Open Letter to Honourable Minister Sri. S. P. Velumani - Municipal Administration and Water Supply Minister of Tamil Nadu

Respected & Honourable Sri Velumani Sir,

As a Citizen of Chennai, I am not only surprised but shocked to see your interview to the Media yesterday.    Your statement that the 'Water Crisis' in Chennai is a rumour is unfortunately biggest humour coming from a Minister of your stature.    We understand and appreciate the measure taken by you and your esteemed Government of Tamil Nadu.   But kindly also look beyond your posh Ministerial Bungalows and Homes, that will never have the scarcity that will scare you as you wake up every morning.

Dear Sir,  I may not be super intellectual citizen, but definitely not a fool who will believe in the fabricated media news or every whatsapp forward.   The brutal truth is that I am a citizen who is for sure effected by the Water Scarcity in the city and I will tell you my own example. 

I live in a colony which is just adjacent to 'Meteorological Department Meenambakkam,  few kilometers from Chennai Airport,  less than a kilometer from the Metro Station and GST Road and 200 meters away from Nanganallur Railway Station.   Ironically, the owners of the colony were mostly retired Municipal Employees and Teachers.   The fact is that we diligently pay for the metro water taxes, respecting the law of the land and even kept quite when the Water Tax bill multiplied 4 times this year.  But for a fact, that it has been more than 2 years that our Colony has got the Metro Water.   Palar vandhu pallla varudangal agivithathu sir!

Today, the ground water is dried up.  Our motors happily send us Air and don't respond.  200 feet bore-wells are too much strained.  The local hotels Trident and Radisson have borewells measuring more than 500 Feet,  don't know how much we will brutally rip our Mother Earth.    House Wells are a thing of the past!  We have them to showcase our next generations that we once had them abundantly.   Rain Water Harvesting is done in every house.  Unfortunately Rain Gods show no mercy in our city!

Last couple of weeks, we have been victims of unscrupulous business but they are our God's now.  Yes, the local freelance Water Tank Water Sellers!   Initially we were paying Rs.700 for 2000 liters last year, this year, it started with 1200 for 2000 liters and went up to Rs 1700 and yesterday, we had to shell out Rs 2300/- for 2000 liters of Water.  The man who distributes contributes it to his side of sober story of going far beyond Vandalur, in the midnight and standing in queue to get his share of water and then paying touts in uniform couple of hundreds before he reaches us!  We can't blame him.  For now, he is our God.  Or else, we have no water for cooking, washing and sadly even for washrooms!

My metro water booking made online on 4 June is yet to come!  Don't even know when it will come and will ease our situation...today is 18 June....

I appreciate you talking about mindful consumption!   But was the Government Mindful after the 2015 floods when we had to let gallons of water to the Sea.  Why were steps not taken to keep our water bodies ready to preserve the same?   Why are lakes and water beds given for construction and who approved this?   

Sir, I work for an IT Company.  Working from home is a privilege some enjoy due to certain obligations like ill health,  post maternity care and odd shifts.   But the IT companies working in the OMR asking employees to work from home is a TRUTH.  It is not a Rumour!  Please check the facts

If the situation is not scary, why are the Metro Railway Stations Bathrooms closed for Public and kept the board saying 'No Water'?  May be you should take the train once sir!  Anyway our other bus stands and local railway stations don't even have toilets..so forget about the water problem!

Coming to the special services your Department is providing in this hour of need.   Sending Water Tankers.  Absolutely divine call of duty and appreciate it.  However,  do you know what time they come?   Have you taken your car and went around 2 am in the morning...That's when people in Triplicane, Royapettah, T. Nagar, Nanganallur, Pammal, Mount,  Porur, Sowcarpet,  Saidapet and Mylapore and all areas queue up around the tankers to get the water.   And it is the same case in most of the places.   Many times they come at 12 noon or 3 pm, where most of us are at work!  They don't have a pattern or timing that they follow and we don't blame them.  Just telling you our part of the story!

Next, are you even aware that they charge you somewhere between Rs.10 to Rs 15 per pot as they come to distribute ...the Road adjacent to our colony, which has mostly daily wage labourers living...and they/we shell out Rs 100- 200 for 10-20 pots of water every 4th or 5th day when they get a chance to get water when the tanker comes...but  if this is Government Distribution System..why is not free or who is taking this money?

My Recommendation dear Minister,  please for a week,  let us swap our houses.  My home is comfortable to live, except that you have to wait for the water tanker... and I will be in your home to feel what you felt when you gave that press statement yesterday. 

Nextly, please put up Water Bunks - Like Petrol Pumps...we will pay what ever nominal charges government asks and buy it in for our consumption.   No taxes, no water tanks, no questions asked.   You supply for our demand ....

I now know that our Social Teacher was wrong when she taught us in school that natural resources like, water, air , mountains are Free.  Probably today, they are the most costliest commodities in the world.   If at all the next World war comes, it will start because of consumable water scarcity!

Thank you dear Minister...I am not sure if you will get to read this..but if you do, kindly do something for us - ordinary Chennai Citizens before this city becomes another Cape Town...atleast Cape Town revived with the best practices and now out of the situation..but with a 1.5 crores of population, it is not easy for Chennai to come out of this...unless you show mercy or Rain Gods do!

Thank you

Umasree Raghunath

Other Links for your reference

https://www.thequint.com/news/environment/chennai-water-crisis
https://www.ndtv.com/topic/water-crisis
https://factly.in/drinking-water-availability-india-how-far-rural-indian-travels-everyday-fetch-drinking-water/
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tamil-nadu-water-crisis-chennai-all-you-need-to-know-1550915-2019-06-18
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-48672330
https://www.livemint.com/news/india/chennai-hotels-battle-severe-water-crisis-1560830100325.html

And lot more if you do a bit of factual analysis..I am sure your team can help with that!

Chennai - Pic taken from Internet

What all you can see in Chennai ? Visiting Chennai's Iconic spots in a day!

When I had three of my close buddies from Romania and Phillipines visited us in March this year, I had to plan a bit to show case Chennai to them in the shortest time possible.  This homework not only worked like a charm, but also made me reinvent my own city.  I never would have otherwise done this going around all this places in a day, with a spillover the outskirts the following day.

Discovering Chennai in a day!

Staying closer to Airport, probably, I have taken the best route possible.

1.  Officers Training Academy, St. Thomas Mount ( From outside) and Madras War Cemetry in Butt Road

2.  St. Thomas Mount National Shrine  Church ( Up the St.Thomas Hills) - Chennai City View

3.  Valluvar Kottam 

4.  Madras Literary Society 

5.  Chennai Egmore Museum & National Art Gallery
6.   Museum Theatre

7.  Higginbottams and Pompuhar Showroom  (Mount Road and with LIC)

8.  Lunch at Amilies Poes Garden



9.  Vivekanandar House - ICE House

10.  Madras University - Senate Hall ( Chennai Binnelle was on and hence Senate Hall was open for Public)

11.  Victory War Memorial
12.  Fort St. George and Fort Museum

13.  Chennai Harbour  and Port Trust & Nappier Bridge

14.  Iconic Central Railway Station and Rippon Building 

15.  Anna Samadhi & MGR Memorial ( Now with Jayalalitha Memorial and Kalaignar Memorial)

16.  Marina Beach Water Front -  Labour Statue and Gandhi Statue

17.  Lighthouse  ( We went to the 9th floor for aerial view of the city)

18.  Ramakrishna Mutt Mylapore
19.  Kapaleshwar Temple 

20.  Asthalakshmi Temple and Annai Velankani Church Besant Nagar

21.  Santhome Basillca
22.  Palavakkam Beach

Day 2-  If you have time! ( Little stretching out of the City)

1.  Madhya Kailash Temple Adyar 



2.  Prestigious IIT Chennai and Rajbhavan Road - Gandhi Mandapam & Guidy National Park/Snake park & Theosophical Society 

3. Dakshin Chitra 

4. Crocodile Bank and VGP Kingdom

5.  Cholamandalam Artistic Village
6.  Kannathur Jaganatha Temple

7.  Muttukadu Lake & Boating

Day 3  - It you still have time left!

1.  Shopping in T. Nagar ( to enjoy the madness) and Sowcarpet (for the best deals and street food)
2.  Loads of malls the city has to offer
3.  Choki Dhanni ( a hard tried replication of Rajasthan)
4.  Queensland - if you enjoy theme parks
5.  MGM and VGP Universal Kingdom ( Klick Art musuem for crazy pictures ) and new Acquarium
6.  Wild Tribe Ranch ( If you love bit of hot day adventures and outdoors)
7.  Lots and Lots of Temples ( Be it any religion of your faith or interest - Chennai is abundant)
8.  Kalaskhetra (If you want to see the traditional dance forms of Tamil Nadu)
9.  Loads of Sabhas that offer Theatre, Drama, Classical and Western Music,  Cultural Programme)
10.  No shortage for Dining and Drinks and Yes, Disco too!
11.  Silent book reading in Iconic Connemera Library or well designed Anna Centenary Library

Enjoy Chennai!  Discover the City that has got lots to offer.   Be it traditions, art, culture,  temples, churches, beaches, food & fun....Chennai is a City to live and enjoy.  It is a city that lives and let's those who embraces it live in peace and harmony.   Chennai is not just a city of buildings and infrastructure, it is a city of inate emotions...absolute humanness and wonderful people.    Love You Chennai...You are always my Madras !  Nalla Madras!    

Dummies Drama - Veezhven Endru Ninaithayo - A viewer's Review

Dummies Drama's Presented - Veezhven Endru Ninaithayo  drama today at Narada Gana Sabha.  As theater enthusiast and Dummies Drama's ardent followers, Raghu and I decided to make it for the drama after a relaxed Sunday afternoon. 

One word - 'Brilliant'  and Second Words -'Thought Provoking'.

Honestly, DD is one troupe of people who never disappoint you.   Strong in the subjects they choose, depth in the dialogues they deliver,  humour and wit in the life's real events that unfold,  artists who make you feel like you know them for ages and the entire stage coordination that shows the amount of practice and hardwork they put behind every Tamil Play.    If you want to enjoy Tamil Theater to its fullest, please do go for their drama's and they for sure gets interwine beautifully in your life somewhere or the other. 

Veezhven Endru Ninaithayo ( Do you think I will fall down?)  is such a emotional drama that makes you feel glued for the full 1.5 hours and for few minutes after the curtains down at the end as well.     

Many a times, Raghu and I wait for Sridhar sir to come on stage, for we are his die hard fans after watching 'Pratibhimbam' where he played the role of PM Narendra Modi.  But today,  Sreevothsan sir did not even give us a chance to think of Sridhar sir missing in the play.   Sreevothsan effortlessly played the role of the Protogonist Shantaram.    Shantaram is a reflection of each one of us when we face adversity in life, especially when we know that the end is inevitable.  The strong message of 'Life is how you take it'...sinks in you slowly and deeply as you keep watching the play. 

I am now repeatedly thinking if I should play a spoil sport and disclose the story line here, for those who want to go and watch it in the coming days or should I just review how I felt....as a theater lover, this play gave me something, I never thought of.   Prepare 'Bucket List!'.

Brief jist of the story-line!

Protogonist Shantaram finds out that he is suffering from Cancer and is probably in the final stages.  He ends up in a dilemma whether to go for the painful process of the treatment, share it with the family and make them unhappy and spend his remaining days in hospital and treatment or if he has to just let the treatment go,  manage it with painkillers and live life happily for whatever days he is left with.    After a deep self-introspection with his friend 'Raghava'...he decides to keep this a secret from his family.   He goes on to prepare a bucket list initially which were more of unrealistic dreams - like visiting Seven Wonders of the World, or atleast Niagara Falls, visiting all temples before his end comes.   Later on, on his advice from his friend Raghava, he rewrites his bucket list which is more realistic with things like 'spending time with his father,'. growing a mustache, ' planning for finances for his family',  'making food for his wife one day',  visiting all his friends and relatives, ' apologizing to all the people who he could have hurt in the past',  and bucket list no 7 of having a inner urge to meet his beloved lover Chitra whom he last met 25 years ago. 

The drama unfolds on how Shantaram starts achieving his bucketlist items,  a subtle love story  that tells us that 'Love can never be past tense', and it is only how maturely we understand it and keep it alive, to keep the spark of life and go on.    The drama shows intense scenes of family happiness, how casually dialogues create sparking thoughts in his daughter,  how his wife reads through pain in his eyes,  how a father poignantly clearly states that Shantaram can do what ever he wants and makes him happy and not just for looks...how a son calmly does his duties and adheres to his father's wish of taking care of his ailing friend...and how his ex-love Chitra strikes a balance between her love story and her present husband and their life together.    One dialogue that got maximum applause was between Chitra and Shantaram -  when she tells him that she told about their love story to her husband, and when Shantaram tells that 'how much ever a wife is understanding, this is one thing that never a man should tell his wife!'....clap clap clap!  And the true love he has for his wife when he wants her to be with him in the next life as well....                   

Finally, when it is time and Shantaram understands that most of his bucket list is now fulfilled, and final one is to go to Kasi..in search of Salvation...the play reveals the real identity of his friend...and his inner-self.   I think most of us need many a time, need to sit in silence and speak to yourself, to bring in the right conclusion from the conflicting thoughts and people and situations around us!

Three Cheers to  the amazing artists.   The role played by Shantaram's wife needs a special mention.   She did give her best.  The style of her saree draping and body manners made her have a strong resemblance to Nirmala Sitaraman....and her dialogues delivery and acting was really good.   Nithya as Shantaram's lover Chitra carries herself very easily.   Having seen her in many of DD's plays before, she was not a surprise in terms of dialogues or acting and she keeps up her space with ease.   The artists who played the role of his children were also very good.   Though for few scenes, the doctor, the company director,  the father,  Chitra's husband,  nephew characters lived upto the expectations.   The actor who played the role of Raghava - the self image of Shantaram did give his best and surely was in par with Sreevothsan.  The back stage coordination was flawless.

Music, Lights,  Make-up and Prompts were are well thought off and the technical team did their usual best as part of any other DD Plays.

Thank you Dummies Drama's for giving us a very heart-touching theater experiences time and again.  May your tribe increase, may you entertain us more and may your success become wide-spread.  God bless!

Long live Theater....and May the Creative juices keep flowing to enthrall our audiences for long!

UnSung Heroes: D. Annalakshmi - A Paraplegic Wheel Chair Marathoner who braves all odds!

D.  Annalakshmi, fondly called as Annam is a young woman who has complete zeal to life.   She is looking forward to making her own imprints in the world of marathons and shortput throw.   She is seen happily quoting Deepa Malik as inspiration and wanting to achieve something for her country.   
Annalakshmi is the first woman in Chennai to complete a 10K marathon on her manual wheel chair without support.  She is now winning several accolades on her participation in several marathon events in Chennai.   She also been part of the inclusion activities and helping students of NIFT to show case their talents by bringing in inclusive clothing.

How did Annalakshmi became a Paraplegic?   Was she born disabled?

NO.  Unfortunately, the truth is that a botched up surgery made a young girl disabled for life.   In the year 2001, she complained of severe leg pain and went to doctors, who suspected a tumour in her leg.  Without proper investigations or scans, she was referred for a surgery in Government Hospital, where she believed in the doctors and went under the knife, only to be awaken to the fact that both her legs are gone paralyzed and she became paraplegic with movements lost hip down.  The GH doctors and administration panicked and destroyed all the medical reports of her surgery and records without which she could not even take up a legal battle and with a family living with poverty, she had no choice but to grieve on her destiny and lose hope

How does she manage her life?   Is her family able to help her?

Very difficult.  For almost 7-8 years post surgery,  she was completely bed ridden.  She had no hope, and felt completely lost in life.   She did not understand why this happened to her in life.  She found getting down the bed, going to washroom,  wearing clothes, managing physical changes as a woman, managing periods,  managing bedsores or possible damages to the skin, that does not heal fast without blood circulation,  life suddenly changed overnight for her. 

She is blessed with absolutely dedicated parents,  who were torn by the financial challenges and meagre earnings.   Her sisters and brother stood as support physically.   However, as the years went by, the economical burden was too high with no financial support from any government or any thing.    Her family did everything possible to put her to ease.  However, the financial conditions were so tiring that left the parents in tears.    Today Annalakshmi tells us that she has to take care of her ill aged parents, where her father in on dialysis for 3 years and still works between the errands to hospital.   Mother's eyes dwelled in tears as she showed us the only picture of Annam where she was standing prior to 2001.    I felt a lump in my throat.  This girl can never stand in her life, because some doctor botched up her surgery for no reason .

What are her moments of courage, how did she defy all odds and exhibit this braveheart?

Annalakshmi did try to end her life many times.   Her failed attempts of suicide only gave her a sense  of some purpose.  Just few seconds before she lit the fire after dousing herself in kerosene, she heard a voice within her to stop.   She felt that God surely had a reason on why she have this life.  She decided to fight back the odds.

This sudden realization to life live meaningfully, made her get up with courage and start thinking at the positive side of life.   She started pursuing her education again.   Went on to do her BBA with extreme struggle and complete the same in flying colours.   She decided to tame her body to push to do the wheel chair marathon and her joy knew no bounds when she finished her first 10 kms Wheel chair marathon.   Today she works in the HR department of a company in Ambattur.

Her Achievements defying odds!

• Participated 10 Km Marathon (Wheel chair) organised by the Wipro Chennai Marathon December 10 2014.
• First person in India to do 10 km on wheel chair without assistance who has in injured spine.
• First Prize in Shot Put Competition conducted by Tamil Nadu differently Abled Federation Charitable Trust
• Won competitions AGAPA REHABILITATION CENTRE ELECTION 18TH June 2017(First Prize)
• Tamil Nadu Para Sports State Championship held at Sports  Development -26th to 28th January 2018-Madurai (Discus Throw Second place) (And Javelin Throw Third place)

• Tamil Nadu Differently Abled  Federation Charitable Trust 17th State Level Sports Meet for the differently Abled  Persons -10th February -2018 (100 MTS Wheel chair race  Second Prize) And (Shot Put First Prize)

Her Dreams now!

1.  To complete 21 kms in Wheel Chair Marathon 

2.  To represent India in Para-Olympic Sports and win prizes in Shot Put and Javelin Throw

3.  To financial support and take care of her aged parents.

4.  Share her story and inspire atleast 2 disabled women in life to look forward and not end life.

How do I know her?

Couple of years back, she came to NIFT where my daughter Aishwarya and her friends designed a ready to wear saree for her as part of their Ability Foundation Competition.  From that day, my daughter kept on talking about this girl.  Last year, when Anna Lakshmi wanted to search for a job and take up work, she needed a mobility vehicle.    Bank loan was given for the actual cost of the vehicle, however, the accessories that need for a physically challenged person had to be done on her own cost and thats where we pitched in and got the vehicle ready by giving her the financial assistance and from there our god-daughter relationship started with her.

Her Crusade will continue:

1.  To spread the message that disability of mind is bigger than the physical disability

2.   To empower women with spinal cord injury to not give up hope and start living life positively

3.  Creating more awareness and thrive for creating more accessible India for Wheel-Chair bound

Raghu and I left their home in Redhills last night, with a mixed feelings after giving her the new wheel chair.   We felt so heavy in heart and same time felt so happy to see such a compassion and warmth and positivist in this brave-heart.  Thanks to my blogger friend Guru for sponsoring the Wheel Chair and also to my friends in Inner Wheel for support to get her scooter ready. 

Life feels abundant when filled with care and gratitude....should begin from our homes!

The choices you have made have brought you to where you are today!  -  Author AVIS Viswanathan.

#Ashortstory  #Lovebeginsathome #Careistwoways #HusbandCare

Most of us today, run like a well oiled machines...until we get a friction to stop for maintenance. 

For a person like me who had wheels on my feet (thankfully, I don't drive and have happily saved many lives on the road with my utter useless road sense),   and don't enjoy resting doing nothing..this break is probably a much called for one!   Sometime, when you are at forced rest, just take it as it comes!

Last couple of weeks was terrible physically as my companion for life (My petite body) ached for attention and my nose refused to breathe for me!   Poor mouth had to do multitasking of letting the air get in and also continue my non-stop talking and finally it got dried up like most of our Chennai Water-bodies and refused to cooperate. 

Projects that needed my attention,  Clients who visited at work,  continuing small parts of my social work,  pacing with small travels and my daughter's Semester end jury cycles and still enjoying a quick trip to Bangalore to catch up with a best friend who came down from Argentina and temple visits....a month of celebrations in May continued till I finally decided to get to the Operative ward to get my bothering Nasal Polps removed. last week!..

I hate the big lights of the surgical wards in the hospital and especially do not enjoy the description of the doctor on the cuts and process explanation and the whole exercise of a surgery which these days has become easy and much more sophisticated.   My poor damn nose had its first phase of cut when I was just 14...and poor thing had to bleed it out again this time. 

But one man who silently kept cheering me...making fun of my funny nose and nose ring after the surgery and ensured that he kept a guard on me all the time..for my family is not used to see me sleeping during the day even on weekends and staying quite and calm!   What a peace for him to see me like this!    Yes ,  I felt the care and can't stop thanking Raghu for being the best spouse for support I can ask for.   Taking  break from work, ensuring medication is given on time,  and I am at ease and recover fast.  Thank you Raghu...I know I have some good karma of being your wife!

Aishu did her part of managing my phone and home and my sisters as usual kept spreading their love for me!  Family comes first today and always! 

My colleagues ensured wishes shared and so does my work and friends kept cheering as always! 

Some pictures are worth cherishing for life...This will be one!  A genuine smile is worth any makeup!     Now this bandage is gone and I am finally breathing through my nose! 

To be there for your loved one's when you need is something you are not able to take for granted these days..however, with people like Raghu around, life feels abundant.   Thank you my man!

Oh man! It's just not 'my cup of tea' to be resting and doing nothing!  I think I will finish off reading few books  that dont need my spectacles and scribbling off all my recent experiences on my blog before I get back to my 'grindmill' work routine next week! and as my man gets back to work today!