Saturday 29 June 2013

The Himalayan disaster and the blunders



The tragic devastation caused by nature particularly in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, is so saddening. It has also exposed the deficiencies in India’s disaster management capabilities.

A few years back I had attended a meeting in Delhi convened by the Cabinet Secretary to discuss disaster management. I had submitted a project profile to the Government of India suggesting the formation of a full time National Disaster Management Authority. 

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Tuesday 25 June 2013

Medical Colleges: An Addendum



There used to be a joke about a school lab which had no implements. The teacher puts up his thumb and tells the students, “Suppose this is a test tube….” Well, that seems to be what is happening to the mushrooming medical colleges in the country.

Monday 17 June 2013

Cards & Curry



A few days back when my brother Jacob called to say that he was planning a ‘Cards& Curry’ session at our Tharavad, Thekkanattu Parayil, Olavipe I was rather stuck. I didn’t know what it meant. Any way, Jacob explained and I told him to go ahead.

Wednesday 5 June 2013

Diamonds: The Two Sisters from Golconda



Koh-i-Noor and Darya-i-Noor – That is how they are known now. The first means “Mountain of light” and the other, “Sea or Ocean of light”. These great diamonds, amongst the largest in the world, were found in the Paritala-Kollur Mine near Golconda, India, perhaps 5000 years ago. Over the centuries several dynasties had possession of them. They symbolized, power, wealth and glory.

Sunday 2 June 2013

Dasapushpam


from Wikimedia Commons