The path is full of thorns. One method is to cleanse it and another to put on shoes. People are sometimes offensive. Be not affected by their offence. – Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Letters-13: "Subramania Bharati's Letters"
1. The letters of Tamil poet Subramania Bharati (The Hindu, Madurai, April 6, 2008) have thrown light on the political, social and economic conditions in the pre-independence era. The problems he has referred to, which exist even today, could have easily been eradicated from society had we taken a few of the sentiments expressed by him seriously. The unfulfilled dreams of the young poet can be realized by following his unselfish ideals. The initiative should come from well-meaning citizens, politicians, social workers and elites in the literary field. – K.Deenadayalan, Salem.
2. By publishing the letters written by Subramania Bharati, The Hindu rekindled the spirit of millions of Mahakavi’s followers. Our politicians can learn a lesson or two from him on nationalism transcending the barriers of caste, creed and religion. For this precious discovery, The Hindu and its team deserve to be specially praised. – Prabhu Jagannathan, Chennai.
3. The painstaking efforts of A.R.Venkatachalapathy, Professor, MIDS, and K.Rajendrababu, chief librarian of The Hindu, in sifting through the records and ferreting out from the old microfilmed archives the letters and articles scripted by the great nationalist bard and published in The Hindu paid rich dividends and threw light on the hitherto unknown facets of the poet’s life. From his writings, we can visualize his characteristic courage while taking on the mighty British regime. The language, with prolific flow interspersed with punch words, bears testimony to his mastery over English, his sense of patriotism and his strong desire for achieving social transformation along with political freedom. Hats off to The Hindu for providing this illustrious poet a forum to air his views even while he was in trying situations. The funeral of this epoch-making writer was attended by only a few. But The Hindu paid a fitting tribute to him on September 12, 1921, through a short editorial. – R.Sampath, Chennai.
4. Subramania Bharati’s letters made interesting reading. His thoughts on casteism, ill-treatment of widows and his ideas on Tamil were way ahead of his times. It is amazing to see how proficiently he used English to express his thoughts on India being a social slave. His views are relevant even today and have a profound impact on the reader. Thanks to The Hindu for giving the readers a rare glimpse into such inspired and thought-provoking letters. – Sumathi Chandrashekaran, Chennai.
5. Congratulations on behalf of lakhs of Bharati admirers and lovers to The Hindu on its splendid publication of the letters, which served to educate the present generation on the spirit of the patriot. The full-page dedication speaks volumes about the love and regard The Hindu has for the Mahakavi. – K.Ramamurthi, Chennai.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, April 8, 2008 (‘Letters to the Editor’)
(I am also one of the lakhs of admirers of the Mahakavi and my grateful thanks to THE HINDU for publishing his letters.)
2. By publishing the letters written by Subramania Bharati, The Hindu rekindled the spirit of millions of Mahakavi’s followers. Our politicians can learn a lesson or two from him on nationalism transcending the barriers of caste, creed and religion. For this precious discovery, The Hindu and its team deserve to be specially praised. – Prabhu Jagannathan, Chennai.
3. The painstaking efforts of A.R.Venkatachalapathy, Professor, MIDS, and K.Rajendrababu, chief librarian of The Hindu, in sifting through the records and ferreting out from the old microfilmed archives the letters and articles scripted by the great nationalist bard and published in The Hindu paid rich dividends and threw light on the hitherto unknown facets of the poet’s life. From his writings, we can visualize his characteristic courage while taking on the mighty British regime. The language, with prolific flow interspersed with punch words, bears testimony to his mastery over English, his sense of patriotism and his strong desire for achieving social transformation along with political freedom. Hats off to The Hindu for providing this illustrious poet a forum to air his views even while he was in trying situations. The funeral of this epoch-making writer was attended by only a few. But The Hindu paid a fitting tribute to him on September 12, 1921, through a short editorial. – R.Sampath, Chennai.
4. Subramania Bharati’s letters made interesting reading. His thoughts on casteism, ill-treatment of widows and his ideas on Tamil were way ahead of his times. It is amazing to see how proficiently he used English to express his thoughts on India being a social slave. His views are relevant even today and have a profound impact on the reader. Thanks to The Hindu for giving the readers a rare glimpse into such inspired and thought-provoking letters. – Sumathi Chandrashekaran, Chennai.
5. Congratulations on behalf of lakhs of Bharati admirers and lovers to The Hindu on its splendid publication of the letters, which served to educate the present generation on the spirit of the patriot. The full-page dedication speaks volumes about the love and regard The Hindu has for the Mahakavi. – K.Ramamurthi, Chennai.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, April 8, 2008 (‘Letters to the Editor’)
(I am also one of the lakhs of admirers of the Mahakavi and my grateful thanks to THE HINDU for publishing his letters.)
Science Watch-8: "DNA Testing Kit on Sale"
A swab, a consent form, an envelope and a waiting period of about five days is all there is to settling paternity issues with the test kit now available at some U.S.drug stores.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, March 28, 2008 (Newscape)
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
A Thought for Today : March 25, 2008
Nurture your mind with great thoughts; to believe in the heroic makes heroes - Disraeli------------
My grateful thanks to Public-Domain-Photos.com for freely providing the photo (http://www.public-domain-photos.com/) and author of the photo, Paolo Neo).
A Thought for Today : March 24, 2008
One shining quality lends a lustre to another, or hides some glaring defect - William Hazlitt
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My grateful thanks to Public-Domain-Photos.com and author of the photo, Jon Sullivan
Letters-12: "Water dispute between Karnataka and Tamilnadu"
1. Mindless acts of vandalism have erupted in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the Hogenakkal drinking water project - an issue settled as early as 1998 by the two States. The tendency of politicians to fish in troubled waters is well known. But it is sad that they are fanning hatred among the people on both sides. It is hoped saner and wiser counsel will prevail and senior politicians will appeal to the people to stop the escalation of the crisis. - R.Ramachandra Rao, Hyderabad
2. Do the pro-Kannada groups want to settle the issue on the streets by breaking windshields and deflating tyres? Their counterparts in Tamil Nadu too are doing the same. The common man who uses public transport is put to great hardship by such acts of vandalism. No State is an island. Each must co-exist peacefully with the other, particularly a neighbour. Violence will not solve any issue and the streets are certainly not the place to solve the problem of water-sharing between neighbouring States. - K.M.G.Vivekanandam, Madurai.
3. Those disturbing peace and harmony in Bangalore should be dealt with firmly. They represent neither the people nor the culture of Karnataka. These fringe elements not only tarnish the image of peace-loving and tolerant Kannadigas but also pose a threat to our federal structure. The Centre should evolve a federal water resource policy based on sound scientific principles rather than leaving the issue of water-sharing to opportunist political parties and ignorant farmers. - S.Himesh, Bangalore.
4. I shudder to think of what will happen to our country if all of our fail to realize that resources such as water are meant to be shared by everybody fairly and judiciously. If one State has surplus water as a result of abundant rainfall, it should be prepared to share it with its neighbours. I wonder why we cannot love India, leaving aside all our narrow selfish interests. - Akavoor Narayanan, New Delhi.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, April 5, 2008 ('Letters to the Editor').
My grateful thanks to The Hindu and the individuals who wrote the letters; to Public-Domain-Photos.com for freely providing the photo (http://www.public-domain-photos.com/ and author of the photo, Paolo Neo).
Monday, April 07, 2008
A Thought for Today : March 22, 2008
To be creative, relax and let your mind go to work, otherwise the result is either a copy of something you did before or reads like an army manual - Kenneth H. Gordon, Jr.
A Thought for Today : March 21, 2008
If you want to develop your creativity, establish regular work habits. Allow time for the incubation of ideas, and adhere to your individual rhythm. Violations of this rhythm can retard your creative efficiency - Eugene Raudsepp
A Thought for Today : March 19, 2008
Sound health is the greatest of gifts; contentedness, the greatest of riches; trust, the greatest of qualities – Gautama Buddha
A Thought for Today : March 18, 2008
I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant – Martin Luther King,Jr.
Friday, April 04, 2008
My Album-38: "Pictures from our Puja Room and elsewhere!"
Sorry, pictures are not clear! Maybe due to insufficient light. I confess that I have to learn a lot about photography.
My Album-37: "Aravind, yet another photo!"
Yet another photo of Aravind. Nobody can deny that he has a charming, photogenic face, what?My Album-36: "Shweta poses for me!"
This is my neighbour's daughter, Shweta. Thank you Shweta for posing!My Album-35: "Leaves turning into Flowers!"
On my morning walk, I found this beautiful creeper which turns leaves into flowers. Is it not quite charming? Clicked by me using Vinod's Nokia N70m. Thanks to Nokia and Vinod! I am becoming a photographer. I never thought taking photographs would be this easy.My Album-34: "A beaming Ammu with her new bicycle"
Clicked by me using Vinod's Nokia N70m. My venture into photography!Thursday, April 03, 2008
How many beautiful definitions of Yoga!
Yoga is that which unites.
Small selfish ‘I’ of man expanding into bigger selfless ‘I’ is yoga.
When mind unites with body, samskar unites with mind, buddhi unites with mind and Sankalpa unites with buddhi and produces a wonderful result for the expansion of self – that is called yoga.
Yoga is an all-round personality development at physical, mental, emotional, intellectual and spiritual levels.
Dexterity in action is yoga.
Gaining mastery over mind is yoga.
Equanimity in emotional body is yoga.
Yoga is silencing as well as expanding the mind (intellect).
Excerpts from ‘Personality Development: A Yogic View’ by Sumant Chandwadkar, ‘Yuva Bharati’ (Voice of Youth), Monthly magazine, April 2008
Small selfish ‘I’ of man expanding into bigger selfless ‘I’ is yoga.
When mind unites with body, samskar unites with mind, buddhi unites with mind and Sankalpa unites with buddhi and produces a wonderful result for the expansion of self – that is called yoga.
Yoga is an all-round personality development at physical, mental, emotional, intellectual and spiritual levels.
Dexterity in action is yoga.
Gaining mastery over mind is yoga.
Equanimity in emotional body is yoga.
Yoga is silencing as well as expanding the mind (intellect).
Excerpts from ‘Personality Development: A Yogic View’ by Sumant Chandwadkar, ‘Yuva Bharati’ (Voice of Youth), Monthly magazine, April 2008
Letters-11: "Senior Citizens"
The extinction of the joint family system, coupled with rapid technological advancement, has alienated the senior citizen from the mainstream. The old need empathy and understanding rather than sympathy and flattery. Senior citizens, for their part, should conduct themselves in a manner that befits their age, adopting a philosophical lifestyle and being a role-model for the younger generation. – V.V.Jayaraman, Chennai
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, April 1, 2008 (Letters to the Editor)
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, April 1, 2008 (Letters to the Editor)
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