Vistara to merge with Air India.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) said the Indian government has cleared its Rs. 2,058.50 crore FDI into the enlarged Air India Group as part of Vistara-Air India merger.

12 Nov 2024 is the date of merger.

No immediate change in schedule, aircraft

From 03 Sep, those trying to book Vistara for travel on 12 Nov or beyond will be redirected to Air India's 

website. Customers who have already booked Vistara will automatically have their reservations converted to Air India flight numbers. Though flight numbers will change, the aircraft fleet, flight schedules and crews will largely remain the same till early 2025.

Concerns over service post-merger

* Vistara, which has 90 aircraft, is known for its excellent service quality and in-flight experience, while

   Air India gets panned for its older planes and disruptions due to crew shortage. Industry experts have

   flagged concerns whether Air India will be able to match up to Vistara's high standards.

* The merger will create one of the world's largest airline group.

My take

It's my fond hope that the merged Air India comes up in class and efficiency in its services, taking the cue from Vistara.

Tailpiece.

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

Pumped out my August mail by about a half past 11. Was I too crass in it, I wonder!

A quiet evening.

The advent of the foreign universities.

UK University to open first foreign campus in India under NEP 2020

The University of Southampton has been granted approval by the UGC to set up a branch campus in India.

Campus expected to come up in Gurugram

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan handed over the Letter of Intent to the UK university at an event in Delhi. The new campus is likely to be located in Gurugram, within the Delhi NCR. It will offer a wide range of undergraduate and post-graduate degree courses starting in Jul 2025.

One of UK's top research universities

* The University of Southampton is one of the UK's top research institutions with one-third of its research rated as "world leading".

* The national Education Policy 2020 calls for internationalisation of education in India by inviting leading foreign universities to set up branch campuses here and collaborate with local institutions.

My take

May it take off in a big way with more players coming in.

Tailpiece.

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

A quiet Friday.

Finished up quite a lot of work.

INS Arighaat

INS Arighaat, the second nuke-powered submarine was commissioned in Visakhapatnam today.

Launched in Nov 2021, it follows INS Arihant, of this class. The submarine displaces 6,000-tons with a length of 110 metres and a breadth of 11 metres. They are designed to carry K4 and K15 submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

The name Arighaat means, "The Destroyer of the Enemy". (The name of the class of naval ships and submarines is generally the name of the first ship built of the same design).

A nuclear triad is a three-layered military force structure that consists of nuclear bombs and missiles that can be launched from land, water and air. The land-based inter-continental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and strategic bombers are components of the triad.

Indian Navy's tryst with nuclear-powered submarines began in Jan 1988 with a nuclear attack submarine, INS Chakra, leased from the then USSR. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy's Advanced Technology Vessel project was taking shape in the 1990s. It fructified with INS Arihant getting inducted in Aug 2016.

It is expected to serve as a deterrent for the Chinese Navy's increasing forays into the Indian Ocean Region.

Tailpiece.

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

Washing machinex of bed linen.

Caught up with pending work.

PM Modi moots practical engagement for peace.

Modi speaks to Putin, shares insights from his Ukraine visit

The telephone conversation comes a day after PM Narendra Modi spoke to US President Joe Biden about his visit to Ukraine.

Seeks end to Russia-Ukraine conflict

In a post on X, Modi said : "Spoke with President Putin today...Exchanged perspectives on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and my insights from the recent visit to Ukraine. Reiterated India's firm commitment to support an early, abiding and peaceful resolution of the conflict". The Ministry of External Affairs said the two leaders reviewed progress on a number of bilateral issues.

Moots practical engagement for peace

* Modi also underlined "the importance of dialogue and diplomacy as well as sincere and practical 

   engagement  between all stakeholders to achieve an abiding and peaceful resolution of the conflict".

* Modi's 23 Aug trip to Kyiv was the first by an Indian PM since Ukraine's independence in 1991. He

   offered India's help to facilitate return of peace.

Tailpiece.

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

Did the usual Wednesday 'aarathi' of the house. 

Lekha's visit to the ration stand to buy our monthly dues.

Suma kunjamma returns to Thiruvananthapuram.

Ladakh gets 5 new districts.

Amid demand for statehood, Ladakh gets five new districts, raising the total number to seven.

Move expected to improve governance

The new districts are :-

 

   * Zanskar

   * Drass

   * Sham

   * Nubra and

   * Changthang.

At present, Ladakh has two districts - Leh and Kargil. Due to its size - it is the largest UT in terms of area - and difficult terrain, the UT faces administrative challenges. The move to have more districts could address this. Locals have welcomed the decision with the hope that it will improve governance.

The Congress and the Ladakh Buddhist Association havw welcomed the move.

Tailpiece.

Got up around a 20' to 6, the chores and was ready by 10. Suma kunjamma was with us, yakitiyaking and left for the temple at 10.

A lovely lunch by Lekha.

A quiet evening.

'White-topping' to rejuvenate aging NHs.

* The total length of national highways in the country, at present, is approximately 1.5 lakh km.

* As two-, four- and six-lane national highways and expressways are being built, the quantum of aged 

   assets is increasing.

 

Reinforcing the roads

1. Unexpected increase in traffic loading, poor maintenance or improper drainage conditions aggravate 

    the rate of deterioration of bitumen roads.

2. White-topping technology is the covering of an existing asphalt pavement with a layer of of Portland

    Cement Concrete.

3. White-topping prevents structural cracks and rutting and extends the lifespan of roads by 20-25 years.

My take

May our roads be a pleasure to drive upon for every motorist!

Tailpiece.

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

Washing machinex carried out to sort out the soiled clothes.

Suma kunjamma drops in and will be here, with us, till Wednesday. 

                

Back at The Quarterdeck.

Our day began at 4, this morning, with Lekha's wake up call. We went about our chores and were ready by 6. Monish, with the car, came in a trifle later and we'd quickly loaded our stuff into the car and took off by a quarter past 6.

My customary stop at the Nagaraja kshetram at Randalummoodu, a word with the pujari and we resumed our journey. Fueled the car at our usual petrol pump at Kottarakkara and our next stop was at the Aaryaa's at Pandalam. The journey went off smoothly and we reached Guruvayur by lunchtime. Had food at the KTDC Hotel after a long time. 

Sent back Monish and the car, soon after.

Settled down without any delay, the house was opened up and unpacking was carried out.

A short snooze and carried out the evening chores. 

Tailpiece.

Chakki and Manjakkandan came and had their food, Kittu was nowhere to be seen.

The boys from Harisree and National supermarkets delivered groceries on Lekha's instructions. The fruit basket was also delivered.

Day 3 at Raj Nivas.

Got up around 5, the chores and went about my usual dos of opening up the house, putting on the music etc. Mini had lit up the lamp.

Mini had gone across to the Kusappilli kshetram to fix up our Aayilyam puja and Amma's aandu puja. After the breakfast of idlis, Lekha and Mini had gone to the Thrikkonnamarkodu Devi kshetram followed by the Kottarakkara Maha Ganapati kshetram.

Mini had returned to Ayoor from there!

Many clothes were washed and I was beaten twice with rains falling heavily.....making me squeeze the clothes off water. Thankfully, it was warm and sunny, consequent to that and we could get the clothes dry!

It was the usual evening chores.

Our Chevy won't be ready by tomorrow and hence, we are going in a rented car with Monish as the sa'arthi.

Kishore, his wife, Geetanjali and daughter, Saayujya had dropped by a half past 8. They'd come to call on me because the daughter has been impressed with my tips for tackling the SSB.

Tailpiece.

Slept at our usual time, after finishing our packing.  

Our second day at Raj Nivas.

Got up early in the morning but turned off to sleep again as it was earlier than usual. However, got up by a trifle after 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter past 10. 

Opened up the house, put on the music. Mini had lit up the lamp on getting up!

The morning was just like the good 'ole times, the difference being Mom and Dad weren't there or were they, after all, in their invisible avatar, looking after us!

The caretaker got us breakfast of idiyappams, kadalakkari and chutney. 

John ichaayan came with his car by a quarter to 11 and we proceeded soon after. Picked up Padmakumar-Rema from Kottarakkara as they'd picked up the gift for Sakthi-Indu for their house warming. We, then, proceeded to the new house with the help of the 'location' sent to us by him.

'Vazhuvelil' has, indeed, been built thoughtfully and nicely designed by the couple, as we understood during our conversation. Went through every part of the house, along with Sakthi, giving his explanations. He and Indu have done their homework and brought a good product. Their sons, Pran and Kaushik had become friendly by the end of our visit!

Lekha's elder sister, Letha, Indu's brother, Vishnu and his wife, Greeshma, their daughter, Rithu were there. Lunch of chicken biryani, salad and paneer masala were good. In fact, lauded the maker, Satheesan for his efforts and gave him a tip on Lekha's prodding! Also, handed over the gift to Sakthi and Indu for their new house!!

Returned after lunch, dropped Padmakumar and Rema at Pulamon junction, Lekha gave her clothes for alteration to her favourite tailor at Chandamukku, a short trip to the More outlet and reached home by 3. Siesta. 

A quiet evening. Letha had provided us our dinner.

Tailpiece.

A quiet day, otherwise.

At Raj Nivas.

Our day had begun at 4 AM, thanks to Lekha's cellphone. Went through the chores and were ready by 6 as we didn't want Sajish to be delayed because of us. He wanted to get back to Guruvayur thanks to a wedding that was taking place in his family.

We left promptly at a trifle past 6 and was stuck short of the Chettuva bridge - for 45' - thanks to a bad accident. Had breakfast at the Ananda Bhavan at Chalakudi - we shared a combo as usual! There was a second block off the Kalady Tower for about 40'. And the third for about 20', on approaching Perumbavoor.

Sajish showed a bit of restlessness as we neared Muvattupuzha and I dropped him at the bus stand so that he could board a bus back to Guruvayur at the earliest. From then on, it was me all the way. Lunch was at the Padma Cafe at Adoor.

Drove straight to Mohan's workshop, put Monish behind the wheel and went straight to Raj Nivas. Monish recharged our Airtel Dish TV. And he took the Chevy for effecting repairs.

Spent time with Mom and Dad and briefed them about our program.

Padmakumar, Rema and Mini came in by teatime from Pidavoor. After going through the evening chores, we were off to the auditorium at Thekkemukku, to attend Anandu-Athulya's wedding reception. Wasn't Sridevi and her family thrilled to see us together!

Rajan had driven us to the venue and back for a paltry 500/-! Damn sweet of him!! 

Padmakumar and Rema had returned to Pidavur soon after. And it was a late night, yakittiyaking with Mini, thereafter.

Tailpiece.

This was for the first time, that the family was together - albeit minus Achu-Karthika and Ammu-Mithun - after Sanil's passing away.

A topsy-turvy evening!

Was completely off the mark with my health, in that, there was this feeling of constriction around the chest which seemed to have no chance of disappearing. It was a miserable day yesterday!

Went through the packing and knocked off to bed at our usual time hoping that things would subside by early in the morning after getting up from sleep but it was not to be.

Took the following decisions :-

   * told Lekha to continue sleeping and to give the 4 o'clock alarm amiss as I'd to report to Dr (Mrs) 

     Sodhi to sort out my medical problem.

  * told Rema and Padmakumar about the change in plans so that they could be on their own to go

     by the Guruvayur - Madurai Fast passenger.

  * sent my message regarding my medical discomfort to the doctor and

  * told Sajish, the driver about the change in our program.

The appointment with the doctor was fixed for an ECG at the Rajah Hospital's Casualty at 9. Sajish was asked to pick us up at a quarter to 9.

Thankfully, there was no abnormality in my ECG. The discomfort was simply gastric! Antidote was provided and the doctor was in attendance throughout the procedure!

It was a quiet day at The Quarterdeck, consequently.

Tailpiece.

Tomorrow is gonna be a long day! Must hand over our Chevy to mechanic Mohan on reaching

Kottarakkara.

   

Limbering up....

Getting ready for a trip to my parents' place. A few social obligations need to be met.

Sajish will be with me till Thrippunithura after which I'll be on my own with my folks. Padmakumar and Rema will join us. 

Bangalore to Guruvayur.

Our day began at 3, this morning. Went through the chores and we were ready by a quarter to 5. We left a trifle after 5, Achu and Karthika drove us to the KR Puram railway station and saw us off.

The 06002 Bangalore - Kochi Vande Bharat came on the dot, at 0550 hrs, on platform no.2. We got our seats adjacent to each other without hassles. The train starts from Bangalore Cantt and stops at 7 stations enroute viz. KR Puram, Salem, Erode, Tirupur, Pothannur, Palakkad, Thrissur before its destination of Ernakulam Junction.

Ours was the first trip and we observed the following :-

   * the coaches were clean and spanking new.

   * plenty of leg space between seats.

   * a good view of the environment through which the train passes.

   * the rest rooms have been thoughtfully designed for comfort and bigger in size.

   * the food being served can, however, be better!

   * I believe that in certain stations the steps to get in/get out of the train is much above the platform's

      level.   

We reached Thrissur by an 18' past 1. Rema and Padmakumar continued their journey to Ernakulam Junction. And at The Quarterdeck by a half past 3.

A nice, short trip full of fond memories!

A quiet day!

A leisurely day.

Had lunch at Chef Pillai at Mahadevapuram. The lunch was nice; enjoyed it thoroughly. It was Achu's day-out for us.

Saw Mammootty's Turbo. Liked it.

Spoke to Kishore, Tomy and Commodore K Madhavan Nair. 

At Achu's place.

The first of Chingam. Had got up at a half past 5 and had told myself that I'd to take the initiative to ensure that everyone got his/her morning cup of tea. 

Asif bhai, the manager of the hotel, came to my help in that he placed an order for 14 cups of tea and the bell boy, Pranjal, had helped me in its distribution. There were 14 people in Major Gopinath's group. And I went about ringing the doorbells, with Pranjaal in tow with the trayful of teacups.

Here, I must quote Sreeram, "On getting up, I was desperately wanting a cup of tea. Rajani, too, had got up and repeated the same wish. And chetta, just then you'd rung the doorbell like god send". We'll never ever forget this Chingam onnu!"

We reached the Koramangala Club by a quarter past 12. Soon after, I was invited to get the ball rolling to speak about Gopi chittappan and afterwards, Rajani tells me, "Yours was the best, chetta. I liked it the most". She's a sweetheart!

After lunch and several rounds of photographs, we'd returned to Prestige Inn, finished our packing and had our siesta. Achu, along with Rema and Padmakumar, reached us by 5 and after bidding farewell to everyone - did Asif bhai feel sad to see us of? I've told him to keep me informed about his weight-loss program - we left for Bypanahalli, where Achu and Karhika live.

Reached Achu-Karthika's abode, had high tea and were off to Ravi Ponapa's flat in Sena Vihar, to give him a surprise. Great meeting him and we spent about two hours out there.

Back home, it was a late evening with plenty of yakkittiyaking!

The 15-point roadmap.

Dateline 16 Aug

PM Modi's 15-point roadmap for a viksit Bharat :-

  1. Ease of living

  2. Position as a global education hub.

  3. A global leader in semiconductor production.000

  4. Become the world's skill capital.

  5. Become a global manufacturing powerhouse.

  6. Design in India, Design for world.

  7. Create Indian gaming products hub.

  8. Lead in green hydrogen and green jobs.

  9. Encourage states to attract investments.

10. Achieve target of 500 GW by 2030.

11. Indian standards to become international standards.

12. 75,000 new medical seats in the next five years.

13. Call for 1 lakh youth to enter politics, fighting nepotism.

14. Secular Civil Code.

15. Saturation of benefits .

Tailpiece. 

Got up at 3, the chores and was ready by a half past 5. Our flight was an hour late. Reached Bangalore by lunchtime, Shrawan Gowda drove us to Koramangala @ 21/2 grand. Dropped us at the Prestige Inn, put in our luggage and proceeded for lunch with Gopi chittappan.

The evening jam session at chittappan's place.

The 78th Independence Day.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by 8 to go to the Amrita Vidyalaya at Ayyanthole. Sajish, my sa'arthi, had arrived at a quarter to 8. Was a little off colour but didn't want to put any panic on Lekha and I didn't want to miss out on the invite.

Reached the gates of the school by a 5' to 9. The school band received me in their colourful splendour and took me to the main foyer where Mata Amritanandamayi's photo was kept, with a lamp waiting to be lit. The Principal was with me throughout guiding through each serial. She is Brahmachaarini Samagitamrita Chaithanya, an efficient and much respected persona. A very pleasant person!

What I observed was the following :-

  * the principal is on the ball and is aware of everything that happens. 

  * it's a happy school in that, everyone in the campus is smiling - the students, the staff, the teachers, 

     the parents and of course the top lady, herself.

  * the school is slick.

After the flag hoisting ceremony, there was a lovely entertainment program put up by the students.

The Principal insisted upon distribution of laddoos  by us - Mrs Shiji Inasu (wife of the late Havildar Inasu, who had lost his life at the Kargil operations) - to the staff, parents, teachers and the students.

A great forenoon!

Pushpaakaran was at home, doing the spring cleaning.

Lekha wound up her Ramayanam recital and had made a paayasam to mark the occasion.

Tarang Shakti.

The Indian Air Force demonstrates Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 at Tarang Shakti, its largest-ever air combat exercises at the Sulur airbase in Coimbatore, yesterday. The first phase of the exercise started on 06 Aug and concluded today.

The second leg will be held between 29 Aug and 14 Sep at Air Force Station, Jodhpur.

Tailpiece.

It was a quiet day, to begin with. Got up at a trifle to 6, the chores and was ready at 10.

The maid had come by to work.

Lekha had gone to town to make purchases related to our Bangalore trip.

PM's Wayanad message. No politics amid calamity.

Dateline 13 Aug.

Prime Minister Modi's assurance of support after his visit to Wayanad was a soothing balm for a grieving Kerala. He'd said that the Centre stood with the Kerala government in the rebuilding process and funds would not be a constraint.

While his words highlighted his grasp of the situation, his gestures offered solace to survivors. He listened to the injured undergoing treatment and some others affected, displayed a genuine understanding of their suffering.

Drawing from his experience as a relief volunteer after the 1979 Morbi dam disaster, he stressed the need for a long-term project to address the issues faced by the child victims of the tragedy.

What the PM said is especially significant , as his message follows - and effectively overrides - some inconsiderate voices from Delhi and the blame game that played out in the days following the calamity.

The PM's message made it clear that this is no time for politics or recrimination but an occasion to stand together and extend a helping hand to those affected. Moreover, the visit has put to rest doubts about the Centre's comprehension of the magnitude of damage and its willingness to share the cost of rehabilitation.

Importantly, the PM refrained from making any big announcement. Instead, he focused on surveying the devastation, spending time with survivors and talking to officials and medical teams in an effort to understand the calamity.

A visit that conveyed confidence in the affected people and had the stamp of a true leader and statesman's actions!

Courtesy. Excerpted from the masthead of the NIE.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 3, the chores and we'd set off for Kochi by a 5' past 6. The battery was connected up at the last moment.

Lekha and I shared a combo at the Ananda Bhavan at Chalakudi.

Dropped Lekha at Fleuri's before the appointed hour of a half past 9. Sat with Chellakkili to understand as to what all happened during a knee-transplant. She's improving.

We were on our return by a half past 3 and reached The Quarterdeck by a quarter to 8.

   

Shouldn't these guys be charged for treason?

I happened to watch the bytes of Salman Khursheed, Mani Shankar Aiyar and a third congressman, who spoke with so much of venom.

They spoke as though they desperately wanted a current Bangladesh-like situation in India.

Khursheed and Aiyar rued the fact that this country was very, very vast that such violence cannot escalate in our country.

What sort of guys are these? They have had the best from the country through the positions of power that they enjoyed during the Congress rule. They want to run down the country because of their sheer hatred towards Narendra Modi.

And why do they hate PM Modi, so much? Because he wins elections, time after time! And they fully well know that their leader, RaGa did not have the winnability factor. Just can't win elections.

I'm sure that none of you've forgotten the clarion call that RaGa had given, while he was visiting abroad, as to why the US did not intervene in India because "democracy didn't exist in the country".

The present day Raichand or Mir Jafar....you can take your pick! How can a guy be so unpatriotic?

Tailpiece.

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

The maid had come by, for work.

Also, Ramesh and Aby had come by to spruce up our surroundings and dispose off the waste.

 

Why is this chap being given a long rope?

Today, Farooq Abdullah makes an audacious statement that "the Indian Armed Forces and the terrorists were hand in hand all this while".

How dare he makes such a statement? What gives him the right to make such audacious comments and get away with it? Neither Article 370 exists nor his irrelevant party, the National Conference is anywhere in the horizon 

He has been making a lot of negative statements about the country which has nourished and looked after him all these years.

He needs to be punished for besmirching the Indian Armed Forces. And he needs to know as to what the right things to do are, while being an Indian citizen!

Shame on him and his ilk!

Tailpiece.

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

A quiet Sunday.

 

Who's in charge now?

In Bangladesh?

* Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has long left Dhaka and is in India.

* Nobel laureate, Muhammad Yunus has taken over as the head of the interim government in Bangladesh.

* What are the Bangladeshi defence forces and the police doing? 

Watching the tamasha?

Of mobs running amok, attacking Hindus and misbehaving with the women....

Can't the new government take charge and send a forceful message?

Or are things going to be in a state of flux for days to come?

Is this a CIA-scripted drama?

Is it the hidden agenda of the US, China and maybe, the ISI of Pakistan to convert Bangladesh into a Taliban-like country? Over the past one week, it has gone back by ages!

Is Muhammad Yunus a puppet of the US?

Extremely sad!

Tailpiece.

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

Lekha had gone to Asha's boutique to x-check on the shirt that we're gifting Gopi chittappan on his 'sathabhishekam". 

Lunch from outside.

A quiet Saturday!

 

Adieu Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee!

Bhattacharjee, a leader of the CPI(M), was known for his efforts to bring industrialisation to the state to create jobs. He invited companies to come to West Bengal and set up factories there. However, protests broke out over land acquisition. Police firing on protesters in Nandigram in 2007 eroded the Left Front's support and it lost power in 2011.

He was the chief minister of West Bengal for 11 years from 2000. Though his party's prospects have declined in the state, Bhattacharjee remained a revered figure, remembered for his 'pragmatic approach'.

He's fired the imagination of the Bengalis, for a while, by offering the hope of economic revival in an industrially-stagnant. A communist who pursued capital for his state without giving in to the seduction of capitalism. Combined with his bhadralok persona, including his love for literature, theatre and films, his politeness and his arrogance, Buddhadeb will be an icon for every Bengali.

It was not Buddhadeb's decision to go for industrialisation but the selection of Nandigram - the most fertile land used for agriculture - that turned out to be a big blunder.

Adieu Buddhadebda! Tears and prayers!

Tailpiece.

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

Biju brought back the battery and it's confirmed that the dash has a short circuit in one of its systems.

The maid had come for work.

Had gone to the ICICI bank to drop the credit card cheque.

Today is Nagasaki day!

Coming Kavach 4.0

Advanced 'Kavach' to keep tracks safe.

Kavach development

2014 - '15         Started installation on 250 route kilometres on South Central Railway on pilot basis.

2015 - '16         First field trial on passenger trains.

2017 - '18         Kavach specification version 3.2 finalised.

2018 - '19         Research Designs and Standards Organisation approves 3 firms based on Independent

                         Safety Assessment.

2020                 Kavach was declared a national automatic train protection system.

2024                 New Kavach 4.0 specification approved.

Improvements in Version 4.0

* Additional functional requirements such as 'temporary speed restrictions'.

* Direct interface to electronic interlocking with Kavach (Will remove relays and increase reliability).

* Station-to-station Kavach Communication for improved reliability.

* Authority to loco pilots for passing signal at danger in Intermediate Block Signalling and advanced

   starter on run.

The new Kavach version has undergone extensive trials across various terrains and weather conditions.

Tailpiece.

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

A quiet Thursday.

Kittu came in only once.

What a sad thing to happen!

Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified in the finals of the 50 kg wrestling competition.

She had shifted weight categories from 53 kg to 50 kg and defeated Japan's Yui Susaki in the semi-finals yesterday but was robbed of competing in the finals as her weight was in excess! And she was overweight by 100 grams!!

What a sad blow for her at a personal level! And what a blow for India to be robbed off a medal at the Olympics!

Tailpiece.

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

Preetha, Lekha's younger sister, had come from Tirur to visit the temples of Guruvayoorappan, Parthasarathi  and Mammiyoor Sivan. Both the sisters made that trip and returned by 12.

Finished the backlog of work that had piled up.

The battery of the Chevy is down. Biju comes in the evening and unhooks the battery, for charging on the test bed.  

Back home.

Dateline 06 Aug

Got up at 5, the morning chores and was ready well in time. Akshay bhai and I went across to Mukesh's tea stall nearby to have our morning cuppa and got Maman's in the flask. The local eats were good! We were ready by a half past 8 and we set off for the Kerala House. Met PJ Kurien and Suresh Gopi's brother, Sudhir and conveyed what we'd to pass on regarding the date of release of Muthachchan's biography, in English, by the Prime Minister. Had breakfast of poori-bhaaji and washed it down with coffee.

We, then, went across to Sanjay Logani's DTP shop for a few xerox copies and a printout of my return ticket.

And then to the NBT at Vasant Kunj to meet Col Yuvraj Malik, its director. I sized him to be a guy, full of himself who had a very high opinion about himself! Sad! He could have done wonders, sitting there and I suspect he nurses a grudge against Maman. Wonder why?

Pepped him about how the dishonesty, all around, must be bugging him as 'his honesty was all prevalent'. Consequently, he warmed up to me. Pulled out my pocket expenses from the ATM, just outside the NBT, caught an Uber taxi - driver Raghu Ram, who wanted help from me to get his second son recruited into the IN. Reached T3 around a quarter past 12 at the airport and began my long wait.

Had a good lunch of 'aloo paranthas with home made butter' and coffee.

My flight 15 549 Air India Express was only 1 hour late and had reached Kochi correspondingly late! Sajish was there with the car and we left soon after.

Reached home by a quarter past 11, had a good bath, followed by dinner. Hit the sack by a half past 12! Maman had left New Delhi around 7.   

Whither Bangladesh?

Having fled the country, what next? The current military interim government overseen by army chief, General Waker-uz-Zaman, issued a statement yesterday stating that "Bangadesh Army will always stand by the people in the interest of the public and in any need of the state".

The general had stepped into the role of Chief of Army Staff in Jun 2024, for a three year term, following a long military career that began in 1985.

Interestingly, his father-in-law is Sheikh Hasina's uncle General Mustafizur Rahman, who also served as the COAS of the Bangladesh Army from Dec 1997 to Dec 2000.

Bangladesh is no stranger to military rule. Since independence in 1971, the country has been through 29 military coups.

My take

The COAS related to Sheikh Hasina.....more intrigue?

Tailpiece.  

All things planned for the day went off fine.

Shall we ever take a realistic stand on reservations?

The Supreme Court ruled that states must identify the 'creamy layer' within the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and exclude them from quota benefits.

This is a good decision because those who are already wealthy, like the Paswan family, still claiming reservation benefits harms the chances of poorer SCs and STs.

However, I doubt it will be taken positively. The usual suspects, the 'aandolanjeevis' and the wealthy and the influential among the backward classes, will twist it to portray it as an attempt to interfere with reservations and as the first step towards diluting them, leading to protests.

If that happens, you can trust the centre to reverse it in the blink of an eye.

Only a few dominating sub-castes like Jatav, Meena, Paswan......etc garner maximum reservations thereby depriving the poor and the needy SC/ST people from the actual benefits of reservation. One of the judges who delivered the judgment in its favour, Justice Gawai, himself from the scheduled caste, had strongly supported the abolition of the creamy layer from the SC/ST.

My take

It's  high time that we introduced reservation on economic basis.

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready on a leisurely Sunday.

A meeting  with our Delhi co-ordinator regarding tomorrow's arrangements.

Lunch at Karnataka restaurant  and thereafter, to the Lajpat Nagar market for purchasing dress material in bulk, for our khadi store .

A lovely dinner from  Vandana, our landlord.

Today @ New Delhi.

Dateline 03 Aug

Got up at a half past 3, had a wash, recited my prayers and turned off to sleep yet again. Got up at a quarter to 7 when Maman had called me up for tea. Had breakfast of upma and set off for the DTP shop at Khan Market. Sitting there for the next three hours, we'd the meeting notice, the banner, letters to the PM and a few others, made.

Had lunch at the Andhra Bhavan.

Earlier, had gone across to the Kerala School, spoke bluntly to the Principal and the deputy Manager. They were told to toe the line to get ready to host our program on 05 Aug at 1200 hrs to 1300 hrs.

We, then, went to the DTP to make the press release regarding our program. Picked up Vandana ji enroute. It was then my turn to meet up all the media bureau heads to hand over the press release and to invite them for the event on 05 Aug.

Off to the Chandni Chowk market to buy assorted sarees from Rajesh's shop opposite Sheesh Mahal Ganj Gurudwara for our khadi shop at Tvpm. We, then, went to the Kerala House to meet PJ Kurien and briefed him about the shortening the hugeness of our program.

The preparations for the Independence Day celebrations have already begun.

Dinner was at Karnataka Cafe.

Our program has been set.

Ground report from Wayanad.

82 relief camps.

8,017 inmates.

19 pregnant women.

8 camps in Meppadi.

1,486 inmates from 421 families.

1,167 rescue personnel on the ground.

They include 645 from Fire and Rescue Services,

94 from NDRF, 167 from DSC, 153 from MEG,

350 from local police, Coast Guard team had

also arrived. 350 army men and 160 army engineers

deployed.

Temporary hospital at Meppadi Polytechnic College.

Counseling service at all relief camps.

Efforts on to utilise the service of Intelligent Buried Object Detection System to detect human presence.

Tailpiece.

My day had started at a half past 3 and Lekha's at a half past 4. The chores and was ready by a half 5 when I'd set off for Nedumbaasserry airport in Sajeesh's hired car. Reached there by a quarter to 8. An uneventful flight.

Reached Jor Bagh by a quarter past 1. Lunch at Andhra Bhavan. Meetings and fixed up things for the concluding meeting of the National Reading month on the 5th at the Kerala School on Canning Road.

 

What happened in Wayanad?

1. Wayanad district has been experiencing torrential rain for the past four days with rivers in spate and

    low lying areas inundated.

2. Around 0130 hrs on Tuesday, a massive landslide occurs at Mundakkai in Meppadi grama panchayat.

    Gushing waters and debris sweep away almost the entire village.

3. Another landslide strikes around 0400 hrs (trigger spot yet to be ascertained). River Iruvazhinji gets        diverted, resulting in flash floods washing away Chooralmala village, which is 3 km away from

    Mundakkai. The bridge connecting Chooralmala with Mundakkai and Attamala destroyed, stranding

    hundreds.

4. Muddy water and debris flow throughSoochippara and merge with River Chaliyar located on the            border of neighbouring Malappuram district. Around 32 bodies were recovered from the Chaliyar in

    Pothukal and Chungathara panchayats in Malappuram.

5. The Meppadi region received a rainfall of of 572 mm in the 48 hours preceding the landslide.

Rescue Efforts

Personnel from the 122 Infantry Battalion of the Territorial Army of the Madras Regiment, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from different parts of Kerala, Air Force from Coimbatore, Fire and Rescue Services and police, besides several volunteer groups are engaged in the rescue operations.

Tailpiece.

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

After having a mini-breakfast, off to the town for :-

    * bank work.

    * buying of grocery at Harisree supermarket.

    * buying medicines and

    * buying fish for the cats.

A quiet Thursday. 

Limbering up for tomorrow's move.