We should hang our heads in shame.

College students are still inflicting violence on their juniors in the name of ragging. Akhil Dev was first asked to lick the shoes of his seniors – reminds me of a scene from the movie Siraichalai (which is set in the British period, in the Andaman jail.) while he was beat up. Akhil was then hit with a frying pan and a steel chair. Then his head was banged against a wall! He was also punched in the eyes! The unforgivable acts of ruthless villains! And these villains were only given suspension! Apparently the college even tried to resolve the conflict by getting both parties to meet, to save its reputation. What the hell!  

Read this!

”He was reportedly beaten up after he refused to pay the seniors money for the second time after giving them 3,000. Doctors who are treating the 19-year-old management student said that he has nine holes in his retinas and may lose his eyesight by the time he turns 25.” 

Source: http://news.oneindia.in/2009/04/12/ragging-19-yr-old-student-blinded-in-tamil-nadu.html

 

“The violent ragging that this 19-year-old first-year BBM student in PSG Arts and Science College in Coimbatore was subjected to a month ago has left him with “nine holes in the retina and an impaired hearing.” That is apart from the back injuries and the mental trauma that he is trying to overcome with the help of psychiatric counsellors.”

Source: The Hindu

 

“Akhil said that he was diagnosed with nerve hemorrhage in the eyes besides injuries to the spinal cord.”

Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1246991

 

What do we blame for turning college students into inhuman tormentors? Violent movies? Acts of terrorism which people read about? We have a lot of things to put the blame on… but is each one of us influenced by violence? Humanitarianism is important! People may harbour violent thoughts, yes. But what gives a person the right to torture another – physically or mentally? Where has humaneness gone? Do these people have consciences? If they don’t, their self-control has disappeared.

Don’t we say “Men turn into beasts” sometimes? Well, why do we call some animals beasts? Animals don’t have the sixth sense that can make them good, or violent. We do. And we should stop misusing it.

Let’s make a pledge to be non-violent and humane!

I am ashamed of myself

Don't be so nice that you forget insulting things people say!  

I like people for the good things they do. Dislike them for the bad things. If an insulting comment is thrown at me by someone whom I like to an extent, and they don’t regret it one bit, I feel hurt… till they talk to me in a friendly way. In an instant, my anger disappears, along with my self-respect. (There may be other reasons which I must analyse.) Why am I such a nice person? Why can’t I throw attitude? Why can’t I care a damn? Why can’t I stamp on people?

I guess I won’t be able to become a mean minded arrogant person who makes others miserable. But at least this blog article will remind me to guard my self-respect, so that I become a better person. This message is for you too, of course. 

Cows (Bobos)

Why they’re special?

• Their big eyes probably speak volumes (which the bobo’s boyfriend / mother / father will understand.).

• Street dogs can create a racket. Not cows. They serenely chew grass, weeds and god knows what, standing in a corner (poor things, given the dustbin cuisine that Chennai offers… .…on second thought, I should put hay in the dustbins for cows). (About them quietly minding their business… I was wrong… they can also block vehicles, and trying to move them is obviously a risky proposition… nobody wants to feel the power of their hooves and heads designed for butting.)

Their fav hangout

Their favourite place in Chennai is probably ECR Road… in some stretches of the road rows of bobos serve as medians.

Cow joke

Here’s a joke actor Ramarajan might have created:

“Eru otravan ilicha vaayana irundha maadu machan nu koopidumam.”



Donkeys

Beautiful eyes, cute nose, velvety skin, intelligence (yes)… what more do you need in a pet?

Chew on this…

Source: http://www.angelfire.com/tx/burros/

Donkeys make great, lovable pets, and they're easy keepers! They are extremely intelligent animals and are easily trained to pack, drive, or ride. They willingly attempt to do anything you ask them to. They may be a bit cautious about anything new, hence their undeserved reputation for stubbornness. But this is really just another sign of their intelligence. Donkeys love human contact and have gentle, sweet dispositions. They quickly become attached to their owners, and will greet you loudly with their wonderful hee-haw bray when they have missed you, or if they just want some attention. Donkeys also form strong bonds with other animals and for this reason are being used for predator control to protect newborn animals, and as companions for other equines. They have a well-developed sense of humor and love to play - if they don't have "toys", they will make their own out of anything they can find ... buckets, tubs, branches, etc. Most people who acquire a donkey find that they are so endearing and entertaining that they are absolutely hooked on these gentle, long-eared friends. They quickly learn that one donkey is simply not enough!

“When we got our donkey I didn't think there'd be a whole lot of difference beyond longer ears and braying. I thought the claims of donkey intelligence were probably a tad exaggerated and the result of owner bias. I was very wrong. Nino has a lot more on the ball than any horse or pony I've ever seen. The first real difference I noted was the difference between his reaction and the reaction of our horses and pony to strange objects. Where they would always "spook", Nino slowly approaches and sizes up the questionable object from all sides, convincing himself that it's no threat. That takes reasoning. Maybe I've just had stupid horses but their reaction was always to freak first and analyze later. We had a bad rainstorm last week and I took an open umbrella out to Nino's barn. The sight of an open umbrella for the first time would have sent our horses through the back wall, but Nino was interested in it and took pains to inspect it - even putting it to the "taste test". I loved my horses and I adored our pony, but after having a donkey on our place I don't think I'll ever be without one. People who snub them just don't know what they're missing." Victoria Rouch

What is a Malayalee's favourite place in Chennai?

T Nagar!


What is Kalaripayattu?

The Malayalee style of cooking paya.

What's a cow's favourite Sidney Sheldon novel?

The Udder Side of Midnight

I let my mind go crazy today (in the process of trying to write something humorous in my blog). And I was thinking about Mandaveli. Here’s the result…


Mandaveli, Vinveli, Pulveli

Washermanpet, Watchmanpet, Supermanpet, Spidermanpet

Velachery, Kutchery, Butchery (an alternative MS Word gave me for Kutchery)

Vadapalani, Idlipalani, Dosapalani (correcta namma city-kkum cuisinekkum etha madhri Vadapalaninnu per illa?)

Taramani, Subramani, Armani

Triplicane, Sugarcane, Candy cane

Adambakkam, Evepakkam

Pursawakkam, Walletwakkam, Bagwakkam

Adyar, Paalar, Konar, Ponaar, Vandhaar...

Saidapet, Pearlpet, Shripet

Parrys, Cadbury’s, Bisleris (I’m feeling thirsty)

Anna Nagar, Akka Nagar, Appa Nagar, Paatti Nagar, Thatha Nagar



I can see you coming with an aruvaal. Spare me!!!!!!

Me and My Amma Naana

The other day I saw a tabloid lying in my office. The masthead said “Amma Naana Times”. I blinked and looked disbelievingly, then roused myself. It was Anna Nagar Times.

I had a good laugh at myself, and told this to my colleague. She said “You and your Amma Naana!” (Obviously “neeyum un Amma Naana vum” translated into English word for word. That explains the heading of this article, which isn’t in good English.)

Amma Naana is a shop near my office. It has loads of imported biscuits and chocolates. Stuff I can keep gazing at forever. Because I love the packaging… the abundance… I don’t eat biscuits often, but I like to gaze at packages.

The habit of going to Amma Naana often started when I had to do some research for food products we worked on. The rows of biscuits, chocolates and snacks seemed to go on and on. I was mesmerized by the sight. Many books I read in my childhood had vivid descriptions of food and pantries (think Enid Blyton books). Amma Naana seemed like paradise, and I lost myself in it, diving in headfirst into an endless pool of visual treats.

Amma Naana also has its own line of bakery products. I like their chocolate bread.

The abrupt ending to my article

I don’t have anything else to say. I could probably write more. But Amma Naana didn’t inspire me today. I want something exciting to happen, and inspire me. Then you can surely expect something better. But, meanwhile, drop into Amma Naana – if you don’t go, you’re missing something interesting!