FINGER PRINT

FINGER PRINTS An uneducated man will not believe that a person can be identified by his finger print. He will argue that all finger prints are identical . I do not know when this science of reading finger prints developed. Each person has a DNA ; so also a unique finger print . It is belied that at least one person will be there, anywhere in the world , looking exactly like me . I would like to see him. But his FP will be different. Even identical twins will have different FP. When we think of the number of persons born in the world each day, you can imagine the variety of FP during one crore years. How God designed such variety in FP , is a mystery. He must have in his mind, the design for future generations too! Mind blogging , is it not? No two stars will be identical; so also man’s FP

NEPAL

LIFE COMES TO A STAND STILL IN NEPAL For want of fuel, life has become difficult in Nepal , since 74 days. Schools, Hospitals and homes are affected. This is a tragedy. India cannot allow this condition to continue. Nepal is the country through which narcotics and arms for Maoists etc. are smuggled into our country. In the interests of Nepal itself , we should send our army to quell the disturbance and restore normalcy

IS ATTACK IN YEMEN

Yemen conflict: Governor of Aden killed in Islamic State attack - BBC News BBC News‎ - 9 hours ago The governor of Yemen's southern port city of Aden is killed in an attack claimed by Islamic ... Yemen's Aden governor killed in blast claimed by ISIL Al Jazeera‎ - 9 hours ago Isis claims responsibility for assassinating governor of Aden The Guardian‎ - 11 hours ago

A VISIT

I happened to visit my friend , who had purchased a house in the colony of our Project . My wife and children were inside , happily exchanging news. His two boys ere chatting with me in the veranda . I noticed a heap of books , not yet bound . When I read it , I found that it was my friend’s autobiography. The author was not there. I asked the children:”Why don’t you keep it in order and get it bound? Unless you sell it , what is the use?” They have a cow and do not know how to sell milk. I said:”Write a board ‘MILK FOR SALE’ and fix it on the way to the river . All people going to take bath in the river will see it.” My wife came out and asked:”We are going to the temple, are you coming?” (it was just a dream)

SECRET INDO-PAK TALKS

Hindustan Times See realtime coverage India, Pakistan NSAs hold breakthrough talks in Bangkok Hindustan Times - ‎1 hour ago‎ The National Security Advisors for India and Pakistan held talks over a range of bilateral issues in Bangkok on Sunday. (Photo credit: MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup's Twitter handle). Related Pakistan » India » India – Pakistan thaw : Dramatic secret meeting of National Security Advisors ...Tehelka India, Pakistan hold NSA-level talks Bangkok, discuss terrorism, KashmirZee News In-depth:Indo-Pakistan NSAs Ajit Doval, Nasir Janjua meet in Bangkok; discuss terrorism

AMBEDKAR REMEMBERED

President Mukherjee, PM Modi remember BR Ambedkar on his 60th death anniversary President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders on Sunday remembered Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar on his 60th death anniversary, which is being observed as 'Mahaparinirvan ...

MEGA FRAUD

Pune businessman dupes 20 lakh investors of Rs 2,000 crore, arrested HT Correspondent, Mumbai | Updated: Dec 06, 2015 08:59 IST Share 8 Share Share Share A Pune-based businessman, who floated various companies, was arrested by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police on Friday night for duping around 20 lakh investors of Rs 2,000 crore. Fifty-six-year-old Balasaheb Bhapkar, managing director and chairman of Sai Prasad Properties Limited, Goa, and Sai Prasad Foods Limited, Pune, collected funds from investors without requisite permissions from the RBI and SEBI, said EOW officials, adding that the companies continued to operate despite both the RBI and SEBI sending them legal notices. The authorities are now on the lookout for at least five others, including two women and Bhapkar’s son, who could be involved in the racket. Bhapkar, meanwhile, was produced before a local court and was remanded in police custody till December 10. The EOW has currently frozen 193 bank accounts in 15 banks that hold Rs74 crore in connection with the case. “The investors were promised returns of 12% to18% via daily/monthly/ yearly schemes. There are numerous sister concern companies to which the funds have been rerouted,” said Dhananjay Kamlakar, joint commissioner of police, EOW, adding the companies already have five criminal cases registered against them in Gwalior, Jaipur and Chhattisgarh, with one case being probed by the CBI. The companies have holdings of 1,600 acres of land, parts of which they gave as collateral returns, after people invested money. Over a period of time, the companies inked agreements in lieu of land beyond their holding capacity, said police officers. The sister concern companies of the two main firms are into petroleum, energy and property development businesses, said officials, adding that the money collected from investors might have been invested in these businesses. I nterestingly, SEBI had launched an enquiry in 2010 against the companies, but l odged a for mal complaint with the Mumbai police only a month ago. After the complaint, a team of 50 EOW personnel was formed and simultaneous raids were conducted at 30 places, including 27 offices and three residential apartments, across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Goa. The teams seized 60 computer hard disks and Rs 60 lakh during the raids.

A NEW POLITICAL PARTY IN KERALAM

A NEW POLITICAL PARTY IN KERALAM Vellapally Natesan has formally inaugurated his new part with a separate emblem, a flag and a name. He claims his party is secular . There are a number of parties in this small state of Keralam; the new party will split the votes of CPM

PRACTICAL BIOLOGY

PRACTICAL BIOLOGY My grand daughter in Australia was very excited when she was given a live goat for dissection. She watched the heart beating . This gives me the idea that here in India too , we can give this chance to our students. Take them to a butcher. He will allow them to cut it. A fowl or goat may be dissected at Christian homes. The presence of a teacher is essential to explain the different organs . Any number of lessons in the text will not serve this purpose. Snakes are killed unnecessarily , because they are our friends ; they eat rats. After killing them no one dissects them. I too like to see the inside. I know that their lungs occupy almost the whole of the body. That is why they can run so fast . I like to see their sex organs. One cannot recognize which is male or female . Their digestive juice is the most powerful among animals . They dissolve even skeletons. We never see their droppings! Once I asked a foolish question to a fisherman:”Do fish have blood ?”, because I have not seen blood oozing from a fish, when it is cut. He looked at me in surprise:” Yes , they have a heart “ The reason why blood is not coming out , is still a mystery

THINNEST PLATE

Thinnest plates that can be manipulated by hand developed Press Trust of India | Washington December 4, 2015 Last Updated at 13:57 IST Tiny URL Add to My Page 21 ALSO READ Thinnest plates that can be picked up by hand created Scientists use graphene to create world's thinnest lightbulb Athiya, Sooraj walk IBFW ramp hand-in-hand Miranda Kerr goes hand-in-hand strolling with Snapchat's Evan Spiegel Dell launches 'world's thinnest' tab Researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have developed the thinnest plates ever that can be picked up by hands and can spring back to original shape even after being bent and twisted. The plates are thousands of times thinner than a sheet of paper and hundreds of times thinner than household cling wrap or aluminium foil, researchers said. Like cling wrap, comparably thin materials immediately curl up on themselves and get stuck in deformed shapes if they are not stretched on a frame or backed by another material. Being able to stay in shape without additional support would allow this material, and others designed on its principles, to be used in aviation and other structural applications where low weight is at a premium. "Materials on the nanoscale are often much stronger than you'd expect, but they can be hard to use on the macroscale," said Igor Bargatin, professor at University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering in US. "We've essentially created a freestanding plate that has nanoscale thickness but is big enough to be handled by hand. That hasn't been done before," said Bargatin. Other atomically thin films like those made of graphene typically need to be stretched like a canvas in a frame, or even mounted on a backing, to prevent them from curling or clumping up on their own. "The problem is that frames are heavy, making it impossible to use the intrinsically low weight of these ultra-thin films," Bargatin said. "Our idea was to use corrugation instead of a frame. That means the structures we make are no longer completely planar, instead, they have a three-dimensional shape that looks like a honeycomb, but they are flat and contiguous and completely freestanding," he said. "It's like an egg carton, but on the nanoscale," said Prashant Purohit, an associate professor at the university. The researchers' plates are between 25 and 100 nanometres thick and are made of aluminium oxide, which is deposited one atomic layer at a time to achieve precise control of thickness and their distinctive honeycomb shape. Once finished, the plates' corrugation provides enhanced stiffness. When held from one end, similarly thin films would readily bend or sag, while the honeycomb plates remain rigid. This guards against the common flaw in un-patterned thin films, where they curl up on themselves. The plates could be used to make wings for insect-inspired flying robots, or in other applications where the combination of ultra-low thickness and mechanical robustness is critical. "The thinnest man-made wing material I know of is made by depositing a Mylar film on a frame, and it's about half a micron thick," said Bargatin. "Our plates can be ten or more times thinner than that, and don't need a frame at all. As a result, they weigh as little as than a tenth of a gram per square metre," he said. The research was published in the journal Nature Communications.

NOBEL PRIZE

NOBEL PRIZE I AM NOT BOASTING . My thesis on photosynthesis is original and explains a process which is taught in schools . I published it in my blog and sent it to various universities the world over . Few responded positively . Recently my name was nominated for the prestigious Nobel prize , but got no response. I read in the ‘google news’ similar experience by another scientist , who felt that the Swedish Academy has never given a prize to Asiatic scientists. There never appeared any winners of Nobel Prize from China or Russia. These two countries are in the vanguard in research in science. Tolstoy ‘s ‘War and Peace ‘ failed to receive attention. An unknown author Boris Pasternak won the prize because he exposed the Communist system in Russia. My suggestion is to form a parallel commission by the Government of India, exclusively for Asian countries, including Russia . Your comments may be sent to my email address Anujan1933@gmail.com

FIRE BOMB ATTACK

16 killed in firebomb attack on nightclub in Egypt Last Updated: Friday, December 4, 2015 - 17:59 0 SHARES Facebook Twitter 1 Comment Cairo: At least 16 people, including five women, were killed today in a firebomb attack on a nightclub here by three motorcycle-borne masked assailants who threw Molotov cocktails on it, apparently after a dispute with the club's staff over their entry. The Ministry of Interior, in a statement, said a preliminary investigation indicated that the attack happened after a dispute between the nightclub staff and a group of youths, who then threw Molotov cocktails at the main entrance of El Sayad nightclub-cum-restaurant, located about 5km from the iconic Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo. The incident was apparently not motivated by terrorism, the ministry said, adding that 11 men and five women were killed and three others injured in the attack. Police have launched a manhunt to nab the attackers who carried out the attack on the nightclub in the Agouza district because they were previously not allowed to enter, state news agency MENA reported. A thick cloud of smoke was seen billowing from the fire-ravaged nightclub. The youths had attacked the main entrance of the nightclub with about 15 Molotov bottles and birdshots. They used motorcycles to escape after the incident. Cairo has previously been rocked by a series of attacks on security forces and civilians carried out by suspected Islamist militants. An Islamist insurgency intensified in the wake of the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi in 2013.

PANCHANGAM

MALAYALAM PANCHANGAM PANCHANGAM One thousand one hundred and eighty five years ago, when none in the west knew about planets, namboodiries of Keralam made the first and only scientific calendar in the world! This followed accurate observation of the night sky, with naked eyes, so that they could predict the eclipse.(My grand mother could mention the time,simply looking at the night sky ).The elaborate calculations, involving calculus, is done without paper and pencil, using pebbles, the necessary technique having been handed over to the present day to one or two families. The panchang is not merely a calendar. It shows planetary positions during the twelve months and includes prediction of monsoon rains and a lot information about njattuvelas as guidance for farmers. A njattuvela is a fortnight. Even in my childhood, our farmers could predict the coming of rains so that ploughing could start in advance! Aryabhattan (a bhattadiri ) is credited with the necessary astronomical skills and Samkaracharya started the local era known as kollavarsham .The day was divided into sixty nazhikas. Each nazhika was divided into sixty vinazhikas. The method of determining a vinazhika using a vessel with a hole floated in water,has been prescribed in the Bhagavatam;it was a real surprise to me.In the panchang, time of the day, which begins with sun rise, not the idiotic midnight, is noted in terms of nazhika and vinazhika. Muhurth is also mentioned accordingly.Remember that, in the west, the year was divided into ten months initially.October, November and December denotes the eighth, ninth and tenth month. In contrast, in Malayalam panchang there is no leap year.Each year is calculated with accurate reference to the movement of the sun, obviating the need for a leap year. Buy a panchang and see for yourself. Useful information in the panchang is reproduced in Malayalam calendars.

CHENNAI FLOOD

CHENNAI FLOOD Continuous downpour during the last fortnight has flooded the whole city. It reminds me of the flood in Srinagar , a few yeas back. That time too , people had to escape to the terrace and food dropped by helicopters . This time , the area is more and the number of people affected is more than one lakh. It must be remembered that the rainfall is over the sea too , the water level of the sea goes up and the flow from the rivers is retarded. This fact is ignored in the endless discussions in the TV channels. Some people blame the administration. I think it is meaningless. Calamities do occur in nature. One point to be stressed, is the preparedness of the administration. Special permanent, trained teams must be ready , like the fire extinguishers.

COFFEE

According to a new study, drinking three to four cups of coffee per day can reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

DEMOLITION OF BABRI MASJID, 6-12-1992

DEMOLITION OF BABRI MASJID, 6-12-1992 BABRI MASJID Babar was the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India. He built a mosque at Ayodhya, where Hindus claim, stood a temple of Ram. In 1962, there was a movement, spearheaded by Hindu fanatics, to demolish the mosque and build the original temple there. On 6-12-1992, the structure, which was a historic monument, was destroyed, followed be terrorist attacks by Muslims in Bombay. Now the enquiry commission has come to the conclusion that, it was a conspiracy by leaders of the Hindutwa movement, and not a spontaneous mass movement that resulted in the demolition of Babri Masjid. Earlier, there used to be Hindu-Muslim riots, in parts of India, but terrorism was practically unknown. All this changed after 6-12-1992. Davood Ibrahim, living in Pakistan, conspired terror strikes against India. Hindu terrorists too became a reality. Black money and illegal arms trade played their own role in this game. Now, things are out of control. In today’s paper, details have come, of how the Government of Uttar Pradesh posted police officers, Magistrate etc. sympathetic to their cause, so that none tried to preserve the historic monument when some people climbed up on top of the roof and started pulling it down, in the presence of TV camera ! This is India, our precious democracy.

SUGARCANE

SUGARCANE Sugarcane plant makes sweet sugar , which is of no use to the plant. Why does it do so? Manufacture of sugar is the biggest consumer industry in the world. Supposing that each person eats half KG sugar in a month, total in a year is 365multiplied by two=730. This figure is to be multiplied by world population. Can you do it? For manufacture of sweets and for use in tea stalls , extra sugar is used. Now you can imagine the quantity of sugar presented to us by this plant . How many people get employment? Thank you, cane tree!

JUDICIARY IS OVERBURDENED-Bare foot magistrates are needed

JUDICIARY IS OVERBURDENED-Bare foot magistrates are needed According to a retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, half the judges down the line , are corrupt. He will not say this without base. It is well known that a ‘stay order’ can be issued, if you pay Rs. 500 to a Magistrate. The Judges too must be brought under the Lok Ayukth. Another tragedy is the number of cases pending for years. If a jail-mate has spent more time inside the jail than the time his crime requires under the law, he must be released ipso facto. Now women convicts deliver children in the jail ; why should the children spend time in jail? A third point is false witnesses. There should be stringent punishment for them. They get money from the Police and the clients. All judicial posts must be filled by mass recruitment. Honest third class magistrates (bare foot magistrates , like the bare foot doctors of China –it was a temporary phase) must hold public hearing in all taluk offices , to here complaints and settle the cases then and there.

DOWNFALL OF MODI-COME BACK OF THE CONGRESS

DOWNFALL OF MODI-COME BACK OF THE CONGRESS The lessons of the grand victory of the Indian National Congress , in Gujarath Panchayat elections , where it trounced BJP , (20 out of 31), are worth analyzing.Congess is the only party having a nationwide base, from Nagaland to Kanyakumary. It was the Nehruvian economic policy and dependence on Russia’s friendship , that laid the foundations of a strong India. The five year plans modeled after the Stalin era , emphasizing growth in heavy industry, like steel, and dams , railways etc. made our country a strong nation. Manmohan Singh became a stooge of the US imperialism and abandoned this policy and brought in globalistion. Is said that his first budget was drafted in Washington ! Corruption flourished . The people were fed up and looked at Narendra Mod as a messiah, to save India . He had proved gem in his rule of Gujarath . In parliamentary elections, the Congress was wiped out. Modi promised the moon and to bring back black money from the Swiss Bank . But he followed the same policies as Manmohan Sing. Prices went up . Not a penny was brought from the Swiss Bank. He toured the whole world . The electorate taught him a good lesson in Bihar and now in Gujarath. Dictatorship and hierarchy in the Congress Party should stop. It should be modeled after the Democratic and Republican Parties in the United States.

CARBON DIOXIDE

IS CARBON DIOXIDE THE VILLAIN? Billions of tons of CO2 is discharged into the air, by annual forest fires. Compared to this, CO2 emission from factories is just pea nuts. What happens to this carbon compound? CO2 is heavier than air . You can pour it from one glass tumbler to another, like water. Another property is its solubility in water. The major part of this gas falls on the surface of sea water, which absorbs it . This dissolved CO2 is the raw material with which miniscule molecules of plankton make starch for the fish population, which is thousands of times bigger than animals . The CO2 in the land surface is is hungrily swallowed by trees and grass. The result is that percentage of CO2 in the atmosphere is very stable . In fact oxygen percentage has slightly increased. The politicians (Heads of Governments ) are vainly discussing climate changes , without consulting scientist .

MAOISTS IN SILENT VALLEY

MAOISTS IN SILENT VALLEY Silent valley is a thick forest area near Palakad. Recently a group of Maoists was spotted in that area and the army decided to chase them. They surrounded the guerillas from both sides and began the attack. After some time the Maoists escaped into thick forests. Tribal people in the area told the army men that two female guerillas had come and purchased provisions etc. and paid them 300 rupees. It was from these people, that the Army got news of Maoist presence. Maoist literature has been seen even in Koch. The need is to develop the tribal area , by providing the people schools , houses etc. Army is not the answer.

SEVENTH PAY COMMISSION

SEVENTH PAY COMMISSION Central Government employees are unhappy with the recommendations of the seventh Pay Commission. The Unions point out that the take home pay, after deductions , is less than what they get now. They observed a black day, by wearing dark badges. The picture painted by the media , is illusory, they say. Pension liability is more than the salary bill. Normally pension is half the pay at retirement. This means that there are more than double serving employees. With better health services, longevity has gone up. So far as pensioners are concerned , there are no deductions and so people like me should be happy. To cut the salary expenses , recruitments must be stopped. Employees must work hard and cope up with reduced number of staff.

A UNIQUE TEMPLE

A UNIQUE TEMPLE On the way to Pazhur , we saw an unfinished temple. It is just a big hall , with no roof. There is an icon at each corner . A poojary was doing pooja when we went there. I asked a fellow the name of the place. “This is a small place; the town is far away.” “How long ago did you begin construction?” “Only thee years ago” “At least a roof is a must”. There was no bhandar for dropping money. Local people must be poor. I thought I will collect money after reaching our place. But when I enquired , no one has seen it , on the way to Pazhur.... Then I woke up from my dream.

FILM CENSORSHIP

FILM CENSORSHIP IS NO MORE RELEVANT The law regarding censorship of films came into existence before the internet became popular. Now even pornographic scenes can be seen in the net. Why continue this farce of censorship?

ACTOR SREEKUMAR IS ALIVE

ACTOR JAGATHY SREEKUMAR IS ALIVE Jagathy Sreekumar , Malayalam film actor and comedian, met with an accident and remained in coma for several years . Then he became conscious and responded to his family . He was shown in TV channels and we all were very happy. Yesterday, through facebook, the news spread that he is dead. I have no words to describe this heinous crime . Is there any legal remedy?

GOT ONE CRORE LOTTERY

IF SOMEONE GETS ONE CRORE AS LOTTERY, IT IS NEWS An overseer named Sreenivasan , aged forty , a Keralite, was forced to buy a KARUNYA lottery ticket by the vender, a woman. He bought it as a charity and won one crore rupees

LIVER CELLS GROWN IN TEST TUBE

Zee News Functional human liver cells grown in lab Business Standard - ‎6 hours ago‎ Scientists have successfully grown human liver cells in the laboratory using a new technique that allows the cells to proliferate rapidly without losing their unique metabolic function.

GLIMPSES OF THE PAST-A WONDER CALLED ISRAEL

GLIMPSES OF THE PAST-A WONDER CALLED ISRAEL The Jews were persecuted by Hitler who kept them in concentration camps and tortured and killed many men and women. During and after the end of the war, they gravitated towards THE LAND OF THEIR ANCESTORS and fought against the desert and converted it into fertile land. If the Western powers ignored the new development , the Arabs and Jews could have lived like brothers. In 1948, they allowed the Jews to declare a new State called Israel, sowing the seeds of hatred and prolonged war between the two. In a way, now they (the Western Powers ) are paying the price of their policy- the Arabs have formed the IS. Ironically , Israel is a Socialist State. Industry is owned by the State.

PROHIBITION IN BIHAR

NITISH KUMAR ANNOUNCED PROHIBITION Bihar Chief Minister Nithish Kumar announced prohibition in his State, with effect from 1-4-2016. He says this is to help women , as their husbands spend a lot of money on liquor. It is ideal but not practical. Men familiar with alcohol, will have it anyway. It will go underground. Policemen who must enforce the law , are themselves drunkards. Illicit liquor is easily available even in Gujarath , where prohibition is in force for a long time. I suggest that Nithish must reconsider his decision

GURU NANAK JAYANTHY

TODAY IS GURU NANAK JAYANTHY Guru Nanak pronunciation (help•info)[1] (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ; Hindi: गुरु नानक, Urdu: گرونانک, [ˈɡʊɾu ˈnɑnək] Gurū Nānak) (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539) All over Panjab , this day is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Nanak did not like Hinduism , dominated by Brahminism. He considered all castes equal. In Gurudwaras, people belonging to all religions are allowed. When Muslims attacked them , Sikhs resisted them and was on the vanguard of the resistance movement.

MANUSMRITHY

MANUSMRITHY The sage Manu prescribed the code of conduct for women. In childhood , the girl is to be escorted by the father, the woman is protected by the husband and in old age the son is the guardian. At no stage, a woman deserves freedom. This is for their safety; if it is observed, rape cases can be averted.

CHRISTIANS IN INDIA

CHRISTIANS IN INDIA Christians came to Keralam , even before Christianity gained currency in Europe. They came through the sea route and spread in Travencore . They easily adopted Hindu customs . Today many Churches have the ‘sthamham’ (pillar) seen in front of Hindu temples . Many liked Hindu names . Their service in spreading education , both English and local Malayalam is remarkable . They went in tribal areas and educated the people who had no religion . In Nagaland , English is their Mother tongue! If in the process, many adopted their religion , we should not grudge. Their motto is service, most nurses are Christians . There never was a Christian-Hindu conflict. In contrast , Muslims retained rigorously, their customs . They use veils , go to ‘madrasa’ and spread violence everywhere. The IS terrorists belong to Muslims

HYBRID CARS

HYBRID CARS Ford , the pioneers in car making , has invented a technology for using electricity produced by a generator , for running the car. This is what the train engine is doing. It is actually an electric train Progressive hybrid provides the option of plugging in – or not To enhance the hybrid experience, maximize battery capability by plugging in the standard 120V convenience cord or available 240V home charging option Best of both worlds – drive like an electric vehicle for short trips and a hybrid for long ones There are options for fully electrified cars using diesel too. The cost is a bit higher .

FIM STARS

Film stars can, by their presence, cheer up unfortunate people like inmates of jails, orphanage for children etc. Singers among them can sing . On their birth days, they can give them a feast.

RUSSIAN WAR

RUSSIA MEANS BUSINESS Russia is waging a war against IS. The venue is Cyria. They are bombarding the IS headquarter , from the air and the sea; so far , they have not succeeded in landing there. Russia has notified the world that forty Nations are financing IS; they have not named the countries. But this is a serious charge and United Nations must intervene to avoid blood shed. The Nations abetting terror must be punished .

MANGO ACHAR (PICKLE)

KADUMANGA (MANGO) ACHAR RECIPE It is really simple. One KG very tender mangoes, 250 gm. chilli powder and 125 gm. mustard powder, with salt to taste. Quantity of chilli may be increased to give a kick, like strong tea! Children will not be able to take it! Choosing the tree is most important. Nowadays, because of great demand, all sorts of mangoes are used. It becomes a fraud, even to call it kadumanga. Some namboodiri families have the suitable trees. The tender mango will give plenty of pungent, sticky juice, when you remove the stalk. The mango will taste very sour. These are the two indications. As the mangoes are collected at a very tender stage, the weight will be much less. So it is very costly. METHOD OF PREPARATION The mangoes should be mixed with salt (only experience will teach how much) and kept for a week. Never add even a drop of water. The juice will ooze out from the fruits and must be segregated and strained The chilli and mustard powder may be added and mixed thoroughly to give a thick liquid to which the mangoes, which will change colour slightly and shrink during this period, must be added. Keep the pickles in a bharani (glazed earthen jar), cover with a cloth piece dipped in oil and close the vessel air tight. Every time the jar is opened, the oily cloth must be replaced with a fresh one. All this can be avoided if small jars are used, which may be kept in the fridge. It is desirable to fill the container to the full, so that no air remains inside. A few cashew nuts, with the hard shell intact, may be added as a preservative. Keep it, at least for three months, to mature. Ambalapilly namboodiri family at Cherpu-Chenam sells good quality kadumanga.

RAIBOW COLOURS

CLOSE YOUR EYES AND ‘SEE’ RAINBOW COLOURS Most of us forget that we have eye lids , shutters to close the eyes. It is advisable to close these windows, to prevent dust entering the eyes which are the most important gadgets in our system. Have you ever closed the eyes and observe anything? After a few seconds, wonderful colours will appear . The light sensitive nerves in the retina excite the ‘rods and cones’ in the retina and send digital pictures to the brain. According to the intensity of light , the clours change. Look at an object for a few minutes and close the eyes: you may see that object in black and white! Eyes consume maximum energy . That is why we close our eyes , when we are dead tired. Unlike other animals , our eyes can speak; lovers know it!

SABARIMALA TEMPLE

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF MALAYALAM MONTH VRISCHIKAM As usual , we went to Guruvayoorappan temple in Delhi. We reached there before Sun rise and came back by 8 AM. The Mandala pooja at Ayyappa temple in Shabarimala also begins today and ends on 26-12-2015, when Makarajyodi appears on a distant hill. Devotees believe it as a celestial event. The tradition is that women cannot enter the temple before menopause. Still , collection of money offered by devotees, is more than that at Guruvayoor temple. Staff of a Bank remain there to count cash and deposit it in the Bank , during this period There is a proposal to declare it as a national temple . for which the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will come here.

NEUTRAL GENDER

25000 trans sex (neither man nor women )people in Keralam have been recognized as citizens by the Government. I appreciate it

FIG

Figs and Health: According to the USDA, figs are one of the highest sources of fiber and calcium. Figs have antioxidants and a laxative effect on the body. Figs contain fiber, magnesium, copper, manganese, calcium and vitamins A,B,C and K. Besides these vitamins, the figs also contain folic acid, sodium and zinc. Benefits of the figs: - Figs are rich in potassium and fiber, helping to stabilize the blood pressure of the body. The figs contain anti-diabetic and anti-tumor properties. They have calcium, potassium, and soluble fiber, which aids in the reduction of cholesterol. - Figs promote good sleeping habits and protect the person against insomnia. They increase your energy, promote stronger bones, and are helpful in treating constipation, due to their laxative effect. If the leaves are mashed, they can be used as a skin cleanser for acne and pimples. - Figs lessen the acids in the stomach and therefore are great for pregnant women. Figs also increase sexual desire and promote overall longevity and good health.

ARTIFICIAL KIDNEY

NEWS alternative to kidney transplantation. Prototype of implantable artificial kidney developed Image Source: Youtube screengrab Scientists have developed a coffee-cup-sized prototype of a surgically implantable artificial kidney that uses a silicon nanofilter to remove toxins, salts and other molecules from the blood. The advance could be a promising alternative to kidney transplantation or dialysis for people with end stage renal disease (ESRD), researchers said. "We aim to conduct clinical trials on an implantable, engineered organ in this decade, and we are coordinating our efforts with both the NIH (US National Institutes of Health) and the US Food and Drug Administration," said Shuvo Roy, from University of California, San Francisco in US. Researchers prototyped and tested key components of the coffee-cup-sized device, which mimics functions of the human kidney. One component of the new artificial kidney is a silicon nanofilter to remove toxins, salts, some small molecules, and water from the blood. Bangladesh born Roy's research team designed the device based on manufacturing methods used in the production of semiconductor electronics and microelectromechanical systems. The new silicon nanofilters offer several advantages - including more uniform pore size - over filters now used in dialysis machines, according to Roy, who led the research together with William Fissell, a professor at the Vanderbilt University in US. The silicon nanofilter is designed to function on blood pressure alone and without a pump or electrical power. Fissell said the project's goal is to create a permanent solution to the scarcity problem in organ transplantation. "We are increasing the options for people with chronic kidney disease who would otherwise be forced onto dialysis," Fissell added. The artificial kidney being developed by Roy and Fissell is designed to be connected internally to the patient's blood supply and bladder and implanted near the patient's own kidneys, which are not removed. The research was presented at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week in US.

THE WEST IS LOSING, ISLAMIC STATE IS WINNING

THE WEST IS LOSING, ISLAMIC STATE IS WINNING The attack in Paris in which more than 150 people died , show our helplessness in defending our territory from IS attacks They can choose their target well in advance and train their warriors. In CYRIA, the IS have CATURED TERRITORY AND COUNTLESS NUMBER OF IS MEN ARE FIGHTING. Russia and the US are bombing them and shelling from the sea . So far , no gain for them. Where do they get arms and ammunition? These are manufactured in factories in the private sector in the US. Unless we prevent the sale of these items, we cannot root out the menace.

BATH

ENNA THECHU KULI MAY CAUSE COLD Keralites have the habit of rubbing oil in the hair, before taking bath. Most people are suffering from cold and fever. I was no exception. The oil form a thin film over the skin, preventing free sweating, by clogging the opening of the glands. In fact, the skin is producing oil. This is washed off when we take bath, inducing the skin to produce more oil. If we smear oil, the skin will not make oil. I had stopped using oil before bath, after I left Keralam 50 years ago; now I am free from cold.

SIKH COMMUNITY

THE SIKH (SARDAR ) COMMUNITY IS AGITATED Sarbat (covering all sections ) Khalsa was held on tenth of this month, attended by a massive crowd. The purpose was to discuss unity among Silks and ways to improve the working of SGPC , the body entrusted with the running of the temple at Amrithsar. This time the meeting was called by rebels in the community. The Sikhs were never happy with the ‘blue star’ operation by the army , to overpower Bindranwale, who had made a fortress of the temple and was planning to declare a free state of Punjab , according to Russian intelligence sources, who informed Indira Gandhi. Bindranwale has been deified and installed in a temple, inside the main temple. All devotees pray there and offer money . The present sarbat is an attempt to revive the rebellion of Bindranwale and should cause concern. At least more autonomy may be give to the State. Being the border with Pakistan, we cannot afford to displease the Sikh community

INSTANT POET

INSTANT POET – KODUNGALLUR KUNJUKUTTAN THAMPURAN During the feudal days, knowedge of Latin and Greek was the criterion for recognising a gentleman, as a learned man. English was not considred a language. There was much opposition to translating bible into English. Almost a similar approach was noticeable in India. Here Samskrutam was the language of the elite. All dicussions and philosophical debates were in that language, including poetry, drama etc. The poet who first wrote his poetry in Malayalam was rediculed as a half poet! Malaayala had no grammar even. It was just a dialect. More than half of its words were borrowed from Tamil. When, the writers began using it, they added Samskrutam words liberally. Today, it is a mixture of both. English phrases were blindly translated into Samskrutised Malayalam. Konakam, a piece of cloth used as cover to hide private parts, became coupeenam. Kodungallur Kunjukuttan Thampuran (K.T.), a close friend of my maternal grandfather, who was very intelligent and took interest in literature and arts, from whom I must have inherited something in this direction, translated the whole MAHABHARATAM into simple Malayalam sans Samskrutam words. I strongly recommend this book to every Keralite, as our great epic is not only the greatest anti-war propaganda, but it is a source of wisdom. They say, there is nothing that is not found in this book. There is an anecdot about how K.T. was doing his translation. Hearing about this great venture, the populr poet Vallathol, who established Kalamandalam, at Cheruthuruti, Shoranur, near Bharatapuzha, went to see him. K.T., who was concentrating on a thick volume and dictating to three men well versed in the art of hearing, retaining in memory a whole stanza and writing down at lightning speed, as there is no short hand in my language. Vallathol thought he was dictating what he had already written in the book. When he came close, his surprise knew no bounds to see that K.T. WAS INDEED CONCENTATING ON THE SAMSKRUTAM TEXT AND DICTATING THE MALAYALAM VERSION ! As he cannot wait even for a moment, he engaged three men. He took no time in doing the tranlation into Malayalam. If his writers forgot something and wanted K.T. TO REPEAT A PARTIULAR STANZA, HE WOLD SAY A NEW ONE ! Now, if some one is able to perform such a feat, he will find a mention in the Guinness BOOK OF RECORDS

STORY-UNEXPECTED

STORY-UNEXPECTED Every Sunday , I used to go to the Public Library . One day , a young , fair lady passed by me and stopped. She smiled and wished my good morning :”Are you not Sham”, she asked. “Yes . And you? How do you know my name?” “I came to your Thaluk office . I am Sunitha , My family is Paliyam” “That is a big aristocratic family ; you used to rule that area” “That was long ago ; now we are bankrupt” “I cannot believe it. Come, we will sit in the garden and talk” We became friends. “We are a large tharavad. After land reforms, we lost our land . Men indulged in drinking and sold our home land , piece by piece” “You can approach the Court and get an injunction” “That is all cumbersome. Let us marry and take me out of this hell.” “Take me to your home ; I shall approach your father.“ The next Sunday we went to her home. She categorically said that she will marry me only. They enquired about my details and were satisfied. Then I took her to my house . Mother was glad because she had been pressing me for marriage . Now both familie met and date of marriage was also fixed. We were walking along the road . A speeding motor bike knocked her down. People surrounded her and took her to the hospital. Doctor did surgery and then told me: “She may never conceive” I never told her .

PHOBOS

PHOBO Mars has two satellites (moons) . One of these named Phobos, shows several cracks n its body which could have been caused by collision with another celestial body. These cracks are widening and eventually , may break up the moon Phobos, in million of years.

CONGRATULATIONS,SUU KYI

Aung San Suu Kyi has won by landslide victory ,as ruling party conceded defeat in Myanmar's first free elections in 25 years • Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy has won by land slide victory .The 70-year-old led the campaign for democracy in the country, which is currently ruled by a military dictatorship • But a military constitution, condemned as 'very silly' by Suu Kyi, means she will not be made president herself • Nobel Peace Prize winner spent 20 years under house arrest until 2010 ,when military refused to accept 1990 victory. She is the only lady ruler in the world today

END OF CONGRESS RULE IN KERALAM

END OF CONGRESS RULE IN KERALAM The resignation of Mani , Finance Minister , involved in bribery case , is likely to hasten the extinction of Congress rule in Keralam. Already dead horse in the rest of India , this party survived in this State , by the solid backing of Christians and Muslims. The Panchayath elections revealed the fact that people have realized the fact that these religions were only exploiting their sentiments , to exploit them. We can safely bet that Communists will win convincingly, in the elections due in May 2016

PLUTO

Pluto is the most distant planet from the earh and we know very little abut it , Now scientists have succeeded in taking pictures of this planet. "Washington: Scientists, using data from Nasa’s New Horizons spacecraft, have discovered what may be giant ice-spewing volcanoes on the surface of Pluto, providing an important new clue to the icy-dwarf planet’s geologic and atmospheric evolution. New Horizons geologists have combined images of Pluto’s surface to make 3-D maps that indicate that two of Pluto’s most distinctive mountains could be cryovolcanoes — ice volcanoes that may have been active in the recent geological past."

CATERACT IS DUE TO AGING

Here’s good news for all those who’ve postponed their cataract operations because of fear. Scientists, including one of Indian-origin, have discovered a new chemical that could be added to eye drops to help clear up cataracts, the leading cause of blindness. Although cataracts can be successfully removed with surgery, this approach is expensive, and most individuals blinded by severe cataracts in developing countries go untreated, researchers said. Cataracts are primarily a disease of ageing. As is seen in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, a hallmark of the condition is the misfolding and clumping together of crucial proteins. In the case of cataracts, the affected proteins are known as crystallins. They are the major component of fibre cells, which form the eyes’ lenses, and the unique properties of these cells make them particularly susceptible to damage, said Jason Gestwicki, from University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), co-senior author of the research paper.

MODIISM IS DEAD

MODIISM IS DEAD The results of the election to the Bihar assembly , in which Nitish Kumar routed his opponent Narendra Modi , by an overwhelming majority , clearly show that the Hinduthwa agenda is counterproductive. The grand alliance of Nitish and Lalu Yadav , in which the Congress and now Mulayam Singh Yadav has also joined , has posed a great challenge to Modi, who may not win the next election. The Panchayath election in Kerala State results of which came one day earlier, show that the support of Christians and Muslims which supported the corrupted Ooman Chandi government has been totally rejected by the electorate. In Malappuram District which was the preserve of Muslim League, whose Minister was in charge of education, which earned the notoriety of being the worst Department of the Government, (even text books could not be supplied to the schools, even after six months ) fared badly in the election. Their strong hold in Kondoti, Tirur and Ponnani were captured by Communists. This also shows that Communal Politics do not pay. On the whole, elections in the state have shown that the people have become wise and votes can be gained only by good governance.

NEWS FROM CHINA

1,300-Year-Old Tree Found in Central China World | Press Trust of India | Updated: November 06, 2015 00:52 IST EMAIL PRINT 2 COMMENTS 1,300-Year-Old Tree Found in Central China The taxus chinensis tree (a species of yew) was found in Shunhuangshan National Forest Park in Dong'an County in the city of Yongzhou. Beijing: An endangered tree species believed to be more than 1,300 years old has been found during a census of ancient tress in central China's Hunan Province, officials said today. The taxus chinensis tree (a species of yew) was found in Shunhuangshan National Forest Park in Dong'an County in the city of Yongzhou. It has a height of 35 metres and a diameter of 2.2 metres, the county's forestry bureau said. There are two subtrees on both sides of the taxus chinensis. All the three ancient trees have been well preserved by local villagers, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The taxus chinensis is an endangered plant which has existed for 2.5 million years. It produces few seeds and survives only in warm, moist areas. Since large numbers of the tree have been felled to extract taxol, which is often used to treat cancer, the species is now under the first-grade national protection for endangered plants. Story First Published: November 06, 2015 00:42 IST

LADIES' BEACH

LADIES’S BEACH IN KARWAR Karwar lies near Goa, in the Konkan region of Karnataka state. It is a port and is a good tourist destination with a few beaches and islands, but the Government has not cared to develop it. We were curious to see the ladies’s beach, of which few people knew the way. After some enquiries, we were directed to climb a hill and look for it. Even though Karwar is coastal town, there are several mountains, some of these entering the sea! There was only a wild path which we managed to find. On the way, up the hill we were surprised to see a bamboo pole with a fork at one end, used for plucking mangoes, hanging from the tree. There were mangoes but we were interested in reaching the beach, which could be seen, soon enough, down a steep side of the hill, facing the sea. When we reached there, it was totally deserted. The reason was obvious. It is cut off on all sides by the mountain range! Probably that is why it is called Ladies’s beach , as they have absolute privacy there. As we had carried eatables, we spent a good time, swimming and enjoying the loneliness!

ELECTON RESULTS

ELECTION FEVER The common man is not affected by the results of elections. He hardly bothers about it. He wants price control which nobody can ensure. He wants better roads which all will promise , but no party can fulfill the promise. Yet, I am eager to know the results, mainly to know which way the political wind is blowing.

STORY-PRINCESS

STORY I was working as Principal in a School in Calicut , when my uncle negotiated my marriage with girl of the Royal family of Samoothiri in the same town. I was excited at marrying a princess and went to ‘see the girl’, along with my uncle. There was almost a crowd of members of the royal family and we were given tea and sweets. Then she was introduced to me. She is fair and slim, almost as tall as myself. She had ‘cats eye’, which I did not like. We were allowed to talk in private; she asked about my family . I said:”I have only myself and my parents . We live at Kannur, where I took my post graduate degree in English.” “I studied up to tenth ; as I failed, I stopped studies” “I will help you to learn ; you must continue your study”. After that I was led to the hall where drinks were served . I refused ; her brother said:”Come on boy, at least one peg , to celebrate this event .” I took orange juice. Th marriage was in an auditorium. More than a thousand guests arrived. As we sat in chairs resembling ‘simhasan’ and gifts piled up , I felt a heavenly awe. The days passed smoothly. Wife (Renu)passed plus two and joined the Samuthiri college. I was selected as lecturer in the University. After her graduation, she too joined a school . Then we decided , it is time to have a baby. She was studying for architecture in Pune . One day, we were informed that she is dead… I went there and saw the body; there were marks of injury … The Police informed that she was raped…. Renu was in bed for a week; Doctors gave her sedatives . I consoled her :”Dear, we will have another baby”

SOY BEAN

A new UK study says that soy contains substances that help combat bone loss and can protect against osteoporosis in women over 50. As women get older and go through menopause, they experience a drop in the level of the hormone estrogen which protects against bone loss. This can make them particularly susceptible to osteoporosis, a disease which leads to 9 million fractures annually worldwide. A research team from the University of Hull in the UK has concluded that a diet rich in soy protein and isoflavones (plant substances which act in a similar way in the body to estrogen) provides protection from bone weakening during menopause.

BOGANEVILLEA

BOGANEVILLEA In Malayalam, we call it ‘kadalasu poovu (kagas ka phool). Bright red in colour , it attracts attention from a distance . It has no fragrance and does not wilt easily. Hence the name paper flower. Make an iron net and allow the plant called bougainvillea , to grow along the frame . You may do it in front of your garden. In due course , it will look like a red screen!

ALL OUR NEIGHBOURS ARE OUR ENEMIES

ALL OUR NEIGHBOURS ARE OUR ENEMIES Nepal , which depend on us even for salt , has turned enemy. They like China and depends on it even for oil. One Indian was killed recently in Police firing. Pakistan is enemy no 1 from its inception . Now Bangladesh has a friendly Government , thank God .What is wrong with us? The first mistake was , absorbing independent Kashmir Kingdom into the Indian Union , because the King , an Indian , wanted our help . This Muslim Region would have been in Pakistan , had it been a British territory at the time of partition in 1947 . This fact is conveniently forgotten by in Chauvinists in India. Kashmir remained free even during Moghal time . Its freedom was guaranteed by it geography, cut off from India by high mountains . Every day our soldiers are dying there by Pakistani bullets. We spend good money in subsidizing food articles , to please the people , forgetting the fact that food is no substitute for freedom! Our big brotherly attitude is the root cause of our becoming hostile to our neighbors.

SOLUBLE FIBRE

• Fibre may be insoluble or soluble . The latter will reduce LD cholesterol and prevent heart attack . It improves sleep. A list of items containing soluble fibre is given below • • plums • citrus fruits, such as lemons, oranges, limes and grapefruits • pears • prunes • psyllium seeds • oatmeal • broccoli • carrots • lentils • brussel sprouts • peas, such as chickpeas • beans, such as lima beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans

SHARK FOSSILS

India Today 300 million-year-old giant shark fossils found in US Zee News - ‎Oct 30, 2015‎ New York: Even before the age of dinosaurs, massive relatives of the modern-day sharks ruled the waters of present-day Texas, reveals an analysis of fossils recovered recently from the region.

ULUVA

Family: Fabaceae (Pea family) Genus: Trigonella Botanical name: Trigonella foenum-graecum PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES Sanskrit: Bahuparni, Bahupatrika, Chandrika, dipani, Gandhabija, Gandhaphala Hindi: Methi English: Fenugreek, Greek-clover, Greek hay Malayalam: Uluva, uluwa This is excellent for mothers for increasing milk . We use the seeds , in making vegetable dishes, as spice; it is slightly bitter . It is a good laxative too .In the North , its leaves are cooked as vegetable . ‘Methi ka paurantha’ is tasty

I MISS MY KERALAM

I MISS MY KERALAM Now I am in Delhi for the last two months ; I miss the green rice fields , the rows of coconut trees , the rivers and the Western Ghats , guarding the land and causing torrential rains. I miss the people I used to meet , while selling books. The daily bus journey , often very crowded , the waiting for the bus for Chathakudam, at Trichur and the hot tea and vada at Radhakrishna coffee house . Above all , I miss the ‘deeparadhana’ (arti) in the evening at Sastha temple at Chathakudam ! From six to seven in the evening , I spend in the temple . The journey to Guruvayoor temple each month, on the first of the Malayalam month, is another memorable journey. It costs only Rs.20 bus fare , from Trichur to Guruvayoor. The crowd in the temple is horrible , but I patiently stand in the que. Even if I get preference as senior citizen, the people press me hard , as we near the sanctum. Even if only for a few seconds, ‘darhan’ fills my soul with nectar !

AFRICA

An African Head of State,now in Delhi, has 30 wives and an equal number of maids. It is still a dark continent!

SUPER RICH

THE SUPER RICH They live in a different world . We mortals cannot even see them. They have their own aircraft ;how can they wait for booking a flight? They own yachts to spend their days in the seas, to avoid inclement weather. Do they have quarrels at home , divorces, frustrations , suicides etc.? They control the markets and have their own research centres. The nether world This is the very opposite of the super rich. Arm dealers, smugglers, pimps, traffickers in women, terrorists , IS warriors, dealers in narcotics –the list is long. They own wealth comparable to the super rich, but no luxury for these people ; rarely do they have a natural death. They enjoy the days in drinks and women , I suppose. They are never seen by us. Our world Between these two , lies our world where the majority eke a living, worrying about daughters’ marriage, loans , unemployment etc. Most stories and films depict our life and so it is familiar to us.

VALMEEKI

Today is Valmeeki Jayanthy, the birth day of valmeeki According to legend, Valmeeki was a dacoit, who lived by looting way farers. One day a few Sages saw him and advised him to lead a life of piety. He sat there and chanted ‘RAM RAM’, until his body was covered with dust hill. He woke up from meditation and wrote the famous Ramayan. Every character in the epic, experienced a tragic end. The first was Dasarath who died of the shock of his son going into the forest, to fulfil his father’s vow. Then Ram who lost his wife. Ravan lost his kingdom. Sita was exiled into the forest. Ram finally committed suicide by jumping into the river Sarayu. The moral is that life itself is a tragedy!

STORY -NILAMBOOR

Story I was working as teacher in at Government school , Pazhuvil , near Cherpu , when I was promoted and posted at Vandur in Kasargod district. I was in a dilemma ; life is smooth here , as I stayed with my sister and had no botheration of cooking etc. I was bachelor and hated kitchen work. I knew the staff nurse in the Pazhuvil Hospital. We became friends when my sister was admitted there. She may be about thirty and was like an elder sister;I consulted her:”You must not refuse promotion. Your difficulties will be over when you marry”. So I braved it and went to Vandoor by the train for Nilambur, a branch line from Shoranur. It was my first journey by this line and I enjoyed the trip , through hilly area. As it was evening , I decided to go to Nilamboor palace where I knew a lady teacher. She was happy to receive me:”Why do you worry about accommodation ? You may stay here. This palace is too big for me and my parents, the only inhabitants here.” After tea and snacks, she showed me a room for me to stay. It had a huge double bed and mirror on the wall . The bed is made of mahogany; the mirror is larger than the bed! I liked it. I was working as teacher in at Government school , Pazhuvil , near Cherpu , when I was promoted and posted at Vandur in Kasargod district. I was in a dilemma ; life is smooth here , as I stayed with my sister and had no botheration of cooking etc. I was bachelor and hated kitchen work. I knew the staff nurse in the Pazhuvil Hospital. We became friends when my sister was admitted there. She may be about thirty and was like an elder sister;I consulted her:”You must not refuse promotion. Your difficulties will be over when you marry”. So I braved it and went to Vandoor by the train for Nilambur, a branch line from Shoranur. It was my first journey by this line and I enjoyed the trip , through hilly area. As it was evening , I decided to go to Nilamboor palace where I knew a lady teacher. She was happy to receive me:”Why do you worry about accommodation ? You may stay here. This palace is too big for me and my parents, the only inhabitants here.” After tea and snacks, she showed me a room for me to stay. It had a huge double bed and mirror on the wall . The bed is made of mahogany; the mirror is larger than the bed! I liked it. In the morning, we went to the Devi temple and , after beak fast, I went to the school . The teachers and students gathered to see the new Principal . After the bell , I spoke to them “I want you to be punctual. After the bell , no one may enter the class. You must understand the things merely learn by heart.” young teacher asked:”Are you marred?” I joked :”Are you willing?” All laughed . After reaching the palace I was given snacks and tea. Then we went to the river side. People were sieving mud of the river bed “What are they doing ?” “They are collecting gold pieces of gold, brought from the mountains by the river; average one thousand they earn” One day Devi’s niece Kalpana came from Bangaloe. Se has an intellectual look , with high brow and thick glasses . I removed er glasses and told them to stand together and smile . I took a snap in my mobile and showed them:”Wonderful “, cried Devi “You are a good photographer.” Before leaving, I exchanged email address with Kalapana. Time flew with wings. One year passed . My sister wrote to me, to come immediately , to see a girl for me. So we (Devi came with me) went home . They had arranged a small tea party and this was followed by an interview with the girl . She is an Ayurvedic Doctor and is not prepared to come to Vendoor. I told my sister that it is impossible to get a transfer , unless some one comes there. Anyway it was over without any commitment from my side. I showed Devi several temples in central Kerala and returned . She liked Triprayar temple on the bank of the river and liked it very much. We went to the old school at Pazhuvil and did not forget the nurse in the Hospital. All were happy to see us. Back at Nilamboor, her niece (Kalpana of Bangalore ) had come with a web site of our school ,as promised and it was presented with great fan fare, shown on a large screen. There was a big crowd and all cheered us. Many guests met Kalpana ad sought her services. The teacher who enquired about my marital status told me her father liked to meet me. One day I went with her . He is a business magnate and offered good dowry. I promised to consider it. My heart was with Kalapana , but she told me she has a lover. So I agreed to marry my colleague.

ROAD ACCIDENTS

ROAD ACCIDENTS The number of people dying on the road is increasing . One reason is the number of vehicles on the run. CARS AND MOTOR BIKES are the main culprits. Over speed by bus drivers is also one reason. Manufacturers are interested in selling . Carelessness and rash driving are also to blame. In China bicycles are promoted. There are separate lanes for them. The advantages are many :it saves oil and is a good exercise! Will the authorities listen?

WHO IS THE KING OF THE FOREST?

We are told that the king of the forest is the lion. Samskrutham poems describe how the elephants shiver, when the lion roars! The latter jumps on to the back of the elephant and breaks its head by severe blows, to recover gems inside its head. This is described in poems. Only when I watched the Animal Kingdom in the TV, that I realized how fallacious this fantasy is. The elephants do not care at all, when they see a group of lions. The lions do climb on to the elephants’ back, but the thick skin is unbreakable with the claws of the lion which runs away when the elephants come near. The tiger is more powerful; but it is equally fearful, which may be the reason why it is denied the title of the king. Bysons are fearless and very powerful animals. Their uncouth appearance does not instill admiration. The lion is majestic; it is the only animal that roars. It is fearless and is not scared by gun shots.So the poets decided that it is the King.

KOORKA (CELEUS OR CHINESE POTATO) LOWERS CHOLESTEROL These days koorka (Malayalam) is available in plenty. I like it very much. It can be cooked easily, by boiling in a cooker and then mixed with oil and kept in pan over a low flame. It lowers cholesterol and can be taken by diabetic patients, as starch value is less than 20%.

TEMPLES

TEMPLES AND REGIONS There ia pattern in the temples of different Gods in India. In Uttar Pradesh, Ram temples are there in almost all villages. He is supposed to be born in Ayodhya and so this is to be expected. Poor Ram ; he has suffered in most of his life , except for the days he spent in Chithrakood, till his wife was stolen by Ravan. Afterwards , he had to banish her into the forest . She was not even told what her crime is. Seeta too is a symbol of suffering. She was found in the earth , abandoned by her mother. Let us return to the main theme. In Maharashtr, the deity is Ganesh. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all over the land with great fanfare. The festival lasts for ten days; in the end the earthen idol is immersed in water; sea or river. Further south , in Andhra Pradesh, the predominant God is Shiva . This is true of Tamilnadu also. Tirupathy is an exception. Originally it was a temple of tribal people and we d not know what the deity was. In Tamilnadu, Mariyamman covils are popular. It is a Goddess. The Devi (she god) cult is prevalent throughout the country. Vaishnodevi in Jammu is famous Saraswathy , Goddes with the musical instrument veena is worshipped only once in the year. I do not think there is any temple of Saraswathy. Snakes are worshipped in Keralam, only once in the year. When I was a boy, I was deputed to do this pooja in several homes in the village. In one place , a real snake appeard; I was not unnerved. I threw the water in the kindi (pitcher) on its head. It went away !

STORY-CHRISTIAN

CHRISTIAN I live among Christians , though I am a Hindu and somewhat proud of being so. Along with my Christian friends , I regularly attend the Sunday mass. My girl friend Celeste make it a point to sit by my side. After the proceedings are over, the Father would ask:”When are you joining our religion?” “I am already a true Christian. Jesus was anti-capitalist , but your Pope is a very rich person” He smiled: “No one can defeat you in a debate.” “He was top in the college,” Celeste added. On the way back, she asked:”When can we marry?” “Without a job , how can we live?” “I will speak to my father; will you do any job?” “Of course , I am in need of some engagement.” One day she came in her scooter and took me to her father. He seemed to be really glad:”I like to see you two married; what is the dely?” Cele replied:”He wants a job first.” “That is true ; why don’t you join our business?” “I will think over.” Cele took me to my home . It was her first visit . She was surprised to see the photos of Guruvayoorappan and Jesus , side by side on the wall. I said:”This is symbolic. We are together”. For the first time , she kissed me , hot and sweet! It was with difficulty that I disengaged. We sat embracing , in a sofa and disussed her father’s proposal:” I am afraid that joining his business empire, will compromise my principles . Many transactions may be illegal, I am afraid.” “You can quit when you feel” So we went back and told him I am willing to join. We went to the town and enjoyed seeing a movie. Soon I went to Kanhirapilly and reported for duty. I was accountant and found the work easy enough. Celeste’s letters came regularly , pleading for early marriage ; after six months she came with her father. I was in a dilemma ; I don’t want to convert to Christianity, but marriage is inevitable. “Sir, will you agree for register marriage?” Cele supported me . Being the only child , they wanted a pompous marriage .I said:”The registration can be confidential; a reception can be arranged in the Church at home” . So it was agreed . In the Registrar’s Office, she appeared in bridal costume . I could hardly believe my eyes! She looked like a real angel, with her long , azure eyes and a smile which remained etched in my memory forever. Her father commented :”You are looking at my daughter , as if for the first time. Are you sure she is the girl whom you love?” We all laughed . The registration over , we all returned . That night we stayed awake for a long time , her body entwining mine, naked as I wished. “Celi, how happy I am! For getting you , It is a small sacrifice that I became a Christian. You know , a Crown Prince of Britain loved a commoner. As the Palace refused their marriage, he relinquished Office ; they went and settled in America." “Thank you , dear!”

VAISHALI

VAISHALI Vaishali is the cradle of civilization in India. This place in Bihar is near the famous Nalanda University, where Gautam Budha realized the futility of life . The young price had left his Palace and wife and son. Today in the strife torn world , where IS is waging war against civilization , the teachings of Budha is all the more relevant. Mathew Arnold has written a beautiful poem about Budha ‘THE LIGHT OF ASIA’ Let light dispel darkness!

A FAMILY BURNT TO DEATH

Cruelty, thy name is man! Yesterday , a dalit family was set ablaze at mid of night , in what is termed revenge . This happened at Faridabad in Haryana near Delhi. Two children died; the parents are struggling for survival in the Hospital. Desecration of Gurudwaras in Haryana and subsequent protests have crippled life in that State. Farmers’ agitation is still going on. What a pity! When will man learn the value of peace and friendship with neighbours?

WOMAN

DEIFICATION OF WOMAN She gives birth to us . Hence she is supreme. Vande matharam! (Salute the mother) She is the dominant force ; but in both Hindu and Christian legends, it is man that occupy the prime position. Birth of Jesus made Mary a symbol of love and kindness. In India, Devi cult is there , throughout the ages. Ma is equivalent to Goddess. At home , we are helpless if the wife is absent even for a day. The kitchen will become a battle field, with things lying scattered all over the place. Some dish will have no salt. (mother used to smell the ladle used for stirring and know whether the dish needs more salt!) Once I made tea with curd (it had not become solid) and found out the truth after wards! When we fall ill , the very presence of the nurse in white uniform instills confidence and implicit trust in her. Florence Nightingale was the first , to care for those wounded in war. No man thought of it. She was the incarnation of Mary. There is no man who can stand against a woman and dominate her. The Sage Viswamythr lost his tapasya n the presence of Menaka and had to start from the beginning, all over again. In Mahabharath, Parashar Maharshi raped the tribal woman who was rowing the canoe in the river and the great Ved Vyas was born. In this story itself, a Yuvaraja who went in the night with his wife Madri, lost control and had sex with her. He died instantly because of a curse he had incurred and was aware of it! To sum up: all men are slaves of women; like slaves , we resent our masters (mistresses ). We hate them and love the female in her.

NOSE IS A FILTER

NOSE IS A FILTER Some people have the habit of sleeping with the mouth open. This is harmful. The air entering the wind pipe is filtered by the hair inside the lining of the nose. When dust enters the nose , it is thrown out by sneezing. It is desirable to cover the mouth and nose by the kerchief or things available in the market. This ability of the body , to protect itself , is the reason for vomiting. It finds that the food has been poisoned and so the same is thrown out. When germs enter the intestine (the hydroelectric acid kills many ), loose motion is the result, ie. cholera . The patient may die of dehydration. Plenty of water or saline glucose must be given; tender coconut is ideal.

TODAY IS THE FIRST OF THULAM

TODAY IS THE FIRST OF THULAM I was born in the Malayalam month of ‘thulam’. Ashvathy is my star. The day this star comes varies and this year it is on 27th October, which is a full moon day. The date of birth is 1-11-1933. Kerala piravi(bith) is on first November. As usual , I had darshan of Guruvayoorappan in Mayur Vihar Ph2

CASTRATION FOR RAPISTS

CASTRATION MUST BE THE PUNISHMENT FOR RAPE Yesterday, a specially sad case of rape was reported in Delhi. People were watching ramleela. For some minutes , lights went off . Two girls of five years, were picked by those standing near them, taken home and raped. During TV Channel debate, it came to light that there are 1500 vacancies of policemen in Delhi. The Courts are overburdened and cases are pending for years. As a special case, rape of minors must be handled by SPEED COURTS (LIKE SPEED POSTS) and exemplary punishment ,like surgical removal of the penis and scrotum , carried out. The law must be amended.

MASS OF THE EARTH

WHAT IS THE TRUE MASS OF THE EARTH? If you find a bowl with some water and mud in it, you will throw away the mud and water and wash it clean , before weighing it . The earth is a large bowl of rock. It contains water of the oceans, large quantities of silicate (Rock),common salt, carbon compounds(Bio-waste),fish, animals , trees etc, minerals like coal and gold , diamonds etc. Should we deduct the weight of all these things , to calculate the true mass of the earth?

STORY-AMMU

AMMU I was new to Jaipur city, when I was posted there as Manager of the Canara Bank. I hired a room in the city. It was my habit , to roam about and have break fast before reaching the Bank My favorite shop was Ammu’s stall . I did not know she is a keralite , but she judged me correctly and enquired in chaste Malayalam:”Chetta, what will you have ?” I looked at her in amazement. She is not a beauty, but her young age added to her charm. I thought in my mind:”I want you”, but said aloud:”Anything you like”. My gaze followed her ample buttocks and fell in love with her! From then on I was her secret lover . On Sundays ,when the shop remained closed , we began touring the city . “How long , you are here?” “My father was in the army. On retirement, he began running this shop. When he died, mother went home , but I remained here . I love this ciy.” “True ! I too like it. It is clean and spacious. The roads are straight and wide.” “It was built by a Malayalee divan of the Raja. The old city is at Amber(The locals pronounce it Amer). We went there by bus, quite far away from Jaipur. Happy days have wings. We did not realize it is six years , since we first met! But she never mentioned about marriage, may be , because of inferiority complex. “Ammu , don’t you like to marry? You are , how many years old?” “I am getting request from locals , but I do not trust them.” A letter came from home . They have fixed my marriage; come and see the girl, it said. A photo was enclosed . I showed it to Ammu. She exclaimed:”How cute! I want to see her immediately”. Her innocence touched my heart. Should I not marry this girl? Anyway , I applied for leave. On the first night , I was thinking about Ammu. Her thighs and breasts refused to leave me , even when I began undressing the new bride. This one is marvelous , I thougt. After one month I returned to Jaipur. Soon I met Ammu”Are you unhappy that I married?” “Oh, no. I am no match to her. What is her name?” “Remy” “Bring her to my shop”. The two women became friends. There was no jealousy. I continued to patronize Ammu. In sex, she is more active and imaginative . While in her embrace, It is real heaven! Why did I marry ? I could have easily rejected that proposal. Curse me… “My brother is still unemployed . Could you arrange some work for him?” “Let him come here .” Thus Rohit began staying with us. I told Ammu about him. Several Malayalee businessmen used to come there , as it is the only place where Kerala style food is available . I began approaching Ammu almost daily, rarely caring about my wife. She did not even notice it. Rohit got a salesman’ job in the market. Then tragedy struck. My wife’s body was found hanging from the ceiling fan. It was Roit who noticed it , when he returned home; I was with Ammu. I was informed by mobile phone. We both rushed home . A crowd had collected there . Police took me to the station to file FIR. Almost daily , I had to attend the station. They asked me about my relationship with Ammu, imputing motives for the crime. Ammu helped me with the influence of her businessmen. At last , the police closed the case as suicide.

NAVRATHRI

HINDU FESTIVAL NAVRATHRI Navrathri festival is going on for ten days. In North India , burning the effigy of Ravan is the high point. Ramleela (drama of ram) is enacted in each village. Today the shop keeper did not sell eggs , because he is a Hindu! In Bengal , this is the greatest festival in the form of Durga pooja. Every Bengali comes home, to participate in the activities. It is like onam for Keralites.

SOIL EROSION

SOIL EROSION The greatest challenge to environmentalists , is soil erosion. Experts have calculated that 0.02 millimeters of surface soil , per square kilometer of the earth , is lost every year due to rain fall. During rainy season ,we see muddy water flowing into the sea. Yellow river of China spits mud, to more than a kilometer into the sea! All can watch helplessly. Millenniums ago , the whole of the earth was covered with grass and shrubs ad the rain water in the rivers was clean and colorless. Farmers cut the earth by ploughing it. Builders removed the top soil and dug deep , to construct multistorey buildings . What can we do? I have suggested in my blog that “Mountain Valley Dams “can be built by simply dumping boulders into the rivers , flowing through valleys between two mountains. It will function like speed breakers. Water will flow slowly , allowing surrounding ground to absorb water. In the plains , pits can be dug right inside the rivers, leaving some distance between two pits; lot of silt will accumulate in the pits. Another suggestion is to divert the river , by digging channels for agricultural purposes

SALTY SEA WATER

WHY IS SEA WATER SALTY? George Gamov was an eminent Scientist . He believed that rains carry salt from the rock mountains and deposit it in the sea . In other words , if there are no rains, the sea water will not become salty. He could not imagine that salt mountains are there in the oceans too But one question remains: will not this salt store saturate the sea water, like the ‘dead sea’? One reason may be , that the seas receive huge quantities of fresh water, each year, in the form of rains! Rain fall in the oceans may be ten times more than in land. What do you say?

THIRUNNAVAYA SHIVA TEMPLE

THE PEEPAL TREE AT THAVANUR SHIVA TEMPLE – DIG A TEMPLE POND IN THE RIVER Yesterday I went there for attending my nephew’s son Navneeth’s thread bearing ceremony (Janyu). The religious function took about six hours. As I was not interested in watching it, I went and sat under the Peepal tree in front of the Shiva temple, watching the dry Bharathapuzha river. It was saddening to see the wide river bed covered with dry, long grass. Once it was sandy and clear water flowed in two channels, one near each bank, the opposite side being Thirunnavaya. Still there are some steps, now in a dilapidated condition, for pilgrims to take bath, before visiting the temple. After indiscriminate sand mining, the river bed has become like a moonscape, with small hills here and there. Dirty pools of water can be seen, wherever they have scraped the sand deeper. But I was compensated by the tree which spread its shadow far and wide, covering some thirty feet in radius ! Continuous cool breeze was without a break. The sea is only a few miles away (Ponnani) and the joy of simply resting there, practically alone, as all others were inside the Math, where Rig Veda was taught to Brahmana boys for thousands of years. The tree must be very old. Some branches have fallen off. Once a very large branch came down heavily, during a strong wind, rendering a number of snakes homeless. The snakes had lived inside the hollow trunk for generations. There were birds also living in holes in the trunk. It is easy to dig the river bed near the temple, and throw the excavated soil in the west and north sides. In the south, are the steps. During rainy season, it will be filled with water, flowing westwards. This temple tank will be useful for the villagers, including the staff of the Agricultural University. Now they have to walk a mile to reach the water channel near the opposite bank. The pits may be of the size 400 by 100 metres, 4 metres deep. Such pits may be made anywhere along the river, including pump houses. The river being dry now, it is the best time to dig the river. The surrounding landscape is proof that it will not be filled with sand by the flowing water in the rainy seasons. The Panchayath can easily do it.

NETAJI

NETAJI Netaji Subas Chandra Bose is proving more powerful now , after he is dead and gone. Members of the family met PM Narendra Modi , Who has promised to make public ,all papers in the custody of the Central Government on 26Jan 2016. It is possible that many leaders of the freedom movement , including Jawaharlal Nehru, may be exposed , if it is proved that he knew the whereabouts of Netaji in 1945.

HAS SEVERAL WIVES

ADU(GOAT) ANTNY HAS TWENTY WIVES A forty year old Christian in Keralam , managed to marry several times from different localities , enjoyed life and became rich., by extracting dowry The aggrieved wives complained to the police and search for the ‘goat’ was going on for several years . At long last , he was trapped . In Keralam , there is demand for men ; people from the gulf , can cheat easily.

DIETITIAN

ATTENTION , DIABETIC PATIENTS For a long time , I have been trying to consult a doctor , about the proper diet I must follow. My friend in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences , where medical treatment is free , made an appointment with the dietitian ad we saw her. A young girl , with several papers , came and discussed with us for three hours. She explained that one day’s food must be divided into six portions and taken after every two hours. This is important . When I suggested reducing starch, she did not agree. She recommended taking milk twice a day and yogurt(curd) after the meal , twice. Whey was also advised. What disappointed me , was her refusal to allow tea with milk and ‘sugarfree’. So now I take bitter tea . I had heard about the medicinal properties of bitter tea. Within a week , my sugar level came down. So you all must consult a dietitian

FACE BLACKENED

KUSURI’S FACE BLACKENED Kusuri was the Foreign Minister of Pakistan. He has written a book about his experience in the ministry and wanted to release it in Bombay, because it will benefit Indian readers. In Bombay, Shiva sainiks blackened his face with ink and shouted slogans against him He then came to Delhi, where he related his experience. NDTV sponsored the event. All intellectuals felt disgust about the behavior of Shiva sena

STORY-UNEXPECTED MARRIAGE

UNEXPECTED MARRIAGE I was living alone in my house , located near the rail line . The old house to my East , was given on hire, to some building workers’’ .They vacated it and now a woman with three daughters and a boy aged six years .This boy used to come to my house and we became friends. I used to take him to the rail line. He would clap his hands in joy, when a train passed.”Do you like to travel in the train?”, I asked. He held me in his tender arms and pleaded:”Yes, uncle.” The boy was very talkative and would ask may questions :”Why have you not married?” “I have no money to look after the family.” At that point , his sister , studying in the college, came and scolded the boy. “Uncle, you are spoiling this boy. I need some money to pay examination fees, can you help?” I went to my room and brought thousand rupees. “I need much less.” “Do not bother , keep the balance .” After that day, she (Subha) used to spend time with me . “Uncle, do you not cook food?” “ I make break fast only , usually bread and omelet; lunch I take in the office and return home after supper only” “ I will tell mother to cook food. Supper you can have with us”. I used to help Subha in her studies . Life became easy and slowly I began to think in terms of married life. It will give me stability After her graduation, she got a job in a convent school. Salary was not much; it was a little away and she had to stay in a ladies’ hostel. I missed her very much. Meanwhile , her sister began coming close to me. She is more fair and resembled her mother, who earned money by making women’ cloths . She used to enquire about my family:”Are you alone in the family?” “My mother died and father married again. I did not like her, so I came here. Father gave me a share of our property.” She sighed and placed her hand on my shoulder. A marriage proposal came for Sobha . As their house was shabby and dilapidated, I suggested that the interview can be in my house. So the complete family shifted to my house , which has three bed rooms . The boy became very happy. The groom’s party came and ‘seeing the girl’ took place as usual. “If you do not like the man , tell me ; I will see that the marriage will not take place” She looked at me ad finally decided for the alliance. I felt sad at heart; did I love her? The marriage was to take place after six months. Sobha went back to her school. Her sister Lata began courting me . She helped her mother in her tailoring work and was available all the time. I got a promotion in my Thaluk Office and became supervisor. I decided to buy a second hand car for two lacs. When the time came for marriage , the party backed out. It is said that the financial bankruptcy of the girl’s house became known to them ; that was the reason; obviously , they did not like to shoulder the liabilities of Sobha’s family. At heart I was happy and told them that I am ready to marry her. But she said:”I am not ready for marriage for at least ten yeas. I have a job and any one may marry me. But Lata is only seventh passed. Who will marry her? The other two are good at studies.” “Will she like me?” She called Lata and asked her:”Are you willing to marry uncle?” She looked embarrassed but smiled and went away. Their mother was also told and our marriage was decided.

SAHITYA AKADEMY

CRISIS IN CENTRAL SAHITYA AKADEMY Central Sahitya Akademy is facing a crisis About ten writers have returned the money they received and many have quit the organization. The reason cited is the indifference of the Academy , to the plight of those who were liquidated by armed men. The Karnataka rationalist and ex-Vice-chancellor who was killed in his home, seems to be the immediate provocation. Till now , there is no response from the Akademy.

NEWSPAPER

NEWSPAPER ADDICTION I am very particular about the morning cup of tea After tea, I go through the newspapers. First, ‘Mathrubhoomi’ (Malayalam), then the Indian Express. I like to read magazines too; nowadays, I merely go through the Head Lines. I cannot even know whether it is today’s paper or yesterday’s ; often the same news is repeated. It was in Bombay that I began to buy the ‘Times of India’ . R.K.Laxman’s cartoons are unforgettable . Another item , dear to me is “Times of India hundred years ago! Many anecdotes I still remember. One is that of a chess player, who was an Englishman’s cook, totally illiterate. The Saheb was so impressed that he took him to London, to participate in the International tournament. The rule is that the player must note his move in a note book and then move his piece. As the cook cannot write, he was allowed to move first and then it was noted by a referee . The cook became the champion!

WAR

FULL FLEDGED WAR IN SYRIA Russia has launched all out attack on the Islamic State in Syria. Army , air force and navy are taking part in this WAR to drive away the invaders. This is the first time Russia has intervened so forcefully , after World War 2. By all accounts, this will be a prolonged war, as IS will put in all their resources . There is no end to this fanatical army , determined to exterminate all non-Islamic groups. The West will be wary of Russian occupation , outside their zone of influence. Even in Korean war, Russia did not send its army. Let us keep our fingers crossed!

HIGH WAYS

GOLDEN QUADRILATERAL At the time of Atal Behari Vajpai , an ambitious program was conceived , to build a high way connecting Srinagar in Kashmir to Kanyakumari in the South. A similar road is to connect Calcutta to Amritsar. It was termed the Golden Quadrilateral . The PM himself wanted report about its progress and especially any hindrances to its construction. Now the media have forgotten it . To my knowledge , land acquisition is the major problem . Now the law for facilitating this has come into force. I request the Prime Minister to unearth the old file in PMO and make a computer program . Similar files should be maintained by State Governments also . Let us not quarrel ; let us work for the future.

BEEF

FIRST IT WAS KISSING GAME, NOW BEEF PARTY Kerala campuses were busy with kissing games ; now the beef party has haunted the whole of India. In Keralam , Rahul Gandhi was attacked because he said he is a vegetarian. In Kashmir an MLA was assaulted for eating beef. This topic was discussed for three days in TV Channels. What has happened to our country? The world will laugh at us. Serious problems facing te country are ignored. Why do we bother who eats what? Or , is it a deliberate attempt to polarize Hindus and Muslims , for catching votes?

BAMBOO

BAMBOO It is always seen in a cluster. We do not cultivate it ; it grows in isolated spots . How does nature propagate it? It is said that every twelve years the tree bosoms and the seeds are scattered by wind . That is why we see bamboo clusters here and there. It belongs to the grass family , Pull the grass out and you will see mud sticking to the roots . In the same way, the roots of bamboo are bound strongly in a tuft ; it is not easily broken. The main trunk is smooth ; but small branches, full of thorns, grow all over the trunk. It is with these branches that we used to make fences. The skilled man(a tribal) climbs up the tree and goes on cutting off the branches which are collected by his wife. It is she that makes the fence of thorny bamboo shoots into a web. It is also a skilled job. Now bamboos are not available . We have barbed wire fence or walls of laterite or concrete. Near the sea , bamboo is not available. Fences are made of coconut tree leaves woven into a mat. Scientists have developed a variety , without branches ; the trunk is coloured . This ‘sundary ‘ bamboo is grown in the gardens . The forests are full of bamboo , a thin variety eaten by elephants. Those in the plains are big ad hollow . They are costly, used in making platforms and pandals.(tents) Dead bodies are carried to the cremation ground on bamboo frame

SNAPS FROM MY LIFE-new shoes

SNAPS FROM MY LIFE I used to wear slip-in chapels. When it became torn , I bought a better quality pair of shoes , socks etc. The next day , with much difficulty , I managed to put my feet inside . I was ready to go , when I suddenly realized, that I forgot to wear underwear!

TOBACCO

TOBACCO It is produced in all countries, including America. There are 96,865 registered tobacco farmers in India . It must be remembered that it is poisonous and can cause cancer. All Governments spoil the health of citizens and refuse to ban the cultivation of tobacco. Like liquor , it gives revenue to the State; so let people suffer! My memory is that of my father , who used to chew this , along with betel leaves and areca nut. If I go near and smell the hollow bamboo in which it is stoked, I would sneeze! I hate those who smoke.

PEEPAL TREE

PEEPAL TREE BLOOMS IN SUMMER In summer , when growth of other plants slackens , for want of water , the peepal tree produces maximum leaves , merrily dancing in the wind! Have you ever thought why? I can only guess. This tree can absorb water molecules , even from the rock. You must have noticed saplings sprouting on rocks. Its roots produce an enzyme which dissolves the rock. Roots absorb water in molecular form. If there is much water , the roots may wilt. What is your opinion?

BEEF FESTIVAL

BEEF FESTIVAL The colleges in Kerala, including Kerala Varma College ,Trichur , where I studied , celebrated ‘beef festival’ . Some students have been suspended. This is a good reply to the ‘cow lovers’, who are likely to cause torture to the animal , because we do not have enough fodder , to feed useless animals.

DOGS KILL A BOY

HORRIBLE-SIX YEAR OLD BOY MAULED TO DEATH IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL This is incredible India. Yesterday , a six year old boy was killed by dogs here , right in the National Capital . And what is the response? NGOs are trying to sterilize the dogs. Can we not have a law to permit slaughter of dogs? Throw them as fodder to tigers in the zoos. In Keralam we are suffering . Two dogs have made our terrace their home. Dog bites are common. Vasectomy operation is the only thing the Government is doing. When the number of elephants increase in African countries , culling is resorted to. Are dogs more sacred than Ganeshji?

CRIMINALISED KERALAM

IN KERALAM , CRIMINALS ARE HAPPY The easiest way is chain snatching . Not only in the towns , even in the remote Sastha temple at Chathakudam , a man coming on bike, pulled the necklace of a woman and escaped, in broad day light. The police could not nab him. Robbery of banks and jewelry shops is happening daily, especially in Trichur. They make an opening in the wall and remove all valuables. The number of jewelry shops is maximum n Keralam. Here in Delhi , one has to search for it! Money coming from the Gulf, has to be spent. Unemployment is the major cause of increasing criminals. ‘Quotation’ killers are buy , because murder is a political weapon. The killers can earn easily , rarely are they caught ; do policemen get a share? Concealed crime like corruption, is at its peak. Smuggling of gold and narcotics is daily news. The road is not safe, even for those who walk; drunk drivers and those on motor bikes care nothing for us. I will not recommend Keralam, to those retiring from service. Tamilnadu may be a better place. In Keralam , all things are coming from there!

OIL

ENNA THECHU KULI MAY CAUSE COLD Keralites have the habit of rubbing oil in the hair, before taking bath. Most people are suffering from cold and fever. I was no exception. The oil form a thin film over the skin, preventing free sweating, by clogging the opening of the glands. In fact, the skin is producing oil. This is washed off when we take bath, inducing the skin to produce more oil. If we smear oil, the skin will not make oil. I had stopped using oil before bath, after I left Keralam 50 years ago; now I am free from cold.

Ma

Ma FAMILIARITY From the day one , we are familiar with Ma , whose milk is our food. The person whom we love most is Ma. Foster mother is equally dear , as in Krishna’s Yashoda. The boy did not even know his real mother Devki. When we grow up , there can be differences between mother and son . On the other hand , they may become friends. The Maratha King Shivaji’s mother was his guide and guru. Maxim Gorky’s novel “Mother” played a significant role in the Russian revolution. The word “Ma” is anathema to Muslims , because it denotes “Devi” of Hindus “Vande Matharam” was to be our National Anthem , but it was rejected because of Muslim opposition. It is a beautiful poem!

POOJARY

STORY-NAMBOORI POOJARY POOJARY I was going along the road, when I noticed a group of people assembled in front of the temple. Out of curiosity, I stopped there, when someone said:”He is a poojry. Can we recommend his case? All said in one voice: “Yes” “But I have some conditions. I work in the Bank, so I shall leave by nine in the morning. In the evening I shall open the temple at five thirty.” They consulted among themselves and agreed. “This is a Shiva temple; do you know Sreerudram?” “Of course, can I get accommodation?” That too they agreed and told me to join the next day. I was working in the Bank and this will bring some more income for my sister’s marriage. Then only my turn will come, I am twenty five . I took a few utensils and my bedding and dress. Navarathry was coming and I was busy. But income too increased and I did not mind the effort. Warriar told me certain things which I must keep in mind and other things to be avoided, which made my predecessor unpopular. I soon became a favourite. I used to rub sandal wood on the stone, to make Prasad. This pleased them. I took care to give flowers and Prasad to all. Irrespective of whether they did vazhipad or note. Warriar told me, income increased tenfold, after I took charge. I really believed in Him and did my work with full faith. Needless to say, some marriage offers also came . I told them to approach my father. The manager of the temple committee is a rich merchant in wood work an timber. He told warriar to sound me about his daughter. He told in my ear “This is the girl”, pointing to a girl, who came to the temple in the evening. She had to collect the payasam and was waiting for it. She is quite plain, medium height, neither white nor black. One Sunday morning, I was sitting below the tree, after my pooja , when this girl came and wished me. “Oh, Madhury, how are you? Are you educated? Are you working ?” She smiled:”I am MA in Malayalam. I am music teacher in Government school. I got prize in youth festival.” I stood up and gave my hand; she took it and pressed it hard, smiling all the while. I felt elated. This is the first time I had contact with a girl. We exchanged our mobile numbers. When her father saw me later, he enquired about my response. “I have a sister. Her marriage is still pending, for want of money.” “Why didn’t you tell me earlier. How much money, tell me.” He gave me a blank cheque:”Write the figure you like; I have signed it. Do not think you have any obligation.” I hesitated, so he thrust it into my pocket. I went home and told my father, after filling the cheque. Unexpectedly, sister fell ill and had to be Hospitalized, for suspected typhoid. Madhury used to go daily and console her. During this period I got promotion as accountant and remained in the same branch. But there is a possibility of transfer any time. “What should I do, in that case?” I asked her. “Do not bother. If you are transferred, you throw it away. My father can appoint you as accountant” “Thank you.” “I am not satisfied with thanks. You never told me the words which all girls expect .” “I do love you”