The Present

Train to Work, with a newspaper

Brilliant Sea shimmering through the window
Office goers immersed
in yesterday's disasters

World Cup Time - Sledging

Cricket won't be cricket without sledging.

Here are a couple of (in)famous ones: *******************************************************************************

South African Daryll Cullinan was on his way to the wicket when our Shame (deliberately spelt)Warne (see pic taken by me in the Basin Reserve) told him he had been waiting two years for another chance to humiliate him.

Shot back Cullinan "Looks like you spent it eating".

************************************************************************************

The ever mishievous Miandad (Javed) called Merv Hughes a fat bus conductor. A few balls later Hughes dismissed the Pakistan star. "Tickets Please" Hughes said as he ran past the departing Javed.

*************************************************************************************

VisAlAkshi at Bangalore - Absolute Serenity

One of the few beautiful buildings I saw during my recent visit to India. Visalakshi, in the shape of a lotus has a few tiers, with many meditation halls, named (aptly) Buddha, Mahavira etc.

Chennai Rocks

Literally, Chennai autos rock you. The city never ceases to take you by storm...every time we visit (which is once in two years) we see more and more shops encroaching the little road space that is available. Two, three and four wheelers move in a totally random Brownian motion and an aerial shot would be fascinating, I think. The auto drivers have completely stopped using the auto meters and the customers have stopped asking them about the meters. They drive the vehicles with a nonchalance as if they were born with a Bajaj...cellphones held between their left shoulder and the ear, conversing happily between the screeches and toots of fellow-drivers.

Despite all this crowd, dust, stench and chaos there is this inexplicable undercurrent of spirituality which makes the city what it is - spicy as a Masala Dosa.

Money and Happiness

Why do we want to have more money?

To make ourselves more comfortable and thereby be Happy. Some smart guys in the investment industry have started to describe themselves as being in the happiness industry.

Latest research by Dresdner Kleinwort indicates that three major components determine the levels of happiness.

They are 1) Genetically inheritied (around 50%) (2) Circumstances, money etc. and (3) Intentional acivity (such as exercising regularly, being kind to others, socialising, trying to see the best, pausing to count how lucky one actually is.

While the first cannot be changed and with the second - people quickly adapt to present conditions/income changes and then take it as 'normal', any hope for being happy on a long term seems to be only with the third factor: i.e., Intentional Activity.

So, folks, get rich, nothing wrong with that. But that won't make your much happier.

Manual on Child Rearing

A comprehensive manual on Child-rearing if we may call it so, by Khalil Gibran.
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, "Speak to us of Children."
And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Heartbeat Captivates

29/10/06
A small group of music lovers in Wellington was treated to the scintillating music of Ghatam Karthic's ensemble - The Heartbeat. It took the hundred odd people through various Ragas as Gambhira NAtai,Vanaspathi,SallApam, MAyA MAlava Gowlam,ChArukesi and culminated in a Western-Indian Medley encompassing pieces as diverse as Fur Elise, Raminchuva and VandE Matharam.

Karthick stole the show with his humour and efforts to connect with the audience. He made some witty remarks such as SriRam (on stage) uses the flute while Kannan (the violinist) uses a Bow (in contrast to their AvatAric counterparts).

One more of his witticism: Difference between himself and SriRam was he (Karthick) uses a Lap POT while SriRam uses a LapTOP (for looping and mixing the music).

A very different and enjoyable concert.

Diwali 2006

Around 40,000 people braved the wet and cold weather to enjoy the warmth of the Indian culture - food, art, Bollywood dancing and all at the Civic Square in Wellington. The highlights were: the song and dance by the Uttar Pradesh group in the beautiful Braj Bhasha - singing the glory of Krishna and Radha. Made us wonder if Krishna (of Mathura) would have really looked like the dancer - with his great smile and twinkling eyes; A show on different types of Saris from around India - their historical roots and specialities; Diyas (lamps) on show and of course the yummy food.

Navrathri 2006

Navarathri Kolu 2006