RANDOM THOUGHTS

Travel by the prestigious UDAY EXPRESS 22666 from Coimbatore to Bangalore is a misnomer to the core because there is hardly anything there to be proud about . . This double decker AC train which was inaugurated hardly a year back with much fanfare between the Two Cities is a huge disappointment for a seasoned traveler. This is a huge let down mainly to  the IT crowd travelling often between these two cities . None of the trays have the locking mechanism to keep it upright when not in use . The fittings in the Toilet  are loose and the doors can't  be locked from the inside and the fear of being caught in the act is always an embarrassing  thought . The overhead space to keep the luggage is something which show our Railways in a very poor way . The TEN INCH SPACE can hardly accomodate anything of value . Loading a small carry luggage is itself impossible in the space provided . The absence of any alternative place is even more apalling . Does this  bas...

As a person , perhaps not in sync with the majority view , it is with great distress that I pen these lines . Sadly , many amongst us , who prefer to be bracketed in the educated class or elite are foolish enough to be led in to the slaughter house without any qualms. Our PM s speech yesterday addressed to the Nation   from the Ram Leela grounds in New Delhi extolling the virtues of the CITIZENSHIP AMENDMENT BILL ( NOW A LAW ) , its History , Path , Benefits and the general well being of the Nation by weeding out unlawful infiltration but at the same time emphasizing that there would be no change in the status of its lawful citizens of the country was telecast by all the English Language Channels. Our own ,  Famous Four Tamil News Channels NEWS 7 TAMIL PUTHIATHALAMURAI DAILY THANTHY CNN 18 TAMIL ALL chose not to Telecast the speech but were busy showing the Destruction caused by the people against the CAB even as the PM was busy with his speech. Even today...

माननीय प्रधान मंत्री जी ये बड़ी अजीब की बात है की आप के लाख कोशिशों के बावजूद यहां तमिलनाडु में सभी प्रकार के गलत समाचार जो लोगों के बीच में नफरत और दुश्मनी फैला सके  , उसका प्रयोग किया जा रहा है . यहां के पत्रिका और विसुअल मीडिया तुले है आपसे कई ख़ातिनाईयों के बावजूद लाये गए सभी चीज़ों का विरोध करना . हमारा तो यह मन करता है की इन सभी पर किसी प्रकार की कोई पाबंदी लगाई जाये  , जिसके बाद उनकी बोलती बंद हो जाये. आपके प्रवक्ताओं को चाहीये की लोगों को सही  बातों की खबर दें और विरोधियों की झूटी प्रचारण का सही तरह मुक़ाबला करें . मै जहां तक हो सके इसी कोशिश में लगा हूँ . आपको शुभ कामनायें ह गणेश ३/१८९  कन्नडासन मार्ग अगस्तीारपट्टी तमिलनाडु 627428

Each passing day is making everything even more murkier.  Be it the Political Ethos , the common man s endeavor to go about his daily activity , the student community and their desire to excel in their chosen field ; All have taken a severe beating once the CITIZENS AMENDMENT BILL has become a LAW after having been passed by both houses of the Parliament . Here is a party that is sincerely trying to fulfill the promises made in its election manifesto . Pulwama Attack , Triple Talaq Abrogation , Citizen Amendment Law have not gone down well with the opposition . The Brain Washing by  those opposed to the CAB seem to be working well . We must probably be the only group in the whole world who want their borders opened to people who have anything but the well being of the people at large in their must do agenda . Sabotage , Destruction , Killings , Loot , Rape and anything to show the Govt in poor light seem to be their only priority   . That the New Law will...

A WISE man had once reportedly said that the JOY that  old and long lost  friends get on meeting each other is almost equal to the JOY that earnest young  lovers get on meeting each other during their courtship . YOURS , NOT SO TRUELY WISE ,  unfortunately does not have the  experience of the second kind of courtship but ample experience during these long years as a contended happy married man . It is the joy of meeting old friends , some after almost a few decades that comes to mind and brings in the same emotions mentioned by the WISE man above . ONE SUCH OCCASION WAS THE WEDDING OF A FRIEND ' S SON  The fact that the wedding took place in PAPANASAM  an area where we spent many happy years working together in a company of repute helped in no small measure . The recent congregation of friends on the occasion of  BARTHASARATHY/GOMATHY 'S sons marriage was unforgettable in more ways than one .  Apart from the closeness it brought...

These three iconic pictures would have brought back many nostalgic memories of the pleasant days gone by . Anyone  associated with Madura Coats , Ambas would have traversed this IRON BRIDGE or IRUMBU PALAM of more than 125 years vintage as it was then referred to any number of times . The picture perfect and scenic locale of the bridge with the Tambarabarani River below is awe inspiring . The date 4 th August   1974 will always be etched in my mind . This was the day when me and  22 other fellow Apprentices joined the Ambas Weaving Unit on transfer from Madurai . There we were , the entire 22 of us on the riverbed in the evening taking a bath and admiring the sheer beauty of the place . Now , almost 47 years later , there is always a tug in the heart when the beauty of the place or a chance look at the place in a picture or movie  come to mind . I have had the good fortune to see many such places across the Globe but the sheer beauty and na...

Today s  " The Hindu " newspaper featured an almost half page  article highlighting the danger caused by the stray cattle on the roads in and around Tirunelveli . Nearly 8 precious lives have been lost due accidents because of the stray cattle on the roads in these areas during the last 3 days alone . The situation on the Papanasam to Kallidai stretch is pathetic . Accidents are just waiting to happen at almost all the intersections in this stretch . Pot holed roads , continuous rains , poodles of water , poor street lights and our poor four legged friends squatting on the middle of the roads make it almost a miracle if one reaches his destination without a scare . I have nothing against our cattle friends . I do hope that the owners of these poor creatures keep them tethered for their own safety and the safety of the road users . Yours truely was lucky enough to escape with a broken indicator lamp on one such mishap recently . I wish the authorities who wax elo...

The other day there was a post in the  WhatsApp group of which I am also a member  which lampooned the Indian Medical System . The X Ray of a patient is shown with a cockroach purportedly in the lungs . He is advised to seek medical attention abroad as it was a complicated surgical  operation and was advised to go to Singapore as it had the latest medical facilities . The patient undergoes the operation and when he recoups , he is informed that there was no cockroach in his lungs . The cockroach in the X Ray was probably because of its presence before the lens when the X Ray of the patient was taken in India . WHILE THIS MAY GO DOWN VERY WELL AS A JOKE TO BE SHARED AND A HEARTY LAUGH TO GO AROUND , THIS DOES A GREAT DISSERVICE TO OUR MEDICAL PROFESSION . MEDICAL TOURISM AND THE ALLIED FIELDS ATTRACT A WHOLE LOT OF VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE WHO COME HERE FOR TREATMENT . SINGAPORE AND ITS ILK ARE NOWHERE IN THIS RACE . FILMSTARS AND POLITICIANS LIKE THALAIVA...

I guess there would be hardly anyone from TAMILNADU whose eyes would not have feasted on the beauty of  this tree lined road from Ambasamudram to Yerichudayar Temple on the banks of the Tambarabarani River . The green carpet of the paddy fields and the green canopy of the trees lining on either side of the road is sure to raise the spirits of even the most dejected soul . In fact this stretch is so scenic and iconic that it is a locale for umpteen Tamil Movies for the song and dance sequences of the stars . Muthalvan , Anniyan , Orange Mittai are just a few names that come to mind immidiately . All of us i am sure would have seen and admired these scenes which nature has been kind enough to spread  before our eyes. 

The Picture of the Ambasamudram Railway Station welcomes you to the Heavely Bliss just close by . The tracks literally lead you in to the Western Ghats or Pothigai Malai and to the many Water Bodies and Waterfalls on the Hills . No better invitation from the Hills and the Clouds in the Background . Truely Blessed to be Living in such a place which can boast of places which include Papanasam , Karaiyar , Agastiar Falls , Manimuthar Falls and  Chinna Sankarankovil . Nature has been kind with its bounties.