Chennai - A city that floats on hope

About my favorite city...CHENNAI

Could not bear to see TV and the News channels last week.

Dec 5 2015 - 5am - Took a short weekend trip to Chennai. 

As I got closer to Sriperumbadur...10am looked like 8pm...gloomy dark ominous clouds...stopped in a couple of places to check if the Porur-Guindy route was open or should I take the Koyembedu, Beach road, Adyar route ...heavy down pour started...worried...but had to make a decision. Till Friday, Guindy was closed due to flooding. I was getting into Poonamallee Road as I entered the city. Cops said Porur-Guindy roads were open as if this morning...was not sure if I should trust them..just then rain stopped and there was some brightness...Saw a MTC bus that said Saidapet via Porur, Guindy. Took the Porur road and headed towards Guindy. Drove in Poonamallee Road with close to 1-2 feet water in the road.

Next decision was whether or not to take the OMR Tidel park via Madhyakailash or the LB road...inclined to latter although cop said madhyakailash ok to go. Just last week large part of the Madhya Kailash road caved in due to rains and water supposedly entered Tidel Park from Buckingham Canal overflow (rumors? may be?)

Tidel park road clear.

Reached Thiruvanmiyur...circled #368...our house which was locked as I moved my parents (over phone) to Besant nagar. Checked out if all was ok with our house...Found 2 streets on either side were water logged but not the street in front of us. The house behind ours was flooded - few inches of water inside the ground floor. Ours was spared. There were streets our neighbourhood that needed boats to rescue the elderly. 

Flooding spared no streets - Sivasundar avenue, Shastri Nagar were a few that were flooded in and around Kalakshetra.

Reached Besant nagar where my parents were hanging out with their friends the last 4 days with no power or phone connection.

Help & relief aid poured into the city from all direction. Just driving from Bangalore I saw several trucks and cars coming with supplies - our Innova was one of those. Had the opportunity to work with 4 different volunteers in 4 Hrs and was able to get supplies to different parts of the city. Volunteer lists through Facebook, Whatsapp and FM radio did wonders. Many youngsters were out in the streets, helping...FM radio stations converted full time to connect people with needs to volunteers with supplies...

In the morning, I saw long lines at gas stations. Evening looked much better - lines grew short in the Indra Nagar Gas Station on LB Road. ATMs had long queues. Radio stations advised people to take minimal amount from ATM so many can take money vs just a few.

4pm to 8pm helped distributing the supplies I loaded in my van from Bangalore...

Delivered water and milk to 4 elderly couple marooned in water in Shastri nagar.

Delivered water milk biscuits, bedsheets and pillow covers to Chetpet flood victims (800 families stranded).

Delivered Dhotis to elderly homeless on street

Delivered clothes (sorted) and toilet supplies to families in pallavakkam through a church and an enthusiastic parish who coordinated it.

Thanks to Priya, Jaya for all the supplies, my dad for the timely bed sheets, Arvind my friend for connecting me to so many wonderful volunteers.

Satruday (Dec 5) in Chennai saw minimal downpour...God has been kind finally.

Love the city and heard parts of it already saying jujjubi :)

Sunday (Dec 6th): Drove back with my parents and another elderly gentleman who was stuck in Chennai and desperately wanted to get to Madurai.

Rain started and intensified as we left Chennai at 6am to drive back to Bangalore. Heavy down pour and dark clouds till we got to Ranipet.

The worst hit areas still in trouble as help and aid cannot reach as easily. It has been a nightmare and will take a long time to recover. Help and Aid is not the issue, getting them to the right people is the challenge. But found many NGO and relief camps doing an awesome job of collecting, sorting and distributing aid. Scope and true extent of damage will be known only when rain stops and the water starts to drain out.

Postal Services resumed on Saturday Dec 5 2015 - Day after the floods

Spirit of Chennai is alive and that spirit can see the city bounce back.

 தமிழன் என்று சொல்லடா, தலை நிமிர்ந்து நில்லடா !!! 

Time to drive change, Challenge the system & raise above the flood.

Clean the mess from the flood of corruption !!

My Star, My Idol

My Star...My Idol

Many colors of a man whom I dearly call, Appa…

Courage and guts to face anything in this world

- Fearless and bold yet not arrogant

Selfless...always willing to serve and go the extra mile

- A life of sacrifice yet never miss an opportunity to enjoy life to the fullest

Always positive and enjoys every moment of life

- Brings LIFE to existence yet doesn’t miss a chance to nap

Disciplined and perfection in everything he does

- Who says you cant be perfect in what you do

Social and ever gregarious

- Brings out smile and laughter in you and ever surrounded by people…

Genuine love with no barriers or inhibitions

- Unconditional, without any bounds and most importantly genuine

Devoted Patriot yet appreciates cultural and global diversity

- Poster Indian citizen with a true appreciation for the deserving beyond borders

Master story teller - some real, some imaginative & not many can tell the difference

- Been the Spielberg and Maniratnam to many

Captivating orator

- Makes an empty hall applaud

Un-daunting faith and a personal relationship with god

- Surrenders to none but to almighty

Boundless energy and time for children

- Makes a 5 year old on sugar, look dull compared to him

Fearless and Spontaneous to fight injustice

- A round the clock cop, our own Singham in many ways

Truly impacted and touched the lives of many people around him

- A 70 year old Ambulance always available for anyone

Takes any challenge immediately even beyond his perceivable physical capabilities

- Confronted and brought down many a miscreants & pick-pockets singlehandedly

Full of energy with a never say die attitude

- Going after the impossible, achieving it and enthusiasm to share the spoils

Gives 200% to every role and excels in them - a friend, dad, grand dad, son, husband, father-in-law, brother, son-in-law, student, teacher, messenger, negotiator, guru, disciple
- A life as well-rounded as this, very few can claim to have lived

Hard to find someone with so many qualities of greatness

- Appa, you are second to none

A fine human being, who I know more than anyone else

- People who think they know this man more than I do – You know little...very little

You have taught me more than 

any institution can ever teach, 

any experience can ever provide, 

any book can ever be written, 

any lecture can ever be rendered….

Your life will always be an inspiration to me, to the many generations after me.

A Very Happy Birthday !!!

Oh 9...

I havent written in close to 6 months...there goes my 09 resolution to write at least once a month. I am glad I could at least manage the first half.

On this last day of 2009, I wanted to write about my 09 reflections...

I traveled every month of the year except 1, for business. Caught up with 3 good family vacation trips. Still a stat I am not very proud of.

Spent with Kaavya on her 7th Birthday after missing it 4 years in a row. I may travel again in the next year but may still be able to make it for Kaav's 8th Birthday.

Attended one great family wedding - always memorable and look forward to the next one.

Spent quality time in my back yard...reasonable success with the veggie patch - harvesting bananas, tomatoes, radishes and not to forget the carrot and cauliflower fiascoes...

Helped Kaavya play forehand and with a few school projects, Sat with Saatvik as he learned numbers and started his writing - much more fulfilling.

Had my best 5Km walk - With Priya in Thekkady inside Periyar Sanctuary...just us, in the forest, yet a comfortable walk in the driveway. Dont ask me if it was a marathon, half or full :)

Started on my pet project revamping the House in Chennai...

Connected with a few old friends - thanks to facebook...

A very challenging year professionally because of the nature of business. Helped a few exciting mobile phones come to market - would have happened even without me but connecting with the team and individuals globally, a memorable experience.

There were moments of course which made the year more balanced...Kaavya's bout of flu at the brink of media-H1N1 hype, Saatviks head injury, a few deaths...my aunts fight with cancer...and a few more.

Personally it has been a very tiring year for me - till Dec 20. Used the last couple of weeks to rejuvenate and get ready for Twenty10...Next year sounds a little like a one-sided shorter version of T20 match...Hopefully we all will be on the winning side.

Oh 9, What a year...and Oh-pfully 10 would be even better.

Good luck and a Very Happy New year.

Kreativ Furnichur - Kids Vershen

In April our family with couple of my friends and their families went to Delhi, Agra and Manali. Amongst the many hundred pictures we had taken of ourselves, the scenic view of the Himalayan mountain ranges and the many monuments of Delhi, this one stood out.

Inside one of the many small streets of Hill town Manali, we stopped one of the days for a cup of Chai - Men waiting for the wives who were busy shopping. We pulled over for a Tea in a small roadside Chai shop, taking care of the kids in parallel. It was a neighbourhood with small streets that had humble dwellings - native, small and not lavish. Quiet, very little traffic, no vehicles, no crowd, very unlike the many shopping streets of Main road Manali. I finished the tea and was ready to put the cup in the corner behind the Chai shop. I noticed this creative home furniture setup, the one in the picture above. Leaning on a column were small pieces of wood, buttons, bottle caps and broken tile used to setup a nice living room table and chair as well as a cozy kitchen.

I called Kaavya and Saatvik immediately to show them this. Built by neighbourhood kids, it reflected many things - simplicity, creativity and fun without mattel and fisherprice but true kids Imaginarium.

There has been many a times I wonder what to buy for the kids when I get to a Toy Store. Books and Barbies, Cars and Gadget, they seem to have em all.

Grandparents sometimes find it challenging to get gifts for Kaav and Saat. In the end they bring simple yet compelling gifts that the kids love and dont often find in the usual stores - Peacock feather, Book of flags, Indian Mythology Story book with coloring activity, dried leaves and flower in the middle of the books being few one wont easily (or never) find in stores...

I showed Kaavya the little furniture setup done by the neighbourhood kids who probably couldnt afford the big toy stores and encouraged her to build and make her own creative games and toys. Kaavya loves to build things and I hope this would have inspired her further. Of course I had to makeup a little story to help her visualize how the kids made it all themselves and had fun playing with them.

Some interesting pictures from this trip...

Interesting India Pictures

Kaavya smiles again...

Kaavya woke up one morning in February 2009 and was all smiles…

Kaavya looked forward to this morning for a while now. Most of her friends have lost it and few have even started to get it back. Some have lost more than one. In her class all of the kids have lost it but her. Never will you see someone wanting to lose something so badly and envious of others losing it all along.

Kaavya has been upset the last few days…some times even frowning and losing her smile when she finds yet another friend smiling happily, the new smiles they’ve discovered.

Just a couple of days ago, when we were driving, Kaavya brought up this mature revelation.

“Appa, I know that there is no real Tooth Fairy…I also know that there isn’t a real Santa either…”

“Then how do kids get Christmas gifts in the US…”, I respond eager to know what her answer might be.

Retorts with confidence and authenticity, “…the gifts are kept to make the children happy…mostly it is their parents who keep them.”

I knew where this conversation was going. So before it can spiral down to her sulking, I responded.

“But you know that there are no Tooth Fairies in India…Tooth Fairies are only in the US…may be there will be a Tooth Devata or Tooth Umachi here…But since you were born in the US you may get both a Tooth Fairy and an Umachi…lets see”.

I couldn’t tell how she took this response but I managed to get her distracted about a Fairy and Indian Goddess Angel than worrying about the tooth.

Priya had a more convincing argument for Kaavya,

"Kaavya, See the later your teeth falls the longer they will stay as you grow old...so as a grandma, you will still have your teeth in tact when most of your friend-grandmas wont!"

She was eager each day, shaking and pulling what had been a tooth that she desperately wanted to lose. Interestingly a couple of days later her most awaited first tooth fell. Kaavya was very excited about it and very happy. I could tell this was a milestone she desperately wanted as all of her friends in the same age-group and some younger had already accomplished.



At 10pm, Priya suddenly remembered after the kids had gone to bed...She took a 10 Rupee note and 1 Dollar bill and walked into Kaavya's bedroom.

Kaavya woke up the next day and checked under her pillow. Kaavya had got a gift from the global tooth fairy.

Rediscovering her new smile, Kaavya stood in front of her mirror first thing in the morning…Smiling wide, lowering her lips, twisting and turning them in many angles to get better visuals.

Before long she stood wondering how the brush will skip this new gap.

Gandhi to KBC...

You know what this is about...So let me get to the point straight away.

I watched Slumdog Millionaire a couple of weeks ago. I watched it in Bangalore and could not resist to imagine how this movie will be received by the tinseltown audience else where in the world, Hollywood...

American audience by and large would find this movie very educational, an eye-opener providing a different view of what they may have heard or seen, thanks to the IT outsourced, BPO lifestyle in India.

...Very well researched topic that is shot well in parts of India not normally known to rest of the world, brings out how children live their lives below the poverty line, early induction to drugs, prostitution and the whole nine-yards...truly deserves an oscar nomination...

Thanks to Boyle and his avid portrayal of Dharavi, there will be a flood of International NGOs and Hollywood stars taking ownership and responsibility to fix our slums.

Indian audience, on the other hand, are caught between rooting for an Oscar, the first realistic shot at an Indian winning an Oscar and embarrassment for what they want India to be known for in the world stage.

How diverse viewers feel about this movie – the American and Indian audience.

Depicting Indian poverty, Indian politics, Indian family system and not to forget the story-lines around arranged-marriage are stereo-typical yet compelling scripts normally catering to Oscar judges. Similar to how box-office driven directors add item numbers in the movie catering to the front benchers.

Last time an Indian theme came close to Oscar honors was also when it won - Gandhi. Indian story line with fair share of poverty, religious differences and illiteracy, catering to the history deprived average western audience. Indian audience accepted how India was portrayed in Gandhi as that was history and not a projection of current times.

My reviews – Watch it like any other movie and move on. I want to root for Rehman’s Oscar – frankly I still cant figure out what he scored. I also would want to hide and avoid if this becomes a topic of discussion over dinner with my US colleagues. So a watch, root because it has an Indian-Oscar potential and hide are my slum dog millionaire feelings.

For some it may be hard to digest when India's negatives are projected as art…Is this embarrassment, is this patriotism, shameful helplessness or inability to appreciate art as is without personal prejudice. But isn’t appreciation prejudiced anyways.

I am part of the Middleclass-Mouse turned NRI script…a movie sure to win Oscars soon…this is not about the NRIs and their life in India. But about their illiterate servants, drivers and their affairs in the middle of a busy NRI family who have just moved back to India. There are only 5 back to back songs when the credits are shown, all scored by Rehman - Hollywood version. Indian version dubbed only in 23 languages has credits shown every 10 minutes during the movie to help Rehman win back to back Oscars.

Names and Nuances...

Ever noticed most Indian names have something in common. All girl names invariably end with a vowel and the boy names with a consonant.

I thought about this when I read Know your English column in The Hindu today. The quote at the end said, Always name your child with a vowel at the end - it is easy to yell their name out loud.

This got me thinking and I started to check a few names out that came to my mind as I read the article.
Sudha, Deepa, Priya, Nithya, Vidya, Shilpa, Sruthi, Kaavya, Daksha
Gokul, Sriram, Ganesh, Prakash, Shreyas, Saatvik, Ankit

Guess what, most Indian girl names end in a vowel. Even a 'y' at the end has an 'e' sound most of the times. And most Indian boy names end with a consonant.

It is a no-brainer that a vowel sounds easy to pronounce at the end and flows well compared to the consonant that has an abrupt end to the pronunciation. This is also why boys with nick names most often have their nick name ending in a vowel.

Does this mean...
1. We use girl names more often when we speak and call them out so much that we prefer to name them with easy pronunciations
2. The flow and mellifluous pronunciation jives well with one gender and the abrupt and staccato pronunciation is fitting for the other
and there goes my thought process...

In parallel I tried to Google and see if this observation of mine had more data or theories behind it or was it something that just I have discovered. Of course like always some one had already stumbled on this similarity. Google took me to a website and there I read an interesting (feminist) comment and a strong request to all the would-be Moms...
A lady (see even lady has an e sound at the end) was suggesting all the moms out there to stop naming their new-born girls with names having vowels at the end. Why? Apparently names with vowel-endings sounded weak and made the girls less stronger compared to the boys. A discrimination of some convoluted sort. Names ending with a consonant shows more strength and authority compared to names ending with a vowel which sounds weak was her theory. You know the rest...women standing for women's right blah blah blah. Her observation was based on western names - Sara, Linda, Kelly vs. John, George, Michael

Interesting how names have evolved across cultures and civilizations but still have a few common traits. Yet the reasons and interpretation of why they are the way they are and what they should be are so diverse.

Any other theories on names and their distinct nature for the two genders or may be three in some constituencies...