Global Citizen

Year 2011

2011-12-31T00:32:00.000-08:00

Last day of year 2011 - it is recap time for events of the year in the media. Don't want to repeat it here again.

"Thane" cyclone brings death and destruction in south India. Deaths reported in North India due to severe cold of the winter.

When it is money that matters in the world, it is fresh life when you meet people who have a heart of light and love.

I personally thank everyone who has made this year 2011, an eventful year and to look forward for year 2012 with new hopes and energy.

Rains in Bangalore

2011-08-18T07:16:00.000-07:00

Heavy rains in Bangalore. Media reports say that it has rained more this month in this year compared to past 2 decades or so.

The water logged roads are a driver's nightmare. But then the local administration is taking steps to mitigate the suffering of the people.

Friendship

2011-04-16T04:38:00.001-07:00

Even on a warm day, people can be so damn cold.
They'll hurt you and desert you.
They'll take your soul if you let them.

I won't let them do this to you,
I am with you, your friend, always

Gorilla faces extinction

2011-03-30T01:33:00.000-07:00

The gentle, intelligent animal Gorilla is facing extinction.

As per one estimate only about 600 mountain gorillas and about 40,000 lowlands gorillas survive today.

Gorillas are the world's largest primate and for years they've been portrayed as fearsome and aggressive beasts. But gorillas are actually gentle giants that have strong family ties and live on a vegetarian diet.

The eastern gorilla has three subspecies: the mountain gorilla, the Bwindi gorilla and the eastern lowland gorilla.

Destruction of rainforests, the killer virus and illegal hunting of Gorilla have made Gorilla the endangered species.

We must save Gorilla from extinction

Travel

2011-03-28T04:01:00.000-07:00

" To know how good is your friend, travel with him/her " is one of the popular sayings. To me personally, it has been some of the memorable travels that I have had with my friends. The spirit of exploration, fun and excitement were all there. Maybe that is the difference when you travel with friends.

Travel gives the opportunity to meet new people, know about new places, culture and so on. Long travel in trains in India are an experience to remember. I cant forget the journey by Parbani express ( I dont know if it is still known by same name or has been further extended from Parbani). The train would start late night from Bangalore and criss crossing the states of Karnataka, Andhra, Maharastra, it should be one of the longest journeys from start to end point in Indian Railways. But wonder why they did not have a pantry car in this train. In my first journey on this train, it was learning by hard way that the last tolerable bit of breakfast you get is at Raichur railway station ( about at 7.30am) and you wait till 4pm for next bite at Bidar!

Memories of travel by the coal fired steam engine train during childhood. The need to change from narrow guage train to the metre gauge train.

More again.

Dream

2010-12-16T02:03:00.000-08:00

A dream job, a dream team, a dream car, a dream house, a dream vacation and so on, some where dream becomes a part of life.

Some dreams long cherished but are lost in the maze of everyday life. They are sleeping like a cute puppy near you. Summer, rains or winter - the seasons come and ago, the dream just ignored. Only it is spring that appears awaiting near such dream.

If the sleeping dream is woken up again, it is the colors of spring that make it vibrant and full of life.

It is like some one made a bundle of all such dreams but forgot to take it with them, when they left.

The dream continues to sleep, like a cute puppy.

Water a commodity now

2010-10-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

The natural resource like rivers, water bodies and even ground water are now commodities being priced by the government. Only they who can afford to pay, can use the same.

This is having a serious impact on our day to day living. A few instances to ponder ;

The poor farmer who is burdened by debt, has no choice but depend on water from rains. But then the way forests are plundered, rains have become more unreliable. It is either excess rain or drought and both destroy thousands of poor families that depend on agriculture in India.

In cities, the government often increases the cost of providing drinking water and sanitation facilities. While the price increase happens, there is no improvement in providing water for most part of the day. There are cities where water is provided once or twice a week and quality of water supplied is questionable in some places. The pilferage and wastage of water in some cities is as high as 40% and there is very little being done to end this menace. The increase in cost of water and sanitation also badly affects millions of families which on a very low monthly budget.

Bottled water with its make believe mineral qualities is a multi million dollar industry in India. Several instances of operators who aim to make quick money by bottling and selling water unfit for human consumption are reported in the media. The bottle water sold in plastic bottles is also contributing to generation of plastic waste which is destroying the environment.

Water is precious and every living being has a right for safe water. It is essential to conserve water and use it judiciously.

Eat to live and dont live to eat

2010-10-07T07:55:00.000-07:00

Discipline in eating habits, helps one in maintaining good health, opine many doctors.

The famous poet from India, Sarvagna says,

" He who has meal once a day is healthy like a yogi,
He who has meal twice a day is eating more than required
He who has meal thrice a day is living for eating
He who has meal four times a day, is on his way to death."

So let us eat to live a happy and healthy life.

Retirement

2010-09-29T07:42:00.000-07:00

Retired from job and now leading a retired life, is a statement often heard. I can understand retirement from job but what is leading a retired life? I find this concept of retired life, more prevalent in India.

It is sad to find some people leading a retired life which is akin to self imposed exile or solitary confinement. Not being a earning member in the family, changes the relationships in some families.

But another way of looking at it, is the person may have retired from work but has rich experience which can be useful to youngsters who are having job aspirations or new at job. The cost of living increases year after year and it helps to be actively involved and in process earn some money as well.

In many professional colleges that I have visited, career guidance and counseling for students is very poor. This often works to the disadvantage of the students.

Retirement from work is not end of life. There are many people who continue to be actively involved and enjoy life till the end. It helps to associate or befriend with such people than the group of people who idle away most of their time.

Morning Walk

2010-09-27T00:36:00.000-07:00

On a ideal day, morning walk to me is the walk at dawn.

It brings in the joy of enjoying the fresh air, the sight of beautiful flowers, the songs of the birds and finally the touch of moist grass against the feet. I call it as Mother nature's gift of aromatherapy at work.

On the way back to home, it is usually an encounter with the news paper delivery boys, the milk delivery boys and the cut flower vendors. The smell of freshly brewed coffee from a nearby household is good reason to reach home quickly and enjoy my own cuppa.

The day's prayer will be " God give me all the challenges you want to give but also give me the strength to face these challenges. As your creation, I dont want to let you down. '

Have a great and successful day.

Counselling is need of the day.

2010-09-26T00:20:00.000-07:00

Blood donation is the need of the hour.
But in context of India, the counselling for the family and friends of the person who needs blood and encouraging them to come forward to donate blood is important. It also helps dispel several myths that many people have about blood donation.

It Happened One night

2010-09-26T00:07:00.000-07:00

It was night and son Karan was fast asleep in his room. I watched the Late night movie – The Omen.

The hero Damien was a boy of Karan’s age. But his innocent eyes radiated ….…. evil !

Movie over, I retired to bed too.Could be at midnight, a strong gust of air through the open windows awoke me. I got out of my bed to lock up the windows. It is then I noticed light streaming in down the hallway. I had switched off all the lights before retiring to bed. How did this light be on? I wondered.As I walked towards the kitchen, from where the light was streaming in. I saw a shadow along the entire length of the wall. “Was it of a burglar who had entered my house ? What if he was armed and attacked me? Fear crossed my mind. I heard the sound of something ripped open , then a rustling or was it crunching and munching sound. This is no burglar, then is it a Ghost? A Dracula in real life .

My heart pounded high and loud. Praying god for help, with unsteady steps I walked into the kitchen. There was nobody there, but I could still hear the sounds clearly !

I very slowly turned around and there stood the, Damien right in front of the door. His lips were red and quivering, as if to speak out. His face was drained white.“No, this is Karan,” I screamed.

“Papa, I came to eat potato wafers ..”, Karan whispered, the open packet of chips in his left hand.Picking him up in my arms and Kissing him, I carried him to his bed. On way back to my room, when I was few steps away from the kitchen, the light turned off on its own.

Through the Skylight, I saw a stiletto of a little boy of age of my Karan, moving on the roof !

It's Sunday Again

2008-09-27T19:37:00.000-07:00

The previous sunday, I was in Mumbai with friends. Travelling by the local trains in Mumbai, is an experience which is unparallel in the world. We watched a comedy movie in the evening. It was good to enjoy life as a teenager again.

Visiting the Siddivinayak temple was nice experience. Thankfully the crowds were thin and maybe that made the police less dominant.

The Mahalaxmi temple had no security ! Guees the police think that Mother Goddess should protect her devotees. Without the garbage strewn around, the temple is a nice place to visit.

Salam Mumbai !

Rising from Ashes

2008-09-25T18:55:00.000-07:00

Life was so great and fun but it all changed in three minutes.
Reduced to ashes in one go.
Is this what that happens when a Trigger Happy Despot, fires a Nuke and makes a city or even a country go up in smoke?
But there are promises unfulfilled, work unfinished and life has to rise from the ashes.
Learning to find my feet again, learning to live again.

Musings on net

2006-04-09T04:56:00.000-07:00

To be part of the blogger community makes me happy. Presence is begining and growth is life. Aim to make this a growing blogspot with active support and participation of all of you.

Being professional in information technology, earned me peer recognition, professional satisfaction and ofcourse, my daily bread.

Thirst for knowledge drives me ahead and makes me the global citizen.