Shanthi Krishnan

Vacation in Zimbabwe - Eerie Experience

2010-06-18T13:11:00.001-07:00

This happened way back in 1992 May. Since my husband and I were alone in Lusaka, Zambia and our kids were studying in Madras (Chennai) we were requested by friends to join them on a trip to Lake McIlwaine.

Lake McIlwaine is beautiful National Park near Harare in Zimbabwe. Here accomodation is available in the form of Chalets, Chateaus and Bungalows. To this place we all travelled by cars with a maximum of 4 in one car plus a kid in case of need. We never travelled crowding the car as this was unsafe, as sometimes our speed was at least a 100 kms per hour as there would be no vehicles or people on the roads.

Going on a holiday to any of the National Parks involves great amount of preparation - you cannot even believe that we carry food for the three or four days we plan to stay there.
In one person's house (the lady of the house with fellow travellers wives) would be making a minimum of a 100 'methi chappathies'. If cooked well it would last for four to five days without refrigeration. Then we would have another lady making 'Adai Mavu' - dried preparation - just take 3 measures of rice, one and half cup each of Thuvar Dhall, Channa Dhall and Urad Dhall and along with 5 to 6 red chillies and another 5 green chillies which are are grilled to make it brittle, some curry leaves which are also grilled, we add Asofodita and dry grind this whole lot and pack it in zip lock pouches. The third dried preparation is our 'Rawa Uppumma'. We pour some ghee and oil mixture and roast mustard seeds, urad dhall, channa dhall, finely cut green chillies and ginger and roast the rawa or semolina till it is well roasted. We also separately roast cashew nuts and add this to the "Uppumma ' mixture.

We had a whale of time - mostly seeing good game but the icing on the cake was the third day morning when we made the 'Rawa Uppumma'. Since we were all have the same at the open air in front of our Lodge and facing the the landscape filled with game which we hardly could see with the naked eye, we attracted a whole of tiny weeny birds and later large squirrels. These squirrels were plain unlike the ones in India which have three lines. They were larger in size may be twice the normal squirrels which we see in India.

These squirrels were keeping a distance when we were a crowd on the patio of the Lodge. But slowly one by one friends went inside to wash their hands and I was practically alone eating my 'Uppumma' very slowly and I got tempted to give some to the squirrels. Oh boy, they all came for it and slowly they started to eat out my hands. The sugar available were slightly big granules and the squirrels enjoyed the sugar and were eating this with a crunching sound. Many of our friends joined and we kept over feeding the squirrels with fruits etc. Whew ! What an experience.

Since it was time to visit game we went around in our cars and had a great time. The last day of our stay in Lake Mcllwaine was coming to end. One friend was bored and since he was ready and I also was, we both decided to see game for at least half hour, while the others got ready. We went away on a drive and he was driving at a speed which was normal but at a curve we came almost face to face with two White Rhinos, probably getting ready to mate. Oh my God, my friend managed to reverse right on time and we did not think of anything but kept praying that we should not be chased by the White Rhino and our car was Red in colour. Our escapade was the talk of the day with all our friends and all of them in unison stated that we were really lucky.

As was the normal practice, we shuffled the rooms which we got on rent. The Bungalow/Lodge had three bedrooms and the Chalet two bedrooms. Since we were 5 families, two of them with two kids each plus a bachelor, we rotated our stay between the lodge and the Chalet. The parents with kids were exempt from this rotation as they needed to stay with their kids.

So on the last day, my husband and I had to go to the Chalet with the Bachelor. We reached the Chalet at around half past ten at night and it was pitch dark with a few lights twinkling around. The lights were tiny so as not to attract animals and the Chalets did not have toilets attached to them. So when my husband went to the toilet carrying his torch, I asked our bachelor friend(his stay was here all the time) where the toilet was located and I was generally getting oriented to the surroundings of the Chalet. He told me to step out with him carrying his torch and I followed him. As I was closing the door behind me to prevent insects entering the room, he was casually telling me not to do so, as he left the keys of the room on his room table. BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. It was a lock similar to Godrej locks which we just shut while going out. You cannot enter without a key and if someone was inside, they could open from inside. HARD LUCK. I had already closed the door behind me. This guy (let us call him LN) left the keys on his room table and also the car keys and all we could do was to see it through the closed window. All windows with mesh were closed from inside.

All three of us looked around tried calling for people but no one came to our rescue and we were there just at the mercy of howling animals at a distance and insects flying all over us. My husband wanted to walk back to the lodge (car keys on table, remember?) and I was scared of the animals on the prowl at the dead of night. Scary. To think of the scene now makes me shudder.

We did not have anything to sit on and it was terrible as we did not have blankets and it was getting cold. It was a good hour odd later, when LN suddenly came to us and stated he managed to push the mesh of the window in his room, with tremendous amount of excitement.

Now I went in search of a stick and low and behold we found one and some copper wire and this we tied in the form of a hook to the stick. Then my husband carefully inserted the stick through the window while LN & I held the mesh up as it was falling back. With bated breath, the key was taken by the hook and and slowly it was pulled to the window and we removed the key off the hook and at last we managed to get inside our rooms.

What an ordeal ! But it did not end there. Suddenly my husband had this bout of coughing and throughout the night we remained sleepless.

Thankfully we were traveling with LN on the wheel and I slept quite a bit till we reached the border. We cleared customs and we were on our way back home.

When we reached back home in Zambia, we had a get together the next weekend and many of our friends were informed of our 'night safari' at the Chalet in Lake Mcllwaine.

Since this episode I ensure that I take extra precaution before closing doors.

Dirty Business-Chennai Corporation/Neel Metal Fanalca and ITC

2010-03-26T00:30:00.000-07:00

Dirty Business
Chennai citizens refuse garbage to a conglomerate over dumping
By Sumana Narayanan

In the fight to save environment, can you let go of your convenience and monetary gain?

The answer is a resounding “yes” from the residents of Kalakshetra Colony in south of Chennai.

The residents of the Colony recently refused to sell their garbage to a multi-business conglomerate ITC Ltd, over the allegations of the company dumping solid waste in agricultural fields near Coimbatore.

Recently, ITC proposed collecting recyclable waste on a door-to-door basis and offering Rs 5 for a kilogramme (kg) of paper and Rs 2.5 for a kg of plastic. ITC has already worked on similar project in Annanagar and claims to recycle paper and plastic in its factories in Andhra Pradesh and near Coimbatore.

The residents of Kalakshetra Colony, however, refuse to buy this claim.

“ITC does not have a good reputation. We are aware that they have been accused of dumping solid waste in agricultural fields near Coimbatore,” asserts Shanthi Krishnan, a member of the Kalakshetra Colony Welfare Association.

After the refusal of Kalakshetra Colony, ITC has now gone to Kodambakkam Colony in central Chennai to do the garbage business. It has started collecting paper and plastic since October 24.

The residents of Kodambakkam have not opposed itc’s drive yet, but they are puzzled with Chennai Municipal Corporation (CMC). The CMC already has an agreement with Neel Metal Fanalca (NMF), another private organisation, for garbage collection.

When asked about this, S Annadurai, Public Relations Officer of nmf clarifies, “We have asked ITC to join our effort of waste collection. They are already working on a similar project in Annanagar, paying the residents for paper and plastic.”

“Both of us share the aim to reduce the city’s garbage,” Annadurai adds.

The coordinator of ITC’s efforts in Annanagar, Iqbal, declines to comment on the Kalakshetra Colony refusal. He maintains that the company collects recyclables and sends those to its factories in Andhra Pradesh and near Coimbatore.

“The paper is pulped and recycled, while the plastic is used in laying tar roads,” he elaborates.

Commercialization of Primary Residential Areas.(Contd)

2010-01-11T02:07:00.000-08:00

Continuing on the illegal Commercialization of Primary Residential Areas - In 29th Cross Street, Kalakshetra Colony, Besant Nagar, the Fisheries Department has opened an outlet to sell Fish and have threatened to open a Fish eatery.

The local TNHB flat residents opposed to the Upmarket type of Fish Market but the Government has done sweet nothing. The residents sent a RTI to the Housing Board Department, as king them for what purpose that the vacant area (Originally belongs to the TNHB residents for recreational activities) had been given to the Fisheries Dept. The reply received was astounding. The Fisheries Department was given the place for an Institute to train people on packing of Sea food and not for a shop to sell Fish nor for an eatery to be opened.

This TNHB group of residents are mostly Vegetarians and some of them settled in these apartments some 30 to 35 years ago.

Most of them are Brahmins, who have been performing 'Tharpana' every Ammavasya day and also on other religious occasions when it is warranted. This has been going on in one of the car sheds for over 30 odd years. It goes on even now.

The Government states that there should be no Caste barrier. Why are the Brahmins hard hit below their belts? To my knowledge they do not protest or wield a stick if the situation is out of control. They just keep away from unnecessary trouble. But today the lower strata of Society is envious of Brahmins. Why? They have nothing great in them except being born as a Brahmin. They have the same blood groups of human beings and are no different from those who are called lower caste by the Government today. Wonder why is there a Forward Class/Backward Class/Scheduled Caste/Scheduled tribe etc when it comes to the educational system?

I am disappointed that a Fish Market needs to function without any License in a Primary Residential Area. One Government Department is cheating another.

Result: Many many years of peaceful living has been infiltrated by non believers. I am only reminded of a saying of one of the elders in my family telling me கெடுவான் கேடு நினைப்பான்.

India or Bharat became Independent with full knowledge of various castes and tribes. One should respect each others religious beliefs and not crush the same. I think most of us have come a long way and we are more ammenable to the requirements of the Society and except for a handful of uneducaed goons, by far people do live in a more amicable manner.

All the 55 years of my life I have spent maximum in Social Work and have helped to educate a Cobbler's family of 4 boys. The first boy studied Engineering and is working in a Multi National. The second boy completed his MBA and is now in a temporary job and likely to be made permanent very soon. The third boy who was not good in his studies did show a flair for repairing Mobile phones and I managed to get him trained for Cell Phone repairing in a Govt. Institution in Nungambakkam and today he owns a Cell phone repair shop close to his home. The 4th boy has just entered college in the field of Arts and Sciences. This family believes in Christianity but they also respect other religions.

None of the above mentioned children have forgotten their antecedents and do not hesitate to sit with their father to do the job of a cobbler at any point of time.

More in my next blog on my social work activities.

Commercialization of Primary Residential Areas.

2010-01-07T01:15:00.000-08:00

As a resident of the formerly quiet residential locality of Kalakshetra Colony, I now would like to ask when corrupt official in both the Chennai Corporation and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority has given permission for Commercial Establishments to enter into the Primary Residential Localities of Chennai, especially Kalakshetra Colony.

We find that the new CMDA rules and regulations which are valid till the year 2026, states clearly that Kalakshetra Colony is a Primary Residential Area and is also a layout done before August 1975.

Today we have so many Commercial establishments - Auroville, Grandma Grandpa (an expensive play school) , Til Spices (a take away), Kamanuri Art Gallery etc etc. Purple boutique in an interior road.

As per the rules for Primary Residential Locality we are allowed Tuition center in 100sq.m of area. Tuition can comprise of 5 to 10 students. But we have Winners Academy which is located in a 'cul de sac' and these people have a minimum of 40 students for classes starting as early as 6 am and children coming in vehicles as early as 5.45 am disturbing the peace and quiet of the area where many residents are senior citizens. The worst is at the end of the class at 7 am when some parents come to pick up their wards and are in a tearing hurry and they start to honk and create a ruckus thereby irritating the residents. The noise created by the children at the end of each session is another thing. They have sessions both in the evening and morning and at least two to three sessions in the evening.

This can never be considered a Tuition center but a Coaching center which definitely does not warrant its presence in a primary residential locality.

To top this all, none of these Commercial ventures have any license from the Chennai Corporation. The Corporation gave notices to all these commercial ventures and then slept through so that these commercial establishments can take injunctions. An oppotune moment for money making?

Letters to the CMDA (Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority) and Chennai Corporation has evoked no response.

Who is corrupt? If the CMDA does not take immediate action to our letters then we know that there is rampant corruption in the organization from top to bottom.

Rules are made to be broken ? Officers are busy with other matters of the Government that this is not so important.

Kalakshetra Colony consists of more Senior Citizens who moved to this area to settle down in peace but only in India and that too in Tamilnadu Senior Citizens are not respected and their everyday problems are ignored. Oops. I forgot the CM is Senior Citizen and he is well taken care of as he is at the helm of power. Residents have lost faith in the system and unless some action is taken to relieve the Senior Citizens of this pain, I feel the present generation will suffer even more when they become Senior Citizens.

Any one interested in taking appropriate action?

Is an Elevated Highway on the Beach essential?

2010-01-06T23:59:00.000-08:00

I admire the Government's various policies but some of them are done blindly without realizing the impact of the same at a later date.

To have a smooth flow of traffic in Chennai, the Government has planned an Elevated Highway from North Madras to South Madras (read Madras as Chennai) along the Coast of Bay of Bengal.

The Government framed the CRZ rules. Now they want to flout it.

Have they given a thought for the Olive Ridley turtles which nest on the shores of Elliots Beach and toward the Southern belt beyond? They built an Eco Park and one is yet to see the birds nesting there. There is traffic movement all along this area and when do the birds ever get some peace?

Every day the RTO's (Regional Transport Offices) register 3000 vehicles minimum. Why do they register so many vehicles without having the roadsor the infrastructure for the vehicles to ply? Why is it that each household have 3 to 4 vehicles at no extra cost? Why is the Government allowing people to buy vehicles when they do not have spaces to park?

Has anyone seen a residential locality of late? Ninety percent of vehicles are parked on the roads. The builders use the parking space for residential houses and the Chennai Corporation or Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority do not bother. Obviously some officials turn a blind eye because of rampant corruption in the above mentioned organizations.

Disgusting.

I hope with so many skeletons coming out of the closets in many organizations, I look forward to seeing the corrupt being arrested and the builders loose their licences to build apartments for good.

When is the day one can see the rules not being flouted in this city?

Elliots Beach saved from Concrete Monstrosity

2009-02-23T03:38:00.000-08:00

At last Civil Society Group HAVE succeeded in stopping the concrete structures being built on the Elliots Beach.

The Coastal Regulation Management Authorities have clearly declared that any construction on the Beach is illegal and the CRZ rules will not permit any construction on the Beach front.

The news item was published in the Times of India newspaper on Sunday the 22nd of February 2009.

Therefore, any construction from Ennore, along the coast line is considered illegal and therefore construction activity in the Marina, Thiruvanmiyur and Kottivakkam and beyond will also be considered as ILLEGAL.

The latest from the Chennai Corporation is to construct Granite Medians on the Elliots Beach Road. Have the officials ever thought of the Senior Citizens? They will be forced to walk a longer distance to reach their favourite spot and walking back will be another ordeal.

STOP THE CHENNAI CORPORATION FROM CONSTRUCTING GRANITE MEDIANS ON THE ELLIOTS BEACH.

Elliots Beach - Getting to be a Concrete Eyesore

2008-12-07T23:28:00.000-08:00

I have been crying myself hoarse since February 2007 - Civil Society Group called for a meeting with the Corporation Commissioner Mr.Rajesh Lakhani and we were assured that no construction will take place on the Elliots Beach and they would not concrete the beach.

Do you know the 'Promises are made to be broken' and the Elliots Beach is getting a concrete monstrosity and the Chennai Corporation has encroached on the Beach?

Do you know that as per the CRZ rules (Coastal Regulation Zone) no construction should take place within 500 metres of the High Tide line?

So if the Tamilnadu Government shows so much of respect to rules laid by the Judiciary, how will the common man accept it?

In the month of October, the Commisioner of Chennai Corporation assured us that the construction will stop. NOW WE FIND THAT THE WORK IS GOING ON IN A PHASED MANNER ABOUT 10 FEET AT A TIME SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE AWARE OF THE EXTENTION OF THE WORK.

THIS IS WHAT IS CALLED IN TAMIL - முழு புசிநிக்கையை சோற்றில் மறைப்பது.

ஒரு நாள் எல்லோரும் சேர்ந்து அத்துமிறி கட்டும் பணியை இடித்து அங்குள்ள சிமெண்ட் குப்பைகள் எல்லாவற்றையும் பீச்சுக்கு வெளியே ரோட்டில் கொண்டு கொட்ட போறோம்.

அந்த நாள் ரொம்ப தூரம் இல்லை.

RTI ACT

2008-09-11T22:28:00.000-07:00

I wonder how many of you are aware that there is an act called RTI ACT - RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT.

Yes today you have every right to file a query to any Government organisation in India, to find out the state of any complaint you have given.

All you need to do is to affix a Rs.10/- (Rupees ten only) COURT FEE STAMP in your letter to the concerned authority.

Make sure you take a xerox copy and get the same signed by the receiving officer with the date and seal of the receiving authority mentioned clearly.

All Government Offices are bound to the RTI ACT and they respond to the same.

Chennai Corporation & widening roads.

2008-09-11T20:50:00.000-07:00

The Corporation of Chennai is on a spree to widen roads in the city of Chennai.

Wonder why the inter-locking tiles were removed on the pavements of the beach and granite tiles are being. The inter-locking tiles will ensure rain water is absorbed but the granite tiles are defintely going to flood the place in case of heavy rains.

PLUS SENIOR CITIZENS WATCH OUT - THE TILES ARE DEFINITELY SLIPPERY.

THIS IS ONE MORE STATE IN THE COUNTRY WHICH DOES NOT CARE FOR ITS SENIOR CITIZENS - THEY ONLY TALK BUT DO NOT SHOW IN ACTION.

Earlier, if you were walking comfortably in your colony or neighbourhood, then today you have every chance of tripping and falling and may be even breaking your arm or femur, thanks to the roads being dug up for either extension or paving the area for laying pavements.

The Corporation has dug up roads and have not proceeded with this work as many people who wholeheartedly work for the sake of environment have protested - the contractors of the Corporation have cemented the trees roots in Sastri Nagar and when the local AC of Zone 10 was approached - he said that the Contractor was out of town and we will have to wait for a few days.
I protested vociforously saying ' if someone asked for water when he is dying, you would bring water only on the 10th day of his demise'. Such is the callous nature with which you treat the trees in the city which are age old ones.

He called the local AE and told him to remove the concrete surrounding the trees immediately. I only hope the Vigilantees of trees will keep an eye and inform the authorities about any tree bring covered with concrete.

If you are unable to reach any official call me through this space by giving a comment.

Let us all get together and fight injustice towards our environment.

Crime for speaking in Hindi?

2008-09-11T20:43:00.000-07:00

Well folks - Maharashtra people have protested in their state with Jaya Bachan's statement as to why she was going to speak in Hindi. I do not think she ever mentioned that she would not speak in Marathi.

First her statement that she is from Uttar Pradesh and therefore she was going to speak in Hindi was not accepted. But had she said that she was only speaking in Hindi as she was from the Hindi film industry and it is Rashtra Basha, no one in the country has a right to protest.

We are a country which is Democratic and protests like these are totally unwarranted. We Indians needs to be united and set an example to the whole world that in spite of various religions we are a united lot.

God Bless all.

United States of America - enjoy the country when you get a chance to visit.

2008-09-01T22:27:00.000-07:00

Well, three and half months or 104 days etc in the US is a pretty long time for me to be away from home.

When I told a few friends that I am going to the US, they advised me that I will be miserable as one is dependent on many occasions on others for transport and there are no autos to hail as in Chennai or for that matter in India. But I was fairly really independent except on occasions when I felt the need of the 'Credit Card', which of course was also resolved with timely help from a very good friend.

On the 3rd day of my landing, my nephew Hari ensured that I was 'Mobile' - yes he got me mobile telephone which was my lifeline - I could be in touch with hundreds of my relatives and friends.

Hari did a rehearsal of sorts by taking me to the railway station in Trenton - many people do not really wish to go to this station - some say it is unsafe. But having lived in Zambia, it was a piece of cake for me and fun too. So on the 5th of May 2008, I was dropped off by Hari the entrance of Trenton railway station. I just had a book and and two pieces of luggage. I waited for a whole hour and then went to board my train to Route 128 or Westwood, where my sister and brother in law came to pick me up.

The Amtrack as the train service in the US is called is mighty expensive, and does not cater to the common man, as the Indian Railways do. The journey which was meant to be 5 hours lasted almost 7 hours from Trenton to Westwood, a distance of about 222 miles. Another 18 miles and I would have reached Boston, but my sister said that this place was closer and so I got off at Westwood.

The delay was due to 'Police Activity' near Newark station for over an hour. Never in my life have I heard of such a thing in India. But we have surely heard of buffaloes and elephants on the tracks and delaying trains in India.

More about 'Amtrack' - they have excellent seats and leg room and all their trains are fully air conditioned. In fact they have all their trains air conditioned and the temperature they maintain is just right inside the cabins, neither too cold or too warm.

But the Pantry car provided on these trains are 'HORRIBLE' - they do not cater to the common man. Water is expensive and the food is only non-vegetarian and they treat non Americans like 'you are not welcome' - their hospitality in the Pantry Car was much to be desired. All I asked for was a vegetarian sandwich and the answer' no vegetarian food on board, next'. I was shocked at the lack of common courtesy normally shown by most Americans, in the Pantry Car. I just about managed to get a bottle of water and fruit and nut bar which had to be my lunch for the day.

The travel was more expensive that the normal Shatabdi Express which I travel from Chennai to Bangalore, where we are provided with a bottle of Mineral water, a newspaper of your choice if you take the early morning train, a coffee of tea and some sumptuous breakfast - all this is included in the cost of the ticket which is roughly 575/- Indian Rupees or roughly $15 (USD). Here you py a whopping $99/- for the ticket and nothing else except your travel which is slower than a passenger train in India. The distance is 387 kms with four or five stops in between Trenton and Boston. There is only one train service to this place in a day. Most of the Amtrack trains are always running far behind their scheduled time of arrival - they do not seem to care. Do they?

United States of America needs people from India to tell them how to increase their train services and also also how to attract the crowd to use these services. What with increase in fuel prices, the Americans would surely welcome this suggestion. Hats off to Indian Railways, they are doing a great job.

Amtrack also does not have sleeper coaches in all the long distance trains - you need to travel like you do in Rajdhani Express in practically all their trains. In case you need a berth or a bedroom facility be prepared to pay three to four times the cost of the ticket. We Indians should be happy with the AC 1st Class, AC 2nd Class and Ac 3rd Class coaches and the ordinary sleeper coaches without AC. They have excellent weather throughout the year in most parts of their country and they can afford to have sleeper coaches without AC at reasonable rates and there would be a boom in their business within a short time.

Infrastucture in stations is also a zero but what is to be admired in their Information System available on the phone which gives information fairly accurately.

They have attenders for the coaches who check your tickets and make a small card marking the place you need to get down. They also ensure that you are informed well in advance about the station where you need to get down, enabling you to be packed and ready. In case the train stops where there is no platform, they the attenders are carrying a strong plastic stool for you to get off the last step of the train. Mind you they are very courteous and help you with your luggage when you need to get off. They do not harass you for payment and if you offer them money they are courteous enough to say 'Thank you' and also wishing you ' Have a good day'. They do not show courtesy on the basis of the money you paid , but there is the warmth they give which makes your day.

Amtrack is also friendly to handicapped people and senior citizens. The attendants guide them into the Cabin cars and ensure they comfortable and the handicapped have seats specially allotted to them.

Amtrack also has one Cabin Car which is called a 'Quiet car' where you cannot be talking and you can remain peaceful without the noise of people talking.

No Smoking is allowed in the Amtrack but if there is going to be a signal delay in any area they announce that people who wish to smoke are requested to go towards the Engine and have a great puff and get back when the driver tells them to do so. The discipline adhered here was simply amazing to me, as I have seen characters in India who will smoke when you are told not to do so and they think that they have achieved something great in life.

The Amtrack stations and many places in the US of A has plenty of escalators, which are not found much in India.

To proceed further on my holiday - my sister took me to her place in Medway, Massachusetts and I was admiring the expanse of the country side. Since my sister brought me some Indian food , a drink plus fruits, I was able to get rid of my hunger pangs. Thanks to the mobile phone, I was able to communicate with my sister and tell her about the train delay and told her to come much later than scheduled to Westwood.

We went shopping for her house - she was repairing her bungalow to put it up for sale before she moved to California for good. So visits to Home Depot was absolutely interesting - yes you get all your household needs in one single shop - everything is standardized and therefore you are not having irregular sizes of material. Most important thing, if a product does not suit your house, you are welcome to return the same provided you have your bill. No questions asked.

The next day my sis took me to K Mart and we just could not believe that we could get excellent jeans for just $2 to $10 and both of us picked a few. These jeans saw me through, throughout my trip in the US. One thing I learned in my very first trip to the US. Do not carry more than a few sets of dresses. Saris is not essential unless you a regular sari wearer and do not have intentions of wearing salwar suits or jeans. If you can wear jeans then your days are easy and you can wear them for a minimum for 4 days without washing - they hardly get dirty over there. * MORE ABOUT THIS LATER.

So Called Beach Beautification

2008-02-09T17:30:00.000-08:00

No one seems to realise that trees are also helping people to hide themselves and do whatever they want - resulting in the beach being misused for other activities.

Look at the Hazardous waste in the centre of the picture .

Have a look at the plastic waste on the beach front - this is located right opposite to the Police Head Quarters near Mahatma Gandhi Statue. Adding more pictures to this blog, I sincerely hope the residents of Chennai will understand that Beautification of the Beaches is totally uncalled for.

The Civil Society Group is fighting tooth and nail to ensure that the Chennai Corporation does not start its work on the Beautification project of the Elliots Beach.

Tha latest - The Corporation of Chennai wants to construct a 2.5 metre concreted paved pathway from Ashtalakshmi Temple in Besant Nagar to Vembuli Amman Temple in Thiruvanmiyur. They do not seem to have done a survey as the road narrows down to the sea at the end of 1st
Seaward Road, Valmiki Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur. Are they going to lay the path on the sea?

2008-02-09T17:00:00.000-08:00

Now kindly look at these pictures and decide whether our Beaches need any Beautification.The pictures posted for you all to know that once the Corporation is allowed to put green patches, they will do it but WILL NOT MAINTAIN this and result will be like the pictures given.

Marina - Something green?

2008-02-09T16:30:00.000-08:00

1. Rubbish with greenery? 2.A resting place in the name of Beautification?
3. Do we call this Green patch or brown patch?

Do we need our Beaches to be beautified.

2008-02-09T01:45:00.000-08:00

The status of Marina Beach which was beautified long ago is now yearning for care - The Chennai Corporation is flooded with money by way of various taxes and decided to mess up the Beautiful Sandy beaches of the Chennai City by making green patches and walkways and also concrete paths to facilitate people to walk.

We have the beach sand to walk on - why do we need construction activity on the Beach? Why?

Can the Chennai Corporation lay the roads which are horrible in many places in the City?

I was at the Marina Beach at 10.30am on the 8th of February 2008. In the name of greenery, the Marina is crying Help, as this so called green patches are now dry and is it littered with plastics and people sleep and goats are grazing. Do we need all this on the beach????

I am adding a few photos for all to decide - Does the Chennai Corporation necessarily need to beautify our Beaches?

Beach Beautification - Do we need it or not?

2008-01-31T07:46:00.000-08:00

The Corporation of Chennai has taken up the project of Beautification of the Beach at Thiruvanmiyurfrom Ashtalakshmi Temple to City limit. In this aspect a proposal has arrived and exhibited in Tiruvamiyur Beach. To have public support for the project, it is decided to hold discussion with the public on 1.2.2008 at 11 am at Zonal Office - 10 No.115,Muthulakshmi Salai, Adyar, Chennai 20.

You are requested to attend the attend the above meeting with the representative from the Association.

Dish 3

2007-08-20T01:00:00.001-07:00

Green bell Peppers and corn

Ingredients : - 1 cup corn kernels, 1 small green bell pepper, 1 teaspoon ginger paste, 1 tablespoon flour,1 pinch cumin seeds, 1 green chilly, 1 cup milk, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1 pinch white pepper powder, 2 tablespoons oil/ghee and salt to taste.

Preparation time : - 15 minutes Serves : - 2

HOW TO PREPARE : - Cook the corn kernels and keep it aside. Finely chop the green bell pepper and the chilly and keep them aside separately. Take a frying pan and pour the oil. Bring to heat and add the cumin seeds and sauté till they turn golden brown. Add the green chilly and ginger paste and sauté till the raw smell leaves. Add the plain flour and fry. Simmer and cook for a minute. Add the green bell pepper and corn, pour in the milk. While pouring the milk ensure that you do it slowly and keep stirring and make sure that no lumps are formed. Simmer and cook till the curry thickens. Add the white pepper, sugar and salt to taste and serve.

Dish 2.

2007-08-20T00:20:00.000-07:00

Sambar rice

Ingredients : - 2 cups cooked rice, 1 handful toor dal(split gram),1 small tomato, 1 carrot, 2 beans, few cauliflower florets, 1 teaspoon butter beans,1 pinch Bengal gram, 1 pinch coriander seeds, 1 pinch methi seeds(fenugreek), 1 pinch asafoetida, 1 pinch mustard seeds, few curry leaves, 5 pearl onions, 1 centimeter tamarind, 1 pinch turmeric, 1 teaspoon red chilly powder, 1 teaspoon sambar powder, chopped coriander 3 tablespoon oil and salt to taste.

Preparation time : - 20 minutes Serves : - 2

HOW TO PREPARE : - Wash the split gram and soak it for 15 minutes. Peel the pearl onions and wash them. Now wash all the vegetables and cut it into 1 centimeter pieces and set it aside. Soak the tamarind in half cup water and set it aside. Take a pressure pan and put in the onions, drained split gram and 1 cup water. Add the asafoetida and pressure cook it. Simmer and cook till you get two whistles. Remove from heat and wait for the pressure to be released and then open it up. Remove the ingredients and rinse the cooker with water and bring it back to heat. When all the water evaporates pour in the oil and heat it well. Then add the mustard seeds and let it crackle. Add the Bengal gram, fenugreek seeds, coriander seeds and curry leaves and sauté. After a few second add the chopped tomatoes. Put in the turmeric, red chilly powder and sambar powder and mix it well. Cook till the oil begins to leave the edges of the cooker. Next drain the tamarind pulp from the water. Pour the water in and cook for a minute. Put in all the vegetable including the butter beans and cook for a minute. Then add the boiled split gram and onions and stir well. Pour half cup water, if it’s too thick add one cup water and bring to boil. When the water is boiling add the salt and stir well. Just before closing the pressure cooker add the coriander leaves. Cook on a low flame for one whistle. Slowly open the cooker and empty the sambar into a big bowl. Now add the cooked rice and set it aside for minute. Mix it up well and serve. If the sambar rice is left outside for too long the rice will absorb all the sambar and it will become dry and so mix up the rice and sambar just before eating.

Food - Easy to make??? Dish 1.

2007-08-20T00:17:00.000-07:00

My son and his classmates have now moved to Pittsburgh to do their MS (IT) program.
For the benefit of those who need to cook for themselves - here are some receipes which may be useful.

Vegetable biryani

Ingredients: - 2 cups cooked basmati rice(long grain), 100 grams, cauliflower, 100 grams potato, 100 grams carrot, 100 grams French beans, 100 grams peas, 1 big onion, 1 green chilly, ½ teaspoon red chilly powder, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, ½ inch cinnamon, 2 cloves,1 pinch black pepper powder, 2 tomatoes, ¼ cup curd(yoghurt), 1 pinch mustard seeds, 2 tablespoons dry fruits, 2 tablespoons oil and salt to taste.

Preparation time : - 20 minutes Serves : - 2

HOW TO PREPARE: - Finely chop the onions, tomatoes and green chilly and set it aside. Wash the vegetables, drain them completely and then cut into thin long slices. Take a frying pan and keep pour some oil. Bring to heat and put in one vegetable at a time. Sauté each vegetable on full flame till it gets cooked. You can sprinkle a little water. Sauté continuously to avoid the vegetables from getting burned. Ensure that the vegetables retain their colour. If you pour too much water the colour will become lighter and so sauté and try to avoid water as much as you can. Then sauté the green peas. Now take another frying pan and pour 1 tablespoon oil. Now when the oil is hot add the mustard seeds, green chilly, cumin seeds and cinnamon. Let them all crackle first and then sauté briefly till they become golden brown in colour. Then add the cloves and black pepper powder and let it crackle too. Follow this by adding the onions and sauté them till they are soft and cooked. Add the red chilly powder, salt to taste and sauté well. Put the finely chopped tomatoes and cook it till the oil begins to leave the edges of the pan. Whip the curd in a blender just for 5 seconds so that is nice and fine. Pour this curd into the pan and stir well. Cook briefly and add all the sautéed vegetables. Put in the cooked rice and mix it very gently. Ensure you don’t break the grains or mash them up. Cook for five minutes on a low flame. Turn of the flame. Garnish the biryani with dry fruits and coriander leaves. Serve it hot with some onion and curd raita.

Protect your environment - fit 'Hydrodrive' in your 4 wheeler.

2007-04-12T22:43:00.000-07:00

Today when matters of Environment are of prime importance, I think it is high time i shared something with my fellow bloggers. I would like to inform all that a 'Pollution Control Fuel Catalytic Converter' is available in India today.

More news on this 'Hydrodrive'.

An Indian, that too a resident of Chennai, one Mr.Gopalakrishnan has provided an unique product available to this whole world - a pollution control equipment for all four wheelers - called 'HYDRODRIVE'. I am told that this can be used by Industries whose machinery cause pollution and improve the environment.

I have been using this product in all my vehicles - Maruti Esteem, Tata Indica DLE ( four gear model introduced by Tata Motors when it first launched its Indica car), Hyundai Santro, Tata Indica (Petrol) and now in my Tata Indigo Marina etc. I am an environmentalist and firmly believe in reducing vehicle pollution. I have fitted this product called ‘HYDRODRIVE’ in all the vehicles owned by me. This product is a pre ignition fuel catalytic converter and it brought down the emission of CO to 0.05 and HC 120 in all my vehicles. My cousin has fitted this ‘Hydrodrive’ in his Tata Estate and the vehicle’s emission levels have dropped dramatically.

This product is available in Chennai and just log on to www.hydrodrive.8k and you will be happy once you fit the same in your four wheeler.

My experiences before and after fitting Hydrodrive. First I fitted this Hydrodrive in my Maruti Esteem car. I could only drive in the 2nd and 3rd gears in the city and if I tried to change to the 4th gear my car would stall. Once I fitted Hydrodrive, I could drive in 4th gear and 30 kms speed and 'Wah' driving became pleasurable.

The first Indica DLE manufactured by TATA Motors had only 4 gears and reverse gear, unlike the ones manufactured today, where you have 5 gears and reverse gear. When we drove the new Indica (4 gear model) we could only use the 1st and 2nd gear. The Diesel consumption would be more as we had no opportunity to drive in the top gear, thanks to the city traffic. If at any stage we tried using the third gear, our Indica would jolt like a 'Jhutka' (a bull drawn carriage). Then we fitted the 'Hydrodrive' and we found not only the vehicle ran smoothly, it also reduced pollution and improved the mileage too.

A BOON TO VEHICLE OWNERS. DO NOT HESITATE TO FIT 'HYDRODRIVE'. IT WILL HELP THE ENVIRONMENT AND YOU IN PARTICULAR. YOU WILL GAIN IN THREE ASPECTS - ONE BY WAY OF SMOOTH DRIVING, TWO BY WAY OF EMANATING 'ZERO' POLLUTION AND THIRDLY YOUR VEHICLE WILL BECOME 'FUEL EFFICIENT'.

As I was browsing the net, something caught my attention. A blogger whose id is http://dansdata.blogsome.com has been writing nonsense about Indians and after reading his blog, I note that he must have been paid to do this. I am positive he has neither seen or used 'Hydrodrive' and to name a genuine Indian manufacturer a 'psychopath' is sheer cheap publicity done through the auto lobby. If at all I get the address of this dansdata blogger, I shall file a defamation suit and he has no business to call any one a psychopath. I think he belongs to the 'Apartheid' gang, that is why he is degrading Indians.

I shall write more on this - a visit by a representative from a Petroleum Manufacturer and the bungling by the members of the 'Mashelkar Committee'.

Corporation of Chennai - Beautification plans

2007-03-19T22:30:00.000-07:00

A number of groups have been fighting against construction of concrete structures on the Besant Nagar Beach, though the Chennai Corporation is planning this beautification on the Marina Beach. Why no soul has voiced their opinion on the beautification of Marina is a Million Dollar question? The Commisioner of the Corporation of Chennai states that this beautification programme is to attract tourists.

Have the Corporation ever thought of improving the roads in the city? This improvement will attract tourists as they look forward to better motorable conditions and the traffic snarls drive them crazy and they do not wish to return to Chennai. The autowallahs also make lives miserable for the tourists. I think improving the infrastructure will be a better bet that spending money to spoil the natural surroundings of the beach.

Why have we not filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the Chennai Corporation - asking them why should new car buyers pay road tax for life - the roads have not been improved for years. Why should we not stop Registration of new cars after March 31st, 2007, until the roads are repaired and made motorable in all areas of Chennai? All the money collected by way of Road Tax is now available to the Corporation of Chennai and the Authorities feel it is important to beautify the beaches and not repair the roads and give room for free flow of traffic.

Can a Lawyer help me file this PIL please?

Incidentally, I wish to share some information with you all. My visit to some shops on Lattice Bridge Road (now Muthulakshmi Salai) gave an insight to some things which the Chennai Corporation is grossly overlooking. Each and every shop owner tells me that they have been given 'Eviction' orders long long ago but the Government has not put any pressure in evicting them to increase the Road width of LB Road.

All the traders on LB Road, are ready to leave if such an eviction is to take place, without any protest, as they are all aware they are encroaching the space meant for the expansion of LB Road. If LB Road is widened by about 50 feet then there will be free flow of traffic on this road as it is an arterial road.

Those who read this, please join the Civil Society Group and extend your support to improve existing roads and stop concreting the Beaches in the name of 'Beautification'. You can email to civilsocietygroup@googlegroups.com and support this cause.

Do we need to spoil the looks of Elliots Beach??

2007-02-28T21:59:00.000-08:00

Hi Everybody,

As many of you are aware, there is a proposed plan to beautify Elliots Beach by the Chennai Corporation. Their plans seem more to put an end to the natural and beautiful look of the Elliots Beach.

It was decided by a group of like minded people to meet the Commissioner of Chennai Corporation and the same has been organised by Mr.Bharath of CAG. (Consumer Action Group).

This meeting is scheduled for this Saturday (3rd March 2007) evening at 5.30pm venue is at Elliots Beach between the Police Booth and the Gym.

Can we talk things over with the Commissioner of Chennai Corporation? Can you please make it to the venue with all your friends and relatives and give a solid support for a genuine cause?

Some of the things that can be found out from this meeting from the commissioner are:

A. Seeking a copy of plans, drawings and other documents for the proposed beautification plans.

B. Ask him to put up the proposed plans and drawings at prominent places on the Beach for interested and concerned citizens to study

C. We could also demand certain transparency from the govt officials in issues involving the citizens and the common property.

If you could tell your friends and neighbours, it will be of great help to the Society as a whole.

Shanthi Krishnan,
Vice President,
Kalakshetra Colony Welfare Assn.

Telemarketing - boon or bane

2006-09-12T22:47:00.001-07:00

I am sure many of the Cell phone users may have been bugged by Tele-marketing executives. They call and offer personal loans - on what basis? Just because you own a cellphone! They call you at odd hours - when you are probably resting or when you are in a meeting.

When calls come on my landline numbers you are given a sweet talk and offered home loans, insurance and many other loans. One particular Bank's tele-marketing executives rang me up at least ten times on a single day. Won't you find this irritating?

How do they get our cell phone numbers? Who provides the information to them? Who can we sue to obtain peace of mind or will our minds be blown in pieces? I think our privacy is being intruded upon and the Service Providers are responsible for giving vital information of their customers.

So please join me in putting a full stop to this menace.

PS: My daughter once answered one of these calls and said "Oh sure. I want a loan, say about two lakhs, but I have no salary - so is it ok if I do not repay?" - for some time we were not troubled by these calls. But it is now on the increase once again.

Telemarketing - boon or bane

2006-09-12T22:47:00.000-07:00

Travelling - a stomach bursting experience.

2006-09-03T07:04:00.000-07:00

Have you ever travelled by Shatabdhi Express from Bangalore to Chennai? I think most of you would have. But I think all of you should know about the food served on this train.

We boarded the train on Sunday the 27th of August at 4.50 pm. Yes the train was late when it reached Bangalore from Mysore. So a good 40 minutes of delay.

As soon as the train left Bangalore City Station at 5.05 pm, the attenders started distributing water bottles to all the passengers. This was followed by a fruit drink. Hardly 45 minutes later the attenders served us a plate with one somosa with a ketchup satchet, a sandwich, a tea cake and satchets for coffee, sugar, crema (milk powder). We enjoyed this thoroughly and tea was offered to those who needed it.

Having had a nice fill we were just dropping off for a much awaited snooze, when another 45 minutes later we were served trays with bun and butter and salt and pepper and piping hot tomato soup. Well, the soup was definitely inviting and we drank it, though the buns went into a 'special plastic bag' for we had no place to eat the same - but why leave it behind when we have doggies back home to wallop the same.

At this time, we found that the train was shaking thoroughly, thank goodness none of us puked. It was very similar to the flight suddenly loosing altitude to air pockets. Oof what an experience. To think of it, I recently read in the newspapers that we should soon be having trains between Bangalore and Chennai and the journey would only be an hour. God save the passengers !!

Another 45 minutes later, we were served dinner. WISHED WE HAD A ZIP ON OUR STOMACHS TO FILL ALL THAT WAS SERVED.

Piping hot dinner served in Aluminium foil trays, it contained a pulao, a paneer subji and channa. This also had a rumali roti. The paneer was just leathery and the roti was rubbery (may be both mean the same). All of us packed the rotis into our 'special plastic bag'. Since we had no dinner prepared for us back home, we had to eat this pulao and subji and channa. Not that the food was bad, it was the lack of stomach space. Oops, I forgot. There was a packet of fresh salad too - thick slice of carrot, beetroot and cucumber with a piece of lemon. We were also served nice sweet curds.

Having taken away the dinner trays, we thought we will be able to relax for some time, but we were given a cup of ice cream for dessert and most of us refused - and taking it in our 'special plastic bag' would have resulted in melted ice cream - thanks to the Chennai climate.

We arrived in Chennai at 9.25 pm, 5 minutes ahead of schedule. The journey was tiring, thanks to the non-stop serving of food and the super fast running of the train, which made each one of us tired to the core - we needed to rest for a whole day to get our nerves back to normal.

This is personal request to the IRCTC authorities to seriously consider to reduce the food and also they can reduce the cost of the fare.

The smart kiddo - ME!

2006-03-13T03:20:00.000-08:00

Hello! Sorry for hibernating.

Memories of School kid - I was around 5 years old and studying in Rosary Matriculation School in Santhome, Chennai (earlier known as Madras).

Believe it or not, but those days I used to walk to school from home which was about a kilometre and and a half. Those days walking was the way of life and no one ever used to complain. My sisters too studied in the same school and sometimes they would stop midway to chat with their classmates who used to reside on the route back home. Some days I used to walk alone back from school and on the Custin Beach Road, there used to be a milkman's son Muthu who probably would have been around 12 to 14 years of age. I knew him as the milkman's son but this guy used to harass me by pinching my cheeks, giving flying kisses and this irritated me a lot. Basically this boy did this out of affection unlike the ilk of today where some men loose sanity on seeing a kid alone.

One day I made up my mind to teach him a lesson (mind you I was all of five years old). I told my father I wanted a foot ruler which was objected by all at home as there was no necessity for this for a Ist standard student. My father said he would get me a 6" ruler but I was firm and insisted on a scale (12"). 6" ruler cost 3 paise but a foot ruler cost 6 paise. As I was the last in the family, pampered by my father I got this 12" ruler, which ws bought from Vijaya Stores in North Mada Street, Mylapore. The whole night I was having this ruler under my pillow.

Come Monday morning, I was up early and got ready to go to school without any fuss. On my way back from school, I was having this ruler between the tips of my Index finger and thumb moving it up and down and walking back home alone.

A few minutes later the milkman's son Muthu accosted me enroute home. But I was seething with anger and what followed was a reign of blows on Muthu with my foot ruler without any respite and his pleas for mercy was not heeded by me, resulting in my ruler breaking into two or three pieces. I ran home as fast as I could, panting as I entered my house compound and my mother saw me with the broken ruler. She just could not accept the new ruler being broken and what happened next - my turn to get a few beatings for breaking the ruler. But before she could give me the worst I darted to the neem tree and climbed it and reached the terrace.

I must have been on the terrace for about 15 minutes or so, I heard a loud wail and when I peeped to see what the commotion was all about, I witnessed a scene where the milkman's wife was bitterly complaining to my mom about how I had beaten her son. She explained to my mom that all that Muthu did was to seek affection from me saying that I was fair looking unlike him and he could not resist pinching my cheeks. She told my mom I would turn out to be a terror if I was not punished for my behaviour. My mom told her to get lost and seemed proud that I was able to take care of myself.

That night after dinner, I heard my mother telling my father the whole incident and my father told her that a girl should be bold and he was really proud of me.

Though Muthu did not come in my way on my return from school, my sisters ensured that I did not get into any trouble.

Memories of a school kid

2005-06-18T02:43:00.000-07:00

How many of you were afraid when your report cards in school were given to you. Well, not all! But I was as I was an average student. But imagine being afraid after getting 60 % marks. I was shit scared of facing my mother's wrath that I wondered how she came to know that my report card was given to me by the teacher. Much later I realised that my sisters too got theirs at the same time. (What a Dumbo I was!). I did not know why she was angry but took me years to find out that one of sisters was not a bright student and mom was angry with her and we all were target of her anger. At these times my heart would pound.

After giving the report card to my mother who was busy making tiffin in the kitchen, I would dart off like a deer, but can you guess where I would hide? I would climb up the neem tree which was our staircase to the terrace. My mom could not climb as she always wore a sari(or that is what I thought). I much later saw her one fine summer morning on top of the terrace with father making vaadams for the family. I got up unusually early on a summer day and when my mom had to get down I was sent away to the bathroom to brush my teeth and when I came out of the bath I found her making coffee in the kitchen. I asked how she got down and she said she can fly. I believed her but Thank God I did not attempt to fly. To think of it now, can we ever try this on our children who have just crossed 3 years.

Those were the days when we never knew of TV's and listening to the radio was allowed only on Sundays. We all enjoyed going to the beach which was just a 5 minute walk from home and what a great time we had standing on the shore and enjoying the waves. Whenever we prayed we had a big wave and when it was followed by a small wave, we were told by our friends on the beach that we did not pray enough.

When we went to school we knew of only one mango seller and he used to bring ground nuts and mangoes to sell with 'koduka puli' fruits too. The mangoes were sliced neatly and these slices would be cut half way to look like design and it would be lightly touched on the 'milagai podi with uppu'(chilli powder and salt) and we all enjoyed the taste. These mango slices were called 'badhdhai' and it would cost 10 paise for 4 or 5 such badhdhais. "koduka puli' was sold for 10 paise in a cone with a small 'pottalam' of 'milagai podi'. Groundnuts were always 'Avicha verkadalai' or groundnuts cooked in salt water, to ensure that you did not fall sick eating raw ground nuts. This was sold in cones but you could get a small cone for 10 paise and a bigger cone for 25 paise.

Much later we found a small shop within the school premises and what we enjoyed most was the 'kamarkattu' which has three varieties and was sold for 1 paisa, 2 paise and 5 paise. Wonder where I can find those today!

Next Episode: Little Brave me.

2005-06-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

This will contain a series of incidents which created a flutter every time and lasted quite a while.
These are 'real life' incidents and not reel life.

Will start posting soon.

Till then, Ciao.