Sunday 29 November 2009

Fall 2009

Fall 2009 - Bracknell and Slough.






Couple of interesting info from Wiki, when i was looking for something related to Autumn/Fall

Since 1997, Autumn has been one of the top 100 names for girls in the United States.

(If twins, then they will name them as Autumn and Fall i guess)

In Indian mythology, autumn is considered to be the preferred season for the goddess of learning Saraswati, who is also known by the name of "goddess of autumn" (Sharada).

(Wonder why they preferred this season as goddess of learning, its so tough to be active only during this part of the year, dunno how some one will study)


Sunday 22 November 2009

The Unsung Singer

The unsung singer, whose voice, which is often mistaken as the voice of one of the greatest legends of the South Indian Film Industry.

The latter being SPB, the former is Mano.

Like a lot, i was thinking of Mano as yet another singer in the industry. Its only in the recent times I realized that many of my favourite numbers were in fact sung by Mano and like many, i have been assuming it as SPB.

Mano's hit numbers are from late 80's when he sang one of the greatest hits of all time for Ilayaraja in "Enga Ooru Paattukaaran" for the song Shenbagame Shenbagame.From there, Mano has rendered his voice for quite a good number.

Some of my favourites from Mano, of which i thought many of them were sung by SPB

Anthiyile Vaanam
Malaikovil Vaasalil
Vaa Vaa Kanna Vaa
Vaanil Kaayuthey
Kudagu Malai
Manyie Mani Kuile
Yaarum Vilayaadum
Anbe nee enna
Potri Paadadi
Mukkaala Mukkaabula

And here is the one which i was thinking all these days as sung by Kamalhassan
Nee Oru

I believe there are quite a good number of songs that can be added to the above list.

As many say, Mano's voice is very identical to SPB.The more i hear his songs, the more am able to identify his voice distinctively.
It always surprises me, when i discover that one of my old favourites was sung by Mano.

Sunday 15 November 2009

Idli Factory


The outlet in the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad serves different varieties of Idlis like Mini Podi Idli, Kanchivaram Idli, Sambar Idli, Rava, Vegetable and couple of more varieties . Idlies are served with a combination of Sambar and chutney (Coconut,tomato and two other chutneys which am not sure of the ingredients :) )

 A plate of 3 idlis is priced at Rs 75, an average price for the food outlets within the Hyderabad Airport premises. Assorted plates are also served with a combination of above idli varieties.In addition to the Idlis they do serve a decent taste alike of South Indian filter coffee.

A plate of assorted Idlis and a cup of Filter Coffee makes a decent South Indian break fast for the commuters from Hyderabad Airport.

The Idli Factory is located opposite to the Gate 22/23 in the Departure Area, inside the Airport.

Wednesday 11 November 2009

Train to Pakistan

"The fact is, both sides killed. Both shot and stabbed and speared and clubbed. Both tortured. Both raped. By the summer of 1947 ... ten million people - Muslims and Hindus and Sikhs - were in flight. Almost a million of them were dead"
- Khushwant Singh


Khushwant Singh's Train to Pakistan is a fictious story based on the events during the India-Pakistan Partition. The story is set in the backdrop of a serene village Mano Majra which turns into a restless chaotic border village as a result of the new geographical separation.

The book gives you a feel of what the partition has done to a village like Mano Majra, where Sikhs and Muslims live together like a family. The slowly changing mindsets of the Sikhs and Muslims, tells us how cruel the partition has been to these innocent villagers, for whom Independence is just a shift of slavery from the British Government to the Indians or Pakistani Government and partitioning the country is nothing more than splitting their own family.

The author gives different perspectives on the incidents happening through the eyes of Juggat Singh, Hukkum Chand,Iqbal, Meet Singh, Imam Baksh and the other villagers. As a common man we could easily put ourselves in any of these characters.

Punjab Riots
Victims of the riots in Delhi being removed from the streets. Fighting broke out over Partition. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) Content © 2009 Getty Images All rights reserved.

The photographs of the carnage taken by Margaret Bourke -White gives more life to this fiction. These photographs doesn't give a feel that our independence is something to feel proud about. Its shame on us if we still boast that our indepedence was through ahimsa and without blood shed. If someone should take responsibility for all these murders and lootings, then the onus is on the the Babus, Jinnahs and the Gandhis.

The narration of the incidents without taking sides of the Sikhs or the Muslims, makes Train to Pakistan a worthy read.


Related links :

Monday 9 November 2009

Second Innings





Starting my Second Innings after a long break, probably the longest break since my first post.

Hoping to continue this innings with a better writing and less hiatus. Lets see what time has to say.