என் எண்ணத்துளிகள்

படுக்கை

அமைதியான உறக்கத்தில் ஆரவாரமான கனவுகள்
ஊமையான உடலுக்குள் வாயாடியான எண்ணங்கள்


கழிப்பறை

சுமைகளை இறக்க வந்தேன்
சிந்தனைகளை சுமக்க செய்தாய்

நுழை வாசல்

எப்பொழுதும் மூடி இருக்கும் இதற்க்கு  ஏன் இந்த பெயர்?

நாற்காலி

இளைப்பார, நான் உன் மீது உட்காருகிறேன்
நீ இளைப்பாற என்ன செய்வாய்?

கனவுகள்

மிக அழகாக, பிரகாஸமாக, விஸ்தாரமாக தோன்றி
சட்டென்று ஒரு நொடியில் மறைந்து போகும் அதிஸயம்.

இல்லத்தாள்

தாய்; மனைவி; தலைவி; துணைவி; சகோதரி; வழிகாட்டி; முதலாளி....

ஏமாற்றம்

எதிர் பாறாத மாற்றம்

League Cricket in Chennai

In the 1970s when I was a young student the League Matches in Chennai were very famous and there used to be a huge crowd to watch the matches. I used to go and watch all the matches with my brothers. Myself and my second brother Ashok were very keen to watch the League Matches in both Chepauk and Marina Grounds.

We never used to see the Newspaper and there was no news about the League cricket in the radio. TV was non-existent at that time. But still we were fully informed about the matches and all our friends used to go to the ground as one group.

Jolly Rovers, Alwarpet CC, SPIC, MCC, YMA, IOB were some of the popular clubs in the First Division League in Chennai.

It was a real treat to watch matches in the Chepauk Stadium (which later became M.A.Chidambaram Stadium). This was the home ground of MCC (MadrasCricket Club) and I vividly remember the coincidence of Vivid Bharathi ( Radio Station) playing the song “Hai Jawani, Hai Diwani, Hut meri raani, rukh javo raani”. Kishore Kumar will sing “Giligili appa” “giligili appa” in that song and the entire crowd will sing in Chorus “Belli appa” Belliappa”. This coincidence has happened several times and if the Radio does not play that song we will any sing that song when M.M.Kumar and Belliappa come out as Openers for MCC.

The Matches used to be played in the true spirit of the game. It was a real “gentlemen game” at that time.

S.Venkataraghavan was the captain of YMA. He used to scold the fielders if there is any dropped catch or mis-fielding. He was the angry young man of the team.

Santhosh Kumar who is the son of the Groundsman in Chepauk used to play for IOB in the First Division League and we used to cheer him a lot. He was also in the School team representing Hindu High School and most of us were anyway students of the same school. It was a big proud moment for us to watch and cheer for one of our school seniors. Santhosh was a good spin bowler. K.Ramesh in my memory was the tallest man in LeagueCricket in Chennai those days. He used to be known as “Kaka” Ramesh and was a consistent performer for IOB.

V.V.Kumar was the only leg spinner in those days. Very stylish and very successful bowler who was extremely good in domestic cricket but was never selected for the National Team.

Raghavan was another good spin bowler. There was V.Prabhakar who was a good medium pace bowler and his brother V.Chandrasekar was also a very good player and a good captain.

S.Gopalakrishnan was the Gundappa Vishwanath of Madras. Very stylish and elegant player.

We had the dashing P.K.Dharmalingam and the Mr.Consistent K.R.Rajagopal. K.R.Rajagopal was the Captain and Wicket Keeper of Jolly Rovers.

Alwarpet CC had Satwender Singh who was a big hitter of the ball. There were a few consistent batsmen in those days like V.Krishnaswami and Mukund.

Michael Dalvi was the most handsome of the lot and he used to be only player to come in a Car. He used to drive white colour “Beetle” Volkswagen in those days.

Myself and my brother Ashok used to run and pat at the back of the players when they come back for Lunch or Tea. We both enjoyed patting on the back of the Umpires and we used to tell them “well played”. Even now when I think of that I get a laugh and relish much in the same way like in the good old days when we both found it very amusing to go and pat the umpire on his back…

I do not know the status of League Cricket in Chennai today. We have so much of cricket now a days and so many variants but nothing to beat the good old days. League Matches played in one day and then there were three day matches and then the “King of All” – the Test Matches. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the First Division League Matches in Chennai in the 1970s and those remain truly unforgettable “Golden Memories”.

T.P.Anand, Dubai, U.A.E.
9th June 2010

Christophe Colomb at Khorfakkan

I had earlier posted an article on the giant Christophe Colomb, a big container vessel with capacity of 13344 TEU of which 800 are reefers. The vehicle fitted with modern Pre-swirl stator for increased propulsion efficiency is said to be a strategic asset to CMA CGM and is capable of operation at super eco speed closer to 15 knots. The vessel is the first of the series of 3 which are named after great explorers. Christophe Colomb is the largest container ship ever to sail under French flag. It has 365 M length and 52m breadth with DWT of 157092 & GT 153022.
As you would know, container vessels are cargo ships that carry all of their load in intermodal containers mostly standardized TEU of forty footers. By construction, above a certain size the container ships do not have their own landing gear. So loading and unloading from the vessel can only be done at the Port with the necessary cranes.

Container cranes stationed in Ports have a supporting framework that can traverse the length of a quay and moving platform known as spreader. The spreader can be lowered down on top of a container and locks on to the box at the four locking points known as corner castings using a twistlock mechanism. Typically cranes handle one container at a time, though there are some which have the capability of picking up more. The first use reportedly was at a terminal in Alameda, CA by Matson and was called a portainer. There are gantry cranes which are overhead structures with hoisting machines mounted on frame or structure. Gantry cranes are for any type of cargo such as timber, paper rolls, containers and any kind of bulk material.

The marvel of vessel’s maiden call at Khorfakkan container terminal during Aug 10 was a record of sorts as 10 cranes were used at a time for unloading containers from the vessel. Gulftainer reports that it worked with a maximum of 10 cranes and a picture has also been released with cranes all over the ship. It is stated that technically it is feasible to fit 12 cranes within the lengthwise stack profile of 365 m LOA ship. According to reliable reports, CMA CGM Christophe Colomb is the largest vessel ever to enter the recently expanded terminal at Khorfakkan. When the vessel made its maiden foray into the terminal, the operations commenced with 10 cranes lined up and with around 7000 moves a record breaking performance in offloading had been achieved.

Khorfakkan is a town located along the Gulf of Oman on the east coast of United Arab
Emirates. It is scenically beautiful part and means creek of two jaws. It belongs to the Emirates of Sharjah but is geographically surrounded by the emirate of Fujairah. It has a natural deep water port and is a major container terminal. KCT is managed by international port management company Gulftainer on behalf of the Sharjah Ports Authority, and is widely considered to be amongst the most efficient terminals in the world, a crucial factor for companies operating large vessels between Asia and Europe. KCT has 1900 meters of quay, 20 world class gantry cranes and water depths allowing entry of largest vessels. It is a major transhipment port with numerous feeder connection to gulf ports of hinterland, Iran, East Africa.
Gulftainer Co was established in 1976 and primarily manages and operates container terminals in Port Khalid and Khorfakkan.

It is claimed that the efficient operations ensured the leaving of the terminal by Christophe Colombo in 24 hours which then proceeded her eastward voyage to Asia.

- Sampathkumar S
25th September 2010

This informative article is written by Mr.S.Sampathkumar on 25th September 2010 and I have published it in my blog with his permission. He is an Insurer by profession and is a prolific writer and writes on a variety of subjects like Insurance, Cricket, Religion, Technology, etc..

- T.P.Anand
Dubai, 8th May 2011

EVERGREEN HINDI SONGS

I am very fond of film songs and during my childhood days I have heard a number of Hindi Songs. For a long time I was listening to these Hindi Songs without understanding the meaning (which still continues to some extent). My father, sister, brothers are all great fans of hindi music. My father likes all the music directors and he has a particular fascination for O.P.Nayyar songs.

There are quite a few songs which are very soothing to the mind and these songs will remain to be fresh even after another century. I have listed my top 100 hindi songs. The following is the list of Evergreen Hindi Songs which have been smashing hits and have remained as Top Class Songs for several decades:

1. Lakhon hai yehan dil wale aur pyaar nahi miltha (by Mahendra Kapoor)
2. Bade Sooni Sooni hai Zindagi ye zindagi
3. Pyaar chahiye muje jeene ke liye
4. Roopse niklaana karo roopki raani
5. Esu modupe jaathe hai
6. Kullam kulla pyar karenge hum dono
7. Mene thaere liye hi saat rangke sapne suni
8. woh shyaam kuch ajeeb thee
9. Mera jootha hai japani ye badloom englishtani sarpe laal topi russi phir bhi dhil hai hindustaani
10. Hai Chandka roshan chehra zulfonka rang chunehara
11. Dafli wale dafli baja
12. Mere angneme thumaara kya kaam hai
13. Chahoonga mein tujhe chand savere (Dosti 1964)

14. Acha to hum chaltein hai phir kab miloge
15. kya khoob lagthi ho badi sundar dikthi ho (Feroz Khan & Hemamalini)
16. Hum tum ek kamre mein bandh ho aur chabi kho jaye
17. Mujhe kuch kehna hai mujebi kuch kehna hai pehle thum pehle thum
18. Na maangun sona chandi
19. Likhe jo khat tujhe wo theri yaad mein
20. Ekhu ghar banavoonga there ghar ke samne
21. Dhil ke jharonke mein thujko bitakhar
22. choudvin ka chand ho
23. Teri pyari pyari soorath ko kisiki nazar na lage chashme baddoor
24. abhi na javo chodhkar ye din abhi baraa nahin
25. Ehesaan thera hoga muj par
26. yeh mera prem patru padukhar ke thum naaraazna hona

27. akele akele kahaan jha rahe ho
28. bahut shukriya badi mehrubaani
29. madhuban mein radhika naachere
30. aankhon hi aankhon mein ishaara hogaya
31. Dheeruse jaana katiyan me ho katumal
32. wada karle saajna therebina mena rahu
33. jo wada kiya woh nibhaana padega
34. chalte chalte mere yeh geeth yaadrakhuna
35. yeh dosti hum nahin chodenge (sholay)
36. Jaaneja doondhutha phir yehan
37. Piyathoo abtho aajah (Caravan)

38. Yeh jawaani hai diwani hut mere raani rukh javo raani
39. pal pal dhil ke paas thum rehathi ho
40. Pyaar manga hai thumise naa inkaar karo
41. Rukh Jaana nahin
42. Raahi manva dhuk ki chinta kyoon (Dosti 1964)
43. Dheko meina dheka hai ek sapna (Love Story)
44. Jhil mil sitaaronka aangan hoga rim jim tharastha saavan hoga
45. Dekhaana hai re sochaana (Bombay to Goa)
46. Zindagi ka safar hai ye kaisa safar
47. Thaere ghar ke saamne ek ghar banavoonga
48. chal mere bhai thera haath jhodthaahun
49. Thoo chupi hai kahaan mein thadapthaa yehaan
50. aajare aajare oh mere dhilbur aaja
51. khabi khabi mere dhil mein kayal aatha hai
52. sau saal pehle mujhe thumse pyaar thaa
53. wada karlo saajna there bina mena rahun mere bina thoona rahe
54. saagar kinare dil ye pukaare thoojho nahi tho meraa koyi nahi hai
55. yeh kya huwa kaise huwa kab huwa kyoon huwa
56. Baharon phoor barasao mera mehboob ayaa hai

57. meri mehboob thuje meri mohaabat ki kasam
58. bindiya chamke gi choodi khankegi
59. jai jai shiv shankar (aap ki kasam 1974)
60. zindagi ek safar hai suhaana yehaan kal kya ho kisne jaana
61. teri galiyon mein hum aaye
62. mere desh ki dharti
63. deewanose yeh math poocho
64. kya dekti ho soorat thumhari
65. chadti jawani mere chal mastaani
66. kitna pyara wada hein himmatwali aankon ka
67. abki sajan saawan mein
68. jaane kahan gaye woh din
69. Ye bhai zara dhekke chalo
70. aap ki kare mein koyi rehtha hai

71. Oh meri soni
72. chura liya hai thumne jo dilko
73. wahan koun he thera musaafir jaayega kahaan
74. hum bane tum bane ek dujhe ke liye
75. papa kehte hain badaa naam karega
76. aaj mousam bada beimaan hai
77. aawaz mein na doonga
78. mei naa bhooloonga
79. kya huwa tera wada
80. akiyonki jaronkonse
81. rang barse bheege chunaruvaali (evergreen holi song)
82. yeh raath bheegi bheegi yeh mast
83. chahe koi mujhe junglee kahe
84. ramaiya vastavaiya
85. pyar huwa ekraar huwa hai

86. gaatha rahe mera dhil thoo hi meri manzil
87. tere mere sapne abh ek rang hai
88. mere sapnoki raani khab aayegi thu
89. khora khaagaztha yeh man mera
90. baaghon mein bahaar ayi hotonpe pukaar ayi
91. ek dho theen char panch che saath aat nou das gyaara bhaara thera (Madhuri Magic)
92. dost dost naa raha
93. Mehbooba mehbooba (sholay hit by R.D.Burman)
94. main pal do pal ka shayar hoon
95. hawa mein udtha jaye mera laal dupatta
96. kisi ki muskurahaton pe ho nisar
97. yaad aarahi hai
98. chal chal chal mere haati oh mere saati
99. khaike paan banaraswala
100. teri tasveeruko seene se laga rakha hai

SOWSEELYAM

"Sowseelyam" is a word i got to know on Friday, 29th April 2011 when i attended the Upanyasam on Ramayanam by Sri.U.Ve.Velukkudi Krishnan in Dubai. It was a an excellent upanyasam for 2 hours on Bala Gaandam and Ayodya Gaandam. While describing the character of Rama, Shri.Velukkudi Krishnan said one of the qualities of Rama is "Sowseelyam" which means ability, tact and humility that a person in high position possesses to deal with people at lower levels. Rama has demostrated this quality through his association and affection shown towards Guhan (who is an ordinary boatman).

Sowseelyam - ability to mix freely with those much below one's status and level is an important quality that needs to be imbibed by all of us. In our day to day life we come accross so many people who are below our status or level and it is extremely important for us to deal with such people with affection.

We have to be courteous, helpful and respectful when dealing with people who are below our status or level. Whether one is dealing with such poeple at work or at home or on the street it is very important and essential to treat such people with dignity, respect and love. It would help such people to grow in status as it would boost their self confidence and self esteem.

I always try my best to be friendly with people who are below my status and level. I make them feel at ease in my presence and try to help them as much as I can. I treat them with lot of respect and make them feel comfortable so that they can freely communicate their views and ideas.

Who’s problem is it anyway?

Life is full of problems and we are constantly in search for solving these problems. Each problem that we encounter seems bigger than the other and it really puts us under enormous pressure and stress.

Of late I have started telling people in my conversations “it is not your problem but actually it is my problem”. Even yesterday during a google chat my close friend Sam said something and I immediately replied “adigaprasangithanam”. He did not like that and immediately said “what is the bloody adigaprasangithanam in this”. I could see his anger and frustration. I immediately ended the chat conversation by saying “I apologise, I am sorry”. When I sat back and thought about the chat conversation I realized that what he did was right in his own way and opinion. It was not his problem but it was my problem because I felt he has over-stepped and also commented on it. Even if I had felt that he has over-stepped I could have kept quite.

I remember almost 20 years ago we were all sitting in Mylapore Club and Sam told my then “Godfather” “Sir, Anand is really good in problem solving and I think he should write a book on “How to solve problems”. My Ex-Godfather immediately said “You are very correct Murthy, but I feel most of the problems that Anand is facing are created by him and may be he should firstwrite a book “How to create problems” and then write “How to solve problems”. Everybody had a good laugh except me. These comments really got etched in my brain.

While I was excited with the idea of writing two different books I thought I had a long way to go before I could even try and attempt a small article on the subject.

Last 20 years I have been facing problems – at work, at home, with friends, in traffic, etc., and on many occasions I have been successful in finding the right solution because I ask the question to myself “is this my problem and am I responsible for creating the problem”.

I have still not learned enough in life to be in a position to write those two books. I thought I should atleast attempt at an article covering – What is a Problem? Whose problem is it? Why are we trying to solve it? How to solve it? How to ensure that it does not recur again?

What is a Problem? It refers to a situation, condition, or issue that is yet unresolved. In a broad sense, a problem exists when an individual becomes aware of a significant difference between what actually is and what is desired. In other words, problem is a gap between an actual and desired situation. If the desire or expectation is set by us then it is squarely our problem and not that ofthe other person(s).

Whose problem is it? I sent an SMS and expected a reply for the same. I did not get any reply and later in the day when I spoke to that person I asked “did you see my SMS this morning”. The answer was “Yes but sorry I could not reply as I was busy with so many other issues”. I quickly said “don’t feel sorry. It is not your problem. It is my problem because I expected a reply and did not inform you that I will be waiting for a reply”.

On many occasions we would find that the Problem is ours and not that of the other person with whom we are dealing. If the problem is ours then we should only solve it. The easiest way to solve problems is to analyse and see what is the desire or expectation. In my experience I have found that on most issues if we lower our expectation then we will have a good problem to deal with. If our desire or expectation is higher we have a difficult problem to deal with.

Why are we trying to solve it? There is a burning desire in every one of us to achieve what we have aspired for. There is a constant quest for something new or something better or something more. This leads to the desire and the expectation. An ant has been living the same way for the last 2000 years but an aunt or any human being for that matter has not been living the same way for even 20 years. As human beings we keep growing desires and expectations. The growing desire will always leave us with a gap in the actual situation as against what we desire or expect. This brings us to the need for finding a solution to the problem.

How to solve a problem? The easiest way to solve a problem is to understand the gap between the actual situation and the desired situation. Analyse how this gap can be addressed and whether there is an immediate fix or not. We could also look at a correction on the desired situation so that the gap is reduced significantly. In my experience I have found that if we put ourselves “in the shoes of the other person” half the battle is won. There are several ways of solving a problem and given the situation we should try and find the best possible solution which is a “Win Win” for both the parties.

Last year I had an urgent need for money and I decided to close my Recurring Deposit Account with the Bank. I walked up to the Officer concerned in Indian Overseas Bank and said “I want to close my R.D. Account”. He asked me “Sir how much money you need”. I got terribly irritated at this question (though I did not show my irritation). He continued “You have R.D. for 18 months and you have already paid monthly instalments for 12 months. If you need some money for urgent needs why don’t you take a loan against the R.D.” I kicked myself and said why did I not think about it this way.

Sometimes it makes sense to look at the problem as our own and then try to find a solution.

How to ensure that it does not recur again? I have heard people say “human memory is very short lived”. I do not agree with this as I feel Human Memory is phenomenal and on many occasions the memory fails due to our own “selective amnesia”. Whenever we find a solution to a problem it is better to review the situation and register the same in our mind. This will help us to avoid such problems in future and thus prevent it from recurring. Having said that I have faced problems which have repeated and on analysis found that it was my own carelessness or forgetfulness which has led to the problem recurring for the second time.

Life is a long journey and with the present technology it is not very difficult to keep track of the problems and the solutions. I am thinking of recording the various problems that I have faced and the solutions that I have found. It will be interesting to also review those solutions now to see if there could be any improvement or improvisation.

Hindsight is always 20:20

T.P.Anand, Dubai, U.A.E

11th February 2010

Building a Home

Building a Home is a dream for every one of us. It is not easy to build or buy your own home. It calls for a lot of planning and effort. The financial outlay, future commitment for the housing loan, location of the home, layout, interiors and many more things have to be carefully planned and executed.

In tamil there is a saying "Kalyanam panni paar, Veettai katti paar". Perform a Marriage and build a house. Both these are very tough jobs and requires a lot of money, lot of planning, lot of effort and lot of support from the near and dear. I have gone through the experience of both - performing marriage and also building a house and hence I know how difficult it is.

Home is built for us to live for the rest of our life and there are homes where several generations have lived. The Home is built over a period of 2 years and the financial commitment keeps us busy for 15 to 20 years. Finally the Home is there for more than 100 years for us to live.

Today, 24th April 2011 is a very important day for N.S.Raghavan and Sarasija Raghavan as they perform the Grahapravesam of their new home in the City of Chandler, Arizona State in the USA.

I congratulate this young couple on buying their own home and wish them all the very best. Let the new home bring you both lots and lots of happiness and prosperity.

Dear Raghavan & Sarasija "Today you have achieved something in life and can feel proud of it. We wish you all the very best" - T.P.Anand & Family