What reinforced my thinking in 2015.

It has been scientifically proven that it is not wealth or being famous that makes you happy but the strong relationships that you build with family and friends.

This is the big take home for me from this wonderful year.

There were numerous family get togethers all through the year - two occasions for weddings, one for an engagement ceremony and many other small get togethers on different occasions. The bond among us has sustained over the years and I'm sure this is what Ammachi and Muthachan had wanted. The bonding among my dad's family has picked up thanks to the 'What'sApp' group that was put in place sometime during the middle of the year.

On a personal level, I've been pursuing sustained contact with my classmates, course mates, friends and relatives through e-mail and What'sApp.

And then, in the last month of the year two heady things happened. Soon after the 'Alumni Day' at school on the 12th, we'd our classmates' get together at the 'Waterscapes' in Kumarakom. Of the total of 63 classmates, 41 had attended with their spouses and three others were stag. Three couldn't make it due to last minute hiccups. But it was a tremendous response, to begin with, especially after the tepid response when the idea was conceived almost three years ago. The interaction showed the following:-

   (a) A certain bond exists between one's classmates especially when one has been in a boarding
        school.
   (b) We'd passed out of school in Apr '72, there were a few whom I was meeting for the first time
         since then but the take off was from that point of time, without hesitation and with no holds
         barred.
   (c) Our spouses too enjoyed the conglomeration and the upshot has been that they've formed a
         What'sApp group of their's which is gratifying. Many could fill in the gaps of their partners'
         personalities after observing the relationship that existed among us from school.
   (d) Our next get together would be at Wyanad, in Dec '17.

Soon after, the privileged few among us had the 49th Course get together at the NDA from the 18th to the 21st. This time there was a sizeable chunk that I was meeting after our passing out parade in Dec '75. Of the total strength of 183, 82 had attended with their spouses while six others were stag! The attendance could have been better but for starters we're thrilled to bits at interacting with each other and brought out the following to the fore:-

     (a) The pride in being an ex-NDA.
     (b) Loyalty was a mix of school, squadron and the course, in that order of intensity.
     (c) There were quite a few course mates that one never interacted with during one's cadets' days
           because of being in different squadrons for purposes of stay and in differing classes for
           Academics.
     (d) Being in different services actually didn't mean a thing, the bonding was there all right!
     (e) Our spouses, again enjoyed the interaction and could carry back a friendship that was
           pan Indian!
     (f) The thrill at pointing out various places in the Academy where we'd spent our cadets' days
          and had unforgettable memories. A few of them were recalled by the course mates themselves
          who were party to the incidents!
     (g) Our next get together would be at Dubai, in Dec '16.

Simply great. One couldn't have asked for anything better!


Tailpiece.

Finally, got my renewed driving licence. I was careful not to lose my shirt in the ping pong played between Sunil Kumar, the motor vehicle inspector and John, the desk clerk during the course of over an hour that I was there at the office. As a rule, I do not take a seat after entering an office until the official offers me one. Sunil Kumar had taken advantage of this and had kept me standing all this while, from 11 Nov, when I'd submitted my application. Today, he did offer me a seat and insisted on my sitting when I showed a reluctance to do so. He also 'sir-ed' me for the first time and fed my cellphone number in his, wonder why?

It took me 49 days to get my renewed driving licence, without bribes!


   

These things puzzle me.....

There are lots of things that are being told by the political leaders in the media - some of them wild and unsubstantiated but occupying prime time. Another Parliament session has gone past without any meaningful business being transacted. No one seems to be answerable yet they talk of enhancing their pay and perks with a rarely seen unity! How can the affairs of the state go on like this? Or is it that the present stalemate is brought about to cover up their overall inadequacy?

The GST Bill continues to languish even when everyone concerned knows that it's good for the country. Why couldn't the parliamentarians pass it too like they did for the 'Juvenile Bill'? Did the opposition stall it to prevent the ruling dispensation from getting credit for its clearance or to negate the inflow of foreign resources thanks to PM Modi's carefully structured foreign visits?

Can only surmise that forces inimical to the good of the country are still calling the shots. Sad!

Here are a few news clippings that puzzle me:-

 (a) Corruption in the DDCA.

       Much has been seen and read about the matter thanks to the media. As a layman, I understand
       that the allegations are that corruption was rampant in the Delhi Cricket Association when Arun
       Jaitley was its head. CM Kejriwal and his party have been demanding a CBI probe into the issue.
       What makes it uncomfortable for the BJP is that Kirti Azad, one of its MPs, has expressed a
       similar desire for which he's been suspended from the party.

       If there's a hint of corruption, why can't a CBI probe be ordered? Or is it that Kejriwal's past
       actions has shown that he throws muck at others whenever he's in trouble and therefore, his
       allegations need not be given credence?

       The more the incident gets dragged on - through punches and counter punches - the public is
       gonna get convinced that there's some wrongdoing after all. Then the matter gets irreversible
       and the case will have to end up in its logical conclusion. Now, who benefits from it all only
       time can tell.

  (b) The Skewed Sex Ratio.

        The child sex ratio has been suffering a steady setback as gleaned from the latest census data
        and it had been dwelt upon in this forum, earlier, in detail. To define the term, it's the number
        of girls aged 0-6 yrs for every 1,000 boys of the same age group. It's quite crucial for our
        country where a preference for sons and the desire for smaller families have played havoc and
        brought down the number of girls to telling effect.

        It's heartening to note that the Sikh and Jain communities have bucked this trend of late but it
        should be followed by the members of the other communities too. Wonder what's holding them
        back if they're really bothered about the good of their future generations?

  (c) An Unusual Birth, Separation and Survival.

        Pushpa Devi, a Nepali girl, was returning home from Bareilly after an eye check up on the
        52204 Tankapur - Izzat Nagar train when she went into labour and delivered a baby girl in one
        of the lavatories. The newly born slipped and fell on the tracks but has miraculously survived
        after the train was brought to a stop by the other passengers and had the mother-baby duo
        shifted into a primary health centre, nearby.

        It seems that her husband had deserted her sometime back.


Tailpiece.

Can't refrain from humming, "It happens only in India".   

Mom's day.

It's mom's 81st birthday. Calls from all over - from her brothers, sisters, daughters, granddaughter and friends - kept pouring in through the day. Taking calls on the cellphones seems to tax her because of hearing problems. We'd invited a tight knot of friends to have lunch with us on the occasion and Lekha, along with her assistant, did a marvelous job in preparing a scrumptious spread.

My sister, Rema and Achu were the first to fetch up from Palakkad and the others had trickled in. My immediate neighbours dropped by for a short while as they didn't want to spread the viral fever that both of them have contracted. Ramanujan, my classmate had delayed his departure to Nilambur, on retirement from his bank job, to this day just for being with mom. He'd come along with his wife, Prema. Narayanan, my buddy from the Naval Headquarters days and Rema, came in along with the Warriath kaaranavar and his good lady. Everything went along like clockwork with the last of the guests leaving by teatime.

       *                                       *                                        *

The Supreme Court has given its ruling on the closure of bars in Kerala, paving the way for total prohibition. While it's a victory of sorts for Oommen Chandy, the Chief Minister, to my mind it's an unwanted situation for the following factors:-

 (a) Prohibition is not a viable option because it results in the following:-
       (i) Bootlegging and consumption of spurious liquor by the masses.
      (ii) Mushrooming of liquor outlets immediately outside the state's borders in the neighbouring
            states.
 (b) The five star hotel bars will resort to unfair means to make a fast buck from the many who'll
       try for short cuts.
 (c) Loss of revenue to the state's coffers and
 (d) Loss of regular income to the workers who manned the bars.

Perhaps, this government will run its remaining term flush with the legal backing to its decision and will also win votes from the womenfolk who've borne the brunt of their husbands' misbehaviour under the influence of the bubbly and were its vociferous supporters. It will, therefore, be the responsibility of the next government to take a call to take a meaningful and practical decision on the matter. Reduction in indulgence - through structured means - is what should be aimed at instead of prohibition.


Tailpiece.

The last of the celebrations for the year 2015 has gotten over at 'The Quarterdeck'. Now all that's left is the new year's eve celebrations though ours is gonna be a quiet one at home, as we'd be watching the programmes on television!    

Dad's third remembrance day.

It's dad's third remembrance day as per the Malayalam calendar. I'd gone to the 'Thiruvenkata chalapathi temple' nearby to do the yearly ceremony under the directions of an unassuming gentleman by the name of Ramakrishnan Ilayathu. He'd conducted it for me last year too. Badly diabetic, he hasn't lost his sense of humour and has an elephant's patience.

It was of an hour's duration where we - there were thirteen of us - were made to go through the entire procedure. Sitting down has begun to be a problem for me and I got over the discomfort by alternately stretching each of my legs for the entire duration.

On my return, my mom asked me, "What did dad say?" and I'd replied that he'd told me not to send her to him anywhere in the near future as he was savouring his peace! This is a personal dialogue between the two of us on the occasion.....just goes to show that she misses him every moment!!

         *                                      *                                       *

Today was Nina's son, Sam's wedding at Thiruvananthapuram. She'd invited us for the occasion quite a while back and had promised dire action if we didn't attend. And it turned out to be just that as we couldn't make it due to certain unavoidable factors. Nina's family was our immediate neighbours during the mid 60s and the two families were quite close, so much so, that whenever her dad went on tours, I and my uncle had to spend the night at their house for security and mind you, both of us were in class IV, if you please! Nina's maternal grandmother - whom we used to address as 'Paatti' - was very fond of me as I used to listen to her stories about her life's experiences. In other words, Nina and I were childhood playmates.

My uncle, aunts and cousins who'd attended the wedding rang me up to say that Nina was quite incensed that I didn't make it and has instructed them that none of them should pass on the photographs/video of the evening to me as part of her censure!

Must mollify her next week when I'm gonna be at Thiruvananthapuram on work!!

        *                                      *                                         *

Radhan chettan, my relative who lives close by, has been diagnosed with dengue fever and has been admitted in a hospital nearby for medical management. Chechi had asked me for financial assistance last Thursday but thanks to the spate of bank holidays, money could be pulled out only today. They'd sent their regular auto rickshaw driver, named Prasad, to collect the cheque from me.

I was apprehensive about this arrangement in these days of fraud and greed. To allay my fears, I said to myself that no autorickshaw driver would simply knock on my door asking for a cheque, will they? Felt relieved only when chechi had confirmed its receipt, a couple of hours later!


Tailpiece.

Lekha, her assistant Preetha and I went about tying up the loose ends for my mom's birthday celebrations tomorrow. We've invited a small knot of friends for lunch.



  

Why do we waste money on unproductive ventures like this?

For the well being of the world(?), the chief minister of Telengana - Mr. K Chandrashekhar Rao - has been conducting the 'Ayuta Chandi Yagam' in the Medak district since 23 Dec. Today, on the concluding day, while the Rashtrapathi was on his way to attend the ritual, a fire broke out gutting the main pandal around 1330h, forcing him to turn back his chopper. It's understood that the fire was accentuated by the extra ghee poured by the priests into the 'yaga gundam' or the sacred fire. 

A few other interesting statistics:-

      (a) Total expenditure                   Rs. 7 crores.
      (b) No. of priests                          1,500.
      (c) The duration                           5 days wef 23 Dec.
      (d) Visitors                                   Half a million.

We're fairly aware of the fact that our land has a large percentage of superstitious people. They can neither be blamed nor ridiculed for their beliefs which are largely shaped by the circumstances that they've been brought up and the environment in which they live. Each one to his own beliefs, so the saying goes.

My take.

I hope that the 'yaagam' had been funded by private individuals, including the chief minister. I'm sure that there are so many people who are needy even of the basic necessities for their existence. I thought the expenditure of Rs. 7 crores on them would have been a much nobler thought and as everyone is aware, the new state requires a lot of infrastructure build up.

Well being of the world! Whom are they trying to impress? Can leaders be so crass? Something deep within me tells me that it could be the public money that's being wasted. If that be the case, KCR needs to answer as to who gave him that right.


Tailpiece.

Why do our political leaders forget their own people when it comes to governance?

Adieu Sadhana!

Sadhana, the glamour girl of the Hindi movies in the 60s, passed into the mist of time yesterday. Her beauty coupled with the hits that she was a part of like 'Mere Mehboob', 'Woh Kaun Thi', 'Arzoo' and 'Waqt' to name just a few, catapulted her to the pinnacle of fame. She, too, like the late Suchitra Sen, was living as a recluse and never allowed herself to be photographed in subsequent years because she wanted the general public to remember her as she was in her heydays!

RIP, Sadhana. My tears and prayers! India will always remember you as one of her glamour queens who'd scorched the silver screen with your emotive capabilities. And can anyone forget the 'Sadhana cut' that became a cult following among the girls of that decade?

    *                                      *                                            *

Had asked for trouble while watering the small patch of green in my courtyard yesterday. The plumber had advised during his previous visit that I should ensure capping of the free end of the hose, with my palm, before switching on the motor. I'd forgotten about it completely and used the motor more than once, causing an air lock in the system without realising that it had happened!

Consequently, the flow of water through the taps stopped much after sunset yesterday, causing quite a bit of discomfort. Requisite water was drawn from the well to make the situation easy for mom and Lekha. It was only after the plumber's intervention at 10 in the morning today that the problem was sorted out. Phew!

    *                                      *                                            *

Had met the local CPI leader during my evening walk and wished him a happy new year. After receiving my greetings, he broke down and told me his sob story. His 45 day old grandson was battling a peculiar medical condition whereby his intestine is not connected to the rectum and hence, excretion was not possible. The little one had undergone five corrective surgeries in a hospital, nearby, and the doctor had almost given up hopes.

As he was leaving the ICU, the kid looked up and smiled, forcing the doctor to have another look, carry out another attempt. Well, the problem has been sorted out and the li'l one had passed its stool without problems. Could see the tremendous look of relief on the gentleman's face as he narrated the incident. I told the comrade that god will take care of the li'l one and the atheist that he is took it in with a sense of disbelief!


Tailpiece.

Another quiet day!

Extraordinary diplomacy.

Prime Minister Modi took the world by surprise by his unscheduled stopover at Lahore - to wish PM Nawaz Sharif on his birthday - on his return from the Russian visit, followed by the inauguration of the new Afghan Parliament building in Kabul.

The leader of a country rarely makes such detours or visits except on exceptional circumstances because, normally, leaders meet only against the backdrop of a set agenda. 

It definitely seems to have taken the opposition by surprise. Going by their responses, only a couple though, the churlishness is palpable as reflected below,

     (a) The Congress. No amount of meetings between the two countries is going to alter the

           status quo and the animosity.  

           Note. The very same party had said that, "Dialogue in any form must be on between the two 

           countries to prevent misunderstanding so as to prevent unwanted situations from arising.

     (b) The Shiv Sena. Modi resorts to such gimmicks to find a place in the social media!

Statesmanship of leaders can bring about extraordinary results and it definitely requires guts to stray from the oft beaten path. But what prompted our Prime Minister to pull this masterstroke off? We'd heard about the following in recent days:-

      (a) Secret dialogue between key officials in Singapore.

      (b) The visit of our Foreign Minister to Pakistan and

      (c) And our PM's informal huddle with his Pakistani counterpart at the Paris Climate Meet.

Being the cynic that I am, I've the following doubts:-

   

      (a) The military continues to call the shots out there and the recent past has shown that Nawaz

            Sharif has been systematically weakened. Will he, therefore, be able to push for peace

            acceptable to us?

      (b) Against that backdrop would initiatives on our part really make a change of heart?

Tailpiece.

In 1999, the then PM of India, Atal Behari Vajpayee, had gone on his famous bus ride to Lahore to forge a good relationship between the two countries and there was much bonhomie between him and Nawaz Sharif, who was paradoxically, the then PM of Pakistan. Musharraf, the then Army Chief, had pompously said that he'd deliberately stayed away from the proceedings because he didn't want to salute our Prime Minister!

His misadventure was dealt with a firm hand and by the spirited defences of youngsters like Captains Vikram Batra, Saurabh Kalia and many, many others whose acts of valour have since become folklore, a crushing defeat was handed over to them at Kargil. A few years later after having usurped power, he'd come all the way to Agra for a bilateral summit and saluted the same Prime Minister for his statesmanship and largeness of heart! 

In the present circumstances, has the Pakistani military establishment realised that rather than clinging on to their anti-India posture, they need to go ahead with a development agenda for their country to prosper and let the civilian government rule, for a change?

If that be so, the Modi visit would definitely be a precursor of better things to follow!