Akshaya Patra - feed india!!!

As ages passes by, Nation aims at strengthening the economy & become prosperous. It also aims at providing an amicable ambience to its citizens. This can be achieved:-

Ø If and only if the citizens are literate. (Provided all literates act in all walks of life as learned people, let’s assume it is so)

Ø There is no internal sources hampering the progress

This enunciates that to create the desired environment the society should ensure that constituents are literates as well as poverty is eradicated. Need for eradicating poverty or feeding the hungry is to combat the perils attached with the condition. To emphasize the ill-effects that hunger can bring about, I borrow the maxim given by the renowned (Mahakavi) Bharatiyar :-

“If in this world there is no food for an individual- then we have the right to destroy this world”

These words throw light on responsibility of society to ensure that all are fed adequately. Going through various case studies of the thieves and other persons involved in anti-society activities, will definitely circumscribe to one cause i.e. No FOOD.

There is a good nexus between education and food; this was correctly identified by our national leaders. Measures such as mid-day meals were introduced, where food acted as incentive for education and drawing reasonable children to schools.

In a highly populated country like us, it’s quite a challenging task for the Government to fulfill it solely. So, there exists need for NGO to act as catalyst to the process.

One such NGO devoted to this cause is Akshaya Patra. Before going into the services done by them, I would like to draw reader’s attention to sanctity of this name. The name-Akshaya Patra is derived from Mahabharata, one of the great epics of India. Akshaya Patra was a vessel given to Yudhishtira by Surya and the vessel had the powers to produce inexhaustible supply of food each day.

The name- tells all about foundation’s vision of providing inexhaustible supply of food, so that no single child is deprived of education for want of food.

Foundation has recorded a great success of providing food for 1500 children. However this is way behind their target & ultimate objective on account of the universal constraint i.e. the “Money”.

Surmount the constraint by your donation via:-

http://www.akshayapatra.org/online-donations

To know more about Akshaya Patra, log on to:

http://www.akshayapatra.org

Technology - I long for

I long for a technology which can make virtual traveling – a reality. A virtual travel which fulfills all five senses of a person, what one gets in reality. To exemplify what I exactly require from the technology, take the case of travel to thirupathi, the virtual travel should give the traveler mild ache in legs which one would have developed climbing the sacred steps.

My desire for such a technology spurs from a tamil movie, which was released two decades back. The movie script portrays the hero developing software which makes virtual traveling a possibility. When someone can think of it decades before, then there exists every possibility of it occurring one-day. Now the technology is in the transformation process to bring about this vision.

Just imagine what wonders it could make to connectivity, though recent technology helps one to stay connected with others 24*7 through a virtual world. 3g technology helps to a considerable extent in overcoming the hindrance of virtual connectivity.

Let me imagine a travel on the premises that technology I long for existed and available for me to use: I move from my residence for a morning bath to best waterfalls in Tamil Nadu, Courtalam. All my senses are filled with chill and pure water and I get rejuvenated.

After which I visit few hill stations which are unconquered and still possess unpolluted pure oxygen gas, I inhale it for first time. My imagination runs wild to get best out of all natural resources, which we are deprived now.

All these thoughts urge me to desire and dream for such a technology.

I wish that innumerable developments in technology make virtual travelling a reality. Despite advancements in video conferencing trying to simulate reality, it lacks to deliver the ambience and feel of the reality. It should radically develop and bring about the feel what one would have got had he/she been there really.

What if electronic television remote gets life?

In a lighter sense, it will literally whack it’s operator to death. Let us go beyond, assume an imaginary scenario; where all the electronic remotes have been generous enough to give opportunity/trial in a court of law before convicting the operator for offence of continuous harassment.

I imaginarily put down here my thoughts, what could be the arguments? First such an occurrence will give us only one option to us – seeking mercy. Is there any other way out:-

“My Remote Lord, I accept the offence but as per general law, person who causes to commit should be punished rather than person who commits it. The causes are:

1. Small snaps of serials and movies are being played in between the bigger movie the Advertisement
2. Introduction of lot of comedy channels has forced operators to play all scenes of the movie whether it contains tinge of humor or not.
3. I realize the meaning of familiarity breeds contempt only after watching television. (Yesterday evening’s show re-telecasted today morning and scheduled for tomorrow afternoon)
4. Concept of variety shows are by itself a question of doubt, it’s a variety for the viewers or performers?

There are numerous arguments to add on my lord. World is moving towards optimum utilization of time. So I have to filter out the unwanted things and optimize the viewing time for the very little interesting part that is telecasted.

There is no other alternative for me, other than to continuously swap channels to make out any interesting show/cinema/event in the television.

Of-late, the number of channels has grown like amoeba. So it’s utmost importance to the viewer to stay in tune with the recent movie channel release.

Dear lord, all these have probed me to pester you.

“Change the cause and not effect”.

All the readers can put themselves in the shoes of Remote Lord (subrogation) and give your verdict.

Peril of mobile phones

This article is not on the radiation and other effects caused by mobile phones on individuals. A lot has been already discussed for a decade on the ill-effects caused by use of this electronic gadget. We gladly accept the ill-efforts and continue using the cell-phones. It has become an elixir to most of us.

This is not on radiation effects, not on time lost, so what is it all about? It is about the danger that use of the instrument subsumes but overlooked – “Effects of unclean mobile phones”

The device is almost in use for 15*7 hours. We use it in all parts of the day. There are innumerable ways how germs accumulate/reside on this device. To cite a few, we use it with unclean hands. We cough, sneeze on it. We carry it across all walks of our life and through all polluted areas.

These germs are capable of causing of infinite diseases ranging from nausea/diarrhea to diseases yet to be-named.

In few cases, the instruments are well wrapped in a cover/pouch. This ensures dust free mobile, however the condition of the cover encompassing is pitiable. It would have turned into grimy resulting in same risk.

Thin layer of dust starts to sediment on the device everyday. This process of dust-accumulation on a daily basis turns over a period of time into a bigger havoc, taking light from the proverb “Small drops make an ocean”

A better idea would be to cleanse the device in hot-water and disinfect it, but current technology does not provide us with hot-water resistant ones to do so. To play safe, clean the cell phone with a neat cloth at appropriate intervals. Try to use with clean hands and avoid using in very dusty and germ prone regions.

I hope this would have provoked your thoughts of taking care of the instrument by carrying a neat cloth and to renew the wrapper encompassing the device at regular intervals.

Final part on certificate illusion

It’s time for me to tell how other ventures in the show were. To begin with - group dance, I don’t remember much about it except for the novelty in the costumes worn. My friend in the group had a big stain in the T-shirt. We noticed it only when we got ready, with few moments left for the event to commence, requiring us to quick-fix the hitch. Yet another friend of mine came up with an idea let’s put our vest over the t-shirt, which will solve the problem and will make the team look unique. I could understand the origin for the thought which springs from his association with action-hero and cartoon movies, especially spider-man. Resolution proposed by him was put in motion. Costume got us distinct identity, whether that identity was appreciable or otherwise, only the persons behind the stage awaiting their turns would know. Since we never performed owing to some errors in the scheduling, our turn was near midnight hour. We couldn’t afford to stay late and perform (Since, all were young and lacked courage then to convey to our parents that we will be late to home due to so & so ….) . So, we discarded the new-identity and got back to home.

Group singing, full credits for the performance goes to my school friend. The event required us to choose a song from the album released “Rajini 25” and perform. We entrusted the task of writing down the lyrics to my friend. The same was done by him in good faith. Then we tried a little on practicing it.

We got our names enrolled for the event. While, at the backstage we noticed that most of the participants had printed lyrics. A copy of the lyrics was obtained from the other team and a glance of it gave us a real shock. We had completely misunderstood the lyrics of the song, which we had to sing in few minutes time. Lyrics read the chorus part as “R---A----J-----I----N----I Rajini25” whereas my friend deciphered it as “Aaney nee than ennai”. However, we performed based on the original lyricist lyrics without any fusion from our part.

The climax why I say I overdid for the quench of certificate thirst is as follows:

On the last day, an announcement came from the organizers that the valedictory will commence only at 9.30 pm and after the function, due arrangements has been made for the people to sleep at the venue. The certificates will be distributed in the valedictory and the occasion will be graced by many celebrities from the Tamil film Industry.

The entire objective behind attending the event was to amass certificates. Four of us, decided to stay there. Since it was a decade back, we couldn’t have the benefit of cell phone to convey the situation and seek permission and most of our houses didn’t have landline connection. So we called a friend’s home and asked him to convey our decision of staying there to the respective houses.

When valedictory was about to commence, my friend’s father came and stared at him, only then we realized that we overdid a little. He took us back to ambattur bus stop. I quickly galloped from the stop to my house, to ensure that things don’t turn worse. But lady luck gave a broad smile on me, things were very worse at my end. My father has started in search of me to the venue, while I was on the way to home. It would sound to most of you as movie track, where two intended parties move in opposite directions unnoticed. Finally, I had to wait at my residence for my father. It took him three-fourth of an hour to reach home.

Ultimately I could not receive the certificates, which I earnestly wanted then. And few years later, I discovered that the certificates which were missed were not the prized possession only the lesson which the incident taught was!!!

Events at the Venue:-

I enrolled my name in all the competitions that I could to amass maximum number of certificates. The competitions that I took part were singing (group), dance (group), rangoli and few more, which I couldn’t recollect now.

Before getting into details, how each event was performed and its outcome, I would like to throw light on the duration of the show. The show commenced a day before the exam and extended beyond my quarterly exams and ended during my vacation. Consequently, I spent my vacation at this great place (ie) Valluvar Kottam. My initial thoughts on the venue was biased and based on tamil cinema, where the Landmark is described as sanctuary for the un-employed, who spend their working hours in this wide-spread area.

Based on my observation, the description of the place was erroneous and the entire sequence shot here were myth. Moreover, since I have been a week there, it’s utmost important duty of mine to enlighten the readers that this place is a good one and I wasn’t idle there.

To emphasize the point that I wasn’t idle there, I begin with the most important competition Rangoli. I had all the weapons in the arsenal to imprint my mark in the event.

The things I had were chalk, white powder, four- colour powders and the last but not least steel scale. I have never tried my hands with rangoli before; I was equating rangoli with the mathematical diagrams, that’s the reason why I took steel scale.

Competition began; I went to the place allotted to me. I drew out the essentials from the armory. I began with the right hand holding the trusted tool (scale). Using the chalk and the scale, I attempted to draw 180⁰ line. As I said, it was attempt one, followed by multiple attempts to draw a straight line, which ended in vain. Watching, my unsuccessful attempts, the competitor to the right of my slot got tensed. She came near me and forcefully removed the scale and dropped it down. Then she began drawing lines with bare hand without the aid of geometrical devices and completed the rangoli on behalf of me. After it was over, I conveyed my thankfulness through smile.

Somehow, the judges selected me to the next round. This news was shock to me because what is important is that neighbor competitor should also be through to next round. Next round was scheduled two days later.

Two days passed by, this time area allotted was almost twice the size of the earlier round and it was an open area. As you have guessed obviously, I searched the person who helped me the round before. I couldn’t trace her; once again I began my attempts on the floor. Surprisingly, the lines were getting an inch better. Believing the proverb practice makes a man perfect, I continued my attempts, which was interrupted by a 18 years old guy, who asked my permission to allow him to make Rangoli and he explained that he was out of town so he couldn’t make it to the earlier round. With my heart full of delight, however without expressing, I gave him the opportunity. Rangoli made by him was awesome. It consisted of a bigger beetle leaf with the centre being occupied by a child, depicting Lord Krishna. It came out quite well. I was enthralled. However, it was promptly decided by Almighty, I don’t deserve the credit; the entire thing was washed out by rain.

Allured by (participation) certificates

During my school days, I misconstrued that quantum of certificate an individual possess determines his success in interviews. Only after few years I could realize that credit of the certificate is not in quantity but lies in the attributes of the certificate.

However it was a delayed recognition, till then guided by the fallacy, i used to participate in most of the events in early school days. The drive to participate was good but I went little over and above to quench the certificate thirst.

Here I begin narrating the part where I went over and above the prudent ways in three blogs.

Part I:-

Everyone in the class occupied their seats as the teacher entered the room. She had couple of announcements to make. First, being schedule for Quarterly examination and the other being requirements of students to participate in the Rajini 25 show to be held at Valluvar kottam. Show’s inception was just a day ahead of the quarterly examination.

My mind began to assess the fact that quarterly exam is recurring (exam comes and goes every year) whereas the event occurs only once. I began to visualize the number of certificates I could add to my kitty, considering the magnitude of the event.

I am very good in remembering paths and routes, even Mr.Colombus would have taken my assistance in accomplishing the feat of discovering America, had I been existent then.To reinstate how good I am in directions the following paragraph would be helpful:

My friend mageshwaran’s house and mine were apart only by five hundred metres, but whenever I started alone from my house to his, I have ended up inviting him to my house. Somehow I forget the turns to be taken; I will wander and reach back to my home after calling him and informing that mission failed and meeting scheduled at my residence. Atleast half a dozen times this happened, I couldn’t extend my attempts to find his home, as he shifted his house to a much closer place. A pertinent note all these occurred in earlier time and now after much touring exercises I can spot a place much better.

So, I had to travel from ambattur to valluvar kottam for the event through bus (No.47D), one of the crowded buses that Madras has. I boarded the crowded bus which begins it’s trip from my place. If unsaid, this issue can create a doubt, so “I bought ticket for the destination”. I carried books too (the following day examination is there, studies is very important isn’t it?). I nagged few co-passengers to ensure that I get down at the desired location.

Events at Valluvar kottam will be discussed in the successive blog……..(to be continued)

Today results were out for my professional colleagues; this event triggers me to think of the significance of the result-day. I am treading back to my past, my first examination results.

To most of us in Tamil Nadu, the first examination results are class ten results, where the first time our answers are evaluated by a person who hasn’t seen us.

Evaluation by stranger is of prominent importance to me. Since my mind has been all long pacifying my inability to top the class by reasoning out the “X” factor. The factor is nothing but partiality, which derives stems from familiarity of the student and the evaluator. So, it’s a testing time for me to score big so that I stayed console that X factor existed and I am right.

Underlying issue is that a factor which can be blamed for failure till date stands removed and there is a great need to find new factors.

With the above thought preoccupied in my mind, I was trying to guess what would be my score. How would be my new mark mask look like, which will reflect my academic strength?

Since I have disregarded my school evaluation for the prediction/forecast purpose, I have to find a successive tool to determine the expected marks. Tool, I chose was benchmarking my reading with my sister and to make necessary adjustments for the difference between us in the learning, writing etc..

As far as I have observed, she reads well and the way she has explained her preparation process, the way she wrote the exams and other incidental matters was meticulous. The entire thing gave me a jolt, I ended up with the query should benchmarking be made? There needs to be substantial downward adjustments to be done in respect of all the factors.

If my estimates turn real, in a way I would be happy that my predictions were right but my entire belief on my capability to top in academics would be shattered.

In-spite of all these thoughts, I caught up with good sleep (the earnest thing which I always do – sleep). The day began with various rumors on the time of declaration of result. It varied from dawn to midnight.

I began to lay road from house to school. I made numerous trips by the best transport on the earth- legs. Finally the results came.

My friend and I were marching from the gate to the notice board area, meanwhile a teacher said looking at both of us, “you are school second”. My past analysis definitely hinted me that it belongs to my friend, because he studies very hard and well. I have seen his tremendous efforts for the examination, so there was not even a tinge of doubt to believe that the teacher did not refer him.

Results were pasted on the notice board. It resembled a jam packed cinema theatre ticket counter. It was high time for me to fetch a ticket, so through all legal means I reached the board, which displayed a roman number two at the right end parallel to my number, an indication that I secured position second in the school, my last blog readers would be familiar of the connection between me and position two.

I went half a percent past my sister, making my predictions fail. I could then decipher the reason that for predicting marks benchmarking would not work. Two things I could pick from it there is a good relationship between efforts and marks, despite a small lack in presentation and God willing things will go well.

Nostalgia - Parrys

The very next topic which I want to write on is my reminiscence with parrys corner in Chennai.

Since my childhood till standard six, I was residing in parrys. I studied in a school situated at the Parrys corner. Later, I moved to ambattur and as years passed by, I lost touch with this place. Once again after my graduation, I was back to the place for my three years of internship, a herculean part of the training curriculum. Years rolled by and the internship period is about to end in a month’s time, which suddenly instigates me to think of this place.

To cite one vital thing that took place. There is a church annexed to the school, the school and church share the same premises and most of the students play there. On one evening I met the father of the church, who asked me what I wish, I innocently told him that “I want to get second rank”.

I don’t know how powerful his blessings are? He smiled and said God bless you. But what followed after was that in most of my ventures, I turned up second. In a way it’s nice that second position out of a big group. It’s pretty bad when you turn up second in a race like the gulab jamun advertisement, where the boy claims that he came second in the race and the participants were two.

So it’s important to dream big and wish big… So now I wish that company will come and recruit me at my home…. hehehe

My first interview - what it did to me

I pen down here what happened on my first interview :-

I got a mail on 10th May beckoning me for first round of interview process for a FMCG company on 13th May at 10.00 am.

I was happy that the mail came for interview and also sad that it stated that first round is group discussion on case study. I began doing some ground work. I disturbed whoever i could to fetch help (including Arockya (my school friend), Karthik (my sister's colleague) and few others). Forced Arockya to go to his college (far off from his residence) and borrow book on case study and also got necessary inputs from karthik on the day before about do's and dont's in a group discussion.

Most of them told me that if someone is silent in the group, then I should initiate and provide a chance to that person. (Ironically, in real group discussion - the silent person was me. Expecting some gentlemen in group to take lead and help me out)

The D-day came. As usual, I was on time by my standards, late by only five minutes. The attendees were asked to sit in a conference room. Thirteen of them were already assembled there. I entered the room and sat in the round table. It looked that most of them reached half an hour early and was in the process of building rapport with each other.

After allowing me to settle down, they asked me to introduce myself. Once, i said my name they were taken aback, for a single reason that i and co-ordinator for the interview share the same name. Then i made clear , i am also an candidate.

Then Group discussion began well for others, i was last to speak in it. Though i had good knowledge than most others in the group still then something held me back. I was the only one, who was aware of the result before it being called out.

This event made me find what's holding me back and now i am working on it !!!