EDITORIAL
On 15th August we will be celebrating the 66th year of our Independence. Politicians, news barons, TV moghuls, for that matter anyone who wants a piece of the action and would like to see his/her name in print will be getting hoarse eulogising this mythical Independence from roof tops. Independence from what, I want to ask these self appointed conscience keepers to the nation. Independence from hunger, illiteracy, corruption and disease? In 66 years, we have slid down the greasy pole of human development index and have the ignominy of sharing the bottom rung with sub-Saharan Africa. We as a generation have failed to usher in change. It is left to the next generation to make the marauding politicians accountable. Let’s hope the Sahanas, Samikshas, Samarths and Anirudhs who lack the moorings of the Indian teak due to our failure, are up to the task. In the hope that things will change for the better, we will celebrate Independence Day at the Badminton Court on 15th August at 9 am. All residents are requested to come and show their solidarity with the nation. There will be singing of the National Anthem and patriotic songs, as the flag is unfurled. Sweets will be distributed.
After the heady years of 8-9% GDP growth, we have gravitated to a pedestrian 3-4% growth. The rupee is plunging headlong into an abyss. Those who did their foreign trips this summer must be heaving a sigh of relief. Hereon, the same trip will be 20% dearer. Jobs are hard to come by; inflation is rearing its head. What, however keeps the wheels of the economy moving are women. At a recent sale at Zara, a Spanish high end clothing store in Select City Walk, women were queuing from the crack of dawn and snaking down the length and breadth of the Mall. Many could be seen carting a whole caboodle of clothes ostensibly at bargain basement prices. It is reasonable to guess that they would have to spend a small fortune to buy cupboards to store the loot. It is not that men were not present in the store. The miserable looking men were busy paying for the stuff their wives, children or girlfriends bought. When noted marketing guru Philip Kotler wrote his book (considered a Bible by marketing professionals), he had only women in his mind as potential customers! How clairvoyant?
Of late, I find that dishes are heavily dosed with spice in most restaurants. It is therefore, hard to tell one dish from the other as all you get to taste is the spice. I am sure the restaurants are pandering to the changing tastes of Indians. With hot spices lacing the Indian cooking in increasing Scoville scale, the subtle Indian flavours that mothers passed on to their children through generations, is destined for the culinary wasteland.
When it rains heavily, the Alaknanda market resembles an island marooned in a sea of water. If you wish to make some urgent purchases, you had better be a practiced swimmer! No amount of follow-up with politicians on either side of the political divide has borne fruit. The question confronting us is that when elections are upon us, who does one vote for? It would be a Hobson’s choice.
The dust has finally settled down on the Delhi University admission skirmish with cut-offs to various courses reaching stratospheric heights. At last, children have found the courses of their calling but they will have to study an extra year for graduation. It’s like doing a professional course like Engineering or Medicine. Talking of professional courses, Aishwarya, daughter of Mini and Nikhil, son of Rita Nair have made it to Engineering and Medicine respectively.
A meeting was organised opposite the Community Centre near Aravalli Apartments on 21st July to register a protest against the opening of a Mall in our vicinity. Our pointsman, Kunal Savarkar, with the help of the kids who made the posters, galvanised a sizable representation from Yamuna to wake up from their slumber and head for the meeting. It was done to show that Yamuna is not found wanting in protecting the turf against crass commercialisation and its possible negative fall outs. Many residents of Alaknanda articulated their concerns very lucidly. It was a revelation that many of the permissions granted for the Mall were on the basis of either inadequate due diligence or grossly wrong data. There were instances of misrepresentations or pussy footing around concerns to lay the doors open to a conglomerate who would not be loath to opening the purse strings to ensure that things get cleared at the speed of greased lightning. Whether the show of strength against the opening of the Mall, which now awaits only the Lt. Governor’s nod will meet with success for the naysayers, only time will tell.
SNIPPETS
Wing Commander S. N. Kedarinath has moved into A-202 from Bangalore with his wife Sheela. Mr. Kedarinath is working for Boeing after his retirement from the Air Force. He loves reading and travelling. He also writes a blog on spirituality. Sheela works for PricewaterhouseCoopers. They are made for each other as she too loves reading and travelling. She also likes to paint. Their daughter Kritika is in the final year of B.Tech (Bio-technology) in Vellore Institute of Technology. She is very good at creative writing and edits the college magazine. They can be reached on 9880466080 and 9845845377. We are pleased to have this couple join the Yamuna family.
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Aarti Umapathy and Dinkar Vasudevan were delighted with the birth of their daughter, Athiraa meaning ‘full moon’ on 11th July, 2013. This cute bundle of joy warmed the cockles of everybody’s heart at the “cradle ceremony” on 20th July with her rotund and smiling face. With Athiraa’s arrival, Sudha and Umapathy have been promoted to the status of grandparents.
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V. Muthusubramaniam of E-005, fondly referred to as Muthu, completed 60 years on July 21. He is a spastic since birth and did his graduation in B. Com. He did not allow his disability to act as a hurdle. The wheelchair bound Muthu has been working in AADI for more than 25 years. He was deputed as national level coordinator for the Badthe Kadam campaign for 2012. While in this project he visited different parts of the country notably Jodhpur, Trivandrum, Kanyakumari and Shimla to raise awareness about the needs and rights of persons with disability. His vision is to bring about a change in attitude towards persons with disabilities and help them broaden their horizon to be an integral part of society.
His birthday was heralded amidst the chanting of Vedic hymns as Rudra Ekadesi and Ayush Homam were performed in the Community Hall. He even sang a Hindi ditty, showcasing a talent hitherto kept under wraps. The function culminated with a traditional feast for the guests.
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Mrs. Rajalakshmi could not have asked for a better 75th birthday celebrations. Harishankar pulled out all the stops to stage a grand birthday party on the main lawn on 26th July. Nobody till date has put up a fully air-cooled shamiana with a section even being air-conditioned. The variety of snacks and dishes was mind boggling. As usual the Yamuna ladies looked gorgeous in all their finery. The colour of the season seemed to be black with several of them showing up in black saris prettily embellished with eye catching designs and borders. On a table festooned with colourful balloons lay the birthday cake which was cut at the announcement from Shashwath, the youngest grandson. Cupcakes and return gifts were thoughtfully distributed. Mrs. Rajalakshmi looked very charming with her smiling countenance.
MIRTH CORNER
Consider yourself a genius after reading the following statements made by famous people.
Question: If you could live forever, would you and why?
Answer: "I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever,"
--Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss USA contest.
"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life,"
-- Brooke Shields, during an interview to become spokesperson for federal anti-smoking campaign
"I've never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body,"
--Winston Bennett, University of Kentucky- basketball forward.
"That lowdown scoundrel deserves to be kicked to death by a jackass, and I'm just the one to do it,"
--A Congressional candidate in Texas .
"Half this game is ninety percent mental."
--Philadelphia Phillies manager, Danny Ozark
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it"
--Al Gore, Vice President
"The word "genius" isn't applicable in football. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein."
--Joe Theisman, NFL football quarterback & sports analyst.
-- "Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1992 because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you.. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances."
"We don't necessarily discriminate. We simply exclude certain types of people."
-- Colonel Gerald Wellman, ROTC Instructor.
--Department of Social Services, Greenville, South Carolina
"Traditionally, most of Australia’s imports come from overseas."
--Keppel Enderbery
CALENDAR OF EVENTS - 2013
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DATE
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EVENT
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TIME
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VENUE
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15.8.2013
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INDEPENDENCE DAY FLAG HOISTING
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9.00 AM
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BADMINTON COURT
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28.8.2013
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JANMASHTAMI-KRISHNA LEELA
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6.30 PM
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BADMINTON COURT
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14.9.2013
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POOKOLAM AND ONAM FEAST
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7.30 PM
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BADMINTON COURT
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12.10.2013
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DANDIA, MUSIC AND FOOD STALLS
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7.00 PM
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BADMINTON COURT
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13.10.2013
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RAMLILA AND BURNING THE EFFIGY OF RAVANA
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5.00 PM
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MAIN LAWN
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19.10.2013
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SCREENING OF MOVIE & POT LUCK DINNER
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6.30 PM
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BADMINTON COURT
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3.11.2013
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DIWALI ILLUMINATION COMPETITION
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6.30 PM
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BETWEEN THE BLOCKS
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4-9.11.2013
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BADMINTON AND TT COMPETITIONS
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6.30 PM
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BADMINTON COURT/
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UNDER THE CLUBHOUSE
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10.11.2013
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SPORTS DAY
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9.30 AM
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MAIN LAWN
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23.11.2013
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ANNUAL DAY-REFRESHMENTS, PRIZE DISTRIBUTION,
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4.30 PM
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MAIN LAWN
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VARIETY ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME AND FOOD STALLS
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14.12.2013
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QUIZ COMPETITION WITH SUMATHI
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6.00 PM
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BADMINTON COURT
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24.12.2013
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CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL WITH MUSIC, FOOD STALLS,
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6.00 PM
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BADMINTON COURT
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WINTER CATWALK AND BONFIRE
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31.12.2013
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MIDNIGHT CAKE CUTTING, USHERING IN THE NEW YEAR
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MIDNIGHT
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COMMUNITY HALL
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