The World today and our Hypocrisy!

I probably know that this is not a moment for me to show this emotion, but can't help but express it.

So yet another person died in the hands of the police who are supposed to be guarding us from the dangers of the evils. Make no mistake, the men and women in uniform have always protected us and like in every form life, there are always exceptions.

But, that mentioned, it really does warrant an outrage and justifies all the protests that goes around globe! However, I feel a bit hypocritical about fighting for just one race or one living being! Is Alyan Kurdi not worthy of this protest? Are the thousands that have been displaced from Syria not worthy of these protests? Are thousands that are fighting in Hong Kong not worthy of these protests? Are the millions that were separated from their homeland in Srilanka not worthy of these protests? Are the billion odd people who are oppressed in China not worthy of these protests? Are the thousands that lost their lives in Iraq/Libya not worthy of these protests? 

Each year, thousands die because of gun violence. Mad men with guns get into school and shoot children. Don't those lives matter too? We are all putting our next generation to the dangers of Climate change! Should we not do anything about it? Is it not just hypocritical to fight for one race when there are so many more such races which face this! Future Generation is in itself a race, in my view!

Please make no mistake that am against this moment or the movement. Black Lives do matter and so do other lives as well! Every war/battle/fight/protest needs a purpose. And at this moment what I see is a very narrow view of all us. I strongly feel that this cannot be a moment or fight for just one race, it has to be holistic in nature towards the systemic social injustice and violence that is there across the globe. Else this will be one other moment/movement like the MeToo moment/movement and this shall also pass. For what I remember, if people had a sustained effort after Dr. King died, we would have not had this conversation! We are just the puppets of a very few who can manipulate our actions for their own purposes and keep the challenges alive while killing lives!

Again, make no mistake! I'm not complaining! I'm just anxious that we are not fighting for the right purpose, while also highlighting our hypocrisy! And after all, even I'm an hypocrite who cries foul when an elephant or a lion is hunted down, but can eat chicken and goat!

And so.... Each and every life should matter! Can we think like that? The change cannot be left to just the policy makers, but in people's minds as well!

Regards,

Raj.

COVID-19: Aftermath

So here we go, after a long while penning my emotions.

I was sitting in office today for the weekly leadership meeting. One of the guys was sneezing and worst is he traveled into Texas, the previous day! I even nudged him politely stating it worries me that he is sneezing and that, may be, he should not be in office! But he shrugged it off and the other guy wasn't worried like I was.

During my presentation, the risk aware me, raised the potential risk of disruption due to COVID-19 and almost instantly the question from the two was like, what about it? I said, we need to come up with a BCP for it because it is spreading fast and it was question of time that we prepare for it. It was a pause for a moment and I was hoping that it was taken seriously. The answer was, a lot more silence!! Mind you, this was last week, when the number of cases around the globe was raising and Italy is at the kind of brink.

That evening when I was driving back, I could not help but think of the below and I thought I may want to record it and look back how this had panned out.

- This virus is gonna bull doze a lot of things.
- The world would have changed forever.
- Economy will go down a lot. A lot of us will lose jobs.
- Food shortage because of transport and/or famine.
- Across the globe, social unrest will be there. With no money and job to earn money, people will turn to looting and stealing.

This will not be an easy world going forward. I for one, feel a bit weird. I feel a lot scared, but have to pretend to be brave for the sake of my girls!

At the other end of the pandemic, we may have changed forever. Whoever survives the virus and the violence, may be can restore what we used to call as humanity!

Hope that I'm wrong. Generally am not this pessimistic, but 1 week into that discussion, my folks at office do not realize what is and why we need a BCP.

And so is the leadership of many countries. Some have kind of shut things down and some haven't. But to me this is not just about virus, but also about the world after that! I'm not sure if any country leader is thinking about it! What and how to go about the disruption and potential social unrest!

All I can do today is to hope! Hope is the first cure for all problems!

Why do we need sports in life

Been a long time that I've blogged, but felt I should record it.

Over the weekend, after a hard fought Nilaa's volleyball game, I was having a conversation with her coach and the conversation turned to why did Nilaa get to a sport. He had his reasons, but mine was, sports is very much a good medium that builds an attitude for life. He was like, how so? Sports allows us to be in the real. It doesn't matter what your previous point was, you have to get back to reality to face the next ball. And it puts you in the moment. He was like, this is a good perspective.

This is exactly what I used to tell both my girls. Learn that attitude from sport! I still practice to get out at least once a week even after 40, is just to practice to be in the moment. 

Sports gives you attitude!! Allows you to practice CAP Of life. Committement, Attitude, Passion!!

So get out and give yourselves an exposure to a sport and most importantly to your kids!

Possibility from Probability

 Just a random thought...

Can possibility and probability co-exist? While in theory, it is not possible, I think in reality all of us are a real good example of them. 

Let's look at it simply. We are one in a billion which is allowed by an egg, That is the probability. From there on, here we are a possibility. If that tiny little sperm can beat all odds and bring us into reality, what can we not acheive?

All of us are born acheivers! It is just that we need to keep it going!

Regards,
Raj.

Lesson from Tides and Sun.

Last month, at dawn, on a Chennai beach resort, I happened to be sipping a coffee in a relaxed fashion and watching the Sun rise over Bay of Bengal!

I was seeing this beautiful work of Universe/Galaxy/Mother Earth in play. As serene and calming it was, this is what was stuck with me on how arrogant or in one sense igonorant, we have all become.

What do tides teach us? Perseverance: They keep trying every moment to breach the shore. They never give up!

What does Sun teach us? Hope: Each day Sun comes (I know earth rotates and not Sun) back with a hope that we will get better and not giving up on us, giving us another chance.

Imagine, if the tides succeed and/or Sun gives up! It is destruction! That is how fragile we are as the potentially only conscience in this universe, at least at this point!

The lesson I took from that morning is, keep hoping and persevere! If we lose hope and don't keep trying, life ends!

Regards,

Raj.

Integrity undefined

There was a question on Integrity in one of the conversations I was having with my friends. Not sure if I read it somewhere, but, here was what I said as my definition.

Integrity is not about doing something right when someone is watching, but it is about not doing the wrong thing when none is watching! Meaning, doing the right thing, being the right thing at all times! Is it possible? I believe yes! If we are true to ourselves, I think we can!!

Regards,
Raj.

Big 40 - As it is called!

For a change, it doesn't feel like just another number.

Probably I've crossed 2/3rd of my productive life span where I can and I could be of some effect in this ecosystem. This post is not about me doing or not achieving something.. It is just possibly a reflection of what I feel about the years passed

10 years of innocence...
10 years of ignorance...
10 years of arrogance...
10 years of exuberance...

Not sure what the next decade has in store for me and how I would treat it...

But, for now, am enjoying this adulation that I receive, very aware of the fact this is pretty much a huge responsibility to do justice to this love and affection. I've always said this and will say this with much more gratitude this time! I'm who I'm because of people around me. Am very fortunate to have never felt alone in my life. I accept all of these with the utmost humility!!

Thank you so much!

Keep loving me...

I love to be loved!
I live to be loved!

- Raj

Happy 2017!

I termed the years 2015 and 2016, years of determination! I guess we as citizens of the world have shown a lot of determination in the past couple of years! However, we are still a long away from being called as humans that we once were!

We have made this world a lot more complicated and made ourselves lot more greedy for everything. We have increased the pace of our lives as like there is no tomorrow. In what we call as success, we have ended up killing lot more people, not just taking their lives, but, also killing them by killing ambitions, aspirations and dreams!

I know all of these are because of our lack of compassion towards our fellow human beings and living beings, in the name of a phrase called "Survival of the fittest!"

Let us show the compassion to our fellow humans and mother nature to make sure this world is a better place to live in!
Let us train our children to have the compassion so that they learn to live and let live.

Let 2017 be an year of Compassion!

Let's Live and let others also live!

Regards,
Raj.

Rio Olympics and India

Olympians from India.

Take pride for the fact that you got in there after all of the "great" support our government, politicians, media, arm chair activists and the so called rich gave!

Take pride for the fact that with all the infrastructure we have in the country for your respective sports, you go us all a representation at the games!

To Me! You are as good as our men and women in uniform representing this great country! That by all means is the medal for all of us! I, for one, very proud of the fact that you had all the courage to get there and represent India, for all the adversaries that you faced! Hats off! You are not just medallions or participants, but rarest of the golds that the country has produced!

Yes am equally proud of the medal ladies and the one that missed by a whisker.. An example of how girls can make a nation proud if only if we let them live by not killing even before they are born!

Not the least... The coaches. If not for your relentless efforts, these boys and girls are not the ones that they are now.

Thanks for inspiring a billion people! That's not an easy task!

Hope the leaders take note of how to represent the country in the parliament and assembly!

- Raj

My Seeds are my Root!

This is blog is dedicated to both Nilaa and Oviyaa and from both Leela and I. The below write up was kind of our first on Nilaa who was the star of the week in her school. And while we were drafting this, I realized that these kids are the inspiration behind the wild run that am making along with Leela. In today's world, when there is a sacrifice made, we expect that to be recognized. But our kids make a lot of sacrifices without even realizing that they do and yet do not complain on the short of recognition. Without dragging too much below was our account on Nilaa as much as possible. This stems my view on what we leave in our child is more important that what we leave for them! 

- Raj.

Nilaa, the Moon!

Thanks for this opportunity to write about Nilaa, which we have not had it before in our lives!

Right from the birth, she has always been very active and can’t stay idle in a place for more than 2 minutes. To get her to be tired used to be our daily goal at one point in time! It used to be really funny to bathe her, tough to feed her and getting her to bed to make her sleep as always been a tiresome exercise for her mom. However, over the years, she has transformed herself into an independent lady and now does these things all by herself, though sometimes slow. But, rewards and recognition works well with her to get a job done!

She loves to get to her school always. The only complaint that she had about schools was that she misses schools during our transition phases. She probably has a uniqueness in having attended many schools at Chennai and Erode in India, Derby in the UK and now here in Plano, the US!

She just loves being outside of the house wherever it was. Be it in India, in the UK or now in the US, she just wants to head out to the park to ride a bicycle or play with her friends that she had made all by herself in a very short duration. We have seen that she gets into a leadership role quickly and the team responds to her positively! In sports, she wants to be a basketball player.

She loves her family pretty much and are fond of her aunts and cousins. She absolutely adores and takes care of her little sister Oviyaa. Both these girls now have a separate room for themselves and Nilaa takes care of the younger one during the nights! Oviyaa is yet to get to a play school, but Nilaa ensures that she does not miss that. We often get to visualize her class teachers in her mono acts as teaches her little sister, teaching good things in life.

Nilaa is a very good listener, but often pays attention only to things that matters or interests her. She likes to be surprised every now and then. Last summer, exactly during the same week, we made a trip to India from the UK and we kept it as a surprise! She did not realize that she is in India, until we got out of the airport and met with her uncles and aunts awaiting to receive us. She simply loved it.

As with every child and every respective parents, Nilaa being our first child is the meaning of our lives. There are a lot of things and emotions that she gave us for the first time and continues to give us every single day.

More than anything, what we adore about her is the way she has inspired us to embrace changes in life. In the name of opportunity to us, we have challenged her by putting her in different schools, across cities, countries and continents! Yet, she neither complained nor was she bogged down. She had adapted to every environment very seamlessly without ever needing us to help her in transitions. In fact, she had shown us, the parents, that all these challenges are opportunities to explore and learn new things in life. An Inspiration!

True to the meaning of her name, she guides us as a light in our lives! Nilaa is a star to your class and a moon to us. Nilaa literally means moon in our mother tongue Thamizh!

Just to end it on a lighter note, we chose her name over a carom board game!

We love her as our life and are sure Gulledge will take good care of her. Thanks for having her part of this institution and all the best to everyone at Gulledge!

- Leela and Raj

Happy 2015!

While I called 2014 as the year of Hope, I want to call this year as the year of Determination.

We have come too far, too away from life with a lot of greed and hatred in the very name of life, God and Religion. 

Be it wars, be it bombs, be it storming a school and killing children, be it raping a friend, be it shooting down a flight, and quite a lot more of actions like these makes me say that we are not humans any more. Our souls are corrupt and our hearts there by empty!

Let us in this New Year, bring in the courage and determination into our souls to start changing ourselves to be Humans again; For no more children should die or girls be raped in the name of anything! 

Let the New Year take away all the greed and hatred....

Let the New Year bring in lot more giving and love...

Let this year of determination bring back the peace and harmony into the world, because we all deserve it!

Let us all enjoy the joy of giving and be loved!

Charlie Chaplin had said it long back.............

A very Happy and Joyous New Year to everyone!

Let my path be determined by my soul...
என் ஜீவன் போடும் பாதையில் போவேன்...

Regards,
Raj

B' Day - 2014

One more year passes and one more time... Greetings on Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, email (surprise that we still have it) and even on Linked In this time... Just happy that I was on the minds of so many individuals during these testing times.

On my last b' day, like every year, no resolutions made, but a few minor tweaks to me, my life style that I intended to make, a couple of which am able to continue and as always, quite a few that I missed pursuing. But as always, no regrets as there is no point.

It's been quite an interesting b'day year. Last birth day was so a quite an one when we spent the entire day as a family at Erode and this year only 4 us here in Derby! Well, yes! Could not believe that I said an yes to uproot my family and have them go through the pain of this hard transition in every sense, leaving my root alone, schooling for Nilaa, the reduction in affection for Oviyaa and of course everything for Leela, to name a few; the sacrifices that they have made is tremendous. I just wish that I do some justice for the pain that they undergo.

Yes, it is for my career sake that I did accept this unfamiliar role which was a bit of struggle in this uneasy terrain, but, I think as like everyone, am now up and running. There are a lot more stuff to learn and I would keep running I believe.

I do miss the warmth of being in my homeland and the comfort of knowing that my blood lives just 400 KMS away. I do miss the strength my friends gave me. I do miss the humidity of Chennai, the smell of sea and India at large, but that is the choice that I did make and I'll live with that. That said, I'm fortunate enough to have the same comfort and strength here in the UK! I don't know how mother nature enables me with a life full of good people wanting to see me succeed and lead a good life. I have made enough friends in here so much so at times it really overwhelms me that I cannot manage any time for them. For the affection that is showered on us here in the UK as well, I can only say that we are gifted. 

Last year, I did say that I would keep life simple. I believe it is still simple, though at times I feel a bit suffocated. May be life is a bit on high pace and tougher than what I anticipated, but again no complaints as it is a choice that we made and we will sail through this. It is a learning process and moving another inch to some sort of maturity. The pressure, the stress, the hardships are probably back to me after a long time, but I know I have no other choice than surviving. I, just like anyone else, will keep hoping that the new dawn is going to be just great.

As of what I shall intend to do the following year, I just want to do justice to the sacrifices the ladies have made for my career sake. I'm determined to make it happen. I know life is not easy and it keeps testing me every moment, but I know I'll prevail. So will everyone!

And finally, Thanks to everyone who had me in your thoughts on this day! These positive vibes would make me more determined. Ensure that you keep showering me with your love.. 

Back to my famous lines...

I love to be loved...

I live to be loved...

Regards,

Raj.

Friends Acknowledged!

Friends are the ones that define what we are and how we lead our lives... I can boldly and in one sense arrogantly say that I'm leading a good life with so many around to wish me well, though deep down, I know that, sometimes I do not deserve such unconditional love and support. But that is why friendships are unique isn't it! There are no judgements in friendships. It is just support and support and support....

Each day is for friends for we find a friend in dad, mom, brother, sister, wife, and in all forms of relationships.... But this day is the day to acknowledge that unique meaning of a friend who lifts you up with his hands, shares shoulders just when needed and say am there for you even with silence...

விழும் போது கை தந்து...

அழும் போது தோள் தந்து...
இளைப்பாற மடி தந்து...

To all my friends... Acknowledged!
I may not the best to keep in touch, but am touched. :)
- Raj

Hail BVB

Initially, I wanted to name this post as "Giving Back to our teachers", and even now, I feel that is right, but this one too is quite an apt one for the emotions that I have while I draft this post. May be the title looks a bit arrogant, but read through please..

It is said and felt that life is the best teacher as it trains us by giving all the tests. It's pretty much true isn't it? Now when looking back, all the teachers some of whom we adored and some of whom we abhorred, they are probably the best people in the world after our parents. I read it somewhere, teaching is the profession which creates other careers. How true is that! And yet, those teachers after doing the noble job of shaping us remain yet so humble. How much as a society, or even as an alumni have we given back to them.

Now, when I say, giving back, it is not pay back. All they need is acknowledgement and gratitude. When I look at my life, everything that I have including a great set of friends is from my beloved BVB; A school that was for all possible reasons of dominance during our generation, across studies and sports alike, was adored and abhorred as well. Lead by a great correspondent Dr. L. M. Ramakrishnan (I do intend to write a blog on him on how he taught us all what leadership means), supported by Mrs. Aruna Ramakrishnan as the president and administered by Mrs. Karthiyayini as the Principal, a great team of teachers who instilled a lot of dreams and aspirations in us! Am not emotional or overly proud about it. No other institution can boast of an holistic development of people that this team has done which has, in my personal view, created a lot of next generation leaders in almost all form of life!

When I wrote about CAP of life, little did I realize that it was BVB which gave me that. I truly believe that BVB handed us that CAP there by shaping our lives by training us on how to be committed in a cause, how to be passionate in what we pursue and most importantly a never give up attitude.

Alumni meets are a norm across all colleges, universities and institutions. 

As like any of the student batches, we our own circle of friends used to be in touch and of course meet each other during every Indian summer. It so happened that in 2012 when we met in Yercaud, we were discussing that this is not enough and we should possibly be doing a bit more and out of some instinct, a couple of us did say, why not do it at school in 2014 where we complete a double decades of being the alumni of the school and so on.

Eventually, as always, we forgot that and we moved on. This year, when the natural organizers for our reuinion, made the proposal and out of nowhere came in a suggestion of a friend who visited the school, can we do it in school, in less than 5 weeks, here we are at the brink of what I call as history. 

Now, is it a get together?? No. It is a life time event for all of us when roughly 65% of our batch mates from across the globe are going to be under one roof where we meet and greet our beloved teachers and staff. When we set out to on this task, we knew very well it is an uphill task, but then with the CAP we had, we know for sure this will be nothing but a spectacular event. We quickly moved from a get together to a reunion which now is nothing but a show of gratitude to our school and its staff.

I know there people have said that we cannot create memories, BVB batch 1994 pass outs are creating a lot to cherish forever. We proudly, yet so humbly are showing  and the our gratitude towards them on the 12th of July, 2014 where 90+ of the alumnus meet and greet 55 teachers and 15 supporting staff at our own backyard. 

While I wish I was there in person, I would not regret that, because that is what BVB has taught me. To just keep moving..

This event is telecast live across the globe and I'll not miss it. 

Gratitude is attitude. BVB taught us that. 

Generations after generatations, BVB will continue to stand tall and its legacy will go on until each of the BVB students are alive! 

Frankly Never in my life have I ever felt so proud!

Hail BVB! Hail BVB! Hail BVB! Hail BVB!

Here goes the first video. Obviously mine, a pre-recorded one..... 

Regards,

Raj.

Ps.: 

1. Only BVB alumni can realize the colour coding in this! And yes mine is Maroon and yes am from Vivekananda.

2. The post will be appended with videos as and when they emerge.

Ovvaiyaar’s Aathichudi with Mei Ezhutuhgal now.

Long back, I wrote something on our grand old Lady Ovvaiyar's Aathichudi and the compilation was for only Mei Ezhuthugal.

There were requests from a lot of folks to post them for Mei Ezhuthugal as well. I can say an excuse of not finding time, but the real reason was I did not have the resources nor the knowledge to write the correct ones! Now, I bumped up on my friend Sabari Ganesh who had it all compiled on his FB page and am just presenting it as is. Enjoy reading.

Uyir Ezhuthugal:

1. அறம் செய விரும்பு / 1. Learn to love virtue.

2. ஆறுவது சினம் / 2. Control anger.
3. இயல்வது கரவேல் / 3. Don't forget Charity.
4. ஈவது விலக்கேல் / 4. Don't prevent philanthropy.
5. உடையது விளம்பேல் / 5. Don't betray confidence.
6. ஊக்கமது கைவிடேல் / 6. Don't forsake motivation.
7. எண் எழுத்து இகழேல் / 7. Don't despise learning.
8. ஏற்பது இகழ்ச்சி / 8. Don't freeload.
9. ஐயம் இட்டு உண் / 9. Feed the hungry and then feast.
10. ஒப்புரவு ஒழுகு / 10. Emulate the great.
11. ஓதுவது ஒழியேல் / 11. Discern the good and learn.
12. ஒளவியம் பேசேல் / 12. Speak no envy.
13. அகம் சுருக்கேல் / 13. Don't shortchange.

Mei Ezhuthugal:

14. கண்டொன்று சொல்லேல் / 14. Don't flip-flop.
15. ஙப் போல் வளை / 15. Bend to befriend.
16. சனி நீராடு / 16. Shower regularly.
17. ஞயம்பட உரை / 17. Sweeten your speech.
18. இடம்பட வீடு எடேல் / 18. Judiciously space your home.
19. இணக்கம் அறிந்து இணங்கு / 19. Befriend the best.
20. தந்தை தாய்ப் பேண் / 20. Protect your parents.
21. நன்றி மறவேல் / 21. Don't forget gratitude.
22. பருவத்தே பயிர் செய் / 22. Husbandry has its season.
23. மண் பறித்து உண்ணேல் / 23. Don't land-grab.
24. இயல்பு அலாதன செய்யேல் / 24. Desist demeaning deeds.
25. அரவம் ஆட்டேல் / 25. Don't play with snakes.
26. இலவம் பஞ்சில் துயில் / 26. Cotton bed better for comfort.
27. வஞ்சகம் பேசேல் / 27. Don't sugar-coat words.
28. அழகு அலாதன செய்யேல் / 28. Detest the disorderly.
29. இளமையில் கல் / 29. Learn when young.
30. அரனை மறவேல் / 30. Cherish charity.
31. அனந்தல் ஆடேல் / 31. Over sleeping is obnoxious.
32. கடிவது மற / 32. Constant anger is corrosive.
33. காப்பது விரதம் / 33. Saving lives superior to fasting.
34. கிழமைப்பட வாழ் / 34. Make wealth beneficial.
35. கீழ்மை அகற்று / 35. Distance from the wicked.
36. குணமது கைவிடேல் / 36. Keep all that are useful.
37. கூடிப் பிரியேல் / 37. Don't forsake friends.
38. கெடுப்பது ஒழி / 38. Abandon animosity.
39. கேள்வி முயல் / 39. Learn from the learned.
40. கைவினை கரவேல் / 40. Don't hide knowledge.
41. கொள்ளை விரும்பேல் / 41. Don't swindle.
42. கோதாட்டு ஒழி / 42. Ban all illegal games.
43. கெளவை அகற்று / 43. Don't vilify.
44. சக்கர நெறி நில் / 44. Honor your Lands Constitution.
45. சான்றோர் இனத்து இரு / 45. Associate with the noble.
46. சித்திரம் பேசேல் / 46. Stop being paradoxical.
47. சீர்மை மறவேல் / 47. Remember to be righteous.
48. சுளிக்கச் சொல்லேல் / 48. Don't hurt others feelings.
49. சூது விரும்பேல் / 49. Don't gamble.
50. செய்வன திருந்தச் செய் / 50. Action with perfection.
51. சேரிடம் அறிந்து சேர் / 51. Seek out good friends.
52. சையெனத் திரியேல் / 52. Avoid being insulted.
53. சொற் சோர்வு படேல் / 53. Don't show fatigue in conversation.
54. சோம்பித் திரியேல் / 54. Don't be a lazybones.
55. தக்கோன் எனத் திரி / 55. Be trustworthy.
56. தானமது விரும்பு / 56. Be kind to the unfortunate.
57. திருமாலுக்கு அடிமை செய் / 57. Serve the protector.
58. தீவினை அகற்று / 58. Don't sin.
59. துன்பத்திற்கு இடம் கொடேல் / 59. Don't attract suffering.
60. தூக்கி வினை செய் / 60. Deliberate every action.
61. தெய்வம் இகழேல் / 61. Don't defame the divine.
62. தேசத்தோடு ஒட்டி வாழ் / 62. Live in unison with your countrymen.
63. தையல் சொல் கேளேல் / 63. Don't listen to the designing.
64. தொன்மை மறவேல் / 64. Don't forget your past glory.
65. தோற்பன தொடரேல் / 65. Don't compete if sure of defeat.
66. நன்மை கடைப்பிடி / 66. Adhere to the beneficial.
67. நாடு ஒப்பன செய் / 67. Do nationally agreeables.
68. நிலையில் பிரியேல் / 68. Don't depart from good standing.
69. நீர் விளையாடேல் / 69. Don't jump into a watery grave.
70. நுண்மை நுகரேல் / 70. Don't over snack.
71. நூல் பல கல் / 71. Read variety of materials.
72. நெற்பயிர் விளைவு செய் / 72. Grow your own staple.
73. நேர்பட ஒழுகு / 73. Exhibit good manners always.
74. நைவினை நணுகேல் / 74. Don't involve in destruction.
75. நொய்ய உரையேல் / 75. Don't dabble in sleaze.
76. நோய்க்கு இடம் கொடேல் / 76. Avoid unhealthy lifestyle.
77. பழிப்பன பகரேல் / 77. Speak no vulgarity.
78. பாம்பொடு பழகேல் / 78. Keep away from the vicious.
79. பிழைபடச் சொல்லேல் / 79. Watch out for self incrimination.
80. பீடு பெற நில் / 80. Follow path of honor.
81. புகழ்ந்தாரைப் போற்றி வாழ் / 81. Protect your benefactor.
82. பூமி திருத்தி உண் / 82. Cultivate the land and feed.
83. பெரியாரைத் துணைக் கொள் / 83. Seek help from the old and wise.
84. பேதைமை அகற்று / 84. Eradicate ignorance.
85. பையலோடு இணங்கேல் / 85. Don't comply with idiots.
86. பொருள்தனைப் போற்றி வாழ் / 86. Protect and enhance your wealth.
87. போர்த் தொழில் புரியேல் / 87. Don't encourage war.
88. மனம் தடுமாறேல் / 88. Don't vacillate.
89. மாற்றானுக்கு இடம் கொடேல் / 89. Don't accommodate your enemy.
90. மிகைபடச் சொல்லேல் / 90. Don't over dramatize.
91. மீதூண் விரும்பேல் / 91. Don't be a glutton.
92. முனைமுகத்து நில்லேல் / 92. Don't join an unjust fight.
93. மூர்க்கரோடு இணங்கேல் / 93. Don't agree with the stubborn.
94. மெல்லி நல்லாள் தோள்சேர் / 94. Stick with your exemplary wife.
95. மேன்மக்கள் சொல் கேள் / 95. Listen to men of quality.
96. மை விழியார் மனை அகல் / 96. Dissociate from the jealous.
97. மொழிவது அற மொழி / 97. Speak with clarity.
98. மோகத்தை முனி / 98. Hate any desire for lust.
99. வல்லமை பேசேல் / 99. Don't self praise.
100. வாது முற்கூறேல் / 100. Don't gossip or spread rumor.
101. வித்தை விரும்பு / 101. Long to learn.
102. வீடு பெற நில் / 102. Work for a peaceful life.
103. உத்தமனாய் இரு / 103. Lead exemplary life.
104. ஊருடன் கூடி வாழ் / 104. Live amicably.
105. வெட்டெனப் பேசேல் / 105. Don't be harsh with words and deeds.
106. வேண்டி வினை செயேல் / 106. Don't premeditate harm.
107. வைகறைத் துயில் எழு / 107. Be an early-riser.
108. ஒன்னாரைத் தேறேல் / 108. Never join your enemy.
109. ஓரம் சொல்லேல் / 109. Be impartial in judgement.

- ஔவையார்.

For the sake of people who cannot read Thamizh, I'll try to transliterate this into English in a shortwhile. 

- Raj

Again on Choices....

I had posted earlier on what are right or wrong choices and I kind of on a lighter note felt that it is at a few times not so possible.. ;) While I still stand by my earlier remark, here is one of my experience..

The only time you know your choices were right or wrong straight away is when you are at a Toll Plaza..... Shit happens to me every time that I always choose the wrong booth.. And even if I choose the wrong choice you cannot make it work or reverse it.. 

Wanted to write this long back, but since I keep driving a lot in the last couple of months and with 8 Plazas between Erode & Chennai, I feel the frustration creeping up because of making the so called wrong judgment!! 

Feeling really amused on when I can pick a right choice at a toll plaza... 

 - Raj.

What do we leave in Children?

A few days back, I was having an interesting email conversation with my friend a senior colleague on what level of Morality we tend to have and what we expect from others. While that topic (which is something he wrote on) is not what I want to discuss in this, the below is what was a spun off topic on what we do Children these days in terms of our expectations and how well we as parents or family or society give them Moral Education..

Like what I keep saying, our whole system starting from education has been spoilt. We used to have something called moral science in our generation, we used to have grandparents teaching morals to us, but these are now a luxury. In fact, I can blame it only on the parents of this generation for this as, we seem to accept things as is and we do not want to fight it. We think it is not our fight and let this immorality become the norm for our children.

I was in a How to be better parenting presentation few days back and the trainer asked the audience what each one of us was our child to be. The trainer asked me only as the last person, “Raj what do you want your daughter to be?”. True to myself, I said, I want them to be good human beings with right morals, fighting attitude, mental and physical fitness and nice social awareness with excellent self-esteem. Interestingly, none of the parents were near to what I wanted.

Coming back to the point, the point is Moral values are getting lost in India and thanks to parents & society and the need of the hour is each of us need to go back to the roots. In that session, all parents (not that I blame them) wanted their children to be scientist, doctor, IAS etc.,. forgetting about being Human Beings. We are being pressured by our peers and worse by the peers of our children too.

Not that I claim I’m best parent, but that is what I tell my daughters every single day like a slogan. Be patient, be honest, be brave, be calm, be tolerant, be respectful and so on (at least 25 as much as I could think of). Even then, I feel am not close to what I want to instill in their thoughts. I do often get scared that when they become like what I say, they will be odd ladies out, but then at least am trying.

What I leave for them is not significant, what I leave in them is very important.

Now whether or not am right or if it would be good for my daughters, is for the time to judge. But then, I feel am nurturing my seeds in the right way and in a responsible way too. Am a firm believer that honesty and hard work pay, though at times it is a very difficult choice, but I feel am content and can sleep very well at nights.

I know there are many other different (and better) ways of doing it, but then one cannot master all!

- Raj

Intelligent or Stupid Questions?

To a post on LinkedIn... The question was something related to Intelligent questioning.. This was my answer.. 

To me no question is stupid or intelligent because the nature of the question is derived by the answer to the question and primarily the person who answers it! Anyone who has the guts to ask any sort of question to me is intelligent as he wants to learn more!

Regards,
Raj

Happy 2014!

Here comes the New Year and again what I wrote 2 years back makes sense still like what I said last year!

While last year was Year of Optimism, I would like to call this year as an Year of Hope.

Hope is the only factor that keeps waking us up every single day. 
Hope is the only sedative that makes us sleep. 
Hope is the only light that keeps us moving during our darker days.

Hope is the only hope that keeps us looking forward despite setbacks.

I honestly feel that hope is the only cure for all of our problems and wounds.  

May this year be Year of Hope where things will change for good in India and larger world too.
I do hope that there are changes in store for me and everyone associated with me which would be for greater purpose.

All the best to all of us!

Happy New Year!

Regards,
Raj.

Right or Wrong Choices?

It is my experience.. when you have two choices and you are unable to decide which you "think" is the right one and you decide to flip a coin.... The right option will be known moments after you flip the coin up and you "feel" the right option even before the coin starts descending... You would desperately want the coin to take your feeling and give the right choice...

Moral of the statement... do what you feel is right.. If it was wrong, you try to make it right or learn to live with it. And no regrets...

- Yours Truly!