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S. Srinivas

15 December, 2019

Issue No. 219 I November 2019


                                                                                                  
EDITORIAL
A toxic cocktail of gases, bio-mass fires, dust and tailpipe exhausts assaults Delhi’ites and sends them scurrying to buy masks and air purifiers. Farm fires from stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana are suspected to be one of the main causes. I have reasonable cause to believe that the air we breathe out must be cleaner than the air we breathe in as all the pollutants must be getting entrapped in our lungs! The quality of air early this month was so hazardous that we had to defer the badminton and TT tournaments by ten days as we could not subject our children to this trauma. I have this fierce urge to file a public interest litigation against Chief Ministers for a crime against humanity because of their apathy to take steps against air pollution. Apart from the danger to people’s health, air pollution has huge economic costs as it adversely affects tourism, productivity and commerce. Wake up to this peril, folks and start a movement against this scourge. It could turn out to be apocalyptic if we stay as mute spectators and do not work towards eliminating the causes of air pollution in our everyday lives.
In honour of Mr Ashutosh Dikshit, Founder President of Citizen’s Alliance who unfortunately passed away at a relatively young age of 57 years, a prayer meeting was held on 3rd of this month at Chinmaya Mission in Lodhi Road. It is a travesty of justice that a a person who selflessly fought bureaucratic apathy and political intransigence with a missionary zeal should be snatched away from our midst at such a young age. The importance of the man can be gauged from the fact that the large Chinmaya Mission Hall was overflowing with admirers and there was not even standing room. Mr Arvind Kejriwal’s message was read out. The Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Mr Manish Sisodia and Mr Saurabh Bharadwaj who were present, paid glowing tributes. It is not often that you come across a person who is so committed to civic causes, so well-read and a repository of facts and figures. His oratory both in English and Hindi was mesmerising. He fought against the scourge of pollution and for the cause of women’s safety, rights of pedestrians and several other civic issues. He died of lung cancer, probably falling a victim to air pollution, a cause he espoused so passionately. Above all he was a very humble and nice person. He will be missed by all the residents of Alaknanda.  May his soul rest in peace.
Diwali day or a day close to Diwali is celebrated as “Dikshitar Day”. Yamuna Gana Sabha decided to celebrate this day as ‘Trinity Day’. The conventional way would have been to invite singers to sing compositions of the trinity. Yamuna colony has a glorious tradition of holding various competitions (sports , quiz , painting , rangoli and even culinary). So we thought a society with such heightened sense of culture will welcome a music competition as part of the Trinity Day celebrations. The other idea that cropped up was to have an eminent artist to perform live which would enable rasikas to enjoy a concert. The logistics proved difficult and so as a via media, the screening of a concert was taken up. With YouTube and Apple Music being available for concerts, a rare recording with a message was selected. Lastly, the participants for the singing competition were invited to make their musical offering. All in all, it was a fulfilling day, albeit a long one. A note regarding the competition: There were two categories 1) Varnam 2) Kirtanam There were 3 participants for the Varnam category and 14 for the Kirtanam category though 19 had registered. There were two external judges: Mrs.Anuradha Prasad from Saket and Subhashri Ramamurthy from Vijay Enclave. The Judges chose the same participants as winners in both categories! Varnam category:1st prize-Shriya Sreekrishna (disciple of Jayanti Aiyyar) 2nd Prize-Sivasree (Her guru is in Chennai) Kirtanam category 1st prize: Shriya Sreekrishna 2nd prize Sivasree Consolation prize: Shashvath Arun (disciple of Subhada Arun). The above write-up was given by Mrs. Tara Natarajan of C-106 who conceived and organised the programme in the Community Hall on 3rd November 2019 with the able assistance of Bhavani, Subhada, Sumathi, Aruna and Seetha.
We did away with the idea of inviting Chief Guests for the Annual Day some years ago and the reasons for the same are the following. We introduce chief guests as people who do not need any introduction and proceed to give a lengthy biographical of their impressive track record. The worthy individual then will say that he would only speak a few words because he doesn’t want to stand between you and the entertainment that is to follow. He doesn’t then stay to the script and gets carried away with the inflated idea of his self-importance fuelled by the lengthy introduction by the host and sends the audience on a reverie for the next half hour. Only a muted applause at the end of the speech wakes up the audience who heave a sigh of relief that the ordeal is over. I have rarely been enthralled by a speech. It requires a different set of skills and comic relief to keep the audience spellbound and in splits. The political variety and those who have reached positions of acclaim seldom are gifted with this attribute. Therefore, this year too we will avoid inviting a Chief Guest.
Whilst on the subject, those who are in a position to do so, please sponsor the prizes, scholarships etc. Their contribution will not only be acknowledged in the chronicle but they will also be invited to the stage so that the audience can appreciate their contribution. They may contact Mrs. Seetha Venkataraman or myself for the same. Lastly, those crooners, dancers and stage performers etc. whose talents have gone unnoticed, please step forward and give your names for performing at the Annual Day as this is the mecca of all cultural activities and your time in the limelight can be the harbinger of greater things. Some of the people who have performed on the Yamuna stage have gone on to gain National and International fame and recognition. I can name a few; KK, Maha Krishnan, Chitra Jagadeeshan etc. No more solo performances this year, please.
In an interconnected world where work-life and study-life balance is seriously askew, one seeks relief from multiple stress points. To alleviate from this troubled eco-system plaguing today’s generation, we have planned a distraction, which if last year’s successful conduct is any indication, should bring cheer to a lot of people. I am talking about the Christmas Carnival which had all the elements of a mela. This year too we will plan a grand Christmas Carnival on 24th December, 2019 with games stalls, food stalls, sundry sales stalls, giant wheel, winter ramp walk and Prashant’s favourite-“Music on Request”. Just let your hair down, if you have any that is and live the moment and forget your woes.
After a whole week of thick smog, the weather cleared up to sunny skies with a light breeze wafting across the lawn on 17th November, 2019. It was a beautiful day and the perfect setting for the Annual Sports Day. While the children gathered in the lawn and started practising in earnest, it required a bit of prodding for the late risers to come to the lawn. It eventually got underway to the raucous cheering of the kids under five, for picking the toffees. The athlete of the day was undoubtedly Anoushka Nair who got multiple prizes. In the sprint, she showed a clean pair of heels to the chasing throng who were left way behind in her wake. One would imagine wearing a sari to the sports day would render the person seriously handicapped. Subhada did not let that bother her as she romped home way ahead of the field in the lemon and spoon race. While others were making heavy weather of the balancing act, it seemed like Subhada’s lemon was glued to the spoon, the way she briskly made her way to the finish line. Vaishali Sharma demonstrated that she has eyes of a hawk as she threaded the needle in a jiffy and galloped to the finish line. In the lady’s sprints, Purnima Satish reigned supreme, in the men’s sprints Prashant Gopal rocketed to the finish line. The family honours were taken by Aditya Santosh and Varun Santosh who won multiple prizes in the boy’s section. The amusement was left to the Tug of War where the men were pitted against the women. However, this time the men came on top in the best of three contest. Their cheering would have been short-lived as they had to return home to their wives where it would be amply demonstrated as to who is superior! The battle of the sexes got balanced out as the girls easily overcame the boys in the tug of war. Shashvath Arun amongst the boys and Anoushka Nair amongst the girls won the 400 metres road race which some generously allude to as the ‘marathon’.
The participants for the badminton and TT tournaments got whittled down because some of them were pre-occupied with studies for their pre-board and other exams. Consequently, the remaining field did not produce any surprises and the favourites won. Very few adults wanted to participate but there were not enough to have a contest. The winners are listed below. Prashant Sr. conducted the matches with his customary panache.
S.NO
CATEGORY
BADMINTON TOURNAMENT


1
SUB-JUNIORS SINGLES
NIVETA REDDY
A-309
FIRST


ADITYA SANTOSH
E-002
SECOND
2
JUNIORS SINGLES
ANOUSHKA NAIR
A-203
FIRST


VANSHIKA RAJPUROHIT
H-206
SECOND
3
JUNIORS DOUBLES
ANOUSHKA NAIR/JAYASHREE K
A-203/B-206
FIRST


ADWITA NAIR/VANSHIKA RAJPUROHIT
B-107/H-206
SECOND
4
SENIORS-SINGLES
RADHIKA V
C-005
FIRST


SHASHVATH ARUN
G-306
SECOND
5
SENIORS-DOUBLES
RADHIKA V/SAMIKSHA NAIR
C-005/B-107
FIRST


SHASHVATH ARUN/SAHANA SAVARKAR
G-306/C-208
SECOND


TT TOURNAMENT


1
SUB JUNIORS
ADITYA SANTOSH
E-002
FIRST


NIVETA REDDY
A-309
SECOND
2
JUNIORS
SAHANA IYER
E-101
FIRST


VANSHIKA RAJPUROHIT
H-206
SECOND
3
SENIORS
SHREEJA SRIKANT
C-003
FIRST


SAHANA SAVARKAR
C-208
SECOND

There has been an overwhelmingly good response to the request to donate clothes and footwear for the poor and destitute. Let us hope the residents largesse will keep the poor warm in the cold and harsh wintry nights. The two large plastic bins were overflowing with clothes and footwear. They were eventually taken away by Goonj (an NGO) who undertake to distribute them to the poor and needy. A good deed is very gratifying to the giver and receiver.
Four people in the colony are not paying a part of the maintenance or building repair and maintenance fund passed by the General Body. Bonafide criticism of a decision of the General Body is not taboo but thwarting or encouraging people to thwart the legally binding majority decision is not warranted.  The decision of the General Body is final and binding and cannot be countermanded as per the provisions of the Delhi Co-Operative Societies Act, 2003 and Delhi Co-operative Societies Rules, 2007.  After all we have chosen to be wedded to the rule of law as provided in the aforementioned Act and Rules respectively. It is a universal principle that the majority view enjoins upon everybody the obligation to follow it even if it militates with your world view of things. This is jurisprudence in its essence. The defaulters who are holding the whole Society to ransom by not paying their dues are harming the fabric of co-operative and social living that we have so assiduously built up over the years. We hope wiser counsels prevail and they pay up.
OBITUARY
With great sorrow, I wish to report the sad demise of Mrs. V. Sarojam, wife of ex-member and long time resident of E-304, Mr. K.S. Sivaramakrishnan in Thrissur on 7th November, 2019. Mr. Sivaramakrishnan and both their daughters Meera and Vidhya were by her side when she breathed her last. Yamuna members convey their heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family.
SNIPPETS
Mr. Sudhir Dua has moved into B-005 with his wife Sarita from Vikas Puri where they lived for thirty-five years. Mr. Dua was a partner in a jewellery firm, J. D. Jewellers but decided to call it a day and decided to spend his sunset years in spiritual bliss. While Mr Dua likes to croon and also follow sports and news on TV both Mr. Dua and his wife get their greatest joy attending satsangs. They can be reached on 9873601313.
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Vidyut Mohan’s (G-206) company, ‘Takachar’ has been given the Best Indian Social Enterprise Award by Action for India at ISB, Hyderabad on 7th November, 2019. This kid has a penchant for notching up awards across the globe. He may not like being referred to as a kid but he has grown up in our midst from his early school days. He makes us really proud.  He has a bright future ahead of him. We wish him the very best.
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Raghavendra Subramanian aka Raghav (A-001) is used to donning several hats but the latest one that crowns his head is that of a Producer. He has started a production company, “Arts Unlimited” which will promote all kinds of performing arts. His debut production, called  ‘Bhakti and Sufi Night on Stage’ featuring two playlets,  Meera and Sobhat was held on Sunday, 24th November 2019 at Apparel House (Epicentre), Gurgaon, to rave reviews. A very promising start indeed. We wish him good luck.


CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR DECEMBER 2019

DATE
TIME

VENUE
7.12.19
4.30 PM
ANNUAL DAY-REFRESHMENTS, PRIZE DISTRIBUTION,
MAIN LAWN


VARIETY ENTERTAINMENT AND DINNER





15.12.19
10.30 AM
HERITAGE WALK TO RED FORT WITH DR. RAMJI-PLEASE CAR-POOL OR TAKE A METRO TO FUVARA
FROM A BLOCK GATE




24.12.18
6.00 PM
CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL/CAROL SINGING/WINTER RAMP WALK/MUSIC/DANCE/FOOD STALLS
BADMINTON COURT



31.12.19
12 MIDNIGHT
CAKE CUTTING AND USHERING IN THE NEW YEAR
COMMUNITY HALL

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