எழுத்தின் விதை

                                                                   


எழுத்துக்கள் எண்ணங்களின் வெளிப்பாடு;
எதிரியை எதிர்க்க இயலாதபோது இதயத்திற்கு
இதம் தரும் ஆறுதல் தாலாட்டு.

எழுத்துக்கள் பகிர்தலுக்கான முயற்சி;
உணர்ச்சிகளை ஊரார்க்கு உணர்த்தப் பயன்படும்
ஓர் சிறந்த கருவி.

வட்டியும் முதலுமாக, மறக்க நினைத்து, வேடிக்கைப் பார்க்க 
எனக்கும் ஆசைதான்.
என்ன செய்வது ?
என்னை நீங்கள் படிக்க 
நான் ராஜூ முருகனாகவோ மாரி செல்வராஜாகவோ முத்துக்குமாராகவோ 
இருக்க வேண்டுமே...

என் வாழ்க்கை நாடகத்தின் கதாப்பாத்திரங்கள்
என் வார்த்தைகளின் விதைகளாகி, விருட்சமாக வளர்ந்து,
இன்று விழுதுகளாக என்னோடு பயணிக்கின்றனர்.

இறந்த காலத்தின் கால்தடங்களை மறைத்து,
எதிர் கால கனவை நோக்கி,
இன்றைய நாளை நகர்த்திச் செல்லும்
இன்னுமோர் சிட்டுக்குருவி இது.

                                                                 - வைஷ்ணவி பிரசாத் .
                                                                   

Diwali delights

It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.

Nelson Mandela

This diwali season was busier than usual for two reasons: travel and guests. Mumbai beckoned us and we could not resist visiting the city weeks before diwali. Along came our parents and sibling after the visit. Shopping and people, do I need more to celebrate a festival?

After the guests had left, there was hardly a gap of 4 days for diwali and we had not heard anything about  diwali celebration in the apartment. The interest and unity among the residents had decreased year on year and now had almost reached saturation. I was too tired to ask for anything until my neighbor dropped into my house. "vaishnavi, what are doing this time for diwali ? ", she asked. "no idea" I shrugged. All were aware of the indifference in the apartment functioning and the new manager did little to improve it.

For the last five years, I had been actively involved  in the organizing of diwali celebration and now if it had to happen, I had to start it all alone. My energy levels had drained in the last few weeks but one question was sufficient to ponder over and begin with the preparations. What is the point of staying in a community and not getting together even once in a year? I decided to give it a try.

A message to all known apartment friends asking them to assemble for a meeting to decide on diwali celebration was sent. A word with the association treasurer made it clear that funds can be utilized to certain extent though nobody is ready to take it forward. Around 10 of us gathered and discussed. 5 of us took responsibilities for fund mobilization, gift purchasing, food arrangements and so on. I had to collect funds and make the seating and sound arrangements. For purchasing crackers, we needed men volunteers. I requested my husband to join another neighbor and he obliged despite being annoyed for not being able to go to our home town this diwali. Every volunteer did their part sincerely.

Diwali arrived and I was tensed as the celebration had to go as planned. We had  ball passing game for kids, balloon bursting game for men, gift snatching game for women and tombola for all. A full-fledged meal arrived and we happily gobbled it. Crackers were bursted and thus the day ended as expected.

Image : wikipedia

This time, I felt the need to propose a vote of thanks. With due credits, the organizers were applauded. Also, the need to attend meetings and discuss issues was stressed. I felt a sense of satisfaction at the end of the day. Here is a small thought shared on celebrations.

Festivals were meant for sharing and caring,
As we needed a reason to celebrate living.

Sweets, gifts and diwali lights,
To Those stressed souls come as delights.

What is the purpose of remembering traditions
If one cannot respect and reciprocate others' emotions?

After all, isn't it time we opened our doors to let light enter?
Isn't it time we broadened our minds for a bigger shelter?

Come, let us get together,
If not today, then it is never!

Motherhood lessons sundry - part 3

Having discussed the two important lessons of motherhood from my experiences here and here, it's time to have a look at the miscellaneous lessons (pardon me, unable to avoid the terms sundry and miscellaneous, being a business management student) learnt.

• Stereotyping: I go to the toy shop and the shop keeper asks for the age and gender of the child. I tell him. "Girl child aged 3? We have got a new kitchen set and doll house mam" comes the reply. I purposefully avoid it. I had mostly dressed up my girl in t-shirts and pants until she was two considering the cold weather in Bangalore. Try what may, I failed in keeping my daughter away from stereotypes. The environment influenced her or it was instinct, I don't know. Blue color and cars fascinate boys while pink color and dolls interest girls, naturally. On second thought I felt there was nothing wrong in a boy behaving like a boy and a girl being like one. However, it is our duty to teach them that boys can cook while girls do become firefighters as well.

Image courtesy : openclipart.org

         "Mamma, can I wear that pink frock today?" she asks. I take a deep breathe and nod with a  smile.

• Over and again: "Do you want me to read the story of Cinderella again? But you had been reading it from last week."

          "Daddy, why dont we sing boogie woogie? " (Not again! Daddy escapes with the excuse of      having a meeting)

          "Mamma, I want only idlis for lunch. Please"

Image courtesy: booksicals.com

         Do these statements sound familiar? Well, I can empathize with you. Children seem to have a  taste for a particular thing and like to stick on to it till they get bored. It's as if they enjoy it thoroughly and finally discard it, only to get back to it after a full cycle. Though offering varieties are important, it is fine if they donot want it for some time.

• Eat out: I being a over-concerned mother,used to pack dal chawal for my daughter when we went out. My friends were extra happy if I was coming as their kids would also get home made food, sometimes even snacks from home! When the child was 2, she refused to take a single bite after knowing that she was fed the same old stuff while we relished on colorful eatables. As we introduced her to outside food, she started liking the experience though her intake was less. If she is not allowed to choose when everybody chose, she might never develop a liking for food, I thought. Now, my girl happily hops into restaurants while I proudly flaunt the imported mini hand bag!

Image courtesy:sodahead.com

• Milestone developments: "My son can say hippopotamus from the age of one year two months" preened an acquaintance."Really?", I sounded impressed though I felt the father in the camera advertisement asking his two year old son to repeat Czechoslovakia seemed more reasonable.

Image courtesy:fisherpricemoms.ca

 "I trained my daughter for potty at the age of two" said another mother. I felt guilty. But my daughter did learn it a little later. Every child has a pace of learning which differs for various skills. Although I say this, I admit that I cannot help feeling bad when my child is not doing as much as the other kids. But I have seen that patience and constant encouragement lead to positive changes. Next time when I hear a mother boasting "my seven year old helps me chop vegetables ", I must try not telling, " Could you please send her home for some time? My husband is not well since yesterday."

Motherhood lessons - part 2

I had discussed about the first phase of motherhood, looking after a newborn in the previous post. My second phase was more of disengagement and self sympathy. I felt I had given too much and had forgotten to look after myself. I decided to take out time to relax and enjoy along with babysitting. Initially, it served as a big relief and boosted my morale. Slowly, the leisure activities and main work swapped. I insisted on finishing the daily bit of relaxation prior to other tasks. I began avoiding playing with the child. As I was desperately waiting to get her into school, it became more easier to reduce conversations with her thinking she has many other people outside to talk to.

After a few months, the child's attitude changed. She became adamant, angry and less sociable. I thought of it as part of growing up and ignored. Only when the problem persisted, I felt something was wrong. Then I knew it was more of my fault. Lesson learnt:

THE CHILD NEEDS ATTENTION AT ALL PHASES OF HIS/HER LIFE.

Lack of acknowledgement by parents affects the child's development. I have increased my interactions with her. Earlier, a family outing was seen as an opportunity to spend time with the spouse while the child enjoyed observing the surroundings. Now, it's also a time to interact with the kid and help widen her horizons.

Picture courtesy: thebabyshow.co.uk

"Baby, that is a museum where old artifacts are kept. We can go one day" , I told her though I was very sure that she would not understand it.
After a few seconds, she replied' " mamma, is it the same museum that Peppa pig visits with her family?"
I was surprised that she could recollect and relate it with a cartoon seen long back.
I was happy that I had taken the right decision.

Better late than never, right?

Motherhood lessons - part 1

DISCLAIMER: The author of this post is not an expert in parenting and only intends to share her learnings as a mother till date. The lessons learnt are subject to alteration based on her experiences in the coming years. The author cannot be held responsible for the same.

Motherhood, the most divine status bestowed upon a woman, transforms her and takes her into a roller coaster ride, hiding and revealing all that was unknown to her. This is my story of it and and I guess most of us do have something in common to agree with it.

Efforts vs results: The baby is born and like most of the mothers, I beam with pride and joy to see the little one sleeping peacefully. Not for long, though. Baby girl had taken amniotic fluid and had to be under the doctor's supervision for 24 hours. When she arrives with an injected wrist, the tiny hand with bandaid as she was fed through it for a day, my hear sinks and tears roll down the cheeks. She is fine for now. Evening becomes night and now starts the journey of motherhood!

She screams, cries, nobody knows why. I feed her and sway her but she whines the moment I let hold of her. Time I took up the challenge. I , mother of X, swear that I would strive hard to be the best mother on earth. The sacrifices begin. Sleep, food, clothing all adapted to suit her needs. Still she cries. Neighbors and family members curse the mother for not looking after the child properly. Doctor simply call her ' colic baby' . Now, why isn't my research on parenting all these months, helping me solve this issue? As months pass by, the child calms down. Too many methods adopted making it difficult to name one that attributed to the solving of the problem.

Picture courtesy:welladjustedbabies.com

I can see the child's growth and development being directly proportional to my efforts. I put in more efforts hoping for better results, and I did get it until she was 12 months. I had one more challenge. As a kid being a poor and fussy eater myself , I had decided to do all that I could to ensure that she was NOT like me. I wanted to see her as the ideal chubby Amul baby of yesteryear and not the skinny barbie girl! The day she learnt to say 'NO', the results began declining. I tried hard, all shortcuts but the results were short-lived. Later I realized my mistake and the takeaway being:

THE CHILD IS NOT AN INANIMATE OBJECT WHICH CAN BE MANIPULATED TO PRODUCE RESULTS.

Yes, like us, they had a body and a mind of their own. And their food habits are influenced by the parents habits both consciously and unconsciously. If I donot eat apple, I may not buy it often, and consecutively when the child is offered it once in a while, she may refuse it. "She is always a fussy eater. Never eats fruits".We conveniently reason it out. However, the child might love bananas, and will demand one everyday. This doesnot mean that we need not try feeding the child with all possible healthy options. Try your best even if the result is not proportional to the efforts. My eating habits changed when I grew up and all the health benefits my mother had listed with each food was remembered and followed (a few permanently deleted from memory:).

Believe me, you never know when your words would strike the right chord but they will fetch you results some day.

Sop in shopping 2030

Trends in shopping have evolved over time, keeping pace with changes in tastes and technology.
The advent of electronic media paved way to smart shopping trends such as online shopping and home deliveries. What next is the question that beseech marketers. Here are a few probabilities that could take shape in the future of shopping some seventeen years down the lane.

• Vending machines: The usage of vending machines in India has been primarily limited to CVMs  ie. Coffee Vending Machines, Condom Vending Machines or Cash vending Automated Teller Machines. Though vending machines are available for various products across the world such as the bicycle tubes vending machine in Germany or the book vending machine in the United Kingdom, it has not been very successful everywhere. If CVMs are possible, then there could be AVMs, BVMs, extending upto ZVMs, right? An improvisation would be Brand Vending Machines.

Rice Vending Machine in Japan

         Suppose every brand, like the banks, maintain accounts of customers pertaining to their purchases. If I am in urgent need of product X of brand Y, I could use the brand's vending machines located in different places and purchase using the brand card. Adding to it, the proposed technology by experts in the field such as Cisco where virtual product trial is possible could make it more attractive.Installation of Artificial Intelligence systems to track down the products used by celebrities of your choice and those that could suit your personality could be an added advantage.

• Customised entertainment: We live in an entertainment era, seeking fun and frolic in all our activities. Play schools, office outings, video games, 4d theaters are all a result of this need. Product and service customization are common today. Moving one step forward, entertainment could equally be customized. I could experiment with listening to Justin Bieber singing 'why this kolaveri' or Madonna shaking to 'Jalebi bai' with the help of technology. Also, one could gift entertainment vouchers where celebrities would exclusively perform to personal favorites. For instance, the famous magician Dynamo might perform exclusively on a virtual platform to YOU (of course at a cost)!

Why this Kolaveri?!!

Portable homes: The boom in realty sector coupled with the availability of amenities inside the gated communities made people feel the need to buy flats. Builders marketed their houses as situated in the heart of the city or with advanced amenities such as shopping malls, swimming pools, sports clubs inside the community. Still, we wanted more options. Now, instead of making all the facilities fixed inside your house, how would you like being transported along with your home to the place of your choice?

                                           Home Home Go Away, Come Again Another Day!

The concept of portable homes is not new. The oldest mobile home dates back to the 1950s. Because of non-durability and other factors, it was not an option considered by many. But today, our busy lives and the craving for variety in every aspect of lifestyle choices could make it a hit.
Imagine it is the end of the financial year and you are forced to stay in office for days. The better option could be shifting your house near to you place of work. The long annual holidays leave you and your kid feel bored. Why not shift the house adjacent to the best park in the city? And when it is shopping season raining discounts everywhere, wouldn't the women love to shift themselves closer to the shopping centers? However, this involves consideration of many aspects such as space allocation based on demand and pricing,on seasonal basis.


These are only a few possibilities that could bring about a radical change in the way we shop in 2030. Inventions and constant innovations in technology may provide more opportunities to cater to the shopping needs of the people. One thing is for sure, the need for more will never fade thereby welcoming all positive paradigm shifts in shopping trends.

Image courtesy : wikipedia

This post is written for 'The future of shopping' contest by Indiblogger, in association with ebay.in.

Redolence of nostalgia

Among the different senses that a human possesses, the sense of smell is unique.  It is associated with a vital body part, the nose, without which existence is ruled out. While a person could be visually/hearing impaired or handicapped or mentally retarded, it is not possible  to be completely devoid of olfactory perception.

There are various smells that remind me of  different stages in my life. I have attempted to classify them under different categories below.

I. FOOD: The first thing that strikes me is the aroma of hot piping rasam in my house. The combination of tomato, jeera, tamarind, asafoetida and coriander leaves makes me ask for more, by the mere smell of it. I cannot forget the street hawker who sold fried groundnuts with a tic-titictic rhythm in his frying, everytime I eat groundnuts. One could sense it miles before he arrives by its whiff in the air. Not forgetting to mention, the aroma of freshly brewed filter coffee. Yes, they make the breakfast complete. These aromas take me to the days where I had to sit back and relax while I got all I wanted without having to get up from the chair!

Image courtesy: rasam.co.in, coffee.wikia.com

 





II. PEOPLE: It is scientifically proven that human beings have unique odors just like fingerprints. And I can differentiate the smell of three intimate people in my life, mother, grandmother and husband. Mommy had a scent which was a mix of the fragrance of jasmine flower worn in her head, sweat and her perfume. Grandma on the other hand possessed a blend of strong sweat(she perspires a lot) smell and kitchen masala. I am planning to gift her a good body spray. Hubby has an oily skin and I could smell it along with his deodorant. When I encounter people using the same brand of perfumes and deos, I am reminded of them. Not being a perfume-person, I had always wondered how I smelled to others?!

Image courtesy : webmd.com

III. SEASON: Each smell reminds me of the season associated with it. The moist smell during winter, smell of fireworks during festivals, new books at the time of school re-opening, incense of agarbathis  during poojas, cosmetics while going to parties, milk powder and baby wipes after child birth, the list goes on.

Image courtesy:zigwheels.com

After we bought a car, I somehow didn't like to travel in it. Every time I sat inside the car, I would wait impatiently to get out of it at the earliest. Then I discovered that it was the odor of closed space that caused that nauseating feel. We settled with an ambi pur car air freshener with the suggestion of friends. Today, I wait impatiently for a ride in the car. Also ambi pur room fresheners come handy during get-togethers in the house. Now, I happily associate a pleasure ride and fun filled party with ambi pur.

How do you associate the different smells and fragrances with your life?

This is a post written for smelly to smiley contest by Ambi pur India.

As beautiful as your work

She sees a three-year-old waving good-bye to her parents with tear-filled eyes. Instantly, she picks up the little girl and takes her inside the classroom. Finding a boy punished for hitting his friend, she enquires the class teacher in a serious tone about the incident. Meanwhile, the attender hands her a cup of tea. " Dandapani annae, innoru glass kondu vaanga" (Brother Dandapani, get another glass of tea) she tells. Dandapani nods.

 Out of the 3000 odd students, 50 odd teachers and support staffs, she not only remembers most of their names but also their backgrounds. No wonder, she is the winner of the best teacher award for several years in the state apart from the women achiever award et al  . SHE is Mrs.Premalatha Panneerselvam, Principal of my school.

Beloved Madam Principal Premalatha Panneerselvam

Image courtesy:hindu.com

Draped in a cotton saree, sporting a red bindi in her forehead, Premalatha madam was a motherly figure to us. Every morning, there used to be a story read or incident shared to teach us about values."The true purpose of education is to refine oneself" was one of her favorite quotes. Her school provides 'wholesome education' according to her. It has helped thousands of students like me to go beyond the text books.

She never fails to warn her students of their safety by saying a big no to riding bikes prior to the recommended age. She also goes to the height of taking the naughty ones to her home so as to ensure that they learn to behave well and concentrate on academics.

Her kindness did pass over to the other teachers as well. Melinda mam who held preschoolers in her hip and fed food, Lakshmi mam who shared her lunch to the ones who had forgotten to carry theirs, Saro mam who helps solve problems of the adolescents, Rosy man who wishes her old students even before they recognize her, the list goes endless.

Dear mam, your beautiful smile, that stern look when things go wrong and the warm hug to console the disturbed minds, you are as beautiful as your work!!!

This post is written as an entry for Tanishq Mia As Beautiful As Your Work contest hosted by women's web.

Celebrating life

It was wedding season last month in my family. We had a cousin's wedding, another cousin's engagement, a distant relative's wedding and my brother-in-law's wedding. After 5 years of married life, I was enjoying the marriage preparations once again, in fact, with lesser tension and more involvement this time.

Weddings have always been an exciting event for me right from my childhood. Reason one, I liked dressing up for social gatherings and reason two, I liked watching people and talking to them. This time, I was glad I could indulge myself entirely in both these tasks.

Here I go dressed up neatly for a wedding...

Introspecting further on the big Indian weddings, I realized it is not the union of two hearts or even two families alone as suggested by Chetan Bhagat in his book '2 states', but the union of many more souls. Marriages mend strained relationships, bring together broken families and serve as the source of new bondings. Relatives relate to each other, friends get together, children play with each other and couples relish on their wedding memories. Despite the huge expenses and a few bitter experiences with the all-time-complainers, the hosts feel contended after a wedding ceremony.

When people comment on the big fat weddings as wastes of resources, we need to stop and think for a while. How often do we sit together and talk as families about a common purpose? How many times have we taken our relatives to a restaurant and treated them wholeheartedly? When was the last time we had seen our cousins who once were closer than our parents and siblings? What have we gifted to our uncles and aunts without whose support our parents could not have brought us up to this extent? Our metro lives teach us to spend time and money with friends, even save some for charitable purposes. Sadly, we have forgotten our own people in home towns who need our support in some way.

Now I have made up my mind to witness wedding ceremonies and wish not just the couple a blissful beginning, but the entire lot over there, a lovely restart of their remarkable journeys!

YOU AND ME

Image courtesy:9to5hdwallpapers.com

A nonchalant you,
An over-excited me;
A pragmatic you,
A nostalgic me.

When the monotonous life yearns for a break,
When the merry-loving me goes for a trek,
I wait for the down-to-earth you,
To look forward to give back my due.

As you are you and I am me,
I realize its my duty to fill your heart with glee;
Therefore back I am, the emotional me,
Not waiting anymore, you see.

A nonchalant you,
An over-excited me;
A pragmatic you,
A nostalgic me.

Abroad

" How many times do I tell you to beware of your spellings? Though you seem to have understood the concept, you are not able to express it in proper English". Jenny mam sounded serious this time.

"Cool down mam, I will manage it in the public exam. You not worry." Arun was all smiles without the slightest feel of remorse or fear.

We girls were giggling at his words. "Hey, dont laugh. This is abroad english. you not understand."
This time, Arun was serious and Jenny mam had to try hard controlling herself from smiling.

Abroad Arun, as we fondly call him, was my classmate  in 12th standard (PUC). He joined our school after his SSLC from a government school. This cool guy never got tensed. And he knew the knack of handling anybody at any point of time. I was a fan of his sense of humor and timely wit.

On the last day of school, we were exchanging slam books. Arun returned mine and I found the 'ambition in life' column left empty. I pointed it to him. In a hushed tone, he said, "you know what, dont share future plan with others. It wont happen. Because you are one of my best friends, I tell you. My ambition is to go abroad." He smiled.  Amateur kid, I pitied.

Seven years later, I was busy with my marriage preparations. To all those not so close, I had sent the invite through orkut, the social networking site that was popular, then. On the eve of my wedding, I got a call from an unknown number.

"Congrats Vaishnavi! I reached India yesterday. I will be coming there in a few minutes". The voice sounded familiar. But I could not remember. "Hey, dont remember still? This is abroad Arun", came the response. I was surprised. Being in the midst of the photo session, his words did not sink into my head.

After a few hours, my school friends came and along came Arun with a big gift and a broader smile.
He told he was working in a pizza outlet in London. Still the same naughty fellow, I thought. Nasira interrupted me. He was right. I was perplexed. How did he go to London? He could not speak a sentence in English correctly. His father, a simple cloth bag manufacturer could not have afforded it either.

Nasira explained it to me. During his college days, he had worked part-time, involving himself in a range of activities such as delivering newspapers, selling insurance policies, typing assignments and even going for election rallies. He had saved the money earned, attended spoken English class and had gone to London, his life ambition.

He might not have studied hard and earned a great job. He might not have purchased properties in his name. But for a person like Arun, going abroad in itself was a dream and he had realized it.

Today, his facebook status was updated.

 'Promoted as a branch manager. Am very happy".
His profile picture was changed. Arun was standing near the Big Ben with his wife and one-year-old daughter, and yes, with a big broad smile as usual. I smiled.

I wish to get my story published in Chicken Soup for the Indian Entrepreneurs Soul in association with BlogAdda.com

Games children played

The playing adult steps sideward into another reality; the playing child advances forward to new stages of mastery.

Erik H. Erikson

American psychoanalyst

I know I am a bit late in posting this article as the summer vacation for kids is almost over, but this compilation of games children played two decades ago as observed by me, might help you find different ways to engage your kid.

I myself find it tough to keep my 3-year-old busy, sigh. However, as a kid I was more creative and enthusiastic in indulging myself in self-play and engaging my fellow friends (I seriously admit to have lost most of my innovative thinking and innocence as I grew up:( ). Here are a few things we did during our holidays:

I. Indoor fun: Due to the hot weather, most of our day time was spent indoors doing the following.

. Board games - The board games played today existed then as well. Business/trade (better known as monopoly today), Snake and ladder, chess were some of them. The twist lied in one important aspect - not all of us owned one, so we made our own board game with crayons and sketch pens. Every kid added their unique places in monopoly and colorful snakes, making it more interesting.

. Greeting card making - My school used to teach us make greeting cards with different materials and
we always shared them with the neighbourhood friends of other schools. During Diwali,New year, 
birthdays, we ensured to make our own cards and surprise friends and parents by keeping them in their cupboards. Out of over-enthusiasm, I once threw the greeting card through the closed doors of a neighbor who had gone on a holiday, hoping to surprise her on her returning a week later. I was dissappointed and she embarrassed, when we found the card in the dustbin the next week :(. Couresy - Her over-enthusiastic maid on the attempt of impressing her masters with a spic and span house had done it!

SAY IT WITH YOUR OWN CARD

IMAGE COURTESY : http://doodlegum.com

.Other games - Hangman, Name-place-animal-thing, word crocodile , anthakshari, dumb charades, quiz were the other games played. We decided on the game to be played based on majority of votes.

II. Outdoor fun: We did not stay in an apartment. Still, the streets which were not traffic prone were our playgrounds. The following games were played by us with great excitement.

. Color color - The thief who comes in search of colorful jewellery spells out a color after which we run to touch objects of that color befor he catches us. At times,it was a fair game. Some times when we were bored, we would agree to play pranks on the catcher. For instance, when he shouts black, we run towards him much to his confusion, and pull his hair in all directions :)

. Pair game - The kids are supposed to pair themselves in numbers called out by the leader and the one who doesnot pair himself before being caught is out.

.stone or sand - Popularly known as kalla manna in Tamil, children stand near the gates of houses. They must go to the house which the leader tells. He can catch you as long as you are in the sand ie., the road. You must run to reach the gates of the house told, as a group, at your full speed.

NONDI AATTAM

IMAGE COURTESY : www.traditionalgames.in

.Other games - Apart from these,some of the other games played include hide and seek, lock and key, skipping, throw ball, flying kites, marble game, top game and paandiaattam/nondiaattam .

Children learn faster from children than adults. It is important to nurture their growth in their natural play. A request to today's mothers - Let them learn to make mistakes while playing with their friends.
 You may be your child's guardian, but he/she has to co-exist with those kids after a while when you may not be there to direct him/her.

The end

"It will be over before your ad break", pleaded hubby as I stopped at Sony Max when I was flipping between the final over of a not-so-interesting IPL match and the climax of an unheard old movie. It was only then did my grey cells start setting to think hard on how obsessive we were to know THE END of anything and everything. More importantly, it is the result that matters irrespective of performance.


As suggested in a Tamil movie, in a race, the winner is one who reaches the end line first, not the one who leaves the start line first. Similarly in examinations, the highest scorer in the final exam is deemed to be the most brilliant student irrespective of the year-long performances. We are judged based on the end result. If so, what is the plight of a person who had put his maximum efforts all his time but couldnot perform adequately on d-day due to unforeseen circumstances? What if a director had spun an exciting plot with interesting characters but made a mistake in presenting the perfect climax? Sadly, these people are neglected by the society.


Maybe they are equally responsible for their failures in life. A certain level of smartness is required surely. Ramanujan could get recognized for his mathematical contributions because of his network of professors and friends. Shakunthala Devi was not that fortunate. Anna Hazare could gain media attention by roping in eminent personalities in various fields for his cause. Irom Sharmila has not learnt it yet.


If you think they were not smart, wait a minute. Had we learnt the techniques used for rapid mathematical calculations from Shakunthala or strongly supported the fight against AFSPA with Sharmila, our country would have had much more acceptance in the global arena. WE are the ones who lacked the smartness to harness our resources.


Having said all that, I would consider success not in terms of the goals achieved but in terms of the tough fight fought. It is not just the destination but the journey with memorable moments and learnings for generations to come that would make our short stay in this planet worthwhile.

Singapore, Malaysia, India

Last week, we had been on a holiday to Singapore and Malaysia, my first visit abroad. Also, it was my first flight journey. When the flight took off from the runway, my joy knew no boundaries. I kept looking down to ensure that I was in the sky literally. Moreover, the sight of sunrise made my journey more memorable. It was an exhilarating experience to witness the changeover from night to day.

THE CHANGEOVER AS CLICKED WITH MY CAMERA

As my experiences are plenty to share, I felt that they could be shared under different posts. In this post, I would like to reflect upon the people and culture of Singapore and Malaysia, as against India. Being an Indian, let me point out the facts that made me feel proud to be in India than elsewhere.

|. BANNED PUBLIC SMOKING : Ever since public smoking was banned in 2008, the chances of passive smoking was drastically reduced. Only when I inhaled second-hand smoke in Singapore and Malaysia, did I realize the boon of banned public smoking in India.

NO SMOKING

PICTURE COURTESY: wikipedia.org

||. VEGETARIAN DIET : Statistics have proven that consumption of fruits and vegetables are more healthier compared to a non-vegetarian diet. Health benefits of such a vegetarian diet are numerous. Being a person who cannot eat non-veg barring chicken and fish (if cooked properly), I found it difficult to find a veg item in the restaurants abroad. I was astonished to learn that India was the first country where Mc Donald's does not offer any beef or pork item and has developed a special menu with vegetarian selections to suite the Indian palate. The retail food giant has specially re-engineered it's operations to separate veg and non-veg food processing.

INDIAN VEGETARIAN DIET

PICTURE COURTESY : http://sbioak.org

Now, it's time to pinpoint the merits of Singapore and Malaysia over India.

|. CULTURAL DIVERSITY : India boasts itself to be a country of cultural diversity. We claim to be united despite our differences. However, the religious and cultural tolerances of people have come down significantly over the last few years. Various incidents have occurred to prove this statement. Singapore, on the other hand, as a country inhabited by migrants a few centuries back, has a rich and diverse population. Most importantly, every person respects the religious sentiments and beliefs of other citizens.

DIFFERENT RACES, ONE COUNTRY

PIC COURTESY: goingplaces.sg

The sight of Indian woman wearing gold jewellery with jeans or Malay Muslims wearing burqa with western wear is common there. Whereas in India, we ape western culture and consider clothing and language to be the only way of expressing modernity. Anyone wearing traditional attire or talking local language is never respected.

THE PEOPLE

PICTURE COUTESY: voyage99.com

The Indian government also fails to recognize the importance of ethnic identity and tries to promote a single language, Hindi, despite the fact that some of the other languages are more primitive and considered classics. When Tamilnadu opposed Hindi in schools in the mid 1960s, the state was totally sidelined. I was unhappy when I moved to Bangalore and found it difficult to speak in Hindi. Today, I feel proud that my state helped me learn Tamil because of which my identity has not been disrupted totally. Other languages can be learnt anytime but it is important to know one's mother tongue.
In Singapore, the first language is English and the second language is one's mother tongue which is either Chinese, Malay or Tamil. When I heard Muniyandi,Nathan,Kalai,Velan, who had been Singaporeans/Malaysians for about three generations speak Tamil in an impeccable manner, I was surprised. They were happy to be Singaporeans and Malaysians, as well as Tamilians.

||. ADHERENCE TO RULES: Singapore is a country well known for its discipline. The people are punctual and 9am is always 8:55 am and never later than the prescribed time. Also, the traffic rules were strictly adhered to by the citizens. People had the patience to wait for their turn. Malaysia was truly Asia in this sense. I guess you got my point:) Yes, the traffic was similar to that of Bangalore.

CARS ON ROAD AT SINGAPORE

PICTURE COURTESY: traffictechnologytoday.com

Having discussed the differences, I am sure there is a strong need for us to inculcate self-esteem through our value systems without blindly following the west. If done so, there are chances for us to regain our lost self sufficiency and global competency in the coming years.

Friends at home

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.

C. S. Lewis

My married life in bangalore had taught me many lessons of which the important one is to value friendship. Brought up as a home loving girl under the protection of parents, it took me some time to adjust and accept people as they are. More so when you are the odd one out. My apartment is primarily inhabitated by north Indians and imagine the plight of a conservative (atleast in dressing:) south indian there! Third language in school and chitrahar in doordarshan did little help. It was my mother tongue sourashtra that made it easier for me to learn the language faster. Today, I can understand hindi, speak fairly well and even manage to watch hindi movies.

February was my month to host kitty party at my house. To me, maths and cooking are alike in one aspect. I can do it if I must do it, not otherwise. That is, I am less passionate about them though if I attempt, I get through with good results if not great outcomes. I had been thinking hard day and night on the menu and games. Obviously the latter was easier to decide upon.

The D-Day did come and here goes my menu for the party:

*Lemon sharbath (Ondipuli brand from Madurai)

*Bovonto (Soft drink from Madurai)

*Malpuva

*Raw banana bajji bonda

*Idli

*Mix veg gravy with coconut milk

*Onion chutney

*Coconut chutney

*Tamarind rice

*Brown channa

*Soya chunks peas pulao

*Cucumber raita

*Plain rice

*Rasam

*Soya beans gravy

*Curd

*Ice cream

My friends loved the idlis and pulao. As for the games, we played dumb charades, making matchstick equations and word crocodile. The day ended with a hot cup of tea.


Making matchstick equations

I was pleased at my ability to host a party at home.

Thanks to my friends who made my day. For someone who wants a ear to hear her incessantly and be by her side during tough times, dears, you are simply awesome!

காலம் கற்றுக்கொடுத்தது

பெற்றோர் ஆசிரியர் சந்திப்பிற்காக
பாப்பாவின் பள்ளிக்குச் சென்றிருந்தேன்.
ஆர்வமாய் ஆயாக்காவை சுட்டிக்காட்டி
"இதுதான் காளியம்மா " என்றாள்.
சிரித்த முகமாய் இருந்த காளியம்மவைப்
பார்த்து புன்னகைக்க நினைத்த போடு
சிக்கலான எண்ணம் தோன்றியது.
பண்டிகையைக் காரணம் காட்டி
பணம் கேட்டு விடுவாளோ?!
இருபத்தைந்து வருட வாழ்க்கை அனுபவம்
எல்லோரையும் சந்தேகப்படு என்பதைத்தானா
கற்றுக்கொடுத்தது ?
விடை தெரியாமல் வெட்கித் தலை குனிந்தேன்.


- வைஷ்ணவி பிரசாத்

இடம் பெயர்தல்

Painting by S.Ilayaraja
Pic courtesy: alraja.blogspot.in

இறுக்கமான முகத்தை தவிர்த்து
இதழ்கள் விரித்து சிரிக்க வேண்டும்

சுடிதாருக்கு துப்பட்டாவும்
சுருட்டை முடிக்கு சீயக்காயும்
போட வேண்டும்

ஆற்றுத் தண்ணீரை அடுப்பில் வைத்து
ஆரிய பின் குடிக்க வேண்டும்

பக்கத்து வீட்டுக்காரருடன்
பேசிப் பழக வேண்டும்

பிழைக்க நகரம் வந்த எனக்கு
விடுமுறைக்கு ஊருக்குத் திரும்ப
பயமாக இருக்கிறது,

நான் மீண்டும்
நானாக மாற வேண்டுமே...



- வைஷ்ணவி பிரசாத்