New Gadget!

I used to attend Humor club meetings. To make humor sessions interesting, the organisers felt variety was needed.

To keep the "jokes" apart, the organisers introduced a singer. Slowly, his performance was taking the centre stage. Initially the singer sang one or two songs during the entire evening as the humor club meetings were devoted for jokes only (including'kadi jokes' and skits).
Suddenly people started taking interest in music. From children to elders, they now come with Karoake(track music) to sing along. Last meeting one new member came with a pendrive full of track music and sang a few old tamil songs. The interesting part was, this gentleman has a problem of stammering when he speaks. But due to his rigorous practice, he sings beautifully, overcoming this problem.

When he narrated about himself, after singing a song, he said, 'I have this problem of stammering'..."yennakku pesum bothu vaai thikkum". I heard somebody from the audience saying,"<strong>aanaal padum bothu... thithikkudae!"

Now the jokes have become few and far between.

Of late, I am trying to prove that I can also attempt to sing, if somebody can provide background music! Of course, I would prefer A.R Rehman for that. But for now,I have made a collection of track music to sing along. You can observe some change in my blog today.

Yes! scroll down to find a new gadget of dizzler music player. You can search and find songs like: 'Melliname'... and 'Ninaipathellam'... or any song of your choice that would resemble my renditions. After listening carefully please give your feed back about my New Gadget!

Disclaimer:- The songs and music rights are with the respective authors/creators and singers only.

Charity needs no clarity

That was during my college days. I was managing with the fixed quota of money transferred by my father each month to meet the hostel & college expenses.

One day, when I went to the town, a visibly perturbed man approached me saying that he had lost all his money to a pickpocket. He went on to explain that he came from a far off place on some mission, when this misfortune happened and, he did not have any friends in the town to look for help. He appeared too genuine to me.

Moved by his plight, I offered him the Bus fare and a little extra to take care of one time meal. When I moved on, an old lady approached from nowhere and muttered to me, to the effect, ‘’you are too naive”! When I returned after an hour, I found the same fellow hanging out there, smoking an expensive brand of cigarette and holding a full pack on his other hand!


The story repeated again. A man came to office with a similar story, but promised me that he would return the money once he reaches back to his place. He carefully noted down my address before leaving. This time, I defied my colleagues who dissuaded me from helping. Well, that was the last I saw him!


Recently there was another instance, here at Sharjah, One afternoon, a car came and halted near me at Rolla. The man at the driver’s seat asked me for direction to City Center, saying that he had come all the way from Oman. There was a girl child in the back seat. He asked the child to greet me and went on to say that he needed some money to feed the child and for the expenses for his return. I gave him 20 dhs and went to office. At office, my colleague narrated the same story about a person of similar description approaching him a day before!

I have had several such instances of helping people in need. Among them, a few may not deserved it. But should I stop helping people, just to ensure that I am not cheated?


The joy of giving is something one can never achieve when receiving help from others. In my view, the sheer joy of giving would be sufficient to ignore such instances of cheating by a few undeserving characters.

Here remember the words of Shakespeare, who said:

‘The quality of mercy is not strained;
it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes’.

Charity or helping the needy is a practice that is praised by every Faith, the world over. This quality would never lose its purity, even if it goes to the benefit of a few undeserving. So let’s get the pleasure of giving to others, without bothering about our failure to recognize right beneficiary, lest we may lose the habit of giving!

Yes; charity needs no clarity!

Anger!

A famous poet and thinker said that one should learn to loose "temper" when injustice, apathy and atrocities are committed on innocents. But what about people who are always simmering with anger?

There was a man who went to gulf for earning a fortune for his family. He returns to his home after 15 long years. When he reaches home, it was past midnight. He looks through the window to find an young man of 20 years sleeping with his wife with his arms around her. The man becomes furious on seeing this sight. He removes a sword from the roof, kept hidden by him long ago, when a 'parchment paper'with some inscriptions props out with it. He reads out thus, "think before acting on haste"!

Now he realises that his son who was 5 years old when he left for the gulf, wouldbe turning twenty years. Wife now opens the door to see her husband with a sword. She spends no time in explaining how their little son has grown up to be an attractive young man now!

An old saying states that 'If some one wants to protect himself, he should first control his anger. Anger not only harms oneself, it will harm those 'kith and kins' as well.

Anger is lethal like a poison. That is the reason we find several instances of crimes committed in madness like the 'road rages', 'honour killings' etc

There are several sources wherein self-help tips available in plenty, giving various measures that one can take to control anger. No wonder the word Anger in English is close to the word Danger!

Can all of us now, get angery with ANGER?

Time Management

We had a group of hardworking boys during our college days. They were separate group who would not mingle with any one outside their ring. Always found under the roadside lamp-posts slogging out with thier text books and notes.

There was this other group of boys who were always seen at the "touring talkies" about one km away from the hostel giving their prompt attendance on every friday when a new movie was released.

When the term exam results come, it would be always those "touring talkies" boys who would score good marks, whereas those hardworking "lamp post" guys will carry those vetted papers sulkingly with their low score.

Again I could observe junior colleagues at work place who would stretch their work beyond office hours. Sometimes they carry work to home or come to office on weekends to office to finish the pending work.

Other set of people who stick to their office time and never seen in office on week ends are carrying work to their homes. Yet they finish their jobs silently and without any delay or pendancy!

Have you ever compared people who are in highly demanding jobs wherein one person is found to be always smiling and receptive of customers, whereas the other would pounce on all the callers and visitors?

Talking about Time Management, most of us believe that it is all about planning and managing your 24/7 effectively so that you can complete your work.

You can now go back to see whose success is great... those boys who toiled hard by sacrificing their dose of entertaiment or those from the "touring talkies" camp?

Well, Time management is not managing your time effectively; it is all about successful endeavours.

Yes! time management is about, Success that leaves no bad taste!

Different school of thought

Within two years of stay at one place, my dad would suddenly spring a surprise, ‘Be ready for a change of place’.

Those days you do not have packers and movers on your beck and call. My mother would collect old news papers, used clothes and other packing materials. She would pack all the household items and keep only necessary items essential for cooking for the last day. We used to have a big wooden box to store all the kitchen utensils which will be stuffed just before leaving the place.

After lunch the truck will come to transport the household goods to the new place. Reaching new destination, we would stay in a guest house for a couple of days until the goods arrived and an accommodation is found. In the new place, my dad would take us to the best school for admission, after making thourough enquiry with the local people. Just a meeting with the Head master, the admission for all would be done!

I am counting the number of schools I have studied upto my 11th grade(SSLC). I could not just believe the fact that I had studied in 9 schools!

These days schools occupy the centre stage in the minds of parents. Parents first decide about a school and spend all their resources to secure an admission for their children in that particular school. Once admitted, the child is not removed from school, come what may!

I have observed parents switching their jobs if they are transferred from one place, instead of relocating there with the family, as the child is studying in a ‘good’ school. Sometimes, single parent would manage the child whilst the spouse would accept the transfer or change of job.

I have this family friend who has taken up a job in UAE. His child is studying in one of the reputed schools in Bangalore. This friend is now torn between the idea of bringing the family to UAE or to continue to live alone here by leaving his spoue to manage the child who studying in that 'reputed school' back home.

His relatives and friends circle, barring myself whose childhood experience is quite unique, are advising him against shifting the family from Bangalore.

For a person who has studied in 9 schools during 11 year of school education,this fixation of modern day parents, is difficult to understand.

After all we should admit that they are from a different school of thought!

Desire not to desire

One day King Krishna Devaraya and his Minister Thenali Rama were going on rounds, when heavy rains started pouring. To their surprise, they found a man sleeping in the middle of the road with only a boulder to support his head. The same person when treated as state guest could not sleep at night on his quilted soft bed, as he was disturbed by a cotton seed in the pillow!

When the wants are limited, the mind is clear.

We had a neighbour who had 3 daughters. When we were blessed with our second daughter, all other neighbours visited us to greet the new born,except this family. Finally they visited us, though hesitatingly, just a day before leaving Mumbai. They all looked very sad and forlorn. Instead of congratulating us for the new arrival, they started consoling us for getting another daughter in a row!

Human life is full of desires. Yes! People desire to acquire things that they do not have or have enough to their satisfaction! Complexes develop arising out of this pursuit in our lives. Many succeed in getting what they desire but cannot find satisfaction, as new desires occupy their minds. This is an endless process throughout the life.

Life is full of paradoxes! A person who is too fair, sun bathes to have a 'tan' look. A person who is dark complexioned, spends money and time on fairness creams! The one who is slim wants to put on some weight.. those who are obese want to reduce it!

If only people can reduce their wants and desires, they can lead a peaceful life when the whole world would become a heaven. Can we desire not to desire?

Sombre to Humor!

I had been to the monthly meeting of our Humor club, at the Apple International School, yesterday. Usually, I used to go prepared, but this time I did not make any preparation, as I was not planning to get on to the stage.

We reached the venue in the midst of the program with good gathering of audience already present. Suddenly, I was asked to come on to the stage to contribute. Thrown on to the stage, I stumbled upon an idea to talk about the impending Tamil and Malayalam New year and, tell some story of a poor poet of yonder years.

The poor poet goes to seek some favour from a descendant of a well known family of a philanthropist by singing several odes full of hyper boles.

The poet goes on singing one after another ode, but the expected gift was not forthcoming from the philanthropist. Finally,he gifts an elephant to the poet in praise of his works. Needless to say, this gift has come as a shock to the poor poet than a pleasant one.

Being very poor, he did not want to reveal the huge living creature he got as a gift, he uses punny language when his wife enquires to find what he got from singing praises on the philanthropist.

His wife takes other useful substitutes of the words he uses for indicating elephant and feels happy that his husband has earned something useful that will solve their woes. Finally, poet uses a word which has no other meaning than an elephant.

On hearing this, the poor poet's wife goes dumbstruck.

This I narrated to praise one of the poppular programs conducted in humor club in which witty and punny words are used.

The gathering instead of enjoying the underlying humor, went in a sombre mood, feeling for the poor poet and his family.

I had great difficulty in changing the Sombre mood back to Humor one, for which I had to use several tactics without much success!

Drive to drive

Sometime back, a person close to me, gave me this title, "Jadam"!

Jadam means a person or a creature that does not have feelings or emotions!

Well, certain incidents in my life makes me believe that the title is worth it!

I joined a driving school almost 2 years ago and,I am still nowhere near getting a driving licence.

I this institute after doing a quick evaluation of various institutes. For some reason I chose this "Blessed Driving" Institute, may be I got besotted by its name, really not knowing what was in store for me.


The manager who took the advance fee for the entire course,telling me that he will do "Compileet job", vanished from the sceen after my clearing my reverse parking test and taking only a few driving classes.

Thereafter, it was "hide and seek' with him for over 2 years. With my "jadam" behaviour, or can I say my perseverance?, I could complete the required training.

Today, I just came back from one un-successful attempt of "Kachcha" test!

The RTA inspector told me that I needed 5 more classes of training as I was too fast on the wheels and needed more concentration!

My 'Blessed Instructor' told me that I should be fast on main roads, which, I apparently followed during the test!

Now I am only hoping that I will have enough drive to take another test.

But, being a 'Jadam', I am sure I will have enough "Drive to drive"!

Expect the unexpected

There was this deaf young man who was visiting his old and ailing uncle in his home town. Being deaf himself, he plans the conversation that he would make by guessing the responses to each dialogue that he would engage with his uncle.

Thus he rehearsed: first I will ask him, "uncle! how is your health?" when the uncle would reply "it is improving", now I will say "Oh that is very good.. what medicine you are taking"? Now the uncle will tell the name of the drug...I can say "yes that is the best medicine" and so on.

When he arrives at his uncle's place and asks the rehearsed questions,the story brings out how the replies make the whole conversation turns out to be ridiculous!

You want to get certain job done, and go with all documents you think are necessary. The person at the other side of the counter asks the one which you have thought irrelevant and did not carry along! The whole day is wasted as you have to visit again with the required document.

Life is like that!

It is full of twist and turns. The other day, one of my colleagues narrated his experience at the emigration counter. First he submitted all the documents and apparently all documents were okayed. But he wanted to know how soon he can collect the document and, went to enquire about it.

At this point of time, the person at the counter verified the whole set of documents again and wanted some additional information!

I was particularly worried about the lack of business enquiry one day. Unexpectedly, I received enquiries for business from 4 new contacts who were referred by existing clients.

It is needless to say, even good things can happen suddenly. So be prepared to expect the unexpected!

Persevere to preserve

I bought a tube of new tooth paste as the one I was using neared completion. When you are alone you have to even plan little things, like replacing the tooth paste in washroom ready for use, the next day morning.

When I didn't find the new tooth paste readily available in the wash room, I squeezed the old one to find enough paste available for use. It happened again and again almost for a week ! I remembered my uncle, who used to squeeze out the tooth paste by crushing it agaist the door hinges so as to leave no trace!

My mobile phone track ball was giving trouble, to the extent that people who observe me would think that I am obsessed with my mobile phone, as I kept on fidgeting the instrument. I was dithering the idea of buying a brand new mobile, just because the track ball was giving problem.

Finally I made up my mind to replace the troublesome mobile when I visited a famous mall recently. With little hope of salvaging my mobile, I enquired a dealer if he can replace the track ball. He referred me to another shop who are repairing mobiles. By paying AED50/- I could bring back my mobile phone to active life again!

The other day I had a visitor from Mumbai. Whilst wearing his shoes, as he was leaving,made this comment that the shoes needed replacement but he could not find a comfortable pair for long! He was wearing the shoes for over 10 years now! Even I have a few old collections such as my wrist watch, which has clocked over 20 years!


On hindsight, I feel that one should take a choice between repair or renew. In otherwords you persevere to preserve!

Search and find

A teacher experienced this incident.

She goes to the class, takes the attendance and proceeds to clean up the board. The duster was not in its cradle and she asks the children to find out.

Not found in the class room, she tells the children to search under their desks...
One of the children make a comment.. "search through"Wikipedia"!

To seek some favor, a student meets a professor who has authored many books but the student has never read one. Even as he talks to the professor, he searches from the Internet the title and details of professor's works. He uses the information and impresses the professor to get his job done!

Number of people participate in quiz programs or other media competitions, use the net to give correct answer.

Thousands of strangers meet through the net every day and exchange a lot of information through social networking sites, and in the process, get emotionally attached. The other day I met a friend who said that I have adopted a sister from Switzerland. I call her "swister"! He started identifying her as his emotional aquifer!

Like you see in some curios shop, Human Mind is also like a fragile item. As you may note the warning in the shop, it is nice to lift it up and hold it, but never let it go by loosening the grip, or tighten it, for both actions would result in irreparable damage!

So friends please advise your near and dear ones to ACCESS NETWORKING SITES WITH A LITTLE EXTRA CAUTION!

திருக்குறள் தரும் மேலாண்மை கருத்துக்கள்

திருக்குறள் தரும் மேலாண்மை கருத்துக்கள் பற்றி எழுத வேண்டும் என்று எனக்கு நீண்ட நாளாக ஆசை இருந்துவந்ததுண்டு . அதன் காரணம் நான் மேலாண்மை துறையில் வல்லுனன் என்ற எண்ணத்தினால்அல்ல. திருக்குறள் கருத்துக்கள் எல்லாம் இன்றைய நாட்களில் மேலாண்மை பற்றி வெளிவரும் புத்தகங்களில் புதிய கண்டுபிடிப்புகள் என்பது போல சித்தரிக்கபடுவதை காணும் பொழுது, பல ஆயிரம் ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பே படைக்கப்பட்ட திருக்குறளை நாம் ஏன் அத்தகைய கருத்துக்களின் முன்னோடியாக விளக்கக்கூடாது என்ற எண்ணத்தின் அடிப்படையில் தோன்றியதுதான் இன்று நாம் காண இருக்கும் இந்த இணைய தள புலம்பல்கள் (ப்லோக்..!)

இன்று நாம் ஒரு திருக்குறள் தரும் மேலாண்மை கருத்துக்களை காண்போம்:-

Delegation

இதனை இதனால் இவன்முடிப்பான் yendraindhu

அதனை அவன்கண் விடல்

The couplet in 7 words explains the concept of delegation in a comprehensive manner. It talks about selection of right person based on qualification,experience, aptitude and attitude. And once such selection is made, recommends delegation of the job to that person.

I wonder if delegation can be explained by any one in a better fashion at all.

Scent of Life!

Getting on to the backseat of my car on the very first day, with Pappu as Chauffeur, I realised some thing was different. There was a strong whiff which disturbed me. Can you sack your driver on his first day of employment, because of his body odour? I can't. May be because I am a soft hearted idiot!

I quietly presented him with two sets of new vests. Advised him to come to work every day cleanshaven and only after having daily shower. I perfumed my car with some liberal dose of Aerosol to overcome this problem.

In Mumbai, I stopped going by local train for long. Once I asked my relative, 'why don't you go by First Class so that you can avoid the crowd and inconvenience'? He told me that the difference between First class and cattle class is nothing great, that in Second Class one can get natural perfume whereas in First class, you can smell artificial perfume!

The other day, I got in to the lift alone and experienced nausea due to the strong whiff that was left lingering. Some one who used the lift just before me, must be a owner of an obnoxious chemical factory!

A person smoking cigar will not feel its smell but for others it will be intolerable. What to say, many are oblivious of what they cause to others. A little extra care about personal hygiene and using some mitigating agents such as perfumes would solve this issue.

I remember during my hostel days when, just lying in my bed and closing the eyes, I can identify a few hostel mates passing by my room. My friends used to ask me how I could to identify a person just by his scent?

Afterall, this is what is known as the Scent of Life!

An elegy to departed brother

People used to think I am your elder brother
Whenever we’re seen moving together!
Those were the days spent in childhood
I recall what we did in our neighborhood!



In the school, I used to pick up quarrels every day
you will be there to resolve the issue in a safe way
You took pride in my every success
And felt more pain in my failures

You made a dish using a vessel made of lead
Kept in oven without water and it melt
Scared of consequences and filled with guilt
Locked in a room, all day you slept!



People used to think I am your elder brother
Whenever we’re seen moving together!
Those were the days spent in childhood
I recall what we did in our neighborhood!



On your way from your college so late
You bolted the guard in railway toilet
When your friend was caught and held hostage
You had to surrender and seek his safe passage!

When you have to attend NCC parade
You would turn to me for haircut made
The fee in kind promptly you’ll give back
Bringing me those free refreshment pack!



People used to think I am your elder brother
Whenever we’re seen moving together!
Those were the days spent in childhood
I recall what we did in our neighborhood!



Selected for Education Corps in your teen
Counting years, since you left, it's eighteen
Taught the soldiers simple science in Hindi
When yourself struggled to talk Hindi!

Spent your youthful years serving the nation
Contributing to family even from your ration
To sum up your life with passion:-
‘Full many a gem of purest ray serene the dark unfathom'd caves of ocean’



People used to think I am your elder brother
Whenever we’re seen moving together!
Those were the days spent in childhood
Only memories to stay in this livelihood

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I asked my driver Pappu about his age and date of birth. He gave some vague number but could not give month and date. When I found out the date given in the driving licence,pat came his reply, "Sir that was given by that agent at the time of taking the licence, the correct date of birth... even my parents will not know!

Recently, I asked one of my assistants about the age of his father. He was not able to tell the exact age! He said that his father may be in his sixties!

But the younger generation has a different story. They celebrate Birthdays in grand manner and also keep a track on birthdays of their friends, if not their family members!

There are also facilities in internet and other social networking sites who not only give alerts about your Birthday, but also about all your friends, friends' friends and, so on!

With technology and modern lifestyle, there will be hardly anyone who would not know his birthday!

All said and done, for those agencies around the world who are involved in collecting demographic data, they have to confront with scores of "pappus" who cannot tell their date of birth!

For now it is H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y to all those readers who celebrate birthday today!

Quality is divine

Do you have an uncanny way of finding out quality stuff amongst other choices?

It is said that experts can find out original stuff from fakes by using their senses although they cannot explain as to how they are able to identify.

I have this aunt who used to buy a non-descript brand of cleaning powder. She makes it a point to buy large quantities, whenever she happened to go to her native place, where this brand was not available. I used to wonder why she chose some new and unpopular brand of cleaning powder when, in the market, there were several high-end products available?

Within a couple of years,this non-descript brand became number one product in the market!

How is it that two cooks from the same school are not able to cook food in the same tasteful manner, even when they are provided with same quality and quantity of ingredients?

I would say that this is what quality is made of! Quality does not require extra efforts but only requires involvement and care.

In cooking, this is what is called "taste of the hand"!

I should mention here that only yesterday my client told me that they have shortlisted me as a preferred service provider, from amongst several others.


Yes! I strongly believe that divinity follows quality!

Old man and Sinbad

Old man piggybacking Sinbad used to listen to Sinbad with empathy. He will feel sorry for his sufferings.. Also he will admit the fact that Sinbad has to pass through the difficult terrains for several days without food and water and without adequate rest... But the Old man will never offer to climb down and give some respite!

Women's reservation Bill had the support of many parties and appeared to get cleared in the Rajya Sabha on the 8th march, the world women's day. With major opposition parties and allies supporting, it appeared that India was going to witness the momentuous occasion of affirmative action for half of the population to mark the 100th anniversery of world women's day.

But alas! Sympathisers abound; the floor managers have floored the Bill on women's day! But, managed to pass it in upper house the next day.

Like sinbad's travails, still the bill is to be carried through a long and tortous route before it can be brought in force.

No wonder the Bill is called women's reservation Bill; that everybody has some 'reservation' to support it!

An Ode to Twitter!

Clutter clutter
my inbox clutter


Hence,twitter better
as tweets are shorter!


Mutter mutter
your sweet tweets mutter!


Flutter flutter
my heart goes flutter


Yes! twitter twitter
makes life glitter!

Communicate or Complicate?

I have learned to communicate with people from my failed communications!

There are several such instances which have made me improve my communication skills, or am I being naive to believe so?

When I was in Gujarat, I used to make phone calls to my family after 11 pm so that I make calls for 25% of tariff. When I went a little before 11 pm and found "telecom" center devoid of usual crowd, I remarked to the operator, "Aaj bilkul free laktha hai"(meaning there is no crowd!), for which he replied "No Sir, 50% charge! Period.

I engaged this driver"Pappu" who came from interior part of UP, India. Although he needed a lot of moulding for him to be called a driver, I selected him after a brief interview by my family members, purely for his innocence and to help a man who has come from far flung place to eke out a living.

Within a week of his joining, I took my guest proudly to a meeting venue in my car with Pappu on wheels, telling all the details of my newly acquired driver.

We reached the gate of the venue, when I told him in Hindi, to the effect that "stop near the gate, watch out if some vehicles are coming and then go in".... Pappu carefully followed my instruction by stopping the car near the gate, got out of the car and went inside to find if any vehicle was coming!

Both of us could not control our laughter.

Then I realised my mistake. Like what competent communicators do, I failed to notice the "Entry behaviour" of the receiver.

Both words and silence, can communicate a lot. Think for a while, all of you. Try and stop communicating with your near and dear for more than the usual interval and see what it communicates!

Well readers, use your skills and,be careful as to how you Communicate or else, you will complicate matters!

DSF Indulgence

Wanting to know what DSF has to offer to us this year, I visited some malls with a friend. Finally we went to this popular mall in the heart of Dubai, which was full of shopping enthusiasts.

Whilst we were window shopping, this Nigerian girl with sharp features drew our attention when she waved at us to look at the stuff she was trying to sell. It was like a gift pack. When I went to have closer look,she took my arm and started rubbing my nails with a rectangular eraser like porduct, quickly turning its sides.

After this excercise, she cleaned my nails with a cotton by applying some mineral oil, which came with the pack. Wow! my nail looked like a polished gemstone! Now, I was interested in the product which she said will be for a fixed price of AED80. She explained to me that first I should use the purple surface to rub the nails, then white and, finally the grey surface.

Although I bought it for my daughters, I wanted to do it myself to see how it works. No sooner I reached home,I did this manicure and pedicure excercise as per the instruction of this Nigerian Sales girl. Very next day, I could notice my colleagues and friends giving a closer look at my well groomed nails!

Last week a friend of mine came from Mumbai who offered to carry any thing that I would like to be handed over to my family. I sent with him a few other things that I had purchased but retained this manicure-pedicure set myself!

Yes! with my family away in India, this DSF Indulgence is an exclusive one!