The colors of water

The reflection of the sky is very clear to be seen on the surface of the water. The imagination makes you look closer, one cannot see the sky yet one can see its reflection on the water.

Reality is the original truth and the universe lets it radiate and nothing has a chance to cease it.

This is the work of Mothi, a Pondicherry based artists who is currently working on ‘wall murals’.

He does a lot of experiment with lens, lights, colors; his research enables him to produce more new techniques to articulate the art of water coloring.

His interest in his regional culture is exhibited through his painting. His work depicts the beautiful culture of Tamil Nadu.

Natyagriha, Of 'Chakyar Koothu' and Sanskrit

“I see artisans living in a world of endless opportunities utilizing invaluable traditional skills along with the wisdom inherited by them and tapping into their creative potentials through craft as a medium consequently providing the world outside of them a classic range of rareness; exclusive products that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also eco-friendly having a unique functional value”- Vinit John Ninan , shared one of his visions during my visit to Wadanekurussi.

We were accompanied by Surej, he works for Radio Mango, holds masters in Sanskrit, plays the ‘Mizhavu , and exceptionally performs ‘Chakyar Koothu ‘and knows quite amount of history and folklore. Some of it was information that were lost in the past and the man travels back into time, digs into the clues and bring them out to present.

His mission is to make the community understand their origin; make them understand their heritage and history, realize their valuable traditional skills.

Since we had the plan of creating a digital archive, he brought in Pradeep who has a HD professional camera. It was a one day shoot and it began at 4 in the morning so that we don’t miss the rising sun t, the rooster and the waking of ‘kumbhara Kuttigal’. ‘A day in the Life of a Kumbhara’- ‘Kumbharandey Koodey our divasam’. It was really interesting to give some directions to some of the shots and helped Surej finish his work.  

Surej spearheads ‘Natyagriha, one of Samgrah Vikas Yojna’s visions.

This is an introduction about this personality who works for networking in and connecting the roots. He wants to give a good finishing to an abruptly ended story.

This post has many words that are regional and will be explained as the story goes on

Transforming energies of emotion

Life was simple and sufficiently provided with everything to live with and leave behind for the next to come . The almighty Sun, the ever flowing massive forest river with fishes, the centurions that stand tall providing nourishments, and most of it was the way of the kumbharas and their fascinating life style.

Each day begins with ‘Om Suryaya namah’ , worshiping the ultimate energy, the Sun, and the day ends with the ‘kallum, paattum’ an evening activity that reminds to all member s that ‘we are all here and we are all happy and so will be others’.

The kumbharas respect their history; known their continued struggle, no letters in their language, alienates them from the local land men, unnatural deaths and all this and yet among them I find immense brightness even in the darkest of the living hours.

I came across Lakshmi at Nelambur, a middle aged widow with dull sleepy eyes which never glances at the clock since it has slowed her down from the time her husband passed away. She has no children and lives all alone.

She does not talk or move around the village much. The beauty is that Lakshmi transforms her emotions into creative energies; her hidden talent was provoked by everything that is happening around her. She wanted to have happy family, a loving husband, a home, children, togetherness, she desired for a simple life.

These clay figurines were made by Lakshmi , she is a kumbhari who is an artist/an artisan/a gifted designer. She writes her stories on those clay figurines that she makes. The clay dances in the hand of this artist .These are priceless artifacts that are just not made by hobby artisans or design workshops. These are made by authentic Kumbharas with traditional way of processing the clay, heating, resting and sculpted with a lot of feel, …if you understand what i mean.

Children of the Earth

I see the glow, like a reflection of the sun on those faces. I feel the energy trusted on their spirits. I sense the purity in their existence. Living is simple, yet vitally contributing.

Their roots originate before the ‘tithis’ were charted. They did not evolve to be disconnected from their roots as they understand that leaving a world of actuals and live an illusion is not the purpose.

Lesson: In life, the only truth and certainty known is birth and death. Between the two is the space called madness, it varies from one to another and the one who is not mad seems like the mad man.

A life without such complexities, just like a honey bee or an ant, a simple life, yet vitally contributing.

I came to know of the ‘Kumbaras’, the Children of the Earth as i call them, more closer.

'Samagra Vikas Yojana' ,- Holistic Integrated Development, led me to another dimension of life, people, culture, work and how they connect with each other.

My journey begins at 'wadanekurushi', a small village located few kilometers from Shoranur. I will share my story as i am compiling episodes and seasons. This is in continuation to my previous post http://houseoferrors.blogspot.com/2011/02/appeal-for-upgrade.html

and to be continued...there are many more characters to meet in this Journey.

every 3.6 seconds a person dies of hunger

“The world would must come to an end if a human being dies because of hunger”

Hunger has many faces, but hunger food food can come upon one only due to poverty or unavailability of necessities.  I am not sure as how to categories the rest. Hunger affects in many ways, but ultimately it can be fatal if unattended. Fighting hunger has been a continuous battle and has been fought for ages and even today some nations unite fighting against hunger issues

Over the course of time, people, organizations, government institutions have been addressing the pressing concerns of hunger and as global economy grew, there were even studies conducted on hunger in preparation to resist it.

The evil hand of hunger has the ability to reach into one’s mind make it weak and weary. It influences thoughts, actions, behaviors, turning almost everything positive to negative.

I don’t believe that hunger is a natural phenomenon, maybe yes it was in the olden days, the saints cruising lands bring plague and hunger upon them, not anymore, with the technology and the science we have now, it is something that can dealt with ease.

Talking of science and technology, I really recommend our team of scientists not to invest billions of dollars to find few droplets of water in Moon or send a rover to the mars, instead, invest in  technology through which world hunger can be solved. 

If you think you are not obliged to help them then you are very wrong. Your responsibility is to take care of the ones whom you can and whom you should. I do my part and I know it is one of my purposes.

This is one of the short films won at the Berlin film festival 2006, you could see how Hunger can change man to dog. Watch the entire film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxjzgFlnUyk

An Appeal for An Upgrade

My recent visit to Durgapur and Shantiniketan was great. Met a lot of people, experienced their culture, shared urban legends and folklores. I felt people there are warm or would like to stay warm as there is a circle of dependency and everyone acknowledges and respect every co survivors.

During my travel I came across many visionaries, reformists, not political rebels but just commoners who are good people. Sharing their views about life and things around it was like sitting below the ‘bodhi’ tree and attaining enlightenment. I was going through the various profiles of these tribes and rural communities. Each have their own ways to survive as each carry their unique traditional skill sets.

Most communities in India are profiled on basis of the type of businesses, services or the trade that they involve. Customarily, Damais are tailors, Kamis are smiths, Sarkis are cobbler, Dhobis are washerman, Khumbaras are potters and so on...

This is about a particular set of people who live among us and are now fighting for the existence of their clan and culture.

‘Khumbaras’ are ethnic and indigenous community in India who are almost in the edge of extinction. A group of Khumbaras now live in Aruvakode , Nilambur, Kerala and are said to have migrated to these parts during the reign of Tipu Sultan. They are artisans by trade, men who make their crafts with sand and clay. Their way of life is ancient, one that has existed over civilizations. Courtesy http://s1ndb4d.blogspot.com/2011/02/two-kumbharas-part-1.html

There is a relation here and that’s why I started with my travel to north east and swung all the way down to the south because I see a connection, to make a small change in things.

Most tea shops and in the trains in south India, as far as I have seen, uses ‘plastic cups’. As per the environmental act http://envfor.nic.in/legis/hsm/plastic.html, it is against the constitutional guidelines and it must be maintained.

Now the request to the ministry of environment is to replace the plastic cups by these ‘matkas’ that I came across in tea shops in West Bengal. I am sure it is used elsewhere but I liked the idea of these 'matkas'… even if you thrown it on the ground it just goes back to its natural form and no harm.

But that is not the case with plastics cups. Its choking the environment and suffocates the living.

The Khumbaras should be given the opportunity to produce these ‘matkas’ at government subsidized procured materials. This way they can have a stable income to support their family. Children who are highly exploited to labor and house chores can go to school.

There will be a significant enhancement in the rural development through this project. There will be infrastructural developments , hospitals, colleges, better roads, quarters etc. The chain of good events will only lead to good results and we hope to bring the change soon.

There are social workers who are willing to volunteer in procuring, managing and monitor materials and production. The Khumbaras just need to sit back and do the best in what they do.

It is understood that the quantity of consumption is huge however, we can first start with government institutions, offices and government administered bodies. We can even begin this with the Southern Railways.

The government needs to understand that adding many such ‘Act’ to the constitution does not make the constitution meet the global standards unless the ‘Act’ is enforced and shown in results. The change has to start from there and they need to set examples.

Anyone can work towards this, no experience required but needs real dedication and clear intentions to help people in building a better world for them.

5 Million dreams to become true by 2020

It was a spectacular event at Kolkata... it stared with

My intentions with respect to the recent activities involving Akshaya Patra and IndiBlogger was clear enough that I am here to support their cause in whatever way the best I can. This is one such activity where I have involved with my heart only and not my mind with any hidden agenda.
The first blogger meet for creating the awareness about this program in the virtual world was held in Bangalore on the 9 of Jan 2011. Many like minded and kind hearted bloggers and non bloggers attended the meet and showed their participation by donating, their blog posts.
The online contest and the meet received raving global response and the buzz was on …
In as sequel , the next chapter at Kolkata is scheduled to happen on the 20th, and i am very much looking forward. And many thanks to the Infinity Infotech Group who has encouraged the past blogger meets and the upcoming ones.

I had a chance to meet with Mr. Ravidra Chamaria the MD of the group over lunch yesterday and he shared with me his views and visions for improving the status and standards of education in India.
He was kind enough to invite me for a fund raiser event in the evening at the oberoi grand for Akshaya Patra. He had also invited Mr Narayana Murthy to give a speech to encourage the people of West Bengal to join the fight against hunger in the state.

Mr Murthy too is an active member of the Akshaya Patra Programs. He shared his experience to the audience, he explained in detail about the process, the stake holders involved and the beneficiaries who are the unprivileged children of India.

Here comes the spectacular part,almost at the end of the event and in less than a span of 30 mins, more than 40 people donated their disposable income to Akshaya Patra and it was estimated to be around Rs 4,500,000 . That is equivalent to provide midday meals to 450 schools every single day for the next one year.

With such overwhelming response from a room seated with around 100 nobel men, the vision of Akshaya Patra can be achieved much easier and much sooner . 5 million school children to be fed by 2020. It can be done before 2020,in my opinion.

I can only see a million more smiles now and a million more dreams that will soon become real for those children in near future.

(In Pics)Left: Mr Ravindra Chamaria . Right Mr.Narayana Murthy

Got a headache !

Fat Chick : ok, so thin or fat?

Thin Boy: look darling, with the thinnies you can't feel anything and with the fatties you don't know what you feeling !

Fat Chick: nice...something is cooler than nothing huh?

Thin: errr ...no !

Fat Chick : :- (

100 % Free Fat

Fat chick (weighs a 120 kgs) : hey do you think I have reduced?

Thin Boy: look darling you are like a beautiful iceberg, who could tell the difference if it melts a little huh?

Fat chick: awww thanks !!!

People up there! Look down for details

I have to give you a real time scenario to make you understand the situation. the situation is....

I receive money on my icici salary account.Basically a old account as i don't work for anyone and i just let this account be active. I wanted to go and withdraw the money; it was the end of the month dec 2010, so I had to take this cash out that I had kept as reserve. I went to the ATM to take the cash out and no luck. My card gets declined and the machine instructed me to get in touch with the bank.

So I go to the bank and the banker tells me that “sorry sir you account was a salary account and since you have moved out a year back from your previous company we have blocked the account”. It was a debit freeze and I cannot take any money until I change it to a savings account which will take about 7 days. It was the 30^th of Dec and you know how that is.

So I asked them , ‘why didn’t you communicate this info to me’. The bankers said that they had sent postal letters to my residence. Now, I get a dozen of mails from them. Most of it are promos, details of my account which has mostly nothing in it, the insurance schemes which I have a dozen already and among them this might have just slipped in. So lets just review the whole scenario. I mean I want KV Kamath to look into this and should feel like ‘damn I could have saved a shit a lot of money’ .

I get average of two calls from icici a day for loans , mutual funds, demats, credit cards, insurance from these morons to whom I have told not to call. But they still call (a lot of cost goes there). They send me sms to book movie tickets through icici debit card . Whereas I prefer to call the theater ppl and they deliver my tickets. 10 % discount on using icici debit cards on select restaurants. I am not cheap to ask for a discount for the meal I had. I prefer to pay. (again, money, a lot of it goes for these sms promos too) .

There was not even one call, or one sms or one email to notify about the account freeze.

Now that’s not what I am really concerned. Imagine lakhs of customers like me. Who receives unwanted, unnecessary account details stating your account has 0 balance. Sending that same shit for over 12 months. Check this

Cost of the paper

Cost of printing

The power used for printing

The postal/courier charges

The man power used to send these stupid piece of paper every month.

I can bet my balls that I would have saved at least 10+ crores in 6-7 months.

Now to Mr. Kamath, weren’t you able to see this or was your belly stopping you to look down into this. 'khayal aapka' my ass …khayal tho apne aapka hein, dhoorson ka nahin.

Have you ever considered to make it convenient for the customer. You have only made it convenient for yourself. Reluctant to change , just not in this case but that's the way we are. Reluctant to change and support to arrest development.

Coming back, focus on banking and let people book movie tickets pay for their meal on their own. Your are not making things easy, you are complicating the way banking should be done. Why am I talking ? I worked for Bank Of America for more than two years. Involved in more than 12 eastern zone process implementations and streamlined the refinance operation back in 2000.

So don’t label these guys has great economist please.