Astro enLIGHTNING

Like many others, I have an overriding obsession of reading the daily, weekly and even fortnightly astrological forecasts. In fact, anything that appears in print media including online forecasts draws my attention. Like the morning coffee, these forecasts lay down the mood for the day. As often said variety is the spice of life, I make it a point to read as many forecasts as possible and reconcile with the one which promises the most for the day. I am an inveterate optimist and I never lose heart on a given day when no forecast is a good forecast.

There is an uncanny knack of reading these forecast columns. At first reading, they may not convey much. They may dwell upon diverse areas and bamboozle you. So you should approach them with an open mind. You have to read not only between the lines but also between the words. Sometimes within a word! If you sense a pattern, trust your perception. Answers would emerge like in the Da Vinci Code. These forecasts can activate our inner workings of aspirations. If you understand precisely what motivates you, then you could get what you want very easily from these forecasts. To lift your spirits your zodiac sign hardly matters. If your sun sign Libra doesn’t promise much, don’t get depressed. Read under the lunar sign. You will definitely have something to cheer. If you were born on a cusp, you are the blessed one. You will incorporate the energies of both signs. Read and trust the one that appeals to you the most.

Routinely, while sipping my morning coffee, I was browsing through the weekend forecast. There was a promise of great outdoors and gala time (could it be ‘gal’a time?) particularly near the seaside. ---making new acquaintances, news of legacy etc., etc., all these and more cool ones have stimulated my interest in the following week.
Inspired by the exciting forecast for the following week, I looked forward to savour every moment of it. I consigned my rational thinking to the safe vaults of my brain. I was conjuring up an exciting ambience. I planned a visit to a beach resort in Mahabalipuram during the weekend. I desired (furtively) that the thrilling forecast should come true.

As the weekend approached, to my misfortune, the ominous signs of a thunder storm, lightning and gales threw enough hints of a wet weekend. The weather had been getting progressively worse. I kept hoping that dame luck would smile on my weekend plans but the weather forecast threw a spanner and dampened my spirits. I listened to the latest forecasts on NDTV and BBC channels. The indications were quiet strong for a severe cyclonic storm! I cursed the weather gods for having conspired against me. Storm or no storm, I decided to go ahead with my plans. I got readied to face any eventuality, including aggravating my chronic ailment of rhinitis.

There was an instinctive desire to somehow prove that astrological forecasts were any day superior and reliable than weather forecasts. To confront nature on its terms, I approached a professional meteorologist and sought advice to ascertain how uncertain the weather forecast would be for the weekend. He was only too keen and eager to share his expertise. His prediction was that the cyclonic storm may cross the Andhra coast at Machilipatnam. He cautioned me that due to its influence heavy showers are likely accompanied with thunders and lightning particularly in southern Andhra coast, northern Tamilnadu and Andaman and Nicobar islands in the next 48 hours. His advice was very elaborate and very detailed particularly with respect to safety precautions of LIGHTNING. But to me, the suggestion was totally ambiguous and too tedious.

It was somewhat on these lines…

“Seek shelter inside a building and close all the windows and doors. If you are on the road, get into any car parked nearby until the storm passes away. Since the car is all metal it will conduct electricity to the ground so, do not lean against the doors or other metal parts.”

Well, I thought, why would I get into a car and electrocute myself…….? If ever I owned a car I would better jump out of it for safety. I did not want to arrest the torrent of professional advice after having approached him on my own. He continued…….

“Lightning strikes during such weather conditions and are attracted to high points of metal and water. If you are in the woods, seek shelter in a low area under a thick growth of small trees. Do not stand under a tall, isolated tree or near a telephone pole, or on a hill top…….”

May be it is easier swoon rather than to remember so many instructions. Any way, I did not have the wherewithal to interrupt such a forceful monologue delivered with such sincerity and conviction. His suggestion with regard to staying close to others is also worth recalling.

“If you are with others, keep several yards apart to prevent electricity transferring from one person to another. If you feel your hair stand on its ends, lightning may be ready to strike! Make yourself as small as possible to minimize contact with the current by dropping to your knees, bending forward, putting your hands on your knees and tucking your head down…..”

As he continued, he noticed my nervousness and offered me a cup of tea. After the tea he continued where he left off with renewed vigour. He meticulously demonstrated the entire act of kneeling down when lightning is about to strike. I thanked him profusely and assured him that I would think twice, why twice four times before I ever ventured out on a stormy day. I felt I had truly tasted the ‘thunder.’ The plans for a great weekend had to be relegated to cold storage. I simply gave up the idea.

All those grand hopes of an exciting weekend turned out to be a damp squib. The professional session left me dumb and shell shocked. It only aided in acquiring a new ‘lightning–phobia’ to my already existing long list of phobias.

Following this, I went to a photo studio to take a passport photograph. After the routine ‘smile please’ ‘look here’ instructions, the photographer clicked, I was on my knees and head tucked down…… all because of the flash that went off which reminded me of lightning. Poor photographer! He became nervous and inquired about my health condition. I assured him that I was perfectly all right and posed again. I somehow finished the formality after some more takes but without a flash! (I am yet to collect the snap!)

Believe me, the counseling on lightning left such a strong impact that whenever I see a cloud, a chill runs down my spine. I thanked the Almighty that Benjamin Franklin did not fall into the hands of these professionals. Otherwise we would have been denied of a great invention- - the lightning rod.

I woke up to another lovely, clear sunny Monday morning. There was not a cloud in the sky and I could already see many fishermen’s catamarans taking advantage of this late but welcome sunshine. What a contrast to the last few days. I opened my mail box to read my ‘Free Weekly Forecasts’ for which I’d signed up. The astro site had something for everybody - novices, professionals and 'astro-philes' like me!

Somehow I learned to stop worrying and read the forecasts. Wonder how?

Well, first you have to have a positive attitude towards astrology. If you truly believe, you will be validating the prophecy. Don’t ever get bogged down with one bad forecast. “My reputation grows with every failure”, said Bernard Shaw. So is the case with astrology.

Now, I knew why my weekend was a flop. I decided never to approach a professional again! Else, I may be inviting a risk of acquiring some new phobia. However, I wanted to find a name for my “lightning phobia” if any. To my utter astonishment, it was termed as: Astraphobia!!

One man’s food….another man’s p-----?

It was my first visit to Baroda after my marriage. Baroda is my ‘in-law’s’ place of residence. All the members of the house paid great attention to me. The new son-in-law came under intense media glare at both ‘in-house’ as well as in the neighbourhood. Prior to this visit, I had visited Baroda during an educational tour along with my classmates. The experience was quite enjoyable, particularly with regard to food because most of the dishes were sweetened and I enjoy sweets and sweeter things immensely. Scientists have revealed that craving for sweets has a genetic basis. I endorse it. All my grannies had a craving for sweets. I was looking forward to another ‘sweet’ visit this time too…

I had surfeit of invitations and there was a complete clogging of dinner and lunch engagements. I didn’t know whose invitation to be accepted and whose invitation to be declined. I knew that declining was a delicate affair. So, I entrusted the task of managing the clash of dates, days and timings to my wife.

Wherever I went, every Gujarati family seemed to be paying unwearied attention to the gratification of my palate. They continually invited me to consume exotic preparations. At one of the lunch invitations, I declined the second helping of a particular dish. Everybody seemed to think that my appetite needed piquant stimulants to excite its activity. There was near unanimity in the collective judgement of my hosts. They pointed out to my brother-in-law rather discreetly to attend to this matter diligently.

My brother-in-law, quite sincerely, on our way back home procured some specific ingredients for preparing the recipe to stimulate my taste buds. Back home, there was all ostentation in preparing the dish. I became trifle nervous. I asked my wife, “What’s this all about?”. She giggled and vanished into the kitchen.

In the supper, when the dish was served, I naturally thought that anything prepared with such pains must possess some merits. From the extravagant value placed on the dish and the special esteem that they held for me, I had no other choice but to relish it.

I knew little or nothing about how it should be eaten. Should I mix with rice or should I consume it straight away? There was an uneasy silence. I didn’t want to make a wrong move and display my ignorance. I drank a glass of water and while gulping I was observing others as to who would give me a cue. My father-in-law was gracious enough. He took a spoonful and broke the ice. I also took a spoonful. One spoonful in my mouth tasted like a pungent ayurvedic preparation. I could neither swallow nor could I spit it out. It was far from an appetizer. I began to swallow it in minute quantities and put up a countenance as if I were enjoying every granule of it. My father-in-law enquired with utmost courtesy: “How is the dish?”. I replied with unease and suppressed anxiety: “Altogether excellent”. I was amazed the way my father-in-law and my brothers-in-law were relishing the dish with fresh helpings. They ordered another course for me. My mild resistance was overruled by their voice vote. I gulped the second potion swiftly and took initiative to mix rice with dhal to preempt any further affectionate coercion. To divert the attention of everyone around, I enquired about the ingredients that had gone into the preparation. My father-in-law in his spirited narration, listed the ingredients and their most desirable qualities. He boasted that all the ingredients were of phytochemical origin. I looked at him in askance. He reassured me that phytochemicals were not exotic chemicals, but were plant-derived and natural. I remembered Mark Twain’s words of wisdom: “Part of the secret of success in life is to eat and let the food fight (“phyte”) it out inside”. How was I to know that all that is natural is safe? Even poisons are natural phytochemicals, I thought.

I was in a state of affairs where I had no option of declining any dish that had been prepared for the supper. I consumed all the items with an outwardly impression, as though the potion had cast a spell on my appetite. There was an air of triumph on everybody’s face while I was consuming my food.

Though I am not a foodie by any standards, I am certainly not devoid of taste buds, I thought. My general curiosity has always prompted me to taste any new dish. As far as I could recollect, this dish had a weird taste. Yet, I complimented my in-laws for conjuring such a great delicacy. I told them not to worry anymore about my appetite! Inwardly, I was worried as to what catastrophe was in store for me. I was worried about the dinner invitations for the next two days, lest I should fall ill. All the while, my wife was watching my predicament gleefully.

Fortunately, I ful‘filled’ my dinner commitments successfully. I enjoyed immensely the hospitality of my Gujarati friends. I found them to be very warm, affectionate and social.

I thanked almighty for providing me such a robust digestive system to take care of myself. The molars, incisors and canines, coupled with whole battery of digestive juices, accounted for the efficient digestion of diverse fodder. I was also immensely pleased that I could keep my ‘in-laws’ and their friends a happy lot. I took leave of them wishing Aao Jo. (See you).

P.S: I was reluctant to title my article as: “One man’s food ….another man’s poison” to avoid any sort of disaffection from my ‘in-laws’. As an alternative, I thought of: “One man’s food …..another man’s potion?” Any one to second it?

So I have a blog...

I agree that there should be a space or medium through which one could express and share one’s (creative or otherwise) views, ideas and opinions with others. It is said that ‘Blogs’ are a natural child of WWW. It provided much needed publishing medium. Thanks WWW!

--- so this site is for all the people who have been saying, I ought to have a blog. Thanks folks.

Sashi

A tribute to teachers

Not to waste my precious morning, viewing mindless television, I decided to start my blog site on this auspicious “Teacher’s Day”. I was keen to record my respect and reverence not only to my teachers but also to the entire teaching profession.

I still remember vividly our head master asking our class students to think of the careers we might wish to pursue in life. Hands were raised and voices filled the room…..engineer, doctor, scientist, pilot, cricketer, nurse, ticket collector, bus conductor, singer, astronaut, etc…It was my turn. I was tempted to say: cricketer. I mumbled…teacher. There was an enigmatic look on the face of my head master. Little did I realize the reason for his reaction at that point of time? I didn’t have the gumption to elicit his reaction to my choice.

Now, when I look back at the event the stark reality emerges. Teaching has been, and will continue to be, all about being overworked, under-appreciated and under-paid.

My ambition was always to become a teacher. In fact it was my first career choice. Well, in India, you can’t have a career choice. You don’t have the luxury of choosing what you like. Employment is not by choice but by the opportunity if any that knocks at your door. It was a noble profession I thought.

By sheer chance, I had an impressive pedigree of pedagogues.
My grandfather was a teacher (and a head master too). My paternal uncle was a chemistry lecturer par excellence (and a well-known writer in Telugu) – Palagummi Padmaraju. Another paternal uncle of repute – Palagummi Viswanadham was a Veena vidwan and many budding singers and musicians graduated under his tutelage. My father was “Guru” in real sense and his acolytes were many. Another illustrious and multi-faceted uncle of mine: Chaganti Subba Rao was a Professor-turned-educationist. My brother's father-in-law: Dr. Krishnamurthy was the Principal and a well known Chemistry Professor at Venkateshwara College, New Delhi. Four of my aunts: Smt. Sarada, Smt. Jhansi, Smt. Sumathi and Smt. Girija were accomplished lecturers/teachers. Four of my cousins: Dr. Samba Murthy, Smt. Lakshmi, Smt. Sita and Smt. Ratna are lecturers by choice. Three of my sisters-in-laws: Smt. Hema, Smt. Annapurna and Smt. Satyavati are quality lecturers. The list is endless…

I had also a good mix of friend circle hailing from the teaching community. It is perhaps a natural proclivity to gravitate towards teaching profession.

Is teaching today a tougher job than ever before? Many believe that teaching is a ‘special calling’. I am not sure whether I could have done justice to the profession.

On this day, I recall with gratitude, the knowledge and guidance I received from some of my teachers who taught me in early part of my learning curve. This is the time my receptiveness and attentiveness are believed to be at their best. I am ever indebted to my mathematics teacher: Shri Samuel, my science teacher: Shri Sarma and my social science teacher: Smt. Sundari Reddy at schooling level. At college level, I can’t forget the remarkable teaching abilities of Dr. C.V. Ratnam, my chemistry professor, who taught me organic chemistry with such lucidity and clarity that even today the basics are so firmly ingrained in me. Another professor who helped me a great deal to stimulate my interest in physical chemistry is: Dr. Siddhanti, true to his name he was a scholar in every sense. I consider it as my great privilege to have pursued my Ph.D research under the two stalwarts: Dr. R. Pitchai and Shri R.V Amal Raj. I have learnt so much from them that if I can only achieve at least half what they could accomplish in their profession, I will be paying a rich tribute to them.

I offer my gratefulness to my parents in addition to their abundant love and affection; they have guided me on the right path throughout my life. They are my first and primary teachers.

I have great respect for the entire teaching community. Their role in shaping one’s life is remarkable and extraordinary. Many teachers have left a lasting impression on me though I was not taught by them. It doesn’t matter. In fact, some of them were my son’s teachers. I could see the involvement, application and dedication of these teachers towards their profession. A dedicated teacher is one of the world's most precious resource. I would like to recall their great services with deference. They are: Smt. Sarada Patnaik, Shri Padmanabhan, Shri Khanapure, Smt T.G.Geetha, Smt. Kalyani, Smt. Suchi Smita, Smt. Mahita, Smt. Amita Sethi, Smt. Jyotsna Lal, Smt. V. Rajyalakshmi, Smt. Sushma Nashine, Smt. Umapathy, Smt. Rajamani, Smt. Aruna, Shri Sasi Prasad, Shri Rammohan and Smt. Saroja Sundararajan.

I came across some individuals on professional front who have imparted their knowledge and experience to so many students in their spare time. Truly, a magnanimous gesture. They are: Smt. Uma Seshadri, Dr. B. Purniah, Dr. K.S. Viswanathan, Dr. S.V.M. Satyanarayana and Dr. Sengadir.

I would like to conclude my tribute with the mention of two individuals who impressed me. Firstly, I would like to mention the yeoman service rendered by Shri Johnson Mathews, Principal of one of our Kendriya Vidyalayas. He was instrumental in nurturing the overall development of a child. He did not focus his attention on only the brighter ones. I always found him inspirational and supportive to every student.

The other person being, Smt. Sherine Joy, who served in the capacity as Officer-in-Charge of Sankara College in our township. She has single handedly ran the institution with aplomb and composure in spite of intricate as well as complex difficulties. With her admirable qualities of sensitivity and kindness, has provided avenues to many economically weaker students to pursue their studies, at times paying from her own savings. Her involvement in future of students was holistic.

I strongly believe that from the efforts of teachers’ careers of many students soar. It helps not only students but also the nation. Few other professions have the opportunity to "touch the future" through their daily thoughts, attitudes and actions.

My tribute is incomplete if I don’t inform the readers that my wife - Smt. Seshamma is a teacher too. Thanks to such enlightened company at home, friends and rich pedigree, I became a good listener!

I compliment all the teaching community for making my learning experiences positive and for showing love and compassion in their chosen field.


Teaching, is not just a job. It is a human service, and it must be thought of as a mission

- Dr. Ralph Tyler