RANDOM THOUGHTS

                                       VANDE BHARATH                                   BANGALORE TO CHENNAI  Being among the very First to experience and be a part of a change which has caught the imagination of the whole country is always something very special . On the eve of our Republic Day I had the opportunity to travel by the VANDE BHARATH TRAIN from Bangalore to Chennai .  For those still wondering about this name of VANDE BHARATH which in Tamizh will translate to  VANAKKAM BHARATHAM  are the super fast Trains which have been built at ICF - Chennai . The special feature is that it is a  totally MAKE IN INDIA concept with everything in it being of Indian Make . Even the Rim of the wheels which were so far  imported from Ukraine have now been manufactured in India . 4 PAIRS OF VANDE BHARATH TRAINS are now in operation in the Country and THE MYSORE TO CHENNAI which passes THROUGH BANGALORE is the  First one to operate in the SOUTH .  The distance between Bangalore to Chennai is 35

       MARATHAHALLI BRIDGE                                  SKYWALK  Certain activities never seem to tire or bore  you , even if you have done it countless number of times before. The Skywalk across the MARATHAHALLI Bridg Bangalore is one such activity . This is more so if the walk is after all the lights are turned on for the evening and the night is just about to open up in it's full glory  . The Display Hoardings of Various Branded Merchandise Announcing their Premium Products in a dazzling array of coloured lights plus the  Hundreds of cars in all shapes and sizes flashing their lights to get as quickly as possible to their destination never seem to bore or tire anyone . My  walk on the 22 nd of this month was all the more special as the Republic Day Frenzy of Coloured lights added to this never ending charm that Bangalore is so famous for .

       HOME OF SHYAMAPRASAD BROTHERS                                  THE FAMOUS AUDITORS                              A VISIT TO THE HOUSE OF SHYAMAPRASAD BROTHERS WHO ARE THE PROUD OWNERS OF THE AUDITING FIRM OF S & S FIRM OF AUDITORS . The close to two year  Lockout and Work from  Home has brought to light the following observations in the House and more  particularly the Kitchen of Shyamaprasad , the Head  of  The  Renowned Auditing  Firm Of  SHYAMAPRASAD / SURYAPRASAD                          BROTHERS  Following Serious Anomalies were observed in the functioning of their day to day activities . 1. There was no stock ledger being  maintained at any place .   Procurement was not in line with the  Provision , Requirement and  Consumption patterns  . Purchase Orders were being  placed verbally and  Inventory Maintenance was  very poor bordering close to NIL . 2. There was  no proof of any budgeting documents. 3. There was  no indexing of products  . 4. No bin cards were displayed

                       FOUNTAIN PEN - WHAT A MEMORY The following thought came to my mind even  as I began to  PEN   my 540 th Blog --------------  ,,,   -------- wait ,  did I mention PEN !! ,  Pen is hardly the right word to be used as hardly anyone uses a pen now . PEN now  has been forced to take a back seat and make way for your fingers on the Key Pad of a Desk Top Computer , Lap Top , Tablet or a Mobile Smartphone  . As for myself , I do not have a computer and all my 540 odd posts have been from my Mobile Phone . Just a thought , shall we have some fun and play a game !   Travel down your memory lane and try to recollect as to  the last time you ever made use of a Fountain PEN  to write anything of SUBSTANCE of more than 50 words  . You would be surprised at the answers . It could be Weeks or Months for the not so old  and for people touching the sixties  and beyond like me , it could be a few years and in fact a few decades for the majority of the people . I for one do not reco

          CHEATING EVEN THE                    PHYSICALLY                    CHALLENGED I  had reason to be at a hospital in Tirunelveli for almost 3 days in connection with the stay of a relative of mine who was recuperating from a bout of illness . One gets rather numb with all that one sees within the confines of a hospital . The following case comes to mind both as a shock as to how low the money minded would stoop to earn a fast buck and the pathetic treatment the helpless are given . Here is a couple , the husband a Teacher at a High School at Cheranmahadevi under the special category quota . He is  totally vision impaired and was doing the teaching job by using the Braille Methodology. His loving wife was from an orphanage during her entire pre marriage years . They had a very sweet 4 year old daughter. They did not have a close relative of any sort and were almost on their own  . As can only  be imagined under the circumstances they were leading a happy and contended life till

  TODAY IS THE YOUNGEST YOU ARE EVER GOING TO BE  TENZING NORGAY ON MOUNT EVEREST  TAKE HEART : EVEN AS YOU READ THIS : YOU ARE THE YOUNGEST YOU ARE EVER GOING TO BE IN YOUR LIFETIME . ALAS - YOU ARE ONE DAY OLDER TOMORROW  Probably a decade or so back , the images of older people crouched on their walking sticks and making a  slow progress across the road or being accompanied by their near and dear ones on their many daily activity hardly ever seemed to bother me . But here i am , well in to  the " SEVENTIES " and experiences very close to  these very scenarios start to  bother  me in a big way  . Most of  my friends have  also retired and the very few still in service are  almost sure to  get there shortly  . Barring a few who still have some hair on their scalp  and dye their hair ,  all others are either  grey or look more like the YUL BRYNNER OR TELLY SAVALAS of yore Western Classics.   Most move in  slow and  measured steps  .  Age is beginning to tell and  we definitel

    NOT ABLE TO BUTTON YOUR                          TROUSERS ? It came as a very rude shock when the two ends of my favourite  Trouser ( We in India Prefer to call it a Full Pant ) would not cooperate and meet at the waist  any more . However hard that I may try  , this was always turning out to be futile  exercise  and more often than not , the poor button or hook would pop out of its moorings . Your expensive leather belt which was your MAN FRIDAY all this while also fail to cooperate with you any more . The reason is obvious . YOU HAVE PUT ON WEIGHT AND FAT . This  fact is very obvious  . Your waist which was a steady 32 or 34 inches has now chosen to breach the 36 to 38  inches mark . During my  entire working years spanning nearly 35 years , my body weight had always been hovering  around in the 52 to 55 kgs mark  and even as hard as I might  try , this would never breach that mark . I have often heard my friends and acquaintances refer to me being thin or skinny , some on my fac

 THYAGARAJA AARADHANAI-2023 - THIRUVAIARU  The Thyagaraja Aaradhanai this year was special in more ways than one .  The Covid scare by Gods Grace is at a much lower level now . This has ensured that more number of eminent Musicians to assemble at Thiruvaiyaru to take part in this Annual event and pay their respects and be a part of the celebrations .  This has drawn music lovers from all over India and abroad to this small village which is located just on  the outskirts of Tanjore. Last year it was on a very toned down version because of the then prevailing Scare . This year was a welcome change with very large number of Eminent Musicians taking part in the AARADHANAI of THYAGA BRAHMAM .  The chorus singing of the PANCHA RATNA KIRTIES by the Eminent Musicians accompanied as they were by  equally Eminent persons on the Violin , Mridangam and Kanjira was Divine . One hour of MUSIC at its sublime best was a treat to everyone fortunate to participate in person or on the Television . That n

 MANJOLAI VISIT AND CHEETAH                       SIGHTING  Manjolai Kilithano song from the movie Kizhake Pogum Rail which got  released way back in 1978 may have revived fond memories in many old generation folks like me  . The sprawling Manimuthar Falls on the way to Manjolai is a must see attraction . The mainly TEA and a few Coffee Estates of the BBTC OR BOMBAY BURMAH TRADING CORPORATION  give a green cover to almost the entire area between Manjolai and Kutharaivetti . The highest point at this picturesque locale is 1200 mts . The clouds rubbing shoulders with you, the mist all around , eucalyptus trees measuring in excess of 350 feet , the gurgling of streams which  cascade down the mountain slopes at innumerable places and thus creating a sweet  music of it's own makes this POOR MAN'S OOTY a must visit place . The 46 km ride after passing across 7 Hills from Agasthiarpatty traverses through Kallidaikurichy , Manimuthar Dam and Check Post , Manimuthar Falls , Manjolai Est