Meeting those hailing from West Bengal during Durga Puja celebrations

Meeting those hailing from West Bengal during Durga Puja celebrations

Durga Puja celebrations essentially involved visiting different Puja Pandals in the national capital of Delhi. Two Durga Pandals that were not to be missed were Kali Bari in Mandir Marg and Matri Mandir Kali Bari in Safdarjung Enclave. It was on the seventh day of the puja i visited Mandir Marg with those in attendance neatly dressed and saying a prayer or two to Goddess Durga. The Idol of the Goddess looking as resplendent as ever with a blue shade in the background.

Meeting those hailing from Eastern States
During my stay in Mandir Marg Kali Bari Puja Pandal I came across a large number of people hailing from the States of West Bengal and Assam. There was Mr K K Chatterjee hailing from West Bengal and he revealed he had been staying in Gurgaon for the past 32 years. There was Mr Deb working in Programme Implementation and Statistics Department coming under Ministry of Statistics. His office happened to be somewhere in South Delhi and his place of stay in R K Ashram Marg and he belonged to Silchar in Assam. There was Mr Sunil Roy doing business in Delhi and hailing from Sealdah in Kolkata, Mr Pramod from Kolkata and another gentleman staying in Dwarka hailing from Kolkata. After participating in pushpanjali (offering flowers to the Goddess) all were waiting for bhog (prasad) to be served. On the first day of the visit the bhog comprised of Khichhdi (made from rice and lentil and known as Kicdi), sabzi (vegetable) and Kheer (Dessert made from rice and sugar boiled in milk with additions of cardamom and groundnuts).

Visiting Matri Mandir Safdarjung Enclave
On the 8th day of the puja i visited Matri Mandir Kali Bari Safdarjung Enclave with the pandal premises bursting at the seams. The Idol of the Goddess seem to be quite impressive and engaging devotees most of the time. As we stood in line to get bhog  the queue that was in sight and the duration we had to wait for both looked to be considerably longer. There was inordinate delay in serving of the bhog comprising pulao(pilaf), paneer sabji (cottage cheese vegetable)and aloo chop (Potato croquettes) as those in the queue and those wishing to join the queue seem to be one and the same. There were four different queues leading to the two bhog stall.

Here i came across a gentleman hailing from Kolkata quite upbeat about having houses in Delhi and Kolkata. There was Mr Uttam Kumar Roy Chowdhry who was visiting his daughter in Delhi and hailing from Bardhaman, Mr B Goswami from Midnapore, one student pursuing Bachelor in Finance from Jamia in Delhi and hailing from Ballygunge in Kolkata. On the 9th day of Puja i visited Mandir Marg Pandal again with the Idol of the Goddesss looking as radiant as ever. As we stood in the queue for bhog  i came across Mr Nandi working in armed forces whose son was studying in Army Public School, there was one Pallav studying in class 10th in Air Force School, Delhi, there was Mr Debashish Banerjee staying in Faridabad and essentially hailing from Dhaka (Bangladesh). Mr Banerjee had been to Chittaranjan Park Puja Pandal in New Delhi as well and was visiting the Mandir Marg Pandal to see the performance put by dhakis (traditional drummers who play the drum). Here i met Rupa Bhattacharya who introduced herself as a writer at the moment giving coaching to school students. Looking for a 9 to 5 job, she wanted to know the avenues from where such assignments could be secured. Perhaps a newspaper or a magazine opening could be suitable. She too relished the bhog that was offered.

Bhog was elaborate
As for the queue the order and template became a thing of the past as people jumped the queue to reach the ground where bhog would be served. I came across two girl students studying in a Delhi school in class seventh and eleventh. This time the bhog comprised of pulao (pilaf), paneer sabji (cottage cheese vegetable) and not to be missed Kheer (Dessert made from rice and sugar boiled in milk with additions of cardamom and groundnuts). As the bhog was about to get over, they started serving kala jamuns (sweets made from Khoya, Paneer, Flour and Milk) which i preferred not to take given its high sweet content. As the puja celebrations were coming to a close the visit to two pandals and interaction with people hailing from West Bengal was something to cherish. A special mention about the performance put by dhakis who normally converge in the national capital during this time of the year. The news channel beamed from Kolkata, namely ABP Anando,  Kolkata TV, 24 Ghanta Bengali News and DD Bangla gave a comprehensive coverage of puja celebrations in and around Kolkata. Kolkata TV among others showed the immaculate performance by Dhakis.

Meeting those hailing from Junagadh, Gujarat, meeting those coming from Andhra and Karnataka
During Puja days i had to take different metro rides. While i came across two men doing business in shoes hailing from Junagadh in Gujarat, the different locales that i have visited in Gujarat like Somnath, Nageshwar, Dwarkadish, Rajkot, Ahmedabad among others could not impress them to the point of carrying the conversation to a longer duration. The very fact that i had visited Gir Sasan home to Asiatic lions also could not yield a long response. Both men agreed there was a Gujarati Samaj in Old Delhi which catered to the needs of those who travelled from Gujarat and made their stay in New Delhi ranging from shorter to longer duration depending on the work that had to be accomplished and tourist spots that had to be visited. Both men despite hailing from Gujarat had little to say about ETV Gujarati news channel which beamed live coverage of Janmashtami celebrations from Dwarkadish Temple in Dwarka, Gujarat. Both men were comfortable in conversing in Gujarati language and unmindful of the rush that the Delhi metro coach was witnessing every passing minute. Here in the metro i met a group of devotees headed towards Sisganj Gurdwara coming from Sangrur in Punjab. As for three students hailing from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka the interaction took place over a cup of tea in Pandey Ji Shop K-2 DDA Shop near PNB Bank in Bhikaji Cama Place who were in Delhi to take coaching for civil services. They went by the names Kalyan, Ravi (both from Andhra Pradesh) and Gowda (from Karnataka). They were staying in PG accommodation in Satya Niketan and taking coaching from Classic Academy. The city they would have least experienced and high cost of living they would have least cherished in the past three months was a narrative that one could associate with those who hailed from area other than Delhi.

As per reports appearing in a section of press the metro fares are set to rise again in the national capital. Well for this year the fare had already been revised in May and the Delhi Metro does good business from token sale and advertisement billboards and most commuters would say there is no need to revise the fare. 

Meeting those hailing from Delhi, Darjeeling and Kanniyakumari

Meeting those hailing from Delhi, Darjeeling and Kanniyakumari

While interacting with a Mizoram girl, little did i know her communication skills to be few and far and not in a position to hold long series of deliberations. Almost requesting her to the point of prodding to say a word or two on the famous festival of her home state which had in attendance people from all across the places she spoke a little leaving the conversation to be carried on for another day. Little trust she reposed in people who did not hail from her region and when a resident of Delhi who on sighting a vacant seat in a Delhi Metro coach offered the same to the Mizoram girl she point blank refused preferably finding the standing position to be more convenient. Following this the Delhi resident offered the seat to me with i requesting him to take the seat as in the melee a third person would take it. Thus began interaction with this Delhi resident who had worked in a private bank and was on a sabbatical. As for the conversation with the Mizoram girl i left it for another day and for another occasion.

Joining D.T.E.A. school
Having two places of stay in South Dehi and Gurgaon the private banker revealed the search for people who gave weight to values and traditions was giving him fewer results in the national capital over the years. The national capital of Delhi a melting pot of different cultures where aspirations ran high and illustrations of a better life ran full steam was seeing erosion of values and right conduct. Since Tamil as a language was mandatory till class 8th, he joined the D.T. E A. (Delhi Tamil Education Association) School from 9th class and he attributed his soft skills and humble tone to his Tamil School. Persuasive skills could bring a sea change and that what was lacking at the outset.

He had a word of appreciation for the city govt for bringing in Parent Teacher Meeting, popularly known in local parlance as PTM, in govt schools and this would in the long run hold them in good stead and bring the much-needed infusion of energy and association. The way a denizen of delhi would look at the govt schools too would undergo a change, better to say the least. The private banker despite repeated prodding not prepared to reveal his name had travelled across India except for the Eastern states. The fast pace at which some denizens of big cities led their lives showed their utter contempt for patience and perseverance.

All across people were on a short fuse and i and the private banker agreeing that as one steps out of his place of stay one should keep arguments at bay no matter how strong is the provocation from the other side. There were two women who were sitting in the vicinity and listening to every dose of conversation taking place. Elderly woman who having noticed me conversing with the Mizoram girl and later with the private banker wanted to know the place i hailed from.  Having been to Kancheepuram and other places in the South the Elderly woman and the private banker spoke about distraught that had visited a family whose son had been assaulted by a bus conductor in the school premises. We all agreed we had to be doubly sure as far as our security went and at no point of time offend anyone. Here a young man deboarded the metro and revealed he was associated with NIT Gurgaon and more comfortable with the idea of working on laptop while taking a metro ride.

Steep school fees
As shown by a news channel based in the Gulf an incident involving a school teacher in a South African school hitting a student with a cane and that leading to his suspension these incidents in the school premises had seen an increase over the years across countries. On a different level when i revealed the exorbitant school fees as disclosed by a parent to me the other day in a school in our area, the private banker revealed the school in which his son was studying was almost charging 80,000 for three months. This steep fee was in the backdrop of international board that the school came with. Nearing Huda City  Centre where everyone had to deboard, this interaction was logical to the point of duration it was carried on.

Darjeeling agitation
As i set on another metro journey i came across Binod hailing from Darjeeling and at present working in Delhi in the restaurant sector near Malviya Nagar. The standoff in Darjeeling and the state govt bringing a circular to make Bengali language mandatory and later this circular being withdrawn in the face of stiff opposition figured in our conversation. This circular if implemented would have meant at least 25 per cent of work to be carried in Bengali language in Darjeeling. According to him, Darjeeling district comprised of Kalimpong, Kurseong, Mirik and Darjeeling city. When i told him about Lopchu tea we preferred to take he disclosed that there was a Lopchu village in Darjeeling from where this tea originated. Besides Lopchu other known tea brands were Peandong and Mirik tea. This standoff which was almost 100 days old would fizzle out was all he could say in view of a rebel outfit that carried no recognition holding talks with the govt with the group which had hold over the Darjeeling region being given short shrift by the govt.

The rebel outfit which had made no inroads and had little or no influence over Darjeeling area had been propped up by the state govt to make this agitation lose steam was his reading of the situation.  As for travel time to Sikkim and Gangtok from Sukna near Darjeeling it took almost 4 hours was all i could understand in the metro coach which was getting crowded every passing minute. We were eager to carry conversation further but as he was supposed to deboard at a metro station the interaction lasting almost half an hour was fruitful.

Meeting Cloth merchant
At another metro station i came across a cloth merchant who was sweating profusely which he attributed to his brisk walk he had to undertake to reach metro station after alighting from an auto. He had come from Surat and Ahmedabad in Gujarat and was headed towards Central Delhi. Hailing from Jewar in UP he deboarded from the train at Gurgaon station and took an auto to reach the metro station. There was another boy hailing from Moradabad working in the pharmaceutical sector and recently changed job whom i came across.

Meeting a man from Kanniyakumari
A gentleman hailing from South wanted to know directions to Indrapastha metro station for reaching Nizamuddin railway station. Mr Karthik from Kanniyakumari was in for surprise when i told him i had been to Kanniyakumari on different occasions. The Hindi he spoke and the Hindi one understood one could assume was all he learnt in the national capital. While taking a return journey by metro i came across Andrew hailing from North East and taking coaching for civil services examination. It was Roger hailing from North East the other day whom i came across and his place of residence was in Safdarjung Enclave. The rent he paid squared up to the services that were rendered to him. All said and done the conversations in metro and outside metro station were fruitful.

Meeting those hailing from Mysore; interactions with students hailing from Kerala

Meeting those hailing from Mysore; interactions with students hailing from Kerala

Interactions across national capital have been fruitful over the months. From reservoir of opportunities the national capital presents to sometimes rude and often baffling temperament the national capital has had everything in its backyard. Those hailing from the North East and South India are easy to open up to long deliberations with topics as varied as mode of travel to discerning the ever changing mood of the populace.

Couple from Mysore
A couple from Mysore having spent a considerable time in the capital helped to get familiar with city's hits and misses that each action/interaction brought about, the prolonged humidity won't sap their spirit and strength, the prolonged journey they have to undertake day in and day out they won't repent. Already familiar with the same weather pattern back home, the capital's intimidating posture was least seen and least beamed was all they could count on. Having stayed for over 50 years and wishing to clock another 20 years the couple's journey coincided with an annual visit to Tirumala, the long travel and long queues for train tickets not a deterrent.

Interacting with three students
Having visited Kerala in recent times the long stay and been in overactive fray, i was familiar with how simple the residents were and how sacrosanct they viewed different beliefs. Interaction with three girl students hailing from Kerala and upbeat about their prospects in the national capital did make it easier to gauge their mind and the milestone they had set for themselves. Going by the names Anne Mary, Sneha and Annu. Locked in disciplines as varied as  History, Sociology and Bcom (Honours). The place where they resided in was elaborate and rents they paid was not in a mode of accelerate. The place of residence in the heart of Delhi was owned and run by Sisters/Nuns  (congregation of sisters has taken place in Spain) and that beamed a ring of clarity and a ring of security. There are no dearth of tales of places charging exorbitant rents to a short notice to vacate the same, the students hailing from far away places have had a harrowing time but for these these three students it has been a fortuitous turn of events.

Hailing from Angamali, Kottayam and a place near Wayanad
Placed in all female colleges of Jesus and Mary College in Chanakyapuri (Anne Mary and Annu) and Lady Shri Ram College (Sneha) in East of Kailash the turnout in the class brought fewer from their state but a representation of entire India. Around 40 to 50 per cent came from other parts of India, not necessarily from Delhi. Having scored over 90 per cent in Class 12th, the three Kerala girls hailing from Angamali, Kottayam and a place near Wayanad, they were in for a shock when they began the all required conversation that a daily grind involves. Some were rude, some were hostile and not to miss there were some happy moments. It was Sister run hostel that brought them together, not knowing each other during their stay in the Kerala State. The mode of commuting was not a problem and the measure of retribution not an issue as they strictly kept themselves to studies. While interacting with them one could gauge they were comfortable in Malayalam language and this they had to shed while interacting with a local resident.

Exploring library in Delhi University's North Campus
Out on a mission to explore the library in the north campus of Delhi University, this was their first visit to the North Campus and what better way to do it than the Delhi Metro. Well from INA metro station to Patel Chowk station there was order in the coach and in the following station there was pushing and shoving despite repeated reminders by the metro staff that let the passengers deboard first before boarding. Few sticked to this norm. Pushing and shoving they would have occasionally seen in their home state and a set of punitive measures that marked entry /exit from boarding gate. As for meals they took and water they chased all was provided by Sister run hostel except for lunch. They had a word of appreciation for the hostel they were staying.There were moments when they could sight cheerleaders and this on most of the occasion happened to be either a resident of the North East a resident of the city or some far away place. As for the opportunity they gained to visit their home state, it came during vacations and the mode of travel depending on the duration of vacation.

Clean railway stations in the South
As for Angamali and its connectivity to the Kochi airport, they were in agreement that from Guruvayur one had to go to Angamali to go to Kochi airport. The spick-and-span surroundings of railway stations in the South did demonstrate how much people paid attention to cleanliness, something stations in the North had to learn. More in priority was setting in safety standards and cleanliness would come second.

Another day another interaction with a Philippines resident who introduced himself as member of Embassy and was in his elements when he visited Safdarjung Enclave Post Office. Commuting by auto the distance he covered and places he visited seem quite familiar to him given the time he had spent in the national capital. While visiting the Post Office i came across a guy from Kolkata who relished the sweets and savouries of his home state. While during the same visit came across a girl hailing from the North East and holding conversation with the staff in a local language.

As for the tea the one procured from Laxmi Bai Nagar shopping complex centre was good and so was the tea made by Om Prakash in Sector 1 R K Puram opposite Aadhaar card centre. The tea made by Jay Prakash Narayan adjacent to Laxmi Bai Nagar shopping complex was something to appreciate. In all interactions with those hailing from the South and other places gave a better perspective of the city we lived in and the persuasive skills that had to be deployed time and again.

North Korean Nuclear Pursuit: A military option on table

North Korean Nuclear Pursuit: A military option on table

When will the time come for North Korea and United Nations Security Council members speaking in the same vein on nuclear disarmament. That doesn't look probable. The view echoed at various forums is something concrete - military option included - has to be done to break the Korean Peninsula gridlock and if North Korea continues to threaten its neighbour South Korea and distant Japan that they would be nuked, the possibility not ruled out given its intent to fire missile tests on a continued basis. A series of sanctions over a period of time hasn't caused any major blip in its pursuit of nuclear weapons - and sanctions or no sanctions North Korea is on course to gain nuclear weapon strength on the back of a firm determination and continued violation of UN resolutions.

North Korea second ballistic missile test over Japan

North Korea second ballistic missile test over Japan over a period of one month conveys how little the Hermit Kingdom craves for peace and how fanatic it can become at times. The sixth nuclear test and most powerful one to date showed its urge to match its military might with the West as stated by its leader Kim Jong-un. From Kim II Sung to Kim Jong il to the present regime all have  entertained the desire to possess nuclear weapon. It was way back in the mid-90s that Pyongyang decided to roll back its nuclear programme in return for Washington giving it diplomatic recognition. This roll back of mid-90s did not have steady innings as US-South Korea defence pact coupled with Soviet Union relegated to history and more prominently so China for a better time  remaining mute to North Korea's efforts to procure nuclear weapons. If there were few and far missile tests in the 90s, the tests in recent period have gone up with enough to cause consternation in South Korea and Japan.

Need to gain insight into North Korea's nuclear sites

Pyongyang stout refusal to put its nuclear ambitions in abeyance and International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) getting no access to its nuclear sites from the 90s itself, little is known on the sites and the milestones that have been set in its nuclear journey. To say North Korea must change course and return to dialogue and world body needs to take a tough stand is an argument that doesn't carry any weight given the fact that these ultimatums matched with action should have been initiated in the 90s. In the 90s itself, China should have distanced itself from North Korea and blocked all trade related links.  As of now a unified UNSC with China on board should make efforts to find out the hidden sites of North Korea where its nuclear apparatus is based. Once information is gathered and precise details known negotiations should begin between North Korea and South Korea to denuclearise  the Korean Peninsula with China taking the lead in bringing pressure on North Korea by breaking trade ties like a ban on coal import from North Korea in return for which Pyongyang gets food and oil. When these measures don't work giving a warning signal to Pyongyang that its nuclear sites would be hit on the back of China along with other UNSC members taking the necessary action. That day may not be far away when Pyongyang's nuclear pursuit could well threaten Beijing if it does step in now. A military assault could lead to deterioration in the situation but that option would have to be tried on the strength of exact location of nuclear sites in North Korea and hitting them upfront if Pyongyang doesn't budge.

Over the years North Korea has been constantly whipping up tensions in the Korean Peninsula and before it acts with its nuclear arsenal it would be more timely to hit the same with UNSC members taking appropriate action on this front. There is an element of risk but the military strategy would help to break the narrative of Mr Kim Jong-un which precisely means what would be in interest of Pyongyang may not be in the interest of world at large and hitting Pyongyang's nuclear sites would be the way out to stop this fanatic establishment from exercising the nuclear option.

US can't deal with battle on twin fronts

The US is locked in a dispute with North Korea over latter's nuclear programme. The US should be wary of opening a new front which it won't be able to respond by any means. The US should not rescind nuclear deal with Iran. There were China, France, Russia, UK and Germany along with US who notched a nuclear deal with Iran, not Washington alone. A painstaking exercise that commenced from 2006 when P5 (US, China, France, Russia, UK) + Germany joined together to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear programme. The deal coming into effect in July 2015 lifts oil and financial embargo in return for restriction on Iran's nuclear production capability over the next 15 years. The deal is best to date given the serious negotiations and intense deliberations that were carried in different cities over eight years and to say it is one sided with enough bargaining chips for Iran and nothing for the West won't be a right assumption. Let this deal reach its logical conclusion rather rejecting in entirety as that would amount to opening a new front against another nuclear power aspirant and Washington would be hard-pressed for resources to carry battle on two fronts: North Korea and Iran.  

Reaching Kochi Airport

Reaching Kochi Airport

Mr Joshy of Trinity Travel & Tours Pvt Ltd in Guruvayur was spot on when he stated one could get local transport from Angamali station to take you to the Kochi Airport. Mr Joshy along with other staff members like Reshma and Seeja were  confident on the connectivity to the airport even at that odd hour. As series of autos were lined up i hailed one which agreed to take me to the airport. The automan going by the name Mani look to be disciplined.  Took auto at 10.55. The auto first takes highway then steers away. Goes through two to three lanes and comes back on the main road. Reach Airport at 11.05. A woman personnel of CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) is eating something while taking a look at the ticket printout and the identity card. She signals me to proceed. During that time the airport premises wear a deserted look except sighting of one or two passengers.

In Kochi Airport stores are
-Ramsons
-Safari
-MCR cashew and spices

In book magazine section
-Manorama traveller The true travel companion
-Travel Kerala Special
Mastering the art of weather protection
Store on umbrellas

There is Anna Cafe where coffee comes for rs 60, tea rs 50, hot milk rs60 and lassi either rs 40 or above. I prefer to take coffee which will rejuvenate me to the desired level. Here one can find No smoking board which reads : As per orders of High Court smoking is banned in public places. There are different tv screens at the airport which are showing different news channels like Manorma News or Asianet News, NDTV and CNNIBN. None of the tv channels have volume given the silence zone we are in.  The air conditioning is working at a capacity more than the desired level and making a note of the same in the visitor's book doesn't alter the conditions. At that time there is a flight to Mumbai with security and boarding already completed. There is constant flight of people from the state to other metros of the country in search of opportunities. Gulf destinations are high on radar of state people given the easy connect they can establish there. The passengers bound for Delhi have to walk from the boarding gate to the aircraft. In the plane i take the window seat despite being given aisle seat and the two co-passengers are kind enough to continue with the same seating arrangement.

The plane leaves at 2 am reaches Delhi Airport at 4.57. The odd timing of the flight makes one wonder if a day scheduled flight would have been an option to be looked at. Had tickets been in the reasonable range the day flight would have been a much preferred choice.

Those whom i came across in Kochi Airport. One gentleman hailing from Kerala whose wife is holding a senior rank in Army posted in Rajasthan. There is a couple whose daughter is in excise department based in Delhi. There is an assistant Professor of Delhi University who has a word of appreciation as far as work culture in the national capital is concerned. There is a student Alisha Tegy pursuing a course in interior designing in a university in North India. Alisha had been down with fever and college authorities had asked her to visit her home town and return once she had recovered. All are of the view the air conditioning at the waiting lounge is functioning at extreme level and it needs moderate correction.

There is a family headed towards Dubai. Other members of family  have come to see them off and they are all headed towards Delhi . In Delhi Airport I meet Mr Philip who has also come by the same flight and is in Public Relations Office of Indian Railways. He is tall and he reveals he has been an active basketball player and helping aspiring football players from disadvantage sections to hone their skills. Much-famed black and yellow taxi and now in obscurity i can lay my hands on and in no time i reach my place as the traffic is thin and morning rush hours are yet to set in.

Sightings in South Nada Guruvayur
- Shivadam fancy
- Krishna Padam fancy
- Krishna Kripa Fancy
- Krishna musicals & Fancy
- 6th shop
- Vishnu cassettes
- Vadhyar Kadai
- Kovlakam Fancy
- Sonata ice cream
- Anuga
- Archana audios
- V.S. stores
- Nivedyam

On right of temple
- Sree Valsam Guest House
   before this another string of shops
- Theerabhumi book stall
- Ganpati
- MCR Stores
- Creative media professionals
- Sreekrishnadas stores
- Depasree Fancy & Toys
- Sreenivas fancy stores
- Krishna fancy centre
- India coffee House

on right side
a screen board showing
- details of offerings
- Rs 4500 facilitates direct entry for 5 to Nalambalam

In the auditorium near the Guruvayur temple there is a show called Krishnapanam. This is a dance recital. It is very impressive being watched by people from different backgrounds.  Come across a family from Palakkad. Girl student doing a degree course. Exchange greetings. There are other dance recitals organised in the auditorium with participants coming from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other places in the Gulf.

Meeting Subramaniam the cobbler who guides me to the Post Office for postcards. Meeting Balachander staying in Guruvayur. Meeting Rudran from Previnnya Tourist Home. Meeting Ganesh from Thiruvanthapuram who is having some difficulty in walking. In all the stay in Guruvayur was for seven days with each day bringing interactions with people from different walks of life. I would have preferred to stay for some more days provided lodge-hopping had not been an issue. At another level in RVK Residency in East Nada where i stayed the iron railings on top floors are very small, any child or youngster can fall from it. Perhaps railing heights need to be raised to secure the place.

Visiting Guruvayur temple again; leaving for Angamali

Visiting Guruvayur temple again; leaving for Angamali

On a Tuesday had the opportunity to visit Guruvayur temple for the third time. As usual there is rush with orderly movement of devotees. After sighting Lord Guruvayur which is a never to forget experience a little before 9 am i am outside the temple. Spick-and-span surroundings of the temple would encourage tens of thousands of devotees to visit the temple again and again. Came across students of Guruvayur Devaswom School where fees is 20,000 rs perhaps for the entire year. While walking towards Kairali Junction in Guruvayur came across SREE Krishna Higher Secondary School Mini Stadium. This is followed by Sweet House, Bakery and cool bar and Good Shepherd college Kunnamkulam

Mr Nandu is the man at  the counter in a Cyber cafe called Anjali Communications. Mr Nandu is very polite. Near Anjali Communications i came across three girl students Krishnapriya, Gopika and Shilpa studying in Sree Krishna Higher Secondary School and they are strong in maths. From Anjali communication as one goes straight there is KSRTC District Office Guruvayur. I spot a Paravoor headed bus with limited stop. Then there is KPL Associates followed by Variety Shop (for handkerchief) Narendar is the man working there.
I came across three girl students studying in Amritha Vidyalaya 10 plus 2 Commerce. I meet Mr N R Nair who stays in Guruvayur and has been a scientist in Delhi earlier. There is Mr Udayan staying in Guruvayur for the past 35 years.

The ride from Guruvayur to Angamali
I reach Guruvayur station a little before six pm. Outside a bomb disposal squad van is posted whose services would be utilised as and when the need arises. I took a seat on platform 1 which has spick- and- span surroundings. I wait for the train which is headed towards Chennai. The staff at the railway station is very cooperative. A little after 7 pm the train arrives.  In the train i come across Mr Mohammad travelling to Madurai. He has spent over 45 years in Guruvayur and in between has been to Gulf and worked there. Mr Mohammad has a house in Guruvayur. I came across another gentleman travelling to Kudankulam about 200 kms from Guruvayur. The Train leaves at 9.15, gains speed at 9.18. There is TTE Mr Vinay Kumar. The train stops at 9.33. Starts again at 9.35. Punkunnam comes at 9.40pm. Thrissur 9.45pm. Here i take vegetarian biriyani. Conversation in the train covers rich traditions and areas as varied as Alleppey, Malappuram, Idukki, Alwaye and Ernakulam of Kerala. Alleppey is full of lakes, a coastal area with paddy rich field and  coconut plantation. There are Malappuram and Idukki which are hill stations. Alwaye is another city. Ernakulam is an industrial and technical hub.

In Thrissur one young man takes the seat opposite mine. He is Manoj, teacher in Hindi in GHS School in Thrissur. I am told students have an inclination to learn Hindi as well. Mr Manoj is bound for his home in Thiruvanthapuram.
At 10.35 we reach Chalakudi. Angamali comes at 10.50. Here i deboard. On the platform i came across a young man in a red t-shirt and ask him how far is the airport. He says not to worry, it won't take much time. You would reach airport in time. Outside station series of autos are lined up.

Interactions in the National Capital in recent days; meeting those hailing from North East and Tamil Nadu

Interactions in the National Capital in recent days

Spate of spiralling rents across National Capital of Delhi to a major festival in Mizoram covered the range of topics during varied interactions in the National Capital. Udhagamandalam and its positioning in Tamil Nadu as a hill terrain which engineers flow of tourists round the year featured in one to one conversation with a resident of Tamil Nadu at present staying in Delhi. Even in the months of May and June those visiting Udhgamandalam had to sport woolens vis-a-vis local residents who were all ready to step out sporting a cotton fabric at the most.

The political turmoil in Tamil Nadu featured in talks with never to miss merger of EPS and OPS factions which both of us believed would in some way help to derail the efforts of those who were determined to give a jolt to the state govt. The govt elected to office last year should complete its tenure was the common refrain with an urgency to see that those who were bent to bring a split did not succeed in their mission. The major festival in Mizoram, known in local parlance as Chapchar Kut festival, figured in talks with a guy from Mizoram taking coaching for Civil Services Exam conducted by UPSC. The Chapchar Kut festival held in spring drew support from different quarters and enabled people from different backgrounds to have a first hand experience.

North East residents joining the mainstream
The Mizoram guy showed his disapproval to high rents prevailing in the capital and maintained increasing frequency of North East students joining the mainstream, high rents and reserved communities being no deterrent. Commonly believed the local residents on a few and far occasions stepped outside to have a word or two with North East people but the very fact that North East students and senior members left no opportunity as and when made available in the city and this mirrored the changing dynamics of the national capital. They were as important stakeholders as anyone else and Mizoram guy's engagement with city people had begun to elicit response, if not spectacular but at least believable. On another day and on another outing came across a guy from North East State of Manipur also taking coaching for Civil Services who seem determined to pursue his path not to be dethroned by high rentals and high cost of living in the city. Alternatives were few and far and about 75 per cent of North East people in the national capital were from Manipur was what he could gather over the months with never to miss the never eroded script of people of this region. As for the major festival in Manipur it was Lai Haraoba organised in the month of May.

Speaking in Hindi to get to know metro staff
Meeting Sonia again from the North East the other day who had difficulty to procure a metro token in view of no change at the counter, i gave the change with the understanding that the Hindi she spoke was the Hindi the metro staff could understand and sticking to a manageable local dialect helped her in day to day affairs. Meeting Mr Babu from Kerala he spoke about a major festival in Thrissur held in May where hordes of elephants participated and festival had in attendance people from all across the globe. Meeting Chirag and Karan from Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, the two boys were confident the course they were pursuing would hold them in good stead in future. Chirag who hailed from Darjeeling spoke about New Jalpaiguri (NJP) station the one had to approach to go to Darjeeling. If one intended to go to Darjeeling by toy train one had to go to Sukna from NJP. It was a chance meeting with a guy from Panipat near R K Ashram Marg who spoke about the fast racing vehicles in the national highway leading towards Panipat. It were the buses and trucks which defined the speed followed by spate of private vehicles.
While taking a metro the other day i came across  a guy from Manipur running a restaurant in Delhi University's North Campus. Having a 50 per cent stake, the restaurant went by the name Dolma and returns from the same were handsome.

Al Jazeera news coverage
Balaknama newspaper run by street kids in India featuring in a story/documentary put by Al Jazeera news channel was interesting. The coverage of floods in Bihar by the same news network was elaborate. Equally elaborate was the coverage of Rohingya refugees fleeing to Bangladesh from Myanmar. Plurality of thoughts this news channel presented had engineered viewers from all across the globe to watch the same. Nigeria's Chibok girls freed from Boko Haram and their return to a boarding school in the city of Yola as covered by Al Jazeera was also interesting.

Rohingya Muslims at the receiving end in Myanmar

Rohingya Muslims at the receiving end in Myanmar

There are mobilisation and mobilisation of troops in Myanmar's Rakhine State and what they have been stating is half-baked truth. If UN estimates are to go by over 2,50,000 Rohingya Muslims have left Rakhine State lock stock and barrel and landed in makeshift camps in Bangladesh. They have pitched their tents in a country which is already overflowing with Rohingyas and to add even a little fraction to this number it would be insurmountable challenge for Bangladesh to cope with. It is over two weeks and Rohingyas continue to flee from Myanmar in the  face of military operations which launched never-to-cease offensive when police outpost was attacked by Rohingya Salvation Army.

Army not stating the truth
No day goes when the offensive began when the Army does not ferret out facts which are nowhere near reality. The burning of homes and shops and during govt arranged trips for journalists the Army attributes the smouldering smoke and fire to Rohingyas setting their own dwellings on fire and nothing linked to their offensive. Offensive which all can see and Army putting it as nothing more than an action against terrorists. This offensive is nothing but Army operation to flush out Rohingyas from their homes and leave them with no option but to flee to Bangladesh. This offensive needs to be rolled back in the face of continued rush of Rohingyas to the bordering country. This is easier said than done. What is more alarming is the laying of booby traps along Myanmar-Bangladesh border to prevent the return of Rohingyas to Rakhine State.  In the near future Rohingyas won't be able to place Rakhine State as their home given the next to nil chances of returning to Myanmar's State.

People all over the world would like to see a Rakhine State brimming with Rohingyas and Army taking a break from hitting the State with a power never seen before. The military operation has left a trail of destruction and a State which could could never boast of education, power and privilege has been left to fend for itself in the wake of Army's operation to dislodge Rohingya Muslims.

Suu Kyi is doing the least
The Army offensive is deplorable by any stretch and Aung San Suu Kyi silence followed by a narrative that this problem dates back to pre colonial times and 18 months at the helm is not enough to address the issue is doing no good. The writing on the wall is military is calling the shots with head of state Suu Kyi nowhere near taking a decision this way or that way to bring a resolution to this humanitarian crisis. Most of her critics believe she could have brought pressure on the Army to cease hostility in the Rakhine State and look for measures that could have brought peace to the region. How far would have that pressure worked given Army's track record in the country would be a secondary issue as in the first place no pressure was brought on the Army in the face of international rage against this institution's ethnic cleansing drive.

Human rights watch group too attribute Army's offensive to ethnic cleansing to say the least. Those Rohingyas who have stayed back in Rakhine state are living in fear and all shops and homes wear a deserted look given military's repeated action to set them on fire. In no time the Rohingyas who have stayed put in Rakhine State would also leave as they are too traumatised by the turn of events. Nations like India Pakistan who house a significant number of Rohingyas need to show a big heart and not set in motion any move to deport them.In India specifically they are not in significant numbers vis-a-vis Bangladesh and they can be absorbed here as refugees.

Need to treat Rohingyas as their own
As a wave of anti-Rohingyas sweeps across Rakhine, increasing in intensity every passing hour, the nation's majority population is of the view that Rohingyas are not part of nation's milieu and that is unfortunate given the considerable time they have spent in Rakhine State. Unless Myanmar and its majority population treats Rohingyas as their own there is no future for them in Myanmar. Though Rohingyas are relieved to be in the Bangladesh side of border, the problems are bound to increase with tens of thousands pouring in each passing day. Help needs to come in the form of food, water and medicine and UN camps are already stretched and so is Bangladesh side of border. These camps bursting at the seams are in direct threat of disease breaking out in multiples and what would be insurmountable challenge would be to contain the spread of disease if and when it breaks out. In all Myanmar Army's action is deplorable and they need to bring their offensive to a zero point to let dialogue and resolution take course.

Visiting Elephant Sanctuary near Guruvayur

Visiting Elephant Sanctuary near Guruvayur

On a Monday Mr Sudhir the auto man took me to a bus stand when i decided to visit Elephant Sanctuary. Mr Surendar working in Abu Dhabi for the past 25 years guided me on how to approach Elephant Sanctuary. He said one has to go to Punnathur Kotta where Elephant Sanctuary is based . As i boarded a bus i could sight some school girls roughly 5 to 7 who were on their way to home. In the bus i came across Srijith,  a BBA student, native of a place near Guruvayur. He is studying in Shri Shankara University affiliated to Madras University. On way to Punnathur Kotta i came across Demonstration hall Lecture Hall.

On way to Punnathur Kotta came across
- Mammiyoor area
- Catholic Syrian Bank
- Hoarding of Rajah tea
- Little Flower College
- Little Flower Fitness Centre
- Aryabhatta College

There are green stretches as well as concrete structures on way to Punnathur Kotta. As i reached Punarthur Kotta a board says the behaviour of elephant is unpredictable. They may turn violent. Visitors are requested not to go near elephant
Another board reads: Photography, videography, use of mobile phone are strictly prohibited inside.
Another board reads: This elephant is in musth. Visitors are requested to keep safe distance and not to stay here for a long time.

Elephants as old as 80 years

According to officer Mr Murali there are 54 elephants, including five female elephants. Padmanabhal is 80 years old, considered to be inspired by Guruyappan. Another elephant Ramankutty is 76 years old. He has been winner of elephant rice for 10 to 15 years. As far as elephant sanctuary expenses are concerned, the festival committees give donations to elephant welfare fund. The elephant sanctuary is spread on 18 acres. Every elephant has three mahouts to look after them. The musth period lasts three to four months.

Mr Murali said elephants eat palm leaves and grass. The elephant sanctuary is 25 years old. All elephants are chained. They are taken for walk in the evening. During walk chains are loosened. Having spent considerable time in the sanctuary i decided to head back to East Nada.
The ride back is accomplished in an auto taking a short cut. In 15 minutes we are in East Nada. Mr Satish is the scooterman. The auto which i took and the ride which was accomplished proved there are shorter routes to East Nada by auto rather than longer routes by bus. On the way i spot an Ambassador car KRQ 222
Came across Mr Madhu Sharad of Independent Books from where one can get range of writing pads, books and has photostat facility as well. On another day came across Sister Dani Francis a Nun teaching English in Little Flower College. On more than one occasion visited Sarvana Sweets for tea. It was Mr Naushad from the Gulf whose wife is a doctor  i came across while taking meals from Nandini restaurant.

Sightings in Guruvayur
Manjulal shopping comlex
- Internet cafe @ harikrishna
- Kallada
- S.C. Travels
   daily trips to bangalore, chennai, hyderabad, mookambika, velami, anni, madhurai (it should read Madurai)
- smart saloon
- era fashion boutique
Here meeting two persons Rapple and Abu
opposite to this is municipal office GVR

 Further ahead
-choice gift gallery
- vandana texland
- krishna Inn
- Hotel Devaki
- Taxi stand
- a man selling lottery
- Vijaya Bank
- a man selling lottery
- Guruji footwear
- Priyanka fancy here ear rings come for rs 5
- Nenmini Tourism Home
- Catholic Syrian Bank
- Previnya Tourist Home
- Nandini restaurant
- Hotel Elite
- Surabhi restaurant
- Arunodayam Tourist Home
- Uthram Traders
- Usha Lodge
- Radhakrishna stores
-  Little Kingdom
- Vijaya Bank

Journalists in the line of fire; need to protect them

Journalists in the line of fire; need to protect them

The brutal assault on a Kannada newspaper journalist leading to her exit from this world should be condemned in the strongest terms. Even before we speak about this horrendous assault the incidents of rationalists like Kalburgi, Pansare and Dabholkar felling to bullets in the past primarily shows how fundamentalists with a hate blueprint operate with no fear of the law. No headway has been made in these three incidents and same fate should not visit the assassination of Gauri Lankesh. The shoddy investigation in Kalburgi, Pansare and Dabholkar killing reveals to a great degree the State is not prepared to edge out such threats and such horrific acts would make millions lose faith in the law machinery. A hate campaign has engulfed this nation state for the past three to four years and any attempt to bring sanity has met with no success. 

No words would be enough to convey the sentiments of millions who would swear by what Gauri Lankesh wrote. Million hands would go up to say the freedom we cherish is the freedom we vouch for; anyone holding a leftist view or a view different from right wing agenda can't be subjected to this form of inhumane treatment. Fundamentalists are having a field day. Anyone questioning the right wing agenda or asserting it is high time to bring a course correction to the same is subjected to hate and hatred of unknown nature. It is for these fringe forces and fundamentalists to realise that if they beg to disagree with a point of view they can mirror their thoughts at different platforms rather than taking law into their hands. Each life is important; each task of nation building is sacrosanct; a different point of view does not give licence to fringe elements to take recourse to such horrific acts on a repeated scale. After Kannada journalist felling to the bullets of assassin, these fringe elements belted out threat to a series of journalists overwhelmingly saying they (journalists) can't have their views expressed and diatribe addressed in a nation state where a climate of coercion and least confession is the order of the day. It is for law enforcers to bring sanity to the proceedings by finding out the handle from where these dangerous tweets/facebook posts emerged and work on the same to dissolve these dangerous trends if not done now it can spread wings far and wide. A country where Press is not free, where opinion is not diverse can't boast of credentials of a truly democratic set up.  

The law enforcers have a task on Hand. On woman journalist they have some leads and that should in a way help them to crack the case and bring perpetrators to book. These fundamentalist/fringe elements need to be shown the door and millions would rise to challenge a parallel set up they are running where they are answerable to none and on a continued basis hone their skills to take out life from anyone. These so-called agents of change/fringe elements who want the nation state to thrive on a particular set of ideology have to be shunned at all cost and a beginning made by putting insertions in newspapers and electronic media that this nation is one and belongs to everyone. 

A nation state which is not ruptured and resolutely refuses to toe their line is a nation we are working on not divided by faith, favour and fanaticism. Already three rationalists and a woman journalist have been devoured by a system that fails to check the continued abuse of the law by fanatics and even before this malaise spreads stringent steps need to be set in. In a political theatre where a violent blueprint never ceases to exist, a movieworld where violence is shown on a repeated  scale to mirror the same in the real world is an aberration that has to be set right. The govt of the day has a tough task on hand not only to bring perpetrators of such crimes to book but to spread message of brotherhood through different forums. Involve media and involve the last person on the ladder of progress and spread the sentiment of compassion all around. The authorities need to scale up investigation in this particular incident and spread belief among journalists that their task towards nation building won't be thwarted by fanatics.