After quite some time, I went for a trip last weekend (Dec 11 and 12, 2010) with my friends Senthil and Vinodh. We went in Vinodh's car.
Day 1: Dec 11, 2010
It was 9:30 AM when we started at electronic city. We took Bangalore-Hosur-Krishnagiri-Tiruvannamalai route (200 Kms). Road till Krishnagiri (NH7) was very good (90kms) but the 110Kms from Krishnagiri to Tiruvannamalai was horrible. Road was badly damaged due to recent rain.
We reached Tiruvannamalai at 2PM. Lunch was not very great but didn't mind much about it since we were pretty hungry. We booked a room in Ramana Towers hotel for a rent of Rs. 1400/- per day. The facilities were very nice and worth for the money given.
We started girivalam (14 kms walk around Arunachala hill) at 3:30 PM and completed it at around 7PM. There are 8 lingams in that perimeter and few more temples. After visiting the main temple (Annamalai and Unnamalai are the main deities), we ended the day.
Day 2: Dec 12, 2010
We started from room at 8AM. It was very wet outside and when enquired, we came to know that there was heavy rain from 2AM to 6AM. We went to Ramanashram and started our Arunachala hill trek from the way behind Ramanashram.
Our initial plan was to see Skandashram, Virupaksha, return back to Ashram by 11:30, have lunch and then leave to Bangalore. But near Skandashram we met a person by name Jothi who gave us some information about Tiruvannamalai and how the whole worship was earlier (right from his great grandfather's time). It seems he is one among the persons who light the Jyothi at Arunachala hill top during Karthigai month.
When I asked him about his take on Vijay TV program which was spreading some information that the annamalai jyothi went off, he gave some explanations and called it as a rumor. We asked curiously if we can go to the place where jothi is lightened, he said that he can take us. While Vinodh was not able to proceed further up, he went down to Ramanashram. Myself and Senthil along with our guide Mr. Jyothi started climbing to the top of hill.
It took around 3hrs from Skandashram to the top of hill and the climb was pretty tiring. But as soon as we reached the peak, all the tiredness vanished and we were so happy to be in that place. We were physically on a place which we were just seeing on the TV for 20+ years during every Karthigai Deepam.
After taking some photographs, we met some youngsters who are sishyas of Narayana Guru Swami. It seems Narayana Guru swami is a saint from Kanyakumari who did Thapas in Arunachala hill for 16 years and then went back to Kanyakumari again. They served us herbal tea.
Our guide Jothi asked us to get down by our self. We started climbing down. But only after some time (around 45 mins) we realised that we were getting down in a route which we didn't see while climbing up. But still we proceeded in the path of a water falls with the belief that we will get down somewhere. We got to see a person on the middle and came to know that we were climbing down on the other side of hill.
We were kind of happy that there was some exploration element in the trip. We got down on the other side of hill at 2 PM and went back to our starting point (Ramanshram) in auto. We had a surprise news over there. It seems music director Karthik Raja (son of Isaignani Ilayaraaja) visited Ashram at 11:30 AM and Vinodh took some pics with him. I would have felt jealous if I had missed a meeting with Ilayaraaja. Karthik Raja.. Worth missing for that nice trek ;).
Weather at Tiruvannamalai was cool and that was really the best part in this trip.
We had lunch in Ramakrishna hotel (Taste was good) and took alternate Tiruvannamalai-Vellore-Krishnagiri-Hosur-Bangalore route while returning back. Though we had to travel extra 80Kms, the roads were pretty good.
I actually went to to this trip without any expectation. But it turned up to be one of my best trips. Thank you Vinodh and Senthil for the nice company!
Yesterday, I had been to Garden City college to see (most importantly, to listen) concert of Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (6:30PM-8PM) and Bombay Jayshree (8PM-9:30PM) organised by SPICMACAY. Myself, my friend Jithu went with Prof. Sadagopan and his wife. We went early and Bombay Jayshree also came at 6PM itself though her program was scheduled only at 8PM.
No wonder, Bombay Jayshree was aware of Prof. Sadagopan. He introduced me to Bombay Jayshree. We had some casual discussions about how 'Bombay' got attached to her name, her view about current form of concerts etc. I was waiting to get her thoughts about Ilayaraaja.
Here goes my conversation with Bombay Jayshree about Ilayaraaja.
Me: I would like to call myself as a devotee of Ilayaraaja. You have sung so many popular numbers.. B.J : (Interrupted) Not many (with a smile) Me: At least most of your numbers are popular. My favorite song of yours is 'Kai Veenayai Endhum Kalaivaaniye' from the movie 'Vietnam colony', Ilayaraaja's composition. I would hear that song in loop for hours together. B.J: You know what? It is my favorite song. But it didn't become very popular. Me: Can you tell one line about Ilayaraaja? B.J: How can I tell just one line about such a great composer? Me: Well, I would like to hear more about him. B.J: Working with him is a great learning experience. If I sing one song for him, it will be a lesson for one year. I learn a lot while working with him. Me: It is usually told that Ilayaraaja does not give much freedom for singers. Being a classical singer, does he consider your improvisation? B.J: The notion of 'freedom for singers' itself is wrong. Singers are just part of a song. There are many more factors like situation, actors etc. About Ilayaraaja; he would have already set some high standards for singers while composing. It will be a big task to accomplish that. We won't have anything more to make it better because he is already at the top. At times, if I add something and if it is nice, he will appreciate and accept. If it is not ok, he will say a strong No. A movie will be in some form before Ilayaraja gives his music. The moment, Ilayaraaja adds his music, the movie will take a completely different dimension. So he knows what is needed for a song.
Actually, it was looking like she would speak more and more about Ilayaraaja. But it was already 6:30PM and it was time for Pt. Hapriprasad Chaurasia's concert. Organisers were asking everyone to get settled. So I thanked her and took a leave.
It is a known factor that most of the people in music industry are fans of Ilayaraaja. But it is always a nice feel for a fan (a devotee) like me to hear about him from people who are popular musicians.
No doubt, performance of both Pandit ji and Bombay Jayshree were so soothing. It was definitely a satisfying day.
Slow rate of decrease of men domination and high rate of increase of (pseudo) women liberation is a common factor for the increased failure of both love and arranged marriages! Discussing about that common factor is not the intent of this post.
First of all, why do love marriages fail? What is positively said about love marriages is that the girl and boy already get to know about each other and so they form a 'Perfect Match'. Even then, why do love marriages fail? Leave the cases where the trouble is created by some external forces. There are good amount of love marriage failures because of the mis-understanding between husband and wife. The whole idea behind love marriage, i.e 'Understanding' is in a shake.
Yes, the boy and girl 'get to know' about each other when they love. But what do they get to know is a big question. Most of the lovers project only their positive side when they love. So the misunderstanding after marriage is because of 'not enough understanding' before marriage.
"Ok fine Karthik. The topic is about arranged marriage. But you are discussing about Love marriage???"
Yes I am coming to the topic now. The same problem, 'not enough understanding' has crept into arranged marriages too. 'Pre marriage flirting' is what I am referring to. This started even before cell phone penetration. That time 'cordless phones' were helping. After the penetration of mobile phones, there is a multi-fold increase in flirting. (First of all, is it right to call the telephonic conversation between 'would be' husband and wife as flirting?). Getting the phone numbers and talking over phone (between engagement and marriage) is approved by parents (though with some murmurs).
A month back, I boarded Mysore-Chennai (via Bangalore,Kanchipuram) bus at Bangalore. The person in the next seat was a girl (I am still surprised how they allotted a male and female in adjacent seats. What was more surprising is that most of the seats in that bus were allotted in the same manner. Something wrong!).
She was already over phone. After hearing a minute of her conversation (things falling on our ears without our consent is not overhearing ;) ), I understood that she was talking with her future (who can assure about future?) husband. With more hearing, I realised that she is talking with him since she boarded her bus (at Mysore). Since I was not very comfortable in having a lady at the next seat (u know? I am a gentleman :P), I was not able to sleep comfortably. I was awake at least till the bus was crossing Vaniambadi (100 kms from Bangalore) and she was talking till then. When I left the bus at Kanchipuram, she was sleeping. So I am not sure, when they completed. Hope all of you have heard such conversations with ENTROPY = 0 :)
"Karthik, their phone, their battery, their money, their life. What's your problem?"
See I can't be selfish not thinking about others ;)
Just like lovers chat where only positives are projected, even in these Pre marriage flirting, only positives are projected both by the man and woman. She will try to project herself as a a best woman a family can get, so adjustable, so caring blah blah blah. He will try to project himself as an intelligent person, hero, highly humorous, person FOR women liberty blah blah blah.
When he/she sees the reality after marriage, which will definitely be different from what they were thinking, full disappointment. What is worse was the guy's projection about his mother as a caring lady who will treat his fiance as her daughter which will definitely be considered false by that girl after marriage (To know more, read 'in_laws'). If they think more and more about that disappointment, it will get bigger and bigger, thereby ending up in failure.
The idea behind pre (arranged) marriage conversations is to add the positive of love marriage (i.e understanding before marriage) to arranged marriage. The transition after marriage (esp for girls) will be somewhat smooth when they already have an idea about the better half's likes, dislikes, family etc. But when it becomes over-dosage, then it will definitely add the negative of love marriage also (i.e not enough understanding).
What is the moral? "Adakki Vaasi"
P.S: There is a bit of selfishness in this post. If some one see me doing too much of Pre marriage flirting after my engagement, please remind me about this post. Thanks in advance! ;)
I had been to Tirupathi last weekend for tonsuring and ear boring ceremony of my nephew. Since I had a bad experience during my last visit to Tirupathi in getting tickets back to Bangalore I did advance booking in Airavat volvo bus this time. (Snippet from the blog I posted in Mar 2010: We Bangloreans had a tough time in catching a Bangalore bus. As you all know, there is always a Black ticket option. We payed extra Rs.80/- per ticket and got seat in KSRTC bus)
Tirupathi-Bangalore bus I booked was scheduled to start at 4PM (Sunday, Sep 26, 2010). I reached bus stand at 2:45 PM itself and waited in the platform meant for KSRTC buses to Bangalore.
"Karthik, stop stop! Then the blog title should have been 1:15 hours at Tirupathi Bus stand right?" You will get answer for this question in the later part of this post.
In bus stand there is no other way to pass time than to just observe people present around us. My primary focus was on a Third gender person who had dressed up like a lady (Please stop your dirty imaginations my dear fellows [:P]). I would like to call that person as "XLady" or "(H)She" from now on. (Sorry if a social reformer considers this a wrong way of calling them).
I believe (h)she is a niche player in the beggar market of that bus stand :). She gets money only from people seated in ultra deluxe or volvo buses. This is what I was seeing. Whenever a Garuda (A/C) or Rajahamsa bus comes to platform and passengers board the bus, she gets into the bus, clap hands (you know how loud their clap will be) in each seat and demand money. After getting money from a bus, she sits outside a "pay and use toilet" and groups the collection based on denomination and keeps it in her hand bag (you all know that those people collect lot of currency notes while the usual beggars find it difficult even to get coins). She chats with that pay and use toilet in-charge till the next volvo or ultra deluxe comes. I saw her repeating this cycle for at least 8 buses (but no Airavat bus came to platform till then).
Well she was just helping my eyes pass the time. For mouth?? I had an old friend of mine to chat with. "Old friend??" Yes it is the black ticket wala (BT wala) from whom I got ticket during my last Tirupathi visit. Have a look at snippets of the conversation I had with him (It actually happened in Thamizh)
BT wala(as usual): Bangalore a sir? You need tickets?
Karthik(with a smile) : Anna, this time I have my tickets reserved. If I had not, I would have directly come to you
BT wala (with surprise): You visit here regularly? When did you get tickets from me?
(I told him the history)
.
.
(He started confessing, but in a casual way without any regret in his tone)
BT wala: What to do sir? I was working in court as peon. I got suspended 10 years before because of my mis-behavior. I will stop this black ticket work in some more days as I am going to get appointment in court again. But one thing sir. Money got illegally will not stay with us. I earn Rs.400/- per day on average. I give 100Rs for my family, spend 100 Rs for my food outside and 200 Rs for drinks. I have not saved any money. Today I already got 300 Rs, drank for 250Rs, had full meals, nothing much in hand.
(We had more discussions about black ticket profession like bribe for police every day, different kind of customers he met etc etc.)
. . .
Karthik: Will that Xlady get into Airavat A/C bus also and ask for money? (Though I knew that she will, I was expecting a "No" from him just for the sake of my relief)
BTwala: Of course, (h)she will get into all the luxury buses. You know? (H)She earns minimum 1000 Rs (after giving bribe to police) every day in bus collection itself.
I decided not to board the bus until that Xlady completed her collection in the bus I am going to board. I definitely didn't want to give money and at the same time I had no guts to deny in front of her. You all know (at least guys will know) what those people will do if we say that we won't give money.
It was 3:45PM and the BTwala took his leave and I was waiting for the bus in that platform. 4PM, 4:15PM, 4:25PM..and finally an Airavat bus to Bangalore reached platform. Cursing Indian standard (delayed) time, I went near the bus and asked conductor if it was 4 o clock Bangalore bus. He told that 4 o clock bus left and it is 5 o clock bus. He took me to the KSRTC time keeper (Till then I never knew that there was a time keeper sitting in a corner).
Conversation with Time keeper (It actually happened in Kannada)
Karthik: Sir I am waiting here since 2:45 PM. No Bangalore Airavat bus came to platform till 4PM
Time Keeper: Don't play drama. You came late, missed the bus and now putting blame on us, is it? No bus goes without coming to platform.
He literally started shouting at me. After a stage I couldn't argue. So I started requesting him for some other arrangement. He arranged a seat in Rajahamsa (non-AC). Since he arranged seat in at least some other bus, I thanked him and boarded a Rajahamsa bus which started from Tirupathi at 4:45PM (Got the 2 hr count?[:)]).
But I could not digest the allegation that I missed a bus, being so early to bus stand and that too didn't move anywhere away from platform. I was completely puzzled.
The Rajahamsa conductor was curious to know my story. After telling him what happened, he told me that the 4 o' clock Airavat is a bus to Belgaum which goes via Bangalore.
OMG! After hearing that, the puzzle got solved and the plot became clearer.
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Flashback
3:30PM
I heard engine start sound and it was an Airavat (in parking place which was approx. 100 metres away from platform).
Though the BTwala told that the bus will come to platform, I was curious and so went near the bus (it was a bus to Belgaum via Bangalore) and asked the driver if it was 4 o' clock Bangalore bus. He told "No". I was not aware that the final destination of the bus I booked was Belgaum. If I had known, I would have asked him if it was 4 o' clock Belgaum bus.
But I didn't just go with the answer of driver. I was waiting for that bus to come to platform and thought of inquiring again if it left the platform at 4PM. But the bus left directly from the parking lot at 3:45PM itself without even coming to platform. So I convinced myself that it was not the bus I had booked.
Flashback Over
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
Now after hearing from the Rajahamsa conductor that it was the bus I had booked, I can't stop myself from cursing the Airavat driver for saying a "No", for leaving the bus stand without coming to platform and I can't stop myself from badly cursing the time keeper for trying to hide his mistake by blaming me. I realised that his generosity of arranging a seat for me in Rajahamsa was to just shut my mouth.
Getting cheated is not something new for me ;). But this was the first time I took so long to realize that I was cheated.
Definitely, I can never forget those 2 hrs at Tirupathi bus stand!
Note: I have sent a grievance mail to KSRTC and NOT expecting any reaction from them :)
Disclaimer: Lot of generalizations have been done in this post. I would consider this post to have accomplished its purpose even if a single reader find it reflecting the reality.
Even before I start discussing about this topic, I am bound to clarify those people who think, the term 'House Wife' is not correct and it should have been 'Home Maker'. I recently read an article in which a lady has written that women community is thinking of some other better name than Home maker. Whatever be the name, it is no way going to change the way of life of those women who stay at home giving preference to welfare of family. All those people who keep these names are those high class women who have no work spending time at clubs. 'House wife' is no way an inferior term. If you think it is inferior, then you are thinking your house itself as an inferior one.
Ok lets get into the topic.
If we look back, say some 30 to 40 years back, women going for a job was a rare event. May be, that time, 'Not being a house wife' might have been considered a sin. Later, some women started working in govt sectors like bank, post office, schools etc since those works didn't have much pressure and the time was comfortable for them to manage both family and work.
Since husband and wife started working, the economic situation of the family was good enough to make even their girl children study till they wish. Girls started doing masters courses like MSc, MA etc.. Still I am in early 90s. Parents started thinking, "Having studied till masters. Why should she waste her education? Let her go for a job at least till marriage".
We were and are always in a mindset that education is a source of income. If some one studies and then decide not to go for a job, whatever he/she has studied straight away goes into bin and gets wasted.
Going to a college and doing a course is not just for degree and making money out of that degree. It is the exposure a person gets outside in a place like college which matters a lot. The decision of sending girls to colleges and making them do masters is healthy but not the thinking that a educated person should definitely go for a job.
Ok fine, all those MSc, MCA girls started working in private firms. Many colleges were started and good amount of these girls became lecturers in college. Even after marriage, their husbands didn't have problem in they going for a job. After all, they will get more money every month and most of the husbands didn't want to lose it. Yes, more women started working but things didn't become worse even till late 90s. There were good amount of house wives too.
Then came our IT followed by development in all industries. Lot of work force was needed. In parallel, many engineering colleges were started. Those girls who were joining prestigious arts and science colleges earlier started joining BE. When non-conversion of BSc/MSc to job itself was considered waste, who will accept a girl with BE degree to not go for a job?
Most of those engineering graduate girls started working in IT firms. Arts and Science students started going to same IT firms either for a lower profile jobs or started working in ITES industry. Girls working 10hrs/day started becoming common.
They mostly married an IT guy. Both earning a lot every month. Own flat, sedan type car, searching land for investing.... Everything for EMI... "Ok fine, so what is the problem? Things sound great, right? By the time their son/daughter completes their UG, they would have saved some good amount of money for sending their children to US for masters.. Everything looks good. What a prosperous life!" All these are only at abstract level.
Now, let us zoom into their daily life. Let us say, the working wife don't have a helping husband (we will see who is a helping husband in next paragraph). The girl will wake up at 5AM. Cook, get her husband and children ready. Breakfast, pack lunch for everyone and also take for her. Hurry hurry to office. Full pressure from manager at office.. Come back home.. prepare dinner.. help kids in home work... What will that husband do? He will reach home only at 10PM, sit before television for some time, go to bed and wake up only half an hour before starting to office. No help from that husband in household work..What will that pity guy do? He is in the pressure to double his salary in next 5 years.. She will be under pressure for at least 15 hours/day. I started sweating just while writing about their life style. How are women doing all these and still have their face creams intact even at the end of day? ;) They are naturally born as 'over-time' workers or they were trained like that by this society which calls women going for job as 'Women freedom'? I don't know..
So who are those helping husbands? They are men who accept sandwich as breakfast, have lunch at office and take dinner parcel from hotel for everyone at home. The girl announces holiday to kitchen on all working days. There are some women who feel guilty. So she will prepare noodles (the toughest dish to prepare) for everyone during night. But definitely, those men are helping husbands. They at least share a bad life with their wife.
"Hey hey Karthik. Stop.. You are speaking as if they were forced to work.. This is the life they have chosen and they are happy with it. They earn a lot. They plan their retirement even at their 30s. They make their kids join International schools. Everyone at their home (including their children) have a personal laptop. You should also look at the GDP growth because of women working.. Because both earn, they consume a lot and our economy grows. Why are you stopping the economic growth of India?"
I can make fun of all the statements in the earlier paragraph. But that is not the aim of this post.
I am concerned about those minority girls existing in this IT era who don't like that mechanical life and decided not to go for a job even after having a good education. Fortunately, those girls some how get a man also who has put 'Job Not Must' in matrimonial columns.
But this society irritates her all time. Every time she goes to a shop in the next street at 11AM, she will encounter this question (mostly from a 50s lady).. "what are you doing whole day at home? no work right? see all those girls flying like birds to office with their hand bags."... 'chumma dhana irukka?' is the most hurting question a house wife would ever encounter.
Things get so worse that at some point of time, she starts feeling inferior about herself.. She is made to think "I am waste. No purpose in my life".
What do I have to tell those house wives?. Oh lucky lady. Laugh at people around you who are having dirty life. You have got a peaceful life. Your life is the most purposeful one. You are taking care of a family with utmost care. You are a woman who is not running after money. While women around you are trying to increase the family income from 5Rs to 10Rs, you are a great economist who can run a family with that 5Rs itself. Be happy and ignore those useless ones on the next street.
What do I have to tell those husbands of house wives?.. Let the world tell whatever it wants. But you never ever tell "What work do you have? You are idle at home, right?". That will hurt her a lot. Please check what interests her. She might have been a singer or a trained classical dancer or an artist or she might have got interest in something recently. Advice her to join classes and learn something which interests her. If she is good in music/dance/arts or anything, encourage her to teach others for few hours every day. Just because she is not going for a job, it doesn't mean she is good for nothing. You understood her feelings and married her. Please understand her feelings forever.
Today I am going to discuss 2 songs from a same movie which got released in 1999.
It was time when trend changed but this man (since being a trend setter) didn't change. He didn't use those fancy sounds which ate up lyrics and feel. He kept composing those simple and soul touching melodies.
Only we classify his compositions as 70s, 80s, 90s etc. But his compositions are beyond our perception of time.
The 2 songs 'Kadhal Neethana' and 'Thavikkiren' from the movie 'Time' which I am going to discuss can be put in "I think I have heard these songs" category
Kadhal Neethana
In the earlier paras, I told his compositions as simple. It is simple only for ears of lay-man like me. But the amount of complexities that have gone behind each song will be known only to Raaja's close associates and few expert audiences.
This lay-man ears can sense some rhythm pattern magic in this song but couldn't explain what it is. One could sense that in the prelude itself.
Unnikrishnan is known for carnatic based or 'tough to sing' melodies with high range of pitch. But he needed a music director named Ilayaraaja to show case just the melody in his voice without gimmicks. Sujatha is known for her soothing voice.
The Q&A kind of charanam with these romantic voices... Awesome.. Especially the lines like
"Enna Kanavu kandai" in higher half of octave
and
"Nee Vandhai Mutham thandhaai" in the lower half of octave. Raaja's touch!
Next song from the same movie is a peppy melody
Thavikkiren
This time its Bhavatharini with her unique voice and Hariharan with his evergreen voice.
The prelude will no way appear like approaching the tune of pallavi but raaja (and only raaja) can do a fast and smooth transition in just 1 or 2 bars. Briliant!
We could get some jazzy feel in 1st interlude. The 2nd half of 2nd interlude is so interesting to hear. No rhtyhm. Harmonium and bass guitar doing all the job. Intelligent!
In 2nd charanam, there is a line
"காலமே காலமே காலத்தால் அழியா வாழ்வு கொடு"
The lyricist might have prayed to Time that the songs of IR should last long. But he is not aware that Ilayaraja already got the boon of composing songs which will last for milleniums.
Today I am posting about these songs.
Even after 100 years, there would be a guy writing about this is in some form in some medium. Yes after 100 years, everything might have changed. Blogpost, Orkut, Internet, the way we type, the medium through which we hear.. Everything... But there will be comething constant. It is those gifted group of people hearing the compositions of our isaignani.
From a small town to the IT hub of India. From a college known for notorious things to an institute known for its unique way of education and great professors. Dirty and dry campus to a green and clean campus. Chalk piece to smart board. The transition was beyond my expectation.
First day induction at the big main class room... New faces. No known friend with me. I was looking dumb like a lay-man who doesn’t know anything. I was sitting amidst an elite group which has idea about anything and everything. I was not sure whether I will be able to understand what others speak. My name in the scholars list was a shock. “What is wrong with those people? Why choose me?”
First time at hostel. When my father left me at hostel and told “I need not advise you since you know things better. Take Care” I was just stopping the tears that was about to flow like a flood. The individual room MH1-429 was looking like a hell. “Who is that guy in the next room, Senior? Will he rag me?.... Wi-fi? Proxy? Ubuntu?”. Lot of questions and doubts were lingering in my mind!
June 2010
2 years passed like a second. I have changed a lot and IIIT-B too has seen lot of changes. Both myself and IIIT-B have put extra weight :) Great to see renovated IIIT-B campus with an extra floor and lot of space for tech firms and incubation companies.
Now I have many close friends from IIIT-B. The number of people with whom I share a smile and wave hands while passing in campus is huge. Being part of ‘Student Activity Committee’ facilitated me to move with many and organize many events.
I have completely enjoyed the stay away from home (the number of tours I had gone with friends and the number of movies I have seen in theatre during last 2 years are enough to explain the amount of fun I had).
Now, I am telling myself “Karthik, you are not that dumb”. It is because, I have learned a lot from everyone and everything around me. Even now, I am no where near my geeky friends of IIIT-B.
The wrong notion I had about professors vanished and I started showing great respect to that profession. I came to know a ‘Prof.’ who is known by everyone right from Gates to Narayanamurthy, Clinton to Sibal. Now I am in that Prof’s ‘known people’ list. What more can I ask for?
Yes, I decided not to sit for placements after UG. I was adamant to do masters rejecting the advice from many that I will regret for this decision. I believed (a blind belief), I will get something better after completing MTech course, but I never thought I will join Siemens research group. Thanks to my parents for leaving me decide my own future and thanks to IIIT-B for setting a strong basement. I am indebted!
Thanks to all my friends at IIIT-B for making these 2 years a blissful one. I am looking for a day I meet you as managers, CEOs, scientists, founders of your own firms, billionaires and you still remember and recall the incident of me sleeping in class room during pre-sem which got projected in screen ;)
Wishing everyone a happy life :)
P.S: I just posted whatever that came in my mind. Sorry for the unstructured post.
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I have been visiting a dentist at Bangalore regularly sine last week. I had a root canal treatment. I will be going there for some more days since I have few more repair works :)
I am always afraid of doctors other than ones I visit regularly in my hometown. But having got (almost) settled in Bangalore, I had to find some doctors here too. I some how landed with this dentist.
The dentist would be around 35 and he claims that he is member of American dental association (It could be true too). He has 2 good looking lady assistants [;)] and they call the dentist as 'The Chief Doctor!' They always smile (extra smile while looking at me [;)]).
Don't know why but there was a cosmetic effect in that clinic. Was not appearing like a typical clinic. Or may be, the 'not so clean' clinic and simply looking doctors at my place made me feel this one as cosmetic.
Even before finding fault with the dentist, I have to accept that I was given a good treatment and my root canal problem got solved (may be at a higher cost). I am going to tell about another patient.
The clinic has a beauty parlor effect with 2 adjacent treatment seats. The Chief Doctor(!) will keep shifting between 2 seats and handle 2 patients at a time (parallel processing!)
When I was having treatment, a lady (around 30) with lip-stick (I should say this), layers of make-up and really slow walk sat in the adjacent seat. Obviously, the Chief stopped my treatment in the middle and went to that seat [:P]
I had no other go than to overhear what that lady is telling to the dentist [;)]
Now lets see the conversation. I will call that lady as 'Beauty' just to add glamor to this post[;)]
Dentist: Tell madam. Whats your problem? Beauty: I had tooth pain for some time yesterday but never had pain after that. I am worried! (Why worry? you should have been happy)
After closely inspecting the teeth, the doctor couldn't find any problem. But how can he miss the opportunity to make money? Doctor: This is not a complete dental problem. But I won't say you don't have a dental problem completely. (Best way of confusing the patient)
Now the patient started giving clues... Beauty: I actually had migraine problem Doctor: Oh, then it could have been a migraine and dental problem occurring together. There are cases where tooth pain intrigues migraine (Full bluffing) Beauty: My kid was not feeling well for past few weeks. I didn't have proper sleep Doctor: Oh, then it is sleeplessness+ migraine+ dental problem... As I said earlier, this is not a complete dental problem. I have to say that one of your teeth is very long and it has to be removed. But you can do it later. (Creating an opportunity for future business). Anyways, I will cure this problem now.
He prescribed a toothpaste, a toothbrush, mouthwash and some vitamin tablets (Should I explain more about the links he might have with the pharma companies producing those items). He collected a consultation charge of Rs. 500/- The lady was happy
The doctor was very happy that he made business out of nothing. Suddenly he got reminded of me and started back the drilling work.
May be, the lady has lot of money and loads of fear that she came to doctor for no reason. The doctor behaved like yet another business man and used the opportunity.
Now arises all these questions from a lay-man like me.
Where are those doctors who say "You don't have any problem. Don't worry" and collect no fees?
Where are those doctors who don't prescribe medicines unnecessarily (even if they prescribe, the medicine cost will be not more than Rs. 30/-)?
Where are those doctors who give sample medicines (which they get from medical reps) free of cost to poor patients?
Where are those doctors who don't ask for all the test reports (blood, urine, motion, saliva, sweat... hooof..did i leave anything?) and that too tested only from place they recommend (for what else other than getting commission)
I won't generalise this for the entire doctor community. Still there are genuine doctors. But it is unfortunate that they are becoming fewer and fewer.
Public! It is time we all have to be very careful with them. Medicine is not a (real) service industry any more and many doctors don't deserve a 'God' status any more. They have opened the shop and now it is all left with us not to get cheated. Pure business!
I have been so far speaking about doctors who got graduation. There are group of fake ones who look and speak like professional doctors.
The list of complaints go on... I hear voices from all sides. Karthik, you forgot to mention about the Kidney theft. Hey Karthik, what about medicine tests on poor people causing long term non-curable diseases?.......
Man, I am getting frightened as I dig more and more.
I have been traveling a lot (approx 800kms per week) since last month. Traveling gives lot of thoughts and insights (but only problem, it doesn't give time to write!)
Last weekend, when I was at my hometown, I had to stay at my sister's home (of course, for escorting!) which is 4kms away from our house. I went to her house at 8:30PM. My sister's 2nd daughter Sriranjani (2.5 yrs) was watching a movie (Abhiyum Naaanum) from DVD player. I was tired and went to bed immediately.
Next day morning, I woke up only by 7AM. Sriranjani was seeing another movie (Poo) from the same DVD. I went to my home and then came back to my sister's house, that day evening for some other work. Again 'Poo'. I came to know that a round of Abhiyum Naanum-Poo-Abhiyum Naanum was over in the time between morning and evening.
This was crazy! I asked Sriranjani (in a polite manner), why she was seeing those movies repeatedly. She replied in her own way by putting some nail marks on my nose ;) Then I inquired about this to my sister (applying coconut oil on the marks) and told her that this was something crazy and unusual!
She gave a mild knock on my head ('kuttu' ku enna pa english la?) and asked me why I was seeing 'Thanga Padhakkam' and 'Gowravam' for months together when I was in my school days? Yeah I forgot my past!
It was the time Video cassettes were slowly losing existence but we had a functioning Video cassette player in our house. We know a person who was having a Video Cassette shop. He wanted to dispose some old movie cassettes and so gave us some 10 cassettes. 'Thanga Padhakkam' and 'Gowravam' were the 2 movies among the 10 (Vallavanukku vallavan, Paalum Pazhamum etc. were the other movies which I saw only once or twice)
I don't know why but just liked seeing those 2 movies in loop. This was happening for some months till I could tell the complete dialogue of both the movies. I will see at least 1 of the movies after returning from school and surely watch both on weekends. I don't remember why I stopped seeing those movies (may be I got bored and started doing some other crazy thing).
Kids, be it yesteryear or yesterday or today or tomorrow, do similar things (just in a different way like DVD player instead of Cassette player, cricket in hot sun instead of goli in hot sun, full day video games instead of full day ludo, the list goes on....)
Daughter lost her eraser at school. The advice+scolding lasted for more than a hour and now it became "how can I buy you scooty when you become older? You will loose that too" (Adangonnia!). My dear mother, you forgot that you ate '1 chalk/day' and was telling some lies to your mother for chalks getting over quickly.
Most important thing parents forget is the marks they got during their school days. Why is it that almost all kids don't have the guts to question their parents about the marks they scored? Where will most of the parents keep their face if their kids ask this question?
An auto driver was slapping his son outside his school in front of all for failing in a subject. "My father didn't make me study in a nice school and because of that I became an auto driver. I didn't want you to become like me and hence I am working hard to pay your fees in this big school but you are failing. Look at other kids....................................................". Stop. Stop. Mr. Auto driver, I respect your care and the hard work you put in making your son get a good education. One question. If I am not wrong, your father might have admitted you at least in the nearest govt. school. There are great personalities who have studied in govt school in remote villages. Why didn't you become one like them? Why did you stop going to school from 8th standard and learned to smoke even at the age of 14?
(Well, parents are going to kill me :P) I am not telling that parents should not keep a watch on their kids or advice them but just don't intervene them all-time. All of us have evolved over years. We have corrected ourselves over time. Give them that time. Don't pour all your 30-40 year experience on them. Show them the path but don't curb them (kadivaalam podaadheenga ndradha english la solla try panninen pa)
Remember, You have done everything when you were young! Don't forget your past!
Happy holidays, Kids! :)
Thinking of a sequel titled "Youth Special: Parents, don't forget your past!" . But I have to be even more harder. Keep watching this space! :)
தொலைபேசி ஒலிக்கிறது; வெளியே நிற்பவன் வீட்டுக்குள் ஓடி வருகிறான் அதை எடுப்பதற்கு. இது ஒரு காலம்.
இப்போது ஒலிக்கிறது; கையளவு தொலைபேசியோடு வீட்டுக்கு வெளியே பாய்கிறான்; இல்லாவிட்டால் சமிக்ஞை கிடைப்பதில்லை.
முன்பெல்லாம் தொலைபேசியை எடுத்தவுடன், "எப்படி இருக்கிறாய்?' என்று கேட்பார்கள். இப்போதெல்லாம் "எங்கே இருக்கிறாய்?' என்று கேட்கிறார்கள்.
ஒரு பெரிய மனிதரைப் பார்க்கச் செல்லும்போது இரண்டு எலுமிச்சம்பழங்களை எடுத்துச் செல்வது ஒருகாலத்துப் பழக்கம். அவற்றின் விலை நான்கணா. இருபத்தைந்து காசு. அவற்றுக்குப் பயன்பாட்டு மதிப்புண்டு. இன்று பிளாஸ்டிக்கில் பொதிந்து வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள கண்ணைப் பறிக்கும் பல வண்ணங்களையுடைய மணக்காத மலர்களைக் கொண்டு செல்கின்றனர். அதைக் கொடுத்தவர் சென்ற பிறகு, அது குப்பைத் தொட்டிக்குப் போய்விடும். அதன் விலை முன்னூறு ரூபாய்.
முன்பெல்லாம் மாவு அரைக்கும்போது குழவி சுற்றும்; ஆட்டுக்கல் நிலையாக நிற்கும். இப்போது குழவி நிற்கிறது; ஆட்டுக்கல் சுற்றுகிறது.
பழைய நாள்களில் சாமியார்கள் குளத்தங்கரைகளில் அரசமரத்தடியில் இருப்பார்கள். குளத்தில் குளித்து, உடல் முழுவதும் திருநீறு பூசிக்கொண்டு, ஓர் அன்னக்காவடியைத் தோளில் வைத்துக்கொண்டு, சித்தர் பாடல்களையும் தேவாரத்தையும் பாடிக் கொண்டு வீடுகளுக்கு முன்னால் வந்து நிற்பார்கள். வீட்டுப் பெண்கள் அவர்களுக்கு அரிசி போடுவார்கள். பொங்கித் தின்றுவிட்டு கோயில்களில் சாம்பிராணி போடுவது, மணி அடிப்பது போன்ற இறைப்பணிகளைச் செய்து கொண்டிருப்பார்கள். உடைமை எதுவும் இல்லாதவர்கள் என்பதால் அவர்களுக்கு ஆண்டிப் பண்டாரம் என்று பெயர். அவர்களுக்கு மதிப்புண்டு.
இன்று அதே ஆண்டிப் பண்டாரங்கள் காலத்திற்கேற்றவாறு ஆங்கிலம் பேசுகிறார்கள்; அமெரிக்காவுக்குப் போகிறார்கள்; நூற்றுக்கணக்கான ஏக்கரில் ஆசிரமம் அமைத்துக் கொண்டு வாழ்கிறார்கள். "ஈசனோடு ஆயினும் ஆசை அறுமின்' என்பதற்கு மாறாக "அத்தனைக்கும் ஆசைப்படு' என்று வேறு போதிக்கிறார்கள். விபூதிப் பைகளில் டாலர்களை வைத்திருக்கும் இவர்களுக்குச் செய்யும் சேவையை கோடம்பாக்கத்தில் சந்தையை இழந்துவிட்ட கோல மயில்கள் பகவத் சேவையாகவே நினைக்கிறார்கள். சாமி சமாதி நிலை அடையத் துணை புரிந்தால், போகிற கதிக்குப் புண்ணியமாவது கிடைக்காதா என்ற எண்ணம்தானாம்.
அன்றைக்குச் சாமியார்களிடம் இருப்பு இல்லை; ஆகவே வழக்குகளும் இல்லை. இன்று சாமியார்களின்மீது இந்தியக் குற்றவியல் சட்டத்தின் அத்தனை பிரிவுகளின் படியும் வழக்குகள் உண்டு. அதனாலென்ன? அரசுகளுக்கு விலையும் உண்டு; கொடுப்பதற்கு இவர்களிடம் இருப்பும் உண்டு.
காந்தி, ஆசிரமத்தில் வாழ்ந்தார்; ஆசிரமம் காந்திக்குச் சொந்தமில்லை. தென்னாப்பிரிக்காவில் தனிச் சொத்துடைமை கொள்வதில்லை என்று காந்தி உறுதி பூண்டார். இந்திய அரசியலே ஆன்மிகம் ஆனது.
இன்று அரசியல்வாதி யோக்கியனில்லை; அதிகாரி யோக்கியனில்லை; சாமியார் மட்டும் எப்படி யோக்கியனாக இருப்பான்? பிரேமானந்தாக்களும், நித்யானந்தாக்களும் நவீன காலச் சீரழிவுக் கலாசாரத்தின் தத்துப் பிள்ளைகள்.
வழிநடத்த வேண்டியவனெல்லாம் அயோக்கியனாக இருக்கும் உலகத்தில் மதிப்பீடுகளெல்லாம் போலியாகத்தானே இருக்கும்.
காலையில் நடப்பதன் மூலமோ ஓடுவதன் மூலமோ வியர்வையை இயற்கையாக வெளியேற்றி உடல்நலம் பேணலாம். இவன் தலையை மட்டும் வெளியே வைத்துக் கொண்டு, உடலை ஒரு பீப்பாய்க்குள் வைத்துச் சுற்றிலும் நீராவியைப் பாய்ச்சி வியர்வையைக் கூடப் பிதுக்கி எடுக்கிறானே!
தோட்டத்தில் வளர்க்க வேண்டிய மரத்தைத் தொட்டியில் வளர்க்கிறான். அது மீறி வளர்ந்து தொட்டியை உடைத்து விடாதபடி அதை அப்போதைக்கப்போது வெட்டி விட்டு, தன்னுடைய பிடியை மீறி விடாதபடி அரசை முதலாளித்துவம் கட்டுக்குள் வைத்துக் கொள்வதுபோல மரத்தைச் செடியாக்கி வைத்துக் கொள்கிறான். அதற்குக் "குள்ள மரம்' என்னும் நாமகரணம் வேறு.
ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் கழியும்போது தன் வாழ்வின் ஒரு பகுதி தொடர்ந்து அறுபடுகிறது என்றும், நம்முடைய பயணம் ஒரு நாளைக்கு அமெரிக்காவுக்கும் பிறிதொரு நாள் பிரான்சுக்கும் என்று நாம் எக்காளமிட்டு மகிழ்ந்தாலும், விசா தேவைப்படாத தொடர்பயணம் மயானம் நோக்கியதுதான் என்று நம்முடைய அறநூல்கள் வரையறுத்துச் சொன்னாலும் ஒவ்வோராண்டும் அறுபட்டுக் குறைவதை பிறந்த நாளாகக் கொண்டாடிக் குதூகலிக்கிறதே நவீன காலத் தலைமுறை!
பிறப்பு என்பது துயரம்; அது ஒருவகையில் செய்ததையே செய்வதுதானே! உண்டதையே உண்கிறோம்; உடுத்ததையே உடுக்கிறோம்; உரைத்ததையே அடுத்தடுத்து உரைக்கிறோம்; கண்டதையே காண்கிறோம்; கேட்டதையே கேட்கிறோம்; சலிக்கவில்லையா என்று கேட்பார் பட்டினத்தார்!
"பிறப்பதற்கே தொழிலாகி இறக்கின்றாரே' என்பார் அப்பர். வான்புகழ் வள்ளுவனிலிருந்து கடைசி அறநூலான ஆத்திசூடி வரை அனைத்துமே பிறவாப் பெருநெறிக்கு வழி சொல்ல எழுந்த நூல்களாதலால், துயரத்துக்கு வித்திடும் பிறப்பைக் கொண்டாடும் பழக்கம் தமிழனுக்கு இல்லை. ஆங்கிலவழிக் கல்வி நமக்குக் கற்பித்த ஒரு புதுவகைக் கொண்டாட்டம் இது.
புத்தன், வள்ளுவன், ஏசு, நபிகள் நாயகம், காந்தி ஆகியோரின் பிறப்பால் உலகம் மாற்றமுற்றது. ஆகவே இவர்களின் பிறப்பை இவர்களையல்லாத மக்கள் கொண்டாடினார்கள். நம்முடைய பிறப்பால் நிகழ்ந்த மாற்றம் என்ன? நாமே கொண்டாடிக் கொள்வது அசிங்கமாக இல்லையா?
ஐரோப்பியக் கலாசாரம் இன்னொரு கொண்டாட்டத்தையும் நமக்குக் கற்பித்திருக்கிறது. அது "திருமண நாள்' கொண்டாட்டம்!
வெள்ளைக்காரர்கள் மூன்றாம் திருமணநாள் என்று கொண்டாடுவதற்குக் காரணம் அடுத்த திருமணநாளை அந்த வெள்ளைக்காரி யாரோடு கொண்டாடுவாளோ?
மூன்றாண்டு நீடித்ததே அதிசயம் என்பதால் வெள்ளைக்காரர்கள் கொண்டாட வேண்டியதுதான்!
தமிழர்களின் நிலை அதுவல்லவே. கட்டக் கடைசியில் அவனுடைய தலைமாட்டில் உட்கார்ந்து, விரித்த தலையோடு கூவிக் குரலெடுத்து அழுது, வாசல்வரை வந்து அவனை அனுப்பிவிட்டு, எஞ்சிய காலமெல்லாம் அவன் தன்னைப் போற்றி வைத்துக் கொண்ட நினைவுகளைச் சுமந்து கொண்டும், சுற்றியிருப்பவர்களிடம் சலிப்பில்லாமல் சொல்லிக் கொண்டும் வாழ்கிற ஒரு தமிழ்ப்பெண் எதற்காகத் திருமணநாளைக் கொண்டாட வேண்டும்? மூச்சு விடுகிற நினைவே இல்லாமல் நாம் மூச்சு விட்டுக்கொண்டிருப்பதுபோல், இன்பத்திலும் துன்பத்திலும் இணைந்தும் பிணைந்தும் வாழும் நினைவே இல்லாமல் இயல்பாக வாழ்கிறவர்களுக்குத் திருமணநாள் என்னும் பெயரில் கொண்டாடுவதற்கு என்ன இருக்கிறது?
காலில் வலி இருந்தால்தானே கால் நினைவுக்கு வரும்; தலை வலிக்கும்போதுதானே தலை இருப்பதே நினைவு வரும். காலையும் தலையையும் தொட்டுப் பார்த்து ஒருமுறை நினைத்துக் கொள்வோமே என்பது வேலையற்ற வேலைதானே!
பிறந்தநாள் விழா, திருமணநாள் விழா என்று கொண்டாட்டங்களைக்கூட இரவல் வாங்கத் தொடங்கி விட்டார்களே தமிழர்கள்.
இவை மட்டும்தானா? அழகிப் போட்டி வேறு நடத்துகிறார்கள். இந்திய அழகி, தமிழ்நாட்டு அழகி, சென்னை அழகி, வேலூர் அழகி, வந்தவாசி அழகி என்று ஊர் ஊருக்கு அழகிகள் தேர்வுகளும் அறிவிப்புகளும் நடக்கின்றன.
ஒரு கடைக்காரனிடம் போய் ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட வார இதழின் பெயரைச் சொல்லி, "இருக்கிறதா?' என்று கேட்டால், "அது எதுக்கு சார்? அது பழசு; நாளைக்குப் புதுசு வந்துவிடும்; காலையில் வாருங்கள்; தருகிறேன்' என்கிறான்.
போன வார இதழ் இந்த வாரம் வெறும் எடை மதிப்பை அடைந்து விடுவதைப்போல, சென்ற ஆண்டு அழகி இந்த ஆண்டு தள்ளுபடி நிலைக்குப் போய் விடுகிறாள். இது என்ன அழகு?
தமிழர்கள் அழகைப் போற்றத் தெரியாதவர்களில்லை. "நலம் புனைந்து உரைத்தல்' என்று பெண்ணின் அழகைப் போற்றத் தனித்துறையையே வகுத்துக் கொண்டவர்கள் அவர்கள்.
ஒரு பெண் ஊருணியில் தண்ணீர் குடிப்பதற்காகக் குனிந்து, இரு கைகளாலும் மொண்டு நீரைக் குடிப்பதற்காக முகத்தருகே கொண்டு போனாள். அந்த நீரில் மீன்கள் துள்ளுவதைப் பார்த்து, "ஐயய்யோ' என்று கூவிக் கொண்டே கைகளை உதறினாள். கரையில் மீன்களைக் காணாமல் திகைத்து நின்றாள் என்று ஒரு பெண்ணின் கண்களை மீன்களாகப் போற்றுகிறது விவேக சிந்தாமணி.
ஓர் அழகி, ஓர் இளம்பெண் என்று பொதுமைப்படுத்தி நலம் பாராட்டுவதுதான் தமிழர்களின் இயல்பே அன்றி, ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட பெண்ணை, அவளை "இன்னாள்' என்று பெயர் சுட்டி, அவளுடைய வடிவத்தை, அதன் வளைவு நெளிவுகளை, ஏற்ற இறக்கங்களை பாராட்டுவது தமிழர்களின் பண்பு இல்லை."
"உன்னுடைய அகன்ற மார்பைப் பல பெண்களின் கண்கள் உண்கின்றன; நீ பரத்தன்; பொதுப் பொருளான உன் மார்பை நான் புல்லேன்'' என்று சண்டைக்குப் போகும் தலைவியை நமக்குக் காட்டுகிறான் பேரறிவாளன் வள்ளுவன் (1311). அது ஒரு பெண் ஊடலுக்குப் படைத்துக் கொண்ட கற்பனைதான் என்றாலும் தனக்கு மட்டுமே உரித்தானவனாகவும், உரித்தானவளாகவும் இருக்க வேண்டும் என்பதுதான் தமிழர்களின் காதல் வாழ்வின் அடிப்படை.
அதே பல பெண்களை மேடையிலே நிறுத்தி, ஒவ்வொருத்தியையும் உறுப்புவாரியாகப் பலரும் ஆராய்ந்து மதிப்பெண் போட்டு, "இவள்தான் சென்னை அழகி' என்று அறிவிக்கப்படுவதைத் தமிழ்நாட்டால் எப்படி ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள முடிகிறது?"
ஒரு மோட்டார் சைக்கிளில் ஒரு பெண்ணை நடுவே வைத்து முன்னும் பின்னும் இரண்டு இளைஞர்கள் அமர்ந்து செல்கின்றனர். கேட்டால் நட்பு என்கின்றனர். இரண்டு பேருக்கும் நட்பு; அதனால்தான் நடுவில் அமர்கிறாள்!
கண்ணகி தன் உயிருக்கு உயிரான கணவனை "நண்பன்' என்கிறாள். "நறைமலி வியன்மார்பின் நண்பனை இழந்தேங்கி' (சிலம்பு-துன்பமாலை 38)"
"உடன்பிறந்தாள் உடனாயினும் ஒரு வீட்டில் தனித்திருக்க நேரிடின் அதைத் தவிர்த்து விடுக'' என்று அறிவுரை கூறும் ஆசாரக்கோவை அதற்குக் காரணமாக ""ஐம்புலனும் தாங்கற்கு அரிதாகலான்'' (65) என்று வரம்பு கட்டுகிறது!
அதியமானும் ஒளவையும் பால் வேறுபாடுகளைக் கடந்து நண்பர்களாய் விளங்கி இருக்கிறார்கள். அறிவு முதிர்ச்சி, வயது இரண்டும் அந்த நட்பு திரிந்து போகாமைக்கான காரணங்கள்.
இவள்தான் காற்சட்டையும், "கர்ர்ந் ம்ங்' என்று அச்சடிக்கப்பட்ட பனியனும்தான் பெண் விடுதலையின் அடையாளங்கள் என்றல்லவா நினைக்கிறாள்.
இதிலே "பறக்கும் முத்தங்கள்' வேறு! உதடு பொருந்தாதவை எப்படி இனியவையாய் அமையும்! எல்லாமே ஒரு பாவனைதானே! பாசாங்குதானே! போலிதானே!
ஆளுகின்றவன் போலி; அதிகாரி போலி; சாமியார்கள் போலி; பழக்கவழக்கங்கள் போலி; பண்பாடு போலி; அனைத்துமே போலி!
இரண்டாயிரம் ஆண்டுகளாகக் கருதிக் கருதி உருவாக்கப்பட்டுப் போற்றிக் காக்கப்பட்ட அடிப்படைகள் தகரும்போது, எல்லா மட்டங்களிலும் அந்தத் தகர்வு பிரதிபலிப்பது இயற்கைதானே!
Tirupathi is not something new to many of you and me too. I had been there many times right from my childhood but always with my family.
This time, it was a different experience since I went with my UG friends. We were 10 in number (8 UG friends Ajith, Ilayathulasidharan, Karthik Raja, Manikandan, Raghu, Sathish, Yuvaraj, Myself and 2 friends of friends Gopi and Dhinakar).
The other reasons this Tirumala trip being different was that this was the first time I climbed up by footpath and most importantly this was the first time I went to Tirumala after I started a blog :P
We planned for a weekend trip, Mar 6 and 7' 2010.
3 of us started from Bangalore, 6 from Chennai and 1 was already working in Tirupathi. We all reached Tirupathi by 3:30AM. We started climbing by 4AM. After taking many breaks (including a long tiffin break at 5:30AM on the way), we reached Tirumala by 9AM. All of us were sweating a lot and very tired.
Rooms were already booked. We had rest in the room till 1PM. Meanwhile, 2 of us inquired for dharshan tickets. Yeah, tickets are given in the footpath. But we didn't collect it since there was a long queue.We got to know about 'Sheekra Dharisanam' for which we have to pay Rs.300/- per head. There were specific timings for it, like 4AM to 6AM, 7AM to 6PM, 9PM to 11PM on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and some other timings on other weekdays. The queue was appearing like a fast moving one. So we decided to go by that on Sunday, 7AM.
We planned for a local sight seeing on saturday afternoon. After a bargain, we settled with a Jeep wala for Rs.800/- to show 7 places in Tirumala.
Those 7 places were
1. Srivaari Paadalu
2. Rock Garden (Silathoranam)
3. Temple behind Rock Garden
4. Sri Venugopalaswami Temple
5. Aakasha Ganga
6. Paapavinasam &
7. Jabbaali
This number 7 has nothing to do with 7 people in the photograph put above :)
Among the 7, Jabali was the only place we found it very pleasant and enjoyable. After a 15 min walk from road, we reached an Anjaneyar temple and a pond bounded completely by forest with tall trees. The temple was very nice. Some North Indian saints are staying there permanently. If we had been there during night, we might have got some 'Sivabhaanam' :P
We had a good sleep on Saturday night. Sunday morning, we woke up early and reached near Vaikuntam complex by 7:30AM after having breakfast. To our surprise, the 300Rs queue was heavy that time, unlike the day before. We had no other go than to find the tail of queue and make it even more bigger.
It took 3 hrs to reach the Deity but we had a wonderful time waiting in the queue, making fun of each other, discussing a lot about many things etc. There few more things we did which are censored ;)
We collected the Laddu, vacated the room and came down by bus. We reached Keezh Tirupathi by 2PM. Chennai guys had a bus reserved at 3PM. We had a good lunch. It was very hot down in Tirupathi. We couldn't tolerate the heat. We Bangloreans had a tough time in catching a Bangalore bus. As you all know, there is always a Black ticket option. We payed extra Rs.80/- per ticket and got seat in KSRTC bus. Bus reached Majestic by 10PM.
Every time I visit Tirupathi, I admire the wonderful administration of TTDevastanam. With such a crowd, how cleanly they maintain the premises, the clean toilets being a good example to mention. Though I am not a firm believer of God, I believe in the divinity in Tirumala. That 4 mada streets, speakers always chanting some songs/slokas/Bhagavad Geetha recital... Such a wonderful ambience!!
It is always an enjoyable experience to go with friends. Divinity+Enjoyment. This Tirupathi trip is one of the trips which will reside permanently in my heart! :)
Wayanad has always been my dream tourist destination and it happened last weekend (Feb 12,13 and 14 - 2010).
Myself and my IIITB batchmates Bala, Jithu, Sid and Vikram had a wonderful time in the most interesting tourist spot of Kerala.
There are good number of web pages having details about the tourist places of Wayanad. So my post is not intended to repeat the same stuffs. I would like to share our own experiences in this trip and some information like entrance charge, transport facilities within Wayanad etc. which is not available in many web pages.
Few things to be known if you are planning for a Wayanad tour.
1. Wayanad is a district and Kalpetta is its Headquarters
2. At least 1 week is needed to cover all the tourist spots of Wayanad. So don't be very optimistic to see all places if you are planning for a shorter tour
3. Be ready to have good amount of small and large trekking. Most of the places can be seen only after a tough walk
4. Don't forget to take your shoes.
Now let me start our story :)
Bangalore-Kalpetta
We booked a Rajahamsa bus which goes from Bangalore to Calicut via Kalpetta. Ticket cost including reservation charges was around Rs.700 (to and fro) per head.The return bus boarding was at Calicut. Hence we planned half a day on Sunday (Feb 14) for Calicut and rest 2 1/2 days for Wayanad. The bus started from Shanti Nagar (Double Road) bus stand by 8.15PM (Thursday, Feb 11). Myself, Jithu and Bala boarded at Shanti Nagar while Sid and Vikram boarded at Satellite Bus station (Mysore Road). The bus stopped for around 3 hrs early morning since Bandhipur forest roads are closed during night (usually 6PM to 6AM). We reached Kalpetta by 7AM on Friday (Feb 12).
Day 1: Friday, Feb 12
We 5 like to plan on the go. So, with a little googled knowledge about Wayanad and a map on hand, we landed Kalpetta. First task was to book a room. After making enquiries in 3 hotels near Kalpetta bus stand, we booked a single room (which can accommodate 5) for Rs.925/- per day in Prince Hotel. We booked room for 2 days only.
Next task was to hire a vehicle to go for sightseeing. Though the hotel person suggested few travels, we decided to find a taxi on our own. There was a taxi stand near the hotel. After some bargaining, we booked an Omni for Rs.1200/- per day. We started our sightseeing at 10AM after having a good breakfast at Udipi restaurant. (It is hard to find a Pure Veg hotel in that area).
First spot was Soochipara Falls. (Entrance Charge: Rs.20/- per head) We reached there by 11AM. It was very hot. We need to walk for more than a km from road to reach the water falls. Sid started feeling tired from then and it continued till Sunday :). The place was not crowded. Tourist can actually plan here for their morning bath. It is very good with not much risks (unlike Meenmutty falls).
We had lunch in some nearby hotel. After seeing the kind of rice served, we decided not take rice food anywhere in Wayanad. It was so horrible. After having so many fruit juices, we kind of got back the energy lost in Soochipara climbing.
The next place for the day was Edakkal Caves. (Entrance charge: Rs.10/- per head and Rs.25/- for camera). We reached there by 3PM. Cars will stop at a place and we can take a jeep (Rs. 16/- per head for jeep) will leave us near (not very near) Edakkal caves. We have to do some adventurous narrow climbing to reach the place where ten thousand years old inscriptions are present. While climbing, there was a place where stream water was leaking out. It was so pure and tasty.
The next spot was Meenmutty falls. We reached there by 5PM. But we were informed that entrance is closed after 4:30PM. While we were thinking what to do next, a person came and asked whether we needed guide for Neelimala view point (which was not in our plan at all). He said that it will take 2 hrs to go up and come down. The guide charge was Rs.150/- which we realised as worth after climbing the hills. What a beautiful place! Meenmutty falls on the other hill, sun set, cool breeze, mist starting to cover,alternating bright and dark places in forest!!! Wow, this place is a must see in Wayanad. One has to be careful while climbing up. There are few risky places, a slip will take you 1000 feet down.
We came down by 7:30PM and went to a nearby Shiva temple since it was Shivrathiri on Feb 12. Could see lot of typical Kerala girls there ;)
After a day full of tiresome walks, we realised that the omni was standing idle most of the times since all the spots took long hours to see. So we decided not to hire a vehicle for a whole day for the next 2 days.
We decided to wake up early next morning since we have to start climbing Chembra peak ASAP. All had a sound sleep.
Day 2: Saturday, Feb 13
We asked the omni wala to give a drop at starting point of Chembra peak trekking. He charged Rs.200/- We went there by 8AM. The guide charges for that is Rs.500/- (max 10 ppl) collected by Forest department. We got a boy named Jishad who is doing his 10th standard as guide. Sun had already started to fry us and the climbing path was very steep. Paths were eroded at some places due to the heavy rain which troubled western ghats a month back. It is advisable to carry some chocolates, glucose and most importantly at least 2 lit of water per person. While we were taking a stop every 5 mins, the guide boy never felt tired. Not even a single drop of sweat came from his face.
Even we will become that tough after 10 such climbs, I think so :) The heart shaped lake is the famous spot to see over the hill. It seems, that lake never got dried up. Climbing down was very risky. It was slippery in many places. Here comes the importance of shoes with good friction. Those who were wearing slippers found it very difficult to cimb down. We came down by 2PM. Meppadi is the nearest town. We went there in a jeep (charge Rs.150/-) After having lunch (of course, not rice food) at Meppadi, we took an auto to Meenmutty falls (charge Rs.150/-). This time, we were very cautious that we should reach Meenmutty on time.
We reached there by 4PM. From road, we have to walk 1.9Km inside, to reach the Meenmutty falls entrance ticket counter. (Entrance Charge: Rs.300/- max 10 ppl). From there, another 1 km tough walk. This is one of the most adventurous spot in Wayanad. We have to first climb down (almost -90degree slope) to reach the falls and then climb up (almost +90 degrees slope) back. Good that there were ropes tied to trees in slippery places. People will surely fall down if they walk without holding the rope. All the hardships vanish when we see the gigantic falls.
Letting our body get hit for few secs in that rapidly flowing falls is a great experience which can't be explained by words. All were looking reddish after having bath in that wonderful place.From meenmuty falls, we hired an auto to Vaduvancha (Rs.30/-). From Vaduvancha, we boarded a bus to Kalpetta (Ticket Rs.12/- per head). We had the satisfaction of traveling in all kinds of road transport. I would say, a tour is never complete without a bus ride with local crowd. That 1 hr travel gave us a good feel for the place. Since Malayalam is very close to Tamil and all of us knew Tamil, it was not difficult to manage in many places. We could comfortably pretend like a Malayali with frequent ivvade, avvade and cheta :)
If you had noticed, the total travel charge for saturday was less than Rs.600/- which was half the amount we paid for omni on first day. We took a right decision! (which happens very rarely :P)
Day 3: Sunday, Feb 14
It was the last day and we have to board Bangalore bus at Calicut at 9PM. Calicut was around 100kms from Wayanad. We planned to spend half a day in wayanad and then go to calicut by evening, spend some time in beach and catch the bus.
We vacated the room but we needed some place to keep the luggage and see few other places of Wayanad. We saved Rs. 925/- (which would have costed if we had extended the room till afternoon) and rented a Omni for half a day (Charge Rs.600/-) so that we can keep luggage in car and go for sight seeing (We should have replaced Pranab for Finance minister post :P). We asked the driver to show Banasura dam, Pookote lake, Chain tree and give a drop at Vythiri (this place is on the Wayanad-Calicut route)
We reached Banasura Sagar dam by 9:30AM (Entrance Charge:Rs.10/- per head). The place was very pleasant. Mist was still covering. Banasura dam is famous for speed boat ride (Charge: Rs.300/- max 5 people). Speed boat ride in that beautiful climate with birds flying in groups along with us was a beauty. Speed boat ride in Banasura dam during mornings or evenings is an ideal thing every Wayanad tourist should go for. For the first time, I was wearing a life jacket :)
Next place was Pookote lake. It was crowded with many tourists in big groups. There we have pedal boats. But when we went to buy boating tickets, we were asked to wait for 1 more hour since 65 people made a bulk booking. We were also not much fascinated looking at it after having a great ride in Banasura.So we just had a walk around the lake and went to see Chain tree which was near Pookote lake.
Chain Tree is a dumb spot which has nothing except for a tree tied up with a chain and a ghost story behind it. Only Jithu liked that spot :P
After having lunch, the driver dropped us at Vythiri. Calicut buses which start from Kalpetta, Mananthavadi and other places of Wayanad will go through Vythiri. But all the buses which came there were crowded. After leaving few buses, we had no other option but to go standing (Ticket Rs. 34/- per head). This road was climbing down the Western ghats with many hair pin bends. We climbed up the western ghats from Bangalore on first day and climbed down to Calicut on 3rd day. I was wondering looking at the live geography classes and also regretted for not understanding about mountains and other related stuffs during school days. Now, if I look at the terrain view of Western ghats in Google map, it is fascinating. This is the take away from tour (of course every tour is an educational tour).
Before moving to the last few hours at Calicut, let me list some final observations about Wayanad.
1. We can't see many honeymoon couples unlike other hill stations. The couples will become extremely tired after a day long trekking is the justification I could think of. (Should I elaborate more? :P)
2. There are good amount of kids (aging between 8 and 15) climbing all the places with great energy and surprised smile. They were the motivators for their parents to climb and also aged young people like us ;)
3. The auto/jeep/car walas are not very greedy. There won't be any necessity for a bargain in most of the places.
We reached Calicutby 3.45PM. We managed to find a cloak room in bus stand. Most of the buses in Calicut were privately owned. We had to some how spend time till 9PM (bus boarding time). We came to know that beach was 3Kms away from bus stand. We saw something strange in Calicut. People were depending a lot on autos. Whenever an auto reaches bus stand to drop some one, there will be another group rushing inside the auto. People were running behind autos even before it stopped so that they get chance to get a place. We people who were used to seeing autos which stand empty in road corners and auto drivers calling us "Sir, Auto beka?" could not compete with the localites in catching an auto.
So we decided to take a walk (walking was not a big deal after having a Wayanad trip) instead of waiting for autos. To be frank, we had no expectation from Calicut beach. Except for seeing Calicut near Arabian sea in map, we had no clues about the beach. We were little skeptic whether it will be just a fishermen area. But we were taken by surprise looking at the crowd in beach and the festive mood spread all over that place. It was the last day of 13th Malabar Mahotsav. Sanjeevanam's food festival, Daler Mehndi's show, food stalls, busy beach road.... Calicut visit was a wonderful finishing for the tour. After so many days, I got a chance to fly kites. Not bad, I haven't lost touch.
I had been to many places in the past 2 years after joining IIITB. I would rate this tour as the best one. The places being the obvious reason, another important factor is our group. All were in same tuning and all of us had 'Simplicity and Sense of humour' as a common character. I wish to go for many more tours with this group!
I feel like Wayanad welcoming me again to visit the places that were left by us! I will come back soon, my dear! :)
We started girivalam (14 kms walk around Arunachala hill) at 3:30 PM and completed it at around 7PM. There are 8 lingams in that perimeter and few more temples. After visiting the main temple (Annamalai and Unnamalai are the main deities), we ended the day. 
When I asked him about his take on Vijay TV program which was spreading some information that the annamalai jyothi went off, he gave some explanations and called it as a rumor. We asked curiously if we can go to the place where jothi is lightened, he said that he can take us. While Vinodh was not able to proceed further up, he went down to Ramanashram. Myself and Senthil along with our guide Mr. Jyothi started climbing to the top of hill.
After taking some photographs, we met some youngsters who are sishyas of Narayana Guru Swami. It seems Narayana Guru swami is a saint from Kanyakumari who did Thapas in Arunachala hill for 16 years and then went back to Kanyakumari again. They served us herbal tea.
Our guide Jothi asked us to get down by our self. We started climbing down. But only after some time (around 45 mins) we realised that we were getting down in a route which we didn't see while climbing up. But still we proceeded in the path of a water falls with the belief that we will get down somewhere. We got to see a person on the middle and came to know that we were climbing down on the other side of hill.
We were kind of happy that there was some exploration element in the trip. We got down on the other side of hill at 2 PM and went back to our starting point (Ramanshram) in auto. We had a surprise news over there. It seems music director Karthik Raja (son of Isaignani Ilayaraaja) visited Ashram at 11:30 AM and Vinodh took some pics with him. I would have felt jealous if I had missed a meeting with Ilayaraaja. Karthik Raja.. Worth missing for that nice trek ;).
