KONARK SUN TEMPLE

Konark Sun Temple is an architectural marvel built in 1250 and truly an amazing and astounding structure.  I was stunned by the level of detailing and the precision with which this structure has been built so many centuries ago.

This magnificent Sun Temple is designed in the shape of a huge chariot which is pulled by seven horses and has twelve pairs of wheels each 10 ft. height fixed on either side.  It is part of the World Heritage Sites.

The Sundial in the Sun Temple which is used to tell the time is a marvelous creation.  Watch this wonderful video on the Sundial:



I have seen the photos of Konark Temple and I have also had a glimpse of the temple in some of the movies.  The real impact was felt only when I visited the temple with my wife on 21st December 2014.  It was really stunning to stand in front of the Temple and quite bewildering to go around and see this architectural marvel from close quarters.  You can see the sculptures with such precision.  There was one sculpture where the teeth is clearly visible.  The images carved on the walls of the temple truly depict the day to day life with such precision and immaculate detailing.

Every single carving in the temple is so intricate and stunning that I was in a trance.  It is indeed a very rare monument and I was really foturnate to have looked at it in real.  The guide we engaged was really amazing as he explained each and every part of the temple.

There is a separate structure in front of the Chariot called the Natamandir.  There is a tradition of dance festival in December each year and the dancers perform in this Natamandir right in front of the Sun Temple.

The trip to Odhisha, West Bengal and Assam over the last couple of weeks has been an unique experience.  There is so much more to see in India and so much more to learn about the tradition, history and culture.

WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.

T.P.Anand
Guwahati, India
30th December 2014

HIMALAYAN ROCK SALT

Himalayan Rock Salt is the purest form of Salt and contains several minerals.  It is very good for health.  I remember my grandmother and mother using rock salt for cooking in those days.  I visited recently PME General Trading in JLT and was astonished to find that there are so many products that are made out of Himalayan Salt.  I am going to visit their outlet in Outlet Mall today evening and get some of these products.

All the products have their own specific application and every one of them is actually applied for Health and Wellness.

1. Cooking Salt:

This is the purest form of salt that is very healthy and is best for use as cooking salt.  There are no chemicals in the Himalayan Cooking Salt and hence it is healthy and keeps you in wellness.

2. Horse Salt Lick: 

Horses need intake of salt like human beings.  Whenever they feel the need for salt they would lick the salt block that is kept in the stable.

3. Salt Lamps: 

It's really quite simple... a heated crystal salt lamp...

• Attracts humidity causing the surface of the salt crystal to become moist
• Creates a buildup of ions and removes moisture from your air
• Binds excessive positive ions with their negative ions
• Helps to neutralize the "electro-smog" in your air and reduces allergens and irritants
• Creates potential soothing effects for you from multi-colored salt crystals

4. Salt Candle Holders:

Salt crystal candle holders can help relieve fatigue by reducing the electromagnetic pollution put out by office equipment and help improve your concentration. Because the negative ions released by the salt crystal calm the air around you, it can also help you sleep better at night. This will leave you refreshed in the morning instead of overtired from the reliving the stress of the day in your dreams.

5. Salt Bowl:

6. Salt Plates:

You can place the Salt Plate on the gas stove and cook the food on the plate.  It stays hot for a long long time and the food gets tastier.  You can even put ice cream on salt plate and it will not melt for a long time.

7. Salt Pipe Inhaler:

8. Salt Bath Soap:

9. Salt Massage Stones: 

10. Bath Salt: 

11. Salt Room:

An hour's relaxation in the Salt Room can do a world of wonders for your mind and body.

The Himalayan Rock Salt is coming from Pakistan where there is a 300km stretch on which the Rock Salt is available.

The Khewra Salt Mine is the second largest salt mine in the world, the first being Goderich, Ontario in Canada.  The Himalayan Salt is 250 million years old and has 84 different minerals and elements which are essential for our body.

Listen to what a renowned Physician says about the benefits of the purest form of Salt:



This is a natural product with no preservatives, no additives, no artificial flavours and is very healthy and is the purest form of Salt.  It is truly amazing to see how the Himalayan Salt has so many applications and use for the Wellness and Health.  Let us use the Himalayan Salt and stay healthy.

T.P.Anand
Dubai, U.A.E.
6th December 2014

SPECTACULAR MISSION

There are many many people in this world who have visual impairment and are unable to afford even a pair of spectacles.  There is a seventeen year old Indian Girl who is on a "Spectacular Mission".  She collect used spectacles and donates them to a Non Government Organisation, who in turn make these spectacles usable for the needy.

This Spectacular Mission is started by Aarushi Gupta who is a resident in New Delhi in India.  She says providing spectacles to the poor people can fill a is a very basic need as it will eliminate the avoidable blindness.  What a spectacular effort and noble thought.  Hats off to Aarushi for taking this unique initiative at that young age.

This young girl has collected more than 1500 spectacles and helped poor people to regain vision.  If a young girl can collect 1500 spectacles through her sustained efforts, I am sure each and every one of us can collect atleast 100 spectacles each year through our own known contact circles.

I am sure in every household there will be atleast couple of old spectacles which is catching dust in one of the corners of the house.  These old spectacles are of no use to the people living in that house but can be very very useful to a poor person in some corner of this world.  

Throwing the unwanted or used spectacles in the Dust Bin is not at all a good decision.  These spectacles can be probably used by someone in need.  Secondly, by throwing them in the dust bin we are only causing environmental hazard.  By donating the used spectacles to the poor we are not only helping someone with vision but we are also saving the environment.  Recyling the used frames would mean lesser amount of metals and plastics ending up in the landfills thus reducing the carbon emission.

Vision 2020 is a global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness.  This is a joint programme of World Health Organisation and International Agency for the Preventive Blindness.
According to some reports there are more than 285 million people in the world who are visually impaired.  Out of these 39 million are completely blind and the remaining 246 million have low vision.  These are people who need a spectacle to be able to see clearly but cannot afford to buy them.  I clearly understand the need for spectacles as my vision is very poor without the spectacles and I just cannot read if I do not wear them.

Vision 2020 is a great initiative to complete remove avoidable blindness by the year 2020.  It is a very small action at our end to donate used spectacles but it can made a very big difference as it will provide vision to a needy person somewhere in the world.

It is so amazing that many such small actions makes a big difference in life.



Let us start with some small actions - if not every day atleast one small action every week.  That would mean 52 small actions in a year making 52 very big differences in very many peoples lives across the globe.

T.P.Anand
Dubai, U.A.E.
1st December 2014

RETRO WALKING

Retro Walking is nothing but walking backwards.  Yes walk backwards by looking over your shoulder.

The Backward Walking or Retro Walking is said to have originated from China where people have practiced it for good health.  Retro Walking became quite a rage in Japan and some parts of Europe as people took to this to build muscle and to improve their performance at sports.  When you walk backwards it puts less stress on the heals which leads to changes in the pelvic alignment.  This would inturn help to open up the facet joints in your spine, potentially alleviating pressure that may cause lower back pain in some people.  Walking backwards also puts less strain on the knee joints thus making it ideal for people who have chronic knee problems or knee injuries.

This has been proved medically to be a very good solution for those who have lower back pain and for those who have knee problems.  How easy or difficult it is to walk backwards something which can be answered only when you try that.  Research has proved that 100 steps Retro Walking is as good as 1000 steps of normal/conventional walking.

There are basically 10 benefits that you would get by doing Retro Walking:

1. The muscles of the front (tibialis anterior) and back (gastro/achilles) of the shin and ankle are strengthened, owing to the increased strain of performing an unfamiliar exercise.
2. Walking backward increases cardiovascular endurance significantly more than walking forward under the same conditions.
3. We expend more energy and burn more calories than those who work out at the same pace consistently for a longer duration. When engaging in a new activity which requires a greater effort, we exert ourselves more. The increased metabolism will result in weight loss for those who press on.
4. Studies have shown that using other muscle groups by performing different exercises protects our muscles and tendons from overuse. The knee joint and the patella joint (the joint where the kneecap glides on the knee), in particular, benefit from backward walking.
5. Adding a new activity to our regular exercise routine prevents boredom, so we are less likely to stop exercising.
6. For those over 50, improving our balance and coordination is even more important. Backward locomotion improves the functions of our cerebellum which coordinates and balances our bodily movements as well as flexibility.
7. Because we are on the constant lookout for danger and obstacles on our path, practically all of the five senses (and even the sixth) are sharpened.
8. Our reflexes are sharpened at the same time.
9. It can help prevent the development of a hunchback.
10. It promotes blood circulation and prevents lumbago.

I have decided to do RetroWalking as part of my daily walking routine and walk backwards atleast for about 500 meters a day, to start with.

Mr.Mani Manithan has been walking backwards for the last 25 years in his private protest against war and violence.  He lives in Tirupattur in Tamil Nadu, India and has been consciously walking backwards for the last 25 years.  He says he started walking backwards not to turn his back his back against violence but to attract attention of people and make them think of ways to bring about world peace.  He even maintained silence for nearly 17 years from 1989 to 2006 and during this period he refused to talk even one word.  

After 25 years of walking backwards, Mani has forgotton how to walk normally like everyone else.  He says he has become comfortable walking backwards and now it is almost impossible to walk forwards. Hats off to Mani Manithan for whatever he has been doing so far to create the awareness on world peace.

Whilst it is important to work towards World Peace, it is difficult to emulate what some of the people are doing to achieve it.  At best we can admire them and try to get inspired by them.

Regards,

T.P.Anand

Dubai, U.A.E.

22nd November 2014

DRINK WATER

I used to drink less water and suddenly it dawned on me that I have to drink more water.  I have been drinking more water in the last few years.  Over the last few months I have started the practice of having atleast 500 ml of water as soon as I wake up in the morning, even before I brush my teeth.

Drinking more and more water during the day is extremely important.  Most important of the reasons for drinking water, is the fact that it helps in manufacture of the hormones and neurotransmitters in our brain.

If we have to quench our thirst at any time during the day, Water can be the best option as it has Zero Calories and Sugar Free.  A full glass of water just before a meal will also mean your intake is atleast 75 calories less.  A 75 calorie deficit at lunch and dinner would mean that you lose about 6 kilos over a year.

The unwanted elements in the body needs to be drained out through Urine and that process is mainly facilitated by Water.  Water is also needed for the chemical reactions within our body.  It helps in moisturizing and softening of our skin.  Dry Skin, itching, etc. which are common problems in dry weather conditions can be alleviated if you can take lot of water during the day at regular intervals.  Water helps to lubricate the joints in our body and thus will also help to keep us fit and healthy.

It provides the requisite oxygen into our system.  Water has been prevalent right through the existence of the Universe and it is the most essential element for our existence.

I met a friend last month in India and he was telling me that now people are drinking "Vortex Water".   I did a little research on Vortex Water and found that it is structured water and making the water go through the spinning motion where the Vortex effect is formed to purify and bring the water to its original natural state.  There are small DIY kit that are available in the market to make the Vortex Water at home.

There are several parts of the world where people are struggling to get enough supply of Drinking Water.  We are living in an age when we need to pay for Drinking Water.  The price that we are paying is more for the pet bottle in which the water is being sold.  Over the next few years the price that we pay for water is bound to increase.  Irrespective of whether the price is increasing or not the intake of water for our normal existence will not diminish and hence the need to be aware of this crucial aspect of life.

Animals ensure that they get their regular intake of water.  Look at this smart cow who even knows how to pump the ground water by using the hand pump:



Unfortunately there is no substitute for Water.

Despite knowing all the benefits of drinking more and more water on a daily basis, we tend to ignore this aspect in our busy schedule.  This is just a reminder to all the readers on the importance of staying healthy and the need to have regular and frequent intake of water.  Remember it is minimum of 3 liters of water intake per day.  Drink plenty of water and stay healthy.

Regards,
T.P.Anand
Dubai, U.A.E.
1st November 2014

VERY OLD COMPANIES

How old is your Company?  How long do companies really live in this world?  Whilst the Human Beings are able to live for about 80 years why is it that the Companies started by the same human beings do not survive that long?  I read recently that most of the companies live anywhere between 20 to 40 years.

I also read recently that a third of the Fortune 500 companies of 1970 were gone by 1983 as they were either merged with another company or acquired by some other company or simply went bankrupt.

In 2004 Citigroup was ranked No.1 in the Forbes list of Top 2000 Companies and it went down to No.16 in 2014.  GE has moved from No.2 to No.7 in the same 10 year period and BP has moved from No.5 to No.17.

In 2004 the top 10 had 7 companies from USA 2 from UK and 1 from Japan.  In 2014 there are 5 companies in the top 10 companies from China and balance 5 are from USA.  In this period of 10 years Toyota has moved from No.8 to No.12 and Walmart has moved from No.10 to 20.

Interestingly companies with less than 300 employees and which have been managed by the Family have always survived much much longer.  Kongo Gumi which was founded in 578 AD survived till 2006.  There are a lot of companies which have been in existence for several centuries particularly in Japan, Italy, Germany and France.  Sumitomo was founded in 1590.  Some of the other older companies from 17th and 18th Century are listed below:

Coats - 1755

Royal Bank of Scotland - 1727

Cox & Kings Travel - 1758

Allen Solly - 1744

Saint Gobain - 1665

Lambertz - 1688

Lloyd's Insurance - 1688

Lloyd's Bank - 1765

Levi Strauss & Co - 1853

Managing a Company in this world of high and intense competition is not easy.  In business it is always "survival of the fittest".  You need not have the biggest company but you should have the company that is fittest in order to survive.  The admire the management of the above companies which have survived not just years but several centuries.

T.P.Anand
Dubai, U.A.E.
27th September 2014

AIRTEL SUPER SINGER JUNIOR 4 - FINALISTS

Super Singer in Vijay TV has been a very good programme to watch.  It is really amazing how these youngsters (young stars) perform.  I have been a great fan of this programmes both the seniors as well as the Juniors.  To me the Airtel Super Singer Junior has been a tremendous programme to showcase the talent of such young kids.

The Super Singer Junior 4 has now reached a level where they are going to select the Top 10 very soon.  They would also have the wild card round and when it finally reaches the Finalists of top 5 it would be great to watch the competition among the children.

Srihari is also a very talented and good singer and how can we forget the little wonder Angeline. From the beginning she has been one of the star performers.  At that age I wonder how she is able to remember the whole song and reproduce it with such ease and elegance.

Watch this great performance by this 5 year old wonder kid:

I think in the coming years she will give a tough time to the other competitors with her stellar performances.

My prediction of the top five is as follows:

1. Pravasthi
2. Spoorthi
3. Bharath
4. Srisha
5. Haripriya

Pravasthi is a very talented singer and has given some remarkable performances over the last few months.  I would rate her Engengae Engengae song at the top so far:

Spoorthi is another wonder kid.  She sings every song with such ease and her pronunciation is so perfect despite the fact that Tamil is not her mother tongue.  Ninaithu Nianithu parthen is one of the super performance that she has given particularly the long sustaining notes and the breathe control with which she sings is truly mind blowing:

Bharath is a born entertainer.  He not only sings well but also has the unique appeal for the audience.

His voice modulation and expressions are outstanding and truly unbeleivable for his age.  I quite liked his Rukku Rukku rendition as it had all the ingredients for a super performance:

Srisha is another participant who has come in the earlier year.  She has matured a lot in her singing and has been performing well consistently.  Over the last few weeks she has been getting the chocolate shower almost every week with some very good performance.  Her rendition of Enaduyire was exceptional and truly brought out her full potential and talents:

Haripriya is not new to Super Singer and this year she is giving some extraordinary performances.  I was completely mesmerized by her performance in Azhagan Muruganidam:

With many more rounds to go and wild card entry possibilities for some of the contestants, we do not know how this will turn out.  However I feel the above five will make it to the Finalists of the Super Singer Junior 4.  Let us wait and watch or keep watching and waiting.

T.P.Anand

Dubai, U.A.E.

16th September 2014

CHITTOREGARH - LARGEST FORT IN INDIA

Chittoregarh is a small town close to Udaipur and the drive from Udaipur is just over two hours.  When you reach the town you cannot miss to look at the Aravali Hills.  When you look at the stretch of the hills ahead of you this magnificent fort will amaze you by the sheer size.  This is one of the largest fort in Asia.

The Fort is built over an area of 8 square kilometers on a 700 Acres plot and is as old as 5th Century, i.e., more than 1500 years old.  The drive around the hills through the various gates and a walk through the palace is truly a stunning experience and it needs to be personally physically felt.  I was fortunate to have that first hand personal and physical experience of going to this fort on 20th August 2014 with my wife.

The two commemoration pillars that are standing in the hill are architectural marvels.  These are called the Victory Tower (Vijay Stambh) and Jain Deedful Tower (Jain Keerti Stambh).  Vijay Stambh is 122 feet tall and is a nine storey structure and was completed in 1448.  Keerti Stambh which stands at 75 feet and was built in 12th Century.

I was wonder struck to see the Palaces, the swimming pools, the underground tunnels, huge walls and the various structures.  It is bewildering to see this magnificent fort at a hill top that too built more than 1500 years ago at an age and time when there were no cranes, vehicles, equipment and tools.

The highlight was the Padmini Palace where you see the huge mirrors.  You can see the image of a person standing in the palace built in the middle of the tank through the large mirror.  Allauddin Khilji could see Padmini in the mirror.  The architecture of these palaces actually induced doubts about its actual times of construction.  It was truly amazing and mind boggling to stand there and witness this marvel on earth.

The Palace for the King, Palace for Queen, Summer Palace, Winter Palace, Accommodation for the Ministers, Defence Headquarters, Accommodation for the soldiers and other employees of the Royal Family, Temples, Swimming Pool, Deer Sanctuary, Victory and Keerti Towers, Compound Walls, internal passages, secret rooms, secret underground passage, Stunning views of the town at the foothill makes this entire Fort a comprehensive and complete place.



Preserving this marvelous Fort by itself is a huge task and I sincerely hope the Government of India is able to preserve this Fort (or whatever remains of the Fort) for another few centuries.  People who get to see this Fort, in my opinion, are truly fortunate.  The visit to this Fort with my wife only reinforced my thinking that there is so much to explore and see in India.

T.P.Anand
Dubai, U.A.E.
27th August 2014