On our return journey (2).

The train had picked up speed, made good the 61/2 hours' delay and was on time back again.

A lazy routine in the train.

Pumped out my November mail by lunchtime.

A quiet evening.

 

On our return journey.

Dateline 29 Nov

It was an off day sans the activities. The train got a stepmotherly treatment in that we were trailing by 61/2 hours. 

And I remember a railway official telling me that a delay beyond 2 hours cannot be made good!

So, we shall be a day late and will reach home only on Sunday, 01 Dec.

At Prayag.

Dateline 28 Nov

 

Got up at a half past 1. Went about the initial steps of shaving, connecting up the mobiles for charging and preparing tea. Lekha was up at 2; we went through our chores and were ready by 3. Went down to the reception, paid up my tea bills.

 

We caught an auto, the driver was Kanchan Kumar who was informative and talkative. Reached Varanasi Cantonment and when we didn't see the rest of the crowd sensed something amiss and realised that we'd to go to platform 7 of Banaras railway station. So we got into another autorickshaw and reached the correct spot. We left for Prayag by a half past 7 and reached the destination by 12.

 

After disembarking from the train, we went by bus to the bathing ghat from where we got a boat into which our family group and three other members alighted. We spent an hour plus at the famous 'Thriveni Sangamam' where we fed the birds, prayed and did the holy dip by sprinkling the waters of the Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati onto us. We also filled up three bottles of the sacred waters for taking home.

 

Were back in the train by a half past 3, had lunch and finally shaped our course, that was home bound.

 

It has been an enjoyable, adventurous and enlightening journey!    

At Varanasi.

Got up at 4, washed up and we disembarked at Varanasi by a half past 5. We’d to go all the way to platform no.1 to board the bus.

I’d to shout at the co-ordinator because the bus meant for us had its footboard fairly high making many people cry. Kept one of our bags as the starting step for Lekha.

Have a piece of my mind to the driver and his helper; literally wiped the idiotic smiles off their faces by asking him as to whether they’d behave in a similar fashion if his parents were involved.

Lekha and the others went for a temple tour and shopping; returned by lunchtime. Meanwhile, after bath, I decided to stay back and update my diary, the November mail which has progressed to 36 paragraphs!

A quick lunch and then, Lekha and I decided to use the wheelchair extensively. Accordingly, two attendants, Anil and Rajesh took us to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, Annapoorani devi temple, Visaalaakshi temple, the golden Hampi etc were seen and Lekha also did some shopping for small artefacts.

Returned to the hotel, rested for a while and they came again at 5, to take us for the Ganga ‘aarathi’. I’d gone down the ghats, picked up Gangaajal and sprinkled on both of us for a symbolic dip!

A quiet evening thereafter.

The Gaya trip shortened!

The train had reached Varanasi in the wee hours of the morning and then it got stuck because of a technical snag. It had to be taken to the yard for repairs to be effected.

We left for Gaya by a half past 1 and reached there by a half past 5. After a quick freshening up, we went by autorickshaws to the ancient Vishnu Dham temple (2,000 years’ vintage!) and offered the ‘bali tharpanam’ for the departed.

There was no time left for our scheduled outing to Bodh Gaya (sob! sob!). And to make matters worse, the train came late for our return to Varanasi!

Finished dinner by midnight!

Off to Gaya.

Got up with a massive power outage. Despite that went through the morning chores and was ready by a half past 8.

Breakfast of idlis followed by satsang which continued till lunchtime. 

By about a half past 1, we were off to the Ram temple. By the time we went through the formalities of getting wheelchair assistance for Lekha for the darshan, I’d spent about 45’ at the counter, in front of a grinning Kanchan Kumar. The reason was that there weren’t any wheelchairs!

Finally, Anant Ram was our Man Friday. He took Lekha in a swift motion - the stoppages not withstanding - in just 45’!

And we’d a good darshan of Shree Ram at a 5’ past 3!

And we returned to the Vaidehi Sadan, collected our baggage and set off for the railway station. The special train was boarded at a half past 7 and we were off to our next destination, Gaya!

At Ayodhya.

Got up at a quarter past 5, the chores and was ready well within time. Breakfast and lunch were in the train before we disembarked at the Ayodhya railway station.

Lekha gifted me a lovely plaque about ‘the world’s best husband’ for my birthday this morning.

Lekha and I’d set foot on Ayodhya exactly at 12!

There’s plenty of work going on and at least about two years will be required for the entire temple complex and the communications around to be set up to peak capacity!

Meanwhile, there were calls, messages and texts wishing me many happy returns. Felt very nice.

We are put up at the Har Har Shiv Sangh complex which is a pilgrims’ hotel. The standards could be better.

After a wash and change we’d gone to Lata Chowk and further on to the bank of the River Sarayu. The ‘aarathi’ on the River Sarayu, at a half past 6, was spectacular and a humbling experience.

Returned to the hall for the ‘satsang’ followed by dinner. And then, disaster struck! On reaching our room, I found to my utter horror that Lekha’s handbag was missing. It was with me as Lekha had handed it over to me and therefore, I was the careless guy!

Went toward the satsang hall only to find the autorickshaw driver, Ravi Kashyap standing there, holding Lekha’s handbag which had valuable stuff. Paid the youngster a token money to honour his truthfulness.

My 69th birthday, therefore, turned out to be a tame affair! 

And nothing heard from the kid!!

The Govardhan Parikrama.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready well

in time. Had breakfast, checked out of room 208 of Delhi Sreedharan, boarded the bus for going to Govardhan.

Story has it that young Krishna had lifted the Govardhan hill on his index finger to save the people from a terrible storm.

The circumambulation of 14 kms was done in Rohit’s autorickshaw, covering 11 temples. It was a great experience! We’d returned by lunchtime  to Radhakund from where the circumambulation had commenced.

We, then, went visiting the point where Vasudev had brought the infant Krishna - Gokulam. 

And in the evening, visited Vasudev-Devaki’s prison where they were kept locked by Kansa at Mathura.

By the time we’d reached the railway station it was about 9. Sudha - one of our group mates from Palakkad - had helped me with my baggage. Damn sweet of her!

By the time we’d entrained, had dinner and had finished the packing for Ayodhya, it was a quarter past 12., into my birthday!

At Vrindavan and the parikrama.

Got up at a half past 4, the chores and was ready well in time. Went by an autorickshaw to swamiji’s satsang point.

He explained the historical importance of Vrindavan and each of the salient spots that contributed toward the legend, Sri Krishna who’s the most revered and liked avatar of Maha Vishnu!

We then visited the “Bankey Bihari temple”. We went through narrow roads and reached the temple which was jam packed with pilgrims. We’d to bribe a guy to take us through the narrow lanes and the massive crowd to first deposit our footwear in a safe place.

Had a good view of Krishna - in a very happy mood as the name of the temple suggests - despite the crowd and thanks to our helper, Hari Om. After the darshan, the ladies did some shopping and we, all, had a splendid glass of orange juice each at the middle of the narrow lane.

After lunch and the afternoon session of satsang, it was time for the ‘parikrama’(circumambulation) of Vrindavan which is a distance of about 14 kms. Though a sizeable chunk of the group walked out the first 11/2 kms, we went by an autorickshaw and visited Kalindi deh and Prem Mandir. While the former was pristinely maintained in its timeless aura, the latter was a modern architectural marvel by the Kripalu Trust. 

Returned to our hotel by a half past 6. Dr Jayaprakash has suggested Mini having a Dolo whenever she‘s a bout of headache, which is sadly frequenting these days. Phew!

A quiet evening thereafter!

At Mathura.

Got up a bit earlier than usual but commenced my chores after the others had finished it.

Finished our packing for shifting ashore to a hotel at Mathura for our first halt for two days. 

After lunch, we’d disembarked and on our way to the bus that were to take us to the hotels. The acidosis perked up and I’d difficulty between the chest and took a while to become normal. Made poor Rema and Padmakumar work more!

Reached Hotel Sreedharan. This is gonna be our home the next two days.

A quiet day thereafter.

In the train.

Dateline 20 Nov

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready by 6. The morning tea was brought in by the boys. The satsang started soon after.

We’d crossed Ratnagiri by a half past 7. Breakfast was prompt and delicious. The swamiji was continuously on the main broadcast giving his PJs, instructions and directives. 

Lunch came and went, equally delicious as well.

Siesta.

The evening satsang, followed by dinner and hit the sack by 10.

Off on a spiritual trip.

Dateline 19 Nov

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 9. Lekha had prepared dosas and sambar for breakfast. Sajish picked us up from The Quarterdeck at a half past 9.

Reached the Thrissur Railway Station at a half past 10. Chandran was the porter - they have become fewer and far between - who'd to rush to his mother who was hospitalised suddenly. Preman and Manoj succeeded but it was the latter who helped us board the Vande Ram Express - a special train to Ayodhya and back for 620 of us.

 

The train fetched up at a quarter to 2 and we were in coach A2. Ramachandrettan, Bharathi chechi, Padmakumar, Rema, Mini and us formed our team.

 

It was fun and frolic with the people around and we made friends easily.

 

Everything in the train was orderly :-

 

   * the boarding was smooth

   * hot vegetarian lunch as the train had cast off from Thrissur

   * the bed linen were okay

   * the evening tea

   * dinner at 2000 hrs

   * a comparatively early dinner

India in elite club.

The DRDO has successfully flight-tested the country's first long-range hypersonic missile from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Orissa.

The test missile was launched from a ground-based mobile launcher positioned at the launching complex-IV of the Integrated Test Range at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island around 1855 hrs on Saturday.

The missile, developed by the laboratories of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex, Hyderabad along with other DRDO laboratories and industry partners, can carry various payloads for ranges greater than 1,500 km.

At present, only a few countries like the US, Russia and China have hypersonic missiles. These missiles can travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound or roughly around 6,200 kmph). With such extreme speed, maneuverability and the ability to fly at lower altitudes than traditional ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles are harder to detect and intercept.

It was also for the first time that the DRDO conducted the experimental trial of an indigenously designed  and developed missile after sunset.

Tailpiece.

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

Lekha goes to town to fetch some last minute items for the train journey. 

The maid was at work.

The Quarterdeck was shut down systematically after teatime.  

Procurement crisis!

The making of a mega paddy procurement crisis in Punjab!

Total warehouse space                                                        176 lakh metric ton

Covered warehouse space held by government agencies      167 LMT

Share of private players and silos                                             9 LMT

Additional space available in the open                                    70 LMT

(Where only wheat is stocked)

124 LMT of milled rice is expected to arrive in government godowns from the latest kharif crop whose procurement began on 01 Oct but the space available to store them at present is just 25 LMT.

My take

A remedial action needs to be found out pronto. We do not want the AAP and the BJP scoring brownie points, trying to put the blame on the other. Get moving fast to a solution!

Tailpiece.

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

Spoke to Maman. Later with Indirakkutty and Aniyan.

Wished Sangeeta many happy returns.

Finished our packing for the Ayodhya trip.

A quiet evening.

Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum.

North, South Blocks to be restored in a phased manner.

The repair and restoration of the twin secretarial buildings on the Raisina Hill - North and South Blocks - will be taken up in a phased manner to make way for the proposed museum. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is working on revamping and preserving the North Block in the initial phase. Simultaneously, the culture ministry has also started deliberations to finalise the museum's storyline - themes of the galleries - and exhibits to be displayed.

The proposal for "restoration and comprehensive repairs" of the North Block was scrutinised by the Heritage Conservation Committee in a meeting and the plan has been accepted.

The North and South Blocks are Grade-I notified heritage properties.

The North block used to house the following ministries :-

     * Ministry of Home

     * Ministry of Finance

     * Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

The South Block used to house the following ministries :-

     * Ministry of External Affairs

     * Ministry of Ministry of Defence

     * Prime Minister's Office (PMO)

And then the Central Vista Project happened, to where all these ministries have shifted.

Tailpiece.

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

The maid was at work.

Renewed my car insurance. A futile trip to Chavakad to find out as to where the Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Ltd was sited. In the bargain, Sukesan's sob story was passed on by him.

Cdr Prasanna and her husband, Balachandran aka Balu had dropped by for about an hour with a promise of more visits. 

WHO red flags growing risk of diabetes in South East Asia.

On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, the WHO has said the outcomes of untreated and uncontrolled diabetes range from heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, blindness and amputations.

The countries are * Brunei

                           * Cambodia

                           * Indonesia

                           * Laos

                           * Malaysia

                           * Myanmar

                           * Philippines

                           * Singapore

                           * Thailand

                           * Vietnam and of course, India.

60% unaware of illness

More than 60% of people with diabetes in the region are unaware of their illness

Less than 1 in 3 adults with diabetes are on treatment

Only less than 15% have the disease under control

India recorded the highest number of diabetes globally in 2022, accounting for over a quarter of the world's 828 Million cases

Around 212 mn people in India (23.7% of the population) had diabetes in 2022

And about 62% of diabetics in India were not receiving any treatment!

Tailpiece.

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

Lekha had gone to town, first to the Ration Stand, then to a readymade shop for clothes for the Ayodhya trip and Harisree Supermarket for grocery.

I went to Preeti's cyber cafe for browsing and replying to my mail.

Pradeep gets me my laptop after repairs. Phew!

                              

 

Checking Government Efficiency

Musk, Ramaswamy to lead US Department of Government Efficiency(DOGE).

Trump calls it the new Manhattan Project

Will advise his administration on ways to slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure federal agencies to improve efficiency.

The duo gets Jul 2026 deadline to finish work!

My take

A noble start!

Tailpiece.

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

The maid was at work.

Power disruption due to heavy rains accompanied by thunder and lightning.

The inflation heat!

The spectre of inflation has come back to haunt the economy.

What’s  driving the price rise?

* Vegetables                     42.18%

* Personal Care.               10.99%

* Food and Beverages        9.69%

* Oils and fats                     9.52%

* Fruits                                8.43%q

* Pulses and products          7.43%

* Cereals and products         6.94%

* Egg                                     4.87%

* Snacks and sweets              3.65%

* Meat and Fish                     3.17%

Tailpiece.

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

Went to Dr(Mrs) Sodhi for my throat.

Went to Rajah Hospital for Lekha’s appointment. 

Seaplanes in Kerala.

Seaplanes have begun to operate in Kerala.

MAim. Improving connectivity between airports, hill stations and backwaters of Kerala.

Preferred water bodies. Lakes, reservoirs.

Boarding structures. Floating waterdromes.

Max take off weight. 5,669.9 kg

Max landing weight. 5,579.2 kg

Weight when empty. 3,377 kg

Max speed. 170 knots 

Cruise speed. 150 knots

Stall speed. 58 knots.

Rate of climb. 1,600 ft/min

Service ceiling. 25,000 ft

Max range. 1,703.84 km

Max fuel capacity. 1,419.5 lts

2 Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20 Engines

Tailpiece.

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

The maid was at work.

The following were done :-

      * the laptop needed more repair time. 

      * charged the Inverter with distilled water

         along with the standby battery for solar powered 

         light.

      * the windows were refitted

      * the monthly INCS buys.

At ‘The Quarter Deck’.

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

Washing machinex of the soiled clothes 

It was a quiet Monday.

The finale…

A grand entertainment program before dinner. Put in a bit of our beginning in the navy.

In the morning, we’d gone across to the magnificent Birla Mandir, the miniature of the Tirupathi Balaji temple. Lekha had made it to the penultimate level thanks to the lift.

Lunch was at the RSI. Met CP Srivastava and Murthy and their wives.

At the Ramoji Rao Film City.

Was up by 4, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 7. We took off by 8 since one of the drivers had come late.

At the Golconda Fort.

 The Sound and Light Show was superb.

At Hyderabad.

Our day had started at 4, went through the chores and was ready well in time. Sunil and his car were on time and we proceeded toward the airport.

Our flight was on time and while having our breakfast at Mathew’s Coffee Shop met Sherin, an IT executive, proceeding to Bangalore. 

Reached Hyderabad at about a quarter past 11. Settled down in Room 26 of the Secunderabad Club.

The evening’s fun at Govind’s house was the start of our celebrations and it went on past midnight!

At Kochi.

Got up at 4, thanks to Lekha’s cell phone alarm. We went through our chores and kicked off from The Quarterdeck by 8’ to 6. Rain had stopped by then. Kittu wasn’t there to see us off though Chakki and Manjakkandan were at the balcony.

The journey through Chavakad and beyond was peaceful with no sign of rain. 35.7 km from our porch we turned on to the Moonnupeedika-Potta road and reached Ananda Bhavan at Chalakkudi by a half past 8 to have a Combo, shared between Lekha and me.

We’d reached Panampilli Nagar by about 10, when the Chevy’s clutch developed trouble and was stuck. Luckily, like godsend, Commodore Mohan Ancheri and his brother-in-law, Babu Abraham were sighted right in front of the car. We got dropped at the INCS complex and they were off on their way. Damn sweet of them!

Our Chevy was emptied and we’d put our luggage in the Zamorin suite of the Engineer Officers’ Mess. She was parked in front of the Kairali Apartments! Had spoken to Mohan, my mechanic at Kottarakkara who dispatched Monish, pronto, for defect rectification. 

We’d picked up grocery and wines, Lekha had gone for her 12 o’clock appointment with Flory while Murali dropped me at Oottupura, the eatery. After Lekha’s return at 4, we did three other jobs before getting back to the Engineer Officers’ Mess.

And thereafter, to a lovely evening with Murali and Radhika at the NOI premises.

PM Modi’s nine requests.

The Prime Minister has put forth nine ‘requests’, urging the people to fulfil them :-

1. Save every drop of water and make more people

    aware about water conservation.

2. Go from village to village and make people aware

     about digital transaction, teach them about online

     payment.

3. Work to make your village, your locality, your city

     number one in cleanliness.

4. Promote local products, use only Made in India 

    products.

5. First see your own country, travel around in your

    country and if you want to go to another country 

    then you should not feel like going abroad until

    you see the whole country.

6. Keep making farmers more about natural farming.

7. Include Millets as Shri-Ann in your daily eating

    life, promote it widely, it is a super food.

8. Be it fitness, yoga or sports, make it an integral 

    part of your life.

9. Be a supporter of at least one poor family, help 

    them. This is necessary to remove poverty in

    India.

My take

What a simple way to ask his people to do their

duty!

Tailpiece.

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

by a quarter past 10.

The maid was at work.

Off to town for the following:-

* drop credit card cheque 

* bank work

* completed scanning of documents 

* gave my laptop for repair

Shut down The Quarterdeck in stages.

Sajish, the hair stylist.

Sajish, a young lad of about 30 yrs, is a hair stylist and works in the outfit called Amigos which is just next door to ours. Owned by Kunjumon, it has established itself well and the local, fashion-conscious youngsters flock to this place to fine tune their appearances!

He had come by, this morning, to give me my monthly haircut and massage.

I am impressed with the way he carries himself, the way he carries his working tools in a designer bag and the manner in which he maintains a smart appearance at all times.

He earns about 40 grand and is contended with what he has got. 

May god bless you, Sajish, with all that you want. His wife stays with his mother at Ponnani and every month, he goes home at least twice.

Tailpiece.

He told me about Majid, who used to own a grocery shop which I used to frequent in the evenings during the last leg of my walk. He used to look forward to our interactions!

He was inflicted with Myasthenia Gravis and had shut down his shop, choosing to stay stay at home. I believe he passed into the mist of time almost a year back. Kunjumon of Amigos is his younger brother.

Adieu Majid! Om Shanti! Sadgati. Sorry for coming to know about you so late.

Adieu Charlie Mike!

Commander CM Mohan 01 Dec 1956 - 01 Nov 2024

Cadet Cheethampadi Murali Mohan, Roll no.395, joined Sainik School, Kazhakootam in Jan 1966, one year before I'd joined school. He hailed from Sekhareepuram in Palakkad. While at school, we came across each other be it on the PT fields, on the parade ground for drill, during Academic periods etc, in fact,  during all the activities in school and we were not the best of friends while at school either. During our final days, he was stricken with Trachoma - an ailment of the eyes.

I remember our Chemistry teacher, NBN sir, telling us that one of the treatments that used to be paractised those days was by rubbing Copper Sulphate crystals over the inner portion of the eyelids that caused immense pain and irritation! His eyes used to be red during those days. He was very close to his mother and was fond of his younger brother and sister, in fact giving away some of his property to his younger siblings at the time of partitioning of the family property!

We joined the NDA, he in Autumn '72 with the 48th course in Echo Squadron and I, with the 49th course during Spring '73, in Hunter Squadron. Whenever we used to meet at the Academy, it was always a smile and a hello; and that was that! Both of us had passed out as AF cadets, got grounded and returned to the Academy, as naval cadets.

On passing out, this time, we were posted as 'seagoing cadets' on board the old INS Delhi in Spring '77. We were allotted adjacent bunks in the roomy, airy and well lit starboard chest flat - his was bunk 59 while mine was 61. From then on, it was an uninterrupted beginning of a lasting relationship...we became friends with a vengeance to make up for lost time.

On board INS Delhi, there was a pitiable sight that I saw him in, just once. He'd gone out on liberty at Bombay and returned late in the evening with a bruised face and swollen lips. It was a taste of the thugs who create havoc on the suburban trains - his shirt, that he'd borrowed from me, just like that, because he'd plenty - was torn and they'd snatched away his brand new Ray Ban goggles! He was unconsolable on that!!

We were appointed on board INS Beas, in Autumn'77, as Midshipmen and our friendship grew. He used to come and listen to my classes to a few, on intricate Seamanship and Navigation. After becoming Sub Lieutenants, we were in different groups during the SLt Tech courses and we went about our respective professional paths, thereafter.

But there were hellos and hugs between us whenever we met off and on. And we came together at the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington in Apr '91, for the 47th Staff Course. Both of us stayed at adjacent accommodations atop Gorkha Hill and we used to interact regularly on exercises; I used to be fascinated by his quick grasp of tactical situations to formulate a straightforward appreciation! We talked of life in general, during breaks, and offered our solutions always within the stipulated time. Our families had also got close.

I remember this humorous incident while at the Staff College. I'd gone across to his house one evening and it was after a pretty long time that the door was opened and that too, by an apologetic Sasikala. Charlie Mike and the kids were sitting on top of their chairs as they were hesitant to let their newly acquired pup to get close to them!

We, then went our ways again but I'd got in touch with him soon after, when he was posted in my ex-ship, INS Agrani, the School of Leadership for sailors. He'd undergone a bad accident during a weekend while he was returning from his hometown in Palakkad and had taken the impact of the collision between the vehicles, on his right knee cap, if I recall correctly.

He'd made a statement then, "Rajeev, I knew that come what may, you'd be my classmate/course mate who'll make an endeavour to get in touch with me".    

On retirement, after we'd settled at Guruvayur, he and his family had dropped by and stayed with us for a couple of days. It was sometime in 2015 and my mom was also with us, then. Mom and Charlie Mike got along famously, like a house on fire! He had gifted us with a beautiful electronic clock which occupies a prominent place in our house, 'The Quarterdeck'.

We were in touch on WhatsApp till 29 Oct, around 1620 hrs! Was wondering as to why he'd not replied to my morning hellos yesterday and today. It was this morning that I came to know of the tragedy. A few days earlier, he'd contracted a viral fever, which had subsided. Sasikala had gone for her morning walk on 01 Dec and on return, she'd prepared his morning cup of tea and had tried to wake him up. Charlie Mike didn't respond as he was already on his long trudge to Valhalla. Or is the trudge a short one, I wonder?!

There was never a dull moment with him around as he was gifted with a fantastic sense of humour!

Adieu Muahanu (Used to rib him, by calling so, since the north Indians called him so, at times!) ! You shouldn't have left so early. Om Shanti! Sadgati. My tears and prayers. May god give strength to Sasikala, Arjun, Anish and Chandni to pass through these difficult times. 

Tailpiece.

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

Sajish had come to give me a haircut and massage. Selvam dropped by to press clothes.

Many happy returns of the day, Keralam!

68 years back, the state of Kerala was formed - on linguistic basis - on 01 Nov 1956!

Numberspeak

* 97.03% of the people of the state speak Malayalam, while Tamil speakers constitute 1.49%, in 

   Kasaragod district, 8.77% speaks Tulu while Kannada speakers comprise 4.23%

* 1,084 females per 1,000 males as per the 2011 census; sex ratio higher than the national 

   average of 943

* Rs 9.78 lakh crore is the annual Gross State Product

* 35 lakh Keralites work in the Gulf countries

* 900 km of lakes, rivers, canals and lagoons

* 1 major port in Kochi and 17 intermediate ports

Courtesy. The NIE

Tailpiece.

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

Rema, Achu and Karthika went to have a 'darshan' of the good Lord by a half past 7. They left after

after breakfast for Kochi.

The maid was at work.

A quiet day.