கடல் கடந்து...

மூச்சடைக்க அடைக்க

என்னறைக் காற்றில்

தனிமை...

கல்லாய் கனத்துப்போய்

கரைய மறுக்கும்

வினாடிகள்...

எப்போதும் முகம்நோக்கி

விழித்திருந்து வெறுப்பேற்றும்

கணிப்பொறி...

நட்ட செடியின் மலரும்

நாலு வயது மகனும்

மேசையில் பின்னணி...

கண்ணீரையும்

கண்ணீர் துடைப்புகளையும்

கடத்தா தொலைபேசி...

உறவினர் பேராசையுடன் நெருங்க,

மனைவி பெருமைபொங்க சிரிக்க,

விடுமுறையில்

என்னை

"மாமா" என்றழைத்தான் மகன்

"அப்பா" தொலைபேசியில் தான் பேசுவாராம்.

Prodigious commoners

          Inspiration - what's that??? That which emanates from men who made it very big in life??? Does it take a persona in the lines of Dr.Kalam, The Mahathma, Ms.Kiran Bedi to inspire us??? Hmm... Not necessary!!!

         These Chennai days are teaching me so much than did the insulated, secure days at Trichy and the fun-filled yet shielded days at Tanjore. Each day dawns with the list of regular ordeals which confront me without fail - crossing the road (thanks to the signals @ anna univ entrance and santhome church!!!), the backpack which makes 50% of my weight only to pull me back during walk, squeezy travel in mtc etc.,  In this process, i encounter men, as common as you and me (or rather me alone!!!), who make impressions, which do not get eroded that easily!!!

         The first person i am going to mention is one who does one of the difficult jobs - being a bus conductor. Most of these men, as per my observation, are very short tempered and shout to the top of their voices to keep the situation under control. Can’t blame them though!!! But, this person was very cool despite the moderate crowd. The ladies, who were standing, were made to sit after he made some men sitting in the ladies side to stand. He apologized for having dashed by mistake, someone who was standing near me. Unlike others doing his job, he was very polite and called everyone "நீங்க", "sir", "அம்மா". Usually, the passengers would be called "நீ", "அது" etc as if they were inanimate!!!

       As you may know, Kamarajar Salai leads to the Tamil Nadu legislature from Santhome via Rajaji Salai. From 9:30am, the traffic in this road would be flooded with VIPs' and their escorts' cars. Unfortunately, one day, i got held up at the signal where 3 roads converge in front of the Church. There were two traffic policemen managing the traffic for a VIP's car to pass. I had to cross the road and was waiting there for more than 15 minutes. At last, the VIP's car passed and we were signalled to cross the road. When i crossed, one of the policemen said, "சாரிம்மா... ரொம்ப நேரம் நிக்க வெச்சிட்டோம்..."(meaning "Sorry, we made you wait for a long time"). I was really surprised and gave him a smile and sped.  Despite the fact that it wasnt a part of his duty to apologize to a puny creature for something he wasnt responsible for, he did!!!

         The final one is somewhat funny. That was the day of my "Data Mining" semester examination which dawned in a less rainy and cloudy manner than the previous day. I was speeding to the bus stop with the book in my hand. After five minutes or so, when i had crossed less than half the distance, it started raining!!! That too very heavily!!! The function i ran to search for the umbrella in my bag, returned "void"!!! Adding to the downpour, the vehicles which passed by did a great job splashing water and drenching me and my book fully. Fortunately, i got a seat in a bus. But the worst part was that, my book was fully damp with one page missing and the other pages sticking with each other. I could do nothing but to curse my absent mindedness which was worsened by the exam tension. There was a lady, who seemed like a construction worker sitting behind me. On seeing my pitiable plight, she offered a plastic cover to have my book inside it. Needless to say, it was the need of that hour and i thanked her from the bottom of my heart. She gave me a kind smile and got off the bus. 

          So, to conclude, please go to the first paragraph!!!

Exam blues:( plus Random memories of UG life :)

     Now that i am done with all the examinations in my life (hope so :-/...), a rewind of those i have taken in my life becomes quite obvious for a nostalgic. 

      

     Right from my school days, these wretched events called exams used to tire and frustrate me. In-spite of being a very keen listener (only during school, as a matter of fact!!!), would not score high grades in the examinations due to minimal study at home. Maybe, that made me susceptible to all the worst grades earned during college :) 

      Came the tenth standard examinations which were played spoilsport with by the Cricket World Cup 2003. Most people of our batch prepared for the first "big" examination of our lives with eyes meandering between the books and the television!!!  Anyway, by God's grace most of us put up a decent score!!!

       Fortunately, or unfortunately, my entry into an Engineering College happened unplanned. I eliminated electronics and electricals since they were bitter lessons in Physics for me. Dad eliminated Civil, Mechanical etc for he thought that they were not "girlish" enough and would make his daughter weary. We zeroed in on "Computer Science" as somebody told me that it is "the student friendly" course which would never require hard core hard work as other courses do.

         First semester saw me being a "padips, aako" or however you call it. Constant visits to the computer lab (for i was a bio student @ school), early rising and regular studying, new tasks of getting my laundry done, cleaning utensils etc - believe me, i was this good girl during the first semester. Coming to the exam episode, scored fairly well. But i was very happy about my performance in the C programming lab exam!!! I think that was the first and last lab exam that i did very well!!!

        Then came the other semesters, with unforgettable relationships blossoming and me getting to be my "real irresponsible, lazy self". Studying was confined to the nights before the examinations with me, Ilakki and Sangee literally trying to get our heads into the books. We called those sessions "study sessions", but studies would take place only as a diversion from pulling each others' leg, my singing, sangee’s stories and ilaki's funny encounters with the seniors. To add fuel to the fire, students would be provided tea the night before the examination. We would happily waste half an hour or so just for getting it from the mess and drinking it. Once, ilak kicked me by mistake and made me limp for a day or two during a semester examination. That was very funny indeed!!! And for those exams which we studied alone, i would be dozing off often with Viji motivating me to study. She was a very patient creature trying to make me and Mahesh study. Alas!!! All her efforts would go in vain. She would even call us for snacks to refresh our "tired" minds. We go with her, eat them and be back to sleep!!!  Ah!!! Those beautiful days are being treasured in my heart!!!

         NCC was a different experience altogether exposing the unexplored side of our personae. NCC 'B' and 'C' certificate exams also had theory elements in them. Here too i had very good company in the form of Viji and Ilakki. Donno how i cleared those examinations with 'A' grading!!! God's grace again!!! They were one of the most important exams i attended since my morale had a great boost after the results were declared!!!

      For the past three semesters of my M.E., my semester exam preparations would find me sitting in a room all alone, with books in my hand, yawning, dozing etc... Exam preparations in solitude casted an abominable lull over my tormented mind...  I really missed you Viji, Ilakki, Sangi, Mahesh... :'(     

கவிதையோ???

சமத்துவம்

*கூரையையும் காரையையும்
நனைத்து இணைத்து
சிரித்தது மழை.

தேர்தல் காலம்

*கருப்பு வெள்ளையில்
வாழ்விருக்க
வீட்டுச் சுவரில்
வண்ணச்சிதறல்.

A day which went straight into my heart!!!

This is gonna get veeeeeeeeeeeeeeery long!!! Trespass if only you have patience dear friends!!!

                “Sometimes I wish

      I could turn back time…

                  Impossible as it may seem…”goes a song.

Our longing for a rewind to UG life was quenched by our very own Kavitha mam. How can we turn down an opportunity as alluring as this one!!! Greedily, I grabbed the chance to be with my own clan though my project review was scheduled the following week. and wow!!! What a day it was!!!

The elephant at the entrance welcoming us!!!

Despite the lazy person I am, got up at 5:00 that morning. When I just set my foot on vallam bus stop (after a year I guess), I was welcomed by a very memorable sweet voice calling out, “Hey Suriyah… ”. It was one of my dear friends, Rukku. Both of us got keyed up and were almost jumping of joy as we did not expect each other there at that time.

The MBA block

We got on a bus to college and were in an animated conversation in spite of the bus being jam-packed. When we got down, it was the MBA block which attracted our attention first. We fondly remembered our “T&P in-charge” days during which we would be running to and fro between our department and the MBA block. Both of us were effervescent individuals (I was better I guess!!! Rukku, admit it!!!) getting into conflicts with our then T&P staff incharge. The next T&P staff incharge made me cry just for voicing out the collective view of the class!!! Hmmm. That was, of-course, a very bad day, which now evokes laughter!!!

The path doing the service of  joining our dept and the canteen :)

We marched to our department crossing the greeny, greeny path filled with an air of nostalgia. The “PERIYAR KNOWLEDGE CENTER” which houses CSE, MCA, M.Sc Software Engg, IT departments and the library had grown taller. Two floors added to its head if I am not mistaken!!! We sat in the entrance ruminating all the naughty things we did at that spot during the daily tea time. Mr.Karunakaran anna, our department peon, on seeing us, called me, “Hello… Paavaanar…” - the same way in which he used to call me during college days, (the name of the Tamil club I headed). As we were chatting with him, saw our dear mam and went to her. The smile which she gave on seeing us, wow!!! It spoke soooooo much… Not to mention the conversation with mam which made us too happy!!!

Canteen lawn

Our favorite spot, canteen had our footsteps on its floors then. Meanwhile, sathya joined us. Relished our usual combo of tea and vadais sponsored by Rukku, who is now a central government employee :P. Then, the “Awesome Twosome” of Coimbatore Anna University, Ilakkia and Bhagya, and Alaguselvi made their presence followed by Kanimozhi, Gayathri.R, Ashiffa, Suganya.M, Poornima and Sugantha. We all marched unanimously to the indoor stadium where the function was to be held. Our juniors welcomed us ably assisted by the sweet sugar candies, tender roses and pleasant sandal paste. We were thrilled and delighted to know that 40 out of the 63 girls have turned up. Great turn out, right???

Indoor stadium

I would like to appreciate the juniors who had taken so much pain to get ready the presentations which talked about the changes in the University after we had left. The campus has been WiFied and a hostel of international standards has been built for girls. The university is now a member of the “NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE NETWORK” with new computer labs. Good signs!!!

The main block

A good thing in our institution is that many functions and meetings take place in a formal + informal manner. And then started the “INSPIRATION TIME” with most of us going to the stage and giving a piece of our lives and thoughts to our juniors. I started first with my suggestion for the juniors to pursue a career in research and teaching. An MBA student at PSG, Kanimozhi almost threatened the young ones to open their mouths and respond, in her usual “Karate Black Belt” tone. Just kiddin Kani!!! Many of my classmates who work at prestigious concerns like CTS, Verizon etc shared their experiences. I appreciate these girls who have toiled it out to get jobs inspite of the recession which had turned our career orientations topsy-turvy.

A special mention has to be made about my classmate Ms. R. Gayathri, a budding entrepreneur. A website designing and development concern is going to be actualized next month by her hard work. She said, “I am going to use this concern as a means to get money to do what I have always wanted to do – social service”. Not many are bestowed with such a benevolent heart. Salutes to you dear!!!

Many juniors from my favorite class (now final CSE) came to us and were interacting with sooooo much love. I am really elated by the fact that many remember me. A place in their loving hearts for a puny creature!!! A girl said, “Akka, you remember? You were the first one to come to our class”. (Must have gone there to deliver a lengthy lecture I guess!!!) I was on cloud nine literally!!! The Tamizh club had built good rapport between me and my juniors.

We were given an awesome lunch. On knowing that so many alumni had turned up, the Honorable Vice Chancellor came to our department to meet us.  He was his usual self, confabulating spontaneously about what is going on around. He talked about this “National Knowledge Network” stuff and suddenly asked me, “Is your Anna University a part of this NKN?”. Such is his memory power, remembering what a student who had left the college one year before is doing.  

Kavitha mam was with us after he left. We had a conversation about various issues. Though the convocation had not been arranged in our “university” till now, we were happy to get our degree certificates on the day of our get-together.  I am now “M Suriyah B.E.,” officially!!!

View of main block from the canteen

I was in raptures to see Ilakkia have the wallet which I gave her when we vacated our college hostel. I too have the pencil which she gave me unsharpened even till now. Discovered how strong our relationship is, without our explicit realization. At last it was the canteen where our meeting ended over superb pani puris. I was unfortunate to miss the Tanjore temple visit that evening and “Endhiran” the next day due to my project work. Anyway it was a day that went straight into my heart!!! :D

பின்னோக்கி ஒருநாள்

Dear comrades of ChancyCSE... 
A great opportunity to rewind our lives.
Reviving the unity and togetherness of the four happiest years on October 9th!!
Expecting you all @ Periyar Maniammai University on that great day!!!

நாலு வருடங்கள்...

ஒன்றோடொன்று பின்னிப் பிணைந்திருந்த நம் வாழ்க்கைகள்

பொறுப்புகள் ஏதுமின்றி நம் எண்ணங்கள் 

பெயர்கள் தாங்கி அழகான மேஜைகள்

பல கைகளுக்கு இடமளித்த உணவுப் பொட்டலங்கள்

வகுப்பு நடக்க விழிகள் செய்த வெளிநடப்புகள்

பாடாத வாய் பாட, ஆடாத கால் ஆட, வெளியூர்ப் பயணங்கள்

தோழமையின் முழுப் பொருள் சொன்ன கண்ணீர்த்துளிகள்

வேற்றுமையில் ஒற்றுமை கண்ட உழைப்புகள்

மூன்று முறை விட்டுக்கொடுக்கா கோப்பை 

தொலைத்த தூக்கங்களால் கல்லூரி விழாக்கள் 

சிக்கி முக்கி நெருப்பாய் பூசல்கள்

தூற்றியவர்களையும் போற்றவைத்த நம் திறமைகள் 

பொறுப்புகள் ஏதுமின்றி நம் உள்ளங்கள்  

நம்மில் ஒருவராயிருந்து அரணான கவிதைமகள் 

தேர்வின் போது மட்டுமே நம் ஸ்பரிசம் பெற்ற புத்தகங்கள் 

காலத்தின் ஓட்டத்தில்... 

மென்பொருள் வல்லுனராய் சிலர் 

பொறியியல் ஆசிரியராய் சிலர் 

காதல் மனைவியாய் சிலர் 

இன்னும் மாணவியாய் பலர். 

காலச் சக்கரம் பின்னோக்கி சுழலாதா?

தொலைத்த நாலு வருடங்களில் 

மீளாதா???

ஒரு நாளேனும்...

அதே பழைய 

குறும்புக்காரியாய்

சண்டைக்காரியாய்

பொறுப்பில்லா ஜென்மமாய் 

வாயாடியாய் 

கோபக்காரியாய் 

மாற மாட்டோமா???

ஒரு நாளேனும்... 

மீட்டெடுக்கின்றனர்

கடவுளும் 

கவிதை மகளும்

அந்நாட்களில் ஒன்றை...

நம் வருகை

அவர் மீட்புக்கும் 

அவர் மீட்பு 

நம் வருகைக்கும் 

அழகூட்டட்டும்...

வருமோ...

இன்னுமோர் மீட்பு ???

யானறியேன்...

--

முடியாத் தேடல்

அம்மாவுக்கு செல்ல மகள்...
அப்பாவுக்கு வாயாடிக் கழுத ...
தம்பிகளுக்கு ஏமாந்தாங்குளி...
தோழிகளுக்கு சண்டைக்காரி...
(சில)ஆசிரியர்களுக்கு தூங்குமூஞ்சி...
உடன் படிப்பவர்களுக்கு ஆர்வக்கோளாறு...
ஆனால்
23 வருடங்கள் தேடியும்
கண்டுகொள்ளவில்லை நான்...
எனக்குள் இருக்கும் என்னை...

Futile laments :(

This is one more of my "delayed", sorry, "very much delayed" posts... 

Some incidents in the recent past have left me skeptical. "Do we live in a democratic country???"... "What on earth is this caste system for???"... etc etc

INCIDENT 1: My fragile physique gave me another opportunity to be at home for 10 odd days last month when i was taken ill. The medic at the hospital wanted me to come again the same day with my blood test results. With great difficulty and pain i got ready for the hospital visit that evening only to find out that the transport flow was solidified owing to a politician's "mega" meeting at the other end of Trichy. (I clarify that im not a supporter of any political party!!!). How many others would have had their daily life affected due to extravagant meetings as these??? At times, i do doubt whether ours is a democracy in the real sense. Anyway, I, one among the commoners of this republic, i think, can do nothing but to lament.

INCIDENT 2: Me and my room-mate Athira were beckoned by the Warden sister at hostel to interact with some girls who have joined CEG and their parents to clear their doubts about the hostel. They threw us sooooooo many questions about  mess timings, everyday menu, bus routes, frequency of buses etc etc. We were patiently answering their queries when one of the girl's mother, who looked well educated asked us, "நீங்க christian ah???" (meaning "Are you a christian?"). I was a bit perturbed by this odd interrogation and politely answered "இல்லை aunty" (no) and tried to divert the topic. She reverted back with another "INTELLIGENT" question which was, "நீங்க எந்த சாமி கும்புடுவீங்க??" (meaning "which god do you worship???"). She had asked me which caste i belong to in an indirect tone but poor me... I could not catch up the implication... Adding one more to my "astute answers", i innocently replied, "சிவன், விஷ்ணு, இந்த மாதிரி தான் கும்பிடுவோம்" ("as all hindus do, we worship sivan, vishnu only"). My goodness, i realized her intention only after some time and felt very bad on how i have made a fool of myself. Never before was i put forth an awkward question as this. She seemed well educated and talked about whether NIT is better than CEG...  Compared GATE and TANCET... blah blah blah... but  not ready to see a human as a human...  Dont know when this virulent caste system, plaguing the society will come to an end.

INCIDENT 3: This shoots back to my stint at home due to my battered physique. This one is kind of humorous. I got on a bus from the hospital to my place and found all the seats occupied. Inspite of many ladies standing, almost all the seats were occupied by valiant menfolk. I bet, i looked very ill and weak. Not even one noble soul was magnanimous enough to offer me a seat. A man, may be in his early 30s was ogling the girls who were standing when i was glancing whether anyone is willing to make me sit. The icing over the cake was that he was sitting in the Ladies' seat. Here i would like to express my appreciation to Chennai men who stand up instantly when seated on a ladies' seat, on seeing a lady stand.

Social changes, with all their noble intentions, fail to percolate down our rigid minds. 

So when are we gonna change???

அழகி

கயலென விழி

கருங்காடென கூந்தல்

தங்கமென தேகம் 

கொடியென இடை 

அன்னமென நடை

சங்கீதமென சிரிப்பு 

எதுவும் அழகு தரவில்லை - 

வெகுளியாய் விழித்த கிராமத்தானை 

ஏளனமாய் ஏறிட்டவளுக்கு.

சின்ன உளறல்கள் இரண்டு

* ஐந்து வயது சிறுமிக்குள் தாய்மை - 

கண்டெடுத்தது அவள் கண்டெடுத்த பூனைக்குட்டி. 

*கல்லூரியை விட அதிகம் கற்பிக்கின்றன - 

பிழைப்பிடதிற்கும் பிறப்பிடதிற்குமான பயணங்கள். 

ஜன்னலில் கோலம்

*கோலமிடுகிறது மனம்...

பேருந்து ஜன்னலில்

மழையிட்ட புள்ளிகளுக்கு.

Big fat Indian weddings… oops!!! Engagements!!!

 I remember one story, in the tamil supplementary reader (of 9^th or 8^th std I guess). It talks about how E.V.Ramasamy, fondly beckoned by tamilians as “PERIYAR” taught the importance of not being a scattergood to his nephew who then became one of the greatest merchants of his time. 

    Having done my UG at an institution bearing his name, I had chances to get exposure to some of his thoughts and ideologies which had left an indelible impression in my mind. One of them was the abovementioned trait of spending money thoughtfully (though I don’t practice it extensively!!!).

    At that time, I used to think, why do people (including those at my home!!!) are extravagant in spending when it comes to marriages, temple archanais etc… If the couple gets married in humble ceremony with few friends and relatives, won’t the relationship last???   - This is flash back…

    Now back to present… I was swept by a wave of happiness when my cousin informed me about her engagement. We had played together and had seen each other grow through years, no wonder I was euphoric. I came running from Chennai to Trichy for the sole reason of attending it.

     Despite having had a tiring lonely journey crossing 320 km and shallow sleep, I rushed to her place happily with my siblings and mom.  Her house was filled with our relatives. It was getting lively with babies’ weeping, kids’ running about, elders busy with preparations for the function, young women giggling and making fun of her etc etc. She was so gorgeous draped in a silk saree and with dazzling jewels that it was difficult for me to believe that she is the same girl with whom we played silly pranks during childhood (and omg… she blushed… for the first time!!!).  Some notorious kids there made me their prey and were teasing me so much. I somehow managed to escape from them and joined my cousin’s friends to make her the prey of our teasing. All these small, small things lighted the day up making it memorable.

    Rituals started with all of us on the terrace and were too boring. My grampa seemed to have been lost in thoughts and when I asked him what, he replied, “During your mom and dad’s engagement, your cousin was in her mother’s womb… Your aunt would purge often and would be confined to the bed… Now, the girl herself is getting married and the transition is making me get nostalgic…”

   Now, I no longer feel that these functions are just means to squander money (though my views about archanais and rituals remain unchanged!!!). They are excuses which we give to meet relations, chill out with kids and pass on the relationship to the next generation. Younger people tend to imbibe the art of organizing through these functions while the elders get nostalgic and relive their past. To meet the relatives gives us a feeling of belonging to a clan. Compared to these, the money spent is too trivial. Nothing comes free of cost, isn’t it??? And marriages and functions related to it are the most memorable events in a person’s that life happen only once (for most people!!! :P). So no harm in inviting all whom we know and making them all the more pleasant.

    I learned that life is not a mathematical problem to be too logical… After all, we are “SOCIAL” animals, aren’t we???

நகர அனுபவங்கள்

*அரசியல் கட்சிகளின் புதிய வழிமறிப்பு உத்தி -

நடைபாதையில் ஆளுயர பதாகைகள்.

அனைத்துக் கட்சிகளும் "பாதை மறிப்பு" கழகங்களாய்.

*சாலைகள் கழுவும் சேவைத் தொழிலாளர்கள் -

மாநகராட்சி குடிநீர் ஊர்திகள்.

*காவல்காரர் உறங்க -

அவர் வேலை நாயிடத்தில்.

*நிறைய குப்பை

ஆங்காங்கே மணல் -

கடற்கரை.

*நகர முடியாமல் நகர்ந்து

முனகியபடியோடி

பிரசவித்துப் பெருமூச்சுவிடும்

நிரந்தர கர்ப்பிணிகள் -

மாநகரப் பேருந்துகள்.

ஞாபகம் வருதே...

பரணிலிருந்து கீழே விழுந்த

ஒன்றாம் வகுப்பு புத்தகத்தில் 

கவிதையாய்... 

என் குழந்தைப்பருவம். 

கவிதைகளோ... உளறல்களோ..

*தினமும் ஒரு தாளை இழக்கும் நாள் காட்டி,

திங்களன்று இரண்டு இழந்தது...

ஞாயிறு விடுமுறையாம்... 

*வாரத்தின் ஆறு நாட்களும் கழிகின்றன

ஞாயிறுக்கான ஏக்கத்துடன்...

ஞாயிறோ கழிகின்றது

"நாளை திங்கள்" என்ற அலுப்புடன்... 

A rendezvous with our ancestors...

    Today, myself and my friend Shobana had a very comic and thrilling experience with our tailed ancestors.  

    We had come to the university for our project work and were out for lunch. We had our lunches packed  in our tiffin boxes and decided to settle down @ the corridor near the Chemistry laboratory. A lady working in our department who went that way, cautioned us about the monkeys which frequented that place and asked us to finish eating as soon as possible. But, having not seen any monkey for a week in the campus, we were sloppy. We were simply chatting for a long time and finally made up our mind to eat. We would not have had even four gulps, 3 monkeys - 2 adults and 1 juvenile, flanked us. 

    The biggest one took control of my tiffin box and Shobana just jumped off the place to a nearby tree. Being an alert person(???!!!), i grasped Shobana's tiffin box in my hand and ran towards her. Both of us gained some courage and were shooing them away. Those tailed menaces did not heed us.  Instead, they were eating heartily from the tiffin box. The juvenile one started inspecting our bags and on seeing that, brave Shobana went near it and just pretended as if she was to beat it. But that courageous vagabond made a fierce cry and came towards her as if it was going to attack her. I shrieked, "Shobana!!!" and she started running.

  A staff @ the Chemistry lab tried to threaten them but was threatened by our tailed friends. He shut himself inside the lab. Many people were watching this from the first and second floors and were enjoying the scene. The lady who warned us was on her way back. At last, it was her and the other workers, who got us the tiffin box back from the monkeys, driving them away with a pole. We thanked her and the others from the bottom of our hearts and sped to the canteen.

   The most funny thing is that a student who was sitting just 2 or 3 feet away from us did not even bat an eyelid in spite of the hue and cry we raised and was busily engaged with his mobile and lap top. Some people reside in their own world, whatever happens around!!!

    After some time, we burst out of laughter thinking about this funny rendezvous.  Those monkeys made monkeys out of me and Shobana!!!

An year @ CEG...

     I dint even think of entering Anna University or doing PG when i was @ UG... But destiny had other plans and now i am a CEGian. 

     Soon after the counselling, the following thought engulfed my mind. "Hmmm, great that I have landed in one of the prestigious institutions of the country!!! But, will i be able to cope up with the environment here??? The fellow students would be very intelligent and i am going to be the odd man out in the class. Great professors are going to handle classes and i am going to sit blinking throughout... Only God gotta save me..."

     But i am happy that i was proved wrong by God.  Most of my classmates are very unassuming and amiable  in spite of their deep academic acumen. We discuss the difficult concepts taught in the class and learn together. We dont hesitate to help each other. 

     And the teachers... They are fantabulous... Really havent come across teachers with such deep subject knowledge. They are very friendly and down to earth too... However trivial are the questions put forth , they answer with a smile. I was taken aback by the spontaneity and flair with which Dr.K.S.Easwara Kumar used to handle data structures classes for us. Though i failed in all the Data Structure internals, used to really enjoy the lectures.

    There are some unforgettable things which happened. One was, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY with the girls wearing saree. I dared not to think that something like that would happen in a PG class. I think ours is the only PG set which had stood apart from others. That was the brainchild of Swetha and  kudos to her!!! Another was our class meet up with the Karkys @ Elliots Beach. It was my first time to meet one of the teachers with his family and our classmates. The meeting was followed by our playing heartily and getting drenched in the salty waters of the sea . I interacted with some of my classmates for the first time there!!! Had great time with you folks!!!   Nd personally, i had watched a couple of films @ theatres with my classmates , which were unforgettable.

    My friends in the class are very caring and concerned. While most of my classmates have an unquenchable craving to LEARN, there are few people for whom SCORING is the primary concern. They go to the extent of even comparing their marks with others' and behave like KG kids. And there are a few others who think so astute of themselves for having got done a work from others and dont realize the benevolence of the person who helped them. 

    There is a person, whom i would like to mention in this post to make it complete. Its Meena Akka., my  classmate sitting right behind our bench and sharing a good rapport with almost everyone in the class. A few days before the first semester examinations, i met her in the campus and was lamenting to her about my poor performance in the internals and my fear of getting an arrear. She induced confidence and courage in me with her words. Thank you ka... 

    I thank all my classmates and the teachers who had made my life @ CEG, a great time... Thank you...

கவிதையா என்ன??? - 4

முதியோர் இல்லம்...
ஈரைந்து மாதங்கள்
என்னையே இருப்பிடமாகக் கொடுத்ததற்கு,
இருபத்தியேழு வருடங்கள்
கழித்துக்  கிடைத்த அன்பளிப்பு.

   

அங்காடித் தெரு

i must have posted this loooooooooong before...

The second outing with meena akka and co was to this movie @udhayam...

This movie portrays the lives of salespersons in a novel way.

Jothilingam, the protagonist, lands up as a salesperson in a store due to the tragic death of his father, with his friend, Paandi. There, he meets the other protagonist, Kani, indulges in some tussles with her, and falls in love. Tragic end of another love story in the store leaves Jothi confused whether to part with Kani. They reunite and the people at the stores get them beaten up for falling in love and they are sent out. A great tragedy then happens, which proves an acid test for the hero's love. He passes it making our eyes and hearts moist proving his true love.

There are umpteen number of good things about the movie. Topping them all is the director's bold venture of filming a down to earth story having un-greased and real faces on screen with micro amounts of melodrama here and there.  He has to be lauded for showcasing something which has not been filmed or spoken of before.

The acting of the lead pair is a must mention positive aspect of the movie. The former love stories of the protagonists make us giggle. The heroine, previously seen in a couple of films, just steals our hearts with her portrayal. The hero's performance does not look like a newcomer's. Paandi, as the hero's friend provides the comic touch. Sneha adds glitz to the film with her guest appearance.  The songs, "kadhaigalai pesum vizhiyaruge" and "aval appadi ondrum azhagillai" are beautiful renditions.

The director also portrays some peculiar, not seen before characters like a wastrel who takes ownership of an abandoned public toilet, a prostitute turned housewife who feels good for having given birth to a differently abled baby, a crook who sells used T-shirts for Rs.10/-, a blind hanky seller etc., The man who dies of verrucosa, a disease which affects persons standing for a long time, evokes pity. The way the girls and boys working in the store are treated makes us ponder whether such things would really happen anywhere. Even basic human rights like using the rest room are violated. The supervisor abuses them and treats them like slaves. He beats or harrasses them sexually when they get caught for any mistake. The scene in which the supervisor holds Kani by her hair and calls her foul names, is really very disturbing.

The accident scenes are very gory. And, the picturization of the duet, "un paerai sollum bodhe" is not convincing. How can any jodi be dancing with colorful costumes when they are locked in their workplace at night? It only plays spoilsport with the pace and the reality of the story.

On the whole, the film made us watch lives which we would have never even thought of. We live in a society in which even pet animals are loved so much but fellow humans are exploited.

But, the film ended in a positive note, making us feel happy for Jothi and Kani.

Hats off to the team.

கவிதையா என்ன??? - III

பொறாமை 
ஆறறிவுப் பிறவி நான் -
வகுப்பறைக்குள் கைகள் கட்டியபடி...
ஐந்தறிவு குரங்குகளோ
மரங்களில் சுதந்திரமாகத் தாவியபடி...

கவிதையா என்ன??? - பாகம் 2

* எல்லாப் பள்ளிகளும் கற்பிக்கும் ஒரே கைத்தொழில்
- மூட்டை தூக்குதல்...

*  பணத்தையும் பொருளையும்
வியாபாரியே கொடுக்கும்
விந்தையான வியாபாரம் - திருமணம்...

கவிதையா என்ன???

மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப் பட்டிருந்த பொழுது தோன்றிய  சிந்தனைகள் இவை... இவற்றை "கவிதைகள் " என்று பெயரிட்டு கவிதைகளை சிறுமை படுத்த விரும்பவில்லை:-D
அவை, தங்கள் பார்வைக்கு...

*தானே முன்வந்து குடிநீரை மந்திரித்துக் கொடுத்த "uncle"...
சிறு வயதில் நான் தாடியை பிடித்து இழுத்தாலும், சிரித்து கொஞ்சும்
"பாய் தாத்தா"வை ஏன் நினைவு படுத்தினார் என தெரியவில்லை...


*மருத்துவமனை வாசம் முடிந்தது...
"எப்ப கண்ணு காலேஜ் போற?" - இது தந்தை...
"உடம்ப நல்ல தேத்திட்டு காலேஜ் பத்தி யோசி டி" - இதுதான் தாய்...


*நெற்றியில் சாய் பாபா திருநீர்...
புட்டியில் சாயுபு மந்திரித்த குடிநீர்...
தெய்வத்திற்கு  தான் எவ்வளவு பரிவு?



* 22 வயதானாலும்,
முதுகலை படித்தாலும்,
சென்னையில் வசித்தாலும்,
வாகனங்கள் அற்ற சாலையை கடக்கக் கூட ஓடும் போது தெரிந்தது...
எனக்குள் இன்னும் இருப்பது கிராமத்து சிறுமி தானென்று...


*விழிகள் மட்டுமே தீண்டிக் கொள்ளும்
கிராமத்து காதல்களைக் கண்டவளுக்கு,
பொது இடங்களில் கூட அணைத்தவாறே செல்லும்
சென்னைக் காதல்,
அந்நியம்தான்...

malarial dayz :-(

my goodness...

27th march to 7th april... malaria episode - II... hellish dayz... 

i would like to thank all the good souls who helped me go to trichy and took good care of me, esp suresh anna and shobi... 

i  was admitted in the hospital for more than a week at trichy...

just imagine... no sleepin, no msgin, no chattin, no buzzin etc etc. but only vomitin, cryin, nd starin d ceiling...

my aunt stayed wid me at the hospital and took gooooood care of me... my mom, dad, granny nd grampa would visit me everyday with loads of advices on how to take care of my health...

the tablet for malaria, chloroquine evokes vomiting... i need to eat some solid food to take tablets... but cant eat due to the former reason... feelin like laughin now wen i remember me running to the bathroom to vomit after every meal... the whole ward would look at me with pity...

though i was feelin very uncomfortable stayin in the ward, had some pleasant experiences too... 

a muslim granny was in the bed next to me... her son saw me running to vomit and his heart melted... he voluntarily got a bottle of water from my aunt and prayed with it, chanting some verses... he asked me to drink it as it had been blessed by god... was really moved on his benevolent gesture... in these days of religious intolerance, we do have such noble hearts...

a doctor would visit the ward everyday... one day, she asked me "குட்டிக்கு எப்படி இருக்கு இப்போ???", thinking that im a school-goer and was surprised to know tat im a pg student... she used to be strict yet kind... I went to the hospital a few days after my stay at the ward for a check up and she had come in front... but, me, an idiotic person, did not notice her in spite of her smiling at me... tis too, i came to know from my mom who was coming behind me... 

i donno y i do this often... physically present, but mentally roamin elsewhere... really feelin bad about it... gotta visit her sometime later and thank her...

nd gotta thank the most important person, GOD, the almighty, who had blessed me... there weren't many classes due to the department symposium  and the submission of all the assignments got postponed... i thank beulah for helping me contact the teachers during my absence... the teachers were also kind enough to permit me to handle seminars and submit assignments a bit later... they ll be in my prayers...

nd last, but not the least, used to get some random thoughts during my stay at the ward and jotted them down... though i cant call them poems, relived the days where i used to get prizes for penning some poems during schooldays...

ll share that too wid you....:-D

குறுகிய மனப்பான்மை

    நான் தற்பொழுது தங்கியுள்ள விடுதியில் பிற மாநில பெண்கள் அதிகம். அவர்கள்  அண்டை மாநிலத்திலிருந்து படிக்க வந்தவர்கள்.

   மார்ச் திங்கள் 13 ஆம் நாள் நமது புதிய சட்டப்பேரவை திறப்பு விழா நிகழ்ச்சி சிறப்பாக நடை பெற்றதை நாமனைவரும் அறிவோம். அவ்விழாவை விடுதியில் தங்கியுள்ள மகளிர் கண்டு களிக்கும்  வண்ணம் தொலைக்காட்சி முடுக்கி விடப்பட்டது. நானும் என் தோழிகள் இருவரும் தேநீர் அருந்தி கொண்டே விழாவை பெருமை பொங்க கண்டு கொண்டிருந்தோம். அவ்விழா தொடக்கத்தில் "தமிழ்த்தாய் வாழ்த்து" பாடப் பெற்றது. அதைக் கேட்டவுடன் நானும் என் தோழியும் உணர்வு பொங்க எழுந்து நின்று மரியாதை செய்தோம். இதை பார்த்த அந்த பிற மாநில பெண்டிர் கேலி செய்து கொக்கரித்தனர். அதை கவனியாமல் நானும் என் தோழியும் பாடல் முடிந்தவுடன் தான் அமர்ந்தோம்.

     நாம் ஒரு இடத்திற்கு பிழைக்கவோ படிக்கவோ செல்கிறோம் என்றால் அந்த கலாசாரத்தையும் மொழியையும் மதிக்க வேண்டும் என்ற அடிப்படை நாகரீகம் கூட இல்லை அப்பெண்களிடம் ...  நம் வசம் இருக்கும் கல்விக்கூடங்கள் அளிக்கும் கல்வி மட்டும் வேண்டுமாம் ... நம் மொழி கேலிக்குரியதாம்... என்ன ஒரு இறுமாப்பு...

அவர்களின் மொழியே தமிழிலிருந்து பிறந்தது தான். இதை அறியாத அவர்களின் அறியாமையை நினைத்து சிரிப்பு தான் வருகிறது. என்ன முட்டாள்த்தனம்... "தமிழை கேலி செய்து தங்கள் மொழியையும் அவமானப் படுத்திக்கொள்கிறோம்" என்பதைக் கூட அறியாத அவர்களை என்ன செய்யலாம்???

   அந்த மொழிக்கு மொழி வாழ்த்தும் கிடையாது...  நம் மொழி போன்று பண்டைய பெருமையும் கிடையாது. இதே நாங்கள் தேசிய கீதத்திற்கு எழுந்திருந்தால் அவர்கள் அப்படி செய்திருப்பார்களா?

   இதை கண்ட பொழுது எனக்கு ஒரு பழைய திரைப்படப் பாடல் வரி தான் நினைவுக்கு வருகிறது...

"ஆயிரம் கைகள் மறைத்து நின்றாலும் ஆதவன் மறைவதில்லை"....

அந்த முட்டாள் பிறவிகளுக்கு கடவுள் சிறிதேனும் அறிவை அருள வழிபாடு செய்வீர்களா தோழிகளே, தோழர்களே???

தமிழின் பெருமைகளுள் ஒன்று...

  தமிழன் என்று சொல்லடா... தலை நிமிர்ந்து நில்லடா...
நான் தமிழச்சி என்று கர்வம் கொள்ள இன்னுமோர் காரணம்...

Letters to the almighty...

Almost six months have passed since my entering this wretched city, Chennai...

During the first few months here, i used to get ill often and feel very lonely... Used to get confused and would worry about my health, academics, career etc... I would be around with a sombre expression on my face... as i am the first girl in my family to a PG in engineering, i have to fulfill the expectations of my family na... that thought used to increase the pressure on me...

Those days, i did not have anyone to confide with as i had not got close to anyone here (thank god, now its not so....!)... And to vent out my sorrows, i used to write letters to god, sharing with him all that which bothered me at that moment... and had not forgotten to thank him too when something good had happened :-)... The letters used to be in தமிழ் + English. It would be like me talking to god...

and now, when i see those letters which are being treasured and preserved by me, i tend to relive those moments, thanking him for the blessings he had showered on me helping me to overcome my worries...

Believe me, it is the best stress buster...

Early morning... In the bus...

Last morning, we were in a bus, on our way to the college.  

The bus couldn't have been more crowded. I was literally getting squeezed up by the ladies who stood beside me. 

Suddenly, a lady, who would be in her late 40s, started throwing abuses at a man, who would be nearing his 60s saying that he was dashing her deliberately. This made the man go wild and he started abusing her in return. He bawled that he dashed against her by mistake since the bus was crowded.  Both of them were profaning each other. They did not heed many college boys who were laughing and poking fun at them for their stupid act. When an elderly woman told the lady to keep quiet, she reacted by saying that the elderly woman was that man's accomplice. Now, the elderly woman started to vociferate. 

Actually there was no mistake on that man's part. In a polite manner, the lady must have asked him to move.

The indecent behaviour on the lady's part triggered a series of unpleasant scenes in the bus. 

And, to top it all, i heard a student saying to another, "Someone has dashed our hindi mam". Just cant digest the fact that she is a teacher. See the example she is setting to her students. Being a teacher is something noble. A teacher has to be very responsible.

Bothered about her students :-(...

பெரிய மனுஷர்கள்...

Im really euphoric to have 2 younger brothers and a cousin who are sooooooooo many times mature than i am...
My cousin is just 3 days younger than me (but i insist him to call me அக்கா....;-))... Though we are cousins, we are good friends. I share with him most of the things that bother me and he reciprocates with worldly advices (sometimes philosophical :-(... ) And he shares with me what he is doing, the list of girls he is presently ogling at etc, etc... Nice guy but tests my patience at times.

My first younger brother is a very responsible person who takes things onto his shoulders and actualizes most of the jobs ordered by my dad. He is a cool guy who gets furious only occasionally unlike me.

My youngest brother is a person with  a "DEVIL MAY CARE" attitude. When i get on my nerves (which happens frequently), he preaches me on how to handle the situation properly. He wants me to have his attitude, but something which has been written in my genes by god can never be changed at all :-(.... if only i be like this guy...

These பெரிய மனுஷர்கள் in my life are among the gifts given to me by god. Nd merci beaucoup to him.

First outin...

yesterday, a sudden plan was chalked out by my classmate Ms.Meena to watch the movie "விண்ணை தாண்டி வருவாயா" ...
i joined her with four other girls...we dint know the bus route but somehow managed to go to the theatre... we got ther 30 minutes before the show and were sittin in the entrance, munching snacks offered by meena akka and sheeja... with great xpectations, we went inside the theatre and the screening of the film started.
the film, is really really an annoying piece of work by gautam menon. but for silambarasan's acting and rahman's music, i couldnt find the film worth watching. trisha's character is a bundle of confusions. the heroine first refuses the hero's love (concealing her love for him), befriends him then, makes him land up in an altercation with her brother, plans to get married to someone else and halts the wedding when the priest asks her for her willingness to marry. wait, this doesnt get over. she reciprocates the hero's love inspite of having promised her dad that she would not meet him or talk to him... she goes around the city with the preposterous hero, at last asking him to get away from her life without a valid reason... and, the hero, being a film maker, makes a film named after his ridiculous lover based on his love story (to torture audience as we have been tortured by Mr. Gautam )...
my advice to you folks is that "PLEASE DONT GO FOR IT"...
But the outing on the whole was enjoyable. thanks to meenaka, sivasankari, sheeja and athira.

Paavaanar tamizh mandram...

நான் இறுதி ஆண்டு படிக்கும் பொழுது எங்கள் கல்லூரியில் பல்வேறு மன்றங்கள் தொடங்கப்பட்டன... ஒரு சில விழாக்களில் அழுத்தமான தமிழில் பேசியதனால் தமிழ் மன்றத்திற்கு நான் தலைவியாக தேர்ந்தேடுக்கபட்டேன்...  

மன்றத்திற்கு பெயர் வைப்பது தொடங்கி பதாகை வடிவமைப்பது வரை ஆர்வமாக நிறைய வேலைகள் செய்தோம்... நிறைய போட்டிகள் நடத்தினோம்.. பல திட்டங்கள் தீட்டினோம்.. ஆனால் கல்லூரிக்குள் நடந்த உள் அரசியல் காரணமாக ஒரு விழா கூட நடத்த முடியவில்லை...  

என்ன பெயர் வைக்கலாமென்று சிந்தித்துக் கொண்டிருந்த போது பாவாணரின் பெயரை பரிந்துரை செய்தது எனது தோழி இலக்கியசெல்வியின் தந்தை திரு.முத்துவளவன் அவர்கள். பாவாணரை பற்றி தெரிந்து கொள்ள http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devaneya_Pavanar  வலைதளத்திற்கு செல்லவும்.

இந்த பதாகையை வடிவமைத்த எனது தோழிகள் பாக்கியலட்சுமி, அழகுசெல்வி, சத்யா ஆவர். பதாகையை கல்லூரி முடிவதற்குள் அச்சேற்றி விட என்னால் முடிந்த அளவு முயன்று பார்த்தேன்... முடியவில்லை... இரண்டு மாதங்களுக்கு முன்னர் கூகிள் உரையாடலில் பாக்கியலட்சுமியை சந்திதேன். பதாகை வடிவத்தை எனது வலைப்பூவில் போட சொன்னது அவர்தான்.. 

இந்த தமிழ் மன்றம் எனக்கு கற்று கொடுத்த பாடம் - "ஒரு வேலையில் ஈடுபடுவதற்கு முன்னர் அது எந்த அளவு சாத்தியப்படும் என்று தெரிந்து கொண்ட பிறகே அதில் ஈடுபட வேண்டும்"...

இந்த மன்றத்திற்காக எனக்கு உதவிய என் இனிய தோழிகளுக்கும், அழகான ஆழமான ஒரு நல்ல பெயரை வைக்க பரிந்துரை செய்த அய்யா திரு.முத்துவளவன் அவர்களுக்கும் எனது உளமார்ந்த நன்றிகள்.

Are we righteous to other living beings?

Recently, Aircel and WWF have started a campaign, "SAVE OUR TIGERS"...  Many hoardings have been put up on the roads... I was just carried away by the picture of a cute cub sleeping on a log of wood... So, googled "save our tigers" outta eagerness ... and opened http://www.saveourtigers.com/ ... saw this picture...

I was really moved on reading the caption on the picture...

There were 40000 tigers before and now their number is just a meager 1411... They are being hunted for their hides...

Despite the facts like tiger is our national animal, the heritage has to be maintained, food chain must not be disturbed, etc etc, wont the hunters and poachers realize that it is also a living being, it will also feel the pain when hurt,  and it has equal right to live as we do?

This campaign made me ponder about whether i am doing justice to the other living beings... Inspite of being a person who loves animals and would love to have pets at home(unfortunately not having one), i am a non vegetarian and really feeling bad about that...

My feelings for a goat whose body is hung in the mutton shop for sale, just vanish when it is  on my plate after getting cooked. My heart and brain have become a slave of my tongue.

I am feeling guilty.

Let us regard other living beings also as members of our clan...  They also can feel pain, have the right to live and have feelings as we do...

A funny encounter

A few days back, i went to a lab with internet facility in the college. As in all the colleges, footwear has to be left outside. I was engrossed in a work for about 4 or 5 hours and when i came outside, found my footwear missing. The people working there helped me to search it, but our search was in vain. "Somebody has stolen it", they said. 

There werent any shops nearby .  I was startled as to what to do. 

I thought, "What would have been  the situation if the footwears werent invented????".... Then i started walking towards the bus stop bare footed with people on the way giving me odd glances.... Reached hostel bare footed only...

Just imagine how much importance we give to our appearance and attire... 

I was relating this incident to a classmate and she said,"Youre great da... Had it been me, i would have called my father up and would have made a big fuss"...  And then only did i realize that i have managed the situation in the way it had to be...  I think this is one among the rare situations which i have handled thoughtfully...

Though i had missed my favorite pair of footwear ( which was stitched by the cobbler whom i had described in my second post in this blog  ), this incident made me realize my tendency of not caring too much about what others would think about my attire...  and a little happy about it...

failure - is it a sin?

என் தோழியின் வீட்டிற்க்கு சென்றிருந்த போது ஒரு திரைப்படத்தை  காண நேர்ந்தது... அதில், வாழ்கையில் நல்ல நிலைக்கு வந்துவிட்ட தன்  மகனை முன்னாளில் கொடுமை படுத்தியதை நினைத்து தந்தை வருந்துகிறார்... அதை பார்த்த என் தோழியின் அப்பா கூறினார், "இதே இந்த பையன் வாழ்கையில முன்னேறாம தோல்வி அடஞ்சிருந்தா அந்த அப்பா வருத்தப் படுவாரா? இல்ல அந்த பையன மதிப்பாரா? பெத்த அப்பாவா  இருந்தா கூட நல்ல நெலமைக்கு வந்தா தான் மதிக்கறாங்க..."
though this seems like a segment of the lamenting, the truth behind is very very disheartening...
parental love is regarded the purest form of love... just because a person is not successful in his life, does it mean that he is unfit for the love of his  parents?
the definition given for success is too narrow - "a flat in a posh apartment, good bank balance, a car, one of the rooms in the house going air conditioned, bla bla bla "....   and the parents think that in order to acquire all these, their wards gotta study well.. nd end up torturing the kids with regards to 10th, 12th exams, entrance tests, etc etc... this only raises the pressure on the children and doesnt help even an iorta in building them up...

so, let us not look down upon anyone for his failure... evaluate him only for the person in him...

does anyone need to be proud because of her / his apperance?

beauty... something which everyone likes... who doesnt like to be beautiful? right from a K.G school kid trying to imitate kareena's dressing sense to 50+ paatis and thaathas, all like to look good...
but is beauty something which one can be proud of? is it an achievement? was it obtained by hard work or toil?
it has been passed on from the parent to the child...
and it is relative too... something which one thinks is beautiful may not evoke the same feeling in another person...
many people whom i come across are very proud about their apperance and attire... nd the worst part is that they look down upon those whom they think arent beautiful... they fail to fathom that, one day, all the beauty will wither off their branches... what will be left back is only the person in them and not the handsomeness or beauty...

teachers... please...

teaching... one of the noblest professions in the world...
a teacher can instill moral thoughts in a child easily and effectively...

a good teacher is someone who does not  teach lessons only, but also knows his / her responsibility of making the child a good human being.

in this age of violence due to religious fanaticism, caste, creed, color, gender etc,  etc, i personally feel that only the teachers can mould young minds in the right path. these days, even the parents sow seeds of religious fanaticism in the delicate hearted children making them end up as anti social elements or terrorists.

it is very disheartening to see videos and pictures of small children, just nearing ten years of age, being trained to kill.  do we have to give guns in those tender hands?

teachers... please know how powerful you are...  just make your students realize the value of human life...
together, we can make for a better tomorrow...

a trip down memory lane

i feel very much bored now. though the infrastructure is sophisticated and teachers are very knowledgeable at ceg, i really miss my ug college. the people here are very studious (cant get connected with them!!!!!!!!). i miss my class where studying was given the least and fun was given the highest priority.
listing those things i miss now...

* passing letters during boring lectures
* writing songs in praise(???!!!) of lecturers
* shouting out nd calling it singing
* music classes which i handled for my roomates
* late night arattai with my roomates
* evening snacks under the banyan tree
* group studeeeez(?)
* short naps in between study hours
* one cup of canteen tea for 6 grlz
* strenuous NCC parades
* diary saga's time every night
* over night preparation for any function
* compiring in tamizh nd english
* funny tamizh mandram
* scoldings nd tears coz of T&P i/c
* long walks with frnz
* take it easy attitude even in the worst of sitns
* saturday night films in old hostel ground
* sunday food from home
* poems written for teachers' day
* songs sung before english lab
* songs heard during project hours
* our saree comedeeez
* tragic campus interviews
* dancing(?) in IV
* polambing to viji, torturing her
* shouting with rukku
* bunking classes with sathya
* teasing ilak
* teaming with alagu
* torturin bhags
* gettin cornered by all
* PEACE fights nd 3 consecutive wins
* dancing with 6.2
* PEACE victory celebrations
* funny encounter during IPT (deiva... rembr?)
* early morning quarrels with kutty
* going late to college with mahesh
* waving hands to premalatha during mgmt class
* vanja pugazhchi to saras mam
* ma frnz srchn 4 a perfect match (dwarf) for me
* stealthy orkut browsing at net lab
* makin aruna nd nisha tie d saree for me
* getting saved by kavitha mam
* doing notorious acts nd not getting caught

nd d list doesnt get over... it ll be nice if u also list it either in my blog or the group id... welcome dears...

3 idiots... All izz wellll...

today i got the chance to watch a good movie 3IDIOTS.

it talks about the faulty educational system prevalent in our country and the depth of friendship, peppered with humour. it is a feel good film which makes us come with a smile wen we r outta d theatre. its not preachy...

it is supposed to have been adapted from a chethan bhagath novel.
all the characters have been written well and the actors have done a great job. the film touches our hearts in some scenes.

most of us pursue or have pursued studying just because our parents wanted us to do so. we did not pursue what our hearts wanted to.

and crazy people (like me) do not even find out what they really wish to do. we are just like a dried leaf being driven by the river current.

wen we become parents atleast, let us not interfere with our children's desires... let them fly outta our nest and explore this wide, wide sky, by themselves...

dont miss the film...

ஒரு நல்ல பாடம்

i went to the cobbler at anna university with my friend to get my torn footwear stitched.

i have got it stitched many times before by other cobblers but the footwear got torn again and again.

this man, the anna univ cobbler, was deaf and dumb. he did his work so well that we were just taken aback by his workmanship.after stitching it, he polished it and made it just like a new one.

inspite of the room having so many footwear strewn around, his slippers were lying outside the room only (this was noticed by my friend). WORK IS WORSHIP!

we, the educated, sophisticated people, have to learn from men like this one. we have something to learn from everyone no matter how this society ranks them. watever may be the work that we undertake, we gotta do it with utmost sincerity and dedication.

nice to see people like him.

helping hands are better than praying lips

i think all of us would have read a story "Where love is God is" by leo tolstoy saying how god came to the house of cobbler martin.
i have seen so many people, so religious and prayerful with no regards to the fellow humans.
is it right?
in my opinion, its a waste. i think god wants us to be good human beings first of all and then only come prayers etc.
an atheist, who is honest, loving, kind, unselfish will be blessed by god in abundance than anyone who is pious, dishonest, rude and selfish.
a person who cannot understand the feelings of another human being is sure not to understand god.

a goooood start

finally, the blog bug has bit me too...
this is a door for others to enter my world...
whenever something negative which we had not expected happens, we tend to blame god for it.
as a person who has strong belief in god, i wanna say that god knows what is best for us. and what he has offered will always be the best one we could get.
this doesnt mean that we must cease to make efforts. if our duty is done properly, god will reward it accordingly.