Agni Theertham, Rameswaram. Photo taken by Suri with his Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camaera.
Friday, March 30, 2012
My Photo Album-102: Maha smiles!
Maha smiles! Photo taken by Suri with his Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera. Venue, Maha's house.
A Thought for Today-490:
If you want to be incrementally better: Be competitive. If you want to be exponentially better: Be cooperative - Unknown
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Self-Improvement1-95: The Success Story - Why India is a Great Country
Grateful thanks to rkbanga and YouTube.
Picture of the day-344:
Fishing boats at Pamban.
Photo taken by Suri with his Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.
My Photo Album-101: Maha with Harini
Maha with Harini. Photo taken by Suri with his Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera. The venue is Harini's house.
A Thought for Today-489:
Nothing will ever be attempted, if all possible objections must be first overcome - Samuel Johnson
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Picture of the day-343:
Launch passing below the Pamban Rail Bridge. Photo taken by Suri with his Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.
A Thought for Today-488:
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain -Vivian Greene
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Picture of the day-342:
Rameswaram-Chennai Express crossing the sea. Photo taken from Annai Inidra Bridge (Pamban Road Bridge) by Suri with his Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.
My Photo Album-99: Suri in front of Sri Ramanatha Swami Temple
Suri with his wife in front of Sri Ramanatha Swami Temple. Photo taken by Somas with Suri's Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.
A Thought for Today-487:
Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Monday, March 26, 2012
Picture of the day-341:
Pamban Shoreline from Annai Indira Bridge (Pamban Road Bridge). Picture taken by Suri with his Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.
My Photo Album-98: Vinod at Vandalur Zoo
Vinod at Vandalur Zoo. Photo taken by Priya during their picnic with Maha and Pravin during March 2012.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Self-Improvement1-94: Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far by Stefan Sagmeister
Grateful thanks to Stefan Sagmeister, YouTube and Ronhoganbooks.
Picture of the day-340:
An aerial view of Pamban village. Photo taken from Annai Indira Bridge (Pamban Road Bridge) by Suri with his Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.
My Photo Album-97: Somas again!
Somas in front of Sri Ramanatha Swami Temple, Rameswaram. Photo taken by Suri with his Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.
A Thought for Today-485:
Maturity is the capacity to endure uncertainty - Wisetrack, Chennai Times, Oct.5, 2011
Grateful thanks to The Times of India.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
My Journal-5: Death of Shri RR
Today morning I was reading an article entitled, "You only live twice!" by Vinita Dawra Nangia from Time Life of Feb.5, 2012. The title reminded of Ian Fleming's James Bond novel of the same title. I had not only read the book and but also had seen the movie. So I became interested in the article and started reading it. It was a good article. Reading the first few lines, I was reminded of the death of Shri RR, who passed away last month. Let me first excerpt those few lines:
"The untimely death of a colleague, someone with whom you interacted, exchanged pleasantries and indulged in healthy competition, is bound to leave you regretful and reflective about the uncertainty of life. ... you wonder what went through the person's mind in the days and weeks before the end."
Well, I cannot call the death of Shri RR as untimely. He should have been at least 75 and obviously was ailing for sometime. He was my boss and I was his steno for a few years. He was heading the Engg Services Division. He was widely read and some at our institution would call him a genius. His advice was much sought after not on just engineering matters but also on a wide range of subjects by the different Directors who were heading the institution from time to time. Then I got transferred to some other division. But as both of us were living in Kottaiyur and I had to pass his house daily on my way to and back from office, I was in touch with him. His daughters were studying in the same school with my sisters. So he knew all about my family background. He would lend me books and ask me to read. He himself was a voracious reader and knew that I was a booklover and book-collector. When he weeded out books from his house, he presented some very good books. When a new Director came, he was entrusted with many responsibilities (some 7 sections came under him); he met the Director and asked for a good PA as his work load had increased suddenly. I was his choice; it was a little flattering and moved back to his division as his PA.
After a few years, the Director who elevated him retired and a new Director from outside came. Probably he did not think much of Shri RR or was influenced by others. Many felt that he had unnecessarily got a bad name in taking decisions on civil engg matters, of which, according to them, he was not an expert. So when anything went wrong with regard to buildings, he was blamed. Shri RR was relieved of some of his responsibilities. I was shifted to the Head of Administration's office. Still I did not lose his contact. Then he retired from service. If remember correct, he went on voluntary retirement. All his children were well-placed and he sold his house and moved to Coimbatore. After that I did not see him for a long time.
When the person who was his deputy in the Engg Services Division, became Director, he made a courtesy call on him at his office. By then I was PA to Director and while he was waiting for his appointment, we were exchanging pleasantries and he was happy that I was occupying an important position. While leaving, he casually invited me to visit him at his house in Coimbatore, if I happen to visit that place. That was the last time I saw him.
I voluntarily retired from service in 2007. During January 2012, one of my friends who is still in service, told me that Shri RR was unwell and wanted to talk to me. Unfortunately, I did not have Shri RR's phone number and requested my friend to get it. My friend promised to get it. When I met him next time, he told me again that Shri RR expressed a desire to talk to me. But again my friend was not able to provide me Shri RR's phone number and I must admit, I also did not make any other effort to get it.
In February, one day my friend informed that Shri RR had passed away. A communication to that effect had been received in the office from the bereaved family. That night I remembered many events involving Shri RR. I felt sorry and was wondering what he wanted to talk to me: something in general or something specific he had on his mind. Well, I would never know now. It makes one feel very sad that a small desire of a dying man could not be fulfilled.
Now I can only pray for him. Let Shri RR's soul rest in peace!
Grateful thanks to Vinita Dawra Nangia and The Times of India.
Picture of the day-339:
Railway line leading to Pamban Railway Station. Photo taken by Suri from Annai Indira Bridge (Pamban Road Bridge) with his Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.
My Photo Album-96:
Yet another photo of Somas. Taken by Suri from the Annai Indira Bridge (Pamban Road Bridge) with his Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.
A Thought for Today-484:
The acts of this life are the destiny of the next - Wisetrack, Chennai Times, Sep.14, 2011
Grateful thanks to The Times of India.
Grateful thanks to The Times of India.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Picture of the day-338:
Pamban Road and Rail Bridges at the time of sunset. Clicked from the Road Bridge by Suri with his Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.
My Photo Album-95:
Another photo of Somas, taken on the Annai Indira Bridge (Pamban Road Bridge, across the Bay of Bengal). Clicked by Suri using his Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.
A Thought for Today-483:
The most important of life's battles is the one we fight daily in the silent chambers of the soul - Quote, Chennai Times, Sep.25, 2011
Monday, March 19, 2012
Picture of the day-337:
Rameswaram Agni Teertham. Photo taken by Suri with his Canon Powershot A590 digital camera.
My Photo Album-94:
Suri on Pamban Road Bridge (Annai Indira Bridge). Photo taken by Somas with Suri's Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.
A Thought for Today-482:
Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you are right - Wisecrack, Chennai Times, Sep.27, 2011
Grateful thanks to Chennai Times.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Picture of the day-336:
Pilgrims coming out of Sri Kothandaramar Temple, near Dhanushkodi. Photo by Suri with his Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.
My Photo Album-93: A smiling Somas!
Friday, March 16, 2012
Picture of the day-335:
Photo taken by Suri from moving train (Rameswaram-Trichy Passenger) near Thangachimadam. Camera, Suri's Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.
My Photo Album-92: Maha with Pravin and Aravind
Photo taken by Suri at Pillayarpatti with Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.
Monday, March 12, 2012
A Thought for Today-480:
In the hopes of reaching the moon, men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet - Wisetrack, Chennai Times, Feb.22, 2012.
Grateful thanks to Chennai Times.
Picture of the day-334:
Tender coconuts being sold at Pillayarpatti. Photo taken by Suri using his Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.
My Photo Album-91:
Maha with Vinoth Senthil. Photo taken by Suri at Senthil's residence during his visit there in Feb 2012, using his Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Picture of the day-333:
My Photo Album-90: Pravin being blessed by Lord Ganesha!
Photo taken at Kundrakkudi Temple by Suri using his
Canon Powershot A590 IS digital camera.