Leaving for Chennai to reach Tirumala

Leaving for Chennai to reach Tirumala

Holding on to a thought whether to proceed to Tirumala or leave it for another day i budged from my intransigent stance and decided to take a flight to Chennai. Left home at 7 in the morning with not to be missed was a noting GMR proud to be associated with Delhi airport for 12 years as made clear as i stepped inside the airport. I met a woman from Spain who was on her way to Pantnagar in Uttarakhand. She had been to Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai way back in 1982 and found the present arrangement where there were restrictions probably for those hailing from other countries on movements inside the temple more appropriately near the sanctum sanctorum. Met two guys who were on their way to Tuticorin and taking the same flight. Met an auditor from HCL based in Chennai who had to travel back and forth across India and continents every other day. In the National Capital he stayed in Noida and was lucky enough to have a cook who could get him South Indian delicacies. Met Mr Harshit Narayan Jha near Airtel phone booth.

The Jet Airways flight 9W 0759 took off a little after 9.30 and reached Chennai a little after 12 pm. I got a helpful upgrade with window seat secured against odds with the cabin crew members in a more conciliatory and receptive mood. There was Mr Thomas Mathew from Indian Oil who was on his way to Chennai for a software package roll out for LPG Distributors. There was Mr M Kumar another passenger near the conveyor belt who conveyed that one could take a metro from airport to Chennai's Koyambedu bus stand. I profusely thanked him for giving me option to access Chennai Mofussil bus stand. Under 40 minutes i was in Chennai bus stand.

I decided to take meals from Adyar Anandha Bhawan in the vicinity of bus stand. The staff was very helpful.There was Mr George the ever alert security guard at entrance of Koyambedu bus stand. I set out for Tirupati at 2.30, the bus winding its way through different populated areas and finally reaching Tirupati at 7.30. The driver and bus conductor were quite alert to the proceedings. A five hour journey that included traffic hiccups along the way and a smooth passage almost after 5 pm looked to be little unsettling. Conventional wisdom would have us believe that securing accommodation in Tirumala won't be trouble of sorts. In pursuit of a room Tirupati fared much better as rooms are not allotted to single person in Tirumala. Before taking a room visited Srinivasam Complex. Took a room in Triveni Residency as suggested by Mr Suresh Babu and here Mr Eshwar was more than delighted to have me as his guest. Took  black tea from Friends Tea Stall with BMR tours and travels outlet in the vicinity. Exceed your thoughts and you are in for some wonderful time in Tirumala. Barring accommodation everything looks so elegant and moving you desire to stay in Seven Hills with all thoughts geared towards the Lord. Bunch of devotees file in with a breathtaking vow to have a fleeting glimpse of the Lord. Chants of Govinda reach a crescendo as one nears Bangaru Vakili which essentially is the sanctum sanctorum.

Following a well secured sleep and after taking black tea and getting ready i set out for Alipiri Gate from where i was supposed to walk to Tirumala. After making noting in a Prayer Diary i started from Alipiri Gate at 9.07 reaching Goli Gopuram at 10.08. There were no tokens being issued probably to do with heavy rush or something like that. A little before 11 i reached Lord Hanuman statue and little after 11.10 it began to rain, the heavy downpour lasting over 30 minutes. As rains subsided i began my onward journey reaching Tirumala at 1.07 pm. Had it not been for rains i would have completed my walk in little over three hours. In the past i used to complete the entire journey in three hours flat. As i essay my thoughts i am watching Srivaari Naivedya Ghantaanaadam from Tirumala coming on SVBC Channel. I watch SVBC Channel almost every day.

After ascending more than 3000 steps i went to the counter from where tokens (Sarva Darshan) are issued and my darshan timing was 10 am the next day. A little after 3 pm or 5 pm i visited Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba Anna Prasadam Centre and took food. It is the best Anna Prasadam Centre across country. I returned to Tirupati with a firm determination to visit Tirumala the next day for a fleeting glimpse of Lord Govinda. Point to be noted Wednesday and Saturday are special days for Lord Govinda. In fact the  entire year is special for Lord Govinda.

Reminiscing about South India Stay about three to fourth months ago

Reminiscing about South India Stay about three to fourth months ago

In Hampi i used to frequent Ganesh restaurant in the past which was not open in view of low flow of tourists as it happens to be a lean season ( March to June is referred to as a lean season) .  In Gopi guest house and restaurant i come across Mr Kiran and Mr Bhima. As i make plans to leave Hampi, Mr Shiva guides me about buses that are bound towards Hospet. The train for Hubli from Hospet leaves at 10.15 am. Mr S M Kulkarni happens to be the TTE. The stations on the way are Munirabad, Hitha, Gingera, Koppal, Bhanapur, Bannikoppa, Gadag, Hebsur, Kusugal before finally reaching Hubli. In Hubli i stay in a lodge which is on Airport Road. 

Mr Praveen Kiby of Chinmaya Cyber Cafe in Akshay Park Gokul Road is kind enough to let me do a story as well as book a ticket from Coimbatore to Hyderabad.  In Hubli airport come across Mr Panchaksaraiya Herematta from Gadag. Meet Mr Samiel who is from Madurai. Mr Jay Kumar and Mr Shubrajit of Spicejet are very helpful. Meet Mr Ekbote who is going to Tirumala along with his family members. The flight takes off at 9.45 am reaches Bengaluru at 10.35. The inflight magazine Spice Route has a story on Leh  "Juleh".  

In Bengaluru airport come across Ms Jyoti who looks at the ticket before letting me in , Mr Jishnu who is at Jet airways counter and Mr Kennedy from Madurai. The Jet airways flight takes off from Bengaluru airport at 1.37, lands at Coimbatore at 2.16. At Coimbatore airport Captain Pillai tells me the way to approach Coimbatore Junction. To go to Coimbatore Junction it is automan Mr Pasha who provides the ride. The woman at railway reservation centre is helpful. At the restaurant opposite railway station where i have meals i come across Ms Revathi SV, Ms Aruna A, Ms Durga and Ms Swetha who have completed M Tech from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) and have a promising future given the jobs they have secured from HCL Technologies in Hyderabad.  

 The bus from Ooty bus stand leaves at 4.15 pm and reaches Kotagiri at 8.05. I stay in Majestic lodge in K.R.E. complex Mettupalayam Road. The next day i leave for Udhagai (Udhagamandalam). I stay in Udhagai from Tuesday to Saturday. For the first two days i stay in Royal Paradise. Next two days i stay in Green Valley lodge which is near the lake. During my stay in Udhagai i visit Mudumalai, Coonoor, Doddabetta Peak. Hospitality that is generated across states of South India has fewer parallels.  While going towards Coonoor in Aravankadu there is a message: water is precious. Please don't waste water. 

In Marriamman Temple there are two statues. One is of Kali other is of Marria. While in Doddabetta Peak i come across Ms Aruna who is very helpful and even her brother Mr Arun who is studying in a College in Avinashi Main Road in Coimbatore comes across as a simple student. Here i meet Mr Pradeep from Trichy and in the bus going towards Udhgai i meet Mr Antony, a teacher in maths and science. 

On Saturday i leave for Coimbatore. The bus leaves Udhagai at 1.51 winding its way through different areas before reaching Coimbatore Ooty bus stand at 5.30. Take another bus to Gandhipuram bus stand. The conductor of bus number TN 58 N 1579 is helpful. Leave Coimbatore  after 11 pm reach Hyderabad after 12 am. 

I Stay in Padmaja lodge which is near Secundarabad Ganesh Temple.  Visit Ganesh temple on two different occasions. This Ganesh Temple has a magic spell of its own.
From Divya Sai cyber cafe do stories. Meet Mr Mohammad Salauddin who is into selling socks and automan Mr Rajesh. Had the opportunity to take a metro ride which is yet to cover old city area of Hyderabad. There is no clarity on when and where the metro connectivity would reach Hyderabad.  
   

At Secundarabad railway station the green initiatives adopted are among 100 LED lights installed, three lakh litres of water recycled, four hundred + trees and 100 sqm of landscaping add to the greenery.  Leave Hyderabad on Tuesday. The flight takes off a little after 5 pm and reaches Delhi a little after 5 pm. 

As 11-day Ganesh Festival comes to an end we hope peace prevails across continents. May Lord Ganesh bless us all.

Lois Sophia was well within her right to speak her mind

Lois Sophia was well within her right to speak her mind

The case of Lois Sophia a research scholar who was incarcerated and later released in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu state for reasons best known to cops shows how might of the state is being used unabashedly and this is indefensible. By merely stating "Fascist BJP Govt down down" she was well within her right to speak her mind and the State BJP President on a wrong foot by asking cops to invoke sections of IPC that would instigate her arrest. Instead of using the might of the state the BJP leader could have just smiled and moved on unperturbed by a mere slogan here and there.

There are slogans and counter slogans in Parliament when it is not dysfunctional and functioning and does anyone get arrested for mere slogan shouting. There is no room for dissent. Such acts are alienating the right wing party from its core voter base and shows how difference of opinion what to talk of dissent is being muzzled with the power of the state. Millions lined up in support of Lois Sophia and the sections under which she has been booked may well see the need for her to come all the way from Canada where she is pursuing her studies. If the party which rules at the Centre can't take dissent of this benign nature what hectoring we would be witness to in the run up to 2019 polls. Democracy in India is alive and thriving and isolated incidents like this which are becoming more of a routine now spells danger to the very fabric of democracy and its remnants.

The right wing party doesn't look to be a disciplined organisation with well chain of command and the rank and file needs to be told in no uncertain terms that dissent shouldn't dilute their campaign to stay in the fray. If anyone expresses an opinion different from what the party stands for that should not make them resort to misuse of state might to keep dissenters at bay. If there is no dissent there is no hope. The best remedy would be sections under which Lois Sophia has been booked are lifted with no time lost and her passport returned so that she can continue with her studies

Mr Kamal Hassan featuring in Indian Idol on Sony Channel in India was great. He belted out Sanam Teri Kasam song with ease. Sanam Teri Kasam Hindi movie was released in 1982. Loads of good wishes to Mr Kamal Hassan, Ms Reena Roy and Indian Idol participants. Loads of good wishes to Mr Rajni Kant and Mr Mohanlal as well.
Vaaranam Aayiram- Nenjukkul Tamil song is great as well. Loads of good wishes to Mr Suriya and Ms Sameera Reddy featuring in this song.

Batting in fourth innings is a daunting task in English conditions

Batting in fourth innings is a daunting task in English conditions

If Englishmen are able to post anything beyond 200 it would be a herculean task for Team India to surpass that. As a matter of fact they are way ahead brimming with confidence of having reached a total beyond 250 runs. For Team India except for one or two batsmen here and there no one is clicking and to say the least they are struggling at the outset. Pujara who scored a century outside subcontinent after a wait of five years may not be able to  radiate same energy and someone would be required to fill in his shoes. Batting in fourth innings comes with its share of ups and downs and chasing itself is a different ballgame altogether. The advantage that India had on Day one when Englishmen were skittled out for 246 was soon lost when India managed a slender lead of 27 runs. It would be miracle of sorts if India triumphs against all odds that would keep growing every passing minute.

Who would be India's saviour? The top order, the middle order or someone playing cameo of an innings. The flourish that top order could provide may well set the stage for other players to chip in to get near the target. As for Englishmen, a blistering 69 by Butler and Root and Curran coming good with 48 and 37 made England fort look formidable and difficult to lay a seige.

Team India would be overwhelmed if  they play defensive and repeatedly fail to read the ball and its swing/movement. Southampton is no Trent Bridge as India prepares to play an inning that may well be registered in history or fall like a pack of cards. Batsmen have to plan innings and not get alienated from the target. If they wrap the test with a win here they would be going to the 5th test with a new found energy and confidence. Who would be a major player in the hood no one knows. Team India Captain's overseas hunt has produced some outstanding performances. Will there be a repeat of the same? A batting line up that should not look demoralised and depleted if Englishmen are able to make inroads in the first session itself. Undeniably the host are at an advantage vis-a-vis Team India and here players should be all fired up to stay in the hunt.

Kerala Floods: In the path of nature's fury

In the path of nature's fury

The devastating floods that ravaged Kerala State in the South has brought untold misery to its residents. Residents who are staying put in relief camps face an uncertain future with no word yet when they will return to their homes and that too savaged by floods and landslides. In this hour of crisis everyone needs to show a big heart and lend a helping hand to the hapless people. It would take months to years for affected residents to get on with their lives and the roof under which they lived and earned livelihood has been too washed away by torrential landslides. These landslides followed by heavy rains have become quite frequent across country with rains that Kerala received in August was highest in 100 odd years.

Ensnared by greed

Ensnared by the greed  to raise dams, bring construction on forest land and passing of public land to private hands has led to erosion of ecological balance. These recurring floods across country not only pose questions about their intensity but as a matter of fact makes one wonder which other territory would fall into this flooding pattern in future. Floods are natural and should dissipate in no time and here alarming bells ringing shows the duration of floods and their likelihood to stay, perpetuated by anti-environment lobby

Western Ghats facing the fury

Western Ghats which comprise areas from Maharashtra to Kerala have seen too much of construction by laying of roads and unabashedly playing with nature's template. Repeated panels that have gone into study the Western Ghats are of the view that change of land ownership from public to private, acres of forest land prised open for construction and the newly built dams have undeniably brought this catastrophe. Time is running out and the solution lies in restoring forest land, bringing to a halt to construction and infrastructure projects and let the biodiversity hub retain its aura and beauty. To talk about bringing in climate resistant infrastructure is like promising a moon as it would involve billion of dollars which would be hard to raise at any stage with different vested groups acting as impediments and showcasing themselves as warriors.

Successive govts are at fault for leading to this sorry state of affairs where they looked the other way when construction and infrastructure were being raised at an alarming pace. The more you fiddle with environment template there are more chances that recurring floods and landslides will find a fertile platform here and there. Right from Assam, to Bihar to Chennai and Mumbai, the devastation is there for all to see.

Stick to Madhav Gadgil recommendations

Environmental degradation and biodiversity loss is all that we are witness to in the face of rising pressure on land and and man's unabated attempt to tinker with environment tenets, fiddling with flood plains and unquantified quarrying are all responsible for bringing hardships to human race.  It is time Madhav Gadgil report on Western Ghats is implemented in toto with no scaling down of its provisions in the face of reservations from tourist lobby and private parties with large wallet. Turning Kerala State into a tourist hotspot and unmindful of the destruction it is causing to environment and people at large has been going for decades. This trend needs to be discouraged at the outset.

Those in relief camps, over a million people, efforts should be made to ensure there is no outbreak of disease  and their little wants are met on a daily basis. The govt needs to provide loans at low rates for people to rebuild their homes/hamlets and efforts made to see that conducive atmosphere is not provided for recurring floods to occur. First and foremost priority should be to see the health apparatus is in plenty and not found wanting. Second those in relief camps should over a period of time able to reclaim their livelihood and get a roof on their head with active and not benign support from the government.

Deciding President's Fate: Is Impeachment in Line?

Deciding President's Fate: Is Impeachment in Line?

There are mid term polls in the US in November and all would be keeping their fingers crossed on its outcome. In the late '90s there was a move to impeach Bill Clinton and it could not fructify. What has given ammunition to Trump critics are two among different developments in the third week of August.

Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort was convicted on eight out  of 18 tax and bank fraud Charges. If this was not enough Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty that $ 1, 30, 000 was paid to porn actress Daniels who had an affair (sexual encounter) way back in 2006. Democrats are in two minds whether to go ahead with impeachment or look the other way. Seventy nine per cent of Democratic voters are all fired up by signalling their intent that Prez should be impeached. Special Prosecutor Robert Muller who is probing Trump-Russian collusion during 2016 polls has a tough task on hand. These two developments would have electrified his resolve but he has to bring on table evidence convincing in nature on Russian meddling during 2016 polls. If he is able to succeed his report would finally make it to the Congress.

The biggest hurdle to Prez's impeachment is the rider that Senate's two-third members should give their assent which at the moment looks less improbable. But anything can happen between now and November with Senate members too in unison to impeach the Prez. There is another factor at  play. If Democrats are able to win control of House of Representatives in midterm elections that would be a short in the arm to bring around the majority of Senate members to the view that impeaching this Prez is a task to be truly followed as he is the one who has been going back on accords like Paris Climate Change, P5  + 1 deal with Iran and even threatening to move out of WTO (World Trade Organisation). His most exaggerated meeting with North Korean leader too seem to fly in his face

To tide over the impending crisis with all the force that he has at his disposal the Prez has said the markets would collapse if he is removed. But to have a Prez of this nature who doesn't go by the rule book his impeachment may well and truly happen. Markets won't collapse, there won't  be reverberations across political aisle and there would be a sense of relief that a man who was not fit to hold this office made it to Prez desk by default/chance. Media across the world is agog with rumours whether impeachment would come or fall by wayside.