Issue No. 133 I September 2012

EDITORIAL

Some of us are blissfully unaware of the perils we face due to the indiscriminate disposal of toxic waste. The plethora of deformed children, high incidence of cancer and other life threatening ailments can be attributed to a great extent to untreated waste disposal and high pesticide use. E-waste consisting of heavy metals, mercury and other toxic elements is one of the principal culprits. A bin has been placed in the society office to deposit all the e-waste like used batteries/cells, computer peripherals and other electronic waste. A carton has also been placed to collect fused CFL lamps. If we dispose these wastes in any other manner, it will be considered a cognisable offence. The Government has now appointed a single agency in the social sector called Chintan to collect e-waste, who in turn will segregate the waste and forward them to another agency who would either recycle the waste or dispose them off in such a manner that it does not leach into the soil or get airborne.

We have tied up with Chintan to not only remove e-waste from our colony but also other household waste. We should keep the kitchen waste consisting of vegetable peels, waste food etc in a separate bag and other dry waste such as bottles, cans, paper, plastics and polythene wrappers etc separately. Chintan’s workers are trained to handle and segregate different kinds of waste. We hope this measure by us and others will augur well for future generations. The initial stages of this switchover have worked very well. The garbage dump near the C-Block gate remains clean unlike in the past as they do not leave behind anything and also carry the garbage in a closed van as opposed to an open cycle cart used by the earlier contractor. Besides, Chintan does it for free, whereas we were paying Rs. 1,000 per month to the previous garbage remover.

We are already in October and there is very little time to prepare for the Annual Day variety entertainment programme scheduled in November. All residents who would like to take part in plays/skits, music, dance etc should give their names with details to Gita Rastogi of C-004. Likewise, those who would like to take part in the Quiz competition should give their names to Sumathi Chandrashekaran of H-107 latest by 15^th October. Residents who are going to take part in Badminton and TT tournaments may give their names to Raju P. Krishnan of F-103. Seema Chari is staging a Hindi play based on “Angur” for the Annual Day for which she has to finalise the cast. Aspiring actors may please get in touch with her. Please do not wait till D-Day to avoid disappointment.

“Sir meeting mein hain” and “Sir busy hain” are terms used by staff in Government offices to fob off callers and visitors. If the personage is particularly indispensable, bemused supplicants cannot be faulted for wondering when the big kahunas get time to do the quotidian work that keeps the wheels of Government moving. The whole scenario changes dramatically when the rusty wheels are suitably lubricated. Graft in India has come to stay. Graft is there in every country of the world but the degree varies. It seems inexorably linked to geography. It is the least in countries closer to the poles and proliferates as you approach the equator. That is why the Scandinavian countries and down south, New Zealand and Australia are least affected by graft. South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and some Latin countries are all plagued by a parallel economy of unaccounted worth. That one gets willy nilly dragged into the mire is borne out by past lapses.

Those of us who became apoplectic hearing the Government announcement that a household can be provided with only six gas cylinders in a year at the current rates and would have to pay nearly three times the rate for additional cylinders can heave a sigh of relief that succour is at hand. The handmaiden of God is going to shower blessings on Yamuna in the form of Piped Natural Gas. IGL who have laid the trunk gas pipeline across the road in front of Yamuna are awaiting Traffic Police and PWD permission to dig the road to lay the pipeline to Yamuna. I met the Marketing Head of IGL along with the Councillor to urge them to lay the gas pipeline in Yamuna Apartments and handed them a formal request letter. I was assured that they hope to get the approval from the concerned authorities in the month of October 2012 and complete the pipeline work in Yamuna by December 2012. A representative of IGL then visited Yamuna Apartments and took notes on the topography for installing the pipes. We would have to give a refundable deposit of Rs. 5,000 per gas connection and Rs. 2,000 for gas supply and if the pipe length per flat exceeds 15 metres from the node, we have to pay @ Rs. 145 per metre for the additional length. I was told by the representative that there may not be a need in most cases for the additional length of pipe. Hopefully, in the New Year we can bid goodbye to the clunky gas cylinders, the endless wait for the gas delivery boy and the nuisance of co-ordinating the supply.

In view of the scheduled tribute to Dev Anand and Rajesh Khanna falling on the eve of the AGM, the programme was deferred to 1^st October, 2012 (eve of Gandhi Jayanti).

The AGM started in a stormy fashion but soon settled down thanks to an overwhelming surge of support for the actions of the Managing Committee. A few resolutions were deferred since the anticipated approval from the Registrar for regularisation of allotment of flats in favour of members got delayed. It was very gratifying that the resolutions were carried through with near unanimous approval.

SNIPPETS

Frustrated by the long and stressful daily commute to his place of work in Gurgaon, Arjun Rao of A-205 has very reluctantly decided to relocate to the Millenium City. It’s going to be hard on Sowmya and the kids, Abhimanyu and Amogh who had lots of friends and integrated very well in the colony. We will also miss Sowmya’s choreography skills in arranging dances for the Annual Day. We wish them the very best in their new abode.

With the arrival of September, the marriage season began. First off the block was A.T. Ashok, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. T. K. Raman of E-104 who wed Vindhya at Shankara Vidya Kendra, New Delhi on 12^th September. The invitation card lucidly explaining the rituals of a Hindu wedding ceremony had the traditionalists asking for more. They were not disappointed. Although only a relatively small gathering was there from Yamuna, it had all the hallmarks of a memorable wedding. We wish the couple the very best for the future.

HEALTH CAPSULE

While walking around the colony, as informed by some Yamuna’ites, I had a look at this herb known in Tamil as called Kizhanelli and  then came to know about the abundance of medicinal properties these tiny leaves carry with them.

Phyllanthus niruri, to give the herb its botanical name, is also known as Bhumyamalaki in Sanskrit  or Buin Anvalah in Hindi. Typically, it grows in lush, green areas like river banks, lakes and paddy fields. In Yamuna, you can find it growing during the rainy season along the wall we share with Godavari Apartments. It has tiny, bright green leaves, deceptively like those of gulmohar. On its underside are miniscule ‘nelli’s – berries in Tamil – that distinguish this herb from other plants. Some of its curative properties:
- Kizhanelli is known to be useful in curing anaemia, skin problems, eyesight defects etc.
- For treating jaundice and other liver problems, leaves of kizhanelli with other herbs (known in Tamil as karisalankanni and thumbai) of equal quantity are ground to a fine paste. Around 15 gm of this paste is mixed in buttermilk and taken on an empty stomach in the mornings and evenings. This not only cures jaundice but also restores the liver to its healthy, normal level within a short period.
- The whole plant and its aerial parts are used for many remedies, mostly biliary. Some examples are kidney and gallbladder stones, hepatitis, colds, flu, tuberculosis, and other viral infections.
- Phyllanthus niruri lowers blood pressure.
- Its leaves are a popular remedy against fever.
- It can be used to increase appetite, while local application relieves inflammation.
- It is also said to be useful in treating anorexia.
Unfortunately, our mali, I am told, is happily unaware of kizhanelli’s wondrous properties and removes the plants wholesale, since they look just like weeds!

Sangeetha Srihari / E-103

LAUGHTER, THE BEST MEDICINE

If Columbus had been married…..
If Columbus had been married, he might never have discovered America, because he would have had to answer all the following questions:
• Where are you going?
• With whom?
•Why?
•How are you going?
•To discover what?
•Why only you?
•What do I do when you are not here?
•Can I come with you?
•When will you be back?
•Would you have dinner at home?
•What would you bring for me?
•You deliberately made this plan without me, didn’t you?
•You seem to be making a lot of these programs lately...
•Answer me, why?
•I want to go to my mother’s house.
•I want you to drop me there.
•I don’t want to come back ever!
•What do you mean, OK?
•Why aren’t you stopping me?
•I don’t understand what this whole discovery thing is about.
•You always do things like this.
•Last time you also did the same thing!
•Nowadays you always seem to do this kind of stuff.
•I still don’t understand what else is left to be discovered!

Blonde on the Sun
A Russian, an American, and a blonde were talking one day. The Russian said, 'We were the first in space!'
The American said, 'We were the first on the moon!'
The Blonde said, 'So what? We're going to be the first on the sun!'
The Russian and the American looked at each other and shook their heads. 'You can't land on the sun, you idiot! You'll burn up!' said the Russian.
To which the Blonde replied, 'We're not stupid, you know. We're going at night!'

Banta's Law of Motion Banta Singh badly wanted to be known as a great man. So after long research he made a new addition to Newton's Laws of Motion and expects to be nominated for the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics for his new "Theory of Motion" which says:
" A loose motion can never be done in a slow motion. "

CALENDAR OF EVENTS-OCTOBER 2012

DATE	TIME	EVENT	VENUE
1.10.12	6.30 PM	DOCUMENTARY SCREENING, KARAOKE SINGING-A TRIBUTE TO DEV ANAND AND RAJESH KHANNA-FOOD STALLS	AT THE BADMINTON COURT
20.10.12	6.30 PM	QUIZ COMPETITION WITH SUMATHI	AT THE BADMINTON COURT
23.10.12	6.30 PM	DANDIA WITH FOOD STALLS	AT THE BADMINTON COURT
24.10.12	6.30 PM	RAM LEELA AND BURNING OF RAVAN’S EFFIGY	AT THE MAIN LAWN

Issue No. 132 I August 2012

Editorial

There is a downside to prosperity especially if you are living in Yamuna. With increasing wealth there is a visceral need to buy big cars among other things. The problem with such acquisitions is increased parking woes. While it is a trifle easy to park hatchbacks in the small slots available to us, parking of large sedans and SUV’s in the same slot is a challenge. With a higher turning radius, many of these vehicles cannot be parked in the allotted space, leading to a clamour for change of parking slots. With the population of small cars dwindling with every passing month, the options available to residents for alternate slots is thus adversely impacted. Unfortunately, the vicissitudes of life are not always cherished. Anybody entertaining thoughts of buying an SUV should first assess if their present parking slot can accommodate an SUV with the required turning radius. In case this criterion is not fulfilled it would be prudent to shelve that purchase lest you be forced to park outside as it is unlikely that more SUVs can be parked within the complex.

With the latest spell of rains, the colony is looking very verdant and fresh. That is invitation enough to all the exotic birds apart from the usual crows and mynahs. I was informed by Mr. Ramabhadran that the Great Hornbill can be spotted often outside his flat on the gulmohur tree. The recently declared State Bird, the sparrow, while having disappeared from most parts of Delhi, can be spotted on a creeper running up the corner of E-001, at the rear. Aren’t we fortunate to hear so many song birds while we take an early morning walk? Living in a metropolis, we couldn’t be more close to nature than this.

While there was an overwhelming feeling of relief and hope at the possibility of getting our flats regularised, there is a very tiny minority which is loath to taking the proposed steps to unburden us from the malaise that has plagued us for the last 35 years or so. This small minority has acquired a kind of Stockholm Syndrome, feeling comfortable and secure at being held hostage by an unyielding bureaucracy. Nevertheless, we are moving forward and the results are nigh.

The first cultural programme of the season, Ras Leela on Janmashtami Day could not have come a day earlier. There was pent up enthusiasm as visible from the fairly large audience. The participants did not disappoint. Pardon my understatement, they were positively delightful. Dressed in shimmering ghagras, they danced to entice the diminutive Lord Krishna. Samarth, playing the Lord, couldn’t be bothered as he was not giving them the glad eye. Even the sight of older girls who were sensually swaying their hips was lost on our Krishna who was eagerly eyeing the pot of dahi, The handi did not yield to the repeated knocks with the baton and eventually had to be cracked open with a stone. The choreographers, Anu Nair, Vidya Venkat and Soumya Rao did a fabulous job, slaving for over ten days to bring the kids to a state where they could really shine. Mr. Thangathurai of B-302 was very generous in distributing sweets to the assembled audience and toffees for all the participants. Kunal, Srikanth, Soumya Srikanth, Anu Nair, Meera and Swati Dravid stayed back to help in winding up.

They say change is a constant. However, in changing our mindset we have come up short. It is perhaps the greatest anomaly that our past, while being a source of strength is also the source of our weakness. On the one hand it bequeaths the bedrock of history and tradition that keeps our feet firmly grounded. On the other hand it manacles our mind and makes us perpetuate the obsolete, long past its sell-by date. As we turn 65 as an independent nation, our essential conundrum remains what it has always been. How to reconcile our past with the present reality and future aspirations? Do you expect a Sahana or an Aparna to get swayed by our khadi clad politicians fulminating from the lectern? These so called leaders are so far removed from the current generation that it is hard to imagine that they would bring any good to society. Not that their sartorial preference by itself is the problem but it points to a mindset that abhors progress. Did our freedom fighters fight for this India, where even 65 years after the bugle call of Independence, we would be drowned in darkness for two whole days of total power breakdown never before witnessed in history? I think not. Let us all pledge to change the present order.

The sun was playing hide and seek with the clouds on the morning of 15^th August. It was a perfect setting for the flag hoisting ceremony. Yamuna was well represented by all those who wake up on a holiday at an earthly hour. Srikanth (C-003) had bought balloons in white, green and orange colours which were tied into triads and strung on poles, door handles and trees etc. to give the place a festive look. Srichand (A-005) bought flowers to wrap inside the tri-colour. As the flag was unfurled by Mr. C. V. Narayanan and Samarth (the oldest and youngest in the assembled crowd), a huge cheer went up and the National Anthem was sung by all to the accompaniment of the keyboard played by Vedika. After that Kalyani’s protégés sang a couple of Tamil ditties to mark the occasion. A duet by Shreeya and Shreeja was followed by a free for all as the spirit got into everyone and the entire assembly sang patriotic songs led by Deepak’s booming baritone and the lilting voices of Seema, Bhavani, Bharti, Radhika Nathani and Gomathi amongst others. After the sweets distribution, everyone dispersed to catch up on their lost sleep. Not many ventured to fly kites.

The Onam feast on 25^th August had 105 takers. The rain relented for a few hours for everybody to partake in the feast. Several chairs were placed outside the Community Hall for people to relax while they awaited their turn. This served as a meeting point for all as they hung around after the meal for some healthy gossip. The burp-worthy food and the sartorial feast was a double bonanza. Typical Kerala saris and mundu’s, Malayalam songs and the Pookolam reminded many of home. Earlier in the day, Tanvi, Sahana, Juilee, Radhika and Aaria amongst others fetched the flowers and Anu Nair, Meera Varma, Soumya Srikant, Sudha Easwaran and Seema Chari got together to make a very attractive Pookolam. View Sudha’s photos of the night in the Yamuna Photo Album.

SNIPPETS

Ved Sinha who works with HCL Technologies has moved into E-204 with his wife Urvi Maniar and four and half year old daughter Navya. Ved likes to play cricket and badminton in his spare time and Urvi shares his love for badminton. She also loves cooking and will vie with you in the cooking competition. Urvi works for Fidelity Investments. Navya goes to Sardar Patel School and will swell the already dominant group of female children. One thing is for sure, she will not be short of company. Ved can be reached on 9811618029. Yamuna welcomes them.

Separation pangs at living away from wife and daughter galvanised Manoj Subramanian to push his company to offer him a transfer to Mumbai. While they were here Manoj, Prema and Saishaa were very active in the social circle of Yamuna. They will be sorely missed. With that, H-206 has fallen vacant.

HOME REMEDIES

Curry Leaves – A Pharmacy in Your Kitchen!

The aromatic curry leaf (karvapellay/karipatta) that grows in Yamuna is loaded with medicinal properties. The leaf, which is used as a condiment, enhances flavour and is packed with amazing health benefits. Take a look:

• Fresh curry leaf juice along with lime and sugar is excellent in treating vomiting and nausea caused by excess intake of fat.
• Eating fresh curry leaves every morning for 3 months will help to prevent inherited and obesity-linked diabetes.
• It’s useful in treating burns, bruises and skin eruptions when applied as a poultice on the affected areas. Curry leaves also prevent early development of cataract.
• The root of the plant too has medicinal qualities; juice from the root relieves kidney pain.
• Liberal intake of curry leaves is useful in preventing premature greying of hair. It nourishes the roots and promotes growth of new hair with normal pigment.
• The berries from the tree appear green when raw but purple when ripe. The juice of these berries, mixed with an equal proportion of lemon juice, is effective in external application to soothe insect stings and bites.

(Sangeetha Srihari E-103)

HONOUR FOR THE HUMBLE SPARROW

The humble sparrow has been crowned the State Bird of the National Capital Region. For most people, birds are synonymous with sparrows .But their mass disappearance is a cause of concern. If you look at the reasons being attributed to the decline of the sparrows, most of these are also detrimental to human health. For instance, the widespread use of pesticide that has resulted in a rapid fall in the population of worms and insects that sparrow chicks feed on, also has serious consequences for humans.
So what will this honour do to the birds? Hopefully, it will  make us aware that sparrows are just not ordinary, dime-a- dozen birds, but could well be a bio- indicator of the perils that lie in the path of rapid urbanization – shrinking greens and the malefic radiation from mobile towers. Is the sparrow then a harbinger of a bigger disaster?

So residents of Yamuna – wake up and do your bit. Put up a nesting house and bird feeders (like the ones Namagiri of C Block has placed in the park), throw a few grains everyday and watch the Yamuna sparrow population grow !!.

Seetha Venkataraman (G-102)

LIFE’S LIKE THAT

CIGARETTE: A pinch of tobacco rolled in paper with fire at one end and a fool at the other!   MARRIAGE: An agreement wherein a man loses his bachelor’s degree and a woman gains her master’s   LECTURE: An art of transmitting Information from the notes of the lecturer to the notes of students without passing through the minds of either  COMPROMISE: The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody believes he got the biggest piece   TEARS: The hydraulic force by which masculine will power is defeated by feminine water-power! CONFERENCE ROOM: A place where everybody talks, nobody listens and everybody disagrees later on  ECSTASY: A feeling when you feel you are going to feel a feeling you have never felt before  CLASSIC: A book which people praise, but never read   SMILE: A curve that can set a lot of things straight!   OFFICE: A place where you can relax after your strenuous home life  YAWN: The only time when some married men ever get to open their mouth  EXPERIENCE: The name men give to their mistakes MISER: A person who lives poor so that he can die RICH!  FATHER: A banker provided by nature  BOSS: Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are early  POLITICIAN: One who shakes your hand before elections and your confidence later

CALENDAR OF EVENTS - SEPTEMBER 2012

DATE	TIME	EVENT	VENUE
29.9.12	7.00 PM	KARAOKE SINGING - A TRIBUTE TO DEV ANAND AND RAJESH KHANNA - FOOD STALLS	AT THE BADMINTON COURT