The ordeals in Social service

                                               The ordeals in Social service

When you address  any person in English you call him by the term ‘You’.But Malayalam gives you many graded terms like, Nie,Edo,taan, ninghal,anghu,taangal etc.

A few years back while I was active in community service I had the services of an old person in the community.One day he handled a particular job in an irresponsible manner  that led to much criticisms.As I was responsible for the day today activities I told him softly to be more cautious in future.” Anghu kurekoodi sraddhayode kaaryangal cheyyanam.Angekku ithu saaddhyamallengil parayanam .Njangalkku vere maargam nokkanam”.

Some of his relatives decided to use this as a weapon against me.They compelled him for days together to present this incident in an exaggerated manner.Though the old man was reluctant to speak a lie he was pressurized by the gang to obey them.At the next meeting of the community they raised the allegation that I had ill treated a nonagenarian soul .I asked him in what way I had done so.He kept silent for some time while the gang forced him to stand up and say the “TRUTH “ without fearing me.Finally he gave the text of my request to him.”Edo thanikku ee  pani pattillengil than irangi podo.Thanikku pakaram njangal  vere aaline vacholaam.”( something which I can /will /

never use towards any body )

I never had any doubt as to what should be the next step.I declined to accept the requests of the people to continue in the post.

Narendra Modi ,India’s hope for the coming years

                                                           

Narendra Modi had a very humble origin in a village in Gujarat.Even in his early years he had helped his family by running a railway teashop business.But along with this he had continued his studies and graduated in political science from Ahmedabad.He had the habit of wandering in the Himalayas and during one such journeys he visited the SRK Ashram ,Belur ( Kolkatta ).The visit to Belur was a turning point in his life.He got very much inspired by the man-making teachings  of SwamiVivekananda.He started reading all books on and by the great sage.Themix of life’s hardships,social experiences and spiritual knowledge became the pillar stones of Mr Narendra Modi’s way of life.

Mr.NM served the people a lot during the Gujarat floods in 1967 and realized the cruelest   experiences by his people.He felt the need  of standing for a righteous cause with utmost discipline.He joined the RSS and served as a pracharak for long.This gave him the exposure to the genuine problems of the masses.When Sri Jaiprakash Narayan started the Nav Nirman anticorruption movement in 1974,Mr NM got actively involved in that.Mr Modi joined the BJP in 1987 and was soon the  General Secretary of the Gujarat unit.During this time he conducted to long journeys,from Somnadh to Ayoddhya and from Kanyakumari to Srinagar ( J & K )

In 1995 he became the National Secretary of the BJP.This postion helped him to strengthen the party units in several important states.In 1998 he was appointed the National  GS of the BJP.

Following the tragic earthquake in Kutch in 2001,he was asked by the party leaders to take charge as the CMof Gujarat.He took charge on October 7^th 2001 under  most trying circumstances.

The rest of his career goes like a suspense thriller.MrNarendra Modi had no prior experience in administration or contacting even an IAS officer.He had not even contested in any elections.He had never been to the State chief Minister’s office before.Such a person was put to lead a jumbo cabinet of 40 ministers.Not many in Indian politics would have had a similar fate.But as he was a beginner he could learn things without any bias or a need to unlearn the past.

As he was slowly coming to terms with the  quake relief work of 2001 ,came the Godhra  riots of 2002 which devastated the already crippledGujarat.This unexpected mishap brought out the best EVENT MANAGER in him.His motto was’ Don’t  dream  to become great on your own,but  dream to do something great for your people.’Good governance became the basic  principle  of his govt.He formulated many schemes for the inclusive development of the various sectors in the  state.Mr Modi advocated the philosophy of PANCHAMRUT for economic and social development.The 5 Shaktis ( power )w ere 1) Gyan Shakti ( education ),2) Jal Shakti ( water ),3)Urja Shakti ( energy ),4)Raksha Shakti ( Security ) and 5 )JanShakti ( people )laid the foundation for good governance in Gujarat in the later period.Hardly surprising that he led his party to thumbing victories in the 2002,2007 and 2012 elections.

Now Mr Narendra Modi continues to serve this whole nationwith a dream of leading India to greater heights in the years to come .21^st century is Asia’s century and it is India’s turn to emerge as  the WORLD LEADER.For this the govt should have only one bhakti i.e.Bharat Bhakti and it’s strength should be Jan Shakti .As Swami Vivekananda said “Arise,awake and stop not until the goal is reached “

JAI INDIA

TAMIL FESTIVALS IN KERALA

                                                      Tamil festivals

Upanayanam,Mangalyam,Pumsavana seemantham,

Pongal( Makaram ),Sivarathri( Kumbham ), Thaali noyambu( Meenam ),SriRama navami Meenam ), Vishu( Medam ),Avani Avittom(chingam ),Vinayaka Chathurthy( Chingam ),Janmashtami( Chingam ), ThiruOnam( Chingam ),  Navarathri( Kanni ),  Deepavali, ( Thulam )Thrikkarthika( Vrischigam ), Thiruvathira ( Dhanu ), Amavasya Tharpanam( all new moon days )etc are some of the customs followed by Tamil Brahmins in Kerala.

Some of these are celebrated within the family and some as collective celebrations.Pongal, ThaliNoyambu, Vishu,Deepavali,Thrukkarthika,etc are celebrated in the house itself,while others are celebrated at some common place/hall.

Thalinoyambu is strictly a family function which is performed by the married ladies whose husband is alive for continued  long life with their partners and also by unmarried  girls for good marriage alliance . Recently  this function was conducted during the late night hours in a local hall to give publicity /image boost/ for the community.The news with a photo was published in several newspapers too !I felt it to be a most unhealthy practice to give coverage in media for such family functions. At this rate  we may witness several private functions being held on a  public stage  to entertain the public.

The very same sponsors of this Grand Festival have a defunct school started in the name of a noble person of the community.While most of the other schools established along with it or even later have progressed very much,they found it wise to close down the school and   concentrate on holding  feasts, festivals,felicitations, protest march etc.The school compound would have helped them to do wonderful service to the local public and boost the image of our community.The right thinking elder members can advise them on this.

A VISIT TO KUMBAKONAM AND THANJAVUR

                        Our Thanjavur,Kumbakonam visit Jan 24-28,2014

 We two Left Aluva by the EKM-Karaikal Exp  on 24^th Jan.at 2230 hrs,and reached Thanjavur by 0930 hrs on 25^th.Left our luggages in the Railway cloak room and after breakfast  bought 2 tickets for Kumbakonam.Visited the Bruhadeeswaran temple,Thanjavur during the short break.Returned to the RS by 1145 .Reached Kumbakonam by 1250 by the shatabdi Exp( Coimbatore to Mayiladuthurai.) Hired an auto( Rs60) and   reached the Sankara Residency , where we had arranged for our stay.(Rs 1250 for a AC suit) Occupied the room by 1320 hrs.Got the lunch and took rest till 1500hrs.

                            The hotel people had arranged for our local tour also .We got a very experienced driver Sri.Govindan,who had vast experience in the local tour programmes and also knew very well about the importance of the various destinations.

                                                   Day 1 -  25^th Jan  ( Saturday )( from 1500 hrs to 2000 hrs )

   1) Thinkaloor ( Shiva temple with Chandran )

2) Thiruvayar,the Samadhi of Thiagaraja Swamigal.Every year during the middle of January,Thiagaraja

    Aradhana takes place here.

   3)Swami malai.One of the temples in the Arupadai Veedu of Lord Subramonia.

  4)Thiruvalam chuzhi,(Valampuri )Ganesa temple.White Ganesa.

 5 ) Patteeswaram  temple ( Durgai and Shivan )

 6) Alamgudi ( Guru;Jupiter ).Shiva and Neelambika .

 7 )Njanapuri,Anjaneya peetom (36 feet height )

 8)Padai katty MariAmman,Valangainan

9 ) Uppilyappan koil,( Perumal koil )

10 )ThiruNageswaram ( Rahu ) Siva,Devi.----------Dinner at Hotel Balaji.2030 hrs.

                                                   Day 2-26^th January ,Sunday (0615hrs to 2200 hrs )

1 )Surianar Koil ( Sun ),

2 ) Kanjanur    ( Sukran,Venus )

3)Thiruvizhai Mazhalai(Shiva )temple

4)Abhishta VaradarajaPerumal Koil,Vishnupuram.-----------Breakfast at Mayiladuthurai

5 ) KeezhePerumballam( Kethu )Shiva,Devi temple

 6) Thiruvenkadu ( Budhan )Devi,Shiva temples.

 7)  Vaitheeswaram,( Sevvai,Mars ),Sri Vaidyanatha Swami( Shiva ).----Lunch at Mayiladuthurai.

 8)  Anjaneya Idol( 60 feet height )

9)Vittal ,Perumal temple,Govindapuram( Lord Krishna )

10 )Mahalingeswar temple,Thiruvidaimarutur,( Siva,Devi )

11) Darasuram  temple.Airavateswar ( Shiva ).

12)AdiKumbeswar temple ( Motta gopuram )( Shiva,Devi )

13)Sreerama temple.( Sreerama pattabhishekam )

14 )Sarangapani temple( Vishnu temple

      Dinner from town hotel 2030 hrs.

                                     Day 3,27^th Jan 2014 ,(Monday )0615 hrs to 2000 hrs.

1)Thirumaichur temple ( Shiva,Lalithambika )

 2 )ThiruSkandan Swami,Kandankudi( with Valli & Devayani )

  3),Ganesa temple.Nalankulam ,Thirunellar

 4 )Sani temple,Thirunellar.( Darpaneswaran,( Siva), Devi & Sani.)Heavy crowds of 2-3 lakhs on Fridays,Saturdays and Sundays.)

 5 )Nagur mosque,Beach.( Ptsunami affected area.)

6) Kayarakona Swami  temple,Nagapattanam (Sivan & Neelayathakshi )

7)Anjaneya temple,Nagapattanam

8 ) soundara rajaPerumal koil,Nagapattanam.

9)Nellukkadai Sri MariAmman koil,Nagapattanam.

10) Akkarapettai.The worst ptsunami affected area,A bridge was washed off and a new bridge had to be constructed.Many boats were flown over to the coast.

11)Korakka Siddhan’s Jeeva Samadhi Peetom,Vadakku Poikai nalloor.

12) Velankanni church and Beach.A very neatly maintained place.

13) Salt lakes near Velankanni on way to Thiruvalur.

14)Keezhveloor temple ,Sikkal(  Shiva ,Devi and Muruka )Subramonia is believed to have received the Vel from his mother  at this temple for killing Tharakasura .The temple owns much paddy grown land )

15 ) Sikkal Perumal temple.This also has large land holdings.

16)Arch gate near Thiruvalur with the images of the king in his chariot with a cow on the other side depicting the impartial way in which he took decisions.( a cow rang the bell at the palace gate to complain about the killing of it’s calf by an unidentified person.The king promised to give proper punishment to the guilty.On enquiry it turned out to be the prince himself who brutally killed the calf during his outings.The king himself killed his son using his chariot while his son was sleeping in the palace yard.)

17 ) Thiagaraja Moorthy temple,Thiruvalur ( Birth place of Thiagaraja Swamigal )

18)Nachiar koil,Kalgaruda .

19 )Saneeswaran temple with the entire family of Sanidevan ( 2 wives and 2 children )

20 )Azhakaputhur temple(Siva and Devi ,Sankha Chakra dhari Murukan),Kumbakonam.

                  Dinner at 2030hrs and back to the lodge.

                                   Day 4, 28^th Jan 2014 Tuesday -0630 hrs -1730 hrs

1)      Mahamaham tank,Kumbakonam.The tank is normally full of water.It has 22 wells in it .During the KumbhaMela,the water in the tank is pumped out and there is water in the wells only.People use this water for purifying their body,and then worship in the  temple.

2)      Nageswara temple.( siva,Brahma and Saraswathi ).

3)      Vegetable market near the Arasalar river.

4)      Darasuram fort maidan.

5)      Nalloor Kalyana sundara Temple( the colour of the Shiva linga here is believed to be changing 6 times a day.There is a Kaali temple and also a tank here.

6)      Palaivananathar.A place where paddy is grown extensively using farming/harvesting machines.There are huge sylos  also for storing the paddy.

7)      Papanasam temple.There are 108 Sivalingams here (106 in a hall,1 in the temple and 1 ,known as Hanumat linga outside the main temple).

       The road from Papanasam  to Saha mangaliam has very little curves.  

     8 )Mullaivananathar temple( The Siva linga is believed to have been got from a mullai (jasmine )forest.( Siva  and Kalpaka rakshambika ).There is a big pond too.

         9 )Mariaman Koil,Thanjavur,The Diety here is believed to be the sister of Samayapuram diety.          The diety has rich sarees and ornaments all made of gold.

 10 )Aakaya lingam temple ( siva and Durga )The Siva linga is very tall and is near the railway track to  Trichy. Durga and Naga are also here.           

            11) Thanjavur palace,art gallery,Saraswati mahal library,museum,Viewing tower,Sivaganga garden    

12 ) Brihadeeswae temple,Tanjavur.Very huge Sivalingam and Nandi.Both are carved out of single stones.The towers are not painted and retain their natural stone colour.There are hundreds  of Sivalingas  around the inner temple.

Those who want a comfortable stay and darsan of the temples here can contact ,

SRI SANKARA RESIDENCY,54 –A,Banadurai North Street,Kumbakonam.612 001

( has both AC suites /guest house /accommodation)

Phone numbers - LL  0435 2423243( Kumbakonam )

                                               Mob;- 94437 24271

Sri Govindan ( Cab )         09629201935

Our choice of a new Prime minister

Rahul   Gandhi  

This prominent leader and the Vice president of Indian National Congress was born on 19/6/1970.Though there was nothing special about the initial years of his education,the killing of his grand mother and the former PM Indira Gandhi  in 1984 and that of the later PM and his father Rajiv Gandhi in in 1991, he had to attend the schools and colleges in pseudonyms both within and abroad.He has  taken his MA and MPhil.For a brief period he had worked for some MNCs also.

It was in 2004 that he got involved in the party activities.He won the 2004 parliament elections from Amethi  and represents the same seat till now.The weight /image of the Nehru family is both an advantage and burden for him as any shortcomings in his approach /talk will get very much magnified. If he wants to lead the party and the country on his own merit, he has to do untiring efforts with a clean mind and dedication.  If he decides to   try for  his  chance at the 2019 elections   after getting fully equipped for handling the duties of the  top  job,he will be  a  much more effective  leader.

 Arvind Kejriwaal

He was born on 16/8/1968,After his schooling he took his engineering degree from IIT,Kharagpur.As he had a liking for the civil Services he passed the IRS and joined the Income tax dept and served as a Joint Commissioner.He has attended many seminars and meetings both in India and abroad.As a self disciplined  officer,he was totally against the widespread corruption in the service sector and outside. Because of  his strong convictions for anti corruption activities,he sought VRS in 2006 and formed the  India Against Corruption  organization and later the political wing,Aam Aadmi Party.With strong support from  all sections of the common people like students,young professionals ,ladies etc    he was able to touch the hearts of the masses and win the much fought out Delhi State elections,though slightly short of a clear majority.

Now the question is how far he will be able to go ahead with his /his party’s declared objectives/policies.As he is dependent on the INC for survival,he may have to take at least the INC legislators and convince them that he really wants only good governance for the welfare of the Delhiyists  and no anti INC steps.If he succeeds in that he can spread his party’s wings to more regions/states in the 2014 elections.

For  him also the  chair of  the Prime minister  may not suit now as he has to acquire proper skills to tame the wild beasts in the administration,both political/beaurocratic.

Narendra Modi

He was born on 17/9/1950.He was born to very average parents in Gujarat.In his early years of scooling itself he used to run a tea stall along with his brother  near a bus terminus in his home village.Though  an average student he was a very good debater.He became a full time worker in the RSS and soon  a pracharak.Meanwhile he took an MA in political science from Gujarat university.He was actively involved in the ABVP and also the BJP from day one of the formation of the BJP’s Gujarat unit.In 1998 he became the National secretary and handled the affairs of several states.When Mr Sankar Singh Vakela broke away from the BJP,along with his supporters,Mr Modi helped Sri Kesubhai Patel to become the CM.But in 2001Gujarat was struck fiercely by the Bhuj earthquake resulting in  untold loss of lives and properties in a few minutes.The handling of this tragedy was a herculean task.Though Mr Kesubhai tried his best to solve the miseries of the affected people there was widespread criticism.Hence the BJP leadership thought of alternative CM.Mr Narendra Modi told the top leaders that he will set everything in track at the earliest using all his efforts.As this convinced them,they put Mr Modi as the CM of Gujarat on 7^th Oct,2001.

There were a series of incidents that tested the patience/statesmanship in Narendra Modi during the next few months.There was a concerted effort to destabilize the ministry and annoy the new/young chief minister.He worked overtime to mitigate the sufferings of the people due to the Bhuj earthquake.On 27^th Feb 2002,the Godhra train arsonage took place killing 58 people.This followed the series of communal riots in Gujarat during the later period of 2002.Many people from both the Muslim and Hindu communities were killed.Mr.Modi came in for sharp criticism from many political leaders from several parties.He resigned as CM and the assembly was dissolved.But in the general elections held during 2002 end Mr Modi won 127/182 for his party and was put as the CM for a full term..Once he was assured of a comfortable majority he paid all his attention to assuage the ill feelings of all communities with a single minded vision of ‘Development of Gujarat ‘.He also paid keen attention to wipe out corruption  at all levels.

This sincere and honest efforts to create a ‘Vibrant Gujarat ‘has made Gujarat the most investor friendly state in India.Several global investors’meet have been organized at regular intervels with huge response being accorded every time.The benefits arising out of this spirited work is fully reflected in the people’s response in the subsequent state elections.( 2002-127/182.2007-122/182.and in the fiercely contested 2012 elections-119/182.)Even Muslim dominated areas voted for BJP.

Many of my friends who are leading entrepreuners in several parts of India including Kerala acknowledge that they get top services/sanctions for new units /in record time without bribery from the govt agencies in Gujarat.

 As a person who has made his indelible mark as an efficient and long serving CM of a major state in India,let us give a chance to Sri Narendra Modi to use his time and energies for the progress of India.His optimism is his greatest asset.