Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Tamilnadu Government School - Invites Karate Expert To Ride Motorcycle Over Children's Hands For Their School Celebrations




A Government Elementary School in Villupuram, Tamilnadu,
recently organised an event that exposed school children to serious harm - in the name of celebrations to mark the birth centenary of the former TN Chief Minister, K.Kamaraj.

The 'show' began with students displaying their karate skills. Then came the main event, a motorcyclist riding over the outstretched hands of students from class I to V, lying prone on the ground and later, the bike going over a plank, placed on the chest of a girl.

Ironically, the event was organised in consultation with the parents-teachers’ association (village administrative committee) of the municipality elementary school at Keezhperumpakkam in Villuppuram, on a day when a trust managed by the family of higher education minister K Ponmudy came forward to distribute free uniforms and stationery items.

It was the minister’s wife, the chief guest, who stopped the school authorities from continuing their ‘daring stunts’. “After witnessing a couple of events, the minister’s wife directed us to stop the show. We abruptly ended the programme,” said parents-teachers’ association treasurer M Elangovan.

The incident has evoked strong protests from child rights activists, who want the government to sensitise the teaching fraternity, particularly those in the rural areas, on the basic rights of children.

I remember participating in the Children's Day celebration - our class V children stood in the scorching sun in the Nehru Stadium, here, in Chennai and did some exercise with some props in our hands - hoopla, I think. One girl from my class fainted, because we had to wait for a long time, till the Chief Guest came, to do the exercise, in front of him! This is nothing, comparing to the above stunt. I was shocked in the morning, as soon as I opened the newspaper, seeing this photograph. What will happen to so many tiny fingers, if something went wrong? And the girl...don't want to think further.

Friday, July 24, 2009

This Story Applies To All The Happy/ Intelligent People!


I WOULD LOVE TO BE A WHALE! YOU...?!!


Recently, in a large French city, a poster featuring a young, thin and tanned woman appeared in the window of a gym.

It said: "THIS SUMMER DO YOU WANT TO BE A MERMAID OR A WHALE?"

A middle aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern:

Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans). They have an active sex life, they get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins, stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Barren Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia. Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human? They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex? Therefore they don't have kids either. Not to mention who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me; I want to be a whale.

P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver and a coffee with my friends. With time we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy. Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, "Good gosh, look how smart I am!"

***

This morning, was a happy morning for me, because as soon as I came back from Bangalore early in the morning, I opened my mail box and read this story and my mood went up the sky!! My husband also was happy because, he got an excuse to tell others about his 'fat storage granary'! Now, for the next minimum one month, this story will make a round in our family and other gatherings. He is a good story teller and I am sure, will include some more anecdotes along with this story!

Now, all of us have a good/valid reason to put on weight,after reading this story!

Thanks goes to my niece, Apparna!



Monday, July 20, 2009

Babies for rent at Tirupathi Devasthanam

I was watching India TV just now. I was shocked at this news:

3 months to 2 year old babies are available for rent at Tirupathi Devasthanam for phataphat darshan! Mostly on Mondays and Tuesdays! If you carry a small baby in your arms, you can skip the long queue and go in, via a shortcut way and have the Lord's darshan within one or two hours! Rent is Rs.200/- per hour!

They showed 3 persons with 3 rented babies in their arms.

Where are we going?

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Gafla, an interesting Hindi movie



Picture courtesy: Movie talkies.com


I have never heard about this movie, Gafla, until my son mentioned about it and asked me to watch it. I was in for a surprise. It was quite a good movie. If you are interested in stock markets, then this movie is for you. You will enjoy it better.

Subodh Mehta(Vinod Sharawat, who reminded me of a young Vinod Mehra!) is a middle class intelligent young man, with old parents and a sister. He wants to come up in life and be a rich man. He thinks that share market is the best thing to become rich, if you handle it properly. He reads lots of books on share markets and his idol is Rasiklal (Vikram Gokhale), whose rags to riches story impresses him.

He takes the first step and goes to Bombay Wall Street and comes across Hari (Brijendra Kale) who is a stock broker. Through him he enters the big world of share markets. With correct moves he learns to get tips about which share to buy and which one to sell - the typical bear and bull markets. He starts to make money and people start relying on him. He opens an office and everyone starts buying shares as per his recommendations and make money - from middle class people to low class people treat him as their god. Then the bigwigs in share markets get worried and want him to come under their control...He refuses to do so...Now, the war begins. He is accused of a multi-billion bank scam and is arrested.

No marks for guessing on whose life-story, this movie is based on. The debutante director Sameer Hanchante has done his best in handling a dry storyline.

Shruti Ulfat, who acts as Subodh's girl friend and wants to marry him, has done well. Nearly all the actors are from TV serials and have acted very well.

People who want to watch a class movie, this is it!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Yeh daulat bhi lelo...Jagjit Singh, Chitra Singh



Jagjit Singh and Chitra Singh .

Our family started hearing ghazals when my children were still in school. Till then, we were just addicted to film songs. My brother, who worked in Ahmedabad, got addicted to Jagjit Singh's ghazals and he introduced us to non-filmy ghazals and in time, we started singing their songs ...singing along....!

My whole family loves this song of this duo. The lyrics are wonderful. The voice of Jagjit Singh is matchless and Chitra singh's is, divine. This is an old song and their voice were at their best, in this song, Duniya jise kehte hain, lyrics:Nida Fazli





Safar mein dhoop toh hogi....This ghazal is in Chitra's voice, soft, soulful song....beautiful lyrics by Nida Fazli. Lots of ghazals by Jagjit Singh have Fazli's lyrics.




This is my favourite and my cd must be having a dent, where this song is printed! I keep on hearing it often, not once but always 3-4 times. Couldn't get the video:


Koi paas aaya savere savere
...as usual beautiful lyrics by Saeed Rahi.


Jab Kabhi tera naam
..... Chitra's voice glides like ice-skating, here. Lyrics by Sardaar Anjum


Voh kaagaz ki kashti ....the lyrics.... Both, my husband and I sing this song often....alongwith Jagjit and Chitra. Every word is golden. My elder son, who is abroad, has got the full set of Jagjit's ghazals. He loves these songs.





This is one of their famous and our favourite songs.  Aahista...aahista...! Enjoy!




Another song by Jagjit Singh for the film 'Sarfarosh' which is a famous movie of Aamir Khan. The song is melodious.  The legendary actor Nasseruddin Shah is 'singing'! Music: Jatin-Lalit:




Preferred time to listen to these songs: Night!

Now, enjoy this melodious music!



Edited to add on 28.3.13: I did a post on Chitra Singh and it is here! I came across an article written by the famous lyricist Gulzar about Jagjit Singh here after they did an album, 'Marasim', which has got beautiful songs by Jagjit!  I think I will do one more post on Jagjit's songs!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

My Times Four... Tag



FOUR! My own kitten family!


Sai charan (Beyond Barriers) tagged me to do this 'list of four'. Have a look:


Four Movies You Can See Over and Over:
(I have got a long line of my favourites. Found it difficult to select!)

Gods must be crazy, Part-II

Thiruvilaiyaadal (Tamil)

Pushpak

Khubsoorat


Four Places You Have Lived:
(All my blogger friends know about this! I always mention them!)

Udupi (Karnataka)

Chennai (Tamilnadu)

Bangalore (Karnataka)

Hosur (Tamilnadu)


Four TV Shows You Love(d) to Watch:

Saregama (Sonu Nigam anchored)

Baby planet

Walk the talk (NDTV)

Rendevouz with Simi Garewal show

Four Places You Have Been on a Vacation:

Coorg

Kashmir

US (California and New Jersey)

London

Four Of Your Favorite Foods:

Iddly with chutney and saambaar

Keerai moarkoottu (Green leaves with curd and coconut)

Mixture which I prepare!

Baadusha (sweet!)

Four Websites You Visit Daily:

Maradhi manni!

Gmail

Blogs I follow

Google News

Four Places You Would Rather Be:

My own home with my family

Some place which is greener than here

Place near some mountain and glaciers

In a zoo with elephants & deers (caretaker?!)

Four Novels You Wish You Were Reading for the First Time:

Arthur Hailey's Overload

Irving Wallace's Prize

Eric Segal's The Class

John Grisham's The Firm

Tag Four People You Believe Will Respond:

This is a bit difficult! I was tagged by some of the blogger friends and I am yet to do some of them! So I welcome all my friends who are happy to do this tag!

Enjoyed doing it, Sai!
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