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!!!

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

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???

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???

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...

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

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...

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.

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...

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...

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.