The judgement on Salman Khan.

I was watching the news channel covering the Salman Khan judgement this evening and was particularly keen to hear a friend's point of view on the issue, who happened to be on the panel debating it. I must say that she did disappoint me.

Let me put across my point of view on the subject which are:-

    (a) Re-established my faith in our judicial system.
    (b) The verdict did take a long time to come - 13 years - but it gives hope to the common man.
    (c) Why are we, Indians, so emotional?
    (d) Why should a guy like Salman Khan get away with murder because of his celebrity status,
          his good guy/large hearted image notwithstanding?
    (e) That he's erred on the following issues has been brought out very clearly:-
          (i) He'd planted the  witness - the driver.
         (ii) He'd run away from the scene of the accident.
        (iii) He was drunk while driving!
    (f) I ain't contesting the quantum of punishment meted out to him. But let's see him behind bars
         for the five years for his crime. And no dilutions on that, please!

The Hindi movie's fraternity lining up at his residence in Bandra today, lending their moral support for him, was definitely a great thing to watch on television. Never knew that people could rally around a fellow 'comrade-at-arms'! Can I safely say that this is a changing trend in our socio-cultural scene?


Tailpiece.

I shall, definitely, wait to hear the verdict on his application for bail, tomorrow!

A nostalgic coming together.

1. It was my nephew, Durga Prasad's betrothal. His would be wife, Deepti, hails from Kottiyam which is about 35 kms from here and therefore, the ceremony was held there. We'd set off by 9 in two volvo buses, hired for the purpose. There were many people with whom I could interact at the pick up point, in front of the village library - the catalyst, for my parents' wedding. My paternal grandfather was viewing the entire set of proceedings from his photograph adorning its main wall.

2. The bus ride had an added attraction in the form of Mammootty's 'Fireman', a recently released blockbuster, dedicated to the brave men of the Fire Force who do the most menial jobs and yet, are the least appreciated! It was tautly edited and absorbing that I didn't know of the traffic snarls enroute. We're at the venue at its intermission.

3. The actual ceremony had not taken more than ten minutes but it was a great occasion to meet up with most of my relatives from dad's side before and after the ceremony. The traditional lunch was scrumptious and had a distinct local flavour.

4. We'd returned by a half past 1 and mom and Lekha were briefed about the proceedings. The trickle of visitors continued as we're leaving early morning tomorrow, back for Guruvayur. Li'l Vivek, his mom and grandparents were the last of the guests to leave. Meanwhile, the process of winding up the establishment was going on in full swing during the breaks. My mom, sister and niece had spent about a fortnight out here.

5. The caretaker has been given a list of maintenance work to be undertaken during the month.


Tailpiece.

Sasikala, a social worker and member of the panchayat had come to tell me the story of Arya, a talented girl from a poor family that doesn't have a decent house to live in. She'd lost her father four months back. I've joined the 'Help Arya' campaign and we shall build a house for the family. I've also noted about felicitating the young lady on the 'Vaayan dinam', next month, for her achievements.

The return to Raj Nivas.

1. The night was bad as there was a power breakdown. Coming soon on the heels of the KSEB's daylong maintenance work, it was a paradox. The cellphones were low on charge and it certainly was a dampener. The saving grace was a thundershower which brought down the temperature by a few notches.

2. The day had begun at 0430h and by the time I'd swung the gate shut and had hit the highway, we'd overshot the planned take off time of 6 o'clock by 19 mts! There were no traffic snarls and every motorist that I happened to pass by seemed to be accommodating and gentlemanly. No one seemed to be in a tearing hurry!

3. Breakfast was in our favourite haunt at Panampilli Nagar. We did meet many of our friends in between when we fetched up at the canteen to buy sundries. The sad part was that there was a massive power failure due to which the billing system took its time to....er 'awaken'. Consequently, three quarters of an hour was lost. I'd dumped the stuff at my classmate's house before driving off homeward.

4. After lunch at Alappuzha, we're at Lekha's place an hour and a half later. Meeting her folks was stimulating with the attendant hot cuppa' tea. Her dad was more voluble this time and we left soon after, for Raj Nivas.

5. And saw my mom's thrill at seeing us. All the pent up tiredness owing to the long journey  got dissipated. Meanwhile, the train of visitors for mom continued unabated.


Tailpiece.

Got a thought provoking forward from a friend and it goes, "When you sleep on flowers, it's the beginning but when the flowers sleep on you, it's the end"........The very essence of life!

When my apology didn't work!

1. The state electricity board's local unit had told us through the newspapers that today there was gonna be a power shut down from 0900h to 1700h on account of maintenance work. They stuck to their schedule though the restoration took place beyond the announced time.I'd rushed with my Chevy to the nearest petrol bunk for topping up and checking tyre pressure as I was kicking off early morning for home.

2. The bunk was slowly getting to be crowded with vehicles and an IOC bowser was discharging its contents into the underground tanks of the bunk. Space was at a premium and maneuvering the vehicle needed Herculean effort. I'd parked my car next to the air dispenser and could persuade the young man at the counter to get the compressor on stream, have the tyre pressure checked and was negotiating my car towards the diesel dispenser when tragedy struck.

3. In the process of the maneuver, I managed to sandwich an elderly gentleman on his scooty between my car's front bumper and the petrol dispenser. I'd got out of my car quickly to ascertain as to whether the two wheeler had suffered any damage and to my relief, it didn't even have a scratch! On the other hand my car's number plate was bent.

4. And then the gentleman began to howl. I could understand his discomfort and promptly offered my unconditional apology hoping that he'd relent. By this time, the others were viewing me, I suppose, as the 'bully with the huge car'.

5. Suddenly I felt something snap within me and raising my voice above the din, I asked him to accept my apology or leave it and stop his tirade. My bluff did work as he quietly rode off from the scene.

6. I did feel bad because it was I who was in the wrong. But there didn't seem to be any other way out!


Tailpiece.

There was a total power failure in the evening during the thundershowers that followed. So much about the maintenance work of the day. Sadly, professionalism seems to be dwindling!

Are they human?

I'm voicing my angst on two news items that I've come to know of today. I could only recall my grandmother's words, "Mone, this is 'kaliyug' and anything can happen in these times because mankind has reached the limits of morality and does not have any compunction to do the most heinous act, if it works out profitable(?)"

And without much ado, here I go:-

  (a) Relief for the quake hit Nepal.

   The quake affected people of Nepal have been flooded with cheese and mayonnaise as part of the
   contributions from people! 

   My take.

   For heavens' sake do not dump your unwanted stuff to the suffering many in the name of relief.
   I've even seen torn clothes and other personal effects going into the collector's bag meant for
   providing succour to the people affected by the catastrophe - I'm citing an earlier instance! One
   has to take extreme care to select the things that one wants to donate and never take it as an
   opportunity to dump one's woefully worn out/unwanted stuff to the people in need of real help.
   Mind you, the people out there aren't begging, they're only reestablishing themselves after an
   overwhelming tragedy and the relief that's being provided will help them to look after themselves
   during the interim when their establishment is being restored!

   Apologies for being condescending but I feel strongly when callous attitude is exhibited instead
   of actions based on empathy.

   (b) 'Supari' killing of your daughter?

   A Canada based Indian mother from Punjab had hired professional killers to kill her daughter
   who dared to fall in love and marry an autorickshaw driver. 

   My take.
     
   Unable to digest the fact that her educated daughter had got married to an autorickshaw driver
   a mother had hired professional killers, with the connivance of a police officer, to murder her
   after a year she'd tied the knot. The mother had an accomplice in her brother, who'd schemed the
   ghastly murder. 15 years later, the law has finally caught up with them, when a bench of the
   Supreme Court of India has handed out life imprisonment to all the accused.

   Human emotions cannot be explained for its logic, which are spontaneous and situation specific
   and none has any control over it. And Cupid's ways have their own inherent logic, perhaps! As
   lesser mortals, it would be in the fittest scheme of things to accept the situation and hope for
   everything to go well rather than allow one's ego to come in the way of rational thinking!


Tailpiece.

Saw the Malayalam movie, "Bhaskar, the rascal" this afternoon which was an out and out entertainer with Mammootty and Nayantara playing the lead. The two child artistes really emoted effortlessly to bring the 'father' and the 'mother' together. 

A different farewell.

Background.

1. I'd received a call, from my friend, sometime last week informing that he and his wife were back in Thrissur because of an emergency. Radha's father, Dr. PG Nair, the Dean of the Agriculture and Veterinary University of nearby Mannoothy in the mid-'70s and all of 89 yrs, had suffered two fractures at his hip owing to a fall.

2. The old man had undergone a couple of surgeries to ease himself of the pain and had alternated between the ventilator and the ICU before being normal and was to be shifted into the ward, when complications arose in the form of a lung infection which hastened his end at 1710h, yesterday. The striking thing was that his nurse was having his lunch in the adjacent room when the old man - despite warnings about not attempting to move without anybody's support - decided to go to the rest room and had lost his step in the bargain bringing about the subsequent events, leading to his end.

3. A few years back he'd shown his close family the will that he'd prepared, wherein he'd pledged his body for medical research after his death. Though there were protests initially, Radha and her mom, had to finally reconcile to the idea as he was very firm in his resolve.

The farewell.

4. We'd left for Radha's house around a half past 10 this morning though the traffic mess at Guruvayur and at two other points enroute, enabled us to reach our destination only by about a half past 11 - the distance that we'd travelled was just over 25 kms!

5. Radha's dad was lying in state inside a glass bubble at the entrance of the multi-storeyed apartments, sans the usual chants of hymns/mantras and associated ceremonies. There was a clutch of close relatives and a few of the neighbours residing in the building, beside the body. As Anil sighted us, he seemed to be relieved that someone whom he could point out to the others as his own had come by. After spending a while beside the bubble and saying a small prayer, we're introduced to each and everyone who'd assembled there.

6. The ambulance from the Medical College Hospital had come around a quarter past 12 and headed back with Dr. PG Nair's mortal remains that would help the medical students in their studies and research.

7. It was as though the gentleman had undertaken another journey from which he'd never return and the short time that we'd spent there made all of us be part of his wait for the vehicle that would convey him to his final resting place.

8. RIP, Radha's dad! My tears and prayers. May god give your near and dear ones the strength to bear your loss.


Tailpiece.

Trust us, mallus, being inquisitive about the farewell that was different. Doubting Thomases - and there were a handful - were shown the old gentleman's will to clear their doubts!

  

Back at 'The Quarterdeck'.

I'd actually planned to leave Raj Nivas by 0630h but could make it only by a 10 to 7. The journey was smooth as the traffic was okay and there weren't many long stoppages, except for the usual bottlenecks. The weather was blazing hot and we'd two breaks at our favourite haunts for breakfast and lunch. By the time we reached home it was a half past 2 and we did have a surprise - a pleasant one though - in store.

Ramesh and his assistant, Muniappa were busy at work on the small grassy patch in our courtyard. Actually, he'd called us about a couple of hours earlier and it was decided that he'd come back tomorrow when we'd be at home. The gate was locked and when asked, he said that they'd jumped over the wall to finish up the job at my place as the necessary implements were on their person. Though I didn't approve of the manner in which they'd entered the premises - it gives wrong ideas to the others, you see! - I was relieved that another job, on my slop chit, was being completed.

The added advantage was that Muniappa had helped me in washing down my car. The unpacking and the settling down took up the reminder of the afternoon. Even though we'd encountered rain at every place that we'd visited over the previous week, it seems to have eluded Guruvayur almost completely. The customary evening walk was nice and as usual, many whom I happened to meet did register my long absence. I gather that I've started sticking out like a sore thumb, much to my discomfort - a situation that I wasn't craving for either!

Everything seemed to be in order except for the fact that the newspaper boy had not delivered the day's newspapers despite instructions. These small things have begun to irritate, though unnecessary, because a quick glance at any of the numerous news channels that are available will give one the latest bit of news that are making the headlines!


Tailpiece.

We're missing mom's presence - she's at Raj Nivas with my sister as there is a betrothal ceremony in the family on 06 May and we've to get back there by then - and realised that she has become an integral part of 'The Quarterdeck'.