Sunshine and Temple - Serenity and Devotion!

Pic Courtesy : Sri Venugopal and Surya Praba

 

Radiance of the bright red clouds
Freedom of the children playing around
Serenity of the silent temple pillars
Green grass shining black like whiskers

Four pillars representing each direction
The space between the two temples
showing the breathing space between the lovers
Lawn before the sanctum shows place to design lives

Every step on the temple tower
shows that we need to climb the steps
towards the growth of human life
to reach the ultimate goals and wishes

The roof shining bright with ups and downs
indicates that paths of life is its clones
Without which the beauty of life is blank
The twists and turns create the rhythm tank

Who ever thought that clouds
would be always blue and white
this picture shows that it is not right
it can be red, black and bright

Nature is the best canvas in God's hands
Best of pictures painted with his wands
The small twigs around the temple walls
show the signs of fire and zeal of life

Peace and calmness that this picture brings
The fire and equal radiance it does rings
Small standing sticks show us
that we do need them once in a while

Children running in the fields around
bounded by the happiness that surrounds
The fresh air, the open space, the temple bells
Rejoicing their sounds of music it dwells

Superficial sky and clouds filled with brightness
tell us that things may look different
On the surface life may look all fine or super bad
But as long as the rhythm of life goes on, just be glad!

Thanks to my childhood friend who Surya Praba who shared this picture and challenged us to write a poem.  Inspiration.  Thanks for this opportunity dear Praba.  

Be Positive - A lesson from South India Positive Network - Respect to Noori Saleem- SIP Memorial Home, Chennai

I always wait in the new year to begin with a very positive post...especially last couple of years started with spiritual posts.  This time, my visit to a temple of positiveness, made me accept this change in the post and really insist my heart in writing on being positive....biggest lesson learn from 'Positive'  children and their leading lights ....

 

These 'Positive' children teach us how to be really positive in life.   Yes, you got it.  The children I am talking about are the HIV Positive children who live in SIP Memorial Home, in Kolathur in Chennai.    When you visit them, you will find smiling faces welcoming you and greeting you the best wishes for the day.  Every day is a challenge but they teach you that challenges are just there to overcome.   Every day is bitter with anitretroviral medicines taken twice to survive...but they show what sweetness in being alive every dawn is.  

I asked them very casually, how they are studying...They smiled and said - super.   Then came my next question inadvertently..What you want to be when you become big?   Most of the children gave a big smile.   One said that she wants to be teacher, other said- a collector, and one boy said that he wants to join Army where as other innocent little kid said he wants to become a police.   

Within a second, I realized what the biggest hope of all of them as they grow-   to be alive.   To be healthy.  To be away from the tentacles of death as long as they can.   

Shame to those who think of suicide as a solution to issues in life. To those who run away from simple problems   Shame to those who blame others for their problems in life.  Shame to those who who fail to take care of their own responsibilities.   It is unfortunate to those who destroy their own lives by getting addicted to smoking, drinking, drugs, laziness, frauds, anger, frustration and ego.   These children though are filled with millions of viruses within eating the hours of their lives and keeping alive with the ART treatment and care and love showed by their light 'Noori'  - who herself is a transgender HIV positive,  have everything positive in them that make us think.

More than books and clothes, their rooms are filled with rows of medicines that keep them away from the physical suffering due to the illness.  Same time, their hearts are filled with gratitude to every single day and every single friend who visits.  All they want is your touch, your smile and your hug to those little one's.  They don't want your sympathy or stigma to be shared.  

Being in the social work for several years, and also having known about them from Thilak, my friend who runs Sevai Karangal, we felt the visit is most wanted as we started the year.  For what the place gave us was a big wide strong message -  BE POSITIVE!

It is destiny that 5000 children in Tamilnadu alone are tested HIV positive, either infected or effected.  However, with the big hearts like Noori and her friends most of these children live in a positive environment trying to lead normal lives.  SIP Homes and the service is a god's way of showing the existence of humanity in the society.  The need for acceptance, the need for love and the need for care are all just the simple wants of these real POSITIVE children!  God bless them.

SIP Home, Chennai

To read more about them, please check the below given references:

1.  http://www.asiantribune.com/node/21679

2.  http://www.amaidhi.nl/en/sip-memorial-home

3. http://www.apachanet.org/inner.php?do=interview_detail&id=149

Happiness is getting to celebrate our son Ajay's birthday with these wonderful children:-)

 

 

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).