Greening the fence

In the coastal belt of Kerala, fences used to be made with plaited and dried coconut fronds. This practice is mostly discontinued now because of reduced availability of the fronds, lack of sufficient workers (mainly women) for plaiting, and the high cost of material and labor..More...

Doing Without Diapers: a grandpa's perspective

Now his son Siddarth goes to play-school at San Ramon, CA; and he has had parents worried over his apparent reluctance, nay, refusal, to give up diapers. This can be embarrassing, particularly if most others in his play-school were potty-trained...More...

Petrol Shortage

The situation is scary. There is every possibility of acute shortage of petrol, diesel and cooking gas. And, it's impact can be frightening. Already in Mumbai petrol bunks have put up "no stock" signs.

Death of a nurse

Everybody here has only nice things to say about Elizabeth. Many households in the village had benefited from the healing touch of this kindhearted lady. She was available to provide medical aid to the needy any time of the night or day. And she never took money for the humane service she rendered.

De Nobili-The Roman Brahmin

An important cultural and commercial center since 250AD, the capital of the Pandya kings, Madurai hosts the very famous Madura Meenakshi temple. The story I will now tell takes you to the 17th century, when Madurai was ruled by the popular Telugu speaking Nayak Emperors.

Lakshmi, on finding herself

What makes a teenager tick? Career choices!...It is an easier matter to be swayed by the torrents of advices, suggestions which flow perennially from all sides. Being a spirited person, I looked for answers from within myself...More...

Her last word...

The support system of family, friends and church doesn’t work here in Gulf for most of us and we are left on our own during the initial years. But God was there at every difficult moment of my life...More...

Attrition among new recruits...

Most of the cases of attrition thrive on the thread that firms place their priorities ahead of employees' goals, without understanding the employees' basic aspirations resulting in friction...More...

Window with many views...

Don't crib when you are stuck in the traffic. Keep your eyes open and I can assure you a wide kaleidoscope of human emotions, expressions and behavioral patterns to view...More...

The Odisha files

The thing that takes the cake is Naveen Patnaik's great effort to change his state's name to Odisha from Orissa and the name of the language to Odiya from Oriya..Here you have a state which is the poorest in the nation,...and what do you give them? A spelling change...More...

Re-reading ,A Passage to India

A recent article in The Guardian*, from which my brother Raja sent me an excerpt, helped me to understand some issues in the book.. . .More. . .

Drinking Glass of the Working Class

One,not so fine evening...

Death knocked again

Death knocked the doors of working class

who found comfort in their

drinking glass! . . .More. . .

Playing mother of the bride

- I got sent a 100 point checklist for weddings by mail. My first reaction, was Oh God NO, I dont need this. .... It must have been put together by someone who has been through a lot. ... NO TAPPANKUTHU SONGS''. .....''Fix two persons to settle any dispute of any nature. Dont allow any other crowd.. . More. . .

Lion people of Gujarat

Unlike the Masai, the Maldharis are vegetarian and do not slaughter their livestock for meat. They live instead, by selling milk and milk products, and use the earnings to barter or buy vegetables...More...

Rediscovering Mumbai

Autos and taxis are wonderful. They take you right wherever you want to go. On the meter and its cheap.But, they are not going to chat with you. In fact, no one is. The anonymity is both wonderfully freeing and depressing...More...

At the Captain s dinner

The bride looked fabulous, did not know they have such petite sized waists for such tall women! Jim was of course dismissal of the whole thing saying that this would only last a few months after the wedding. ...More...

Temples in Devanahalli

The Venugopalaswamy temple is one of the oldest here. The sculpture in this temple is said to be comparable to the temples of Belur and Halebid.. . .More. . .

Painting Mysore with a touch of green

Devaraja Urs Rd.could do with tree-cover that can provide much needed shade for shoppers and traders alike during long summer months. . .More. . .

Where Raji takes on menfolk

High time this culture of tolerating liquor consumption by men was changed. What is good for the women (stay away from drink) should be just as good for the men. . .More. . .

Hillary as running mate?

First, I don't think any time in the recent past a US presidential primary has generated so much interest. Whoever becomes the President s/he will create a record as the first Black, woman or the oldest President. . .More. . .

Someone egged...

Unlike his team-mate, Bill Gates, who was smashed with a cream pie on his face, a decade ago, Ballmer was attacked with eggs when addressing a group of business and technology students at Budapest's Corvinus University. .. .More. . .

Service for a fee, in airlines.

Airlines in the US are charging fees for services that passengers used to take for granted - for checking your bag (some airlines used to charge only for second bag, more recently American Airlines has started charging for security-checking your first bag too; charging for requesting an aisle seat/more leg room seats like the bulkhead/exit aisle seats . . .More. . .

Meme : Time for Tables

After reading Nandita Iyer's blog, I really felt like cooking, and never mind that the kitchen is a furnace at this time of year! . . More. . .

Mysteries of a 'chellapetti'

The thoughts of this decadent object and the peculiar habit of betel leaf chewing in India entered my mind when I saw these two ‘ambis’ in conversation. They were Kamal Hassan and Delhi Ganesh (from the movie MMKR). . . More. . .

Hibiscus, Queen of Shrubs

They have several medicinal properties. The famous karkade or hibiscus tea is considered invigorating. Excellent jams and squashes can be made from the flowers. Dried hibiscus flowers are delicacies in some countries. A shampoo made by wet grinding the flowers is considered very good. . .More. . .

250 saplings; a single objective

These are approximately 10 feet in height and of various varieties. Indian Tulip, Rain tree, Mahagony, Wild Almond, CannonBall tree, Maulsari, Saptaparni, Kassod, Indian Almond, Neem, Champak, Bhadrakshi, Rudrakshi, Bilvapatra, Soapnut, Kadamba, Weeping fig, Dhalichandra and Bauhinia. . .More. . .

Calculate your 'human footprint'

Ever wondered about the impact of one human in one lifetime on the environs? How do the volumes of consumption of daily necessities, luxuries and extravagances add up? . .More. . .

Choice

In a country whose rivers are overflowing with female fetuses, posts like this are I guess laughably immature!This post might seem confusing. It is…because I am confused about the topic!. . .More. . .

Saving honey bees

The hapless bees end up making their hives in the balconies of the sky rise buildings. Understandably the residents of the flats are not too happy to coexist with them. . .More. . .

Dishkooo.....Dishkooo....

The hero finds the perfect mark, and singlehandedly, destroys the villains. You almost let out a gasp of disbelief; this guy is a killer. What style! Of course, over a period of time, we realize that this is more unbelievable than fiction,. . .More. . .

Shenoy in Kabini

The best thing about the place was that it did not have a single television. There were howls of anguish among the young (Vyaas, Gautham and Neela's son Siddharth) , the followers of soaps (my mom, Sheela's mom and Sheela) and the IPL junkies (Sheela's brother Sundeep and her cousing Sunil). . .More. . .

Sunfeast World 10K Run...

When I reached the spot around 7:30AM, preparations were in full swing for the Senior Citizens run which saw an impressive crowd of 700 plus participants. . .the energy and the exuberance that they displayed, quashed the roar of helicopters circling the stadium. . . More. . .

Dalai Lama speaks

And to think, that he has been so witty and unassuming in this speech, when his mind could have been so much in turmoil, considering what he is going through right now, with regard to Tibet and the Chinese government, is remarkable. . .More. . .

A matter of faith ?

I was also told that he raised many to life in his home town Kottayam! Are the Kottayam residents sleeping? .... And at the rate these miracle healing and healing minsters are multiplying, we should soon have the profession of doctors scrapped away. . .More. . .

Riders On The Storm

We're located around 600kms to the North of the city, and we were hit by a big one, too, just as the match was starting off. . .More. . .

The Mother's darshan

If Babuji was not seen by the Mother at his usual place in the mornings for three or four days the Mother used to ask Mr. Pinto, with so much concern, “What happened to Mr. Ramakrishnan? I haven’t seen him for two days!”. . .More. . .

VPR:'Uneducated' doyen of the press corps

He scaled great heights in India’s English language press with only high school as basic qualification. The rest he learned by himself. . .More. . .

Changing planes at Changi

A modern air terminal is not designed for passengers in a hurry, particularly, if you happen to be nearing 70, over-weight, and under-exercised with un-cooperative knee-joints. . .More. . .

An audit of Neel Metal is due . . .

Are you really satisfied with the performance of Neel Metal Fanalca?Yes or No?If you are, tell us what you think is good about its work.If you aren't, vent your feelings.For, it is time people took a close and hard look at Neel Metal, the private garbage clearing agency engaged by the Chennai Corporation to work in four of the ten zones of this city.

Kerala Photos: Reflection on water

darjeeling through a camera

Made to Measure and Treasure

Getting new clothes was a thrill indeed. No ready made clothes then. In Pondicherry, where we spent part of our childhood, my mother found a good tailor, Velayudham. He would come home, the inch tape round his neck...

How to address a Bengaluru Auto driver

Whenever I stay in Bangalore, Sheela's brother most graciously ferries me around in his car to wherever I want, which is nice of him, but has deprived me of some very important insights into human nature, a very specific sub-species of humanity known as the Bangalore Auto Driver (BAD).

Hillary, Pandey, Sean and me…

Hillary was the person who ignited the mountaineering fervor in me. When we were learning the story of Col Hunt and the mission to Mt Everest in school, I would picture the tall mountai

Triumph over Numbing Adversity

Three year-old Suma( all names changed) ran along laughing the pathway in Glass House of Lal bagh. Her eyes glistened as she chased the butterflies swirling in the morning sun.

Space Junk

If you had wanted to find out the future trends in the space debris scenario, you will read typically obfuscating predictions. The verbose rhetoric sounds as though the space junk somehow happened to happen ....

How do paths get formed?

Who was that 'innovator' that treaded this path first? Given that paths are rarely straight lines even when there is a plain land between two places, what are the complex creative human urges behind the formation of a particular path?

May Queens

While we wilt in the scorching heat, these beautiful orchids thrive in their little corners in the garden!

Things to do

Its been 39 days since Sapgreen became operational. Even before start, there was optimism on various issues and there was pessimism on a few.

Horoscopes

Can horoscopes predict the futures so unerringly? Is there wisdom in our forefathers charting horoscopes at birth and then at the age of marriage find persons with matching horoscopes to get married to?

The Rice Vault

There are a hundred different varieties of food that use the same paste or the same kind of powder, but our taste buds are so well designed, that it is easy to differentiate the food just based on the whiff of the odor emanating from the kitchen....

Why alert only after a blast?

Whenever there is an explosion, there is a nation-wide alert. Policemen and other security personnel descend on the streets, set up barricades, carry out widespread, actually very intrusive, inspection of everything that we carry, peering into cars and what not...

Getting challenging projects done

All of us have been in these situations, where we have fought for a challenging project to be assigned to us. Now, we have it for ourselves. Hmm. Now what? How do we start? It slowly sinks into you that it is indeed a very challenging project...

Act II of the play

Vanara 1: The poor brothers, left to wander so in the forest. How did Rama manage without his watch?
Vanara 2: Time is a valuable thing, but it ticks fast.....

Bamboo Weavers

They manage their existence without any institutional help. They are unregistered and it was very evident from their style of working that they lack technical experience in production.

'Moore Market’ for discarded ideas

“It has made me think of a number of ideas that I have shot down without trying,” wrote Ananya in reference to our web initiative - Giving It A Shot. Prof. Ananya Mukherjee Reed teaches political economy at York University, Toronto...

Lemonade Seller, Chandni Chowk

On a hot summer day, nothing is as tempting as an iced lemonade flavoured with mint.
The wet cloth on the rim sends out cool waves, dragging your eyes like a magnet.
The sun is merciless on the back of your neck...

Famine and Plenty II

Today if you were to visit a Kalyana Mantapa or Wedding Hall in Bangalore, the amount of food thrown in the dust bin will leave you sick in the stomach! Except for the lower middle classes no one thinks of taking leftovers home because it is passé besides leftovers are in such large quantities and also spoil easily!

A strange flower

The plant which belongs to the banana (musa) family is locally known as malavazha, kalluvazha and kattuvazha. . .More. . .

More on Maiji's Pondy days

The day I first went shopping I was advised by my peers that I just could not walk into any shop. But I had to sit in the car and ask for things I needed, and they would be brought to me in the car for approval and selection. . . . I made a change in the way officers’ wives shopped. . .More. . .

From Anjali's Think Pad

A little bit of involvement will do wonders to our country. The parasitic existence that we live now has to stop, if this country has to change what we want changed.How do we go about that? I don’t know! But this giant populace has to get off their butts and start getting involved in matters other than their own! . .More. . .

Sights from a Bangalore city bus

The shifted backside was not incurred by me, because of the bad road - but happened to be a sign put up by a shopkeeper to indicate that he has vacated his older shop facing the road, and moved to a shop at the back. . .More. . .

Adding tree-gift with M-Day bouquet

Hundreds of NRI sons/daughters who sent flowers to India on Mother’s Day, May 11, could have been persuaded to say it with saplings as well, if green-minded greetings card makers and florists market the idea. . .More. . .

Sa's Maa's Day thoughts

That night after dinner, when she came and sat beside Sa, all he could do was look into her eyes and say, 'Maa, I love you.' She took him in her arms, patted his back and said, 'Stupid, you need not say that. I know you love me.. . .More. . .

Thayir satham at Taj city

Last December we went en famille to Agra as part of the celebrations of my mother’s 80th birthday. For lunch, my brother had organised a superb Italian spread that was served to us al fresco under shady trees. A waiter spotted us for the southies we are and decided to take care of us. . .More. . .

Why vote ?

There was a virtual carpet bombing of messages -- by the resident welfare associations, voluntary organisations, business houses, IT companies and media -- enlightening citizens about the need to -- not just vote but to -- vote for the right candidate. . .More. . .

Dressing for the neighbourhood

Small things like these stir up an immediate reaction. This includes the grandparents getting over-joyed with my decision to bear a few pounds of flowers on my head, my grandma taking me on a picnic to all the houses in the neighbourhood, and my brother tut-tutting over me. . .More. . .

Karnataka poll

Many felt that it was below their dignity to perform such menial duties as “Polling Officers”. One professor was heard grumbling that since he was drawing a higher pay than the DC, he was not bound to take any instructions from the DC. . .More. . .

Trees Vs Foundation Stones

At every turn, the presence of a 'foundation stone' is at odds with the ambience. There are nearly as many such plaques as - hold your breath - the number of heads of organization(s) over the years, visiting VIP's and their spouses. Imagine the accumulated concrete and granite over the seven decades of the campus's existence. . .More. . .

Anup's Mustang ferry-1

This was my first trip out to Nars, having been in Kulusuk and Nuuk in Greenland on previous ferries. The chaps at the airport were friendly, one of them a retired Airline captain who also owns a flight school in Copenhagen, made us feel quite welcome. I asked him why he was there and the answer was . . .More. . .

Jerry Amaldev, school music master

Jerry Amaldev suddenly fell from grace. The reason? I believe that an innocent comment by him about a great singer was misunderstood. It is all so sad. Now Jerry is the music master at Choice School, Cochin. . . .More. . .

Gender unpacked

“Traditionally a girl child is preferred over a boy”. She was answering the True or False questions at the end of her Social Studies Lesson and she did not know the answer. She also may have been shocked to know that such issues existed in her world. . .More, , ,

Bringing Bikes Back on Road

There is, perhaps, case for an ad. campaign, showing M S Dhoni going on a bike to have a haircut in his native Ranchi. Those organizing fund-raising runs for varied causes could encourage participants to do it on bicycles...More...

Abraham on the caste wall fallout

The Pillaimars blame the Marxists for inciting the Dalits. The leftists on the other hand claim that the wall was one of shame that perpetuated untouchability...More...

IPL Effect in Gowri's household

Twenty20 has turned home and family life upside down. The husband, who never had time for cricket or for television, now sits and watches every match and screams instructions to the players in different languages...More...

A theme park

Summer holidays are here. If anyone is vacationing in Coimbatore, and the kids clamour for a day out in a water theme park, head for Maharaja World on Avinashi Road,..More...

Of software factories

But I always make fun of them, by calling them code factories, where thousands of engineers write code-after-code, for offshore clients. I have heard inhumane conditions of work — not physically, but conditions of work, where creativity is stymied, and routine work is admired, and gains you a promotion etc. In these factories,...More...

A Chennai neighbourhood blog ?

If their initiative moves forward, then they will network with the livewires of Thiruvanmiyur and enrich this blog and create the buzz.Neighbourhoods need to have such initiatives going...More...

Tree-loving duo of Mandaveli

Global Greenways . . . doesn't have a website. Dr Madhavan pleads lack of time "for that sort of thing", though, I sense, it is not uncommon for folk of his generation to be unaware of the potentials of the Internet and of what the web can do to promote a cause or an idea. . .More. . .

Finding love on a flight

Is it true that marriages are totally arranged between strangers in India?" I am often asked by foreigners at parties. Along with curiosity about the caste system and the significance of the bindi on the forehead, . .More. . .

Holiday in the Shivaliks

Tatta Pani, it turns out, is a little village on the banks of the Sutlej. And "tatta" is localspeak for "tapta" - boiling. Tapta Pani. Very poetic. Conjures up bubbling hot water, doesn't it?. . .More. . .

The ‘why’ and ‘how’ of GIAS

She, helpfully, suggested I contact our ‘country host’ for information on how we could participate in GEW activities in India. A web check revealed no one in India has till date offered to host GEW. This prompted a few of us to do our own thing. . .More. . .

A tree that's almost gone

The lady asked if we had a "Pagade tree". Now whats that ? Back then we were not specific about the type of tree. We just wanted someone to plant a tree. . .More. . .

Deccn Chrnicle … smrtr ?. ..

Whats up with Deccan chronicle and its stinginess for words. The ads are all over Bangalore. Apparently they use lesser words and more news. . .More. . .

Higher Education!

Apparently the Institute teaches students to drive and operate vehicles like Earth Movers, Lifts, Tractors etc. How ingenious! And how predictable that a mallu is involved here!. . .More. . .

Love or companionship?

Watching her one of my married female colleagues, wondered if the new Indian woman, would ever be happy only with the title 'Mrs'. I think not! Just the 'Mrs' tag is no longer attractive. . . .More. . .

Abraham in Peermade

This quite little hill station along National Highway 220 in Kerala was once the summer retreat of the Travancore Royal Family. . .Peermade is also a place of many childhood memories. . .More. . .

Devanahalli, the fort; not the airport

A majestic and imposing structure, its vicinities yet to be devoured by the land sharks. This 500 year old fort gained some importance recently and all because of the international airport coming up there, the historical relevance unfortunately lies covered in dust. . .More. ..

The sad old Burma

International aid agencies have been stopped at the borders while the country desperately needs help. The present military junta is wary of any foreign intervention. I pray that this event changes the hardened heart of the authorities and there is a change for the better. . .More. . .

Amorphophallus, a medicinal plant with unique flower

Elephant yam is considered to have several medicinal properties and effective in the treatment of amenorrhea, anorexia, arthritis, cough, dysmenorrhea...

Whistlers in Istanbul

Istanbul had always been a mysterious and colorful place, from historic times to this day. I have so many fond & interesting memories....

Dear Mom and Dad

When you grasp my hands, they feel your blood and lifewhat I seek I find, even under a blind moonless night. You are my virtue, my tranquil guiding light...

That 6.35 a m bug

6:35 AM? Getting up so early? Had I been living in India, a neighbor aunt would have come running to the house to compliment my mother on having such a wonderful son. Not that it is false, but I'm just making a point!!!. . .More. . .

Oh Mylapore, where Devan lived; and Raji does

So many sabhas, all situated in this area. Almost all the dramatists, actors, artistes, musicians and dancers, almost everyone has a base in the Mylapore area. Devan lived in Mylapore, and so do Gopulu, Kathadi Ramamurthi, Charukesi, Sikkil Gurucharan, and Cho and the late Sujata, the first two recipients of Devan Endowments….More. . .

News burst about Yahoo and Microsoft

Lots of people predicted yahoo shareholders would be upset, and newspapers reported that Yahoo stock plunged - because they did not take what seemed to be a good offer etc. But did anyone do an accurate calculation, like what Kottke did ? . . .More. . .

Getting facts right

Pets in America receive more nutrition than a sixth of humankind.Each cow in Europe receives more government subsidy than what at least a billion people each live on. The difference between the US and India is that while in India one out of four people don't get enough to eat, in America, two out of three are overweight. . .More. . .

Anup overflies Myanmar

Tomorrow we leave for India (Ahmedabad and Kolkata) and on to Bangkok Thailand overflying Myanmar. . .Which has suffered extensive loss of life and cyclone damage. It has been difficult getting hold of the DCA in Myanmar for the overflying permit because their lines are down. . .More. . .

Flowers for Mrs M

That we grow any at all now, is thanks to some timely advice from a friend. . . She was a very Burra Memsaab – tea garden manager’s wife - of the district, and the senior catering member at the club. . .More. . .

Gone, a life of hundred years...

Reproduced here, a poem on the death of a tree, aged 100 plus, by a 14-year-old, who chose to voice the unspoken agony of having its life cut short mercilessly by the very people whom the tree had served faithfully. . .More. . .

How (not)To Go To Patna

At 4am in the morning being told that your 5 am flight for which you woke up at 2 am to leave the house at 3 am is cancelled is not the best deal but I kept the panic and disbelief and some anger at bay and I could hear myself ask him in a most uncomprehending tone –Cancelled? . . .More. . .

Aalok goes back to school, b-school

2 years, 9 months, 6 days and many 'Wow!' moments later, my life is taking another turn. I resigned from my first job today. This marked my first step out of a professional life and back into a student one. I'll be joining a B-School soon. . .More. . .

Why do women hire cooks?

Women are supposed to cook -- or so some people think -- so, why on earth should they have cooks at home? . . .More. . .

Shenoy's take on National Awards

Tendlya, who looks rather smart. And for some mysterious reason, Pranab Mukherjee. What the F has he done? Apart from screwing up foreign policy all over the place?. . .More. . .

Wrongside driving at Big Bazaar

When the offending motorist came near enough, the officer would pounce on him, and extract ‘his’ collection from him. In the 1 hour I was there, he caught about 11 two wheers, and 3 cars ...More...

Panning your shot

Now when you tried to photograph any moving subject, you were disappointed with your results. Either the picture was blurred or something was faulty that you didn't like. Can motion pictures be clicked with ease?...More...

Self Erasable Paper

Studies have revealed that about 40% of printed pages are viewed only once, then they are put to shredding machines and finally to the waste bin. There are no indications whatsoever in the reduction of its consumption...More...

A rose by any other name-brand

There are many ways of earning money. Some people choose to toil away in a farm and earn money from the rice or wheat that they grow. Others work in factories, for which they might be paid a daily wage. Or you can buy T-shirts with pirate skulls painted on them by people in China and sell them for $154 a piece, which is what one Ed Hardy does...More...

Insolence or Indolence?

The comments of Bush or Rice on the increased food consumption of developing world deserves no further comments. It is not worth it...More...

Karthik at QFI Open Quiz

Vinod Ganesh was kind enough to introduce me to the elite crowd as “Mr.Karthik Narayan” who has started a new quizzing group (don’t remember the actual words he used). But it felt nice for my hard work to be noticed in a forum. A bit of a fairytale moment, actually...More...

Putting grief on hold

Just as the play ended, Shyam and Madhu left the Green Room in hurry to a waiting taxi.Before they left, Shyam told us Shekar had died of a massive heart attack the previous night...More...

Ranganathan Photo Studio, a play, not a place

Augusto’s plays, which he writes and directs, are known for their thrills and chills, and unlike plays which are mere structures for the one-liners of the playwright, there is always a strong story...More...

Bled to death

Are we, the proud Delhites, at all civilized? Or is it so that the fast pace of our life has robbed us of all our sensitivities and humanness? How could the people on the road let the man die in such a manner?...More...

Of freebies

It was a fairly new concept in the mid-nineties to offer giveaways along with the main product. In the nineties? Yeah, I think so, because that was the time when life started making some sense. It's a different matter altogether that I have lost it completely now. . .More. ..

A roadside tree-planter

When they started the garbage collection drive, Mr. Murthy and friends also thought of planting trees in their locality. After a couple of meeting with Forest Office officials in Aranya Bhavan, it was decided they should plant Honge saplings. . .More . ..

Homeless in Mylapore

She said she was paying a rent of two thousand five hundred for a small place off the crowded streets of Mylapore.Now, the house owner had found people who were willing to pay four thousand. Hers was not a rare case, she said. Lots of middle class families faced the prospect of moving out of the core city areas. . .More. . .

Da Vinci to the rescue - after 500 years

Today’s child who is an expert with game controllers, much akin to the controllers of the Da Vinci, will find it easier to perform a surgery. So heed to it when kids ask for more Xbox & PS2 gaming time; they are hopefully training to be the next robotic surgeons or operators of other types of day to day robots!!. . .More. . .

Of the gun factor and Seshan Effect

I have known Dr. Javeed Nayeem as a social activist, student of Mysore’s folk-history, book-lover, coffee-planter, Star of Mysore columnist, a Haji and, of course, as a reputed cardiologist. His latest column however shows him up as a gun-lobbist. . .More. . .

Grandma goes to school

The best part of our life in Pondicherry was the children Raji, Bala and Viji’s chance to attend the best school – the convent, St. Joseph de Cluny High School. The school had different sections, English medium and French medium. . .More. . .

On the 'Tramway Trek'

All that remains today are the remnants in the form of rails, bridges, wagons, etc. A couple of years back as a befitting tribute to the centenary of the Cochin State Forest Tramway, an eco-friendly trekking plan was launched along the tumbled down tramway route. . . More. . .

The Greatness Gene

I am talking of people like Kumaraswamy, who gets the greatness gene from Devegowda himself, that patriot who has done so much for his poor self, his poor wife and his extremely poor children, M. K. Stalin who likewise, inherits it from Karunanidhi, Milind Deora, Jitin Prasada, the Thakerays son and nephew, and even old Narayan Rane's whatsisname son, I can think of dozens. . .More. . .

Anup, his Mustang, in Goose Bay

We (Jim Harrod and me) made it to Goose Bay (CYYR) in Labrador region of Canada. It is a "balmy 4 degrees Celius as I write this and that's not too bad for tis time of the year, it is warming up. ..A short night rest and we are off in the next few minutes across to Narsarssuaq (BGBW) on the southern part of Greenland. . .More. . .

If only customers bring their own bags. . .

The grocer continues to give away plastic carry bags to his 'valued' customers. He's actually forced to spend Rs 3000 on gifting garbage every month, all because the Kings and Queens (remember Customer is King) can't be bothered to bring their own shopping bag. . .More. . .

Have you seen this flower?

Where Kuwaitees are more helpful

Not so the Kuwaitees. The police do reach the spot fast but if there are residents they do whatever they can. Maybe because they don’t have to fear the law but then once on the road they are the fastest and would love to go uninterrupted but yet stops to help victims. . .More. . .

Technology weds religion

Have you noticed how neatly religion is wedded to technology in India? Like hot water and noodles, we've cleverly mixed the two to serve up God in an instant. . .More . . .