Saree's fate - புடவை படும் பாடு

Deepika Padukone wearing Saree at Cannes because she thinks she has a responsibility to uphold Indian tradition. No Saree in India, but she wants to showcase at Cannes. And how - only the Saree to be the entire dress and other accessories are “barely” or “Scarcely” visible.

இவ அங்க புடவை உடுத்தி கொண்டு செல்ல வில்லை என்று யார் கவலை படுகிறார்கள்? இல்லை கட்டி கொண்டு போனதால் நாட்டுக்கு எதாவது பெருமை வந்து விட போகிறதா?

CANNES இல் புடவை கட்டி நம்மை கேனையன் ஆகாரன்கப்பா!

Virginity - Nothing sacred or scary about it (as per Khushboo)

I never thought I would get to write on such a controversial or sensitive topic. Now that the SC has quashed all cases against actress Khushboo citing that it is her personal opinion and has right to express, I thought why can't I have my personal opinion and that too in MY blog!

According to Khushboo, virginity is not a big issue to be really questioned about- "No educated man should expect his bride to be a virgin" was her statement to the PUCLIC which is now termed as PERSONAL opinion

Yeah - may be true in your cinema world which is world's biggest sex industry. It is an open secret that the movie world is a Many-To-Many affairs world (as in the Computer Language's Modelling relational term)- be it marial, pre-marital, post-marital; barring the child actors !

The affairs may be claimed as gossip, but people are not fools to believe that, as everything comes out in the open. From the divorce cases, we know who was the root cause. Let the actors / actress not express their opinion to media or public if it is their personal opinion. Keep your mouth shut and go about your "business" - which is acting as the public face and "chee poonga" as the private face.

Airtel Super Singer Junior – with Chief Guest as MS Viswanathan

Though I have not been a regular viewer of this program, I always had great respect for the professional approach and the quality of the judges especially Mano and Chitra who are in my favourite list of singers.

The program does the setting and outlook according to the theme of the week.
On April 28th, for a person of stature of MSV, I found the program abysmally low in every aspect. Except for the hair-style and song selection (to suit the songs composed by MSV), the girls who rendered the song had bright eye-lashes, artificial flashy smile and needless jumping around or ‘abhinayam’ for the songs. It was just too much of make-up. They should observe singers like P.Susheela or S.Janaki on the composure while rendering the song.

To top that, the ladies who does the co-ordination part didn’t even attempt to speak sentences fully in Tamiz (at least for MSV), but were comfortable in using maximum English words. The organizers and importantly, the judges better watch out for these nuances. They should remember that HUMILITY and HUMBLENESS are important aspect to be maintained (at least to some extent) when a legend like MSV is around. Pampering around, needless style and flashy words will not help the singer.

Panel proposes Rs.30 per hour minimum wage for house work

I read an article in today’s “The Hindu” about fixing minimum daily wage for domestic servant / maids / workers at http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/26/stories/2010042659260300.htm

Though I agree that they should not let themselves be exploited, there are few nuances to note.
1. Does this apply to the agencies who supply maids to houses or offices?
2. The rules for houses and offices must be kept separately. The same rate cannot be applied as the work nature is different.
3. If it is domestic, then we have to see the nature of job. Most houses employ for cleaning (sweeping and mopping the floors and cleaning the bathroom floor approx twice in a week) (or) cleaning the windows, doors and tiles (or) washing utensils (or) washing clothes (or) taking care of the baby from 9 to 5 or full time depending on the family needs (or) all of them.
4. Assuming that a wage per hour needs to be paid – how do we ensure that the maid completes the work in stipulated hour? If the sweeping and mopping of floor usually takes only one hour, and if the maid deliberately delays it and demands the next hour’s wage, who will settle the dispute?
5. Most of the so-called domestic maids come to work because of their family circumstances and to earn an additional income. Only few of them are cultured and the rest speak the language of slum which is typical of Chennai. Should families take the headache of listening to such filthy language and shouting of words and whom they should go for settling?

It is quite unfortunate to read that a wage of Rs. 30 per hour being suggested. The system of fixing wage is a flawed one. May be, it can be made applicable for agencies who supply work force to companies or corporate.

Natural MAN Made Disaster!!

I was stunned when I came across Chennai City Traffic Police website - http://www.chennaitrafficpolice.in which has a link named "Natural Man Made Disaster" !!!

It was as puzzling as how cops have big tummy (or) how cops don't catch the thief (for small robbery) even though they know who would have committed that crime in that area (or) collecting bribe even from small petty shops on the road side.

Well, I think they must have intend to mention 'Natural OR Man made disasters". Not sure as the website seem to be completely outdated

Here is the picture of that page. Notice the link just above the traffic signal picture

IPL – Black Market of Cricket

Shashi Tharoor – Turned out to be whistle blower without the intention of being such one in the recent IPL fiasco. What would have made Shashi Tharoor do this – he is naïve to Indian politics and haven’t got deeply corrupted unlike many others who know how things can be made to work for them without their name coming out (popularly known as Binami account or hawala case) . Unknowingly, he has led IT department to IPL

I have had long running suspicion that some of the matches definitely seem to be fixed – either by the way bowlers feed the batsman (or ) batsman getting out in unnecessary situation (or) fielders dropping catches. The last of them is least likely option as it depends on various parameters. One need not fix all the playing 11; just the captain and couple of crucial players are enough.

I am waiting eagerly to hear some tainted remarks about IPL, possible match-fixing that can get proved and corrupt face of Modi presented to the nation. Now,

1. Who was Modi before IPL
2. Whom does he report to? Surely, he must be having a boss – if not anyone, at least Manmohan Singh must be there
3. Who controls or monitors the IPL apart from Modi?

Apparently, Modi has served 2 years of prison service in US for possessing drugs (source: Wiki), with charges of assault and kidnapping. And we are all applauding him for creating a brand called “IPL” and getting India a “Proud” status with all these heavy weight business man buying teams with their black money and suspicious stakeholders thus fooling people around.

Totally Rubbish …

A day at Vandalur Zoo - People's etiquette!

Many of the youths (appear to visit purely for a pastime) jump inside the first level fence (the enclosures where the birds or fowls are kept) and stand close and take pictures. There were no authorities to instruct them. Few would poke their hands and fingers as though they are trying to play with the monkeys or peacocks. Even if I turn a blind face to those unruly young fellows, it was more disgusting to see families doing the same asking their kids to stand inside the first level fence and shoot a picture

The places where the instruction board reads "Do not sit on the lawns or walk over" is comfortably ignored as I could see even educated families sit there having lunch or chatting around or resting in an inclined pose (like Swami Ranganatha or Srirangam). I got irritated at first on seeing these, but then decided not to get my tension up and instead could only wish for a better and improved etiquette from our people. Post independence, we have gone from rags to riches in few departments, but basic discipline, cleanliness is far from standards. Hope we mimic these from Western countries than the needless ones

More on Tweeting

I thought I would still be able to write on my blog even after I started tweeting. But putting thoughts to mind and converting to an article seem to be much tougher thing to do with the arrival of Twitter. Every news / update is available in twitter and no wonder, it is catching up fast.

I regularly Tweet about the progression of my sweet little daughter (her learning and uttering of new words, actions). She is 1.5 years now). I comment about Sundry items which catches my attention and worth giving an update

நான் என் உழைக்க வேண்டும்? - தமிழகத்தின் இன்றைய நிலை - இது இப்படியே தொடர்ந்தால் .... !!!

ஒரு நாளைக்கு 18 மணி நேரம் உழைக்கும் என்னிடம் ஒருவர் கேட்டார் - எதற்காக இத்தனை கஷ்டப்படுகிராய்?
நான் கேட்டேன் - கஷ்டப் படாமல் எப்படி வாழ்க்கையை ஓட்ட முடியும்?
அவர் சிரித்தபடி சொன்னார் - நான் யார் தெரியுமா?
தமிழ்நாட்டின் குடிமகன்

என் நாட்டில் உணவுக்கு அரிசி கிலோ 1 ரூபாய்
சமைப்பதற்கு கேஸ் மற்றும் அடுப்பு இலவசம்
பொழுது போக்கிற்கு வண்ண தொலைகாட்சி பெட்டி மின்சாரதுடன் இலவசம்
குடும்ப்பதுடன் உயிர் காக்கும் சிகிச்சை இலவசம்
எதற்காக உழைக்க வேண்டும்?

நான் கேட்டேன் - உன் எதிர் கால சந்ததியின் நிலை என்ன?
பலமாக சிரித்தபடி சொன்னார்
மனைவி பிள்ளை பெற்றால ௫௦௦ 5000 இலவசம் சிகிச்சையுடன்
குழந்தைக்கு சத்துணவு பள்ளியில் இலவசம்
படிப்பு சீருடையுடன் இலவசம், மதிய உணவு முட்டையுடன் இலவசம்
பாட புத்தகம், படிப்பு மற்றும் பஸ் பாஸ் இலவசம்
தேவை என்றல் சைக்கிள் இலவசம்
பெண் பருவமடைந்தால் திருமண உதவி தொகை 25000 ரூபாய் இலவசம்
பவுன தாலியுடன் திருமண செலவும் இலவசம்



PS:
English: The content is not mine; I got it in my mailbox and found it absolutely matching with what happening in Tamilnadu. The credit goes to whoever has thought and written. No copyright violation :-)

Tamiz: இது என்னுடைய சொந்த தயாரிப்பு அல்ல.மின் அஞ்சல் மூலமாக வந்ததை இங்க கொட்டி இருக்கேன். இதன் சொந்தக்காரர் கே இதனுடைய copyright உரிமை சேரும்

"Save our Tigers" Aircel campaign

Actor Surya may be a very good actor, but look at his English delivery and facial expression when he utters "We have to something about this - Right?". It sounds more like a soft sentence than being a firm appeal. No where one could get a feel of his emotions.

Apart from the above, I don't know what Aircel is trying to do, by this campaign. Are they going to take this issue with WWF and Govt of India? Are they going to stop poaching and arrest culprits? Are they going to import Tigers from other places and breed them here?

What is an individual like me can do when people are threatened or killed for using RTI or raising issue about politicians or exposing scams in the country?

This seem to be more towards projecting a good image for "Aircel" than the real serious issue of preserving Tigers.

Getting drawn towards Twitter

I used to think why people are so crazy about communicating in <= 140 letters. I lazily created a Twitter account (just to make sure that someone doesn't throw a surprise look at me for not having one). But after writing couple of messages, I felt like I am getting drawn to write more on Twitter instead of blog which requires some more thinking, content and relevant links (as evident with this paragraph!)

My Twitter @ TvVijay

"The Great Indian Novel" – Nothing great about the Author’s Present Political motive

This is a delayed post, but I waited to complete the book

After long pending years, I read ‘The great Indian novel’ by Shashi Tharoor a month back. There is no doubt about the way the story is pinned with the characters in Mahabharata linked with the Congress party of pre-independence and the fall outs after Independence. At many places, “human beauty” is needlessly expressed in Khajuraho style. May be, it is his fantasy to write in such a way or trying to appear like Khushwant Singh style. In my opinion, they didn’t add any value except some ‘Kamasutra’ effect to the story.

Few main characters (whom I could recollect while writing this post) around which the story evolves

Dhritarashtra – Nehru
Bheeshma – Mohandas Gandhi
Karna – Mohammed Ali Jinnah
Vidur - Sardar Patel

Having written so satirical about the way the Congress party has handled the country’s pre and post independence and with almost direct references to some of the in-explainable decisions that was taken by Nehru on the Kashmir issue and India-China conflict, it is shame to note that Shashi Tharoor finally found only the Congress party, for his home-coming, boosting of personal image and foray into Indian Politics. Whatever respects I had for him, got tarnished by his act.

Thus, Indian politics stands out as splendid example of how one can tarnish something or someone to the core, but soon join them in the name of ‘Service to country’ and people will forget all

Review comment on my blog - After a long time!

I hope and I think that my blog is being visited and topics read. But haven't seen any comments for a long time. There used to be; but mostly they are like spam (standard links to advertisements/ marketing) and not specific to the topic.

It took a topic on Maestro Ilayaraja to get comments. Though they were little on the negative side, I felt happier that a topic on him certainly is read and has influenced the individuals to push their remarks.

Ilayaraja's music - is not free anymore??

Ilayaraja has gone into a contract with Abi Music which will decide to give license to use Maestro's music to be used in live show performance, radios, remixes and whatever not covered earlier.

In this age of Internet, it looks little crazy on Ilayaraja's decision to be very stringent with so many of his lively compositions. It is true that any music director would like to be identified with his compositions, but not sure if would be be to the extent of what Ilayaraja has done. He may be a Maestro, but doesn't seem to be so at Heart when it comes to having copyright (which may be correct, but not in all forms). It is not known why he fears that his music should be protected so much.

As a person who grew up listening to his music and his amazing creativity in composing film songs based on Carnatic raagas, I feel disappointed that a person of his stature decided to do this. What happens everyone follows this idea - MSV, SPB, S Janaki, Yesudas, Chitra, AR Rahman trademark the songs they have sung or composed ! There may be no place to hear the lovely melodies except in our Home PCs.

As per Tamilnadu Tourism - Lord Vinayaka is mythical half-man and half-bird Garuda !!!

It is not known who actually owns and maintains these Tourism websites which gives awfully wrong information on important tourists spots.

Check the below link http://www.tamilnadu-tourism.com/tamilnadu-cities/tiruchirapalli-tourism.html and read the text for 'The Rockfort Temple'. It says "The temple is dedicated to Lord Vinayaka (the mythical half-man, half-bird Garuda who is Vishnu's Vehicle, famous in the Epic Mahabharata)".

It should have been half-man and half-Elephant. The second error is quoting Garuda as in the Mahabharatha !!! At least stories of Vishnu's Avatars would have been somewhat relevant. How can errors like these be unnoticed? This is another example of having quota based people managing government sites

Being from Trichy (particularly born and brought up in Srirangam), I didn't knew a Jambukeshwarr Temple exist ! Tiruvanaikoil is where Goddess Akilandeshwari and Lord Jambukeshwarar are worshipped. The peedam that has the linga, is surrounded by water and the level of water depends on the level in the river Cauvery.

More benefit for Useless MPs – More Taxes For Salaried

oh Bloody screwed up country this is ....

The perk given to employee is going to be taxed and they want to implement it April 2009. The Govt should know that only the salaried are paying the taxes properly. They do not want even to wait to bring this in 2010 - http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/govt-widens-tax-net-for-perks-applicable-right-away-for-entire-year/380059

But on the other side, the MPs are allowed to travel with any number of relatives, which earlier was restricted to their family alone. Mr Chidambaram says that there is no financial implication (see the link http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/21/stories/2009122159320900.htm)

Of course, he is right – when he taxes perks, the Govt. is going to get billions of money that will meet the travel expense of bloody, useless, non-contributing MPs

Karpagambal Mess @ Mylai - Mess of a place

Last weekend, I visited the renovated Karpagambal Mess at Mylapore to get some Dosas for dinner at home. The earlier building was cramped, poorly lit with unclean wash area and third rated furnitures.

I thought the new building should have got rid of those unhygienic factors. But utterly poorly planned (borrowing Amul's Utterly Butterly delicious). Note down these. If you still want to visit, I pray to God to give you the patience to spend the time there.

1. Very poorly planned. The bill counter where that old thatha sits has a glass window with a small opening for giving and taking cash. One has to bend down to tell their order. If you bend, you are bound to bump someone with your back. Why can't they have a small opening like bank counters at the face level so that one can easily convey what they want.
2. No separate space for people who have come to eat but had to wait. They have to stand next to the table where they sense that the persons eating are going to complete thus causing uneasiness to those eating.
3. The parcel area can just accommodate one person to service. But there are 3 people. If one extends his arm, it bangs the other. Apart from that that area has a lady washing the vessels and other arranging something.
4. The food taste is nothing great. There is NO homely touch as it is claimed or reputed for. A Dosa cost 28 Rs for which one has to endure the time, crowd, hygiene.

Gone is the old Karpagambal Mess - Food costs like any other place. So it is no big regret if you cannot have food here. They can change the name to "Karpagambal Hotel" for being Mess(y).

Pratibha Patil Flys in Sukhoi - Who Cares?

The President post is a waste in India. Except for few like Rajendra Prasad and Dr.Radhakrishnan, others have been mere rubber stamp - wasting country's money on foreign trips, needless meeting, living in that big Rashtrapathi bhavan.

If Dr.Abdul Kalam had flown the Sukhoi, there is some relevance - India's rocket man deserves. What has this lady done to deserve a front page news?

They don't contribute anything to common man (for that matter - no politician does). Pratiba Patil is the worst of the lot. It is time we abolish this post. Defense decisions can be taken by those who are in the defense - Major General, Navy Admiral and Air-force Chief and not a politician.

Unless our country stops these kind of news from becoming headlines, we will continue to be "we are like this only".

I've got Ration Card !

This is a delayed post. I wanted to write on this and drafted, but I can say that I was so elated that I forgot until I picked the draft again today.

After a long wait, I've finally achieved what many Indians could dream of - getting a ration card (oh yeah - certainly tough task than owning a house). The problem is that you got only one govt. office to run to; whereas for buying a house, you got choice of builder, price, location, loan.

The submission of application form was not an issue. Once your application is checked and everything is right, they give you a piece of paper with a seal which is mostly illegible (and they call it as acknowledgement slip, but that's the only piece of paper that is accepted by Gas cylinder agencies to book and refill).

But while collecting (requests in the morning and all receivables in the evening), I found everything printed right except that they changed my area to Parangimalai instead of Nanganallur. When asked, the lady just smiled and said "saar - that's small printing mistake sir. What you do is to write a letter and submit to change the same". Bloody - I have to submit a letter for the mistake they committed. I just gnashed my teeth and started writing one there itself. Immediately she told that I have to come in the morning and submit as all requests have to be given in the morning. I did that the next day and waited one more week to get the updated card.

The cost - I almost spent one full day. But I am proud of what I managed to achieve - owning a ration card with my picture at the front and mentioning me as 'Family Head'(ache)

One good experience was that I wrote a request letter in Tamiz language after a very long gap. I then used Google's Indic to put in a word document and print the same

TNEB honors Transgenders

The below registration form for payment of TNEB bills Online is self explanatory. Check the options available for 'Gender'

I haven't come across any government dept. application forms having this "unique" option.



Hmm ...Hope they don't bring another option to recognise 377 !!