and Mysore they celebrate neither Ram nor Durga but the victory of the Pandavas. In the rest of the South, different rupas of the devi are worshipped during Navaratri and the Tamils dedicate the first three days to Lakshmi, the next three days to Parvati or Durga and the last three days to Saraswati. We come across fascinating displays of many dolls placed on wooden planks, called Bommai Kolu and other similar names......

Maharashtra and Orissa observe Aayudha or Astra Puja to worship instruments and tools, which incidentally, is done in the Gangetic plains, Bengal and the east during Vishwakarma Puja, a month before.

Then, while both the North and the South agree on worshipping nine forms of the goddess on nine days, the East remains ambivalent and celebrates only the last three days. As said, they observe no dietary restrictions but feast on fish and meat. Some Rajput families of Rajasthan also shatter Navaratri's vegetarian tradition by slaughtering goats and buffaloes.

Let us view examples of how regional customs actually prevail during most 'pan-Indian' festivals. In Maharashtra, for instance, Navaratri is celebrated as the Ghat-sthapana utsav, when an earthen pot is filled with water and sits on a base of wet clay, in which seven types of food-grains are sown, which sprout in these nine days.

Gujaratis are clear that the pitcher represents fertility and call it Garbha or womb. Their famous Garbha dance is around this pot, into which they place a lighted lamp. Much of Garbha was however re-fashioned after it was merged with the Dandiyaa Raas.

In Goa, the pot is of copper and many other communities also start sowing pulses, cereals, barley and other seeds around during this period.

Even in far-off Bengal, Nava-Patrikas or leaves of nine plants like banana, turmeric, wood-apple. pomegranate and paddy are consecrated in knee-deep water on the first day (Saptami) of Durga puja. The banyan plant and other leaves are then draped in a sari and worshipped along with the Goddess as Kola Bou - obviously, as a carry-over from a fertility cult.

This is the spirit of accommodation of diversity that brought millions together, not only through this festival but all others as well.

May God enlighten us towards the spirit of Vasudaivam Kutumbakamm and help us with reasons to remain united in celebrating our diversity.....

- Jawhar Sircar

Tailpiece.

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

Mithun, from the National Supermarket came and delivered the grocery and vegetables, along with the small bananas.

Earlier, Subin the overhead-water filter-maintainer took an advance of Rs.1,500/- to change the sand within the filter - a once every four-year-work! The duo has promised to come in tomorrow.

Drones.

Military drone technology paves way for large-scale commercial deliveries. 

Deliveries of food and other items by drone have been making news for at least a decade but nowhere has the practice been scaled up for broad, everyday usage. But in Israel this week, dozens of drones floated through the skies of Tel Aviv, ferrying cartons of ice cream and sushi across the city in an experiment. Israel's National Drone Initiative, a government programme, carried out the drill to prepare for a world in which commercial deliveries will be made by drones to take pressure off highly congested urban roads.

Key Statistics on Israel's Drone Delivery Tests

* 50 - 120 metres above the ground is the flying range.

* 300 flights a day are allowed in this stage of the programme.

* 5 km radius missions currently allowed. Next year, drones will be capable of 100-km radius missions.

* 2.5 kg maximum weight that is allowed to be carried. 

Obstacles to Allowing Drone Deliveries

* Officials will have to ensure that drones can handle flights through turbulent weather conditions and that the skies can be quickly cleared in case of war or emergency

* There are also issues of privacy. "Once you have a drone that actually takes photos or videos you create a totally new dimension of privacy invasion", said Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler, digital technology expert and fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, a think tank in Jerusalem.

* Large birds and the noise of the drone could also become deal breakers for the public's adoption of the emerging technology.

Covid-Inspired

The drone initiative was inspired by the halting effect that Covid-19 had on the transportation of medical supplies in early 2020.

16

Israel is a global leader in drone technology with much of its expertise rooted in highly technologised military. Many of the 16 companies participating in the drone initiative have links to the military.

08

8 stages of tests with this being the third stage.

"One day, we will have drone-powered taxis in the sky"- Yoely Or, co-founder of Cando Drones, one of the companies that participated in Israel's experiment.

Tailpiece.

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

Worked on my memoirs of the IPKF experiences in Sri Lanka during 1987-'89 while in command of INLCU L36. 

Initiation into the world of letters.

Every year during Navaratri festival, which sparks massive celebrations across the country, the high point of the nine-day long fete in Kerala is the Vidyarambham ceremony on Vijaya dashami Day observed on the concluding day of the festival. 

In a highly literate state like ours that puts a high premium on education, Vidyarambham - to propitiate Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning and Arts - is accorded prime importance. On this auspicious day, several thousand children are initiated into the world of letters at venues set up for the purpose at places of worship.

Kerala's time-tested secular ethos which has illustrated the practical example of happy coexistence of people belonging to multiple faiths to the rest of the world, ensures that not only temples but churches and mosques, too, become venues for Vidyarambham.

A fresh start

This year, though, Vidyarambham has a special significance. The ceremony will be held even as the state braces for the reopening of schools on 01 Nov after the Covid-forced closure since Mar '20. So, in a sense, Vidyarambham symbolises the commencement of the learning process. The minor difference is that it will be a recommencement rather. Besides, Vidyarambham ceremony will be held in public unlike last year when it was mostly an 'at home' affair on account of the pandemic spread. But to prevent people thronging the Vidyarambham venues, tokens will be issued and a virtual queue system followed.

Despite the easing of the pandemic situation, authorities have warned the public against letting down their guard to prevent a new spike in Covid cases.

The significance

Chanting Om Hari Sree Ganapathaye Nama Avighnamastu during the initiation is loaded with significance.

Similarly, writing Hari Sree on the tongues of infants using a golden writing instrument tipped with honey and the guru holding the hand of the infant while guiding him to the world of letters are rich in significance.

According to scholars, the chant Om Hari Sree Ganapathaye Nama Avighnamastu is believed to include all 51 Devanagari letters that comprise the Goddess of Sound, Nadarupini Devi. As for inscribing the tongue with the honey-tipped gold writing instrument, the belief is whatever the child says when it grows up will become as precious as gold. And the practice of getting the guru to initiate the child into the world of letters is based on the belief that knowledge can serve its full purpose only when it is passed on by the teacher.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores, the washing machinex and was ready by 10.

The maid had come by and she went about her work as we did our work of reading/watching the television.

A quiet evening! 

Heartening news!

A couple of good news that have nailed the lies and negative publicity when the reported stories were hot! It's quite heartening because ultimately, "the truth will out!!" The cynics and the 'negative publicitywalas' have suddenly gone underground!!!

1. Covaxin Cleared for Children from 2 to 18 yrs.

The Covaxin vaccination has now been cleared for administration on children between the ages of 2 and 18 yrs. A vaccine manufactured in India has been able to compete with its 'contemporaries from abroad' and is now cleared for use. The initial set of cynics and naysayers like Akhilesh Kumar Yadav, Rahul Gandhi and Mamta Banerjee were the first to say that they wouldn't take the vaccination - for no rhyme or reason and called it a BJP vaccine that needed to be boycotted! The initial scare against the vaccination was yet another ploy by the 'responsible' opposition to neutralise the government's efforts in this regard! That the people of India gave it scant regard and flocked to get vaccinated was another matter altogether. All these guys were rooting for foreign vaccines thereby, demoralising the Indian efforts and stoutly refusing to stand by the truth. 

Rightfully, they must apologise to the Serum Institute of India and also to the people of India! The police must identify them with the proof of their perfidy and nab the culprits without losing any time.

2. Imran Khan Admits that India had destroyed Balakot!

After the opposition requirement of being provided with the proof about the Balakot strikes was refused by the government, today the acceptance of the Balakot strikes has come from the proverbial horse's mouth - Imran Khan, the Pakistani PM! Now, what does the Opposition have to say to this, I wonder.

They must apologise to the IAF and the people of India for wagging their loose tongues against the country!

Tailpiece.

Kicked off from Chittamma's house by a quarter to 8, reached Mallan's Clinic by a 20' past 9. Lekha's sutures were removed and she was told as to how she should maintain her dentures. We left on our return trip and picked up pastries and snack from the Pandhal Bakery at Panampilly Nagar, enroute, for the children. After a quick lunch, we left for Guruvayur by about a quarter past1. Thankfully, the rain had taken a break then.

We reached Guruvayur by a half past 4, picked up sundries from the National Supermarket. Heavy waterlogging in front of the Mammiyoor Siva Kshetram required us to take a detour via the Rajah Hospital. Settled down after opening up the house.

At Kochi.

Had got up with Lekha's cellphone alarm promptly at 6 and went through the chores. The house was shut down systematically. The morning rain looked ominous and my only prayer was that it should not rain while we were casting off as getting into the car with dripping rain all around was not a favourable situation. Was ready by 10 and had a quick breakfast.

Had called up Hameed: his auto rickshaw was getting back from repairs only tomorrow but the sweet guy that he is, borrowed someone else's and took me to the western 'nada' of the Guruvayur temple. Had to get some sweets from the Ganesh Stores - for Leela chittamma, Salini and the children - that is known for its sweets made in pure ghee. Returned home soon after.

We had a quick bite and Kittu was given his lunch. And, as usual, he saw us leave from the roof of our neighbour's barn and the time was a quarter past 1! The getaway was swift, the road was freer with comparatively less traffic but by the time we were traversing through Thrissur town, it was choc-a-bloc with vehicles! And again, by my rotten luck, I'd driven into the wrong lane and had to wait considerably longer, at the Paliyekkara toll gate, for clearance.

The drive through the highway was smooth and we stopped at the Essar Petrol pump enroute for using the rest room. Short of Kalamasserry, I'd turned into the Container Road so as to reach Chittamma's house, at Kunninpuram - with the least amount of hassles. We were at her door by a quarter past 4 and as I secured my Chevy alongside and entered the house, a massive rain had begun.

Over piping hot cups of coffee and snack, our yakkittiyak had begun in right earnest! Had caught up with chittamma and then, Vivek joined us to give us the details of his recent trip to Dubai backed up with photographs and video clips on his phone. He and Lakshmi wanted to hear about my adventures while in the IN and I didn't disappoint them.

Supper was promptly served at 2100 hrs and it was a boisterous one. Chittamma had ensured a lavish vegetarian spread, with dishes that I liked. Damn sweet of her! The thread of conversation continued all the while!

Tailpiece.

Earlier, before we'd left Guruvayur, Dr Mallan had called up to say that he and his team would be ready to meet us on arrival tomorrow. 

Adieu Nedumudi Venu! A versatile actor of the Malayalam film word. My tears and prayers!   

A few ominous thoughts.

I hope I ain't over reacting but listen to the following :-

Over the last few weeks one has been hearing a lot of good things happening, concerning our country which are :-

    * Over 93.2 crore Indians have been administered the Covid-19 vaccines and the country is slowly inching towards complete vaccination by end 2021, the target set by the Modi government. 

    * Vaccinations, manufactured in India, will be exported to other countries from next month.

    * Prime Minister Modi had established his position among the world leaders, was able to put across 

his government's views on terrorism and the uncompromising stand on Afghanistan's new regime.

    * Air India was disinvested and that, too, its new owners are the Tatas. Other disinvestments are being

done as per plan.

    * Chinese military postures on the LAC were being effectively neutralised by the Indian Army's countermoves. 

    * The farmer's agitation has turned out to be a damp squib because the few misguided ones are being propped up by the Khalistani elements and their perfidy is out in the open.

    * Kashmir has been getting to normalcy with tourism picking up, developmental activities picking up and trade has been thriving.

India has begun showing her assertiveness in every field and the first point is that the spread of Covid-19 has been effectively contained and the country's health system seems to have learnt valuable lessons from the last two waves of the illness and is braced up to take on the next wave!

Now, these things, definitely bring down the general morale of our enemies like Pakistan and China.

But there are the fifth columnists within and many other people, across the political divide to create anarchy within the country and cause confusion and the trends are visible.

Let's now list down a few of the negative happenings that have propped up :-

     * A fear psychosis is being whipped up by non-BJP state governments regarding power shortage due to supposedly, a shortage of coal which the concerned union minister has stoutly refused. (The shortage is perhaps being bandied about because China faces a severe power crunch!). The opposition ruled states have already imposed power cuts without consulting with the union government!

     * Shenanigans by the Chinese troops on eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh which, of course, has been tackled by the Indian Army effectively.

     * Targeted killing of Hindus and Sikhs in Kashmir have been on the rise. There has been this guy, Soz, who has advised the Modi government to talk to the terrorists! 

     * The Lakhimpur Kheri case that would have flared up with fake news, putting blame on others, opposition leaders scampering in with crocodile tears and unnecessary publicity.

In view of the above, don't you feel that divisive forces are at work with the singular aim of showing Modi in bad light?

May god be with him and the people of this country so that no harm befalls the country. I'm sure that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will come out with flying colours eventually!

Tailpiece.

Got up at 20' past 6, the chores and was ready by 10. Topped up our Chevy and checked tyre pressure for our journey to Kochi to remove Lekha's sutures.

Worked on my IPKF memoirs. Much more needs to be done.

Washed down the Chevy and Lekha, too, helped me in the serial.

Saw the movie, "Bhramam" on Amazon. Watchable! Mamatha Mohandas is good, Leela is nice!!

The scam that dents the image of Kerala's elite.

Kerala is a spoiled state on account of the graciousness and generosity of the rest of the world. Statistics of various kinds are quoted by others to compliment Kerala on its accomplishments. Kerala has the largest number of literate people in India but this prompts the characterisation of Keralites as intelligent. It is called God's Own Country because of the greenery and water bodies even when waste is accumulated here and there. Since Kerala has the highest Gross Enrolment Ratio, we are rated high in higher education. Kerala is rated as No 1 in reaching the millennium goals, gets an award for Covid care when more than 50% of Covid-19 infections in India occur in Kerala. Kerala Police are rated No 1 in India even as crimes against women and children are shockingly high. But the "Kerala Model" is fraying at the edges. No wonder YouTube commentator Joe Scaria called Kerala a "Textbook Tiger", perfect on paper but deficient in practice.

The high prevalence of scandals, scams, gold smuggling, bank bursting, domestic violence and rape is explained away as over-reporting by the media. Femmes fatales operate openly, dominate the news for months together and fade away till political expediency brings them back again. Not a day passes without reports of scams and suicides. But nothing is as shameful as the antiquities scam which has exposed the gullibility of Keralites at every level. For a large number of people to invest crores of rupees in such things as the original staff of Moses, Lord Krishna's curd pot, one of the thirty pieces of silver that Judas earned for betraying Jesus, Tipu Sultan's throne and Einstein's skull, the willing suspension of disbelief was beyond imagination. The list includes a cross made out of the mud that was on jesus's feet  when he was crucified, a thread from the cloth used to wipe Jesus's face during the crucifixion, a nail of Portuguese priest St Anthony of Padua, a piece of St Alphonsa's veil and a 2,000-year old jug of Jesus. At this rate, a withered fig leaf could have been sold as Eve's suit in paradise for a crore of rupees!

For several years, a person fooled many people, styling himself as motivational speaker, doctor, cosmetologist, art promoter and antique dealer by building influence in high official circles, particularly the police and parading them as his patrons and protectors. The facts that came out were stranger than fiction ever created by Hollywood or Bollywood to unravel the tricks of global crimes. An odd antique may have been overvalued in some places but manufacturing antiques attributed to pre-historic times and managing to get people to part with their money for them has not featured even in crime thrillers. The police, who officially provided protection to him even after receiving complaints, finally nabbed him after a ceremony attended by many celebrities, very much in Bollywood style.

In Kerala, even as details of the man's deceit and crimes started to unfold, celebrities who took pride in being photographed with him are distancing themselves from him. But like in other scams of the past, the excitement will die down and the criminal may spend some time in prison after an investigation and all others will be let off as lacking evidence about their involvement. The state government is lukewarm about this case because it will hit not only the opposition but also some government appointees.

The disturbing factor of this scam is the evidence to show that the law and order authorities themselves and some politicians also fell prey. These are people, who are by training expected to be particularly watchful. The trust that they displayed in a criminal without suspicion is unbelievable and therefore, the concern is that they have aided and abetted him and protected him in return for various favours.

Even more importantly, this case devalues the literacy rate and the degrees awarded by the universities in Kerala. Kerala students with 100% marks apply for admission in Delhi colleges but their marks are discounted because of the growing awareness that these marks are often gifts bestowed on students for various considerations. A parent told me that his daughter could not get admission in a top college in Delhi even with 100% marks! Such a reputation will have a cascading effect on Kerala graduates and their chances of getting jobs outside will be in jeopardy.

The scam may also have a devastating effect on business collaboration in Kerala. Scamsters and crooks will come to Kerala, knowing that it is possible to exploit the gullibility of educated Keralites in an eagerness to make money in every possible way. The reputation of the Kerala model of development and the ease of doing business will disappear. The criminal will get away but his imprint will remain on the whole population of Kerala.

A Kerala historian, who is supportive of the present ruling coalition in the state, says that Kerala society is producing decision-makers of the lowest quality. He says that there are capable people in Kerala but "as a collective, we are behaving like there is no tomorrow". A multinational financial consultant is of the view that the problem of Kerala is not just the brain drain but also a competence drain.

Such comments have not been made in the case of mounting crimes in Kerala as these are individual cases. The antics over antiquities reveal a deeper malady amounting to a mass hysteria of gullibility. Instead of creating a polarisation on political grounds to save those involved, a deeper introspection is necessary about Kerala society. Confidence tricksters are not new but this is the first time that a large number of people were hypnotised into believing that relics of pre-historic times can be traded in this technological age.

Technology has the capability to detect the value of art work but no technology wizard in Kerala has come up with a formula to expose this scam. The damage the scam has done to the image of Kerala should not be underestimated. Never before has the intellectual elite in Kerala been so exposed.

- TP Srinivasan, former diplomat, on the Guest Column in Open.

My take

Why do Malayalees time and again feel the urge to collect things not for their requirement/usage but mainly to flaunt their ownership and impress the others?

Tailpiece.

Got up around 20' past 6, the chores and was ready by 10.

Worked on a pending project and could make some progress. The Chevy was brought in by Sreejith; no problem with any of the systems and the defect has boiled down to an erratic meter, for which an order has been placed and it will be replaced on the spare's arrival.

Participated in the Aazhchakkoottam : "The Requirement of Palliative Care" by Dr CV Prasanth, RMO, Dept of Palliative Medicine, RCC, Thiruvananthapuram from 1700 - 1845 hrs. An interesting lecture.     

The Curious Case of Pakistan, China, TTP and BRI.

On 1st October Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan broke all hell loose when on the Turkish government-run TV channel, TRT World, he disclosed that the Pakistani government is in secret talks with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), facilitated by the Afghan Taliban.

The Pakistanis were upset for many reasons. They were upset that they were kept in the dark while the government was holding talks with the TTP. Another reason which upset them was that the Pakistani PM broke the news on a Turkish and not on a Pakistani TV channel. But the biggest setback was to the parents of over 150 children who lost their lives in the December 2014 massacre in the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar, supposedly undertaken by the TTP.

While breaking the news of talks with the TTP, Imran Khan looked unsure, as if he was not kept in the loop and was unaware of all the details. Therefore, the question arises, in addition to the Pakistani Army who else is involved in the talks?

There are reports that China has operationalised the Bagram Airbase situated between Kabul and Panjshir. Movements of a large number Chinese military planes have also been observed in the airbase. That indicates that some high-level Chinese negotiators are already in Afghanistan.

Being a Chinese proxy is fine with the Pakistani citizens but the betrayal by their own Prime Minister is what they are not able to digest. Why would Imran Khan take such a step when his approval ratings are at the nadir? Is he not interested in reelection or he has been assured of reelection by the vested parties?

How TTP Wields Power

TTP is the largest and most active armed opposition group in Pakistan. It came into existence in 2007 under the leadership of Baitullah Mehsud. It was formed in response to Pakistan's military operation against Al-Qaeda militants in the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) in 2004. However, the roots of the organisation can be traced back to 2002.

The decline of the group and infighting started in August 2009 when a missile strike from a US UAV killed Baitullah Mehsud. By 2018 it was a defunct organisation. However, by 2020 TTP was resurrected by charismatic leader Noor Wali Mehsud. They undertook over 120 attacks against the Pakistani Army and security forces in 2020. The actor had turned against the director.

In just last two months alone TTP has carried out over 75 attacks, killing scores of Pakistani security forces. It would be interesting to note that who is giving safe haven to TTP in south east Afghanistan : the 'Haqqani Network'. An organisation that supposedly has good relations with he Pakistani Army. They must be under immense pressure to give up TTP. However, Haqqani Network is looking after its interests while keeping the army notionally happy.

Bolstered by the present happenings during the ongoing negotiations TTP would bargain for :-

* Greater autonomy for the tribal areas

* Restoration of a Sharia-based regime in those areas

* Change in the leadership of ISI

Such demands resonate with tribal leaders, the Afghan Taliban, Al-Qa'ida, Islamic State (Khorasan) and Haqqani Network. It would be foolhardy to assume that after pushing these demands through, TTP will put a stop to its ambition. Rather achievement of these demands would bolster TTP's fortunes. They would emerge as a force to reckon with. Their ultimate aim is Sharia Law for all of Pakistan and that would be the death knell for Pakistan as a state and the Pakistani Army as proprietor of that state.

Everybody is Aware of the Reality

The Pakistani army knows that they can't win against the TTP.  After all, they taught the Taliban how to ambush Soviet forces. Unfortunately, even China knows about it. China has a lot riding on Belt and Road Initiative. With that, Chinese President Xi Jinping also has a lot riding on it. The 20th National Party Congress is just one year away. The Congress would decide if Xi Jinping would stay for an unprecedented third term or gets neutered. Failure of BRI would add to his misery and accelerate his exit. The present precarious financial situation and unprecedented power shortages have already dented his reputation badly. He doesn't need another surprise. So, Xi would pull every trick in the book to bring some semblance to BRI. TTP and the Afghan Taliban are very important parts of that plan.

The whole BRI hinges on the South and Central Asian part of the project. Out of a total US $940 billion investment, this region has a share of only US $152 billion. However, the region is of utmost importance when it comes to connectivity with Europe and the Middle East. The following BRI corridors adumbrate it evidently :-

* New Eurasian Land-Bridge Economic Corridor (NELBEC)

* China-Central Asia- West Asia Economic Corridor (CCAWAEC)

* China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Xinjiang

All these economic corridors pass through Xinjiang. That also explains China's repression in this all-important province, where all the Islamic entities including the Taliban hold sway. Investment in Western Europe (US $30 billion), Eastern Europe (US $60 billion) and the Middle East (US $94 billion) would become a dead investment if South and Central Asia remain disturbed.

The Taliban leaders may look medieval but they understand this part of the economics very well. If the Afghan Taliban regime's statements of the past few days are dissected, one would understand the whole game plan very well. They have wholeheartedly given their unconditional support to all BRI-related activities in Afghanistan. While the Afghan Taliban is playing the good cop, TTP is playing the bad cop. In the recent past, TTP has intensified attacks on the Pakistani establishment, consequently psychologically terrorizing the Chinese. This has renewed China's worst nightmare, what if these entities turn their attention towards Xinjiang?

Voices in Chinese Media

Chinese Fudan University professor Zhang Jiadong says, "Encouraged by the Afghan Taliban's victory, the TTP wants to realise Pashtuns' rule in Pakistan". Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University feels that TTP is trying to communicate with the Chinese government through these attacks, "if you can receive the Afghan Taliban, why not accept its brother?" On the contrary, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, said that the TTP is playing tricks to confuse Chinese and Pakistani governments.

The overall scenario emerges that China is shaken by a larger number of attacks on the Chinese projects. In Apr 2021, TTP sent a final warning to China by a bomb attack on a hotel in Quetta, hours before the Chinese ambassador was to arrive. The message was loud and clear, come to terms with us or lose BRI-related projects.

India and TTP : Two Birds with One Stone

The Pakistani establishment is desperate to hurt India. When they ousted the legally elected Afghan government with the help of the Taliban, they thought they had won a war over India. But that dream was short-lived. Rather they came under fierce attacks from various organisations from within the country. TTP was one of them.

The Pakistani army can go against its citizens but not against the Chinese government. The Chinese goverment has been putting immense pressure on the Pakistani army to reign in TTP. Shaking hands with TTP is in the Army's best interest. If TTP is on board, it would allay Chinese fears and mobilize anti-India forces. The Pakistani army's main justification for their existence is Jammu and Kashmir. If the Pakistani Army hands over tribal areas to TTP, they would be free to shift focus to Jammu and Kashmir.

The whole plan may or may not work out but it is the best shot the Pakistani army has. The meetings are being held under the keen eyes of Chinese representatives and with the blessings of the Afghan regime. If the Pakistani army's nefarious designs succeeded, the Afghan Taliban and TTP would divide the spoils of this psychological game. XI Jinping would secure the initiative and restore his reputation. The Pakistani generals would get favourable returns on the investments. 

In the end, there would be two losers, the ordinary Pakistani citizens who would buy fake narrative from the army and innocent victims of Jammu And Kashmir, bracing themselves for another wave of terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

- Commander Sandeep Dhawan (Retd) on the Chanakya Forum.

My take

Just watch the way the cookie crumbles. Pakistan is gonna get its death blow!

Tailpiece.

Got up at a 20' past 6, the chores and was ready by 10. 

After breakfast, Lekha and me had gone to town for purchases and our fruit basket.

A quiet evening.