Issue No. 126 I February 2012

Editorial

The painting competition held in the badminton court on 12^th February under a balmy winter sun drew both children and adults. They came armed with paints, crayons and sundry other things and their eagerness to put their creative ideas on paper was palpable. Kavya and Mukul participated in the adult’s category. That talent rests in good measure in our complex is an understatement. The effort from all was so impressive that the judge, Shanta Varma would have had a hard time picking the winners. Even those who didn’t make the grade should not despair as on another day they could as well have climbed the pinnacle. Ms. Renu Garg of G-106 distributed packets of cookies for all the participants. We are grateful to her for making the event sweeter. The winners in various age categories are:-

S.No	Age Group	Prize	Name	Flat No
1	4-5 YRS	1	SAMARTH VARMA	H-208
		2	ANUSHKA NAIR	A-203
		3	ANJALI GARG	G-106
2	7-8 YRS	1	SAMIKSHA NAIR	B-107
		2	KIANA ABRAHAM	A-008
		3	JUILEE TALWELKAR	C-206
3	9-10 YRS	1	APARNA VARMA	H-208
		2	TANVI SAVARKAR	C-208
		3	SHANTANU DRAVID	G-001
4	11-13 YRS	1	YOHAAN ABRAHAM	A-008
		2	VEDIKA ARORA	A-106
		2	APARNA  KRISHNAN	F-103
		3	VINAY   VENKATACHALAM	F-003
5	ADULTS	1	KAVYA NARAYANAN	B-002
		2	MUKUL NAIR	H-001
		3	KUNAL SAVARKAR	C-208

(View more pictures of the painting competition here.)

The picnic on19^th February to the sylvan surroundings of Lodi Garden was an awesome experience. The weather was tailor made for the occasion, with the sun and shadows providing the perfect setting to the backdrop of Lodi Dynasty tombs. Frisbee and mind games like ’Confusion’ caught the fancy of both adults and children. We picked a spot next to the lake amongst ducks and geese. Lodi Gardens’ flower beds crowded with dahlias, phlox, and candytufts jostled for space and provided a colourful feast for the eyes. It was a perfect camera moment. Anu Nair had prepared food for a battalion of ravenous eaters. The soporific effects of a midday feast were such that everybody returned home for an afternoon siesta that lasted till late in the evening. Those who didn’t make it, eat your heart out as the next picnic isn’t planned until early next year.

The exams are here and the children are going to be subjected to a test that would evaluate their ability to retain information rather than their spirit of inquiry and deduction. That pedagogy in Indian schools relies on creating an army of people with mediocre abilities does not augur well for a nation that is supposed to supplant the developed nations later this century. In an international exam conducted on school going children to test their maths and science skills, India fared second from the bottom. They were spared some ignominy by bottom placed Kyrgyzstan. China topped the list with Korea following close behind. Yet, this revelation has got no response from the Minister for Education, Mr. Kapil Sibal.

The need to cram and accumulate facts, dates, figures, etc. puts such an enormous pressure on young minds that they can fall over the cliff when push comes to shove. The qualifying mark to gain entrance to courses in colleges is inexorably getting pushed closer to 100% with each passing year. This vexes most parents who then end up pushing their children to achieve things well beyond their capacity. The fact is, most of what they learn will not help them solve real life problems in the workplace or help them become researchers or scientists. Since Independence, no Indian has won a Nobel Prize in science or economics doing research in India. Does it not tell you a tale about the sorry state of education in this country? Wake up, Sib!

With the digitisation of television programmes becoming mandatory from June 2012 in Delhi and other metros, there is a scramble for set top boxes, leading to major shortage. Those who miss the bus may have to go without TV programmes after June until supply catches up with demand. The days of the cable operator are over. In this context we must caution you against installing dish antennae on the facade wall. Dishes should be installed only on the shaft wall on the terrace and cable taken through the shaft. Cables are not to be brought from the outside of the flat. Since one dish can cater to four TV sets it would be advisable if you could pool with your neighbours and thus save some expense as well as the problem of finding room for the plethora of dishes.

India’s cup of cricket woes brims over in Australia. After being blanked out in the Test series they have now been humiliated in the limited over tri-series. The awesome show against Sri Lanka in the last match seems like a flash in the pan. While the players have taken all the flak, the coach who presided over two overseas series losses seems relatively unscathed. The erstwhile coach, Gary Kirsten who saw India reach the pinnacle in both Test and limited overs must be wondering what caused them to plummet to such depths of despair. Coach Fletcher has a lot of answering to do. It’s time to shift our loyalties to hockey where the men’s team, playing some sublime hockey, have qualified for the Olympics.

The cable boxes on the staircases, which had missing cover plates, thereby revealing an ugly tangle of loose wires now sport new galvanised steel plates. White lines have been painted on the border at the foot of the steps in the area between the blocks for better visibility to aid senior citizens against tripping. These are two small steps among many taken already in making the apartments safer and more appealing.

OBITUARY

The longest living person ever to make Yamuna her home breathed her last on 20^th February 2012 at the ripe old age of 105. Mrs. Meenakshi Ammal of E-106 was a devout Shiv bhakt. In her early years after marriage, it is reported that she would bathe in a lotus pond, using the lotus flowers to offer prayers in praise of Lord Shiva. That her end should come on Shivratri has got to be divine providence. For most of us sinners, reaching the three figure mark is a distant dream. It behoves a person of such piety and selflessness to live that long. Yamuna will be a lot poorer by her loss. All Yamuna residents convey their heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family.

SNIPPETS

A jazz dancer with Hellenic features doing the Jitterbug, Charleston or Boogie Woogie should have been a feast for the eyes. Sadly, I was not an invitee to the “Danceworks” show at Siri Fort auditorium on 29^th January, 2012. As a consequence my report on the dance, in the last edition, was found wanting as it was based on second hand information. Though Seema Chari, the jazz diva, did not vent her spleen, there were signs of umbrage at being ignored. As one who has scaled the heights of Jazz dancing through rigour and sweat, her display under the arc lights didn’t deserve to be upstaged in the Chronicle by her juniors.

Harishankar of G-106 has moved to his office-cum-residence in Hauz Khas. His move was necessitated because the needs of his ever expanding high profile legal clientele could not be addressed adequately from Yamuna. Barring this compulsion, he remains a die-hard Yamunaite and will continue to participate actively in the affairs of the Society. This move will however, be hard on his mother Rajalakshmi, wife Lakshmi, son Tejaswin and daughter Avantika who all had their group of friends in Yamuna. We will miss them.


As a consequence Ms. Renu Garg has moved to G-106 as a tenant along with her mother and daughter. Her move from her own flat in H-305 was necessitated because her mother had trouble climbing three floors.


Further, as a consequence, Mr. N. L. Ganapathy of E-206 has additionally taken on rent flat No. H-305, for his office-cum-residence.

Success does not come in small measure to the erudite. Prof (Dr.) P. N. V. Kurup of B-205 was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award on 6^th February, 2012 by Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth, Govt.of India, for his outstanding contribution to the promotion of Ayurveda in India and overseas. This has come on top of the Padma Shri awarded to him in 2005. His wife and daughters are all high achievers. Mrs. S. Kurup retired as a lecturer from Delhi University. Elder daughter, Dr. Vani Kurup is an Editor with a medical journal in Delhi and his younger daughter Dr. Smita Kurup is a Molecular Biologist in the UK. We are all very proud of the achievements of this scholarly family.

An ex-resident of Yamuna has hit the big times. Salil Shankaran who used to live in H-208 is now President of Ampcus, a Washington DC based company which he started and is now listed as one of the 50 fastest growing companies in the United States of America. The company has a turnover of $ 22 million and is growing at the rate of 40% per annum. The company has more than 200 employees and is into enterprise solutions in the security space with the Federal Government as its principal customer. We are very proud of you, Salil.

MIRTH CORNER

Several days ago as I left a meeting at our church, I desperately gave myself a personal pat- down. I was looking for my keys. They were not in my pockets. A quick search in the meeting room revealed nothing. Suddenly I realized, I must have left them in the car. Frantically, I headed for the parking lot. My wife, Diane, has scolded me many times for leaving the keys in the ignition. My theory is the ignition is the best place not to lose them. Her theory is that the car will be stolen. As I burst through the doors of the church, I came to a terrifying conclusion. Her theory was right. The parking lot was empty. I immediately called the police. I gave them my location, confessed that I had left my keys in the car, and that it had been stolen. Then I made the most difficult call of all.


 "Honey,” I stammered. I always call her "honey” in times like these. "I left my keys in the car, and it has been stolen." 


There was a period of silence. I thought the call had been dropped, but then I heard Diane's voice. "Ken,” she barked, "I dropped you off!"


Now it was my time to be silent. Embarrassed, I said, "Well, come and get me."


Diane retorted, "I will, as soon as I convince this policeman I have not stolen your car."

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR MARCH 2012

DATE	TIME	EVENT	VENUE
8.3.12	10.00 AM	HOLI MILAN	ON THE MAIN LAWN
24.3.12	6.30 PM	SCREENING OF MOVIE AND POT LUCK DINNER	BADMINTON COURT
31.3.12	6.30 PM	MASTER CHEF - SHOW YOUR CULINARY SKILLS IN PREPARING EXOTIC DISHES. WINNERS WILL GET FABULOUS PRIZES. CONTESTANTS SHOULD GIVE THEIR ENTRIES A WEEK EARLIER TO MOHAN NARAYANAN AT B-002	BADMINTON COURT