The Highest Being

The birds and animals first scout for the ideal tree or ground to build a home for their little ones.

The man scouts for the best spot for his house.

They look for shaded spots, away from the eyes of the predator.

Tree by tree, plant by plant, he razes everything to ground to create a flat surface on earth.

Twig by twig, stem by stem, the birds and the animals create a cushioned bed for their young ones.

Brick by brick he raises the walls to make a concrete, hard structure.

They are inferior because they can only create from what they have.

He is the superior for he has the power to destroy and grab what is not his.

He is the highest  being on earth for he has the sixth sense that has blinded him and killed any compassion.  

Lasting Impressions: Vanishing Home

Lasting Impressions: Vanishing Home: He is creepy, crawly and scary. But doesn't he deserve a home still? The deer from the garden of Eden in my backyard have been transferred...

The Power Problem

One of the recent jokes on the SMS that I love: as the mobile, the net and something else compete as to who is going to rule the world, electricity thinks - Just you wait, guys.

Chennai reminds me of this everyday. Despite rains, power cuts - scheduled and unscheduled - everyday. NONE of the traffic signals work so total chaos on roads. Koothankulam plant - a big question mark...

Am I being too pessimistic when I say be ready for the "dark ages" again?

Anubavangal: Setril Kaal, Vaanatthil Kann

Anubavangal: Setril Kaal, Vaanatthil Kann: வெய்யிலில் நின்று, குனிந்து வயலில் வேலை செய்யும் தன் தந்தையை பார்க்கும் சரவணனுக்கு மனதில் எதோ ஒரு ஏக்கம். குளிர்ந்த காரில் முதலாளி வந்து, வெ...

Lasting Impressions: Following the Light

Lasting Impressions: Following the Light: I was about to open the window after switching off the AC, when I noticed a bee hovering just outside. He was banging against the glass, des...

Anubavangal: Engum Iruppaan

Anubavangal: Engum Iruppaan: நம் நாட்டில் பல விஷயங்கள் வருந்தத்தக்கவைதான். எனிலும் எனக்கு மிகவும் பெருமையாக இருக்கும் விஷயம் நாம் எதிலும் கடவுளைக்காண்பதுதான். மரம், செடி...

Lasting Impressions: Elves

Lasting Impressions: Elves: When I see the trees Lush, rich and green Looking washed and clean After rains heavy I feel like becoming small Climbing the trees tal...

Lasting Impressions: Throwing Baby with the Bathwater

Lasting Impressions: Throwing Baby with the Bathwater: A year ago, when I was doing the book on Tiruvannamalai, I met weavers from Aarani, a place famous for silk. The chief weaver's wife proudly...

Lasting Impressions: It is Everywhere - Short Story

Lasting Impressions: It is Everywhere - Short Story: She was fed up of the fever. It had gone undiagnosed for more than a week, but tapered off after she swallowed some antibiotics.When it recu...

Lasting Impressions: Are We Really Against Corruption?

Lasting Impressions: Are We Really Against Corruption?: Am I a cynic? I don't know. I should join in the applause to the way the average Indian Middle Class has risen up to the occasion and joined...

Birds Drop Dead

"Birds began falling out of the sky" This is from a book on Iraqi Kurdistan, 'Love in a Torn Land'. The use of chemicals to kill Kurdish people in the nineties resulted in not only mass murder of the people but also of animals and birds. 

This post is several years too late, and except the one who goes through the trials, it is difficult to understand the angst the people felt under the heartless Iraqi regime. But the book brought tears to the eyes, for what we call "victims" are people too - feeling the emotions as we do. Of love, fear, pain, hunger...

What is saddening is that the book will never be irrelevant. It could be Jews, Kurds, or even Kashmiris... the world is always at war,  and this book will never be irrelevant.

"Panchi, nadiya, pawan ke jhonke

Koi sarhad naa inhe roke"

These lyrics from Refugee are a reminder that boundaries are a very human creation. Boundaries that separate not only lands, but hearts too. While we try to destroy each other, killing mercilessly, indiscriminately, it is nature that becomes a victim of crossfire between the warring factions. And then to rebuild from scratch...

There is so much beauty around us. If we are blinded to it and don't look beyond ourselves, beautiful birds and animals may become part of folk lore: "Once upon a time..." Provided, man is still left to tell such stories. Provided he still remains a human being, and not just a beast grabbing and snatching.

Anubavangal: Porulaathaaram irunthum manathil ethu thaaraalam? ...

Anubavangal: Porulaathaaram irunthum manathil ethu thaaraalam? ...: "நான் நமது நாட்டு தலைவரின் சுதந்திர தின பேச்சை நான் கேட்கவில்லை. ஆனால் ஹிந்துப்பத்திரிகையில் தலைப்பு படித்தேன். லஞ்சத்திற்கு எதிரான போராட்டத..."

Social Entrepreneurs

They are highly educated, have worked in MNCs, and have a high earning capacity. Continuing in their professions would no doubt give them a good bank balance, a luxurious lifestyle and the title "high flyers".

But they chose to use their capabilities for sustainable development of rural India, to address the problems faced by the people in the villages. While one is addressing the need for reviving agricultural land (Harnessing Rural Power), the other started a company to address the dearth of power in rural areas by using their natural byproducts such as rice husk (Power to Rice Belt).

Passion, vision, courage to experiment and take risks, perseverance and a deep desire to set right  the lopsided development of the country - these goals drive their business models.

There are many today who have thrown their cushy jobs away to become social entrepreneurs. Talking to them and writing about them reinstates one's faith in mankind. For every 10 news items of destruction, there are probably a few of regeneration. Hopefully, more such regenerative forces will spring up in the coming years to give a fresh life to mother earth.

Energy Conserving ACs

Two Sundays back, an article I had written Star cooling, trim bills, appeared in The Hindu Retail Plus. Someone called me and pointed out that most people don't look at the star rating but only at brand and tonnage. So wasn't my article redundant?

But that's precisely my point. We go for the externals, and yes, branding is important for assured quality no doubt. But as individuals, by being aware of our consumption of electrical goods and buying those products that consume less is important. While it may not matter much if your bills are already lower, but, for instance, I know someone whose electricity bill is Rs 9000 for two months. That made me whistle (badly)! I think such people at least should start bothering about conservation and buying products that consume less.

BEE - Bureau of Energy Efficiency is coming up with ratings now for laptops. It already has ratings for a range of electrical products. Let's contribute our bit to the environment and buy products that conserve energy.

Lasting Impressions: Wholesome Venture

Lasting Impressions: Wholesome Venture: "I met her for the book 'Pathbreakers'. She had wanted to make it big in the IT world, but circumstances made her take a break, and then husb..."

Lasting Impressions: The Beast Emerges

Lasting Impressions: The Beast Emerges: "Godzilla, he is not Neither ugly nor fearsome Not emerging from deep seas Nor from the belly of the earth He walks this world Looks li..."

The Gender Imbalance

The thought of surgical modification of the gender of the child from female to male in the womb gave me the shivers. A friend posted this on the FB, and she being well-informed, I believe her.

But a newspaper report yesterday claimed that this news had first appeared in another newspaper, and was a skim-the-surface report. That such a thing is not possible at all.

That's a relief. But, what is scary is that we believe this to be possible. We don't say, "No mother will do it! No mother will allow such a barbaric thing!" For we know, mothers can and will. Whether due to pressure from family, or because she also believes girl children to be a burden, if she is given the choice, she will do it.

It is that thought that scares more.

Why, I wonder. Why are girl children thought of as burdens? Especially in today's world of equal opportunities, free primary education, free medical checkup and treatment, anti-dowry laws... They are not the uneducated poor who do this. But educated illiterates. For, this happens more in urban areas than rural areas, according to another report!

How can we reach into their minds and remove the darkness?

Anubavangal: Arakkargalin Rajyam

Anubavangal: Arakkargalin Rajyam: "ஒரு இலட்சியத்திற்காகத்தான் நாங்கள் பாடு படுகிறோம் என்று அவர்கள் நம்புகிறார்கள். ஆனால் லட்சியம் இருந்தால் நல்ல வழியை தானே காட்டும். காட்டுமிர..."

Anubavangal: Maadu pola manithan - kavithai

Anubavangal: Maadu pola manithan - kavithai: "கழுத்தை நெருக்கியது வேலை அது இல்லை என்றால் மட்டும்? சொல்லுவோமா, நல்ல வேளை? ஓடி ஆடி திண்டாடி இங்கும் அங்கும் வேலையை தேடி அலைந்து திரிந்து மன்..."

Lasting Impressions: Toothbrush in the Bathroom

Lasting Impressions: Toothbrush in the Bathroom: "This is in public interest. Since I have noticed this in many houses, I am making a post of this (and escaping thinking too deep). Whether..."

Anubavangal: Ippadiyum Silar

Anubavangal: Ippadiyum Silar: "என்னடா இன்னும் ஒரு முறைக்கூட நான் வேலைக்காரியைப்பற்றி எழுதவில்லை என்று நினைத்தீர்கள் என்றால், கவலை வேண்டாம். இதோ, எழுதப்போகிறேன். ஆனால் அவள்..."

Lasting Impressions: Two Drops, One for Each

Lasting Impressions: Two Drops, One for Each: "It is strange The eyes are wet Not a cross word Has passed the lips, yet Just the thought Of those little ones Struggling to learn T..."

Anubavangal: Urugum Manam

Anubavangal: Urugum Manam: "அலை எழும்பி ஓய்வது போல் நிலைக்கும் அந்த மௌனம் குழந்தைகள் கிளம்பி போன பின்னே திரும்பும் வேளையில் கலக்கும் நெஞ்சம் எல்லாம் சரிதானே? சிரித்த..."

Anubavangal: EMI Thollai - sirukathai

Anubavangal: EMI Thollai - sirukathai: "நிர்மலா மௌனமாக அவள் கணவன் பார்த்திபன் பேசுவதை கேட்டாள். அவன் சொல்வதிலும் நியாயமிருந்தது. இருவருக்கும் கல்யாணமாகி இரு வருடங்கள் தான் ஆகி இருந..."

Lasting Impressions: Taller, Stronger, Sharper

Lasting Impressions: Taller, Stronger, Sharper: "This is like the genetically modified brinjal. We debate about it no end, but don't worry that we are playing with our children's hormones. ..."

Anubavangal: Ayyo paavam, kadavul

Anubavangal: Ayyo paavam, kadavul: "என்ன நினைத்தாய் நீ மனிதனை படைக்கும் பொழுது உன்னைப்போல் ஒருவன் உன் உருவம், உன் குணம் என்றெல்லாம் திட்டமிட்டு ஆறறிவையும் கொடுத்து நிறைய வள..."

Meeravin Mudal Prayatnam: Chennaiyil Pasumai

Meeravin Mudal Prayatnam: Chennaiyil Pasumai: "மவுண்ட் ரோட்டில் இப்படி ஒரு இடமா என்று எல்லோரும் கேட்கும் பொழுதே தெரிந்திருக்கணம், யார் கண்ணாவது பட போகிறதென்று. பல்லை இளித்து, ஆமாம் என்று ..."

The In-Built System



The tiger nuzzling a tree mid-stroll



A trip to the zoo yesterday was very fulfilling. For one, we seemed to have gone at the right time - when all the animals were out in their enclosures. The two lionesses were still completing their siesta - awake but lazing. Do they do anything else, ever?

With food reaching them without any effort, I wondered what their motivation would be to do any exercise - which would have been their natural instinct in the jungle.

But as we went along to other enclosures, I was fascinated to see that the animals don't take life easy even when they have the choice. The tiger strolled up and down leisurely, ignoring the people around. Jackals trotted in their small cages. A bear constantly swayed to a music within its head, while others went about with some stretching of limbs.

It is only humans who think and decide and give up their instincts influenced by other thoughts that cloud their minds.

Jute - an alternative

Met a jute promotion board head for south yesterday. One, he is an anti-thesis to the traditional image of a government official. He packed energy, enthusiasm and creativity, and seems to be active in promoting the idea of jute as an alternative to plastics. He has been talking to and encouraging entrepreneurs to take up new product ideas for jute. An entrepreneur who was visiting him at that time also confirmed this.

Jute is a natural product and its fibre has been used for gunny bags. But today, it has been refined further and possibilities seem infinite. I have myself used a jute handbag that is smart and convenient. Though a polypropylene base is used to impart stiffness, the percentage of non-biodegradable material is low. Also, apparently research is going on to find suitable alternatives.

Nature gives us different options. It is up to us to use them best. Can we make a small attempt and look at natural alternatives that will do less damage to nature?

STS

Save the Soil. Even mud is precious. Only when living things - even the icky ones - can grow on soil can edible plants come up too!

When an old man told me the role of earth worms in making a soil rich and tillable, I was surprised, remembering the crawly creatures that would come up during rainy days in my ground floor flat in Delhi. The chemical fertilisers not only kill the bad but the good germs and worms too.

When I see the government ad for using only that much fertiliser as is needed, I wonder if there was anyway we could have known this before.

Maybe India is lucky in that many farmers could not afford the fertilisers and so continued to use natural methods. But when you hear of artificial ripeners and vegetables being polished with dyes to make them look fresh, it gets scary. Food, instead of being a source of nutrition and strength, seems to have become a slow poison.

Buying only as much as one needs and ensuring their proper consumption would reduce the pressure on production and therefore on land. Maybe we can still save the soil by allowing land to be fallow.

Cleaning the Plate

Recently while serving at a Grihapravesam (house warming), I was very impressed with two elderly ladies - maybe sisters - who left a very clean leaf behind, not wasting even a single morsel behind.

But, they constituted probably a minority. Leave alone children, even adults are unable to do justice to all that is served on the leaf. The host invariably spends about Rs 80-100 a plate. And orders for at least 10 extra people.

Concerned about the waste of food, I have tried to make sure that I am served only that which I can do justice to.

Recently I saw a forwarded mail about how in Germany, even in hotels, you are not expected to waste food even if you are paying for it. "You are using a common resource and therefore have a responsibility towards it," a social inspector was quoted in that mail.

It is not just about affordability but about drawing from natural resources. One may argue that the food can always be given away to the poor, I am not sure how many of us really manage to do it, and that too, when it is fresh and suitable for consumption.

Just a thought: All our cultures tell us to make enough so that we are not scraping the vessel when serving a guest. But when it is just the family, maybe a bit of caution and disposing it wisely so that other living things can benefit if at all there is extra may help us preserve this resource.

Saving Electricity

I have always been proud of the fact that in my circle of friends and relatives, my power bill has always been the lowest. If theirs is in three digits, mine will be in two. And when theirs goes up - like in summer - mine does too, but it is still less than theirs. To me it is a measure of how well I conserve electricity.

It helps that I am not addicted to TV, that I can sit without a fan for ours - not penny pinching there, but I genuinely don't get affected much by heat. I close the windows and keep the curtains drawn so that the heat blast within the house is less. I have one window open to let in light.

I am particular about switching off lights and fans when no one is in the room. I don't switch on the AC even in peak summer except if children insist - and then also they are allowed to only cool the room and then switch it off.

So when my two months' electricity bill was low at 300 something, I felt justifiably proud.

Till my neighbour, in a chance conversation, wondered - hers was less than 200! I have a long way to go.

If you have a conservation story to share, please leave a note and I shall post it as a blog... Don't know how to enable others to post.

Inviting Articles

Hi Friends, friends of friends, and friends of nature

All of us today are talking of saving earth in some way or the other. I believe that the fact that ice melted and lands became available for habitation is in itself evidence that even without human intervention, the global warming was a reality. The extinction of dinosaurs happened without man's help. Poompuhar, Atlantis...and other lands we may not know submerged under the sea even without industrialisation.

I know man alone is not responsible for all the destruction on earth.

I believe that we are too addicted to our progress and have explanations - convenience, fighting corruption, shrinking the globe, exploring - to justify this process.

I believe many of us have improved purchasing power and the availability of money gives us license to spend more and so demand more from our resources.

I believe all of us try to save waste in some ways.

I believe if all of us share our ideas, we can do wonders and probably restrict the destruction. I can learn something from you, you from someone else, and someone else from someone else...

I hope you will join me in this exchange of ideas.

I am no environmentalist, I am no specialist, I have no experience. I am a human being concerned about destruction of the world unnaturally. I am concerned about the world we will leave behind for our children.

If you share this concern too, you could contribute your ideas here.