Rolls on the floor

 The evening was turning cool, after a day of intense heat.

The grown up children were out to the market to make purchases, for a festive dinner of suspense.


The kitchen was busy around eight pm, and by 8.30 pm dinner was served.

We had whole wheat chappathis, mint and cilantro chutney, paneer tikka, cabbage, carrot, bell peppers salad, and a few egged chappathis.


Each chappathi was individually catered, with initial buttering and some chutney smeared over it, then a central row of salad, and paneer tikka and the chappathi rolled with one end folded to prevent the salad, from dropping.

Hmmm. the rest is salivation.


For those who avoid egg, the chappathi, with the butter, chutney and paneer tikka rolled, go great, as long as u enjoy the company, and you have an appetite.

P. S.
Seated on the floor in a circle adds to the flavour, seeing others relish.  

Playing at work and working at play.

 The friend on the phone, who happens to be a well wisher to the family, made a casual enquiry about the child at home, and the response like all parents was, " He is playing ".

A pity this answer is never the same, when a friend of a child, enquires about the adult, it is always, " He is working ".

A day will come, when the answer would change to something else, make a lot of guesses, what all they could be, when the adult, is happy and smiling, yet at his daily activities, like a child fully involved, relaxed.

Try, maybe an innocence from within would come out with a super slogan, to shake the world around.

Ground floor at a towers

 Some are lucky to feel hunger, it was one such evening, we decided on KPR towers in Ellampillai, village food court, a term well selected.

Well lit and ventilated, spacious seating arrangements, well cooked food, served with grace, and not made to wait too long, it was a pleasant evening , on a wednesday( avoid fridays). we had ordered simple tandoori rotis with panneer gravy, and omellettes.

 

Previous visits we had more varieties and non vegetarian food. Such a variety of cuisine you could play around with the orders, (food court) and yes the prices are economical, and a secure restaurant on the main road.

 

For a wonderful time with family and friends, who would appreciate your words and understand your silence, when you are relishing the dishes, you should pay a visit .

Every man is a jerk - but who or what brings on his jerking?

 There is not a day, when we do not hear of the violence, abuse, and demeaning acts against women by men.

I am not here to type in favour of one against the other, or pit one against the other, but to bring harmony to both.

Mother Nature, in her role has put sex into all her creations, for a feeling of completeness, and propagation of its species, but it is only man (agents who tickle and promote) who has turned the innocent biological complex into a neurosis.

Cultures across the world introduced marriage as an institution to channel energies with morality and order, to prevent such atrocities, with caring concern and respect,for the other. (Anyone, anywhere)

Now laws have been formulated to release ourselves and justify a deviation, a continuity with discontinuity, all for the better with experience.

Back to crimes against genders, fair against dark, strong against weak.

Individually let us dig deep into ourselves, how much are we the cause of many a crime, our "Miss" contests, our advertisements, our styles, our chemical concoctions, our ever expanding media,(Big, small and palm screen) each one encouraging and strengthening devious behaviours.

Creating a craving and downplaying the results, and when things get into headlines, the neurotic individuals are blamed.

With every happening across the world, someone amongst us are into this, as initiators, promoters, and sufferers, may we bring on changes, to bring trust and respect to ourselves, and stop such criminal insults from occuring.

 

Pleasure is mine, and the happiness is ours

 Language/words are a means of communication, but most times it could cause a confusion.

Following a function, where there was great organising, warm gathering, delicious food, photo shooting, and a feeling of togetherness with everyone, a friend had worded a message, expressing his joy at being present, and the feeling of being cared.

I replied with this title,(Pleasure is mine, and the happiness is ours) and then got to read and research.

Pleasure is an individual feeling, happiness is with a group.

Pleasure is an egoistic trumpet, happiness is non egoistic symphony.

Pleasure is with a substrate, addictive, happiness is non addictive needs no substance.

Pleasure is achieved with a creation, taking, winning, making, happiness happens with giving, sharing, maybe even loosing to someone less gifted.

Pleasure is with a chemical called dopamine, happiness is with serotonin.

In short you could get doped with pleasure, and happy by serving to others.

There could be more..... You could share and feel happier.  

"I will tell you one thing, but do not get angry"

 I have been getting this sort of an advice with a condition, many a time.

The most recent was a few days ago, when I had taken some officials, to enquire about a land encroaching at a vacant plot, holding the grave of my great dad.

There came an elderly lady, and she voiced, "do not get angry, I will tell you one thing".

Me being what I am, said, " I will listen to what you say, but say it in such a way I do not get angry, or don't say it".

I can vouch she didn't get it, as such folks rarely hear what others say, let alone understand.

"You should have come earlier, before the encroachment happened. " She said.

The buttons to my emotions are still outside, and they are getting pushed around by external stimuli, I am trying to get those push buttons much deeper and insensitive, far beyond the reach of external factors.

Till then, those around get what they deserve.  

The three villians

 The villians are not the countries, or their leaders, the big businesses, or the Banks, but in the food.

Oh no not another page on eating  !


What to do, so much ignorance lies as lies within the kitchen, extending to the place of dining, through the media in the sitting room, (TV) that another page on them would be valid.


A very long time ago, I had the guts to enter an edible oil factory, without a pass. (you can let your imagination wander, how I did)


I did not have the subject to justify or point the fault, but knew enough to know things were not right.


The other was the refined table salt, and refined    crystals of white sugar.


In my field of health, these three could be the culprits of innumerable conditions, and a shift to cold pressed coconut, groundnut, or gingely oil, for cooking, unrefined sea salt, and chemical free palm sugar, would change the villans to Heros in the field of Health, from the kitchen.


In your field (other than health) who would be the villians? and do u have ways to turn them into Heros.  

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An indecisive mask rests below many a chin

 There are many among us who have paid a fine, or was yelled at, treated as an untouchable, worse still, threatened with loss of a job, or at least no entry, for not wearing a mask, at a business stall, during the past two years.

What started as a surgical mask to prevent a droplet, fall on a surgical area, has led to a pandemic prevention/spread during this crisis.

With the present time, soon it will go back to that stage, with many shifting to modellish, coloured masks, and other having doubts of it's value with the virus, spread or prevention.

Till the final verdict, many an indecisive wearer will let the mask rest often under the chin, and raise it up again and again, when the fear or an authority is around.

The study of mask, material, layers, numbers, duration of wear, gap at the sides, will bring on great literature, till then.....

Mask on...... At ease.

A circus in the neighborhood

 In the good old days, a powerful beam of light on the sky, was a sign, the circus has come to the distant, nearest town.

It is no joke running a circus, with all the rules and regulations to follow, with the artists and animals to perform for food, accommodation and pay, against the bellows of the animal activists, opposing animal acts. ( am one of them)

A clown plays the substitute for any artist who has taken sick, in an emergency, he can tumble, balance walk on a tight rope, cycle around, juggle a few bottles, run around with the horses and canines, and also make the kids giggle with laughter, with his false tears at being paddled on his rear.

These days, you do not have to go to the circus, you could see the acts on the road, the daredevil riders/ cyclists hands free, adjusting their collars or hairdo, or cooing into their mobile, while on the move, Others doing balancing acts on a parapet wall in high scary places.

Once I went to get a mahout off his elephant, on the road and perform in exchange, for his animal, and beg for money, by blessings the public.

There is no dirth for clowns, we notice them, not for intelligence, but stupidity.

Anyway we do not need to go to the tented circus, animal acts can be understood and stopped, and human limits of endurance challenged, and exhibited at carnivals, and games.

Many a time a clown from within will surface to save face, at a difficulty.

P. S.
I have always felt I could do a one man show.

I do not sell fish, but I Am.

 The word selfish may have a negative touch, but I think in a way I am, and could bring on a capital S to it.

Touching my toes this morning at some streatch work out, I realised quite a few have understood the importance of keeping the body fit, and the mind clear and sharp, all else follows only from this.

Going through the day, I have noticed quite a few activities, be it a nutritious meal, sharing some rice with the birds, sincerely and lost with the work at the chamber, relaxed walk at sunset, or reading a title on " Myths and realities ", everything is self centered.

Whatever be our aspirations, our satisfaction, our happiness, all comes only with the body/mind stability and health.

Whether we dive into water or work, or run away to hills or tracks, the ultimate is for us and us alone, and it's fruits may get shared, but I first.

In this sense I am Selfish, and you  ?  

True or false

 There was a time when at an exam, a few lines of random topics were selected to be deciphered, if it was true or false.

Only those who had read the subjects well could pick if it was true, or false.

In an age of reality, with subjects being bombarded all around through the books, the billboards, editorials, on mini screen in the palm, larger screen on the wall, and still larger screen at a theater, getting to segregate between truth and false could be easy.

Mostly false is picked for the truth.

There is very little chance for the truth, to be noticed, no regalness, no glamour, no chance for a crowd, and knowledge about truth is a rarity, mostly hidden or in plain sight, but invisible.

Lessons for life offer no prizes, false claims give out packets of sweets, pictures, money, consolation prizes for others too, if they can understand the false as truth.

So how do we arrive at truths, be it science, art, person, subjective, any hints  ?

P. S.

This piece...... True or false?  

Relax sing

 I could never understand the word and expression, Relax.

Recently I had a chance to attend a freshers course for yoga, which was for medical students, a lucky break to refresh and continue practice.

Simple movements were taught, and many a take back lesson was learnt.

One word that was often used during the workshop was "Relax".

During a question hour one day, I asked what are we to do, or not do, at the command, " Relax".

Tough question, am sure we all have our own version for that term. What is yours  ?

Last morning I was driving to work, and was singing a tune, it was a hint, I felt relaxed, and hence these lines.  

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A pain the r ear

 We are all a pain to someone somewhere, be it in the heart, head, mind or in the rear.

The mere sight, or the sound of a person, gets us alert to brave, or escape the situation, making us get immune, or sick.

Recently I have been having this sort of a trouble with my mobile xxxx brand. A mere ten seconds of a call, and my ear starts to ache.

I was advised by some to use a head set, others to use the speakerphone, sometimes I did try that, but the pain comes on.

It was at this time I remembered the kiss principle, which someone shared somewhere.

K eep  I t  S imple  S tupid.

For the speaker, and the listener, I guess this is what might help, in the future of communication on the irradiating mobile, keep the talk quick and simple, for the benefit of both, and those around.

Man and medicine

 Man and his attachment to medicines has come to a state of continuity, that his whole life is a state of sickness.

With regard to matters of health, every animal seems to have a capacity to heal itself, each to their own methods.

Maybe man too had that earlier, in fasting, eating herbs around his house, going to the mountains, bathing in certain waterfalls, and more natural resources.


Man seems to have lost that capacity after he has started to gather knowledge in useless matters, (but made him a master over everything else) which have started to destroy the environment around his home, and across the world.

Maybe once man gets to realise the limitations of the external sources in medicine, (all .....pathies) with relief, he will continue to jump from one system to another, finally learning to realise the best medicines are, when the one doctor from within, is triggered back to life, with understanding.

P. S. The title was a topic for lecture, for a  friend, which set me thinking.  

From the sea...... But is it salt?

 Whatever profession we are and place, we have passed through chemistry laboratory, testing to find out the salt given.

The salt in our kitchen, what could be in it?

We all belong to a culture, which serves food to our guests on a banana leaf, and the place of honour on the top left is salt.

Our home is our temple, and the kitchen our santum santorum, salt container the deity stand, and salt, Divinity.

Ours is a land which treats salt with respect and honour, think of the many festival rituals, functions, where it is placed at pedestals.

From across the seas, came business men, calling our sea salt names, and lacking in iodine, and stealing our rich sea salt with various minerals, and adulterating it with various chemical supplements, and selling it back to us with a high price tag, with fear and hypnotic advertisements.

Even the health care department is in, either as drivers, or as travellers, all sabotaged.

If you lack iodine, they recommend sea fish, how paradoxical. Sea  and it's salt contains everything that is in the periodical table.

Good salt with all the goodness of the sea, is one that clumps in this wet weather.

Do not get cheated, and carry the cheating to others.

Go on a treasure hunt, to get the natural one, not easy.

Post script
Many of the unknown auto immune complex diseases....... One reason to study.  

Cause and cure

 When the cause and cure for a disease are distant and far apart, there is a search, a study, and an answer, leading to saving human lives.

When the two are found at the same spot, after running around, playing hide and seek, through investigative journalism, we get to a state of being fooled, and a reason to suspect treason.

Both the words not only start with the same alphabet,"C" but sometimes end in the same  location of a charity bowl, or a high rise building in one of the famous money making streets.

Ailments were few when communities were living within their borders, following their practices, built by their ancestors. Then came colonising, cross border pass porting, acceptance of living along in harmony, cross cultural exchanges, still safe as long as our cultural ways were maintained.

When we lost our salt and soil to others hands, and let our minds get adulterated, with their ways of liberation, we lost our freedom, and with it our health, which is our wealth.

Now we have them promoting our methods to us, as if they researched and discovered it in their white coated labs.

Then came exploitive folks, who made themselves powerful, and destructive to innocent trusting ones.

The cause and cure rested in their hands playing games.

Search you can find them all around, but first check if you are one of them.

In defense of inner mechanisms

 

In the high Tibetian plateau, an infant child is given an icy dip, into the chillness of the Himalayan waters. Seems cruel, but that is what the ancestors of the land do, to get the immune system of the child geared up. The fit survive, to live in the cold frontiers, to lead a healthy life, with a strong immune system to resist natural challenges. Mother Nature timed her diseases with seasons, and brought on natural immunity, one at a time, getting all the systems to activity to build on defences, to last a lifetime, with no loopholes, to get the infective organisms to mutate and side track, to invade again. Trying to better Nature with our limited knowing, we bring on destruction to the natural inner mechanisms, needing a variety of boosters, to re-kindle dying protective paths, to short term activity. By now all would have recognised.... Yes vaccines. V ery A ctive C hemical C ombinations I ntroduced into N atural E nvironment           ... Human body For protecting it against disease causing pathogens. Let us ask questions, from why mandatory? what is in it ?  what does it do ?  for how long does it work ? Not just accept, that it is safe and effective. Quoting my own lines, "Science is the art of asking questions in innocence and with courage." More apt for the present times.   ReplyForward

He was a brilliant child, but how could I know....

 It was a ceremony, when the dead are recognised as a God, and the living are looked at with contempt.

Among the guests were many glued to their mobile screens, oblivious to the surroundings, I quietly pulled up a chair, to a child concentrated with his game, with unblinking eyes.

My ignorant game questions got him explaining his knowledge, and then his friends, his school, his interests, his food likings, studies, future plans, why and what were his preferences, all that was lacking was a recording, but it would have spoilt the flow and trust.

It carried on during lunch,( the mobile was long forgotten) where we kept each other company, his banana leaf was equally neat as mine, from start to finish. (His quote, " I will not waste food")


We got enviable looks, seeing a bond being cemented with a gap of a generation.

He came to send me off, I wished him well with a hand shake to a future professional, who would be worthy to his family and the society.

P. S.
He has just cleared his first standard and joined his second, seven years to be exact, with a responsibility of his class on his young shoulders as it's monitor.  

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Nalla Sapidu (Eat well)

 This is a wish highlighted at partings, kids sent to school, college hostels, daughters after the marriage, by parents, well wishers, and others.

The term maybe the same, but it varies to everyone, and different even for the same people.

I think it should be discussed at gatherings, as a pass time topic of a serious nature.

Am sure what my mother meant, could be so different from what I would explain to my child, for the same lines.

So the next time you say it or receive it, think, or question, see your knowing deepen, and share it, for the likes of me.


P. S.
The last time I addressed this to my child, it got me thinking, the whole of Nutrition is within this.

Grand Graduation day celebration.

 Invitations were sent to all the guests, the silent, but very efficient organisers, meticulously planned ever step of the graduation ceremony from the point of entry, to the point of return to their quarters, of the dignitaries, and everything in between.

It was a solemn event, at Annapoorna College and hospital Salem,last evening. Nature was kind in offering a pleasant, normal weather.

The whole event was rehearsed with proxy participants to catch any possible errors which could be rectified, a day earlier.

The Gods may have had an hesitation to come, but with the Bengali invocation, they were soon dispersed within the families of the graduates, and their presence felt all through the event.

There was no hitch, which could cause a seconds hesitation, to halt the flow of movement.

Every speech of welcome, years report, oath taking, past and present best out going students lines of gratitude, were short, sweet and emotional.

Many an eye was wet, heart heavy, Steps shuffling, following the oath talking.

The civilian program was executed with military precision. Everyone present would have felt a personal space of participation.

The event would have etched a creation in many a heart, to carry for a lifetime.

First do no harm...... And the rest of oath will be a constant guide all through life.

Wishing great strides to the budding doctors, personally, and for the benefit of all Humanity.

Who is WHO, to decide what is what?

 The same line seems to be coming up again and again, as a title for an article, it is just that it can be seen from different angles.

Just say, we are a gathering of medical Doctors, discussing a topic, (say hypertension)
It's biochemistry, clinical picture, pharmaceutical preparations available, pricing, prevention, and the like.

How it would be if we have people of other health care systems ( Y, U, S, H,) sit along, and discuss it on our terms, not theirs, ours  ?

Even reading it could be nauseating.

Now imagine if, in the gathering we have politicians, philanthrophists, bankers, biologists, zoologists, computer engineers, and others, discussing our subject, and telling us what to do, would we sit and accept, or move?

Now let us centre on WHO, and the team that leads the present pandemic crisis, how many belong to our profession?

When did they last see a patient?
Who pays them? What do they get in return, for their ruling?

Why should we agree to the words of another, to a subject we take pride in reading, practicing, and building with such difficulties?

The trust by the public on us is being eroded, and the blame of the misdeeds are being borne by us.... A pity.

It could be the same with all professions, this is mine.  

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Truth should be silent, or it would get silenced.

 From pre historic times to the present, there is no shift in this rule.

Take up any example from religious, political, scientific, business, health, sabotage, whistle blowers to anonymous drop out, it is risky to blow the trumpet, to share your truths to those around near and far.

If you have come across truth, stay put, your voicing it would create a stir, never knowing what would be the result.

We have pages from Jesus, Kennedys, williams, Johns, Andrews, and many more..

I was once warned, a very long time ago, for an article I had posted at a campus bulletin board, a simple exposure about, general public using private property. (and the other way too)

After all this if are still courageous enough to share your truths, drum them loud and clear, rewrite the story, you would become History.

A weekend at Koll

 "..... a few more steps,  .... Just a few bends,.... and we are there,"   Were the encouraging lines, on the way up the hair pin bends, and through the forest path, to reach the hamlet, the waterfall, and temples atop the mountain.

The mountains of death ( kolli hills) were alive with the cool breeze, early morning mist, and the warmth of our friends.

We the veterans of 78 from Stanley, Chennai, gathered at Mahendra vanam, each taking a part in this togetherness for the benefit of us all.

The enthusiasm was infectious, the arrangements and food homely, and the spirit warm.

The treks were as a team, and the sharing of the past was memorable, our limits were streatched, our stamina examined, our relaxation, a deep calmness in awareness.

Our organisers were through in their concern for our stay, sightseeing, food choices, entertainment, comfort, with nothing left out.

No time was wasted, nor dragged into activity, and I must not forget to mention, "Hema vanam", a sister forest farm, for it natural landscape, the mountain stream, check dam swimming pool, and spillover water fall.

Nothing could have been possible without the permission, and acceptance of the mountain deities, Kolli paavai and her equals.

A lettering hug, to everyone who made this a happening.

Coconut water is good for your daughter (Godess)

 We do not have to be religious to do rituals.

Morning walks have started to become ritualistic with the cool air and bright faces, and the fresh tender coconut drink at the cyclist vendor, a regularity.

Of all natures bounty, the top of the list peak goes to tender coconut water for its nutritious value, and unadulterated purity.

I am always at a lookout excuse, to share about tender coconut water, this morning it happened again.

I was just getting to sip, when a fellow drinker, enquired, "someone said, tender coconut water on an empty stomach, causes an ulceration? "

He wanted my comments.

The stomach is able to tolerate alcohol, decoctions of strong tea, coffee, carbonated drinks, in hour glass, tinned and cartoned packs, on an empty stomach and still survive, nothing of the ulcerative state happens, I responded as an opener.

For the benefit of the other wise (pun intended) ones present, I voiced about the cleansing  electrolytes, break fasting specialities and more qualities of this sweet natural drink.

It is a one stop drink for all ailments, conditions, functions, seasons, and times of the day and night.

Let us halt the rumour at our screen, and if u have doubts about who started the rumour, just question who gains the most.