Issue No. 110 I October, 2010

EDITORIAL

The AGM held on 3rd October went off without much ado. Ballot papers were introduced for the first time to vote on various issues. This was specifically done, since in the previous meetings, a few people used to hijack the meeting by vociferously stating their point of view leaving very little opportunity for the others to have their say. In a democratic set up, every member should have an equal opportunity to express their choice. This is exactly what the ballot paper set out to do. By means of the ballot paper, one can also gauge the extent to which each issue finds support. What emerged from the debate at the AGM is that the present set of members wishes to have an enhanced quality of life. They are, unlike in the past, not loath to open their purse strings for increased maintenance. We should however, guard against this euphoria, as the colony has a sizable number of retired people whose means are not as robust as some of the upwardly mobile youngsters. A proposal from the members for introducing a sinking fund of Rs. 500 a month had to be scaled down to Rs. 200 a month to address their concerns.


The usually monochromatic Yamuna Apartments with its grey walls, grey hexagons and sombre dress sense got its dash of colour during Navratri when ladies dressed in beautiful saris and matching jewellery went about visiting their neighbours. Such visits are out of bounds for men generally, so I have to rely on anecdotal evidence from my wife, of very creative and tasteful kolu exhibits, some of which will get featured in the blog. With a slew of festivals and events dotting the calendar for the rest of the year, joy and gaiety should see no bounds. Watch out for the ladies. They always take my breath away with their sartorial elegance.


The Navratri celebrations culminated with Dandiya on 16^th October. Though the attendance was a little thinner than previous years, it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the assembled lot. Those who had not returned from vacation and others who were tied up in the swirl of Navratri visits, surely missed something. The stage was decked up with colourful dupattas loaned by Aruna, Radha, Seema, Anu and Poornima. Food stalls put up by Sheela, Mrs. Govil, Aruna and Bhavani tickled the taste buds. Dancers in traditional attire looked very fetching. The music was more Bollywood genre than typical dandiya fare. As they say, you give people what they want and the dancers surely responded. Netra and Nandita amongst others with their nifty and gyrating moves were the cynosure of all eyes. As usual Balaji and junior Prashant as the DJ’s, handled the music with aplomb.


When I heard that the movie that people wanted screened on 23^rd October was Tere Bin Laden, I let out a groan. Although there have been several well made movies on terrorism, I like to avoid them. One sees too much of it first hand, lives them constantly and experiences the myriad subtle and overt ways it affects our lives. To see it amplified and shown on screens gives refuge in catharsis. I don’t even like the art form that magnifies human bestiality. But this one was different, a spoof which shows the naiveté of Americans in the fight against terror. Good for a laugh. However, that didn’t tempt many residents to the badminton court to watch the movie. It was too much effort for just a handful of people. What a pity!

Mr. Seshan has requested for one of the members to take over the functioning of the Yamuna Store as he would like to get relieved from its active management. Anybody with good ideas, management skills and time on hand may get in touch with him.


Those who are wondering why the roadwork has not begun, please be informed that the manufacturer of the interlock bricks will take fifteen days from the release of the purchase order to deliver the bricks. The Managing Committee were in the meanwhile busy obtaining all the clarifications on the queries that members had. In any case, the laying of the road is a very slow process and it can take up to three months to complete the works. Residents are requested to co-operate during this period as they may have to park their cars outside for upto three days as the work will take place section by section. Residents will be notified as to when they will have to move their cars. Work is likely to commence in the first week of December.

The arrival of Mr. P. Krishnamurthy as the Secretary of the Society has been a big boon for the Managing Committee and the residents. He is not only in a position to devote a lot of time to address the problems of residents but is also very efficient and capable. However, the number of problematic issues does not seem to wane. Of late, a lot of residents have been laid low with the debilitating effects of chikungunya and dengue. The probable cause is the breeding of mosquitoes in the drains, where the water is stagnating. Calls to MCD have not borne much fruit as their high pressure pump, required to unclog the drains has been out of order for the last six months. We are trying to ascertain if there is a private party that can do the job. There is nothing more important than the health and safety of our residents.


After a lull of two years, when Diwali Mela was only held on a mini scale, we conducted the event on a much larger scale albeit in the Badminton Court and quadrangle in front of the office. Although not quite the geographical size of melas of yore that were held in the main lawn, it still measured up to the vintage quality of those functions.. Everybody got into the spirit of a mela and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. The Music on Request stall had an outback theme and was decked up for the occasion. Prashant and his motley crew consisting of Balaji, Kartik, Shashank, Anirudh, Netra and Saudamini did a splendid job and kept the audience in good spirits. Sujata Sundaresan, Srikanth Murthy and Renu Garg did their bit in organising the letting out of stalls. Sudha Umapathi rustled up some volunteers to man the stalls and Thomas helped with the posters. Mr. Ramabhadran was instrumental in arranging sponsorship for the mela to the extent of Rs. 7,500. Mr. Sunil Jamba contributed a bagful of complimentary Nestle products for the Hoopla stall. At the jam session, the residents let down their hair and there was unbridled excitement with many conventional and unconventional dance moves. I must also thank all the stall holders for making the Mela an unqualified success. I still had to count on my old faithful, Sudha Sundaram and Sumathi Chandrasekharan to manage the Tambola stall. They also helped me to clear up all the stalls after the mela. There was a minor scare when the lights went out for a brief while. Thankfully, the power got restored within minutes. Srikanth has posted some great photos of all the action here.

SNIPPETS

Cuteness will not remain the exclusive preserve of Abhi, son of Sowmya and Arjun Rao of A-205 as Sowmya has delivered a male sibling for Abhi. Amogh was born on 18^th September in Hyderabad. Abhi, unfortunately will have to share the mollycoddling rights with Amogh. With two brats at home, Sowmya will have handfuls of male adrenaline to deal with.

After notching up the bragging rights with her invitation to the World Mathematics Congress in August, Shantha of A-105, did not rest on her laurels. She has been awarded a PhD in mathematics from Delhi University this month. Our salute to you, Dr. K. V. Shantha.

Mrs. Syamala Shankara Iyer of C-202, who has been a regular at the temple, is moving for good, to live with her elder son in Chennai. This kind and friendly soul will be missed in Yamuna.

Accolades have come thick and fast Renu Viswanath’s (A-305) way. After having earned the best teacher award earlier this year, she has been promoted as Head Mistress of the primary section in Mother’s International School. Way to go, ma’am!


Mr. Rohit and Rinku Puri have moved out of A-208 to Mandakini Apartments.

A family that likes to live life king size has moved into G-204. Lt. Col. Pramod, after leaving the Army, has joined as director in a trading company called Paramahansa Technologies. He is a multi-dimensional person. He is a good badminton and basketballplayer and likes to party. His wife Geeta is currently looking after the house but has worked as a Maths teacher in the past. She is also a salsa dancer. Their daughter Chandana is doing B. Com (Hons) from Maitreyi College. She is a jazz dancer and dabbles in modelling. I am sure you will get to see a lot of this family either on the stage or otherwise.

Arjun Krishnan, a strapping 6-foot something lawyer has moved into H-005. With rakish good looks, he cannot and will not stay a bachelor for long. He is getting married in December this year to Swethaa.

English can be fun – II

People in other countries sometimes go out of their way to communicate with their English-speaking tourists. Here is a list of signs seen around the world :


At a Budapest zoo:
PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUITABLE FOOD, GIVE IT
TO THE GUARD ON DUTY.


Doctors office, Rome :
SPECIALIST IN WOMEN AND OTHER DISEASES.


Hotel, Acapulco :
THE MANAGER HAS PERSONALLY PASSED ALL THE WATER SERVED HERE.


In a Nairobi restaurant:
CUSTOMERS WHO FIND OUR WAITRESSES RUDE SHOULD WAIT AND SEE THE MANAGER.


In a City restaurant:
OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND WEEKENDS TOO.


In a Calcutta Coffee House:
PEOPLE DISCARDING CIGARETTE STUBS IN CUPS WILL BE SERVED COFFEE IN ASH TRAYS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS - NOVEMBER 2010

DATE	TIME	EVENT	VENUE
1-10.10		TT & BADMINTON TOURNAMENTS
5.11.10	7.00 PM	DIWALI ILLUMINATION COMPETITION	BETWEEN BLOCKS
14.11.10	9.00 AM	SPORTS DAY	MAIN LAWN
27.11.10	4.30 PM	ANNUAL DAY-REFRESHMENTS,PRIZE	MAIN LAWN
		DISTRIBUTION, VARIETY ENTERTAINMENT,
		CONTRIBUTORY DINNER	BADMINTON COURT

Navratri at Yamuna!