ON THIS DAY IN THAT YEAR 1966.

Republic Day is celebrated with a lot of fanfare on 26th Jan in New Delhi.  Every battalion from NCC, Air Wing, Navy, Scouts, (both girls and boys wings) from each state sends a contingent of cadets. The preparation started in September. The selection was done at the college, district, and state levels. Only about 40 cadets were selected in the whole state.

In 1965, I was doing my final year degree in St.Joseph's Tiruchy. I wanted to attend this parade. My parents and Principal Fr. Mathias advised me to think thrice as my degree final exams were due in April. I had a dream of serving in the Army for which passing B and C certificates in the NCC and attending this parade would be of great advantage.

So I enrolled myself. The main aspects they look for, were your turn out, marching talent, stamina to carry the rifle for a long distance, and in bayonet fight. Major Abdul Khader was in charge of the district. I was confident I could easily pass at the college level. I also did well at the district level and got selected.

We were to go to Madras for the final selection. Many student cadets came from different colleges across the state. The first selection was in St.George's school in Shenoy Nagar and the final at Pachaiappa's college. The contingent from Tiruchy traveled by the Tuticorin Express. Throughout the night I did not sleep and I was polishing my boots, shaving, dreaming, etc.

Finally, we landed and went to the venue, had breakfast and tea, and assembled for the ultimate. Senior Division NCC was called after other units were completed. All the cadets were lined in three's and did march past for two hours without any break. Finally, the Lt. Col in charge of the 2nd Madras battalion came for selection.

My chest number was 42. While we were marching, suddenly it started raining heavily spoiling our turn out. My number was called first and my heart was broken. I thought I was not selected.  My joy knew no bounds when I came to know that I was the first to be selected. After the selections were over, we assembled to receive instructions about the Delhi trip.

The camp at Delhi was for two months during Dec and Jan. It was a huge camp with hundreds of girls and boys staying in tents in biting cold. We met different people from different places speaking different languages. We were allowed to go out on Sunday for shopping. It was a wonderful experience though tough. Finally, the D-day arrived.

On 26th Jan 1966, we got up at 5 AM, had our breakfast and tea, and assembled for the march past. The distance to cover was about 7 KMS and to march with the rifle, on one hand, was both painful and enjoyable. The event was over by 4 PM. It was a strenuous one and only people with a lot of stamina could withstand it. I feel very proud that I took part . JAI HIND.

 

Random thoughts 2046 to 2060.

2046. People work hard to earn money not to spend usefully on necessities but to waste on unproductive expenses.

2047. A quiz. What do you think that is more important for the food? The colour or the taste? You can’t say both.

2048. The quality of the food is in the ingredients. As long as we are perfect in our activities, why should we bother about others?

2049. Indore and Surat are ranked as the cleanest cities whereas Calcutta and Howrah are ranked as the dirtiest cities in India.

2050. A 34 years old armless cricketer Amir Hussain Lone from J&K bowls with his legs and bats holding the bat between his shoulder and neck-News.

2051. Helping others wholeheartedly gives real happiness. We cannot say who is more happy, the giver or the receiver.

2052. Do you know what “Endangered” means? It means, if we are not careful and if we do not try to help,  the species might become extinct.

2053. While men’s sperm decides the gender of the baby, how come the women are cursed for giving birth to female babies?

2054. While sneezing, people used say “be happy” or “thank you lord”. Actually while sneezing the heart stops for a millisecond.

2055. Holocaust was the genocide of six million Jews during World War II between 1941-45, around two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population.

2056. We don’t need a lot of money to spend on necessities but we need a fortune to meet our desires on luxuries. That makes our life crazy.

2057. Do you know they have beard tax in Russia to discourage men from having beards.

2058. Do you know In England, France, Scotland and Ireland they have window tax for the number of windows in a house.

2059. Do you know they have bachelor tax on single men in the USA and Germany?

2060. When we get an incoming call, we should only listen to them. We should not take the opportunity to tell them our never-ending stories.

Random thoughts 2031 to 2045

2031. DINK couples mean “double income no kid” couples. Both are employed, have no kids, spend lavishly and lead a more fulfilling lifestyle.

2032. A successful business executive is someone who talks cricket in the office and business on the cricket grounds!

2033. I find most of the people are very lazy. They don’t even care to open the door when opportunity knocks!

2034. Many people don’t know that living in the past is very easy and cheap. For, they need not have to pay any rent.

2035. Do you know that India is still a land of promise, especially during the political campaigns.

2036. These days, the only time politicians tell the truth is when they call each other a liar.

2037. Some people are always interested in giving sound advice. But they all make more sound than any advice.

2038. When you're in deep water, it's always a better idea to keep your mouth shut!

2039. I believe anyone who strictly follows the tenets of his religion, will overcome any external obstacles with the grace of God.

2040. I never fail to appreciate whatever that I find appreciable. But I never condemn whatever that I find condemnable.

2041. One who does not know the difference between salt and sugar is a saint. Who knows the difference but afraid to reveal is the husband.

2042. While you overtake the fellow going ahead, please be careful about the fellow following you because he may overtake you anytime.

2043. If a child falls, it does not feel ashamed. It cries, then gets up and walks ahead. Be like a child in learning the nuances of life.

2044. Do not do anything to others what you do not like to be done to you. Please consider others also have similar feelings.

2045. Widowed individuals are more likely to develop risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and death after the loss of their spouses.- Research.

Random thoughts 2016 to 2030.

2016. When a happy and jovial person comes into the room, it looks as if the entire place has become bright and live.

2017. Have the attitude of a student, he never asks big questions, never know that he has to learn so much.

2018. When we are young, our waist is narrow but our mind is broad. When we are old, our waist is broad but our mind is narrow.

2019. Elections are conducted for the people to find out how the politicians lie and for the politicians to find out how the people believe.

2020. “In deep water” means you are in deep trouble or difficulty. Eg."he landed in deep water when he started the business”

2021. A miracle can happen anytime in any form - as a doctor, as a lawyer, as a teacher, as police, as a friend, as a stranger and many others.

2022. People are interested only in increasing their income instead of enhancing their knowledge or reducing their greed or helping the poor.

2023. When I was in school, I used to mix BRIL brand blue ink and red ink to get a different violet colour. Friends used to ask me where I got it.

2024. When I was in college, we friends(4) used to walk around the town in the evening. We used to mix coffee and rose milk to make a cold coffee.

2025. It is a pity that the bird which awakens the world early in the morning is slaughtered every day without any mercy just to satisfy the taste buds.

2026. LAW means Love After Wedding. To become a graduate, it looks, it will take a lifetime. To get the masters, a lifetime is not sufficient.

2027. The health of a person is the difference between the calories he has gained by eating and the calories he has spent by working.

2028. It is “many times” or “many a time”. It is not “many a times” or “many time”

2029. Sleeping with your cellphone next to you might be harmful to your health due to its electromagnetic radiation.

2030. An idiom is a group of words that has its own meaning that cannot be understood from the meaning of individual words.

ATTIRE IN THE TEMPLE

Temple Priests in the south are bare chested. Priests in the north cover their chests with some dress. How come?

There are many theories put forward for this practice.  Some of the reasons are:

1. Clothes indicate affluence. You are supposed to be with the God with nothing to hide from Him.

2. The practice could have a theory that everyone is equal before the God.

3. Temples are constructed in such places where there is plenty of positive energy. The person visiting a temple is believed to receive the beaming radiant energy. To fulfil the need of getting this energy, you are supposed to go shirtless.

4. When the God, the reigning/residing deity of the temple is not with his shirt on, why should his devotees wear a shirt and see him to offer their prayer and get blessed.

5. Most of the Gods inside the temple are with their bare body. They wear only a Dhoti. (The sculptor has designed the idols in such a way) Of course, the Goddesses are with their upper garments. 

6. Almost all Gods appears with their chest open. The least they wear on their top is an Angavasthiram (a towel or a long cloth). Hence, the devotees are permitted to wear an Angavasthiram instead of a shirt.

7. In the north also the same rule is followed excepting in colder places .

So, as the God, so are his/her devotees.

Random thoughts 2001 to 2015.

2001. When a person starts shouting at you, instead of retorting, if you start smiling at him, he will immediately stop shouting.

2002. The woman, as a mother feels that her daughter is suffering but as MIL, her daughter in law is enjoying. This is the root cause for all problems.

2003. Beggars, who are outside the temple are begging for money. Beggars, who are inside the temple are begging for power or peace.

2004. Temple Priests in the south are bare chested. Priests in the north cover their chests with some dress. How come?

2005. A fair person can wear dark dresses. A dark coloured person can wear only light coloured dresses. A wheat coloured person can wear any colour.

2006. During my walk, I find many people doing various types of exercises in the park. Most of them are obese with a large hip and belly. Late realisation.

2007. Many people refer to a restaurant as hotel. Many don’t know how to pronounce restaurant, giraffe, buffet, Oven, phoenix, quinoa, etiquette.

2008. It is true that sense of humour relieves stress. Also a life without  sense of humour is a waste. But it should not hurt the other person.

2009. Motels are a kind of hotel. It is a roadside hotel in which rooms are outside near the parking. Hotel rooms are inside the building.

2010. Samosa originated in Persia by 11th century AD. It might have come from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in Central Asia. 

2011. The loss for the wife after losing her husband is not as severe as that of a man’s loss after losing his wife.

2012. Knowledge is not sold anywhere. It is to be acquired by hard work and by taking a lot of efforts.

2013. There are 247 letters in Tamil and 26 letters in English. Do we have Tamil equivalent to English letters B, D, F, G, H, J, Q, S, X, and Z?

2014. Oxford’s advanced learner’s dictionary is the best dictionary in English. It gives elaborate details for every word. Price Rs. 800.

2015. Pet dog owners claim that the dogs are vaccinated. How does a layman know? He is afraid of rabies. Dogs must carry some ID.

ANTS RELIEVE STRESS.

Let's laugh away our stress with ants.

1. 5 ants + 5 ants = Tenants.

2. To bring ant from another country into your country = Important.

3. Ant that goes to school = Brilliant.

4. Ant that's looking for a job = Applicant.

5. A spy ant = Informant.

6. A very little ant = Infant.

7. Ant that has a gun = Militant.

8. Ant that is fat = Abundant.

9. Ant that is a specialist  = Consultant.

10. A proud ant = Arrogant.

11. Ant that is cruel and oppressive = Tyrant.

12. Ant that is friendly and lovely = Coolant.

13. Ant that changed from evil to good deeds = Repentant.

14. Ant that accumulated so much food in winter for summer = Abundant.

15. Ant that doesn't need a change: Reluctant.

16. An ant that keeps financial account = Accountant.

17. Ant that occupies a flat = Occupant.

18. Very big ant = Giant.

19. The best ant = Excellant.

20. Big ant = Elephant.

21. Ant that is important = Significant.

22. A sarcastic Ant = Mordant.

23. An extremely fast ant = Instant.

24. Shouting Ant = Rant.

25. An ant that keeping changing = Constant.

26. A dirty Ant = Pollutant.

27. Ant you don't like = Irritant. 

Don't spoil the fun. Add yours......

Random thoughts 1986 to 2000.

1986. While sitting idle, during morning and evening walks, while travelling, I used to meditate or do breathing exercises to avoid useless talking.

1987. 10 to 30 minutes of regular exposure to sunlight between 10 am 3 pm gets required D3 for the body. At this time UVB rays are intense.

1988. When we are hungry, only our mother or wife will provide food even without our asking. No other person on earth has that quality.

1989. Since my marriage in 1974, for the past 50 years I have never gone to any entertainment like movies, hotels etc alone without my family.

1990. Some people go on asking for information from the other. But they don’t disclose any information. It should be mutual not one sided.

1991. “Spilt” means to fall accidentally. “Split” means to break into parts.

1992. It is advisable to keep the charge in your electronic devices between 25 to 90% to keep the battery life for a long period.

1993. Using sparingly sugar free chewing gum, protects the teeth and reduces bad breath. Excessive use, affects tooth enamel and bite alignment.

1994. Do or die. Do before you die. Don’t die until you do. Fight until enemies die. Perform or perish.

1995. In the health app of my iPhone, I get steps walked daily, length of the step, walking speed/distance/asymetry, energy spent, floors climbed.

1996. In any situation in life, we should know how to swim with the tide and not against it. Otherwise we will only suffer.

1997. Lust gets reduced from 90% at the age of 20 to 10% at the age of 70. Love gets increased from 10% at the age of 20 to 90% at the age of 70.

1998. Obesity is running in their family because no one runs in the family.

1999. In a restaurant after dinner, the wife told her husband to give some TIPS to the waiter. The husband told the waiter not to marry in his life.

2000. When the Britishers came to India, they did not know the local language. Then how did they manage? We can also do that.

Random thoughts 1971 to 1985

1971. Paramacharya once said greediness is the root cause for all problems in the society. Without solving this issue nothing can be done.

1972. The Lord knows how much load we can bear whether it is pleasure or pain. He will give you only that much. Nothing more, nothing less.

1973. Our future cannot depend on the government alone. The ultimate solutions lie in our attitudes and the actions.

1974. The nutritional profiles of butter and ghee are almost identical. But ghee does not have lactose and its smoke point is higher.

1975. In the movies of yesteryears we had some moral and also entertainment. Are we getting anything from the present day movies?

1976. Homonyms are words of similar spelling but with more than one meaning and sound. When pronounced differently, they are heteronyms.

1977. Sufferings in life teach us intelligence, positive attitude, self-esteem, pride, toughness, caution, detachment, and spirituality.

1978. Parents should tell their children about the contributions of their parents, so that the grandchildren love their grandparents.

1979. Love should be mutual irrespective of the person or relationship. One sided love is a waste and should not be encouraged or entertained.

1980. Faith involves reliance and trust, and it endures in the face of doubts, whereas belief is simply something we take to be true. 

1981. We can have faith in things or people without a corresponding belief, and we can believe things that we don't have faith in.

1982. Not only does God replace what we have lost in our life, but HE also upgrades it. So we should not worry about what we have lost.

1983. We won't be young forever, be the strongest, be on top, be the boss, be the king. Let us be humble, remove arrogance and mistreatment.

1984. “Ill-treat” means to treat badly or cruelly, but “mistreat” means to treat wrongly.

1985. Previously, the grandparents supported their grandchildren when their parents chided them. Now the scenario is different.

TIPS FOR A HEALTHY LIVING:

1. Do not sleep after 6 am.

2. Take black coffee or tea with jaggery and not sugar not more than twice daily.

3. Take coconut oil bath twice weekly in a dry place. Use moisturising soap.

4. Rub your feet and legs thoroughly with pumice stone while bathing.

5. Drink 8 glasses of water daily.

6. Walk for 30 minutes both morning and evening daily.

7. Eat normal food twice a day at 10 am and 7 pm. Non vegetarian food once a week for non vegetarians.

8. Eat quinoa or red rice. Check with google how to cook. Control your salt and sugar intake.

9. Eat more vegetables and fruits.

10. Do not take pickles and spicy food.

11. Do not eat sweets, snacks, bakery products, junk/packaged foods, tobacco and alcohol.

12. Avoid talking to anyone to your maximum.

13. Have a nap for 30 minutes in the afternoon if you’re a senior citizen.

14. Take your medicines on time.

15. Go to bed at 9 pm sharp.

If you follow this program during 2024 without fail, I guarantee you will have a healthy life.

Random thoughts 1956 to 1970.

1956. I suggest three New Year (2024) resolutions: 1. Do not find fault with others. 2. Do not hurt others. 3. Do not expect anything from others.

1957. New year’s day was first celebrated on 1st Jan in 45BC to honour Roman god Janus when Julian calendar took effect. Before 45BC it was in March.

1958. Attitude and enthusiasm play a big part in life. Get excited about the things that inspire. Believe in laughing.

1959. Having a positive attitude is a concrete and intelligent way to view problems, challenges, and obstacles.

1960. Building a positive attitude begins with having confidence in yourself.

1961. A positive attitude is something everyone can work on, and everyone can learn how to employ it.

1962. Positive thinking will let us do everything better than negative thinking.

1963. We should understand that there cannot be a movie without the screen, a painting without a canvas or a content without a wrapper.

1964. When a person says something, the other person either keeps quiet or gives a reply. Any further talking will only lead to arguments.

1965. When we develop friendship with a person, the first thing that comes to our mind is expectation. If it is not up to the mark, we feel dejected.

1966. Love is the basic instinct for all the living beings including plants and animals and humans without which life cannot exist.

1967. When I was in school (1959-60) all the theatres in Tiruchy screened patriotic movies as free morning show on children’s day.

1968. Lord Hanuman was the first to teach how to communicate effectively by what he told Sri Rama after seeing Sri Sita in Lanka(கண்டேன் சீதையை)

1969. Philosophy disciplines the mind. The disciplined mind only can destroy the evil and establish the right. Otherwise there will be chaos.

1970. I feel elated when India wins. But I also feel sad for the opponents for losing as they too have fans, families , friends and followers.