karandi or ice cream spoon!

It has been almost 28 years since we moved to Chennai. Initially when we moved here my parents were taken aback by the traditionalism of the South Indians...esp their style of eating!......unfortunately for them I grew up in an Iyer house and learnt how to eat exactly the way they did!...make laddus out of the rice and gobble it down!!....ofcourse I learnt out to vazhicufy my thattu and lick my hands clean!.....that means to use the entire hand to clean the plate and then lick up all that sticks to your hand!.....try eating that way........you will truly enjoy your food....
as the years have gone by, South Indians have become modern to a great extent , with atleast one person from each household having gone abroad.....but the havent forgotten their traditionalism. A few years ago we were attending a typical brahmin wedding. and so we were served ellai sapadu or food on a banana leaf!.. unfortunately my father had hurt his thumb and therefore needed a spoon. we asked the caterers to get us a spoon. After a good 15 minutes, they guy returns with a karandi or a kadchi!......saying this is what is available!!....how was one to eat with a huge kadchi!......the next best option available was that tiny ice cream spoon!......well the choice was ours!.....that was quite an experience....and to date my dad remembers to carry his own spoon everytime we go for a wedding...
and we still havent mastered the art of eating from a banana leaf either, although we enjoy the food a lot.
A punju by birth, but despite all the traditionalism I quite like Chennai, as a place, I like the people for being simple, their friendliness, and just about everything of this place......

hell let lose

A few months ago the DMK government proudly announced " Helmets to be made compulsory from June 1st".

My first reaction to this, was that alas are government is doing something useful for the public...something that makes sense.

as the months passed by I saw helmet sales booming. from super markets to two wheeler speare part shops to the vendor on the road, everybody sold helmets. fancy helmets, ladies helmets, face covered helmets and even those little toupees worn inside helmets sold like hot cakes.

then came the day " June 1st". I proudly stepped out of my house wearing a helmet and was delighted to see people riding around in helmets, faithfully following the government's rule. I just about assumed that this campaign was a success, and just then my manager walked into the office. i questioned her about her helmet and she laughed and said " madam my husband is waiting. he says kalaignar will take away the rule....so both of us together bought only one helmet last night. now that I hava reached office he is wearing it and riding around!...neenga parunga madam....inda rule poidum!!......she laughed and said.

I was shocked at the confidence with which she made this statement. she was right mind you........the following day I read in the paper.......kalaignar tells cops not to be strict with the public"......and two days later........helmet not compulsoy for women and children pillion riders!!........we just have to wait for the headline.......helmet not compulsory anymore......

If the government really thinks about the public they wouldnt do this........the helmet sellers am sure have made enough profits and may be shared a part with the govt too!.......and the public.......they pay a price and yet risk their lives...........why......because the government has relaxed the helmet rule and let "hell' lose..........

my celebrity look alikes!!

aint they cute???

my favourite cartoon........tom and jerry........oh I still love to watch them....

my favourite verse

मधुशाला
मृदु भावों के अंगूरों की आज बना लाया हाला,प्रियतम, अपने ही हाथों से आज पिलाऊँगा प्याला,पहले भोग लगा लूँ तेरा फिर प्रसाद जग पाएगा,सबसे पहले तेरा स्वागत करती मेरी मधुशाला।।१। प्यास तुझे तो, विश्व तपाकर पूर्ण निकालूँगा हाला,एक पाँव से साकी बनकर नाचूँगा लेकर प्याला,जीवन की मधुता तो तेरे ऊपर कब का वार चुका,आज निछावर कर दूँगा मैं तुझ पर जग की मधुशाला।।२।प्रियतम, तू मेरी हाला है, मैं तेरा प्यासा प्याला,अपने को मुझमें भरकर तू बनता है पीनेवाला,मैं तुझको छक छलका करता, मस्त मुझे पी तू होता,एक दूसरे की हम दोनों आज परस्पर मधुशाला।।३।भावुकता अंगूर लता से खींच कल्पना की हाला,कवि साकी बनकर आया है भरकर कविता का प्याला,कभी न कण-भर खाली होगा लाख पिएँ, दो लाख पिएँ!पाठकगण हैं पीनेवाले, पुस्तक मेरी मधुशाला।।४।मधुर भावनाओं की सुमधुर नित्य बनाता हूँ हाला,भरता हूँ इस मधु से अपने अंतर का प्यासा प्याला,उठा कल्पना के हाथों से स्वयं उसे पी जाता हूँ,अपने ही में हूँ मैं साकी, पीनेवाला, मधुशाला।।५।मदिरालय जाने को घर से चलता है पीनेवला,'किस पथ से जाऊँ?' असमंजस में है वह भोलाभाला,अलग-अलग पथ बतलाते सब पर मैं यह बतलाता हूँ -'राह पकड़ तू एक चला चल, पा जाएगा मधुशाला।'। ६।