A Visit to Vivekanandar Illam- An Educational / Moral Trip for Young Children- Initiative by Sevai Karangal

Every time, we go for a drive on the Marina beach, we get to notice a peach colored building with closed windows.. Though now it is known widely as Vivekanandar Illam,  with a status of Swami Vivekananda , not many are aware what is in store inside for a common man,..the depth of heritage preserved diligently for the future to understand our  civilization, emergence of our values, and moral stones laid by Swami Vivekananda and how he influenced the world all over with his simple words of wisdom, that strongly conveyed a message of Universal Brotherhood and Secularism through acceptance of all religions as a path towards the Supreme God. 

Thanks to Sevai Karangal for the efforts initiated to take underprivileged children week after week to this place of knowledge, explaining them the exhibits,  interpreting the painting in a simple understandable language to young minds and encouraging them to write in the visitors book on the takeaways and also presenting them books and dictionaries as mementos.    Picture time and fun in the beach makes children feel edutained on every trip.

15 Great Facts of Vivekanandar Illam, Chennai

1.  Swami Vivekananda stayed here for 9 days during 1897- 6 Feb-14 Feb 1897
2.  Museum depicts exhibition on Indian Culture and Swami's life
3. Initially this place was called Ice house built in 1842 to store ice for Britishers and ice was brought from Great Lakes, America
4.  After 1880, Biligari Iyengar became the new owner of the place and made it a residence named Castle Kernan
5. Swami visited frequently to the Triplicane Parthasarathy temple during his stay in Chennai and also gave great speeches invoking National consciousness
6. Ramakrishna Mission functioned in this place for 10 years from its beginning in South (1897-1906)
7.  This place also was a Child Widow's Hostel supported by Smt Subbalakshmi - A social reformer
8.  In 1963- during Swami's 100th birth centenary celebrations, Castle Kernan became 'Vivekanandar Illam' - house of heritage
9. Building is part of Chennai's Architectural heritage
10.  Houses 43 amazing paintings by various artists on Indian heritage
11. Close to 120 pictures of Swami's life which treasures some rare pictures of the monk whose universalism and spiritual conquest of the world religions is to stay for ever
12. Swami Vivekanda's room in the second floor gives your vibes as you enter being the place where he physically stayed during his visit.  This is also considered as the Meditation room
13. There is also a show room where you can buy posters and books
14.  A 3D video educates children on Swami and his most famous Chicago speech 
15.Experience Vivekananda Project with multi media visuals and presentations make the place worth a visit

From the words of Thilak-  Who runs Sevai Karangal

Gone are those day when we had moral science/value as our subjects in the schools where we learn to be humane.

Now a day’s children are asked to be an engineer, Doctor, teacher etc to earn money and live a happy life. None is guiding them to be a humane which is required for a happy livelihood.

Everyone is keen about education that they fail to understand the need of good guidance and positive thoughts to shape up the personality of children.

Our conventional education focuses on metrics alone. So it is right time that we teach moral values to the children

To reclaim these values we at Sevai Karangal have planned a series of activities.

To start with we are taking the kids from homes to Vivekanandar Illam, Where the kids will have an opportunity to enjoy “Experience Vivekananda” Project, an initiative to showcase Swami Vivekananda’s personality and message through state-of-the-art multimedia galleries and utilizing various types of exhibits, short inspirational videos, 3D animated movie clips and a Holographic presentation and also the history, architect and cultural values of yesteryear's.

Agenda:
Kids will be taken from home by maxi cabs and assemble at the Illam. Spend time watching the screening and exhibits. Once it is over take them to marina beach and spend some time. Move to their respective homes.

Watch the trailer of animated video:
http://www.vivekanandahouse.org/page/911-awakening-3d-movie-trailer-1215

We are sure that his life history and message will bring a positive reflection in the kid’s mind, which will help to make a better world and fulfill god’s purpose of creation.

21 Jul 2013:  I was previleged to be part of this cause sponsoring the event which took 30 kids from Vallalar Gurukulam and 15 volunteers from ' We Initiate'  and Thilak, Dhana, Raghu and I with few others from Sevai Karangal.  A Sunday well spent:-)

I am Malala.....

Malala...Today, this name is synonym to courage, braveness and fearlessness.  This word resounds the courage of a young girl to fight for her rights.     Her strong words with which she ended her speech at UN echoes from all parts of the world towards Education for Children.  especially for Women.   

"One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first." From Malala speech at UN

In a world today, filled with the dangers of wars, frequent conflicts and failing government and economies, here is a girl who is fighting her best towards a cause.
 
A cause that is important in changing the thinking of hundreds of extremists towards positive world filled with no fear of existence and no struggle for survival.   Every child and every human being should have the right to education and peaceful living.  However, today the world has become a center stage for dramatic politics, religions intolerance, terrorism handling the countries, economies that create poverty and unemployment, and natural calamities that are beyond our control as human beings.  

The least we could do is join the campaign - ' I am Malala...' and provide our support and promise towards providing education and empowerment to our women and make learning a way of living so that this world become a better place to live

As Malala, reiterates Education is the ONLY Solution.   We don't need Preachers, Saints, Researches and Scientists to tell us what we should aim to build in this world in times of crisis.  Awareness comes from knowledge and knowledge comes from Education and hence 'Education is the Key'  and Malala happens to be the way to move forward.  She is not an individual anymore, she is movement that we should all join hands with.

Towards a better tomorrow,  and a fearless future...arising from the clutches of death, towards the route of optimism, turning every adversity into an opportunity, today this girl is teaching us again, that every problem has a solution and every child has a right to education.....

Malala at United Nations

 
Long Live Dear Malala with good health, happiness, purpose and greater education that you dream for.  

For the full speech of Malala at UN:  Please visit the site:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/the-full-text-malala-yousafzai-delivers-defiant-riposte-to-taliban-militants-with-speech-to-the-un-general-assembly-8706606.html

 

    

The Last Words- Biding Adieu to India's Most Cherished Communication - Good Bye Telegrams

As a child, in schools we were taught, how to write TELEGRAMS.   Later when the tragedy shook us on a fateful winter morning, all I could do is rush to the nearby post office with my dad's diary and fill the blocks of the telegram receipt papers....FATHER SAMPATH KUMAR EXPIRED.    I sent close to 12 telegrams that day in 1992 which made my relatives arrive on time for his funeral.  

Thanks to Amul for this beautiful tribute in its own way:-)

Today, when the same communication channel is having its d-day, I feel nostalgic and sentimental.  I have not used the service for several years now, but the typing of 100 used to send us a Greeting Telegram or a Condolence message by typing another number.  This messaging system was the ancient SMS format., bringing in good and bad news to everyone in India.  After 163 years of being in service, the oldest system is now laid to rest.  ....leaving behind several memories of the forgotten service.  With the advent of cell phones, emails and instant messaging on social media, news is now not awaited anymore, its pushed to us by force.

The system still in use in ARMY where the soldiers still do not have an amicable network for communications, know the value better.   People residing abroad relied mostly on this service to show as proof of requests to travel back to their mother land on emergencies or to apply leave.  The court orders were sent by telegrams and communicated for quicker action from post offices.  No wonder soon the postal services would also see the advent of closure.....I only fear that a day is nearing where we can say 'Postman is no more knocking'

Greetings that would stop from July 15th 2013

People used to preserve the telegrams that carried good news like a child birth or a marriage for years.  In this digital era, this became a thing of the past.  Nothing is constant than the change in this world and this goes to our TELEGRAMS also as they go into the pages of history leaving behind the footprints of an wonderful communication services that brought both smiles and tears to millions who used it for years.

Bid Adieu my friend in need-  Good bye!

Child Begging Racket- Begging - a existing phenomenon for Child Trafficking, Drug Abuse and Untimely deaths- A Social Menace- A Sad Story!

 

Heart bleeds to see the children hanging on their 'Rented Mothers'  who bang on the car windows, run across the roads chasing bikers, or sit lost in the railways stations and bus stands with children sleeping silently in the laps.   The mothers look equally innocent besides the fact that they are part of a huge child trafficking racket without even knowing about it.   Both the rented mothers and the children are dusty, pale, mal-nourished and destitute.     They wear torn clothes, carry empty milk bottles and equally dusty bags carrying one set of clothes and not sure what else.   But the fact that these children are sleeping all the time is 'alarming'.  The Big Question is Why are these children sleeping all the time.

Every day on the way to office, a woman with a child used to bang on our car door asking for few pennies.   Though I used to feel sad, I always felt the need not to encourage this begging.   But to my dismay and shock, this woman started carry different children every other day.   The child varied from 3 months to 3 years and most of the time, the Child is again Sleeping!  

 Moreover, the child at times have a broken arm or a bandaged leg.   Why?  
How is the Child Hurt?   And the Big Question is Why is the Child Sleeping every time I see during the same time of the day ?  Do children sleep so and all the time?  The same lady on the way back also used to carry the kid still sleeping. 
After months of observations, I wanted to stop the car, and get to the lady.  The minute I did, she ran away.  I could see a fear in her eyes, haste in her legs and tremors in the body.  One auto driver standing next to me, said that there is no use trying to find her.  They are controlled by the big gangs who in turn rob / kidnap or buy these children, rent them to the women on daily basis, and take away a huge part of their begging collection.  What is further more alarming is that these children are fed with Vodka and Drugs so that they just keep sleeping and hanging on to the woman's shoulder bags.    The fact that no real mother would use the sick/ mal-nourished child for begging makes us feel more at discomfort seeing these 'Young mom's... sometime, we see them as young as 12 years old and they themselves look like children.
 Feeling Sad, sick and frustrated and equally not able to do anything about this, I thought I can least vent my sadness in my blog so that someone will give me a hope for a solution to this menace we see in every day routine.  

The least I could do is not to give alms to these beggar women .  Unless we have law to stop begging, governments to rehabilitate destitute women, and safeguard our children from the clutches of this cruel business,  we will still be seeing this horror stories on the streets every day. 

Pictures here speak volumes than my words and most of them are sourced from the internet

The Hero Behind the scenes of Neeya Naana- Antony

The Hero Behind the scenes of Neeya Naana-   Antony

Antony-  Captain of Neeya Naana- Photo Courtesy- Facebook

The real brain behind the scene is always unseen'-   As such the real heroes are always unsung.   This is not only for our Indian Army, Armed Forces but also for the Genius called Antony.

Millions of viewers watch the TV

 show - Neeya Naana-   a popular Tamil debate show in Vijay TV- a subdivision of Star Network.   The applause and credit goes to the anchor Mr. Gopinath.C.   He is famous for his style of debating skills, acute journalism, and right usage of words at the right time and keeps the show in track of the conversations, balancing emotions and reactions of the either groups during the debates.  He also adequately stays composed, with his dialogue delivery, use of the right connotations and excellent linguistic skills.   What millions of viewers are not aware is that the entire show is  controlled, managed, directed and delivered by the Director- Antony...who stays through out the show capturing the same bit by bit, and delivering word by word, prompting to Gopi on what next to be done.   Gopi excellently manages hearing to the heartbeat called Antony, and the same time managing the pulse of the parties involved; this in turn makes it an excellent team effort and a success story.

Right from the production team, sourcing the right people to talk, organizing the studio, lighting, set management, audio controls, camera captures, editing, sound and recording basics, and starting with a devotional prayer before the actual shooting, everything is so well organized and controlled.   Make-up and Coats of Gopinath, to providing water and tea to the participants on regular basis all along the show, and also providing food for those who travelled to the studios, they ensure that the whole team is comfortable.   This show is not for the 15 minutes of fame.   This show is for proving an insight into the subjects handled.   This show is all about the reality of our everyday lives...the facts that we hide and the fiction we diction so easily.   This show is to highlight the social issues, probing into root causes, trying to influence in its smallest way to the segment of the society that it can reach.

Antony is to be widely appreciated for the choice of topics- that are both current and also related to the every day lives of the normal people in the society.  The topics and the show are so popular only for the reason that the viewers can relate to themselves in some way or the other.   It does not dilute from the facts though it builds over a planned context of discussion supremely controlled and managed by our unsung hero- Antony

As long as we have directors like Antony who are managing huge projects like Neeya Naana, there is no doubt of their success.   No wonder, the team is in tact from the day it started till today.   The show is only gaining popularity and wisdom as the years go and matures into a compulsory relaxing hours ending the weekend, being telecast late evening every Sunday.  It does not just stay as a weekend entertainment or week day re-telecasts for people at homes, but it becomes a knowledge area that cannot be missed.   This would continue for sure as long as this man is at the helm of affairs.

Triplicane Ratna Cafe- One of the best Chennai Charms

As a child when ever we used to visit the Parthasarathy temple and the beach, the dinner destination was undoubtedly one spot that sprangs with hot idly's and spicy savoring Sambar.

Idly- Sambar is one ultimate food combination for Chennai Lovers and this place called Ratna Cafe in Triplicane is a heaven.  Go during any time of the day, you get to taste mouth-watering specialty and the food being served with  unlimited sambar pouring to your plate, you only wish you could eat more.   

The Original Ratna Cafe is in the busy crowded lanes of Tiruvalekeni as it was called when Chennai was Madras...still retains the same charm and glory...though the tables are experiencing the test of time, cushions are worn out, the photos on wall are old, and kitchen still fumes with black smoke.   

Today, there are multiple branches of this older timer, and giving the Chennities the pleasure of their traditional sambar-idly.  However, I would still take time to travel to the old Ratna cafe for my plate of Sambar - Idly and a strong filter coffee....

If you love, this place, share with me your experiences and love as Chennai foodie!

SAY NO TO CHILD LABOUR- World Day against Child Labour- June 12, 2013

As the world today is celebrating ‘No Child Labour Day’ , the sound of the shrill call from a elite friend of the past resonanced in my ears loudly again-   “Rama-   Ekkada chachavey”….meaning Rama, where the hell have you died….

The just 10+ year old child ran to her ‘Madam’ side in a less than a minute and this fabulous rich civilized woman creature gave her a kick in her pit saying that she should stay in her sight all the time.  The little girl was embarrassed for I was there watching this happen …and as I tried stopping this so called friend.   The Madam gave the instructions to Rama to start pressing her legs as she stretched them on the coffee table from the sofa.  I felt like pushing her sofa upside down.. The poor little girl started to obey her silently for everything she was instructed to!.  

This is just one of the millions Rama’s who silently endure the pain of a heavy childhood, not see a penny of their earning which get sent to their parents in the villages,  fed on the leftovers and let to sleep on the floor even in chill winter nights.  These children help in domestic chores of cleaning, cooking and washing.  Few help the elders run errands for them.  Few are destined to be baby sitting all the times as mothers keep busy with kitty party’s and clubs and sometime genuine work schedules.   

Children working as child sex workers silently, not knowing of pregnancy and child birth, and subsequent consequences are another side of this sad story.  Children trafficked to other countries as domestic help and baby sitters, forbid of their rightful education and growing up years of childhood to enjoy, the poverty of the parents push them to the chores beyond their age. 

Millions of children work in remote villages in farms, silently inside the rooms of the factories,  do demeaning chores hidden inside the industries and sadly in the red light areas of the country doing jobs beyond their age and understanding.  

Construction laborers’, hotel waiters and cleaners, domestic helpers, courier boys, news paper boys, car cleaners,  workers in quarries and as wood cutters, cobblers, painters and potters.  These children do not know what is it like having a four square meal, a good night  comfortable sleep,  education and alphabets,  money and savings and no dreams of a sustainable future.  They get for the day, they eat and sleep what ever is possible and carry on with their lives.   By the time, they realize what they lost, they can never get back -  the precious childhood and hopes of education

 Thanks to the night schools and no child left behind campaigns, the children today are getting the required awareness and attention.  However, there is yet a larger segment of the society that is not careful of this menace between us.   Thoughtlessly employing children at any form of work is made illegal in most part of the world, but the law remained in the books far away from action. 

Time to say NO to Child Labour and put a strong end to this in our country.   Every child need to be set free to dream and dare to move in their lives with confidence and choice than be pushed to labour and burdened childhood.

World Milk Day -June 1st- But the other side on the fate of Cattle!- Cowu Cowu, Holy Cowu...No More Lovuuuu...Its just a business and bargains for the benefit for Man...with cruelty to Animals...No more Cow is a form of Goddess as we were taught!

Cows' Milk is for Calves-  Is it really?

Dairy Industry	India Stands No 1 in the world	Followed by USA
Investment: Rs 2242 Crores	Demand: 150 Million tonnes of Milk	Target Year: 2016-17
Result	Tragedy to Cows	Production through artificial insemination
Government Proposal	Increase Animal Husbandry , Dairying and Fisheries	Productivity enhancement Village Level Infrastructure growth Greater access to world markets
India is cattle capital of the world	324 Million herd	Result:  Pollution, Fodder demands and illegal business Cruelty to Animals
Myth-1	Cow is an Indian God, worshiped and protected. Valued as a family member and loved raising in homes	Reality :  Horror show of cruelty.   Cow slaughtering and milking is a big business
Myth-2	Milk is source of calcium	Reality:  Osteoporosis is caused due to consumption of milk and have more calcium in the diet -          There is no connection between bone health and consumption of milk
Myth 3	Cattle rearing is protecting of animals	Reality-  Cattle growing numbers for business is a bane to environment -          Bovines produce Methane when they pass gas -          Each Bovine produces anywhere between 100 Lt's- 500 litres of methane per day- equivalent to carbon dioxide emission from a car for one day -          Huge bovine population makes methane a dangerous pollutant Ecological imbalance: -          Producing fodder is a strain on scarce land and water resources -          Animal agriculture occupies 30% of earth’s land area -          Forested areas are let to graze or grow feed for farmed animals -          Effecting the cost of increase in prices of plant based diet -
Various ways of cruelty	1.        Artificial insemination 2.       Infertility due to 360 days of pregnancy 3.       Poor equipment 4.       Lack of proper training 5.       Calves are separated from the mothers the next day of their birth 6.       Cow and Calves don’t have a chance to experience the joys of motherhood to avoid the calves drinking off the full milk 7.       Bellows of thirsty calves go unnoticed 8.       Calves are treated as Replacement Stocks 9.       Increasing yield by injecting harmones like Oxytocin which is actually banned in India 10.   Hormonal injections result in abortions, mastitis, lower conception rate, calves in fact mortality, delayed puberty. 11.   Milk cows expected to give birth  to calves every year. 12.   50% of calves which are males are used to ploughing or butchered 13.   Sheltered in dark, cramped and acrid quarters 14.   Male calves are let to starve to death, thus suffering an early death 15.   Cows are kept pregnant almost 360 days in a year resulting in them drying up at the age of 6 or 7 instead of usual 14 years of their life span 16.   Milked overly, suffering from artificial insemination, hormonal injections and trauma of separation 17.   Trafficked for slaughtering under inhuman conditions 18.   Non milking cows are let to live on food from streets and plastic waste	Products: 1.       Skin is used for leather 2.       Cow leather is used to make seat covers, shoes, belts, purses,  pouches and sandals. 3.       Meat is used for domestic consumption and exports 4.       Calf leather has huge demand and calf meat called Veal is in high demand in Middle East 5.       Unborn calves meat is used for medicines 6.       Cattle’s heart tissues are used to rebuild livers 7.       Horns and Hoofs are used to make buttons, adhesives, plastics, pet food, plant food, shampoos and conditioners, boards, lamination paper, and plywood. 8.       Blood is used for making pasta, imitation eggs,  cake mixes,  dyes and inks,  adhesives,  minerals, medicines, and laboratory research materials 9.       Flesh is used for meat 10.   Tail is used for fertility treatment 11.   Bones used for whitening sugar and producing Gelatin, Charcoal, fertilizers and Glass 12.   Anti-aging creams and medicines are produced from cattle brains 13.   Hair is used to make air filters, Brushes, insulation, plaster and textiles 14.   Internal organs are used to make musical instruments, tennis racquet's strings, harmones, enzymes,  vitamins and surgical sutures other medicinal materials 15.   Milk is used to make adhesives,  plastics,  cosmetics and medicines 16.   Manure is used for fertilizers , nitrogen and phosphorous 17.   Skin is used to make gelatin,  flavorings,  emery boards, wallpapers, sheets, candies and confectionery 18.   Fat is used to make chewing gums, candies, detergents, fabric softeners, deos, shaving creams, perfume, pet food,  cosmetics, creams and lotions, crayons and paint, oils and lubricants,  bio diesel and plastics, waterproofing agents, cement,  ceramics, chalk , explosives,  fireworks,  matches, fertilizers, antifreeze, insulation's, linoleum, rubber,  textiles and medicines.
People Vs Vegans	Population of 1.2 Billion	400 Million Vegetarians only
Laws Governing slaughter houses	28 states have laws for protection legislation's	Less or no stringent laws in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Lakshadweep, and largerly Kerala
Organizations fighting for Animal rights	1.       People for Cattle in India (PFCI)
Slaughter Houses	India- 3600 slaughter houses 9 Modern Abattoirs 171 Meat processing units	Illegal slaughter houses account to more than 30000 in India which are unregulated
India – Biggest Beef Exporter	16,80,0000 tonnes of beef and Veal exports followed by Brazil and Australian  in 2013 Forecast increase to record 2.16 million tonnes 1.24 Billions $s worth of beef exported in 2012 1.4 million tonnes of cattle legally slaughtered in 2012 nationwide	Key:  Government subsidies for increasing export market One dead animal is worth close to Rs. 30000 Tax payer money is used to give subsidies to gain export revenues in dairy products, leather and beef industries.
Solution	Plant based diet Production of protein rich plant based foods such as legumes, Soybeans, pulses, fruits, nuts using land and water resources that are other wise used to produce cattle feed	If we have to let the food on the plates of our children, then going Vegan is the only way!

Source:  An thought provoking article in Hindu newspaper recently