EDITORIAL
The Thyagaraja Aradhana held
on 2nd February,2014 went unreported in the February chronicle due to an
oversight. However, it was of such import for the Yamuna cultural scene that it
could not have been overlooked, therefore, we are carrying an account of it in
the March Chronicle. The Thyagaraja Aradhana has been a regular feature at
Thiruvayyaru for over 100 years (a tribute to one of the greatest exponents of
Carnatic music), hence to include it in the cultural calendar of Yamuna adds
richness to the calendar of events. An impressive array of good singers from
Yamuna started the proceedings. Bhavani, Kalyani, Sumathi Chandrashekhar,
Venkata Lakshmi, Leela Gopalakrishnan amongst others were joined by Mrs.
Bhagirathi Eswaran, a veteran who taught music in Yamuna years ago. They were complemented
by professional singers for the Pancharatna Keerthanas. The singing reached a crescendo
with everybody joining and left the audience spellbound. Balaji of C-005 had
arranged sumptuous prasadam for all
attendees. I would like to thank Kalyani and Bhavani for organising this
marquee event and Balaji for the refreshments.
The early morning nip was
still in the air delaying the start of Holi revelry on 17th March, 2014. The
crowd had swelled to a reasonable size before I ventured to the park just
before noon. The sight of me in pristine clothes was incentive enough for the
throng to make a beeline for me and ere long I was looking like the devil,
having been ravaged by all and sundry. Somebody had inadvertently tripped over
a wire thereby depriving power to the several sockets on the stage where the
music system was installed. As a consequence the crowd had to rest content with
Deepak's lung power ans Seema, Bhavani, Savitha, Sujata and Anusmita's lilting
melodies, amongst others. The crowd was less than usual, but those present had
a jolly good time. Gujjias and other snacks were downed with a brew of
indeterminate origin. The children had a whale of a time and by afternoon they
were unrecognisable. The garden hose came to good use with Kunal, Shreeya, Aparna Krishnan and Aryan hell bent on dousing
anybody who walked into the park. Some of the colours remained steadfast on the
skin even after intense scrubbing in the bath.
In a repeat of last year, Balaji
of C-005 held the Radha Kalyana Mahotsavam in grand style in the park spanning
three days from 20th to 22nd March, 2014 to commemorate the celestial marriage
of Lord Krishna and his consort Radha. Shri Shri Krishnananda Teertha Mahaswamigal
and Sri Sri Krishna Premi were the seers presiding over the event. Spiritual
sermons and songs were rendered on all three days. Prasadam was distributed. The
attendance was less than last year owing to the event having been held on week
days unlike last year when it was held over the weekend. However, the devout
were in full attendance with Lalitha Nagarajan flying in from Singapore just to
attend the event! Apart from Balaji's family ,Mala, Kalyani and Venkat were seen
actively helping with the organisation. Many partook in the meals that were on
offer.
The cooking competition on
29th March, 2014 witnessed the usual culprits participating. The competition
was fierce and the atmosphere electric. The multiple aromas wafting across the
badminton court made me salivate at the thought of sampling the creations of
Yamuna's creative chefs. Mr. Manish Malhotra, with impressive credentials to
boast of, was the competition judge. All the food prepared by the contestants
disappeared in a trice because the creations were so compulsively appetising.
Dr, Abhilash Pillai and Mr. Ramabhadran donated Rs. 3,500 and Rs. 2,500
respectively as prize money. We thank them immensely for supporting this
competition year after year with their largesse. I would like to thank Gita
Rastogi who bailed me out in the last minute by getting a qualified judge to
evaluate the participants. We would also like to thank Kumar Caterers for
providing the gas stoves. I give below the judge's verdict.
|
PRIZE
|
NAME
|
FLAT NO.
|
CREATION
|
|
|
MOCKTAILS
|
|
|
|
1ST
|
ARUNA, SUDHA & BHAVANI
|
F-103, D-104, E-005
|
ROSY WOODAPPLE COOLER
|
|
2ND
|
APARNA KRISHNAN & APARNA VARMA
|
F-103,H-208
|
STRAWBERRY LEMONADE
|
|
|
STARTERS
|
|
|
|
1ST
|
NEELAMBARI MADHUSUDHANAN
|
F-001
|
BAKED POTATOES WITH TOMATO DIP
|
|
2ND
|
NIHARIKA ABRAHAM
|
A-008
|
CHICKEN & VEG PUFF WITH CHUTNEY
|
|
3RD
|
MALA SUNDARESAN
|
D-002
|
MORE KALI
|
|
3 RD
|
ARUNA KRISHNAN
|
F-103
|
STEAMED GREEN KABAB
|
|
|
MAIN COURSE
|
|
|
|
1ST
|
DAKSHINA & KAVYA
|
A-001/B-002
|
HERB CRUSTED CHICKEN & POTATOES
|
|
2ND
|
ANU SHEKHAR
|
B-107
|
PASTA CHICKEN SEASONED WITH HERBS
|
|
|
DESSERT
|
|
|
|
1ST
|
ANUSMITA KUMAR
|
B-202
|
SANDESH
|
|
2ND
|
VIDYA VENKAT
|
A-004
|
LOVER'S CHOCOLATEMOUSSE
|
|
3RD
|
SHREEYA/SHREEJA SRIKANT
|
C-003
|
FROZEN FRANKIES
|
OBITUARY
9th March, 2014 was a sad
day for the Hari Shankar household and indeed all of Yamuna when Hari Shankar,
after battling against a life threatening ailment, finally breathed his last. His
sudden demise came as a shock to those who have known him for years. For a
person who came from a very humble background Hari.Shankar through sheer grit, perseverance
and hard work earned a name and reputation in the legal fraternity and built a
formidable legal practice. His larger than life persona had such a marked
impact that at the prayer ceremony held at Niti Bagh on 13th March, 2014, legal
luminaries like Justice Vipin Sanghi, K.K. Venugopal, Mukul Rohatgi, Justice K.Ramamurthy
and Praveen Anand among others heaped encomiums on him. Hari Shankar was the
anchor of his family and his untimely departure has left a big void. May God
give the family the strength to bear with this loss. Residents of Yamuna will
miss his towering presence.
Mrs. Rajalakshmi (Hari
Shankar's mother) has instituted a scholarship of Rs. 5,000 per annum for
meritorious Yamuna students in honour of Hari Shankar's memory,
********************
Ms. Suman M. Mehta, member
of G-304 expired on 19th March, 2014 at Vadodra. Yamuna residents convey their
condolence to the bereaved family.
Hari Anna, My Superhero
- A Sister's Tribute
We have many relationships in our
lives but only a few really teach us great lessons. My Anna would never help me
till I completely gave up and said, "Sorry Anna, I can't do it now."
His life's journey has taught me to
have a vision and to fulfill it come what may! He always said, "Never
bother about people talking nonsense about you and bow down and show that you
are weak."
He was a living example of an ideal
brother who always believed that I, his youngest sister, was his eldest daughter. A brother whose harsh
words and angry looks brought me closer to him.
My Anna never spoke more than two
sentences in a week to me but his presence, his achievements,
determination, time management, courage and fight against illness spoke volumes
and I kept on admiring him.
My silent teacher ,my father, my Anna..........
Love you forever and I know he lives
on in the heart of his Yamuna family in his own kind, naughty, aggressive, gentle,
short-tempered and helpful manner.
Shubha Arun-G306
SNIPPETS
Madhu Nair will hold 3rd
March, 2014 as a very treasured day in his life. Medha and Madhu's brother Viju
planned a grand 50th birthday party for him at the Naval Club in Shah Jahan
Road. This party which required months of planning in total secrecy kept Madhu
in the dark until he arrived at the Club to loud cheers and birthday wishes.
The surprise on his face was a sight to behold. That so many people had
gathered from all over the world for this landmark occasion speaks volumes of
the popularity of this very likeable soul. His friends from Yamuna and elsewhere,
his classmates from school and relatives made it a very memorable evening for
him. Medha spoke glowingly about her father and Deepa was at hand to take him
to the dance floor for a romantic twirl to seventies' music. A slide
presentation showed Madhu's transition over fifty summers from a gawky Mallu
teenager to an elegant and nattily turned out tycoon. A three tiered cake,
choice of spirits and great food made for a lovely evening. You richly deserve
it, Madhu.
********************
Mr. Arun Viswanathan has
moved into A-304 from Sukhdev Vihar with his wife Sukanya. Arun who is a CA
works as a Senior Manager with KPMG. His interests extend from Social Netwoking
to watching sports on TV. He used to play cricket and badminton and is keen on
picking up his racquet to hone his skills on the badminton court. Sukanya is
also a Chartered Accountant and works for a CA firm. Her interests extend to
painting and Bharatanatyam. Sukanya happens to be the niece of Yamuna member
Mr. Balasubramaniam of A-301. They can be reached on 9810984658 and 9810338214
respectively. We welcome this young couple to Yamuna.
******************
Mr. Ved Sinha of E-204 has moved to E-301 with his wife
Urvi and daughter Navya.
Consequently Mr. Arun
Mohandas, an Assistant Editor with Indian Express has moved into E-204. Arun
graduated in Law from Hyderabad. Arun did a one year stint with the Supreme
Court and then went to Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Boston. He has
returned to India this month and joined Indian Express to write on Law &
Politics. He is an avid runner and likes to clock up his miles in the Jahan
Panah forest.
*******************
Mesach Arun of A-309, who probably had the briefest stay
in Yamuna has moved out.
********************
Having attained the age of retirement,
Mr. H. Ganesh of G-202 has moved back with his family to Chennai. He and his
wife enjoyed their rather brief stay in Yamuna.
********************
Close on the heels of Kirti having delivered a bonny
son, Supriya of H-005, Arjun Krishnan's
wife delivered a baby boy named Kabir, Both mother and son are fine.
*******************
As they say when it rains it
pours. After the birth of two male children in the colony in succession, there
is another addition to the list. Harish and Shini of E-305 have been blessed
with a baby boy. Shini delivered the baby on 10th March, 2014. Grandparents,
Santha and Sankaran Kutty are delighted at the thought of doting over their
grandson. Bhavana will have a sibling to play with.
********************
Kalpana and Rohan Samson are
over the moon at the arrival of their baby girl on 21st March, 2014 in USA.
It's the first grandchild for Radha and Venkat of H-303 and Madhavi and Julius
Samson of A-201. Grandparents are a prized requirement for every nursing mother
for baby sitting, as good hired help is hard to come by.
********************
To celebrate the 94th Birth
Anniversary of Pandit. Ravi Shankar, Radhika Samson was invited to perform an
Odissi recital at The Ravi Shankar Centre in Chanakya Puri on March 22, 2014.
In a five dance sequence which traversed across genres, she showed her
repertoire, poise and grace. One requires a lot of stamina to do five dance
numbers on the trot and to be able to do it with all the emotions and nuances
ranging from happiness to pathos speaks volumes of the strides she has taken in
this art form. Her students in Sadhana Music and Dance Academy are indeed
blessed to have such an accomplished performer as their guru.
Pranav Ramji who accompanied
Radhika on the tabla on one of the dance items was self assured as he let his
fingers do the talking - and talk they did ! There were several residents from
Yamuna who enjoyed the performance.
*******************
Dr. Abhilash Pillai's bachelorhood
is going to end on 16th April, 2014 in Kerala. To commiserate on the loss of
his treasured freedom and happy go lucky ways to a life of placid domesticity,
his friends Madhu Nair, Sreekumar, Deepak, Shekhar, Raghav, Kunal, Pramod,
Venkat, Vanchi, Suresan and yours truly, amongst others gathered at his house
for a bachelor's party. Like all bachelor's parties, it was loud, boozy and
bawdy, free from the sobering effects of hen company. The party ended in the
wee hours of the morning and everybody had a jolly good time.
CALENDAR
OF EVENTS - APRIL 2014
|
DATE
|
EVENT
|
TIME
|
VENUE
|
|
5.4.14
|
SCREENING OF MOVIE
AND POT LUCK DINNER
|
6.30 PM
|
BADMINTON COURT
|
-
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