Israel has kept its vow!

Last October, can never forget the dastardly attack carried out by the terrorist outfit, Hamas on innocent Israelis killing many and taking very many women and children as captives. The world was able to see the shabby treatment of Jewish women who were captives.

One felt an impotent - because one couldn't do anything but watch the ghastly scenes - rage for the terrorists for whom there were the so-called 'secularists' of our country who were sympathising and shedding crocodile tears! It was pathetic.

Then came the biggest joke when a few intellectuals(?) from around the world wrote on an Instagram post that their eyes were on the school that Israel had bombed, killing school children.

Israel was quick to make a counter on Instagram, asking "Where were your eyes last October?" An embarrassed Instagram quickly pulled down the post, realising its mistake or folly as you'd like to term it!

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed that he would ensure that the Hamas terrorist network would be smashed and he showed no remorse even when the world chided him for his ruthless military action against the terror network.

And today, he has achieved his aim when the Hamas chief, Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran.

Well done, Israel! Bravo PM Benjamin Netanyahu!! Let this be a lesson for the other world leaders not to buckle under terrorists' pressure!!!

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 5, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

The maid was in for work.

Yet another wet day.

Shekhar had booked my ticket for New Delhi.

 

A unique rain-appeasing strategy!

Donkeys are now the new stars in Madhya Pradesh. They have trotted into limelight thanks to a series of whimsical rituals and a high stakes search.

The locals of Mandsaur district face a dearth of rainfall. They got donkeys to plough a cremation ground with half-naked men leading them - a sight that surely left everyone not only mystified but amused. After the ritual, Sohan Singh Bhadauria and his team threw a lavish thank-you party for the donkeys, complete with gulab jamun. One can only guess what the donkeys thought of this unexpected gourmet experience. "Are we getting paid in sweets now?" they might have wondered.

About 615 km away in Chhatarpur, the scene was straight out of a fairy tale. Residents held a grand donkey wedding, complete with floral garlands and sweets, in an effort to woo the rain gods. The bride and groom donkeys were dressed to impress, though one can't help but wonder if they were secretly plotting their escape to greener pastures.

But the rain gods are yet to deliver!

Courtesy. Adapted from Anuraag Singh's article in the NIE

Tailpiece.

Got up at 5, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

A thoroughly wet day.

Washed down our Chevy in the pouring rain.

Fears of Israel-Lebanon war.

Israel, yesterday, vowed to 'hit the enemy hard' after rocket fire from Lebanon killed 12 youngsters in Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.

"Hezbollah has crossed all red lines"

A rocket strike on Saturday at a football field killed at least 12 children and teens, Israeli authorities said. Israel blamed Hezbollah for the strike. but the Lebanese group said it it has nothing to do with the attacks. "There is no doubt Hezbollah has crossed all the red lines here and the response will reflect that", the Israeli foreign minister had told the media.

Call for calm as Israel strikes Lebanon

* Israel's military said on Saturday it had hit Hezbollah targets "both deep inside Lebanese territory     

   and southern Lebanon".

* Iran warned Israel of "unforeseen consequences" if it attacks Lebanon. Western powers including France

   and Britain have called for calm. Those dead in Golan were aged between 10 and 16.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 5, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

The maid was at work.

It was a thoroughly wet day. 

India strikes her first medal at Paris Olympics - 2024.

Manu Bhaker had learnt her lessons from the last Olympics and realised that people forget what medal you have won when you lose. At Chateauroux - the shooting range some 250 km away from Paris - during the wet morning yesterday, she lifted the spirits of the Indian shooting team.

She started off slowly but once she hit the target, it was the Bhaker show. 

The statistics are staggering too. She finished third with a score of 580 behind Veronika Major (582) and Jin Ye Oh (582) but Manu shot the highest number of inner 10s with 27.

And she became the first Indian woman, in 20 years, to win a medal at Shooting! She won the medal for the 10 m Air Pistol Shooting!!

Great Manu Bhaker! Heartiest congratulations!! You've made us proud!!!

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 5, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. 

A quiet Sunday.

Coincidences!

Nothing to beat this! Abraham Lincoln vs John F Kennedy.

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.

JFK was elected to Congress in 1946.

Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.

JFK was elected President in 1960.

Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.

Both wives lost a child while living in the White House.

Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.

Both Presidents were shot in the head.

Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy.

JFK's secretary was named Lincoln.

Both were assassinated by southerners.

Both were assassinated by southerners named Johnson.

Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.

Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded JFK, was born in 1908.

John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839.

Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated JFK, was born in 1939.

Both assassins were known by their three names.

Both names are composed of fifteen letters.

Lincoln was shot at the theatre named "Ford".

JFK was shot in a car called "Lincoln" made by "Ford".

Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.

A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe, Maryland.

A week before JFK was shot, he was with Marilyn Monroe.

Lincoln was shot in a theater and the assassin ran to a warehouse.

JFK was shot from a warehouse and the assassin ran to a theater.

My take

Too many coincidences as though even the stellar configuration conspired in the assassinations.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 5, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

The maid was at work.

A quiet day, otherwise. 

A memory and a spectacular event.

Kargil Vijay Diwas

It's the 25th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas. A two-day event is on with the Prime Minister kick starting a spate of activities from Dras, which had seen intense action between the Indian Army and the Pakistani forces.

The real heroes were the young officers who led from the front along with their boys. 

Salute to the brave hearts! A thankful nation is proud of you and bows to your valour and courage!! My prayers and tears! 

The XXXIII Olympic Games - Paris 2024

The Seine hosted the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games - this evening and for the first time outside the stadium.

One of Europe's most famous waterways, the Seine has seen a lot. It was a mute witness when the Romans conquered Lutetia, a swampy little fishing village on its banks and it was still looking on when modern Paris rose on that site a few centuries later.

This evening's show began at Austerlitz, close to the Roman site of Lutetia.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a quarter past 5, the chores and was ready by 10. 

Lekha had gone to the town for purchases.

It's the 11th day of the Ramayana recital. Lekha recites everyday, both in the morning and in the evening. 

A quiet Friday.

A step in the right direction?

The government is weighing options to open the Chinese FDI tap. Curbs imposed at the height of Ladakh clash in 2020 may be eased.

Two days after the Economic Survey made a strong pitch for Chinese participation in India's manufacturing growth, the government is considering easing restrictions on investments from China. The government's move to soften its anti-China stance comes amid strong calls from industry, especially manufacturers, to ease the visa curbs on Chinese technicians.

The Economic Survey report had said, "To boost Indian manufacturing and plug India into the global supply chain, it is inevitable that India plugs itself into China's supply chain. Whether we do so by relying solely on imports or partially  through Chinese investments is a choice that India has to make".

Chinese Incentive

Chinese technicians are in high demand in 14 sectors where production-linked incentive schemes are applicable. These sectors which include solar, drones and cell battery, face huge talent shortage.

Skill Shortage

Most high tech manufacturing units in India use Chinese-made machinery but don't have skilled technicians. Industry believes visa relaxations could help.

My take

It's a practical way out in the current situation and would be a shot in the arm for India's manufacturing industry.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a quarter past 5, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

PCI's Ranjoo, had come in for the quarterly servicing.

Washing machinex of the bed linen.

The maid had come in for work.

The fruit basket was delivered soon after teatime.

 

Salient aspects of the union budget 2024 - '25.

* Angel tax axed

  

The contentious 30% angel tax on funds received by startups from external investors abolished. This 

tax was levied when the funds exceeded fair market value of shares of the start up.

* Rs.2 lakh crore job push

In all, five schemes announced with an outlay of Rs.2 lakh crore to generate jobs for youth. These include three schemes that offer 'employment-linked incentives' to companies.

* Capital loss

To deter speculation, short-term capital gains tax has been raised from 15% to 20% and long-term tax from 10% to 12.5%. Exemption limit for long-term gains also raised to Rs.1.25 lakh.

* Boost for SMEs

The limit of Mudra loans enhanced to Rs.20 lakhs from the current Rs.10 lakhs for entrepreneurs who successfully availed and repaid previous Mudra loans under the 'Tarun' category.

* Agri R&D, digitisation focus

Rs.1.52 lakh crores allocated for agriculture and allied sectors. Agri R&D to be reviewed to boost production and develop climate-resilient varieties. Agri Stack digital public infrastructure project to be launched to bring over six crore farmers under the formal land registry system in three years.

* Relief for foreign firms

Corporate tax rate on foreign companies has been reduced from 40% to 35%.. The 2% equalisation levy for e-commerce supply of goods or services wef 01 Aug 2024. This could benefit non-resident digital companies including US entities.

* Support for loans up to Rs.10 lakhs

Financial support for loans up to Rs.10 lakhs for higher education in domestic institutions. E-vouchers will be given to 1 lakh students every year for annual interest subvention of 3% of the loan amount. Revised Model Skill Loan Scheme to facilitate loans up to Rs.7.5 lakhs with a guarantee from a government promoted fund.

* Schemes worth Rs.3 lakh crores

Rs.3 lakh crore allocated for schemes that benefit women and girls. Working women's hostels would be set up across the country to promote women's participation in the workforce. Also, partnerships would be created to organise women-specific skilling programs in India.

My take

A positive budget!

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 5, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

The Wednesday morning 'aarathi' of the house was carried out.

A quiet day.

A sad day!

Yesterday was a sad day. For all the men who have worn/are wearing whites. The Indian Navy had undergone a mishap at its Western Naval Command, Bombay.

Its frontline ship and a missile destroyer, INS Brahmaputra, was gutted down by a massive fire and toward the end, the ship tilted to its side and lay in the shallow waters, within the harbour.

Brahmaputra was undergoing refit at the naval dockyard at Bombay.

Losing a ship during peacetime is an unimaginable tragedy. The IN would have constituted a Board of Inquiry and the causes and the reasons leading to the tragedy would be identified and corrective actions taken, without fear or favour. 

Indeed a very sad day!

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 5, the chores and was ready by a half past 7 when Sajish, the barber had come and given me a haircut followed by massage. Was ready by 10.

Meanwhile, Lekha had gone to the ration stand to collect our monthly dues.

A quiet Tuesday.

Sent my message to Sanjay Jasjit Singh.

Falling journalistic standards!

Since my childhood days, I've been seeing the Indian Express newspaper in my house - from the time it was dropped by the newspaper boy in the morning, changing hands in the process of being read through the course of the day - and I've continued with the tradition.

I get my copies of The New Indian Express and the Malayala Manorama.

Now, let me come to the point.

On page 1 of the NIE, today, this is one of the headlines....

   "Stormy Budget Session from today as BJP allies join Oppn to raise heat".

Now see how the news item changes on page 7 of the same newspaper :-

   "NDA allies prepare plan to counter Oppn onslaught''.

What a fall! Or is it a deliberate attempt to twist the news?

    * Probably, it will create a rift between the NDA allies

    * Bring down the present government

    * The opposition gets to sit on the driver's seat

My take

What a fall in journalistic standards. Ramnath Goenka - wherever he is - must be disgusted at the fall in ethics of his newspaper!

Tailpiece.

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

The  maid was at work today. Meanwhile, I'd done a washing machinex with the bulk of the soiled clothes, earlier.

Heavy rains through the course of the afternoon.

Bijeesh, the electrician, comes by and confirms that our television set at the first floor has a problem, tells Gireesh, our TATAPLAY service provider, to come and look it over tomorrow morning.

A quiet evening.

Healthiest relationship.

The healthiest relationships and friendships are not necessarily the ones that look happy to the naked eye.

They aren't necessarily the ones where two people are always found holding hands, giggling, dancing and singing with the butterflies on Instagram, where nothing ever goes wrong and love is beautiful and blissful and perfect.

External 'perfection' can easily mask internal devastation, disconnection and that awful, unspoken desperation to be free.

The healthiest relationships are the honest ones and they might not look so 'happy' or 'carefree' from the outside. They might not fit the image of what a relationship 'should' or 'must' look or feel like.

Here, two people tell the honest, painful truth about today and continually let go off all their preconceived ideas about each other. The relationship is forever renewed in the furnace of authenticity. There may be ruptures, misunderstandings, even intense feelings of doubt and disconnection but there is a mutual willingness to face this seeming mess head-on! To look - with open eyes - at the present rupture and not turn away or cling to the past. To sit together in the midst of mutual shattered dreams and expectations and work to find a place of reconnection, here, now, today.

Here, relationship is seen as the ultimate yoga - an ongoing and ever-deepening adventure and rediscovery of each other, a constant letting go and a constant meeting! Love is not a future destination, conclusion, point of arrival or a convenient story to tell others. Love is alive.

As Eckhart Tolle says, relationships aren't here to make us happy - for true happiness lies within.  They are hereto make us profoundly conscious.

To break us, to humble us, to make us whole again.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 4, thanks to Lekha's cellphone alarm. Recited my prayers, the morning chores and was ready by a half past 6.

Vijayan, the caretaker, helped me load the car.

We set off by a quarter to 7, prayed at the Snake god temple at the Randalummodu junction. Topped up the Chevy, checked tyre pressure at our regular petrol pump at Kottarakkara. Breakfast of idlis and chutney at the Padma cafe at Adoor.

Set off from there, took the Kottayam-Moovattupuzha-Perumbavoor-Angamaly-Thrissur route. The Thrissur-Guruvayur route is pathetic. The Thrissur and Guruvayur municipalities don't want to spend money on road repairs and seem to be banking on Suresh Gopi to get the roads done through central government funds! 

Reached Guruvayoor by a half past 1. Lunch at the hotel opposite the KSRTC bus stand and returned to The Quarterdeck. Opened up the house and segregated the clothes for washing/dry cleaning etc followed by siesta.

And a quiet evening!

Foreign secretary?

Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan’s government has gone and brought out a bizarre order. It has appointed K Vasuki, IAS as secretary in charge of external co-operation! 

Now, what’s that? Why is this government doing impractical stuff? 

Let’s see as to how it will pan out!

Tailpiece.

Got up at 4, the chores and was ready by a half past 6.

Took Maman to the DDRC lab to draw blood for FPBS . Suma kunjamma had joined us and we’d then headed for Indirakkutty.

The foursome got a simple parking slot right at the gate. Anil, of the Corporation, got us seats for Maman and us

Had a good bali tharpanam done for Ammachi.

Went for a light breakfast at the residency mess. 

Reached Ayoor, overshot Mini’s home and had a lovely lunch. 

Was at Raj Nivas by a half past 3. Lekha goes to Kottarakkara to finish off pending work.

Cognify : The prison of the future.

Rehabilitation through artificial memory implantation.

All of this might sound like science fiction and it is speculative bit it's actually based on real science. Scientists have already successfully implanted false memories in mice and have learned how to change their fearful memories into happy ones.

In 2018, meanwhile, researchers tranferred a memory from one marine snail to another, a year after they figured how to code a film clip into the DNA of the gut bacteria E.coli (What a world are we living in?)

Courtesy. What'sApp

Tailpiece.

Got up at 1, washed up and recited my prayer and turned off to sleep, again. Got up at 5, the chores and was ready by 7.

Off to the Foundation and from there, to the Holy Angel's Convent. Got the stage set right and issued directions to set the quiz format after the public meeting.

Sivankutty, the minister of education, fetched up at a half past 9. The stage had Maman, Pannian Raveendran, TKA Nair, M Vijayakumar, Antony Raju and me.

The state-level quiz competition began soon after with the quiz master, Vijayakumaran Nair sir setting a high standard. Tvpm and Kottayam were adjudged1st and 2nd. 

Sister Sebin Fernandez, the Principal was very helpful. We saw the school's Library and the PN Panicker Reading Corner - both immaculate!

Had lunch from the canteen and it was nice.

Off to the Government UPS, Kaaryavattam on invitation. Spoke to the children about my grandfather.

A kid of class V, interviewed me on the school radio. Returned to be in time for the prize distribution, at the Akshara Guru sannidhi.

A comparatively early evening. 

 

LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor) - 2

.....contd 2.

To zero in on exactly when LUCA appeared on Earth, scientists had to work backward. First, the team compared genes in living species and counted the mutations that have occurred since sharing a common ancestor with LUCA. Using a genetic equation based on the time of separation between species, the team worked out that LUCA must have been mucking around on Earth as nearly as 400 million years after its creation, which puts this organism smack in the middle of the hellish geologic nightmare known as the Hadean Eon.

"The evolution history of genes is complicated by their exchange between lineages", University of Bristol's Edmund Moody, the lead author of the study, said in a press statement, "We have to use complex evolutionary models to reconcile the evolutionary history of genes with the genealogy of species".

Not satisfied with just learning its age, the team took things a step further and retraced the physiological characteristics of living species to understand what LUCA must have been like 4.2 billion years ago and the results gave some surprising answers. The scientists estimate that while LUCA was a simple prokaryote, it likely had an immune system, meaning it was already fighting off primordial viruses.

"It's clear that LUCA was exploiting and changing its environment but it is unlikely to have lived alone", University of Exeter's Tim Lenton, a co-author of the study, said in a press statement. "Its waste would have been food for other microbes, like methanogens that would have helped to create a recycling ecosystem".

While LUCA is the oldest common ancestor we know of, scientists still don't understand how life evolved from its very origins to the early communities of which LUCA is a part. Further studies will need to dive deeper into this primordial history and uncover exactly how, you, me and every other living thing, came to be.

Courtesy. Darren Orf

Tailpiece.

Got up a trifle past 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 8.

Met Suresh Gopi at his residence and decided on the way forward to have our Maasaacharanam conclusion program at New Delhi during the first week of August and the release of Muthachchan's biography, in English. Met Sreekkuttan also there.

To KIMS and met Dr Jithu, the Surgical Specialist, who had reviewed Maman's wound on his eyebrow. It's healing well. A new dressing was put on the wound.

At the Holy Angel's Convent to see tomorrow's venues for the public meeting and the state level quiz competition.

Lunch was rice, curd and and 'natholi' fried.

The evening's lecture at Poojappura was "Grandhasala Prasthaanavum Saamoohika Navodhaanavum" by Venpakal Ganesan.

Met Shajahan, the proprietor of the Kunnil Department Store. A nice, unassuming guy!

Dinner consisted of dosas and chutney. 

 

LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor) - 1

All life on Earth comes from one single ancestor. And it's so much older than we thought. Scientists have pushed back LUCA's origin by hundreds of millions of years.

* All life on Earth can be traced back to a Last Universal Common Ancestor or LUCA.

* A new study suggests that this organism likely lived on Earth 400 million years after its formation.

* Further analysis shows that this life form likely sported an early immune system which means it was 

   probably fighting off viruses.

 

Life on Earth had to begin somewhere and scientists think that "somewhere" is LUCA. True to its name, this prokaryote-like organism represents the ancestor of every living thing, from the tiniest of bacteria to the grandest of to the grandest of blue whales.

While the Cambrian Explosion kickstarted complex life in a major way some 530 million years, the true timeline of life on Earth is much longer. For years, scientists have estimated that LUCA likely arrived on the scene some 4 billion years which is only 600 million years after the planet's formation. But a new study from an international team of scientists pushes that timeline back even further to some 4.2 billion years ago while also discovering some fascinating details about what life for LUCA might have been like. The results of the study were published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.

.....to be continued.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 8. 

Had lunch at Kochannan sahib's restaurant at Karamana. The shop, though small and on the main thoroughfare is known for its genuine mutton. 

Pumped out a couple of pending mail. Phew!

Indirakkutty's group's Ramayana recital at the Akshara guru sannidhi between 5 and 6 PM.

 

Messages.....

* On a Hyderabad road. One of the best and hard hitting.

   

   What's the point of education

   If you still throw 

              garbage on streets

   To be ultimately

              picked by

   An uneducated person.

* Yesterday in Spain.

    "Yay! Alcaraz won Wimbledon. 

      Spain won Euro. Where can I

                get a drink?

             "Bar se lo na".

* A morning message

   If you have the spirit of 

   understanding everything in a

   positive way

   You'll enjoy each and every

   moment of life, whether it is

   pressure or pleasure.

* Another morning message

   The most expensive liquid 

   in the world is a tear.

   It's 1% water 

   and 99% feelings.

   Think before you hurt someone.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 2, recited my prayers and turned off to sleep again. Got up at a half past 7, the chores and was off for the Foundation by a quarter past 9. 

Was with Ammayi till lunchtime while Maman had his medicals.

"Nurungu katha arangu" at the Akshara Guru Sannidhi. Related my "Anto Jose story" and got a thundering applause.

Had kanji at a Brahmin restaurant; it was great.

Honey.

Did you know?

* There are live enzymes in honey.

* When in contact with a metal spoon, these enzymes die.

* The best way to eat honey is with a wooden or plastic spoon.

* Honey contains a substance that helps your brain work better.

* Honey is one one of the rare foods on Earth that alone can sustain human life.

* One teaspoon of honey is enough to sustain human life for 24 hours.

* Propolis, produced by bees, is one of the most powerful natural antibiotics.

* Honey has no expiration date.

* The bodies of great emperors were buried in golden coffins and covered with honey to prevent

   putrefaction.

* The term "honeymoon" comes from the tradition of newly weds consuming honey for fertility after 

   the wedding.

* A bee lives less than 40 days, visits at least 1,000 flowers and produces less than a teaspoon of honey

   in its lifetime.

* One of the first coins had a bee symbol on it. Deep gratitude to the humble bee. 

Tailpiece.

Got up at 2, recited my prayers and turned off to sleep yet again.

Got up at 6, the chores and through pouring rain went to the DDRC lab at Sasthamangalam to get Maman's FBS. It has come down to 73 after what seemed to be a long while. Also got the insulin injected in.

A nostalgic trip down memory lane at my alma mater, the Holy Angel's Convent.

Rushed to see Ammayi, along with Lekha. after she fell in the bathroom. Nothing to worry, says the doctor.

Exasperated with Maman who neither has food nor medicines. 

 

All about attitude!

An engineer in a car company designs a world class car. The CEO is impressed with the outcome and praised him a lot.

While trying to bring out the car from the manufacturing area to the showroom, they realised that the car is 2" taller than the entrance.

The engineer felt bad that he didn't notice this one before creating the car.

The CEO was confused on how to take it outside of the manufacturing area.

The painter said that they can bring out the car and there will be a few scratches on top of the car which could be touched up later on.

The engineer said that they can break the entrance, take the car out and later on re-do it.

The CEO was not convinced with any ideas and felt like it is a bad bad sign to break or scratch.

A watchman was observing all the drama and slowly approached the CEO. He wanted to give an idea if they had no problem.

They wondered what this guy would tell them that the experts could not give.

The watchman said, "The car is only a few inches taller than the entrance so, simply release the air in the tyre, the height of the car will sink and can be easily taken out"....

Everyone clapped!!!

Don't analyse the problems only from an expert point of view alone.

Life issues are also the same....

Think simple....Do simple and Live simple.  

Release some air.....It could be our 'anger'.....our 'disappointments'....our 'egos'....our 'confusions'....

In the end, it's all about "Adjusting the height" (Attitude), to make things easier in life and uncomplicate the things in life.

Because originally we are happy souls!

Courtesy. What'sApp

Tailpiece.

Got up at 5, washed up and recited a part of my prayers and sent the morning messages.

A morning cup of tea, from a tea stall, after Maman was administered insulin. Buns for breakfast!

Slept off for a while after doing up my work on the laptop.

Off to Jubilee Mission hospital to dress up Maman's wound and to look up Ammayi. She looks much better now!

Off to the Foundation, dropped Maman there and was off to Poojappura. Dr Prathapachandran delivered a lecture on 'After jail corrections' for convicts. An interesting lecture!

 

A turbulent yet interesting day!

Had got up at 2, washed up, recited my prayers and turned off to sleep yet again. Got up at a half  past 6, the chores proceeded to get insulin injected into Maman. Anupama had a long day today and she'd said that the evening's dosage was gonna be administered a bit late.

Returned to find that Ammayi wasn't in a fit state to even make the morning cup of tea. Leaving her with Chambu and Rekha on the way to help out, Maman and I rushed out to the Chinmaya Mission School at Kunninpuram. Pannian Ravindran, our chairman and VP Joy, the ex-chief secretary, playback singer, Sanith were on the dais with me for the morning meeting.

The quiz competition for the Thiruvananthapuram district began at 11, pronto, with yours truly being the Quiz Master. There were 52 competitors and Ananya, Rithu were the winners to take part in the state-level quiz that will be conducted on the 19th.

Anish, our sa'arthi, brought me my lunch.

The speaker for the evening session at the 'Akshara Guru Sannidhi' was Raghuvaran Nair, who'd delivered a very interesting lecture on driving and safety on the roads. It was nice!

We returned via Anupama's house to take in Maman's evening dosage of insulin.

A quiet evening where we'd dosas for dinner. 

A voice from Manipur.

My friend YA Angamba, from Manipur, gives us the true picture of the Congress' deeds of the past when the immature RaGa tried to find fault with Modi for not having visited the state, thus far.

Now when RaGa has newly found his lost love for Manipur, it's important to take a sneak peak of the past.

You might know this or maybe not but it's important to expose the real past to decide what's actually burning! Manipur or something else?

In 2008, the UPA Government had sent its Home Minister P Chidambaram to Manipur, who signed a SOO agreement with Myanmar based militant group, Zoumi Revolutionary Army (ZRA).

Now what's wrong with signing a peace making agreement with a militant group? It's good to bring them into the mainstream to achieve peace for the long term, isn't it?

But here's a small glitch.

ZRA was a foreign country based militant group and not any Bharatiya Rebel Group. The UPA government was fully aware that they are foreigners.

But still the Kuki militant leaders were imported into Manipur and then the SOO Agreement was signed with them. This pact allowed ZRA to bring thousands of illegal Myanmarese migrants into Manipur.

Today, these militants they brought into Manipur, are taking the lives of innocent Meiteis, the real indigenous people.

After committing all these sins, now the CONgress is pretending to work in the interest of "Peace in Manipur" with crocodile tears being shed for the state but not for the Meiteis.

But does CONgress really want peace in Manipur?

If that was the case, RaGa would've spoken on the atrocities on the indigenous Meiteis by the illegal immigrant Kuki-Zo and Chin-Kukis.

He didn't do that.

Instead, he ran away from the press conference when difficult questions were asked of him.

Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister N Biren Singh have hit hard on those illegal immigrants and their drug trade.

And CONgress is crying!

Thank God! Congress isn't in power.

It could have even signed a pact with the terrorist groups in Pakistan to give them free entry in the name of peace in Kashmir.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 3, washed and recited my prayers and turned off to sleep again. Maman woke me up by a quarter past 6, the chores and we were off to Anupama for his insulin injection. 

Got ready and cast off for the Foundation by a quarter past 9. A quiet day, almost.

'Thairu Saadam' for lunch! It was damn good!!

Etched Muthachchan's personality after dwelling on my interactions with him. The crowd seemed to like it!

   

India and Russia.

50 years ago, in Dec 1971, the US threatened India to stop the 1971 war. An alarmed India sent a SOS to the Soviet Union. A story that has been nearly erased from Indian history books.

When Pakistan's defeat in the 1971 war seemed imminent, Kissinger spurred Nixon to send the US 7th Fleet's Task Force, led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, to the Bay of Bengal. The USS Enterprise, at 75,000 ton, was the world's largest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with more than 70 fighter aircraft. A monster. The Indian Navy's fleet was led by the 20,000-ton aircraft carrier, Vikrant, with 20 light fighter aircraft.

The USS Enterprise was being dispatched to secure American citizens Sea. The British and the Americans planned a co-ordinated pincer attack to intimidate India : the British ships in the Arabian Sea will target India's western coast while the Americans would make a dash to Chittagong. Caught between the British and the American ships was the Indian Navy.

It was Dec '71 and the world's two leading democracies were now threatening the world's largest democracy. The Red Navy soon dispatched 16 Soviet naval units and six nuclear submarines from Vladivistok to block USS Enterprise.

Admiral Krishnan, CinC East, wrote in his book, "No way but surrender" that he was afraid that the Americans will reach Chittagong. He mentions how they even thought of attacking Enterprise, in a do or die move, to slow it down.

In the 2nd week of Dec '71, the US 7th fleet Task Force arrived in the Bay of Bengal. The British fleet was arriving in the Arabian Sea. The world held its breath.

But unknown to the Americans, the submerged Soviet submarines had overtaken them.

As USS Enterprise moved towards East Pakistan, the Soviet submarines surfaced without any warning. The Soviet subs were now standing between India and the US Naval force.

The Americans were shocked.

Admiral Gordon told the 7th American Fleet Commander : "So, we are too late. The Soviets are here!"

Both the American and British fleets backed off. Today, most Indians have forgotten this colossal naval chess battle between the two superpowers in the Bay of Bengal.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 5, thanks to Maman giving me a wake-up call. We set off for the DDRC Lab at Sasthamangalam by a quarter past 6. However, though we got the first slot, Saumya and Aathira of the staff had come late. 

Then we'd gone to Anupama @ Ilippode, for administering insulin on Maman.

Was at the office by a half past 9.

Hari Chaarutha was the chief guest for the evening's function. Spoke well on "Cartoon Music".  

  

Sometimes.....

These beautiful lines by Robert Drake are worth a share...

Sometimes,

I feel I want to go back in time....

Not to change things, but to feel

a couple of things twice...

Sometimes,

I wish I was a baby for a while...

Not to be walked in the pram but

to see my mother's smile

Sometimes,

I wish I could go back to school...

Not to become a child but to

spend more time with those

friends, I never met after school...

Sometimes,

I wish I could be back in 

college...

Not to be a rebel but to really

understand what I studied.

Sometimes,

I wish I was a fresher at my 

work...

Not to do less work but to recall

the joy of the first pay cheque.

Sometimes,

I wish my kids were younger...

Not because they grew fast but

to play with them a bit more.

Sometimes,

I feel I still had some more time

to live....

Not to have a longer life but to

know what I could give to others.

Since the times

that are gone can never come

back, let's enjoy the moments as

we live them from now on, to the

fullest...

Let's celebrate our remaining 

life - every moment and every day.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 2, had washed up and recited my prayers and gone back to sleep only to be woken up by Maman at 5. The chores and took Maman to the DDRC lab at Sasthamangalam for taking fasting blood samples. Returned, had a leisurely grooming and set off for the Foundation by a quarter past 9.

Maman's post prandial blood sample was collected and fetched up at the Foundation.

Off to the regional office of the Kazhakkootam Skill Development office to meet Mr Rajendran, the Director. Handed over our complaints against Sasi Nadakkal.

Returned, soon after and reached the Foundation.

The evening's session by Sreeprakash went off okay. Maman and the others returned from the KIMS hospital after today's session.

Took Maman again out to administer Insulin.  

 

At Thiruvananthapuram.

Dateline 09 Jul

Lekha had woken me up at 4, we went through the chores and were ready by a half past 6. We kicked off on our long journey by a quarter to 7. Lesser said about the state of roads from the temple town to Thrissur; it was a bumpy ride all the way.

Had breakfast of idlis at the Saravanan Bhavan in Paliyekkara around 8 and resumed our journey. The 100-km point, from our porch, was 10 km short of Moovattupuzha and the 200-km point was slightly ahead of NSS College, Pandalam.

Had a narrow escape from a sure shot accident with an autorickshaw, enroute to Pandalam. The saving grace was that there were no vehicles behind us and I could bring the car to zero speed on a slightly harsh application of brakes. Had actually strayed off from my driving, talking to Lekha. It was divine intervention! The rick driver gave me dirty looks; gaalis!

Reached Raj Nivas by a quarter to 3. The caretaker was available; two ladies had come for resurvey, Rema gave them a piece of her mind; they got sober and said that the report would be rendered within ten days!

Left Raj Nivas by a quarter past 3 in Sanju’s autorickshaw, I was dropped at the rtc bus stand, Lekha bought her knee caps from Peniel and was off to her sister, Letha’s house. She’s gonna be there and at Mini's over the next six days.

Had got into a normal FP bus and was at the Foundation by a quarter past 5. Maman had returned from the KIMS Hospital by 8.

A quiet yet late evening with Maman speaking about a lot of things including Chambu.

Kerala's higher education breeds mediocrity.

Coming down hard on Kerala's failure to improve the "awful state" of its universities and colleges, a new book has said "long-time neglect" of quality in higher education has built a "for-Kerala-by-Kerala" type of higher education, breeding mediocrity.

The damning criticism of the higher education sector in the book "Kerala - 1956 to the Present : India's Miracle State' - co-authored by Tirthankar Roy, professor of Economic History at the London School of Economics and K Ravi Raman, a member of the state's Planning Board - comes at a time when the state is facing an outflow of youngsters to foreign shores for higher education. Adding to the concerns, most campuses are battling murky student politics and violence.

"The Kerala Model was good with primary education and an abject failure with higher education. The entry of private investment has not done much to improve the awful state of the universities and colleges", say the authors.

Private investment in education has revived, as in other states. However, private investors in education rarely understand how to build quality and target quantity instead. Bureaucrats are not competent to perform the complicated task of improving the quality of education, the book says.

My take

An area that needs adept handling and futuristic concepts! Education has to be of top quality, nothing short of it. In fact, students from the other states of our country and from abroad should make a beeline for the state's universities for their sheer quality.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a quarter past 5 to heavy rains. The chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

To the town to get the new PUC for the Chevy, top up with fuel and check tyre pressure.

Santhi sends us the message that her son, Akhil and Rithu have been blessed with a baby boy, this afternoon, local time.

Shut down The Quarterdeck in phases.

Declining student strength in Kerala's schools.

* Prime reason for the decline in students' strength is the big drop in the state's population

* Migration of youth to foreign shores

* Decrease in fertility rate from 1.9 a few years ago to 1.6

* Increase in number of smaller families with no more than two children and youngsters choosing

   not to marry

According to the International Institute of Migration and Development, Kerala, Most of the youth prefer to settle down in the countries they have migrated to. So besides empty houses, the state will soon have to face a situation of empty schools.

Kerala today has a total of 12,974 schools catering to the educational needs of the children till high school. This excludes higher secondary and vocational higher secondary schools. The days of exclusive schools for boys and girls are over. They are no longer practical. Another thing is that even when they are converted to mixed schools, there is no guarantee that they will be able to tide over the shortage of students. This is because other co-ed schools, too, are struggling with a drop in student strength.

Till the end of the 2022 academic year, the state had 280 girls schools and 164 boys schools in the government and aided sectors but now the numbers are coming down. This year itself 45 schools turned co-ed.

Courtesy. Excerpts from Anu Kuruvilla's article in the NIE

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 5, the chores and was ready only by a quarter past 10.

A quiet Sunday.

Washed down the Chevy with Lekha's help in the evening.

 

Something to ponder!

A harmful truth is always better than a useful lie!

I never understood one thing that what do these film actors or actresses do that they get 50 crores or 100 crores for each film.

In a country where top scientists, doctors, engineers, professors, officers etc. get 10 lakh to 20 lakh rupees per year, in that country a film actor earns 10 crore to 100 crore rupees per year. What does he do after all?

What is their contribution in the development of the country? After all, what does he do that he earns so much in just one year that it might take 100 years for the top scientist of the country?

Today, the three areas which have fascinated the new generation of the country are cinema, cricket and politics.

The earning and prestige of the people belonging to these three fields is beyond all limits.

These three areas are the ideals of modern youth, while their credibility is currently under question.

Is it, therefore, useful for the country and the society?

Courtesy. What'sApp

Tailpiece.

Fetched up at Guruvayur by a quarter past 12. The train that was running late had made up lost time towards the end. However, the fleecing of the passengers by the autorickshaw drivers is real and pathetic because the police looks the other way!

Got up groggily, the chores and was ready by 10. After a quick breakfast, dashed off to the bank to drop my credit card cheque and buy fish for Kittu, Chakki and Manjakkandan from the Thampuraanpadi fish stall.

Siesta after a long break.

The evening chores!

 

The Children's Books Exhibition.

Dateline 05 Jul

The PN Panicker Foundation, along with the NBT, has begun a three day Children's Books Exhibition at the Institute of Engineers' Hall opposite the Kanakakkunnu Palace this morning at 9 AM. Professor George Onakkoor lit the ceremonial lamp and inaugurated the exhibition.

Over a hundred publishers are taking part in the exhibition.

Tailpiece.

Left Chaithanya Eye Hospital by a quarter to 5 to board the Guruvayur Intercity Express.

At the Chaitanya Eye Hospital.

Got up at a quarter to 7, the chores and was ready by 9. Reached the Foundation by a half past 10. The office house maid, Girija made us a hot cup of tea and after having it, we went across to the Chaithanya Eye Hospital at Kesavadasapuram for Maman’s review on the optic nerve inflammation.

He went through a battery of tests, saw three doctors but Gemini Issac impressed me a lot. I told her my reasons too and wasn’t she thrilled? Her sterling qualities were :-

     * extremely knowledgeable 

     * totally focused on her patients and

     * excellent bedside manners.

Blessed her from my heart and we’ve invited her for one of our sessions of ‘Aazhchakkoottam’ during the first week of August.

Carried out an inspection of the Institution of Engineers Hall where the three-day children’s books exhibition organised by the PN Panicker Foundation and the National Book Trust will be inaugurated tomorrow morning by a half past 8. Maman took a tumble and got a deep gash above his left eyebrow. A quick trip to Jubilee Mission hospital where three stitches were put by Dr Joshua at the Casualty. A sad setback when we'd got tidings from the Chaithanya Hospital, regarding the recovery of his left eye, earlier in the day.

Tailpiece.

Hit the sack by a half past 11.

A blast from the past!

The last train of the day has left the platform. An old woman is sitting without having the idea that the next train will be at tomorrow morning....a coolie noticed that and asked the old lady, "Mai, where are you going?" 

I will go to Delhi to my son.

"There is no train today, Maiji".

The woman looked helpless. The coolie was kind enough to offer a shelter for the woman in the waiting room. She agreed.

The coolie asked her about her son. The mother replied that her son works in the railway.

"Tell me the name. See if contact is possible", the coolie said. 

"He is my Lal, everyone calls him Lal Bahadur Shastri', the mother replied.

The son was then the union minister for Railways.

In a moment, the whole station was in a frenzy. Soon the saloon car came. The old woman was surprised. All arrangements were made by the Indian Railways.

After meeting her son, she asked, "Beta tu rail me kya kaam karta? Yeh log poochha to maine kuch nahin bol paaya".

Son said, "Chhotisi kaam Ma!"

My take

What does one say about the man's humility?

Tailpiece.

Got up at an 11' past 5, recited my prayers partially and sent the morning messages. Was ready by 9.

Lekha returned to The Quarterdeck by a quarter past 11.

A quiet day at the Foundation; lunch opposite Congress Office near the RBI.

'Sarga Saayaahnam' was about Biographies by Adv AK Suresh. Jeevan TV covered the proceedings and and took bytes from me! 

It's the 15th day of the Vaayana Maasaacharanam.

 

The new criminal laws.

India is gearing up for a significant overhaul of its legal framework with the introduction of three new criminal laws, slated to replace outdated colonial-era statutes and has come into effect wef 01 Jul. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), passed in Parliament last December, will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 respectively.

Salient Aspects

* Innovative Legal Procedures. Features like Zero FIR allow complaints filed at any police station, 

   streamlining the initiation of legal action.

* Technological Advancements. Online police complaints and electronic summons service aim to

   reduce paperwork and enhance communication.

* Swift Judicial Processes. Strict timelines for delivering trial judgments within 45 days and framing 

   charges within 60 days emphasise timely justice delivery.

* Protection for Vulnerable Groups. Special provisions for crimes against women and children, 

   ensuring sensitive handling and expedited medical examinations.

 

* Expanded Offences. Definition updates include emerging crimes such as false promise of marriage

   and gang rape of minors, alongside a comprehensive definition of terrorism.

Tailpiece.

Got up a trifle late, the chores and was ready by 9.

Off to the Foundation and from there, to Neyyattinkara Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) along with Raviyettan, Maman, Chambu and Bijumon sir.

Was one of the speakers. Spoke about the 'cinema maasika' and the 'Aandithalla' episodes.

A scrumptious lunch and made friends with Faisal Khan, the MD.

The 'sarga saayaahnam' was about "Theyyam and its relevance to society" by Santha Thulasidharan.

Bought toiletries during the return.  

  

Significance of morning/evening What'sApp messages.

One of the houses I deliver newspaper had its mailbox blocked, so I knocked on the door. 

Mr David, an elderly man with unsteady steps, slowly opened the door. 

I asked, "Sir, why is your mailbox blocked?"

He replied, "I blocked on purpose".

He smiled and continued, "I want you to deliver the newspaper to me everyday...Please knock the door or ring the bell and hand it to me in person".

I was puzzled and replied, "Sure, but that seems inconvenience for both of us and a waste of time".

He said, "It's all right....I'll pay you extra each month as Knocking Fee".

With a pleading expression, he added, "If there ever comes a day when you knock on the door and find no response, please call the police!"

I was shocked and asked, "Why sir?"

He replied, "My wife passed away, my son is abroad and I live here all alone, who knows when my time will come?"

At that moment, I saw the old man's misty, moist eyes.

He further said, "I never read the newspaper.....I subscribe it to hear the sound of knocking or doorbell ringing. To see a familiar face and exchange a few pleasantries!"

He clasped his hands and said, "Young man, please do me a favour! Here's my son's overseas number. If one day you knock on the door and I don't answer, please call my son to inform him...."

After reading this, I realised there are so many solitary, lonely, elderly people among our circle of friends.

Sometimes, you might wonder why they, in their old age, still send messages on WhatsApp, just like days they were still working.

Actually, the significance of these morning and evening greetings is similar to the meaning of knocking or ringing the doorbell; it is a way of wishing each other safety and conveying care. One day, if you don't receive their morning greetings or shared articles, they might be unwell or something may have happened to them. 

Tailpiece.

Got up leisurely at a half past 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Maman, ammayi and Chambu left for the Sree Chithira Thirunal Hospital for Maman's medical review. Rajan came a trifle later and dropped me at the Foundation.

Maman and the others returned by lunchtime; they'd bought packed lunch enroute and we'd a scrumptious lunch.

This evening, at the 'Akshara Guru' sannidhi, it was Jessinda Morris - poet, novelist, actress - who kept us regaled with her expenses. I summed up the evening and found quite a few things to pass on.

Today's Vaayana Maasaacharanam (13th day).