Thanks- A Poem dedicated to my dear friend

This poem was originally written in Telugu and was a tribute to my dear friend Srujana whom we missed in a freaky car accident a month ago.  Her death was as devastating as possible and her memories are as glorious as we could cherish.  Her family published the poem titled ' Krutagnathalu' means thanks in Telugu and I made a simple effort to translate the same in English ......

Thanks

Thanks to the five cosmic elements of Nature;  Water, Wind, Fire, Earth & Sky

Thanks to the entire creation, and thanks to the creator

Thanks to the parents, thanks to our teachers,

Thanks to the thought of expressing thanks,  within me, a big thanks

Thanks to those who troubled me and whom I troubled,

Thanks to the forgiveness that was taught

Thanks to the ignorance

For creating the thirst for knowledge

Thanks to the failures,

For teaching the lessons of success

Thanks to the problems in life

For giving strength to finding right solutions

Thanks to the loneliness and lackness

For being the reason to be strong and together

Thanks to the every thanks

For letting me appreciate the greatness of gratitude, life and thanks

- A Tribute to Maganti (Chava) Srujana Choudary

Life is Beautiful....... Srujana....

Sevai Karangal- A special pool of love and service thats flowering in Chennai

Around an year back, my friend and colleague Vadi introduced me to his friend Thilak.  A simple and soft man with a great vision,  simple aspirations to bring in smiles in under privileged children and elderly,  a calm person but with strong convictions.   Slowly as we started understanding what Sevai Karangal is...we realized its way beyond a typical NGO.  

It has its wings flying high above the clouds...and shining hard with the new sunshine adding every single day... I can only be glad to be associated with this team of committed, hardworking professional, who find time to spend their way of contributing to the society.    

What makes them special is the variety of things they do to contribute to the society..... Sevai Karangal 'Chankya' project of educating underprivileged children started reaping results with Yazhini securing Medical Seat on merit at Madurai Medical college and lot more to follow.  Book distribution is part of it, and Home of Hope is just an example

Old age homes started having visits from full time professional who spent their time with the elderly giving hope and love, spreading joy and sharing sorrows.... Sahaya Illam is one of the pet projects.  for all their celebrations

SIP home, the home for HIV kids and children of HIV positive parents, is a destination of hope.  This home which usually is a far reach for normal society, is a regularly visited home to spend joy and provide relief and support to the beautiful garden of children

If education, support, medical aid, and festivals food distribution is one part, the next part is the consciousness towards environment and happy outings.     Be it fortnightly tree plantation around Retteri area in Chennai or pruning and growing them and repeat visits to ensure the trees are growing as planned.

Trekking is a passion for this group and taking children on social treks is fun, a responsibility and educative way of preserving our environment.   Running , Walking and Cycling events are all where you can find a volunteer from Sevai Karangal waving their hands extending help.  They are also a very special part of the most famous Chennai Trekking Club now having more than 18000 enthusiasts and still growing...

Causes are abundant., their care for the society is plenty, their hard work is abundant, and their love for the less privileged is just too valuable.  Wishing Thilak, his wife Dhana and the entire Sevai Karangal gang abundant happiness in all their endeavours, success in their projects, love spread beyond the extended hands of help and may god bless them with loads of opportunities to serve and succeed to carry on with peace and hope.   Joining hands ....all along....

Happy 5th Anniversary dear team:-)  God bless you all.....

When the thoughts wander away!

Sitting through the night

Working at my desk

The thoughts seem to be flowing

And forced me to muse away for a while

Running behind the miles that need to leap

With the dreams that still need to reap

There can be no rest to this mind

Amidst the thoughts of happiness and kind

As I make my life more meaningful

And make the journey full of ups and downs

I enjoy my ride with an inbuilt pride

Every day dawns to me as a new bride

Every action makes me enjoy its notion

Feeding a hungry dog on a picnic

Or listening to the elderly on a Sunday noon

And sometimes watching my child grow

And admiring the teen life and reliving my own

Or just care taking my mom in the hospital

Just calling a friend and making her smile

Wishing an old forgotten man a good morning

Smiling at a stranger on my way to the office

Stopping by and dropping a coin for a temple box

Every small thing makes it life in a big way

As I sat in Nagala, forgetting the world around

And the fishes that gave me kiss’s to my feet

The stones that spoke stories of an unending era

The natural bliss of lake, mountains and trees

What else can you ask for in life to rejoice?

As I take a morning bus and visit a home

Hold the youngest child in my arms and let her sleep

A child in me awakens for the warmth of my mother

As I talk to the teenaged kids who aspire to be great

And feed their aged and poor parents, the dreams

I love them for their aspirations, and wishes to come true

A young orphan law student fighting for her rights

The activist in me awakens to a new dawn of lights

The world is a just the place on how you make it

Just sit, sleep, eat and die, and can be no one and nothing

Or make it big, in the smallest ways you can by loving life

As I pour water to my plants and talk to them, my girl giggles

I tell her, I am not mad, but the plants do understand my words

The flowers and fragrance they give me is plenty

The love I share by growing them and taking care is bounty

My man tells me to slow down in life, and take it bit by bit

But, I feel that time lost is time never gained. And I can’t rest

My mind is full of thoughts for the actions next and next

The quest is big to make my life the very best and lest I rest

As my health gives me jerks at times to slow down, I do so

Yet the mind musters courage to regain the strength to run again

The run is a never ending marathon, full of glorified simple tasks

To admire the unsung heroes of every day life and respect them

Enabling women and weak around me to make a bit more than I can

And spreading the message of hope, faith and love and service

What else can we do as human beings in this restless world?

Than to be tolerant and teach humbleness and lessons to live in peace

To My Dad, with Love- Poem dedicated all fathers in this world

It has been 45 days since the year began and the writer's block hit me hard this time, not giving time and space to write the most precious article to begin with in the year.  A reader's comment provoked me to make a beginning....to start posting again..so that I would get rid of my block and start thinking, musing,,,fretting and freely going on with my thoughts in my precious blog.  Thanks to the anonymous reader for the comment asking me to write again.....

This Poem was written on 9th Jan 2013 and getting its placeholder now....

To my dad, with love.....


Years pass by, silently into the serenity you left behind,
Tears yet shed, for having lost a wonderful dad...a person known to be very kind.
Looking behind the two decades that slipped,
Not a day where we forgot or not dearly missed.
Your dreams, that make us to aspire more....
The wisdom you injected in us in galore.....
Feelings of love, care, emotions and service
Thoughts of simple living and high thinking....
That you taught us when were kids
will be surely passed on to our generations
For, it is the biggest wealth we had, and
possibly the biggest we can give
21 years.  Are you really gone from this world?
For I felt your divine presence and words told
When ever I had no where to go, I know for
sure where I can look upon and speak
Suddenly and surely, I heard answers back
and blessings uncounted and unimagined in track
Yes Daddy, I feel you still, besides me ever
guiding us, and letting us walk
take those simple steps of life slowly but truly
in the direction set by you unwither by the winds
Love you Daddy, Miss you Too!

Specially got it here on Valentine's day to remember the man who taught us what real love in life is and the meaning of sharing it with the world around us! 
 

A Rainy Night

3 Dec 2012-   A Rainy Night

Looking out of the window pane

I watch the stars disappearing in pain

As the clouds overshadow them in disdain

And my thoughts linger all along my brain

 

The clouds turn thicker and dark

And trees swing in the winds hitting the bark

The birds run behind the nests to hide

As the thunders start roaring loud and wide

 

The first showers that touch the earth

The smell of the mud that raises the dirt

The little insects that shiver in the rain drops

And the small animals run for shelter crops

 

Suddenly the evening turns into a rainy night

The beautiful sun disappears into the skilful might

The dark canopy of clouds attire the night sky

And I look into the darkness and wondering why

 

The shining thunder lights sending frighten sounds

Louder barking of the hovering distant hounds

Children wanting to play in the rainy mud ponds

Yet the elders warning them not getting wet in the grounds

 

The twilight of the night fall that comes to my mind

Of the boats we rushed in the waters from the rain

The childhood in me awakens and rejoices again

Making me smile, giggle, whisper within my kind

 

Feeling like cuddling to my favorite teddy bear

And hugging all over and going to sleep

Yet wanting to watch the night unfolding

In the raining weather that is beautiful to describing

 

As the stars start to reappear after the heavy rains

I rejoice counting them like a child playing in the rain

The sky is wishful after the rainy night

Just like the life that is calm after a stormy fight!

 

I happily Love every rainy night!

That lets me think and dance in my tunes!

The Tunes of my heart that cherishes its beat!

Every rain drop is an epitome to smell the earth’s retreat!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A healthy body makes worthy thoughts....

It had been quite sometime, I even thought of writing in here.  With many changes happening since July in life., I could just not muster energy or thought to write down or in fact muse around the most interesting aspects of my life.  With a craving for change in career, I have put back a comfort zone of a corporate that gave me many things in life, financial freedom, liberty at work, travel across the globe, accolades beyond expectations, immense client value and above all a great professional satisfaction.  Despite all this, I wanted to move on.  The general human tendency wanting for a change.  I learnt very early in life that Change is the only constant thing in this world.   I moved on from HP to IBM, another corporate with the same kind of work, new people., new work time zones and something and everything that I wanted to transform ....yet, I very well knew that a IT career or the Corporate environment is just going to be the same, and it is in me that a change is very much needed.  The perspectives of my thinking that need to change with time and experiences, with people and values we make in life.   It was easy to be said than done.  As I was going through this introspection of one's life, a internal search for an integral eternity , suddenly things changed. 

 

A elderly person, father like Father in law, left us to heavenly abode like a flash.   Everything happened in within 3 days that it just didn't digest at all.  The man who was giggling at the family weddings over the weekends, fighting with us for the last scoop of ice creams like a wild little child,  the person who proudly announced to everyone on each of our achievements, the man who used to run to buy cakes for his grandchildren every week end suddenly disappeared.  The facts of the Vaishanvism in the family, the trust that once was managed by the ancestors, the tanjore paintings done by ancestral ladies of the family in the Perumal temple of Saidapet, everything flashed giving us a new recognistion. The stress was too much to handle both physically and mentally. 

 

The sickness of body overtook my strength of mind, and I got hospitalized,  As I was lying silently in the hospital bed and thinking again and again on what I want to make in life, I was lost.  There are hundreds of things that we want to do, we want to achieve, we want to bring in a change, a meaning to someone, a difference in some one's life.  Probably in our very own.   Yet, we get caught in the societal norms, social obligations, financial needs, and materialistic living.  The very goal of spiritual realization is pushed again to a back seat for a later day.   What is that we want to make in life?   A inner peace, a spiritual life, a materialistic wealth, a perfect health, a sound mind, a peaceful soul?   Is it not too much to ask for?  Does any one have everything that they need, or want or ask for?   Only when you know the meaning of self contentment that you would realize the meaning of everything that was defined by the mind in its sublime surrender to the body and soul.  The harmony between mind, body and soul is not difficult to attain.  It is difficult to maintain and consistently feel its uniformity.  However,  the bridge between life and death, the very essence of each one of us having to cross the bridge, finish the travel in our own ways, makes meaningful lives.   Each one of us are born with a purpose, a karma and a responsibility to finish that karma.  And in this journey, we play the various roles that we have to enact , and then exit the way we are destined to.  This is not an emotional out pour of a soul, that quite frequently searches for a real meaning of life.  These are the thoughts of the individual who is often misjudged, misunderstood and mistaken.   The very purpose of this self introspection is not for any one but for us to deal with our own actions and consequences.   Once we realize this, we will not do any harm to any one, think no evil, do no evil and live no evil.

 

Sarvey jana sukinobavanthu!

Sakuntala Poetry Contest 2012- Topic: This is close to my heart

In memory of a great woman in our lives, we have instituted a Poetry Contest in her name -  Sakuntala Poetry Contest 2012-   The topic for this year is 'This is close to my heart'.


The form of poetry can be anything.  The topic can be related to place, person, hobby, dream, work etc.  Surprise gifts await top 3 poems selected.  End date for submission 15 July 2012.   Winners will be informed on 18th July 2012.  


Mail your submissions to umasree_r@yahoo.com with the subject line -  Sakuntala Poetry Contest 2012.


The poems need to be around 200 words but there is no limit.    Rush your entries now!
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Winning Entries:


1. From Kanchana Srinivasan

CLOSE TO MY HEART(MY AMMA)

I saw you in the sunshine

I saw you in the love of God

The warmth you gladly share

That makes you want to care,b'cause
You're so close to my heart!!!

The beauty of your heart

With love that you impart

I saw you in your prettiness

I saw you in the sunshine,b'cause

you're so close to my heart!!!

You are beautiful... as you don't need a mirror to see

You are generous... as you can take as sweetly as you can give.

You are wise... as you know the limits of your wisdom.

Poetry from the Heart,b'cause

you're so close to my heart!!!

When we're so far apart

it takes a toll on my heart

I wish you'd visit me again
in my dreams like before,b'cause

you're so close to my heart!!!

You're always on my mind

You're so far from my reach

maybe soon in real life
that last thought I adore,b'cause

you're so close to my heart!!!

FROM,

KANCHANA SRINIVASAN

PRESIDENT IWC NANGANALLUR

Winning Entry 2: From Sharmila Ramesh

MY FAMILY

There are many parts to it

Yet it is always called a unit

Each part has different wants

Yet there is joy and not taunts

The size of the parts may vary

Yet they are not cautious or wary

Some very small and so young

Yet others big, round or long

When one decides to work at home

To create magic not unlike a gnome

The other may want to work outside

Not by choice, but to save their hide

The home is always the base

Well laid brick work for the race

It is the ground every part returns to

For the safety and warmth of the cocoon

Nothing gives me more happiness

There is no place for nonchalance

This is that which is close to my heart

No award could coerce me to part

With my children, husband and his family

Who are as much mine as mine is to me

We are the parts of that wonderful unit

Sharing love like a million lamps, lit.

Winning Entries- Special Categories:  Zepphora Lyngdoh

Nature:

UNIQUE BEAUTY
By Zepphora Lyngdoh

O MEGHALAYA- serene landmarks of beauty you hold
A cue to the various Mysteries that you unfold !
Enchanting Peace and Grace that Captivates,
Lost in your wonder,no one Deviates.


You embrace every Foreigner without distinction,
But never part with your strong Culture and Tradition.
The Rich advice and heritage of the old,
Unravels the truth behind the folklores Untold.


You merge the seven districts and mould them into One,
Like a Rainbow that shimmers,keeping everybody stunned.
Your value,your dearness cannot be compared
When the courage of our warriors who didn't falter are shared


"Tis my Lovely Land"-you have it all
Outstanding resources,the lakes,the gleaming waterfalls
Dressed in an amazing attire you are truly Unique,
Music lovers,Sports fans,Cool climate at their highest peak.


I am thankful to God,to be a part of you
You nurtured me all these years,like mother's do
May you be secure from every plight,
And may your name stand supreme far and wide;

"Meghalaya- may you prosper in Everything."!!

Winning Entry- Special Category:  Sushi Natraj

Nature:

 

A green world, where man lives in harmony with nature

A just world, where people can live free without fear

A happy world, where neighbours are loving and giving

A caring world, where children are cherished and don’t work for a living

A beautiful world, where we nurture our heritage and history

An ordered world, where the law is the same for you and for me

A prosperous world, where poverty and need exist no more

A peaceful world, where countries meet not to go to war

A harmonious world, where man and beast play their natural roles

An accepting world, where differences are not treated like opposite poles

A progressive world, which learns to change for the better

A reasonable world, that does not quote the law to the letter

A questioning world, where science and spirituality work side by side

A welcoming world, where everything is greeted with wonder and pride

A sharing world, where the gap is small between the haves and the have-nots

A thinking world, where actions are decided by what good can be wrought

All this is my dream, my passion - and I wish to play a part

To make all this come true –This really is close to my heart!

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Thanks to all participants and congratulations to the winning entries.    Look forward for more contests in this space

-  Uma
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Sahaya Illam- A Social Visit- Join hands to support

Situation

Every parent treats the child like a flower
Feeds them, prunes them and cares for them in galore
As they grow old, and children fly off the nests
Circumstances change and priorities rests
The very parents become a unwanted part in life
The very hands that cared are left alone to walk
The eyes that showered love are left back in tears
As old age and helplessness creeps, they are left in fears

RESULT

Helpless, downtrodden, destitute and lone parents
Left behind to the mercy of some helping souls alone
The society is still not a jungle where we prey on others suffering
Still, this world thankfully is a better place to live and care

Resolution

Few good and generous trusts come forward to support
Let them live their rest of lives in dignity and respect
Corporate Youngsters awake to a social cause
Let alone the partying or western influences or what not
They are blamed and thought to be irresponsible
These youngsters join hands to celebrate in giving back
To the society in their little ways possible
Tomorrow they make better children and good citizens
For they have seen the other side of the comfortable lives
What makes them do this, is not just a fun or time pass
But an inner awakening that is rejuvenated as a team
The little steps they take make a big difference
In bringing back the long lost smiles on the elderly faces
For one day, the faces shined leaving behind the fearful traces!

See it to believe it:

Social Visit of Chennai Trekking Club friends to Sahaya Illam, St. Patrick Church Trust, St.Thomas Mount, Chennai on 17 May 2012….an evening of a working dayJ  Celebrating birthdays of Malika and Mahendra Vaska….same time bringing in smiles of the aged!

Few glimpses

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3186411495427.2120386.1119974468&t

This is for my 'Amma'....From Aishu's desk!

It's all the words they say.

That can't be taken so easily. 

It's all the things they mean. 

That can hurt us unimaginably. 

Though I tell myself to control my rage. 

But the doubts on me is, is simply out of the range. 

I really wish I had someone by my side telling me 'it's gonna be alright' 

But who is that 'someone'?

Where is that 'someone'?

What is that 'someone' doing?

Ain't that 'someone' supposed to be by my side?

When am I gonna find that someone?

Its easy for a random person telling me 'its common, things happen'. 

But it's not easy to bear the pain of an intense wound, that can't be healed so easily...

Words can hurt...

They stay back reminding you all the time.

I really want that 'someone' who can guarantee me that,
'someone' is gonna be with me until the end;

give me a shoulder and does not pretend.

Who holds my hand until the last second.

I really wish I had that someone right hear,

Right now,

Right at this moment with me!

It's the words that accuse for the stupidest reasons!

It's the words that make me feel demotivated!

It's that words that tell me that I'm good for nothing!

It's all the things they mean that can't be let out for reasons...

It's not just words!?!

But these words can hurt!!!

Why does all the words have to exist?

I'm tired of these awful  words!!

It's easy to say 'why don't u follow your intuition?'

But following your intuition is really hard!

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When am I gonna be relied!?!

Relied on that 'SOMEONE'!!

But I'm sure that there is that someone waiting for me!

And I will wait for that someone!

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In my case that someone is my MOTHER!!

Happy mothers day Amma!!!

(Moved with this poem coming in from my child.....what else can I say?)

Internet is Fun- Its a way of Life!

Internet is Fun

As I keep on my Run!

Every day it’s a sin

Without Internet to win!

Crazy games that I play

Funny jokes that I share

News on the go!

I am ahead of the row!

Songs that keep me tuned!

RJs who dive me pruned

Facebook that is the only face

I see every day for every race

Tumbling upon the Oddee site

Googling everything this earth has

Cant imagine life without Internet

For we know life is intertwinednet

Illusions that get shared

Our breadths to take away

Videos that make you go gong!

Or just relax with your favorite song!

Where is life today without Internet?

I know there is no fun as I can bet!

There are flowers the bloom everyday

In the virtual world we are living today

Internet is not just another technology

But it is the way of life- a new mythology

Its more of connecting lives today

The way we interact and live every day

Fun, that is just a spring that sings

Internet is the hub of the blings

Passions, hobbies and friends

Social media that makes our lives no ends!

We wake up with a beep of the net

YouTube wishes with yoga videos abundant

Mom’s cooking live telecasted on skype

We eat and breath broadcasting across

Birthday parties and e- parties come alive

Across the oceans and vivid timezones

We share our thoughts and prayers

Live our lives connected through wires!

Gardens we grow and farms we share

Changes to peep in other worlds with glare

Join any housing, job or fun fares

With just the click on my mobile world

 I may die and perish

But my virtual world will live on

I may forget living,

But art on my walls will be built on!

To go beyond and bust the myth

That there is no change ever constant

The lives of the digital world

Will live just not long but wide to prolong!

So, Here I repeat!

Internet is Fun

As I keep on my Run!

Every day it’s a sin

Without Internet to win!