Ten Years After Tsunami 2004

The sea raged in angst force
pushing itself to the human shore
People who loved the sea
watched in tears and fled
Lives crumbled under the roofs
of the fishing hamlets around
children playing in the sands
of the beaches return dead
morning walkers trembled in fear
as the slush, fish and death
emerged along with the morning sun
into the roars of cries all around
cars floated like paper boats
boats broke into silent logs
the one big roar of the ocean
made by the tsunami gain waves
washed away the happiness and peace
unfortunate that memories don't wash away
the goddess of sea, their only living
made its signs of wrath and despair
human science cannot discover
when the fury of nature will take over
Ultimately it the nature which wins
against the man and his intellect
10 long years gone by
yet, the fears of the fate full Dec 26th
remains fresh and frozen in our minds
wish we don't see another such day
and waiting for the sun to shine again!

Children of Peshawar! My heart bleeds for You!

What you sow, is what your reap

Tears rolling seeing the parents weep

Some one’s thoughts, some one’s deeds

Ended up in some one’ else greed

What did the innocent children do?

70 years ago, their grandparents were Indians too!

What did the terror outfits think?

Making their cheapest tricks on the weakest lot!

As Peshawar turned into the capital of terror

Children who survived will live in constant fear

Beautiful little angels of god, let to shiver

Where is the humanity, where is the science

What is the civilization, what is the universal feeling?

If Nations do not unite NOW to curb the terrorism

What is the use of reaching Moon or Mars?

If we cannot reach out the caves of arms and crimes!

What is the use of research and satellites?

When we fail to locate the grooming grounds of terror

What is the purpose of modern technology and innovation?

If we cannot protect our children from the sadists dreams

Schools are the temples of learning

And children are ambassadors of God

Be it Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian

What fall to the ground is the same blood of human race!

The fall of the years of growth as civilized society!

As we go back to the carnivorous way of life’s

Destroying each other mercilessly without a thought!

There is no good thing of going to pray or call in the name

Of which ever God or Truth waging a useless war!!!

Waves Within....

Waves Within

 18th Nov 2014

Gobbled by the fires of nature

on all sides of your surreal self

the shadows disdaining what you are

the iconic waves of tragedy engulf

Fluttered by the furious waves

of the sea, of the winds of the sky

You close and hide within

closing eyes tightly in fear

and ears not to let you hear

There can be mottling thoughts

of grief, of shame, of loss

Stop!   Calls a sound strongly within

The wave of the integral thought

Flushes away every other linen

Makes you daze in disdaining rot

For a moment, the world however stops

For you, to recollect, rejuvenate

Refresh and Re-assume the work

that is left half finished

You arise again, against the winds

Much stronger, much brighter

with a clear vision and thought

You awaken the waves within

to make the path more sure and smooth

You hear the God inside you

Your consciousness, Your integrity

It helps you arise to a newer you

fighting ahead of waves within

The applause of your senses 

making you look ahead with brightness

The trembling nerves all set 

for handling the much fondled newness

Yes, what makes you

are the fights of the waves within

Yes, What Makes YOU
is winning over your own disdains!

 

Call it a passion, love, dedication or belonging...anything and everything in Chennai you should experience and yeah, few need to change too!

This post is a part of the Tablog titled CBC TABLOG-2. CBC is the Chennai Blogging Club which is the most happening Bloggers community. We the members of CBC bring out the Voice of Chennai .This Tablog  is a relay of post about “One aspect of Chennai that I would like to change” where 30 members from the group shell out that aspect which we would want to change and make this beautiful city even wonderful .

Dear Friends,

It was during the Indiblogger Meet held at Hotel Hyatt, that I pulled myself after a long stint in hospital due to prolonged illness to meet my co-bloggers.  I sat quietly at the first few tables and started to watch...suddenly I hear a roaring sound behind me..just few tables away...within few minutes I realized that they are all from CBC...the most loved blogger community in the city.  I quietly admired them, loved watching them having fun and wished one day I would be part of them.  Very soon, I was one amongst them and attending to the bloggers meet in CCD, Nungambakam.  That's it.  I met so many like minded friends, with millions of thoughts and thousands of topics to discuss, write and criticize, appreciate and admire all around me.  

One thing that bonded us all together-  CBC- Chennai Bloggers Club. Yes, today I am proudly a part of this beautiful group of people.  And I found a naughty young girl S(T)ri....Srilakhmi Indrasenan who blogs at http://iamstri.wordpress.com/2014/08/07/chennai-oops-i-mean-madras-my-love/

When we first met at Chandini Chowk for dinner, I did not think I would come across a beautiful little weirdo who is just like me...many things, talks and crazy stuff.  If one day can make someone strong friends, we are just an example for that.  We ate so much, had fun and partied till we got dropped tired..yet, we loved being in touch, following each other and amazingly getting closer with each passing day.  Love you Sri and Happy Birthday Girl.

As part of the CBC Tablog, I would love to be part of this amazing thread of blogs

There are million things that I love in Chennai..being a proud resident who fell head over heals in love with the city.   However, painfully there are many things that make our city crying for change.  As Sri said, we can write a thesis, a serial, a book and one full volume about this.

One thing I would personally want to bring in a change would be stop beggars in the city.  As children and destitute women knock on our car window panes, my heart bleeds.  For I know the wounds are greed inflicted. The women are abused and drugged.  Morning they are sent for begging and evenings they end up as prey to the predating brokers who control them.  Infants sleeping all the time as the rented mothers make them hang in the half torn sacks around the necks, I feel liking taking the child away from her arms to a rehab center and rescue both the woman and the child.  But how many signal stops will I be doing this?.

There were several government initiatives to curb this menace from the city.  The tragic part is that these women and children run away the second day from the rehab centers.  They don't stick on to the schools and micro employment units where they are sent to revive their lives.  The drugs, the easy money, the left over food, getting habituated to sleep on roads and to the sex and liquor take them back to their routine lives very easily.  Unless and until each one of us resolve to stop supporting them, and push them back to lives away from this menace, this tragedy on roads will never come to an end.

Being a social activist,  I am sure I have hit on a tough topic..though I want to capture the fun parts of the city like letting the dance floors open till 4 am, round the clock biryani centers,  spreading the fragrance of jasmine, and asking the devotees to keep the temple surroundings clean after eating never ending prasadams., especially in Nanganallur....and so on.  Anyway, there is always a day to rant about what I feel...for my train of thoughts never end.  

This tread would continue....the love for the city would go on ..as we celebrate the Madras Week starting next week and would have more choices to feel proud of and equally vent our anger on things we want to change....and now its time for my friend and co-blogger Kalaivani to take this forward.   A good food blogger whose posts make you feel yummy and would fall in love with  food and the easy tips she gives in her blog.  Its a pleasure knowing her and going through her blog.

You can find Kalai blog at http://kalainiha.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/one-aspect-i-would-like-to-change-in.html

Kalai's Samaiyal: One Aspect I Would Like To Change In Chennai

kalainiha.blogspot.co.uk

Love you CBC and Love you Chennai!

Love,

Umasree

Macbeth comes to life with Mummers from MacTrics celebrating 60th year of the Mighty Pen from Vietnam House

A review from a passionate theater lover!

Macbeth -  presented by MacTrics (a Mime and Body Theater Group)  for Vietnam House celebrating  60^th year of the mighty pen – dramatization and narration by Legend Vietnam Veedu Sundaram and presented by Prince Educational Trust.   Inaugurated on 5^th of August 2014 at Smt. Sivagami Pethachi Auditorium, Mylpore. Chennai. 

This is the first ever production of presenting Macebeth in amazing medium of silence and only in action.  Life of Brad and Brad of Avon coming live on stage and talking to his wife of his next play in making…introduces to us a new Shakespeare in true sense.  The powerful lines of ‘We know what we are and we do not of what we may be’  resounds loudly awakening our inner selves.  Human aspirations and dreams have no end.  Macbeth is no different from this ardent urge of human beings towards power and glory. 

The introduction of the play in the voice of Brad gives the audience a sense of involvement.  The lights and sounds take us to the world of Greeks reliving the mythology.  Amazing formations on stage by the mime artists makes a visual treat.  The quick movements on the screen in flash of seconds, recreating the scenes brings Macbeth to life.  The astrouding sounds take us to the mythological warfare with ease.  Crowning of the  king after victory for a moment makes you feel like standing and giving due respects to the crown and its glory.  The amazing expression on the artists makes you feel out of place and takes you to Scotland with ease.  The chamber of Lady Macbeth and crucification of Christ scenes gives you a feel of reality and splendor.  The bonus are the dance and the war scenes where the artists play with grace and act with swiftness keeping their expressions in tact and the purpose of the play in tune. 

Vikas as Macbeth is a sure replication of the king in the Brad’s original story.  Lady Macbeth acting by Rani makes you have the feel of pride, happiness, glory and villainess all mixed and quickly shown to match the scenes makes her a proving actor.  Madhuvanthi Arun as Anne Hathaway and Sundar Subramanian as Brad himself adds more glory to the play

Amazing direction by Sravanth  and aptly done music by Giri and lights by Charles Baby makes the play completely a visual treat.  Mummers were amazingly talented and expressions were a delight to watch…Hemanth, Vairamuthu (who also did the stunts), Rajesh, Athiv, Karthik, Abishek,run, Gandaprakash, Senthil,Sandhya, Dipali kesh, Mahesh, Mukesh, Shiva, Sandhya, Dipali , Jayashree, Shankar, Satya, Prithiv, Karthick, Abhisehk, Hari, Prashanth, Sridhar and Naresh and Siddharth.

Dancers Lavnya, Sneha, Dhwani, Sakshi, Ananya and Marian were very graceful and full of life on the stage

There are many who contributed to the success of this play in the most innovative way.  As the world is moving towards 4D and animation,  the animation on the stage through the oldest form of human expression of mime is a real bold venture and they have done the best.  When the audience cheered at end of every scene, it means that the objective of the stage and performers is achieved.   Stage is nothing but the lap of godess of arts and when the audience cheers , it is the best thing any artist can ask for.  Having performance this same play my school days,  this opportunity to see this Macbeth ringed the bells of childhood and glory.   Yes, manin audience would ve travelled to the memory of waching the plays and dramas of Brad of Avon.   I am no different than being an obedient viewer who loved every moment watching the young breed of talents perform with ease and grandenuer on the stage.  It is a true treat to all theatre lovers.  Long live the aspirations and success coupled with happiness of contented performances from MacTrics team.   Well Done!

----------------About Macbeth-------------------------from Wikipedia

Macbeth (Original Title; The Tragedy of Macbeth) is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, and is considered one of his darkest and most powerful works. Set in Scotland, the play dramatizes the corrosive psychological and political effects produced when evil is chosen as a way to fulfil the ambition for power.

Macbeth is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy, and tells the story of a brave Scottish general named Macbeth who receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the throne for himself. He is then wracked with guilt and paranoia, and he soon becomes a tyrannical ruler as he is forced to commit more and more murders to protect himself from enmity and suspicion. The bloodbath and consequent civil war swiftly take Macbeth and Lady Macbeth into the realms of arrogance, madness, and death.

•           Duncan – King of Scotland

•           Malcolm – Duncan's elder son

•           Donalbain – Duncan's younger son

•           Macbeth – a general in the army of King Duncan; originallyThane of Glamis, then Thane of Cawdor, and later King of Scotland

•           Lady Macbeth – Macbeth's wife, and later Queen of Scotland

•           Banquo – Macbeth's friend and a general in the army of King Duncan

•           Fleance – Banquo's son

•           Macduff – Thane of Fife

•           Lady Macduff – Macduff's wife

•           Macduff's son

•           Ross, Lennox, Angus, Menteith, Caithness – Scottish Thanes

•           Siward – General of the English forces

•           Young Siward – Siward's son

•           Seyton – Macbeth's servant and attendant

•           Hecate – Queen of the witches

•           Three Witches

•           Three Murderers

•           Porter – gatekeeper at Macbeth's home

•           Doctor – Lady Macbeth's doctor

•           Gentlewoman – Lady Macbeth's caretaker

Do's and Don'ts of Blood Donation

 

INSTRUCTIONS TO BLOOD DONORS

 

A. FOR BLOOD DONATION:- 

1.     Take light refreshment / food before blood donation.

2.     Any healthy person, from the age of 18 years with a weight of 45kgs and above can donate blood.

3.     Women should avoid blood donation during their menstrual cycle.

4.     A person who has consumed alcohol should avoid giving blood for next 24 hours.

5.     A person who had recent attack of infection like Jaundice, Typhoid, Malaria, Rubella, etc., should not give blood.

6.     A person who had undergone major surgery should avoid blood donation for 6 months.

7.     Pregnant or lactating women should avoid blood donation.

B. AFTER BLOOD DONATION;

 

1.     After donating blood, do not get up from the bed immediately. Lie down for next 3 minutes. Sit up for some time and if you do not feel anything unusual, get up and proceed to the refreshment area.

2.     Please keep the arm through which you donated blood raised for 10 minutes with firm pressure at the point of injection.

3.     After blood donation, Please go to the refreshment room and have the refreshment.

4.     A plaster will be stuck at the veinpunture site, from where blood has been collected.

5.     A certificate will be issued to donor at the Camp spot.

6.     Every unit of blood will be tested for HIV 1 &2 Ab, HBsAg, HCV Ab, MP, MF & VDRL.

7.     After donating blood :-

1.     Drink plenty of liquids for the whole day.

2.     Eat well and do not remain hungry.

3.     Do not smoke for half an hour.

4.     Do not do any heavy exercises on that day.

5.     Do not participate sports and games on the day of blood donation.

 

8.     If there is any bleeding from the place from where blood is collected, apply pressure and raise the arm for a few minutes.

9.     If there is any swelling or bluish discolouration or pain at the site of blood donation apply ice. The swelling and colour will resolve in 2-3 days.

10.  If you feel giddy or weak after blood donation, lie down with legs elevated or sit down with the head between knees.

11.  Remove the plaster applied after 5-6 hours.

12.  You can donate blood again, only after 3 months for (male) and 4 months for (female).

 

 

 

 

 

An Arangetram with Passion and Perfection by Young Bharatanatyam Dancer Shradha Anand

 Dancing is like dreaming with your feet.  For every Bharatanatyam artist, Arangetram is a celebration of the art, trained over several years.

It is the public graduation of art and the artist.  Acceptance of the audience towards more professional aspirations.  Dance is one of the most beautiful forms of expression, inspiration, focus and perfection.  It needs a strong devotion and commitment to the art.  Focus on the intricacies of the art to the minute details.  It is a collaboration of the training from Guru, music that encompasses itself with the dance, the percussion that supports the rhythm on the stage, the sounds and lighting, the very stage of performance and catching the attention of the audience.  

Shradha Anand

Any Arangetram for that matter would be a successful one only when this collaboration is coupled with ardent love for art, support from family and friends, a perfect understanding between the guru and sishya, and selection of the right theme for dance that suits the dancer who is to perform.  When all of this come together with the blessings of Lord Nataraja coupled with songs of Thyagaraja, Annamacharya and many other musical gods, and full support of parents, mentoring every moment and supporting the artist to accomplish, the end result can only be a marvelous performance that is lauded by everyone. 

Yes, we are here talking about one such amazing arangetram showcasing the talents of SHRADHA ANAND,  disciple of Parvati Ravi Ghantasala and also daughter of devoted and amazing parents Mrs Geetha and Mr. Anand, student of Kala Pradarshini.   An summer evening, on a Saturday, 24 May 2014, Shradha astonished the audience with her enthralling performance of Bharathanatyam, at Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan, Mylapore, Chennai.

Smt Kalyani Rajaram started with a wonderful narration of the dance programme coupled with Nattuvangam by Smt. Parvati Ravi Ghantasala assisted by her accomplished disciple Divya Suresh.   Vocal by Sri Koushik Champakesan was an added bliss to the evening making it a memorable combination of dance and music.  Kesavan’s  mridangam and Kalaiarasan violin and and flute artist were pushing the audience to an transitional form of music.  We should give credit to makeup artist Sri Murugan who did an amazing appearance of Shrada and costumes were designed and made by one other than Shradha’s mother Geetha painfully and patiently over the last 3 years.   Capturing every moment of this ecstasy by photographer Dhilip and videography by Ayyapan and design by Vinayaka made the performance complete. 

Guru Parvati Ravi Ghantasala

The words of chief guest Sri. K.N.Ramaswami, Director of Bharathiya Vidhya Bhavan and Smt. Prema Satish of Natyanjali, only made it a blissful acceptance of Shradha’s perfection of the art and her focus both in arts and academics.   Her whole family was there and friends jumped in joy watching her performing the toughest of dance moves with ease, thanks to her yoga guru who made her so flexible

Now let me write a bit about the evening that mesmerized for full 3 hours with her beautiful and electrifying performance.   Starting with Natrajar Anajali , Adi Talam, with Nattai ragam with a traditional compostion, Shradha started with her beautiful performance.  She looked bit nervous on the first song, however, as she started to perform Murugar Kauthuvam in Shanmughapriya ragam with adi talam, composed by Gangaimuthu nattuvnar, she was taking the stage and audience under her control.   The posture of muruga really made us for a minute raise in devotion to the Lord himself.   Then came the beautiful tanjore quartered composition in vasantha ragam with rupakam talam presenting Jathiswaram.    The best of the best was Amma Anandadayini  varanam with gambheeranattai ragam in adi talam composed by none other than the leend Dr Balamuralikrisna.  For a minute, as Koushik kept singing, I felt that Dr Balamurali himself is singing …and reminding us of the 3 beautiful hours of Balamurali we experienced in LA.   

The vibrant kalaingnarthanam made the audience not to blink even for a second, in a view not to miss the moments of joy that is displayed on the stage.  .  Sahana ragam bhajan on Sri Rama by Saint Thyagaraja brought the audience to a feeling of trance with her dance.   Shradha was felicitated by one and all along with her guru Parvati and parents.   Sri Muralidharan’s composition of punnagavareli ragam padam made Shradha dance in her beautiful peacock costume made by her mother specially for the occasion.   The last but not the least Thillana performace in Nattabhairavi ragam and adi talam composed by Veenai Krishnamachari was a perfect end to the blissful evening.  Shradha’s slowly but satisfyingly ended the arangetram by paying her due respects to Lord Natarajar,  her Guru Paravati Ravi Ghansala, her  stage and audience and to her parents.  

A standard tenth student of PSBBM Gerugambakkam with a score of 10CGPA, Shradha proved a talented youngster in both academics and arts.    Her parents ran from pillar to post to ensure that every single person in the audience is received and entertained with respect and thanks.   The Programme ended with a beautiful and mouth-watering food spread to the people whose hearts were already filled with joy watching young Shradha and not to forget the beautiful bags her mother made as mementoes to all with invitation and also the goodie bags with traditional coconuts and blouses.  It was so grand like a wedding with passion.  This wedding is between an artist and art in its purest form.

To us personally, it was an evening of bliss, happiness and joy as Shradha happens to be my daughter’s best friend as well.   We wished her with whole heart that she should achieve all her dreams and make her parents and family proud.   She is definitely a wonderful person with a great attitude and respect to elders and for sure will shine in life for the best of herself.   Love you Shradha and all the very best dear!