IN HIS FOOTSTEPS

Hi friends,

In spite of his financial constraints, my father was buying a newspaper in English. Though he was not highly educated, his knowledge of the language,  political acumen, and social issues was of a high standard. He had impeccable handwriting and I wanted to emulate his signature.

The Indian Express used to publish Tarzan stories daily on the last page. When I was young, as soon as the paper arrived, I grabbed it and took it to my father to tell me the story. Most of the time he told me the story but at times he scolded me and asked me to read and understand on my own.

I was good at Tamil but I was very poor in English. It depended on the learning in the school days. If the foundation is good the building is good. For acquiring knowledge, the school is important, the teacher is important and your intelligence is important. I missed all three.

The deficiency in the learning comes to the fore only in the latter days while you face life situations. Time does not stop and it moves on. I married and settled in life. But my English language did not improve. My senior in the office used to correct all my letters with red ink without mercy.

Once, my parents came to stay with us for some time. One day after morning coffee, my father asked me for the newspaper. I was not buying the newspaper since I went to the office early in the morning and as I read the paper in the office library during lunchtime, and also to save money.

I told my daughter to get the paper from the opposite house. My father scolded me with harsh words. He said, "are you not ashamed to borrow from another person. If you do not have money, I will give you. Go and get it from the shop." I never stopped buying paper thereafter.

Whenever I wrote letters to my parents I wrote only in chaste Tamil. The reasons are 1. I could not write in English 2. My mother did not know English. But my father insisted to write in English or else he would not read my letters. Despite my best efforts, I could not fulfil his wish.

When he was with me and in a good mood, he used to tell me how he developed his English language. He asked me to read the "letters to the editor" column in "The Hindu" daily without fail whether I understood it or not. I took his advice seriously and started reading the col daily.

It is the best source to improve one's language. It gives practical knowledge. Many people with different qualifications, experience and knowledge contribute their best on different topics in different styles. Regular reading gives exposure to the nuances of writing good English. I gained confidence which was important. 

My senior appreciated me. I introduced a new style of writing business letters. Usually, they started "with ref to your letter dated" which I changed to "We thank you for your letter dated" and "we hereby inform you" was changed to "we are pleased to inform you". I started reading good books and closely observed their style.

What I know is just a drop in the ocean. The English language is boundless. I have not mastered the subject. Everyone has his own style. There are writers whose writing I don't understand even two words. So bombastic. I love the simple way which is easy for the common man to learn. MAY GOD BLESS YOU. 

MEMORABLE MEMORIES

DR.TION

When I was studying in 7th std, my English teacher Mr. Rajeshwara Rao used to teach English poems written by Keats, Shelly, Wordsworth, and others. I had a great interest in poetry. At the age of 12, I ran a handwritten magazine in Tamil with the title KALANJIYAM meaning granary. The teacher used to prepare a speech and encouraged me to perform on the stage on the annual school day.

I still remember a speech under the caption "DR.TION". The entire speech contained words ending with "tion", Eg. "Examination is a botheration to the student generation. The anticipation and expectation of the older generation is just an imagination" it goes on like that. Being a Board High School he did not stay long and he went elsewhere.

PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE:

Vaccination is the best way to prevent pneumococcal disease, especially at old age. There are two different types of pneumococcal vaccine. One that protects adults against 23 strains of Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria is called pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23), and it is marketed under the brand name Pneumovax. The other one is for kids.

Myself and my wife had this vaccination [PPSV23]. It costs Rs. 1500/ per dose. It is imported from Merck Netherlands. There was no pain, no fever, and nothing. It is just an ordinary injection. All the people above 60 should take this vaccine. It is not life long. You will have to get it done after every three years.

SPIRITUALISM

A teacher is one who teaches a subject.

A believer is one who believes in a subject.

A follower is one who follows the principles.

A preacher is one who is all the above three.

I am only a believer. My understanding of spiritualism is different. Without renunciation, there is no realization. As it is very difficult to follow, I don't practice it. Nowadays, everyone starts preaching spiritualism. As my belief is firm, I don't need any guidance from any source.

THIS IS WHAT I AM

Hi friends,

I AM  DIFFERENT.

All fingers are not alike, all people are not the same. I am different, reserved, do not move with another. It takes me time to accept a friend. Once I accept, I give my life. I do not hesitate to share anything and everything with him. I can understand a person by looking into his eyes, by observing his body language and by listening to his words.

I am proud and conservative. I prefer to be loved than to love. I have a firm belief. It may or may not be correct. I do not know how I acquired it. If anyone considers he is big, I am bigger than him. If anyone considers he is small, I am smaller than him. That is why I have only a few friends.

It is said friendship in early life lasts long. The five friends, I had during younger days, did not last after marriage. Their wives did not cooperate. True friendship is in the giving and not in receiving. I am tired of friends. They are not sincere, close, open, caring and sharing, and they are just opportunists, I am yet to find a true friend who will give his life for friendship.

I AM A DEAF.

People discriminate between the blind, the lame and the deaf. Their suffering is the same. One can see/feel their sufferings, but not that of a deaf. The sound of a car, the barking of a dog, the crying of a baby, the whistling of the wind, the music on the TV, he can hear nothing. 

There is only SILENCE for him. Nobody sympathizes with him. When a dog barks, you see the dog, hear the barking and feel its ferocity. it is life for him. Deaf can only see the dog but does not hear the barking nor feels its ferocity. it is DEAD for him. Have sympathy for them.

I am 90% deaf. I am using a hearing aid but it is of no avail. I do not wish to go in for sophisticated ones. Hearing unhealthy talks leads to various problems and it is better to enjoy the SILENCE. I can stop the other man from talking, just by switching off my hearing aid.

I AM AN INTERNET ADDICT

My daughter presented a laptop in 2013. I learned to handle the device. Though not 100%, I got the basics. I handled Emails. I get agitated when I do not receive replies. I expect a reply the moment I sent a mail. I do not realize then that it would take time for them to reply.

I started seeing movies on U Tube. Since I cannot hear, I can see only with subtitles. I have seen almost all the movies. Then, I entered the FaceBook. I got only my family members as friends. They are busy and were not active. Then my daughter opened a blog for me to write articles. 

I am caught into this vicious web. I am now spending more than six hours a day. I don't know when it is going to double. I have to create lame excuses to sit before the laptop. I am unable to sit idle and it is itching to go to the laptop. I realize I have become an ADDICT to the laptop.

I had healthy habits like exercising, walking, reading, visiting people, shopping, doing household works, playing with kids, joking with people etc etc. Now everything has gone into this Web. How and when I am going to recover from this problem is a big question mark. 

WHY OLD AGE HOMES

Hi friends,

There is a worst old age home en route my walk. I saw a young couple and an old man got down from the auto and went inside. He was around 65. The lady, about 30, took his belongings and the man, about 35, held him. I could only imagine the cattle taken to the slaughterhouse. 

People fail to notice what happens when a child is born. The child breaths on its own. It cries and smiles on its own. What does it mean? It does not require anyone for its existence. It says it can survive on its own. But people believe that it is their child without understanding reality.

Among all living beings, only humans are endowed with the power of 6th sense. But they lack it. Other living beings get the younger ones, rear it for some time till it can manage on its own and leave it into the world. But only the humans attach love sentiments on the child till his death.

God is responsible for its birth and they are just given the opportunity to take care of it until a certain time. If they are under the presumption that they are responsible for everything the child acquires,  they are totally wrong. Only with the protection of God, it grows on its own.

When the child becomes physically and intellectually strong, he starts living on his own. But the parents develop possessive sentiments and interfere in all his activities. They should move away from him when he gets married. They don't do it. He should have the freedom to lead his own life.

Most of the parents commit the mistake of spending everything on the child and remain penniless when they are old. They do not save enough to safeguard their future. They become dependent upon the child until their death. The children may not be able to take care of them.

If they protect the child for 25 years, the child should protect them for 25 years is old theory. Now they must be self-reliant and self-sufficient. They should not be at the mercy of the child. They may not be happy if they depend on him. He has his own future and he has to take care of his family.

Due to old age, if they happen to live with the child, they must mind their business. He is the boss and they are not. They must go along with him. They should not question him and put rules in his house. There should be no demand or expectation from them. They should leave him to lead his life.

If they want to live together, they will have to live like that. It means they have understood reality. They will have peace of mind. In case of need, they may also go to a good old age home with their money and lead a peaceful life. Otherwise, they will suffer for the rest of their life. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

THIS LETTER IS 54 YEARS OLD

Hi friends,

In 1963, I did my 1st-year degree in S. Joseph's Tiruchy. Rev.Fr, Mathias was the principal. To help my father and to stand on my own legs, I wanted to take up a part-time job in the evening. The principal was well known to me. I requested him a recommendation letter which he gladly obliged.

I was able to secure an accounts job. The timing was 4 to 6 in the evening after college, Monday through Friday and the salary was about Rs.50 per month and I learned accounting knowledge. I was able to meet my college fees and other expenses. My father did not like it but said nothing against.

After passing plus 2, a student had to prepare for the entrance exam for professional courses. The admission into Arts colleges was done early. So there was huge demand for Arts colleges. When the admission results for professional courses were declared, then there was an exodus from Arts colleges.

In 1993, my daughter passed her plus two. I wanted to admit her to a good college. In Chennai, there were a number of women's colleges like Ethiraj, Stella Maris, WCC, MOP Vaishnav, etc. She preferred Stella Maris. We had to meet the principal with the application to get her admission.

Every day, we used to go to the college at 6 AM to get the token and to stand in the queue to meet the principal. They gave only 35 tokens per day. Being a minority institution for Christians, it was difficult to get admission for forward community even if you have scored high marks.

We went early for a few days but the principal Sr. Annamma Philip was not open to give her admission. So I was doubtful. To try my luck, I decided to take the recommendation letter given to me by Fr.Mathias in 1963, who was well known as a great Jesuit administrator.

That day, we got token number 3 and went inside the principal's room to meet her. I told her, I was a student of St.Joseph's Tiruchy and showed her the letter given by Fr.Mathias. She wondered why I preserved that letter for 30 years and she gave my daughter admission at once.

After 4 years, I wanted to admit my son in Loyola, Chennai. It was also a minority institution. We could not meet the principal Fr.Dass. Finally, we met him and I again showed him the letter given by Fr.Mathias. He also wondered I was preserving it for 34 years and gave my son admission.

I still have the letter with me for 54 years and it may be even useful one day for the admission of my grandchildren also. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

THE PROPERTY OF A FATHER

Hi friends,

The father was on his death bed. His children were around him. With great difficulty, he talked to them to say that he was sorry to leave them. He was sorry that he could not give them any property. With tears in his eye, he wished them a happy, healthy and peaceful life.

He told them that hard work, self-control, integrity, discipline and fear of God were important to go up in life. His first son told him that he was tired of his lectures. He said you called others as corrupt and thieves of public funds who had given their children houses and properties.

He scolded him in damaging words. "It is unfortunate you do not have a pie in the bank. You have no house and you live in a rented one. How can you expect us to follow your footsteps? How can we emulate you? We shall decide on our path". Hearing this the old man died.

A few months later, the first son went for an interview in a multinational company. At the interview, the Chairman of the committee asked him,

"Who is your father..??"

He replied,

"I am Krish Patel. My father Arvind Patel  is no more."

The Chairman stood up and exclaimed,

"O my God, you are Mr. Arvind's son..?"

He turned to the other members of the committee and said,

"This man's father signed my membership form into the Institute of Administrators and his recommendation earned me where I am today. He did all these without any expectation. I didn't even know his address and he never knew me. He just did it for me.."

He turned to Krish,

"I have no questions for you, consider yourself as having selected for this job, come tomorrow, your letter will be waiting for you.."

Krish Patel became the Corporate Affairs Manager of the company with two Cars and a Driver, A duplex attached to the office, and a salary of Rs.1,00,000 per month excluding allowances and other costs.

After two years of working in the company, the MD of the company came from the US to announce his decision to resign and to select his successor. A person with high integrity was needed and the company's Consultant nominated Krish again.

In an interview, he was asked the secret of his success. With tears in his eyes, he replied, 

"My Daddy paved the way for me. It was after he died that I knew that he was financially poor but strikingly rich in integrity, discipline, and honesty".

He was asked again, why he is weeping like a kid when his father had passed away a long time back, he replied, 

"At the time of his death, I insulted my dad for dying without a pie in the bank and making his kids suffer. Now I understand how great his goodwill is. I hope he will forgive me now. I didn't deserve all these, he did it for me to just get it".

Finally, he was asked, "Will you follow your father's footsteps as he requested ?"

And his simple answer was, 

"l now adore my father, I have a big picture of him in my living room and at the entrance of my house. He deserves whatever I have after God".

Are you like Arvind Patel..? It is difficult to earn a name, the reward doesn't come quickly but it will come when it is due to you and it will last longer. Integrity, discipline, self-control, and fear of God make a man wealthy, not the fat bank account. Leave a good heritage for your children. God bless us all.

GOD WILL COME TO SEE YOU

Hi friends,

Philanthropy is the desire to promote the welfare of others. especially by a generous donation of money, goods, and services for good causes. Attitude plays a vital role. If you go on helping the needy, it becomes your habit. A simple way to understand their plight is to imagine yourself in their condition.

However, a charity that produces a negative result should not be done. Poor means people who are physically, financially and intellectually at a lower level than you. Most of the people are kind at heart. That is why it is raining. But everyone has their own limitations to help others. Even a small contribution may worth a lot for the receiver. I give some suggestions.

1. If aged people or handicapped people find it difficult to cross the road, you can help them to cross the road.

2. You can help them financially or provide them some food. Please ensure that your money will not be misused.

3. When you buy new dresses,  please donate your old dresses to old age homes. You may also donate blankets, bedspreads, pillow covers, etc

4. Do not hesitate to help pregnant women and their children. They are like your mother.

5. You may help schools for deaf and dumb, mentally retarded with financial assistance. Actually, if you visit those schools you will understand the condition they are in.

6. When time permits, you may visit the nearby hospital and share with patients their difficulties and help them financially or get them food. You may also offer temple offerings.

7. Many genuine orphanages are catering to the needy and downtrodden. You may financially help them or provide the inmates' food for a day.

8. Street vendors sell fancy items, vegetables, fruits etc on hand carts for a living instead of asking for alms. Please do not bargain. You are not going to make a mountain out of it.

9. Your maid is poor. She does not have a regular income. Do not make her wash your plates in which you have already eaten and any other menial works. Give her bonus, monthly leave, dresses and financial/medical help and books for their children.

10. People doing menial jobs like barber, newspaper boy, tea vendor, peon, drainage cleaner, cobbler, leper, garbage picker etc should have your sympathy/help.

11. If you read books, donate the old books to the nearby library instead of selling it.

12. Any other help that may come to your mind. 

Please remember that helping the needy is helping God. You need not go to the temple but God will come to bless you. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

THE TWO SIDES OF A COIN

Hi friends,

I never wanted this child. Somehow, he has come into my life. What to do? He is unmanageable. He is doing all the mischiefs. I can no longer tolerate. I am fed up with him. How long I can be patient? His father does not care. He is busy attending to his own work. He does not bother about my sufferings.  He does not remain at home and escapes to office. I feel like running away from this house. There is a limit to everything.

This 3-year-old devil of a child is ransacking the entire house like a battlefield. There is nothing that is left untouched by him in this house. I am tired of keeping the things back in its original place. I don't know why my dad taught me discipline, maintenance, and cleanliness. I shall be grateful if anyone takes this devil with them for some time. Oh my God, please save me from this monster.

For a change, I wanted to visit my friend who is in the next street. I had to take the devil also with me as there is no one in the house. We went to her house in an auto. She was very happy and welcomed us with all smiles on her face. I wonder, she likes my child very much. She took him in her arms and gave him a few kisses and 5-star chocolate. Her house was neat and tidy. My dad would feel very happy. 

My son started his routine. She was running after him, I told her all my problems with him and how tiring it was. Her reply shocked me. "Dear, You do not know the value of a child. I long for a child for years. I pray daily to the Lord for a mischievous child. What is the use of keeping the house in order? There must be a child to ransack it. You are blessed. I don't know when God will have mercy on me?

Her words struck me deep into my heart. She is able to look at from a positive angle. I was ashamed not to realize the value of my own child. I understood that there is another side to the coin. I thanked God for blessing me with a sweet child though mischievous. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

YOU PREFER HEAVEN OR HELL?

Hi friends,

During my walk this morning, I saw a young boy of 10, driving on a motorcycle all alone. His legs were not even long enough to reach the pedals. He could not sit erect as he had to bend forward to hold the handlebar. I wonder how he could change the gears. No one was following to safeguard him. If anything happened to him, his entire future would be ruined.

This brought me memories of an incident happened when a minor son of a relative met with an accident and the trauma suffered by his mother. Nowadays the parents of minor children, especially the father, have to yield to the demands of their kids due to their love for them without even thinking about the consequences. One should not be mad in loving their children.

A posting on facebook invites donations for treatment of a man of 24 in Apollo hospital in a coma after meeting with an accident. The details of the accident are not known. They are unable to meet the expenses and are suffering a lot. The word accident means an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury. 

The father should not allow a minor son even to touch the vehicle. When he becomes a major, he should teach him the nuances of safe driving and also the consequences of accidents. His teachings are more important than the boy's ability to drive. Young people are irresponsible. They do not visualize the consequences of an accident. It is the duty of the father to teach him.

They simply leave the coaching to professional people whose main concern is money and time. They will not teach about accidents and its consequences, fearing that the client may drop out. Nowadays, young people drive rashly creating fear in the minds of other people on the road. This is purely due to the negligence of their parents and also the company of their friends.

If a young man dies in an accident, he goes to heaven and his parents live the hell on earth. If he is seriously hurt both he and his parents live the hell on earth. If they take sufficient precautions, then both of them find heaven on earth. Which one you prefer heaven or hell? I leave it to you. I shall be glad if all parents remember this and take suitable steps. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

WHO IS CLEVERER?

Hi friends,

My mother lived until she was 94 plus. We are six brothers and three daughters. We have 18 children. My father is also no more. My mother was kind to all and harsh to none. She was loved, respected and taken care of by all. We did not want to make her unhappy for any reason. All the children obeyed her to the core.

She was like a monarch. We had given her the mantle to rule the empire. In case, she was not happy with anyone, she moved to another son. The fellow who earned her wrath had to cajole her. Until then, she remained stubborn like a child. She had such a hold over her children.

She was the God of all Gods. What she had done for us cannot be expressed in words. We might be busy. At the old age, she had nothing else to think about our past, present, and future. At any cost, we made her happy. Or, a drop of tear from her eyes would ruin our lives for centuries.

We did not prefer getting many children like them. Probably, in those days they were not aware of family planning methods or they might have considered it a sin to terminate the pregnancy or they would have thought that a child was born not only with a stomach but also with a pair of hands.

When we became adults and got married, we decided to limit our children to one or two. We thought, with better education and standard of living, we might be better equipped to give them good exposure, education, environment, and prosperity.

Our expectation has come true.  Our children are quite successful and they studied well and got into good jobs and are well placed. We are proud of them. However, we do not have the power of holding the mantle like our mother and be the monarch of the family.

We have to dance to the tune of not only the children but also the grandchildren. We do not have the freedom to go to another child in case we are unhappy with anyone. We are more like slaves in the name of parents. Going to old age home is not a good idea. Now tell me who is cleverer?

UNITY IN THE FAMILY

Hi friends,

Most people do not understand the real meaning of a family. A family consists of only the following six people. It is a legal entity as they become the legal heirs. They are:

1. Father

2. Mother

3. Son

4. Daughter

5. Son in law

6. Daughter in law

N.B. Grandchildren come under their parents]

There should be mutual love, affection, respect, regard, understanding, sharing, caring, and consulting among all the six. They should strive for unity, happiness, harmony, and peace among them. 

Others are outsiders. They may be close relatives and friends. Some of those people may create problems in the family. When outsiders try to create problems among the six, they should be ignored and should not be taken seriously to maintain their togetherness. I give you some examples.

1. The father's sister comes and stays with him. She makes some remarks about his DIL. Even if he finds justification in her remarks, he should ignore it in the interest of the family. If he takes up with the DIL or son, then there is resentment, misunderstanding, separation, and old age home.

2. Assume the mother's sister telephones her one day to inform her that her son has presented her with a 10 sov gold chain for her birthday. This is purely gossip. The mother should ignore it. Instead, if she takes up with her son about it, he feels hurt. Then there is unhappiness and quarrel.

The six people should always discuss among themselves how to maintain unity, love, and understanding. They should not yield to gossip mongers whose main agenda is to disrupt the happiness of the family. Mind you, People throw stones only at the fruit-bearing trees. 

Most of my articles center around family only. I have a lot of concern about family, its members, its happiness, and its survival. A family is the fulcrum of life and everything moves around it. The family values are slowly deteriorating due to western culture and western education. 

Now many people are talking about "live-in relationships" and are worried about its further developments. If the family is ruined, the worst affected are the parents. They have no other place to go except old age homes which are increasing in number. We should bear this in mind. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

KEEP THE ENGINE IN NEUTRAL

Hi friends,

Everyone wants to live happily. But no one knows the way to achieve it. There are two ways. One way is to acquire those items which give you happiness. The other way is to leave those items which make you unhappy. The later is more difficult to practice. Here is an example.

A mother carries a baby for nine months and delivers it with great difficulty. She nurses the baby pouring all her love, affection and care. She gets her child toys, dresses, books, education and makes it into an intelligent man in 25 years.

The man now wants something biological which the mother cannot give him. He longs for it day and night and the mother understands his feelings. She takes steps to fulfill his natural desire. She finds a girl of his liking, gets her married to him and wish him to lead a happy life.

Similarly, on the other side, a mother nurtures her girl baby. She brings her up to the age of 21. She finds that the time has come to give her to a man to fulfill her biological desires which she cannot provide as a mother. She finds a man and gets her daughter married to him to be happy.

The man and woman start living. They make love. He gives her all his love and she reciprocates it.  The butterflies taste the honey for the first time and they enjoy to the maximum. They feel Ecstasy. They know they cannot get it anywhere. They forget the world. They feel inseparable.

The mother, son and the girl, now called DIL, live together. Though the mother has given her son to the girl, she feels insecure about her future. She doubts whether her son will desert her and go after the girl. She develops the suspicion whether the girl would snatch him away from her.

The girl, having married the man, leaving her parents, also feels insecure about her future since she is new to the family. She doubts whether the man to whom she has given her body and soul would continue to love her. She doubts whether the mother would continue to have her hold on him.

This feeling of insecurity by the mother and the girl is psychologically valid from their angles. It is now up to the man to act, to make them feel secured and assure that his love for them continues to be the same. He should not take sides. He should remain neutral. He should bring them together as friends. 

If he is successful, all the three will be happy otherwise they will suffer. This is the secret of happy living. In most of the families it does not happen and hence they suffer. Many men take the side of the mother or the wife which leads to all problems. Always keep the engine in neutral.

My neighbour had a bullock cart with two bulls. One bull was brown and the other was white. He always tied the brown on right side and white on left. When I asked, he said they would not draw the cart if interchanged. Please note,  even a bull needs a secured place and recognition. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

FIRST CHILDBIRTH

Hi friends,

The birth of the first child gives a lot of concern not only to the parents but also to the grandparents. I am no exception. When I got my first grandson, I cannot explain in words, the condition I was in. As usual. the contraction started at midnight and with great difficulty and in the pouring heavy rain we reached the hospital 20 KMS away.

My daughter suffered the whole day and the doctor advised us that the delivery would take place only in the evening. Spending some time in my brother's house nearby, we came back to the hospital in the evening. She was taken to the labor room. We could sense how much she was suffering and she was hiding it from us by bearing the pain. 

After a few minutes, it was unbearable for her, and we were praying to all Gods. I wonder why God has given the women suffering like that. Finally, a beautiful baby boy was delivered. The doctor came out and informed us that it was safe delivery as promised. Her next advice was quite surprising. 

She told us to get my daughter two bottles of chilled Fanta. When we asked for clarification, she clearly repeated it again. It is a belief for generations that the mother after childbirth should not be given cold items for two months. But the doctor was insisting on it.

My brother went out and got five bottles of chilled Fanta of which we had one each and the two were sent inside the labor room. Contrary to the belief, nothing happened to my daughter and she was asked to take normal food with potatoes, etc. Doctors are different.

THE BUD BLOOMS

Hi friends,

Walking is the best exercise. It relaxes the muscles and helps the joints to rejuvenate. I daily go walking for 30 minutes both in the morning and evening. During the walking, the air is fresh, the mind is free and I think about writing articles. I observe what is happening around me.

A writer must first think about his reader. What would they love to read? Next comes how to create a captivating content that will lure the readers to read through the entire article. Finally, the title plays a major role. Apart from all these, he should be able to call a spade a spade.

While walking, I saw a young lady mercilessly dragging her 3-year-old boy to the school. The boy was crying aloud and resisting her pull. I felt sorry for the boy. Finally, the lady was successful in handing over the boy to the security. Who knows what the boy may become a scientist one day.

My memories went back. You now send your child to school at the age of 2 or 3. You have Nursery, pre-KG, LKG, UKG, etc. The situation back in 1950 was different.  Only when I was 5, I was admitted in 1st standard. I did not carry loads of books on my back. I took only a slate and chalk pencil. 

There were no notebooks, books, lead pencil,  pen, eraser, water bottle, shoe/socks, uniform, tiffin-box, etc. There was one teacher for English, Tamil, and Maths. There was only one class per standard and one teacher controlled  2-3 classes. The teacher wrote on the blackboard, which we re-wrote on the slate. 

I finished walking and returned home. I sat on the lawn and after a few minutes, my wife gave me a cup of buttermilk. I saw the lady in the opposite house feeding her child and getting it ready for the school. It is in the LKG class. She was motivating her child in sweet words about going to school.

After ten minutes, I saw her dragging her child on the road without sympathy or minding her cries. She was also carrying a heavy load of books on her shoulders. She is about 30. About 25 years back her father also used to take her to the school forcibly in the same manner.

Life is just like a cycle. What happened earlier comes back again to complete the cycle. I only sympathize with the kids who have to go to school at the tender age. I wonder one day someone may even invent a device that will give learning skills to the baby in the womb and to write tests on its birth.

TO CALL A SPADE A SPADE

Hi friends,

Recently, a woman calling herself a feminist condemned my article "A Ph.D. DAUGHTER IN LAW". She used disparaging and uncharacteristic remarks against me and called me a male chauvinist. Another man, also in support of women's liberation, attributed  I have patriarchal and regressive views. When I issued a rejoinder to my post mentioning the qualities of a SON IN LAW, the lady did not even respond but the man had the courtesy to say it was excellent and withdrew his remarks.

A male chauvinist is a man who believes that women are less important, intelligent, or abler than men and does not treat men and women equally. A feminist is one who supports feminism which is for the advancement of political, economic, personal, and social rights for women including equal opportunities in education and employment. In society, both man and woman are important. Just because women were treated badly in the past, the men should not be treated in the same way now in retaliation.

Generally, only men stand against feminism.  Nowadays even men are fighting for the cause of women. Can you call them feminists?. You will never find a woman supporting the cause of men. Feminism and male hating are different. I am neither a feminist nor a male chauvinist. I am neutral. I am for both. They exist only in pairs. Lord Siva is a typical example. He has the woman on his left half. Male/female, man/woman, boy/girl, father/mother, brother/sister, husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend, son/daughter, grandson/granddaughter, all of them are twins. You cannot separate them.

Most of my articles center around family only. I have a lot of concern about family, its members, its happiness and its survival. According to me, a family is the fulcrum of life and everything moves around it. The family values are slowly deteriorating due to western culture and western education. Many people are talking about "live-in relationship" and are fearing about further developments. When the family is ruined, the worst affected are the parents. They have no other place to go except old age homes which are increasing in number. We should bear this in mind.

I write in support of both women and men. I have my views as you have your own. People should view the content only and should not have a biased view of my intention. A feminist may not like my writing in support of the man and male chauvinist may not like my writing in support of the woman. The fault lies in your attitude and not in my writing. I request you to see the fairness in the presentation and not in assessing what type of man I am. I also request you to have a wide perspective on any issues.

A writer has the responsibility to wake up people and to make them understand the reality. He should be bold enough to call a spade a spade. He should be impartial. He should strive only for the development of society. He should not mind about the critics. He must ignore them and proceed in the right path without fear or fervour, However, he should present his views in the politest way without instigating personal feelings.  MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

THE PANDORA'S BOX

Hi friends,

During my walk, I cannot resist observing what is happening around me. This morning, an interesting incident happened. In a lawn, a lady, about 30, was seated in an armchair holding a cup of coffee or tea in her right hand and a magazine on the left. She was simultaneously sipping and reading. She was dressed in a "Daytee" [a nightie worn during the day.] Her husband, about 35, was watering the plants around the house with a hose.

After the work was over, when he requested her to close the tap, reluctant to move from the seat, she refused to oblige. The poor man cursed himself, went inside and closed the tap, drained the water from the hose, rolled it and kept it in a corner. This brought me memories of what I studied during college days. When God created Adam and Eve, they were the only two people on earth and they were just enjoying their life. I need not explain to you each and every detail about how they enjoyed and I presume you are well aware of it. 

One day, Eve found a locked box in the corner of the garden and she wanted Adam to open it. Adam politely refused and told her that God had specifically told him not to open the box whatever might be the reason. But Eve did not listen to him and went on pestering him. Adam tried his level best to explain and convince her but he could not succeed due to the adamant nature of Eve. 

He told her, God had packed all the Evils, miseries, worries, troubles, pains, misfortunes, agony, deceases, sufferings etc into the box and told Adam not to open it under any circumstances. If he opened, all their happiness would vanish and evils would come into the world. When Adam told this to Eve, she did not believe him and said he was bluffing and cheating on her. 

After hesitating for a long time, and due to his love for Eve, he reluctantly opened the Box, which is called PANDORA'S BOX. This brought all the miseries into this world. Now you know the reason for all the sufferings in the world.

NOTE: ​Pandora's box, was a large jar which contained all the evils of the world. When opened all the evils flew out. The phrase "to open Pandora's box" means to perform an act that turns out to have severely detrimental and far-reaching negative consequences. ​ Eve, as per the Book of Genesis and Pandora, as per Works and Days were supposed to be the first woman in the world; Eve was created to help Adam, Pandora to bring punishment to the men.

I WAS HEARTBROKEN

Hi friends, 

During my walk this morning, I saw a young man, aged about 25, in blue jeans and a matching T-shirt,  having a sumptuous breakfast in a roadside kiosk ordering various items of his choice.

Beside him, was a middle-aged woman, in torn and shabby clothes, seated on the road, pathetically staring at him and gesturing him to give her some food.

Without even bothering about her, he finished his meal, washed his hands, paid the bill, and left the place quietly. The woman then begged the shop owner to give her something to eat.

I was shocked to hear what he said to her. "Even your own son does not bother about you. Why should I?  Go away, don't sit here affecting my business. I do not run for charity"

My heart bled, my breathing choked and I was fanatically searching for Lord Krishna who had sworn that whenever necessary He would take the avatar to destroy the evil and to safeguard the poor.

God only created the Universe including human beings. Thousands of children are born every day. All are not alike. Some are beautiful, some ugly, some fair, some dark, some rich, and some poor.

All people marry only to get children. Everyone prays to Him to give them good children. All mothers nurture the baby in their womb with devotion. All children are born in the same way.

Then, why this disparity? How come these types of children?.