2018 - Diwali Purchase - Part 1

Like all years, Diwali purchase this year too was unique. This year it started in Trichy, when me and my friend went to Town. First we thought of going to Pothys, as we crossed it on the Holy Cross road. But we are anti-pothites, and we decided to continue to be so. So, we decided to go to Chennai Silks and then to Sarathas, if needed.

[photo:Chennai Silks in Trichy]

We entered Chennai Silks, and we could see the difference in which its employees treated us. I remembered my co-brother using the phrase "Pothys Effect", to describe some of the changes that happened in Nagercoil, after Pothyees came there.

First we decided to do dress shopping for kids. We went to the boys section, and the Guys in that section showed us many varieties, and helped us a lot in selecting the right dress for my Little friends. After we become fashion conscious, it really takes us a long time to select dresses and apparels, as we are considering many factors like color, cost, quality, fit and uniqueness. Then we went to girls section, where we wanted to get a good modern fashionable dress for my niece. This time, it took us a really long time. Much longer than what we had expected, as our expectation was a bit high. This time again the sales-women was very helpful. She went through the floor, from end-to-end and brought us different varieties of dresses. We were considering from chudi to midi to other modern outfits. After a long search, we found the one, which we both liked, and especially my friend liked it a lot.

Then we moved to men's section. As soon as we entered, the salesman who first caught us, started showing us formal shirts. I stopped focussing on formal shirts long back, and they are not enforced even in software companies nowadays. We went straight inside and started looking into casual and trendy ones. I was not impressed with any of them in the display. My friend liked one particular design, in orange color, which when I tried was a bit misfit. When I tried another one of the same design in a smaller-size, and it was a perfect fit. When I came out of the trial room, my friend was holding another pink-colored-designed shirt, which she wanted me to try. Thus, this time I got two shirts for Diwali. Then we went to the pant section, where the salesman said "free-ya irukkum". We laughed at it, as we were looking for the ones that will be a perfect fit.

We then went to the ladies section. Not much collections were there. We were close to the lunch time, and by this time we became tired. Not much salesperson were there, probably because they might have gone for lunch. Hence we dropped the idea to take Diwali dress from my friend there. We decided to see in a different shop on the next day, but later postponed to take care of it in Chennai.

Then we went to the nearby Archana sweets, where we had snacks. Then we got some sweets and started our journey back to home. That completed the first phase of our Diwali purchase.

-SPGR. 

Kalaingar

In the past there were at least 3 occasions when there was a rumor that Kalaingar (Mu. Karunanithi) was dead. The first one came when I was in seventh standard (or something close to those standards). I vaguely remember that it was post lunch and we all were asked to leave from the school, as there was a news (or rather rumour) that Karunanithi was dead. I started back to home, with my sisters.



The next one was when I was in 11th standard. This time the news came much earlier, in the forenoon session. We all left.

The third incident happened when I was in college. This time I was in college hostel, and the news came on the previous afternoon. In those days with no "Breaking News" or "Mobile  Phones", it was difficult to confirm if that was indeed a news or just a rumor. The next day was declared holiday for the college, and I spend the whole day in hostel, eating and sleeping (and of course with a little bit of studying).

Almost 20 years passed, and again we started hearing news Kalaingar was seriously ill. Now no rumors that he is dead, as nowadyas it is easy to instantly verify whether it was a news or just a rumor. After 11 days of illness, with mixed rays of hopes and hopelessness, finally Kalaingar left all his "Udanpirapu", after an intense fight with Yama.

I bow my respects to him, and I admire the fierce brave soldier in him, who had an intense love for living and have achieved many things in life, in his long life of 95 years. I was taken aback when I got to know that much early in his life he has lost his left eye. Some say that it was due to an accident and some say that it was during the atrocities enforced on him during the Emergency period. Whatever it is, with vision in just one eye, he has been CM multiple times, contributed a lot towards literature, and also to Tamil cinema.

He was one among the person from whom I derived confidence when I started facing health issues in life, and made an intense fight to recover from them (And finally I recovered from all of them, which is a different story altogether).  He was a person who did Yoga regularly (the primary reason for his good health) and went for regular morning walks, however critical his schedule was.



When he lost his mobility (a little bit) he never minded to be seated on a wheel chair, and continued his day to day tasks, and his contribution to politics and literature.





Towards the end of his life, he also lost his ability to talk. But he didn't seem to mind it. He still continued to live his full-filled life, playing with his grandchildren. 


I know very well that during his last 11 days when he was hospitalized with multiple issues, with no mobility or movement all through his body, he would have still lived a lovely full-filled life in his mind, with no worry that his body is fully un-functional.



His life as an youth could have been completely different, as one can understand if they happen to read Kannadasan's Vanavasam.

He has indeed lived a long, full-filled life, doing his best to himself and to each of his family members.

My respects to Dr. Kalaingar as an individual, who proved till his last moment that he was a brave soldier. May his soul rest in peace.


- Pavala.

Delicacies

Photos of some of the delicacies that we had during our Summer vacation in May 2017 to both our natives.

Kolukattai...

French Fries...

French fries... Just out of the frying pan...

Kappa-Meen curry with Rice and Fish fry...

Palam-Pori - A special dish, made with ripe banana... In the first piece from left we can see the banana inside... One of my favourite item... Size and quanity wise sufficient enough to replace a lunch...

Mutton Biriyani with Chiken curry...

Kolukattai, Mutton Biriyani, Chicken lollypop, Thayir pachadi with Kurma... A speically made lunch...

All the side dishes served in a plantain leaf...

All the side dishes served in a plantain leaf... Waiting for the main item - Rice...

Rice with daal arrived...

Breakfast ready... Idly-sambhar-chutney, vadai, kesari...

Another wedding feast - lunch...

Evening tiffin - Methu Vadai with chutney and Jangiri...

Mutton Biriyani... Made with Seeraga samba rice... This varitely of rice gives a special taste to the Biriyani...

Mutton Biriyani with Chicken curry...

Mutton Biriyani, Chicken side-dish with Thayir pachadi... Served... Yummy lunch...

Desert after the Biriyani - Chips, Halwa and Kadalai mittai...

Creamy butter Paastha...

Creamy tomato Paastha...

Cream cakes...

Gulab Jamoons... Ready for eating...

Nungu... An item well suited for the summer...

Another new Automatic watch

For a long time I was having an eye on the automatic watches that are available online. On Jan 28, when I saw that the price was slashed in a online e-com site, I immediately took it to the notice of my friend, who suggested to buy immediately. We placed the order and after a long and eager wait for about 10 days, it reached us.

It was a delight to open and observe it. It is a mechanical automatic watch. The watch was prettier than what I had thought, and the dial was a bit larger than what I had thought. It looks a bit big on my skinny wrist, but still it looks great.

While wearing, it looses a few seconds, and when on idle on dial up position, it gains a few seconds. Typical behavior of an automatic watch, and due to this it keeps accurate time on an average. Hoping to use it as a regular, daily wear.

Some pics of the watch for your view:

Wrist Shot

- SPGR.

Book Exhibition 2017 - Visit

Coming back to writing after a really long time. Though I had many things to tell, I never thought of writing them down, as I became busy with other things in life. Now, back to writing. Not sure how long this will go on.

Yesterday I went to the Book Exhibition in Chennai. The Exhibition is back to its old venue of St. George Anglo-Indian school grounds. This time the path from the main gate to the Exhibtion hall is not just a simple straight path, with banners of writers and stalls on both sides but it was a curvy one, with no space on either side for the banners. But still some writers (or stall owners???) managed to keep some flex banners. Since I came by walk, I by-passed the long route to the Exhibition hall, by entering through the bike stand. In the front, there was a dias, where some meeting was going on. Some eminent persons from the literary world were giving speeches. The meeting was in full peak with all the chairs occupied. Saw a big food court next to it.

Took the entrance ticket by paying Rs. 10 at one of the counters. This time I paid with a ten rupee coin. After the rumor that the ten rupee coins will be banned, they are in decent circulation. I went inside the Exhibition hall. As I am used to this exhibition, this time I didn't wonder about the size of the hall (or tent???), number of the stalls, or the number of books on display. I just went to Stall No. 1 and started strolling from there. My friend Ramani had asked me to buy some books for kids, if possible. She also told the stall number (Stall No. 45). Though later I found that stall number didn't exactly match. Or may be that I missed the actual stall that sold imported books for children. Whatever be the case, I didn't buy book for kids. I went inside a stall where there was heap of books for children. I opened a few books and tried to read them, but unfortunately I couldn't understand anything and hence dropped the idea of buying those books, as I thought that even kids will find it difficult to read and understand them.

I just kept strolling though the pathway between the stalls, exactly in the middle, with stalls on both sides. Through any pathway, I traversed only once. This is different from my early visits, in which I will traverse twice, once on the left and once on the right, so that I don't miss the shops on either side. Also, I used to get into almost all the shops and browse through the books. This time I just kept walking. Books didn't attract me anymore (Or may be at the moment???). In Uyirmai stall, I saw Manushya Puthiran, writer Charu Nivedhitha, and three more people seated in chairs and chatting. As usual there was a lady (Manush's wife???) was sitting in the counter. Earlier Manush used to sit in his foldable wheel chair, but now he is seated in a comfortable small cushion sofa. He seemed to be more happy compared to my earlier encounters with him. When I was about to leave the Uyirmai stall, saw the blogger Cable Sankar talking to writer Charu Nivedhitha. More than talking he was laughing most of the time. He was a short, stout man, in his middle ages. Earlier when I used to see writers, I used to go and talk to them, and try to take a photo with them. Now I am least bothered about them. I just kept walking.

In one shop (Stall No. 293), I saw some old tape-recorders, telephones, hanging from the roof. I just stopped to watch them. Then I understood that its a trick to make people notice, enter, and eventually buy a book. Also most of the book readers belong to that period, when they listened to songs on a tape-recorder and made phone calls on those black rolling number dial telephones. Upon seeing Jayamohan's (somewhat big) photo I entered that stall, thinking that if I find a copy of the "Rubber" novel, I will buy. But I couldnt find "Rubber", but found many bundles of "Aram", book by the same author. I thought of buying a copy of Aram. The price was Rs. 300, after a 10% discount, it will come to Rs. 270. Somewhat a big money. So, I called up my friend and she asked me to buy if I want. This "Aram" is a collection of long stories. I have read 2 stories from it on net, one among them was "100 Naarkaligal" (100 chairs). A story I liked a lot, and was very inspiring. I told my friend that I will continue with the walk and after completing all the stalls, if I still feel like buying, I will buy the book.

I went ahead with my walk. I understood that I have crossed this stage of life, and no longer will required to go for a book exhibition (for some time???). Mostly because I lost interest in reading books, and also got used to reading books in electronic format in laptop and in mobile phones.  The latter can be done without spending a rupee, most of the time. Also I have discovered other hobbies that keeps me busy and healthy. After giving one last thought, I came out of the exhibition hall, without buying the "Aram" book. I already have a print out of the "100 Naarkaligal" and thought if I wanted to read the other stories, I can do so on the net, in writer jayamohan's blog. Upon reaching home, I gave a beautiful (according to me at least) punch about this to my friend. But someday I may buy this "Aram" and "Rubber".

On the way back, saw the platform shops. Not the second hand book shops that used to be there earlier. A few years back I bought "Fountain Head" from one of the platform shops for just Rs. 10. It was the first version of that book. I saw one person selling plastic device, which looked more like a big injection, with a 2 litre water bottle attached to its neck. I was spraying a jet of water at a high speed (velocity???). The shop keeper said (to some other person) that it can be used to water the plants and also for water-washing the bike. The latter interested me, but I thought it will be costly here, and hoped that soon it will be available everywhere, and I can buy one. Dreaming of that day when I will fill soap or a shampoo solution into that 2 liter bottle, and will happily water wash my bike with it. From the net found that it is a "universal jet spray gun bottle water sprayer"(Images below). We need to attach a bottle with water, pump, and then it sprays for sometime, due to the pressure built inside the bottle. An ingenious invention indeed.

After reaching home, I was happy that I didn't take Dhanesh with me, as it would have been very boring for him. Also I felt exhausted due to long walk, to and from and within the Book Exhibition Hall and also I felt that I have wasted the ten rupee (entrance fee).

- Pavala
Jan 18, 17.