Christmas spirit

This year, I properly got into the Christmas spirit. Sent christmas greetings to lots of people in India and abroad. From the warm responses that we got back for these greetings, I am motivated to make this a regular affair. Let me see. (Here is the background image which I used to make all those greeting cards)

When you are regularly in correspondence with people in UK, Germany and US, getting the festive mood is only natural. From November, all plans revolve around Christmas. "I won't be available after December 20th till January 4th", "Let us try to complete the tasks before Christmas", "It can be done only after the festival season" and all that sort of thing. And, any mail you send gets an automatically generated response, "I am not in office. Will reply after January 4th. Merry Christmas, by the way". It is a nice feeling.

So, from our side, we also tried to do our little bit. We watched those goody-goody feel-good Christmas films in the computer. 'Miracle on the 34th Street' is the favourite.
Saw a nice old one called "Bishop's wife" also.

What a change! When we were young, the only thing we knew about Christmas was that people hang stars outside and go to church. Something to do with the birthday of Jesus. Heard of someone called "Christmas Grandpa". North Pole, Santa, Gifts, Chimney and all those legends were totally unknown to us as kids.

Western countries seem to go wild with celebrations. And, gifts. Each of those nice movies complain about too much of gift-giving and commercialisation! And, Cary Grant says in Bishop's wife, "We give gifts to everyone except the child which was born on Christmas - the Lord!"

Merry Christmas. And, a very happy New Year to all the millions of readers of my blog!

Ban homeworks - Amartya Sen

Read in the newspapers recently that the Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen has strongly advised the Government to ban homework for the children in primary schools and to reduce the load of their bags. This is one of the favourite topics for one of my favourite writers, R.K.Narayan as well. When he was made a Member of Parliament, his first (and only?) speech was on the loads being carried by children to school.

During such discussions always I think about my childhood and school days. As I grew up in a more conservative society - that too middle class - where the values of the mainstream society are totally accepted without any questions, my school days were very very conventional. Fortunately, I studied in a Government school in Pattukottai from 8th standard onwards - so not much of home work. But, I had really long hours.


We had one high school and there were thousands of boys studying in that one school. (Girls were kept safely in another school about 2 kms away). There will be at least 60-80 students in each class room - 10th standard itself will have three or four class rooms. There isn't enough place to keep all the students in the school; so, we had Shift system. That is, 9, 10, 11 and 12th standards will have classes from 8.30 to 1.00 and the 6, 7 and 8th standards will have classes in the same rooms from 1.30 pm to 6.00 pm!

From 9th to 12th, I leave home by around 7.45 am - school was about 3 kms away; so have to run to be on time. After school, rush home for lunch. Then, Hindu tuition from 2.30 to 4.30. From 5.00 to 6.00, had typing class. From 6.30 to 8.00, had special tuition for the school subjects. Reach home at 8.30, dinner and sleep.

But, I don't remember having ever complained; nor did my parents. We all thought that I am doing what is required for life. Finally, got good marks; stood first in Thanjavur district and got admission in Engineering college and all that. In other words, quite a good student - successful and all that!

But, if my formative years in school helped in me becoming a better citizen? A better person? Very doubtful. I don't think personal traits like self-confidence, general knowledge, leadership etc. were considered even remotely. It was a chance entry into IRMA that probably changed my life - exposed to lot of different things in the world. Otherwise, I might have been working as a Mechanical Engineer some where and raising children conventionally like I was.

But, today, even my own sister's family is not conventional at all about education. They are exploring all sorts of things for their children; lot of new different learning opportunities are also there. Things have changed a lot in the society and in education field.

Not so sure about banning home work; but I agree with all his arguments about reforming our education system.

Facebook friends are also friends

Of late, there is a widespread complaint against me. That, I am going on and on about Facebook and Twitter, just because I don't use them.

Your Facebook friends are also as good as real friends - or worse! Though my initial reaction was to disagree with this sweeping conclusion, a very persuasive argument was put forward through the cartoon given below. After studying this evidence, from all possible angles, I agreed to that hypothesis. Yes, probably, facebook friends are also, after all, true friends.

Don't you also agree?

World is changing

One of the most wonderful things in life is to reflect on the changes that are happening around. Even now, I remember the days when we used to think we are the 'brand new' generation and are living the most exciting period in the history of mankind. But, now everyone around is calling me 'uncle' and they are surprised to know that I like 'modern' action movies!

So, the world is changing. And, how! It is a big challenge to be part of the new world and be up-to-date of things. Here is a nice cartoon which illustrates this.


But, keeping pace with changes in Technology is quite easy to do, compared to the values, lifestyles, 'in' things and what not. Getting an email account or opening a Facebook account is quite easy. But, to get used to the fact that communication between kids also is predominantly through such short messages?

That is going to be difficult for old folks like me.

Exchange Offers

I am told, Exchange Offers are an integral part of modern marketing strategies. Give your old gas stove and take a new one. Get a replacement for your old television with a brand new model. Washing Machine, Pressure Cooker, Mixie, Computers, Printers... you name it, they have an attractive exchange offer.

Inherent assumption in all these exchange offers is that the new one is better than the old one. Time and again, we have been proved that this assumption is rather spooky. By the time, we understand the newer model and get it work the way we want, it becomes old enough to be eligible for another exchange offer! Of course, there will be small prints and *s, with 'conditions apply' or 'limited period offer' or 'till stock last' or 'pay just additional Rs.10000' or something like that!

But, I am rather interested in some exciting exchange offers in life. First, a joke.

Friend1: I got a brand new Ford IKON car for my wife!
Friend2: Wow!!! That's an unbelievable exchange offer!!!

Is it possible to exchange such 'unrelated' items like cars and wives? Will there be an offer to exchange the old clothes with, say, fresh vegetables? Or, for that matter, old rotten vegetables with fresh clothes?


Or, more philosophically, can we exchange today with some wonderful day we had some years ago with a special person? In other words, can we exchange some current nightmares with sweet dreams - of past or future? But, it seems one intelligent person called Tallulah Bankhead once said, "If I had to live my life again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner." For people like him, such exchange offers of a new life does not really mean much.

Some of you may be thinking, I have gone crazy. Whoever will think of exchanging cars and wives! Is it? The entire world leadership is meeting in Copenhagen next week to talk about such an exchange offer only, don't you think?

US and Europe can exchange the smoke spewing from their industries with a few billions of dollars. India and China can exchange our development goals with some promise to cut down pollution. If poverty and pollution can be traded and exchanged, anything can be.

If carbon trading is possible, why not cars and wives? Says me.

Renunciation & Ayyappa Devotees

Every year during the Ayyappa season, I get quite amused. Lot of philosophical questions go through my mind. Especially about renunciation.

Among shopkeepers, small business people, roadside traders and drivers, there is a big demand to go to Sabarimala. This year, the most striking aspect for me was to notice almost all the Ayyappa devotees talking loudly in their mobile phones. So, I was wondering if the renunciation should include usage of mobile phones also.

It is enough to shun just simple addictions like alcohol, smoking and non-vegetarian food. More difficult addictions like mobile phone, television, driving dangerously in roads etc. should also be considered by them as evils, is my humble view. Is it possible? If ever they include working on computers and checking emails is not permitted for Ayyappa devotees, then I am finished. Will never be able to go to Sabarimala.

Some people's business gets a boost during Ayyappa season. As in this roadside shop in Chennai.

But, trade is essentially bargaining and 'selling' things by hook or crook between the buyer and seller. And, it is really funny to see Ayyappa devotees arguing / shouting and somehow trying to stop themselves right at the point of using foul language. When my vegetable shop keeper (now a 'Saami') tried to push one unhealthy tomato along with the good looking ones, his spiritual halo took a knocking in my view!

However, the most prominent feeling I get while seeing the Ayyappa devotees is: what is the impact of all these hundreds of thousands of people landing up in one place? To the environment and climate change and all that sort of thing. If one advice I can give to any devotee, it is this: 'Stay clear from any place which has more than 100 people. With a simple rumour, any crowd of devotees can become an uncontrollable mob. Year after year, we read about stampedes killing hundreds of people in big temples'.

Anyway to each his own. And, to each his own God too.

But, my favourite god, Ganapathi is ahead of all other gods in technology too. While other Gods may be asking their devotees to renounce things, Ganapathi goes ahead and gets a Postpaid mobile connection with lifetime warranty!