Today is Feb.7, 2013. Yet, this is my first post in the New Year.Taking a recap. of 2012, the three decades pending, renovation of our ancestral house at Sattur, resuming my career after a break of 18 months, the joyous occasions of the Sathabishekam of my paternal uncle and aunt,the wedding of my nephew, niece and the happy days we spent together as a family with my son, daughter in law,daughter and my sweet little Jiji flash in my memory.I look forward to the days ahead with hope for peace,prosperity and happiness.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
His Life, Our Inspiration
My previous post was about my joining back in the institution,partly due the request from the management side.Never had I even dreamt then, that my next post would be a tribute to our chairman and founder of the group of educational institutions.His sudden demise due to a massive cardiac arrest in a distant country had shattered his family members,friends,well wishes,followers,staff and above all his dear daughters of the institution beyond consolation.Basically a preacher, he was more importantly a crusader and an advocate for the cause of giving free education to the underprivileged girls from kindergarten to the doctorate level.He wanted his beloved students to get only the " best ", be it education, food or accomodation.There was no question of compromise in terms of quality,since it was free." Save a girl child " and " Adoption against the abortion of girl child " were his ambitious missions.Empowering the girls to become great leaders and ladies of India was his vision.He had love,care and compassion for everyone in the campus.
A great attribute of his quality, which impressed me a lot, very rare among men of his calibre, was his unique nature of moving freely with the staff,the employees, and the workers at all levels.Having open minded discussions with the staff and listening to their opinions are not common in the organisations of our country.All these positive traits, I feel, must be the outcome of his frequent travels to the advanced contries of the west.Whenever he was present in the campus,he would be the first to greet the staff in the reception.The chairman of the institutions,having the same food with the staff and the students under the same roof is something very special to be applauded.
He was a symbol of unflinching courage,determination,untiring efforts with an active interest in all fields and a direct involvement in all the tasks,he wanted to execute.Unlike the other heads, who used to sit in their airconditioned rooms and carry out their errands only with the direct contact of the immediate subordinates, he would enter the arena.Being very outspoken compliments were paid to the deserving and also too frank to point out the mistakes.With a never say die attitude,he would accomplish whatever he desired,whatsoever, might be the obstacles.It is so sad that such a life of dedication should come to an end abruptly,even before sixty eight.We have lost our role model,philosopher,guide and above all our beloved father.
A great attribute of his quality, which impressed me a lot, very rare among men of his calibre, was his unique nature of moving freely with the staff,the employees, and the workers at all levels.Having open minded discussions with the staff and listening to their opinions are not common in the organisations of our country.All these positive traits, I feel, must be the outcome of his frequent travels to the advanced contries of the west.Whenever he was present in the campus,he would be the first to greet the staff in the reception.The chairman of the institutions,having the same food with the staff and the students under the same roof is something very special to be applauded.
He was a symbol of unflinching courage,determination,untiring efforts with an active interest in all fields and a direct involvement in all the tasks,he wanted to execute.Unlike the other heads, who used to sit in their airconditioned rooms and carry out their errands only with the direct contact of the immediate subordinates, he would enter the arena.Being very outspoken compliments were paid to the deserving and also too frank to point out the mistakes.With a never say die attitude,he would accomplish whatever he desired,whatsoever, might be the obstacles.It is so sad that such a life of dedication should come to an end abruptly,even before sixty eight.We have lost our role model,philosopher,guide and above all our beloved father.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Back to the pavilion
Back to the pavilion after a break of 16 months.To be frank,this gap,though free from employment, kept me still busier,with the exciting trip to US, to be closely followed by a wonderful time with the visit of our children to their homeland.Four full months of nothing but joy and fun with our beloved Jiji.Immediately after his departure to US,we had to rush to our hometown for Pongal celebrations and the long pending reconstruction activities.That took nearly five months
Exactly at the close of my personal works, were calls from my employers,requesting me to continue my work,at least for limited hours.On the side of my children,were persuasions to their mother to be at home to relax.
Turning to my side of the coin,having got used up to a professional life for nearly twenty years,with a passion for teaching ,a small contribution to service, and weekends and holidays, being meaningful and lovable only with a career, I am back to the pavilion, with some flexible timings.
Exactly at the close of my personal works, were calls from my employers,requesting me to continue my work,at least for limited hours.On the side of my children,were persuasions to their mother to be at home to relax.
Turning to my side of the coin,having got used up to a professional life for nearly twenty years,with a passion for teaching ,a small contribution to service, and weekends and holidays, being meaningful and lovable only with a career, I am back to the pavilion, with some flexible timings.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
SATTUR, Our Town, Our Pride
Our hometown,no doubt is always a matter of pride for most of us and of course is the joy associated with our occasional visits to our hometown.This time, it was not a visit but a little longer stay of nearly 5 months with the extended break from my work.A reconditioning and remodelling of our 80 years old ancestral house became inevitable.The location of the house,sandwiched exactly between the old Trunk Road and the new four lane NH makes everything right from all the shops,temples, banks,railway station,bus stand,library,theatre etc. accessible within a walking distance of maximum, 10 mins.
Life in a small town has its own advantages, the best being free from the hassles of taking a town bus or an auto or a cab or our own vehicles for our day today activities and small errands.Hence absolute freedom from the trouble of parking our vehicles. There seems to be a giant leap in the growth of our town during the last four or five years.The bustling heart of the town makes me equate it with the Town Hall of Coimbatore, the place of our domicile.The ancient Vinayakar Temple,Murugar Temple, Siva Temple,Perumal Koil and Mariamman koil,located close by with the vegetable and fruit markets ,the town can be said to be a miniature of Mylapore,Chennai(doesn't it sound a little "over" ) minus the commercial establishments,corporate offices,posh shops,towering appartments and the heavy vehicular traffic.All the temples celebarate their respective festivals throught the year.The week long PANGUNI PONGAL of the Mariamman Temple is a wonderful local festival drawing thouands of people every year.
AZHAGAR ATTRIL IRANGUTHAL( Lord Azhagar entering the Vaigai river on the day of Chitra Pouranami) is always synonymous only with Madurai.But even in our town on the same Chitra Pourami Day,the well decorated Lord Azhagar,riding his horse enters the river Vaipparu to the joy of his devotees.In the town of Srivilliputhur,40 kms.away and the seat of the famous Andal Temple,thousands rejoice to worship Lord Azhagar entering the Arjuna Nadhi.
To sum up, plentiful may be pleasures,living in a city or a metro but life in a village or a town is a source of joy and pride.
Life in a small town has its own advantages, the best being free from the hassles of taking a town bus or an auto or a cab or our own vehicles for our day today activities and small errands.Hence absolute freedom from the trouble of parking our vehicles. There seems to be a giant leap in the growth of our town during the last four or five years.The bustling heart of the town makes me equate it with the Town Hall of Coimbatore, the place of our domicile.The ancient Vinayakar Temple,Murugar Temple, Siva Temple,Perumal Koil and Mariamman koil,located close by with the vegetable and fruit markets ,the town can be said to be a miniature of Mylapore,Chennai(doesn't it sound a little "over" ) minus the commercial establishments,corporate offices,posh shops,towering appartments and the heavy vehicular traffic.All the temples celebarate their respective festivals throught the year.The week long PANGUNI PONGAL of the Mariamman Temple is a wonderful local festival drawing thouands of people every year.
AZHAGAR ATTRIL IRANGUTHAL( Lord Azhagar entering the Vaigai river on the day of Chitra Pouranami) is always synonymous only with Madurai.But even in our town on the same Chitra Pourami Day,the well decorated Lord Azhagar,riding his horse enters the river Vaipparu to the joy of his devotees.In the town of Srivilliputhur,40 kms.away and the seat of the famous Andal Temple,thousands rejoice to worship Lord Azhagar entering the Arjuna Nadhi.
To sum up, plentiful may be pleasures,living in a city or a metro but life in a village or a town is a source of joy and pride.
Friday, June 1, 2012
A Belated Welcome to 2012
A wonderful welcome to 2012 by the end of May as this is my first post in 2012 due to various constraints.A farewell,full of gratitude to 2011 which was something very special to us with abundant blessings from God,the best being the birth of our beloved grand son Jiji.The very first month January,2011 was the 80th birth anniversary of our dear mom.After celebrating the joyous ocassion with her and the other family members in Chennai, Jiji greeted us in February on my landing in US.That was exciting as it was my first visit.Later both my son and daughter visited India with their families and Jiji's first visit to his country of of origin.In October,all the family members visited the famous Amirthakadeshwarar udanurai Abiramiamman temple at Thirukadayoor for our Sashtiabthaboorthi to be followed by the Grahapravesam of the newly built houses of our son and daughter.A very big thanks to God.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Kansas city to Bengaluru
Just only one post in the last five months.Five months were like five days due to the wonderful time,we had with my son's family from New Zealand and my daughter's family from US.
This post would document my journey back home from US in July.I left for US from Chennai but entered India thr' Bengaluru as there was be a time constraint, landing in Chennai to board the flight to my home town,Coimbatore.My onward journey to US covering 26hrs. 30 mins. of 3 flights and 2 transits took only "15 hrs".Now flying westward,I left Kan. City at 3.30 P.M on July 20 and reached Bengaluru,via London at 4.30 A.m on July 22.The actual duration of about 26hrs.had taken " 37 hrs ". Having flown in more than a dozen flights in the past 6 months,with not much anxiety ,the grandeur of the Chicago O'hare and London Heathrow airports,missed during the onward journey was enjoyed while returning.
The farewell at the Kan.City airport bidding,good bye to Jiji after a stay of 6 months was tearful.Yet,the fond memories of the birth of jiji along with the birth of my twin blogs in US lingered on my way back home.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
To our alma mater, the great St.Ignatius' Convent HSS
This post is dedicated to our Alma Mater, St. Ignatius Convent Girls HSS, the pride of Palayamkottai. The supreme delight of my visit to Detroit was, it turned out to be a great reunion of three friends, one a US citizen, another a Canadian Citizen and the third an Indian citizen but all the proud products of the great St. Ignatius Convent HSS, Palayamkottai.
Almost two months are going to be over after my landing in India. Preoccupied with so many other activities and travel, I could not post any thing, making me even guilty for not giving priority to my interest in writing. Finally the day has come.
Nearly three and a half decades ago ,a set of about ten to twelve girls used to sit in a circle under the shades of the tree and have lunch, exchanging not only the the items of food but also the views on all subjects on earth, articles from newspapers, magazines etc. Happy, memorable and carefree days. Not even one among the teen aged girls had even dreamt, three of these school mates would meet, drive on the roads of US and enjoy a week end in their "fifties". In those early 1970's ,going to US was like going to Paradise
.
I am from India, one of the friends has settled in Toronto, Canada and the other one has made Detroit her home .Both of them work for MNC's .As there was a slip in my Canadian Visa, my friend drove all the way from Toronto to Detroit to spend the week end with both the school mates. Back in India also, right from being the First lady of India, women excel in all the fields and are equal to men. Yet my friend, driving all the way alone for 4 hours ,which is very common there, to meet a class mate, made me proud and happy.
A delicious dinner was arranged for all of us, including my sister in law from Chennai and my brother's family. I spent the night in my friend's place and the three friends went down the memory lane with the recap. of the good, old happy days. Both the friends, though for different destinations left India in the same year 1985.The friendship continued through air mail letters, costing around Rs.10, something precious in those days. Today even a 100 rupee seems to have no value.
The contact through' Face Book may be instant, wide and fast. It gives us " pleasure" which can never be the same as the joy derived from the airmail letters of those days, safely treasured to be read repeatedly. This "joy and pleasure" can be felt only by those who have experienced both ways of contact.
Almost two months are going to be over after my landing in India. Preoccupied with so many other activities and travel, I could not post any thing, making me even guilty for not giving priority to my interest in writing. Finally the day has come.
Nearly three and a half decades ago ,a set of about ten to twelve girls used to sit in a circle under the shades of the tree and have lunch, exchanging not only the the items of food but also the views on all subjects on earth, articles from newspapers, magazines etc. Happy, memorable and carefree days. Not even one among the teen aged girls had even dreamt, three of these school mates would meet, drive on the roads of US and enjoy a week end in their "fifties". In those early 1970's ,going to US was like going to Paradise
.
I am from India, one of the friends has settled in Toronto, Canada and the other one has made Detroit her home .Both of them work for MNC's .As there was a slip in my Canadian Visa, my friend drove all the way from Toronto to Detroit to spend the week end with both the school mates. Back in India also, right from being the First lady of India, women excel in all the fields and are equal to men. Yet my friend, driving all the way alone for 4 hours ,which is very common there, to meet a class mate, made me proud and happy.
A delicious dinner was arranged for all of us, including my sister in law from Chennai and my brother's family. I spent the night in my friend's place and the three friends went down the memory lane with the recap. of the good, old happy days. Both the friends, though for different destinations left India in the same year 1985.The friendship continued through air mail letters, costing around Rs.10, something precious in those days. Today even a 100 rupee seems to have no value.
The contact through' Face Book may be instant, wide and fast. It gives us " pleasure" which can never be the same as the joy derived from the airmail letters of those days, safely treasured to be read repeatedly. This "joy and pleasure" can be felt only by those who have experienced both ways of contact.
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