Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Crime & Punishment
Crime
& Punishment
About 3 decades ago I wrote an article
under the title “Illusion & Reality” and the first paragraph of the article
is reproduced below:
“The crime
prevention, detection, prosecution and conviction process in India is abysmally
slow. This coupled with half hearted approaches of the law enforcement
authorities and innumerable loopholes in the legal system ensures that only a
negligible percentage of the accused are convicted. It is paradoxical that in a
country having the largest number of laws, degree of lawlessness is also the
highest. According to agency reports only six percent of the accused are
convicted in India
During that period
many people expressed surprise to the fact that only 1 out of 16 accused are
convicted. We have made phenomenal
progress during the last 3 decades and rate of growth is spectacular. According
to latest figures released by the Delhi Police, during this year up to
September (9 months) only one person has been convicted out of 7124 FIRs
registered for crime against women. There may be several cases where cases have
not been reported and many more cases where FIRS have not been filed. National
capital is expected to be a role model and trend setter for others to emulate. If
this is the state of affairs of the National capital, what will be the
situation in other parts of the country, especially those afflicted by poverty
and illiteracy is beyond imagination. This shows the virtual lawlessness and
anarchy prevailing in the country. When
there is no punishment for crime, crime rate is bound to increase. Fear of punishment
which is a deterrent for a potential criminal has almost evaporated. Adding
insult to injury, all mighty and powerful and human rights organizations fight
for criminals and nobody seems to be worried about the helpless and hapless
victims.
Majority of crimes
against women takes place within the confines of the homes and only 3.5 % of
such offences are committed by strangers. Despite the fact that the identity of
the criminals is known, such pathetic conviction rate shows the “efficiency” of
the law enforcement authorities. For all
these evils, we conveniently blame the system, as if the system was designed,
developed and supplied by the God. Unless something is drastically done to ameliorate
the situation, we will become a land of criminals. The day may not be far off
when we substitute the word criminal with citizen like “we the criminals of
India….”
If the crime
situation continue to make alarming progress like this, even GOD may not be
able to save this country.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Food Festival
Food Festival
E M Adithyan
Food is the weakness of the people of all ages. Health and happiness to a large extent depends on the quality of food. Moreover, food is perhaps the only item people above BPL can satisfy. Even billionaires will not be able to satisfy their passion for other items including clothes.
We make tall claims from terrace tops about our improvement in quality. However, we either ignore or are blissfully ignorant about a fundamental fact. ie; quality should begin from Kitchen. (Food) If quality food is served, other qualities like quality of work, quality of service, quality of product, quality of work culture, quality of life etc will automatically follow suit
It is proposed to conduct food festivals starting with state food festivals of each state in all other states culminating with Indian Food Festival at different parts of the globe. To begin with Kerala food festival will be held at all the other state capitals. In the event of popular demand from public, food festival can be conducted at other places of the state as well. Requests for conducting festivals at other places may be forwarded to the Central organising committee through the co-ordinators of the respective states committees.
Highlights:
1 The best of cuisine of the state will be arranged
2 Many of the items in the festival will not be available in Hotels because either it is uneconomical or/and the production process is cumbersome/time consuming
3 To the extent possible natural cereals and vegetables produced without using organic chemicals and pesticides will be used
4 Traditional utencils like Kalchatti ( Utensil carved out of Stone/rock),Charakku (Bronze vessel) ,Pathi (Wooden vessel used for mixing),Kathan chembu (Copper vessel), uruli (Bronze vessel mainly used for frying), Paya (Mat made of grass/leaves) Marakkayil (Wooden serving spoon), Cheena Bharani (China clay utencil) etc will be used
5 Cooking will be done in traditional way with bare minimum use of mechanical and electrical appliances
7 Food will be served in Vazhayila (plantain leaves) instead of plates
6 Traditional beverages like cocunut water, Jal Jeera, Lassi, Butter Milk (the name is a misnomer. It contains neither butter nor milk), Chukku Vellam (Dry Ginger water), Jeeraka Vellam (Jeera hot water), Chukku Kappi (Herbal coffee), Rasam etc will be served. Cold drinks (Nay, cooled drinks) like Pepsi, coca cola etc will not be served.
Objectives
1 To promote regional, national and international integration
2 To develop friendship and fraternity among people of different castes, creed, region, religion and language
3 Create awareness about our rich and varied food
4 To explore the possibility of creating new food items by judicious mixing of items/ingredients from various regions
5 To promote research, innovation and invention in cooking technology
6 To create great cooks (Crooks please excuse. We are already having great crooks)
7 To discourage the use of junk food, fast food and superfast food.
8 To promote health, happiness, productivity, profitability etc through good food culture
9 To use Food Festival as an effective tool for National and International understanding
10 To promote National and International Tourism
11 Food for thought. Better food better thoughts
12 Encourage use of food with medical value to improve immunity and reduce use of slow poison (Allopathic Medicines)
13 Enhance capacity of body and mind by judicious mix of various items. (Eg:Using Spectacles/lens is not the panacea for weak vision. Remedy lies in improving the eye sight or at least prevent it from further deterioration. This is possible by intake of some special food items)
Ayurveda elaborately explains medicinal value of various food items. For more details, please read Ashtanha Hridayam, Ashtanga Samgraham Charaka Samhita, Susruta Samhita etc. For better understanding learn Sanskrit, our Grand Mother tongue
14 To achieve the ultimate objective of making this world a much etter place to live in.
Applications are invited from general public for inclusion in the organising committee Criteria for selection as committee members is as follows.
1. Members will be admitted after proper screening only
2. Admission will be based on the recommendation of Screening Committee
3. Persons having knowledge/interest in cooking will be given preference
4. Members should have pride in Indian culture, civilization and Indian food
5. Sycophants, flatters, leg pullers, back baiters, liars, puppets and people with crab mentality, ego etc will be automatically disqualified from membership
They will be required to travel extensively by all means of transport ie; Bicycle, Moped, Scooter, Bike, Rickshaw, Auto Rickshaw, Car, Tempo, Bus, Train, Helicopter, Plane, Boat, ship etc except by post
Committee members will have a rare opportunity to meet and interact with celebrities from all walks of life. Organisers guarantee that (No Bank Guarantee will be given) not a single category of people will fail to visit the festival.
Festival will be a real mouth opener (not applicable to those whose mouths are always open) to all those who enjoy tasty and nutritious food.
Organisers are expecting unprecedented rush for the food festivals. In view of this admission will be restricted to invitees/pass holders only during the first three days of the festival. Food fans can do advance booking from 4 am to 8 am and 5pm to 9 pm to avoid disappointment. If anybody misses the chance they can visit other state capitals
Subsequent to the successful completion of one round of food festival, even the staunchest supporters of subversive, suffocating, self deceptive, self defeating, scandalous, surreptitious, scurrilous, sulky, sullen and sacrilegious slogans like "Sons of the Soil" will slowly and steadily submerge into more subtle and sober slogans like "Sons of the other soil"
After the conclusion of the state Food Festivals, Indian Food Festival will be held at different parts of the globe. An Indian Food festival can be organised at least for a month without repeating a single item.
Can any other country in the world boast of such a incredible feat?
Be a proud Indian
Food Festival
Food Festival
E M Adithyan
Food is the weakness of the people of all ages. Health and happiness to a large extent depends on the quality of food. Moreover, food is perhaps the only item people above BPL can satisfy. Even billionaires will not be able to satisfy their passion for other items including clothes.
We make tall claims from terrace tops about our improvement in quality. However, we either ignore or are blissfully ignorant about a fundamental fact. ie; quality should begin from Kitchen. (Food) If quality food is served, other qualities like quality of work, quality of service, quality of product, quality of work culture, quality of life etc will automatically follow suit
It is proposed to conduct food festivals starting with state food festivals of each state in all other states culminating with Indian Food Festival at different parts of the globe. To begin with Kerala food festival will be held at all the other state capitals. In the event of popular demand from public, food festival can be conducted at other places of the state as well. Requests for conducting festivals at other places may be forwarded to the Central organising committee through the co-ordinators of the respective states committees.
Highlights:
1 The best of cuisine of the state will be arranged
2 Many of the items in the festival will not be available in Hotels because either it is uneconomical or/and the production process is cumbersome/time consuming
3 To the extent possible natural cereals and vegetables produced without using organic chemicals and pesticides will be used
4 Traditional utencils like Kalchatti ( Utensil carved out of Stone/rock),Charakku (Bronze vessel) ,Pathi (Wooden vessel used for mixing),Kathan chembu (Copper vessel), uruli (Bronze vessel mainly used for frying), Paya (Mat made of grass/leaves) Marakkayil (Wooden serving spoon), Cheena Bharani (China clay utencil) etc will be used
5 Cooking will be done in traditional way with bare minimum use of mechanical and electrical appliances
7 Food will be served in Vazhayila (plantain leaves) instead of plates
6 Traditional beverages like cocunut water, Jal Jeera, Lassi, Butter Milk (the name is a misnomer. It contains neither butter nor milk), Chukku Vellam (Dry Ginger water), Jeeraka Vellam (Jeera hot water), Chukku Kappi (Herbal coffee), Rasam etc will be served. Cold drinks (Nay, cooled drinks) like Pepsi, coca cola etc will not be served.
Objectives
1 To promote regional, national and international integration
2 To develop friendship and fraternity among people of different castes, creed, region, religion and language
3 Create awareness about our rich and varied food
4 To explore the possibility of creating new food items by judicious mixing of items/ingredients from various regions
5 To promote research, innovation and invention in cooking technology
6 To create great cooks (Crooks please excuse. We are already having great crooks)
7 To discourage the use of junk food, fast food and superfast food.
8 To promote health, happiness, productivity, profitability etc through good food culture
9 To use Food Festival as an effective tool for National and International understanding
10 To promote National and International Tourism
11 Food for thought. Better food better thoughts
12 Encourage use of food with medical value to improve immunity and reduce use of slow poison (Allopathic Medicines)
13 Enhance capacity of body and mind by judicious mix of various items. (Eg:Using Spectacles/lens is not the panacea for weak vision. Remedy lies in improving the eye sight or at least prevent it from further deterioration. This is possible by intake of some special food items)
Ayurveda elaborately explains medicinal value of various food items. For more details, please read Ashtanha Hridayam, Ashtanga Samgraham Charaka Samhita, Susruta Samhita etc. For better understanding learn Sanskrit, our Grand Mother tongue
14 To achieve the ultimate objective of making this world a much etter place to live in.
Applications are invited from general public for inclusion in the organising committee Criteria for selection as committee members is as follows.
1. Members will be admitted after proper screening only
2. Admission will be based on the recommendation of Screening Committee
3. Persons having knowledge/interest in cooking will be given preference
4. Members should have pride in Indian culture, civilization and Indian food
5. Sycophants, flatters, leg pullers, back baiters, liars, puppets and people with crab mentality, ego etc will be automatically disqualified from membership
They will be required to travel extensively by all means of transport ie; Bicycle, Moped, Scooter, Bike, Rickshaw, Auto Rickshaw, Car, Tempo, Bus, Train, Helicopter, Plane, Boat, ship etc except by post
Committee members will have a rare opportunity to meet and interact with celebrities from all walks of life. Organisers guarantee that (No Bank Guarantee will be given) not a single category of people will fail to visit the festival.
Festival will be a real mouth opener (not applicable to those whose mouths are always open) to all those who enjoy tasty and nutritious food.
Organisers are expecting unprecedented rush for the food festivals. In view of this admission will be restricted to invitees/pass holders only during the first three days of the festival. Food fans can do advance booking from 4 am to 8 am and 5pm to 9 pm to avoid disappointment. If anybody misses the chance they can visit other state capitals
Subsequent to the successful completion of one round of food festival, even the staunchest supporters of subversive, suffocating, self deceptive, self defeating, scandalous, surreptitious, scurrilous, sulky, sullen and sacrilegious slogans like "Sons of the Soil" will slowly and steadily submerge into more subtle and sober slogans like "Sons of the other soil"
After the conclusion of the state Food Festivals, Indian Food Festival will be held at different parts of the globe. An Indian Food festival can be organised at least for a month without repeating a single item.
Can any other country in the world boast of such a incredible feat?
Be a proud Indian
NAFED
Nafed
I joined a big company (Big
by name only) during May 1974. It took me 2-3 days, to memorize the name. The first day of joining, when I was returning
from office, I met a friend on the way. He heard from someone that I left my
previous job and joined a new organization. He asked me as to where I have
joined. I asked him to wait for a while and opened the Dairy and read the name
“National Agricultural Co operative Marketing Federation of India Ltd”
popularly known as NAFED. My office was at Sapna building and I was staying at
Sriniwaspuri which is roughly 700 meters from the office. I used to start
around 9.45 and during summer it looks like noon time.
I was posted in Marketing
Department and my boss was Mr. Sanyal a man of around 55 years old. At that
time his assistant was one Mr. Gulati who was both mentally and physically
sick. Almost daily, Mr. Sanyal used to get firing from his boss as neither he
was able to get work from his subordinate nor was he able to do it himself. Mr. Sanyal was also upset with the tragic death of his teenage son
(Only son) few months ago. Few days after my joining the scenario were changed.
Firing totally stopped because there was no work related complaint. When his
boss calls him, he asked me also to come along with him. While the boss asks
questions/clarifications to Mr. Sanyal, he directs me to give replies. Subsequently, Mr. Sanyal’s boss stopped
calling him and instead used to call me directly. Mr. Sanyal was very fond of
me and he used to bring Bengali sweets and other delicacies for me from home. I
used to cut jokes, create instant jokes during conversation and used to keep
him in good humour.
Working atmosphere at Nafed
was excellent. It was like a family ambiance. Though I was posted in marketing
department, I used to have lunch with my finance colleagues. The Finance Head,
FA & CAO along with all other staff used to take lunch together, an unusual
scene. Once my top boss fired me for a strange reason. I was in dire need of
money and I asked some colleagues but they were not in a position to help me.
When my super boss came to know about this, he scolded me and asked me as why I
did not tell him and said “what for I am here, if I am not able help you in
dire need?” Once when I was on leave for
2 days, due to sickness he sent an employee to enquire about my welfare.
I had decided to leave Nafed
primarily because I was interviewed for the post of Accounts Assistant but was offered
the post of accounts clerk though my rank was very high in test and interview
and another candidate with higher qualification but lesser rank was given the
post of Accounts Assistant. Logically, when test and interview is conducted for
a post, overall rank is the main consideration and higher qualification should
not be of any consequence. Secondly I was posted in Marketing Department and I
thought that it will jeopardize my career.
At the time I left Nafed,
Mr. Sanyal was on leave as he had gone to Calcutta. When he came to office
after the leave he was carrying items on both hands. He reached office at about
10.30 AM and immediately asked “Where is Adithyan?” Somebody told him that I
left Nafed. He was in a shock and
whatever items he was holding fell on the floor. For a while he stood like a statue with tears
rolling down his eyes. When I heard this story, I thought of visiting Nafed to meet
him. After about 10-15 days, I took a day’s
leave (It was very difficult to reach BEL by public transport) to visit Nafed,
but before that he had taken voluntary retirement and left for his home
town.
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Manorama Dated 23.9.15
Writing
and Running. Adithyan Excels in both
Edapal:- Adithyan is going ahead in writing and running
without looking back. Adithyan who hails
from Elangalloor Mana Edapal Thuyyam and a resident of Delhi is reaping
achievements in both. While moving ahead
with a variety of writings, Adithyan is making his presence felt in sports
world also. In the recently concluded Airtel Hyderabad half Marathon, he
secured second position in the super veteran category by completing 21.097 KM
in 2 hours 28 minutes at the age of 65.
Retired as Finance Manager
from Bharat Electronics Ltd Mumbai 5 years ago, (It is wrongly written. It
should be BEL Ghaziabad) he is in the forefront of raising social issues
whether at the local level or at the Prime Minister’s level. He is having a
collection of letters from a galaxy of eminent personalities including Dr.
Manmohan Singh Prime Minister, Sepp Blatter President FIFA etc. However, he
cannot be treated as a mere letter writer. His write ups have appeared in
several leading publications of India in 8 languages including English, Hindi
and Malayalam.
About 4 decades ago he
reached Delhi in search of job. His first letter appeared in The Hindustan
Times in the year 1973 about removing the time period for railway reservation. His
writings include a variety of topics like social issues, criticism, sports,
culture, science & technology, current affairs, humorous write ups, satire
etc which has appeared in leading English News papers and other language
papers. Writing letters to people who
have excelled in various fields is a passion for Adithyan. Barring few
exceptions, he got replies from all celebrities. He is preserving these letters
as a great treasure.
Basically a lover of all
sports, Adithyan got interest in Half Marathon and began practicing for that.
He made his debut by participating in the Auroville Half Marathon at
Pondicherry during February 2014. Subsequently he participated in Hyderabad and
other marathons. He is currently preparing for the forthcoming marathons. His
wife is Anitha and two daughters are Anupama and Ambily.
Running on the Road
Running
on Road
On 2nd October I
went to Poorv Delhi Khel Parisar for a trial run. It was closed on that day due to Gandhi
Jayanthi. At the time when I reached
there, I was the only “out” standing person at the gate. Since the Security Guard is my friend and
fan, I thought that he will allow the runners and walkers in as is being done
on Monday, the weekly holiday. In the
meantime two more members came. Security
Guard informed us that they were having strict instructions not to allow entry
of anyone. However, they allowed me to keep my carry bag inside and I put the
water bottle containing energy drinks inside the Iron Gate so that I can take
it from outside whenever I required. I started sunning on the main road
connecting GTB hospital to Tahirpur. It is a wide straight road. Running on the
straight road has a psychological advantage because since the road is visible
for a long distance, you will feel that the destination is near, though it is
far. I did nonstop run of 12 KM (except drink break).
Due to a weekly bazaar on
the previous day, the road was dirty and filthy as waste items were strewn all around.
We Indians are masters in polluting and making dirty of public places, whether
it is roads, rivers, lakes, parks or any other public place. They lack the
courtesy and civic sense to keep a bag or container to put the waste and even
in places where dust bins are provided, many people including the educated
people throw the waste hay-wire. When a
park is rented out for marriage or some other function, next day it will be
difficult to walk on the footpath as food particles were being thrown all
around. It requires some special skill to make it so dirty as even animals will
have better civic sense. The same peoples becomes civilized, law abiding,
obedient, disciplined etc when they visit a foreign soil because there the
punishment is heavy. It is a pity that majority
of the people will be disciplined under pressure or fear only. DMRC is able to
maintain cleanliness and they are able to maintain a separate culture since
beginning because of constant counseling and also due tom the fact that penalty
is heavy. What is the difference between an illiterate person and an educated
person so far as the civilization is concerned when both will do or undo something
only under pressure or fear only? Unfortunately, our education system failed to
inculcate couture, ethics, manners, civic sense, honesty, integrity, morality
etc and its primary duty is to produce money making machine only. .
Government spends crores of
rupees on cleaning of rivers and other public places. Half of the amount can be
saved, if people show little civic sense. Heavy penalty should be imposed from
those who pollute public places so that this amount should be sufficient to do
the cleaning operation. But the million (or billion) dollar question is who
will bell the cat. Let us not try to be on the top of the world only on
negative aspects like Road accidents,
robbery, dacoity, murder, gang rape, scams, scandals, pollution, adulteration and last but not
least corruption.
Friday, October 9, 2015
Salad Ramachandran
I stayed in Sriniwaspuri a South Delhi
Government colony for 10 years from 1974 to 1984. We had a friend called
Ramachandran who was staying about 100 meters away. Unlike many other
bachelors’ rooms, Ramachandran’s room was always neat and clean. Rooms of many
bachelors look like a big astray with hundreds of cigarette buds strewn around.
Ramachandran was a non drinker and non
smoker and a very polished person with always smiling face and pleasant look. Every
item in the room is kept neat and tidy. Many people could not believe that it
is a bachelor’s room. His door always remains open and friends can freely enter
his room. He treats friends and guests very well with coffee/tea and snacks. Once
when I went to his room, I found the charpoy (Cot made of bamboo stick and
coir) dancing. Anybody who believes in ghosts, devils etc (During old days, people
used to see Devils in dreams only. However, in these days you can see devils
everywhere. In some places devils are in majority. This is a classical example
of the popular perception that dreams will become reality one day. Hence friends are requested not to stop
dreaming as your dreams will become reality sooner or later. Whether you want
to see good dreams or bad dreams is up to you). would have got frightened. When
I looked closely, Ramachandran was dusting under the cot with wet cloth. On another
occasion, we found two bed sheets neatly packed and kept on the bed. When one
of the friends asked him as to whether he washed it himself or got it dry-cleaned,
he replied that he has kept them outside for cleaning. That was the height of
his cleaning sense.
He was good in cooking and
expert in making salads. People may be wondering as to what expertise is
required to prepare salad. This has to be experienced and cannot be explained.
Some people when they prepare something will have special taste and the reason
can neither be explained nor proved scientifically. (Rationalists may or may
not believe it, but if they experience it, they will definitely believe it, at
least privately). I lost in touch with him more than 3 decades
ago. He hails from vavanur near Kootanad, Palakkad district Kerala. I shall be
grateful, if somebody can help me to me in touch with him. He will be around
63-65 now
Spoilers of Sports
Spoilers
of Sports
Last National Games were
held in Kerala at different venues. For conducting the game a new Greenfield stadium was
constructed at Karyavattom near Trivandrum with a capacity of 50000 spectators
spending Rs 240 crores. The stadium was made in such a way that both cricket
and soccer can be played there. After creating lot of infrastructural
facilities most of them remain underutilized for a long time and spending huge
amount on maintenance. There was an
opportunity to stage an international soccer match in this new stadium. The
world cup qualifying match between Guam and India was supposed to play at this
stadium. However, the proposal was indirectly scuttled and strangulated by the
stadium authorities by demanding an exorbitant rent of Rs 34 lacs for one day. The
magnitude of this inflated rent can be gauged from the fact that daily rent of
Salt Lake Stadium Kolkata which is having a higher capacity is Rs 8 Lacs only
and rent of Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Kochi which is having similar capacity is
Rs 5 lacs. It appears that the stadium authorities wanted to indirectly deny
the facility to host the match.
The stadium was built on the
land allotted by the Government of Kerala at a nominal cost. Hence they are
duty bound to give the stadium for national sports activities. However, who
will enforce discipline on these “Sports lovers” who built such gigantic
stadiums for the development of sports in the country is a million dollar
question. In this connection I quote from a letter I wrote to the Prime
Minister few days ago
“Government spends crores of rupees in the name of sports, repeat in
the name of sports, but only negligible percentage reaches the sports persons.
No wonder we return from international sports meets with peanuts and become a
laughing stock in the eyes of the world.”
Some people and
organizations are having such negative mentality that whether they get some
benefit or not, they will ensure that others should not be benefited by their action
or inaction even inadvertently. This type of negative attitude coupled with crab
mentality is largely responsible for retarding the progress of our country in
many fields.
Let the God save God’s own
country and our own country.
Skeleton staff
Skelton
Staff
During my early period in
BEL, late Shri B Ramachandra Rao was my boss for a long time. Initially I was
posted in Audit and he was the Head of Audit Department. I heard that in those
days, posting of an employee was influenced by his/her name also, like
Kashmirilal in Cash Section, Adithyan in Audit etc. During those days, there was both pre audit
and post audit. Important financial proposals, payments beyond some limits,
final payment of contractors’ bill etc were done only after concurrence from
Audit. Now a day’s audit is confined to post audit only. Many auditors will sit on the fence, watch all
the wrong doings and will subsequently come out with big audit reports. Some
auditors are of opinion that they should at least raise one question, even if
the proposal is in order. In one Purchase proposal for purchase of shoes as a
part of uniform, one auditor has raised a question “if 8” shoes and 9” shoes
are available at the same rates, why should we go for 8” shoes?” There are
several definitions for audit but one definition given by a BEL employee is
“Audit is a necessary nuisance”.
Shri Ramachandra Rao was
having full faith and confidence on me. He unofficially used to seek my opinion
on various matters. He used to ask me to examine the draft letters and very
often he used to tell his PA “Show to Adithyan”. During those days there were 4 Sr.
Accountants in Audit Department. Mr.
Sablok (It is the name of a person and not all people), Mr. Malhotra, Mr.
Unnikrishnan and myself. The former two were 90+ (weight, and not age) and latter
two were 60-. During that period Mr. Malhotra
changed from B to C i.e.; he left BEL and joined CEL, another public sector
undertaking and Mr. Sablok was ‘temporarily” transferred to Regional Office New
Delhi. (Mr. Sablok retired from Regional
Office after serving about 35 years there)
Our workload increased tremendously.
If it was only post mortem (post audit) we could have avoided doing something, but
pre audit cannot be avoided, and since Audit is the final clearance authority,
their responsibility was tremendous. One
day Shri. Rao called me and asked me to go through a draft proposal. The
proposal was about posting additional staff to Internal Audit Department. The
note went like this “Audit is working with skeleton staff at the supervisory
level…..” After some time I went to his cabin. He asked my comments about the
proposal. I told him. “Sir, what you have written is hundred percent literally correct.
If Sablok and Malhotra were there, perhaps you would not have made such a
note”. He could not resist the temptation of laughing.
Fish as Friend
Fish
as a friend
There is a small temple of
Lord Ayyappa in our house compound along with other Gods like Ganapati (Lord
Ganesh) and Dakshinamurthy (Lord Siva). During my school days, I used to do
Pooja at this temple. After the Pooja, I go to the nearby pond to wash the utensils.
One big fish along with several tiny fishes comes to eat the rice particles in
the utensils and on my hand. When this continued for few days, I used to give
all the Nivedyam (Items offered to God during Pooja) whether it is rice or
Payasam (Sweet dish) to the fish for eating. Gradually the big fish became my
friend. I used to touch him, pamper him and cajole him. When I show the food items from above the
water level, it jumps and picks it. It was an unusual spectacle as 99% Keralites are non vegetarians, mostly
fish eaters and the moment the shadow of a human being is sighted, fishes
especially big ones go under the water. However, on the mere sight of my
shadow, it comes above the water level. Though it had two trunks, it never used
it against me. It stands silently when I touch its body and it appeared that
the fish enjoyed my love, affection and care.
I believe that there is no
barrier for friendship. However, many people are under the illusion that they
should make friendship with people of same status only. They will befriend with
only those people who are of their standard, who occupies similar houses, who
hold similar positions, who earns similar salary, who owns similar car, who
belong to the same sect etc. Even though they may have friends in other
categories just to show off, their friendship may not be sincere. They are
nothing but narrow minded and immature people who think that they live in ivory
towers. These people are constantly under stress, strain and tension as they
are worried about their material things and their personal relation often
converts into commercial relation. There are some materialistic people who even
give loan to their parents by charging interest. As a token of ‘love and
respect’ to their parents and mark of generosity, the interest rate charged by
them will be slightly lower than the rate charged from others. When will these
people make real friends cutting across all barriers is a million dollar
question.
Having friendship and
interaction with wide range of people, will increase information base,
knowledge and wisdom of both. Our late President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was a
classic example of this. Many artists who performed at Rashtrapati Bhavan told
me that he attends the programme with rapt attention. Unlike many other
Rashtrapatis, he talks to the artists and try to understand the intricacies and
nuances of the art and musical instruments.
No wonder he was a walking encyclopedia. Other categories of people who
are reluctant to mingle with people will remain like a frog in the well.
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