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 (1) The day which God created God (probably through Mitosis or Cytokinesis) 12.12.12

(2) Wishes to tomorrow's Tamil Nadu's throne (Only to the throne??? And not to the person?!?!?)...:-)...

  (3) 12.12.12 - A wonder born on a World’s wonderful day.

- Pavala.

Last Working Day @ iGATE...

On my last working day, I reached office at my usual time. Till the previous day I was a bit sad with senti, but on my last day I was fine. I felt feeling better after I had sent the Adieu mail to colleagues in iGATE. A couple of clearances were pending and I started working on those. But in-between got to know about a critical situation for a known person from a colleague. This colleague is based out of SIPCOT office. I tried to do something through my known contacts to revert the situation. Though I will be not in office to see the after effects of my efforts, it gave me satisfaction that atleast I did something from my end and I believe whatever happens will be for the good.

The clearances work converged and I got almost all of the clearances. My plan is to say a "Bye" to every known person in-person and start to home. Around 11:50 in the morning, my friend Aravind called for the morning break. While getting tea, he said "Last morning tea for you" just to create senti. I just smiled.

As usual when I was heading to the 9B cafeteria for lunch, I found my friends coming out of it and were heading towards Block-5 food court for lunch. I got shocked. I had a hidden agenda in 9B cafeteria. The hidden agenda was to prolong the lunch as long as possible if time and everything else favors. They started compelling me to come to Block-5 with them, which was un-imaginable. I told them that I will go in and take a look and come back. But after going in and taking a look :-)(pun intended), I couldn't come back. I called them over phone and asked(actually pleaded) them to come back to 9B cafeteria. I requested them to consider my request since its my last working day there. They got into a sort of senti and obliged. Luck favored me and got a good seat. I enjoyed having the lunch :-), and appended it with a mint juice, just to prolong it and started drinking it in very small sips. My friends lost their patience after sometime and literally pulled me out of the cafeteria. I left the cafeteria with a heavy heart.

After the lunch we all went to our usual place and took rest in the lawn. After that we all went to block-5 and had ice-cream in the "Milky Way". After that when I went back to my seat, I found that time has just flown away, and just 2 hours were left. I just went around the ODCs to bid "Bye Bye". But contrary to my plan, many were not in seats, due to tea break time, and some had already left for the day. I just bid my bye to whomever I met and in the meantime I got a call from Nanda asking me to come for the small fare-well party that they had arranged in 9B cafeteria. I told him that I will be there in a while.

When I went across the ODCs, my colleague Bala asked "Pavala, everyone is talking about your dance... Just put a small step for me..."
I managed by saying "Bala... I need music and the fancy light for dancing... Its tough for me to dance in a calm environment like this..." He just smiled and said "Ok".

I expected that in the last moment, someone might ask me to dance. Now that someone happened to be Bala. In-fact I was ready to dance or perform a small step, but that was a very formal environment and also feared a small crowd might gather. Still I was a bit sad that I dis-appointed Bala and promised him to share a clip with my dance steps. Nothing much happened in that ODC and I waited there till some left. After they left, I had no work there. Then I went to 9B cafeteria for the fare-well. There I found my friends waiting with a Gift. The leader, Aravind gave me the Gift, followed by a small speech (a mokkai one from me), then we went to 9A cafeteria for my last tea-break get togther with friends in office.

Then I submitted my ID and access card, and came to the main door. My friends also accompanied me up to the gate. In the main gate, I bid "Good Bye" to the main security there and shook hands with him.
He smiled and replied "You are Pavala... Govindarajan... no"
I said "Yes..." and started wondering how he knew my full name.
Then he continued "Dance aduneenga illa..." (You danced no...)
That explained it... :-)...

Bye Bye iGATE... I will be missing you...

- PAVALA.

The Last Day...

Yesterday was my last working day in my third company. While coming back from office, I remembered my last working day during my training days in Trivandrum. It brought back lot of memories. I joined TCS as a fresher and was put up for training in its Technopark branch, Trivandrum. The training was for about 2 and half months. In the first few days, I had a hard time adjusting to the new place, office environment, and the military discipline followed there. We were given accomodation in hotels in the city and we commuted by company arranged cabs to and from office.

On the second day afternoon, during lunch time, I thought of making a phone call. In those days only a very few had mobile phones, and I didn't have any. So, I have to go out to the phone booth and make calls. I asked the main gate security about the nearest phone booth. He told me where it is and also told me that if I go out, then after making the phone call, I can take my luggage and go to my native straight. In short he was telling that if I dared to go out, then I will not be permitted inside again forever. As a fresher I got scared and went inside and I never dared to go out again & I never spoke to that security again. It was a strict military rule there.

Later I got to know that most of the companies treat freshers more or less in the same way. They keep threatening the freshers, as freshers are the only people who can be threatened. And the situation will be worse if the freshers have a bond with the company. We were split into different batches. Most in our batch became close to each other. We had lots of fun.

The last day arrived. On that day we had to complete a lot of formalities like some documents submission, signing in some documents and similar activities. One particular girl in my batch was intentionally coming to me again and again and was asking lot of questions about me and my family. She kept on asking irrelevant questions till the end of the day.

Towards the evening a sort of senti-mood was spreading among my batchmates. Around 5:30 in the evening, I dont know who started it, but suddenly I could see three girls crying. Along with them 2 guys also started crying. Then slowly one by one, almost everyone in our batch started crying. But I didnt. I had no reason to cry. Infact I was eagerly waiting to return back to my native or to Chennai as soon as possible. I didnt want to see the crying faces. I didnt want to remember those faces with tears as my batchmates. So, I immediately returned to my room, took all my lugguages, and started walking towards the main road to get an auto for the bus-stand.

In the bus-stand another of my batchmate also joined with me and we had booked tickets in the same bus. After getting into the bus, he asked me.

"Pavala, do you know why (telling her name) was talking to  you again and again..."
"No."
"I told her that you have a crush on her..."
"But why...???"
"Just for fun..."

I never spoke with him again. Making casual comments about the looks of a person, and that too at that age, doesnt mean that I have a crush on that person. I never spoke to him all through that 12 hour journey. During that phase of my life, I was already into a critical commitment and was facing a lot of issues in my personal life. I never spoke to him till I got down from the bus and I never spoke to him till now in my life. But now I feel that I have been so immature to behave like that. If I ever meet him again, I wish to apologize for my behavior on that day.

- Pavala.

Dance Floor - DJ Party in Office...

In the first week of November, when the DJ party was announced in office, I got so exited and decided to enjoy it to the core, as this probably is going to be my last Dance Floor in this office.

The same day I jumped into action. All evenings were spent in front of the TV on Sun Music and Isai Aruvi, carefully watching the steps of various songs and practicing them. Also I downloaded a couple of songs from YouTube and kept seeing them  again and again. Around the same time, I got to know about the "Gangam Style" of PSY and enjoyed watching his funny moves & steps for this song. I immediately started liking him, as he is also more or less about my height & weight, except that we are exactly opposite in complexion. I am fair & he is not that fair (The truth is exactly the opposite and replace "not that fair" with "dark"...:-)...).

It took me sometime to get hold of his steps and at one point I was able to dance like him for the whole song. My little friends Dhanesh & Deepak also joined me in the practice sessions. They picked up some of the steps more quickly then me and I have to learn it from them. Anuska Akka's "Kathal Vanthale...(Singam)" and Ruppa Manchari's "Makayala Makayala..." steps became my favorite, as they are easy to replicate & its fun dancing like them. I also tried to learn Surya's steps, but they were too complicated, and Vijay's steps are almost un-replicable, as they were Prabu Deva's steps, which only he and Vijay can dance.

I and my friend became busy on the previous day of the event as I have deligated the task of selecting the costume for me. She suggested a shiny shirt, white pant, with lot of gold jewels, as she said that the gold jewels will gel with my complexion.

On the day when I entered the main building of our office, I could see many smiling softly within themselves on seeing my costume. It happens :-). Some of my friends and colleagues asked "Is this outfit for the dance floor...", for which I didnt give an answer, but just smiled.

It was announced that the DJ party will start at 4:00 PM onwards. At 3:30 PM, I went to the venue and found that all had been set and they have started playing the music. As I like listening to songs at a high volume, I enjoyed listening to those songs, but came back to my seat in 10 minutes. Then again I went at 4:00 PM, but no one was there. No performers, No Audience. The DJ host and his team were anxiously looking at every passer-by, but no one entered the dance floor. Due to some senti, I do not want to enter as the first person. So, I waited. Time crossed 4:10 PM, still no one entered. I started loosing my patience, and the music and the fancy lights were pulling me inside, but still I decided to wait until someone enters. The momement arrived.

Around 4:15 PM, a group of guys saw those lights, and one Guy in that group got so exited that he went it in and danced for a few seconds. Waiting for this moment, I also jumped in at the same time. I started with very little steps, just to warm up. But, Alas, the Guy and the group left immediately. I hesitated for while, but then, I decided to continue. There was no audience too. I looked at the HR, DJ and his team, they were also anxiously looking at me. Not to dis-appoint them, I finally decided to continue. With no audience and no one else on the dance floor, I went on starting with "Venaam Machaan Venaam intha ponnunga kathalu..." song. Very simple steps.

Then came my favourite Anuska Akka's "Kathal Vanthale". This time a small audiance had formed. I went on with my attempt to dance. That was a solo performance for a brief time. Then a small gang formed and the main-stream dance floor started. I too started enjoying the fun and pleasure of dancing, forgetting myself.

A short time later, a Gang of Girls, who were intially discussing and whispering from behind a pillar, seemed to have taken a final decision that rather than to see fellows like me dancing, that they themselves jump into action and then they jumped into the dance floor with such a force that we Guys were actually thrown out of the floor. But still we managed to enter again. Then, slowly many entered and it was more fun.

After that I do not remember much of what happened and I got fully into dancing. That was a divine experience. After sometime I realized that I was deep inside the crowd. Since an audience was there, and since I am shorter than average Indian Guys, I thought there is no point in just dancing like that in the crowd. Like very other job, if you want to be a good entertainer, you need to show visibility. Thinking so, I soon came out of the crowd, found a place outside and continued. But soon I forgot about that too, and focussed only on my steps and enjoyed to the core.

When I tried the famous Ruppa Manchari's steps for "Makayala Makayala...", I could hear one Guy shouting "Dei... practice pannittu aduraanga da..."(They are dancing after practicing...). On hearing this, I turned back and found a big crowd behind him. In the mean-time, I could find some capturing the moments in their mobile phone. Later when I saw those clips, it was so funny that I couldnt stop laughing... The fun went on and on and on, and when it reached its peak, the DJ evening came to an end. For me it appeared as if it has just started, and before I could dance properly, it has ended... I was sort of dis-appointed... But still I was happy that I enjoyed the event to the core as I had planned... Finally after the event got over, I went to the DJ and thanked him and his team. He thanked me in turn said "It was you who started it with a Pillaiyar Suli...". Actually, it was not me, I was the second, but I got the credits :-).

The next day was bit different for me. Whenever I went I felt as if everyone was noticing me. I was getting a strange attention, whereever I went, with many complimenting my performance(???) on the previous day. This type of constant attention was strange to me, and I was finding it tough to handle it. At that same time I was wondering how Girls were able to handle such attention for the most part of their life. The ultimate was when the HR told me "You were the performer yesterday... I really admired the way you performed...". That showed the extent to which I had jumped on the previous day... But all these faded away in the next couple of days, as it happens to any entertainer, but these memories are going to stay in my mind for a longer time...

 Edit on Dec 5, 2012:
1) The Gang of Girls were dancing in a way that resembled the Arabic hip-hop style with awesome symmetric steps, due to which I stopped for while, watched their performance ;-) & then continued.
2) I got to know later that my performance had got me a lot of fans :-)...
 
- Pavala.

[Click on the comment link below for adding your comments... Comments can be added anonymously & strictly no moderation is done... :-)...]

My Experiments with Dancing

Though even in school days I have witnessed many dance events in the Annual day functions, they didn't attract me much. But when I was studying UG in PSG Tech, Coimbatore,  there used to be a function called Calypso, an inter-college meet of all PSG Group of institutions. There I saw a groups of Girls from PSG CAS and GRG dancing on the stage. That was a well-rehearsed, practiced stage show.
Still that was interesting. On seeing that I used to feel that someday I too should dance like that. But I know very well that I may not get a chance to dance on the stage.

Driven by the desire to dance (or) to learn dancing, I used to try some little steps in my hostel room, seeing which at times my roommate used to laugh. But within a few days this landed me in a trouble. One day I was sleeping and it was around 11:30 in the night. My roommate woke me up...
"Pavala... Pavala... Wake-up... Wake-Up..."
"What da..."
"Our seniors asked me to bring you..."
"For what..."
"They got a  chance to participate in tomorrow's event... They got 10 minutes, and they can do whatever they want in that 10 minutes..."
"And why they want me to come..."
"They are going to dance and they want someone to teach them..."
"Ohhhh... And who told that I can dance???"
"Me..."
"Deiiiii... I cant dance da... I dont know how to dance..."
"Dont worry... Just teach them what you know..."
"I know nothing..."


It became clear that now there is no point in arguing with  him. As you know during college days seniors are demi-Gods. I woke up and we both went to their room in the B Block. Once I entered their room, I found a huge crowd, roughly of about 30 people waiting for me. A senior, who is known to terrorize his juniors was summoned to explain me what I am supposed to do. I told him that I cant dance... I dont know how to dance... At once he changed his tone and started threatening me... Some others started convincing me... And finally almost all of them started pleading to teach them whatever I know... I was giving different reasons that I could not dance, and this went on for about 40 minutes... After 40 minutes it became clear to me that I cant go back to my room, without dancing and without teaching them something...

They played the song. It was some English song, which I didnt know. With no other option, I  had to jump into action. I heard the song once, asked them to play it again... and started dancing... Keeping my legs in "Stand At Ease" position, I moved two steps to the left, then two steps to the right and again two steps to the left, two steps to the right, then turned sidewards and spread my arms horizontally... It seemed that they got impressed... And I had to do the same steps again and again for the next 30 minutes,  until they learnt it. Eight Guys stood in two rows of four each, and they kept practicing. In the mean time they found out another Guy from some other department and brought him there. Then we both worked together until 3:30 in the morning. My primary job being learning the steps from  him and repeating it again and again until our seniors picked it up... In the mean time I started enjoying this work... The practice sessions went on in the next day afternoon too...

Next day evening the function started, and I was anxiously waiting for my seniors to arrive on the stage. After a very long time, towards the end of the event, they appeared. The stupid announcer, announced in the mike that that was the last performance for the day. Half of the crowd dissolved on hearing that. They stood in two rows of four each... the music started playing... and they started moving two steps to the left, two steps to the right... exactly in the same way I did on the previous night... and when they turned and spread their arms... almost all of the audience dissolved and dis-appeared... Only a handful of people were left... Though the steps were funny, it still made me happy... may be, because of the joy of creation... I and the primary choreographer stayed back till they completed... clapped and then we too went to room back...

Then while doing PG in NIT, Trichy, there used to be a function called "Version" in our department. In that some were given chance to dance on the stage during dance events... We Guys used to take this chance and dance, in the front, right below the stage, exactly imitating the steps on the stage... And this imitation and dancing reaches its peak when gang of girls dance of the stage... Due to this type of training, now it is very easy for me to learn and imitate the girls steps...

Then I joined for work. My first company was TCS, training in Trivandrum Technopark. Just one week before the training was about to get over, my batchmates arranged for a party and a get together. There they had arranged something close to a DJ party... In a big hall, with fancy lights & loud music, people started dancing... I was entirely new to that type of situation and I kept on watching... After a long time, with lots of hesitation, I too entered, by which time almost all had stopped and only a few were dancing... I started dancing and in order to encourage me, my colleague Gurleen Chawla, just came in front of me and accompanied me in the dance... I was sort of embarrassed, and tried to stop and go out.. But she kept dancing according to my steps and I too continued and this went on for more than 15 minutes... Right at that moment, my another colleague, who was carrying a camera, caught that moment in a flash(pun intented :-)...)... Finally we both were the only ones dancing and all were watching... When we stopped there was a huge round of applause for us :-)...

Then at work, I never got a chance again and I almost forgot about dancing, until one day a DJ party was announced in my third company iGATE. That was sometime in May 2012. I went there 30 minutes after the party started and was just watching it... But after sometime after hearing the loud music and the fancy light, I couldnt resist and just jumped into the dance floor... It was there that I rediscovered my hobby again... I thought of going out in 10 minutes... But I stayed back... and tried to dance till the end of the party... But only a very few were dancing and there was no much audience... I enjoyed that day...

A sample clip for your view... :-)...

 
Then again another DJ party announced in office in Nov 2012... Finally that became one of the most memorable day of my life, which I will explain in a separate post... 

- Pavala.

[Click on the comment link below for adding your comments... Comments can be added anonymously & strictly no moderation is done... :-)...]

Thupakki

My Dearmost Vijay,

- I am entering the Audi 3 of PVR cinemas, skywalk, it is as if i am entering a shrine... after the starting credits, i was waiting to see you, but it started with a beautiful girl, making some remarks about you. from her charishma, I could immediately realize that she should be your sister... who else can be so beautiful??? (jollu... jollu... :-))... but within a couple of minutes when you appeared... she is not even comparable to you... you were so charming... I felt a big vibration inside me... I saw my God... I clapped, whistled and jumped in joy... while watching for the second time with my little friends and when I whistled, my little friend asked "I dont know how to whistle, teach me..." soon i will be teaching him and also will be teaching my very little friend too... and soon you will see three fans whistling and jumping when you appear on the screen...

- For the opening song, you were dancing wearing a baniyan, which intially made me confused that whether I am actually watching a movie, or a poombuhaar baniyan-jetty ad... but I could immeidately realize that you were wearing such an outfit, to show your well built arms... you are smart and charming however you are... at the same time, I felt very happy and glad that, like some stupids, you didnt develop six packs, otherwise I cant imagine how you would have appeared on the screen, but for sure, if the movie is remaked in hindi, with Salmaan and Asin chechi, I know how Salmaan will appear on the screen and how our Asin chechi will admire him... :-)...

- After the dance in one song when kajal prompts you to give a kiss, and when all were set and when you were about to zero-in... Alas... I admired how even at that time you remembered your duty and related that event to your duty and flew from there and jumped into action, dumping the poor Kajal there itself. Had I been in your situation, considering the gravity of the situation, I would have decided never to return to work in the near future & may be I would have put down my papers and given notice for seperation... but I cant expect that from a sincere & responsible person like you... hats off... may be I should learn this trait from you...

- Generally slow and very slow songs like the "Vennilave" gets added to my mokkai songs list... but you made it great with your beautiful dance steps... only you can dance for such songs too... and now this song also got added to be best list... and from now on, i will listen to slow songs too... Before your movie, I
watched Sundarapandian, where that fellow just walks and smiles at that mokkai herione even for good songs for which can dance very well... But, you are great... But I have concern about this in this aspect... Even when you are given a pretty heroine like Kajal, you are focussing your entire energy on dancing and not on romancing... And rarely you turn towards her... Kindly try to maintain a balance...

/* this is written by pavala at www.spgr.blogspot.in */
- Most became your fan after seeing your performance in Poove Unakkaga (or) Kathalukku Mariyathai... But I became your fan after seeing your performance(?!?!?) in Rasigan itself :-)... But, dont worry, I wont keep being your fan forever... soon I will upgrade myself and become your AC (air-conditioner)... :-)...

- As usual after the movie ended, I do not remember anyone else, except you and Kajal (for a different reason :-)...)... When you are screen, I see only you... and no one else... Not even Kajal... But, I see her when she is alone or with others... Hope you wont object... :-)...

- Now I hear your Thupakki movie songs many many times everyday, and have also started practicing the dance steps... In fact I started dancing and developed a passion for dance after seeing you only... But even after watching for more than 20 times and practicing more than 30 times, I still couldnt hold and twist the hands from left to right then from right to left in the way you do for the song "kutti puli kootam...". Seems its going to take more time than I expected...

/* this is written by pavala at www.spgr.blogspot.in */
- All through your movies, you were known for your dialogues, interleaved with punches, which at times brings out blood from our ears... Especially in the last scene when you were with the main Villain, there was a big silence and I got horrified to core that you are going to come up with a very big dialogue, with lots and lots of punches, which finally is going to change the mind of the villan, also driving out many from the theatres (who are never going to come back again for any of your movie), and finally the villan will change his mind, become a good boy & a patriot and join the Indian Army and serve the country. But there was a totally unexpected move from you... hats off again... As one of my friend said, Murugadoss would have discussed each scene with you and asked what you typically do in that scene... and based on that he would have kept the scene exactly in the opposite way... without your punches, though you missed some whistles, it was a good change, and it shows the level of maturity you have attained and everyone almost started admiring you... already many from the opposite camps are considering to enter our camp :-)...

Now coming to your dance steps...
What to say and what to leave... Excellent, though at some moments you were replicating Michael Jackson & Hrithick Roshan... But ultimately dance is about moving hands and legs and jumping and twisting and somewhere or other its going to be in sync with someone else... So nothing to worry... Surprised to see that Kajal is also equally able to dance with you... Which neither Anushka Akka or Hansika Akka could do...
Most of your steps were awesome, symetric...



Now coming to the take aways from this movie...

1. You came for a vacation, but instead of enjoying your vacation with friends & family, you still did your job and saved the country... great...but this is something that I definitely cannot do... it is going to be really tough for a person who never did any work even while at office, during office hours for the past one year... anyway I will try to learn this from you...
2. "Yuvathigal thedi avadikal kodi... Irunthum athu than sugamellam..." - I am not going to elaborate more on this :-)...
3. How smart and charming you are... If at 38  you are like this, then at 23 (what???? this is too too much da Pavala....) how I should be... I am taking this as a challenge. In 6 months, I will also look smart and charming like you...



Finally My Dear Vijay,
I never knew how I became your fan. Its like falling in love with someone. We never know why it happens... but the feeling is great... Whenever I enter the "karuvarai"(sanctum) of Lord Renga in SriRangam, as I see Renga, I first feel a shock in my body and then a whole calmness & happiness fills in my body... The cute little warming smile of Renga says that "I am with you always...". The same is the feeling I get when I see you on screen... which is what prompting me to see you again and again on the big screen... You always Rock... And I know you will keep rocking... Your fan & devotee... - Pavala...

[Click on the comment link below for adding your comments... Comments can be added anonymously & strictly no moderation is done... :-)...]

A budding Manager in the making

Last Saturday I was very busy in my laptop, when my little friend Dhanu came to and kept asking for this or that most of the time. At that time, the movie "Ninaithale Inikum" was put up in TV, though the TV was running & nobody was watching it, which is normally the scenario in our home. In order to keep Dhanu busy for sometime, I asked him to watch the movie and tell me when a girl with a black glass and a handbag appears on the screen. I am not sure whether such a lady will ever come in that movie, but I thought this will make my little friend to carefully follow the movie till I complete my work on laptop and distract him with some other task or game after that.

Dhanu went and started watching the movie, sitting in a chair. After 5 minutes, he went to our baby-care-taker, who takes care of his little brother Deepak and said:
"Aunty... come here for a minute..."
Once she came, he told "Aunty, keep watching this movie, and tell me when a girl with black glass and a handbag comes... I will be near Appa..."

Having delegated his work to her, he came to me and started with his pesterings again... Had I been like my little friend, I would have reached the peak of my career by now... I saw a budding Manager in the making... :-)...

Actress Savithri

Since January 2012 I am on a long paid rest ;-). With no other work to do, most of the day I spent on browsing and learning new things. Recently I happened to read about the lives and gossips about some of the old tamil movie stars in a blog, during which I came across the life of Vintage actress Savithri. Though I was not a fan of her, I was forced to see some of her movies that were in put in DD.

Savithri - in a Black & White movie

Savithri - in a colour movie

[Savithri]

During my childhood, during casual talks, Amma used to tell me about Savithri and I was surprised to know that she was the wife of Actor Gemini Ganesan. For long I thought that she was his only wife. When I grew up, I got to know she was not his first wife and indeed he had many wives.

Savithiri & Gemini Ganesan

[Gemini Ganesan & Savithri]

The stories that Amma told us in the morning, mostly when she was in her kitchen work in the mornings were some of the moments, I cherish. It had no boundries on subjects, which I think was the starting point of my life to search and know more and more in life and world & at one point of time I understood that this search is never going to end...

As part of her stories, one day she explained about the last days of Savithri, probably which she would have read from magazines. I was very sad for Savithri on that day. Today while searching for Savithri, I came across a very rare photo of Savithri, taken when she was ill. It exactly matched the description given by Amma. Today also I became sad for sometime and I believe Savithri's soul rests in peace.

Savithri in her illness - Her Son Sathish, Gemini and Doctor(probably) behind

[Savithri]

A detailed account of Actress Savithri is available in the following link:
http://rinkster.wordpress.com/2010/05/03/was-gemini-completely-responsible-for-savitri%E2%80%99s-death/

Foreign Direct Investment - A Layman's attempts to understand it.

In the recent days, lot of talks is going on about something called Foreign Direct Investment. This made me to assume that all these days Foreigners were making investments indirectly. As a lay man who never made any investments even for tax saving purposes (mainly because I do not know how to do it) - until my friend entered my life - and it is she who still devises the various investment plans. But wherever I turn, people and media and newspapers were talking about Foreign Direct Investment. Being a layman this was sufficient enough to trigger an interest to know more about this subject.

Last Friday evening, after I came home, as usual I was watching TV and browsing through the channels. At 8 o' clock, there was message flashing on the screen on DD National “Please stand-by for an important telecast”. Having seen DD right from my child-hood, I know very well that after such an announcement some “mokkai”(useless) program is going to follow.  But the announcement on the screen stood still for a while and then our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appeared. To my surprise, he started explaining about the need for diesel price hike and more importantly on Foreign Direct Investment. I wondered how true is the statement “When the student is ready, the Teacher comes”. Manmohan-ji himself have come(though on TV) to explain Me about FDI.

But unfortunately he was talking in Hindi. With the little Hindi I know, I still tried to follow him. I also appreciated his efforts to explain every citizen about FDI, as he knew very well that more than 80% of his subjects would not have understood what it means. Also I got a secret note from believable sources that some among the protestors against FDI do so without understanding what it is. And I am sure now they would have glued to their TV sets to understand it from the person who introduced it. But the only mistake done by our Prime Minister is having selected DD which has only 0.0001% viewership and that too while jumping from one channel to another. Had I been the Prime Minister, I would have selected something like a F TV or M TV and suddenly would have appeared in between an  important program. But being a gentleman, I am sure our Honorable Prime Minister cannot do that.

Tears ebbed out of happiness and I became emotional on knowing that we got such a responsible Prime Minister who has taken the pain to explain it to each of his citizens. Since I was the only person in home who knew (little) Hindi, all others in home were looking at me to translate and inform them. But, I myself was having a hard time in understanding what he said, so I kept a stern face and never took my eyes away from the TV screen. Since I couldn’t understand anything, I started noticing his gestures & expressions. I believe he also had a hidden agenda where he gave a “punch on the face” to those people who said that he never opens his mouth. He was indeed opening his mouth while talking (though it requires some effort from our side to notice this) and was giving mild smile at times.

After the Hindi version, he repeated what he said in English too. But I changed the channel so that people in home believe that I indeed understood what he said in Hindi. I moved to our Tamil News Channels and as I expected, they were rightly discussing about it. In one channel, one guy has translated the whole speech on the fly to Tamil and was explaining in Tamil (at the same time when our Honorable Manmohan-ji was explaining in English). Now I was ready to explain to all in home, but no one turned to me, and they were listening to what he said on TV.

But in spite of all these, I have to secretly admit to my readers that I couldn’t understand what is meant by the Foreign Direct Investment, as the Tamil Guy also was also mostly using Jargons in his speech. Our Sweet PM explained that in 1991 people opposed liberalization when it was introduced, but now we are reaping the fruits of it. I agree with him on that. I know of people who booked a telephone connection and waited for 10 years, whereas we get it now the moment we provide an address proof. Also it almost eradicated the un-employment problem which was in its acute stage when liberalization was introduced. I was in my high school during those days. So our PM says that people who oppose now will also fail, and we will reap the fruits soon. As a side note, I would like to inform my readers that I hate fruits. I like only bajji, vada, etc.

But I still wanted the issue clarified, as partial knowledge is very dangerous. I called upon my friend, whom I believe is an expert on these things, and he is also a small scale business man.

“Hi Biva(name changed to protect identity), how are you doing”

“Hi Pavala(real name of the author), I am fine… how are you doing?”

“Fine here Biva… I wanted to know about an important stuff”

“Yes Pavala… whats it??? am glad to help you…”

“What is this Foreign Direct Investment… why are people creating fuss about it…”

“Its dangerous Pavala… Its not good for people…” he told in an alarming voice.

“How Biva??? That’s exactly what I want to understand…”

“It will chase all the Annachees(that’s how all small scale business men are known in Tamil Nadu..) from business…”

“How Biva???"

“Now WalMart will come and give all items at lower prices…”

I don’t know why all people target WalMart all the time. Why wont  some other company will come. To me it just shows how WalMart is keen in its business and mission and utilizing every opportunity to spread and grow.

“Hmmm… if WalMart can give at low prices, why cant our Annachees give at low prices…”

“WalMart will buy in large quantities and get huge discounts from seller and they will give at lower prices to people…”

“Why don’t our Annachees also join together and form an group and buy in large quantities and get huge discounts from the sellers and give it to us for lower prices…”

There was silence at the other end.

Though our Annachees join together for protests, I know that its tough for our Annachees to join together for business purposes, and in a hypothetical situation if they do so and get huge discounts from sellers, they wont pass it on to us, instead they will see huge profits.

“Tell me Biva, for consumers like us, is it good or bad… We will get items (not the item as in “item songs”… here it means commodities :-)…) at lower prices no…”

“Yes Pavala… But our Annachees and their families will suffer… it will drive them out of business…”

“But, why should I worry about Annachees Biva… are they worrying about Me or about My family… The 'mukku kadai' Annachee (corner shop Annachee…) is not even giving Me free Corriander leaves nowadays…”

“Yes Pavala…” He was a bit sad and embarrassed and we talked about something else for a couple of minutes before we dis-connected.

That cleared it… Soon there is going to be increased competition and we are going to get commodities at lower prices. But our PM said that the accusation that it will drive away Annachees is baseless and they will have their share. I have to agree on this too, as I can see that the road side food stalls co-exist with big restaurants.

I also have business people is my very close circle, but I am really scared to ask them about this.

Note: This article is purely based on the author's (poor) understanding and assumptions and if this hurts the feeling or sentis or anything else of our Honorable Prime Minister or the Annachees or anyone else, it primarily has be to attributed to the poor understanding and writing skills of the author in which case, the author apologizes to them in advance.

Vinayaka Chathurthi

Yesterday around 3 in the afternoon, I asked my friend to update the list of items to be purchased for the Vinayaka Chathurthi. She made a lengthy detailed list and sent and shared it over a chat application. In the evening I couldnt start from office on time & was a bit late and had to hear the question "Then why did you ask me to send that list. Rather, I could have gone directly and purchased them".

But still I managed to reach home a bit early and upon reaching, started for the purchase with the list, which I transcribed to a paper. My friend's strategy is to first walk through all the shops and then come in the reverse direction, asking for prices and purchase them. The market today has extened to the main road near the signal. She first started with Arugampul:
"How much?"
"10 rupees madam"
"Too much... Its 1 rupee normally"

I stayed a bit behind, expecting a tough fight over the negotiation, as a negotiation starting from 10% of the quoted price is sure to bring one. But she decided to move out of that shop and went to another one. Finally she got it for Rs. 5 in a shop. Shopping continued in a similar fashion and finally came to a completion. When she started searching for a "Berikai", I told her that its out of season. But when she found them in a shop, she shouted several times "What is this"... "What is this?" by pointing to those fruits. The women in that shop got scared and told in a feeble voice "Berikai", thinking that the question was posed at her. I managed by saying that some had taken intensive steps to procure them, even if they were not in season currently.

Finally a bunch of banana was the only item to be bought and we came to a man selling bananas. I was summoned with the task of finding the type of banana. For me all banana are one and the same, as inspite of several conscious attempts, I could never distinguish between their varieties. Fortunately that shop man was having only 2 varieties and I asked him what those varieties are. She selected one from them, and said that it was variety offered to God commonly and it was of the variety "banana" :-).

Morning we  were supposed to wake up very early, but slept until our usual time and started making preparations for the Poojai. Mama & Athai had woke up very early and they made all the cooking & initial arrangements for the Poojai. We prayed to God around 9:15 AM and thus our Vinayaka Chathurthi commenced happily.

City Life

Aroma of Jasmine, Chime of Anklets around the office in Mid-night

Guest post from my friend: http://www.ramanipgr.blogspot.in/


Four guys were working in night support for several months

Two days back Jay and Venkat were busy working. Other two guys Harish and Tarun were on leave for the week. Around 12:30 in night, Jay took a break from work and stepped out of hall.  Venkat was seated alone. Suddenly  he felt the aroma of nice jasmine flower. around the same time, he also heard chimes of anklet bells in specific intervals. The eligible bachelor was kind of shocked and horrified. He was waiting for Jay to come back.

Venkat: Jay, Where were you?

Jay: I stepped out to pantry for having a cup of coffee.  what's up ? you look dull. Again fight with your girl friend Riya?

Venkat:  No. This is worse than Riya.

Jay: What else then... yet another girl? what's her name ?

Venkat : Why ? you wanna try ? We call her mogini pisasu(Beautiful Ghost). Just now I could smell jasmine fragrance and the chime of anklets.

Jay: What ? Didn't you sleep well in morning ?  so you slept and had a dream ? (Jay laugh out loud)

Venkat: Shut up. I am serious.

Jay: There is no pisasu. You better behave like a educated man.

Venkat. You wait for some time. Then you will believe me.

Time passed. No smell or sound. Bad luck for our guy Venkat. When shift time was over they both left office.

Next day, Jay forgot what happened previous day. Venkat was tensed like yesterday.

Around 11:45 , Jay wanted to take a break to attend nature's call. The moment he stood up, Venkat opened up.

Venkat: Sit Jay.

Jay: But Why ?

Venkat: Do not leave your seat till I say.

Jay: (he recollects) Oh Man. You are still into yesterday sickness ?

Venkat: Stop talking. Just sit at your desk for another hour.

Jay: I shall go to rest room and be back in five minutes.

Venkat: No. What ever you do it is after an hour only.

Jay: Dei, Don't make me angry. I can control my anger but not this. My bladder will burst.

Venkat: Okay. Then lets both go.

Jay: This is not possible. Other two guys are on leave. Alteast one have to be there online to respond to queries

Venkat: Ok. Then you sit here for another one hour.

Jay: Oh God. Mercy to Riya. I can understand now, why there is frequent fight with her. I have to go rest room.

Venkat: Then come lets go.

Jay:  I will also get black mark for absense in desk.  Its all my fate. Come.

They both are back to desk in five minutes. Nothing happened till dawn.

Jay: Better stop reading horror novels Venkat. Don't open up the same topic tomorrow.

Venkat: I'll try. Better you take your break before 11:30 and be on seat for next hour.

Jay gives a hot glare on venkat and steps out to home.

Yesterday, Venkat seemed to be relaxed a bit, as nothing happened previous day as he feared. But Fate had something else for them.

Around 12:30 Jay heard the chime of anklet bell.

Jay: Venkat, do you hear ? I hear the anklet bell chime

Venkat : (he does not open up , but sits quiet and observe the sound)

Jay: I am asking you da

Venkat: Keep quiet. Don't open up and convey the Pisasu(Ghost) that we guys are here.

As Venkat said other day, Jay now heard chime sound and smell of jasmine flower also followed shortly. Both were shocked. But kept quiet. The only fellow they can talk to is the security who works in night shift. But they were scared to discuss it with him. What if , he suddenly fear and run away. They decided to stay inside the cabin locked and avoided going out.

At Dawn when duty was over, both of them stepped out. They could not stop worrying. At the same time did not want to terrify the security.  So they went to him casually and had a chat.

Jay: Good morning Sir. All set to leave for the day?

Security:  Yes Sir. I shall leave once the morning shift security is here.

Jay: Oh. okay. So you will come back here in night again like us ?

Jay wanted to develop a conversation, so that in night he can ask him about their sense of smell and sound. However Venkat could not control it for a day further.

Venkat: some smell is present here Jay. Do you sense anything?

Security: That's nothing but the new Odomos cream with Jasmine flavour .

Security bent down to pick the cream from the cup board lower shelf and the key chain fell down from his pocket. It was having a bunch of bells like the one of ladies anklets.

R.K.Narayan - My Days - Review

For a long time, I was longing to read the My Days by R.K.Narayan - his auto-biography. Whoever writes about R.K.Narayan or about his stories always have a reference to his My Days, which increased my eagerness to read it. Last month when we went to landmark, I was able to locate all other works of R.K.N, except his My Days. But somehow recently I managed to acquire a copy of it and started reading it.

Earlier whenever I read his novels or any of his work, I used to complete it in a day or in 2 or 3 days max. I remember reading his "The Talkative Man", while I was travelling from Chennai to Trichy in bus, seated under the only blue-coloured night lamp that was lit in the bus. I started reading when the bus started at 9:30 PM and finished it by 3:30 AM, after which I slept. But this time, I was reading My Days for over 3 weeks. This might be due to the fact that I have not read any novel or book over the last couple of years, or I may have lost my interest in reading, a bit.

In the initial chapters, he describes about his childhood in Purasalwalkam, Chennai. As I live close to Pursaiwalkam, and I know almost all the landmarks that he had mentioned, leaving nothing to my imagination, made it a bit less interesting to read - for me. He has not written the book in chronological order, but has mentioned the major events in his life in different chapters. His school days, then college days, love, marriage, career and it ends abruptly with RKN mentioning that an auto-biography cannot have a final chapter.

I liked his chapter on college days, where he mentioned about his long walks on the Chamundi hills in Mysore. I had been to Mysore for a special trip in my life and I could visuvalize the roads and greeneries in his walking route. But unlike the Puralwalkam, I enjoyed reading his life in this area. During my college days, I also had the habit of walking for very long distances in the evenings, mostly on Friday evenings, until one day I saw a very big snake crossing my route, in just one feet before me. We both got scared on seeing each other and rushed to clear out our ways from each other.

The chapters in which he describes about his search for a job after completing his college was intresting. He had a short stint as a schoolmaster(A govt job). He left that job when his boss asked him to go as substitute for the Physical Training class. He finally decided that he should become a writer, a profession that he liked. A Govt job is much sought after even in these days of liberlization, and he has dared to leave one, since he wanted to do something that he really liked to do. And his family member's support for this un-orthodoxical careers was a plus for him. As my friend used to say, one is very lucky if one is paid for persuing his hobby and makes a living out of it. I am one such privilaged to some extent.

His love was another interesting chapter (read about My Love here), somewhat un-conventional when we think about him, getting in love with a 15 year old girl and subsequently marring her, which should be a tough task in those days, and a un-matching horoscope adding more toughness to it. But unfortunately his wife left this world after 5 years of marriage, leaving behind a girl. Having read his "The English Teacher" - which was more or less his auto-biography of this part of his life - I expected this area to be a water-shed. But he just crosses it in a few paragraphs. He also describes how he over-came it and he belived that death was only a change of vehicle and the soul continued to live.

He also briefly describes his trip to US and his stay in Berkely, during which time he wrote the "The Guide".
He also explains the challenges he faced while running his own publishing company and about his experience in building his own house. In all it was a intresting read, sure to be an inspiration for aspiring writers. Hoping to read  his "My Dateless Diary" soon, which was a journel of his trip to the US.

- spgr.

My Watch Collection

I got my first wrist watch when I was very young, may be while I was doing 4th or 5th standard. Both were ladies model digital watches, with metal bracelets. There landed in my wrists after my Mom wore it for a brief time. In my 7th standard, I got my first analog watch, another ladies model watch, A hmt shoba, which I got as a gift for securing 2nd rank in class. It moved on to Amma after sometime and I was back to digital watches. Dad got me lots of watches. My sisters too got me some watches. After marriage, my friend also got me lot of watches. I kept wearing them in rotation, and my all time favorite were digital watches.

I have a vintage Henry Sandoz and a HMT Kohinoor in my collection. I kept buying them whenever I felt like and before one year I decided that I should not buy them anymore, as I finding it tough to maintain them. But still watches get added to my collection at the rate of 2 per year.

Here is my collection for your view.

 
Here is my collection with my friend's and little friend's collection:

It entered my life (1) : TV

When I was in high school, I read a series of articles in a Tamil Weekly in which the author described how various items like TV, bike, fridge, etc. entered into his life and how it changed his and others lives. Right from the time I read those articles, I always wanted to write such a series. Now since I have a platform to write, let me start writing the series.

As I have to recollect from my memory about the events that happened more or less about 20 years ago, there could be some discrepancy in the details. But still, I will try to be as accurate as possible.

Let me start with the first gadget (or electrical item?!?! or electronic item?!?!) that fancied me in my childhood - The TV. I have already mentioned this event many of my other articles, as the moment I recollect this incident, it fills me with the same joy and happiness that I experienced some 23 years ago. I was in my primary school those days.

As usual on a Saturday (in 1987) I was playing with my friends near our home. At around 5:00 in the evening, all my friends ran into a house. Without knowing why they were going, I also followed them and entered into that house. There I saw a TV, a black & white one, and all were waiting for a program to start. I stood near the door, though the owners of the home asked me to come inside. After a moment, a cartoon(which we used to refer to as "bommai padam" in those days) started with the background song "Spiderman, Spiderman, Does whatever a spider can..." and the song went on. In the screen a spider-man was jumping here and there. The cartoon went for about 10 minutes and once it ended and we all came out.

I do not remember how this info reached my parents, probably I would have told them.
My parents told me that I should not go there. But on the next day(Sunday) again at 5:00 PM, I went along with my friends and saw Spiderman. But after that I never went there. But I was not sure whether this was the triggering event, but in after 2 weeks time, we got a brand new TV in our home :-). I came to know that my parents are indeed getting a TV only at the moment when my Dad got down from the auto holding a big box with TV in his hand. Let me go back 1 week behind of that incident. I could sense some strange events happening at home, with Father making frequent visits to the "town". After I grew up I came to know that in those days, we had to book a TV, and wait for its arrival. They will start the manufacturing in the factories only after they receive sufficient bookings. We will be intimated once it arrives in the stores and we had to go and pick it up.

One day an auto came from the road towards our home (should be April 9 or 16, 1987, a Thursday). In those days, seeing an auto in our Railway colony was a rare event and it always signalled the happening of some unusual event. From the road, the auto has to come a distance of about 150 feet to reach our home. By the time, the auto reached our home, a small crowd gathered and they were eagerly looking inside the auto and some where whispering "TV, TV". Our Dad and his friend were there inside the auto. Dad got down with the TV box. A big iron rod was tied to the side of the auto. It was removed by the combained effort of Dad, his friend and the auto driver. Later came to know that it was the antenna. The TV box was brought inside home, and Appa pulled out a beautiful, grey coloured BPL-Ajit 310 Black&White TV out of the box. It was a 20 inch B&W TV, with one big selector knob at the top to change channels and three small knobs at the bottom for adjusting the volume, brightness and contrast. Later I discovered that it also had 2 hidden knobs at the back for controlling horizontal and vertical scrolling. The crowd which gathered in front of our home, by now have entered our home, inside the hall.

Appa, his friend, and a couple of other people - probably Appa's friend's friends(friends of friends in facebook language) were busy assembling the antenna, cutting the cables and connecting it to the boosters. There were 2 boosters, one was the antenna booster and the other was the TV booster. The antenna was fit outside in the chimney, and TV was kept on the stand. Appa switched on the TV after all the wiring was done. As Appa was an electrician, this should have been a piece of cake for him. They did some tweakings, and one person from the roof top was shouting "theriyutha... theriyuthaa..."(is it visible... is it visible...), as he was twisting and rotating the Antenna and Appa from here was replying back. After a short time, we saw a beautiful picture, it was actally a slide showing that the next programme was "Manaimatchi"(An ultimate Mokkai program on Thursday evenings where some people sitting in chairs give some tips, normally useless ones). By now Amma had prepared tea for everyone and served.

Ours was the second TV in our area. When I went outside, an Akka from the first TV home (where i saw spider-man), asked me whether it was Black&White or colour TV. I said it was a colour TV, since I wanted our to be superior to theirs. She was dis-appointed. Next day when Oliyum-Oliyum was going on, she came to our home to confirm the colourness(What an English :-)...) of our TV. The song that was playing at that moment was a Black & White one, which was to indicated by the text "Black&White" displayed at the top right corner of the screen, so that the owners of a colour TV set, need not worry that something had gone wrong with their system... sorry... TV. She waited until the next song and found that it was also playing in Black & White. She gave a glance at me and I could notice the happiness in her face and she ran home happily. But still, I was happy that our TV broke their monopoly in our area.

We kept seeing TV till late in the night and slept, when the telecast jumped from Regional to National(Tamil to Hindi). For the next couple of weeks, we used to watch TV right from its start in the early morning with the Doordharshan's rotating logo, followed by Vande Matharam. We also used to watch the Hindi programs after 9 in the night and sleep by 9:30. I dont know at what time I used to sleep before the arrival of TV. But after its arrival, my sleep time was definitely after 9:30.

During the initial days, we lost some privacy, as whenever we switch on the TV, a crowd gathered in our home, which had an impact on our lunch and dinner times. This crowd continued for a very long time, until TV started entering everyone's home. At the time of MGR's death, we had to skip our meals owing to the large crowd that gathered in our home to watch the live telecast of the happenings.

The TV worked for more than 15 years. It changed my schedule and the way I work. During my school vacations, I watched almost all the programmes telecasted from Delhi in the day time. Some of those were "Hum Panchi Ek Chaal Ke","Dekh Bai Dekh", tuesday afternoon Hindi movies at 3:30. I also somehow got into the habit of watching TV while eating which continues till this day. I dont know whether to be happy or to be sad when my little friend Dhanesh inherited this habit from me. I wrote my homeworks before the 7 o' clock news. Had dinner watching the serials after the news. Studied after the serial got over at 7:30. The Tamil programmes in those days will start at 5:30 in the evening and end by 9:00 in the night.

I had no friends during my school days, since my nature was not compatible with others as I grew up. But still I never felt alone. Because our TV and my hercules caption cycle had taken those roles.

During my 10th class summer vacation, Sun TV started appearing in our neighbouring homes. I discovered that by disconnecting the cable connected to the TV booster and hanging it to a wire above the TV in such a way that the plug connected to the end of the wire contacts the hanging wire, and tuning a bit, Sun TV appeared in our TV, without a cable connection. The signal was actually coming from a nearby cable, running through our roof top. In this manner, by changing the channel and tuning, many other channels could be watched. This actually turned out to be a disaster for our TV and it started giving troubles. The channel selector knob had to be replaced several times, since it was used very frequently, followed by the volume control knob.

Soon, we also got the cable connection and disconnected the antenna and the boosters from the TV. This connection was called the Sun TV connection in those days. After this TV started counting its final days. A sequence of problems followed and one day it gave up. Appa took trips in taking it to service center, and it will lay for weeks together.

At one such time when our TV was in a service center, on a new year day(I think its 2001 january 1st)
parents decided to get a new TV. A Sansui color TV replaced our BPL Black&White TV as the primary TV. This was one of the first color TVs in our area. I looked at awe at the colour image, but for some reason, I still kept remembering the black & white TV and its beautiful images in white, black and grey shades.  A couple of days later Appa went and brought the Black & White TV from the service center. But, by now, it lost its importance owing to the colour TV. By now we have changed home and moved to the Disel Colony. Here i got a seperate room, and I took the B&W TV to my room. I split the cable connection into 2 and connected this too to cable and used it to watch HBO movies. But even after that it kept giving problems and one day it finally gave up. The service center person also gave his final verdict that it cannot be repaired anymore.

But I decided to keep the TV with us in home. I had saved it from several occations from selling it in second hand (during its last live days) and also saved it from several occations when attempts were made to scrap it or exchange it for dates. Like the mummies kept in the Egypt's pyramids with the hope that one day they can be brought back alive, I believed that one day I will bring back our TV alive. When we moved to our own home, the TV was kept in the car shed. Once in a while I used to go and take a look at it.

Lot of changes happened in my life in the mean time and once when I went home, the TV was not there. I got to know that it was scrapped by giving it to the preson who collects the old items, probably in return for dates. I couldnt believe that it was no more with us. I was a very sad that the scrapping was done without my knowledge. Had I known of it, I would have never allowed it. I was very sad for the next couple of days.

After that we bought so many TVs, none brought me the happiness that our first Black & White TV brought. At times, once in a while, suddenly I reduce the color in our TV to zero and make it a black & white image and only I know the reason for the smile it brings...

Spider-Man movie watching experience with My Little Friend

Dhanu was amazed when he received the 3D glasses in hand. We were entering into the movie hall where "The Amazing Spider Man" was put up.


Dhanu started firing his questions. "Appa, why they are giving this glass".
"I will tell you once we are seated".
We found out seats and settled.

He enquired again "Then only it will come near us?". He already has the experience of seeing through a 3D glass, when we tried a 3D television in show-room during out hunt for buying a TV.
"Appa", Dhanu started again "What is this glass?"
"This is 3D glass"
"Why is this glass like this and why we have to wear this?"
"This is a 3D movie, and in a 3D movie, only when we wear this glass, the objects will come near us."
This time I want to keep things simple.

The movie started and so do the questions from my little friend.
"Appa... Why this big TV"
"That is not TV Thambi... That is screen..."
"Appa... Where is the spider-man"
"He will come shortly"
When the spider-man Peter Parker came I told Dhanu that he is the spider-man.

"Appa... Why is he not wearing the spider-man dress.."
"He will wear it after sometime"
"Where is his spider-man dress.."
"It is in his home..."
"Then where is he now..."
"He is in his school..."
He said "ok" and started watching the movie.

When Peter Parker found and took his dad's old briefcase, my little friend started again..
"Appa"
"Yes"
"Is his spider-man dress in that box"
"No Thambi. It is in his room."
"When will he wear it"
"He will wear it after sometime"

By this time, his Mom got busy in watching the movie.
Peter Parker went to the OSCORP labs and entered a room where lot of spiders were there.
I got scared whether Dhanu's Mom will head to the screen with a Mop or a Ottadai Kuchi (Spider Web remover) to the screen and remove all those webs. She never likes the Spider Webs and removes them then and there in home.
But, thank God, nothing of that sort happend :-).

Peter Parker got bitten by Spider.
"Appa"
"Yes Thambi"
"Will I also become Spider-man, if a spider bites me???"
"No Thambi"
"Then why spider-man alone becomes spider-man(?!?!?) when a spider bites him".
As a avid viewer of chutti TV and other cartoons, he is aware of the background of spider-man.
"This is just a movie Thambi... They have just taken like that..."
Though this answer was not convincing him, he kept quiet.

Suddenly a scene came when Peter Parker started kissing his girl-friend.
I got sort of embarassed and got ready to face any question from my little friend Dhanu.
"Appa"
"Yes Thambi."
"She is his friend..." he declared.
"Oh!!! Is it..."
"Yes... she is his friend..."
Hmmm... Kids these days got used to those scenes :-). So, no need to get embarassed from now on :-).

At a moment Dhanu turned back. Then he asked "Appa, why the movie is running there is a small TV"
"That is the the projector"
"Then, why is it running in this big TV"
"That is not TV Thambi... That is screen... The movie is actually running in that projector... It is projected to the screen and we are seeing on the screen..."
"How is the movie is coming from the projecter to the screen?"
I thought for a momement, whether I should take the help of particle theory (or) Brownian Movement (or) traversal of light.
But I wanted to keep things simple and said "It is coming through the smoke that you see there"
Undaunted Dhanu continued "How it is coming through the smoke..."
"You will understand when you grow up..."
"Ok"

For some reason Dhanu didnt like the girl, the heroine, spider-man's girl friend. So do I. But everyone in the movie claim her to be pretty.
"Appa"
"I dont like that girl..."
"I too Thambi"
"Shall we take her out and keep some other girl"
"No Thambi, its not possible... May be we can tell the authorities to change her in the next spider-man movie..."
"Ok"

Since I had told Dhanu in advance that we have to return the glass after the movie, he gave the 3D glass back to me when the end credits started rolling.

When my friend asked a question about a doubt in that movie, I replied "Who knows... Who watched the movie... I was busy with my little friend Dhanu..."

- spgr.

Life Saving Helmet

Recently I happened to read the following articles in a weekly & daily. They are about the recent death of 3 young bike riders on the road, meeting with accidents without a helmet.

[Click on the pic for a larger image]

Courtesy:  Junior Vikatan - 4th July, 12 issue

Courtesy: Junior Vikatan - 4th July, 2012 issue

Courtesy: The Hindu - 1st July, 2012

The crux of those news items is: If they had worn a helmet, they would have escaped with minor injuries. Since they didnt wear a helmet, they died. At this moment, I have to thank God and the helmet that I wearing, which prevented my name from appearing in such a news.

Some one year back I was returning from office around 8:30 PM. I was coming through my actual route and I knew every pit and bump on the road. But I observed right from the moment I started my bike, some thought was disturbing in my mind. After 2 kms, I thought that I should not think about anything else and should drive properly to home. I raised from 1st to 2nd gear and moved the bike, and took a right turn on the road. It was a narrow road about 10 foot wide, a bit dark. Suddenly I noticed that a couple of dogs were fighting on the other end of the road. As my bike speeded-up, suddenly 2 dogs started running across the road just in front of the bike.

I got confused and tried to speed up bike and tried to cross the place before the dogs reached my bike. But my calculations missed, as I forgot about a speed-braker in that place. The front-wheel hit the speed-breaker at a speed of about 40 kms, then hit one among the 2 dogs. Immediately I realised that I was not on my bike, but flying on the air. For about 4 seconds, I was on the air, about 10 foot high and then fell on the road, with my right side of the face facing the ground. I could hear a heavy sound that my helmet received from the road.

I was not able to get up. I laid there for about 2 minutes. A traffice on both sides of the road came to a grinding halt, a small crowd gathered around me. But no one came near me or tried to lift me up. I could not stop  myself from remembering that had it been a girl, atleast some could have come for help. After 2 minutes, a guy(should be college going), came running from the other side of the road, and helped me to get up. He and a few from the crowd asked me to move my hand and leg. I was able to move. I turned and saw my Super Splendor on the floor, wheels still rolling, lying pathetically. I was sad to see the bike in such a condition, as I was used to seeing it stading majestically.

The dog was also equally hurt and found that it had come near me, probably for biting. The owners of the dog also came from a nearby hut, and seemed to be ready to fight with me. But upon seeing my condition, they moved away. The guy who helped me, also chased the dog away. He asked whether I can ride ride the bike, I said yes, and started the bike and tried to raid it. At that time, I noticed that I was not able to move the fingers on my left hand, when I tried to hold the clutch. Still I tried and rode for 2 kms, after which the pain increased and stopped the bike.

I called our uncle(who was staying nearby) and informed him that I fell from bike and unable to ride bike. He came in about 15 minutes and took me to a nearby Emergency care hospital. The first question the doctor asked was "How it happened?" and his remark after I told the story was "So, you were wearing helmet... good... otherwise you would not have been in a condition to talk to me..."

He was an ortho and checked me in so many places. Then after an x-ray he found that I had a minor chip-fracture in my left wrist. Aftet that I had to be in the arm sling for 3 weeks, and a red coloured bandage for about 3 months, and it took about 1 year for the pain to dis-appear completely.

When I analyzed, I found that the bag I was wearing on the back, prevented spine and rib-injuries. The bronze bracelet I was wearing on my right hand had prevented fracture or damage to the right hand. But since I was wearing a resin band digital-watch on my left hand, it passed on the impact to my wrist, which got fractured. Had I worn a watch with a metal bracelet, I would have escaped without any fracture. And the hero-the helmet-took the impact that my head and face would have received and thus saved me. Also since it was a helmet that covers the entire face, it also prevented collar bone injuries(A semi or half or stylish helmets will not prevent this).

Items I was wearing during the incident

I know of people who want a ladies type or a stylish helmet for them to wear during the drive and continue the fashion on to the road. My humble request to them is that they should wear a good quality helmet, to save themselves in case of bad times.

I will be happy if everyone who reads this takes an oath to wear helmet during bike drive and also ask their friends and knowns to wear helmet, even for very small trips, despite the un-comfortness of wearing one, since being alive is more important than looking stylish on the road.

Note: Just wearing helmet is not enough. It should be properly buckled, else it will fly-off during the impact, leave face and head to fate.