My Musings

IS HOROSCOPE A MUST FOR A PERSON? This question taunted me a couple of days ago, and I started thinking: As soon as a child is born (or at least within a year or so) its horoscope is computed. Its Janma Rasi, Star, Lagnam, Dasa are calculated among other things. For what use, may I ask? Star and the placement of the Grahas are only once needed when the child grows to the marriageable age and her/his parents look for a matching "Varan." Once the marriage is completed, do we use horoscope at all? In a majority of cases, the plain answer would be a NO. I have not even seen my horoscope once during the last 68 years! The same is the case with all my sons, daughters-in- law, and Vijaya's. Some people may use it for predicting their current / future fortunes or otherwise, but they are in a low minority. Rasi Palan and Sani/Guru/Rahu/ Ketu Peyarchi Palan -- we know what they are, don't we? So my question is :: IS HOROSCOPE A MUST FOR A PERSON? What is your thinking? ...

The Marina beach in Chennai extends from Fort St George in the north to Light House in the south, about 4 kms long. Called South Beach Road , now Kamarajar Salai , the road was constructed in 1846. As my house is located in the south, my walk along the beach road actually starts from Light House to northwards. So walk along with me from south to north on the  South Beach road , with the Bay of Bengal to your right.  என்ன, நடக்க ஆரம்பிக்கலாமா? We commence our walk with the imposing building of All India Radio on the left. This is the first major building after Santhome Basilica down south. The AIR moved here in 1954 and to the more handsome building in the front in 1963. Just two years after BBC started in UK, AIR Madras commenced its broadcast in 1924 in Egmore. Then it moved to Rippon buildings in Poonamalee High road for 9 years. Later AIR reopened in 1938 in Marshalls Road, Egmore and finally to Marina. On the opposite side (sea side) is the light house . Madras...

Satish got an offer of employment from AIRTEL and he came to Chennai on 22 Feb 2009 and joined the company at TNagar the next day. We asked him to stay with us. He was with us for about 8 months, but he expressed a desire to "live alone to get experience." He found a shared accomodation at KK Nagar and left our house on the evening of Tuesday, 13th October 2009, with his bag and baggage. He gave us good company to all of us while staying here for the past 8 months. Aditi in particular adored him and was always with him playing and talking, calling him அண்ணா, அண்ணா (மூச்சுக்கு மூணு தடவை). The child will miss him; and I guess he too will miss Aditi. rajappa 09:30 AM on 15 Oct 2009

Recently, during Sep 26 and Oct 10, 2009, Vijaya and I (and Ashok-Neeraja) had gone to New Delhi and stayed with Vasu and Srikanth. The first impression I got was that the city is very large; truly it has been claimed "a city of distances". People here do not mind travelling over 35 km to their office, in heavy traffic! I was told our Ravi once used to travel 40 km to his office, that too on a scooter! In Delhi a car is a must, I feel. Vasu and others eat breakfast while travelling, I am told. Secondly, the METRO is all-pervasive in the city. Already there are 3 lines functioning; and before the Commonwealth Games start in 2010, this will be extended manyfold. Construction work goes on in a breakneck speed to beat the deadline. Result? Diversion, Excavation, pollution etc. The Metro is quite cool (AC), clean, efficient, and hi-tec. Roads and flyovers are wide, unlike in Chennai. Even these are highly choked with traffic! A recent study says that, on an average, a car us...

DAY 11: Monday, 05 Oct 2009 - DELHI Paalika Bazaar After lunch at Srikanth's place, V-A-N and Jayashri and children left at 2-30PM for shopping at Paalika bazaar; they were joined by Vibha on the way. I stayed alone in the house, sleeping. They were back by 7-45PM, with a couple of handbags / travel bags. Dinner at Ravi's place; Bama and Raghavan picked us up in their Alto car and A-N followed in cycle rickshaw. Steaming hot Paratha and Baingan burtha by Radha. Incidentally, Jayashri had also prepared baingan burtha for lunch! The big brinjal is plentily available in Delhi and they call our கொத்ஸூ as burtha !! Srikanth came at 10PM to pick us up. DAY 12: Tuesday, 06 Oct 2009 - DELHI Sight Seeing After breakfast at Srikanth's place we left house at 9 AM. We hired a car on 8 hr-80 km basis. First stop was Qutb Minar. An imposing structure. Neatly maintained. Qutb Minar Next we went to the Lotus Temple and sat for 15 minutes in dhyanam. Lotus Temple, New Delhi...

AGRA DAY 10: Sunday, 04 Oct 2009 - AGRA We left the hotel at Jaipur at 0600 and drove to Agra, 230 km away from Jaipur. The Jaipur-Agra highway is wide and clean. We had bread and butter in the car itself, a precaution thanks to yesterday's breakfast at Jaipur Expressway (Parantha and thayir !! ). Skipping Bharatpur, the famous bird sanctuary, our first stop was at Fatehpur at 0900. From the parking lot, one has to hire an auto to reach the Gate. The historical city was constructed by Mughal emperor Akbar beginning in 1570 and served as the empire's capital from 1571 until 1585, when it was abandoned for reasons unclear. Akbar had inherited the Mughal Empire from his father Humayun and grandfather Babur. During the 1560s he rebuilt the Agra Fort and established it as his capital. With his wife Mariam-uz-Zamani he had a son and then twins, but the twins died. He then consulted the Sufi Saint Salim Chishti from the Chishti Order who lived as a recluse in the small town Si...

JAIPUR. DAY 09: Saturday, 03 Oct 2009 - JAIPUR We hired a taxi for 2 days and left Srikanth's house at 0600 for Jaipur. Breakfast at a roadside dhaba. Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Reached Amber fort (aka Amer fort) by 1030 and went around the fort. It was built by Kachhawa clan (Rajput) rulers in 1592. Located at 11 km from Jaipur, it is a major tourist attraction. From Amber fort, we went for lunch, typical Rajasthani thali. Next, we went to the Maharajah Sawai Mansingh II museum, which is inside the City Palace. museum Our next stop was the Jantar Mantar. The Jantar Mantar is a collection of architectural astronomical instruments, built by Maharaja Jai Singh II at his then new capital of Jaipur between 1727 and 1734. Very fascinating and interesting. Then we proceeded to the famous Hawa Mahal, a palace built in 1799 by Sawai Pratap Singh. Called "the Hall of the Winds", it has five stories and is constructed of red and pink san...

INTRO: Ashok and Neeraja planned during July 2009 a trip to Delhi etc places; they requested us to join them for the tour to be undertaken in late September. We agreed. The entire tour plan, its execution was done by Ashok-Neeraja. He wanted us to fly to New Delhi but I asked him to book our onward ticket by Rajdhani Express and he agreed. DAY 01: Friday, 25 Sep 2009 - RAJDHANI EXPRESS We two woke up at 0345, had bath and started in a calltaxi for Chennai Central. The New Delhi Rajadhani Express left Chennai at 0610. 2AC coach. Breakfast, lunch, evening snacks and dinner were provided. Comfortable journey. We slept by 2130 hrs. DAY 02: Saturday, 26 Sep 2009 - SRIKANTH HOUSE We reached Hazrat Nizamuddin by 1030. Srikanth came to receive us. Srinath also came. We were home by 1130. Bath and we had a hot lunch from Jayashri. Evening Ravi and Sridhar came to see us. Ashok - Neeraj arrived by flight at 2115 hrs from Bangalore. A visit to Rishikesh and Haridwar is planned fo...