Self Retrospect

While at Masinagudi during our vacations I met a couple from Bangalore vacationing, the husband working in IT and the wife a teacher. We just started some conversation and slowly it inevitably turned into how hectic life is.. and why we wanted to have a break and how we cannot be left alone etc.,.

Well as always, the talkative side of me took over and was talking telling how busy I'm and how I don't get to spend sometime with my family. At one point, I realized that rather than feeling the pain and being apologetic, I was in a way boasting myself as if it was a matter of pride! How insane!??! I realized that work is not always what is important. It is family, health and then wealth.

Honestly I really do not know how I can reverse the damage I have done by not being a responsible person in life with respect to my family, I can only change myself here after. Not sure if the steps that I would take will ever heal the probable wounds that I would have created in the hearts of everyone who love me dearly, but I wish I will not rub on it more.

Not spending time with your kid or wife or parents or siblings is not a matter of pride. It is absolute shame.

I now realize that Nilaa spells out a few words, does a lot of small things that brings smiles on to her face and that she would never ever repeat probably. I realize that Leela needs more of my time to talk about what happened on a day and help her out in some small house hold works. I missed out that I completely missed asking my mom on what has been happening back at home and the issues and problems.

I have made a few resolutions that I have started implementing and I hope I can sustain that going forward no matter what. This is not a guan to others but rather to myself! Change yourself Raj! It's time and not always everyone would be patient and persevere with you!

Shame!

What is happening in India now is an absolute shame! The country know for its culture and tradition, a culture part of which hospitality is a very significant factor will be now hell bent down before the entire world!

Corruption, power politics and arrogance is what we can say about people who rule this country at New Delhi. What should have been completed during 2007 will not be completed possibly by 2017 or worse will never get completed at all. And we will possibly be spending more Billions on this from the poor tax payers. Like how I read, if had spend 100 Crores on individual athletes we would have possibly had 700 athletes representing India in the future. Now all we are seeing is debris and worse is that making India ashamed after all this spending! 70,000 Crores! This is crazy and the worst thing is that we are not able to do anything at all!

Mr. PM. Please call it off. It is lot better than countries boycotting and the games not happening at all! If you really cannot do that it proves that good men need not necessarily make good leaders! An elderly statesmen like you shouldn't even get these words from a loafer like me! Be pragmatic and realistic and ensure that we keep the flag of India flying high!

Please call off CWG 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know I have people all over the world who will reading this one, but am not concerned because they will anyway be reading something worse than this in their newspapers already!

- Raj.

Ovvaiyaar’s Aathichudi

The other day while I was driving, I was listening to the remix from a Thamizh movie on a FM radio. It was all about Ovvaiyaar’s Aathichudi (ஒளவையாரின் ஆத்திச்சூடி)! The one that is so ancient and that I hope that every generation takes along.

The first reaction was, crazy buggers, they have not let this one go to. But later one thing stuck me (purely reminded by someone saying something in a meeting). And I went back to my school days to try and get Aathichudi. It was a refresher of sorts for me. I hope you love the below without any controversy.

Read what this great Old lady has given and the greatness of Thamizh.

Like any other language Tamil has Alphabets. Basically they are of two sets.

Uyir Ezhuthugal

Mei Ezhuthugal.

While all languages teach alphabets with some objects (like A for Apple, B for Boy etc.,.) look at what Thamizh offers.

The below are Thamizh’s Uyir Ezhugal.

அ, ஆ, இ, ஈ, உ, ஊ, எ, ஏ, ஐ, ஒ, ஓ, ஒள, ஃ

And look at how this great lady teaches Thamizh. She teaches Thamizh with morals.

அறம் செய்ய விரும்பு (Aram Seiya Virumbu) -> Have desire to do good

ஆறுவது சினம் (Aaruvadhu Sinam) -> The one that reduces should be anger

இயல்வது கரவேல் (Iyalvadhu Karavel) -> Donate what you can/Help if you can.

ஈவது விலக்கேல் (Eevadhu Vilagel) -> Do not stop giving.

உடையது விளம்பேல் (Udaiyadhu Velambel) -> Don't belittle your family and self to others/have and exhibit pride.

ஊக்கமது கைவிடேல் (Ookamadhu Kaividale) -> Do not lose hope

எண், எழுத்து இகழேல் (Enn, Ezhuthu Igalel) -> Do not underestimate the power of Mathematics and literature

ஏற்பது இகழ்ச்சி (Yerpadhu Igazhchi) -> Receiving is meaner.

ஐயமிட்டு உண் (Iyamittu Unn) -> Eat after sharing.

ஒப்புரவு ஒழுகு (Oppuravu Ozhugu) -> Get used to what you have. Get along with the world.

ஓதுவ தொழியேல் (Odhuvadhu Ozhiyel) -> Never stop learning or preaching.

ஒளவியம் பேசேல் (Oviyam Pesale) -> Do not talk ill about others.

ஃகஞ் சுருக்கேல் (Akanjurukale) -> Do not be stingy.

It does not stop here. It continues with the Mei Ezhuthugal as well.

Of course not all of this is exact meaning and may not even be right, but I’ve tried my level best to capture it. Apologies if you find the meaning wrong. My intent is to say how the ancient Thamizh culture instilled morality into our system. While doing so am trying to translate a few as I can. If you find it wrong, please correct me and I shall include that as well.

Long live Thamizh!

Hope you had got something out of this.

Please do not treat me as a Thamizh Maniac. It just occurred to me and am just penning it down. Even if you think so, no issues.

- Raj

Tribute to our little Rishi.

A small tribute my nephew Rishi who left us all on the may, 26th, 2010.

- Raj

Hey Rishi! Love you tonnes! Sorry that we had to let you go so early. We will for sure miss you in every event of the family! No matter how lesser span you would have lived, your memories will live as long as each one of us are alive!

We will take care of your mom, dad and Arunika. You take care of rest of the family who will rest in peace with you! There are quiet a few up there!

Krithi, Sudhakar and Arunika, our hearts are with you and we hope you all recover soon from this. These are moments of truth and makes us even more stronger!

Friendships

I really am puzzled when this generation folks say he/she is best/true/great friend etc.,. I really don't get it! Can friendships be categorized? When you say someone a friend, he/she has done something to you that has had a long lasting impact on your life. Be it how trivial, an impact is impact! If this categorization is based on the frequency with which one has calls someone that way, then it is not right! I have friends all around the world from Erode to Europe, from Anna Nagar to America, From Bangalore to Bogota, and I don't even get to meet them or talk to them that often! So are they distant friends? No never! I know they wish me well and they want me succeed in what I do. After all this typing am still puzzled on what it means.. :)

Humanity. We still have it!

I knew the moment I completed reading this email, I had to send it! Quiet honestly I don't open my Gmail and never care to read any forwards there! But if I opened it today, I believe that I have to share it! Given the fact that I spend very less time with Nilaa and Leela these days by giving the excuse of too much work, here I'm after this publish, am gonna just take off!

Am not sure if this a story or a real incident, but for sure it touched my heart! We have the choice to make anyone's and everyone's second/minute/hour/day/month/year/life truly special and thats the very essence of this life we have! Lets treat everyone with respect and dignity no matter what caste/creed/color they belong to. Now go on and read........

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its

dedicated staff, he offered a question:

'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.

Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.

Where is the natural order of things in my son?'



The audience was stilled by the query.



The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:



Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a fatherI also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.



I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'



Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.



At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.



However, as Shay stepped up to the

plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.



The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.

Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.



Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!

Run to first!'

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.

He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.



Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

B y the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.



All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'



Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!

Shay, run to third!'



As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team



'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.



Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

My Indian Electronic Media Yesterday! :X

The main worry for the media yesterday was this stupid IPL and the open power struggle between two men who care nothing about state of affairs in India.

Why is this happening? The media was least bothered about the failure that India faced because of failure to launch GSLV using homogeneously built cryogenic engines! Its a bloody 17 years of hard work by ISRO to meet that day and we are not even feeling sorry for that. Rather we are talking about a lady who has stake in an IPL franchise. Now, face it! What big deal? At the end of the day if not her, there would be someone else, what would it do to a common man?

For goodness sake, the Media, please start to be more responsible. Yes money is important, but there should be some morality!

And on IPL! When we face power shortages and hurt the farmers by having power cuts for almost 6 hours a day and we have flood lights for an evening match and simultaneously waste more power by virtue of millions watching it over televisions! And the government just says that its an individual body and we cannot interfere in that! BULL SHIT!

Opportunity

Luck is when opportunity and effort/hard work meet!
Opportunity comes when one is there at the right place at the right time.
To be there at the right place at the right time, one needs right contacts.
To need right contact you need right attitude!

In essence there is nothing called as luck. Have the right attitude, put in your effort and wait for that right time for the right person to bring you the opportunity!

- Rajkumar Kandasamy!

Small Steps!

Whoever wants to reach a distant goal must take many small steps.

- Helmut Schmidt

Always imagine yourself as a kid who has just began to walk. Its the small step that it takes that makes sure that he/she can walk through out the life!

Likewise, in life what matters is those small steps that we take to ensure that we have an harmonious life! For example a small step of quitting smoking/drinking etc, can make things better for you in the longer run. Now I know your devil mind, the next question will be, I don't smoke at all! Well my answer is that in itself is the small step!

Life is all about doing those small things like keeping your parents/children/friends happy! In today's world we forget these small steps but only think about large steps of buying a house, car etc. What is the point in having a car without your happy child?

Well I don't deny that its important. All am saying that in pursuit of what we think as greater happiness, we miss the smaller ones and eventually miss enjoying the greater one too.

- Rajkumar

Can we be Self Made?

No one in the world has defined what he will be.

Everyone we meet or any word that we hear, or any act that would inspire shapes us!

Don't ever say that am a "self-made" man!!! We are made by many like us, around us, even might be on the remotest part of the globe whom we would have not met, but whose thoughts we would know by media or books or whatever!

I stand up and say, am influenced by others!

Now, am I successful? I don't know, because success is a relative factor. Its like running race. If I run a race without anyone, am the winner. If I have somebody in the race and he does not run, then still am a winner!

No achievement is good/bad or small/great! If you feel content by not killing an ant, then you are a success! And the irony is, if you are to be killed by a lion, then you might as well be called as a failure! Thats life!

So, even success is influenced by others! Don't ever think that you don't need anybody in your life! We are not "Self-Made"

- Rajkumar Kandasamy