With the latest rule that cells phones shall not be allowed for use in schools by students and teahers alike, I believe the authorities have finally made some well deliberated decision.. Think about it, for a student, what is the necessity for a cell phone at all!! Typically a student goes to school at 8.00 and returns home by say 5.00 in the evening. In this 8 hour time span, what could be the most important thing he may have to convey that he needsa cell phone on him?? When we were in school, if we fell sick in school, the teacher would promptly call up home and ask for someone to come and take us home.. If it was something urgent that we ourselves had to call up home, we could always use the school ofice phone except that we had to have a good reason to all up home.. and not just to say a hi hello to anyone..
Fair enough...What is the need for a student in middle school or high school to have to socialise during school hours..Even for a working professional, it is not a great trait to be socialising on the cell phone during office hours and reflect very badly on your work morals- unless of course the call is absolutely an emergency or is for business reasons, lucrative to the company too.. So that being the case, a school stuent needs no reason to have a cell phone on him during school hours..
Today speaking to people by calling up from the cell phone is just ONE of the functions of a cell phone- today the cell phone is not just one thing... it is many things (Nokia should not sue me for using their copyright tagline here- God save me) it is a camera, it is a jukebox, it is the palmtop, it is the gamebox, it is an information repository and a lot more (since i am extremely techo-illiterate, i could list only a few things here- people feel free to add more to this list!). That being the case, a student could as well be playing Solitaire or Bubble Breaker on his phone when the teacher is shouting herself hoarse trying to explain the theory of relativity, or could be clicking pictures of his latest crush in school to show off to his buddies.. Tell me honestly, is any student trying to use his phone to browse the internet through his phone to get study material??? I have also been a stucent and very well understand a student's mentality- Middle school, high school and graduate school years are adolescent years when hormones are running over the Full level and immaturity reigns. Rhyme and reason are not in the thinking of this age and it is an age.. These people are definitely not yet old enough to use certain luxuries of the technological boom rresponsibly.
Lest you think I am a stuck up moron trying to speak against the student community, I would say a better way of implementing this would be that all cell phones rought in by students should be turned Of and turned in for safe keeping when they enter the school premises and should be returned to the students when they leave school.
Can the authorities who made the cell phone rule make arrangements for such safekeeping? Can they insist that schools improve their infrastructure to ensure smooth operation of the cell phone deposit and collect process? Can they make adults responsible in checking and ensuing cell phones are turned off in school??? and above all can the average adult parent stop spoiling their kids with the demi-Gods born out of the technological revolution?? Every one is a stake holder in this issue and everyone needs to take responsibility.. Superficial resoultions will not solve the problem..
For one, I am not from the bygone generation and have survived very well without the connectivity of a cell phone till I completed my very first year at work... and I know top notch business magnates who swear by NOT having a cell phone or PDA as a tag-along. Take the cue from them!!!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
Confessions of My Culinary Blunders
My close friends reading this blog would rejoice at having first hand information on my culinary blunders so they have more material to rag me, but who can stop sincere confessions pouring forth from the heart!!!!
1. The first time I made Filter coffee- I have observed my mother pack the coffee filter with coffee powder with the right pressure and pour water over the powder.. Alas!! I did not observe that she pours boiling water.... I was in class 9 when I made my first coffee. VEry confidently I filled the filter with coffee powder and.. poured water straight out of the tap... cold water... and waited and waited for the decoction to percolate into the lower compartment of the coffee filter.. an hour passed and all i saw was colorless bland water collecting in the lower compartment- nothing even remotely resembling coffee decoction.. what then... i had to trash the whole lot, call up my mom (who had gone to grampa's place since he was unwell) and ask for trouble shooting... only when i described to her step by step what I had done could we find the vital step that made (i mean marred) my decoction!!!
For your information, I am now an expert at coffee and to verify this statement, friends are welcome to drop in any time to witness the way I make coffee and the sheer aroma and flavor of the typical South Indian BRahmin coffee.
2. My encounter with asafoetida- This should have occured when I was in Class 7- alway eager to cook, I pestered my reluctnat mom to let me make potato curry. I had pressure cooked the potatoes, peeled them, diced them, heated some oil in the pan, added mustard, urad, bengal gram and turmeric- so far all ok- then I tossed in the diced potatoes and then, since I had the misconception that asafoetia is some sort of a flavoring agent, i sprinkled it liberally on the potatoes- all the while wondering whjy amma had brought such a small pack when it is needed on a day to day basis... Ours was a joint family then and we had no less than 15 people at home at any point in time. Come meal time, there were my dad, two maternal uncles, one aunt, a family friend, my sister, myself and amma.. Amma had already sensed something was amiss with the potato and smelt the excess asafoetida... But when we served the curry, people were looking at me quizzically... By then I knew i had blundered... but the eaters were sportive enough to applaud my efforts and gulped down the curry somehow.. when amma sat to eat, she was quite appalled at the amount of asafoetida and promptly check for what was left in the pack... totla shock.. and then she gave me a big lecture on the right amount of asafoetida- the lesson went down well with me- unlike the not so palatable potato curry and today I know that when we say asafoetida, the phrase "a pinch of" is implied!! phew what a way to learn!!!
3. This one is totally hilarious!!! I made my first Dosa when I was in Class 6!! My undeveloped brain figured that all I had to do was place the tava on the burner and spread the Dosa batter!! Note that I did not mention "Light the stove"!!! I stood there patiently waiting for the Dosa to brown on the underside,... but just nothing was happening.. I get impatient when things do not go as expected and was getting cranky.. I also have the bad habit of not letting people look over my shoulder when I try something new. so I had shooed amma out of the kitchen... But now, in crisis.. i had to call in the expert.. and amma had a good laugh at my idiocy-- we had to clean up the Tava, light the burner, let the tava heat up and then I made the very first eatable Dosa!!!!
And now all you people who read my confessions- dont conclude i am a complete kitchen disaster... Like Edison has said, it is through such failures that I discovered the umpteen number of ways to fail in the kitchen and have overcome those blunders. I am now quite and adept in the kitchen and you are welcome to confirm it yourself by eating my delicacies- and trust me you do NOT need a life insurance cover to try out my food....
1. The first time I made Filter coffee- I have observed my mother pack the coffee filter with coffee powder with the right pressure and pour water over the powder.. Alas!! I did not observe that she pours boiling water.... I was in class 9 when I made my first coffee. VEry confidently I filled the filter with coffee powder and.. poured water straight out of the tap... cold water... and waited and waited for the decoction to percolate into the lower compartment of the coffee filter.. an hour passed and all i saw was colorless bland water collecting in the lower compartment- nothing even remotely resembling coffee decoction.. what then... i had to trash the whole lot, call up my mom (who had gone to grampa's place since he was unwell) and ask for trouble shooting... only when i described to her step by step what I had done could we find the vital step that made (i mean marred) my decoction!!!
For your information, I am now an expert at coffee and to verify this statement, friends are welcome to drop in any time to witness the way I make coffee and the sheer aroma and flavor of the typical South Indian BRahmin coffee.
2. My encounter with asafoetida- This should have occured when I was in Class 7- alway eager to cook, I pestered my reluctnat mom to let me make potato curry. I had pressure cooked the potatoes, peeled them, diced them, heated some oil in the pan, added mustard, urad, bengal gram and turmeric- so far all ok- then I tossed in the diced potatoes and then, since I had the misconception that asafoetia is some sort of a flavoring agent, i sprinkled it liberally on the potatoes- all the while wondering whjy amma had brought such a small pack when it is needed on a day to day basis... Ours was a joint family then and we had no less than 15 people at home at any point in time. Come meal time, there were my dad, two maternal uncles, one aunt, a family friend, my sister, myself and amma.. Amma had already sensed something was amiss with the potato and smelt the excess asafoetida... But when we served the curry, people were looking at me quizzically... By then I knew i had blundered... but the eaters were sportive enough to applaud my efforts and gulped down the curry somehow.. when amma sat to eat, she was quite appalled at the amount of asafoetida and promptly check for what was left in the pack... totla shock.. and then she gave me a big lecture on the right amount of asafoetida- the lesson went down well with me- unlike the not so palatable potato curry and today I know that when we say asafoetida, the phrase "a pinch of" is implied!! phew what a way to learn!!!
3. This one is totally hilarious!!! I made my first Dosa when I was in Class 6!! My undeveloped brain figured that all I had to do was place the tava on the burner and spread the Dosa batter!! Note that I did not mention "Light the stove"!!! I stood there patiently waiting for the Dosa to brown on the underside,... but just nothing was happening.. I get impatient when things do not go as expected and was getting cranky.. I also have the bad habit of not letting people look over my shoulder when I try something new. so I had shooed amma out of the kitchen... But now, in crisis.. i had to call in the expert.. and amma had a good laugh at my idiocy-- we had to clean up the Tava, light the burner, let the tava heat up and then I made the very first eatable Dosa!!!!
And now all you people who read my confessions- dont conclude i am a complete kitchen disaster... Like Edison has said, it is through such failures that I discovered the umpteen number of ways to fail in the kitchen and have overcome those blunders. I am now quite and adept in the kitchen and you are welcome to confirm it yourself by eating my delicacies- and trust me you do NOT need a life insurance cover to try out my food....
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Tax consideration for staying healthy
Think about it.. India is fast awakening to the fact that health is wealth... Recent reviews on some popular news channels show that even people earning Rs.15000 per month make allowances to work out at the local gym, which is by no standards inexpensive..
Now consider how many people may want to join a gym but are unable to do so due to financial constraints- one of them being that apart from a healthy and fit body investing in joining a fitness center has no financial returns..
What if the Income tax department revised their IT rules a little bit- enrollment in any fitness program should merit a tax exemption on the amount spent on the enrolment amount (of course they can fix a ceiling on the amount).
This would motivate the average middle class tax payer in two ways- one he has an additional tool to bring down his taxes and two he can use this opportunity to reduce his waistline by enrolling at the nearest quality fitness center- be it gym workouts, TaiChi, Yoga, Pilates, water sports etc. All that should be needed by the tax department is a receipt of fees paid to the fitness center. (note here that I am in no way prejudiced against people who do other forms of fitness trainings from home- this is just a way to motivate people to work towards fitness).
I hope some tax magnate readin this blog gives this idea some serious thought and influences the decision makers to consider this proposal- think about it, if Uncle SAm can be innovative enough to give tax payer a benefit for going eco friendly, why can't Mother India also do this for the betterment of the health of the average Indian!!!? Tax Law makers!!! Get innovative!! Pitch in to contribute to a healthier India in your own small way!!!!
Now consider how many people may want to join a gym but are unable to do so due to financial constraints- one of them being that apart from a healthy and fit body investing in joining a fitness center has no financial returns..
What if the Income tax department revised their IT rules a little bit- enrollment in any fitness program should merit a tax exemption on the amount spent on the enrolment amount (of course they can fix a ceiling on the amount).
This would motivate the average middle class tax payer in two ways- one he has an additional tool to bring down his taxes and two he can use this opportunity to reduce his waistline by enrolling at the nearest quality fitness center- be it gym workouts, TaiChi, Yoga, Pilates, water sports etc. All that should be needed by the tax department is a receipt of fees paid to the fitness center. (note here that I am in no way prejudiced against people who do other forms of fitness trainings from home- this is just a way to motivate people to work towards fitness).
I hope some tax magnate readin this blog gives this idea some serious thought and influences the decision makers to consider this proposal- think about it, if Uncle SAm can be innovative enough to give tax payer a benefit for going eco friendly, why can't Mother India also do this for the betterment of the health of the average Indian!!!? Tax Law makers!!! Get innovative!! Pitch in to contribute to a healthier India in your own small way!!!!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Mylapore- You live there after leading aeons of virtuous life
For people who are highly sensitive to vibrations around them, entering the boundaries of Mylapore will be a highly uplifting experience as one becomes intensely aware of the spiritually charged atmosphere...I have always believed that one gets to reside in Mylapore only after having done many a good deed in past many births.. Think about it, there is the Kapaleeshwarar Kovil and temple tank, there is the Srinivasa Perumal Kovil, Madhava Perumal Kovil, the Mundaga Kanniamman Kovil, the Shirdi Sai Kovil, Hanuman Kovil, Navashakthi Vinayagar Kovil, the Santhome Cathedral, the Ramakrishna Universal Temple, just to name a very few of the spiritually energising centres. What makes these places special is the years and years of sanctified chanting of Mantras and prayers..which cleans up the atmosphere of the dreg and dross of impure thoughts, malificient attitudes etc.
Mylapore is not just for the spiritual seeker- it is for the ardent shopper as well- come Dussera season and there is no place in Chennai to shop for Kolu dolls better than Mylapore Mada Veedhi. Scores of vendors begin unravelling the precious dolls a few days before Dussera begins- and what a sight it is!! from miniature dolls of Gods and Goddesses to the huge Viswaroopa dolls it is sheer feast for the eyes... This is the time when women of all age groups flock to MAda veedhi to eitherdrink in the festive sights or to drive a hard bargain to buy the dolls.. In adition to the dolls, buying trinkets for giveaways to ladies visiting the households is the next fun thing- there are numerous shops that sell inexpensive but beautiful gifts- small statues of Gods and Goddesses, Kolams, key chains, thoranams, bowls, baskets, innovative Manjal Kumkum sets and so on. the roadside shops stack every Bindi design known on planet earth, bangles made of different materials and in many hues, Photographs of Gods and Goddesses, Sloka books etc. The Mada Veedhi market caters to every customer from every stratum of life- you can walk away with a worthy purchase immaterial of your budget and that is the speciality of Mylai..
It is impossible not to mention the vegetable market in Mylapore.. The freshest vegetables and fruits just pull you unto them for purchase.. the ladies selling Keerai beckon to you like a good old friend enticing you to buy a refreshingly green bunch of Keerai and they are open to negotiation on the price.. and no better place to buy flowers than Mylai- the jasmine strings are closely knit unlike the rest of the city, (where you need directions to find where the next flower is strung on the thread) and the speciality is the Malli Chendu- a thck and heavy length of very very closely knit jasmine blossoms- and trust me the flowers are priced definitely lower than elsewhere in the city.
Other attractions of Mylapore are the Ambika Appalam Depot, the Dappa Chetty Kadai where all sorts of Nattu Marundu (indigenious medicine) can be purchased, the Giri Trading Agency, Srividhya Manjal Kumkumam shop, Mysore Silk Palace, Karpagam mess, Bharatiya Vidya Bhaven , Sangeetha hotel etc..
If you are a resident of Mylai, count youself a step away from salvation- for only the most spiritually evolved souls get to live there.. and my hearty congratulations to you on living in one of the best places on planet Earth!!!
Mylapore is not just for the spiritual seeker- it is for the ardent shopper as well- come Dussera season and there is no place in Chennai to shop for Kolu dolls better than Mylapore Mada Veedhi. Scores of vendors begin unravelling the precious dolls a few days before Dussera begins- and what a sight it is!! from miniature dolls of Gods and Goddesses to the huge Viswaroopa dolls it is sheer feast for the eyes... This is the time when women of all age groups flock to MAda veedhi to eitherdrink in the festive sights or to drive a hard bargain to buy the dolls.. In adition to the dolls, buying trinkets for giveaways to ladies visiting the households is the next fun thing- there are numerous shops that sell inexpensive but beautiful gifts- small statues of Gods and Goddesses, Kolams, key chains, thoranams, bowls, baskets, innovative Manjal Kumkum sets and so on. the roadside shops stack every Bindi design known on planet earth, bangles made of different materials and in many hues, Photographs of Gods and Goddesses, Sloka books etc. The Mada Veedhi market caters to every customer from every stratum of life- you can walk away with a worthy purchase immaterial of your budget and that is the speciality of Mylai..
It is impossible not to mention the vegetable market in Mylapore.. The freshest vegetables and fruits just pull you unto them for purchase.. the ladies selling Keerai beckon to you like a good old friend enticing you to buy a refreshingly green bunch of Keerai and they are open to negotiation on the price.. and no better place to buy flowers than Mylai- the jasmine strings are closely knit unlike the rest of the city, (where you need directions to find where the next flower is strung on the thread) and the speciality is the Malli Chendu- a thck and heavy length of very very closely knit jasmine blossoms- and trust me the flowers are priced definitely lower than elsewhere in the city.
Other attractions of Mylapore are the Ambika Appalam Depot, the Dappa Chetty Kadai where all sorts of Nattu Marundu (indigenious medicine) can be purchased, the Giri Trading Agency, Srividhya Manjal Kumkumam shop, Mysore Silk Palace, Karpagam mess, Bharatiya Vidya Bhaven , Sangeetha hotel etc..
If you are a resident of Mylai, count youself a step away from salvation- for only the most spiritually evolved souls get to live there.. and my hearty congratulations to you on living in one of the best places on planet Earth!!!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
The Green Grocer Goes Personal Again
Remember the good old days when we were kids, when the vegetable vendor would come to the residential colony pushing a cart laden with vegetables and fruits, around the lazy 10.30- 11.00 o clock time frame? Mom used to do her vegetable shopping in a leisurely manner, sharing some friendly banter with the vegetable lady and bargaining for better prices. I used to love those times when I would also run out with amma to be around during the shopping... In fact, if amma was in the middle of some work when the cart came around, the veggie lady would wait patiently, sit on the footpath under the mango tree, sort out her money and take a small break from pushing the cart and walking all day. Once amma had picked what she needed, the veggie lady would carry them into the house and then collect the money.. if amma had less money, there was always tomorrow to settle the transaction- likewise if veggie lady had no change to return- tomorrow always came- theirs was a silent understanding with respect to finance- completely based on trust and trust only...Often amma used to give her cool buttermilk or wateronce their transaction was over... Those were days of unharried shopping...
Fast forward to today... there are numerous vegetable complexes on every street- including the Pazhamudir Solais and Pazhamudir Nilayams, and Reliance and Corporation markets.. these are like veritable fish markets- people thronging all the time- especially young families- both hubby and wifey working- loading their cellar on the weekends to last for the whole week. I for one always feel as if my BP has risen above safe level when I am done with my shopping...No doubt the variety available is more, the artistic arrangement exotic and self service facility liberating... but the personal touch is lost... standing in never ending queues to get your pick billed, searching for the right change to pay..and having to carry the whole lot back home...
Imagine my joy.. when I saw today morning a vegetable cart close to home- the guy comes with select produce from some home farm at about 5.30 and leaves by 7.30 before the sun is fully blazing.. Regular walkers, old ladies and housewives- his regular buyers pick their needs leisurely and pay up- no change? no problem.. tomorrow is fine!!!
The sight just took me back to the good old times and made me feel so happy.. The veggie man is becoming personal again, i guess.....
Fast forward to today... there are numerous vegetable complexes on every street- including the Pazhamudir Solais and Pazhamudir Nilayams, and Reliance and Corporation markets.. these are like veritable fish markets- people thronging all the time- especially young families- both hubby and wifey working- loading their cellar on the weekends to last for the whole week. I for one always feel as if my BP has risen above safe level when I am done with my shopping...No doubt the variety available is more, the artistic arrangement exotic and self service facility liberating... but the personal touch is lost... standing in never ending queues to get your pick billed, searching for the right change to pay..and having to carry the whole lot back home...
Imagine my joy.. when I saw today morning a vegetable cart close to home- the guy comes with select produce from some home farm at about 5.30 and leaves by 7.30 before the sun is fully blazing.. Regular walkers, old ladies and housewives- his regular buyers pick their needs leisurely and pay up- no change? no problem.. tomorrow is fine!!!
The sight just took me back to the good old times and made me feel so happy.. The veggie man is becoming personal again, i guess.....
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