tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28812225772368340302024-03-17T22:24:43.736-07:00Stray thoughts.....M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.comBlogger506125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-49913641638965126382023-12-31T23:35:00.000-08:002023-12-31T23:35:26.243-08:00Bhagavadgeeta’ in Dentistry. <p> ‘</p><p><br /></p><p>The first case of the first day of the new year turned out to be an irritation. We had just opened the door when this patient arrived. She was suffering from pain and swelling associated with an infected grinder tooth. The infection had spread to other places in the face causing difficulty in swallowing the food. She hadn’t eaten anything since last evening. She walked in with difficulty swaying due to weakness and was about to fall anytime. </p><p><br /></p><p>That is nothing to be irritated about. I see that quite often in my profession. </p><p><br /></p><p>Her husband said that the trouble started a week back and they had consulted another doctor. Some medicines had been given and she had consumed all of them. But the condition had only worsened. The doctor had continued treating her, injecting and prescribing other useless stuff which made no difference to the condition whatsoever. That was a bit of irritation but not much. I see that too, many times.</p><p><br /></p><p>The doctor in question has no knowledge of either dentistry or the medicines that he had been prescribing. And these people had persevered with that doctor in spite of the condition deteriorating day by day and had now ended up in my clinic making me responsible for setting everything right. That was the irritation. I was angry with that doctor who had no business treating the case and this stupid patient for having persevered with him. I had just begun to shout at the patient when I remembered the verse from Bhagavadgeeta which I was trying to memorise. </p><p><br /></p><p>“ಅದ್ವೇಷ್ಟಾ ಸರ್ವ ಭೂತಾನಾಮ್ ಮೈತ್ರ ಕರುಣ ಏವ ಚ - ನಿರ್ಮಮೋ ನಿರಹಂಕಾರಃ ಸಮ ದುಃಖ ಸುಖ ಕ್ಷಮೀ - ಸಂತುಷ್ಟಮ್ ಸತತಂ ಯೋಗೀ ಯದಾತ್ಮ ಧೃಡ ನಿಶ್ಚಯ - ಮಯ್ಯಾರ್ಪಿತ ಮನೋರ್ಬುದ್ಧಿ ಯೋ ಭಕ್ತ ಸ ಮೇ ಪ್ರಿಯ”</p><p><br /></p><p>He, who doesn’t hate anyone, who is friendly and kind to everyone, has no ego or attachments, is equanimous and ready to forgive others, satisfied with himself, firm in his beliefs, does everything as an offering to me - is the one dear to me. </p><p><br /></p><p>ಯಸ್ಮಾನ್ನೋದ್ವಿಜತೇ ಲೋಕಾ ಲೋಕಾನ್ನದ್ವಿಜತೇ ಚ ಯಃ, ಹರ್ಷಾಮರ್ಷ ಭಯೋದ್ವೇಗೈರ್ಮುಕ್ತೋ ಯಃ - ಸ ಚ ಮೇ ಪ್ರಿಯ. </p><p><br /></p><p>He, who doesn’t harm the world and who is unaffected by the ways of the world, not carried away by excesses of emotions - is the one dear to me. </p><p><br /></p><p>I told myself “Raghu, try to put into practice what you are trying to study. Don't be angry with that doctor, have compassion towards the patient who is suffering, Don't get carried away by the ways of the world and consider the treatment as an offering to the almighty”. </p><p><br /></p><p>I cooled down, examined the patient calmly, did the best I could and regained my peace !</p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-41199758632339118312023-12-21T05:23:00.000-08:002023-12-21T05:23:13.366-08:00Serendipity 2 <p> I first attended a serendipity event in 2019 and wrote about it. This is a bit more detailed account.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17luqJEkW1JMjMBUgVd2KuEtjANZrU8OWITYzw-3hoYUdvIs7euXYTuvciKGxvCqoZW_9o27kMRrwfuv8QHKiRJcFjaageKPl7RCoXqCu35KmvHFr6bO_Dr8bf_his-2JZ-1nIPY9Efj83X3gbVmrho-GwUfeJVBEBwFxz1w9KoxGOm7U-RIl7LhNdPw/s4032/IMG_5328.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17luqJEkW1JMjMBUgVd2KuEtjANZrU8OWITYzw-3hoYUdvIs7euXYTuvciKGxvCqoZW_9o27kMRrwfuv8QHKiRJcFjaageKPl7RCoXqCu35KmvHFr6bO_Dr8bf_his-2JZ-1nIPY9Efj83X3gbVmrho-GwUfeJVBEBwFxz1w9KoxGOm7U-RIl7LhNdPw/s320/IMG_5328.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxAsGJcVkGkCf6P4U6q3mARzwsnzTmiWB7WXYDLjuGIzheePF8DmSnLcgLSz4Dnsh9_CAI4H9uDqT3p5V5SqKJfMB2yQ7yDru6hOJUAoDLTV_9GpjXXD2oyb5NwVyeZZgPgRrQ_I508nWYGvuFMKo8wD9fZk0dmN-luAYuLYqmHvbca7aSyB6IzrauJY/s4032/IMG_5326.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYDC-yO9QqGEMde722a9Uy4uudJwTzNWPiEeF9LmivnNgoc1gg7w5rHZoQRrX0ZiBZjt3Fq_9Zp2mxX7E5p4cAhcoZst7XOqK3t0OWQFFzchZoTESPDg8pojyAMbc20LqCqYbg6fji7a_7JdEQ_XxSAdw_x8p1SmdP7y-OgRERr00mhhu8YvEKzK9zoo/s320/IMG_5213.png" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">‘Serendipity Arts Festival’ is supposed to be one of the largest arts festivals in India. It is promoted by the Serendipity Arts Foundation. Panaji, the capital of Goa is the usual venue and it happens during November - December every year. It runs for a week and is held at more than half a dozen venues across Panaji. 10 - 15 different programmes everyday from 9am to 10pm. There are workshops, performances, exhibitions and many more events based on Music, Arts, Creative arts, Cooking, Sculpting, Writing, Dance, Traditional art forms and what not. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have been attending programmes of our interest since the last three years. I attended a programme named ‘River Raga’ two days back and also yesterday. It is held from 5pm to 6 pm everyday. River Raga is one of our favorites. The venue is a ferry Boat. A platform is made at one end of the deck for the performers and seating is arranged for about 250 people. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Entry to the ferry starts around 4.30 pm, the Ferry starts sailing exactly at 5pm and the performance begins. It is an enjoyable one hour of sailing on the river Mandovi listening to music while taking in the surrounding sights and experiencing the sea breeze. The ferry docks back at 6pm when the performance ends. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first one that I attended was a Carnatic Classical concert by Vidushi Varijashree Venugopal, accompanied on the Mridangam by Vidwan Manjunath. Yesterday it was Pandit Prattyush Banerjee on Sarod accompanied by Pandit Mayank Bedekar, a well known Goan artist on the Tabla. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There will be many events which are not of my interest but I like the Festival as a whole. I am impressed by the attention to details and the discipline. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The programmes start and end as mentioned in the list. There are hundreds of volunteers all over the venues who courteously provide information and guide the visitors. There is a continuous free transport service between the venues available for the asking. Most of the programmes are free and open to all. Few with limited seats are ticketed but not exorbitant. Online registration for the programmes is a must. Volunteers at the venue help with registration if one is unable to do it. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would love to attend many of the events but can’t make it to all of them because of the distance. Ponda is 30kms from Panaji. We select a few which are convenient. After the ‘River Raga’ yesterday, I also attended a wonderful song and dance performance. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I noticed that there were many visitors who had come to Goa just for the sake of ‘Serendipity Festival’. December is a busy month in Goa, with Christmas and the crazily crowded new year celebrations dominating the activities. Looks like it is going to be more and more crowded. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have posted some related pictures below. The shop is one of the many such shops selling Christmas decorations at the Panaji market. The truck is a mobile toilet truck at one of the venues of Serendipity. By the way, in keeping with my age, I tend to rate a place or an event by the access to and the cleanliness of the toilets. Serendipity gets a distinction here too ! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-81772511696965924602023-12-08T21:04:00.000-08:002023-12-08T21:04:10.828-08:00Dwelling on Donkey’s milk ! <p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The first food that almost every human tastes is mother’s milk. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Some unlucky human kids survive on formulated milk. In due course, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">most of us gradually shift to cow’s milk and remain there. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">(‘Cow’ here includes buffalo) Some turn vegans and some leave out </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">milk in later life but these are exceptions. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">There are some, the most famous being Gandhi, I mean the Mahatma, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">who deviated and consumed milk of other animals. Goat in Gandhi’s case. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">In the deserts I believe people use Camel’s milk and at higher altitudes </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Yak’s milk. One of our poems in the primary section had the lines</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> “ಸವಿದು ಮೆದ್ದರೊ ಯಾರು ಪೂರ್ವದಿ ಹುಲಿಯ ಹಾಲಿನ ಮೇವನು”. It was a poem </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">eulogising ancestors of Coorg people. It means “in the olden days </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">our ancestors drank tiger’s milk”. But I don't think anyone really </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">drank tiger’s milk. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Donkey’s milk was in the news during COVID. For ‘boosting the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">immune system’. (A term which I have not been able to understand.) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And later it caught on as a product rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">antioxidants and what not ! I understand bottled donkey’s milk is </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">available online at a fabulous price. $ 160 - 250 per bottle. Google </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">says that the cost of a litre of donkey’s milk is between Rs 3000 - 5000. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I haven’t used it nor have I seen anyone use it. But my senses say </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">that its benefits are questionable. There are so many weird things in </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">the world. I have seen people massaging a pralysed limb with pigeon </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">blood and eating the meat of a Monitor Lizard to revive the same. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Drinking Donkey’s milk may not be as bad as that but probably not </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">much better. (I will have to swallow my words along with Donkey’s </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">milk if the scientific world tomorrow hails Donkey’s milk as best !) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">This morning I was walking back home after buying my Nandini Milk </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">( Brand name of milk produced by Karnataka Milk Federation - assumed </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">to be cow’s milk). From a side street I heard a loud speaker blaring </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“ಕತ್ತೆ ಹಾಲು, ಕತ್ತೆ ಹಾಲು, ಮನೆಮುಂದೆ ಕರೀತದೆ ಕತ್ತೆ ಹಾಲು” (Donkey’s milk, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Donkey’s milk, will milk in front of your house, Donkey’s milk) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">As I neared the intersection, I saw a fellow leading a donkey on </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the end of a rope. He turned onto the road I was on and walked </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">ahead of me. The loud speaker was tied to the Donkey’s back. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">A little ahead of us was an elderly gentleman standing in the front </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">yard of a house. As we neared the house, the donkey fellow went </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">to the old man and enquired if he wanted donkey’s milk? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The old man replied in jest “ಹಸು ಹಾಲು ಕುಡಿದೇ ನಾವೆಲ್ಲಾ ಕತ್ತೆಗಳಾಗಿದೀವಿ ರಾಜಾ. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">ಇನ್ನು ನೀನು ಕತ್ತೆ ಹಾಲು ಕುಡಿಸಿದ್ರೆ ನಮ್ಗತಿ ಏನು?” - (even after drinking cow’s </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">milk we have become donkeys, my dear fellow, what if you make us </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">drink donkey’s milk ?) And as I got closer, he addressed me </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“ಆಲ್ವಾ ಸಾರ್, ಏನಂತೀರ” (Isn’t it sir ? what do you say?) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I endorsed his words wholeheartedly and walked home laughing </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">within myself, appreciating his wit. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">(Since I did not have my phone on me, I couldn’t get a picture. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">So, borrowed a representative picture from the net)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1f4aefeb-7fff-4f0f-2dcc-184ef8b50659"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-53114923665450963952023-12-03T07:26:00.000-08:002023-12-03T07:26:32.608-08:00Magazines and My motherIn<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNaXr6FvuFZtRvJPYdHbydwsFaYRymB_AuMHLXl0hNSAuKL3rijkM9Kly-0yT_YZrLy1PO5f6K1vd18KW72IQSpj_Es0-_qWqwMS6tA0siwo_I0cfQ4kXLGQqlf6Fi5PqsDAFs1LNe1kZYH9bsj-oPD-Kztn2Ke4cqMLYBugvISODLS6_kHddNxuDoRw/s4032/IMG_5163.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNaXr6FvuFZtRvJPYdHbydwsFaYRymB_AuMHLXl0hNSAuKL3rijkM9Kly-0yT_YZrLy1PO5f6K1vd18KW72IQSpj_Es0-_qWqwMS6tA0siwo_I0cfQ4kXLGQqlf6Fi5PqsDAFs1LNe1kZYH9bsj-oPD-Kztn2Ke4cqMLYBugvISODLS6_kHddNxuDoRw/s320/IMG_5163.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This turned out longer than expected, as it happens often with me. Also, I started with something and reached un-intended places. They say the writing gets longer when one is not sure of what one wants to write. That is exactly the case. I keep going wherever my mind takes me. Bear with me. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of my cousins, who is a resident of the US, was recently on a visit to her home country, yet again. As is her practice whenever she visits India, she bought Jewels, trinkets, clothes, eatables, artefacts and what not - keeping in mind her son, daughter, husband, friends and relatives who are in the US. Her mother in law, who is 90+, didn’t need anything. She had only one requirement - all the available kannada magazines. I had the privilege of fulfilling her requirement - my gift to her. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Years back, in every street corner, we used to have a shop selling these magazines along with ‘beedi’ & cigarettes, spiced groundnut, banana, mysore pak, coconut burfi, ‘chikki’ and such other items. Magazines were hung on strings tied to the low roof of the shop, a big bunch of bananas hung in a corner on a rope, cigarettes stacked on a side shelf and sweets displayed enticingly in big glass jars. One oil lamp would be burning all day on a shelf outside and strips cut from the empty cigarette packets would be placed in a box next to the lamp - for the benefit of smokers who wanted to light their cigarettes. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These shops have dwindled in recent years but some of them still exist. While they sell some of the products named above and other packed snacks, only a few of them keep magazines. One such shop exists opposite the jain temple at fourth block Jayanagar, and from there I could procure all the magazines shown above. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The last time I bought kannada magazines was about seven years ago. Just before my mother died. My mother was a voracious reader and was always in need of new books and magazines. She had only two requirements. Her medicines and books. I usually purchased her medicines once every fifteen days. On the thirteenth day I would get the first reminder “ಔಷಧಿ ಆಗೋಯ್ತಪ್ಪ. ಇನ್ನೆರಡು ದಿನಕ್ಕೆ ಉಳಿದಿದೆ”. (medicines are over, I have just enough for the next two days) If I failed to buy them, there would be another reminder the next morning. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I bought Kannada books for her whenever I visited Bengaluru and purchased the weekly magazines at Ponda every Tuesday. We had only one shop selling Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam magazines in Ponda - Goa, and he would get them usually on tuesdays. Sometimes they would be sold out before I reached there and sometimes the magazines did not arrive. On such occasions I got them through my son who attended college at Panaji (capital of Goa) or obtained them from friends who visited Margao, a bigger city twenty kilometers away. But I did manage to get her magazines for her. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Apart from the above, my mother did not ask for anything. She had given up wearing jewelry and she did not even go out to buy her clothes. Either my sister or my wife attended to her necessities. She wasn’t interested in going anywhere or getting involved in anything. Her travel was restricted to Pune, Goa and Chennai where her three children lived. Irrespective of where she was, her routine and lifestyle remained the same. Most of the time she sat by the side of a large window looking at the birds playing on the bushes outside. She chanted her ‘stotras’ in the morning, was reading most of the time and dozed now and then. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, with me nearing seventy, whenever I think of my mother, my thoughts invariably turn towards my future life. What would I do when my body no longer listened to me ? How am I going to cope with the coming years? My wish is that I should live my later years like my mother. With detachment and equanimity. And if I am lucky, die like her. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My mother’s death, I mean the way it came about, has left a strong imprint on my mind. She died not because she had to die, but because she willed herself to die. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In one of my favorite verses from his Mankutimmana kagga, Sri DVG says </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ಒಂದಗುಳು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿರದು, ಒಂದಗುಳು ಕೊರೆಯಿರದು, ತಿಂದು ನಿನ್ನನ್ನಋಣ, ತೀರುತಲೆ ಪಯಣ </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ಒಂದು ಚಣ ಹಿಂದಿರದು, ಕಾದಿರದು ಮುಂದಕುಂ, ಸಂದಲೆಕ್ಕವದೆಲ್ಲ - ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Not a grain more, nor a grain less. Eat your share and get going. Not a second more, nor a second less - these are already accounted for ! Predestined.) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I agree that every death is predestined. But my mother made it look like she was in control of the event and invited it when she wanted ! She fell and fractured her thigh. She was operated on and was fine. But she did not want the long recuperation. She had had enough of this life. She willed to die and death came to her ! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I may sound melancholic writing about old age and death but they are facts of life and one can not run away from them.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jatasya hi dhruvor mrutyu, dhruvam janma mrutasyacha</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tasmad apariharyaarthe na twam shochitum arhasi </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“For one who is born - death is a certainty and so is birth for the one who dies. You are not to lament about the inevitable.” - is the famous quote from Bhagavadgeeta. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The magazines which I mentioned above, brought up the memories associated with my mother yet again and the other thoughts tagging on with that memory. Memories of the way she lived and the way she died. Her death, in particular. It has been an answer to many of my questions and at the same time a question which has no answer ! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(If anyone is interested in the details, please go to </span><a href="http://www.dentaldiaries.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.dentaldiaries.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and search ‘The last days of my mother”- Sept 4, 2016)</span></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-64797752325294878262023-11-24T23:34:00.000-08:002023-11-24T23:34:11.546-08:00Melukote re visited <p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Mysore has always been a favourite holiday destination. I love the city </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">where I have spent most of my childhood holidays. We were there </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">recently for a day to visit a relative. It was just an overnight halt and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">we intended to return to Bengaluru the next morning. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We started around ten from Mysore. There was no hurry to return to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Bengaluru. So, we decided to take a detour and visit Melukote in </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Mandya district. Melukote is famous for the thousand years old </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Cheluvanarayana Swamy temple. The idol is said to have been </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">installed by Sri Ramanujacharya in 1099. It is probably the head </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">quarters of Shrivaishnava community (Iyengars) in Karnataka. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">A kilometer away is the temple of Sri YogaNarasimha swamy, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">on a hill. The idol here is believed to be much older. Installed </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">by Prahlada, son of Hiranyakashipu ! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9A1puMgstPZ13eOZ3nezdoXrRMogpKtVLZuOHd9t6xMlS0KxQmE3yGIHTsn1uKxQbV7IkSuLzvSCJxVbnXbB_0w44KwssDBbMWUC0_L33aPoopWAeCE_lqwAlU2QT-_OOr6jS7ZVhU6eDHNRlkt4MkiBgy-PWlip7cOR1GCzSwUV14jWNOmL00fkuwo/s2016/IMG_5085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVOqj1AvsbBQXKwPANRMGFMyxGxGMdffjtTUtWkIRAxYOXLhehTMlUHhKQ0GNuuRErJjZrA2eHh_If2i6NC9EXxWgXOgM6IXN4OLdIBo3S0PXveu6kcUAeBpVpx8ry8jiUfn10JRi61lcoT-Un-rlb_OOtfnjgbWJVfhEnt2PS_hyyilDNOyOmTu9O7M/s320/IMG_5110.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Melukote happens to be the birthplace of Late J Jayalalitha, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">ex CM of Tamilnadu and Late Sri Pu Ti Na, - Pu Ti Narasimhachar, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">well known kannada poet. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">It was an enjoyable detour. I love the interior roads. The traffic is </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">thin, and the road passes through an appealing landscape. It is a hilly </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">terrain. You find hillocks, green fields, small ponds and bigger lakes. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">You have the freedom to stop anywhere you fancy, look around, walk </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">up to a lake or to the top of a hillock and enjoy the scenery. The trouble </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">with these roads is that they are usually not well maintained and sometimes </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">they can be a pain to drive. But this route was a pleasant change. The </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">landscape was beautiful and the road was good! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">CheluvaNarayanaswamy lives up to his name ! ‘Cheluva’ in kannada </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">means handsome and the idol is really handsome. I liked the small </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">temple town, especially the old streets around the temple and the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">‘Subbanna mess’ from where we could buy ‘Puliyogare’ and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">‘Sweet Pongal’ - our packed lunch. We ate our lunch in a </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">beautifully shaded patch on our return journey and returned to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Bengaluru in time for tea !</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I have posted some pictures above to entice my friends to visit the place. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">It is not Kashmir but it is a pleasant landscape within reach ! I think the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">pictures need no caption. It is easy to recognise the rooftops of the new </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Melukote town and the surrounding landscape - as seen from the Yoga </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Narasimha temple hill. The recently painted and neat looking house is </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the house of Sri Pu Ti Na, which is now a memorial and the other one is </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">just a random old house on the temple street. The white and red pillared </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">structure is another old structure from the same street which has seen </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">better days and you see yours truly, standing in the outer corridor of the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">temple. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-912c8dde-7fff-fa4b-52fe-dbb88068da00"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-67996106856213023272023-11-07T05:13:00.003-08:002023-11-07T05:16:38.137-08:00Toothache and my washing machine <p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recently our washing machine broke down. The events which followed had some similarity with the events that I experience sometimes in my clinic. I wrote it down and posted it here. It turned out to be a bit long. See if you have the patience ! </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Toothache and my washing machine</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just look at the list of gadgets that most of us have at home. And this list is not exhaustive. Starting with this laptop on which I am typing, and generally going by the size of the equipment - refrigerator, air conditioner, dishwasher, washing machine, inverter, microwave oven / OTG, air fryer, vacuum cleaner, television, water purifier, water heater, food processor / mixer grinder, coffee maker, hair drier, internet reuter, I pad, mobile phone, and assorted voltage stabilizers, chargers, etc etc etc. Incidentally, none of the gadgets mentioned above were present in our house in my childhood ! </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, going by Murphy’s law, it is no wonder that we always have some or the other equipment conked at any given time. In my case, it was the turn of our washing machine. That was about six months back. As is my daily practice, I dumped all the used clothes into the machine, poured a spoonful of soap powder, shut the lid and pressed the button. Usually some lights flicker on the control panel and the machine would give a musical sound and start running. But that day, it remained silent. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I did all the usual stuff to put it back to life. Repeatedly pressed the start button half a dozen times, switched the power button on and off thrice, removed the plug from the mains socket, stared at it and plugged it back, randomly pressed all the buttons on the panel multiple times, slapped the body of the washing machine and kicked it for good measure. But nothing happened. There was only a stoic silence. Then I called the service center. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I told the lady at the other end about the malady. And she told me my name, address, the model of my machine, date of purchase and the earlier repairs done. I confirmed that I was indeed the person she was referring to and it was my machine which had gone into a coma. She said that a mechanic would get in touch with me. In due course, the technician contacted me and arrived at my door. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I told him my complaint. He opened the panel on the machine and looked at the interiors. Then he took out his voltmeter or some meter, plugged the ends here and there, checked the reading, removed and put back some minor parts and pressed the start button. Total silence. He pronounced “Sir, your PCB is gone”. He said that he will have to order a spare and that he would come back once he gets the part. It would take two or three days. I accepted his verdict and hoped that he would be back fast. There was a load of soiled clothes in the machine. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My wife was standing near the machine that evening and contemplating if she should take the clothes out and wash them by hand. And she just pressed the start button once again because she had nothing better to do. The machine sprang to life, sang the usual tune and got into action ! It completed the cycle and rested. We put another load of clothes and it washed them sincerely. Then one more the next day. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I called the technician and told him that his diagnosis was wrong. There was nothing wrong with the PCB. Told him that it just washed three loads of clothes. It was difficult for him to explain the behaviour of the machine but he stuck to his line. He said that the PCB may exhibit odd behavior sometimes and that it may go into a coma again. He asked me to keep using the machine and call him when the machine shuts down again. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It did. Two days back. I repeated all the above treatments once again and called the technician. He repeated all his steps once again and pronounced, “Sir your PCB is now really gone”. He said that he would order the part and get back when it is ready. I wasn’t convinced but had no other option. I nodded my head. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This morning I pressed the start button yet again, just like that, and yes, you guessed it right. The machine is working! The technician who arrived with the PCB looked foolish when he said “Yes sir, it happens sometimes. It is because of some blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Call me if the machine stops again”. As of now, the machine is running and I am waiting. I am not convinced that the PCB has conked.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, let us leave the washing machine standing there and visit my clinic. There was this patient who came with severe toothache. I asked him to open his mouth and immediately spotted the cause of his pain. I just touched the tooth with my instrument and he jumped six inches even while seated on our chair. I told him that his tooth has conked and I will either have to remove the tooth or that he will have to undergo a procedure called the RCT (root canal treatment). He refused both. He said that the tooth was fine till he poked it with a pin to remove some food stuff which was stuck there. The pin was to be blamed. Not the tooth. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But the pain was severe and he had already done everything he could. He had gargled with salt water, filled the cavity with toothpaste, applied Amrutanjan, bitten on a clove, and had swallowed half a dozen tablets and three pegs of whiskey. All to no effect. And now I was expected to do something sure and fast. I injected a local anesthetic in his jaw and the pain vanished. I told him repeatedly that I have only made his tooth numb and the relief would be temporary. He better get the tooth treated at the earliest. He nodded his head and left. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And he never returned. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He was again at my door after a year. Greatly in pain, rubbing his jaw and shivering at the thought of biting anything. I told him everything that I had told him before. He again expressed his doubts about my verdict, insisted that I give him the miracle injection, got himself injected and was relieved. I once again stressed that he either get the tooth treated or removed. Unconvinced with my verdict, he nodded his head and left. And he hasn’t come back. Obviously he has no pain and no faith in my judgment. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, that is typical of a toothache. It can be very unpredictable sometimes. It usually keeps bothering till the tooth is treated properly and the situation usually gets worse if not treated. But there are instances where there has been no trouble whatsoever for months or even years once the intense pain is relieved. In such cases I, the dentist, who insists upon “immediate treatment - either removal or RCT” have no explanation and have to look foolish - Like the technician who came to repair my washing machine !! </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" />M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-62715378188835381052023-10-21T04:09:00.005-07:002023-10-21T04:10:54.159-07:00Temples of knowledge ! - The “City Central Library<p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-5bf4f633-51ec-7169-18c7-9faa42bc8fc8" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The name ‘City Central Library’ - ‘ನಗರ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಗ್ರಂಥಾಲಯ’ in Kannada - always strikes a chord in me. The day before yesterday I saw the board at the BDA commercial complex at Banashankari and went inside. There were about a dozen people reading something or the other. The shelves contained lots of government publications, many literary works stocked out of compulsion, plenty of dog eared old books but also quite a few books which I wanted to read ! I made enquiries regarding obtaining a membership and was asked to get a copy of the ADHAR card and few copies of my Photographs. </span></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I went there yesterday morning carrying the required stuff and was asked to write my name, address and phone number on a form. I did that, paid a refundable deposit of Rs 200, and came out carrying four books which I had spotted the previous evening ! The official who was in charge was extremely cordial and the entire process took about 15 minutes. I was very pleasantly surprised at the ease with which I could obtain a membership and my liking of CCLs went up by a notch ! </span></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The department of libraries introduced ‘City Central library’ to Bengaluru around 1970. The first library was at KH road (Double Road), near my house and my mother was one of the first few members. All my family members have been very enthusiastic users of the library. My father was a permanent fixture there on Sundays and we have seen him spend the entire day there, forgetting food and drink! Before the City Central Library came into existence, he was a weekly visitor to the Public Library in Cubbon park, Bengaluru. </span></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During one of my browsing sessions through the shelves of the library, I found a copy of the kannada translation of “The Farmer boy” by Laura Ingalls Wilder. That was a time when I was a daily visitor to the library. A period of six months after my 12th standard and before the start of our course in Dental College. I stood in the narrow passage between the shelves engrossed in the book and later shifted to a more comfortable position in the reference section. I remember taking the book in my hand around 10am in the morning and I came out around half past one, after finishing the book ! I became an immediate fan of the author and I might have read all her books at least half a dozen times. </span></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During the next week, I borrowed one book each day - Little house in the big woods, Little house on the Prairie, On the shores of Silver lake - to name a few, and finished the series in a week. Subsequently my brother and sister also turned out to be Laura fans and between us we have all her books - both the original english editions and kannada translations - in our possession. It is through her books that I first heard the names Wisconsin, Minnesota, Tennessee, Prairies, Great lakes etc etc. These books are in circulation between us even today !</span></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laura Ingalls wrote the very popular ‘little house series’ (A popular TV serial too) based on her family’s travel westwards during the 1800s in the US. Laura’s family was one of the pioneer agriculturists who moved continuously looking for better pastures during the eighteenth century. With some curiosity, I looked for her books in the Public Library at Canton, MI, USA and was disappointed when I did not find even one of them! I enquired with the librarian and was told to look in the children’s section. </span></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, one senior citizen went to the children’s section at the Canton City Library, was very glad to find all the books of one of his favourite authors and happier to find one which he had not read before ! I later visited city libraries in Dearborn, Plymouth, Novi, Northville, Wayne and so on and loved the libraries in the US. I was extremely impressed by the unhindered access to all facilities available in the libraries and the comfortable seating. I loved the large print editions of the popular books for senior citizens. These library visits have been a high point in my trip to the US. </span></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, armed with my membership card of the CCL Bengaluru I plan to check all libraries around (there are three CCl branches in a radius of 2 kms from my house - they now have about 30 central libraries and 550 branches in the state) and hope to be able to access the digital library too. To start with, the three books shown above - DVG’s ‘Smriti ChitragaLu’, and a book on Pu Ti Na, will keep me busy for the next two weeks or more ! </span></p><p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-63022642995258372432023-10-11T04:56:00.001-07:002023-10-11T04:59:35.768-07:00A short dream and a cherished friendship <p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">This morning my brother called me and asked “have you heard from GR recently ?” I said “no, it has been nearly a year since I received his mail. Why did you ask ?”. He said that he was trying to contact GR. E-mails sent to his known mail Ids had not received any response and there was no phone number to call. Since my brother was expected to be in the US in November, He was trying to get in touch with GR, who lives in Colorado, in the hope of meeting him. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, a little bit about this GR. He is my childhood friend. Three years older than me. When I first met him I was in second standard and he was in fifth. We walked to school together everyday. A distance of about three kilometers. And I am sure this is what put a firm foundation for our friendship. He completed his Phd in Artificial Intelligence and left for the US for a postdoctoral. I completed my BDS and left for Goa around the same time. And I can confidently say that there has not been a single day in the intervening twenty years, but for the time he was in IIT Madras, that we have not met ! And whenever we met, ‘time stood still’ as the saying goes. We never met for a few minutes, at least an hour always !</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He was ‘my friend’ but equally friendly with my brother and sister. He is known to everyone who knew me in my childhood. I do not intend to bore all my friends by writing about our friendship which I cherish. I am sure all of us have one or two such relations in life which transcend all known relations !</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As my usual practice is these days, I lied down for a short nap after lunch. And I dreamt. I had parked my scooter by the side of the road and was checking something around its wheel. I felt someone come and stand next to me and on lifting my head saw GR standing there. We did not speak. I got up, took the scooter off the stand and started. He sat on the pillion. After a very short while, he said “there are police ahead”. Indeed there were police ahead and checking. I replied “don't bother. We have everything”. Then he said “No helmet!” I stopped abruptly turned the scooter around, parked it by the road side and turned towards GR to say “We will have to go and get helmets”, and I woke up. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I last met GR during his short visit to India six years back. The earlier meeting was in 2010 when I had visited the US. He received me in Denver and I stayed with him for two days. He had recently built his house and when I stepped in he said “ ನೀನು ನನ್ನ ಮನೇಗೆ ಬಂದ್ಯಲ್ಲೋ ! ನಾನು ಮನೆ ಕಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೂ ಸಾರ್ಥಕವಾಯ್ತು ಬಿಡು !” ( Oh, you did come to my house ! It is certainly worth building it ) I was so touched with that exclamation, that I have tears in my eyes even as I type this !</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How I wish that I meet him out of the blue sometime again, just like the way I met him in my dream this afternoon. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-13890260685284253672023-10-08T05:19:00.000-07:002023-10-08T05:58:02.905-07:00National High School - Revisited <p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">National High School - Revisited </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I happened to be in the vicinity of National High School this morning and went into the building on an impulse. I have moved around the building hundreds of times even after I left Bengaluru but never went in even once. Today’s was a revisit after nearly half a century. It was a nostalgic visit. As I stood in the quadrangle of the NHS, I could almost hear HSM (our head master) clearing his throat prior to his customary post prayer sermon from the stage ! </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is unfortunate that the beautiful edifice with the clock tower is blocked by a very run of the mill new building but most of the interiors are as they were. The space at the back of the quadrangle where we used to eat our afternoon lunch is covered and utilised for some purpose, the library has come to the ground floor, the audio visual room is converted into a class room, and new toilet blocks are built. One of the class rooms overlooking the college auditorium is in a dilapidated condition and shut down. The cycle park has become an additional building and the school is now Co-ed making me wish I was born decades later !! </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The college section has not changed much except for an entrance opening onto the Pampa MahaKavi road at the place where the Principal’s office used to be and there are additional floors built. An attempt has been made to make the auditorium walls soundproof and they now look as if cardboard has been pasted onto the walls. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was walking around the school premises aimlessly, lost in memories when a lady who was sweeping the corridor addressed me “ಓಲ್ಡ್ ಸ್ಟೂಡೆಂಟಾ ಸಾರ್?”.(are you an old student?) I nodded my head. “ಚನ್ನಾಗಿ ನೋಡ್ಕೊಂಡ್ ಹೋಗಿ ನಿಮ್ ಸ್ಕೂಲ್ನ”, ( Take a good look at your old school) she continued with her work and I came out of my school. I am sure that she has seen many visitors like me !</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I took some pictures and they are here. The ones with a dash of colour are the college open air stage, auditorium and new opening. The bright classroom at the end of the corridor (seen in one of the pictures) was our 8th E section. I will end with an anecdote connected with the room. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was 1969 in the era of running commentaries of test matches. India was playing against Australia at Kanpur and it was the test debut of G R Vishwanath, a boy from Basavanagudi where our school was located. He was from a very humble background and a student of Fort high school which is about a kilometer from NHS. There might have been a few from our school who knew him personally. Even though most of the minds that morning were in Kanpur, we had no access to commentary and only had to listen to the description of the coast of South America from our geography teacher SN. Half the class was half dozing. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Suddenly and unusually, the intercom speaker which had been fitted in every classroom sprang to life and crackled. Our attention was drawn to the speaker and our headmaster was speaking. He informed us that GRV was batting and has reached the nineties and said that it was a wonderful performance. He requested the teachers to suspend the teaching activity and said that the running commentary would be brought to all classrooms through the intercom till GRV completed his century ! </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And that, GRV did with a flourishing square cut to the boundary, which later came to be known as his trademark stroke. The school premises erupted in a joyous applause and the moment remained etched in my mind forever. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOdJLxNZS0xi9JE-QUpIpq-NRajpMEeH1YfagOTkoA-ctH6xxMfspEVuky8bZcTMwvKvqRyzJjyrtlyYLspA_WZFUGDRJGbBrNVnmdWWy2Nel8uH-xSahRJ4__omGIdLk7IK0hEsr1bmmiGKI_yKRrKMeSU9E3WajP0U1lVnPPoe9wJ5qiWik65iMb_g/s4032/IMG_4803.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOdJLxNZS0xi9JE-QUpIpq-NRajpMEeH1YfagOTkoA-ctH6xxMfspEVuky8bZcTMwvKvqRyzJjyrtlyYLspA_WZFUGDRJGbBrNVnmdWWy2Nel8uH-xSahRJ4__omGIdLk7IK0hEsr1bmmiGKI_yKRrKMeSU9E3WajP0U1lVnPPoe9wJ5qiWik65iMb_g/s320/IMG_4803.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9b7HniagEB9ofnrtxRXTH3zHImTv69dakGHAdz8rQCQS5_3SH7cU6s-RQXlY-ypZR6FqN8CLnrC0iApe6P02f0QEgqOVFjtOGfFU8ZFSE8RsAaLq5SitfFm3CUa1X0z1e08yTewtlDNMZsY3f9u2SLTcA9CbXByBQpR4hnRVnc3VkvgmmRxD7h2ZijI/s4032/IMG_4804.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQahXrtedF67ui9B7UWXvHlSdNovZLlNxgEQvoofwjNc0S51o9JUYW7IMB8NiyShHRLBCtYtFIMC1B1yu5YFGOALoG3xnOOJZxpoP1jY2WSL3sMLzMcYL47ozTa7DCz1JPAVFRkm6jwvsDxdRiwVWR0V48tz6skMW2TdIRSMm2cN4VC_5UHlU6AZlnaM/s320/IMG_4819.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br />M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-38435677813558348072023-08-14T23:12:00.000-07:002023-08-14T23:12:14.769-07:00Helping Hands<p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A friend of mine came to see me yesterday. He tried to park his car </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">over the covered drain in front of our house but failed to notice that </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">some concrete slabs on the drain were missing. As a result one of his </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">front wheels went into the drain. I am sure that he had got up from </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">the wrong side of his bed in the morning. There is no other reason </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">for him missing the missing slabs! Anyway, when I opened the door, </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">he was standing there looking very anxious and stupid. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1951ac01-7fff-cf40-eeda-5c6601027f9b"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I went out to see the situation. The car was jutting out onto the road at an awkward angle blocking a considerable part of it. One front wheel was hanging helplessly in the open drain and the opposite back wheel was half a foot up in the air. It was an awkward and difficult situation. I know it for sure because I had once put my car in a similar position. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, we had to get the car out. My friend was a stranger to the neighbourhood. And he had come to see me. So, morally it was my duty to help him out. I thought that if I could find half a dozen able bodied men, we may just be able to lift the car up from one end and put the wheel back on the road. Luckily for me there was some construction work going on closeby and there were men working on the site. I went to the supervisor, explained the situation and requested him to lend me his men for a few minutes. He nodded his head, called out to his men and asked them to help me out. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They came in a group. Two of them got down into the drain, others positioned themselves on the edge, and tried to lift the car. They could lift it a few inches but the collective effort was not enough to lift it up completely and put the wheel back on the road. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We were wondering what to do next when a food delivery man came there on his two wheeler. He stopped, took a look at the scene, parked his bike on the road and said that he would get the car out. Taking the key from my friend, he got into the driver’s seat, and instructed the men to lift the car up and push it towards the edge of the drain on his signal. He started the car, put it in reverse and signalled. The engine roared, the car was lifted, the wheel turned but nothing more happened. In fact, after the exercise, the wheel had gone a bit deeper in the drain. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The driver got down, looked around, and without a word walked to the construction site. He came back with a thick wooden plank. He placed it on the edge of the drain, one end of it projecting onto the road and the other end hanging next to the dangling front wheel of the car at an angle. He made two men stand on the part of the plank that was on the road. He got in again and started the engine. The workers lifted the car so that the wheel just came on top of the plank and like magic the wheel moved on the wooden plank and then onto the road. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The food delivery man got down, returned the key to my friend, kicked his bike to a start and rode away. The workers got out of the drain, straightened their backs, dusted their hands and went back to work. I went to the construction site, thanked the supervisor for his help and came back. My friend had relief written on his face and it had regained some colour. We sat down for a chat and a cup of coffee. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wrote all this because I was impressed and intrigued by what I had witnessed. My friend had put the car in the drain and was standing there helplessly. Half a dozen strangers who were not at all connected with or affected by the situation had come forward willingly to help and had spent considerable time and energy without expecting anything in return ! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The food delivery fellow had no reason to stop and take the initiative to get the car out. He would have probably honked impatiently and cursed my friend if the car was blocking his way even for a few seconds on any other occasion. Now he had calmly and willingly spent twenty minutes trying to take the car - again, with which he was in no way connected - out of the drain. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My friend, who would have thought ten times before allowing the fellow to even dust or wash his expensive car, had just handed over the key without bothering to consider whether the fellow was capable of taking the car out of the drain or capable of just driving it in the first place ! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After completing the job the fellow just went away on his errand without even waiting for a word of thanks from us. And so did the group of labourers who offered their muscle power which is their only resource ! All these people worked just to get a stranger out of the difficult situation he was in and they gained nothing in return ! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I feel that is why we call ourselves social creatures. It is probably natural for us to help another creature when you find it in distress. At other times we may be impatient with each other, intolerant or even antagonistic but at times like this, everything else is forgotten and the inner goodness of individuals surface. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the rare occasions when we get a chance to feel nice about the society we are living in and our co - inhabitants ! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have a nice holiday and a happy Independence day everyone !</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /><br /><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt;"><br /></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-43013049877451261582023-08-04T22:31:00.005-07:002023-08-04T22:31:42.516-07:00Aborted landing / Balked landing - a recent experience<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-283561ab-7fff-b6c5-ba3a-fbe5c1121601" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We were scheduled to fly from Bengaluru to Goa and were to depart </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">from terminal 2 of KIA Bengaluru. We were there well in advance, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">spent some time looking around the splendor of the new terminal, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">experienced whatever the lounge had to offer and boarded the flight. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The pre-departure experience was fine. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The flight took off from Bengaluru on time. I read for some time and dozed </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">for about half an hour. After some time, I experienced some turbulence </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and realised that we were in the clouds and were on our way down. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Looking out of the window, I saw the mining pits of Sanvordem, the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">roof of MRF and Nestle, the Verna industrial estate, the new six lane </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">highway crossing the river Zuari and then the BITS Goa campus located </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">close to the airport. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The captain made an announcement and the flight started the steep descent. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">It crossed the Zuari industries and the highway, past the Airport fence and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">touched down with a strong bump. It seemed to raise a bit, appeared to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">have made a second touch and instead of slowing down, gained speed </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">again! Even before I could realise what was happening, we were airborne </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">once more.</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I knew there was something wrong and that it was serious. There were </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">butterflies in my stomach. But when I found that the aircraft was stable </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and steadily gaining height, I calmed down and after noticing that it was </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">banking and had started making a U turn, I felt that things should be OK. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">But there is no escaping the fact that all of us had been very close to our </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">last few seconds on this planet. I don’t think many of my co-passengers </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">realised that a disaster had just been averted. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">In retrospect, I feel that the plane touched down with more speed than </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">usual. Maybe the pilots noticed that they would be short of the runway </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and decided to take off, instead of trying to stop and overshooting the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">runway. It is also possible that they experienced a sudden gush of cross </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">wind and decided to take off instead of veering away from the runway. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">These are my guesses. I enquired with the cabin crew after landing but </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">they had just as much information as I did. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I dont know whether I should thank the Pilots or my fate. But I am glad </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">that I am back in my home and typing this. I am curious to know what </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">exactly happened. If I get to know, I will come back with details. Meanwhile, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I felt like sharing this unusual experience and hence, you are reading this. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Bye.</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I sent the above write up to a friend, who is an experienced pilot and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">got the following </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">response. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Response : As for my view on the experience,</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">It is a little difficult to be sure about what might have happened without </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">actually being in the cockpit or speaking to someone who was in the cockpit </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">at the time. My best guess would be same as your father's first assumption. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">1. They may have come in too high on the final approach and as a result </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">touched down out of the ideal touchdown zone (roughly the first 25%) on the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the runway. When that happens there may not be enough runway to stop the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">aircraft and the aircraft can go off the runway which can be disastrous. In this </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">situation, it seems like the cockpit crew realised this and aborted the landing </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and carried out a Go Around maneuver (a maneuver where the landing is </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">aborted on final approach or after touchdown and the aircraft climbs to a certain </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">height and attempts another landing or diverts to another field)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">2. They may have come in at the correct height but may have been too fast </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and resulted in the same outcome of touchdown towards the mid or second </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">half of the runway and eventually carried out a go around.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">3. Could be a combination of 1. and 2. Resulting in a go around.</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I think the crosswind explanation is possible but less likely because Goa is </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">not one of the airfields where crosswind is a major concern.</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">What happened here is technically called a balked landing. Where a landing </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">is rejected very close to the ground or sometimes even after touchdown. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The engines are producing very little power when coming for landing and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">close to the ground. From this state for the engines to start producing </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">maximum power in order to start climbing again it takes a few seconds. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">This lag for the engines to go from low power state to max power is due </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">to design. And it is this lag in the power delivery of the engines is what c</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">aused the second touchdown. Momentum would have carried the aircraft </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">in the air after the first touchdown and lag in power delivery caused the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">aircraft to sink and cause the second touchdown and as the engines reach </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">max power the aircraft will have started climbing again.</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Ideally this landing should have been aborted at a much earlier stage. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">It is extremely unlikely if the aircraft is on the correct height profile and speed </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">on final approach to end up in this situation. However, they did have the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">good sense to do the right thing albeit at the very last stage.</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I know my reply is very long and detailed 😂. But I wanted to explain </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">certain concepts so that he will understand the explanation better. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I hope this helps.</span></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-48236318675628824942023-07-12T00:28:00.004-07:002023-07-12T00:28:55.358-07:00Cigarette packets and Purandara Dasaru !<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-47892650-7fff-ac89-1925-6ec6b675256e" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">There used to be times in my childhood when we would be crazy about </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">collecting marbles. We would manage to collect a big box full of many </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">varieties, including marble sized ball bearings which were actually worth </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">their weight in gold! But this craze would fade after sometime and we would </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">embark upon collecting ‘matches’. (labels of match boxes). Every shop </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">around our school would have a chart hanging in front of the shop on which </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">would be pinned packets containing ten labels each. Each packet would be </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">10 paisa. But the charm was not in buying. It was in winning them by </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">playing games designed for the purpose, exchanging with friends, skillfully </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">bartering and so on.That would last a year or so and then there would be </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">another craze. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">One of our madness was collecting empty packets of cigarettes. We used to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">keep a keen eye on the ground while walking to school and back and also any </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">other time we were on the road. We would dash in here and there, even to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the middle of the road - ignoring traffic - to pick up empty cigarette packets </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">discarded by smokers. (It was the time of few Vespas and Lambrettas and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">even fewer Ambassadors and Fiats on the roads and hence I am still sitting </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">here, typing this, my life and limbs intact) During free time we would visit </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">all the nearby kiosks selling pan and cigarettes and eagerly collect empty </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">packets scattered on the ground around them. A boy who lived in a family </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">full of smokers was considered luckiest ! </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">But not all cigarette packets were equal. Charminar, Camel, Passing show, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">were almost dirt. Scissors and Berkley were somewhat more valuable. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">London Navy Cut came next. One would have to shell out ten Charminar </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">for a London Navy Cut but would get a Scissor for five (Only beginners went </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">for these exchanges). Wills was a little more valuable and so was Four </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">square. Gold flakes was among the top few Indian brands. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">But If you found a Marlboro or Dunhill or Benson and hedges on the ground, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">it was a gold mine ! Those packets would be very carefully stored in the safest </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">of places for which one’s own brother would have no access ! </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">There were many games to be played using these packets and you won or </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">lost depending upon your luck and skill. But the collection invariably grew in </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">size and in due course touched a thousand or more. They would be loaded </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">in all empty boxes, bags and nooks and corners of the house causing irritation </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">to the senior members of the family and evoked severe admonitions. They </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">would threaten us that the entire lot would be thrown in the fire (which </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">was used to heat the bath water) but the threat was never converted </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">into action. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Suddenly a day would dawn when we would have had enough of this craze. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">A sudden detachment from the activity and possession. Few friends would </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">casually join together and decide to do away with the assiduously collected </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and highly treasured stacks of cigarette packets. We would empty all the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">secret places, bring the entire collection and dump it in a vacant site in the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">neighbourhood. We would sit quietly looking at the huge mound of cigarette </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">packets and then one of us would go and get a match box. He would look at </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">all others for confirmation and after receiving a go ahead, indicated by a </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">slight nod of heads, would light the match and nonchalantly set fire to the lot. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Flames would leap up in seconds and in a minute or two the entire lot would </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">turn into ashes. We would sit silently for a few more minutes solemnly </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">watching the last of the packets turn into ash and return to our homes silent </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">but without any feeling of loss or sadness. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We would have fought tooth and nail the previous day for the possession of </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">that valuable stuff but the next day it would feel worthless and we would just </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">burn it down and return. Total detachment ! ‘Vairagya’. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I was reminded of this when I was listening to a composition of </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Sri Purandara dasa. It goes “ಆಡುವ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಮನೆಯ ಕಟ್ಟಿದರು, ಆಟ ಸಾಕೆಂದು ಮುರಿದೋಡಿದರು. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">ಹೀಗಿರಬೇಕು ಸಂಸಾರ”. - Build your life like a child building a house for play - </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and getaway like the child breaking the house after the play ! (The song is sung</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">beautifully by Sri Upendra Bhat and is available on the net.) </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Children built a home for their play </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">They just broke it in the end and ran away </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">People came together on the market day </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">They packed up in the evening and went their way</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Traveller entered the guest house for a night’s stay</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">He woke up in the morning and walked away </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And you better live your life this way !! </span></p><p><br /></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-4948255882689596792023-07-01T21:56:00.000-07:002023-07-01T21:56:06.294-07:00‘Beating hearts’ in the ‘Concrete jungle’ <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-59671df2-7fff-1985-cf80-206933b52ee7" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Bengaluru, no doubt is a concrete jungle and it seems that every </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">inhabitant is in constant competition with others for everything. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Individuals appear to be self centered, impatient, arrogant and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">indifferent towards another. But during my roaming in the jungle </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">there are instances when I find that there are many good hearts </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">beating over there, and they do care for others. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">It is seen in the small gestures like a teenager offering me a seat in the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">metro, some lady flicking a bee - attracted by the flowers - off another </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">unknown lady’s hair in the market, someone offering a hand to a disabled </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">man on the escalator, so on and so forth. For me, it is a reassuring sign </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">which confirms that humanity still persists !</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">So, I keep my eyes and ears open. I invariably catch a scene or a small bit </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">of a conversation which touches me and I narrate it to whoever is ready </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">to listen. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I was on a city bus yesterday. The bus was full and I could only get a standing </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">space. When the bus was about to leave, a lady entered with an old man. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I mean a man older than me. He was almost tottering and hence she </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">requested an occupant of a seat next to the door, to vacate the seat and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">allow the old man to sit. The fellow did not respond. Then the conductor, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">who was standing nearby, asked the fellow</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“ತಮ್ಮಾ, ಅಜ್ಜಾವ್ರಿಗೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಸೀಟು ಕೊಡಪ್ಪಾ” (Brother, please vacate your seat for </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the old man) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The man said “ಆಗಲ್ಲರೀ, ನಾನು ದೂರ ಹೋಗ್ಬೇಕು” (I can’t, I have a long </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">way to go). </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The conductor’s spontaneous sermon was worth listening for its language, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">content and delivery !</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“ಏನಪ್ಪಾ, ದೊಡ್ಡೋರಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ಸೀಟ್ ಬಿಟ್ಕೊಡೋಕ್ಕಾಗಲ್ವಾ ನಿಂಗೆ ? ಅವರೇನು ದುಡ್ದು ಕೇಳಿದ್ರಾ, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">ಕಾಸು ಕೇಳಿದ್ರಾ ? ಏನೋ ಪಾಪ, ವಯಸ್ಸಾದೋರಿಗೆ ಸೀಟ್ ಕೊಡು ಅಂದ್ರು. ಬಿಡಲ್ಲಾ ಅಂತೀಯಲ್ಲಾ ? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">ಏನು ಒತ್ಕೊಂಡ್ ಓಗ್ತೀಯಾ ನಿನ್ ಸೀಟ್ನ ? ದೂರ ಹೋಗ್ತಾನಂತೆ. ಎಲ್ಲೀಗಯ್ಯ ಹೋಗ್ತೀಯ ದೂರ ? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನಕ್ಕಾ, ಚೀನಾಕ್ಕಾ ? ಈ ಬಸ್ಸು ಓಗೋದು ಕೆಂಗೇರಿ ತನಕ ಅಷ್ಟೇ. ಏನೋ ಇಷ್ಟು ಪಾಠ ಓದಿ </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">ಪರ್ಸೆಂಟೇಜ್ ತೊಗೊಂಡ್ರೆ ಆಗೋಯ್ತಾ ? ಮುಖ್ಯ, ಮಾನ ಮರ್ಯಾದೆ ಕಲೀಬೇಕು. ದೊಡ್ಡೋರು </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಗೌರವ ಇರ್ಬೇಕು. ತಿಳ್ಕೊ.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">(what I say, can’t you offer your seat to an elderly gentleman? Are they </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">asking you to give them your money? Only a seat for the old man and you </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">refuse. Are you going to carry your seat with you ? Going far I believe!, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">how far are you going? pakistan? China ? This bus is only going till Kengeri. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Remember that. It is not enough if you just read some lessons and get </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">some percentage of marks. One should learn manners, and respect </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">towards the elderly” -) The speech should actually have been heard in </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">original,in Kannada. This narration/translation doesn’t do complete justice </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">but gives an idea about the sentiment expressed. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">By then another gentleman vacated the seat for the old man, and the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">issue was settled. It was nearing my destination and I got down thinking </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">about and praising the conductor’s reaction in my mind. It felt nice to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">know that there are people who care about these things. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have a nice holiday !</span></p><p><br /><br /><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-90092245717196536152023-06-24T22:06:00.003-07:002023-06-24T22:06:39.497-07:00A ‘feel good’ incident <p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">It was a simple gesture, not anything great, which seemed very natural </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">on part of that old lady. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I have no idea who she is. When I returned from my walk one morning, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">two months back, she was picking the Parijata flowers in our front yard. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I objected to her coming inside without seeking permission. She apologised </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and left.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The next morning she was standing outside the gate and when she saw me </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">return from my walk, she asked for my permission to come in and pick the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">flowers. I told her that she may come in and take the flowers but close and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">latch the gate when she leaves. Since then she has been coming everyday </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">to take the flowers. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Today our maid was not well and did not report for work. I was sweeping </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the front yard when the old lady came to take the flowers. She saw me and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">said “ಬಿಡಪ್ಪಾ, ನಾನು ಗುಡುಸಿ ಕೊಡ್ತೀನಿ” (leave it, i will sweep for you) stretching her </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">hand to take the broom from me. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><br /></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-fef0e33f-7fff-3bc6-0ce8-26b894e0c120"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">There was no need for her to do that. Maybe she felt that collecting the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">flowers everyday was an obligation and wanted to do something in return. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Whatever, it felt nice and I was touched by the gesture and so, I shared </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">it with all of you. </span></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-57562346608671738072023-06-03T22:39:00.001-07:002023-06-03T22:39:25.888-07:00A road trip - decades old - Koppal to Bangalore<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Raghunandan: Something to read, if one is so inclined ! </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I worked, rather spent time, in government hospital Koppal, Karnataka </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">for about a year in 1980. I travelled to Bengaluru at least once a month. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was a KSRTC bus which left Koppal at 7 pm everyday, went via Hospet, Hagaribommana haLLi,(I will call it HB haLLi) and Bellary and reached Bangalore the next morning around 7am. Koppal depot buses were mostly junk and they often broke down on the way. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">One memorable day our bus left Koppal at 7pm on the dot and had a puncture at 7.25pm on the dot, before it reached Hospet. The bus had a spare tyre but no jack. The driver stood in the middle of the road trying to flag down oncoming vehicles in the hope of getting a jack on loan - bearing the risk of being run over and losing a limb or life or both - and managed to catch a good samaritan truck driver. The truck driver not only provided a jack but was also considerate enough to direct his headlights towards the work spot for illumination! After changing the tyre, we reached Hospet. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We gathered more passengers at Hospet and left an hour behind schedule. The bus was somewhere near HB haLLi when the radiator fan belt broke. Of course KSRTC buses do not carry a spare fan belt. The conductor was expected to take a lift in any passing vehicle to Hospet and bring a fan belt back. Now it was past nine and there were not many vehicles on the road barring a bullock cart or a tractor headed towards the next village. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was cursing the bus, the KSRTC and myself (for having decided to travel that day) when another bullock cart came along. A bullock cart, of course, is pulled by a bullock and a rope called a ‘KaNNi hagga’ (kannada) is used to secure the animal to the cart. This rope is supposed to be very strong and the cart will not function without the rope. So, the carts usually have a spare rope on them. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Suddenly our driver had a bright idea. He stopped the cart and requested the cart driver to part with his rope. But the cart driver was reluctant. The bus driver enlisted a pregnant lady, two mothers with infants in their arms and a pair of turbaned old heads who were in the bus to support his request and the emotional blackmail worked ! The cart fellow relented and parted with his rope. Having obtained a flickering torch from one of the passengers, the driver went to work and fashioned a fan belt out of the kaNNi hagga. And it worked too ! The improvised ‘fan belt’ would slip out of place every few kilometers but after our driver replaced it twice, everyone in the front row had learnt the trick and the ‘belt’ could be put back in place in minutes. The rope held and we reached Bellary after midnight. We woke up the night duty mechanics at Bellary KSRTC depot who had made themselves as comfortable as possible on spare seats, tyres and tubes, got the fan belt replaced and continued our journey. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was just before Hiriyuru that the headlight conked off. But that was not a big problem. It was only an hour before daylight and we simply parked the bus by the side of the road and prayed to the sun god to rise a bit early. He was probably sound asleep and didn’t hear our prayer. But he did rise at his usual time. That was good enough for us. We thanked him and proceeded towards Tumkur. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We were about eight kms away from Tumkur when the driver noticed that the engine was getting heated up. There was no water in the radiator. KaNNihagga had served the engine to the best of its abilities but it was not a fan belt. So, the radiator had reacted to the insult that it had suffered earlier and was hot with rage. It needed water. Four decades back, nobody had heard of ‘Bisleri’. It was only ‘Kaaveri’. That was not a time when every passenger had a plastic bottle filled with water, but it was a time when there were agricultural fields by the side of the highway. There were farmers on the fields and they had a house and a well. One obliging farmer allowed the use of his well and also provided a rope and a bucket. Radiator water was replenished and the bus reached Bengaluru, sorry Bangalore without any more trouble just about half a day behind schedule. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wrote this as a satirical piece to highlight the delay that was happening to a proposed activity in one of my friend circles. People cited some or the other reason for the delay in carrying out their tasks and this was supposed to poke them. It was received with good humour though it did not make any difference to the task ! Since I received a good reaction from my friends, I thought that it may make a good weekend reading and posted it here.</span></p><p><br /></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-11897640317184057302023-05-02T05:18:00.000-07:002023-05-02T05:18:19.856-07:00Mysore report - Chamundi Hill <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-3261e997-7fff-4eb3-0b7c-42005b9eea4a" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Mysore has always been a favored holiday destination for us. During my childhood </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">we spent almost all our summer holidays at my uncle’s place in Saraswatipuram. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I have fond memories of holidays in Mysore and in particular the summer holidays </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">of 1965 when I learnt to cycle. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">A bicycle, in 1965, was a prized possession. People who owned bicycles were </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">protective of their possessions and it wasn’t easy for a young learner to get hold </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">of one. The ‘cycle shops’ which gave bicycles on hourly rent and which could be </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">found almost on every street also refused to give the cycle on rent to learners. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The trick was to take a person who knew cycling, rent a cycle and surreptitiously </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">use it to learn. But the rental of 25 paisa per hour was not easy to come by. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I was yearning to learn cycling and was excited to see a bicycle in front of my </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">uncle’s house in Mysore. But I was not sure if I would get to lay my hands on it. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">When I found that it belonged to a cousine of mine, wasn’t locked and that the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">owner was not around, I was almost sure that I would realise my dream. And I </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">was right. By the end of our summer holidays both the bicycle and my body were </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">much dented but I had learnt to cycle ! Learning to cycle is a thrilling and momentous </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">time in a young boy’s life. And it certainly made that holiday special ! </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">My visits to Mysore reduced considerably after I got out of high school and there </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">were large gaps between visits during the next twenty years or so. Then my </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">father in law shifted to Mysore and trips to the city became frequent once again. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">My children loved the Zoo and we also visited the Chamundi hills and other places </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">almost every time. But curiously, we had never attempted to climb the Chamundi </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">hill by foot either during my younger years or anytime later. This fact occurred to me </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">suddenly during my trip to Mysore last week and I decided to try that and put my </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">knees to test the very next morning. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Google guided me to the ‘Chamundi hills steps parking place’ and I was there by </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">six in the morning. I started climbing immediately but that being a Friday, the steps </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">were already getting crowded by hundreds of the faithful who were there with a </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">plate containing ‘haldi and Kumkum’ powder in hand. They were praying and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">smearing every step with the ingredients from their plate as they climbed. There </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">are about one thousand steps. I was impressed and touched by their faith. It is </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">something beyond comprehension. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I kept a good pace. Though I had to stop to regain my breath now and then, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I climbed about seven hundred steps in fifteen minutes and then I got bored with </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the climbing process. There was a continuous stream of people going up and down. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The steps were not of equal height and some were missing altogether. Hence, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I had to literally watch my steps and there was no chance of looking around. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And even if I had, there weren’t any great sights to look at because the sides of </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the steps were covered by shrubbery and overgrowth raising up to 6-8 feet in </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">height and I couldn’t see anything beyond them. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">By then I had reached the place where the steps cross the motorable road going </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">up the hill and I decided to leave the steps and walk the remaining distance to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the top. Within a minute I had reached the spot known as the ‘Nandi’ - Statue of </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the big bull - from where there was another road going downhill. I was wondering </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">whether to go up or down when a gentleman who was there with a group enquired </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“ಏನ್ ಸಾರ್ ಕನ್ ಫ್ಯೂಸ್ ಆಗ್ಬಿಟ್ಟಿದೀರಾ. ಎಲ್ಲಿಗ್ ಹೋಗ್ಬೇಕು ?” (You look confused sir, where </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">do you intend going?). I told him that I had no goal and was looking for a road or </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">track which was not crowded and that I intended to just amble along, looking around. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">He pointed to the road going down and said - “ಹಂಗಾ, ಈ ರಸ್ತೆಮೇಲೆ ಹೋಗ್ಬಿಡಿ”. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">meaning that I should take the road going downhill. That road, he said, led towards </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the base of the hill and touched the main road from another direction. I thanked </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">him and took the road. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Before I had walked about a hundred yards, I knew that I did the right thing. There </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">wasn’t another soul on the road, it was completely shaded as it was on the slope </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">facing west and there was a wonderful cool breeze. And since it only had a very </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">short protective wall and no other hindrance to my view, the wonderful vista of the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Mysore city and the surroundings was in front of me. I walked along enjoying the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">seclusion and the sights and in about half an hour had reached the main road </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">going towards Mysore. I turned back. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Walking uphill was equally pleasant and I was humming tunes of the songs of my </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">liking as I walked. Then it occurred to me that it was a good opportunity for me to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">sing ! I love some of the kannada poems and devotional songs, and have a few </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">of them in memory. Sometimes just out of a whim, I start singing. As the singing </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">continues, the volume rises without my knowledge and then I hear something like </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“I have heard enough of you, please allow me to cook in peace” or “appa, please </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">remember that there are other members of your family here in residence.” or some </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">such equally caustic statement. I agree that it is not easy to tolerate the onslaught </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">on the ears but my family members could have been a bit more generous. Anyway </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">that puts an end to my singing. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">On this road there was no one to object to my singing. No one within earshot. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Chamundeshwari and Nandi were about two kilometers away. There were </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">peacocks nearby. I could hear them. But they themselves were shouting their </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">heads off and hence had no moral right to object to my singing. So I sat on a </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">stone by the side of the road and let my voice out without guilt ! </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Another kilometer and I had reached the junction from where I had started. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I climbed down the steps, got onto my scooter and returned home in time for </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">a good breakfast. I felt that it was a nice experience and therefore I wrote it out </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">to post it on my blog </span><a href="http://www.dentaldiaries.blogspot.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">www.dentaldiaries.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> which is there only for </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the purpose of storing my thoughts, for whatever they are worth. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66X39X38SgKB8TdMXrf2em3monBV5iqmW0BqYjePyOd4k48JptNPnif4L5ydstzsp39sAXEM73ulmE2WdjFxPsAJBNprTbWxIdx-sM_VRBYwVjL-u0iEUR8mZJ5TQwddUIVN0meQq7OT4RyLBH7yPv_JHOHGxBSLcpiq3d2dzpnjxqsQRrNQ3iPF0/w300-h400/IMG_4381%20(1).jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94jED1zJVHOJ1l8Wj_AkhrnT0xwdtm9J9EX4visRsAQETG0FnOJ_7euAkky8QDDLXApkx3PcquvuXUcVjvtVlZgACRUUtCPQZb6W_1f2P0c5yhVGW_fI1me2Fker7bnTidhyzg98ljonW-HcoJlErrOUlQQ1fNNcXx6g19kVmSqifxnAmTll77v8B/s2016/IMG_4380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94jED1zJVHOJ1l8Wj_AkhrnT0xwdtm9J9EX4visRsAQETG0FnOJ_7euAkky8QDDLXApkx3PcquvuXUcVjvtVlZgACRUUtCPQZb6W_1f2P0c5yhVGW_fI1me2Fker7bnTidhyzg98ljonW-HcoJlErrOUlQQ1fNNcXx6g19kVmSqifxnAmTll77v8B/w300-h400/IMG_4380.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNWi0sa_0xy8cH8Tuj6XBxYfOjLYqOZRpaYv0SiyVQj5zj9WdRCSZiAtyufeQcy4Myp7TdaTNe39gtj357Y6upgHHbFhP3vMYYDp8h1Iix9ZtaddosUor0hTRtuUVqQJQe_LP9p8EyXoYJsObdoh3SGrf_QQfZwJhKXs5X2QAdcdFm2aiiMCTIf1I/s2016/IMG_4379%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNWi0sa_0xy8cH8Tuj6XBxYfOjLYqOZRpaYv0SiyVQj5zj9WdRCSZiAtyufeQcy4Myp7TdaTNe39gtj357Y6upgHHbFhP3vMYYDp8h1Iix9ZtaddosUor0hTRtuUVqQJQe_LP9p8EyXoYJsObdoh3SGrf_QQfZwJhKXs5X2QAdcdFm2aiiMCTIf1I/w300-h400/IMG_4379%20(1).jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /><br /></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-61494469657683444652023-02-13T06:12:00.000-08:002023-02-13T06:12:49.503-08:00Brown Backed Tree Snake <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENWaQUrpX8R2ji-4NjipWHQLseEeq4aPkyanqsQY_1xGcSebmb5KsQEwg5ITpUHyOZLF9NwXMnr1fRIyEGqf1T6s2itxCdcYGA6UWpYg-CqyIUbCyOdUuWkNTqp3txtPzWfiUccpmmOGGTPSKOT10VFJeMC1hHOog1JaX8pcB89sRDMrUIh1L5eiz/s4032/0B3620EC-3B26-47A1-8DEC-61C6C9B12710.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENWaQUrpX8R2ji-4NjipWHQLseEeq4aPkyanqsQY_1xGcSebmb5KsQEwg5ITpUHyOZLF9NwXMnr1fRIyEGqf1T6s2itxCdcYGA6UWpYg-CqyIUbCyOdUuWkNTqp3txtPzWfiUccpmmOGGTPSKOT10VFJeMC1hHOog1JaX8pcB89sRDMrUIh1L5eiz/s320/0B3620EC-3B26-47A1-8DEC-61C6C9B12710.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQS2MT6pK7XUQE3ZM4xgzsAoGu7c9TkqRfoblsJUPyAaUWv1JFTjUCkbwuShNt7POM_beMa8fQGSAWuREgac8lHoy6hY3MORtL9ljD50OM-dxhu0qjP8bQUg_uWTNfiSoItfVxdG56y9ImNPSnmTv_d3dlzP-97Jkh4Vu0sGOXvXVtWkqzox4UFRe/s1334/3BA27389-A4C6-4C29-AB08-3B2288533EC9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbX7y6MY2MvTrcrZtYSg0WxI7LCpsBpvOXLOZOp4IEIOUhCtNDgH9QwoHEYeJZIr8F5m59Aq9Q-vkzLZ1HQs5dEf_T46xQjJyEg7jVCPjjMNQZzcWF3GEBLwaHh-5G67P4e85kBLC20DfkvQ-eeY4Wpr7mi1b2GHpCXePL5UnhdMP7pIC8GC1fupC/s320/5000E809-6911-45D6-8C6B-A16190BC4B2A.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The snake.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was a pleasant morning. And it was a very good morning because as soon as I came out of my home, I got a nice lizard for breakfast. Not a good morning for the lizard but I can’t help it. Good or bad, it was its last morning for sure. Well I was just strolling around after my breakfast and the ground started getting warm. So I raised myself up, felt the places around me and found something cool. I climbed onto the cool surface. I moved along a bit and was getting to enjoy the nice surroundings when I suddenly saw something large coming down on my head. I swiftly moved away, and tried to jump onto the large thing which was about to crush me. As soon as I jumped on it, it started shaking violently and so, I got off and ran for my life. As I was running away I saw something familiar. It was a creeper. I got onto the creeper, climbed high and relaxed a bit. And I stayed still. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I was walking towards the clinic door in the morning I saw our helper rushing out of the enclosure where we keep our outdoor equipment and when she saw me, she started shouting “snake, snake, it came on my leg” she was shaking and she pointed towards the protective metal grill around the enclosure. The grill is covered entirely by the creeper of ‘Aparajita’ or the ‘Butterfly Pea flower’. I could not see anything. But the helper kept shouting “there, there, there” and was pointing a bit higher. I tried to focus my sight there. Unfortunately I was not successful in focusing as I wasn’t wearing my glasses. I did not see anything other than the pea flower creeper. Then I asked our helper to stop shouting and dancing and to stay still. Half a minute later a part of the creeper raised its head ! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since I had seen one such snake on our compound wall before, I recognised it as a tree snake, non venomous, but I wasn’t sure. Luckily the snake remained stationary and I took a picture and sent it to an animal rescue group volunteer whose number I have stored. I asked him if he could recognise the snake. Then I asked our helper to remain calm, remain away from the snake and keep watching the snake. After that I went to fetch the stick which I have kept for use in such situations. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Snake </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was breathing easy when I saw a human coming towards me with a stick in hand. I am wary of these humans. And even more wary of humans having sticks in hand. They are troublesome and usually are up to something evil. So, I moved higher. The man started beating the creeper plant. I told you he was evil. If I were close by he would have beaten me. So, I got away from the creeper, found something smooth and nice to move upon and started moving swiftly on it. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The animal rescue volunteer called me and said that it is a ‘brown backed tree snake’, non venomous and harmless. So, I just wanted to shoo it away and I shook the creeper with my stick. But instead of going away from the wall, the snake moved towards the wall and climbed on to the electric wire casing which was running along the wall. It was very fast and before I could do anything else, it found a hole next to the switch box and disappeared into the hole. Now, I was in a fix. Right opposite the switch box, on the other side of the wall, is the indoor unit of the AC and a little away from there is the fuse box. Because of the concealed electrical wiring all are inter connected. And all of them open into our operatory. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I did not know what to do. I stood staring at the hole hoping that the snake would get bored inside, comeout and go on its way. It did put its head out once to look around but got back into the hole. I could not leave it there. What if it got into the fuse box or the AC unit ? So, I called and requested the animal rescue volunteer to come and help me out and he asked me to call an AC technician and an electrician - in case the AC and the fuse box had to be opened. I was making frantic calls to the AC technicians and electricians who were known to me while keeping one unfocused eye on the hole in the wall and all the while there was pandemonium around me with our helpers, my daughter in law - who is also my colleague and extremely scared of anything creeping, the labourers working in the construction site opposite our house - and one or two patients, all in different stages of excitement/hysteria. I ignored everything else and concentrated on the phone calls and the hole in which the snake had got in. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Snake </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At last I was in a place which felt almost like my home. It was dark, cool and away from human interference. My breakfast had got digested long back because of the hectic activity of the morning and I was again feeling a bit hungry. I even found a lizard egg which had been placed there by the god almighty to help creatures like me. I had my snack, was feeling better, went deeper into the home, relaxed and dozed. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The animal rescuer, AC technician and the electrician arrived in the next fifteen minutes. They ascertained that the snake could not have gone into the AC unit and said that it must be inside the switch box. They decided to open the switch box. But the snake rescuer was afraid of the electric shock and the electrician was afraid of the snake. So they stood discussing between themselves about the future course of action. The AC technician who was relieved because he did not have to do anything stood there giving them useful suggestions and tips. Then I switched off all the mains and offered to open the switch box myself. Now, the electrician felt ashamed and decided to open the switch box himself. He selected the longest screwdriver he had in his possession and started opening the lid. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Snake </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was getting more and more comfortable when I experienced some vibration. Not the positive and negative vibrations which meditating humans experience. Real vibration which we snakes experience when some activity is going on near us. Since I am short of hearing I could not hear anything. I felt more vibrations and suddenly the roof of my house flew away and bright light flowed in. Luckily there was a lot of space for me to get deeper into the home and I did the only thing that I could do. I went further away from the light and sat there contemplating my future course of action. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The electrician opened the switch box. It was empty !! First all three of them thought that I had been imagining things. When I asserted that the snake was really there and showed them pictures, they started poking into the interiors of the box with pieces of electric wire, bits of flexible pipe, screw driver and what not. Then it was noticed that the switch box also had openings which lead to the concealed electrical pipings in the wall and the snake had a walkway of nearly ten feet to amuse itself with. There was no way of getting it out without breaking the wall. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This activity had started around ten in the morning and now it was nearly one. The patients who had forgotten their tooth for some time, remembered it again, took a later appointment and went away after coming to know that we were not on a snake chase but were on a wild goose chase. The AC technician remembered another AC unit which had been kept open and he excused himself. The electrician asked me to call him later to close the box and he went away to continue on the errand which he was attending to when he got my call. The snake catcher, a young man, waited a bit longer, said that there is no way that the snake is going to surrender and advised me not to bother about it because it was harmless and that it would go on its way once the pandemonium around it is over. He was a bit disappointed because he had brought his girlfriend with him and there was no chance for him to exhibit his skills in front of her. He asked me to call if I found the snake inside the house and he went away. I asked my helpers to shut the windows and doors on that side of the building, found that I was feeling hungry and came home for lunch. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Snake</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Suddenly everything is calm and cool. And I am quite comfortable here. I will stay here a bit longer and then decide what to do. If there are lizard eggs here, a lizard may also be nearby ! I will try my luck and see if god decides to provide me an easy lunch. I will rest for the time being. Thanks for bearing with me and being with me so long. Have a nice day !</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 7.5pt;"> </p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-56669936561609714802023-02-10T03:29:00.000-08:002023-02-10T03:29:17.129-08:00Salt and salt riNa <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lZ8soPGAxtWdMR1tzkIc31Li9wa-ZjbK0k-XcxZhQG6L285wn5zA8E_awug5DLYhj75T0c4y5FJyWLgtv72QPZUVzF7No5hs2540L8RLYOl2bJu8PR549qVVkFON8aJM1pp3dUwlVE-6TapM_eejnyAkLCRNNGhz0MMvIhFTyzZdP23euPZ8HyRK/s1102/salt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lZ8soPGAxtWdMR1tzkIc31Li9wa-ZjbK0k-XcxZhQG6L285wn5zA8E_awug5DLYhj75T0c4y5FJyWLgtv72QPZUVzF7No5hs2540L8RLYOl2bJu8PR549qVVkFON8aJM1pp3dUwlVE-6TapM_eejnyAkLCRNNGhz0MMvIhFTyzZdP23euPZ8HyRK/w273-h400/salt2.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>Posted above is the picture of a grocery shop near our house in Bengaluru. <p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Shop is closed. Picture was taken early in the morning. I am intrigued by </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the fact that the shop owner has not bothered to shift some of the sacks </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">inside, before closing the shop at night. On close inspection I found that </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">they contained packets of salt. And that's why the owner never bothered </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">to shift them inside ! This is all that I had to say. But I have said much </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">more and made a story out of it. If you are interested in the story, please </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">continue reading. If not, you may shift your attention to other people </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">clogging your screen and calling for your attention ! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">During my childhood in Bangalore, we had a very cordial relationship with </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">almost all our neighbours. We are especially indebted to one particular family, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the Reddys, for their affection towards us and also for various favours we </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">received from them. We used their phone, their water, their car and other </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">facilities as if they were our own. During my half-hearted and short lived </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">dental practice at our out house in Bangalore, my waiting room furniture </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">was from their house. In my tight budget I did not have enough funds to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">buy them. I was about six years old when they built their house opposite </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">ours and started staying there. I left Bangalore when I was twenty six. It </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">has been forty years since I shifted from Bangalore. But the good relations </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">with the Reddy’s family has remained. They continue to live in the same place. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">There were no grocery shops near our house and it was quite common for </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">members of both families to cross the street with a box or bowl in hand to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">borrow some Sugar, dal, oil or flour when there was an urgency. This give </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and take extended to cooked food too when some relative arrived without </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">notice at lunch time !</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">On one such give and take occasion their boy came to our house with a small </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">bowl in hand and he placed a 25 paise coin in my hand before asking for some </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">salt. (This was before the onset of packed/ iodised salt. Coarse salt used to be </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">brought in a hand cart and sold on the street. The vendor used to come about </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">once a week calling out ‘uppooo, uppu’ - uppu is salt in kannada - we bought </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">salt from him and stored it) I did not understand why he was giving me money </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">but my mother took it smilingly and she handed over some salt to the boy. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Later she explained to me that while we can request for a loan of any item that </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">we may need, one should never take a loan of salt. Salt should always be paid for !</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I don't know how to explain the meaning of the kannada/sanskrit word ‘riNa’. You </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">may simply call it a debt, but it is something more than that. I may say that it is </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">owing someone something and the compulsion to return/repay the same. This </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">something could be cash, kind, goodwill, gesture or favour. There are many </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">types of ‘riNas’ - Anna riNa, Dhana riNa, Pitru riNa, Guru riNa, Deva riNa, so </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">on and so forth and there are various ways to repay/clear the riNas. Our </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">philosophy believes in cycles of birth and death till one attains salvation or </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">‘Moksha’ - and I think (apart from other requirements) one will not be eligible </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">for ‘moksha’ unless all the ‘riNas’ are cleared. You keep being born again and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">again till it is done. “Punarapi jananam, punarapi maraNam, Punarapi janani </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">jathare shayanam” - be born again, die again and lay in the mother’s stomach </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">yet again. While the concerned authorities may waive off some ‘riNa’ if they so </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">wish, the ‘rina of salt’ is never waived and one has to clear it by taking another </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">birth or many more births if necessary ! Well, that is the belief. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">That is the reason why people are always very wary of getting into the ‘salt rina’. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I was under the impression that during these modern days, we have gotten over </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the unfounded beliefs but the sentiment seems to be very deep and prevailing. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">That's why the grocer near my house never bothers to shift his sacks of salt inside </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">when he closes shop every night. He keeps piles of sacks containing rice, dal </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and salt as well as boxes containing bottles of oil on the sides of his front steps </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">during the day. And, while he shifts all other items inside when he closes at night, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">he never bothers to shift the sacks containing packets of salt because he is sure </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">that no one will take a packet of salt without payment !! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I had attached an extra length of plastic drainage pipe to the drainage outlet we </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">have at the bottom of our compound wall and it was stolen two days after I </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">fixed it. It cost three hundred rupees. But nobody touches packets of salt </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">costing more than five thousand rupees, lying outside the shop day and night, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and the salt remains safe!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">My story is almost over except for a short ‘upakathe’ - a side story on salt. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">A group of thieves decided to burgle a nobleman’s house and wanted to get the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">inside information about the layout of the house etc. They joined the crowd of </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">hundreds of strangers who thronged the nobleman’s house every afternoon for </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">free lunch. Someone connected to the household got the information about the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">group of burglars operating in the vicinity and their modus operandi. But it was </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">a tough task to identify the burglars amongst hundreds of strangers. The cook </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">got a bright idea. He purposefully avoided putting salt to the dishes and served </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">some salt to every guest separately. People serving the dishes were asked to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">keep an eye on those who did not touch the salt. Everyone added the separately </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">served salt to the dishes but the burglars stuck to the adage -“ಉಪ್ಪು ತಿಂದಮನೆಗೆ </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">ಎರಡು ಬಗೆಯಬೇಡ” “don’t harm those whose salt you have consumed” and they </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">ate what was served without mixing salt to it. They were noted, watched </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">carefully and were caught when they attempted the burglary. I had heard this </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">story a long long time back. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJTcqW5cubmIiBpvrrCFUJrcjLe_B2bR85aapVFMajFiQlkTz33hwkn-EdalQYzZ7C5FXj0CXo0Y9qgf6ETdbpPzz7Bwvf_BRAzuCo1BqHckRXx8wuzWbfpKQX8P9B_1hq5run_H6_dW3utxn4ChOnSTbSRq4HEdnpMntSF8O5ccPeORQv5N30kp7/s2016/salt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJTcqW5cubmIiBpvrrCFUJrcjLe_B2bR85aapVFMajFiQlkTz33hwkn-EdalQYzZ7C5FXj0CXo0Y9qgf6ETdbpPzz7Bwvf_BRAzuCo1BqHckRXx8wuzWbfpKQX8P9B_1hq5run_H6_dW3utxn4ChOnSTbSRq4HEdnpMntSF8O5ccPeORQv5N30kp7/w300-h400/salt1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">With this I end my salt story. Sorry for testing your patience. Have a good day. </span></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-1318641352994402992022-12-26T19:13:00.002-08:002022-12-26T19:13:15.393-08:00My toe and the girl without legs.<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">For the last few months I have been feeling a mild pain at the joint of my second </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">toe with my foot. Left leg. I feel it only when I walk fast or walk for a long distance. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I am used to walking 7- 8 kms every day and sometimes I cross 10 kms. Now, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">this pain is annoying. I enjoy my morning walk and am worried that I may have </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">to reduce my walking. This situation is bothering me a bit. I am considering </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">seeing an orthopaedician. </span></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-497e778c-7fff-9632-8684-22d9583d5cfb" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I was in the market this morning. My wife was looking for an exact match for </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">her saree (It seems like god is yet to create that. He created the saree and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">forgot about the matching blouse piece) and I was standing outside the shop </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">observing the happenings around me. In between the ever hasty and rash two </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">wheelers, three wheelers and cars, I saw an unusual three wheeler being ridden </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">by a girl. It was a tricycle. It had a basket in the front and one at the back and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">two slots on the handle in which were inserted two crutches. The girl, a teenager, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">was pedaling it confidently without bothering about the zooming motor vehicles </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">around her. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The girl came close to where I was standing, stopped in front of a hand cart, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">selected </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">some vegetables while sitting on her tricycle, put the vegetables in the basket in front </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">of her and paid for them. Next, she stopped in front of the bakery close by and shouted </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">out her order. The bakery owner wrapped her order and requested a customer who </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">was in front of the counter to hand it over to the girl. The parcel was placed in the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">basket behind her seat and cash was collected from the girl. The girl then rode </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">ahead a little more, parked her tricycle next to the footpath, took out the crutches </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and hopped into the shopping center nearby. In no time she came back with a bag </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">hanging on her hand, placed it in the basket, got onto her bike, placed the crutches </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">back in their slot and rode away. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I was impressed with the confidence and the seeming ease with which she attended </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">to her chores. At no time there was any indication of her being handicapped and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">different from others. There never was any indication of her being at the mercy of </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">someone even when she was being helped by others. She took things in her stride </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and it looked as if she never felt that she was different from others. I was about to go </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">near her and say a word of appreciation but I held myself back. By doing that, I would </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">be pointing out that she was different. Within my heart I wished her well, expressed </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">my appreciation in front of my wife and we continued with our shopping. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Now, the pain in my toe seems trivial and inconsequential. It isn’t bothering me much !</span></p><p><br /><br /><br /></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-68056586721433486372022-10-23T06:59:00.001-07:002022-10-23T06:59:44.336-07:00Lesser Cuckoo<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sVrWk8sgP1LnVLqs-2e2wd7_O1FImxBXPYR_JSybJI2ZQFLOh_5TjdRj7thuQAEctsYv80Z2p5vhYwtqX1N-D3WpRe1Xh0p3Rc1rp3hYBO7ma06Kt2C_AVNj5LoCzmD3BV2jkPiu_hkFQSMltC9Smph9p7-WpftRt4DONMG-QewVXOshUBiju9d4/s1800/Bird3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sVrWk8sgP1LnVLqs-2e2wd7_O1FImxBXPYR_JSybJI2ZQFLOh_5TjdRj7thuQAEctsYv80Z2p5vhYwtqX1N-D3WpRe1Xh0p3Rc1rp3hYBO7ma06Kt2C_AVNj5LoCzmD3BV2jkPiu_hkFQSMltC9Smph9p7-WpftRt4DONMG-QewVXOshUBiju9d4/w320-h400/Bird3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><b id="docs-internal-guid-25ff8fcc-7fff-1eb3-efd6-2c31c0483025" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /><br /></b><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I had asked a laborer to remove the weeds and undergrowth around the house</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> and was checking his work the next morning. It was the day before yesterday. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I saw this bird on the ground a few feet away from the steps of my clinic. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Since it remained in place even when I went closer, I thought that it was a very </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">young one or an injured bird. It looked like a pigeon or a cuckoo but slightly smaller. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I could not leave the bird there as it would soon be on the breakfast menu of the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">cat which keeps roaming around the house. I tried to pick it up but when I touched it, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">it attempted to get away. But it could not go far. I did not want to cause much </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">distress to the bird and I wasn’t sure what I would do with it after picking it up. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">So, I covered it up with a big cardboard box and called the animal rescue </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">volunteer, Madhuraj, whose number was with me. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27Ddb-vWcdByfl7u4mxcJ0cVavymc2f7kwedN9MK6RttBS4odFRrs0dS-XIY7GERmAfHw8AY3Aerk12d3vgx_QZCIwOLbVrn9i4DeGFldLL1VEMoHxzeEU1wZWwJxkIfxRe5NPmgYzKNfOObwV8OMiiVbdwYtlzqrrV6C8aBdhEDQZsrDXsXMQ8mS/s1800/bird1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27Ddb-vWcdByfl7u4mxcJ0cVavymc2f7kwedN9MK6RttBS4odFRrs0dS-XIY7GERmAfHw8AY3Aerk12d3vgx_QZCIwOLbVrn9i4DeGFldLL1VEMoHxzeEU1wZWwJxkIfxRe5NPmgYzKNfOObwV8OMiiVbdwYtlzqrrV6C8aBdhEDQZsrDXsXMQ8mS/w320-h400/bird1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I knew that the group of young volunteers who respond to the calls from people </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">like me are sincere and caring. I had sought their help before, once to handle a </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Rufous treepie which was very keen on sharing our bedroom and before that, a </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Sand Boa, which had liked our car park for an evening stroll. Madhuraj said that </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">he would arrange to pick the bird up through one of his friends. A volunteer called </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">me sometime later, got the details of the animal in need of help, and said that they </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">are attending to another call but would reach me after that. I spent two anxious </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">hours and then a young fellow, who identified himself as Vishwam, arrived. He </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">picked the bird up with ease, placed it in a smaller box, said that he would get </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">it checked by a veterinarian and then decide the future course. I felt relieved </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and returned to my other activities. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I was curious about the fate of the bird and was considering calling Vishwam, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">when I received the message, which I have posted along with the pictures of </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the bird. It was from my son and he had found it on FB. I felt bad to hear that the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">bird did not survive. It is not a common species and it is a migratory bird. It is </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">unfortunate that it could not return back to its home. Anyway I am happy that an </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">effort was made to see that the bird remained in this world longer and that I did </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">what I could. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The reason for writing this is to express my appreciation of the efforts of the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Animal rescue volunteers. They are occupied otherwise but find time for these </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">rescue activities which is not an income generating one. They may even have </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">to spend from their pockets. In the present case they had to take the bird to an </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">expert twenty kilometers away. It would easily take two hours and the fuel cost </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">itself would be two hundred rupees ! They don't seek any financial assistance </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">but gratefully accept if some help is offered. In the stifling atmosphere of this </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">world where indifference and greed seems to be the ruling sentiments, these </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">people come along as a fresh breath of air and help people like me, retain the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">hope in humanity. I have named only the two with whom I came in contact but </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">there are many like them working silently. My sincere thanks to all of them. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I wish them well. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJF_JbowAOPz-5WwwxGmgkM4AJJYYLX48uq_qRMjmk4OW9Iqc00XNTYD7vVWK9sCGHUSW4Musx55xHnhlkHRrqSx54_LUTnMEiUWNMcvUo02XXGYlRLYaTUypVC4pVkJ3u-6kKNPRZa3ojKd576P-GU4maIpre6bCeRNdqoYrkY_NA4er4rU2EK2O/s1800/bird2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJF_JbowAOPz-5WwwxGmgkM4AJJYYLX48uq_qRMjmk4OW9Iqc00XNTYD7vVWK9sCGHUSW4Musx55xHnhlkHRrqSx54_LUTnMEiUWNMcvUo02XXGYlRLYaTUypVC4pVkJ3u-6kKNPRZa3ojKd576P-GU4maIpre6bCeRNdqoYrkY_NA4er4rU2EK2O/s320/bird2.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /><br /><br /></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-1983071458725191482022-10-17T08:32:00.000-07:002022-10-17T08:32:13.903-07:00Borim - off roading ! <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">If you are a person who looks at the surroundings instead of the mobile phone, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">while commuting between Ponda and Margao, you would notice that a foot path </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">leads into the surrounding fields, after you cross the Borim bridge. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The fields are next to the Zuari river, swampy in nature and a place to find many </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">water birds. The track goes through the fields for about 2-3 kilometers in a </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">semi circle and comes back to touch the highway a bit later. It has been my </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">intention - which hadn’t been put into action of course - to walk through the fields </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">sometime and I decided to do it this morning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I parked my car on the highway and started walking just after sunrise at 6am. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was fine </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">in the beginning but after entering the fields I found that the path has </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">been covered by overgrowth of grass and weeds, making it difficult to walk </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">through. I was scared of stepping on or close to a snake or a similar creature, </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">enjoying it’s beautysleep, annoying it and facing the consequences.And the </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">path was wet because of the rains during the last two days. So, I tried another </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">path which went closer to the river but that was muddy and a bit slippery at </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">places. Still, I managed to walk through some distance and found about </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">fifteen different kinds of birds. My phone could only capture the Cormorant </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">and Brahmini kite, which are considerably bigger in size and also stay put </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">in a place for sometime. They live in the trees next to the path. These are </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">the pictures taken during my walk, which was certainly enjoyable, in spite </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">of the quality of the path. The following are the pictures taken during the walk.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtmoB0h8uKe2sJfAOWmI2Kyo8z_DF00ONBXChw7Z-xxnEKxTJZg-BepsWVGec6u5pTPMo39qwc4e9oZueAJnIW86_ukQuSzKIxSohX3RVhonzZhKhfoW5eNIsyvwzU0yyANqDbKYpJuHWmCaCP9vqV5wt4ilLay4yRMeFZksIVhm34sodwa_1Wd6C/s1800/1%20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtmoB0h8uKe2sJfAOWmI2Kyo8z_DF00ONBXChw7Z-xxnEKxTJZg-BepsWVGec6u5pTPMo39qwc4e9oZueAJnIW86_ukQuSzKIxSohX3RVhonzZhKhfoW5eNIsyvwzU0yyANqDbKYpJuHWmCaCP9vqV5wt4ilLay4yRMeFZksIVhm34sodwa_1Wd6C/w320-h400/1%20.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brahmini Kite - they nest in the trees next to the river</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyGAFc_OH3o2rhP0f_nB6pYhx48dq3cHZAaIiyjbleFuvVaWXl5nZW5McSUK46zo2l9yGgBuP9k03wGCryXElR2DB39S2hI0cRlKcYb9xGQlQVXtCNwb2ZPg55bqZzbawc9gV-aWy2pa03ql2bbhSOPiho_NS1SEuLf_9pATYTXnxhC7F_i8oER6N/s640/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyGAFc_OH3o2rhP0f_nB6pYhx48dq3cHZAaIiyjbleFuvVaWXl5nZW5McSUK46zo2l9yGgBuP9k03wGCryXElR2DB39S2hI0cRlKcYb9xGQlQVXtCNwb2ZPg55bqZzbawc9gV-aWy2pa03ql2bbhSOPiho_NS1SEuLf_9pATYTXnxhC7F_i8oER6N/w320-h400/2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The muddy path next to the river - water seen here is not the river. It is on the other side </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLjdd2Snz2aibKhEagzkAGj0P-pdHrfrXZg6ak6qlRtDHH2fZ2_HcpW-Kq3S86BRoXuMVXMccUsaOd_4PTq0TnLHNyTu0HtWrlbk0epEnUcHH8YoMz1TJiT6xoLdprgCBBAtKb73PbbZg9hqt_Saz0atWDcp-2SQ_B8C8GhBjpf0D8epnwb4vw45R/s1800/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLjdd2Snz2aibKhEagzkAGj0P-pdHrfrXZg6ak6qlRtDHH2fZ2_HcpW-Kq3S86BRoXuMVXMccUsaOd_4PTq0TnLHNyTu0HtWrlbk0epEnUcHH8YoMz1TJiT6xoLdprgCBBAtKb73PbbZg9hqt_Saz0atWDcp-2SQ_B8C8GhBjpf0D8epnwb4vw45R/w320-h400/3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plenty of cormorants - drying their wings</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIljdT4tyX16JTLa-SApiyfkUn9oGRrMit9ZL-LQcKfmn5xL21_R1FjJAU5mZ9VGx9z_263G0GDgF3i32q1d7C_bFsPgy1PW7CnDGPdXTYS5riMEBjSQwlX8xb-mDQOL-bFlaPpSEwcSNEjr-4vYRyuqHo29caPVbxtR0woo1QCZ-fxHiisstRt2z/s640/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIljdT4tyX16JTLa-SApiyfkUn9oGRrMit9ZL-LQcKfmn5xL21_R1FjJAU5mZ9VGx9z_263G0GDgF3i32q1d7C_bFsPgy1PW7CnDGPdXTYS5riMEBjSQwlX8xb-mDQOL-bFlaPpSEwcSNEjr-4vYRyuqHo29caPVbxtR0woo1QCZ-fxHiisstRt2z/w320-h400/4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IWXxwmiUp_VbpDW0cfWiGzH8Qt2E3909_7IH9qaqvATS5cTrjeGOuSJhCIz0vPRTkcBiAeivwRQJv5R5W7w0BovhhhIJrCaO95PVndYcu0LKW6HQy4OI5FX6bB_Q-ZzVPCzPI-ne3y6icUjsCR9bJys-ljBKw9kYK5VSaA0-qCpZsRF_fhxxO6HY/s640/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IWXxwmiUp_VbpDW0cfWiGzH8Qt2E3909_7IH9qaqvATS5cTrjeGOuSJhCIz0vPRTkcBiAeivwRQJv5R5W7w0BovhhhIJrCaO95PVndYcu0LKW6HQy4OI5FX6bB_Q-ZzVPCzPI-ne3y6icUjsCR9bJys-ljBKw9kYK5VSaA0-qCpZsRF_fhxxO6HY/w320-h400/5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyyhAIbhBnei-GQVdBw4BoJvpBNteFQB3yXVKib7knumcedm-aCWtyAG8pERi-0W9b4HBevVgizA3MjNOA-Qbgc3QCntd6apnsmP8VIu9IcrSQ2R7xnMc10VhnxE7gKy6vxvi-N6_SvzqBmrPglYUb7M48XeTkJybW7SKMpfzGg-K0a__zVEhPtnX/s640/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyyhAIbhBnei-GQVdBw4BoJvpBNteFQB3yXVKib7knumcedm-aCWtyAG8pERi-0W9b4HBevVgizA3MjNOA-Qbgc3QCntd6apnsmP8VIu9IcrSQ2R7xnMc10VhnxE7gKy6vxvi-N6_SvzqBmrPglYUb7M48XeTkJybW7SKMpfzGg-K0a__zVEhPtnX/w320-h400/6.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun rise - seen through the foliage</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmiPWipcDMh0Eim6e4qacMAP9ShGB9-dUYChMl-amcHBceIovV5ioHnqaCiLwJXp1JJBvuocM6pBc0QJSRYtVlbZMJwwJQvvhTIANhRB4KSt9-rpz_uVlNnwrFrdQcR9zb6KdSQEWMGl47Bz3neZgZUz_tNfTlGfdohCd7_aFAZxT99we7TLT4rt_L/s1800/7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmiPWipcDMh0Eim6e4qacMAP9ShGB9-dUYChMl-amcHBceIovV5ioHnqaCiLwJXp1JJBvuocM6pBc0QJSRYtVlbZMJwwJQvvhTIANhRB4KSt9-rpz_uVlNnwrFrdQcR9zb6KdSQEWMGl47Bz3neZgZUz_tNfTlGfdohCd7_aFAZxT99we7TLT4rt_L/w320-h400/7.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cormorant on a look out !</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbnRDMC-Hk9FWZXI2egL6vnYYPWVdFKfp6eTU94Pgeh_g4XVnRrTTLVe3ZvBq_-fwTg53X3CUHsalaVqxe0g9ftdZfinetQNJh2KI_kbi5J-nHu_0KuPiO7upobC3wvrrFBLOu5QpdPsMGrjl6fDk1s3GBGvaGq4glLT5vwUbxu1HUSHnvnyiohtV/s1280/8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbnRDMC-Hk9FWZXI2egL6vnYYPWVdFKfp6eTU94Pgeh_g4XVnRrTTLVe3ZvBq_-fwTg53X3CUHsalaVqxe0g9ftdZfinetQNJh2KI_kbi5J-nHu_0KuPiO7upobC3wvrrFBLOu5QpdPsMGrjl6fDk1s3GBGvaGq4glLT5vwUbxu1HUSHnvnyiohtV/w320-h400/8.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Path that I wasn't keen on taking </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAN9MWb5nPntz0AJuNTj2QJteXTXnnD4aCJVxD6jBaMqsUOcFKAn7_g85aTys4pedCjCM02JBLdFPbpP40D35y7BS-g7dg071eG6wI-F5VhTIohmorNCkDL2A0ax2WxwBBdO7A485nU7OWjTAET6NKhzjdcYyG0bOXCBVnCiyPwbChgejFiO7V-Fr/s1800/9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAN9MWb5nPntz0AJuNTj2QJteXTXnnD4aCJVxD6jBaMqsUOcFKAn7_g85aTys4pedCjCM02JBLdFPbpP40D35y7BS-g7dg071eG6wI-F5VhTIohmorNCkDL2A0ax2WxwBBdO7A485nU7OWjTAET6NKhzjdcYyG0bOXCBVnCiyPwbChgejFiO7V-Fr/w320-h400/9.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Borim bridge - as seen through the morning mist</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTeAZebReYnSLv3fmOU1pxe9v_pku_uPnHqLLaHfP_vi5EzxYuXUj7slBrFRglDdeS3_cHZBuefkn8pv-RBnw-GUBmEOKg2LGN1lw0Xw5_b893oNC7f1kT-DizqBRWJjmj9rPHdAywm9bRvlc8eV2Qwuh2XvXYm9HA_d8em8TMdNAANG9h6fYhQo6/s640/10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTeAZebReYnSLv3fmOU1pxe9v_pku_uPnHqLLaHfP_vi5EzxYuXUj7slBrFRglDdeS3_cHZBuefkn8pv-RBnw-GUBmEOKg2LGN1lw0Xw5_b893oNC7f1kT-DizqBRWJjmj9rPHdAywm9bRvlc8eV2Qwuh2XvXYm9HA_d8em8TMdNAANG9h6fYhQo6/w320-h400/10.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">weaver birds habitat the trees in the area - Nests. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-71191641298284048112022-07-05T09:33:00.000-07:002022-07-05T09:33:36.163-07:00Kanheri Hills Near Thane<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Kanheri Hills is a part of the Sanjay Gandhi National park and it houses an </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">important Airforce station. The entry is restricted and hence most of the forest </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">is devoid of human activity. Good for the fauna and flora. It is supposed to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">contain more than fifty leopards and nine thousand deers and Nilgai. I had an </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">opportunity recently to accompany a group of defence personnel to the top </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">of the hills. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We went up the hill in the jeep and it was a wonderful experience. It was raining </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">throughout the day but my luck held and there was a break of a few hours in </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the afternoon when we went to the hills. There was no need to take out our </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">umbrellas. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWr5yOuRmj9uEhAa88akxMmDK3vYnbuf2cTTNiQZgcIJLEY3cFNpt-jgQal3f0ie8iVNXFoRc6Ryh23hZDM5WnQcZT-aJ2U3W5H3-PMJrI8CWpWKo06XLPS4Eocz-6OofO_zj8Uy4sTZYAZZYXS8qlkLS80Y--dWv2ats7JjR3l7tCjo3EJDJHwSdf/s640/KH1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWr5yOuRmj9uEhAa88akxMmDK3vYnbuf2cTTNiQZgcIJLEY3cFNpt-jgQal3f0ie8iVNXFoRc6Ryh23hZDM5WnQcZT-aJ2U3W5H3-PMJrI8CWpWKo06XLPS4Eocz-6OofO_zj8Uy4sTZYAZZYXS8qlkLS80Y--dWv2ats7JjR3l7tCjo3EJDJHwSdf/w300-h400/KH1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A commonly found plant on the hill </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UhVi4gV5k20A1CWJbi328OoF3dOs470noLBZsIC35P8VnNqCDpY316Zdx07ZsqfQfuV32m3fH-CRiQqUmodllCz8rMiubBJsmso2icM3lfBD_iGKqtngsez8EiNgqKkigVSXQLvm3B_NsjAuQUUPdsFMqOGlpBFgwUgN9PUh3_eQ_HDQQ1q5Pysq/s640/KH2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UhVi4gV5k20A1CWJbi328OoF3dOs470noLBZsIC35P8VnNqCDpY316Zdx07ZsqfQfuV32m3fH-CRiQqUmodllCz8rMiubBJsmso2icM3lfBD_iGKqtngsez8EiNgqKkigVSXQLvm3B_NsjAuQUUPdsFMqOGlpBFgwUgN9PUh3_eQ_HDQQ1q5Pysq/w300-h400/KH2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Air force means business. No prosecution. Intruders to be shot !!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUi-mF0NmdKrleaxmijjeW4wtJ39_PfG8SUPl6XnSC6r8Uunvw2RwCpLQwwIms1TB14KG-WFGUyw-trwHCimTwZxiaFpWekdcb3i1S4s5Qmub9eMcsD0JX26MMuni_jpJRnviOIiyDmuo40BcRcXWHtqkjhIrHY9rb7jQJ3l_QrzHV2GWa56F4gmp/s2016/KH3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUi-mF0NmdKrleaxmijjeW4wtJ39_PfG8SUPl6XnSC6r8Uunvw2RwCpLQwwIms1TB14KG-WFGUyw-trwHCimTwZxiaFpWekdcb3i1S4s5Qmub9eMcsD0JX26MMuni_jpJRnviOIiyDmuo40BcRcXWHtqkjhIrHY9rb7jQJ3l_QrzHV2GWa56F4gmp/w300-h400/KH3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pond formed in the path of a stream. Supposed to be home for a few crocodiles. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrLDB2OnSPGVwtMBfaCY2Y_h7zuvoISvz8vnGHNZHi-A-vTaYU-kBUzGi6d2jt85OzM5KowGejiuOzkcUdhqXc0p7smcuMmFXIvnC8oAw1Dzgp0Si32Zxk5DXcgf5xZlLwKT5jxc2oAa9-POkfEAXzO-x9nfvBeK4b40GUOlsYom397lK2R2pGQxK/s2016/KH4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrLDB2OnSPGVwtMBfaCY2Y_h7zuvoISvz8vnGHNZHi-A-vTaYU-kBUzGi6d2jt85OzM5KowGejiuOzkcUdhqXc0p7smcuMmFXIvnC8oAw1Dzgp0Si32Zxk5DXcgf5xZlLwKT5jxc2oAa9-POkfEAXzO-x9nfvBeK4b40GUOlsYom397lK2R2pGQxK/w300-h400/KH4.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Path leading to the top of the hill</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahjhF0OeW2PJ8DVfpyLaGnJnCVu9ax9c6fPbhOs5VIp4CsZN-2D5fszrjqzfyxFyjrNdTysxgjsYmIUGfOt2g4D7CsIZzn7GWlCqLzOthjRyzFEDFSdTeK7GDOZ69dStk3XsuHcGYfMTUQoZKZV4I1CH3dLSuYjLNRP1ViR9j6EYfvnGrtjrYA5Wg/s2016/KH5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahjhF0OeW2PJ8DVfpyLaGnJnCVu9ax9c6fPbhOs5VIp4CsZN-2D5fszrjqzfyxFyjrNdTysxgjsYmIUGfOt2g4D7CsIZzn7GWlCqLzOthjRyzFEDFSdTeK7GDOZ69dStk3XsuHcGYfMTUQoZKZV4I1CH3dLSuYjLNRP1ViR9j6EYfvnGrtjrYA5Wg/w300-h400/KH5.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the mist covered hill range</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwOq__fgiJMQ79BRsLV-Iui6_xVU_T_PFE9KZW3eiMzc8JsLjcnh4zyw08Rw5hI_1OQNGBtHEf392oLYphqRSAdYqsmzkHmTwZkanhzO18ricBjnBu2Y71kn404pbtM_nxdZQEYrMGrYAqdt1CwpbB_wtiLaZ0m31QeOtRA3Ru4Zv9wPs88K8jj0o/s640/KH6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwOq__fgiJMQ79BRsLV-Iui6_xVU_T_PFE9KZW3eiMzc8JsLjcnh4zyw08Rw5hI_1OQNGBtHEf392oLYphqRSAdYqsmzkHmTwZkanhzO18ricBjnBu2Y71kn404pbtM_nxdZQEYrMGrYAqdt1CwpbB_wtiLaZ0m31QeOtRA3Ru4Zv9wPs88K8jj0o/w300-h400/KH6.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clear water rock crab. Available in large numbers on the hill. I recorded its movement and feeding too but it is a pain posting video in the blog. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u6QuovwGtTVyjpzeZtvsZvLFeBfSyGRvA-ftaLAHcT9tUrcRnvbllzN7dRuiGJkXTZzCUBeWGUc1QOcEYiLAg3lHQu2PfZYLoMZQbXvAkPMSdllX5u5ic_NC_N1ZNJTpiVt17Tg-5BlqApeN4nQyidX9PFcKCKChyH3hwGVDAlSXBAgVxNjhgzxn/s640/KH7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u6QuovwGtTVyjpzeZtvsZvLFeBfSyGRvA-ftaLAHcT9tUrcRnvbllzN7dRuiGJkXTZzCUBeWGUc1QOcEYiLAg3lHQu2PfZYLoMZQbXvAkPMSdllX5u5ic_NC_N1ZNJTpiVt17Tg-5BlqApeN4nQyidX9PFcKCKChyH3hwGVDAlSXBAgVxNjhgzxn/w300-h400/KH7.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another very common plant </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-lYLL60BOwCrbto6ncpy7OgtwQcjqDHNGQ3MAcUQZFOQRw4NSmw99TtKmCHG4I0qC0JIokcdDgbdKC52E37oAktSCkXmcMnDFvuz7QZo1kUl8T9RbhNf35YMutWDzJ3xSp7o51lM5AnMLGCyrzWxGQo2wSuIzn5XD-Ea_5QLBJ7r67z_a_3yV0_Y/s640/KH8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-lYLL60BOwCrbto6ncpy7OgtwQcjqDHNGQ3MAcUQZFOQRw4NSmw99TtKmCHG4I0qC0JIokcdDgbdKC52E37oAktSCkXmcMnDFvuz7QZo1kUl8T9RbhNf35YMutWDzJ3xSp7o51lM5AnMLGCyrzWxGQo2wSuIzn5XD-Ea_5QLBJ7r67z_a_3yV0_Y/w300-h400/KH8.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Single lane track leading to the top of the hill</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44fLFo4pfZMK16qRsj9CXhuT5SfVlcNwxKSA64MuVnmXM3MV2yhiC-LBeH4n_1jvu4FF3JkcQKAqeM-A5ABqVXRW5rUqGGTwfiLv3ngGY5x6dVg8YllDNcrx2EiOz2VLNfx9PHxDYdmmO8njpEn8_qURw3H_VlhmeKhXEH3Y09FyGRt2jhzAC-VTT/w300-h400/KH9.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44fLFo4pfZMK16qRsj9CXhuT5SfVlcNwxKSA64MuVnmXM3MV2yhiC-LBeH4n_1jvu4FF3JkcQKAqeM-A5ABqVXRW5rUqGGTwfiLv3ngGY5x6dVg8YllDNcrx2EiOz2VLNfx9PHxDYdmmO8njpEn8_qURw3H_VlhmeKhXEH3Y09FyGRt2jhzAC-VTT/s2016/KH9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYBUyU7A_hq0YcRKZR_mE9_FdfkIW6kJ_cSxDRPvSyj_7Pk0ghdgCJuJDVkxaeomnRQpOxcseYYZV6mnGEpEha93tfBPCMzvgbaAaLyG9uHHdZot4DwCeNn6fY5mApVrHDZTlazxAgZKkh7m7MEH-JWfcmPXeF50jJT5NFhhDf9f_fw-6SAahU0CM/s2016/KH10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYBUyU7A_hq0YcRKZR_mE9_FdfkIW6kJ_cSxDRPvSyj_7Pk0ghdgCJuJDVkxaeomnRQpOxcseYYZV6mnGEpEha93tfBPCMzvgbaAaLyG9uHHdZot4DwCeNn6fY5mApVrHDZTlazxAgZKkh7m7MEH-JWfcmPXeF50jJT5NFhhDf9f_fw-6SAahU0CM/w300-h400/KH10.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stream </td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y1qaQrVIaTOisqaf1cSG1kPCI5vMWijB_AR8pXhJKOENztiVVxhjJXyw0aP4kJOJGiOJXyc7yLGAASt7Vqb57APh2YHx_KBogd-Sb3Qxp1sj_6CAopLQXaXhJubDwbHSpq3Gb5nr65xsB6Z5ELsb2DRSnww2p7p7wbgNGJ3lMUfg7nncv1Quy25s/s2016/KH11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y1qaQrVIaTOisqaf1cSG1kPCI5vMWijB_AR8pXhJKOENztiVVxhjJXyw0aP4kJOJGiOJXyc7yLGAASt7Vqb57APh2YHx_KBogd-Sb3Qxp1sj_6CAopLQXaXhJubDwbHSpq3Gb5nr65xsB6Z5ELsb2DRSnww2p7p7wbgNGJ3lMUfg7nncv1Quy25s/s320/KH11.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><b id="docs-internal-guid-f2e5ecbb-7fff-6e50-2ea1-926c95b38434" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">It was a nice drive up the narrow, slippery path leading to the top and I rarely </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">get an opportunity to traverse through an area which has no human presence </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">whatsoever.</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">But it was a pity that though the forest is said to be consisting more than fifty </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">leopards and nine thousand deers and nilgai, all we got to see was a lot of mist, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">foliage and plenty of rock crabs. One particular crab posed nicely for my camera </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and demonstrated its moving and feeding. I think that it ate a piece of decaying </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">leaf but am not sure. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">During our return I managed to coax one of the officers of our group to walk with </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">me on the road for some distance and also take a detour to visit a small seasonal </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">waterfall. I have posted some pictures with captions, mostly to record my visit to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the hills. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-75392651927133117922022-07-05T00:10:00.000-07:002022-07-05T00:10:10.181-07:00Vile Parle - A window view <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswvP-ow4b_QbSBsoKL96LZcQOI-9Rx2t9KDuO9xfstO5MBJTsao03o6CpthYu7g26IdtwKpYQl1M7Wx8VTk_ekY1jPq5xYExMtO7TXwXA6tFubgY1VTBns64hSzJYHyGYMQBqqGsc-vN9MMDSSezVBwTnaxNs73Tu54iFAZsh8OKr9ZEpAmrFBAr_/s2016/VP1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswvP-ow4b_QbSBsoKL96LZcQOI-9Rx2t9KDuO9xfstO5MBJTsao03o6CpthYu7g26IdtwKpYQl1M7Wx8VTk_ekY1jPq5xYExMtO7TXwXA6tFubgY1VTBns64hSzJYHyGYMQBqqGsc-vN9MMDSSezVBwTnaxNs73Tu54iFAZsh8OKr9ZEpAmrFBAr_/w300-h400/VP1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij72qFCD6qzbXNUu8nlwS0VH-JsfNGBXkQmgKxslO-LselCYDhze8jwWrnzHm_Qb7jr9rCPJmIIFv9_bb-REfK-FNzPY0PXVoWiBiMeVFUNJkFD1ii-SIeX087ZKenVZIZbN_7aDSeOCj25hJyetDWmloKro96e4TWknfBWIcIix4E-AilctcnWXI1/s2016/VP2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij72qFCD6qzbXNUu8nlwS0VH-JsfNGBXkQmgKxslO-LselCYDhze8jwWrnzHm_Qb7jr9rCPJmIIFv9_bb-REfK-FNzPY0PXVoWiBiMeVFUNJkFD1ii-SIeX087ZKenVZIZbN_7aDSeOCj25hJyetDWmloKro96e4TWknfBWIcIix4E-AilctcnWXI1/w300-h400/VP2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p><br /></p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have just had my lunch and am sitting on the swing in front of the window of </span><p></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: pre-wrap;">the third floor apartment of my host in Mumbai.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The window overlooks the busy traffic junction in the middle of Vile Parle, Mumbai </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and while watching the scene outside my window, I am tempted to imitate my </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">favourite author Ruskin Bond describing the scene outside his famous window.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am unaffected by the traffic, the hustle and bustle and also the drizzle ! Mini </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">trucks and cars wait for the signal to turn green and auto rickshaws and scooters </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">try to manoeuvre their vehicles to the front. A street dog tries to cross the road </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but turns back after almost getting run over by an autorickshaw. In the process of </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reaching the front of the crowd, a scooterist brushes a car and there seems to be </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">an argument. The other road users put the fire out and traffic snails it’s way </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">past the signal. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The mini truck of the sandwich wala is covered by blue plastic protecting him and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">his customers from the continuous drizzle. I am unable to see his activities - </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">which according to my hosts is worth watching.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crows sit on the high electric wires un disturbed by the happenings underneath </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and look out for a bite of lunch. I am lucky to be having a full stomach, thanks to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">my excellent hosts and as I write this, my eyes are tending to close and I prefer </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to stop typing and doze !</span></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-66562667574144874262022-05-07T00:15:00.000-07:002022-05-07T00:15:05.695-07:00Identity Crisis !<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-b10bbbf2-7fff-bc68-3657-86dab2cb89f9" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">A light hearted write up about a recent experience - M S Raghunandan</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">While attempting to grind some stuff in the kitchen a few days back, my wife had </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">some misunderstanding with the mixer/grinder and as a result, the tip of her right </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">middle finger was divided into four. Or, maybe, more! I haven’t made a close </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">examination. We had to rush to a hospital and after both Ola and Uber took us </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">for a ride, I managed to get an octogenarian rickshaw driver to take us there. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">He traversed gingerly through the rush hour traffic for sometime and then his </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">rickshaw brokedown. With some difficulty, I managed to find another rickshaw </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">driver willing to go in the direction of the hospital and we reached there in due </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">course. The emergency section attended to the wound without delay. A picture </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">of the finger was taken and sent to the plastic surgeon. The plastic surgeon </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">said that he would repair the finger in his out patient room, the same morning. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We were asked to report to the plastic surgeon’s OPD on the first floor. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“You contact the reception sir, on the first floor, and they will guide you.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The counter on the first floor guided us to the second counter and the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">second, to the third. A grim faced indifferent lady who seemed to be </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">disinterested in everything around her, and who seemed to have taken </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">a vow never to smile in her life, asked me to self register using something </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">like an Ipad which was on the counter top. I registered, paid the fee, was </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">handed a sheet of paper and asked to handover the same to the staff in </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">room No 20. We were supposed to consult the plastic surgeon Dr Prasad. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The door of room 20 was shut. We sat on a nearby seat and waited for the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">door to open. It opened after about 20 minutes. I handed the sheet of paper </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">to the person who opened it and enquired if Dr Prasad was available. I was </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">told that he was in and asked to wait. The sign on the door said ‘treatment room’. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">People with their limbs swathed in bandages arrived on wheelchairs at frequent </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">intervals and left swathed in fresh bandages. My wife sat holding her hand high </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">with the injured finger pointing to the sky.</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I could get occasional glimpses of the interior of room 20 when the door opened </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">to admit and discharge wheelchairs. There were two examination tables separated </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">by a curtain, a gentleman in dark blue scrubs who seemed to be in charge, two </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">nurses and a person who looked like a helper. Other uniformed staff entered and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">got out at regular intervals. I assumed that the gentleman in dark blue OT scrubs </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">was Dr Prasad. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">After an hour this gentleman in blue scrubs came out of the room to speak to a </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">patient who was waiting on a wheelchair, and I got a chance to read the name, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">embroidered on his chest. It said, Dr Shivaraman, Consultant, Surgery. I was </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">confused. We had been waiting for more than an hour for Dr Prasad who was </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">expected to be in the room and the room only contained Dr Shivaraman! After </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">another twenty minutes one of the nurses came out on some errand. I managed </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">to gather her attention for a few seconds and asked her if we were going to see </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Dr Prasad. She said “Yes. I told you he is busy, please wait and he will see you” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and she shut the door on my face. But, as I could see, there was no Dr Prasad in </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the room, unless he was hiding under a table or behind a cupboard. My confusion </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and anxiety went up by a step. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Another half an hour later we were called inside. Dr Shivaraman removed the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">temporary bandage, washed the wound, examined it and explained to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">us - the status of the injury, possible treatment and the expected outcome. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">He told us that he would suture the wound under local anesthesia and it would </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">take about half an hour to do it. He asked us to wait till he finished his appointed </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">cases which was expected to take about 30 minutes. He seemed knowledgeable </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and confident but he wasn’t Dr Prasad ! That got me worried. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We were told to meet Dr Prasad, were informed that he was present in the room, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and that he would attend. But there was no sign of the elusive Dr Prasad and this </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Dr Shivaraman had taken over ! Nobody seemed to have the time and patience to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">offer any clarification. I knew that sometimes it so happens that when a senior </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">consultant is busy, his juniors would start working on a case and the senior </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">consultant joins later. So we just waited. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">A little later my wife was called in, Dr Shivaraman injected the local and started </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">working on the wound. He was keeping my wife’s attention diverted by some </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">light hearted conversation. I understand that while talking, my wife informed him </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">that I was a dentist and he called me in. He explained the procedure to me once </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">again, showed me what had been done, and why he had opted for the same. He </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">then asked us to wait in his consulting room for completion of formalities and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">further instructions. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I was impressed with his work and in general was satisfied by the way things </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">went. But I wasn’t happy with the switching over of the attending consultant </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">without information to us. I felt that it wasn’t fair and decided to make a </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">mention of the fact in the feedback terminal which I had seen next to the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">registration counter. This matter had been bothering me all the while. But first, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">we had to meet Dr Shivaraman in his chamber. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We did not have to wait long. He was with us within a few minutes. He gave </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">detailed instructions regarding dos and don'ts and wrote out a prescription. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Then he asked if there was anything else that we wanted to know. I got a </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">chance to clear my doubt from the horse’s mouth. I thanked him for his help </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and mentioned that we were expecting Dr Prasad to attend. He looked puzzled </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and said “That’s right. I am Dr Prasad !”. I borrowed his puzzled look, put it on my </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">face and pointed to the embroidered name on his chest. “Oh that,” he laughed </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and said “our OT scrubs get mixed up sometimes and we don't find our own scrubs. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We don't bother about it and wear anything that fits us.” </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I explained the anxiety and apprehension experienced by me due to their casual </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">approach towards OT scrubs and he laughed again. “Please look at my work and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">not the name on my dress. See me after three days for a change of this dressing. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I will see if I can find my OT scrubs by then!” and he walked out of the room before </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I could say anything else. I wanted to tell him that thank god, only the scrubs get </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">mixed up in the OT and not patients. But I did not get the chance !</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">PS : The finger is healing satisfactorily and we are hoping that the next hospital </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">visit, due after three days, will be the last. </span></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881222577236834030.post-20654598289549892922022-04-27T04:25:00.000-07:002022-04-27T04:25:02.234-07:00Banagiri BBMP Park<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just like we, the citizens of Bengaluru, who have successfully destroyed our ‘garden city’ but are valiantly trying to create gardens in the terraces and balconies of our multistoried buildings, our municipal corporation, the BBMP, which has eliminated all the lakes, hills and parks of Bengaluru is now trying to create oases of green, making use of some nooks and corners of our concrete jungle. Anyway, I appreciate the effort. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whenever I gather enough courage to dare the hostile street dogs guarding their territory and enter a new street in the semi-darkness of the early morning, I am pleasantly surprised to find a small, well lit, well maintained oasis of green. A BBMP park. All of them boast, apart from a walking track, many flowering plants, well maintained lawns, trees, benches and an exercise area. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During the last one month of my stay at Padmanabhanagar, Bengaluru, I have found the existence of seven such parks within a radius of one kilometer from my house. The latest and the best being the Banagiri Park behind the well known landmark, the Devegowda petrol pump. Apart from the above-mentioned fixtures of all parks, it also contains half a dozen sturdy street dogs (luckily for me, they did not display any signs of hostility but I did carry a stick with me for my moral support!) and a cement rhinoceros . </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even though I resent the conversion of ‘Banagiri’, which means a ‘woody hill’ in kannada, (Bana meaning a garden/woods and Giri is a hill) into a concrete ‘bana’ I liked the bit of the natural rocks which have been retained in the park, indicating the existence of a hill, sometime back. I felt that it added to the beauty of the park. I think I will mark the park in my walking route, everyday, when I am here. Here are some pictures taken this morning. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRYW7la_QYYoW99V1apZslTXseJlQN87u3KT8qlA3GI7LHLgPuqqPuu_8lXuJR6NNaVBtN3efwf4rjiYeAbGDtbtab-VU5CV9x6DHUZOnjlHZlCMnQdfyzUwQXZwi1IcP4YSdAespsXq_9eT1sS-iZ_cxCcjznTWQ3dkCmCCeK0mVydSWrWl4wPm4/s1800/0D451CA9-9EDF-4952-BF66-607ECA18E0CC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRYW7la_QYYoW99V1apZslTXseJlQN87u3KT8qlA3GI7LHLgPuqqPuu_8lXuJR6NNaVBtN3efwf4rjiYeAbGDtbtab-VU5CV9x6DHUZOnjlHZlCMnQdfyzUwQXZwi1IcP4YSdAespsXq_9eT1sS-iZ_cxCcjznTWQ3dkCmCCeK0mVydSWrWl4wPm4/s320/0D451CA9-9EDF-4952-BF66-607ECA18E0CC.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGM500Iav6ey4P7-mXHnYh5MzdOxkbUgXLNT3o-8j0xWjFsUwDNN1zEd8CcHtWHLvrpqrG8VRwPs_NtzonzS8J0xw9Y-AXGfDIpmEYBbBHWxBYWoQmHb0KW-GCA6xjZkIuPnhnWtVYC9Ft4a98C_tJ-TwAY5gNJOOgEWqPW4I1RsU6xO-TuXL-QrPT/s320/F89EBE40-C992-4E56-B391-3B7E4F0FF713.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><br />M S Raghunandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00647845606867522447noreply@blogger.com1