tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47529223690509794072024-02-21T03:26:18.608+05:30PothoppuramPothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthan's BlogPothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-33420903315162756782023-02-15T12:46:00.002+05:302023-06-29T12:50:16.099+05:30 LEAVE<p><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">14 02 23</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KnZhnTsw3st3Wx31Gq0_EmyDduVp6Id1Iv0nZjbgTMUd1G16SnH7H6l7cmc0RKcLKa-Ri2x8rV-YCuS90aiegdaJaY_sPCrIy6uKjaflppcAHNeXtQc05tZL7I9EUJG4v1-zMgpRhhsuRJE0vTrynm4Y6YInktMGcr6H1H7B4UiWiPQr-fiWDxfKVQ/s1024/Ox_in_my_village.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="1024" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KnZhnTsw3st3Wx31Gq0_EmyDduVp6Id1Iv0nZjbgTMUd1G16SnH7H6l7cmc0RKcLKa-Ri2x8rV-YCuS90aiegdaJaY_sPCrIy6uKjaflppcAHNeXtQc05tZL7I9EUJG4v1-zMgpRhhsuRJE0vTrynm4Y6YInktMGcr6H1H7B4UiWiPQr-fiWDxfKVQ/w576-h271/Ox_in_my_village.jpg" width="576" /></a></b></div><b><br /> </b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Characters:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan – short for
Neelakandan</span></b><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru – short for Parvathi</span></b><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Nandi – The bullock<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">(When the curtain rises, Neelan and Paru are laughing
over some jokes.)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Nirmala UI",sans-serif" style="color: #0000cc; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">“Tak … tak … tak” <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “Come in.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">(Nandi enters. Salutes both.)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “Yes?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Nandi: “Eh … eh … Want to tell you something.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “What is that ‘something’?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Nandi: “I understand you don’t have any journeys planned
for the next few days.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “So what? This happens often.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Nandi: “Yes, still …”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “Why is there a ‘still…’?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Nandi: “Eh … eh … a week’s leave …”</span></b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “Why do you want a
week’s leave?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Nandi: “To visit Earth.
Just to stroll around.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “Mmm. This happens
every year around this time. What is so special at this time on Earth?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Nandi: “Well, nothing
special …” (Blushes)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “Mmm. All right. But
not more than a week.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">(Nandi departs after
saluting both.)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “Nandi was very
upset for the past several days.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “Yes, I had noticed
it, too.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “How does he look
now?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “Has regained his
previous happiness and enthusiasm.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “What do you think
has happened?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “I don’t know, what
is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “A country in Earth
worships the cow: Bharat.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “Yes, that is where
Kashi and Rameswaram are located.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “Yes. The
government there issued a proclamation.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “What proclamation?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “From now onwards
everybody should hug cows on Valentine’s Day.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “O yeah? Then?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “When it reached
the media they added a little <i>masala</i> to it.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “Means?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “Males should hug
and kiss cows and females should hug and kiss bullocks.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “That’s interesting.
Then?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “VVVIPs booked the
most beautiful cows and healthy bullocks at hefty prices and even paid
advances.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “Yeah? Then what
happened?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “Nandi has a crush
there and she is the most beautiful cow in the whole counry.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “Then?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “Well, she has been
booked by most of the VVVIPs.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “Then what happens to
Nandi?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “That is why Nandi was
quite upset for the past several days. Worried sick whether his turn would come
at all.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “All right. But then
how is he the previous self now?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “Haven’t you seen
today’s newspaper?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “O, no, I didn’t have
the time. You tell me.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “That proclamation
has been withdrawn.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “Okay, okay. So that
is why.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Neelan: “Now no VVVIP will
come in between them.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">Paru: “Yes, that is right.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";">(Neelan and Paru look at
each other and smiles.)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Nirmala UI";"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Curtain) </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-67557888957759241242023-01-18T18:20:00.002+05:302023-01-18T18:20:44.585+05:30Goodbye till we meet again<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.95pt; margin-right: 37.4pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><i>[A rather lengthy adieu to colleagues at Niyogi Books, where I worked as Editor and left in 2018.] </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: large;">Convent schools or
even English medium schools were unheard of in the small village where I grew up.
I had, by God’s grace, good English teachers in my primary and high schools.
English, therefore, became one of my favourite subjects.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">I first tasted the blood
proofreading and editing at CSDS, where I first worked with journals China
Report and Alternatives. Mr Bejoy Bhattacharya was my Guru who initiated me into
this exciting field. And my thirst for more blood remained when I left CSDS.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">I indexed a number of books in TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute). I also gave a presentation to colleagues in TERI on indexing. All this gave me a good insight into the ‘what’s, the ‘why’s, and he ‘how’s of indexing. </span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">I should say this is
also when I started serious editing. While reading the manuscript for indexing,
I used to mark the mistakes I noticed. And my markings were appreciated. It prompted
them to make sure that I indexed all the important publications of TERI. (Shshshsh:
I smiled confidently. And patted on my back!)</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">Once a colleague
asked me if I could prepare an index for a book written by her sister-in-law. The
book was on Puri Jagannath Temple. I did. The publisher commented, ‘These were the
kind of indexes I was looking for but was not getting’. These comments gave me
a little more more confidence. What about freelancing on indexing?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">A few months later I understood
SAGE was looking for editors. I thought maybe that was the time to open up! I
expressed my interest, and I was taken in as an in-house editor. Wow! The feeling
was great! This, THIS, was the job I aspired for! And here it was, in my hands!
This gave me an opportunity to learn first- hand about working in a publishing house.</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">After seven months, I
left SAGE to pursue freelancing once again. But this time I was a freelance editor
more than an indexer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">And SAGE regularly gave
me editing jobs. In fact I was one of the two external editors who were
assigned ‘extended projects’. To be assigned an ‘extended project’ meant that
right from the beginning I had to look after the project such as editing, quality
checking, and corresponding with authors It was not just copy editing. I was content.
Life was peaceful.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">Then one day I
received a call from the Vice President, Commissioning, SAGE, asking me if I would
be interested to take up an assignment at NCAER who was looking for an
experienced editor to bring out their Annual Report. I said, ‘Why not?’ At NCAER
I continued to work much after the Annual Report was published. I edited papers
and book chapters written by staff. But I found that the ‘politics’ was not to
my taste. It was becoming more vicious and I decided ‘enough was enough’.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">I came across an
advertisement inviting applications for the posts of Editors at Niyogi Books
towards the end of 2012. I mailed my CV to them and forgot about it. (Remember
the Hero motorcycles advertisement, “Fill it, Forget it”?)</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">Then one day I
received an e-mail from Papia Dey inviting me to come for an interview. I only
had a vague idea about Okhla. I got a slightly clearer idea (so thought the
fool in me) of the area from the Internet. But once inside Okhla, it was an unending
maze. I had to enquire of several people before at last reaching D-78.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">[It happened again when
I came for a second interview after several days. I thought, ‘O! God! Okhla
will never change!’ I forgot that it was I who had to change. So I decided to
change. After joining, after having caught in the maze again, I tracked the whole
route up to the main road on foot and took note of the land marks (turn left
when you see the blue board pointing towards D block, turn right after the ‘lolli
pop’ building [it is not actually lolli pop, but I call it thus for ease of
recollecting], turn left when you notice the huge black gate on the right
marked 36, turn right turn after the huge gate, where on the left you will see Seventy6).]</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">And when I reached, I
was again slightly taken aback. I thought it was the back gate of the building,
and not the front. Such big publishers (I had looked into their Web site and had
been quite impressed) and such a tiny, quarter open, main gate? I asked the guard
if this is the front door or the back one. That was the front gate, of course,
and Papia would be available on the second floor. Having come from bright
sunlight, it was difficult to climb the dark stairs which was hardly lit. It took
a few minutes for me to adjust to the darkness.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">On entering the second
floor I saw the open cabin right in front of me. If I hadn’t, it would have
been another maze with glass doors and glass walls all around. It looked like a
huge glass palace! The first impression was, ‘Wow! What an impressive office!’
I went straight inside and saw this lady beside a pile of papers and a
computer. I told her I was looking for Ms Papia Dey. After making sure that I had
come for the interview, she requested me to wait and pointed the sofa to me.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">I was later led by
the lady (it was only much later that I knew that she was Papia) to a huge hall
where two ladies were present. When I occupied the chair pointed out to me, the
lady sitting nearer to me said, pointing to the other one, ‘This is Mrs Tultul Niyogi’.
The surname was familiar, having read the name quite a few times recently. I suddenly
realised I was sitting in front of the Boss! Until much later, only after joining,
did I come to know that it was Nitasha who had been talking to me. I was asked
a few questions, was asked to fill up a form and was told, as usual, that they would
let me know in due course.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">One day I received another
mail from Papia asking me to come for a second interview. This time I met Mr
Niyogi in the presence of</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"> Ms Niyogi and
Nitasha. It was not an interview as such; he did</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -2.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">not</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">ask</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">me</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">any</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">questions.</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">I</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">think</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">we</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">discussed</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">general</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.45pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">things</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">such</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -2.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">as</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">working</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">in</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Niyogi</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Books.</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">He</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">assured</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">me</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">that</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">we</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">are</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">all</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">very</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -2.6pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">cool</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">people</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">and</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">that</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">I</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">would</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">have</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">enough</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">freedom</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">to</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">do</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">my</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">work</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -2.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">without</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">anybody</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">looking</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">over</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">my</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">shoulder</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">every</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">now</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">and</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">then.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">I joined Niyogi Books
on Monday, 11 February 2013 and got the first assignment the same day. This first
book (Indigo) was, incidentally, released only in 2014 (‘due to reasons beyond
my control’!), much after I had completed another two books.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">To cut a long story
short, I did a few more books during the past three years. I had very healthy
and cool interactions with all my colleagues. Due to my age (‘boodha ho gaya hoon,
na!) I think I got undue respect from several young colleagues. Instead of calling
me Jayanthan or even Mr Jayanthan, they called me Sir. But am I that old? I
don’t feel so (neither does my wife!). Somebody has said, ‘Age is only a number.’
Yes, but the problem is, when that number crosses 60, people look at you
differently. Suddenly you have become old!</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">Even Mr Niyogi and Ms
Niyogi used to address me with a Sir! Initially I used to be embarrassed. I
haven’t found such humility in many people. I have heard him shouting at and
reprimanding people who have worked with him for much longer than me. But till today,
he has not raised his voice at me even once. It is certainly not my credit, but
without doubt, his humbleness. And I whole-heartedly salute him.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">I don’t remember when
I first noticed all those framed certificates that smiled at you from your side
when you climb up the stairs. Initially I used to feel like a VIP being
accorded a warm welcome by beautiful young girls smiling from both sides with thalapoli
in their hands!</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">Niyogi Books is the second
publisher I have seen (I confess I have not known many publishers) that gives
full credit to the in-house editor and designer by printing their names on the copyright
page. Hats off to Niyogi Books! This indeed is a very good thing to encourage the
staff.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">After joining, soon I
mastered a very peculiar habit of literally closing my ears to whatever happens
around me. This happened because, all around me there were discussions in ‘Bongla’
of which I understood nothing. Absolutely nothing at all. Even three years
after nearly drowning in such discussions every day, I still cannot understand a
word of Bangla! I only know those few words (K<i>emon acche? Bhalo acche</i>) that I
had learned from a Bengali friend several years ago. As a result, sometimes, even
when the discussion had switched over to English so that I could understand, my
ears refused to hear! Initially I did try to catch the essence of some discussions.
But after a few attempts I gave up.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">Once a decision was taken
by all of them together that any discussion, especially work related, will only
be done in English or Hindi. And it was done, I think, for a day or two. One’s
love for mother tongue is like the proverbial curved tail that never
straightens. Soon we were back to square one. This, however, happens with
everybody. I also used to enjoy talking in Malayalam to the only other
Malayalee on our floor, sometimes to the amusement of other friends. I used to,
however, get a little upset when discussion suddenly turns to Bangla even in
official meetings! A few times I had to remind that there was a ‘foreigner’ present
among them!</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">One regret I have is that
Nitasha left a couple of months after I joined. She was an excellent guide, mentor,
and friend and I could have learned many things from her had she remained a little
longer. But destiny had other plans for her and she left to take up a far </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">more important role.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">One thing I found a
little disappointing is the emphasis on quantity, sometimes at the cost of
quality. If the printing of a book is delayed by a few days, the hue and cry will
die out soon. But if wrong or inappropriate information (or even grammar</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">or</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -2.65pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">spelling
mistakes), get printed it remains for ever. This can be</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">solved by getting a few copies
printed immediately and then print</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -2.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">bulk</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.55pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">copies</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.45pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">later</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">after</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">making</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.45pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">all</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.55pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">necessary</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: -0.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">changes.</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">Well,<span style="letter-spacing: .15pt;"> </span>that<span style="letter-spacing: .25pt;"> </span>is<span style="letter-spacing: .15pt;"> </span>not<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: .15pt;"> </span>big<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"> </span>question<span style="letter-spacing: .15pt;"> </span>mark.<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"> </span>I<span style="letter-spacing: .15pt;"> </span>have<span style="letter-spacing: .25pt;"> </span>three<span style="letter-spacing: .15pt;"> </span>things<span style="letter-spacing: .25pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"> </span>mind. (i) I want to spend a little more
time on religious matters. (I don’t<span style="letter-spacing: .05pt;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">hesitate, rather I am
proud, to say that I am religious. I believe<span style="letter-spacing: -2.6pt;">
</span>in that power which is called
variously as God, Mother, Jesus, or Allah.) (Some of you might ask, Sanyas? Mmmm
… not, exactly. But moving towards God, yes!) (ii) I have a couple of personal projects
on which I wanted to spend time and was not able to till now. Now is the time I
shall resume work on these. (iii) Any freelance job that comes to me will be taken
up, too. But I shall actually start marketing myself as a freelancer only after
a few months, when I finish a considerable part of my projects.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">It has been very nice
to have met, spoken, known, and worked with you all. Though not a long
association to have an impact in your memories, my stay here has been very
fruitful to me. I have been fortunate to have met a friendly, open, helpful,
and sincere group of colleagues. During our first meeting, Mr Niyogi said, ‘We are
a very cool group, and you will have complete freedom in doing your work.’ Very
true! You are a cool lot and I had complete freedom (in fact, excess freedom!)
in carrying out my responsibilities.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">I have no words to express
my gratitude to all of you for accepting and tolerating me with all my
shortcomings and eccentricities. But a time comes when you think it is time to
move on. And this happens with everybody at times. You feel something,
somewhere, is not right. At times it passes on in due course of time. But
sometimes some things linger on or recur. It, kind of, disturbs you a bit. You start
thinking, may be, MAY BE, it is time to move on.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">You come alone to
(unless you are twins, or triplets, or</span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text"; letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";">quadruplets,
or ... or … what do you say when 11 babies are born together?!), and go alone from,
this world. Once born, we are all constantly travelling, sometimes alone,
sometimes in groups. Some of us continue on the same path while a few of us may
take a diversion. I think the time has come for me to take a diversion. And the
decision is entirely mine, and only mine.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">I am sure, however,
that we shall again meet somewhere, sometime.</span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 14.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Sitka Text";"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">If I have hurt any of
you by my words or actions, during the course of our journey, I request your forgiveness.</span></span></p></div>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-75392457355662149102023-01-01T18:32:00.005+05:302023-01-01T18:32:41.719+05:30To TERIers<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt;">I knew it had to come one day.</span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">One always longs for one’s native place where one has spent one’s childhood. That is the most beautiful place ever.</span><span style="color: blue;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">We are returning to that beautiful place in Kerala.</span><span style="color: blue;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Am leaving NCR on the New Year day for good.</span><span style="color: blue;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Fifty years is not a short time. Half of this was spent in TERI.</span><span style="color: blue;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Would have loved to have said ‘Bye’ personally to all of you, but time says, ‘no’!</span><span style="color: blue;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Lots and lots of memories of TERI.</span><span style="color: blue;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Shall, however, be associated with TERI Alumni Association.</span><span style="color: blue;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Adieu, my friends and TERI family members!</span><span style="color: blue;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">See you.</span><span style="color: blue;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_7495732463433219525xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-76250080318634187372023-01-01T18:20:00.000+05:302023-01-01T18:20:30.030+05:30To Sagarians<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt;">Early 2000s.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Lived in Sreeniketan Apartments, Vasundhara Enclave, Delhi.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Owning a flat was a dream.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Internet, property dealers, nothing worked.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Sixty per cent (or more) in cash! Cash has usually a colour – black.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">We didn’t have any!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">We were averse to UP (Ghaziabad was notorious then).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Haryana was okay (had some relatives in Faridabad).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Delhi had first preference.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Enter my cousin, PKN Namboodiri.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">He was member of a society under construction in NOIDA. He talked to the developer. There were two vacancies, one two- and one three-bed room flat. If interested, could pay equalization money and block.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">I worked in private sector, not eligible for membership.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Wife was eligible; she became a member.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">UP/Noida began tasting sweet! Wow!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Come mid-2003.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Proud owners of B-703.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">A dream came through.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">On our first visit, before becoming a member, the main gate was in the middle (no ‘gate’ as such, though, it was just a wide opening for trucks to enter).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">In the centre, a huge pool for storing water for construction.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">The gate later got moved to the side.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">The pool became a fountain, which got demolished later. Now it is just the central park.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Difficult to build but easy to demolish, right?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">We were one of the initial residents.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Electricity was through generator, water was hard, direct from the borewell.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Slowly more flats were occupied.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Then we evolved, slowly but steadily.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Together we loved, respected, joked, sang, played, cried, quarrelled, compromised, made friends with each other, and above all, lived full lives.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Made several friends, sat with them, discussed with them, made plans with them, compromised with them, …</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">2003 to 2023 – 20 years. Very beautiful, satisfying, and invaluable two decades.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Now, it is time to say goodbye for the time being.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">We shall soon be moving to Kerala.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Sons are settled in Pune and Bangalore.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">As long as B-703 remains with us, we are part of the family: Sagar family!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">So, see you soon.</span></p>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-41352500644705964232022-08-10T19:20:00.003+05:302022-08-10T19:28:42.642+05:30*Nutraceuticals book release function revisited<p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">8 August 2022</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-lj5hGbbCQ_s-Ws8tgx9MWz87IKNWCe_2o4sfMqrGB7ZXEN9XKtqoUiCyjZLhvMoqjr_K3V9LQtqBcl6RPvLIBXVNEhSWRrJl_spFgyQcvEPTltg-gPs-3YJHbmpYCM2T06z7805OBHCw2m8gyHcIjQfY5lCm2BWqSG6nv0GYt3npNen-HWXvu4OAg/s992/Picture-2-Ed.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="992" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-lj5hGbbCQ_s-Ws8tgx9MWz87IKNWCe_2o4sfMqrGB7ZXEN9XKtqoUiCyjZLhvMoqjr_K3V9LQtqBcl6RPvLIBXVNEhSWRrJl_spFgyQcvEPTltg-gPs-3YJHbmpYCM2T06z7805OBHCw2m8gyHcIjQfY5lCm2BWqSG6nv0GYt3npNen-HWXvu4OAg/w400-h203/Picture-2-Ed.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">From left: Dr Vinod Kotwal, Member Secretary, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, and Ex-Director, FSSAI & MOPFI, GOI; Dr Mayurika Goel, Associate Fellow, TERI Deakin Nanotechnology Centre and Honorary Fellow, Deakin University, Australia; Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director-General, TERI; and P K Jayanthan.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt;">TERI video conference room, 27 July 2022.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Dr Vinod Kotwal, Mayurika, Sangeeta, Anupama, Sonal,
Radhika … they were all already there. Mr Rakesh Kacker should have been there,
too. But Covid advised him, ‘Take rest for a week’. But he was there on the
screen as were Yateen and Dr Kiran Sharma.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt;">My first thought: where are the microphones?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Those two tiny UFOs, one on each table – are they the
microphones? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Those teeny-weeny itsy-bitsy toys? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Will they catch voices from all corners of the room? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">They were, and they did.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Enters Vibha.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Sharing the dais with TERI DG! It didn’t happen while
in TERI. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">It is happening now – 14 years after leaving it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt;">Post-release:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">I pester Radhika. The ever-smiling, soft-spoken sweet
little girl. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">‘Please, the recording, please’ was my demand – of the
book release function. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">One might ask, ‘Why? You attended it!’ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Well, I did. But my ears had said, ‘We are on
work-to-rule’. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">One ear was ill from childhood [‘a hole in the
eardrum’, the doctor had said]. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Got worse after radiation and chemo therapy four years
ago. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">So, the recording. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Radhika was very kind to pester the computer centre in
turn.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">And I got it today – the link. Great!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Thank you, Radhika. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt;">I revisited the programme today.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Thank you, Vibha, for all those good words. Didn’t
hear them then, but heard today. Better late than never. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The recording shows how foolish one talked or acted. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Didn’t hear Anupama urging us to untie the ribbon on
the book. The others did. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">It is only when she, frustrated, signalled me to
untie, did I realize, ‘Oh God! How foolish of me!’ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">But by the time the photos had been taken. So, I ended
up looking at the ribbon: ‘To untie or not to untie?’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Maybe I am older than I want everybody to believe!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt;">Seven minutes of ‘and’s, ‘eh’s, ‘uh’s, … was really boring.
Reading the prepared text would have been cleaner and faster. Could have saved
three minutes. Apologies.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt;">Would like to reiterate one point Yateen said –
authors must respect editors’ work.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The book is the author’s baby, no doubt. Every word in
it is dear to him/her. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The editor, however, as Yateen said, connects the
author and the reader. He/she keeps both and sometimes also the publisher, in mind.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">No, I am not telling editors are gods or their words
are bible. They also oversee or make mistakes. Authors may have different
opinion on certain points. But rejecting the editors’ views without
understanding them is not good.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt;">Overall, a day well spent!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt;">-------------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt;"><i>* Nutraceuticals in Human Health</i>, by Mayurika Goel, TERI Alumni Association, New Delhi, August 2022. 42 pp.</span></p>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-36774528293400517972022-08-01T19:17:00.000+05:302022-08-01T19:17:30.305+05:30To or not to? The ICF Meeting<p><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />13 November 2021</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFatRdqBBDJQNWG_usHI0FB2EVrnGLEoIy1-luC6EDlGCF0NFBHDYJy40u3VOQHsPEh6XPHZdT1HVH-lrJXniws4zicGkyzQeQA-lq1QXETF-hj68KHNSRBFW3JkTsWE8DPyNW_d9iHxH0G_68UEA7wwAJtlyNA7Eo1cw2tcg2KGxmecHo343PCcTbg/s1156/Meeting%2013-11-21-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1156" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFatRdqBBDJQNWG_usHI0FB2EVrnGLEoIy1-luC6EDlGCF0NFBHDYJy40u3VOQHsPEh6XPHZdT1HVH-lrJXniws4zicGkyzQeQA-lq1QXETF-hj68KHNSRBFW3JkTsWE8DPyNW_d9iHxH0G_68UEA7wwAJtlyNA7Eo1cw2tcg2KGxmecHo343PCcTbg/w400-h300/Meeting%2013-11-21-1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math", serif;">Saturday, 13 November 2021. An ICF
(Indian Copyeditors’ Forum) offline meeting. We have had weekly webinars for
more than a year during covid. Have attended only two ICF offline meetings in,
maybe, seven years, both before Covid. The first was in a Connaught Place hotel.
The next was at YMCA. Couldn’t attend a couple of meetings held after that. So,
</span><i style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math", serif;">had</i><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math", serif;"> to attend this one. Shree Rathnam at Kaushambi metro station. A
metro station, I assume, is the mostest (No such word, did you say? Well, you got
what I meant, didn’t you? Language is for communicating ideas, right?)
convenient location in NCR. Thank you, Vivek.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Got ready by about 10 am. Leaving home by
10.30 would be ideal to reach the venue by 11.30. Walk for five minutes, take
the Blue line metro, get down at Yamuna Bank, catch another Blue line to
Kushambi. Perfect. Told Archana, daughter (in-law), “Going out for an ICF
meeting, a couple of hours.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sBtBuDQ_UhbkXPmZ1CSXDMuPFQTSoETLGEHudahv1-gx-oz12Yxy5qyIN9vdmy10eOe_YItBkPXpTQO37Q0kyw3lSLMk0I005WQR-RlfrW-pRUYHUT_YFl-9z8krVbkThOnZFczisNC2JPZL8tCTFsg7BnQJ2oBKQ0rOfgPonAgDdmx_KowV9M8yuQ/s1152/Meeting%2013-11-21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sBtBuDQ_UhbkXPmZ1CSXDMuPFQTSoETLGEHudahv1-gx-oz12Yxy5qyIN9vdmy10eOe_YItBkPXpTQO37Q0kyw3lSLMk0I005WQR-RlfrW-pRUYHUT_YFl-9z8krVbkThOnZFczisNC2JPZL8tCTFsg7BnQJ2oBKQ0rOfgPonAgDdmx_KowV9M8yuQ/w400-h300/Meeting%2013-11-21.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She looked at me, went to the balcony,
surveyed the surroundings, and asked, “Do you <i>really</i> have to go?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She, nor my son, does not usually question
me if I wanted to go anywhere. Rarely do I step out after the pandemic began. I
looked out, too. The polluted air was waiting there to gobble me up. Felt
disheartened. Maybe not. Shall send a message to Vivek excusing myself. Opened
WhatsApp, ICF Delhi NCR group. Vivek had messaged in response to my ‘Shall try
to come’ message, “Please do come”. My fingers froze. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Confusion. To or not to? Responses in
the group showed it would be a small gathering. It might amount to cheating
Vivek if I didn’t go. He would come, for sure. Told Archana, “Yeah, I should
go. Shall take the Metro.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She said, “No, no. No Metro, shall book
a cab.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I tried to argue how convenient it was
to avail of the Metro services. She didn’t budge. I had to agree. It is said,
obey parents in childhood, friends during teen age, spouse after marriage, and
children in old age!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And so there I was at Shree Rathnam, by
around 11.45. Vivek and Jyoti(rmoy Chaudhuri) were already there. After some
time Surit (Das) joined, then Saoirse (came and asked, “ICF?” before taking the
chair.) and Pawan (Garg) in that order. Six out of 129 (ICF Delhi NCR members)!
Was meeting Jyoti, Saoirse and Pawan for the first time. Some very useful
discussions on the future course for ICF. Surit started it by referring to his
7-year-old discussions with Vivek. All others joined and enthusiastically took
part in the discussions, except yours sincerely, who preferred to listen. Even
that was not easy because sounds are scared of my ears and stop a couple of
feet away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">During the conversation Pawan referred
to a certain office called TERI in India Habitat Centre where he worked for a
year. I didn’t want to interrupt him then. Later when he concluded his point, I
asked him, “When and in which division, did you work in TERI?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He worked in TERI Press for a year.
Surit <br /><br />worked there for a couple of years, too. And I worked in TERI for more
than 25 years. So, half of ICF (members present) were TERI alumni! Wow! What a
coincidence! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We did have our food there, but
certainly not to the satisfaction of the hotel management. A couple of times
they came and asked whether they can give us the bill, indirectly asking, ‘Why
don’t you people leave?’ Can’t blame them, though. Occupying a table for more
than five hours with only a few snacks in between is certainly not to their
taste. They would have wanted us either to eat continuously or to get out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Surit stays in Greater Noida. He offered
to drop me in Sector 62 on the way. He had, however, to divert because the
shortest route from Kaushambi to Greater Noida does not touch Sector 62. In the
car I talked about my hearing problem, he talked about his sight problem. He
said he was ‘nearly blind’. And I was ‘nearly deaf”. Partners in distress! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I offered him a share of the taxi
charges which he refused to accept. When I insisted, he said, “Okay, you can
offer me a cup of coffee next time we meet.” And we settled at that. So, I
should remember (it is likely that he would forget) to treat him to a coffee
while I would have a lemon water or so. But when do we meet next?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To conclude, a day spent usefully. Had
the pollution not played spoilsport, a few more could have joined and wider
discussions could have taken place. Well, something is better than nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you Vivek, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jyoti, Saoirse, Surit, and Pawan for the
wonderful day!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-35566359597787941562022-07-21T17:07:00.001+05:302022-08-01T19:19:09.764+05:30 The ICF web chat: 18 July 2021<p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> <span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">18 July 2021</span></span></p><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Sunday. After the mandatory walking and breakfast, settled in front of the laptop. Facebook. Not regular in scanning messages but do try to respond to the personal Good Morning messages. Just started responding to such messages when Shivam, my grandson (“I am a big boy now. I am four and half years old”) shows up and directs, “Muthashaa, Chalo (Grandpa, come)!” “Kahan (where)?”, I ask. “Neeche, chalne ke liye (downstairs, for a walk)”. Before I could react, he closes the laptop and catches hold of my hand, “Chalo”. Nobody dares question him. We go downstairs (he sometime prefers to use the stairs rather than the lift) (we are on the second floor). Ruchi, my daughter (in-law) carries his tricycle. He cycles, we walk. </span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">After an hour Ruchi goes back with the tricycle. Shivam stays back, and so do I. We go to the park, he swings for a while, and then just walk around. We come out and walk on the road around the park. Suddenly he asks, “Which way will you take (to go in)?” There are three entrances to the small park. I point at one entry. He says, “I will come in through that (the other) entry”. We both enter the park through different entries and meet in the middle. He triumphantly giggles because he reached first.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I did not see the watch, but thought it should be around 10.30. I ask, “Shivam, shall we return home?” He is disappointed. Not willing to return yet. “Nghoo, nghoo”, he whimpers. I bend down and whispers in his ear, “Muthashan ko shoo shoo karna hai (Grandpa wants to pee)”. That settles the matter. He is immediately ready to return. He again uses the stairs. </span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Once inside he removes the mask and straightaway goes to the wash basin. Washes both hands with soap, each finger separately, inside the palms, the wrists, and then starts counting slowly while continuing to rub the fingers, “one, two, three, … nineteen, twenty”. Kept washing for twenty seconds. Washes away soap from both hands. </span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It is 11 o’ clock. I settle down once again in front of the laptop with my second breakfast. This time opens WhatsApp first. Several personal and group messages. Just glance through them casually. ICF Webinars. Vivek’s message, “We are online”. Suddenly a flash of light. Oh! The Sunday webinar, this time the free-for-all one. Am already late. Another three minutes, am in. Switch off audio (don’t want to disturb the group) and video (a little shy to eat in a meeting).</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Vivek assures participants that anything can be discussed. “It is not being recorded”, he asserts with a smile. It was all about he/she, you and I. ‘Nothing official about it’. Professional, personal, chats on anything under the sun. It was more of understanding each other. Each participant talked about him/herself. The ups and downs in life, professional and personal, places one liked, and so on. We talked about linked-in, clubhouse and a few other fora. Vivek regretted our inability to meet face-to-face due to the pandemic and hoped the situation would improve soon. I liked Anupam’s suggestion that the term ‘freelance editing’ should be replaced by ‘editing profession’.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Today’s web-chat (won’t call it a webinar) was like a cool breeze in the desert. Such occasional chats will help us to sit back and relax, to unbundle some of our worries, to open our minds, in front of an understanding, empathizing, and extremely helpful group. LET US DO IT MORE OFTEN. Thank you, Murugaraj for the idea and thank you, Vivek, for organizing it and thank you participants, for making it worthwhile two hours.</span></div></div>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-14659074537625134302022-07-21T11:55:00.001+05:302022-07-21T11:55:36.144+05:30An unforgettable morning<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoS22poIpI3YFStiXVCvCo0p90uTXGZfc0IQfSEcNht6QQqVx-wlh9U0oXiB_N3ipLf3_9oWAKooBa15UTdP6BOM48Q-NT-82xJJ3jL36uU9_l2FtQFvEzAsYfvUK9uFSo5Ivq1L4uqCjCRQaL6IQeou0Y4hhCBJ5e4dJHlxQLdhZ3QXpInP295BzOg/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-04-03%20at%2012.31.41%20PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="1600" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoS22poIpI3YFStiXVCvCo0p90uTXGZfc0IQfSEcNht6QQqVx-wlh9U0oXiB_N3ipLf3_9oWAKooBa15UTdP6BOM48Q-NT-82xJJ3jL36uU9_l2FtQFvEzAsYfvUK9uFSo5Ivq1L4uqCjCRQaL6IQeou0Y4hhCBJ5e4dJHlxQLdhZ3QXpInP295BzOg/w400-h289/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-04-03%20at%2012.31.41%20PM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFKrnSLTTG5WIgwUXHcMAAdmKyDlVsuqSxIfzT1KGiHJRA86gVngvo0sZNH7aYRmtrfa5AHEt5RBT6oxouoI1MFnlG0gxVmaDRTVNiuspeAH7POLzt_oYXuNbCwHxIS-ImSf9gd5gO4VXuXKOAJZsBXq1Wjvfyu9RRou7Jb_XQeYIpiktkoig_KDVzA/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-04-03%20at%2012.31.42%20PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1509" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFKrnSLTTG5WIgwUXHcMAAdmKyDlVsuqSxIfzT1KGiHJRA86gVngvo0sZNH7aYRmtrfa5AHEt5RBT6oxouoI1MFnlG0gxVmaDRTVNiuspeAH7POLzt_oYXuNbCwHxIS-ImSf9gd5gO4VXuXKOAJZsBXq1Wjvfyu9RRou7Jb_XQeYIpiktkoig_KDVzA/w378-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-04-03%20at%2012.31.42%20PM.jpeg" width="378" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: Sitka Text;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text";">02 April 2022</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 150%;">Last week of March 2022. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 150%;">Sent a message: “Shall be at Thiruvananthapuram in the
first week of April. Would like to meet with you, if your schedule permits.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 150%;">“Oh, yes! Come any day other than the 3rd and the 4th.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 150%;">Wow! He is at station, and has a little time to spare
for me. Felt really elated. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 150%;">“Shall call you on the evening of the 1st.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 150%;">“Okay.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 150%;">So far so good.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 150%;">On the 1st evening, “Can I come tomorrow?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 150%;">“All right, try to make it by 9 in the morning. Come
to my residence,” He further asked where I was staying and how would I reach,
and so on. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 150%;">“He” is Dr V.P. Joy (also known as Joy Vazhayil),
Chief Secretary of Kerala. Am fortunate to know him at Delhi through various <i>akshara
shloka sadas</i>es. Last year he had also very kindly released (online) a book
that I edited. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 150%;">Was at the door of his official residence a few
minutes behind schedule. His wife Ms Sheeja very kindly spent some time with
me, offered tea or coffee, to which I politely and thankfully responded ‘no’. We
had seen twice (though not actually met) in Delhi, but she immediately
recognized me. She very kindly gave me company; Dr Joy was getting ready for
office. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 150%;">Dr Joy is the same young, smart, polite, loving,
always smiling, person. We talked for a few minutes, about ourselves, our
families, our works, etc. He very generously offered me help in obtaining
necessary cooperation from CMC Vellore, in writing a biography of Dr Ida
Scudder that he knew I was planning to. He presented me with copies of two of
his latest books of poems. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 150%;">Time to leave. I discussed in my mind, ‘whether to or
not to? To or not to? To or …?’. Well, let me go ahead, and I politely
requested Ms Sheeja Joy to click us on my mobile. She very willingly and
smilingly (well, she always smiles!) agreed to. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 150%;">Then it was a little more difficult question that I
asked, “Any problem in my taking a selfie of all three of us?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 150%;">Again, the same smile and willingness. And she very
kindly obliged.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 49.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; line-height: 150%;">For me it was a morning well spent. Thank you, Joy Sir
and Sheeja Madam, for making me feel extremely comfortable, pleasant and proud.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-57913695907652404202022-07-21T11:45:00.005+05:302022-07-21T11:48:00.425+05:30The Bouquet and the Shawl<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhn6TZYjfpA983szh03vA37MXmPQTnxOk4oMljiylNL7hndOmR_wcH_b_pnFoA8Hw36Adk_DXVF-u4uss8QW9SrkcC5qW9J5SyUHmXjmm_asrrQrAQiHVJXYid1hqb0oENUssDGHK3oumWtbdbR04zqvWZ_eFfDlh9U9rysGJwmOgu_IbQP8mA61pAw/s1080/DMA-VasEn%2013-3-22(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="1080" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhn6TZYjfpA983szh03vA37MXmPQTnxOk4oMljiylNL7hndOmR_wcH_b_pnFoA8Hw36Adk_DXVF-u4uss8QW9SrkcC5qW9J5SyUHmXjmm_asrrQrAQiHVJXYid1hqb0oENUssDGHK3oumWtbdbR04zqvWZ_eFfDlh9U9rysGJwmOgu_IbQP8mA61pAw/w400-h293/DMA-VasEn%2013-3-22(1).jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; text-align: justify;"><p><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p>17 March 2022</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; text-align: justify;">Wow! I am indeed elated. I feel I have become a VasEnite
(VasEn – short for Vasundhara Enclave!) again 19 years after leaving the place;
I lived in Sreeniketan during 1999 to 2003. (Am currently in Noida.) I have also
once again become a Delhiite after having participated in a programme organized
by Delhi Malayalee Association, VasEn. It was a real home coming on 13 March.
Thank you DMA, thank you Unni (not using a Mr, nor using his full name
Unnikrishnan, because then it lacks the proximity) and thank you Pradeep, for
inviting me to yesterday’s edition of Aksharavedi as well as for the 2020–2021 DMA
VasEn Souvenir release function.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Earlier last week Unni invited me to attend the next
edition of Aksharavedi, this time physical and offline, unlike the earlier two
on line editions, which also I had the opportunity to attend, thanks to Unni. I
was glad to receive the invitation to attend this function, though I did not
stay in VasEn or even in Delhi. I gratefully told him that I would certainly
like to attend the function. And then came the bomb shell. He said that the
subject for this edition was <i>Jnjanappana</i> and that I was expected to talk
about the book. This was quite unexpected. I told him that I am a nobody and
would rather not attempt any such misadventure. But he insisted. And I had to
oblige.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I was aware that not many members knew me because I
was never, and still am not, a part of VasEN DMA, nor did I know most of them.
I expected to see and say hello to somebody from Sreeniketan, but it looked
like nobody turned up. I however, was glad to see Aarav from the society
receiving an award.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And here I was, talking to a very silent and attentive
group of enthusiastic Malayalee devotees and DMA activists on <i>Jnjanappana!</i>
That too after a very beautiful and devout rendering of the poem by 18 gorgeous
ladies! Wow! I was doing something which I have never dared to attempt before.
It was not an appreciation of the poem, which I am not qualified to do. So I
explained what I felt about the poem, how it explains our daily life, and so
on. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I thank from my heart the lady who offered me a bottle
of water when I was having a little trouble in talking, due to a surgery I had
to undergo a few years back. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I was honoured to receive a <i>ponnada</i> (shawl) and
a bouquet presented by Shri Babu Panicker, who needs no introduction to Delhi
Malayalees. Thank you, VasEn DMA and everybody connected with the programme.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A surprise gift was meeting and talking to Smt Surya,
who hails from our own little village Veliyannoor, the northern-most part of
Kottayam Dist. Thank you, Surya, for the initiative you took in coming and
talking to me. We shall meet again, as Veliyannoorwallahs and alumni of the same
school. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It was a magnificent function and I enjoyed every bit
of it. Thank you Unni, Shri Raghunath, Shri Babu Panicker, Pradeep, and
everybody else who made the function a grand one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Post script</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">: While
in Sreeniketan, I was very fortunate to have been able to bring out several issues
of Sreeniketan News, a quarterly newsletter on matters of interest to the
members of the society. I acknowledge with gratitude the help and cooperation I
received from all, especially Shri G.C. Sharma, the then President, in this
venture. I remember it was while travelling to meet with an MP (or MLA?) that I
presented the idea of a newsletter to Sharmaji and he readily agreed. After
having gone through the newsletter while on a visit to Sreeniketan, Dr Pandey,
the then President of the Senior Citizens Forum, invited me to join him in
bringing out a six-monthly newsletter that he used to bring out then. I helped
him with one issue, before shifting out of VasEn. Sweet memories of my
association with VasEn still fill me with pride and gratitude.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-49559905564953202392022-07-21T11:32:00.001+05:302022-07-21T11:39:14.811+05:30With You, Forever<p><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzPnLABdQVes2i7kvhNq3RuU0EeatKHqaISE3wX8Acu6s5JcgShuYOzyjSpLvJ9Sik8JxwdhXxX1mj5_OUwpp_F7l4d6wFq4c8ofdt9EPiEiDFdv37c6F6d8l_9spsW4sKmKqhpAZvIl-ySoF-CANYVk_vhnHN6R1lk2TpFmZ5IPhLEAc1uu3UKkPuQ/s1280/2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1280" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzPnLABdQVes2i7kvhNq3RuU0EeatKHqaISE3wX8Acu6s5JcgShuYOzyjSpLvJ9Sik8JxwdhXxX1mj5_OUwpp_F7l4d6wFq4c8ofdt9EPiEiDFdv37c6F6d8l_9spsW4sKmKqhpAZvIl-ySoF-CANYVk_vhnHN6R1lk2TpFmZ5IPhLEAc1uu3UKkPuQ/w400-h282/2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></div></div></div><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />8
February 2021</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was wandering aimlessly<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Without any specific
destination <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I stopped confused, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And longed for a direction<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You then arrived <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Like a downpour in the desert<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And we offered <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Unconditional love to each
other<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Together we visited many
places<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Met several people<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Had three off-springs <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">God took away our daughter<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But left us with two sons <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Two daughters-in-law, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And an adorable grandson<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Who give us everlasting joy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We loved each other <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Like sky was the limit<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We enjoyed life fully<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Season after season <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">During the difficult days<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We held our hands together<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am there to allay your
sorrows, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To succour you<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Forever and ever<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I won’t claim <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There were no quarrels,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But they would vanish <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Like a drizzle in the summer<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I can’t quarrel with you<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For you are my dearest<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My love for you won’t diminish
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Till I breath my last<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today completes four decades<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Of two minds becoming one
forever<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have a huge wish, hear dear,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Don’t leave me till I merge
with soil. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-13836784084899282482022-07-21T11:15:00.006+05:302022-08-08T09:30:42.691+05:30Centre for the Study of Developing Societies: My Virtual Home – Part VI<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">There
were also some solemn moments which I would like to mention here. One day I got
a call from Jayasree that CRM Rao has passed away. It was a shock to me. It is
true that every soul which comes into this world has to return when the time
comes after leaving the body behind. But when you hear such news quite
unexpectedly you are taken aback. The only thing that I could do to show my respect
to him was to go to the crematorium and pay my homage. It was a similar case
when Prof Giri Deshingkar passed away. However, when Bashir Saheb passed away,
I came to know only from the newspapers the next day. That was because he had
left the Centre some time ago and had been the Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia
Islamia University when he passed away. I silently prayed for the departed
soul.</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Why
does the Centre remain in my mind as fresh as it was when I left it nearly
three decades ago? I think the reason is that my wife is still working there.
Through her I come to know about important happenings at the Centre. I also
used to visit it occasionally and met with old colleagues. Am I nostalgic about
the Centre? No. Nostalgia is the feeling about something which is long lost that
will never return to one’s life. But CSDS has been very much part of my life
and thoughts for more than thirty-six years now, whether I am working there or
not. Yes, it is my second home. And I hope it will remain so for many years to
come.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><i>(Concluded)</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_h8obXRt4gLEljRbp4puQTnAe9DGSDE6WTMD1BuOzW65vd7p2yt_5tuw4fbgnvSD5qGrh2x3eoVoMTxrYFoyAzrtUTBklhPZjUKbI4orKbVpmDJKMhtr4KDUEBWlKcVeMrf5roCnggoAjwQMhBbAf9nuMv2-0TjYi1NAT7isLMxB7LWbGxzXaf4Tsig/s924/CRM%20Rao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="924" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_h8obXRt4gLEljRbp4puQTnAe9DGSDE6WTMD1BuOzW65vd7p2yt_5tuw4fbgnvSD5qGrh2x3eoVoMTxrYFoyAzrtUTBklhPZjUKbI4orKbVpmDJKMhtr4KDUEBWlKcVeMrf5roCnggoAjwQMhBbAf9nuMv2-0TjYi1NAT7isLMxB7LWbGxzXaf4Tsig/w200-h200/CRM%20Rao.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C R M Rao</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglepN5tLlhKgxV0Xq8pgFkFyC329-0LM15zrr3wclAS9pxu1BAh2uWoneajZsiht9AQOMVwJ-5iYbC1m6fMfRy7gzV5LNfY5dYpGcIjx0sYd5tEJwDKzqxMWVoEFtVXSCT1zgJU_rU8T9Rj-NSiBRECGh8_xognfkonKVustfKB6gNhWCPU7Zk9uu6LA/s3488/Giri%20deshingkar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3488" data-original-width="2478" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglepN5tLlhKgxV0Xq8pgFkFyC329-0LM15zrr3wclAS9pxu1BAh2uWoneajZsiht9AQOMVwJ-5iYbC1m6fMfRy7gzV5LNfY5dYpGcIjx0sYd5tEJwDKzqxMWVoEFtVXSCT1zgJU_rU8T9Rj-NSiBRECGh8_xognfkonKVustfKB6gNhWCPU7Zk9uu6LA/s320/Giri%20deshingkar.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">G D Deshingkar<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGB8Qglv7clDCp5SGpuoLtnktMPBbQ9OIkrdob0F5DhsY3oSrtM26hDf3NEqOO2f3ZQ6rJstmiKOMVkwSusyEOTOUNi_hXIJf1HhDh_0dKTwpNlWdx6eMuHcERkqdObxkDCDKQ2Dqn05ebyhSupCEK2JCCXc8NDQcxAoDNfy45OPRca9SLxOBijmCqw/s100/Bashir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGB8Qglv7clDCp5SGpuoLtnktMPBbQ9OIkrdob0F5DhsY3oSrtM26hDf3NEqOO2f3ZQ6rJstmiKOMVkwSusyEOTOUNi_hXIJf1HhDh_0dKTwpNlWdx6eMuHcERkqdObxkDCDKQ2Dqn05ebyhSupCEK2JCCXc8NDQcxAoDNfy45OPRca9SLxOBijmCqw/w200-h200/Bashir.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prof. Bashiruddin Ahmed</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-x-Ngk5jN_2Cq2-cZQLktj_uJBY-tYNhHaroWjU0d8fqWp-7wf96RYkLfBakWHeqKfzQyANkYWq8JHnrP5mxrwA14y7KzcvMevvofpGzkbdPr0ZeAdruzHX_ya_3eVbro1Zw5sxu9M4nGATFQhe0XtbWr6o-xwvmsUQ1GhEeW8_neMl5R3gWxkkYDaA/s640/Rajni%20Kothari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-x-Ngk5jN_2Cq2-cZQLktj_uJBY-tYNhHaroWjU0d8fqWp-7wf96RYkLfBakWHeqKfzQyANkYWq8JHnrP5mxrwA14y7KzcvMevvofpGzkbdPr0ZeAdruzHX_ya_3eVbro1Zw5sxu9M4nGATFQhe0XtbWr6o-xwvmsUQ1GhEeW8_neMl5R3gWxkkYDaA/s320/Rajni%20Kothari.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prof. Rajni Kothari</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoKVjOrk-OB5SFc9uPEWJ6w0KX5S57nlxQVc9xuvX5V_tTfOl_Pw8u1mWe9eB9yeZTxu-_Kbu9_WqlHEchELTALtYNBHwi7-TL2rxRud7AWgYgm-_DsFRO__p4023v1J4tmgQLhEIDBA4cwSGa3nlLF4rlYYZe5-SWOMiBzYc9nLau5yHp87scokMNg/s238/Sujit%20Deb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="200" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoKVjOrk-OB5SFc9uPEWJ6w0KX5S57nlxQVc9xuvX5V_tTfOl_Pw8u1mWe9eB9yeZTxu-_Kbu9_WqlHEchELTALtYNBHwi7-TL2rxRud7AWgYgm-_DsFRO__p4023v1J4tmgQLhEIDBA4cwSGa3nlLF4rlYYZe5-SWOMiBzYc9nLau5yHp87scokMNg/s1600/Sujit%20Deb.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sujit Deb</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><i><br /></i></span><p></p>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-91927520804161511662022-07-21T11:09:00.000+05:302022-07-21T11:09:41.989+05:30 Centre for the Study of Developing Societies: My Virtual Home – Part V<p><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">I
was dealing with several files related to </span><i style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">China
Report.</i><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"> I didn’t have a proper place to keep those. There was a huge table
on which I use to spread the files. One day that table too had to be taken away
for more important use. The files and registers were transferred onto the
floor. I thought some arrangement would be made to keep those. But nothing
happened for several days.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
then wrote a note which started with, ‘We are the files and registers lying on
the floor and used by Mr Namboodiri.’ The note was signed by the ‘Files and Registers’
and it was ‘submitted through Mr Namboodiri’.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">The
note was submitted to Mr Rao, who promptly forwarded it (with a smile) to the
Secretary, and a new bureau was purchased for my use within a week. Sometimes
you need to catch things the curved way.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It
was a couple of years after I joined CSDS that I changed my name from PKJ
Namboodiri to PK Jayanthan. Right from my school days I had been called
Namboodiri, which was my surname and caste name. In Delhi I was staying with my
cousins PKS Namboodiri and PKK Namboodiri. Both were known by their surnames. I
wanted a change. Also, PKS always introduced me to his friends as Jayanthan (it
would have been absurd to introduce me as [yet another] Namboodiri, wouldn’t
it?). It was then that I realized how much I liked being addressed by my name
and what I have been missing all these years. And I promptly took out the
surname. I also informed the office regarding the change.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
have never worked directly under Prof. Rajni Kothari. But Kothari Saheb was a
father figure to everybody in the Centre. When I decided to leave CSDS, I wanted
to go and meet him in the Lokayan office. He was an extremely busy person, and
I didn’t even know if he would recognise me. Though I had met him several times
when he used to visit the Centre, I had never talked to him. I couldn’t even
muster the courage of wishing him as much as ‘Good Morning, Sir’. He was such a
towering figure. </span><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">But
as soon as I entered the room he said, ‘Ah, Jayanthan, come.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
don’t know if he was ‘warned’ of my visit. When I told him that I was leaving
CSDS to join TERI, he wished me all the best. For the first time we shook
hands.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">When
I started working in TERI, the institute was located in the members’ flats in
the India International Centre.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">One
day Dr RK Pachauri, Director, told me, ‘Some people from CSDS are coming for
discussions. Don’t you want to go and hide somewhere?’ He asked jokingly.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It
is true that I was on leave from CSDS, but everyone knew that I was working
with TERI. So? No hiding. I was, however, eager to know who were coming. Later
Prof. Rajni Kothari and Dr Ashis Nandy arrived. When they saw me, Dr Nandy
immediately said, ‘Ah, Jayanthan is here, we had forgotten that. Where is Dr
Pachauri?’ </span><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">And I proudly accompanied
them to Dr Pachauri’s office.</span><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Even
now when I visit the Centre, some pricking feelings overwhelm me. I look at the
corners where I used to work from, one of which is lying empty and disused and
the other used for keeping filing cabinets. Sometimes I go and see the places where
Mr Rao or Mr Bhattacharya used to occupy, or where Mr Khajan Singh had his
empire from where he used to prepare the journal copies for mailing and
prepared the register with paper cuttings. All the places have since been
renovated and changed. There were several people with whom I worked and shared
very cordial relations. Some of them are still working or are otherwise
associated with the Centre. There are several people who were, or still are, my
close friends whom I have not mentioned in this note. Some of them are my own
colleagues while some others are Jayasree’s colleagues, and some common. It is
only due to the fear of this note becoming quite unwieldy that I am restricting
myself from mentioning their names.</span></p>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-14730867568006775402022-07-21T11:07:00.000+05:302022-07-21T11:07:17.980+05:30Centre for the Study of Developing Societies: My Virtual Home – Part IV<p><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">A
few days after I joined, I typed a letter for Dr Ashis Nandy. There was a mistake.
As I used to do in DPD, I put ‘xxx’ mark over the mistake and typed the correct
version in the margin.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">When
I handed over the letter to Dr Nandy, he said, ‘Hmm … in the Centre we don’t do
such things, okay?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
was not upset (if he was, he didn’t show it), but was telling me the difference
between working in a government office and at the Centre. But I remember for
several months after that he dared not give me any work. Later on, when I came
to know how particular he was even regarding full stops, commas, and spaces, I realized
what a stupid thing was it that I did for him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Dr
RK Srivastava used to be the ultimate solution to all our information needs.
Ask him anything, he had the answer. Not only that, he used to explain his
response in detail with ample examples. There was no topic under which he could
not answer any question. I don’t know if he knows this but in our friends’
circle he was referred to as the ‘walking encyclopedia’ then. I have discussed
several things with and learned a lot from him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Sujit
Deb, or Sujit da, as we fondly used to call him, passed away in September 2012
in Kolkata. Sujit da was a carefree character, the come-what-may-I-don’t-bother
type. He did not care about the cloths he wore, the food he ate, the chair he
sat on, nor the bed he slept on. He was a nice and kind human being, thoroughly
down-to-earth. Though he was elder to me, we were close friends. We used to
discuss several things, though personal matters were normally avoided. Sujit da
never acted busy and was always in a relaxed mood.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
think Bhuvan Chandra was the first colleague who started using an electric
typewriter in the Centre. It was charming to watch him working on it. This
typewriter had several daisy wheels and Bhuvan used to interchange them when he
needed italic or bold faces or entirely different fonts. Bhuvan was very
enthusiastic about the novel ‘The Godfather’ by Mario Puzo. According to him,
that was the only novel worth reading. He was never tired of harping on the
qualities of the book. In fact, it was due to these enthusiastic descriptions and
near insistence that I read the book for the first time while in the Centre.
And yes, you guessed right, Bhuvan arranged the book for me.</span><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Some
of us – Bharat Singh, Khajan Singh, Rudra Singh, Ravi Raghavan, PKK Namboodiri,
MK Riyal, I, and a few others – used to take lunch together. For some time a
large table used to be kept outside the store room where we all used to
assemble and take lunch. We also used to share each others lunch. But some of
us, including me, were, however, exempted from sharing since we were
vegetarians and some friends brought food that we were not very keen to share. Bharat
Singh passed away a few years ago. He used to call me Punditji, not because I
am a knowledgeable person, but because I am a Brahmin. Temple priests are
generally called </span><i style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">punditji</i><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">s.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
was using an old Remington typewriter and it was extremely difficult working on
that. I wanted a change of typewriter. I put my problem before Mr CRM Rao, who
agreed to my request and talked to Ms Ava Khullar, Secretary. She asked me to
send her a note explaining why I needed a new typewriter. I prepared an
elaborate note and sent to her. After a week or two I received a brand new
typewriter. I was very happy and proud. To my surprise, within the next week,
three or four more new typewriters were purchased for use by other colleagues!
It was like push-starting a vehicle. The initial push-start was very difficult,
which I had to do all alone, and then it was a smooth drive for others!</span></p>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-90512056099791180092022-07-21T11:05:00.000+05:302022-07-21T11:05:21.155+05:30Centre for the Study of Developing Societies: My Virtual Home - Part III<p><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">The
second incident occurred when my father-in-law had undergone a surgery at the
St. Stephens hospital. On the day of his scheduled release we received a bill
for more than 5000 rupees. We had been under the impression that St. Stephens
was a charity hospital. With a rude shock we realized that it was a </span><i style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">paid</i><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"> charity hospital. All of us
relatives collected whatever amount we had. We were still short of about 2000
rupees. We didn’t know what to do.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I then
went and met Bashir Saheb. It was around noon on a holiday. It was obvious that
he had been taking a short nap after lunch when I rang the bell. I started
explaining the problem. I had to take a long route, since it was very
embarrassing to ask for personal loan from your Director!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">But
when I was half-way through, he asked me, ‘Do you want money? How much?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
said, ‘2000 rupees’.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
went inside and brought a bundle of 100 twenty-rupee notes. I was about to tell
him how grateful I was and how and by when I plan to return the money, but he
would not listen.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
said, ‘Go, clear the bill, and take your father-in-law home’. </span><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">One
day I talked to Bashir Saheb about Jayasree to seek a possible position at
CSDS. He later told another colleague, ‘We are familiar with the hard and
sincere work of Jayanthan and Krishnan (PKK Namboodiri) are putting in. I don’t
think there should be any problem.’ And after a test and interview, she was
appointed as his PA.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">When
I wanted to resign from CSDS to join Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI) (now
The Energy and Resources Institute), he himself advised me to take leave, and
not resign.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
said, ‘Any time you want to come back, do so, and we will take you back. You
are always welcome.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">After
the initial six months’ leave, I extended it for another six months before
finally resigning. After my departure, Jayasree took over the responsibilities
of </span><i style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Alternatives</i><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">. The main attraction
was that I could guide her when needed. I also came and worked in the Centre on
a few Saturdays to help her, till she was confident.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">The
late Mr CRM Rao was the mildest and softest person I have ever come across. I
consider it a privilege to have worked with him. In fact our association
started with a little uneasiness. I had initially agreed to a salary of 625
rupees. When I went home, my cousin reprimanded me for agreeing for a salary
which was only slightly more than what I was getting in DPD. So, the next day I
went and told Mr Rao that I wanted 650 rupees as salary. He was slightly upset.
I offered some excuses and explained why I was seeking an enhanced payment. He
then agreed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">When
I left CSDS to join TERI, he wrote, ‘I am sad that you are leaving, but glad
that you are doing so for better prospects.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
invited Jayasree and me to his home, but we could not make it which I have
regretted ever since his passing away. While working at CSDS, I had gone to Mr
Rao’s home once and enjoyed the warm treatment accorded by him and his wife.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">The
late Prof. Giri Desingkar was outwardly very strict, but a very warm and loveable
person. The first time he asked me to type a letter for him (this was during
one of the initial days of my joining), I went and complained to Mr Rao! Why
should I work for an outsider? At that time Prof. Deshingkar was a Faculty in the
Delhi University, but associated with the China Report group.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Mr
Rao said, ‘Yes, yes, he is in the China Report group, and you should help him whenever
he wants.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It
takes time to come out of the bureaucratic way of the government (doesn’t it?),
where I worked for two years before joining the Centre. Slowly I opened up and
was ready to assist anybody in the Centre, regardless of their association with
</span><i style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">China Report</i><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">.</span></p>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" /></span>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-40206750729249536982022-07-21T10:59:00.000+05:302022-07-21T10:59:16.229+05:30Centre for the Study of Developing Societies: My Virtual Home - Part II<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Though
I had joined as PA to Mr CRM Rao, I worked more with Bijoy Babu (Bijoy
Bhattacharya) who managed the production and distribution of </span><i style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">China Report</i><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">. It was a pleasant
experience working with him. He was like a real </span><i style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">dada</i><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"> (elder brother) to me. He was an expert in publishing. I used
to proofread </span><i style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">China Report </i><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">with him. I
believe it was due to my close association with him that I got interested in
the editing and publishing fields. Bijoy Babu inspired me a lot. He used to
tell me stories of his escapades when he had been young. Sometimes he used to drown
in nostalgia. He never believed in the institution of library. His used to
assert, ‘If you want to read a book, purchase it.’ Once I went to his single room
residence in Gole Market and was astonished to find several thousands of books
(must be 6000 to 7000) kept in almirahs, cots, and strewn on the floor. He said
he had a bigger collection in Calcutta. He also did not read magazines or newspapers.
He believed only in books, purchased books.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">When
we came down to the street, Bijoy Babu asked me, ‘Do you know what is Sandesh?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
said, ‘Yes, message.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
said, ‘No, no, not that sandesh. What is a Bengali Sandesh?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
had no idea.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
said, ‘Come, I will show you.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
then took me to the nearby Bengali Sweet Shop and treated fabulously with
Sandesh, the most popular Bengali sweet.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">When
CSDS started publishing </span><i style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Alternatives: A
Journal of World Policy</i><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> in collaboration with the Institute for World
Order, New York, I got associated with its subscription and distribution. Profs
Rajni Kothari and Saul Mendlovitz edited the journal then. Mr MP Sinha was the
Managing Editor. Mr MC Gabriel had worked for some time during the initial days,
looking after the promotion of the journal. After his departure I looked after
the whole affairs with the help of Mr PKK Namboodiri who then independently
handled </span><i style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">China Report</i><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">’s subscription. Mr
Girdhar Rathi joined later to oversee the promotion and distribution of the
journal.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Dr
Ramashray Roy was the Director during those days. During one of my initial days
at the Centre, he called me to his room for some work. In the midst of the discussions,
he wanted to ask something to Mr V Chadha, Accountant. He asked me to call Mr
Chadha on the phone. I hadn’t heard the name before. I thought the name ‘Chadha’
was strange. ‘Chanda’ seemed more appropriate to me. And I asked for Mr
‘Chanda’. Dr Roy immediately corrected me, ‘</span><b style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Chadha</b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">, not Chanda’. And he made me pronounce the name correctly,
which I did after a few attempts! When my father passed away two years later Dr
Roy sent me a touching condolence message, which showed his concern for his
younger colleagues. I was overwhelmed when I met with Dr Roy a few months ago at
the Centre after a gap of several years.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
also served under the Directorship of the late Prof. Bashiruddin Ahmed, a
down-to-earth and approachable person. He was always kind to everybody. He did
not miss any chance to extend help to anybody, high or low. I am myself a
beneficiary of his benevolence twice when I was in distress.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
was building my house in Sainik Nagar, near Uttam Nagar. All the money which I
initially had, had been spent and I had started borrowing money from whomever I
could. Ravi Raghavan, who worked in CSDS, had by then left the Centre and
joined the Oriental Bank of Commerce, in the Connaught Circus branch. Ravi said
the bank lent money without security, but at a higher interest rate and on
production of a guarantee from the office. I sought Bashir Saheb’s help. He
asked me to type out the guarantee on the Centre’s letterhead. He signed without
even reading it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">When
I handed him the office copy of the guarantee he said, ‘Keep it with you, in
your file.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
was confused, in my file?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
smiled and said, ‘Yes, I trust you’.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">After
a few months, on clearing the loan, I gave him a copy of the certificate from
the Bank.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
said, ‘Yes, I knew there would not be any problem.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
valued trust and confidence a lot more than written words.</span></p>
<p><br /></p>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-88202206852249721142022-07-21T10:49:00.001+05:302022-07-21T11:00:54.953+05:30Centre for the Study of Developing Societies: My Virtual Home - Part I<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I worked at the
Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) from 1977 to 1983 with Mr
CRM Rao who edited <i>China Report</i>. I also
did proofreading for the journal and also looked after the subscription and
distribution of it as well as that of <i>Alternatives:
A Journal of World Policy</i> when the Centre started co-publishing it.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: medium;"><b>It was great
working at the Centre with a lot of good people. I learned a lot in the process.
I grew from a hesitant stenographer to a self-confident professional in a short
time. I was sad to leave the Centre. But, is not change the basic law of life?
Life should move on and one needs to move in search of greener pastures, which
I too had to do.</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: medium;">The Centre is
celebrating its Golden Jubilee. If this is not the most appropriate occasion,
then what is, for one to recount the past and note down a few things from one’s
experiences at the Centre? That is what I have attempted here. This small
booklet talks of a few of my experiences at the Centre. Not all of them,
though; this was prepared somewhat in a hurry.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif;">I joined Directorate
of Publications Division (DPD), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in
1975. I was posted in the stenographers’ pool. </span><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif;"> </span><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif;">The pool was a facility from where any official
could request typing or stenographic assistance over and above the staff from
their own sections. There was normally very little work in the pool and I used
to get quite bored. Within a year I had written a departmental test and had
been promoted as junior stenographer. I was preparing for the stenographers’
examination.</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: medium;"><b>One day Mr Ram Lal
Sharma, the pool in-charge, told me, ‘If you sit here, you will be given work.
You take your books and go out. I shall take care of any requirement that might
arise.’</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: medium;"><b>I used to study during
the week days continuously for several months on the lawns of the Delhi High
Court, which was adjacent to DPD. In the examination, I got a rank just above 100
and was expecting a posting soon.</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif;">It was around this
time that Mr PKS Namboodiri asked me if I was interested in working with the editor
of a journal. He warned me that if I agree it meant that I might have to leave
the permanent and secure government job and join a private organization, which
in those days was very unnatural. He himself was my guide and guru in Delhi. Therefore,
I had no hesitation in saying ‘yes’. It had become nearly meaningless to work in
DPD and I thought this was a golden opportunity. Mr CRM Rao, Editor, </span><i style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif;">China Report</i><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif;">, was in need of a personal
assistant. I met Mr Rao, was interviewed and appointed. This was in 1977.</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: medium;"><b>At that time the
Centre was smaller in size, staff, infrastructure, and popularity. The Centre consisted
of only the main building. The Annexe and the mezzanine floors in the library
and other places were built much later. The front lawn included the current
parking space and was so huge that I remember attending a couple of wedding
receptions there. As for parking, yes, we didn’t need much parking space during
those days. The only vehicles that regularly used to come into the Centre were
the office car and Prof. Rajni Kothari’s official car when he was ICSSR Chairman.
He used to visit the Centre often. We had much bigger lawn on the side too,
including the space where the Annexe has been built. The courtyard behind the
building was also huge. The store room, staff quarters, and so on were all
built several years later.</b></span></p><p></p>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-57141481391032557432022-07-21T10:18:00.005+05:302022-07-21T10:18:44.006+05:30ICF - The free for all webinar<p><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12pt;">Sunday, 18 July 2021</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After the mandatory walking within the flat, and
breakfast, settled in front of the laptop. Facebook. Not regular in scanning
messages but do try to respond to the personal good morning messages. Just
started responding to such messages when Shivam, my grandson (“I am a big boy
now. I am four and half years old”) shows up and directs, “<i>Muthashaa, Chalo</i>
(Grandpa, come)!” “<i>Kahan</i> (where)?”, I ask. “<i>Neeche, chalne ke liye</i>
(downstairs, for a walk)”. Before I could react, he closes the laptop and catches
hold of my hand, “<i>Chalo</i>”. Nobody dares question him. We go downstairs
(he sometime prefers to use the stairs rather than the lift) (we are on the
second floor). Ruchi, my daughter (in-law) carries his tricycle. He cycles, we
walk. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After an hour Ruchi goes back with the tricycle.
Shivam stays back, and so do I. We go to the park, he swings for a while, and
then just walk around. We come out and walk on the road around the park.
Suddenly he asks, “Which way will you take (to go in)?” There are three
entrances to the small park. I point at one entry. He says, “I will come in
through that (the other) entry”. We both enter the park through different
entries and meet in the middle. He triumphantly giggles because he reached
first.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I did not see the watch, but thought it should be
around 10.30. I ask, “Shivam, shall we return home?” He is disappointed. Not
willing to return yet. “Nghoo, nghoo”, he whimpers. I bend down and whispers in
his ear, “<i>Muthashan ko shoo shoo karna hai</i> (Grandpa wants to pee)”. That
settles the matter. He is immediately ready to return. He again uses the
stairs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Once inside he removes the mask and straightaway goes
to the wash basin. Washes both hands with soap, each finger separately, inside
the palms, the wrists, and then starts counting slowly while continuing to rub
the fingers, “one, two, three, … nineteen, twenty”. Kept washing for twenty
seconds. Washes away soap from both hands. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is 11 o’ clock. I settle down once again in front
of the laptop with my second breakfast. This time opens WhatsApp first. Several
personal and group messages. Just glance through them casually. ICF Webinars.
Vivek’s message, “We are online”. Suddenly a flash of light. Oh! The Sunday
webinar, this time the free-for-all one. Am already late. Another three
minutes, am in. Switch off audio (don’t want to disturb the group) and video (a
little shy to eat in a meeting).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Vivek assures participants that anything can be
discussed. “It is not being recorded”, he asserts with a smile. It was all
about he/she, you and I. ‘Nothing official about it’. Professional, personal,
chats on anything under the sun. It was more of understanding each other. Each
participant talked about him/herself. The ups and downs in life, professional
and personal, places one liked, and so on. We talked about linked-in, clubhouse
and a few other fora. Vivek regretted our inability to meet face-to-face due to
the pandemic and hoped the situation would improve soon. I liked Anupam’s
suggestion that the term ‘freelance editing’ should be replaced by ‘editing
profession’.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today’s web-chat (won’t call it a webinar) was like a
cool breeze in the desert. Such occasional chats will help us to sit back and
relax, to unbundle some of our worries, to open our minds, in front of an
understanding, empathizing, and extremely helpful group. LET US DO IT MORE
OFTEN.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you, Murugaraj for the idea
and thank you, Vivek, for organizing it and thank you participants, for making
it worthwhile two hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-53980364244875820382022-07-21T10:14:00.005+05:302022-07-21T10:14:53.877+05:30To or not to?<p><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math", serif;">13 November 2021</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math", serif;">Saturday, 13 November 2021. An ICF
(Indian Copyeditors’ Forum) offline meeting. We have had weekly webinars for
more than a year during covid. Have attended only two ICF offline meetings in,
maybe, seven years, both before Covid. The first was in a Connaught Place hotel.
The next was at YMCA. Couldn’t attend a couple of meetings held after that. So,
</span><i style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math", serif;">had</i><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math", serif;"> to attend this one. Shree Rathnam at Kaushambi metro station. A
metro station, I assume, is the mostest (No such word, did you say? Well, you got
what I meant, didn’t you? Language is for communicating ideas, right?)
convenient location in NCR. Thank you, Vivek.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Got ready by about 10 am. Leaving home by
10.30 would be ideal to reach the venue by 11.30. Walk for five minutes, take
the Blue line metro, get down at Yamuna Bank, catch another Blue line to
Kushambi. Perfect. Told Archana, daughter (in-law), “Going out for an ICF
meeting, a couple of hours.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">She looked at me, went to the balcony,
surveyed the surroundings, and asked, “Do you <i>really</i> have to go?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">She, nor my son, does not usually question
me if I wanted to go anywhere. Rarely do I step out after the pandemic began. I
looked out, too. The polluted air was waiting there to gobble me up. Felt
disheartened. Maybe not. Shall send a message to Vivek excusing myself. Opened
WhatsApp, ICF Delhi NCR group. Vivek had messaged in response to my ‘Shall try
to come’ message, “Please do come”. My fingers froze. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Confusion. To or not to? Responses in
the group showed it would be a small gathering. It might amount to cheating
Vivek if I didn’t go. He would come, for sure. Told Archana, “Yeah, I should
go. Shall take the Metro.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">She said, “No, no. No Metro, shall book
a cab.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I tried to argue how convenient it was
to avail of the Metro services. She didn’t budge. I had to agree. It is said,
obey parents in childhood, friends during teen age, spouse after marriage, and
children in old age!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And so there I was at Shree Rathnam, by
around 11.45. Vivek and Jyoti(rmoy Chaudhuri) were already there. After some
time Surit (Das) joined, then Saoirse (came and asked, “ICF?” before taking the
chair.) and Pawan (Garg) in that order. Six out of 129 (ICF Delhi NCR members)!
Was meeting Jyoti, Saoirse and Pawan for the first time. Some very useful
discussions on the future course for ICF. Surit started it by referring to his
7-year-old discussions with Vivek. All others joined and enthusiastically took
part in the discussions, except yours sincerely, who preferred to listen. Even
that was not easy because sounds are scared of my ears and stop a couple of
feet away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">During the conversation Pawan referred
to a certain office called TERI in India Habitat Centre where he worked for a
year. I didn’t want to interrupt him then. Later when he concluded his point, I
asked him, “When and in which division, did you work in TERI?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He worked in TERI Press for a year.
Surit worked there for a couple of years, too. And I worked in TERI for more
than 25 years. So, half of ICF (members present) were TERI alumni! Wow! What a
coincidence! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We did have our food there, but
certainly not to the satisfaction of the hotel management. A couple of times
they came and asked whether they can give us the bill, indirectly asking, ‘Why
don’t you people leave?’ Can’t blame them, though. Occupying a table for more
than five hours with only a few snacks in between is certainly not to their
taste. They would have wanted us either to eat continuously or to get out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Surit stays in Greater Noida. He offered
to drop me in Sector 62 on the way. He had, however, to divert because the
shortest route from Kaushambi to Greater Noida does not touch Sector 62. In the
car I talked about my hearing problem, he talked about his sight problem. He
said he was ‘nearly blind’. And I was ‘nearly deaf”. Partners in distress! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I offered him a share of the taxi
charges which he refused to accept. When I insisted, he said, “Okay, you can
offer me a cup of coffee next time we meet.” And we settled at that. So, I
should remember (it is likely that he would forget) to treat him to a coffee
while I would have a lemon water or so. But when do we meet next?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">To conclude, a day spent usefully. Had
the pollution not played spoilsport, a few more could have joined and wider
discussions could have taken place. Well, something is better than nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Thank you Vivek, Jyoti, Saoirse, Surit,
and Pawan for the wonderful day!<o:p></o:p></span></p>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-62108993371949452032022-07-21T10:06:00.001+05:302022-07-21T10:06:48.694+05:30Indexing, the art of: Experience of the first webinar presentation<p><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: Georgia, serif;">8 November 2020</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Was it interesting?
Intriguing? Enriching? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Initial days of Corona. Vivek
(ICF personified) moots the idea of Sunday webinars – Forty 40-minute ones.
Several topics are lined up.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">He messages, ‘one on
indexing?’ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">‘Okay. But need time. PPT to
be reduced from 90 to 40 minutes.’ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">‘Will June be okay?’ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">‘Yes.’ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">A few days later, ‘No need to
rework, can be split into two sessions.’ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Oh! Wonderful. No amputation of
PPT’s hands and legs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Later, ‘Postponed to July’. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Okay again. In fact, better. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Yet another postponement to
November. Even better. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Sometime later the 40-minute
restriction vanishes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Wow! All the time in the
world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Could not attend all the
webinars. Tried to do it on phone, didn’t work. The desktop loses consciousness
(old age problem). Daughter(in-law)’s laptop rescues me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Attend a few webinars. Very
attentive, very interactive, very informed, very professional audience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Nervousness begins to set in.
Never before was such an audience in (virtual) front of me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Rehearse a few times,
anticipate possible queries, prepare responses, insert a few extra examples,
refer to CMos (and yet miss a few points), and invoke Lord Ganesha, the remover
of all obstacles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Vivek reassures, ‘It’ll be
fine’.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">November 8.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">10:30. Switch on the laptop.
Try to enter the meeting room, it’s locked. ‘Wait’, says the note. I wait.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">10:45. Suddenly the door
opens, Murugaraj says, ‘Hello, Mr Jayanthan, come in.’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">First webinar
presentation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Murugaraj instructs how to go
about sharing the screen, and other nitty-gritties. Am a very slow learner, and
basically lazy. I resort to the easier way. I call my son, who sets the system
and the stage right. So far so good.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Vivek joins.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">11:00. Murugaraj opens the
flood gate and friends rush in.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">None has face, only name.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Vivek introduces me: a
‘senior’ editor (yes, indeed, 66 years!) and an indexing ‘wizard’ (Oh! God!
Where is my broomstick?)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Anticipatory bail request for
unclear pronunciation, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Request to interrupt when
needed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Start presentation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Murugaraj goes off screen,
and so does Vivek. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Are they in the next, or the
next screen? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Start presenting to the only
face on the screen: mine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">The hope: On the other end
people are listening. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">When somebody enters, Zoom
informs 26, 27 and so on. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">That’s good, above
expectation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Rather intriguing: talking to
your own image on the screen! No reactions from anybody.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">The first interaction by
Yateen (Oh! God! Yateen is attending this, too. Am honoured, indeed!) was like
a rain in the summer. At last a voice other than my own! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Yateen has nothing to learn
from me. He, as always, wants to guide, teach, and help me. And he did just
that. (We [he, the teacher and I, the student] worked together in TERI for
several years.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">I resume the conversation to
myself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Later a few more voices, of
Venkat and others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Good. Feel better.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">12:23. Presentation over.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Stop sharing screen to see
some faces. Much better. A few faces, but several choose to stay behind. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Questions and responses for
half an hour.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">1:00. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-88868687590472890792022-07-10T13:52:00.001+05:302022-07-10T15:16:50.611+05:30“Don’t tell him”<p> <i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">[</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Dedicated to all working people]</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text";"><br />Four O’clock. Time for tea. He got up. The phone rang.
Unknown number. Maybe from a call centre. “Car loan? House loan? Credit cards? …”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Hello.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Hello, son, this is O.P. Sharma, your neighbour.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sharmaji! Met a few times. Sometimes a smile, very
rarely a “good morning”. That’s all. But that is how it is in the busy city
life. Don’t know even your next-door neighbour. But why is he calling?<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGnSAUay7E8s9apkXGLN2y1pekMUd-U_315QscKeedaMciMd4WLJF0Jbvf1hgmaFIF3Utegpqthjb96L02spaJkwGBFBwp9O51CEdIzkMrwFHxbyHOCdbvORltSbDQ2XQcnktYhTUq-Frzgsb7U72eBj1n0tmbjgzxAFEUdi8s52z069JeOadYKe2cQ/s1560/utensils.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1502" data-original-width="1560" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGnSAUay7E8s9apkXGLN2y1pekMUd-U_315QscKeedaMciMd4WLJF0Jbvf1hgmaFIF3Utegpqthjb96L02spaJkwGBFBwp9O51CEdIzkMrwFHxbyHOCdbvORltSbDQ2XQcnktYhTUq-Frzgsb7U72eBj1n0tmbjgzxAFEUdi8s52z069JeOadYKe2cQ/w200-h193/utensils.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, Sharmaji, what happened?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Son, come immediately.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A little panic. “What happened, Sharmaji?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Son, your mom is not well. We have taken her to
hospital.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Oh! God! What happened? She doesn’t suffer from any serious
illness. Was completely okay in the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Sharmaji, please tell me what happened? What happened
to my mother?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You know we old people sit in the park in the sun in
the afternoons.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That is a practice for them in the winter season. Most
of the retired, old people in the society sit in small groups in the park and
enjoy the sun, chat and play cards. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Suddenly we heard clattering of utensils from your
home. My wife went and called your mom to find out if everything was okay. There
was no response, and she went inside. Your mother was lying in the kitchen. Some
utensils were strewn around. Since we couldn’t revive her, we took her to
hospital.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Oh! God! Which hospital?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Fast Cure hospital. Come immediately.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“All right, Sharmaji, I am coming.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He called his wife Molu and told her to come over to
the hospital. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Lot of negative thoughts. A cardiac problem? A stroke?
A fall? Mom never had any cardiac problem. … Oh! God! He prayed … and prayed …
and prayed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">******* <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In the hospital casualty.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Sharmaji, what really happened? What did the doctor
say?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“She is unconscious. That is all we know.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Just then the doctor came out. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Nothing to worry. She is all right. A small cut on
her head from the fall, which has been dressed. She has regained consciousness.
You can go and see her.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He turned to go when Molu shouted, “What happened to
mom?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">She was just reaching and was panicked. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Nothing serious. She is okay. Come, let’s us go and
see her.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Mom … mom …”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mom opened her eyes and smiled. A weak smile, though.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Mom, what happened? What happened to you?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">She looked at both of them and said tiredly, “I don’t
really know. I was cleaning the utensils and suddenly I felt dizzy and fell
down.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After ten minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Son, can you get me a cup of tea from the canteen?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, mom, right away.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He left the room.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Moloo …”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, mom?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I have told him and others that I just felt dizzy and
lost consciousness.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, that is what you just said.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, but you must know the real reason for my losing
consciousness.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What is it?” Molu was confused.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well”, she looked around to make sure there was nobody
near.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Today is Wednesday and the maid was absent.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, she is, on every alternate Wednesday.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes. So I started cleaning the utensils. You had put your
tiffin in the sink last evening without opening the lid, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Mmm. That is what I do every day.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mom took a minute as if to gather strength to
continue. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">She looked in the eyes of Molu, took a deep breath,
and continued slowly, “As soon I opened the tiffin, in a split second the unbearable
stench threw me into the dirtiest of sewages and I lost consciousness. … A tiffin
box tightly closed for nearly two days and in this heat! … That is what
happened.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Molu didn’t utter a word. The blow was deep. Very deep
indeed. She looked down. She couldn’t face her mom (in-law). She remembered that
mom had told her that she herself used to wash the dish in her office. Once she
had said, “Well, if you can’t wash them properly, then at least pour some water
in the dishes so that at least major part of the remaining vegetable is cleaned
off. Or if you can’t, then at least keep the lid open while putting it in the
sink so that it doesn’t smell so badly the next morning when the maid opens it for
cleaning.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">She did it for a couple of days and then returned to
the old habit. Old habits die hard! Mom didn’t repeat the advice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And now this …<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Molu felt devastated. She slowly got up, went to the
feet of the bed, sat down on her knees, clutched mom’s feet tightly and started
weeping uncontrollably. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I am sorry, mom, I am the culprit. Please pardon me.
I promise I shall never repeat this.” She failed to control her tears.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Moloo, come. Sit near me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Silly girl, wipe your tears. I know you didn’t do it
deliberately. It just slipped out of your mind, that’s all. I am glad you
realize what you have done.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Molu wiped her tears, tried to smile, awkwardly though.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mom took Molu’s hands in her own and slowly stroked
them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Molu, will you do me a favour?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, mom, tell me.” She was ready to do anything to
atone for her carelessness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Will you tell your friends and colleagues not to
leave tightly-closed tiffin boxes in the sink from now on? Let no other
mom-in-law experience what I did.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A moment of silence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They looked at each other. Then laughed. A hearty
laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After a few minutes Molu said seriously, “Yes, mom, I
shall give this message to all my friends: Please don’t leave your tightly-closed
tiffin in the sink. if possible, try to wash it while you clean your hands and
mouth after lunch.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Footsteps … They came closer. Mom told her, “Don’t
tell him.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Sitka Text"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-55262031019611626262020-04-10T20:41:00.000+05:302020-04-10T21:00:57.706+05:30Politics as I see it<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">This note has been pre-empted by a comment by my good friend
Shri Siju Kuriyedam Sreekumar on my facebook post on the effect of the total
lockdown on my routine (</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jayanthan.pk/posts/3191836174159886?comment_id=3206040026072834&notif_id=1586083229990925&notif_t=feed_comment">those interested can read the post here</a><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">). He said that nobody knows my political
views because I do not reveal them in my posts. I have been wanting to write
something on this for a while, and his comment acted as the spark. Thank you,
Siju.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have no particular political views. I am no political
activist. I do not support or oppose any political party. I always try to keep
comfortable 'social distance' (a very popular term these days) from politics. I
see them, hear them, but do not touch them. Nor do I allow them to touch me. My
parents, too, didn’t support or oppose any particular political party. One of
my maternal uncles was a staunch CPM activist and his elder brother a Congress
supporter (supporter, not worker). I remember the younger uncle used to visit
our home to canvas votes before every election and my parents used to vote for
CPM. I also remember when my father joked on an election day, “Every time we
vote for CPM, but the candidate never wins. Let us vote for Congress this
time.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think every party, like every human being, is grey, none
black, none white. The ideals are good, obviously, but the implementation gets twisted
or biased most of the time. Or should I say, all the time? The party’s
activities are biased towards its own members, their relatives or friends. If
they do anything wrong, the party does not see it. And if the opposition sees
it, the party tries to save him, thus indirectly promoting crime and
corruption. Every party turns a blind eye to the wrong-doings, civil or
criminal, by their fund-givers. No party can function without huge funds, and
not all of it is received through the front door. Not only that, the party
managers support them, too, most of the time and the public suffer. But who
bothers about the public or public money? The Mallyas and Neerav Modys and
several others are examples. And what about the huge amount of money stashed in
foreign banks? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is not all these money
ours? Is it not our tax money? Does anyone bother about these? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I do not disagree that there are a few people, or groups of
people who do excellent work for the society, regardless of their political
affiliation. In my village, there are two temples, both of which were managed
by separate groups of RSS supporters. At one place, they used the opportunity
to develop themselves at the peril of the temple, and they were forced out. In
the other case, however, they did an excellent job and the temple has progressed
tremendously and devotees are very happy. The bad or good things done by a
person or a group of persons cannot be attributed to the party as a whole.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I feel democracy is a bygone word in today’s political situation.
In India, everything is decided by a leader or a small group of leaders at the
national level – the Polit Bureau, the High Command, or the President, and so
on. Let us call this person or group ‘Head’ for convenience. Even when a state
legislature has a comfortable majority, it is the Head, sitting far away, that
decides who becomes the chief minister. We have seen this on several, if not
all, occasions. Well, sometimes the Head considers the opinion of the
legislators, but it is ultimately its decision which is final, and the
legislators fall in line. They have no option. Do they? Do you call that democracy?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is no democracy or freedom of speech within the (read any) party. If a member praises a person or a programme of the opposition, he is considered a renegade.
He should always, and only, praise his party or leader. There is this case of a
CPM MLA in Kerala who praised the development brought about in Gujarat (loosely
referred to as the ‘Gujarat Model’) by the then BJP government. He was
immediately removed from the party. This is not an isolated case. Similar
incidents have happened with other parties, too. But if you are someone with a
considerable following within the party, and if your exit may weaken the party,
then you may be given another chance. Didn’t it happen in Maharashtra a few
months ago?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is a very popular saying that there is no permanent friend or
foe in politics. This is a polished way of saying there is absolutely no
morality left in politics at all. Any party, or leader, can support or oppose
any party according to their whims and fancies. A leader who has been eagerly
shouting slogans against a party one day, can be seen joining the very same
party the next day. Reason? He has been offered better position and perks. We
have been seeing this since long. We have seen this quite recently, too, haven’t
we? It is a very well known ‘secret’ that MLAs and MPs are often paid crores of
rupees to support or join another party. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ideals? Ethics? Well, let them go to winds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once you become member of a political party, you surrender your
views, thoughts, words, individuality, and your soul, to the party. You become
a non-entity. You have to think as the party (read party Head) thinks, you have
to spit the party’s words, you have to see what the party sees, and so on and
so forth. You have to support everything the party does. Even one dissenting opinion
makes you a renegade. Do you call that democracy?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I would like to recall here another instance. This is related to
the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entry_of_women_to_Sabarimala">Sabarimala
women’s entry issue</a>. After the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of
women (between 10 and 55 years) into the temple, against the prevailing tradition, large scale protests took
place all over Kerala and in other parts of India where Ayyappa devotees lived.
Several organizations and associations sprang up overnight which supported the
tradition of not letting women into the temple. Surprisingly, women of the forbidden
age group were in the forefront of the protests. The protesters included
members of various political parties, religious organizations, caste-based
organizations and those not related to any of these, but were devotees. A
whatsapp group was created in Delhi NCR to support the agitations and I was
added to it. The group disseminated latest information on the agitation both in
Kerala and in Delhi NCR. But as the Parliament Elections came closer, the tone
and focus of the group drastically changed. It openly began to support a
political party and acted as its propaganda machine. Some of them openly said
that it was that party that led the Sabarimala agitation and all the protesters
belonged to the party. I felt it annoying. It was a completely false and foolhardy
statement. The party wanted to hijack the Sabarimala agitations to its own
credit without realizing that the agitators belonged to several other groups or
people without any group. I exited from the group. The results of the election
in Kerala proved them wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I took membership of political organizations, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not political parties</i>, twice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The first was when I was studying in 8<sup>th</sup> or 9<sup>th</sup>
class. A friend of mine had borrowed a small amount of money from me. After a
few days I requested him to return it. He immediately took out a receipt book
and gave me two membership coupons of KSF (Kerala Students’ Federation) and
said, “Now you are a proud member of KSF”. (KSF was the forerunner of SFI and
AISF, the students’ wing of the undivided CPI.) He continued, “Now I don’t owe
you anything.” (The two memberships matched the exact amount he owed me!) I did
not know whether I was ‘proud’ to be a member of KSF or not. I kept the
receipts with me for a few days, and then threw them away. Maybe in the annals
of KSF, I may still be a member, who knows!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The second instance was when I willingly and eagerly took
membership of the Aam Admi Party (AAP) in 2013. A detailed account of the
reasons for my doing so, my expectations, and so on, have been detailed in my
blog post of 26 January 2014. Those interested may please </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://jayanthanpk.blogspot.com/2014/01/aam-aadmi-party-some-stray-thoughts.html">click
here</a><span style="color: #0000cc;"> to read the piece. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I would, however, regret to say that I am quite disappointed
with AAP. The party had initially boasted to be apolitical and promised to root
out corruption from Indian politics. It also promised to keep equal distance
from Congress and BJP because according to them, both were corrupt parties. But
slowly it slanted towards the former so much so that it even sought to have an
alignment with the party during the 2019 Delhi assembly elections! Remember, this
is the same party which promised the public that it would, if elected to power,
file cases against several Congress leaders for the alleged corruption in the
2010 Commonwealth Games. Once elected to power, in a few months, they forgot
about the Games, the corruption, and their promise. The party stooped like any
other political party that does anything and everything possible to cling to
power. I no more support the party as such. But I do support some of its
activities and initiatives (eg. free electricity, water) and do not support
some others (eg. half/full page advertisements in newspapers for any activity
it does in a colony). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am sure I have not said anything that all of you do not know.
Even workers and supporters of parties know these things, but do not want to
admit it. This is like the eternal problem with the one who pretends to sleep.
You can’t wake him up. I know many of you would not openly agree to my views expressed
above. You are free to disagree, and I shall listen to your arguments. I am,
however, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>just a lay man and am ignorant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-41907061012050566162019-10-17T17:44:00.000+05:302019-10-17T17:44:06.866+05:3008 February 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: Kartika, serif;">(ഇതിൻറെ</span></b><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Kartika","serif";">മലയാളം</span></b><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Kartika","serif";">പതിപ്പു</span></b><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Kartika","serif";">കാണാൻ</span></b><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Kartika","serif";"><a href="https://pothoppuramkavithakal.blogspot.com/2019/10/08-2016.html">ഇവിടെ</a></span></b><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Kartika","serif";">ക്ലിക്ക്</span></b><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Kartika","serif";">ചെയ്യുക</span></b><b><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">.)</span></b></i><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was walking<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Without knowing the way<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aimlessly<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Travelled along many paths<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Crossed many paths<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You came<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Along one of those paths<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Paths met<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We met<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I asked,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Coming with me?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You blushed<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Looked down<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then said,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yes”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That was a Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1981 February 08<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then onwards<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We walked together<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I wavered<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You supported me<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When you staggered<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I caught hold of you<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joys<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sorrows<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dreams<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Above all<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Unconditional<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Love and faith<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We shared all<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Occasionally<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We quarreled<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then reconciled<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Smiled<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Held our hands together<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Children were born<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not one<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not two<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But three<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our daughter<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Flew away<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To the world of eternal light<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before seeing the light<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thirty five years!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let God<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bless us<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To again<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Continue our journey<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Quarrelling occasionally<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then reconciling<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Smiling<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Holding our hands together<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let the Goddess of Mannadi<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Give you the strength<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To tolerate me<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To ignore my eccentricities<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I will never forget<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To love you<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To trust you<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For sure<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br /></div>
Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-72017917915859125222019-07-22T19:09:00.004+05:302019-07-22T19:09:59.041+05:30The Accident<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">O! God!
What kind of sound is this? A tho</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"></a><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">usand war planes flying together?
Or continuous thunders and lightening? Or my head being crushed between two
huge hammers? Why this horrible burning sensation? Why is my head paining so
terribly? Why is that I can’t see anything? Why this pitch darkness? Where am
I? What is happening to me? Why this pain all over my body?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
terrible and unbearable sound continues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I shout,
‘Please stop, please stop.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Oh, my!
What happened to my voice? Why am I not able to shout? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Let me try
again, ‘Please stop.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">No, no
use. Why does no voice come out?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Why am I
feeling sleepy again? I woke up just now only. Why do I feel so tired? Where am
I?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What has happened to me? What has
happened …? What has …? What …?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">** ** **
** **<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Why this
darkness? Is it night? Why can’t I feel my hands and legs? Why is this
excruciating pain all over my body? Where am I? What happened to me? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Many
questions, but no answers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The sound
which I earlier felt like a thousand war planes has now come down drastically.
Oh, the sound was of two people quarrelling loudly. One man was accusing
another of doing something wrong for which the former had been held
responsible. Who are these people? Why can’t I see them?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">‘Doctor’,
that is yet another voice, and it is a female voice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">‘Yes?’, a
different male voice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">‘Doctor,
can I see him now? I am his wife,’ the female voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Oh! So
this is a hospital. I am in a hospital! Then why do they not do something to
reduce my pain? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I tried to
call out, ‘Doctor’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But the
words dried up somewhere in my throat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">How did I
end up in the hospital? What is my name? Who am I?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">‘All
right’, that is the voice of the doctor. ‘Only for a few seconds, okay? He has
been gaining and losing consciousness off and on. So please don’t disturb him.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">‘Yes,
doctor’, the female sound. This time the voice cracked, as if she was crying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Whose wife
is this lady? There may be other patients in this room. Is this a room? Or an ICU?
What is going on? Why am I not able to remember anything?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Footsteps!
They are coming closer. Who could it be? The lady who said she is the wife of a
patient? Maybe I will ask her who I am, if the footsteps pass near me. The
steps came closer and stopped near me. A few seconds must have passed. I wanted
to talk to her. Suddenly I felt something on my hand. It is a hand! A hand
touching my hand! Oh, God! I can feel the hand. So warm, so smooth. Whose hand
is this? And why is he, or she, touching my hand? Delicately caressing? Is it
the lady who said she was the patient’s wife? Is she my wife? She has to be.
Otherwise I would not have felt so much love, care, affection, and warmth in
the touch. Maybe she will tell me something about me. I felt a few drops of
warm water falling on my hand. Warm water? Those are probably her tears. She
must be crying. Yes, I can hear the sobs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I shouted,
‘please talk to me, please say something’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">She didn’t
hear my voice. She didn’t notice my tremendous effort to talk to her or to
shout.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I tried to
clutch her hand. But I could not move my fingers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried hard to remember again. And again.
No, nothing. Nothing comes to my mind. I can’t think of anything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">O! Lord!
How I want to see her, to look at her face. Maybe I will be able to recognise
her. Maybe I will recollect something about me. But I cannot see anything. And
I am unable to speak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I heard
the doctor’s voice, ‘Mrs Verma, let him rest, please ...’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">She slowly
and delicately moved her hand from mine. I shouted, ‘No, no, do not go away.
Please stay, please stay.’ Nobody heard me. The footsteps slowly retreated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A few
seconds later I heard the doctor again, ‘Look, Mrs Verma, you need to be brave.
Very brave, indeed.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">‘Doctor’,
my wife said (yes, now I can confidently say she is my wife), ‘Tell me
something. His condition frightens me. You can tell me the truth. What do you
... What ....’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Her voice
choked too much and she could not speak. I only heard her sighs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">‘All
right, Mrs Verma. I was waiting for your son to arrive. But maybe I should tell
you. You need to be calm. You understand that the accident was terrible. It is
a miracle that he is still alive. All the other occupants of the car died on
the spot. His condition is, however, very critical. Very very critical. Both
his legs and left hand have multiple fractures. His spine has been fractured at
a few places. His skull and brain have serious injuries, too. His heart and
liver are in a very bad condition. If you believe in God, please pray for him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">‘Let me
also tell you that even if he recovers after many surgeries and several months
of hospitalisation, he may still face a number of problems. He may not be able
to move, he may not be able to see, or speak, or hear, or even think. He may
just be in a vegetative state. I am not trying to frighten you. I am only
warning you what to expect.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Oh! God!
Is the doctor talking about me? Am I in such a serious condition? Is that why I
am not able to see? Is that why I can’t talk? He was talking about an accident.
Did I meet with an accident?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">There was
continuous sound of blowing the nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
knew she was crying. And then there was silence. Utter silence. Has she left? Did
the doctor send her away? I don’t want her to leave. ‘Please don’t leave,
please, please.’ I tried to shout, tried to move, tried everything possible to
attract their attention. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I don’t
know if I succeeded. But I heard the doctor saying, ‘Wait, Mrs Verma, just a
second.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Again
sound of footsteps approaching. The doctor’s touch, on my face, on my hand, and
then the cold metal touch everywhere. Must be the stethoscope. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">After a
few seconds I heard his voice again, ‘Mrs Verma, he is conscious now. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But I don’t
know if he can see you, or hear you, or talk to you. If you want to spend some
more time with him, you may do so, but remember, don’t tax his brain too much.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A few
seconds later, she was once again beside me taking my hand in hers. This time I
could also feel her warmth on my face. She must be caressing my face. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Or is she
kissing me? So soothing, so loving. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">She whispered,
‘Sushil, I don’t know if you can hear me. But please come back. Please don’t
leave me alone. I won’t be able to live without you. Sushil, I love you. Please
stay with me. Please don’t go away. Please, please.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Her touch,
the caressing, the love, the affection, the vibration, spread all over my body.
My pain seemed to melt away. I felt weightless. I was floating like a feather.
Even a light breeze could blow me away. I hoped she would stay with me forever.
And ever. And ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I don’t
know how long she stayed with me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Why am I suddenly
feeling hotter, and hotter, and hotter? Why has it become more difficult to breathe?
Oh! God! What is happening to me? Am I already put on the funeral pyre? I
wanted to shout, ‘I am alive’. Or am I drowning in the ocean? Why can’t I
breathe? Somebody, please, please help me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Where is
my wife? Where is the doctor?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I tried to
run away from the pyre, but my legs wouldn’t move. I wanted to get out of
water, but I could not swim. I tried to get some air which was not coming from
anywhere. I struggled as if my life depended on it. But I could not escape from
the fire which wanted to consume me or the water which wanted to drown me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I heard a
feeble sound in panic, ‘Doctor, doctor.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">That must
be my wife. But why is she shouting from so far away? Wasn’t she sitting near
me? And why is her voice so feeble? I could still feel her hand in mine. Why is
she not pulling me out of the water? Or from the pyre? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I heard
some frantic movements. Maybe they are coming to help me. To take me out of the
deep water so that I can breathe once again. Maybe they will take me out of the
pyre, too, so I won’t burn. Suddenly the pain, that had subsided when my wife
was with me, returned more and more furiously. All over the body. I frantically
tried to get some air, which was not coming at all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The pain...
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
heat... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
breathlessness...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The agony...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I could
sense frantic movements of several people. Why are they not doing anything? They
are touching me ... my hands ... chest ... eyes ... But why are they not
pulling me out of the water? Why don’t they pull me out of the pyre?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Where is
my wife? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Please
stay with me...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Please
pull me out of the water…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Please
don’t go away...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Please
pull me out of the pyre…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Please
don’t go...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Please don’t...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Please...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Pl…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-47129528948271916502019-07-21T17:03:00.000+05:302019-07-21T17:03:16.779+05:30My first experiences<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">[Published in</span></i><span style="color: #000099; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The TERI
Times<i>, October 1998]</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
joined TERI on 8 March 1983. There was nothing to be ‘impressed’ about TERI
when I first joined, except Dr Pachauri’s pleasing personality and Dr Dilip
Ahuja’s simplicity. (Many people tried to emulate Dr Pachauri’s style of beard,
thinking that his personality rested on it, like Samson, the legendary Bible character,
whose strength was contained in his hair.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The accommodation:</span></i><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Our
office was a total of two rooms, a corridor and a TTO (toilet-turned office –
something like an actor-turned politician!) at the India International Centre.
There were 12 employees in all, including myself – The director, one Consultant,
two Fellows, four RAs, one stenographer, a clerk, a driver, and I. The director
(you know who), Dr Leena Srivastava, Dr Ranjan Bose and Prabhakar Thomas are
still proud employees of TERI. While one room was used by the director as his
office, the attached TTO was used by his secretary, Ms Anupam Chopra. Mr K.S.
Subramanian, Consultant, and Dr Dilip Ahuja and Dr D Bhattacharya, Fellows,
occupied the second room. The rest – the RAs and I – were accommodated in the
corridor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My first assignment:</span></i><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Typing
out six copies of four reports (about 150–200 typed pages each) on a hired faulty
typewriter was my first assignment! I had to struggle with the hard and
unfriendly keys of the typewriter for those six copies. In the previous office,
my job profile was to independently handle the subscription and distribution of
two international journals, and here I was typing out reports throughout the
day! I felt bad and wanted to return to my previous office.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The dream machine:</span></i><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> One day
Dr Dilip Ahuja (he is now at the GEF Secretariat, Washington, D.C.) told me
that there was some kind of a machine called the Word Processor that had a
keyboard and a screen and you could actually watch the alphabets as you typed.
You could make corrections on the screen itself before taking the printouts and
could also store the comments in the memory. Incredible, it seemed! “Is it true
that there is a machine of that kind?” I asked him. “Yes, and you will get one
of the same kind in the future”, he replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The first electric typewriter:</span></i><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The first
electric typewriter that TERI bought was the Facit Electric Typewriter that had
the facilities to use options like bold and centre and was imported from
Sweden. The cost was an astonishing figure of Rs 51,000!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The first computer system:</span></i><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The first
time I saw a computer was when TERI bought the Pragati system. With the
availability of six monitors, only six people could work on it at one time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
was after we moved from IIC to 90, Jor Bagh in August 1983. A few more people
had joied TERI by then. Dr Ashok Gadgil was one of them. An expert on computers,
Dr Gadgil was the one who negotiated the deal with the company, recommended the
configuration, etc. And it was he who taught us how to log in, how to insert a diskette
(the 8” ones), Wordstar and other applications. I still remember the day he
told, “You can do anything to the computer and it will not break down. You can
hit hard on the keyboard, you can give wrong commands, anything. So just don’t
worry! But if you insert the diskette upside down in the drive, it may
collapse.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Confidential:</span></i><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
Opportunity to view intimate affairs of couples visiting Lodi Gardens!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
farthest end of the IIC merged with the backside of Lodi Gardens. A secret
rendezvous for couples who were unaware that their behind-the-bushes activities
were no secret to us. IIC guards also had a nice time viewing the romatic
scenes. One day Dr Pachauri opined, “Oh! You have got nice scenes to watch
whenever you get bored!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752922369050979407.post-41220316624444610112019-07-21T15:37:00.000+05:302019-07-22T18:15:44.042+05:30A four-act play<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><i>[Published in </i>The<i> </i></span></span><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">TERI
Times,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> December 2001 and January 2002 in
two parts]<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Act one:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #000099; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
was studying in 7th standard. Our drawing master wanted one of his plays to be
staged during the school annual day functions. After an initial screening he
selected a few students to act in the play. I was one of them. The play had six
acts in all. I had two appearances, one in the first act and the other in the
last. In the first act I was a student. I fail in the examinations and run away
from home after being scolded by my father. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I return in the last act (supposed to be many
years later). I still remember that I was wearing the same shirt that I had
worn while running away from home! While delivering the dialogue, I found that
all the empty places where I could look during the first act (so that I didn’t
have to look at anybody’s face in the audience!) were all filled up and I got
so scared!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #000099; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
enquired of my sister about father, and was told that he had expired. Unable to
bear the shock, I become unconscious and fall on a chair. My sister, acted by a
boy of my class, immediately ran to the green room, brought a glass of water
and splashed on my face. It was a cold night, and I could not bear the sudden
shock (this was for real) and I giggled. During all the rehearsals (s)he was
using an empty glass and this time (s)he wanted to make it real! The audience
must have really enjoyed the unconscious man laughing, minutes after hearing
that his father had expired! In the next school working day, I heard that our
producer-director-playwright master fumed in the other section and said that he
would like to kick me so hard that I would reach my home, which was in another
village, flying! (<a href="https://jayanthanpk.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-first-stage-performance.html">A more detailed of the account can be read here</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Act two:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #000099; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
was, however, not disappointed with my performance. When I reached the high
school (this was another school), I was again involved with the annual day
functions and another play. This time, however, nothing extraordinarily
happened. The hero of the play was a 60 year old school teacher and I was the ‘leading
lady’, his 55 year old wife! We were later invited to stage the same play in a
nearby school. The only memorable thing at this second instant was that being a
privileged lot (specially invited artistes, you see) we had free and unlimited
access to hot black coffee and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">vadas</i>
and none of us missed the rare golden chance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Act three:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #000099; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
third time I acted in a play was after my school days. We have a small temple
in our village and the managing committee decided to celebrate the temple
festival for the first time in a grand way. The easiest and cheapest way was to
stage a play enacted by locals. So some of us got together, selected a play and
started rehearsals in the large courtyard of a nearby house. I acted (again!) as
the 55 year-old mother of two grown-up boys, who quarreled regularly. This was
also staged for a second time, in another nearby temple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Act four:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #000099; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
fourth time I acted was a few years later. I had already secured a job in Delhi
and had once gone home on leave. The festival in the temple in which we had
first staged a play was falling the next day. A couple of hours after I reached
home, my old acting friends came home to invite me to watch the rehearsal of
the play they were staging during the festival. I was thrilled. They had come
home to personally invite me! Suddenly I was the most important person around!
I was on top of the world! I proudly accompanied them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #000099; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On
reaching the venue, the trap was revealed. The lady who had promised to act as
Kunti (they were staging Karna), suddenly had some problem and had informed that
she would not be able to do the play. Who could they think of replacing that
lady with, other than me, the eternal mother! We had time only for one rehearsal
before the staging of the play. They were very kind and specially rehearsed my
scenes once more!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #000099; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
was some commotion among the audience while I was on the stage, and (fortunately!)
most of them were watching the spontaneous drama being enacted by a drunken
hooligan, rather than concentrating on the arranged play on the stage. Later
on, I was told that I had been lucky, because I had not only missed part of the
dialogue, delivered wrong ones, but also snatched a few sentences from Karna,
thus confusing him as well!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #000099; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
that was the end of my glorious acting career!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Pothoppuram Kesavan Jayanthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766440321297602356noreply@blogger.com0