DID NOT DISAPPEAR!

I started in Mysore, Bangalore and Goa, where my little apartment is, and then progressed on to Kolkata. Being the environment buff that I am, and particularly fond of mangroves and the Tiger, it was quite obvious that I’d end up in the Sundarbans, the World’s largest mangrove area. To say it was magical itself would be an understatement and a few lines cannot describe the place. This I will blog about as soon as I go back home to better Internet connection and when I get back to comfort of my desk. I have photos and videos to post on Sundarbans.

Modern Threaters, Salem’s erstwhile dream factory

MK Kamalam, the heroine of the first Malayalam talkie film ‘Balan’ died on the 20^th of this month. She was 87. The report about her demise mentioned that ‘Balan’ was produced at Modern Theatres Ltd., Salem in 1938.

That reminded me of two things....

After last night's shower

I missed Vrishamitra Gurukar at MUDA Circle (JLB Rd.)on today's morning walk. Instead,I found these boys doing their workout on the green patch. Last night's shower has evidently done some good for the saplings Mr Gurukar has planted in the last few days...More...

Tree-planter Gurukar

Every morning Mr Gurukar sets out on bicycle from his Saraswathipuram residence to scout for suitable vacant space where he can plant, to do earthwork for planting ; and to water the saplings he had planted. A handson person who waits for no one , Mr Gurukar represents a one-man army that plants saplings on Mysore roadside...More...

Stepping down and stepping up!

Shashi Tharoor returned to Trivandrum, last week to a rousing welcome. People cutting across party lines were there to greet him. If he were to resign from the Congress today, and contest as an independent, then the capital city may be lost forever to both the UDF and LDF.

Shashi Tharoor maybe the answer to Kerala’s professional politicians and their tight grip on the state. He has the potential in terms of popularity to lead Kerala out of the peat bog, to unfetter its feet and lead the people from indifference to participation...more.

IPL: ‘Maharaja’ at their service

IPL, in my book, refers to India’s Power Log. For I understand IPL chief has such clout that he can locate his office-cum-residence at a five-star hotel, order change of venue of matches at two days’ notice; and can even divert Air India flights...More...

UNESCO Declares Bengali To Be The World’s Sweetest Language

UNESCO has declared the Bengali language to be the sweetest language of the world.

Bengali is one of the major languages of India, and the main language in the state of West Bengal in eastern India. It is the mother tongue of the Bengali community of India, i.e. the community to which I belong. More

Sign of the times

The first sign that Summer is dancing a most violent tandav on Mumbai !
Every footpath sprouts ...

Accident Prevention Acts...

State Road Transport Corporations conduct Non stop Homas invoking Gods to reduce road accidents. Police Staions do a homa at 4.30 in the morning at Police Station in Mysore praying for Gods' help to solve 70 and odd theft cases. Instead of training drivers on road safety, instead of intelligence gathering and follow up on clues.......

Lalit Modi wins for now, but does the story end?

Tharoor was doing okay even though his style of operation was not exactly palatable to the old world politicians. But then he made the mistake of doing two things which Lalit Modi did not like....

IPL semis shifted to Mumbai

Can we afford to lock in so much policing resources in a city on a single sporting event ? IPL isn’t exactly a non-profit. Being a multi-millon dollar enterprise , shouldn’t IPL spend some crores on upkeep of its own security force ?...More...

Indrajit Hazra's Crap in Hindustan Times

In that article this guy has discussed IPL, and has actually focused on KKR's poor performance in the same. And while doing so, he has completely focused on criticizing Ganguly, as a player and captain.

He certainly has the right to criticize Ganguly. After all it is true that KKR has failed in the IPL, and everybody has the right to criticize the hapless captain of the team. More

Kingfisher Launches 2 New International Routes

A good news for the Indian civil aviation sector is that the private air carriers are constantly trying to upgrade themselves, in terms of infrastructure and service capacity. More

From my press clippings

M C took his editorials rather seriously. While he was at it, writing in long hand on a ruled notepad, M C used to shut himself in the chambers, not to be disturbed by his staff or visitors. His faithful P A, Varma, wouldn’t let even a fly in while ‘M C is writing editorial’...More

IndiGo Planning Hefty IPO

IndiGo – the Indian Low Cost Carrier (or budget carrier) with largest market share – is planning a hefty IPO of around Rs 2000 crores. Some reputable bankers including Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse have been appointed for the purpose. More

Swiss Airline Renews Code Sharing Agreement With Air India

There has been a positive development for the troubled Indian carrier Air India, with Swiss International Airlines renewing a code sharing agreement with the latter.

By virtue of this agreement, to be effective from 18th April 2010, Air India will be able to do business in some areas where it does not have any fleet presence, by using the fleets and crew of Swiss International Airlines. More

Jet Airways Retains No. 1 Position, Consecutively For The 6th Month

Jet Airways, along with its low-cost subsidiary JetLite, has retained its No. 1 position in the Indian civil aviation arena, consecutively for the 6th month. More

Darjeeling – The Shangri-La In Eastern Himalayas

Protected by the mighty Mt. Kanchenjunga, and caressed by green carpets of tea gardens

Darjeeling is such a beautiful place, even with its thick fog and rains.

The beloved homeland of proud and self-respecting peoples, such as Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalis

It is a land of amazing beauty, a land also endowed with eternal charm and peace. More

Is it a commitment or kite-flying ?

Mr Patel is reported to have assured a Karnataka Congress delegation meeting him in New Delhi that Mysore would start operating flights from May 20. Smacks of political kite-flying to me; would however be happy to eat my words, if indeed Mr Patel delivers on his assurance...More...

Vishu 2010

We are waiting gleefully..

Modi has been fired up like a rocket and soon we shall see the sparks.

Moosa bids goodbye

You might be wondering who this person was. Moosa was a native of my village, Olavipe. It is difficult to answer if questioned what his achievements in life were. He just lived and died, one among the many, many millions. But his life was exemplary....

Chetan Bhagat’s 3-point something

I bothered to stay with Chetan for the first few chapters because the media hype the author got had raised reader expectations. I plodded through page after unhappening page of pedestrian text, hoping something would happen. Nothing much does...More...

Will US Aviation Firms Set Up Bases In India?

It is really worth watching whether US aviation firms decide to set up bases in India.

During his US tour the Indian Civil Aviation Minister Mr. Praful Patel appealed to the US aviation firms to establish manufacturing bases on the Indian soil, and also to invest in the Indian aviation infrastructure, such as airports. More

Indian Government Mulling A National Commission For Aeronautics

The Indian Government is reportedly mulling a National Aeronautics Commission, which will act as the umbrella organization for all research and development activities. A proposal to this effect has been submitted to the Government by Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI). More

PG comes to the resue...

With the Maoists on their prowl and when it seems that even the "only saviour of the poor and downtrodden" Arundhati Roy is not able to offer a solution :) , it is time for a break...


When our PM has yet again gone to praise Obama and hopes to get nothing in return, it is time to take a break....

It is when I remembered that I had a good collection of PG Wodehouse to be enjoyed. Just finished "A Damsel in Distress" and I am now enjoying "Love among Chickens".

PG rocks any day!

BA-Iberia Merger Forms Europe’s 3rd Largest Airlines

British Airways (BA) has signed a merger deal with Spain’s Iberia to form Europe’s third biggest airlines. More

SpiceJet and IndiGo To Fly Abroad

For quite some time Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines have been the only two private airlines to fly abroad. But now they have to share the honour with two more players - SpiceJet and IndiGo. More

India Proceeds Towards Elite Mobile Technology Arena

In fact, it is something that should have happened long back. Already around 130 countries of the world are using 3G mobile technology, and India is going to be one of the last countries in the world to embrace the same. And that is not only embarrassing, but also quite surprising. Apart from being an emerging economy, which is already well-respect across the world, India is also known for having witnessed a notable telecom revolution. And Indians are also known to be connoisseurs of technology and gadgets as a whole, with telecommunications being one of their special areas of interest. More

Some Unquotable Quotes

Quote 1

Never judge a person’s behaviour/action in isolation. Rather, try to understand the circumstances under which he has behaved or acted in that way. You may find 100 reasons to justify his behaviour/action, no matter how much unacceptable it may have been apparently.

Quote 2

If you dislike somebody, then neither pretend to like him nor overtly display your disliking. Both the approaches are unsustainable, and you cannot carry any of them for a long time unless in rare cases. More

Sikkim – The Fairy Tale Land That This World Is Lucky To Have

On the lap of snow-white mountains – amidst lush green forests and crystal clear rivers – there lies a fairy tale land

Named Sikkim, it is a land that in the true sense is amazing, magnificent and grand. More

Uttarakhand – The Abode Of God

Mountains, waterfalls, streams and jungles

Which place am I talking about, any guess? More

Arunachal Pradesh – The Picturesque Land of Dawn Lit Mountains

“The Land of Dawn Lit Mountains”, Arunachal Pradesh is captivating, enchanting and amazing

Representing an out-of-the-world natural beauty that one can imagine only in dreams. More

The Hyderabad drama

April 16, that is the day after his wedding reception at Hyderabad, seems to be the last day for Shoiab Malik to appeal to the Pakistan Cricket Board against the one year ban and Rs.2million fine that have been imposed on him. This punitive action has nothing do with the recent marriage controversy.

Of tigers, crows and handmaidens

Tigers are frolicing all over my garden these days. Tiger butterflies, that is.
The hotter days and blooming trees in Mumbai have something to do with that I think. Everywhere I look there are trees in bloom and an attendant cloud of butterflies and other nectar-loving insects dancing around them.

RMW Turns One !!!

Its Anniversary time at Royal Mysore Walks today !! Yeah you are right, I missed the Fools day by a day Anniversaries are always great, You are happy you are still together and more importantly its been the time you have spent together. Looking back at the same time a year back I recollect trying to run against time to get the route and the content of the Walks finalized, the website up and face the press at the release with a million last minute glitches and eventually present to the world, Royal Mysore Walks !! my Walking tour venture.