Language – Medium or Median

As a human being I fail to understand and hate to accept the division of same race by any parameters.

Be it culture, color, region, religion or anything.A strange racism I find in us is the “Language” based discrimination. French, Spanish, German, English, etc. How to get rid of this?

A human from German speaking country visits to English speaking country and tries to converse in English. Naturally his pronunciation will bear the German accent. People make fun of it or sometimes ridicule it. The height of the humiliation is that they are branded by their language.

From my point of view, this identification is nothing but a racism. When we born, were not knowing any language. Language is nothing but a medium for communication.  I want to be identified as human being not by any other parameters.

Discrimination by any means should not be tolerated and appreciated and accepted.

Let us work towards equality.

Da Vinci Code…re-visited..Part 1.

 Basically, my interest in reading is towards history (I scored School first rank in History & Geography Subject), history based fictions, treasure hunt type, investigative (Coding & De-coding), war related stories. In that search, I stumbled upon the book “Da Vinci Code” – Thanks to the Media Coverage and controversies surrounded . In fact I also have some interest in Leonardo, Michael Angelo, Van Gough, Raja Ravi Verma, Ajanta, Ellora arts & paints – not as an expert. Only as an admirer and onlooker. In my previous employment at New Delhi, I needed to go to Europe more often. Incidentally, during the reading of the much hyped “DA VINCI CODE”, got an opportunity to visit France for customer meeting. I was elated to travel (That was a 3rd or 4th time to France) this time than the previous visits. I took 4 days off in France (Weekends – 2 Saturdays & Sundays). Just to follow the references made in this book.

During this visit, I had a great company of my colleague who didn’t want to explore any thing – It may be Food, History, Country, Culture, System, etc, etc,. Just opposite to my nature. I believe in walking through the new streets irrespective of country, city, language or culture. Of course, it did give me an opportunity to make the company interesting and bring closure to my natural urge to explore. We had travelled to Germany (My all time favorite foreign destination) and after finishing our duties, we flew to France – Paris – CDG Airport: One of the busiest and unique airport in Europe.

PARIS: Capital of France: Fashion Capital of the World: Wine capital of the (drinking) World: Housing one of the 7 Wonders of the World – Eiffel Tower: Louvre Museum: Mona Lisa: Napoleon: Arc-de-triomphe: etc, etc, etc,

  

Important Fact About France which most of the world do not know is: 30%+ citizens of France say they do not have / follow any religion!

Visit report shall continue…………

Let us take action for saving 300,000 lives…

The Campaign for Peace & Justice in Sri Lanka has been founded by individuals concerned with fundamental humanitarian and human rights issues. It is totally independent of all parties and groupings inside and outside Sri Lanka. Specifically, this Campaign has no ethnic, religious or regional affiliations – its concern is the well-being of all Sri Lankans.

The Campaign is supported by a Council of Advisors who are influential/expert figures from all walks of life and all regions of the world who support the seven demands of the Campaign. Aside from public commitment to these demands, members of this Council promote the Campaign through media advocacy, private lobbying, fundraising and peer recruitment to make this Campaign grow.

The Campaign has a Steering Committee, from amongst the Council, who make all decisions. Steering Committee members are identified by an asterisk. The Committee speaks together regularly and makes decisions by consensus, taking on board the advice of other Council members.

Campaign Objectives

Our immediate priority is to help save the lives and end the suffering of nearly 300,000 civilians currently held in crowded and insanitary camps where conditions are rapidly worsening as the monsoon floods get under way. Beyond that, we support the right of all Sri Lankans, irrespective of race or religion, to voice their opinions peacefully and without fear of assault or murder. We seek a full investigation of crimes committed by all parties during and since the recent conflict. And, without favouring any particular political or constitutional formula, we urge the government and all other parties in Sri Lanka to lose no time in working together for a peaceful political solution of the problems and grievances that have given rise to so much violence in the past.

This Campaign is staffed by volunteers who come from many different countries and ethnic groups – none are paid.

• 280,000 innocent civilians who have survived a long and very bloody war are now imprisoned in detainment camps in northern Sri Lanka by their Government.
• These victims of war are being treated as prisoners and suffer from lack of water, sanitation and medical treatment, widespread disease and separation from loved ones.
• The monsoon season is now starting. At least one camp has already been flooded, and if they are not soon allowed to leave the camps thousands more detainees will die from epidemics of cholera and typhoid simply because they are being detained illegally in inhumane conditions.
• The Sri Lankan Government has severely restricted ICRC, UN and international NGOs' involvement, prolonging the misery and raising grave concerns about what is happening out of sight.
• Wartime policies continue with severe restrictions on the press and systematic use of extra-judicial murder and torture. Pro-government paramilitary groups have free run of the camps.
• The Government is now reportedly engaged in an ethnic 're-balancing' - moving Sinhalese and others into the region, while giving political control to Tamil war-lords it has selected.

But this is not just about Sri Lanka Today

• Sri Lanka - a conflict which has seen over 100,000 deaths over the last 25 years, with 20,000 civilians reportedly killed in the last days of this latest war - has been dismissed as too complicated and not important enough by foreign governments and the UN. The approval of a large IMF loan to Sri Lanka is evidence of just how little the international community cares.
• If this approach is allowed to continue, we are setting an awful precedent and forgetting everything that was said after Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur.
• The Sri Lankan 'peace through war' model is already being promoted in Burma, Pakistan, and elsewhere.
• Having won the war, the Government's support for the illegal use of force and violence is now sowing the seeds of the next stage of this conflict.

If all the people who read this choose to act & send this email, it WILL make a big difference. Many in power have effectively abandoned the people in these camps - please don't abandon them too.

http://www.srilankacampaign.org/takeaction.htm

http://www.srilankacampaign.org/form.htm

We are all human beings. Join hands to help this barbaric situation to end soon…………..

Dining… In a Table?

I had a German Guest to my home couple of weeks ago. She was requesting me to show her the Indian Household and daily choirs and so on. She is obsesses with Indian Food – DOSA, IDLI & VADA. Hence I told my wife to prepare DOSA. She was amused by seeing the way and easy sailing of my wife in the kitchen making DOSA, CHATNI (Side dish for DOSA), SAMBAR (Side Dish for DOSA) within half an hour.  She could not believe this is possible.

And one more thing which surprised her was that how could my wife accommodate and agreed to prepare to make food with a short notice. As usual I have informed my wife only five minutes in advance that we shall be coming home and having dinner. Because it is highly impossible in any German Home to have social visits in such such short notice. Since, she is an European, we needed to have all the paper napkins in the Dining Table and Paper Rolls in the Toilet and so on. We had our DOSA, CHATNI, SAMBAR, etc on the dining table.

It was a very nice experience for her and with great sincerity  she took photos of each moment right from pouring the wet DOSA flour on the hot pan till we seen her off with TILAK (Red mark) on her forehead as typical TAMILIAN HINDU culture (Indian).

Do you know after that as a family how we had our real dinner (Same DOSA, Same CHATNI, Same SAMBAR)? We all sat on the floor and had the dinner. That is the real real dinner.

Rendezvous with Bi-cycle

When I was a kid, say 2nd Standard /3rd Standard (7 or 8 years old), very fond of bicycles. Naturally Father’s cycle was out of bounds. Hence, we needed to rent the cycle from the cycle shop. Those days cycle shop used to be for renting as well as repairing (Maintenance) work. Cycles were properly numbered. So, I got INR 0.25 (25 paisa) from my mother, once Father had gone to the work during the vacation. It was a great feeling. First few days, mostly just pushing the cycle. After a week, I did the monkey pedaling. That means, the legs were in between the triangular frame pedaling and not sitting. Then came the day when I climbed above the frame and sat on the seat. My goodness – What an achievement. Here comes the real experience. With excitement, I was riding very fast. As usual, when we need certain things, that fails without a hint. The brake failed and I ended up in a bush of thorns. My mother had to search my back for the remaining of the thorns. Even after that rendezvous, I used to rent the cycle till I got my own. I got bi-cycle for my own purpose when I started to attend my college. That was when I turned 18 Years old and most importantly my Father got a new cycle.

The last time I took the luxury of riding the cycle most recently is 2 years before when I presented to my son for getting 3rd Rank in his 3rd Standard.

Who is there?.. To end the atrocities.

A reproduction from a news article:

Displaced Tamil people are being daily abducted from camps in Vavuniya – Sri lanka by people who come in vans.

The displaced people (Nearly 300,000) who are kept in the temporary camps are trying to hide once the DOLPHIN VANS arrive inside the camp. There are at least 2 or 3 people are disappearing daily.

If anybody in the camps want to meet the relatives:

There are special tents outside the temporary camps to meet the relatives. They are not allowed to touch anybody as both parties have to stay 5 metre away form the fence. If they need to handover something (Biscuits, fruits, etc., they have to be thrown over the fence.

They have to live at least 3 years before everybody are re settled or eliminated completely with the current phase of execution of work / killing. Till then they have to try in a condition where food queue for more than hour, flooded tents, smelling tents, over flown lavatories, water shortage, chickenpox epidemic, hapatitis outbreak, hiding from the DOLPHIN VAN, etc.

Shall only cry for the inability to do anything to turn this around.

Who is there to stop these atrocities?

We can't go to the Indian Government as we are already orphans within our country.

Where to go? Whom to go?

SRILANKA’S ATROCITY.. HEARTSTOPPING..

The images are taken from the video of the Sri lankan government’s action against so called terrorism. Even a terrorist organization shall never dare to do this kind of atrocity. This video had been sent by the Sri lankan Newspaper Agencies http://jdsrilanka.blogspot.com to BBC and human rights organization http://www.humanrights.de/doc_en/countries/sri-lanka/make_a_stand.html

If you could see the video, you shall easily understand the gravity of the situation. The ordinary citizens of Sri lanka are being tortured and eliminated in inhuman methods by the SRILANKAN army with the blessings of their Government only because the poor belong to the TAMIL community.

There are more than 2,80,000 human being are being held as prisoners and systematically being interrogated and erased. This activity is no less crime than what done by HITLER ruled Germany  against the Jews.

To know more about the ongoing, ever increasing and barbaric activities of the SRILANKAN Government against our fellow human beings, visit the following:

http://www.humanrights.de/doc_en/countries/sri-lanka/make_a_stand.html

Request whoever had the opportunity to see this post, do visit the above mentioned human rights site, do spread the awareness, do condemn this act, do whatever possible so that the international community act to stop this.

Tender Creativity - Continued

Just wanted to share some more creations of my elder sibling.

Making a figure

	This is a work done couple of years ago. Using the available items – Kingfisher pouches, Dolls, Hot wheel tracks, etc., He took less than half an hour to make this figure
	Admiring the work he accomplished and thinking of improvements and enhancements. Made me think a lot about the creativity.

Making a natural scenery

You may notice, it is a cupboard. It as a complete scenery. Owl sitting on a Tree, Living Being, Pond with Fish, Sky with Aero plane, Cloud, Rainbow, Birds, Etc.,

Boat House / House Boat

His ambition / future plan / wish to be

Man & Machine - Mishandling - Mishap

Technological advancements have taken us to greater heights. Man could touch the Moon (?). Man could roam / float on the space many million away. One could reach other end of the world in 24 hours. Getting to see the activities happening elsewhere sitting in his living room. Really the human mind worked overtime to achieve, the Airplane; Rocket launched Satellites, Internet, and so on. We defied all laws of nature. Against gravity we fly and defeated the speed of sound.

Some of the returns we receive naturally and manually are alarming. Everybody knows the global warming effects, El Nino Effects, Water deficits, Pollution Norms, etc.,

One of my relative had motor cycle. He was a very systematic and law abiding citizen. He wanted to go to a nearby village for some work. He was looking for his helmet and realized that has been borrowed by one of his friend. He went to the friend’s house and found he had already left to his workplace. Since that place was more than couple of kilometers, he took his motorcycle to go there. On the way, when he was entering the motorway, he noticed a truck coming. He applied the brake and the truck also came to a halt. Because of the braking action, his head swung in front and had an impact with the truck’s bonnet. Unfortunately, the helmet was with his friend.. He is alive even today after number of open head surgery and so many medicinal treatments. His age is 42 and he is being taught A, B, C, D, and 1, 2, 3,. He was at the time of accident a successful Building Architect.

We invented a motor vehicle for basically transportation either for human or for goods. It varies from personal transportation to huge volume (Mass) transportation. There are certain rules, precautions, systems to be followed. In the world, almost 90% vehicle handlers are educated. And as the rule of book goes, a person won’t be granted the license to drive/ride/handle a motor powered vehicle without undergoing a proper test/examination.

Recent article which is a reproduction of WHO (World Health Organization) tells the amount of human life lost due to accidents. I never say these are accidents. It is only because of sheer negligence and mostly because of the EGO in one’s mind. The rules are forgotten once he gets the license to drive. He uses the license to kill. The educated people have the overconfidence. The experienced driver has the overconfidence. We always jump to the bandwagon of scolding the government. To certain extent that thinking is ok. But most of the cases, it is over doing and not following the rules. Implement a helmet wearing regulation: Agitation across the class. Tell me how many people wear the seat belt and drive. It is atrocious not to follow the rules. Rules are not for policemen. It is for ones won safety and well being. We do know and notice the signboards saying the speed limits. How many of us following?

It is disturbing to note the above.

As a human being I urge all of us to be responsible (while driving / riding) to our, others and everyone’s family.

Wear helmet. Wear Seatbelt. Obey the traffic rules.

Instead of killing people on the road, kill the EGO to be safe and others be safe.

Value – Material or Human - EXPEREINCE

In 1993, Just 2 years after the German unification, happened to be in Berlin. Remember the Berlin wall which separated the Island state when there were East and West Germany. It has got 3 airports. Got down from the plane and hired a Taxi to the Hotel. I proceeded to board the Taxi from Front Left side. The driver looked at me in surprise. Because it was a European country and for the person from Asian country the Steering Wheel always comes at the right. That was the first embarrassment. Then the Cab strolled out of the Airport and entered the highway (AUTOBAHN). The speedometer started crossing stage by stage 50, 60, 75, 90, 110, 130 & 150 kmph which pumped the blood out of my heart faster than that as never used to travel more than 60 kmph. My goodness, it was really an experience.

And as an outsider and with the experience of seeing movies about world war, reading books about the escape bids from walled Berlin, the traditional differences and so on, I had been to sightseeing on a week end. It was really surprising to see the differences just few streets this side and that side (Erstwhile East and West respectively). The street lamps, the cars, the houses, the paints, etc., it was so glaring. I could see the reminders of the broken wall (A barrier created artificially by the so called developed nations of the world to write a dark period in the human race that too at the cost of other nations. As they always do like Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Etc.,)

Suddenly as a usual Asian, I just stepped on the highway (Remember the speeds) unmindfully. One couldn’t believe that all the cars stopped with scratching noise and waited for me to cross. I realized my mistake and told them to proceed, but they waved me to cross and waited till I reach the other end of the pavement. Then I was told, the first preference is for the pedestrian. Following day, we were going to office in other side of Berlin. It was Burger Strasse to Germania Promanade. We were all (Team of 5) crossing the road (This was only with the signal showing green light for crossing). Previous nights rain had formed a frost on the road and the moment our boss put his foot, it just moved which made him fall. It was a very nice sight that almost from 5 ~ 6 of waiting cars, people rushed and came to help him up. They enquired his well being and asked any need to go to the hospital. It was really great exhibition of culture concerning the value for the human being. And most amazingly, I have never seen any car with a smallest of dents , scratches, broken lights or that short. And very, very, very surprising and unimaginable thing was that hardly heard HORN / HONKING.

Points to note:

It was Germany: We were Asians: We were all taught that they are the most racial people and killed numerous Jews: Erstwhile Nazis.

Lesson:

Never believe to the core “all the bad things said” about a culture / religion / language / country / people / race / color. Only experience the bad and share. One can believe the good things blindly.

HUMAN VALUE = Life is equal to all for living. Help unconsciously irrespective of difference.

TENDER CREATIVITY

This is just to share the creativity of tender minds of my yelder son Rohit Aaditya. The above image is during our visit to an Automotive Exhibition.

The image on the left has been taken to capture his creative thinking / utilization of toys. The red color toy is the "FOUR ARMS" - A cartoon character and that too was a freebee along with a "HAPPY MEAL" at "McDONALDS". Other Automobile toys were given to him as a gift either from India or Abroad.

The picture below has been taken when he was doing some fun with the paper. It is a fusion of "ORIGAMI" and drawing / painting on a plain paper. I was totally surprised the way it has been conceived and explained to me and his mother. I do not know when and where I lost such kind of creative thinking. See the 3 dimensional approach with a paper.

I wish to remain as a kid. Since it was not possible, I cherish the above moments. And wanted to share. The photographs may not be of good quality but the creativity is.

THEATRE – TODAY – VERY NICE.

If you say theatre, especially in India – it normally refers to the Cinema Hall.

We always refer the Play as Drama and the theatres as Sabha or Academy, etc. Recently (As recent as 8^th August 2009) I had an opportunity to be invited for a Play and it was really a very good experience.

The name was “Imsai Purushan Irandaavadhu Manaivi” (இம்சை புருஷன் இரண்டாம் மனைவி)

The drama was enacted by Auditor Sreedhar in Male Lead Role, Ms. Shanthi Ganesh in Female Lead Role, Joker Tulashi in an important role and Thangamaniprabu in a Coimbatore Slang appreciated role, Mr. Krishanmoorthy, Mr. Viswanathan apart from others. It was directed by Mr. Rangamani who has also played a cameo.

The place was Mylapore Fine Arts Academy – Chennai.

Only the title is with resemblance to the popular Tamil movie. Otherwise the drama was very humorous and sprinkled with very good messages touching upon “Terrorism, Alcoholism, Middle-Class sufferings, and Education costs.” It was told with a great humor.

Following are the kind observations:

Legendary Indian Movie Director – Mr. SP. MUTHURAMAN enjoyed the Play right from the beginning till the very end. The magnanimity of his stature showed by the way he was present till all the crew packed up and waiting to leave. And he greeted everybody with a folded hand.

The leading TV Serial Director – Mr. THIRUSELVAM also was there till the end of the Play. He also was very sincere in his observation and enjoyment about the drama.

.Mr. Thiruselvam was later joined by his unit members / co-artistes: Mr. Siva, Mrs. Nalini, Mr. Subramaniam and others.

Popular actress Ms. K.R. Vatsala was also seen enjoying the show.

More than 600 audiences for a Play

Wish it would have been for some more time. I felt it ended very quick. May be because of the involvement and entertainment, it might have felt so.

The surprising element of whole event is the entire audience enjoyed in unison: Laughing, thinking, and chewing the message and nobody left in-between.

I was very fortunate to be a witness of this event by the invitation from My Dear Friend K.Thangamaniprabu. It is being re-enacted on August 22^nd, 2009 again in Chennai.

I wish the director and all the crew to have more success with this drama elsewhere in the country.

GOLDMEDAL....Son....Mother....Happiness

It was a quiet Wednesday afternoon in the RAJDHANI TRAIN. It is on the way back from INDORE – MADHYAPRADESH, INDIA. The train journey started from Bhopal and end at Bangalore in some 26 Hours duration. I got a call from my better half.

Let us listen to what I heard & said:

Better Half: “Do you know what happened today?”

I was curious and anxious as I was away from home for a week’s time.

Better Half: “It was a great sight to watch”

Me: Tell me what.

Better Half: “Our younger son (Studying LKG) got down from the bus with a “GOLDMEDAL” on his tender shoulders”

I could hear: The hidden ecstasy in her voice: The pride of being the mother: The perfection his SON could achieve.

And of course, I was really felt very happy that my better half excited with our SON’s achievement in young age. After that his brother (My elder son) also shared his excitement and happiness.

Then my son himself in his childish voice told me like this: “I got GOLDMEDAL in running race. I have come first and all the classmates came second. That is why I got the GOLDMEDAL. My friend got SILVER and other Friend got other medal. My teacher gave me the MEDAL”

After hearing all these things, I could not wait any more to see the medal.

Moreover, it was a coincidence that I have been awarded in the blog and my son getting “GOLDMEDAL”

The difference is that I got it without hard work. My son got the Medal with the hard work by running those yards with the vision.

PAIN.......CRY........Questions?

“An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage” – Description by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)

Couple of weeks before, I had just woke up from my sleep. Was enjoying a cup of Tea with love and spending some valuable time with my younger son before he leaves for his school. Simply, I got up and turned around. There was a lightening phenomenon on the lower back of mine. I broke in to tears. I could not sit down, I could not bend, I could not move. My goodness, it was a terrible beginning for the day. Oh my, wait! what am I trying to communicate?

The killing of innocent people elsewhere in the world (9/11, 26/11, Etc.,)

The killing of our brotherhood in the neighborhood (Srilanka, Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Nigeria, China)

Mourning for a death of global persona (Michael Jackson, Saddam Hussein, Prabhakaran)

Watching a movie with a moving theme (Mahanadhi, Pithamagan, Pursuit of Happiness, Ruben “HURRICANE” Carter, Remember the Titans)

Coming to know the following thru’ media: Rape, Racial Discrimination, Gender Discrimination, Ill treatment of transgender, Flesh trading, Starvation.

All the above breaks me in to tears. Is it because of Pain? Is it because my inability to stop it? Is it because I emotionally suffer along with them? Is it because practically I could not give an helping hand to avoid such?

CROWNED by AWARD

This is a golden day in blogging life. It is to say very big thanks for sharing an award for an interesting blog. It has been given by Mr. Balaji – http://balasee.blogspot.com . I am really overwhelmed by the generous gesture in the community. One might browse thru’ the postings and find a thanks post for the first visitors comment (That was by Jeen). This also puts a great importance on keeping the expectations fulfilled if not exceeded. The treasure has been showed and shall surely be safeguarded against all odds. It gives more responsibility to maintain good standards.

A big thank you.

COLORED - YOU or ME

This is just to share a poem written by a fellow human being elsewhere living in the world. Do not know his name also. Based on the comments received thru' this blog and number of telephone calls, just thought of sharing. It is not to hurt anybody. And not to hurt any color. But agree completely as far as the discriminatory nature/attitude is concerned that we are not colored.

"When I born, I Black,

When I grow up, I Black,

When I go in Sun, I Black,

When I scared, I Black,

When I sick, I Black,

And when I die, I still black..

And you White fella,

When you born, you Pink,

When you grow up, you White,

When you go in Sun, you Red,

When you cold, you Blue,

When you scared, you Yellow,

When you sick, you Green,

And when you die, you Gray..

And you calling me Colored?!"