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Blog pic
S. Srinivas

05 March, 2017

Issue No. 186 I February 2017

Editorial


This year's budget was not just a collection of numbers and figures but it signalled a paradigm shift in vision, strategy, values and aspirations. For the first time in history the budget was presented in February which would enable the Government to get its act going from the first day of the new financial year.The indirect taxes were left untouched for the first time owing to the impending introduction of the revolutionary GST. PM Modi has shown over time that he likes to take the path that angels fear to tread. It takes a leader with the daring of a seafarer to take a politically risky non populist budget in election season. While the budget was presented by the Finance Minister it had the makings of Narendra Modi written all over it.

Our endeavour to go green has finally borne fruit. According to Dakshin Dilli Swacch Initiatives Ltd (DDSIL) an IL&FS arm which is into recycling of all urban waste, we are the first society in Delhi to have adopted waste recycling. DDSIL converts kitchen and green waste into manure which they sell through Safal stores. Construction waste and rubble are converted into tiles, pots and other sundry products. Paper, plastic, glass and metallic waste go directly into recycling. They have installed 4 bins for kitchen waste near the garbage dump in C Block where their tipper comes and unloads the garbage into the tipper daily. Residents have to ensure that they put only organic/kitchen waste in their garbage bag for the jamadar(s)/nis to take away and deposit in the bins. E-waste, paper, plastic waste etc should be put in the bins placed in the office for Chintan or Pom-Pom to take away. The National Green Tribunal, a statutory body with constitutional authority has prescribed punitive measures for disposal of unsegregated garbage. Since this is still at its infancy the enforcement of this rule has been lax. Soon enough they would wield their stick and levy fines if they catch unsegregated garbage going out of the society. It is necessary for all the residents to co-operate as otherwise it would be difficult to ascertain the culprit when the garbage of 195 households is going out. It is as diificult as nailing the origin of the noxious emission of a quiescent flatulence in a crowded room. As a consequence of the aforementioned measures, the C Block garbage dump looks sanitised and free of stench. Hurrah.

The painting competition began under overcast and blustery conditions on 5th February, 2017. The competitors were given a choice of topic between cartoon characters and Sports Day. Most of them chose cartoon characters.

PAINTING COMPETITION RESULTS-2017
PRIZE
AGE CATEGORY
NAME
ADDRESS

UNDER 5


1

KIAAN NATHAN
A-107

9-10 YEARS


1

VANSHIKA ARORA
A-106
2

ADWITA NAIR
B-107
2

SAHANA IYER
E-101

11-12 YRS


1
KIANA ABRAHAM
A-008
2

SAHANA SAVARKAR
C-208
3

SAMIKSHA NAIR
B-107
3

SHASHVATH ARUN
G-306

13-15 YEARS


1

TANVI SVARKAR
C-208

ADULTS


1

C. VENKATESH
E-101
2

SEEMA CHARI
C-208

On winter nights the only people we see outside our homes in our colony are the pizza or other fast food delivery men. Fast foods like pizza, burgers etc have replaced Indian fast foods like bhatura, samosa, dosa, vada, khakra etc. America of course deserves aping for its infrastructure, technological prowess, institutional vitality where it is the  nonpareil among nations. I am not a fan of fast foods but if you do have to plump for fast foods there is far greater variety in every state in India which are a lot tastier, that it baffles me as to why we have to go a la Americana. The infiltration of American fast foods as a meal alternative is a potential life style influenced threat to our children's health.

The Thiagaraja Aradhana was held in the badminton court on 12th February, 2017. This roomier venue was a welcome relief from the cramped precincts of the Community Hall. For me it is one of the most awaited events in the Yamuna cultural calendar. Things started in earnest at about 3.00 pm with several individual performers and ended with the entire galaxy of singers lending their voice to the Pancharatna Kirtana till around 7 pm. Our stable of classically trained singers adds a lot of heft to such functions as even with glitches in the mikes, the sheer quality of rendering  resonated through the audience and left them truly mesmerised. It is difficult to single out anybody for praise from the innumerable singers who lent their voice to the proceedings. I would be amiss, however, not to mention the contribution of Kalyani, Bhavani. Sumathi, Shubhada, Latha, Seema and a few persons from outside Yamuna including the accompanists on Mridangam and Violin in keeping this Aradhana alive and kicking.

The days of stumbling in the dark are over. After a scientific study by a lighting specialist, new LED lights have been placed on the perimeter road, in the park and the inner pathways. We hope residents are able to move around without having to watch their step. If any resident finds that a part of the colony is still inadequately lit they should inform the office so that their concerns can be addressed. In due course even the terrace will be lit.

With annual exams around the corner, good wishes go out to all the children of Yamuna.

SNIPPETS

Devansh, son of S. Venkat and Shridevi of A -307 opened his account on 12th February, 2017. His first birthday was celebrated with much fanfare in the Community Hall The hall was festooned with blue balloons and lit in the same colour with a strings of small lights. As the birthday cake was cut, the assembled throng burst into a birthday song. The mirth was lost on Devansh. He had no clue what the hullaballoo was all about. High decibel music and revelry continued till quite late. As Devansh grows up and sees the photos he will realise what a splash it was!

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As a precursor to the wedding of Arjun Kohli (C-203) to Triza, Yamuna residents were invited to two functions in the main lawn, namely 'mata ki chowki' on 13th February, 2017 and 'mehndi' on 15th February, 2017. Mata ki chowki took us on a beautiful spiritual journey. The stage was done up like a temple and the singing of bhajans in praise of the Lord was well received. Mr. Praveen Kohli and his wife Chanchal were gracious hosts and plied us with prasad. The dinner was sumptuous. Rangu, the caterer, has earned his spurs.
At the mehndi, both Arjun in his achkan and Triza in her lehnga looked very fetching. Love between the two has blossomed over time and the glow on their faces said it all. Mr. Kohli is a proud Punjabi and he flaunted it in style with a gun slung around his shoulder. To say Mr. Kohli loves life to the fullest is an understatement. He left no stone unturned to make everybody feel very welcome and let them believe that they were the most important people in the world. The men were made to wear turbans. Yamuna men in headgear and dancing to Punjabi songs was quite a treat. To the gastronome, the spread left them spoilt for choice.The nuptials were held elsewhere.

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In a sign of the times, a marriage which bridged a cultural and religious gulf, brought Prerna Jain, daughter of of ex-residents Yatendra and Archana of G-005 and her Kashmiri groom, Ronaq together. To celebrate the celestial union, post their wedding, they held a reception at Hotel Shangri La on 17th February, 2017. The ballroom was decorated in pastel shades – ostensibly a Kashmiri influence. An almost all female band, dressed in white, regaled the audience with instrumental hits featuring the saxophone, mandolin, synthesizer etc. Both Prerna and Ronaq looked completely besotted with each other and painted a pretty picture. The food, albeit all vegetarian, featured exotic dishes cooked to perfection.

Prerna and Ronaq will see a lot of each other as they are partners in the Delhi unit of Ronaq's family's furniture business. We wish them a splendid future.

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Dr. Giridara Gopal has moved into G-302 with his wife Sonia. Dr. Gopal is working at AIIMS. He is also pursuing a PhD in Community Medicine from Centre for Disease Control, Atlanta. In his spare time he plays the piano. He is a grade 4 pianist and plays Beethoven, Mozart etc. He also loves reading books. Sonia is a trained nurse and is currently doing her Masters in Public Health. Like most Haryanvi women she is good at sports. They can be reached on 8130422542 and 8826031791 respectively. A warm welcome to them.

Letter to the editor:

Hi Mohan,
My name is Vinod (official name is Vishwanath, in case you are wondering about the gmail ID). Got your email ID from the Yamuna Chronicle's blog. Just wanted to say thanks for maintaining this blog. It's my window to Yamuna apts, and every blog brings back good memories from my childhood days at Yamuna (Diwali mela, annual day, shastha-preethi, sports day, onam, and many more such events). We used to live in F-004 (1980-90), before moving to Kerala. My father occasionally narrates a story or two from when the apartment was under construction etc. Don't recognize most of the names that keep popping up in your monthly updates, but do remember some of the old-timers whose names are mentioned now and then. 

Thanks again for maintaining this journal. 

Regards,Vinod

It is very nice to know that Yamuna leaves a deep imprint on the minds of people. That, ex-residents should relate to Yamuna even decades after they have left the colony speaks volumes of the place, the people and the micro-culture within.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR MARCH 2017
DATE
EVENT
TIME
VENUE
12.3.17
KARAOKE, ANTAKSHARI & POT LUCK DINNER
6.30 PM
BADMINTON COURT
13.3.17
HOLI MILAN
10.00 AM
MAIN LAWN
18.3.17
COOKING COMPETITION
6.30 PM
BADMINTON COURT
1.4.17
MOVIE SCREENING
6.30 PM
BADMINTON COURT