Why did it happen?

I'm gonna give an instance to show as to how certain youngsters, entrusted with a job, take short cuts and do the bare minimum. It's a time bound tradition that a human being adds frills, to the job at hand, to give it a stamp of his own. It's that extra bit of touch that takes one to the pinnacle of success making him the most sought after!

Every month, I go to a hair saloon close by and the proprietor has always ensured that the pick among them is chosen to style my hair or whatever is left of it, to be precise! After years of wearing caps as part of the uniform, it gets to be irritating when the hair on the sides achieve a bit of length out of the normal and I time my visits accordingly.

This time, I'd timed it a bit earlier and the proprietor had entrusted the job to a newcomer. He's just joined the outfit from his home town of Nilambur where he resides with his father, mother and the paternal grandmother. His father is a barber and has his saloon back home and the remarkable thing about the youngster was that he's a science graduate. He'd started off - on my head - promisingly but finished the job within about a bit over ten minutes which included the shortening of the side growth with a comb and a pair of scissors, the redefining of the extremes with a razor and the clipping of the growth on the ears.

There was no massage, which is part of a haircut as to what I'd described, earlier, as one of the frills. It helps remove the cut hair from the head besides giving the customer a 'nice' feeling by the increased flow of blood in its aftermath!

I ain't the one who gets after a person pointing out his lapses because it's my firm belief that the individual will realise his folly some time or the other. As I paid the proprietor at the reception, I noticed that surprised look on his face on seeing me out so soon. He made polite conversation with me but as I was leaving I heard him shout at the boy who'd styled my hair, "Did you give him a massage? It's mandatory......"

By that time I was out of the saloon. Was sad at the youngster having taken a short cut. What made him do that?.......And I walked back to my house with a strange feeling of having been short changed with the question, "Why did it happen" many times over!


Tailpiece.

It's the last day of July.

Vibheeshana, the brother of Ravana, visits Rama - he's still on the mainland - who's contemplating his next move to retrieve Sita from Lanka. While Rama's followers are skeptical about his motives, it's Hanuman who puts it in the right perspective by saying that Vibheeshana was indeed Rama's devotee!

Lekha's recital of the Ramayana, over the past 16 days, has brought her to this part of the epic! She has done it despite her difficulties!! Good!!!

Doublespeak!

I'm revisiting a couple of news round ups just to show the doublespeak involved. The common man - though I'm of the firm opinion that everyone has a stand on each issue that comes his/her way - can be pardoned for not firming up on a decision quickly enough but the evolved ones and especially, those that the nation looks up to, for showing the right path in case of a dilemma, can neither afford to dither nor dilly dally!

  (a) The Press Vs The Lawyers.

        There seems to be an ambivalence about a free and fair press. After the government's stand was
        revealed by none other than the CM himself that the freedom of the press cannot be trampled
        upon and the restoration of the access of the press into the courts' premises to the same level
        as it was before the showdown was long overdue, the Kerala High Court has clarified that there's
        no ban whatsoever on the media in reporting open court proceedings but clarification on two
        aspects were yet to be provided viz.:-

             (i) An unrestricted access to court orders and judgments because there's a rider that the
                  media access to judgments is left to the discretion of individual judges. Individual judges
                  "will be at liberty to decline access to any person" to their offices.
            (ii) The reopening of the 'media room' within the High Court's premises.

         Obviously, the stand off between a section of the lawyers and the press is continuing. The court
         has not been able to arbitrate effectively on the issue, so it seems. Sad!

  (b) A Case of The Proverbial Pot Calling The Kettle Black.

        A spokesman of the US State Department has expressed concern about "reports of rising
        intolerance and violence" after a Paki journalist lectured about human rights "violation all over
        India and reports of killing people for eating beef."

        Can't help but laugh at a Pakistani raising such an issue as his country is known for such
        transgressions everyday. And to the yanks, "What do you have to speak of the numerous crimes
        of hatred being reported from various parts of your country?"


Tailpiece.

The Pinarayi Vijayan government had taken up office after a sweeping mandate that the LDF had received, from the people of Kerala, for bringing about a change to the "corruption ridden rule of the UDF."(Ellaam sariyaakum!). Within a matter of 45 days, Pinarayi Vijayan's effigies are being burnt in various parts of the state. Though it has been the handiwork of the Congress-led opposition, has the government lost the plot? Here are some of the issues that have brought about the change in attitude:-

    (a) The continuing incarceration of VS Achuthanandan.
    (b) MK Damodaran's - supposedly close to the CM - appearance for Santiago Martin of the lottery
          case fame and for appearing for the defence in the infamous "Ice cream Parlour case".
    (c) Not having taken a firm stand on the ongoing lawyers vs press fracas.
    (d) The inconclusiveness of the Jisha murder case and
    (e) The impression that the CPI(M) doesn't care about the opinions of its constituents, especially
          that of the CPI consequent to which the LDF is not pulling, on issues, together!

The government needs to buck up, get its act together and concentrate on providing good governance.


  

It's the same story all over again!

The television grabs showed the pitiable sight of the motorists and the general public on the roads of Gurgaon and Bangalore, that were waterlogged due to continuous rains over the day. The civic amenities and prompt help to people in difficulty, were found wanting. I don't even want to think of the many medical emergencies that could have ended up on a sad note because of the impasse.

The general public, who pays taxes, for the upkeep of the roads must be wondering as to whether they deserve this sort of neglect year after year!

And they'd changed the names of these two cities to 'Gurugram' and 'Bengaluru' from 'Gurgaon' and 'Bangalore', respectively, with much fanfare. The paradox is that the cities have been given high sounding names like the 'millenium city' and 'maximum city'. Isn't that a joke when the infrastructure support is non existent and as is the case of most of our cities, the arterial roads are that of '60s vintage while the traffic that flows through day in and day out contains the vehicles of '16. The staggering increase in the volume of traffic demands roads that are wide with the most modern technologies that can cater to immediate emergencies, breakdowns and a system to provide immediate medical assistance to passengers/motorists when necessary.

How many of our cities can boast of a well laid sewage system, covered gutters along side the roads that ensure flow of water without permitting the water logging of the motorway in times of torrential/monsoon rains? .........If it's floods, then forget it and leave everything to the almighty hoping like mad that the things would go right!

On a visit to China, an Indian delegation was completely fascinated by the long stretches of highways that were unbelievably straight and had all the trappings of the best of assistance. So, they asked their Chinese chaperone as to how that was made possible and the reply shows why we can't ever achieve that sort of development, which was:-

     "The usual impediments to having straight highways are mountains, water bodies and dwelling 
       areas. We burrow through the mountains to make tunnels, build bridges over the water bodies
       and shift settlements to new areas so that the work can be executed. It's a national requirement"

In our country, unfortunately, we've people going to court over land acquisition for government sponsored infrastructural projects at the drop of a hat, development be damned! Vested interests with narrow vision have created havoc......let me give just two examples:-

       (a) Lata Mangeshkar, our Bharat Ratna, has prevented the building of a flyover near her house
            in Bombay because she says that it would obscure her house!
       (b) The collective lot of traders at the Jose Junction at Kochi who've been against the building
             of a flyover because they say that it would affect their outlets' frontage!!

And I'm sure that there are so many such examples all over the country and what makes it alarming is that all such grand standing have political patronage.......Is there anything else to say?


Tailpiece.

For starters, let the municipalities take immediate action to modernise the cities under their jurisdiction. There's no dearth of resources but sadly, there's a lack of will! A well connected sewage system, a round-the-clock waste disposal and management system, wide roads with central medians and covered gutters along side them to prevent water logging are a few of the things that must be set up forthwith. Shop/house owners must be provided with compensation and alternate sites and all those who try to be difficult should be firmly dealt with.      

Another farewell.

My neighbour had called up in the morning to tell me that the body of his father-in-law would be brought in from the morgue at 1000 hrs and then, taken to the crematorium after half an hour. Accordingly, Lekha and I had gone to pay our last respects. We're seeing the old man for the first..... and also, for the last time! I'd, then, accompanied the cortege to the nearby electric crematorium, about a kilometer and a half from our place.

They weren't waiting for any more of their relatives to fetch up and anyways, the relief at seeing an end to the old man's woes for over the last fortnight was palpable. His three children - two daughters and a son, who's totally dependent on him - were in attendance. I, too, had helped in the shifting of the body from the ambulance to the stretcher and finally, on to the pyre. The mortal remains were pushed into the electric furnace and the doors were shut and Mr. Prabhakaran had become memory around a quarter past 11!

RIP, sir. My prayers and admiration for your having lived a good life without any medical problems till that Sunday's fall and the consequent complications. And as I understand you're wheeled into the hospital, brain dead, and hence didn't feel the pain.

      *                                  *                                     *

Soon after return, it's a quick wash and I was off to the service station to admit my Chevy for its starting trouble. Actually, it had begun after our recent trip to Kovalam and back, in connection with our school's alumni day. I didn't use the car for the next few days and then, the problem had cropped up. There was a pending tinkering work that I'd intended to get done this time. The change over to a new battery would be done only after ascertaining the actual fault. Moreover, the car had to undergo a servicing after having run more than 60,000 kms and it was gonna cost about Rs.34 grand. Manikandan, the technical adviser and Prasobh, the customer adviser were keen that I did not spend the entire amount at one shot and on the pretext that the spares weren't available, the routines have been postponed after my completing the Kochi trip, next week, for Lekha's medical review.

While appreciating their concern, I reiterated that for me, my car had to be absolutely trouble free as I didn't want any wayside emergency because I usually travelled with mom and Lekha all the time!

........It's a delayed lunch by a quarter to 3!


Tailpiece.

The walk was nice and it was a quiet evening, thereafter!    

Mom's medical review.

"Amma looks good, five years younger and beautiful," so said Mathew Abraham on seeing mom as we entered his consulting room. We'd set off from home by a 10 past 7, there were a few roadblocks enroute and despite George's expert driving we reached the Neurocenter(This is the new name of 'The Brainwaves') by 35 minutes past 9.

Since mom had a light breakfast before we'd set off, we didn't stop for breakfast lest we got delayed further. I'd not had mine because I knew that George wouldn't have had his.

After about three quarters of an hour with the doctor, we'd set our course back to Guruvayur, from Kochi, but only after having our breakfast and easing the bladders at the Oottupura on coming out of the doctor's clinic. But what I was reminded about was his conversation which essentially had the following:-

     (a) His dad's 98th birthday that was celebrated two days earlier with the cutting of a cake. The old
           man is bedridden after the fall he had last year.
     (b) His bad experience with one of his patients as he talked about cases of people's misbehaviour
           with their doctors and cited his own recent experience. A gentleman, in his 50s, had come to
           him for treatment and he'd prescribed the medicines, telling them to keep him informed about
           the progress. After a couple of days, he'd quite out of character, rung them up when he was
           told that the patient didn't want him to be his doctor. A medicine had caused a reaction, it was
           understood.
   
To put him at ease, I told him that I considered my mom safe in his hands and that's why we came all the way from Guruvayur, every three months!

We're back by lunchtime. Our maid had come along today after a lapse of almost a month to help the lady who comes in her place. The house was brought back to her standards of cleanliness and she'll be back regularly from Monday onward.


Tailpiece.

Two medicines have been changed and the dosage of the lead medicine has been altered. The idea was to bring down the aches and the pains that mom complains about.

PS.

Our neighbour's father, all of 91 yrs, passed into the mist of time around 2230 hrs. His funeral has been scheduled at 1030 hrs tomorrow morning.

The Kargil Vijay Diwas..

It's the 17th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas. The Indian armed forces had shown their overall supremacy 17 years back when young men showed what individuals could do to protect their motherland against all odds. Major Vikram Batra, itching to get more Pakistani scalps, had said, "Yeh dil maange more!" and that was the battle cry. Sadly, he fell to the enemy's bullets subsequently after recapturing the Tololing Point. There were many like him who'd laid down their lives and today's the moment when all Indians must pause to acknowledge their acts of bravery to reiterate the fact that, "They gave their today for your tomorrow."

My salutes to each one of them along with my tears and prayers.

         *                                     *                                        *

The funeral of Cdr RP Katyal took place in NOIDA, today at 1030 hrs. I said a small prayer for him at that time. His daughter must be helped to secure a job at the earliest. Action has been initiated and the momentum shall pick up once the ceremonies come to an end. That's the least one can do for one's friend!

         *                                     *                                         *

Tied up all the loose ends for taking mom to her doctor for the quarterly medical review at Kochi. The doctor has been informed, George has been told to reach 'The Quarterdeck' by 5 to 7, so that we could kick off by 7 as she's gonna be Mathew Abraham's first patient for the day, at 9.

         *                                     *                                        *

The debris of the missing AN 32 aircraft has been sighted, finally. It's a long tedious work that might not fetch immediate results but I can understand the agony of the families of the missing personnel whose hopes that they'd return have slowly receded to a desperation that they should be able to get back the bodies at least - in fact, anything that connects them to their beloved ones! I'd seen similar reactions way back in '79, when I was in charge of a rescue operation and we'd searched a massive area, sweeping the sea floor with the nets of three pairs of fishing trawlers, pressed for the purpose, off Kochi. Ships of the IN and the sophisticated ocean going research vessels were also involved in the overall search.


Tailpiece.

Tomorrow is gonna be a long day!      

Adieu RP Katyal!

Commander Ravinder Pal Katyal, all of 60 yrs, had complained of breathlessness and was rushed to the Kailash Hospital at NOIDA, New Delhi. He didn't exhibit his vintage stamina and passed into the mist of time early morning today.

    *                                    *                                       *

I'd seen him first during the spring term '74 when he joined the Hunter Squadron as an eager first termer(I was a third termer, then). He was from Sainik School, Kunjpura. A few stories come readily to my mind about his initial days:-

   - He hailed from Samargopalpur which he used to pronounce as 'Summergopalpur' prompting
      the guys that he'd nowhere to go during winters and hence he was invited as a guest to everyone's
      house, irrespective of term and seniority.

   - He'd endeared himself to all of us with his simplicity and the usual pronunciations that the
     people from his neck-of-the-woods were trolled in the Academy for viz. 'Goat it or note'(Got it or
     not)', Pope Music'(Pop music).

   - Our drill instructor, a Gorkhali, Gurung saab used to call him 'Katel' and we used to say that he
      was a Patel from Karnal!

   - He was good at outdoors despite him being a chain smoker! His stick work on the hockey fields
     was a treat to watch.

   - Academics was his Waterloo and he lost a term because of his poor performance.

He got married to Alka in '83, a lovely, caring person and they sired two children - a boy and a girl. He lost Alka to cancer ten years ago and as a single parent, took on the task of seeing his children settle down in their lives! The young man, Akshit is flying Dorniers for the Coast Guard while the young lady, Divya is currently awaiting an appointment.

I'd seen him on and off while in the Indian Navy and he used to make it a point to spend time with me for 'old times' sake'......... A wonderful person, a fantastic human being and a great friend!

RIP, Ravinder Pal Katyal. My salute, tears and prayers! Here's wishing that your children have the strength to pass through these stressful times.


Tailpiece.

How can I forget those wonderful times that I've spent with you, Katyal?