Random Thoughts

Atlas of the Human Journey - The Genographic Project This is a fascinating atlas that tries to track the great migrations of human race from Africa to all over the world. Get lost for hours in this wonderful Atlas.

#posted by [ sathish ]

Sand stories - Interestings legends associated with Talakad - One of them is the curse of Talakad --
" The best-known legend associated with the place is that of Alamelamma and her curse. Alamelamma, widow of Srirangaraya, came to reside at Malangi near Talakad. When the Mysore Maharaja annexed Srirangapatna, she was ordered to part with her jewellery for decorating the idol in the Srirangapatna temple. But Alamelamma, loath to part with her jewellery, tied them up in her sari and jumped into the Malangi lake. She died, uttering the now legendary curse: "Talakad will be a desert, Malangi will be a dry bed, the Mysore Kings will never have children."

Read the article for other legends of Talakad.

#posted by [ sathish ]

Yesterday we celebrated the Tamil New year or the "Varusha Pirappu" with all the traditionalfood items that we make for this festival ! The most interesting item is the "Manga Pachadi" (Mango dish) !The manga pachadi that we make this day comprises of ingredients which give rise to various flavours. The items that make this pachadi complete are : Mango (for sour taste), Red chilli (hot flavour), Neem flowers or "vepambu" as we call it in Tamil( for bitterness ), Jaggery (for sweetness ). This is to symbolise that the year ahead and life in general will be a mix of these flavours and we do not normally have a choice of the flavour. What a novel way, our ancestors have invented, of saying the "fundamental life concepts" . So whatever comes my way, let me take it in the right spirit . I would like to use my favourite quotation in this context, to interpret this symbolism:

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change , the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference."

I hope my interpretation is correct !

#posted by [ ranjani ]

Today was a significant day for my kid, as he said good bye to the first school in his life. I still remember vividly his first day at this play school, six months back. With no idea of what a play home means he entered the premises, clutching my hand tightly.We were in the school for only one hour and I was with him all along ! So he did not find anything amiss, other than getting to play with toys and other kids. He was very happy :-)

The days that followed were not the same happy ones, as he realised that his mom would not be with him all the time.It was his first experience of being with people, other than family members. For two months, he used to create tantrums going to school, but once he was at the school entrance he would realise that he did not have an option and would go in saying good-bye to us.

Then a couple of months back, he started enjoying going to school ! He would get ready in the morning , be excited about what I was packing for his snacks and bid good bye to us very cheerfully when he entered the school. He would come home and talk about his friends - say who is his best friend, who are the naughty ones in the class, which "Miss" he likes , which caretaker he does not like !! Sathish and me, loved listening to all his stories about school everyday.

Now the play school has closed for summer vacation. After June, he will be going to the regular stream school starting with Pre- Kindergarden. In these six months, my son has evolved from a shy kid to one who has become very naughty(!!)and who is enjoying mingling with other kids. The kid who never used to leave his mom's side, now prefers to go out and play with his friends, while his mom begs him to spend time with her in the evenings after she comes from office ! Sooraj is growing up !

#posted by [ ranjani ]

Over the weekend, I saw a very interesting Japanese action movie - Zatoichi. The movie is set in old Japan. It is a story of a blind man, whose sense of hearing and smell is so acutely developed that he could beat almost any one in a sword fight. His cane doubles up as a scabbard for this sword. He walks in a Chaplinesque manner, walking slowly, shaking his head. But, when there is a fight, he moves at blinding speed and kills in seconds.

The movie is a story of this blind man getting rid of two rival gangs in a village. There are multiple fights, but, they all end in complete bloodshed and death in matter of seconds. It is almost like whoever draws the sword first draws the blood.

Although it is a run of the mill story, the execution is completely different. It switches between past, present and future at every point in seemingly random manner. But, one ends up understanding the sequences as the movie progresses.

One can also think of this movie as a Bollywood style revenge movie with various elements of dance, song, comedy and fights coming one after another. A great watch - don't expect it to be a like a regular action movie - it is a action movie, but, still very different from any other action movie that I have seen till now.

#posted by [ sathish ]

I always look forward for the The Hindu Literary Review section on certain Sundays. This week no was different. Have a look at the set of translations of the imaginary letters from Sita Devi, wife of Lord Rama, to her mother - The Letters from the palace

These letters were written by Kumudini - one of the earliest women writers in 20th Century Tamil Literature. I wish I could read Tamil a lot, lot better in order to read these wonderful writings.

#posted by [ sathish ]