tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63636896575026220522024-03-14T00:48:38.481+05:30alpha-beta-blogmabhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-78690275767968097132013-02-04T23:24:00.000+05:302013-02-05T18:31:55.285+05:30கொசுவரூபம்<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>குறிப்பு</u>: இப்பதிவில் இடம்பெறும் எல்லா கதாபாத்திரங்களும் கற்பனையே (என்று குறிப்பிடுமாறு கேட்டுக்கொள்ளப்பட்டேன்).</span><br />
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<i><span style="color: blue;">"நுளம்பு மனிதக் குருதியை நுண்ணிய ஊசி போன்ற வாயுறுப்பால் அகத்துறிஞ்சி தனது வயிறு அல்லது கண்டப்பைக்குள் செலுத்தும். கண்டப்பைக்குள் செலுத்தப்பட்ட குருதி, சில நொதியங்கள் சேர்க்கப்பட்டு நுளம்புக்கான உணவாக கண்டப்பையுள் சேகரிக்கப்படும். அதேவேளை மனித உடலில் இருந்து நுளம்பு குருதியை அகத்துறிஞ்சும் போது தனது உமிழ் நீரை மனித உடலுக்குள் பாய்ச்சும்."</span></i></blockquote>
படிப்பவர் விக்கித்துப் போகும் அளவிற்கு விக்கிப்பீடியா வர்ணிக்கும் நுளம்பு தன் வாயுறுப்பால் என் குருதியை அகத்துறுஞ்சும் துன்பியல் செயல் நான் பிறந்த கி.பி 1982ம் வருடம் முதலே நடந்து கொண்டிருப்பதுதான். நுளம்பு என்பது அறிவியல் புனை கதைகளில் வரும் வேற்று கிரக விலங்கெல்லாம் இல்லை.... நம் இரத்த பந்தமாகிய "கொசு" தான். "கொசுவப் பத்தியெல்லாம் பிளாக் எழுதறான்யா" என்று "சமநோக்கு சன்மார்க்க" விருதுக்கு என்னைச் சிபாரிசு செய்யும் முன் என் கதையைக் கேட்டு விடுங்கள்.<br />
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80 டிகிரி வடக்கு தீர்க்க ரேகையும் 23 டிகிரி கிழக்கு அட்ச ரேகையும் முட்டும் இடத்தில் அமைந்திருக்கும் சைதாப்பேட்டையில் நான் வாசம் செய்வது இந்தச் சமூகம் அறிந்ததே. மேற்படி சைதையில், கொசுக்கள், பதினாறும், மேலும் பல கோடியும் பெற்று பெரு வாழ்வு வாழ்வது பற்றி அறியாதவர் அறிந்து கொள்க. விடுதியில் நான் சேர்ந்தபொழுதே, ஏற்கனவே இங்கே வாசம் செய்து வந்த அனுபவசாலி நண்பர்கள் கொசுக்களுடனான தங்கள் இரத்த உறவு குறித்து எச்சரிக்கை செய்தனர்.<br />
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காந்தியத்தில் நாட்டம் உடையவனாகக் கூறிக்கொள்ளும் நான், சுதேசி மற்றும் அகிம்சாவாதத்* தயாரிப்பான குட் நைட் திரவத்தை (* - <a href="http://www.godrej.com/godrej/Godrej-ConsumerProducts/GoodKnight.aspx?id=381&menuid=2290" target="_blank">ஆதாரம்</a>) ஒரு மாதம் உபயோகித்தேன். திரவத்தின் தரத்தாலோ, அல்லது கொசுச் சமூகத்தின் பொங்கல் நோன்பு காரணமாகவோ இரவுகளில் அதிகத் தொந்தரவு இன்றி உறங்க முடிந்தது.<br />
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நிற்க. மேற்படி நித்திரை சுகம் ஒரு மாதமே நீடித்தது. வீரியம் பெருக்கின கொசுப்படைகள். ரீங்காரமிட்டபடி திசைகள் பலவற்றிலிருந்தும் தாக்கிக் குருதி குடித்தன. சென்னை உஷ்ணத்திலும் போர்வைக்குள் விரைப்பாக உறங்க வேண்டிய நிலை. பிரமிடுகளுக்குள் சென்று பதனிடலாக்கப்பட்ட எகிப்து மம்மிகளிடமிருந்தே இரத்தம் உறிஞ்சும் திறன் கொண்டவை எங்கள் பகுதி கொசுக்கள். என் போர்வை வித்தைகள் எம்மாத்திரம்! என் போர்வை வியூகத்தை முறியடிக்க வீரப் போரிட்டுப் போர்வையில் ஆங்காங்கு இரத்தச் சரித்திரம் தெளித்திருந்தன சில கொசுக்கள். சில கொசுக்கள் வெற்றியும் பெற்று என் உடலெங்கும் கலிங்கத்துப் பரணி எழுதிச்சென்றன.<br />
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இனியும் பொறுத்தால் இரத்த சோகை ஏற்படும் (எனக்கு!) என்றஞ்சி செயலில் இறங்கியதில், முன்பொரு காலத்தில் நான் நிகழ்த்திய சாதனையை நானே முறியடிக்க நேர்ந்தது. ஆம்....ரங்க நாதன் தெருவில் இறங்கி <b>யாருடைய காலையும் மிதிக்காமல்</b> சரவணா ஸ்டோர்ஸை அடைந்தேன். கொசுவலை வாங்கினேன். கொசு வலையை அறையின் மத்தியிலே மிகவும் கோலாகலமாய்த் தோரணம் கட்டினேன். இரவு பதினொரு மணி போல் கொசுக் கூடாரத்துக்குள் குடியேறிக் கட்டையைச் சாய்த்தேன்.<br />
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சில நிமிடங்களில் உறங்கிப் போனேன். கனவுலகில் சஞ்சரித்திருந்தவன் கைகளில் அரிப்பு ஏற்படவே, சொறிந்து கொள்ள நேர்ந்தது. ஏதோ சரியில்லை என்று ஆழ்மனம் எச்சரித்தது. என்னவென்று புரிந்து கொண்டு கனவுலகில் இருந்து மீண்டு வர இரண்டொரு நிமிடங்கள் பிடித்தன. கண் விழித்துப் பார்த்தால் வலைக்குள் மிதவை வானூர்திகள் போல வட்டமிட்டுக் கொண்டிருந்தன கொசுக்கள். தூக்கக் கலக்கத்தில் அகிம்சைத் தத்துவம் ஆட்டம் கண்டது. நைட் லாம்ப் வெளிச்சத்தில் முடிந்த வரை காவு வாங்கினேன். பின் எழுந்து விளக்கைப் போட்டவன் அதிர்ந்து போனேன். மானை வேட்டையாடும் ஓநாய்க் கூட்டம் போல கொசு வலையின் வெளிப்புறத்தில் வெறியோடு சூழ்ந்திருந்தன கொசுக்கள். உற்று நோக்கினால் ஒவ்வொன்றும் நம்பியார் போல் கையைப் பிசைந்து கொண்டிருந்தது. பார்ப்பதற்கே திகிலாக இருந்தது. பழையபடி போர்வைக்குள் சரணடைந்தேன்.<br />
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நேற்று சில பிரத்தியேக ஏற்பாடுகள் மூலம் கூண்டு போல கொசுவலையைக் கட்டிக் கொண்டேன். நீண்ட நாட்களுக்குப் பிறகு நன்கு உறங்கினேன். இன்னும் சில நாட்களில் இந்த அமைப்பையும் இந்தக் கொசுக்கள் <span style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21.328125px;">ஊடுருவி</span> விடும். இரத்த தானம் செய்ய விரும்புவோர் விண்ணப்பிக்கவும்.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>Pictures courtesy</u>:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">www.zaidicentre.org </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">www.deathbycupcakes01.blogspot.com</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">www.cartoonstock.com</span></div>
bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-57021786453889492312012-11-23T14:11:00.000+05:302012-11-23T19:46:12.985+05:30Venu Lane - The festival of lights<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-align: left;">The heart used to thump aloud even as our bus entered the bus stand. From within the bus, I would try to spot mama waiting to receive us. And when we got down from the bus, sister and I would unsuccessfully try hugging him with our little arms. During the long walk to home, mom would ask him if the others had arrived - calling out the names of their brothers and sisters...and we would eagerly listen to his answers. Like any kid, we had our favorites and we were eager to know if they were visiting too. Plus, there was always the undeclared competition as to who arrived first.</span></div>
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The otherwise badly lit streets would pose a romantic appearance with numerous little lamps placed in the porch, steps and parapets - adding to them, the brightly lit faces of the residents. Each street had a couple of relatives or friends who would greet mom as we walked past their homes. Occassionally, we would be stopped by the warning-cries of the kids who had just lit a cracker, sangu-chakram or bushvaanam. Some kids would yell late and the crackers would burst right under our march. Sister and I would stick to the protective heels of mama holding his legs tightly.<br />
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When we reached Venu Lane, we would find grandpa anxiously walking between the entrance of the house and the entrance of the street to see if we were arriving, as if we would lose our way if he were not at the street corner to receive us. The hundred meter sprint would start as soon as we reached the street corner. We would run past the neighboring houses. It used to be fun running past uncles, aunts, cousins and stop only at the kitchen - for, it was the most opportune moment to prove to the world that we were the most favorite grandchildren of grandma. When we walked out of the kitchen, we would have a plate full of kachayam, rava laddu, adhirasham, murukku and laddu all of them filled with the expertise of grandma and aunts.<br />
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Then it was boasting time with cousins about "first rank", "class leader", "first prize", "new cycle", "new TV", "Rajini movie" etc. As the clock neared 9pm, all the kids would start "the wait" for "chithappa". He was the one who financed our crackers every Deepavali, but he typically arrived late after closing business for the day. During "the wait", everyone would make their demand to me - because, I was the one always chosen by chithappa to accompany him to the cracker shop. The big cousins would want saravedi, atom bombs and onion bombs. The slightly younger ones would want lakshmi vedi, kurivi vedi, double shot and seven shot. While, saattai, maththaappu, sangu-sakkaram, bushvanam would be recommended for the younger ones. Used to sleeping by 8pm on school days, I would find it hard to keep my eye-lids open until chithappa arrived. But all the sleep would vanish the moment he beeped the horns of his bike.<br />
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At the cracker shop, the shop-keepers would recommend all the new arrivals...though tempted to buy them, I would stick to the demand list given to me, recalling who wanted what. When I was done calling out my list, chithappa would add some of his childhood favorites like bijili vedi, snake pills, cartoon creepers and the forbidden ones - that is, rockets - the ones that my big cousins wanted but would not ask for - fearing the wrath of the elders in the family. Back home, someone would take the cracker box and put it securely on the loft. I would ask mama to check if the box had maththaappu, then I would ask him how many packets of saattai were there, then I would say we missed bushvaanam. Understanding my intention, a pack of maththaappu would be given for immediate entertainment.<br />
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In the meanwhile another young group would have opened the mehandi desk, trying out designs from simple initials to Eiffel tower to complex geometry in the palms and feet. Kids running behind the elders to have their backs rendered the luxurious service of 'itching' which would have been made difficult by the mehandi decors.<br />
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Then would start the big fight to find a place for everyone to sleep. I would demand a place next to grandma or grandpa and also next to my favorite cousin. All the pranks for only a few minutes as I would have already crossed my stay-awake-threshold. On the morning of Deepavali, (read "3am"), the house would be in a busy mode. Some would have already gotten ready, some would be drenched in oil waiting to take bath and some would already be taking bath. Among the kids, there would be this big race to take bath first - for - the one to take bath first had the privilege to light the first firework. But that involved an opportunity cost - kids were given oil bath by one among the aunts or grandma who took turns. I used to be scared of being given bath by big aunt - for - she did a thorough job - clutching the hairs as if one would become bald after the bath. During the course of the bath she would declare that she was going to wash off all the melanin. So, I preferred waiting for grandma's turn and sometimes pulled her out of kitchen to take up the all important job of bathing me first.<br />
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After a short innings with the light-weight crackers, it would be time to wait for grandpa to give us our new dresses. Then it would be time to go around the street flaunting our new dresses. After this ramp-walk, it would be time to watch the big kids perform their challenging act of bursting the heavy-weight crackers. When no one was watching, they would secretly bring a bottle(the launch pad) and start launching the rockets. Some rockets used to take diversion and traverse through neighboring houses and some used to land on nearby roofs. By this time, someone among the elders would have sensed the mischief and come out to ban further launches. The big kids would be condemned for violating the ballistic missile treaty and chithappa would be blamed for funding the rockets. The missile launches having been banned, it would then be time for the atom and onion bombs. Grandma would shout at us saying that one of these bombs would collapse the house. She did this every Deepavali. But the house stayed intact everytime.<br />
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Amidst the state of chaos, breakfast, tea-time and lunch would happen as scheduled. It is difficult to imagine how the elders in the family kept track of who had taken breakfast/lunch and who was yet to take food. Someone or other ensured that the kids were fed. It used to be gala time through out the day with no restriction on what to eat and where to go. At the fall of night, grandma would ask all of us to gather and perform the "drishti" ritual fearing that someone would have jinxed our togetherness.<br />
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The time to start packing would eventually arrive. One by one, uncles, aunts and cousins would start leaving. Those were the saddest moments at that young age. The next vacation would seem far far away. We would exchange parting gifts from our exclusive collectibles like chocolate wrapper, colour buttons, 2paise coin, spiderman sticker, etc. The next working day, we would be in a different world dressed up in school uniform and worrying about homeworks and recounting the Deepavali celebration to our friends in school. The only solace used to be that Kaarthikai deepam would give an opportunity to relive those moments in a miniature.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>pictures courtesy</u>: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.pathikbhatt.com/2011/india-diwali-satellite-image-real-or-fake/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.apollolife.com/HealthyLiving/EnvironmentalHealthGreenLiving/LightUpAnEcoFriendlyDiwali.aspx</span></div>
bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-37680028665854804312012-07-21T21:13:00.000+05:302012-07-21T21:15:35.787+05:30An evolving memoir<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<em>"There is a disadvantage with being punctual, especially, when you are an exception in a group that loathes timeliness. Thankfully, our meeting point this time was a bookshop. I could remain engrossed in the infinite number of pages, until my friends showed up. I picked a book titled "The proximity of love". I gave it a quick glance and kept it back. I wondered how many bad books had good titles. I heard a voice from behind that said - "Have you ever wondered that there might be good books, that unfortunately, had bad titles? They go unnoticed".</em><br />
<br />
I stopped reading at this point. I kept the notebook with me and gave a new one to Reva. <br />
<br />
"Nice beginning Rev, why don't you write something about Dora?"<br />
<br />
"Dora and Boots?"<br />
<br />
"Yeah...Dora, Boots, Isa, Swiper..."<br />
<br />
Reva went back into her room dancing all the way. Obvioulsy, she was elated at having written her first story. But...I sat there shocked. It didn't take me long to grow restless. I texted Navi to return from gym as soon as possible.<br />
<br />
When Navi returned, Reva had already slept. I showed the story to Navi. He read a few lines and said, "Hey, this is our story. Are you into story-writing now? Isn't this Rev's hand-writing?"<br />
<br />
"I am not writing any story...this was written by Rev herself."<br />
<br />
"Really?" <br />
<br />
He seemed proud and said, "But, you seem to be very unhappy about it?"<br />
<br />
"Well, I am surprised that you aren't surprised. I was shocked when I read it."<br />
<br />
"...because, our 5 year old has got an IQ that is beyond her age?"<br />
<br />
"No! I know...I mean, we sort of expected that...but how did she know about our first meeting?"<br />
<br />
"I thought, you might have told her."<br />
<br />
"Are you kidding?"<br />
<br />
He took the notebook and read a few more lines again. "Are you sure this is our story? It kind of sounds like anyone's story."<br />
<br />
"And you think it is cool that a 5 year old writes on a subject like this?"<br />
<br />
"Come on Nance...don't freak out."<br />
<br />
"She has even used the exact same name for the book. It is as if she has written it directly from my memory."<br />
<br />
He went through the two pages fully.<br />
<br />
"Nance, did you notice this...the story is as if it is completely from your point of view. I mean, there is nothing about my side of life. There is no part in the story where I appear alone. It is either you or both of us together."<br />
<br />
He looked serious for the first time. I grabbed the notebook and quickly went through it for the Nth time.<br />
<br />
"Ok, so, you didn't tell her the story. Is it possible that she might have read it somewhere? May be you have written it down somewhere?"<br />
<br />
"No."<br />
<br />
"....."<br />
<br />
"What do you think it means?"<br />
<br />
"Could it mean that clones inherit memory as well? I know, I am not talking like a scientist,...but, probably she has inherited your memory."<br />
<br />
"How is that possible?"<br />
<br />
"You know...there are known unknowns and there are unknown unknowns!!"<br />
<br />
"...."<br />
<br />
"Why don't we call Rom?"<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
***********</div>
<br />
We were at Dr.Rom's lab next morning. We waited for his reaction as he read the story. <br />
<br />
"hmm...I am happy that she is turning out to be brilliant, as expected. But, I am as surprised as you are.", he said.<br />
<br />
"Navi thinks she might have probably inherited my memory."<br />
<br />
Rom smiled and said, "Well...he tried to sell that idea to me as well and I honestly like that theory. But, I am not able to think of a phenomenon to explain that."<br />
<br />
There was a brief moment of silence.<br />
<br />
"What do we do now Rom?"<br />
<br />
"I think, there is nothing to be scared of. We expected such developments, well before we got started. Didn't we?"<br />
<br />
"I am afraid that this could get dangerous."<br />
<br />
"Not as long as we are watchful and continue to keep this as a secret. Don't get worked up. Let us wait for sometime before we decide anything."<br />
<br />
"And then..."<br />
<br />
"...if you really want me to tell you what I think..." he hesitated a moment and continued "...we may have to terminate the project."<br />
<br />
"You mean.."<br />
<br />
"Yes."<br />
<br />
As we were about to leave, Rom said, "Guys, cool down and keep quiet."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
***********</div>
<br />
On our way back to home, my thoughts shuttled between the emotions of a mother and the resolve of a scientist. I hoped that there won't be any more surprises. <br />
<br />
When we reached home, Reva ran to me and showed her next story. The beginning lines were:<br />
<br />
<em>"We were at Dr.Rom's lab next morning."</em><br />
<br />
I showed it to Navi and said, "I think it is more than just memory inheritance".<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
*********** </div>
</div>bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-36937917402915313262012-02-23T10:12:00.021+05:302012-02-25T11:32:49.776+05:30The 49th post<div><span style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%;">Dear friends and followers, there are totally 54 posts in this blog now. 3 of them written by my friend Suresh (aka Subi), and 2 posts that have no real content. So, practically this is my 49th post. </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; ">49 posts in about 3 years is not a big achievement at all, but it is a good point to look back and analyze a bit.</span><div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal; ">(You can click on the images below to see them better).</span><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><b><u>Subject range and stats</u></b></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">In these 49 posts, I have attempted travelogues, humor, suspense, romance, poems, eco-</span>gyan<span style="font-size: 100%;">, movie reviews, personal musings and even history based fiction. Some of these posts received wide attention and a few of them did not gain any attention at all. </span></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CqScsSCnHHE/T0XXJaFfkZI/AAAAAAAABTs/MADbHZ_bZ6E/s1600/By%2Btags.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CqScsSCnHHE/T0XXJaFfkZI/AAAAAAAABTs/MADbHZ_bZ6E/s320/By%2Btags.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712208259010498962" /></a><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Though I have tried to balance between Thamizh and English, number-wise, there are more posts in English. For a good number of my readers Thamizh was not the second language in school and so they have trouble reading Thamizh. I had to retain their readership!! Plus, my humor is contrived - except in a couple of posts that I wrote immediately after reading "Three men in a boat". The contrived humor works out better in English (Of course, you may argue that it doesn't work out anyways).</span></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I have not ventured into any social issues and 'should-be-discussing' topics. That would require assessing all sides of such issues and being able to come to a conclusion. I should be able to do it, when I have made myself knowledgeable enough.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><u><b>The popular ones</b></u></span></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">"</span><a href="http://alpha-beta-blogma.blogspot.in/2010/04/blog-post.html" style="font-size: 100%; ">Kaadhalagikk kasindhurugi</a><span style="font-size: 100%; ">" has received the maximum number of page views. I myself have read it many times. Even if my own page views are subtracted, I think it would still top the list.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0CBuiO5a1ms/T0XXgRSoaiI/AAAAAAAABT4/YT7vegzzhZs/s1600/Views%2Bby%2Bpost.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0CBuiO5a1ms/T0XXgRSoaiI/AAAAAAAABT4/YT7vegzzhZs/s320/Views%2Bby%2Bpost.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712208651786676770" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Going by the number of comments (after subtracting my own comments), the top 3 are:</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span><a href="http://alpha-beta-blogma.blogspot.in/2011/04/busy-for-nothing.html">Busy for nothing</a> (13 comments) - Some of these were greetings and not comments on the post.</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span><a href="http://alpha-beta-blogma.blogspot.in/2009/04/love-and-my-first-blabbering-post.html">Love and my first blabbering post</a> (13 comments) - <u>This was my first major success.</u></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span><a href="http://alpha-beta-blogma.blogspot.in/2010/04/blog-post.html">Kaadhalgikk kasindhuriugi</a> (11 comments)</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span><u><b>My picks</b></u></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span><u><b><br /></b></u></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; ">I have a special liking for the 3 posts below. They have unearthed old memories for some of the readers and helped them relive those cherished moments:</div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><a href="http://alpha-beta-blogma.blogspot.in/2011/08/retirement-only-from-employment.html" style="font-size: 100%; ">The one on dad's retirement</a></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><a href="http://alpha-beta-blogma.blogspot.in/2009/06/sweet-nothings.html">Yeh tumhari meri baathein</a></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><a href="http://alpha-beta-blogma.blogspot.in/2012/02/venu-lane-bio-diversity-hotspot.html">Venu Lane - Biodiversity hot spot</a></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><u>Traffic inflow and stats</u></b></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I don't consider myself a good writer (not after reading posts by <a href="http://seralathan.blogspot.in/" style="font-weight: normal; ">Seralathan</a> (serious writing) and <a href="http://jayamadhavan.blogspot.in/" style="font-weight: normal; ">Jaya Madhavan</a> (humor)). Further, I write mostly about what <b>I</b> have been through, what <b>I</b> think, what <b>I </b>want to be. When there is so much of "<b>I</b>", my writing may be of interest only to my close friends. So, I have some hesitation in publicizing my blog. </span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; ">To begin with, most of my readers were my close friends, then it extended to a few co-workers. Only a very few followers are strangers to me. Thus, </span><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; ">my readers circle is very small. A small number of people have dropped in, to read just one or two posts.</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><div>Some friends have helped to extend the readership by forwarding links through mails and facebook. I was surprised to see traffic flowing in from countries like Russia and Ukraine where I have no friends (unless Veerabahu was ever posted there for one or more of his frequent foreign assignments).</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2OjCNn9TNJo/T0XY4qh1gRI/AAAAAAAABUE/_SaKvVmem3M/s1600/Audience.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2OjCNn9TNJo/T0XY4qh1gRI/AAAAAAAABUE/_SaKvVmem3M/s320/Audience.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712210170389823762" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I have some traffic flowing in through </span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://puththakam.blogspot.in/">Seralathan's books review blog</a></span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">. That may be natural because, some people who know him are likely to have known me as well. But, I was surprised to see traffic flowing in via </span><a href="http://talesofthewanderlust.blogspot.in/" style="font-size: 100%; ">talesofthewanderlust</a><span style="font-size: 100%; "> (Madan) and </span><a href="http://some-sensible-nonsenses.blogspot.in/" style="font-size: 100%; ">some-sensible-nonsenses</a><span style="font-size: 100%; "> (Divya). I should thank Seral, Madan and Divya for extending the readership of my blog by listing it in the list of blogs they follow.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QE0PQdGgtMc/T0XZPxmTm0I/AAAAAAAABUQ/GzsCqH65Sd8/s1600/Traffic%2Binflow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 161px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QE0PQdGgtMc/T0XZPxmTm0I/AAAAAAAABUQ/GzsCqH65Sd8/s320/Traffic%2Binflow.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712210567424613186" /></a><br /></div><div>Some traffic comes in accidentally too. Have a look at some of the key words that lead people to my blog:</div><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O1k-GQKRRHY/T0XZwsvYGqI/AAAAAAAABUc/pM6h4pQSBVY/s1600/Key%2Bsearch%2Bwords.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 108px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O1k-GQKRRHY/T0XZwsvYGqI/AAAAAAAABUc/pM6h4pQSBVY/s320/Key%2Bsearch%2Bwords.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712211133056162466" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><b><u>Visitors trend</u></b>:</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I used to receive comments from many friends. Marriage and parenthood has made some of them busy (that is not a complaint :) ). It is a pleasant surprise when some of them comment after a big gap, that gives me assurance that they still visit my blog. </span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Anyways, not all of my readers leave comments in the blog itself. For various reasons, some friends talk to me over phone, some of them mail their comments and some give feedback when they meet me. Some of them share their own experiences and memoirs with me. Interestingly, there are some good writers among them, but they do not maintain a blog or are inconsistent. I have tried encouraging them to write as that is one way to get better - that and reading more. </span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><div><span>I have also got a few good critics who pat me when I write well, tell me when I could have done better and advise me even on the font size.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Looking at the stats, the page views seem to be picking up in 2012.</span></div></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UVp2tAmCDAM/T0XaBJ3PHqI/AAAAAAAABUo/rMvg__CTokg/s1600/Views%2Bby%2Bmonth.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 102px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UVp2tAmCDAM/T0XaBJ3PHqI/AAAAAAAABUo/rMvg__CTokg/s320/Views%2Bby%2Bmonth.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712211415751663266" /></a><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Overall, I am pleased with how it's going. A couple of friends have suggested that my writing is going to the next level. That is definitely encouraging. </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Thanks for the continuing support folks. I love you all.</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><b><u>The break</u></b></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">The reason for this 'looking back' analysis even before reaching the 50th post is because </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I plan to take a mini-break giving myself some time to prepare for the exams (2oth May). Because, once I plan to write on something, it begins to occupy a corner in the mind and creates restlessness. Sometimes, many pieces run at the back of the mind at the same time. That is an unwanted luxury with exams around.</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; ">A compelling reason may arise pushing me to change my mind in a hurry and break the break as well. The 50st post might not be far away. Hopefully, Sachin would have scored his 100th hundred by then!</div></div></div>bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-67715347269657875492012-02-22T10:08:00.002+05:302012-11-22T21:38:44.876+05:30Venu Lane - The bio-diversity hotspot<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KtEwTaOH01w/T0SRl2hBj0I/AAAAAAAABTU/BqXSb8hN56Q/s1600/Bug.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711850306887847746" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KtEwTaOH01w/T0SRl2hBj0I/AAAAAAAABTU/BqXSb8hN56Q/s320/Bug.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 236px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-style: normal;">My maternal grandparents' house, built with bricks was never coated with cement or paint on the outside. The rooms, except the hall, were roofed with terracotta tiles. Such an architecture inherently provided with lot of crevices, clefts and other </span>'thesaurus'eous <span style="font-style: normal;">openings. </span>Perfect setting to house all verities of arthropodians. Arthropodians, aren't just another groups of 'podians', they do have intimidating features.</div>
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Along with the arthropods, there were other creatures: the 4-legged, the 8-legged and the 5-legged (a differently-abled cockroach who lost a leg in an encounter with grandma). There were also the multipedes, centipedes and even wikipedes (<i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">"Wiki" </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">is a </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Hawaiian</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> word meaning "fast" or "quick"</span></i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">)</span>. There were so many of them that we did not even have to install an antenna when the house got its first TV. There was no need when all those arthropods had at least two antennae each.</div>
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There was one room that wouldn't allow sunlight. The hall had an attic which served as a dump yard for old vessels, audio cassettes ("Parashakthi" kadhai vasanam and the likes), outdated medicines and "Soviet" magazine issues from the days of Stalin and Lenin. Also, anything that I wanted to hide from my little sister was thrown into the attic. It basically supported 9 families of rodents, 1 cat, its visitors and many colonies of termites among others. Occasionally, my uncle too.</div>
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There was a garden behind the house which was the abode of many creepy creepers - a water melon plant and snakes inclusive. Actually, 'garden' is a overstatement for what we had. Drumstick trees, few shrubs of shoe-flower, pumpkin creepers - were all that grandpa would classify. Rest were wild herbs and grass and he gave them different names on different occasions. The snakes were real though.</div>
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Considering that I spent most of my vacations as a kid at the said house, I had enough experiences to write an entire series of "Night of the scorpion and others Inc" unlike Nissim Ezekiel who stopped with just the one poem. Probably I would have started with <i><u>'The night of the angry ant'</u></i>:</div>
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<i>I remember the night when I </i></div>
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<i>was stung by an ant. One hour</i></div>
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<i>of power-cut had driven him</i></div>
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<i>to circle beneath the candle light.</i></div>
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<i>More candles, one torch light,</i></div>
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<i>more insects and the endless power-cut.</i></div>
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<i>Yet to be enrolled in school</i></div>
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<i>I had no homework nor sense.</i></div>
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<i>Boredom caught me and I</i></div>
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<i>tried to trap the ant</i></div>
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<i>under a geometry box</i></div>
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<i>(which was not mine).</i></div>
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<i>Upon release, the angry ant</i></div>
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<i>bit my little finger.</i></div>
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<i>Tears down my eyes</i></div>
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<i>and a red fluid down my finger</i></div>
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<i>(for I was seeing blood</i></div>
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<i>for the first time),</i></div>
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<i>I turned and twisted in pain</i></div>
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<i>singing 'why this kolaveri'.</i></div>
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<i>My angry aunt killed</i></div>
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<i>the angry ant and she</i></div>
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<i>covered my finger with a cloth.</i></div>
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<i>The bleeding stopped</i></div>
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<i>and the pain subsided.</i></div>
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<i>Did I stop crying?</i></div>
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<i>No! Not until I was given a banana.</i></div>
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<i>When the power was back</i></div>
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<i>I saw the dead ant being carried</i></div>
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<i>by its men while I </i></div>
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<i>was still eating the banana.</i></div>
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It wasn't just about the nights anyway. In the mornings, we had a pack of monkeys visiting the locality at regular timings. If the monkeys crossed east-west, the time was 7am. If they crossed west-east, the time was 4pm. If they did not turn up - 'Ekathasi' celebration in local temple (which meant they did not have to visit our garden for food). One day, when my little sister was sleeping in the cradle and we were busy in the kitchen, a monkey had come into the house and was checking out the cradle. We had to shoo-shoo it, least my sister would have grown up to be the female version of Mowgli or 'Elizabeth of the jungle'. Only slightly different from how she grew up in my company.</div>
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Grandpa's house had a wide assortment of slippers though no one in the house wore them while in town. But at the mere sight of a mouse, each one would swing their favorite slipper. They rarely hit a mouse and only ended up hitting each other. The mice and myself had lot of fun.</div>
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While sleeping, grandma would spread the mats leaving a small margin between the wall and the mat. That margin was to be the undeclared wildlife corridor. The nocturnal insects would use it as a freeway without having to interfere with the sleep process of us, humans. But, occasionally we used to have man-insect encounter...like when a cockroach decided to take the road not taken and crawled over the over-bridge which was my arm. That was when, I used my well-trained shriek. Chorus by little sister. It was in this encounter that the above said cockroach became differently-abled due to grandma's angst. (In daylight, it would not have been handicapped...it would have been simply dead).</div>
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<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">It wasn't just about fear and adventure though. There was the joy of capturing jewel beetles (</span>பொன் வண்டு) in match boxes; feeding sparrows; following the squirrels; watching the garden lizard hoping it would change colors like a chameleon; feeding dead beetles to ants; planting mango seed; urinating on it hoping it would grow fast; even waiting for 4pm for the evening parade of the monkey pack.</div>
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Eventually we grew up, technology advanced and a sense of hygiene took over. The garden was relatively cleaned up, the trees were pruned. These days, the monkey population has migrated elsewhere, sparrows are not to be seen, squirrels are rare. The crevices and clefts are still there in lesser numbers. The fear of scorpions and centipedes is also still there, though I believe they have already departed us. </div>
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My nieces and nephews do not visit the house much and they don't believe my stories. What a pity!!</div>
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<i>(post script: "Venu Lane" is the name of the street in which my maternal grandparents lived. I plan to write </i><i>occasionally, </i><i>based on my experiences from the days in Venu Lane)</i>.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">(picture courtesy: http://www.ourhabitatgarden.org/creatures/insect-creatures.html</span><span style="text-align: center;">)</span> </div>
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bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-27862268845959661952012-02-13T20:50:00.006+05:302012-02-13T22:03:29.620+05:30Sans principle<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1FGh5VIqaJw/Tzk3vRJEhBI/AAAAAAAABS8/tXbGAh7VEtM/s1600/tracks.jpg" style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1FGh5VIqaJw/Tzk3vRJEhBI/AAAAAAAABS8/tXbGAh7VEtM/s320/tracks.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708655287863641106" /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><span ><i><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span>image courtesy:</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </span><a href="http://www.gettyimages.in/" style="font-family: verdana; "><span>http://www.gettyimages.in</span></a></i></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><span style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">I was in the railway station waiting for the train to arrive. There were others in the platform, waiting anxiously. To remain calm when there is just three minutes to the scheduled arrival time of the train, requires one of the following to be true - 1. You are into Zen 2. You are so used to Southern railways 3. You are plain lazy. In my case, it was a mix of the three in the reverse order - in descending percentages. I was looking at one of the railway employees as he went through his daily chores on the tracks. I lost sight of him after few minutes. There was no train yet. A strange feeling crept into my mind, that the train might have arrived in another platform while I was following the man in blue and that I might have missed the train. It was then that I became conscious of the stinking conditions. The smell gave me the assurance that I was in real life waiting in the right platform. If you have watched 'Inception', you would understand if I call it my "Totem". </span><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">The auto-voice in railway PA system kept requesting passengers' attention with the trademark 'diding diding' sound. In a fraction of seconds, the train made its grand entry. I looked for the name board and confirmed that it was the train I was to take. People were running hitherto tither to to occupy the seats already reserved for them. I nonchalantly waited for coach D6. When the train stopped, D6 was right in front of me. I looked for my name in the name chart. It was there. Still, I knew I would feel comfortable only after the TTE had checked my ticket. I stepped in. </div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">I knew where to find seat 97. I found it, but a lady was already seated there. That did not surprise me anyways. People board reserved compartments with highly optimistic hopes that someone somewhere would miss the train and destiny in collusion with the TTE would gift them such seats. But my aggressor had to find luck elsewhere because, 'Catching the train on time' runs in my blood, except on occasions when I miss a train. I had to tell her that 97 was my seat. She must have understood, but still she asked me if I had a reservation. After I gave the 'Indian affirmative' - that is - shaking the head up and down, she rose and let me perch. All the seats in my vicinity were occupied. The lady must have shifted to another coach...I thought.</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><div><div>In a few moments the train had started moving. People were sill trying to figure their seats mostly because those with unreserved tickets were still continuing their 'Occupy Empty Seats' movement. After some negotiations and sub-reservations, the population settled down, leaving some of the 'unreserved' travelers "seat-less in Seat-tle". I wanted to avoid assessing the demography of the standing travelers and decided to quickly immerse into a book I had brought.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even as I was totally into the book, going through the chapters, I was aware of the commotions of a usual train journey. The sharing of biscuits, ground nuts, magazines, political ideologies, tourism guidelines, mutual care-taking of the seat for the toilet-goers. I reluctantly looked up after sometime and instinctively started assessing the travelers. I could see about 12 people standing near the doors, the vestibules and the pathways - women in late forties and sixties, school going kids and physically weak men. There were others whom I could not see from where I was seated.</div><div><br /></div><div>The gentleman sitting opposite to me - must have been around 60 years of age - got up and went in the direction of the toilet. All of a sudden, the aggressor lady was back and she took the seat. In a moment she fell asleep...or acted so. I wondered what the gentleman was going to do when he returned. Would he wake her up and claim his seat back? After waiting for about five minutes, I went back into the book. But, my brain started working on the ideology dilemma - yet again. </div><div><br /></div><div>People know very well that, on a Saturday, a train between Coimbatore and Chennai was going to be full. They are well aware that they are likely to travel the entire journey standing. Still, they opt to take the train even without a reservation. They may or may not know that boarding a reserved coach is a punishable offence. Those who board in spite of knowing it, do so hoping that the TTE would be benevolent. I wonder if they ever consider that the TTE, in letting them travel, fails in the duty he is paid for.</div><div><br /></div><div>Do the old men, women and the children choose the option out of choice or out of compulsion? Do they have jobs and functions to be attended that are more important than the pain of a standing journey. I wonder whether I should get up and offer them my seat. Should I impose the burden of their irrational action, upon me in spite of having spent many minutes planning the journey and paying the extra cost for reservation?</div><div><br /></div><div>Then I think about their possible compelling situations. It may have been a last minute plan change, it may have been an emergency. Theirs, may be a choice between having to travel standing in the bus or travel standing in the train. The choice may be between the price of bus ticket and train ticket. Or, it could be a case of having missed the previous train.</div><div><br /></div><div>While I was into the above thoughts, I noticed that the gentleman had returned and he was standing near the door. The lady woke up for a moment, saw that the gentleman was standing at the door. He was not looking at her. She took him for granted and went back to sleep. The sixty year old man, seemed to have decided to sacrifice a few minutes of his travel time for the seemingly tired 40 year old woman. This man, was much elder to me. He had a reserved ticket with him. So, I thought I would be right in offering him my seat. I made up my mind, got up and went to him and asked him to take my seat. He took it readily, which meant, he badly wanted to be seated, but still was being noble in not waking up the lady. May be he was reminded of his daughter. </div><div><br /></div><div>Many times it is difficult to choose if one should act like an individualist or communist or realist or communitarian or idealist. It is simpler to go by instinct - sans principles.</div></div></div>bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-64023883057540069632012-01-07T23:51:00.001+05:302012-06-16T15:01:17.766+05:30குறுக்கெழுத்துப் புதிர்<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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புதிருக்குள் செல்லும் முன்..</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">அனைவருக்கும் பொங்கல் வாழ்த்துகள்!</span></div>
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<u>குரு(க்கள்) வணக்கம்:</u></div>
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1) பிற கல்லூரி மாணவர்கள் மூக்கின் மீது விரல் வைக்கும் அளவிற்குக் 'கட்டப்' பஞ்சாயத்து நடத்திய பூபேஷிற்கு.</div>
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2) நலம் விசாரிப்பது போல், கட்டமில்லாமல் ஓரிரு குறிப்புகள் கொடுத்து என்னைக் 'கட்டம்' கட்டும் வீருவிற்கு.</div>
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3) "நான் உன்கிட்ட நிறைய எதிர்பார்த்தேன்", என்று தான் 'கட்டிய' புதிரில் மாட்டிக்கொண்டு விழித்த என்னைக் குட்டிய சேரலிற்கு.</div>
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<u>பின்னூட்டக் குறிப்பு</u>:(about comments)</div>
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தாராளமாய் நீங்கள் கண்டுபிடிக்கும் ஒவ்வொரு குறிப்பையும் போடலாம்; சந்தேகங்களையும் கேட்கலாம். நான் 'தணிக்கை' செய்த பின், தனிப்பட்ட முறையிலோ அல்லது பின்னூட்டப் பகுதியிலோ பதில் அளிக்கிறேன். இதனால் மற்றவருக்கும் தொந்தரவு இல்லை, உங்களுக்கும் உதவியாய் இருக்கும்.</div>
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ஆபீஸ் செலவில் அச்செடுத்து, சாவகாசமாய் வீட்டில் அமர்ந்து விடையளிக்கும் வசதிக்கு இந்த இணைப்பு: (ஒரே தாளின் இரு புறங்களிலும் அச்செடுக்கும் நல்லோருக்கு நெஞ்சார்ந்த நன்றிகள்):</div>
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1) <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7GiT0_BVVuI/Tw5kUR6BwaI/AAAAAAAABAc/_nEtgk3Oyzk/s1600/kurukku.png" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">கட்டம்</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: center;"> 2) </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2DQOwSSIzykMjZmNTViYmYtMWRjOS00ZjBhLTgxM2QtZDdkNjhhNDhkY2E3" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">குறிப்புகள்</a></div>
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இனி..</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MnWB3sOUzjg/Tw5i_9OkB6I/AAAAAAAABAU/YMKsxbYG9U4/s1600/kurukku.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="357" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MnWB3sOUzjg/Tw5i_9OkB6I/AAAAAAAABAU/YMKsxbYG9U4/s400/kurukku.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u>இடமிருந்து வலம்:</u></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> 1. </span>தமிழ், संस्कृतं, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">తెలుగు, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">ಕನ್ನಡ எட்டிய தகுதி (4)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> 3. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">போதை மரம் (2)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> 4. </span>தானே வரும் முன் அறிவிப்பு; சுய விளம்பரமன்று <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">(3,4)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> 5. </span>உச்சி வெயிலுக்கு உச்சியில் சோலை. குறிப்பு: ஆதியை நீட்டுக <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">(6)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> 7. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">விகாரமில்லாத ஜென்மம் (2)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> 8. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">பாதுகாப்புக்கு உருவாக்கு (2)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">10. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">ராமராஜன் கையில் இசைக்கும், விசைக்கும் (2)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">11. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">நுனிப்புல் மேய்ச்சலால் நிறையவில்லை இந்தப் பாத்திரம் (5)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">15. </span>செடியில் வெடித்தது; அதில் பாதி முகத்தில் தெரியுது <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">(2)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">19. </span>இனி இவர் ஸ்பெயினில் விளையாட மாட்டார் <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">(3)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">21. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">வசைப்பது தீனிப் பண்டாரம்! அசைப்பது? (6)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">24. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">தகர வரிசையில் பணிப்பெண் (2)</span></div>
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<u>மேலிருந்து கீழ்:</u></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> 1. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">நீதிக் கம்பு; வளைந்தால் வம்பு (4)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> 2. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">சமையலில் ஒருவித மயக்கம் (3)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> 3. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">ஒரு கை சுழற்ற, ஒரு கால் சுழலும்</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"> (5)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> 4. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">புதியனவற்றில் வற்றாமல் (3)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> 6. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">முண்டாசுப் பாட்டு</span>: கோதுமைக்கு இந்நதியில் இலை ஒன்றும் இல்லை <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">(3,4)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">12. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">தேர்வில் ஜெயம் எப்பொழுது? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">வள்ளுவ நெறியில் நிற்க</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">. (3,2)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">14. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">அரை நிர்வாணப் பக்கிரி "மாட்டேன்!" என்கிறார். (6)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">15. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">அரிசில் </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">என்னும் </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">ஆறைக் கடந்தால் சேர்வோம் பழைய சோழர் தலைநகரம். (4)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">18. </span>அடிபட்டால் வலிக்கும், பூதங்களில் ஒன்றைப் போல <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">(2)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">20. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">பயணிக்கப் பயன்படும் (3)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">21. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">திருவண்ணாமலை உள்ளே கிடைக்கும் நீர்த் துளி (3)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">22. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">முக்கடவுள் கொள்கையில் முதல் கடவுள் (2)</span></div>
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<u>வலமிருந்து இடம்:</u></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> 9. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">கிலோ கிராம் வார இதழ், கண்டு கொள்ளாதீர்கள்</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">! (2)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">12. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">வரலாறு கூறும் அசைக்க முடியாத ஆதாரம்!</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">(5)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">13. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">ஏமாற்றுபவரே! ஏமாளியின் காதில் பெண்! (2)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">14. </span>பாட்டி முதல் பாக்யராஜ் வரை, கதையின் ஆரம்பம் <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">(2)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">16. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">நீதி நூல்கள் காட்டிய வழி (4)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">17. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">கற்கால ஆடை, இலை! இக்கால ஆடை? (2)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">23. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">பெரும்பாலான இஸ்லாமியக் கொடிகளில் காயும்</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"> (5)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">25. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">அன்னக்கிளி கல்யாணத்தில் ஊருக்கே இந்த விருந்து (4,2)</span></div>
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<u>கீழிருந்து மேல்:</u></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> 7. </span>மரத்தோடு ஒட்டிய உறவு <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">(3)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">11. </span>மழைப் பொழுதில் பூமி நோக்கி விரியும் பூ (2)</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">13. </span>உலகமயமாக்கலை முதல் அடியிலேயே சொன்ன சங்ககால ஜோசியர் மரியாதையின்றி <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">(6)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">17. </span>நெல்லையப்பர் கோயில் அருகே, "விளக்கை அணை! கம்பெனி ரகசியம் தெரிஞ்சுரப் போகுது!" <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">(5,2)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">25. </span>இந்த இலக்கம் பயணிகளின் கவனத்திற்கு <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">(3,2)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_9uwvSGxrys/T9xRxg80ekI/AAAAAAAABIA/jTuuERmx3yA/s1600/kurukku-vidaigal.png" target="_blank">விடைகள் இங்கே...</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><u>கட்டமும் ஆக்கமும்: சுபி</u> </span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08783698333034725723noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-63554654503997700842011-12-24T23:07:00.058+05:302012-01-05T20:24:31.514+05:30சிலை வழி மேவும் உளி ஒலி தேடி - II<div><br /></div>நவம்பர் 2011ல் நாங்கள் சென்றிருந்த சோழர்களின் கோயில்களைப்பற்றிய பயணத்தொடரின் இரண்டாம் பாகம் இது. (<a href="http://alpha-beta-blogma.blogspot.com/2011/11/i.html">முதல் பாகம் இங்கே</a>). நண்பன் வீரபாகுவின் யோசனைப்படி வரலாற்றுடன் கற்பனையைப் புனைந்து இப்பகுதியை எழுதியுள்ளேன். அதிக நேரம் செலவிட முடியாததால் குறைந்த அளவே ஆரய்ச்சி செய்ய முடிந்தது.எனவே தரம் எதிர்பார்க்க வேண்டாம். இந்தக் கதை பெரும்பாலும் கற்பனையே. விக்கிப்பீடியா மூலம் சேகரித்த செய்திகளை <span style="font-weight:bold;">BOLD</span> செய்துள்ளேன். (Click on the images to see a larger picture).<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">அத்தியாயம் - 1</span><br /><br />"ராஜ ராஜனே! இலங்கைப் பயணம் நல்ல படியாக முடிந்ததென்று கேள்விப்பட்டேன். மிக்க மகிழ்ச்சி".<br /><br />"ஆம் மாமா. அங்கே நடந்த ஒரு சம்பவம் பற்றி, பிரதான அமைச்சர் என்ற முறையில் நான் உங்களிடம் ஆலோசனை செய்ய விரும்புகிறேன்".<br /><br />"நல்லது"<br /><br />"பயணத்தில் ஒரு இரவு புத்த மடம் ஒன்றில் தங்க நேர்ந்தது. அன்று நான் கண்ட கனவு என்னை மிகவும் குழப்பத்தில் ஆழ்த்தியுள்ளது"<br /><br />"என்ன கனவோ?"<br /><br />"இப்போது சிறு சிறு காட்சிகள் மட்டுமே நினைவில் உள்ளன....நம் தலை நகருக்குள் யானைகள் நிறைய நுழைகின்றன. அதில் ஒரு யானை இந்திரனின் ஐராவதம் போல் வெண்மையாய் இருக்கிறது. மதம் கொண்டது போல் தெரிகிறது. மக்கள் என்னைத் தேடுகின்றனர். என்னைப் போன்ற ஒருவன் - அது நிச்சயம் நானில்லை - ஒரு சிங்கத்தில் ஏறி வருகின்றான். அவன் பின்னே பல சிங்கங்கள் பாய்ந்து வருகின்றன. ஒரு சிங்கம் ஒரு யானையைத் தாக்குகின்றது. சுற்றிலும் போர் காட்சிகள் போல் தோன்றுகின்றது. ஆனால் போர்க்களத்தில் இல்லாமல் நாட்டிற்குள் அப்பாவி மக்களைத்தாக்கும் விதத்தில் நடக்கிறது. மீன் கொடியைப் பார்த்ததாகவும் ஞாபகம். ஆனால் நிச்சயமாகக் கூற முடியவில்லை".<br /><br />"களைப்பின் காரணமாக ஏற்பட்ட அர்த்தமற்ற கனவாக இருக்க வேண்டும். இது பற்றி கவலை கொள்ள வேண்டாம்".<br /><br />"எதற்கும் கணியனாரிடம் ஒரு வார்த்தை கேட்டு விடலாம் என எண்ணினேன்"<br /><br />"மன்னர் என்னை மன்னிக்க வேண்டும்! உங்கள் நம்பிக்கை, படை பலத்தைக் காட்டிலும் வான சாஸ்திரத்தில் நாளுக்கு நாள் வலுக்கிறது. பிரதான அமைச்சர் என்ற முறையில் எனக்கு இதில் ஒப்புதல் இல்லை. அதற்கு மேல் உங்கள் விருப்பம்".<br /><br />"......................."<br /><br />"புறப்படும் முன், ராஜாதி ராஜன் பற்றி, அறிந்து கொள்ள விரும்புகிறேன்".<br /><br />"நிச்சயம்...இன்னும் கொஞ்சம் தன்னம்பிக்கை தேவை. மற்ற விசயங்களை விரைவில் கற்றுக் கொள்வான் என்று நம்புகிறேன். இளவரசர் குலோத்துங்கனுக்குத் தங்கள் குமாரனின் துணை மிகவும் அவசியம். ராஜாதி ராஜனிடம் தஞ்சைப் பகுதியை ஒப்படைக்கலாம் என இருக்கிறேன்".<br /><br />"நல்லது, நான் வருகிறேன்".<br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">அத்தியாயம் - 2</span><br /><br />Ram was in deep thoughts after the phone call.<br /><br />"Qui est-ce Ram?"<br /><br />"Chidhambaram uncle"<br /><br />"It was a long call. quelque chose de sérieux?"<br /><br />"No..not serious. Actually, I am not sure. He didn't say so.."<br /><br />"But you seem worried"<br /><br />"Not worried...he is asking me if we could come to India"<br /><br />"When?"<br /><br />"As soon as possible. He is worried about dad. Things are getting worse in Lanka"<br /><br />"Any new developments?"<br /><br />"..the rebel groups are getting stronger..but seems the violence has increased. Lots of Tamils are fleeing to Tamil Nadu"<br /><br />"I see.."<br /><br />"Will you be able to take leave for about 2 weeks? Anyways, we have been planning a trip for about a year now".<br /><br />"Let me check. What about you?"<br /><br />"I have to go anyway - even if it means going on unpaid leave. The plan is that uncle will talk to the people in Mattakalappu to bring dad with them. The idea is, dad will somehow be brought to Tanjore by the time we reach there."<br /><br />"ok..are you planning to bring him here?"<br /><br />"It will be difficult to arrange for Visa that quick. It will be even more difficult to convince dad."<br /><br />"Of course! He wants to be with your people"<br /><br />"Yes..! God, I don't know if we really have our people there. Let us worry about bringing him later."<br /><br />Senta held his hands as if to say 'things will be fine'.<br /><br />"and...Senta, since Manga is here in Paris, I thought of taking him along with us. He wanted to see the temples."<br /><br />"bien.."<br /><br />"good...and Senta, I think I better tell you something that I haven't told you before"<br /><br />"What? Don't tell me you have a lady love there!"<br /><br />He smiled and continued.."The main reason why uncle is asking me to come there is to sort out a land problem...the land is in my name"<br /><br />"I see!!"<br /><br />"Yeah...it is a small piece of land in a place called Thaaraasuram - a small town. It is next to a temple - built by the Cholas."<br /><br />"So, your supposedly forefathers did leave you something!"<br /><br />"Senta..please! I have told you that I don't believe my dad's stories. The society has branched out so much and I have only a small piece of land there. I do not know if dad inherited it as a Chola descendant or through some corrupt moneylender".<br /><br />"Hey..I was just kidding! You should develop a sens de l'humour".<br /><br />"Seems the government is trying to buy up the land for some road construction. Uncle thinks I can use some influence and stop it".<br /><br />"Why would you stop a road construction?"<br /><br />"To preserve the temple - my dad and the family is so attached to the temple even though some of them do not believe in the Chola lineage story".<br /><br />"What do you think?"<br /><br />"I don't know. I do not want to disappoint dad. The land is in my name because he somehow believes that I will preserve it"<br /><br />"All of it sounds too dramatic to me. Anyways, what influence do you have in India? As such you are a no body in Paris!"<br /><br />"Right. But Manga could probably do something."<br /><br />"Ram..what can a Filipino do in India?"<br /><br />"A Filipino in the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO could do something. And I believe, the temple does deserve Manga's attention"<br /><br />"Wow! If I am thinking what you are thinking...then Mr.Ram does have a plan. intelligentes!"<br /><br />"Merci.."<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">அத்தியாயம் - 3</span><br /><br />"கணியனாரே, உங்களுக்குக்காகத் தான் காத்திருக்கிறேன். அமருங்கள்."<br /><br />"மன்னா! நீங்கள் கூறிய கனவுகள் பற்றி கனவு சாஸ்திர நூல்களில் ஆராய்ந்தேன். நாட்டிற்குத் தீமை விளைய இருக்கிறது என்பதைக் கணிக்க முடிகிறது. அது போராகவும் இருக்கலாம். அல்லது பஞ்சமாகவும் இருக்கலாம்."<br /><br />"அந்த அளவிற்கு என்னாலும் கணிக்க முடிந்தது. யானைகளுக்கும் சிங்கங்களுக்கும்...என்ன அர்த்தம்?"<br /><br />"<span style="font-weight:bold;">இலங்கையில் இருக்கும் கரையர் சமூகத்தின் சின்னம் யானை என்பதும், அவர்கள் தற்போது நம்முடன் நட்புறவோடு இல்லை</span> என்பதும் உங்கள் மூலம் நான் அறிந்தது. <span style="font-weight:bold;">இலங்கையில் நமக்கு ஆதரவாக இருக்கும் மன்னர்கள் சிங்கத்தைச் சின்னமாகக் கொண்டவர்கள்</span> என்பதும் நாம் அறிந்ததே. ஒரு வேளை கரையர்கள் பாண்டியர்களுடன் சேர்ந்து நம்மைத் தாக்க வருவதற்கான் அறிகுறியாக இருக்கலாம் இக்கனவு."<br /><br />"அப்படியா!..ம்ம்..சரி..குலோத்துங்கன் பற்றியும் ராஜாதி ராஜன் பற்றியும் கேட்டிருந்தேனே."<br /><br />"ஆம் மன்னா! இளவரசரின் பிறப்பு நேரப்படி, அவர் சோழப்பேரரசை ஆள்வதில் தடை ஒன்றும் இல்லை, ஆனால் சமீபத்தில் நடக்கவிருக்கும் தீமை ஒன்றில் இருந்து அவரைக் காக்க வேண்டும். பிரதான அமைச்சரின் குமாரனின் பிறப்பு நேரப்படி,அவருக்கும் நாட்டை ஆளும் அம்சம் இருக்கிறது."<br /><br />"இளையவன் பற்றியும் உங்களிடம் கேட்க வேண்டும். அவசரம் இல்லை. இப்போது போய் வாருங்கள்."<br /><br />--------<br /><br />"மன்னருக்கு வணக்கம்!"<br /><br />"வணக்கம் ஸ்தபதியாரே..."<br /><br />"நற்செய்தியோடு வந்திருக்கிறேன் மன்னா!"<br /><br />"தாராசுரம் சென்று வந்தீரா?"<br /><br />"ஆம் மன்னா! <span style="font-weight:bold;">ஐராவதம் சாப விமோசனம் பெற்றதாகக் கூறப்படும் குளத்தையும் அருகில் வீற்றிருக்கும் ஐராவதேசுவரர் ஆலயத்தையும்</span> கண்டோம்."<br /><br />"அங்கு நான் குறிப்பிட்டிருந்தபடி பெரிய ஆலயம் கட்டுவதற்கான அமைப்பு உள்ளதா?"<br /><br />"இருக்கிறது மன்னா! ஆனால், தஞ்சை பெரிய கோயில் உயரத்திற்கு அங்கு கட்டுவது சாத்தியமல்ல."<br /><br />"அது நம் எண்ணமும் அல்ல! இரண்டாம் ராஜ ராஜ சோழன் இருக்கலாம் ஆனால் பெரிய கோவில் ஒன்று தான் இருக்க முடியும். வேறு வகையில் நாம் ஏதாவது புதுமை செய்ய வேண்டும்."<br /><br />"நல்லது மன்னா! தஞ்சை கோயிலின் பிரம்மாண்டம் அதன் சிற்ப வேலைகளை மறைத்து விட்டது. சோழர் குடியின் சிற்பக் கலை வெளிப்படும் வகையில் நாம் இக்கோயிலைக் கட்டுவோம்."<br /><br />"நல்ல யோசனை. மேலே கூறுங்கள்!"<br /><br />"நிறைய தூண்கள் வைத்துக் கட்டினால் அவற்றில் இதிகாச காட்சிகளைச் சிற்பங்களாக உருவாக்கலாம். <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span>ஆலயத்தின் மண்டபத்தை மேலகடம்பூரில் உள்ளது போல் குதிரைகளும் யானைகளும் இழுத்துச் செல்லும் ரதம் போல்</span></span> வடிவமைக்கலாம்."<br /><br />"ஒன்று செய்யுங்கள், உங்கள் கற்பனையை ஒரு சித்திரமாக எழுதி வாருங்கள். என் மனதிலும் புதிர் போல் சில காட்சிகள் உள்ளன. அவற்றையும் சிற்பங்களாக வடிவமைக்க முடியுமா என பார்க்கலாம்."<br /><br />"ஆகட்டும் மன்னா!எனக்கு விடை கொடுங்கள்!"<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">அத்தியாயம் - 4</span><br /><br />"வாங்க வாங்க! மாப்ள, சவுக்கியமா இருக்கியா?" - வரவேற்றார் சிதம்பரம்.<br /><br />"இருக்கேன் மாமா. நீங்க நல்லா இருக்கீங்களா?" - அவரைத்தழுவிக்கொண்டான் ராம்.<br /><br />"வணக்கம் மாமா! சவுக்கியமா?" - என்று சுமாரான தமிழில் வினவினாள் சென்தா.<br /><br />"பேஷ்! நல்லா தமிழ் பேசறியேமா...வெரி குட்."<br /><br />"மாமா, இது என்னோட Friend மங்கவர்ணன். From Philippines." - மங்கவர்ணனை அறிமுகப்படுத்தினான்.<br /><br />"Hallo Sir!"<br /><br />"Pleased to meet you! Do you speak Tamil?"<br /><br />"No sir, I wouldn't claim so", என்று கூறிவிட்டுச் சிரித்தான் மங்கவர்ணன்.<br /><br />"அவன் பேசினா புரிஞ்சிப்பான். பேசத் தெரியாது. அவங்க வீட்ல எல்லாரும் நல்லா தமிழ் பேசுவாங்க."<br /><br />"நல்லது. நான் English பேசிக் கஷ்டப்படத் தேவை இல்லை பாரு!வாங்க கார்ல போயிட்டே பேசலாம்" , என்று காரை நோக்கி நடக்க ஆரம்பித்தார் சிதம்பரம். மூவரும் அவரைத் தொடர்ந்தனர்.<br /><br />"மாமா! Peugeot arrange பண்ணிட்டீங்களா! Super!" - பூரிப்போடு ராம் கேட்டான்.<br /><br />"நான் பண்ணலப்பா. <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span>இந்தியால Peugeot வர்றதில்ல</span>.</span> நீ Peugeot கிடைக்குமான்னு கேட்டன்னு உங்க அப்பாக்கிட்ட சொன்னேன். அதுல சிங்க உருவம் பொறிச்சிருக்கும்னு சொல்லி, "நான் நெனச்சபடியே நடக்குது"ன்னான். யாரோ ஒரு சிலோன்காரர புடிச்சி வாங்கிட்டு வந்திட்டான். உனக்கு ஏதாவது புரியுதா?"<br /><br />"இல்ல மாமா. எனக்கு Parisல Peugeot ஓட்டிப் பழக்கம் ஆயிட்டதால கெடச்சா பரவால்லனுதான் கேட்டேன். அப்பா இன்னும் அப்படியேதான் இருக்கார் போல."<br /><br />"ஆமாம்பா. இப்போலாம் அதிகமா பேசறது இல்ல. இன்னைக்கு மருமக வரால்ல, பேசறானான்னு பாப்போம்."<br /><br />சிதம்பரமும் சென்தாவும் முன்னிருக்கையில் அமர, ராம் மற்றும் மங்கவர்ணன் பின்னிருக்கையில் அமர்ந்தனர். சென்தா கையில் ஒரு தமிழ் புத்தகம் வைத்திருப்பதைக் கண்டார் சிதம்பரம்.<br /><br />"என்னம்மா புத்தகம் அது?" என்றார் சென்தாவைப்பார்த்து.<br /><br />"இது மாமாவுக்காக எடுத்துட்டு வந்தேன் மாமா. "இந்தோனேசியாவில் தமிழர்கள்" அப்படின்னு எங்க பெரியப்பா எழுதின புத்தகம்."<br /><br />"மாமனாரை ice புடிச்சுருவ போலிருக்கே. அந்த அட்டைப்படத்த எங்கையோ பாத்த மாதிரி இருக்கு" என்றவாரு காரைச் செலுத்த ஆரம்பித்தார்.<br /><br />அந்த அட்டைப்படத்தை அவள் ஒரு முறை பார்த்துக்கொண்டாள்.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pn_n-5IbznY/Tv9CoPy2JJI/AAAAAAAAA0s/Pl2Z122P40A/s1600/Paint.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 318px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pn_n-5IbznY/Tv9CoPy2JJI/AAAAAAAAA0s/Pl2Z122P40A/s320/Paint.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692341713221592210" /></a><br /><br />"இதுவும் பெரியப்பா போட்டதுதான். அவர்கிட்ட இருந்த பழைய painting பாத்து போட்டது."<br /><br />"நான் எதிர்பார்த்தத விட நல்லா தமிழ் பேசறியேமா!"<br /><br />"இந்தோனெசியால எங்க தாத்தா பாட்டி எல்லாம் நல்லாவே தமிழ் பேசுவாங்க மாமா."<br /><br />"பேஷ்! கல்யாணத்துக்குத்தான் என்னால வர முடியல! எனக்கும் உன்ன மாதிரியே ஒரு மக இருந்தா. சீதான்னு பேரு. அவ இருந்திருந்தா ராமுக்கு அவளத்தான் கட்டி வச்சிருப்போம். நாங்க எப்பயுமே குடும்பத்துக்குள்ளயே கல்யாணம் கட்டிக்கிறதுதான் வழக்கம்."<br /><br />"<span><span style="font-weight:bold;">'Senta'ன்ற பேருக்குக் கூட 'சீதா'ன்னு தான் மாமா அர்த்தம் - Javaneseல</span>.</span>"<br /><br />"அப்படியா! என்னோட மகளே வந்தாப்லதான்னு சொல்லு."<br /><br />"ஆமா மாமா!" என்று சிரித்தாள்.<br /><br />"நான் அவனுக்குத்தாம்மா மாமா. நீ என்னை அப்பான்னே கூப்பிடு."<br /><br />"சரிப்பா."<br /><br />வழியில் கடந்த கோயில்களைப் பற்றியும், கட்டிடங்கள் தெருக்கள் பற்றியும் ராம் மங்கவர்ணனுக்கு விளக்கிகொண்டு வந்தான்.<br /><br />"எங்கள பத்தியெல்லாம் சொல்லிருக்கானா இவன்?" என்று சிதம்பரம் தொடர்ந்தார்.<br /><br />"சொல்லிருக்காருப்பா. நீங்க சோழர்கள் வம்சம் அப்படின்றது பத்தி நிறைய சொல்லிருக்காரு.உண்மையாப்பா?"<br /><br />"எனக்கு அதுல எல்லாம் நம்பிக்கை இல்லமா. ராமுக்கும் கூட இல்ல. இங்க இருந்தா மார்க்கண்டேயனோட சேந்து இவனும் அப்படியே ஆயிடுவான்னுட்டுதான் எங்க அண்ணன் இவன France கூட்டிட்டுப் போயிட்டாரு. மார்க்கண்டேயன்றது அவனோட உண்மையான பேர் கூட இல்ல தெரியுமோ! பழைய ஓலைச் சுவடியெல்லாம் படிச்சிட்டு பேர மாத்திக்கிட்டான். நாங்க எப்பவுமே பசங்களுக்குச் சிவபெருமான் பேரு வக்கிறதுதான் வழக்கம். இவனுக்குத்தான் முதல்ல ராம்னு பேர் வச்சான். எங்க Generationல இப்படி நடக்கும்னு ஓலைச்சுவடில போட்டிருக்காம். தாராசுரம் கோயில்ல கூட இதுக்குக் குறிப்பு இருக்குன்னுல்லாம் சொல்லி எதாவது உளறிகிட்டே இருப்பான். என் தங்கச்சி, அதான், உன்னோட மாமியார், ரொம்ப அவதிப்பட்டா அவன வச்சுகிட்டு. அவ அழாத நாள் இல்ல. எப்படியோ ராம்-அ France அனுப்பி வச்சோமே!"<br /><br />பேச்சின் போக்கை மாற்ற நினைத்த ராம், பின்னாலிருந்து..."சிலோன் பிரச்சன இப்போ எப்படி மாமா இருக்கு?"..என்றான்.<br /><br />"அதை ஏம்பா கேக்கற? ரொம்ப அராஜகம் பண்றானுங்க. அகதிங்க சாரை சாரையா வந்துகிட்டு இருக்காங்க பாவம்! MGR அவரால முடிஞ்சத செய்யறாரு. போன மாசம் கூட <span style="font-weight:bold;">அனுராதபுரத்துல நிறைய பேர கொன்னுட்டாங்க. இப்போதான் Rajiv Gandhi பேச்சு வார்த்தைக்குக் கூப்டிறுக்காறு. பூடான்ல பேசப்போறாங்க.</span> நல்ல விதமா முடிஞ்சா பரவால்ல" என்றவர், தனக்குத்தானே, "ஈஸ்வரா மனுஷனுக்கு நல்ல புத்திய குடுப்பா!", என்றார்.<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">அத்தியாயம் - 5</span><br /><br />"மன்னா! வறட்சிப்பகுதிகளுக்குத் தேவையான தானியங்களை அனுப்பி வைத்துவிட்டோம்."<br /><br />"நன்று! மேலும் பல பகுதிகளில் இருந்து மக்கள் பிரதிநிதிகள் அமைச்சரைச் சந்தித்து வறட்சி நிலை வருவதற்கான அறிகுறிகள் இருப்பதாகக் கூறிச் சென்றுள்ளனர். நாம் துரிதமாக நடவடிக்கை மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும். ஆக வேண்டியதைப் பாருங்கள். போய் வாருங்கள்!"<br /><br />"வாருங்கள் மாமா!"<br /><br />"ராஜ ராஜனே, <span style="font-weight:bold;">வறட்சியைச் சாதகமாகக் கொண்டு பாண்டியர்கள் மக்களைப் புரட்சியில் ஈடுபடுத்த முயல்வதாக</span> ஒற்றர்களிடம் இருந்து செய்தி வந்துள்ளது."<br /><br />"அப்படியா!"<br /><br />"இனி நாம் தாமதம் செய்வது நல்லதல்ல. <span style="font-weight:bold;">குலோத்துங்கனையும் இளையவனையும் பல்லவராயருடன் விரைவில் அனுப்ப ஏற்பாடு செய்ய வேண்டும்.</span> சில நாட்கள் அவர்கள் கடல் தாண்டி வசிப்பதுதான் நல்லது. முன்பே ஆலோசித்தது போல் குலோத்துங்கன் போர் பயிற்சிகள் முடித்துத் திரும்பும் வரை ராஜாதி ராஜனை பட்டத்து இளவரசனாக அறிவித்தல் நன்று."<br /><br />"ஆகட்டும் மாமா. தேவையான ஏற்பாடுகளைக் கவனியுங்கள்."<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">அத்தியாயம் - 6</span><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KEWt6eVlR7g/Tv9GBCs5SXI/AAAAAAAAA1c/vp3ul64V1QI/s1600/DSCN1725.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KEWt6eVlR7g/Tv9GBCs5SXI/AAAAAAAAA1c/vp3ul64V1QI/s320/DSCN1725.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692345437738584434" /></a><br /><br />ராம், சென்தா, மங்கா, மார்க்கண்டேயன் நால்வரும், தாராசுரம் கோயிலில் இருந்தனர். புகைப்படங்கள் எடுத்துக்கொண்டே சில குறிப்புகளும் எடுத்துக் கொண்டிருந்தான் மங்கா. ராம் அவனுக்கு உதவிக் கொண்டிருந்தான். அவர்களிடமிருந்து பத்து அடி தொலைவில் மார்க்கண்டேயன் தன் மருமகளுக்குச் சோழ வரலாற்றை விளக்கிக் கொண்டிருந்தார்.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OLB4XxTkKh8/Tv8--cVHjPI/AAAAAAAAAzY/3V7RySWBGBg/s1600/DSCN1715.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OLB4XxTkKh8/Tv8--cVHjPI/AAAAAAAAAzY/3V7RySWBGBg/s320/DSCN1715.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692337696497175794" /></a><br /><br />"What animal is this?" என்று குறிப்பு எடுத்தவாறே கேட்டான் மங்கா.<br /><br />"This is 'Yaali'. It is a mythological animal. It supposedly represents a lion. You will find them in almost all temples of Tamilnadu. Of course, this temple has a lot of them."<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FSfHtM8UbKw/TwABQcFRoUI/AAAAAAAAA2M/b7m9QIzX-GI/s1600/DSCN1729.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 410px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FSfHtM8UbKw/TwABQcFRoUI/AAAAAAAAA2M/b7m9QIzX-GI/s320/DSCN1729.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692551310924161346" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HdlJI5120IU/Tv9CoKUmD2I/AAAAAAAAA0g/eatlpA2ylqM/s1600/DSCN1719.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HdlJI5120IU/Tv9CoKUmD2I/AAAAAAAAA0g/eatlpA2ylqM/s320/DSCN1719.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692341711752531810" /></a><br /><br />"Wow, these sculptures are wonderful", என்று கூறிய மங்கா, தன் புகைப்படக் கருவிக்குத் தீனி கொடுத்தான்.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v8wf0MYSxIo/Tv894FzTM5I/AAAAAAAAAzM/p7IbseM2fVA/s1600/DSCN1716.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v8wf0MYSxIo/Tv894FzTM5I/AAAAAAAAAzM/p7IbseM2fVA/s320/DSCN1716.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692336487858910098" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hFA7b7cG_7I/Tv893eyNshI/AAAAAAAAAzE/UwnJfk_7bCk/s1600/DSCN1714.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hFA7b7cG_7I/Tv893eyNshI/AAAAAAAAAzE/UwnJfk_7bCk/s320/DSCN1714.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692336477385372178" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GoSd2szau-8/Tv893OdehCI/AAAAAAAAAy0/ZIqwg0Mns2I/s1600/DSCN1713.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GoSd2szau-8/Tv893OdehCI/AAAAAAAAAy0/ZIqwg0Mns2I/s320/DSCN1713.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692336473003426850" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_pLYUfA4iow/Tv9APwG2MNI/AAAAAAAAAz8/kilMGblXI40/s1600/DSCN1718.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_pLYUfA4iow/Tv9APwG2MNI/AAAAAAAAAz8/kilMGblXI40/s320/DSCN1718.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692339093375430866" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pCQWFnDHn2g/Tv9APqwSerI/AAAAAAAAAzw/quBVreOiqH8/s1600/DSCN1717.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pCQWFnDHn2g/Tv9APqwSerI/AAAAAAAAAzw/quBVreOiqH8/s320/DSCN1717.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692339091938638514" /></a><br /><br />"These sculptures show stories from Indian epics like Mahabharatha, Ramayana, Sivapuranam. Have you heard of them?"<br /><br />"Yes, I have heard of Ramayana for sure. <span><span style="font-weight:bold;">In fact Mangawarna is one of the main characters in Ramayana</span>.</span>"<br /><br />"Really? I never knew that man. What character?"<br /><br />"<span><span style="font-weight:bold;">He is the younger brother of Ram - in Filipino Ramayana. I think the popular name is Lakshmana</span>.</span>"<br /><br />"Amazing man. So, we are brothers..huh?"<br /><br />"சென்தா, இங்க பாருமா, நீ எனக்குக் குடுத்த புத்தகத்துல இருந்த படம். பேய் ஓட்டுற மாதிரியான கற்பனை இது. இதுக்குப் பின்னால ஏதாவது கதை கூட இருக்கலாம். இந்த தாராசுரம் கோயிலே இரண்டாம் ராஜ ராஜ சோழன் கண்ட கனவுல வர காட்சிகள்னு ஓலைச் சுவடிகள்ள இருக்கு."<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NSIAS4ivt30/Tv88fZnrjjI/AAAAAAAAAyo/i3iWjgTFoP8/s1600/DSCN1722.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NSIAS4ivt30/Tv88fZnrjjI/AAAAAAAAAyo/i3iWjgTFoP8/s320/DSCN1722.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692334964170526258" /></a><br /><br /><br />"I see. Raam, look at this. This resembles the painting in the front page of my uncle's book.""<br /><br />"இந்தக் கோயில்ல ஏதோ குறிப்புகள் இருக்கறதா சிதம்பரம் மாமா சொன்னார்", என்று மார்க்கண்டேயனைப் பார்த்து கேட்டாள் சென்தா.<br /><br />"ஆமா.." என்று அவளையும் ராமையும் மாறி மாறிப் பார்த்தார். விளக்க வேண்டும் என்ற ஆர்வம் இருந்தாலும் தயங்கினார்.<br /><br />"எனக்குத் தெரிஞ்சத சொல்றேன்.. நம்புறதும் நம்பாததும் உன் இஷ்டம்...உங்க இஷ்டம்", என்று அவர்களைப் பார்த்துக் கூறி விட்டு, மங்காவை நோக்கி, "ஏம்பா மங்கா, உனக்குத் தமிழ்ல சொன்னா விளங்கும்ல?", என்றார்.<br /><br />"Yes uncle, go ahead."<br /><br />"இரண்டாம் ராஜ ராஜ சோழன் ஒரு பேரழிவு நடக்கப் போறதா கனவு கண்டான். கனவு முழுக்க சிங்கங்கள். யானைகளுக்கும் சிங்கங்களுக்கும் பெரிய போராட்டம் நடக்குது", என்று ஒரு சிற்பத்தைக் காண்பித்தார்.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9iKO5QVG8XM/Tv9Cn1GpoFI/AAAAAAAAA0U/CnVhfT65mfg/s1600/DSCN1712.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9iKO5QVG8XM/Tv9Cn1GpoFI/AAAAAAAAA0U/CnVhfT65mfg/s320/DSCN1712.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692341706056900690" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JcpqKiTpiKI/Tv9GAODQPGI/AAAAAAAAA1A/RjWVoxKhOEc/s1600/DSCN1723.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JcpqKiTpiKI/Tv9GAODQPGI/AAAAAAAAA1A/RjWVoxKhOEc/s320/DSCN1723.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692345423605283938" /></a><br /><br /><br />"சிங்கத்த வாகனமாக் கொண்ட வீரன் ஒருத்தன் வந்து சோழ நிலத்த காப்பாத்துவான்னு மன்னன் நம்பினான்", என்று ஒரு சிற்பத்தைக் காட்டிவிட்டு ராமைப் பார்த்தார்.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WGYAA18Btvw/Tv9GAe-4uqI/AAAAAAAAA1U/DXh7P7VPHU8/s1600/DSCN1724.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WGYAA18Btvw/Tv9GAe-4uqI/AAAAAAAAA1U/DXh7P7VPHU8/s320/DSCN1724.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692345428150368930" /></a><br /><br />"<span> <b>இரண்டாம் </b></span><span><b> ராஜ ராஜ சோழனுக்கு அப்புறம் ராஜாதி ராஜன்னு ஒரு மன்னன் ஆட்சிப் பொறுப்பு ஏத்துக்கிறான். அவந்தான் இந்தக் கோயில கட்டி முடிச்சது. ஆனா அவன் </b><b>இரண்டாம் ராஜ ராஜ சோழனுடைய மகன் இல்ல. அவனுக்கப்புறம் குலோத்துங்க சோழன் அப்படின்ற மன்னன் - அதாவது Third Kulothunga Chozhan - ஆட்சிக்கு வந்தான். அவன் தான் </b> <b>இரண்டாம்</b> <b>ராஜ ராஜ சோழனோட மூத்த மகன் அப்படின்னு சில ஆரய்ச்சியாளர்கள் சொல்றாங்க.</b></span> இன்னொரு மகன் இப்ப இருக்கிற இந்தோனேசியாலயோ இலங்கைலையோ வளந்ததா சொல்றாங்க. என்ன பேர்னு தெரியல. அவனுடைய வம்சத்துல வந்தவங்கதான் எங்க குடும்பம் அப்படின்றது என்னோட ஆய்வுல நான் யூகிக்கிறது", என்று ஒரு தூண் அருகில் வந்து நின்றார்.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-drqrBQ6siC0/Tv9AQF3uMJI/AAAAAAAAA0I/uziBjFQvX3s/s1600/DSCN1700.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-drqrBQ6siC0/Tv9AQF3uMJI/AAAAAAAAA0I/uziBjFQvX3s/s320/DSCN1700.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692339099217571986" /></a><br /><br /><br />"இந்தத் தூண்ல எட்டு பக்கங்கள் இருக்கு. தன்னுடைய இறப்புக்குப் பிறகு எட்டு வருஷம் கழிச்சுத் தன்னுடய மகன் ஆட்சிக்கு வருவான்னு ராஜ ராஜன் நம்பினான். நமக்குக் கிடைக்கிற கல்வெட்டுகள வச்சு பாக்கறப்ப அப்படித்தான் நடந்ததுன்னு தெரியுது."<br /><br />"இந்தச் சக்கரத்தப் பாருங்க. என்ன ஒரு அருமையான சிற்ப வேலைப்பாடு. இதுல முப்பத்தி ரெண்டு spokes இருக்கு. என்னோட கணக்குப்படி, spoke ஒவ்வொன்னும் இருபத்தி அஞ்சு வருஷத்த குறிக்குது. ராஜ ராஜ சோழன் இறந்து 800 வருஷம் ஆச்சு. அவன் வம்சத்த சேந்த ஒருத்தன் இப்போ இந்த மண்ண காக்க வரணும்."<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MYx5si_Vf7g/Tv9F_xZEu6I/AAAAAAAAA04/a3Vd7TKKmJU/s1600/DSCN1711.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MYx5si_Vf7g/Tv9F_xZEu6I/AAAAAAAAA04/a3Vd7TKKmJU/s320/DSCN1711.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692345415912176546" /></a><br /><br />"இப்போ ஒரு பேரழிவு வரப்போகுதுன்றீங்களா? என்னை யுகப்புருஷன்றீங்களா?", என்று கோபமாகக் கேட்டான் ராம்.<br /><br />"அழிவு..சோழக்குடி மக்களுக்கு..சோழ நிலத்துக்கு. அது தாராசுர நிலமாவும் இருக்கலாம், இலங்கை நிலமாவும் இருக்கலாம். உன்னால ஏதாவது செய்ய முடியும்னு என்னால நம்பத்தான் முடியும். செய்யறது உன் கைலதான் இருக்கு. நீ யுகப்புருஷனா இல்லையான்னு தீர்மானிக்க வேண்டியது நீதான்."<br /><br />"நீ ஒரு பத்திரிக்கைக்காரன். அதுவும் ஒரு மேல் நாட்டுப் பத்திரிக்கைல வேலை செய்யற. இலங்கைல பெட்ரோல் இல்ல. உங்க மேலை நாடுகளுக்கு இலங்கை ஒரு பொருட்டா இல்லாம போகலாம். ஆனா உங்க அப்பா இந்த மண்ல வளந்தவன். இவங்களுக்காக ஒரு சின்ன முயற்சியாவது செய்யற கடமை உனக்கு இருக்குன்னு தோணுச்சுன்னா, செய்."<br /><br />"சோழ வம்சத்த சேந்தவன்றதுல உனக்கு நம்பிக்கை இல்லாம இருக்கலாம். ஆனா உன்னால ஏதாவது செய்ய முடியுன்றதுல எனக்கு நம்பிக்கை இருக்கு" என்று கூறிவிட்டு வேகமாக நடக்க ஆரம்பித்து விட்டார்.<br /><br />மற்ற மூவரும் அவரைப் பார்த்துக் கொண்டே நின்றனர். அவர்கள் தலைக்கு மேலே சோழன் கனவில் தோன்றிய காட்சி ஒன்று சிற்பமாக நின்றது. சீதை, லட்சுமணனோடு ராமன் நிற்க, மார்க்கண்டேயர் அவர்களை ஆவலோடு பார்த்துக்கொண்டிருந்தார்.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5KlCQlmoECc/TwAaFDtC8bI/AAAAAAAAA3U/NnKFUeIdweo/s1600/DSCN1726.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 238px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5KlCQlmoECc/TwAaFDtC8bI/AAAAAAAAA3U/NnKFUeIdweo/s400/DSCN1726.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692578603192218034" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1987 - இரண்டு வருடங்களுக்குப் பிறகு<br />-------------------------------------------------<br /></span><span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">** ஐ. நா.வின் மனித உரிமைக் கழகம் இலங்கையில் அமைக்கப்பட்டது.</span></span><div><span><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />** "The great living Cholas" என்ற பெயரில் கங்கைகொண்ட சோழபுரம், தாராசுரம், தஞ்சை கோயில்கள் "UNESCO world heritage" தலங்களுள் ஒன்றாகச் சேர்க்கப்பட்டன.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-weight:bold;">--</span></span></div><div><span><span>Post-script: After I wrote this article, my sister shared the link to an article written by her in 'The Hindu'. You may be interested to read this <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-downtown/article2764932.ece">article about history based fiction</a>.</span></span></div>bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-50085641757841568142011-12-18T23:28:00.009+05:302012-01-07T20:37:24.488+05:30உலை<span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://blog.quplo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Gun-Backfire-300x240.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 120px;" src="http://blog.quplo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Gun-Backfire-300x240.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; line-height: 21px; "><div>போராட்டம். அடுத்தடுத்த செய்திகளும் அதனைப் பற்றியே; தொடர்ந்து சொட்டுச் சொட்டாய் கழிவறைக் கதவின் கீழுள்ள இடுக்கின் வழியே கசிந்து என் காதை நனைத்தது.</div><div><br /></div><div>Toilet seat-இன் மேல், மூன்றாவது முறையாக வந்து மாட்டிக்கொண்ட அந்தப் பூச்சியினைக் கவனித்தேன்.</div><div><br /></div><div>அலறுதல், அபயக்குரல் எழுப்புதல், அருவருத்தல், அடித்தல் ஆகிய பரிமாண நிலைகளை வயதுகளால் தாண்டி, எதனையும் எதிர் கொள்வதை விட நேர் கொள்வோமே என்ற நிலையில் ஊன்றிய தருணம்.</div></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; line-height: 21px; "><div><br /></div><div>முதல் இரண்டு முறையும் நீரைத் தெளித்தேன்; தரையில் துளியாய் விழுந்தது. மூழ்கிவிடாத வண்ணம் நீரினாலேயே பக்கச்சுவரை எட்ட வைத்தேன். தொற்றிக்கொண்டது. பிழைத்தது.</div><div><br /></div><div>என்ன பயன்? மறுபடியும் இங்கே.</div><div><br /></div><div>இறங்க வேண்டுமா? ஏற வேண்டுமா? எனச் சில நகர்வுகள் முன்னும் பின்னும். இப்படியே ஒரு நிமிடப் போராட்டம் - ஒரு வாழ்க்கைப் போராட்டம், எப்படி வேண்டுமானாலும் எடுத்துக்கொள்ளலாம், எனது பார்வையிலோ பூச்சியின் பார்வையிலோ.</div><div><br /></div><div>"மக்களின் அச்சத்தைப் போக்க வேண்டும். அவர்களின் பாதுகாப்பிற்கு அரசு உறுதியளிக்க வேண்டும்" - போராட்டத்தின் பிரதிநிதியாய் இருக்க வேண்டும்.</div><div><br /></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; line-height: 21px; "><div>இந்தப் பூச்சியினை வெளியில் விடுவதே அதன் பாதுகாப்பிற்குச் சரியான தீர்வு. முடிவுக்கு வந்தவனாய்க் கூடத்திற்கு வந்தேன்.</div><div><br /></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; line-height: 21px; "><div>"அறிவியல் சம்பந்தமான விஷயங்களில், உச்ச நீதி மன்றமே எங்களின் கருத்தை ஏற்றுக் கொள்கிறது. நாங்கள் உறுதியளிக்கிறோம். இதனால் ஒரு ஆபத்தும் வராது" - கூறிக்கொண்டு இருந்தார் பரீட்சயமான அந்த விஞ்ஞானி. அவருக்குக் கீழ் இருந்த மேசைக்குள் பழைய செய்தித்தாள் கட்டு; அதில் ஒன்றை உருவிக்கொண்டேன்.</div><div><br /></div><div>திரும்பினேன்.</div><div>நான் சென்று திரும்பிய கால இடைவெளியில் அங்கு எதுவும் நடந்ததாகவும் தெரியவில்லை; நகர்ந்ததாகவும் தெரியவில்லை.</div><div><br /></div><div>சுருட்டிய தாளினை மெதுவாய் அதன் முன் சரித்தேன். தயக்கத்துடன் காகிதச் சறுக்கலில் ஏறியது. பாதிப் பயணம் முடிய பொறுமை காத்தேன். பிறகு கவனமாய் வாசல் நோக்கி...</div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>"நடக்கவே நடக்காது என்கிறார்கள். Fukushima-வில் என்ன ஆயிற்று? உலக நடப்புகள் தெரியாத மக்களை ஏமாற்றப் பார்க்கிறார்களா? பாமரர்கள் தான். ஆனாலும் என்ன? நாங்கள் இருக்கிறோமே!" - பொதுத்தொண்டு சேவகி. அவர் பேச்சின் சூட்டினைக் கடந்து வெளியே வந்தேன்.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div>நெடுநேரம் வெயிலைத் தாங்கியதால் நிழலைச் சிந்திய அந்தப் பூந்தொட்டிதான் சரியான இடம். அதன் செடியின் மேல் உதறினேன்; உதிர்ந்தது பூச்சி.</div><div><br /></div><div>'தன்னையே காத்துக்கொள்ளத் தெரியாத ஈரறிவை இந்த ஆறறிவு பிழைக்க...' என் எண்ணம் முடியும் முன் என்ன ஆயிற்று அந்தப் பூச்சிக்கு? அதன் ஓட்டத்தில் ஏன் இந்த வேகம்? </div><div><br /></div><div>அடிப்பாகத்தில் இருந்து கிளைகிளையாய்க் கடந்து, உச்சிக்கிளையில் இலைஇலையாய்க் கடந்து, கடைசி இலையின் நுனியைத் தொட்டு நின்றது.</div><div><br /></div><div>'என் இந்த பரபரப்பு? பதிலாய்த் தெரிகிறது அந்தத் தீயெறும்பு...' என்று என் ஆறறிவு உணரும் முன்னே.. கடித்தது. துடி துடித்தது.</div><div><br /></div><div>கூடம் நோக்கிச் சென்றேன்.</div><div><br /></div><div>'மாட்டிக்கொண்டது என்றாய்'.</div><div>'போராடியது என்றாய்'.</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; line-height: 21px; ">'தப்பிக்க ஏறியது என்றாய்'.<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; line-height: 21px; ">'வெளியில் விட்டாய். விட்டு விட்டாய். விட்டு விட்டது. விட்டு வந்துவிட்டாய்'.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; line-height: 21px; "><div>'ஒருவேளை அதன் போக்கிலேயே விட்டிருந்தால்...?'</div><div><br /></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; line-height: 21px; ">மன அலைகளின் இரைச்சலைத் தவிர்க்க தொலைக்காட்சியின் ஒலியைப் பெருக்கினேன்.</span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; line-height: 21px; "><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">அங்கே, போராட்டப் பந்தல்; கொதித்துக் கொண்டிருந்தது. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">உள்ளே </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">மக்கள் உதிர்ந்து கொண்டிருந்தார்கள்.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; line-height: 21px; "><div><br /></div></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><u style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; ">(எழுத்தும் ஆக்கமும்</u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; "> - </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; ">சுரேஷ்)</b></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><br /></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; line-height: 21px; "><div>image courtesy: <a href="http://blog.handcraft.com/">http://blog.handcraft.com</a></div></span></span></span></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08783698333034725723noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-24895657315676227802011-12-13T15:47:00.016+05:302011-12-15T10:21:04.629+05:30Beyond 'common sense'<a href="http://www.kamyabology.com/common%20sense/image/dazzled_by_common_sense.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 151px; height: 222px;" src="http://www.kamyabology.com/common%20sense/image/dazzled_by_common_sense.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: medium; "><b>காட்சி 1:</b><div>"அப்பா! பெருந்துறை ரோட்டுல 'Reliance Communications' எங்கப்பா இருக்கு?"</div><div><br /></div><div>சாப்பிட்டுக் கொண்டிருந்த என் நண்பன் கேட்டான்.</div><div><br /></div><div>"என்னத்திற்கு?"</div><div><br /></div><div>"என்னோட இன்டர்நெட் கனெக்ஷன க்ளோஸ் பண்ணனும்."</div><div><br /></div><div>"அந்த ரோட்லதான் இருக்குன்னு யார் சொன்னது?"</div><div><br /></div><div>"போன் பண்ணிக் கேட்டேன். சொன்னாங்க!"</div><div><br /></div><div>"போன் நம்பர் என்ன?"</div><div><br /></div><div>நண்பனின் அம்மா வைத்திருந்த கொள்ளுத் துவையலில் காரணமின்றி ஊடுருவி இருந்த மல்லி விதைகளை, சலிப்புடன் கூடிய பொறுப்புடன், ஒவ்வொன்றாய் பொறுக்கித் தட்டின் ஓரமாய் வைத்துக்கொண்டிருந்த என் கவனத்தை இழுத்தது இந்தக் கேள்வி.</div><div><br /></div><div>மேம்போக்காய்ப் பார்த்தால் சாதாரணமாகத் தோன்றினாலும், இந்தக் கேள்வியின் நோக்கம் புரியவில்லை. நண்பன் தேடும் விடைக்கு எந்த விதத்திலும் உதவக்கூடிய கேள்வியாக இல்லையே இது. இதைக் கேட்டவரின் நோக்கம்தான் என்ன? தன் மகனின் ஞாபகத் திறனுக்கு வைக்கப்பட்ட சோதனையா? தனக்குத் தெரியவில்லை என்பதை மறைக்கும் விதமாய் விழுந்த காரணமற்ற வினாவா? - என்று என் ஊகங்களின் எல்லைகளை விரிப்பதற்கு முன், சில பொழுதுகளே என் மூளை ஓட்டிய காட்சி தங்களின் பார்வைக்கும்...</div><div><br /></div><div><b>காட்சி 2:</b></div><div>கல்லூரி வளாகத்தில் இயங்கிக் கொண்டிருந்த STD பூத் வரிசையில் நான்.</div><div><br /></div><div>நினைத்த பொழுதில் பேச கைபேசியோ, நெருங்கியவர்களின் தொலைபேசி எண்களைத் துண்டுச் சீட்டிலாவது குறித்து வைக்கும் பொறுப்புணர்வோ என்னிடம் இல்லாத காலம். எனது முறை வந்தது.</div><div><br /></div><div>அவசரமாய் அப்பாவிடம் பேச வேண்டும். இந்த நேரத்தில் அலுவலகத்தில் இருப்பார். நம்பர்? மூளையே மூலதனம் என்று, முன்னே அதன் மூலையிலே போட்டு வைத்திருந்த நம்பர்களைத் துழாவினேன்.</div><div><br /></div><div>STD இலக்கங்களும், அங்கிரண்டு இங்கிரண்டு என நான்கு இலக்கங்களும் பொறுக்கி எடுத்துவிட்டேன். 0451-42_ _01. காலி இடங்களில் '67' வருமா? '76' வருமா? முட்டிக்கொண்டு நின்றேன். பின்னாலிருந்த வரிசை முறைத்துக் கொண்டு நின்றது. கணிதம் கற்றுக்கொடுத்த "combination"-ஏ சரணம்; 'இரண்டில்' ஒன்று பார்த்துவிடுவோம் என்று பொத்தான்களை அமுக்கினேன்.</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; ">"ஹலோ! யார் பேசறது?" - எதிர்முனை.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; ">"ஹலோ! இது Fire Service-ங்களா?"</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; ">"யாருய்யா நீ? வம்பு பண்றியா? Fire Service-க்கு 101-ன்னு கூடவா தெரியாது?"</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; ">"இல்லைங்க என்.."</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; ">"Wrong number. மடச் சாம்பிராணிங்க! கழுத்தறுக்கராணுக!"</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; ">'டொக்'...</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; "><b>மறுபடியும் காட்சி 1</b>:</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; ">"நான் call center-க்கு போன் பண்ணித் தெரிஞ்சுக்கிட்டேன்பா. அந்தக் கடை நம்பர் தெரியல!"</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; ">-என்று அமைதியாகப் பதில் சொன்னான் தொலைபேசித் துறையில் வேலை செய்து ஒய்வு பெற்றவரின் மகனான எனது நண்பன்.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; ">அந்தப் பதிலுக்கும் அதற்குமுன் கேட்கப்பட்ட 'அர்த்தமுள்ள' கேள்விக்குமாய்ச் சேர்த்து, தீயணைப்புத் துறையில் வேலை செய்து ஒய்வு பெற்றவரின் மகனான நான், ஒரு புன்னகையை உதிர்த்தேன்; மல்லி விதைகளுக்கும் ஒரு காரணம் இருக்கக்கூடும்!</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; "><u style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; ">(எழுத்தும் ஆக்கமும்</u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; "> - </span><b style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; ">சுரேஷ்)</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; "><b style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; "><br /></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; ">image courtesy: http://www.kamyabology.com/</div></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08783698333034725723noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-58860120599201942082011-12-13T01:54:00.006+05:302011-12-16T23:34:01.234+05:30Jingle all the way<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; "><u><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Chapter 1</span></b></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; "><u><br /></u></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; ">We were seated in the canteen - I and Sid. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; ">I am Jiva - shortly 'Jiv' and 'Sid' in his fullness is S.I.Dinesh. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; ">Sid was silent. It was unusual of him. I couldn't assume that he was focusing on eating, because he couldn't have developed a good habit like that in two days.</span><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"You are unusually silent Sid....for the past two days"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"I am alright Jiv, may be I am tired because of the late night calls". He tried to smile.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Oh...I see, the courting phase..huh? So, you guys getting to know each other?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"I guess so".</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I noticed the lack of interest in his answer.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Sid...you look like you are haunted...you can tell me if you have a problem."</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">He looked up halfway through that sentence. He looked terrified.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Is everything alright with Nisha?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Yeah...she's cool". </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">He was just looking at the food...now fiddling it with the spoon. "Jiv...shall we discuss after office hours?".</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Sure man...no problem".</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><u><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Chapter 2</span></b></u></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">We were walking towards the parking area. I tried looked at his face. It appeared to me as if he was rehearsing his monologue. After a few more steps, I stopped near my bike. He continued walking towards his bike. I called out.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Sid...do you want to talk now?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Sure..Jiv"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I folded my hands and looked at him as if to say that I was ready.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Jiv..what I am going to tell you may sound crazy, funny..or whatever GRE word you want to use."</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"..."</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Ok....I moved into a new house 2 months back - after my engagement". He looked at my eyes for the first time during that conversation. He had a 'you know about it' expression.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Yes...". He had invited me a lot of times...but I never visited. "So, is he angry with me?" - I asked myself.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"For the past one month, every night around 12, I have been hearing the jingling sound...of anklets..."</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I realized why he hesitated so much to talk to me. He must have thought that I would make fun of him.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Something strange happened the last two nights....I generally switch off the TV before going to bed...in fact well before that. The TV somehow gets switched on during the night."</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">He shook his head and continued..."Look...it may sound very foolish. I have tried to think this out rationally...but I am scared...I am scared"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I was still looking at him. I was trying to make out if he was making up this story to hide something else.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"So...this is what is happening", he concluded.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">Sid is someone who talks with common sense. We together have made fun of people who told us such stories. So, I decided to see it for myself.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Ok...we go to my room now. Let me pick up some items and then we go to your room. I am staying there tonight. Alright?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">He seemed to get back a bit of his usual radiance.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Thanks Jiv!!"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><u><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Chapter 3</span></b></u></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">After dinner, we reached his house. It was an independent one. There were a few more houses around. Only a few of them seemed occupied. The very next house was vacant.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Most houses seem vacant.."</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Yeah...the area is just coming up"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"You think Nisha could manage alone here"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"These should be occupied in a month..that's what I hear. Let us get in"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">We got in. Instinctively, I dropped myself in the couch in the hall.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"It will be good if at least the next house is occupied", I said with a yawn.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"It was occupied. There was fire accident one month back...electrical leakage. So, they have temporarily moved out"...he dropped himself in the couch opposite to me. As he sat, he said, "or may be permanently...I am not sure". He sounded discouraged.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I looked around the hall. I gazed at the TV and said..."that must be the haunted TV".</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">He nodded.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Jiv...it's almost 10. Nisha is probably waiting for me online. Late already. I will use that bed room. You can take the other one. Blanket, pillow everything is inside. You can feel at home".</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Sid...what time do you sleep?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Around 12"...and with that he went inside.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I went closer to the TV. It was placed on a TV rack. There were some news papers in the space under it and a stand to hold mobile phone. I put my phone in it and switched on the charger.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I switched on the TV and sat back on the couch. The room had a nice jasmine aroma. I started scanning the book rack from where I was. There were a few ghost stories. I smiled to myself and thought he may have been reading too much of them. I got up and picked a non-fiction to read . Switched off the TV and came back to the couch.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><u><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Chapter 4</span></b></u></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I woke up suddenly....and looked at the wall clock. It was 11.30pm. I had slept off on the couch itself. The night was so silent that I could hear the clock's arm moving second by second. There was no sound from the room where Sid was. I thought he must have slept. After a few sleepless nights, my presence should have given him some assurance, after all.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I thought of switching on the TV and the decided against it, lest, I might prevent the 'miracle' from happening. I tried to concentrate on the book again.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">Around 11.55, I began to notice the jingling sound. It was feeble first..then I began to hear it better...and better. Seemed like someone wearing anklets was walking closer to the house. There was another sound accompanying it, which I could not clearly make out. </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">My heart started pounding. I looked at the TV expectantly...it remained silent. </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I decided to open the door and reached it with quick steps. The sound stopped for a moment or two. I couldn't open the door though. Sid must have locked it. I was able to hear the jingling sound again. I ran to the window and tried to peek out. The sound started fading now. It seemed to be moving away from the next house which according to Sid had had a fire accident and no one lived now. I stopped hearing the sound in a few seconds. </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I came back to the couch leaving the window open. I sat there expecting the sound to re-occur.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I tried to recall what happened. The sound was surely close to jingling of anklets. It sounded as if someone walked along the road outside. Could have been a human. Why did the sound stop when I opened the window? Why 11.55pm? </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I switched on the TV, just to make sure it worked fine. I kind of expected it to show a scene from some ghost movie....but no, it didn't. I switched off the TV and laid down in the couch itself. My brain started running a slide show of all the horror movies I had watched. I got up, closed the window and came back to the couch. I tried hard to stop thinking of the ghost stories I had heard.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span">Chapter 5</span></u></b></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">When I woke up in the morning, it was 7.10. I looked at the TV...it was quiet. In place of my phone, Sid's phone was in the charger. He must have already woken up. I tried to decide whether to tell him about what happened the previous night.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Good morning Jiv"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Very good morning Sid. Did you sleep well?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Yes, after a long time. You seem to have slept off in the couch. Did you sleep well?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"I did. So any paranormal activity lat night?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"No Jiv...did you hear anything?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I had already decided the response.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"No Sid...I didn't hear anything. I guess the TV didnt wake up abruptly either."</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"But Jiv, it really happened the last 2 nights. You won't believe me now."</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Let's see...I give you one more night".</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">He raised both his thumbs. He must have felt glad to have company.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span">Chapter 6</span></u></b></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">We reached his house a little early that evening. I stopped at the neighboring house. </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Sid...you keep moving..I will be there in a minute".</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">Sid who had already reached his gate by the time, stood there looking at me. There was no sign of anyone having been there. I started walking towards Sid's house.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"No one is trying to repair it?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Yeah..they do...on week ends", Sid said as he opened the door.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">After refreshing, Sid started preparing dinner. I was in the hall, browsing in Sid's laptop. Sid's house had a modular kitchen overlooking the hall. So, we were able to talk even as he was busy in the kitchen.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Sid, the sound that you said you heard, which direction was it from?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">He pointed to the direction in which I had heard it.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"You hear it from inside?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"No, I usually sleep in the hall...it was only yesterday that I slept in the bed room."</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"So...you chat with Nisha till around 12 and when you are about to sleep you hear the sound. Any idea what time the TV gets switched on?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Not sure, the day before yesterday, I was woken up by the sound from the TV at around 1.30"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"So, somewhere between 12 and 1.30?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Yes..."</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">Yahoo messenger suddenly popped up.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"<b>Nisha_666</b>: Hi Siddu da"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Dude...your fiancee is pinging"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I carried the laptop and gave it to him.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">He gave it a few feather touches and gave the laptop back to me.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"I have logged off"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Sid...her ID is Nisha_666?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Yes Jiv...she was born on 6th June 1986." His face became terrified as he said that. May be he hadn't paid much attention to the "666" until I asked him about it. He came to the hall and stood near me.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Jiv...I am confused now. Things have been going weird only after our engagement. The fire accident in the next house...the jingling sound, the TV getting on..everything"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Sid...calm down. Sit!". He sat down...but did not appear to have calmed down.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Sid...your engagement was 2 months back. The accident happened just 1 month back..right?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Yes, more or less"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Ok...and the TV thing is happening only for the last two days?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Yes..." he looked at the TV rack saying that. "The mobile stand...I received it 3 days back. It was gifted by Nisha. Jiv, I am confused".</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Ok...Ok...wait...don't get crazy. Let me think".</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Have you switched off the stove? Do that first." That gave me a few seconds to steady myself.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Ok...I want you to do as I say."</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"..."</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"See, nothing happened last night. So, don't panic. I am sorry..I shouldn't have asked you about Nisha. It was a mistake. Let us think rationally."</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"No...you are right. May be nothing happened last night because she knew you were here".</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"What the hell are you talking..ok...ok...give me a minute. Easy." </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Don't tell her that I am staying back tonight. But behave normal. Just go ahead with your chat tonight....and try to extend it till after 12"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">It took some effort to calm him down. I prepared the dinner and had to eat it myself. He didn't take anything. He was trying to divert his mind by watching TV.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I spent some time browsing. Around 10, he went in to chat. I asked him to leave his cell phone with me.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I took the keys from him. Latched the hall door without locking it. I put his phone on charge in the mobile stand gifted by Nisha. I kept it back under the TV and switched off the TV. Left the window open.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span">Chapter 7</span></u></b></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></u></b></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I could not concentrate on the book. I just sat there and waited for the two arms of the clock to come together. There was no sound till 12.05.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">Then, I heard the sound approaching. I peeped out of the window. The sound was nearing the window. I could not control my anxiety and ran to the door and went out.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I saw a old man pedaling his cycle towards Sid's house. His cycle keys were making the jingling sound. I quickly checked if he had legs...and laughed at myself for being such a fool. The old man and I exchanged looks. He seemed to smile at me. He crossed Sid's gate and stopped at the neighboring house. As he switched on the light near the gate, he asked me if I am the one who lived in the house. I nodded. Without me asking anything, he explained that every night he switched on the light at the neighboring house on his way back to his house. He was the watchman of this house. He had found a job elsewhere now. His son switched it off in the morning. He wished me and started pedaling again, his keys making the jingling sound. </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">It was a big relief for me. I thought everything was solved at last. I started walking towards the door. The jingling sound was fading. I came in. Locked the door behind me. Sid came out of the bed room. He was puzzled to see the big grin on my face. As I was about to explain what just happened, suddenly, the TV switched on itself. The grin was gone off my face. As we were both looking at the TV in shock, there was a text message in Sid's phone. I grabbed the phone. The message was from Nisha. It read "Sweet dreams :)".</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">Sid was spellbound. But, that message made things clear to me.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Sid, after your chat every night, you put your phone on charge in that mobile stand?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">Sid who was still terrified, just nodded his head.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"And..in the morning when you wake up, you see Nisha's text message?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Yes...what does it mean?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"It means...your house is haunted, BY FEAR".</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"Some TV sets get switched on by the radiation signals received by mobile phones if they are kept close to the TV. Ever since you told me this problem, I have been searching google to find reasons as to why a TV set would get switched on automatically. Only today evening I came across a discussion thread where someone has reported this problem. The TV gets automatically switched on a couple of moment before any text message is received."</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">I demonstrated it to convince him. "See..." I said with a big grin.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">He appeared relieved. "What about the jingling?"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">"That's easier. But obviously, I could not find the answer for that through google. It's your neighbor's watchman". I explained that part of the story to him.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">He hugged me. He seemed excited. It did not appear that he was going to sleep anymore. I was tired though. I slept off in the couch.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span">Chapter 8</span></u></b></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">Nisha received a text message from Sid - "Game over. Well Played!!"</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span">The End</span></b></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">Post script: <a href="http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1066071">http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1066071</a></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><div><br /></div></div></div>bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-56983843259478454322011-11-21T14:50:00.014+05:302011-11-21T18:51:14.945+05:30சிலை வழி மேவும் உளி ஒலி தேடி - I<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">"களங்களும் அதிர<br />களிறுகள் பிளிற..<br />சோழம் அழைத்துப் போவாயோ.."</span><br /></blockquote>ஆயிரத்தில் ஒருவன் திரையிசைப்பாடலின் வரிகள் இவை. பாலா மீண்டும் மீண்டும் கேட்கும் பாடல் இது. பாடலின் தாக்கத்தில் முடிவு செய்திருக்க வேண்டும். நவம்பர் மாதத்தில் அவர் எங்களைப் பெரம்பலூருக்கு அழைத்தார். அங்கிருந்து கங்கைகொண்ட சோழபுரம் அழைத்துப் போவதாகக் கூறினார்.<br /><div><br /></div><div>தட்சிணாமூர்த்தி அவர்கள் எழுதிய "தமிழர் நாகரிகமும் பண்பாடும்" என்ற புத்தகத்தின் பக்கங்கள் கண் முன் விரிந்தன. புத்தகப் பக்கத்தில் படிப்பதை விட, அப்பெட்டகங்களின் பக்கத்திலேயே படிக்கலாம் என்ற ஆவல் எழுந்தது. அத்திட்டத்தை அப்படியே தாரசுரம், தஞ்சை என நீட்டித்தான் சுரேஷ். </div><div><br /></div><div>-----</div><div><br /></div><div>பெரம்பலூரிலிருந்து காலை 6.30க்கு கிளம்பி, அரியலூர், ஜெயங்கொண்டம் வழியே கங்கை கொண்ட சோழபுரம்; அங்கிருந்து அணைக்கரை வழியே கும்பகோணம் தாராசுரம்; அங்கிருந்து தஞ்சை பெரிய கோயில்; மாலை 6.30க்கு தஞ்சையில் இருந்து ஈரோட்டிற்குப் புகை வண்டி - இதுவே எங்கள் திட்டம். பன்னிரண்டு மணி நேரத்தில், பல நூற்றாண்டுப் பயணம். இது வழிபாட்டுப் பயணம் அல்ல, பண்பாட்டுப் பயணம் என்பதைத் தீர்மானித்துக்கொண்டோம்.</div><div><br /></div><div>-----</div><div><br /></div><div><div>தொடரும் முன் ஒரு மைக்ரோ-மினி வரலாறு: முதன்முதலில் கற்கள் கொண்டு கோயில்களைக் கட்டுவித்தவர்கள் பல்லவர்கள். மாமல்லபுரம் தொடக்க நிலை. இதற்கு முன் சுதைமண்ணிலும் மரத்திலும் கோயில்கள் இருந்ததை அறிகிறோம். மாமல்லபுரம் கடற்கரைக் கோயிலின் பரிணாம வளர்ச்சியே இடைக்காலச் சோழர்களும், பிற்காலச் சோழர்களும் கட்டுவித்தவை. இவற்றின் விமான வடிவு பௌத்த மதத்தின் தாக்கத்தில் ஏற்பட்டவை என்று கூறுகின்றனர்.</div><div><br /></div><div>-----<br /><br /></div><div><div><u><b>கங்கை கொண்ட சோழபுரம்</b></u></div><div><br />ஜெயங்கொண்டத்தில் இருந்து அணைக்கரை செல்லும் சாலையில் 40 நிமிட பேருந்துப் பயணத்தின் பின், சாலை மருங்கில் ஓங்கி நின்று, நம்மை நிமிர்ந்து பார்க்க வைக்கிறது கங்கை கொண்ட சோழபுரம் கோயில். ராஜேந்திர சோழன் தந்தையை விட எட்டடி பாய நினைத்து, ஏதோ காரணத்தால் தன் முயற்சியைக் குறைத்துக் கொண்டது போன்று தோன்றும் விமான வடிவம். சூரியனை மேல் நோக்கிச் சென்று தொடுவதை விட, கிழக்கு நோக்கிச் சென்று தொட நினைத்து, கிழக்காசியாவைக் கைப்பற்றச் சென்று விட்டான் போலும்.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TafCSMyO8wM/TsolpaKCB3I/AAAAAAAAAv8/62FjBwZSQiM/s1600/DSCN1707.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TafCSMyO8wM/TsolpaKCB3I/AAAAAAAAAv8/62FjBwZSQiM/s320/DSCN1707.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677391673580193650" /></a><br />தஞ்சை கோபுரத்தின் புறத்தோற்றத்தில் நேர்கோடுகள் அமைய, இங்கு வளைகோடுகள் அமைகின்றன.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0akAT3G59js/TspDJtnb9fI/AAAAAAAAAyY/cUqHvvpgD-U/s1600/DSCN16952.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0akAT3G59js/TspDJtnb9fI/AAAAAAAAAyY/cUqHvvpgD-U/s320/DSCN16952.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677424114396820978" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-deROQiR1hbc/TsowNOfzYLI/AAAAAAAAAxo/PIpRyFlCwEo/s1600/DSCN1689.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-deROQiR1hbc/TsowNOfzYLI/AAAAAAAAAxo/PIpRyFlCwEo/s320/DSCN1689.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677403284041851058" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tpvEQg12ot4/TsolpyJpvgI/AAAAAAAAAwI/TG8ta0nuixY/s1600/DSCN1699.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tpvEQg12ot4/TsolpyJpvgI/AAAAAAAAAwI/TG8ta0nuixY/s320/DSCN1699.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677391680021052930" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ARNCog_UdcQ/TsorWZaQqbI/AAAAAAAAAwU/3vhJEVaPjHw/s1600/DSCN1669.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ARNCog_UdcQ/TsorWZaQqbI/AAAAAAAAAwU/3vhJEVaPjHw/s320/DSCN1669.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677397944032078258" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><u>விமானத்தின் ஒரு மூலையில்</u>:</div><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Angsai3Uq_M/TsorWo2zjaI/AAAAAAAAAwc/xvWXvS6_CPM/s1600/DSCN1696.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Angsai3Uq_M/TsorWo2zjaI/AAAAAAAAAwc/xvWXvS6_CPM/s320/DSCN1696.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677397948178337186" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><u>யாளிகளும் அவற்றைச் செலுத்துவோரும்:</u></div><div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AO9VEQhfzT4/TsorW4ekpoI/AAAAAAAAAws/LLk30zV8zTI/s1600/DSCN1698.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AO9VEQhfzT4/TsorW4ekpoI/AAAAAAAAAws/LLk30zV8zTI/s320/DSCN1698.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677397952371664514" /></a><br /><br /><u>மதில் சுவரில் நந்திகள் - சோழர் கட்டிடக்கலையின் அடையாளம்</u>:</div><div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SlbtstoumWc/TsowMkhNrHI/AAAAAAAAAxc/Q694uEYFzeM/s1600/DSCN1708.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SlbtstoumWc/TsowMkhNrHI/AAAAAAAAAxc/Q694uEYFzeM/s320/DSCN1708.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677403272773479538" /></a><br /><br /><u>பெரிய உருவம் கொண்ட வாயில் காப்பாளர்கள் - சோழர் கட்டிடக்கலையின் அடையாளம்</u>:</div><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0b7hogznPFs/Tso66AsT0oI/AAAAAAAAAyM/iGn-QhfqzHI/s1600/DSCN1675.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0b7hogznPFs/Tso66AsT0oI/AAAAAAAAAyM/iGn-QhfqzHI/s320/DSCN1675.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677415048546603650" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><u>இக்கோயிலின் மேல் நம்மவர் வைத்திருக்கும் மதிப்பு</u>:</div><div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t1TP8yxOGkg/TsorXQorAHI/AAAAAAAAAw4/4_MAh1vKYPU/s1600/DSCN1705.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t1TP8yxOGkg/TsorXQorAHI/AAAAAAAAAw4/4_MAh1vKYPU/s320/DSCN1705.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677397958856474738" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lrct6M54hNA/TsorX68OddI/AAAAAAAAAxE/J0tX0HvUeNo/s1600/DSCN1691.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lrct6M54hNA/TsorX68OddI/AAAAAAAAAxE/J0tX0HvUeNo/s320/DSCN1691.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677397970212779474" /></a><br />வெற்றிலைக் கறைகள்</div><div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K8mIokL7SoY/Tso4428X-xI/AAAAAAAAAyA/SSfdBS0gD6Y/s1600/DSCN16722.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 130px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K8mIokL7SoY/Tso4428X-xI/AAAAAAAAAyA/SSfdBS0gD6Y/s320/DSCN16722.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677412829726505746" /></a><br /><br /><div>-----</div><div><br />தஞ்சையைப் போன்றே இங்கும் பிரகதீசுவரரே மூலவர். கோயிலின் உள்ளே புகைப்படம் எடுக்க அனுமதி இல்லை. இங்குள்ள நவக்கிரக மேடையைச் சுற்றி வர முடியாது. இதன் அமைப்பு மற்ற கோயில்களை விட மாறுபட்டுள்ளது. சூரிய தேவன் எழு குதிரைகள் கொண்ட ரதத்தைச் செலுத்தும் வகையில் அமைக்கப்பெற்றுள்ளார். இருட்டின் காரணமாகப் பிற கோள்களின் அமைப்பைச் சரியாக ஆராய முடியவில்லை.</div></div></div><br />-----<div><br />நாங்கள் சென்றிருந்த போது சில அயல் நாட்டவரும், புது மணத் தம்பதிகளும், ஐயப்ப பக்தர்களும் வந்திருந்தனர். </div><div><br /></div><div>-----</div><div><br /></div><div>வெளியேறும் போது பிச்சைக்காரர்கள் கோயில் வாசலில் கையேந்தி நின்றனர். பாடலை முணுமுணுக்கத் தொடங்கினார் பாலா....<br /><br /><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>"சிலை வழி மேவும் உளி ஒலி தேடி<br />திருகி விழுந்தன செவிகள்..<br /><br />ஊன் பொதி சோற்றின் தேன் சுவை கருதி<br />ஒட்டி உலர்ந்தது நாவும்..<br /><br />புலிக்கொடி பொறித்த<br />சோழ மாந்தர்கள்<br />எலிக்கறி பொரிப்பதுவோ…<br /><br />காற்றைக் குடிக்கும் தாவரமாகி<br />காலம் கழிப்பதுவோ…"</i></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span">(தாராசுரம் நோக்கிப் பயணம் தொடரும்...)</span></div>bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-2310740160456473562011-08-07T00:31:00.006+05:302012-02-22T19:53:44.550+05:30Retirement - only from employment<div>The oldest memory I have about my dad is him walking, carrying me on his shoulders while I was half asleep - I must have been 4 or 5 years old then. The next best I remember is the day he brought home our first TV - I must have been 7 years then. After that, of course I remember many incidents like - my dad drawing a plant in my science album (and my science teacher writing back a comment - "album work is meant for children and not parents"), helping me prepare for fancy dress competition, writing essays and speeches for me, teaching me tenses and sentence formation in English grammar, teaching me algebra, numerous images of him washing my clothes, taking me to the doctor. Most recently, organizing my sister's marriage, taking me to the bus station to send me off from Erode every time I visited home.</div><div><br /></div><div>He retired from BSNL on July 31 after 39 years and 8 months of service - most of which, I remember him to have been a 'Section Supervisor'. He was also an active member of National Federation of Telecom Employees union and was its district head for some time. The union (NFTE) had arranged for a farewell function last week. About 1100 guests attended it - yes, it was just a retirement party!!! Most of his time in these 40 years would have been spent working for the welfare of his colleagues ranging from - assistance to get a transfer - to - winning employment for a deceased colleague's son/daughter. Yet, as cited by many of his managers, he never left any of his office work pending. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even though dad was pre-occupied with his duties in the union and office, he managed his personal life as well stupendously. He wasn't there with me and my sister to play carrom board or to sit and watch a movie at home..but, he was there with us for the essential moments and phases of childhood. He helped us with our studies and extra-curricular activities, made sure he was on page with our progress and helped us take some key decisions in life. This post is about some of the characters of my dad that impressed me the most. He is not the type that sits and gives long lectures. He has been living a life of character and I have been inspired by just watching him.</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Simplicity:</div><div>For a man who has served in a Central Government job for almost 40 years, I would say my dad led a life of austerity. He doesn't wear an expensive watch or foot wear. His maximum indulgence has been the two-floor house - no portion of it rented out. He now owns his second TVS 50 (after the first one started giving maintenance problems).</div><div><br /></div><div>2. No forced Gyan:</div><div>Only recently I learnt from my mom that, my dad could not pursue a degree because his father could not afford the expense of educating 6 children at the same time. At the age of schooling he had to walk several miles to school. When he was doing his PUC, he had spent many days without even single meals a day. But, he has never told us these stories in the pretext of providing inspiration. After having grown up, the only advice I remember hearing from my dad is "Women are sensitive....you should be extra-nice to them. Even a phone call means a lot to them".</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Hardwork:</div><div>His day typically starts at 5 am and doesn't typically return home until 8 or 9 in the night - even on Sundays. He takes a 1 hour break in the afternoon. It is very very rare to see him in front of the TV except during news hour...and even the rare occasions would have been on festive days to watch debates . He doesn't encourage useless gossips.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. Care for friends and relations:</div><div>This has been his hallmark character. He has always kept good friends around him and others are good at least when they are around him. He treats all relations equally and has never lost an opportunity to help his friends or relations. Some of his friends impress by their hard-work, while some with their intelligence, some with their unconditional love and all of them by their sincerity. There was never a chance for negativity around our home. If there was something that wasn't good for children, that stayed outside of home (cable TV for instance :) ).</div><div><br /></div><div>5. Diplomacy:</div><div>It is amazing to see how he handles issues with a open mind and acts as a proper diplomat, without having read Dale Carnegie or Zen principles. I have seen him playing the role of a diplomat or negotiator between groups or individuals on many occasions and I have seen his suggestions being accepted with respect.</div><div><br /></div><div>6. Aptitude:</div><div>For someone educated in a village school, my dad impresses with his grammatically and politically correct English. His Thamizh isn't any lesser. He can read through Government acts, legal notices, pay commission guide books and explain them - even on matters outside of his departmental knowledge. During his retirement function some of the speakers said he could have been a very successful lawyer.</div><div><br /></div><div>7. Planning and organization:</div><div>Meticulous planner - very punctual. He always keeps a dictionary with him. Carries a bag whenever he goes out. Even for 1 or 2 hour journeys, carries a towel and water bottle with him. Always carries some white papers and pen. Makes a margin and marks page numbers before starting to write anything. Keeps a dictionary by the side when he reads something.</div><div><br /></div><div>8. Gender equality:</div><div>Helps mom in the kitchen. There is not even a hint of chauvinism in his speech or acts. At the same time, he hasn't taken any feminist measures like adding mom's initials to our names.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, mom has complemented him very well. Without her, he couldn't have been the man he is. If Rajamanickam is behind "Bhupesh Rajamanickam", Usha Rani is a part of "Bhupesh Rajamanickam" (All alphabets in her name fit into my name..almost in the same order except for 1 'a').</div><div><br /></div><div>Life after retirement is very tricky especially for those who have been very active. Hopefully, dad will find things to keep himself active. The retirement will hopefully give him enough time to cherish his meals, follow his passions and live an unconstrained life. Through this post I wish him good luck.</div>bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-53764499815019645862011-07-18T12:30:00.010+05:302011-07-18T14:18:38.265+05:30வணக்கம் வெண்பாவெண்பா எழுதிப்பார்க்க வேண்டும் என்பது நீண்ட நாள் ஆவல். இந்த வாரம் வரிந்து கட்டிக்கொண்டு <a href="http://wikipasanga.blogspot.com/2007/01/1.html">விதிகளை</a> மனப்பாடம் செய்து எழுதியும் விட்டேன். கற்பனைக்கு வினைக்கெட (மெனக்கட) வேண்டாம் என்று, சில மேற்கத்தியப் பாடல் வரிகளை மொழிபெயர்த்துள்ளேன். இவற்றின் ஆங்கில மூலத்தைப் பாடியவர்கள்:<div>MJ - Michael Jackson; CD - Celine Dion; 'N - 'NSync; BA - Bryan Adams; </div><div>BD - Bob Dylon; MLTR -MLTR; BZ - Boy Zone</div><div><div><br /></div><div>இக்கலைஞர்கள் என்னை மன்னிப்பார்களாக! இனி உங்கள் பாடு...</div><div><br /></div><div>1.</div><div>I'm starting with the man in the mirror<div>I am asking him to change his ways</div><div>-MJ</div><div><br /></div><div><div>முன்நிற்கும் பிம்பத்தின் மெய்யோன் திருந்திடப்</div><div>பின்நிற்கும் நன்நெறியில் பார்</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>(பார் - உலகம்)</div><div><br /></div><div><div>2.</div><div>I know that I can't describe</div><div>What I'm feeling inside</div><div>..</div><div>I guess I live with the fear</div><div>This could all disappear</div><div>If I try to put it in words</div><div>-CD</div><div><br /></div><div>நன்மொழி வேண்டிமுன் கெஞ்சினம் சொல்லின்பின்</div><div>கைத்தவறு மென்றஞ் சினம்</div></div><div><br /></div><div>3.</div><div>I could build you a bridge that spans the oceanwide</div><div>But the greatest gift I give you would be to stand by your side</div><div>-CD</div><div><br /></div><div><div>அருங்கடல் நீண்டளக்கும் பாலந் தரலின்</div><div>பெரும்பரி சென்<span class="Apple-style-span">துணையு னக்கு</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">(பெரும்பரிசு, என் துணை)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><div>4.</div><div>Here I am - This is me</div><div>There is nowhere else on earth I'd rather be</div><div>-BA</div><div><br /></div><div>இவ்விடம் வந்தேன் இவணாவேன் உன்நிழல்</div><div>நீங்கி இனிப்போவா னேன்</div><div><br /></div><div><div>5.</div><div><div>When you speak the angels all sing</div><div>This is the kind of magic you bring</div></div><div>-MJ</div><div><br /></div><div>அன்பேஉன் மாயநாவைச் சற்றசை - கேட்டு</div><div>மகிழலாம் தேவதை இசை</div></div><div><br /></div><div>6.</div><div>When I 'm all alone with the stars above</div><div>You are the one I love</div><div>-MLTR</div><div><br /></div><div><div>விண்மீன் துணைத்தும் தனித்தேன் உனையே</div><div>நினைந்தேநான் காதலித் தேன்</div></div><div><br /></div><div>7.</div><div>Love me for a reason </div><div>Let the reason be love</div><div>-BZ</div><div><br /></div><div><div>காரணங் கொண்டெனைக் காதல் புரிகஅக்</div><div>காரணமுங் காதலே கொள்க</div></div><div><br /></div><div>8.</div><div><div>That he not busy being born</div><div>Is busy dying</div></div><div>-BD</div><div><br /></div><div><div>பிறத்தல் அவசரத்தில் இன்னும் சிலரும்</div><div>இறத்தல் வழியில் பிறரும்</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>9.</div><div><div>Steal a little and they throw you in jail</div><div>Steal a lot and they make you king</div></div><div>-BD</div><div><br /></div><div>சிறுபொருள் கள்வன் சிறையில் அரும்பொருள்</div><div>கள்வன் அரியணை யில்</div></div><div><br /></div></span><div>10.</div><div><div>When I look into your eyes</div><div>I know that it's true</div><div>God must have spent...</div><div>A little more time</div><div>On you...</div><div>-'N</div></div><div><br /></div>நன்முகத்தாள் மெய்யுரைக் கண்காட்டும் வானுரை</div><div>நான்முகத்தான் மெய்வருத் தல்</div><div><br /></div><div>(தளை எங்கேனும் தட்டியிருப்பின் என் தலை தட்டுக!!)</div>bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-86736659156790492152011-07-12T00:18:00.003+05:302012-02-22T19:54:04.370+05:30Writer's block<div><div>Much traffic has flown through the lanes of 100 feet road since I last posted. Week after week I have been thinking about putting something up, at least to keep it going, but, too much reading of the newspaper has created a state of mind where choosing a topic to write about, has become a very boring task. Clearly, "Ignorance is bliss". At last I decided to write one even if it turned out to be less attractive.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I quit the job, I did so with an apprehension - that I might end up becoming even more lazier and that I might end up accomplishing nothing much. However, having another friend to prepare with for the exams meant I had someone to keep nudging me. And that meant, a lot of reading - on a wide range of topics - from Indian monsoon to Western political thought; from rare earth minerals to comets; from SAARC to World Bank.</div><div><br /></div><div>Apparently, the earth gives rise to more news than babies - what with all the revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt, Lybia and co.; the twin disasters in Japan; the hegimony by the US of America; the drama by beloved Anna Hazare and his civil society friends; the rather meek killing of Osama; the court trial of the joker Headley; Tamilnadu and WB elections; and ofcourse the world famous 2G. There wasn't a day when CNN-IBN did not have a sensational news or an exclusive interview.</div><div><br /></div><div>That reminds me of an important discovery to share. One is better-off listening to the 15 minute DD news (the one for the hearing impaired will do) than listening to the 'expert' opinions on NDTV or CNN-IBN. For best results, sell the TV.</div><div><br /></div><div>It has been fun to spend a lot of time in wikipedia and Govt of India websites. It has been even more fun to explain to family and friends about what I have been reading with more than adequate usage of jargons like carbon credit, inclusive growth, wholesale price index, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>The good thing is that I get to wake up every morning knowing that there is no onsite call to attend or any audit to prepare for or any training to help the team with. Perhaps, the best feeling is that I don't have to rate my own team as good or mediocre performers.</div></div>bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-15689292831304904662011-04-04T00:43:00.005+05:302011-04-04T01:25:08.558+05:30Busy for Nothing<span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C84SXEZYH64/TZjOgcMbptI/AAAAAAAAAto/dnBUoc3JrNA/s1600/comfort-zone-fish4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 290px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C84SXEZYH64/TZjOgcMbptI/AAAAAAAAAto/dnBUoc3JrNA/s320/comfort-zone-fish4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591445994099943122" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dot 1</span><br />It was a saturday in 2000. Early days of college life. As a member of the "Leo club", I was helping with a blood donation camp organized within my college campus. Many of the readers of this blog being my college friends or co-workers, you probably know very well that I tend to be over-serious and hyper-responsible on such occasions, whether the occasion demands it or not - mostly not. This friend of mine, a girl, had been trying to get me out of the scene of action to say something (may be something like, "you stink"). I said, I will be there, but was continuously engaging someone or was just creating a "I am busy" atmosphere. Finally when I walked up to her and said, "sorry madam, I got busy"....for the first time she called me "Busy for nothing". That she continued to address me "Mr.Busy for Nothing", till the end of college, even in the slam book and that some of my other friends too started calling me so, is history. (That she also used to call me 'Badmash' (Rascal) is something I am making public now).<br /><br />That phrase has become so much a part of me that, when someone asks me "Are you busy"...I often say, "yes, for nothing".<br /><br />Somewhere in 2009, on one of the many lazy evenings, I started thinking a little deeper about the phrase. Ever since I joined college, I have always been busy with my own agenda. I haven't spent as much time with friends or family as others would have done. At least, till end of college, the 'busy'ness had been useful to others or myself. But, after taking up a job, all I have been focussing on is getting things done at work - more and more. For the most part, I have remained totally tuned out with respect to other aspects of life like - knowing the world, knowing people, travelling, thinking about investments, thinking about smarter career moves, getting license, filing tax, or even changing the address in my passport. But, that evening, it just ended with saying to myself, "How correct she was!! Oh boy, she is an oracle".<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dot 2</span><br />Again in 2009, I happened to watch the bollywood movie "Rock On" on Netflix. For those of you who do not know, it is a movie about how 4 college friends start a music band and then life takes them in different directions - 3 of them being successful in their line of work. Some incidents bring them together after few years and they resume the band. I liked the movie very much and still is in my list of favorites. That movie made me feel guilty about a few choices I made in life and many things I failed to even take a step towards.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dot 3</span><br />After returning to India,one of the first things I did was to reload my i-pod with some latest songs. Thankfully, the friend who did it for me had "Rock On" in his collection. After shifting to Coimbatore, I happened to travel a lot between<br />Coimbatore-Erode-Chennai. For the first 2 months, my ipod was a great company during these travels. I played the songs from "Rock On", in a loop. Especially, <a href="http://www.gugalyrics.com/SINBAD-THE-SAILOR-LYRICS/300159/">the lyrics of "Sindbad the sailor"</a>, haunted me. Sometimes I felt very inspired, sometimes I felt sad and many times I felt a lot uneasy about the cliche choices I had made.<br /><br />On one of these many travels, I wanted to listen to something other than "Rock On" and "Vinnaith Thaandi Varuvaya" and scrolled through the list of songs, when I stumbled upon podcasting of a collection of books. I started listening to "The Natural Mind - Waking up" by Alan Macmillan. I did not finish listening to the complete audio of the book...but, the few chapters that I listened to were very thought provoking. They made me think that I am a very insignificant being considering the timelessness and vastness of the universe and there hasn't been anything purposeful done by me to claim the special right to exist here.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dot 4</span><br />I stopped being blind and deaf towards the everyday pain that people undergo to meet their basic needs. I stopped being critical of the beggars and less-intellects. I stopped thinking that my standard of living was because I had some special survival skills.<br /><br />The hunger, the crowds, the fight to get a seat in the buses, the lack of courtesy to another human being are not new to me. I have grown up amidst this way of life. But, because I was developing empathy towards the less fortunate, I started viewing life through a different prism.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dot 5</span><br />One of the significant personal improvements after returning to India has been the availability of time to read books. I have brought down the number of fictions I read and increased the count of non-fictions. Some of these books - "Go kiss the world", "7 habits of highly effective people", "A fist full of rice", "Thiruppumunai", "Mystics Musings", "The google story" - rekindled questions which have always been in my mind, but have been ignored in the pursuit of happiness as defined by the south-Indian society - score marks, go to a good college, get a job, focus on career, go abroad, buy a house, buy a car, marry a girl (a beautiful one), have kids, put them in the best of schools. The translated book "Thiruppumunai" - original version in English titled "Making breakthrough innovations happen" inspired me greatly. Also my interactions with my friends Suren and Anitha who are working with a non-profit organization made me question my aspirations in life. I started feeling uncomfortable to remain in the 'safe zone'.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dot 6</span><br />Attaining the age of marriage meant attending the marriage of many school and college friends. During these gatherings, I got to meet some old friends most of whom had chosen the usual text book way of south-Indian life. However, I also got to meet few friends who had dared to think differently. These guys inspired me.<br /><br />During a chat with my close friend Suresh who is preparing for Civil Service Examination, he explained me what and how he was preparing. The preparation and process was so interesting and immediatley I recognized that, that was exactly what I have been wanting to do. I seemed to have found something to hold on to. Something that would give me the satisfaction of treading the road not taken. After the chat, I was searching for something in google and stumble upon a page that quoted from "The Alchemist" - "When you really want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you achieve it".<br /><br />After a month, I submitted my resignation. From April 12th, I will be a student again. I will be busy, hopefully, not for nothing.</span><br /><br />-----------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="font-style: italic; ">Post-Script<br />Here is a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1R-jKKp3NA">speech by Steve Jobs</a> about connecting the dots. Hopefully I will connect my dots - if not - I will find other dots.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; "><br />Picture courtesy: <a href="http://bjovanovic.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/solutions-and-possibilities/">http://bjovanovic.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/solutions-and-possibilities/</a></span></span>bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-51125202650586420062010-12-18T23:14:00.004+05:302010-12-18T23:38:42.504+05:30அவசரம்<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TQz3EMLosaI/AAAAAAAAAsE/iKd8W2eleew/s1600/Insect.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TQz3EMLosaI/AAAAAAAAAsE/iKd8W2eleew/s320/Insect.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552084092002546082" /></a><br /><br />(picture courtesty - please read the link at end)<br /><br />சிறுநீர் கழிக்கும் முன்<br />கண்ணில் பட்டது -<br />கழிவு நீர்ப்பாதையில் சிக்கிய பூச்சி<br /><br />ஒன்றுக்குப் போகும் அவசரம் எனக்கு <br />உயிரே போகும் அவசரம் பூச்சிக்கு<br /><br /><a href="http://headinjurytheater.blogspot.com/2006/06/urinal-fun-in-amsterdam.html">http://headinjurytheater.blogspot.com/2006/06/urinal-fun-in-amsterdam.html</a>bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-2502886157264199982010-12-05T20:28:00.002+05:302010-12-05T20:36:58.629+05:30அழகுஉலகப் பானைக்கு<br />அவள்<br />ஒற்றைச் சோறுbhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-71773195918022160392010-12-05T18:56:00.003+05:302010-12-05T19:22:32.478+05:30Love, Life and LPG<em>(Based on a true incident)</em><br /><em></em><br />R: Hi, just leaving the institute. Off to home now.<br /><br />V: I have started from office too. First day...how was it?<br /><br />R: It was great! We had an orientation session today. At the end of it, the director asked for a volunteer to deliver vote of thanks. I went on stage and gave a 3 min vot with just a minute's prep. 2 years in a corporate job has changed me a lot. From a nervous newbie to a confident gal.<br /><br />V: Good 'Job'!!<br /><br />R: Ha..ha..! There you go Mr.'pun'dit.<br /><br />V: Wow...'pun'dit!! See you are becoming one too :)<br /><br />R: :) How nervous I used to be during our training days!<br /><br />V: Yup...I was nerdy and you were nervy.<br /><br />R: What's up with your orkut status? "Who will cry when you die"?<br /><br />V: Thats the name of the book I am reading now. Robin Sharma.<br /><br />R: Philosophy again.<br /><br />V: So, howz your groom search going? Or rather your dad's?<br /><br />R: hmm..got few proposals. Tough decision, you know.<br /><br />V: Is it? As tough as the decision to quit the job and pursue IAS..?<br /><br />R: Both are lifetime decisions...in a way you inspired me by quitting first! huh...yellow woods all along. how i wish i were robert frost :(<br /><br />R: That reminds me...the poem you sent this morning was out of the world romatic! But...you arent telling who the girl is.<br /><em>(Come on...at least now, tell me that it is me).<br />(why isnt there any response. Is he thinking about opening up...come on..come on)<br /></em><br /><br />V: <em>(...good chance to say, it is her. but, i am not ready for marriage yet. i am running a non-profit organization. how will i convince her dad. what have i got to offer an IAS aspirant?)<br /></em><br />There is no girl.<br /><br />R: That's hard to believe. how can it be so romantic with no girl?<br /><br />V: Hey..wasnt ur vot good? did you really mean to thank the insignificant heads there? but didnt you do well? it is just the intent to deliver and not inspiration that matters.<br /><br />R: But my vot was full of brains and no heart<br /><br />V: ..Whereas my poem was full of heart and no brains? ma'm thats an insult...but i forgive you dear<br /><br />V: *dear friend<br /><br />R:<em> (idiot...who asked for the correction)<br /></em>Whatever...but you will tell me one day dear<br /><br />R: *dear friend<br /><br />V: :) Ok, you will be the first to know when a kind lady falls in love with this useless fellow :)<br /><br />R: Useless fellow....anyways, I am home. Got some household chores to do..catch u later.<br /><br />Roshni..washed her face and went into the kitchen. Her mind was fully occupied with thoughts of Vidhyarthi. She poured milk into a vessel and kept it on the stove and lit the burner. She heard a heavy thunder. It sent a chill through her spine. Though brave and confident, the sound of thunder always disturbed her. She had been told that it was bad omen. She suddenly<br />remembered the clothes left to dry in the terrace. She ran upstairs...it had started drizzling. Thunder again. She started chanting (<em>"may the skies fall on my head...no fear...fear nothing"</em>). She gathered the clothes and rushed down.<br /><br />She went back into the kitchen. The milk had spilled over the burner, putting out the flame. She smelled LPG. Her brain read out pages from her science book...'<em>LPG has no smell naturally. The smell is added to identify a leakage</em>'. She stood still for few moments. She stumbled a hundred things before reaching the regulator and turning it off.<br /><br />She started shaking. What should I do now? <em>"Call Vidhyarthi". "No..call police...". "fire service". "Open the windows". "run idiot".</em> She looked around....fan was on..light was on...! <em>"Dont touch the switches".<br /></em><br />She started moving towards the door.<br /><br /><em>"I could have picked the call when mom called in the morning", "What's the point in waiting for Vidhyarthi to open his heart. Why didnt I tell him", "I should have quit a year back and should have completed the exam by now", "I could have told Roshan how much I love him, and how proud I am to be his sister". "My life could have been more meaningful". </em><br /><br />With a thousand thoughts oozing out of her brain cells and a thousand sweatlets oozing out of her skin cells, she came out under the drizzling sky. She looked around and went to the grocery store.<br /><br />"Bhaiyya...kitchen...gas..leakage..."<br /><br />From her broken language and unusually pale face, the grocery store guy understood that there was a gas leakage.<br /><br />He went in precariously. Opened up all the windows. Closed the regulator cap. Came out and dialled the gas agency.<br /><br />By now, others had gathered and started comforting her. It took her half-an-hour to come out of the shock. She dialled Vidhyarthi as soon as she came to her senses. He didnt pick up the call.<br />She messaged him..."Vidhu, please pick up the call...I have something important to tell you".<br /><br />Post Script:<br /><a href="http://indiahometips.com/gas-leak-emergency-tips.html">http://indiahometips.com/gas-leak-emergency-tips.html</a>bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-1826835919773242322010-10-09T18:59:00.005+05:302010-10-09T20:06:13.202+05:30கடவுச்சொல் ஏழு1.<br />எண்ணென்ப ஏனை எழுத்தென்ப <br />பொருளிலாச் சொற்றொடரென்ப<br />இம்மூன்றும் கடவுச்சொல் விதி<br />--<br />2.<br />மறக்காதே<br />எவர்க்கும் கொடுக்காதே<br />எங்கேனும் குறிக்காதே<br />குறித்தாலும் தொலைக்காதே;<br />ஒருவரின் ரகசியம்<br />கடவுச் சொல்<br />வேறெவரும் அறிவது<br />நன்மை இல்<br />--<br />3.<br />தன்மொழியோ<br />பொன்மொழியோ<br />அனைத்துக்கும் முன்மொழியோ<br />மிக விரும்பும் செம்மொழியோ -<br />எத்தகு அகராதியிலும் -<br />இதுவென்றும் அதுவென்றும்<br />எவர்க்கும் விளங்காச் சொல்<br />கடவுச் சொல்<br />--<br />4.<br />கவிதைக்கும் கனவுக்கும்<br />காதலிக்கும் கடவுளுக்கும்<br />நாய்க்கும் நட்புக்கும்<br />அறிவுக்கும் அண்மைக்கும்<br />சோகத்துக்கும் சோம்பலுக்கும்<br />உரித்தாகும் கடவுச் சொல்<br />உருவாகும் நிமிடத்தில்<br />--<br />5.<br />சிறிதென்று கொள்க<br />சில திங்களென்று கொள்க;<br />சினேகிதர்கள் ஊடல் போலும்<br />கடவுச்சொல் வாழ்நாள்<br />--<br />6.<br />கணினிக்கோ<br />பிற கருவிக்கோ<br /><br />சேமிப்புத் தொகைக்கோ<br />பிற சேவைக்கணக்குக்கோ<br /><br />எவற்றின் கடவுச்சொல் மீதும்<br />காமுறுவர் கயவர்<br />--<br />7.<br />சிதம்பர ரகசியமே<br />சிற்றம்பலம்<br />பேணாக் கடவுச்சொல்லோ<br />பேரம்பலம்bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-66965837771390086932010-09-26T21:17:00.003+05:302010-09-26T23:50:16.938+05:30The one about ATMLike any other day, our lunch gang started walking from our cubicles towards the cafeteria. At the entrance of the cafeteria, the menus available that day had been put up and also a sample dish for each menu had been placed on a table. Even though my choice remains same - "South Indian Full meals" - everyday, I have made it a habit to skim through the other choices just to know how miserable people's lives were going to be that afternoon. If you didnt already know, my metabolism has developed a disliking for most vegetarian proteins (like dhal, peas, soya chunk) and hence I go for the menu that carries the least veg protein content. That being my criteria, Vinodh has another interesting habit. Merely looking at the sample doesnt give him a satisfactory idea about what is being served; he touches and feels the food to make a choice. Once he made an amazing observation that the potato curry which was part of the south indian meal did not have salt, just by touching it. He could not categorically answer when I asked him if he had taste buds in his fingers since birth or if he had recently developed them. I thought it was an interesting case of evolution. He was becoming the fittest to survive our canteen food.<br /><br />After each of us made our choice, we stood in the cash counter queue to get the token. Sindu took out a 500 rupee note (a.k.a bill) and gave it to the counter guy. He looked at the note on both sides and said he cant take it because it was a fake note and asked for a different one. Sindu took out another one and he rejected that too. Then Gopi made the payment and got us the tokens.<br /><br />Sindu wanted me to confirm that it was a fake note. I am someone who cannot make out the difference between a 10 rupee note and a 100 rupee note if not for the extra zero. Anyways, I did not want to lose the chance of pulling her leg and hence took a note from her and observed it closely. Then I observed it at a distance. I did the same on the other side of the note. Then I told her that it was absolutely fake because of two reasons:<br /><br />One - On the white patch in which you see a water mark image, the picture was that of Ben Kingsley and not actually Mahatma Gandhi<br />Two - Subba Rao was never a governor of RBI<br /><br />Gopi who was listening to me while I made the above analysis, took the cue from me and re-confirmed my observation. He also added that Subba Rao was infact a Cricket Umpire. Of course all of the above were made up by us, just to make fun of her...but she thought we were telling the truth and got totally tensed. She said her house owner had given her 25000 in 500 rupee notes and the two that were rejected at the counter were from among the fifty 500 rupee notes that she took from the owner.<br /><br />After our destinies for the day were served on plate, we assembled at the big table that Ranjani had reserved for us by placing her lunch box on the table as is the custom. Our discussion slowly turned towards ATM machines.<br /><br />I started telling how different banks used different types of ATM machines and sometimes, the same bank in the same place had two machines that worked differently. In most machines, you insert your card, enter the pin, press enter, choose the type of account, choose the type of transaction, key the amount, confirm it and decide whether you want a receipt or not and then money comes out and then the card. When ATMs were still new to me(some 6 years back), I inserted my card and waited for the machine to prompt the next question. The machine just held the card it its mouth and didnt say a word on the screen. I thought the machine must have had constipation. After waiting for a few minutes, I pulled the card out. Now it asked me "Please enter the PIN". I learnt the concept of "swiping". Well, that's the second type. You just dont insert the card, you swipe it. Then there are ATMs in which you enter the PIN, but on pressing the "enter" button, nothing happens - because, this is a touch screen and so, the "enter" should be pressed in the screen. In some machines, you habitually enter "1000" without looking at the screen and to your dismay the machine shows "10.00". I once tried "1000.50" and machine asked me to enter the amount in multiples of 100. I left a note in the suggestion box saying "Please have your programmer, declare the amount field as an integer instead of float. He is wasting some memory space there".<br /><br />Some machines, while you eagerly look at the "money slot", expel the card first and then the cash. And while doing that some machines, keep making a warning noise as if to give you a compulsive head ache, until the card is pulled out. In fact, one machine continued to make the noise until I kept the card back in my purse.<br /><br />But, the reason why I felt ATM machines were nothing but "Atrocious Teller Machines" was because - once - the machine asked me to insert the card, then the pin, then the type of account, then the amount, then asked me to verify it, then it asked me if I wanted a receipt, then it asked me if I had taken break-fast and after doing some fuzzy logic with all the input I gave, declared "This transaction cannot be processed". And another machine would not even accept my card. It kept spitting my card out as if I had fed it with bitter-guard. Then I realized it accepted only Master Card and not VISA.<br /><br />Now, Gopi remembered an incident when, he got frustrated waiting for the security guard to stop flirting with the group of girls and leave way for him to enter the ATM. So, as soon as they came out, he rushed in and fed the ATM with his card and the machine simply gulped it. When he came out with a shock and explained to the security guard, he told him that the same had happened to the group of girls. Gopi did not ask why the guard did not stop him.<br /><br />Now Ranjani remembered an occassion when, the ATM after asking the hazaar questions as usual, even made notions of counting the money (the noise that it makes before sending out the cash) and then said that there was no money. She asked why the ATM would want to cheat like that. Gopi clarified that he too thought the noise was made when the ATM counts the cash, but realized that it was not true when he just wanted Rs. 100. The ATM still made the noise to give out just one currency note. It occurred to me that the ATM doesnot probably count what it sends out, rather the balance amount that stays within. Ranjani felt may be it scans through all the notes and finds the oldest and the shabbiest looking note to give out. I said, may be it tries to locate fake notes and sends them out first.<br /><br />My last point, brought Sindu back to this world, and she asked if even ATM machines could have fake notes. I said on a bad day, even RBI could release fake notes.<br />-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Later that week, Sindu went to meet her house owner with the 25000 that she got from her. The house owner is a bank employee and incidentally a lawyer. She confirmed that the notes were not fake.<br /><br />Anyways, this incident influenced me to learn how to identify fake notes and I stumbled upon this link: <a href="http://www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/54186-How-identify-fake-notes.aspx">http://www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/54186-How-identify-fake-notes.aspx</a><br />After reading it, I realised that knowing how to identify fake notes is important not only for my own good, but is also a duty as a true citizen. It is important to retain the ATM transaction receipt at least for a week or a month depending on the amount.bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-24152318239220652672010-09-26T19:15:00.007+05:302010-09-26T20:09:10.519+05:30ஒரு மழைப்பொழுதில் (On a rainy day)<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TJ9TKL6PCGI/AAAAAAAAAqw/i6eqC0c1Ros/s1600/raindrop.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 126px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521223102640359522" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TJ9TKL6PCGI/AAAAAAAAAqw/i6eqC0c1Ros/s320/raindrop.jpg" /></a><br /><br />கால் சட்டையை அரைக்காலாக்கிக்<br />கையைக் குடையாக்கிக்<br />கொஞ்சம் உலர்வாகவும்<br />நிறைய ஈரமாகவும்<br />அறைக்கு வந்து சேர்ந்தேன்;<br /><br />சலனமின்றி,<br />என் வருகைக்காகக் காத்திருந்தது<br />ஜன்னலருகே வைத்துச் சென்ற<br />சோப்பு<br /><br />Folding pants over the knees<br />Holding hands over the head<br />Less dry and more wet<br />Opened the doors to my room<br /><br />There lied the detergent soap<br />Near the window, with bubbles of hope<br />Unperturbed,calm and cool<br />Waiting for me to save it from doom<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Picture Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26309540@N08/2637798827</span>bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-50733883359207617952010-09-11T18:56:00.028+05:302010-09-12T17:28:36.062+05:30The Innovation Stall - "In ovation to Innovation"<strong><font color="#800080">Produced By</strong></font>: <br /><br />RHMLCG (Retail Hospitality Manufacturing&Logistics Consumer Goods - A Unit of Wisdom Ltd)<br /><br /><font color="#800000">The following is a true story. Names of characters have been changed just for the heck of it.</font><br /><br />Not sure how many of you would find this entertaining..anyways I just wanted to write about something that was part of my life for almost 20 days.<br />__________________________________________________<br /><br /><strong>Joy</strong><br />Joy is the head of the Innovation Group of Wisdom Ltd where I work. Innovation being a part of our growth strategy, he decided to conduct an innovation fair across the organization for all business units that partly or fully operated from Coimbatore. He formed the iBrigade team and entrusted them with the responsibility of conducting the fair.<br /><br /><strong>Pradaap</strong><br />Pradaap is an Assistant Project Manager in the RHMLCG business unit. He was chosen as the point of contact for the Wisdom Innovation Fair ("WIF" in short) activities for the RHMLCG unit. In the look out for volunteers, Pradaap sent out an email to all the RHMLCG managers in Coimbatore. In his distribution list, I was the odd man out. I am not a manager, but I happened to be in his distribution list because I was the point of contact for my project in Coimbatore. Along with the volunteers list, we were also asked to come up with a mascot for our business unit.<br /><br />Myself and my teammate Soumya discussed over lunch that our mascot should not be an animal. We imagined some animated object like a truck or phone or toy that represented our business unit("BU" in short). We finally sketched an animated 'Trolley'. Eventually, that was the one voted by our colleagues.<br /><br />Next, Pradaap invited us for a short meeting to decide the name of the mascot. All names suggested had an "i" in front of them (like - icarte, itrolley, iwheel). I put it plainly that adding an "i" in front of everyword doesnt make it innovative. Pradaap prompted me to come up with a name that did not start with "i", but was connected to "ideas/innovation" or had some relevance to our BU. I suggested "Nava" ("New" in Sanskrit).<br /><br />At the end of the meeting, I asked about the innovation stalls to be put up at the end of the month, specifically asking about any data needed from my project (anticipating that I may need 2 or 3 weeks to get the data). Pradaap said he would keep me in loop.<br /><br />He called me two days later asking me if I was willing to be a part of the innovation stall ("istall" in short) team for my BU. I had recently learnt the art of telling a "pleasing no" and tried it on him. "Pradaap, I would love to be a part of the team, but I am busy with project initiatives which may not allow me enough time". After all, Pradaap was senior to me and he had obviously learnt the art of "countering a pleasing no". He said that he liked my mascot ideas greatly and would like to have me in the team. My part would be to just give some ideas and that there would be a team that would execute the plans. Now, that was an easy bait for an ego-centric person like me and I agreed.<br /><br />He then sent out an email to Kanmani that I would leadthe innovation stall team. Though I was taken aback by the word 'lead'...my inner-self felt happy about it. At that point in time, I had no clue about how I was going to manage the istall in addition to my already mounting responsibilities.<br /><br />We had a tele-conference the next day about the istall, after which Pradaap had to be on leave unexpectedly.<br /><br /><strong>Kanmani</strong><br />Kanmani is another Assistant Project Manager in our BU. She took charge of the istall and called the istall team for a brain storming session. We came up with some high level ideas for the istall. Two days later, Kanmani got busy with a project proposal and she handed over her responsibility to Senthamil.<br /><br /><strong>Senthamil</strong><br />Senthamil is yet another Assitant Project Manager in our BU. When he joined our group, we had already made some plans. Senthamil got us into the act. He is the one who took us from the planning phase to the execution phase. He identified organization recommended vendors who could help decorate our stall and procure gifts for the participants.<br /><br /><strong>Saththi</strong><br />Saththi is a vibrant youngster from our BU. When Kanmani called for the brainstorming session, it was Saththi who hosted it. He gave us chits of paper in which we had to write down our ideas. He then broke us into two groups and asked us to come up with the top ideas from the list. He then asked one from each group to present the ideas classifying them into four quadrants (High Impact& Most Feasible, Low Impact& Most Feasible, High Impact& Less Feasible, Low Impact& Least Feasible).<br />I presented the ideas of my group. Diya presented for the other group.<br /><br />Some important decisions we made in this session were <br />1. We would not dump people with data<br />2. We would make people spend some time in our stall and not just for the games<br />3. "It wont be a skim through the walls and forget everything like Gajini" experience<br />4. We would have something for all types of people like - "I want supporting data", "What is RHMLCG", "Di, there is no fun in this stall di", "What games do you have?"<br /><br />Saththi searched the net and found a cool looking design for our stall. We had to drop that design though - the reason - has been discussed later in this post.<br />Saththi also came up with a card game about which we will see at the end.<br /><br /><strong>The meetings</strong><br />Part of our istall team worked from one facility(HHK) and the other part of the team worked from another facility(KKK). This meant, all of us couldn't be physically present together for the meetings. Most discussions happened over phone. Sample for a discussion:<br /><br />"Saththi, how big is the space going to be?"<br /><br />"It is the distance between two pillars in the cafeteria of KKK"<br /><br />"Bhupesh, you are the one in KKK. How big is the distance between 2 pillars?"<br /><br />"30 feet probably. But are they going to give us 30feet X 30 feet?"<br /><br />"This is Saththi. I guess, it will be 30 X 6, but I am not sure"<br /><br />"This is Diya. Let us assume we will get 30 X 6..however, Bhupesh, can you confirm with Joy?<br /><br />"uh..Sure..."<br /><br />"ok, let us move on to the design. I have an idea. Shall we design our entrance like a bulb"<br /><br />"Bhupesh here...I think that's a good idea. Which side do you propose our entrance to be?"<br /><br />"On this side...Bhupesh..sorry, I have drawn a picture here and showing people the side on which we will have the bulb"<br /><br />"ok just tell me if it is the 30feet side or the 6 feet side?"<br /><br />"This is Sami. It is the 6 feet side"<br /><br />"Ok, does the bulb stand or lie down?..this is Bhupesh again"<br /><br />"It will be standing.."<br /><br />"With narrow side up?"<br /><br />"No, with the "bulby" side up" (Everyone laughs)<br /><br />"Did I say something funny?"<br /><br />"Hey, no...the picture I drew here looks funny..sorry"<br /><br />"This is Sami....should we have this filament?"<br /><br />"What filament?"<br /><br />"We have a filament in the picture"<br /><br />"Oh..okay..guys, I really find it hard to understand this. If you guys are okay with the design, let us freeze it and move to things like data collection and what else we will exhibit"<br /><br />For the next call, when the team in HHK was eagerly looking at the phone for me to join from KKK, I said hello, at the door of the meeting room at HHK.<br /><br />"Hi..I thought it would be effective if I came here in person atleast until we get into execution phase".<br /><br /><strong>The ideas</strong><br />For almost 5 or 6 meetings, we were only discussing ideas. We seemed to like every idea. It was high time for us to finalize something and we did:<br /><br />1. The innovation data we were collecting from the different projects would be printed in a flex print which would decorate our istall walls. As part of the data collection, we asked each project to give one of their implemented ideas in the form of a story.<br /><br />2. We would create working or dummy models for some RHMLCG products that we thought, would come into the market in the future<br /><br />3. We would come up with games that kindle creative thinking or will have something to do with innovation<br /><br />4. We would show videos that inspire creative/innovative thinking, downloaded from net<br /><br />5. We would create a model of our mascot<br /><br /><br /><strong>Sami PanneerSelvam and Lakshmish</strong><br />Sami and Lakshmish were given charge of the games and gifts. They worked with a 'just out of college' group and came up with fresh and interesting games.<br /><br /><strong>Diya</strong><br />Diya is an enthusiast from our BU with a head that punched out ideas at the rate of 2per minute. She was our CSO - Chief Strategy Officer and CA - Chief Architect. She came up with ideas on how our 4 models would look:<br />1. Ergonomics Chair - would warn if you didnt sit in a healthy posture<br />2. Wonder Paint - A paint that would change colors when the seasons change<br />3. A house-hold recycling device<br />4. A monitor with a printer integrated in it<br /><br /><strong>Sami Nivas</strong><br />Sami Nivas didnt feature in our first few meetings. He joined our group when we were just about to get into execution. He turned out to be "the one". On a saturday morning, myself and Sami set out in search of a vendor who could create the models in thermocol for us. Sami took me to the flower market. We started with a shop that said "marriage designers". We told them what we were looking for. The shop attendant's hand extended in the direction of the interiors of the market. We followed the direction shown by the 7 or 8 pairs of hands that we consulted and reached "Poonguyil Decorators". After explaining them our models with graphs, arrow marks and dimensions, they quoted a four figure number. I reiterated that the models were to be in thermocol. The shop-keeper reiterated that any other material would make it a 5 figure number. Sami and me exchanged a look and felt it would have been good to know a mantra that could have made us disappear the same moment. We got the business card and left the shop hoping not to visit again.<br /><br />Next, we had an appointment with Mr. Sudharshan an interior decorator. (Sami Nivas will return)<br /><br /><strong>Mr. Sudharshan</strong><br />In my very first call with Mr. Sudharshan, I realized that we were getting into some high budget stuff...for he asked me to meet him at Kodissia. Kodissia is like the Nehru stadium of Chennai. Nevertheless, we wanted to see what it takes. I and Sami Nivas, were in Kodissia at the said time. We explained our idea to Mr. Sudharshan. He said that it would take 3.5 lakhs. So, we removed most of our specifications and asked him the revised budget. It came down to 1.5 lakhs. We explained him that all this drama was for a 2 to 3 hours fair and not worth that much money. He sensed that though we came from a big banner, we were not Shankars and were in fact Vikramans. He asked us the budget. We told him a 5 figure number. He said he could rent us a few good looking tables at the best. I called Senthamil immediately and told him that we are scrapping the interior decoration idea. He too agreed that we must be spending on the content and not the looks.<br /><br /><strong>The electronic models</strong><br />Now that the money set aside for the interior decoration was available, myself and Sami thought we could spend more on the electronic models - Ergonomics chair and Wonder Paint. We went to a place that did final year projects.<br /><br />"Ma'm, I work for Wisdom Ltd. I need help with creating an electronics model"<br /><br />"Which department sir?"<br /><br />"Consu...did you mean which department in college?"<br /><br />"yes..which department - ECE or EEE?"<br /><br />"No, I am not a student"<br /><br />"Oh..staff?"<br /><br />"No..I WORK for a company named Wisdom Ltd"<br /><br />"Ok sir..you can meet Mr.Raamaa"<br /><br />Mr. Raamaa was incidentally the director of the institute. We explained the model to him. The chair model would have sensors that would detect if some object was placed on the chair, but the back and neck of the object (a toy probably) was not erect and if the arms (of the toy) were not on the arms of the chair. The Wonder paint model would have 3 LEDs inside a mini-house. There would be a wheel behind the house divided into 3 segments. One for winter, one for summer and the other for autumn. Depending on which segment was on top (visible behind the house), the color of the LED would change giving the effect of a paint color change. He quoted 7K. At this point, the thermocol models werent of any hope, the interior decoration had already proved too expensive and hence dropped. I didn't have lot of time to try other vendors who might quote lesser than 7K. I agreed half-heartedly. Delivery was expected 2 days later.<br /><br />"Please register these as 2 projects with the lady over there"<br /><br />"Ok sir..thank you. Sir, we wont have time to be physical present here when the "project" is being done..please make sure it comes out well"<br /><br />"Ma'm, I want to register 2 projects that I just discussed with Mr.Raamaa"<br /><br />"Which department?"<br /><br />"No, I am not a student"<br /><br />"Oh..staff? Which college?"<br /><br />"No, I am not from a college. I work for Wisdom Ltd and..."<br /><br />"Oh..name please"<br /><br />"Bhupesh"<br /><br />"No, name of the project"<br /><br />"Ergonomics chair..E R G O N O M I C S"<br /><br />"What does it mean?"<br /><br />"It is the science of sitting in a healthy posture"<br /><br />"Oh...you are a physiotherapist"<br /><br />"No, I am a...yes, something to do with physiotherapy"<br /><br />"oh..like that"<br /><br />to myself: "(I dont like any of it)"<br /><br />"Please pay an advance at the finance section"<br />__________________________________________________<br /><br />"Ma'm..I just registered two projects..can I pay the advance here?"<br /><br />"Department?"<br /><br />"...I am not a student. I am not a staff. The project's name is E R G O N.."<br /><br />"I got it. Thanks"<br /><br />"How much are you paying?"<br /><br />"How much can I pay?"<br /><br />"7000"<br /><br />"No, I meant "minimum". Ok, I will pay 3500"<br />__________________________________________________<br /><br />Finally, I came out with the satisfaction of having at least one item done.<br /><br />I called Senthamil and gave him the updates. He asked me about the thermocol model. I said, I was planning to do them myself rather than paying what the vendor asked for.<br /><br />On the way back to room, I bought 2 thermocol sheets, scale, pencil, knife, fevicol.<br /><br /><strong>Back to Sami Nivas</strong><br />From the very beginning we all knew that the last 2 days before the event were going to be the ones when we would have time and urge to get things done. And the days arrived.<br /><br />Even in school and college days, I always stayed away from theromocol sheets and any decoration work in general. I decided to try my hands at it now - I had to. I started cutting out the sheets for the design given to me by Diya. To my surprise, the pieces came out well. But, when I created a mock assemble of the pieces, they didnt look all that great. I thought to myself that the only hope we had to present something worthy were the electronic models.<br /><br />Sami came to pick me after 2 hours. I showed him what I had made out of the theromcol sheets and he didnt seem satisfied. Anyways, we went to the final year project place.<br /><br />"Ma'm, our project is due for delivery today"<br /><br />"Which department?"<br /><br />"Batch number CEA274 and CEA275"<br /><br />"Ok, which department?"<br /><br />"..I am not a student. Can you search for E R G O N...?"<br /><br />"Got it. Please go to 3rd floor to see the demo for 274"<br /><br />I went alone, leaving Sami in the first floor. When I went there, I was in for a shock. The chair looked like an execution chair. In the positions where we had imagined sensors, there were big telephone buttons. They were all connected through lot of wires that lead to a mini transformer that would take in a 230V supply. I realized my mistake. I had not told them that the model was to work on battery. But it was too late to make changes. I was ready to compromise and went down to pick up 275. Sami joined me.<br /><br />What we saw, gave us a bigger shock. The 'Wonder paint' had been designed in such a way that when we chose the color of the LED to glow, the wheel rotated and changed seasons. What this meant was - as you change the paint of the house, the seasons would change. This was not "Wonder Paint"..this was "Supernatural Paint". In fact, not event that...because, the LEDs had been placed outside of the house...so, it didnt even give the appearance of the house's paint changing. When I was thinking of compromising ways of presenting this in 2 days, Sami wanted this to be redesigned. <br />But, both of us couldn't stay around longer. Sabesh needed help at the flex print place. Also, the unfinished thermocol models with me had to be passed on to Reema so that she could make a better model out of it. And most importantly, I had to leave that evening to Trichy for my cousin's marriage and was not available next day.<br /><br />Sami dropped me at the flexprint place and went back to take care of the electronic models. On the way, he dropped my thermocol pieces at Reema's. In the meanwhile Reema had rented a trolley from near her house and started working on giving it the appearance of our mascot.<br /><br /><strong>Sabesh</strong><br />While we were busy with the models, Sabesh had started working on designing the flex prints. He had been given the finalized data for the flex prints, just the day before. After introducing myself to Sabesh, we started looking at what he and Saththi had done so far. Importantly, Sabesh had to catch a train in 1 hour and Saththi was busy purchasing for his travel to onsite the following week.<br /><br />What Sabesh showed was absolutely artistic. The background he had chosen for each project was very creative and vibrant. Unfortunately, it had taken him 2 sleepless nights to design for just 3 projects. We had to finish 4 more - in 3 more hours - the flexprint place closed at 9 and Sunday was a holiday - the designer had to be at the mosque for 1 hour in between. It was a difficult equation to balance. Sabesh handed over the work half heartedly to me. During the 'mosque' break, I went once more to have a look at the paint model. It was almost done. Sami was motivating the chip programmer by explaining him the impact of the product he was developing. It was a nice sight to watch him treating the outside vendor like someone who was in our own team. It was getting late for all of us. Since the model was almost done, we said we would take delivery next day and returned to the flex print. We did whatever design we could do in the next 2 hours and gave the flex for print. We felt a relief when it came out well. I though to myself that the flex print was going to be our face-saver.<br /><br />When Sami dropped me in my room, it was 11pm - On time for me to board a bus and reach Trichy in time for my cousin's marriage on Sunday morning.<br /><br /><strong>The day before</strong><br />On the day before the event, I was in a small town near Trichy. While I was engaging the guests at the marriage...I kept thinking about how far we had reached in our preparation for next day and what else was left to be done. It seemed like nothing had been completed. At the same time, I should say I wasn't much worried about the preparations either, because, things were in the dependable hands of Sami Nivas and Diya (who had returned to Coimbatore on Sunday after attending a marriage on Saturday). Myself, Sami and Diya were in constant touch through phone calls regarding the status of different things.<br /><br /><strong>The big day</strong><br />Sami Nivas was to collect the trolley and other models from Reema's place and bring them to office through a minidor...while I was to bring the 'Ergonomics chair' model which was stuck with me. The chair model still needed lot of decoration to hide the wires, the buttons and the big circuit connected to it. I had asked my team mates Bindu, Pragadeesh, Sumesh and Mani to come early in the morning to help.<br /><br />When I reached the gates of the office at 6.45 in the morning in a call taxi, I was denied entry. I was carrying electronic items which were not permitted inside the special economic zone where there was restiction on imports and exports. I was asked to enter through another gate where there were officials who could grant permission. When I reached at the other gate, I was asked to write a letter. When I took out my notepad which had ruled papers...I was asked to use unruled sheets. This was getting on my nerves, when the watchmen got me two unruled sheets. The readers should consider that I have been in IT industry for six years now and emails typically started with a "Hi" and ended with a "Thanks and Regards". I hadn't used, "To", "From", "Subject", "Date", "Dear Sir" etc., for a very long time. So, preparing the letter wasn't easy. The watchman, again, gave me a 'you uneducated fellow' look and gave me a sample letter. When this formality was done, I was allowed inside.<br /><br />Everyone was waiting for me. Our stall looked absolutely empty, while all other stalls had been decorated. We had 2 hours left for the start of the event. We had a lot to be done. But we had our team - everyone whom we had expected to be present was there - Saththi, Sabesh, Supriya, Suparna, Sami Nivas, Sami Panneerselvam, Lakshmish, GP, Pragadeesh, Bindu, Soumya, Sumesh and Mani. Additionally, Kanmani and Senthamil were there to guide.<br /><br />Diya showed me the mascot model and the other models they had completed. They all looked marvellous and totally professional from how they looked the previous day.<br /><br />We listed out what had to be done. I assigned responsibility to each person/group. While some people got busy with getting the flex print on the wall, some got busy setting the games stall. Some started decorating with the balloons and color papers and some set up the projector. Bindu started beautifying the ergonomics chair.<br /><br />Diya wanted names for the models. She named the recycling model as "Punarjani Yantra" and the paint model retained it's original name "Wonder paint". The other two were named "Printegrated" and "Ergo". <br /><br />In the meanwhile, Kanmani went around to take a look at the other stalls. She came back and said that no one had focussed so much on innovation like we had done. She said that should be our unique selling point. She asked me to talk to the team and explain the same.<br /><br />At 9.30, everything was ready. I called out to everyone to assemble and get ready. I briefed the team that our focus would be on innovation. When we present our innovation data, the innovation models and games, we would describe how the ideas for the stall were diverse, were original and were gathered through proliferation. We would also stress that the idea for the models of products that might be in the market in future had come from our own employees. Finally, we would also show case our mascot which was a true symbol of innovation in terms of - not going for an animal - choosing something relevant to the industry - the beautiful and imaginative way it had been created at a low-cost. I rehearsed a mini presentation speech for myself to explain our ideas at a high level to all the visitors.<br /><br />When the CIO walked to our stall, he showed interest in everything we had put up for demonstration. He keenly listened to everything we had to say. He played every game. And what impressed him most was Saththi's card game which was, in a way, a gamble - the profits going to our social activities group "Outreach". He called it an innovative way to collect funds.<br /><br />Then we had the visitors. While one group explained the models, one group explained the innovation data, while another group entertained the game-freaks. Many people stopped by just to watch the vidoes we were playing. All this while, our mascot stood there with a happy and courteous smile.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TIxwYOf-d5I/AAAAAAAAApM/DR5fazTU7WE/s1600/Mascot.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TIxwYOf-d5I/AAAAAAAAApM/DR5fazTU7WE/s320/Mascot.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515907205133399954" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TIxw5MPGGnI/AAAAAAAAApc/FFvP2ZlYUIs/s1600/Recycle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TIxw5MPGGnI/AAAAAAAAApc/FFvP2ZlYUIs/s320/Recycle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515907771461409394" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TIxw4eFDgHI/AAAAAAAAApU/NeYPq0EitJs/s1600/printegrated.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TIxw4eFDgHI/AAAAAAAAApU/NeYPq0EitJs/s320/printegrated.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515907759071264882" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TIxw6dPyNUI/AAAAAAAAAps/y-hfM10g6p8/s1600/Ergo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TIxw6dPyNUI/AAAAAAAAAps/y-hfM10g6p8/s320/Ergo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515907793207571778" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TIxw54o0r2I/AAAAAAAAApk/tkK_F2tj-V4/s1600/Paint.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TIxw54o0r2I/AAAAAAAAApk/tkK_F2tj-V4/s320/Paint.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515907783380479842" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TIx3yb7cw8I/AAAAAAAAAp8/zIVr7NR2r74/s1600/3client.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 154px; height: 205px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TIx3yb7cw8I/AAAAAAAAAp8/zIVr7NR2r74/s320/3client.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515915351996285890" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TIx36N-BTuI/AAAAAAAAAqE/gOeLGwNRpws/s1600/Sukumar.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BXyUzNhcCtM/TIx36N-BTuI/AAAAAAAAAqE/gOeLGwNRpws/s320/Sukumar.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515915485687926498" /></a><br />__________________________________________________<br /><br />We won the second place. When we got down from the dias after collecting the certificate and gift, Pradaap was there to congratulate us.<br /><br />I would have felt happy even without the prize. The 20 days period gave me lot of lessons in setting goals, collecting ideas, ensuring everyone's participation, motivation and presentation. Also, it earned me the frienship of some bright minds. These 20 days took me to school and college days. Ironically, I did no thermocol models or electronic models in school and college days :)<br />__________________________________________________<br /><br /><font color="#800080">The Cast</font>:<br /><font color="#800000"><br />Job as Joy<br />Pradeep as Pradaap<br />Kanchana as Kanmani<br />Senthil as Senthamil<br />Soundarya as Soumya<br />Sasi Panneerselvam as Sami Panneerselvam<br />Lakshman as Lakshmish<br />Sasi Nivas as Sami Nivas<br />Divya as Diya<br />Sathya as Saththi<br />Sathish as Sabesh<br />Reena as Reema<br />Aparna as Suparna<br />Priya as Supriya<br />Raaja as Raamaa<br />GP as GP<br />Sinduja as Bindu<br />Prabeesh as Pragadeesh<br />Suresh as Sumesh<br />Mathi as Mani<br />Sudharshan as Sudharshan<br /></font>bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-34379157634835934912010-09-07T22:58:00.004+05:302010-09-08T00:07:19.982+05:30What's up with me - September 2010There have been many enquiries about my physical well being. Hopefully there will be none about my mental well being after this post. I have lots of options as excuse for the long absence. Let us stick to laziness. To the interested minds, here is what has happened of bhupesh, to bhupesh and to the nears and dears since July 2010.<br /><br />Firstly, my room mate left to the US and became a Non Returning Indian again. Which meant, I was 'Home Alone'(at least I belived so - more to follow on this).<br /><br />Secondly, I have a lot of additions to my tag cloud. I use these words everyday and with shameless pride, as if I am the management messiah that the world has been waiting for. Some of them are: SoW, FTE, CR, C2.0, blended rate, NC, SPP, fishbone, pareto, pipeline, utilization, value add, goal setting, quadrant, bandwidth. Just to illustrate the effect, my team starts playing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzzword_bingo">bingo</a> as soon as I pick the phone. I started using the meeting room to avoid it, but I very recently heard someone shout 'Bingo' on the other side of the phone. Jokes apart, I feel like I am evolving.<br /><br />Next, in the absence of a project manager in Coimbatore, I get to represent my vertical(for non-softwares, this is equivalent to "department") in meetings where "High Tea" is served. This means, I get to rub shoulders with some really tall people, like my Vice President who was 4 inches taller than me when I last stood near him (in the meeting before that, he was just 3 inches taller...in Cognizant, you "really" grow). Also, I get to try my jargons, amidst the smart minds of Cognizant. One such meeting was a workshop about improving the entry level training curriculum.<br /><br />Well, the show-off is only in office. I had been to my cousin's marriage two weeks back. For the most part, I was seated next to my younger sister and brother-in-law. I experienced the utmost injustice that has been dealt to me in a very long time. People walked to our row and with all dignity wished my sister and brother-in-law. They didnt seem to consider my existence. It is amazing how one becomes 'respected' after marriage. There was one person who did consider me and wished me, only to take 50 rupees from me.<br /><br />Earlier, my sister and BIL, visited home for the first time after marriage and we had a nice time - in between coffees. (My BIL likes coffee and that was reason enough for my mom to keep preparing coffee that the entire street didnt sleep because of the smell from our kitchen). My BIL talks less like me and considering the fact that he is putting up with my sister, he must be smarter.<br /><br />I have been reading some books: "The 7 habits of highly effective men", "Alai Osai", "Romance in Chaos", "Nothing can be as crazy". First and second book are popular anyways..the remaining 2 are avoidable.<br /><br />Lastly, the month of August was amazing. One reason, Coimbatore has cooled down. The other reason is that innovation was in air. Cognizant celebrated a month long innovation fair. Many events like art from waste, rangoli, quiz were conducted. The cross-word was won by yours truly. The treasure hunt event was amazing...especially because I was able to run ahead of many other younger chaps. The crux of the events was the innovation stall, which I was lucky to coordinate for my business unit and won the second place. More than the prize, it gave me the chance to interact with some lovely people. If not for anything else, I should consider myself lucky for the kind of friends I keep meeting. The innovation fair, opened doors to two gems as friends. For the amount of time I spent on the Innovation stall, I should be writing a seperate post on it....especially the misadventures.<br /><br />Part of the innovation fair was the "Innovation Evangelist" program which I attended without knowing what I was getting into. It turned out to be an organization level initiative of which I am a part now - gladly. So, what exactly am I doing, "Awakening the Innovator"...and also my room mate now..so, let me wrap up.bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363689657502622052.post-20411621248776474692010-07-18T22:05:00.004+05:302010-07-19T22:47:04.742+05:30பிறப்பொக்கும் எல்லா உயிர்க்கும்குளிக்கச்செல்லும் முன் அன்று உடுத்திக்கொள்ள ஆடைகளை ஒவ்வொரு பையாகத்தேடி, கடைசியில் வெகு நாட்கள் திறந்திடாத ஒரு பையைத்திறந்து, அருவருப்பில் தூக்கி எறிந்தேன். காரணம் பைக்குள் மீசை முறுக்கிக்கொண்டிருந்த கரப்பான் பூச்சி. சில நொடிகள் ஆசுவாசப்படுத்திக்கொண்டு, பையை மீண்டும் எடுத்து எப்படியோ அதைப் பையிலிருந்து வெளியேற்றினேன்.குளியலறைக்குள் சென்றால் அங்கும் இருந்தது ஒரு கரப்பான். அறைக்குள் கரப்பான் இருப்பது உறுத்திக்கொண்டே இருக்க, குளியல் மீதான கவனம் குறைவாகவும், கரப்பான் மீதான கவனம் அதிகமாகவும் கொண்டு "சனி" நீராடினேன். <br /><br />கரப்பான், தேள், பூரான், மூட்டைப்பூச்சிகள் போன்றவற்றுடன், சிறு வயதிலிருந்து கொண்ட அனுபவங்களின் நினைவுகளில் நனைந்து வெளியேறிய போது, உடலெல்லாம் கால்கள் ஊர்வது போன்ற உணர்வு மேலிட்டது.<br /><br />ஜன்னலருகில் பக் பக்கிய புறா, என்றும் ஆனந்தம் தருவது, இன்று ஏனொ வெறுப்பை ஏற்படுத்தியது."காக்கை குருவி எங்கள் ஜாதி", என்று பாரதியை நினைத்துக் கொஞ்சம் சாந்தப்பட்டுக்கொண்டேன். சிலந்திகள் மீது கல்லூரியில் காட்டிய கரிசனம் நினைவுக்கு வந்து மேற்கூரையைப் பார்த்ததில் பகீர் என்றது. ஒரு குளவிக் கூடு இருந்தது. அதில் குளவியேதும் இருக்கக்கூடாது என்று என்னை நானே கேட்டுக்கொண்டேன் (கடவுளோ, காப்பர் சல்பேட்டோ, எதன் மீதாவது நம்பிக்கை வைத்திருத்தல், இது போன்ற வேளைகளிலாவது உதவும்).<br /><br />என் எல்லைக்குள் அன்று பலரும் அத்து மீறுவதாய்ப் பட்டது. அவ்வெண்ணம் தோன்றி ஓய்ந்த மறுகணமே, எது என் எல்லை என்று எங்ஙனம் தீர்மானமாயிற்று என்று எண்ணலானேன். கரப்பான்களை இதற்கு முன்னும் என்னறையில் கண்டிருக்கிறேன். அவை வாசம் செய்த அறைக்கு நான் வந்தேனா, அல்லது நான் வாசம் செய்யும் அறைக்கு அவை வந்தனவா என்று தெளிவாகச் சொல்ல முடியவில்லை. எல்லையை என் அறை என்று வைத்துக்கொள்ளாமல், இந்த விடுதியோ, இந்த நகரமோ என்று வைத்துக் கொண்டால், பெரும்பாலும், இந்தக் கரப்பானின் முன்னோர்கள்தான் எனக்கு முன் குடியேறியவர்களாக இருக்க வேண்டும். எனில், நான் அல்லவா, அவற்றின் எல்லைக்குள் அத்து மீறியவன்? குளவிக்கும், புறாவிற்கும் கூட இது பொருந்தும்.<br /><br />உருவத்திலோ, புலனறிவிலோ பெரியவன் என்கிற ஆணவத்தில் அல்லவா இது என் எல்லை ஆனது? எவை, எங்கு, எப்படி இருக்க வேண்டும், எப்போது என்ன நடக்க வேண்டும் என்பதை ஓரளவுக்குத்தீர்மானிக்கும் வலிமை உள்ளதால், மனிதன் இந்தப் புவிக்கு உரிமை கொண்டாடுவதுதான், மக்களாட்சியா? இப்படிச் செய்வது தான் முன்னேற்றம் என்று தீர்மானித்துக்கொண்டு, பழங்குடி மக்களை அவர்கள் இருப்பிடத்தில் இருந்து வெளியேற்றிவிட்டு அங்கு ரிசார்ட்களும், ஏவுகனைத்தளங்களும் அமைப்பத்தற்கு ஈடான செயலாகும், குளவிக்கூட்டைக் கலைப்பதும், சிலந்தி வலையைக் கிழிப்பதும்.<br /><br />தலையையும் எண்ணங்களையும் துவட்டியவாறே கண்ணாடி முன் நிற்க, பின்னால் சுவரில் தெரிந்தது கரப்பான். அதைக் கொல்வதா, வெளியேற்றுவதா, அப்படியே விடுவதா என்று மூளை முப்பது வகையாக யோசித்தது. முப்பதும், ' நான்' என்னும் அகம்-பாவிதான்!<br /><br />அறையை விட்டு அகற்றவே உரிமை இல்லாத நான் எப்படி, அவ்வுயிரை உலகை விட்டு அகற்றுவது என்று தெளிவடைந்தவனாக, இருப்பினும் உயர்திணைத் திமிருடன், கொஞ்சம் அன்பாக அதைக் காகிதத்தில் பிடித்து ஜன்னல் வழியே எறிந்தேன். அது புறாவிற்கு உணவாகலாம், உரிமை கோரி மீண்டும் என் அறை வரலாம்....வந்தால் மறுபடி விரட்டுவதில்லை என்று தீர்மானித்துக்கொண்டேன்.<br /><br />படியிறங்கிச் சாலையில் நடக்கையில், சுவரொட்டியில் இருந்த பாரதியாரின் கண்ணைப் பார்க்க வெட்கமாய் இருந்தது.bhupeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683995179198934903noreply@blogger.com11