One evening in kanchipuram local...

Place: Beach Junction (Boarding station)
Train: Chennai Beach junction-tirumaalpur Local
Time: 17.00 p.m.
Compartment: IClass

Train journeys have always fascinated me right from my childhood. Chennai, then Madras, had a unique distinction of having Meter gauge suburban EMU'S. That was phased out thanks to the uni gauge system.
In those days, Kanchipuram passengers (earlier, it was called like that)were running on "main line" (express train used to run on this track) . The trains were usually hauled by electric locomotive upto chengalpattu from there by a diesel locomotive/ steam Engine.

Things have changed after 2006. Nowadays EMU's are running on this sector.There are circular trains connecting Chennai Beach-Kanchipuram-Arakonam. Not just one shuttle, multiple shuttles are plying everyday on both up and down lines. Indicating the size of greater chennai and burgeoning population.
Beach station is the boarding station for the office returnees since the station is ideally located next to the major Government offices and trading centres. The regular passengers hold "season tickets" to commute between state capital and the historical temple town.

Missing this train means that these passengers would have to depend on the state transport corporation buses which will ultimately be a circuitious and tiresome journey.

Many a commuter have become best pals thanks to regular commuting.The seat sharing formula may always bring a bitter rivalary to the political parties . But, these "seasoned commuters" are aware of the "capturing seats". They normally board train at the fort station (this station is ahead of the beach junction ,actually,regular EMU's between chennaibeach-tambaran being converted into kanchipuram local on reaching the beach station) and place their hankies on the seats signalling that the seats are being reserved. Everything is done before the train is designated as kanchi local that's how experience comes handy.Remember, there is no reservation system in the suburbans trains.

The significance of travelling in the ''first class'' is that you are allowed to indulge in ''chick'', '' bird'', ''buzzard'' watching because there is only iron partition between the ladies compartment and the ''first'' class compartment . Inside the compartment , various activities goes on like chit chatting, playing chess, card games, . Sudennly, a batch of beggars making a beeline to multiply their collections.
The ladies carry out vegetable-chopping activities or make a garland for the puja next day (here, one may see third or fourth generation flower vendors associated with this train doing brisk business during the journey) since they spend more time in travelling so they finish off their supplementary chores inside the train itself.

You may ask why the name of the train is chennai beach -tirumaalpur but, we have discussed about Kanchipuram because there is no supporting yard at kanchipuram railway station to station the train.

This train had a nickname called ''paul vandi'' (milk train ) in the past.The milk vendors of adjoining districts of chennai used to send their milk in this service. There used to be a seperate compartment for this purposealone.But, now the situation has changed

The Book: Cherished

This book is written by Angela Cannings . This is about a mom who had lost three children out of four children to "cot deaths". Initially, the deaths were looked normal but, the events had turned worse ater the death of the fourth child. The lone survivor( third child) too, sufered the symptoms of the cot death , however it survived.Immediately, after the death of the fourth child she was seperated from her family. The Court had sentenced her to a life imprisonment. The author explained her odds that she had experienced at the prison. On her appeal, she was released from the prison. But, she couldn't enjoy her re-union with her family thoroughly.

The findings of his case revealed more twists to the alike cases. Innocents mothers were imprisoned for no fault on their parts. Several experts committees were formed to review "such cases". This case had helped in revamping "Meadows law" ---(casting accusations on innocent mothers) As per Meadows Law, one infant death is a tragedy, two is suspicious and three is murder.Sir Roy Meadow, who gave expert observatons in this case, licence was impounded at the out come of Angela's appeal. Howevwer, it was reinstated in 2006.

Migratory begging!

These beggars are totally in contrrast to the conventional beggars found outside the temples and other religious centres.
They are "sophisticated" "trendy" and "up-market". When the condition are favourable they just splurge in other's income. Once the sitiuation turned upside down, they just don't lose heart they maintain heir lifestyle, inspite of their upheavals, they just migrate to greener postures.

In chennai, we call them "aduthavan kasula aattaiyai podhudhu" one has to be very careful with these personalities.

Kargil : betrayal of "friendship"?????

10 years on no true indian can forget the kargil war. Every time we send out an olive branch to recalcitrant pakistan we face an another betrayal.

when mohammed Ghori invaded India and lost his battle for more than a dozen times he was let off without any punishment.The moment he tasted victory against Prithivi Raj he ordered the indian king eyes to be gouged out. In the earlier battle , Prithivi raj did not punish the ghori (though his advisors suggested otherwise)as a result, the penultimate hindu king paid a heavy price.

Likewise, under the mughal rule, Emperor Aurangazeb invited Maratha king shivaji for a peace talks but was imprisoned by the treacherous Mughal King.

Just before the kargil incursion, India initiated Lahore Bus yatra the then cental leadership was swayed by the pakaistani hospitality and what India had faced within 2 months of that yatra was known to everyone of us.

The betrayal seems to be in their lineage.

Always cast a "third eye" to your "friendship".

It is impossible to ged rid of........

There are three gunas as described by our scriptures. They are RAJAS, TAMASIC, and SATVIC. The man is govrned by these gunas. The characterstics of rajas are: violent, ruthless and always shows penchant for fighting.
The characterstics of tamasic are: indolent, too obsessive, always floats mean ideas in the mind.
The characterstics of satvic are: showing compassion, peace loving nature and more inclined towards spirituality

If one look at lord Shiva trident(trshul) it signifies that these three qualities. But, all three qualities are kept under control. An equilibrium has to be maintained otherwise it will be disastarous.

One can easily get rid of rajas and tamasic nature(for example, after the Kalinga war King Ashokha took to sanyas previously, he was obsessed with power, no compassion for others. But the war had transformed him into a monk.). Likewise, A sage called Aruna Giri Nadhar in Tamil Nadu before turning into an ascetic he was simply in the company of women this shows he was under the influence of tamasic guna.Once, he got rid of that guna he turned to spirituality.

The irony is it is impossible to get rid of satvic guna. This guna is called "intensified-intoxicants" which sometimes pull down the man's character. For example, if everybody becomes monk or ascetic who will govern the country and the administration . If everyone becomes vegetarian wilL there not be an imbalance in herbivorous animals. Being under the influence of satvic nature always provide a kind of "kick" which will pull you down.

In the end, one has to strike a balance among the three just like Lord Shiva does.
Each idol has its own interpretations. they are otherwise known as "bhava"(feelings)of the human beings.

No matter what the result would be .....

In movies and tele serials sage narada has been portrayed as a "gossip-monger" or "problem-maker" actually he is not. These sages are altruistic in nature they just don't care about the outcome of the work they are carrying out. They undertake the mission without taking sides. This is the classic case of detachment with-attachment.

If one scrutinise the Hindu gods and godesses carefully. They are seated in a lotus. This lotus is very important aspect in Hindu's life because lotus life is revolved around the pond, yet, it doesn't associate with the water in the pond.Likewise, we should lead our life, any sort of attachment gives only miseries to the humanbeings.

you can have desires but not fanaticism . you fall in love with an object if you secured it treat it as HARI-ITCHHAA. otherwise, take it in your stride. Instead, if you create an atmosphere whereby you want to obtain it by hook or crook then this attachment leads to one's destruction.

Before I wrap up this, I should say one thing i.e. I simply got fascinated by the tag line of the leading sports footwear manufacturer "just do it". In my opinion,This tag line is an encapsulated form of the bhagawad gita.

Its OLD vs New

This morning India and other parts of Asia had witnessed the longest solar eclipse of this century. Whenever there is a eclipse, there would be a clash between " progressive people" and "geeks" over their facts and beliefs. Immediately, both print media and electronic media would dish out do's and don'ts instructions to "educate" the mass. For instance, As per a belief , it is not advisable to take food before and during the eclipse. But, this belief has no science grounding . Hence, the rationalists would repudiate this claim.

Just 2 weeks back, I was watching a programme on TV about the neurological department of the Government General Hospital, Chennai. In which a senior staff of the dept said " scientifically , I cannot say there is a connection between neurological problem and New Moon day(ammavasai) , Full Moon day (purnima)however, during these periods the patients problems aggravates to a larger extent this is my personal experience ".

Instead of pooh-poohing the beliefs let there be a research in this regard afterall, the science brings out the newer results everytime it undertakes a new study.

The Film: Ghosts

This film is based on 2004 Morcambe bay accident. It depicts the plight of the illegal immigrants living in UK. People from china comes to Uk with the hope of making their lives to prosper. But, on landing they learns the reality. They are made to work for lesser pay ,unable to send remittance back home , with constant danger of being deported and a part of their pay goes to their "agents" for keeping them employed.

unsure of getting employed these immigrants are transported to northwest England , Morecambe bay to pick cockles . On 5th February 2004 nighT 21 chinese immigrants were drowned by the tide. The most pathetic thing is that the relatives of the deceased victims are still struggling to repay the debts.The British Government had declined to provide any monetary compensation stating that it is against their immigration policy. A seperate fund has been set up to rehabilitate the relatives of the deceased victims.

The original illegal immigrants have been used to play te characters of the film. The film is directed by Nick Broomfield. If possible, get a DVD.....WATCHING IT WORTHWHILE.

We are accomodative.....

When there is only one shop in a village or town the owner of the shop would not spend on advertisements or nameboard. In case, another shop is opened in the vicinity then the shopowner would bother about the brand value. Then he would spend his revenue for brand image and copyrights.

Similarly, It happened to Hinduism(actually, sanathana dharma) which never indulged in conversion because there was no other religion existed. But when this land(Bharat) was invaded by the people of diferent faiths then it searched for its own identitity.

In order to sustain the foreign onslaught, the hinduism today borrowed certain things from its sister religion Buddhism. Actually, there were no temples in India before the advent of Buddhism. The buddhists had buddha viharas(today's bihar got its name from the word "vihar") .Earlier, sanadhana followers used to concentrate on japas,Tapas, yagna for the attainment of self realisation through these practices. They never gave attention to increase the number of followers.

There is no hard and fast rule to realise the supreme. To be very honest, Hinduism gives more freedom to the individuals. The hindus do not see the brahmam somewhere else they always look inside in search of him. This is known as antar mukhi.Swami Vivekanand said treat your body as a temple because the creator resides inside your body.

So, It is immaterial whether one goes to temple or not (even if he didn't go to temples he /she will not be ex communicated from the religion, BTW ours is not a religion it is the way of life)

In Hinduism, you can attain the supreme through various ways. You need not follow a particular way. It is upto the individual (preference) as hinduism does not have any dogmas or edicts prescribed by any messiah or prophets.

In fact, hinduism has no founder.Its age cannot be gauged as no body knows who started it.

Do we really need God?

A man is sucessful in life. Be it studies, career, family ,society and all his endeavours are giving him more success than ever expected. Then, do you think will he ever pray to god? He thinks it was "I" which brought his success.

Suppose, if any of his endeavours goes awry then he would think of a "source" which would eventually give him a much needed support to achieve his tasks. At this juncture, he would sit and contemplate on "HIM" . As he intensifies his contemplation, a new revalation would dawn at him. Once again, he would blow his own trumpet for his achievments. This time the world around him weould give more kicks to this man than ever before.Again, he would run back to "HIM" and seek refuge in "HIM".

The relinquishment of "I" mentality is the "STEP" in realising the "SUPREME".

the film that I recently watched.....

"Men of Honour" was a real time story In the history of US navy , a young afro american rose to the level of the highest office that too, an amputee was really a significant achievment.

The trials and tribulations he faced during the course of his training session brought out the racial discrimination during that period (in the 60's). Each and every drill (in the diving school) he underwent showed the resilent imbedded in him.

He endured the ordeal because diving was not his business but a passion. Moreover, at the time of departing home for navy his father words kept reminding him the words were---BE BEST.

Inspite of having lost his leg his craving for diving remained undiminished. At that time he had to fight against his superiors for his reinstatement. He was well supported by onetime foe-turned-friend 'Billy Sunday' to present his case before the Navy panel.
There came a situation where the top brass of the US Navy had to accept/recognise the diver's zeal.Finally, the diver won the case . He was promoted to the post Master Chief level. It's worth watching.......

Inter dependent

More than 65% of Indian population is engaged in agriculture. This year the monsoon is playing hide and seek already certain parts of the country is facing drought unofficially. The Indian economy is heavily dependent on rains. If the rains failed it would have a bad effect on manufacturing sectors. Bumper harvest means more spending in the market which ultimately translates into a jump in the corporate earnings. So, let us all pray for rains.

In simple terms :INDIAN ECONOMY-LESS RAINS=MISERY FOR INDIANS.

STOCK MARKET- FII's= DOOM SPELL FOR RETAIL INVESTORS.

Yet the economy is not delinked from rains , making it would help it surge ahead.

fall easy prey

Much has been written about it and more films scenes have been shown on it yet the situation remains the same. Yes! I am talking about master-housemaid relationship. Recently, a film personality is accused of raping his housemaid . I don't want to get into the details . Actually, as a master you take undue advantage over housemaids. Since they are not in a position to retaliate they accept it as their curse.

No matter whether she looks beautiful or not (a point of desperation)the man always satiates his physical urge by overpowering her.The another factor which propels the master to perform such a sordid activity on his servant is because his wife/girlfriends would not allow him to perform his ''explorations'' on them .That's why he turns his ''heat'' on his housemaid.The another factor which drives them to indulge in such activity is to succumbing to the peer pressure or flaunting masculine ''conquests''. Often these reports goes unheard because the perpetrators silence the victims with their money power.

What more one could expect

When the whole world is reeling under the recession India cannot perform a magic . A lot was expected from the budget alas! hopes were belied. Without any formal announcements, retrenchments have been going around. There was an expectation in the field of infrastucture and power but the budget didn't speak about anything in substantial. The stock markets in India gave a thumps down to the budget.

It seems that the government is treading cautiously in the recessionary period. The Bankex suffered a lot because of widening fiscal deficit. On the whole,(though some reports suggests that the worst is over for India but my gut feeling says it is already here and expect it to grow in the coming months) in the globalised economic structure no country is insulated from financial turmoil.