fun porridge...

with her kitchen set
she made me
fun porridge

Adyar Poonga Summer Workshop

For those of you in Chennai...

Adyar Poonga - an eco park initiative by the Government of Tamilnadu - is conducting a summer workshop this May. Find below information regarding the workshop. It may be a good place to spend a day learning about eco-initiatives in your city...

Responsibilities...

Is it possible to function without responsibilities?

Speed Breakers

There are these two new huge speed breakers near our house. Over time, we have created this ritual when we go over speed breakers - we both say "aaa... Jump" just as we go over it. So we did this time too. Only that it was a rather big jump!

This prompted the question - what are these speed breakers for?. I tried to explain. People tend to go fast on roads. When they go fast, they may dash into each other and fall down. That's bad. So, these bumps are required so that they slow down and don't dash into each other.

Then came the question - even now, after the speed breakers are in place, they come fast and they might fall down because of the speed breakers?

I had to say, "Yeah true, but over time, they will know that there is a speed breaker there and they will slow down".

She didn't go further with that, but it did set me thinking.

We adults and our weird ways.

The Crow

It was early in the morning. The window was open and the monsoons had just set. We were both looking out the window - not particularly at anything. Just looking out. Suddenly a crow came and sat in the window sill just for a moment. She looked at us both with tilted head - once through this eye then through another. Then she flew away.

We looked at each other. After a brief pause we both laughed out loud. We then went to the room with the TV and loaded the DVD. Then, as a celebration of the moment, we watched that old song "Kaa Kaa Kaa... ".

It was such a moment.

One Great Farewell...

9 long years, I am bound to have so many memories I can go back to. However, the last 2 days were the most memorable. Proud to say it, I worked with a great team here and they made every second of my last few days count!

As it is said, I couldn't have had it better!

New Blog Announcement...

I intend to document my thoughts and findings as I embark on an experimental journey as a high-school maths teacher.

You can find them in my new blog - "A Math Teacher's Diary".

As always - thoughts, comments, feedback - most welcome.

NDTV Conscience...

NDTV tries too hard to project itself as media with a conscience.

Yesterday was classic. In its "exclusive" crusade to save India's beaches, NDTV did an interview of Jairam Ramesh (minister, environment). Some sensational questions were asked - "what is the government really doing?". Since no controversial answers were there for the taking, at the end of it Srinivasan Jain proclaimed - "NDTV will continue its fight to save India's beaches and will continue to keep you updated from time to time".

By the way last year, the fad was "Save the Tiger". This year its the beaches. Suits the kind of audience that they are targeting - no matter how contrived it may sound.

Also of note are Prannoy Roy's promises that he makes to the victims of media harassment. Two promises are worthy of note -

1. Promise to the uncle of Aarushi Talwar that NDTV will not harass them with interviews at a time when the family is in the midst of a horrific tragedy (after that man openly appealed to all media during an interview in NDTV!)
2. Promise to Rani Mukherjee that NDTV will not indulge in spreading rumor and gossip about movie stars

Somewhere down the line, NDTV also stood first in line to cover all the rumors surrounding issues of national interest, such as the Abhishek-Aishwarya wedding.

At the other end of the conscience spectrum would be, Barkha Dutt's cheap "How do you guys feel?" questions in the middle of the night to the family members of the victims of the 26/11 terrorist attack.

May be there is a point of view where all this is consistent.

Libertarianism and I

Come to think of it, I am very weak on principles. Frankly, I don’t believe in anything so strongly that I can say for sure that my position/stand will never change.

Yes, that should be the fundamental aspect of my thinking that can explain my position on ideologies. My training in mathematics could have contributed a bit but it surely isn’t the major reason. I am obsessed with questioning everything – every principle. The scientific sense of the word “questioning” has quite a positive connotation. But my attitude of questioning everything isn’t entirely positive in life situations when you have to make decisions.

My social weaknesses apart [and reverting back to the point of this write-up], I want to explain my position on ideologies.

I am a very case-by-case person. I react to certain situations in a certain way because I think for that particular case, it sounds about right. For me, ideologies, principles and philosophies can only go so far. They are all by-products of the human weakness to generalize. This approach – however questionable – has helped me resolve conflict situations. Specifically, it has helped me understand the other man’s point. I rarely get to the conundrum – “What he says can’t be right because I’ve always believed this is so”. I’ve either never believed in it or even if I had, it was still open to question. Such realization obviously doesn’t dawn in the heat of the moment. Even if it does, I may choose to be dishonest about it and not admit it. But as an afterthought, my mind is almost always clear. And that’s very valuable to me.

Libertarianism, as a case in point, is an ideology. I don’t subscribe to it just as I do not subscribe to any ideology. However, there are certain ideologies that need to be respected based on the situation in which they are propounded. The Indian economic and social context, for example, demands that the libertarian ideology be given necessary respect. What’s special about the Indian context? I think you know that. It is about the pendulum being biased on one side that to move toward equilibrium, bias on the other side needs to be considered. Mark my words, considered.

However, we need to be clear about what this respect means. Let me say for instance – when making every policy decision, the libertarian what-ifs need to be considered debated and proven to be less effective – before we take any other position and make it policy. If we fail to prove, obviously we pick one of the libertarian what-ifs. That would be my stand. Extending this, I am very receptive when any existing policy/law/rule is questioned based on the libertarian ideology. I don’t dismiss the questioning just because it is the result of an ideology. More importantly, because it is spoken in a context where such thinking is required, I give it the due respect. It is easy to see that this respect is a form of bias; a bias demanded by the context; a bias I think it fully deserves.

In my experiences so far, the main problem for the libertarian ideology in the Indian context comes from one of its fundamentals – presumption of a robust law-and-order framework. In India, as many of you know, the law is still very much an ass. Rule of law is akin to Rama-Rajya, a utopian dream. And without it, many steps towards liberalization [in true libertarian sense] either have had no impact or sometimes even have had negative impact.

The libertarian ideologues, though they know this, aren’t anywhere close to accepting that this is a big enough problem. They have made themselves to believe that the market is so powerful that it will create unwritten laws on its own and force people to behave. I disagree – and I have reasons.

In spite, I still think the concept deserves respect.

So there.

நாந்தான் தெனாலி ராமன்

சன்டே சாயங்காலம் கூத்துப்பட்ட்றையோட தெனாலி ராமன் நாடகத்துக்கு போயிருந்தோம்.

கொசுக்கடி; ஃபேன் காத்து செரியா வல்ல; ஒக்கார எடம் சுமாராதான் இருந்துது; சின்ன தேட்டர்ல நல்ல கூட்டம்; விட்ட செருப்ப கண்டுபுடிக்க முடியல.

ஆனா ட்ராமா சூப்பர். Interpretation அமோகமா இருந்துது. கிருஷ்னதேவராயரை க்ளவுன் ஆக்கி அவர் கைல லாலி பாப் குடுத்தது மாஸ்டர் ஸ்ட்ரோக்.

பாதிதான் பாத்தோம். ஆனா ரொம்ப ரஸிச்சு பாத்தோம்.

Chemistry Revision Exam

“It was the night before one of my Chemistry Revision Exams. Yes, ‘Revision Exam’. A ‘Revision Exam’ is something that prepares you for a ‘Board’ exam – which is the do-all and end-all of Indian School Education. Half of the 12th grade academic year used to be filled with Revision Exams in my school. I loved my school.

I hated Chemistry all my school life. All about it – particularly the teachers. That night though, I opened up my text book and browsed my way to the last chapter on ‘Sugars’. I started reading. Somehow my concentration didn’t waver for quite a bit [very unusual for Chemistry]. I ended up studying that chapter pretty well and was able to recollect most of the reactions [and their names], associated chemical compounds, the works. Aspartame was my favorite chemical compound since its chemical structure almost filled one full page of my book.

I turn up for the exam the next day, horribly prepared but better than usual [1 Chapter vs. Zero]. The question paper is distributed and I go through it. As always most of it is undecipherable. I revisit the paper head-to-toe. Nope. No questions from the last chapter.

What do you do now? What did I do?

I recovered from the brief disappointment, opened the answer sheet, marked the customary “pillayar suzhi” and titled the first sheet “Sugars”. Under it, I gave an introduction on what I was going to explain in the following pages. Then sub-header after sub-header followed. I wrote all that I knew on that topic, all that I could recollect. Aspartame’s structure filled one sheet. It was tidy work. No mistakes. Clear thought process evident.

I completed my paper a little before everyone else in the class [which wasn’t unusual]. But this time, I walked out with a smile on my face.

My knowledge of the subject was there for all to see.”

காலங்கள் மாறலாம்...

கமலஹாஸன் நேற்று TV நேர்க்காணல் ஒன்றில் தனக்கு பிடித்த தமிழ் படங்கள் மிக குறைவே என்று கூறினார். ஏன் என்றால் மிகக்குறைவான படங்களே காலங்களைக் கடந்து இன்றும் அதே பொலிவுடன் திகழுகின்றன என்றார். பாலுமஹேந்த்ராவின் சில படங்களை உதாரணமாக சுட்டிக்காட்டினார்.

“Ability to stand the test of time" என்பது தான் ஒரு படைப்பின் சிறப்புக்கான அளவுகோளா என்று கேட்கலாம். அந்த விவாதம் வேறொரு நாள்.

காலத்தைக்கடந்து இன்றும் மங்காப் பொலிவுடன் விளங்கும் சில படைப்புகளைப் பற்றி இப்போது.

“அந்த நாள்” திரைப்படம் எனது அந்தப் பட்டியலில் முதல் இடம். பாடல் நாடகங்களை கேமராவில் படம் பிடித்து திரைப்படம் என்று விற்ற காலத்தில் screenplay, characterization போன்றவற்றை தமிழ் திரை உலகிற்கு புதுமையான முறையில் அறிமுகம் செய்து வைத்த படம். பாடத்தெரிந்த, மோசமான நடிகர்கள் இருந்தால் போதும் என்பதை மாற்றி, நடிப்புக்கும் கதாப்பாத்திரத்துக்கும் முக்கியத்துவம் கொடுத்து எடுத்த படம். சிவாஜி, பண்டரி பாய் நடிப்பு ஓஹோ. மற்ற உப கதாப்பாத்திர நடிகர்களும் அற்புதம். எஸ். பாலச்சந்தர் தமிழ் நாட்டின் ஆர்சன் வெல்ஸ்; ”அந்த நாள்” சிடிசன் கேன் போன்றதொரு புரட்சிப்படம்.

முருகன் லெண்டிங் லைப்ரரியில் “பாரதியார் கதைகள்” என்ற புத்தகத்தை தேடிக் கண்டுபிடித்தேன். அதைத் தேடுவதற்காக போகவில்லை. வேறு ஏதோ புத்தகத்தைத் தேடும்போது இது அகப்பட்டது. லெண்டிங் லைப்ரரிகளில் எனக்கு மிகவும் பிடித்த விஷயம் unorganized bookshelves. தேடினால் மட்டுமே பிடித்தவை கிடைக்க வாய்ப்பு. And half the fun is in the hunt.

”பாரதியார் கதைகள்” புத்தகத்தில் ”ஆறில் ஒரு பங்கு” என்று ஒரு கதை. இந்திய சுதந்திரப் போராட்டத்தை backdropஆக கொண்டு எழுதப்பட்ட ஒரு காதல் கதை. என்ன அற்புதமான சித்தரிப்பு! First Person narrativeஆக சொல்லப்படும் இந்த கதையின் கதாநாயகனிடம் பாரதியின் குணாதிசயங்கள் நிறையவே உள்ளன. "காத்திருப்பேனோடீ... இதுபார் கன்னத்து முத்தம் ஒன்று” என்று எழுதியவர் எவ்வளவு பெரிய romanticஆக இருந்திருக்க வேண்டும். அது தான் இந்த கதையிலும் வெளிப்படுகிறது. பாரதியார் காலத்தை கடந்த ஒரு ஜீனியஸ் என்பதை எனக்கு மறுபடி நிரூபித்த கதை இது.

While "standing the test of time" may not be the only quality of greatness, when a piece of creative work manages to do that so well, it does automatically become great.

அந்த மாத்திரத்தில் சந்தேகம் இல்லை.

தமிழ் சிறுகதைகள்...

இரண்டு ஜெயகாந்தன் கதைகள் சமீபகால [நல்ல] திரைப்படங்கள் இரண்டிற்கு "inspiration"ஆக இருந்திருக்கலாம் என்று நினைக்கிறேன்.

“நந்தவனத்தில் ஓர் ஆண்டி”யில் வரும் ஆண்டிக்கும் பிதாமகனின் சித்தனுக்கும் சில ஒற்றுமைகள் இருக்கன்றன. அதேபோல “ட்ரெடில்” கதையில் வரும் ப்ரிண்டிங் ப்ரெஸ், ”தவமாய் தவமிருந்து” திறைப்படத்தை நினைவு படுத்தியது.

நான்கு படைப்புகளுமே எனக்கு மிகவும் பிடித்தவை.

By the way, புதுமைப்பித்தனின் “கடவுளும் கந்தசாமி பிள்ளையும்” கதை "Magic Realism" வகையை சார்ந்ததா?

Meet Kuku...

Flute

Today, after a very long hiatus, I took the flute out and played the only set of notes that I can readily play. She, as expected, demanded that I give the new toy to her. I handed it over. She positioned it awkwardly in her lips and tried to imitate me. Then gave it back to me and signaled that I play again.

I did.

As the tune went past the first few notes, she started a sort of slow dance and continued on till the music ended. So far I haven't seen her dance like that - slowly, trying to maintain synchrony with the slow music. As she danced, she was nodding towards her mother with raised eyebrows as if to say that she appreciates the music and expecting the nod back in appreciation of it.

It was such a moment.

Murali

Murali has this to say about his ex-captain Arjuna Ranatunga...

Q: Who was the most influential person in your cricket career?
Murali: Arjuna as my first captain and he did a lot of things for me. During the difficult times in Australia he protected me a lot. If he had not be as strong as he was I may not have broken the record today.

[From cricinfo]

Arjuna will have tears in his eyes... He's earned it...

Osman Samiuddin

Even in a simple bulletin detailing out the day's events, Osman Samiuddin shows his class. One of the few good writers at Cricinfo and very few good ones around the world.

By the way, the breed of cricket writers is growing (and the good ones diminishing) at a rapid pace.

Laxman, then Ganguly

It should be Laxman, then Ganguly. Not the other way round like it is now.

Laxman is a better stroke player. Ganguly can shepherd the tail better.

So...

Update: Following my expert opnion, in the test match that is happening, Ganguly has been sent ahead of Tendulkar in the second innings.

BSNL

I did not pay the bill on time for BSNL last month. After a while, all outgoing calls were blocked. Talked to a few people around and they said it might be a big hassle to get things working again.

After some delay and worrying about the consequences, I thought of taking corrective action. As a start, I decided I will pay the bill. I went to the automated BSNL pay station and paid the bill.

Next day, was discussing with my wife on how to go about requesting that the facility be turned-on again. How can I bring things back to normal with our telephone. Etc, etc.

Lakshmi said she will just check anyway if we are able to make outgoing calls now. Only if we are not able to, we need to do something.

I laughed. We paid the bill last night. Do you really think there is some magical program that runs overnight and releases all lines checking if we have paid the bill. That too, when we have paid it this late?

She tried calling. And she got through.

Yes, BSNL.

Kirsten and Prasad

It is quite ironical that there is the possibility of Gary Kirsten and Venkatesh Prasad together being coaches for the Indian team in the near future.  Gary Kirsten was once Venkatesh Prasad's bunny (atleast according to Prasad) when the latter was one of India's top seamers.  :-)