Before Sapgreen

After many months and after numerous business plans, we were still not sure whether we were on the correct path. One day, during a gtalk session, Anil asked me whether I was interested in the NGO model. I said that I wanted to plant trees but not in an NGO model. . .More. . .

Hormonal Imbalances in the Shenoy household

For a change, the target was not me. Presumably because I wasn't there. The brunt of the charge was borne by young Gautham who, as is his usual practice when engaged in the completion of his homework, was playing a computer game called Death of the Zorks or something equally homicidal. . .More. . .

Does it matter?

I do believe it is a personal thing after all. If your wife doesn’t have a problem then who should care? But I still don’t understand why they want their wives to whom they have been lying all those years to be at their side just for the sake of the public. . .More. . .

Simply subconscious

What is it about the subconscious aspect of life? Many times, I don't even realize that I am driving my car from home to office or vice-versa. I have spoken to a lot of people about this, and I get a response, that it is the case of taking certain things for granted. It is just about how you prioritize certain things in life.. . .More. . .

Greening Mysore: Tourists can chip in

I have in mind green-minded tourists who wish to mark their visit to this heritage city by planting a sapling. And the authorities could designate suitable tree-plantable space in the vicinity of the railway station. . .More. . .

Tibet in turmoil

Later on I read his other article – a collection of all kinds of quotes to prove his point. I was wondering if he had a point. What one has to remember is that politics is also about self preservation, the individual and his own country’s interest, something that Nehru alluded to later. . .More. . .

Abraham's sports scan

Why doesn’t KPS Gill resign as President of the Indian Hockey Federation? Is he taking a clue from Musharraf from across the border? The latter once said ‘Pakistan needs me’. Gill seems convinced that India hockey requires his services to rebuild and regain the lost glory. . .More. . .

Civic activism in Chennai

Official agencies rarely interact with the community and people too keep away from engaging with the state.The group in Alwarpet and R. A. Puram succeeded in getting a call across to the Jt. Commissioner in charge of Traffic. A sharing of views took place. .. .More. . .

Happy Pi day, 2008

Rational celebration of an irrational number! 3/14, this American date format corresponds to the roughly rounded up value of Pi i.e. 3.14. Even those who have abandoned Maths as a subject after school days must be having this figure etched in their minds. My association with pi began when I was in grade 7 (or was it in grade 6?) . . .More. . .

MRV: Reporter, friend, and now, an author

M R Venkatesh’s slim volume – in tribute to Ramachandra Gandhi and Daya Krishna – tells me more about its author than I had ever known/found out about him in our two decades of friendship. . .More. . .

Municipal tree policy needs to be publicised

Wouldn’t it be helpful, if the civic authorities declare their tree policy? Publicise their guidelines for roadside tree-planting? People could do with guidance on preferred species for palnting; specifications regarding the gap to be left between plants;and between a plant and the road edge. . . .More. . .

Tribute to Srinivasa Rao

He passed away on 10th March, after a brief illness, aged 79. He was my colleague in office for 8 years till he retired in 1990. Even thereafter, the link remained in tact esp. through our dosa-eaters group. . .More. . .

Bamboo trousers and crinkle shirts

Cover up’s for our skin has come a long way from the stone ages. From leather skins, it graduated to natural material like wool in 9000BC, Linen in 5000BC, Cotton to 3000BC and Silk in 1000BC. . . More. . .

A weird dream

In the morning about twelve guests from outside Chennai land at my doorstep, bag and baggage. “We came because you invited us to visit you,” they say. Of these, I know only some. . .More. . .

Self cleaning clothes

Researchers have developed a nanoparticle coating for your protein based fabrics that has self cleaning properties. Your most prized woolens and silks will not require dry cleaning as they will clean themselves of odors and stains. . .More. . .

Karnataka train tour in five-star comfort

Mapple’s group of hotels, who are partners in running the luxurious Golden Chariot, would need to devise more imaginative programming, than taking their high-paying guests to the bird sanctuary or the Chamundi Hills and putting them through a cultural show at Rangayana, which can’t be billed the best or the most exciting show in town. . .More. . .

Mark an event by planting a tree!

The visit of the dignitary and the function itself has an everlasting impact. It is much easier to maintain such plants under the care of reputed organizations.. . .More. . .

Unbelievable red

Have you heard of red petunias, let alone seen one?In my college days in Delhi, the winter garden at our home was run over with petunias of every hue - pink, violet, mauve, magenta , white, and even striped ones.But red?. . .More. . .

Abraham on Bangalore visit

Most of my time was lost in traffic snarls and half my plans went awry. Occasionally the landmarks that I was looking for were missed. They were either obliterated, or masked by new structures around. . .More. . .

Jatropha at P K Sanatorium

Unless proper and systemic studies are completed to ascertain its agronomic and environmental impact, jatropha will always be seen as an unknown evil.. . .More. . .

Goodbye, Sujatha

Blogs are an endless ego trip. They can never pose a threat to regular journals or newspapers.’ So said Sujatha, noted Thamizh writer, who passed away recently...More...

Raja Basu's case for euthanasia

Several human rights activists and other members of the global intelligentsia have been strongly opposing the idea of Euthanasia, and I appreciate their views. However, a couple of incidents that I have read/heard about have convinced me about the necessity of selective Euthanasia...More

Kalyani's done it, at last...

I've been getting so much flak from the rest of the family about the awfully long time its taken to get the house painted - that I have had to show them why. Or at least what. And grin and take it.And see a slideshow of her work...More

Natyanjali Dance Festival

Now in its 27th year, the fest started in a small way when a few arts enthusiasts joined hands with the local administration to launch a dance fest in the outer yard of this great temple...More...

Vedas, Syrian Christians

Hinduism considers that the Vedas (which means knowledge) are not human compositions but Wisdom that was ‘struti’ (heard). In other words they are Revealed Wisdom. The other religions mentioned above do not seem to concede the divine origin of the Vedas...More...

Sponsor her schooling

thousands of girls who like Shreya, are forced to dropout of schools because their families cannot afford to keep them there. It is official knowledge that out of every 10 girls who enrol in Std I, only 3 complete Std X. Education for a girl child born to a poor family is still a pipe dream...More

The avenue trees of Mysore

The main thoroughfare, Sayaji Rao Road, had flowering trees growing straight and tall, obstructing none. The long white flowers (you find one such tree behind the Chamundi Guest House on Dewan’s Road) spread a beautiful aroma all around ...More...

The African Diaries - Zappa City

When writing a serious travelogue, one is always on the horns of a dilemma - does one dwell on specifics, providing local flavor at the risk of losing over-all perspective or is it better to give the reader a reliable general idea of the place and avoid the dynamics of change?...More...

A reason to celebrate

I notice the Western channels are not really talking about this day. Maybe we Indians just need a reason to celebrate or we get only movie channels...More...

Women's Day

Today society has shown a major attitudinal shift with regards to women's equality and freedom. In my opinion, no woman is ordinary and each is blessed with an indomitable spirit which makes them special in their dear ones’ lives...More...