A Temple of Gold

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Trivandrum is in the news the world over for its colossal collection of gold and gems. The Kerala High Court had ordered the Kerala State Government to takeover the administration of the shrine. For fear of contempt of Court, I am not saying anything about the judgement.

Click on the title to read on

Hey Subhasis, Hearty Congrats For Your Debut Novel – “Those Were The Days”

It was just one or two months back that Subhasis told me, during a Facebook chat, that he was through with the novel, and it would be published soon. And then the other day I got the good news. His novel, named “Those Were The Days”, is out in the market. My beloved friend Subhasis is now an author. More

Hair extension

No, I was not looking for it myself since I still have enough on my head to satisfy my ego, unlike my Hubby, who is forever threatening that he will be taking the service of one of those hair fixers like Gulf Gate etc. Have also noticed that he is very quick in spotting those who have them too :).  Maybe, we shall both take their service together someday!

Tragedy: Indian vs. Indian, Hindu vs. Hindu, Caste vs. Caste

Have you come across the news that I am writing about? It appeared on page 6 of the Chennai Edition of the Indian Express yesterday (June 25). It is absolutely shocking and hard to believe. Some of the details for the report are provided by Evidence, a Madurai (TN) based NGO.

Weekly Warbler

Anna Hazare : Hot and cold blasts! Sizzles between Anshan in Jantar
Mantar and pleas to Sonia Gandhi.

Amitabh Bachhan : Says Melody has gone from Hindi film music. True;
That is from the day he sang Rang Barse..!

Flower photos

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Figs – Medicine store in a tree

I think the most important fig is Ficus carica Linn [Moraceae]. Its nutritive index is 11 against 9 of apple. It is supposed to contain vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, iron, calcium, manganese, phosphorus, sodium, potassium chlorine, Omega 3, Omega 6, calcium, Pectin and so on.

Click on the title to read.

Mamata’s “Revolutionary” Decision – West Bengal To Have 6 More Official Languages

Mamata Banerjee-led TMC-Congress government of West Bengal has taken an “innovative” and “revolutionary” decision.

From now, apart from Bengali and English, West Bengal will have 6 more “second” official languages - Urdu, Punjabi, Nepali, Ol-Chiki, Oriya and Hindi.

So from now onwards every government communication will be printed in all these languages, the Calcutta Doordarshan will have news programme in all these languages, and so on. Wow, what a revolutionary step by our firebrand Chief Minister.  More

Photos: Hibiscus flowers

See the photo collection. Click on the title.

And why?

One thought education and means would save our girls. But the latest report by The Lancet tells us that it is those mothers with lesser education and wealth but with a better sense of responsibility who seems to be saving our girls.

The Kerala Political Scenario

Oommen Chandy is back as Chief Minister of Kerala and ready to lead the State to where he did five years ago – a landslide victory for the Left. In the recent election the surprise result was that the Congress and the UDF slipped from boasting of a 100 seat victory to a miserably narrow margin. Three people are mainly responsible for this verdict – Oommen Chandy, Ramesh Chennithala and VS Achuthanandan.  

'Tis the Witching Hour of Night

......They were duly surprised - and suitably impressed - when I announced, on a recent Saturday, that I was going to attend part of an all-night concert. At 2am, the dark heart of the witching hour. That I was not so uncool, after all. That there was yet hope that I might be transformed into one of those ultra-hip New Yorkers who teeter about in impossibly tight clothes and high heels. Read more here

Grassroots Activism And Digital Activism - Complementary To Each Other

I appreciate and respect the “hands on” approach of grassroots activists. Given the fact that it is they who actually run a movement on the ground, there is no doubt that they form the most vital part of a movement’s lifeline. 

However, while taking justified pride in their role, they should also appreciate the significant role played by digital activists in bringing an issue to the world’s notice, thereby generating public support and sympathy in many parts of the world.  More

A Few Humble Suggestions To Ms Girija Vyas, President, National Commission For Women (India)

However, I sometimes feel that there are certain occasions when NCW might get vulnerable to misuse and misutilization, without even realizing it. Such incidents are sure to malign your organization, not withstanding its noble objectives. 

If you do take it as an audacity, then I will like to present just a couple of humble suggestions which may help you to ensure that there is no misuse of your organization. More

About Karnataka

About the present political situation in Karnataka. Please click on title.

Apa Sherpa – A Steady “Climb” of “Himalayan Success”

Now in his early 50’s, this pride of the Asian mountaineering community scaled Mt. Everest for the first time in 1990. And then he made it his practice, eventually establishing himself as the man to scale the peak for more times than anybody else. More

"It's a pity...."

A lot happened in a neighbouring country on MayDay.

Here are three relevant articles that bring out the crux of the entire situation.

It's a pity...

The author, Professor Richard Jackson who is Secretary, British International Studies Association and Editor, Critical Studies on Terrorism, writes - ..."And it's a pity that so many are celebrating using violent means to fight a violent group, and that it will most likely lead to a continuing, maybe even intensifying, cycle of violence. It's sad that so few today recognise or understand that the use of violence rarely leads to any long-term solutions, but instead, most often creates ever more violence and suffering in the long run. This event and the response to it are an opportune moment to reflect on our addiction to political violence and our belief that conflict can best be solved by killing…" More

Rain in North Bengal

 

I watch the rain from my new perch in Siliguri.

One Day The Entire World May Become A Single State

A time may come when the entire world will become a single state
And I have a feeling that one day it will happen, though the idea may sound absurd on today’s date.

There will be a single World Government, running the affairs of the entire globe
Spanning from Africa to America, and Asia to Europe. More

Yercaud, Montfort, SHY

Photos of Yercaud.

Dummies guide to social acceptability

I have often been told by “some” mallu guys from Kerala that non mallu girls shy away from them. In fact it is so bad that even NRK girls don’t want anything to do with them unless forced to marry one by their parents. After studying the phenomenon for some time, I can give a few tips that might make “some” of you mallu studs from Kerala, a little more acceptable to the gals…even if it is only in friendship. Of course the majority of you can ignore the post. This post is for a select crowd only. You can see them hanging out at Brigade Road on weekends, talking loudly and discussing the ladies assets as they pass by.


1. When you leave the borders of Kerala, remember you are no more in Kerala. You are entering an alien land, where people live and interact very differently from what you are used to. Look around you and take at look at the way guys your age behave. You could learn a lot.

2. When you see a girl on the road or in the mall, she is here for shopping for necessary things. This is not a secret code that she easy and available. She is dead serious about shopping...more

Let us pray..

Let us pray with the Americans.

Kuttanad, a weeping beauty

 

Kuttanad near Alleppey in Kerala is a fascinatingly beautiful area. It provides 40% of Kerala’s paddy production and has tremendous tourism potential that includes excellent cuisine....

Forced parenthoods

I was sitting on the stone bench outside the church. The church was overflowing due to the Holy Week service. Kids were playing around while the teens gossiped and young parents ran behind their tots. It was a jovial atmosphere notwithstanding the Stations of the Cross going on inside the church.

An elderly lady from Kerala was walking around and rocking a baby who looked a month or so old. Time and again she would peep into the church as though looking for someone. When the baby got restless, she went inside and came out with a young girl. The young girl went into a car and fed the baby and gave it back to the lady who I presume was her mother or mother-in-law. The baby got restless again. The lady peeped into the church apologetically, her face pleading with the girl inside. The girl walked outside in some annoyance and grabbed the baby and went to the car to feed the baby again. I heard the lady telling her to feed the baby well. In five minutes the young girl was out of the car again and after handing over the baby to the lady, she walked back to church to join her husband. The baby, mercifully fell asleep. I felt bad for the lady who seemed to be the only person who cared for the baby...more.

“Mukhtaran Mai Gang Rape Case” Verdict – The Pakistan Judiciary Makes A Mockery Of Itself

There is probably hardly any doubt that Mukhtaran Bibi will remember 21st April 2011 as a day equally “black” as the day on which she was gang raped by some beasts in the garb of human beings. On that fateful day she was raped by miscreants. And on the “Judgment Day” she found her hope for justice to be raped by the weak judiciary of her country. She had waited for 6 years to see those bastards finally getting punished for the heinous crime that they dared to commit. Instead, now she will have to bear the pain of watching them moving freely, an experience that will far aggravate the pain of bearing the memory of her harrowing experience. More

Back to nalukettus?

The revival of interest in the old Kerala style nalukettu houses (structure on all four sides around an open space called nadumuttam in the middle) is quite amazing. I had posted several articles and photos on the subject and they still draw many visitors. That must be so too for other bloggers who also handle the subject, and for architects.

GREAT AMERICAN BALD EAGLE

This is a story of a family of Bald Eagles. Magnificent and beautiful. I have embedded a Live video stream of this family and one can watch Mother, Father and the chicks 24X7. I hope you'll read, watch, learn and enjoy!

I deleted the previous post and reposted this story because I had new updates about this Eagle family. I have been unable to unglue myself from watching them Live on cam till late in the night, daily. At any time, there are between 30,000 to over 150,000 viewers viewing this family and my post has Live Eagle cam.

Clocks and Watches

The clock has always been a curious object wherever it is.  I grew up admiring a few of them at home as they ticked and showed time, effortlessly. I also used to wonder how they worked and what made them tick.  When I was old enough I discovered it when I laid my hands on them.

(Read more... in three parts/posts)