My Musings

We came to  Karpagam Avenue, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai 600028, on 31 August 2005 . We were asked to “vacate” the house as the owner needed it for his office. We arranged for a packers and movers (Rs 3500/-) and shifted residence on Saturday, 28 November 2009. The packer came at 1030 and packed things and made the first trip at 1310. Earlier Vijaya and Krithika had packed our clothes, books, and other small things in 15 cartons and kept these ready for loading. Arvind and Krithika went in the first trip, and returned by 2-45. Arun took leave to help us; he brought lunch – சாம்பார் சாதம், தயிர் சாதம் - and we ate our final meals at Karpagam avenue at 1-30. The rest of the things were loaded and the 2nd and final trip was made at 5-15PM. I came with Arun in his car, Vijaya came with Arvind-Krithika-Aditi. Final bye-bye to Karpagam avenue ! We reached the new house at Cross Street, Besantnagar, Chennai 600090. Unloading and arranging things. We had our meals at Ar...

We had a very happy and peaceful life at Karpagam Avenue 3rd Street, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai 28 since 31 August 2005. All good things come an end — in the first week of Oct 2009 the house-owner (Mr Ravikumar) wanted us to vacate the house as he needed it for his use. That was a stunning blow to all of us, more so because Arvind had enrolled the child ADITI in Harishri Vidyalayam only recently after paying a hefty amount. The school is nearby to Karpagam Avenue. Arvind and Krithika started looking for another rented house and got one at  Cross Street, Besant Nagar, Chennai 600090. Another 3 BHK house, but a little older. A large garden surrounds the house. Rs 20,000 rent per month. The house seems to be good, and the location is convenient. On the morning of Friday the 20th November 2009 we went to the house and performed the பால் காய்ச்சிக் குடித்தல் ceremony. Arun, Gayathri visited for a brief while. We plan to shift on Saturday, 28 November 2009. Rajappa 22-11-20...

Our eldest son ARUN has planned to purchase a flat at Padur, about 25 km from Adyar. He took home loan from SBI. The registration was on Thursday the 19th November 2009 at the Sub-Registrar office at Tirupporur, another 10 km away. Arun, Gayathri, Sowmya, Sriram, Vijaya, I, and Mr Balasubramanian (Gayathri’s father) started at 10-50AM on 19-11-2009. Earlier we reached his house at 0800 AM, had lunch there. After travelling for 45 minutes on Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR), we stopped at Padur and saw the site where the building will come up. Now it is barren. From there, we went to Tirupporur. The Sub-Registrar office is located near the Murugan Koil tank. We reached there by 12 noon. The signing of the official papers by Arun was completed by 2-15 PM. So now Arun-Gayathri are officially owners of the house. While waiting, we took idli there on the steps of the koil kulam. Sriram and Sowmya enjoyed the kulam water. Once the main job was over, we decided to relax and proceed to Mamalla...

We came to Karpagam Avenue, 3rd Street, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai 600028 on 31 August 2005 from 77/85, Aspiran Gardens, 2nd Street, Kilpauk, Chennai – 10 where we lived for 3 1/2 years from Feb 2002. The house owner at Aspiran gardens was Mr Ratnakar Shenoy and at Karpagam Avenue Mr Ravikumar. The landline at Aspiran garden was 2644 4995 and at KA 2461 6845. This house at KA is a 3-BHK and very convenient. Being near to Mylapore, Mandaveli, MRC Nagar, RA Puram was a boon to us. Particularly Mylapore, which is just 25 minutes’ walk from KA. Vijaya and I used to frequent the South Mada Veedhi and Giri Traders almost daily. We visited many temples in Mylapore, RA Puram like Sri Kapaliswarar, Sri Velliswarar, Adi Kesava Perumal, Madhava Perumal, Veera Anjaneyar, Vinayakar, Iyappa, Saibaba koils. We used to visit many Sabhas, like Chettinad, PS High School, Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan, Asthika Samajam, Sri Parthasarathy Sabha (Bheema Sena Garden) etc etc. There is no place in Che...

VIJAYA's PENSION Vjaya was working as a PGT teacher in Defence Laboratories School, RCI, Hyderabad for nearly 13 years. After my retirement in August 2001, she too resigned her job, though reluctantly, on 25 June 2002. She was 52 then. We came to Chennai and settled here. As per the EPF proviso, Vijaya was to get Pension, but only after she attains the age of 58. So, she had to wait till September 2007. She had been given a "Scheme Certificate" that was to be produced at the pension office on her attaining 58 years of age. AP/ 18059 / 85. 18-03-2008 We went to Hyderabad However we could not submit the requisition in 2007. We went to Hyderabad on 18 March 2008 and there started our ordeal with the Office of Regional Commissioner of Pension at Barkatpura, Hyderabad. At this office we were footballed around from one floor to the other, to various Sections / clerks. We were told first to fill Form 10-C (part withdrawal) but later it was changed to Form 10-D (for Pensi...

Salaiyar Street is a small lane near our house at Karpagam Avenue, connecting RK Mutt Road. There are about 200 families, all lower-middle and lower class people living here. Every morning by 1015 AM, a push-cart vegetable seller would enter this street from RK Mutt road side. Push-cart brimming with vegetables. Suddenly the families would appear and throng around his cart to buy vegetables. All his vegetables will be fresh, green,தளதளவென்று பச்சைப்பசேல் என்று இருக்கும். You will be tempted to buy a kg of Avarai, or 1/2 kg of kaththarikkai, or tomato maybe? So fresh, so tempting. By the time he reaches the other end of this street, his cart would be 90% empty, vegetables sold off. This happens every single morning. Politicians cry that the entry of big companies like Reliance or KPN would "kill" the small sellers. They should be brought here and shown the reality. rajappa 12:45 noon 02-11-2009