EDITORIAL
As we hoist the National Flag on 15th August, there is not much to look back and rejoice at the progress we have made in the 64 years since Independence. We may be more in tune with what is happening around the globe due to the IT revolution. However, the comparison with the world also throws up the infirmities, in our systemic failure to address poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and population control among other things. There does not seem to be any solution to the misgovernance, given the greed of our politicians. A simmering distaste against politicians has been sloshing inside us, but choosing the right party to govern has become a Hobson’s choice. The choice is between the proverbial devil and the deep sea. I wish I had a prophetic glimpse into the future where I could see an India shining bright. Let us in our small way resolve to make the country better by assembling at the badminton court on 15th August at 9 am to unfurl the national flag, sing patriotic songs, release the balloons, fly kites and partake of some sweets.
Caught in a twilight zone between orthodoxy and modernity, we Indians are yet to come to terms with the question of how to respond to our parents and elders, as we and they grow older. Managing their emotional needs in our crowded schedule is not easy, but since we are brought up in a family-centric culture, the last thing that we want is to leave them to their own devices. For grandchildren, who are told to respect their elders, there is a dilemma. Does it mean indulging grandparents their idiosyncrasies or venerating them even though children have a hard time dealing with some of their foibles? Or remaining cheery even when grandparents insist on treating them as babies? While we are caught in a time warp, these are challenges we must handle with care and delicacy. Parents and elders are as close to God as we can get. Their deeds for their children and grandchildren have always been selfless. The least we can do is to give them the love that they so richly deserve.
The advisory issued a few months ago about pet litter does not seem to have had the desired effect. Recently I heard one resident stating that he is tempted to lace food with poison and place it at the entrance of the flat of the offending dog which was spotted defecating in the colony. I hope he does not resort to such dire actions. At the same time residents who have pets must realise how frustrated the other residents are of this nuisance.
Additionally, litter of plastic bottles, chips packets and other plastic sachets is continuing unabated even though several waste bins have been provided in the colony. It’s a shame that children who do school assignments on environment leave their learning in the classroom and merrily discard such wastes on the road, in the park and the passages between the blocks. Please make yourself and the colony proud by avoiding any form of litter.
There are some residents who are parking cars which are not roadworthy and have not been driven in years. They are thus depriving genuine car users of the privilege of parking their car in the complex. These residents may be of the view that they have squatters’ rights and can claim the slot even when they move out and rent their flat or sell the flat along with the parking slot. They could not be more wrong. The parking slots were not sold to the residents, that they could claim it to be their own. The moment a person moves out, the slot has to be vacated and the person first in the queue is allotted that slot. It is therefore, a waste of money to keep paying parking charges every month to the Society for a car which has only scrap value. It is better to vacate the slot and make it available to the person next in queue and save some money in the process, as also mitigate the hardship of the person in the queue.
The resident cat of Yamuna has delivered a litter of four kittens. They have become a source of great amusement for the children in the colony who like to pet the cute creatures. Cute they may be, but they are seen rummaging through garbage bags and leaving rat carcasses as trophies at the doorstep of some apartments, as gratitude to children feeding them milk. Children should beware against diseases they could contract by maintaining close contact with the kittens. While children look upon the kittens as play things, their arrival has not been well received by some residents. One resident was complaining to my wife that she fears the feline creatures. Of all the commonly known adjectives and attributes one associates with cats like ‘catnap’, ‘cool-cat’, ‘catwalk’, ‘feline grace’, none takes on the menace of striking fear. But this paranoia does have a moniker and it is called ailurophobia, not that one can remember such an esoteric term easily. There is also a fear among some superstitious people that a black cat crossing their path does not augur well. Fortunately, the kittens are all in shades of russet brown, except one which has patches of black on its coat. While the animal population of Yamuna is on the ascendancy, the human population is on the decline. Most of the new arrivals either don’t have any children at all or are quite content with one. Here is the dilemma. Are we going to be overrun by pets or strays as we go forward? The jury is out on that.
The spurt in crime against women is frightening. It is difficult to lay one’s finger at all the possible causes but I can’t help noticing with concern the liberal standards that has been adopted by our censor board in clearing films. Off late there has been a surfeit of films portraying women as objects of lust with obscene dances showing vertical expression of a horizontal desire. In the pursuit of showing realism, these films are also laced with profanities and choice invectives of the lowly street kind. Much as it may be so, showing it in films lends it a form of legitimacy that it was lacking. There is no dearth of cads and rakes in Delhi. The sight of young girls and women streaming out of movie theatres with a smile on their lips, after seeing such films gives these knaves an impression that they are easy game.
SNIPPETS
The reporting standards of the Chronicle touched its nadir when I failed to report on two important events concerning its members. The creation of life is an important and significant aspect of a person’s family. In the following cases it had an added significance.
Balaji and Honey of B-006 who are currently residing in Dwarka were blessed with their first child on 25th May, 2011. The baby has been named Latika. Balaji and Honey are blessed that Balaji’s parents are living with them and do the baby sitting and more importantly change the diapers! Happy mollycoddling.
Sashank Rastogi and Visakha (Fenu) of B-001, had reason to cheer when on 8th June, 2011, Fenu delivered a bonny boy and named him Aarav. The significance of a son in a business family cannot be overstated. Two older siblings are both very smart girls. Obviously, the Rastogis and the grandparents, the Govils are over the moon.
Malavika (Malu) of G-101, married her college sweetheart Joseph in Bangalore on 10th July,2011. The book by Thomas Hardy, Far from the Madding Crowd, comes to mind. We wish the couple the very best.
Mr. R. Muralidaran, Bhanu and Abhinaya of A-210 have shifted out of Yamuna and moved to GK II. Acquisition of a house is always a strong enough reason to tear yourself away from the salubrious environs of Yamuna. We wish them all the best.
Mr. P. K. Prakasan has moved into B-303 in the month of June with his wife Shyni, daughter Abhirami and son Shreeram. Prakasan works as AVP in Citi Financial and is fond of reading and long distance running. Shyni looks after the household and keeps the home and hearth warm. She too is fond of reading. Abhirami who is 12 years old, studies in St George school and loves to play tennis. Shreeram is 4 years old and has joined a nursery school. They can be reached on 9999622755.
Mr. Aman Thakur has moved into G-305 along with his sister Aditi. Aman works for Indus Ind Bank and likes to keep his body and soul in good shape by going to the gym and listening to music. Aditi works for IBM and she too likes to listen to music and in addition loves cooking. They are probably not too fond of the outdoors as both like to trawl the net. They can be reached on 9899984477.
We welcome both the families to Yamuna and hope they are able to integrate well with the rest of us soon enough.
Why teaching is a noble profession…..
Calendar of Events – August 2011
| DATE | TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 15.8.11 | 9.00 AM | INDEPENDENCE DAY FLAG HOISTING | BADMINTON COURT |
| 21.8.11 | 7.30 PM | JANMASHTAMI DECORATIONS | BADMINTON COURT/CLUB HOUSE |
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