EDITORIAL
Lohri at the badminton court was a muted affair with most people opting to snuggle up under the quilt rather than brave the cold. However, one didn’t have to brave the cold, as this time around the bonfire blazed in all its glory and there were no false starts. Under the warm and heavenly glow of the blaze, residents caught up on the latest and partook in the plethora of Lohri eats made available. Bashfulness overcame the usual band of crooners and it was left to the small children to sing ‘Kolaveri di’ that has gone viral on the net. Aparna Krishnan, Mani Shankar, Tanvi & Sahana Savarkar, Avantika Shankar and Vinay Venkatachalam made a jolly good imitation of the song with funny enunciations.
Amnesia seems to have overcome me when I reported on the activities at the Christmas carnival in the last month’s chronicle. I was guilty of overlooking an entirely endearing ‘Barbie Girl’ dance choreographed by Anusmita and Vedika and performed by Sahana, Manaswini, Adwita, Anjali, Devyani and Saisha. Albeit late, let this be there time in the limelight.
I notice that when most residents return from shopping errands they are carrying goods in plastic totes. They thus become inadvertently responsible for a looming ecological disaster, as plastics are not bio-degradable. In other words plastics do not decay even in a million years! Mounds of plastics are clogging our drains, water aquifers and are also ingested by cattle. Is it too much to ask, if residents could carry cloth or jute bags while going shopping? If they do not wish to burden themselves with a bag, then a lesser crime would be to re-use your plastic bag. These can be folded and tucked into your pocket or handbag while going to the market. Once they are brought home, they should not be thrown into the waste bin but reused over and over again. At least, this way we will reduce the number of plastic bags in circulation. Please convey this thought to your friends and neighbours as well. If you are able to convince other people, you would be doing a great service for the present and future generations.
The repair of the water spouts and the painting of the beams on the facade of the Apartments is complete. This has not only made the apartments look a lot younger than they are, but also added to its durability. With the very tastefully designed grill by Thomas Abraham adorning the front boundary wall, Yamuna has acquired a chic look in sharp contrast with the sepia tainted walls of the neighbouring DDA flats. The added safety is a bonus.
India celebrated its sixty-third year as a Republic on 26th January with a parade down Raisina Hill to Rajpath and beyond. It is typical of the Indian bureaucracy to dish out the same fare down the ages. If you have seen one, you have seen them all. There is nothing to demonstrate that India is a dynamic nation with different aspirations and achievements to its credit. The commentators drone and the song, “ Saare jahan se accha” and others of its ilk alluding to India’s greatness sound stale and dated, whereas on all global parameters of development India ranks a lowly 120 or so. How do you explain this dichotomy between what we believe we are and what the world perceives us to be? It’s high time that the powers that be in the country stop blowing their trumpets and make the difference on the ground.
An overnight picnic planned to a resort near Delhi on 25th/26th January had to be aborted as many residents who responded positively to the notice on the white board under the Club House, eventually shied away citing other commitments. We need to now bide time until school examinations are over.
In order to overcome the disappointment of the cancelled trip, a visit was planned to the India Art Exhibition on 26th January. Even though it was a holiday and the distance to the venue at Okhla not daunting, it had few takers. When will we rouse from our mundane routine of eat, sleep, work, lounge in front of the TV to watch some inane programmes? To break the monotony, the most that a person does is probably go to the movies or eat out. There is a world outside of the aforesaid activities that is very creative, fascinating, stimulating and enlightening. The India Art show did not disappoint in that respect. On a bright and sunny day we ventured into the copious conundrum of halls displaying the paintings, photographs and sculptures of forty five international and several very talented Indian artists. Four hours at the show with coffee break at the cafeteria were not enough to satiate the senses. There were incredible works of art on display. Those who couldn’t make it will never know what they missed.
Winter spells in Delhi are downright dangerous for health. Many poor people burn a lot of biomass to keep themselves warm. The level of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide amongst other pollutants increases dramatically as a consequence. Due to the cold ambient temperature these pollutants stay close to the ground especially early in the morning and in the evening. This is the time when residents venture out to walk as part of their daily exercise. Instead of such exercise doing them any good they are willy-nilly breathing in harmful pollutants. Carbon monoxide has an affinity to get absorbed at twenty times the rate at which oxygen gets absorbed in the blood. Exercising increases the cardio vascular activity and you thus end up taking more breaths per minute than otherwise. It is the equivalent of smoking more than 100 cigarettes in a day. For smokers it just aggravates the situation. The incidence of asthma and cancer has significantly increased in recent times. So, in winter if you do have to take walks do it during the daytime when the sun is out. You can thus avoid the pollutants which rise during the day and also get a good measure of vitamin D which is so essential for our well being. If you do not get the opportunity to walk during the day at least avoid walking on the colony road parallel to the main road where pollution is the highest.
The Indian cricket team were humbled by a very motivated, skilled and focussed Australian team. Never has an Indian team been found so wanting in all departments of the game as this one. It’s time the stalwarts hang their boots and ride into the sunset. For a team that went to England as the number one Test side in the world, to lose eight overseas tests on the trot is a sign of march into oblivion. BCCI will cease to be a cash cow if our one-day team who are the World Cup champions, meet the same fate Down Under.
SNIPPETS
Rashmi Dutta has moved into G-306 with three canines. On being enquired as to why she felt the need to have three dogs, she said that Delhi is not a safe place for a single woman. This is cold comfort for those who were witness to the savage attack of the presswali by a pet dog in the colony late last year. The need to bolster one’s security with three dogs in Yamuna maybe a little misplaced. Rashmi is an educationist and runs her own company named KPS Pvt Ltd which operates schools, crèche and tuition centres in Kalkaji and GK 4. She does not find time to pursue any hobbies. She can be reached on 9711757677.
Jazz is the flavour of the season and three of Yamuna’s talented dancers performed at the Siri Fort auditorium on 29th January, 2012. Nandita, Netra and Anjali danced quite brilliantly on behalf of Danceworx Theatre Society. Talent seems to be oozing out of the pores of several of Yamuna’s children which really augurs well for the colony’s stage shows in the future.
HEALTH CAPSULE
2. HEAD COVERED WHILE SLEEPING. Sleeping with head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and reduces the concentration of oxygen thereby causing brain damage.
4. HIGH SUGAR CONSUMPTION. Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.
5. AIR POLLUTION. The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.
6. SLEEP DEPRIVATION. Sleep allows our brain to rest... Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells...
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FLOW INDIA LTD – MAKING MUSEUMS INTERESTING
Our February schedule includes family weekend programmes for children aged 3-8 at the National Museum and Crafts Museum, children’s workshops also at these museums, adult tours (at which babies and toddlers are welcome) at the National Gallery of Modern Art, and then a Sunday afternoon at the museum for teens and adults at NGMA on Sunday 26th February (2.30-4.30pm, Rs850) – a perfect weekend outing! Our Art Appreciation course for children (6 sessions of 1.5 hours, after school) is running in February too – all previous courses have been sell outs, which tells a lot about how much fun the kids are having!
For other dates, times and prices, or just to find out more, do get in touch with Katherine on 9958 728306, or via email (Katherine.rose@flowindia.com) if you’d like to find out more. You can also see everything that we’re up to at www.flowindia.com.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR FEBRUARY, 2012
| DATE | TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 12.2.12 | 10.00 AM | ON THE SPOT PAINTING COMPETITION FOR ALL AGE GROUPS | MEET AT BADMINTON COURT |
| 19.2.12 | 11.00 AM | PICNIC IN LODI GARDENS | TO START FROM A-BLOCK GATE |
