At a distance through years

There is a person whom I have to mention here. He is Mr. Selva Ganesh, a quiet and soft natured human who joined my earlier company after I left. During 2010-12 he interacted with me over phone /email to get his doubts clarified in the HR domain and was very eager to meet me. It was as if I were his boss guiding in-absentia. He often said that he had learnt a lot from my files and system left behind by me. Selva always signed mails to me with ‘Your obedient student’. I initially thought he was little emotional that made him visualise a larger than real picture of mine in his mind. Later I understood that I was wrong when I was moved by his true gesture.

Our meeting never happened in the past until we met for the first time yesterday when he personally invited me to his brother's wedding. He spoke at length with awe, spent more time discussing many topics at restaurant. Always had words of thanks for me that with the acquired knowledge he was selected at Alstom Ltd and was recently appraised with a good hike. I visually noticed him enjoying every moment of his stay with me and I enjoyed his impressive guffaw. He loves pet animals; has an alsatian, a kombai and a tailless breed at his sprawling house.

An open letter from Dr.APJ

Dear Citizens,

Why is the media here so negative?

Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our achievements?

We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why?

We are the first in milk production.

We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.

We are the second largest producer of wheat.

We are the second largest producer of rice.

Look at Dr. Sudarshan , he has transferred the tribal village into a self-sustaining, self-driving unit.. There are millions of such achievements but our media is only obsessed in the bad news and failures and disasters.

I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed his desert into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news.

In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime.. Why are we so NEGATIVE? Another question: Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things? We want foreign T.Vs, we want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology.

Why this obsession with everything imported. Do we not realize that self-respect comes with self-reliance? I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is.. She replied: I want to live in a developed India . For her, you and I will have to build this developed India . You must proclaim. India is not an under-developed nation; it is a highly developed nation.

YOU say that our government is inefficient.

YOU say that our laws are too old.

YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.

YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke. The airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination.

YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits.

YOU say, say and say.. What do YOU do about it?

Take a person on his way to Singapore . Give him a name - 'YOURS'. Give him a face - 'YOURS'. YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your International best. In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores. YOU are as proud of their Underground links as they are.. You pay $5 (approx. Rs.. 60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM. YOU come back to the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity… In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU? YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai .. YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah.

YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in London at 10 pounds (Rs..650) a month to, 'see to it that my STD and ISD calls are billed to someone else.'YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then tell the traffic cop, 'Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost.' YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand ..

Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo ? Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston ??? We are still talking of the same YOU. YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own. You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian ground. If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country, why cannot you be the same here in India ?

In America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job. Same in Japan ..

Will the Indian citizen do that here?' He's right. We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility.

We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative. We expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick a up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin. We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms.

We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least opportunity.

This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass on the service to the public.

When it comes to burning social issues like those related to women, dowry, girl child! and others, we make loud drawing room protestations and continue to do the reverse at home. Our excuse? 'It's the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry.' So who's going to change the system?

What does a system consist of? Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbours, other households, other cities, other communities and the government. But definitely not me and YOU. When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr.Clean to come along & work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the country and run away.

Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system. When New York becomes insecure we run to England . When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by the Indian government. Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks of feeding the system. Our conscience is mortgaged to money.

Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too….. I am echoing J. F. Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians…..

'ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY'

Lets do what India needs from us.

Thank you,

Dr. Abdul Kalam

Mambalam, the name and origin

THE HINDU                Chennai Edition          March 25, 2012


Madras Miscellany

When the postman knocked…


Vilvam tree

 *Mambalam continues to intrigue readers.
S. Chandrasekar says that Mambalam was till comparatively recently populated more with Vilva trees (Aegle mermelos) than with people and, so, was called Maha-v/bilvam which became Mav/bilam and finally Mambalam. I have toured the whole area, he says, and found numerous Vilva trees still surviving in house compounds for religious reasons. He adds, “Usually the appearance of Vilva trees in a city is a rare occurrence and to have so many in one area would have been reason enough for the area's name to evolve from it.” Going by the geographical fauna and flora, the nomeclature sounds good and acceptable.

Chandrasekar goes on to add that in the Thevaram there's mention of Mylapore and ‘Theyn-amar-solai' (a garden with nectar-filled flowers). The latter is likely to have got transformed as Teynampet, just as ‘Nandavanam' became Nandanam, he posits. Shiva shrines in/around Chennai has mention in Thevaram.

On Mylapore it says 'Malgun Mathri Thavazhum Maada Veedhi Mylappil Ullar'

vAn sottac cotta ~nindRu attum vaLar madhiyOdu ayalE,
thEn sottac cotta ~nindRu attum thiruk kondRai senni vaiththIr;
mAn pettai ~nOkki maNALIr; maNi ~nIr mizhalai uLIr;
~nAn satta ummai maRakkinum ennaik kuRikkoLminE

No doubt there could be many similar explanations for different localities in Madras, but this column generally prefers more solid evidence before accepting such theories. Let's wait and see for anyother explanation.

Tiruppamburam

திருப்பாம்பரம்

இது ஒரு ராகு - கேது நிவர்த்தி ஸ்தலம்.  குடந்தை, நாகூர், திருநாகேஸ்வரம், காளஹஸ்தி, கீழப்பெரும்பள்ளம் ஆகிய நாக தோஷ பரிகார ஸ்தலங்கள் அனைத்தையும் தரிசித்த பலன் திருப்பாம்பரம் ஒன்றை மட்டும் தரிசித்தாலே போதும் என்பது ஸ்தலமகாத்மியம். ராகுவும் கேதுவும் ஏக சரீரியாக அதவது ஓருடலாக இருந்து தன் நெஞ்சில் சிவபெருமானை வைத்து வழிபட்டதால் இத்தலம் ராகு கேது பரிகாரத் தலமாக விளங்கிகிறது. மேலும் சிவராத்திரி அன்று இரவில் ஆதிசேஷன் வழிபடும் நான்கு தலங்களில் இத்தலம் மூன்றாவதாகும். மேலும் ஆதிசேஷன், பிரம்மன், பார்வதிதேவி, அகத்தியர், தட்சன், சூரியன் போன்றோர் பூஜை செய்த தலம், இந்திரன் சாபம் நீங்கிய தலம், கங்கை பாவம் தொலைந்த தலம், சந்திரன் பழி நீங்கிய தலம் என்று எண்ணற்ற பெருமைகளைக் கொண்ட தலம் இதுவாகும்.


ஜாதகத்தில் கால சர்ப்ப தோஷம் இருந்தால், 18 வருட ராகு தசை நடந்தால், 7 வருட கேது தசை நடந்தால், ஜாதகத்தில் லக்னத்திற்கு 2ல் ராகுவோ அல்லது கேதுவோ இருந்தால், ஜாதகத்தில் லக்னத்திற்கு 8ல் ராகுவோ அல்லது கேதுவோ இருந்தால், ராகு புக்தி கேது புக்தி நடந்தால், களத்திர தோஷம், புத்திர தோஷம், திருமணம் தடைபடுதல், கனவில் அடிக்கடி பாம்பு வருதல் ஆகிய தோஷங்கள் நீங்க இத்தலத்திற்கு வந்து ஆதிசேஷ தீர்த்தத்தில் நீராடி கோவில் அர்ச்சகர் வழி நடத்தும் வண்ணம் பரிகாரங்கள் செய்து தோஷ நிவர்த்தி செய்து கொள்ளலாம்.

தல வரலாறு: கைலாயத்தில் ஒருமுறை விநாயகர் சிவபெருமானை வழிபடும் போது இறைவன் கழுத்திலிருந்த பாம்பு விநாயகர் தன்னையும் வணங்குவதாக எண்ணி கர்வமடைந்தது. அதனால் கோபமடைந்த சிவன் நாக இனம் முழுவதும் தன் சக்தி அனைத்தும் இழக்கும்படி சாபமிட்டார். அதனால் உலகைத் தாங்கும் ஆதிசேஷனும், இராகு, கேது மற்ற நாக இனங்களும் தங்கள் சக்தி அனைத்தும் இழந்து அல்லல் பட்டன. சாப விமோசனம் வேண்டி ஈசனைத் துதிக்க இறைவனும் மனமிரங்கி பூவுலகில் சேஷபுரி எனப்படும் திருபாம்புரம் தலத்தில் சிவராத்திரி நாளன்று தம்மை தொழுதால் சாப விமோசனம் கிட்டும் என அருளினார். அவ்வாறே ஆதிசேஷன் தலைமையில் நாகங்கள் சிவராத்திரி முதல் சாமத்தில் கும்பகோணம் நாகேஸ்வரரையும், இரண்டாம் சாமத்தில் திருநாகேஸ்வரம் நாகநாதரையும், மூன்றாம் சாமத்தில் திருபாம்புரம் பாம்புர நாதரரையும், நானகாம் சாமத்தில் நாகூர் நாகநாதரையும் வழிபட்டு சாபவிமோசனம் பெற்றனர்.

இவ்வாலயத்தின் இராஜகோபுரம் 3 நிலைகளுடன் கிழக்கு நோக்கி அமைந்துள்ளது. இராஜகோபுரத்தின் எதிரே ஆதிசேஷ தீர்த்தம் இருக்கிறது. இத்தலத்தில் கோவில் கொண்டுள்ள பாம்பு புரேஸ்வரரை வழிபட்டால் எல்லா வகையான நாக தோஷங்கள் விலகி விடுகின்றன. மூலவர் பாம்புபுரேஸ்வரர் / செஷபுரீஸ்வரர் கிழக்கு நோக்கி நாக கவசம் சாற்றப்பட்டு காட்சி தருகிறார். அம்பாள் சந்நிதியும் கிழக்கு நோக்கி அமைந்திருக்கிறது. அம்பாள் பிரமராம்பிகா /வண்டார்குழலி. ஒரு கையில் தாமரை மலரையும் மற்றொரு கையில் ருத்திராக்ஷ மாலையுடனும் அபய முத்திரையுடன் காட்சி தருகிறாள். இக்கோவிலில் உள்ள சட்டநாதர் சந்நிதியும், மலையீஸ்வரர் சந்நிதியும் மிகவும் விசேஷமானது. தலவிநாயகர் ராஜராஜ விநாயகர் சந்நிதி, தேவார மூவர் சந்நிதி, சனீஸ்வரன் சந்நிதி ஆகியவை இங்குள்ள மற்ற சந்நிதிகளாகும். திருவீழிமிழலை என்ற மற்றொரு பாடல் பெற்ற ஸ்தலம் இங்கிருந்து அருகில் இருக்கிறது. இத்தலத்து கோவிலின் பிரகாரத்தில் ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட இடத்தில் இருந்து பார்த்தால் திருவீழிமிழலை கோவில் விமானம் தெரியும் என்று கூறப்படுகிறது.

ஆதிசேஷன் வழிபட்ட கோவில் ஆதலால் இன்றும் கோவிலின் உள்ளே பாம்புகள் நடமாட்டம் உள்ளதாக கூறுகிறார்கள். ஞாயிறு, செவ்வாய், வெள்ளிகிழமைகளில் திருப்பாம்பரம் கோவிலுக்குள் மல்லிகையின் மணமோ, தாழம்பூவின் மணமோ வீசுவதாகவும் அச்சமயம் பாம்பு கோவிலுக்குள் எங்கேனும் உலாவிக் கொண்டு இருக்கும் என்று கூறப்படுகிறது. இத்தலத்தில் பாம்புகள் யாரையும் கடிப்பது இல்லை என்கிறார்கள். விஷம் தீண்டாப் பதி என்ற சிறப்பு இத்தலத்திற்கு உள்ளது.

சில வருடங்களுக்குமுன் ஒரு பௌர்ணமி அன்று மிகப்பெரிய நாகம் ஒன்று கருவறையில் நுழைந்து, சிவலிங்கம் மீது தன் சட்டையை உரித்து , அதை மாலையாக சார்த்திவிட்டு சென்றுவிட்டதாம். மறுநாள் காலை கோயில் அர்ச்சகர் கதவை திறந்து பார்க்க அதிசயம் வெளிப்பட்டது. அங்கே கோயில் உள்ளே இன்றும் அந்த பாம்பு சட்டையை  பிரேம் போட்டு வைத்துளார்கள். இதன் நீளம் சுமார் 7அடி இருக்கும்.  அந்த  போட்டோ இங்கே கொடுத்துள்ளேன்.  

மாயவரத்திலிருந்து திருவாரூர் செல்லும் வழியில் பேரளம் stop ல்  இறங்கி  Autorickshaw வில் திருபாம்புரம் செல்லலாம்.  பரிகாரம் செய்ய அர்ச்சகர் திரு. திலீப்குமார் ஐ (0435-2469555) தொடர்பு கொள்ளவும். கோவில் நேரம்: காலை 7 முதல்- 12 வரை.

அடியேன் அங்கு புனைந்த கவிதைதான் இது.

சேஷ புரி
வண்டு சேர் குழலியோடு நாதன்மேல்
வந்தமர் மாலை சாற்றும் அரவுக்கோன்;
கண்டு களித்த தரிசனத்தில் அகமகிழ
கலிமுழுதும் சிவ நாக பூசை நடந்தால்;
தொண்டு புரிய இன்னல்கள் களைந்து
தழைத்தோங்க போகங்கள் வரப்பெற்று;
ஆண்டுகள் நிறைந்து நல்வாழ்வு எய்திட
அக் காலசர்ப்ப தோஷம் நீங்கிப்போகவே.

ஆன்மா

எல்லையில்லா பிரபஞ்சத்தில் தொடங்கி

விஞ்ஞானத்தால் விளக்க முடியாததாகி,

அண்டம் காலம் இடையே  சுழன்று திரிந்து

பூரணமாகியும் ஆகாமலும் உள்ள நிலை   

பாவபுண்ணிய  கணிதம்  பிரம்மன் எழுத

கர்ப்பம் கர்மம் இடையே அது பாலமாகி,

முதலும் முடிவும்  தொடர் ஒட்டமாகி

எண்ணமே வாசனையாய் தங்கும் நிலை   

முடிவில்லா  காலச் சக்கரத்தின்  உள்ளே
யுகந்தோறும்  வாழும்  தீர்வற்ற சூட்சுமம்,

பிறப்பு இறப்பு இடையே சிக்கித் தவித்து  

ஊழ்வினையில் அடைபட்டு  வாழும் நிலை

பிறன்வினை சூழ்க்கேட்டால் வஞ்சிக்கப்பட்டு
ஏற்காத பாவிமனம் பழிதீர்த்து பாவம் சுமக்க,
பாம்பின்வாய் தேரையாய் பரமபதம் சறுக்கி
தன்வினையால் அல்லல்பட பிறக்கும் நிலை

எத்தனை ஜென்மங்கள் எத்தனை உறவுகள்

ஆன்மா பயணித்த ஆண்டுகள் பலலட்சம்,

வாழ்கை பருவங்களில்  வாழ்ந்து சலித்து

பல திணைகள் வர்ணங்கள் பார்த்த நிலை

ஜீவனுக்குள்  வந்துபோகும் வந்துபோகும்

பரமாத்மாவோடு இணைந்து கலக்கும் வரை,

எரிந்தும் புதைந்தும்  கழன்ற உடலைவிட்டு     

வீடுபேறு அடைந்து மறுபிறவி எய்தா நிலை

ஆன்மாவை நல்வழி நடத்துவது ஆன்மீகம்

ஆன்மீகத்தின் வழிகாட்டியே ஆண்டவன் 

ஆண்டவன் பாதத்தை பற்றும் ஆன்மாவுக்கு

ஆசியும் முக்தியுமே விடுதலைக்கு  நிலை.

___________________________

* ஆன்மீகம் மாத இதழ் 2004. Composed by me. 

Sai of Shirdi

The oneness of trinity

See, see, the holy saint of Shirdi looks at you

With much of love and sympathy in eyes;

The posture with divinity makes him a yogiraja

He who lived and lives through years of yuga;

He is Rajadhiraja, the king of kings in this world,

Rules the universe which has no adhi and antham;
He is simply elegant and godly yet a human avatar,

The one in whom the trinity gods dwell as Datta;

His stature is normal but a brahmanda nayaka,

Went for alms as fakir but a maharaj in blessing;

With power to bestow riches and wisdom

On the deserving soul, he decides to elevate;

Was called Sai who has mastered sat-chit-ananda

A satguru with no birth name but a teacher to gurus;

Udi from ever glowing fire Dhuni burns our sins,

Protects from haunting deeds of past and present;

He is there in the quenching cool air, smell of earth,

Taste of water, warmth of fire and pranav of veda;

Prayers and glory to Baba, the Sai of Shirdi,

Who is ubiquitous and lives in forms of nature.

_____________________________

* Composed on Jan-8, 2012

Tipu sultan and personnel administration

Original portrait of Tipu

Tipu Sultan is known for his excellent administration, defense mechanisms, trade and commerce, royal luxury, arts and crafts, shooting and hunting, horticulture, training skills, communication, engineering and ultra modern scientific inventions. His navy was as modern as of today. His was a mass recruitment across the Zillah. The salary of fleet officers was fixed by him according to their qualifications. He took personal interest in the recruitment and training of his army. He constantly trained them in innovative rocket launching and improvisations. As an able administrator he ensured that salary was disbursed before the fifth of every month. Do we follow this strictly?

The final assault on the fort was fixed for May 4^th, 1799. On that day, according to the British plan, Mir Sadiq would distribute salaries to the army when General Harris   will attack in the middle of the day, when the sun was high. At 11.00 a.m. on 4^th May, the British troops were briefed by its Lieutenants. A dram of whisky and biscuit were issued to the European troops as power of motivation. Mir Sadiq wholeheartedly sent the army to collect wages at the height of the approaching battle thus giving the British a chance to enter through the hole made by bombardment of the wall.

Tipu’s soldiers left their posts and hurried to receive their pays. At that moment, the British troops in connivance with the treacherous elements in the fort, crossed the river Cauveri and entered the fort. The Sultan was taking his noon meals when he knew of this disaster. He hurried to the spot to fight the battle and fell a martyr. Sadly, there ended the life of an eminent sultan, loving father, caring employer, intelligent inventor, efficient administrator and a secularist Muslim.

The ingenious country rockets seized from him were later studied in-depth and introduced in Britain with a new name. This appears to be the first ever reported theft of Geographical Brand identity and Intellectual Property Rights. Indeed he remains a role model administrator to the present day employers.

*Published in BUSINESS MANAGER, Feb 2010
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My favourite heroes are Raja Raja Chola (8th century) and Tipu Sultan (18th century)

Within 15 minutes, the troops had crossed the river cauvery and had scaled the ramparts. Being summer, the river was scanty and the british troops had silently crossed.

I visualised all the scenes when I visited his family mosque, summer palace, Gumbaz, and his fort. There is no palace except for few pillars lying on ground.

I zoomed for a closeup shot

The final assault on the city was fixed for May 4th. On that day, according to the plan, Mir Sadiq started distributing salaries to the army. The soldiers left their posts and hurried to receive their pays. At that moment, the British troops in conjunction with the treacherous elements in the fort, crossed the Cauvery, stormed the opening guarded by Syed Abdul Ghaffar together with his few gallant soldiers, and entered the fort. Syed Abdul Ghaffar was killed in action.

The Sultan was taking his meals and when informed of this disaster, he hurried to the spot and gallantly fighting a hand to hand battle fell a martyr to the cause of national freedom. 

Mir Sadiq sent the army to collect wages at the height of the battle thus giving the British a chance to enter through the hole made through bombardment of the wall. At last, Mir was killed by the British after the job was accomplished.

Today Tipu's palace is fenced and few granite pillars are lying across the place where it stood once. On the main road from the fort gate to temple, the place where he fell dead is seen in picture. A compund wall has been erected by ASI and tourists can easily miss the spot while driving.

Tipu had written letters to Napolean Bonaparte requesting him to send his troops and help him. Had he been alive, he would have joined hands with him to drive the british. Tipu had died around a time when his french emissaries reached the town.


The British examing the body (Art work)

 The british have not seen Tipu or know how he will be. On the fateful day, the lieutenants have recorded that a short man in dark was ferociously fighting near the gate and killed many british soldiers. Tipu wore a golden buckle belt and a sacred talisman. A sepoy who wanted to snatch it from him had shot him below his knee. He attempted to pull it and when Tipu resisted, the soldier shot him point blank through his head without knowing that it was Tipu. Thus ended the heroic life of a warrior and his body fell at the eastern Water Gate.



The Banquet Hall (now Rajaji Hall)



A fierce battle was fought  and historians recorded that nearly 26,000 soldiers were in the British troop of which 4000 were europeans and remaining indians. It was Sir David Baird who went to the field to search for Tipu along with his bodygaurds. Later in the evening, his body was found with gunshot wounds on head and his jewels stolen. See the painting done by a british artist who was one of the few artists called by Baird to draw the actual scene.  The next day, law and order was restored in Srirangapatnam and Tipu was buried at Gol Gumbaz with state honours by the British.

The treasure antiques looted is in HerMajesty's Royal Museum, London. The British then took direct control of Mysore, Woedyar family was restored to rule. Tipu's sincere Diwan Poornaiya was transferred to work under the new dynasty. Even today, the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple and his Jumma Masjid stand mute witness to his rise and downfall. I was moved when I visualised the scenes and bloodshed that had happened 210 years ago at the spot where I stood.

The British later built a Banquet Hall in Madras to commemorate the defeat of Tipu. This was renamed as the Rajaji Hall. It is in the new Secretariat complex (Government Estate), Chennai, where government functions and film shooting for court scenes were allowed by ASI (Archaeological Survey of India). Today the view of the hall is totally hidden. The hand railings with artistic designs were taken from his Srirangapatnam palace and relocated to a place where it is now decorating the backyard garden of St. Mary's Church near Gemini Flyover, next to US Consulate.

பாப்பா பாட்டு, For kids

பூனைக்குட்டி

பூனைக்குட்டி  பூனைக்குட்டி எங்கே வந்தாய் பூனைக்குட்டி

பானைக்குள்ளே ஒளிந்தாலும் வெளியே வரணும் பூனைக்குட்டி

குறுக்கே பாய்ந்து எலியைபிடிக்கும் குறும்புக்கார பூனைக்குட்டி

ஊரைச்சுற்றி  வீடுவந்தால் குளிப்பாயோ நீ பூனைக்குட்டி

புலியைப்போல வரிகள்கொண்ட மியாவ் மியாவ் பூனைக்குட்டி  

பாலைக்குடித்து பழம்தின்றால் பல்தேய்ப்பது யார் பூனைக்குட்டி

காலில் கூராய் நகங்கள்கொண்டு பயங்காட்டும் பூனைக்குட்டி

கோலின் மேலே ஏறி நடந்து வித்தை காட்டு பூனைக்குட்டி

பூனைக்குட்டி பூனைக்குட்டி எங்கே போறே பூனைக்குட்டி  

கழுத்தில் மணியை கட்டிவிட்டால் எப்படிப்போவே பூனைக்குட்டி

பதில் சொல்லு 

 

இரவில் பறக்கும் கீழே தொங்கும்

வால் வால் என்ன வால்?

அந்த வால் 'வௌவால்'

 

காலையில் கூவும் குப்பையை கிளரும்

வல் வல் என்ன வல்?

அந்த வல் 'சேவல்' 

 

வாலை ஆட்டும் மோப்பம் பிடிக்கும்

அந்த குட்டி என்ன குட்டி?

அந்த குட்டி 'நாய்குட்டி'

 

வண்ணங்கள் இருக்கும் துடிப்பாய் பறக்கும்

அந்த பூச்சி என்ன பூச்சி?

அந்த பூச்சி  பட்டாம்பூச்சி.

Mathematical genius, Ramanujan

India celebrates 125th birth anniversary of mathematical genius, Srinivasa Ramanujan

The Hindu, December 28, 2011

Letters to the editor

On Ramanujan

I recall the interview of Janaki, wife of Ramanujan, telecast in 1988 on Madras Doordarshan. She said she married him in 1909 and moved to George Town, Chennai, when he got a job in the Port Trust. She recalled how the thinnai of their house turned into a tuition class. Although she lived with him only for three years — from 1912-1914 and 1919-20 — she described her life with him as satisfying. She recalled the moments when she fed him a morsel of food while he was engrossed in solving equations.

Selvaraj Chandrasekar,

Chennai

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More About Christmas

Joyful jingles to his glory

The concluding week of December coincides with Christmas, the divine infancy and year end spirit across the world. All western countries gear up to merry making and grand gala bash after a year of hard work. I took some time to research on Xmas from a totally different perspective.

The birth of Christ is described in only two of the four gospels: Mathew and Luke. These were written independently after 60 A.D. The common features appearing in the two writings about the birth of Jesus are the location in Bethlehem, the father named Joseph and the virginity of Mary. Both of the evangelists wrote in Greek. Among the 12 apostles, it is believed that St. Thomas visited Mylapore around 52 A.D. to spread gospel message.

According to Luke, Mary was visited in her sleep by the angel Gabriel who informed Mary that she would give birth to an infant named Jesus. Mary and Joseph were living in their home in Nazareth at that time but were required to go to Bethlehem for census. Since they could not find an inn there, Jesus was born in a stable and later visited by shepherds. After this they returned to their home in Nazareth. This is known to all of us.

In the Bavishya puranam (pratisargha parvam), Vyasa Muni mentions Isaiah’s birth as ‘Hiranya-garbha’ and who would shed his blood for the people. The Kalki avatar of Lord Vishnu looked at as the second coming of Jesus Christ is a pure coincidence and not for debate. Bible captures Kalki in the holy revelation.

To commemorate the birth of Jesus, Christmas is celebrated throughout the world with pomp and fervour.  Generally the legendary bringer of Christmas gifts, Santa Claus is the much anticipated. He is depicted as a fat, jolly man with a white beard, dressed in red suit trimmed with white and drawing a sleigh drawn by eight reindeers.

Santa also called Saint Nicholas is said to visit on Christmas Eve. Entering the houses through the chimney he leaves the presents under the Christmas tree and in the stocking of all good children. The saint was called Sankt Nikolaus in Germany, Sinter Klass in Holland and Santa Claus in America. In South India we simply say Christmas Thatha.

Christmas brings joy to young children who look forward to so many wonderful things. Christmas has always been a major event for decorating the house, to set up the Christmas tree, to pack Christmas gift boxes, unpack the candles for elaborate lighting ceremony and to prepare the special Christmas dinner.

Christmas Eve- the day before Christmas Day is treated with importance. This is the traditional day where Christians celebrate a midnight mass that is held in churches throughout the world. In the Roman Catholic Church, the season begins on its eve and some begins on its eve and some churches hold a candlelight service. The midnight mass at Vatican is very special and people congregate to listen to the Pope.

Usually, Organ music and church hymns song were considered as Christmas music. At a later part when this was played outside the church, the music intermingled with folk music (carols) having a religious theme. The word carol originated from the Middle English Carole ring – a ring dance with a song. Today the music includes classical piece, popular tunes and rock music.

The non-religious lyric of Pierpont, “Jingle Bells” has been a popular carol in many parts of the world. Could a celebration be thought of without a Christmas tree? No, never.

In Britain the Christmas tree what we know today began in the 19^th century. In the Victorian era, the Norway fir tree was an important part of the Christmas celebration and the main focus was on the exchange of gifts. The tree will be decorated with small gifts, balloons, marigold, almonds, dolls etc.

There is an interesting event to support the existence of Christmas tree tradition. Victoria became the Queen of England in 1837 at the age of 18. In 1840 she married Prince Albert who gifted a well-decorated Christmas tree to his family at Windsor Castle for the Christmas in 1841. He distributed Xmas trees to schools and army to express his love for childhood memories. So gifting sapling kernels to wedding invitees is not at all modern.

The tree is commonly known as the Blue Spruce. Its botanical name is Picea pungens and the specie is a native of Colarado. The evergreen beautiful conical shaped slender tree with needle like foliage is ideal for lawns.

In Britain the Norway Spurce (Picea abeis) decorates the homes. Martin Luther took the credit of placing candles for the first time on the Christmas tree. We can try something to popularize our practice.

In our country the tree is sometimes substituted with Casuarina tree (savuku maram) branch that resembles the pattern. In Chennai, a giant Christmas tree is a regular attraction at the Spencer Plaza and in mega malls.

Come Christmas it is a fun learning experience to kids. It is believed that one million children write to Santa hoping to get a reply before Christmas. Of course Santa is not the one to disappoint them.

You can also write a letter to Santa Claus, North Pole, HOH OHO, Canada. Forget not to include your return address to receive a reply.  This indeed gives the holiday season to employees and retirees of Canada Postal service who take part wholeheartedly. Such is the influence of Christmas on kids around the world. For the visually challenged kids Santa promptly replies in Braille.

Season’s Greeting cards are handled in bulk by every postal and courier service. Ever since Sir Henry Cole introduced Christmas cards in 1843, the British Post Office was flooded with annual card mailings. It was in 1898 that the Canadian Post Office printed the first Christmas stamp. For Season’s greetings it is always nice to say it with a card.

The much-awaited slot to enjoy is the sweet creamy colourful cake, without which the celebration is not complete. In all major hotels, bakeries and Institutes of hotel management, the ceremony for soaking of fruits for baking Christmas cakes starts with jubilation.

In Chennai and Pondicherry, the age-old ceremony of cake mixing starts a few weeks before Christmas. Taj Coromandel, Le Royal Meridan, The Park, Grand Days and other leading star hotels gear up for the occasion.

The traditional Christmas cake has a long shelf life as it contains less flour but a lot of well preserved dry fruits soaked in liquor for a month. Brandy and rum are blended with wine to improve the finished products. Cherries, cashew nuts, raisins and dates are added to enhance the taste of the cake. Several bottles of golden syrup, molasses, honey and vanilla essence are poured into the mix and the flour is kneaded. The aroma of this festive mood may pull on till the New Year Eve.

Many churches in Chennai have arranged for special prayers on the Christmas Eve and midnight mass in some prominent ones like the Santhome Bascilica, Christ Church, Andrew’s Kirk, St.George’s Cathedral, Wesley and St. Paul’s. As a christmas gift, the Tamilnadu government has announced subsidy for Jerusalem pilgrimage and 500 christians will get the state aid.

After the mass on the Christmas Day, December 25, people in new wear enjoy the Christmas feast with family and friends. With the message of love and universal brotherhood, the celebration reaches the peak with mutual visit and greetings. The Indianised Christmas celebration has deep rooted into our tradition and is well received by everyone. Also Xmas eve reminds us of the bitter tsunami that swept seven years ago.

Gear up to welcome the joyous occasion. Santa is sure to visit your house and there… along the skyway the reindeers are speeding ahead to the tune of ‘Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way.’ Merry Christmas!
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* Travel & Shopp, Dec 2007,Chennai (The article has been modified in Dec 2011)