A COVID STORY

 

A COVID STORY

Covid came unannounced. Lock Down confined people to their residences. You were punished if you had ventured out. There were arrests. Beatings by the law enforcers. And stiff fines.

Those who had permanent jobs had nothing to lose. Their salaries were promptly credited to their accounts.

Others had it tough. Daily wage earners had their source of income dry up. Shops that sold essential supplies were permitted to operate within a limited time frame. Those who failed to shutter their shops in the given time were either beaten up or were showered with the choicest expletives the enforcers threw at them with gusto. Small time entrepreneurs had no other go but to close down their ventures.

Manoj had a Workshop where he had employed seven workers. He was repairing all kinds vehicles that plied on the roads.

Well, Manoj had to retrench all his employees. He was sitting the hard times out at home.

One day a Civil Police Officer came to his house on a motor cycle. The Police had a broken down Vehicle at the local Police Station that had restricted the mobility of the Police. Manoj  was ordered to reach the Police Station at once and repair the Vehicle.

Manoj rode to the Police Station on his own  motor cycle along with the Civil Police Officer. Fortunately he could repair the vehicle in quick time. The Police paid him his charges for the work.

Manoj was happy he had some money in pocket after quite a long time. He thought he could pick up essential supplies for his people at home. 

As Manoj was riding back to his place the Police from another Police Station stopped him on the road. He was accused of breaking the law by venturing out during Covid times. 

He was fined Rs..2000.00 for the cardinal offence. He explained to the Officer that he was requisitioned by the local Police to repair their vehicle. The Officer did not relent.

Cornered, Manoj rang up the Civil Police Officer and appraised him of the predicament.

The response was in Malayalam, “Avaru fine adichathalle, nee athu kodutheru”. Roughly translated into English, the universal language, it would be, “As they have charged you with the fine, you better pay it up.”

Manoj paid the fine and rode home minus the essentials his wife badly needed.

 

India is not the India of the 50s and 60s

 Someone wrote from abroad

Given the political unrest in India, is it better to stock up on some dry food - just staples like rice / atta/ pulses / tea etc? Just a thought.  + oil

I replied

 There's no political unrest here. Your perception is wrong.

BJP is in full command. They are doing a good job.

And they're going to stay there for the next ten years, if not for more, for the simple reason, there's no credible alternative.

War is a distinct possibility, but it'll never be prolonged.

India is not the India of the 50s and 60s.

It has  adequate stock of basic essentials.

Stocking up at the current juncture would be like climbing up the wrong tree

A Twisting Tale

 A TwistingTale

One day I looked on quietly when Ameya was going through motions of sweeping the dry leaves off - the broom was on the move, but the leaves stayed static -  just as she was carrying on animatedly on her phone. It was loud. It centered on the impending marriage of her elder daughter.

Later I told her to put the phone away when she was on her job.

Today I called her for some task. I heard her conveying  on the phone she was concluding the conversation.

I asked what it was about.

She said it's about the marriage of her elder daughter.

When I probed she said an Engineer, a Nair, from Palghat was  marrying her daughter.

She elaborated, "They came and they had no demands. They were happy with the girl."  The prospective groom was found through instagram reels of her daughter, she added.

It was greek to me.

She said the marriage would be held at Guruvayoor. It'd be a Hindu Marriage. She was running around to raise Rs7 lacs for that. 

I said I thought she was from the predominant community around. She said no, she was a Nair and that as per records she was a Hindu. But she confirmed she had embraced Christianity  and she followed the Christian faith .

I was perplexed.

Truly twisting.

CEO has to bat for the company

 

CEO has to bat for the company. But if things are not working he must get rid of the baggage. 

He must ensure that the company breaks out of the formal, hierarchical mode. Then he has to  transform the brand strategy. Let people choose.Make what sells rather than letting  people buy what you make. 

Do something you are really interested in. Have the courage to make bold decisions and go all in on it. There will be moments in your life where you will have to make super big decisions. Never hesitate.

Innovation has multiple roles. Serve unmet needs. Expand the universe. Look for salience around big ideas. But when you have more ideas than work you can be certain you are reaching nowhere. You have to decisively act and discard the flab.

In Homer's epic Odyssey,  Zeus, the king of gods laments, " Men are fools.... They blame the gods for their misfortunes, ignoring our advice. They don't accept that their own foolish actions lead to their downfall"

Stay completely in the moment as you speak with another person. Look them in the eye. Observe their facial expressions.

Do things unhurriedly. Unhurriedly, not slowly.

THE LAW OF INCREASE

 

THE LAW OF INCREASE

The law of increase states that that which we truly appreciate and are grateful for will increase in our life.

When we can focus on something and appreciate it with all our heart and the gratitude for having it in our life wells out and overflows, we will find that more and more of it will automatically appear in our life.

Stay completely in the moment as you speak with another person. Look them in the eye. Observe their facial expressions.

Do things unhurriedly. Unhurriedly, not slowly.

You don't have to be Ivy League educated.

 To be successful you don't have to be Ivy League educated. 

Normal people with normal backgrounds and difficult childhoods can achieve their dreams.

 The best companies reinvent themselves multiple times. 

They make fundamental changes across all aspects of business.

Risk is not external. It is self  generated.

The ultimate test of leadership is for teams to harness the opposing forces of humility and relentless drive.

Harness market intelligence.

Versatility is most essential in management

"The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness."

Dalai Lama

No marriages are made in heaven

No marriages are made in heaven. They need very down to earth adjustments. Make them.

 God does not change the condition of any people until they themselves resolve to embark on that change.

The parents  should never meddle in the least to narrow their children's choices. No tyranny of expectation should be exercised.

Marriage calls for  spontaneous appreciation and fondness in interactions.

I wouldn't have been what I am, if Lila, had not conspired to make it happen or gave me the energy to go ahead. She beaurifully  managed everything at home.

It began since we came together.

Our children encourage me to keep going. All the three of them, Lila, Anoop and Ashwin, exemplify hardwork.

God has blessed us with grandchildren. They are bundles of joy and the epitome of boundless energy. We praise God for the priceless gifts.

"The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness."

Dalai Lama

Delighted to see your fruitful journey as a dignified human being

Message from Rev Dr C I David Joy, Principal, KUT Seminary, Kannammoola , Trivandrum in the morning on 20th April 2025 - my birthday - that coincided with the Easter Sunday

Good morning Sir,

I wish you a blessed year ahead. Delighted to see your fruitful journey as a dignified human being. I admire the way in which you have been sharing your thoughts and resources with others.

Blessings and prayers

It was followed by special gifts picturised here

And it was accompanied by a  wonderful  message.

Happy  75th Birthday. Sir! Your hardwork, open mind, and fresh perspective continue to inspire everyone around you.  Wishing you joy, good health and many more years of impact, wisdom and fulfilment.

Blessings and Prayers.

I responded

Grateful for sparing precious time on this day to greet me.

Yes, God has led me, led us this far. 

I am just an instrument in His hands.

Time has not dented the imperiousness

Someone read my earlier post, "April 18, 2025 Good Friday Worship at Christ Church"

And wrote

 "While cooking my thoran, this well curated article kept coming back to me - and also our back and forth onit. You see, we also have elderly folks having their moments in our churches. A strange thought came to my mind - ‘if I were the elderly person going through a health crisis during service, would I like to have the service be put on hold for me?’ The question stunned me."

I responded

"I wrote because we had been through that 23 years ago.

The event invoked memories of what we had underwent.

We felt, for the Church, rituals were more important than the people who populate it. 

It was no different this time too.

Time has not  dented  the imperiousness even a bit.

What the sufferers need is a touch. A word. A presence. A fellowship.

It doesn't matter at all to the sick as they are not awake.

But it matters to the living"

Not in interpretations that advocate the supremacy of mortals

 Our niece wrote

" I was studying Leviticus chapters 9 and 10. God’s servants are not God. When Nadab and Abihu were killed Aaron and his other sons were not allowed to take a break in any way.

I couldn’t grasp the last line of Leviticus 10 when Aaron asks ‘19 Aaron replied to Moses, “Today they sacrificed their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, but such things as this have happened to me. Would the Lord have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering today?” 20 When Moses heard this, he was satisfied.’

I replied

"God said I am your God. You'll have no other God.

Everything begins here. Ends here.

When you deviate you've had it.

Bible is Old Testament and New Testament.

Think of the times the OT was composed. 

People had to be convinced. Mostly it  was achieved through fright.

They wanted conformists. 

These stories or examples were put to you so that you never wavered.

Even today women are put down quoting verses from both OT and NT.

In a world where change is constant, change is resisted to enforce the rule of those in power.

My contention is, BELIEVE in God. Not in interpretations that advocate the supremacy of mortals"

April 18,2025 Good Friday Worship at Christ Church

 

April 18,2025      

Good Friday Worship at Christ Church

Though we stay afar we managed to reach the Church at 7.00am. We were happy we were in time. The Worship commenced at 7.15am. We could observe the womenfolk were mostly in their ‘Whites’. Well, on special days’  it’s an all white attire for them.

As the Worship progressed there was a tumult at the men’s back row. It was 7.50am.             

Mr. KM Mathen, a good friend, was unwell. He had vomited. Dr.Thomas Varghese, Neuro Surgeon, was among the worshippers. He stepped in. A wheel chair was brought in. Mr. Mathen was brought out on it. He was kept under observation in the Vestry. A medical student volunteered to attend on him. She was a member of the Choir.

Meanwhile the Worship went on. The Asst.Vicar began  delivering the message at 7.55 am.

Ms. Georgina was beside her husband. Later we could see her coming out of the Vestry. She stood there leaning on to a table. We could sense she was unwell. She seemed disoriented. Her body language reflected vividly her helplessness.

Someone guided her to a chair. She quietly sat there.

We could see the officials of the Church running around silently and tackle the harrowing incident.

The sexton quickly cleaned up the floor.

Meanwhile we saw Ms.Jula, the lone IAS Officer in the Church, helping out. She managed to obtain some sweets for the patient. We learned later that Mr. Mathen had a bout of Hypoglycemia.

In the interim, an official had called for 108 Ambulance. It arrived in a flash.

Mr.Mathen was carried on a stretcher to the Ambulance. Ms Jula held Ms.Georgina with one hand and carried Mr Mathen’s footwear in the other hand. She  led the disconsolate lady to the Ambulance. It seems she had accompanied the patient on the ride to the Hospital as well.

The Asst Vicar took 15 minutes to conclude his message. The patient was off to the Hospital in that time.

The altruistic efficiency of the officials and the members of the congregation was unbelievable.

I felt a mention of the event could have been made from the altar. It did not. Mr. KM Mathen was worshipping along with the congregation till he fell ill all of a sudden..

Not that it matters either.

Because it never happens in Christ church

The episode took us both back to what happened to us 23 years ago. A defective fan at the  Church had altered our lives forever. It taught us human life was fickle. But it made us understand God is there to take care of us.

Like on that fateful day as well as today, we feel  it would have been  good if the worship is paused for a few moments and an announcement conjoined with a word of prayer is made on behalf of the unfortunate co-worshipper.

For hard core ritualistic as we are, we have to understand that sanctity of the Worship would never be shredded or compromised on such an unforeseen  recess. A word of prayer and a healing touch by the Vicar would go a long way in soothing the severe trauma that had hit the family out of the blue.

The Bible says a mere touch by Jesus cured the sick.

Exactly 1992 years ago,  though badly mauled by the criminals and the misinformed in the garb of ardent holiness, our savior had admonished Peter after resetting the ear of an adversary that Peter had sliced off.

He was never ritualistic.

We follow Him. 

Do we?

 

 

ROPES ARE FOR SUNDAYS

It was Maundy Thursday

Someone was

At the morning Worship

He posted

"Church without 

Vadam and Ropes

 Today morning 

Amazing"

I responded

 "Can't believe.

 What happened 

To the good people 

Who rule us?

Have they gone

 For a furlough?

Don't worry. 

Ropes will be back 

With a vengeance

 To drive off the faithful.

 It could've happened 

Today

As it is not a Sunday

 Ropes are for Sundays.

Sundays are for Ropes.

Not for Thursdays"

"Ropes sing aloud

Thursdays 

Are for slumber"

Never say she's incapable

We had as visitors a mother and her daughter. The mother is a teacher in a school and the daughter had just concluded her board exams. 

We asked the girl what her plans were for the future. The girl was candid to state that she wished to do a course in fashion desigining. The mother exploded. She said the girl is just an average student and she had a difficult time in preparing her to face the exam. According to her the girl would find it tough to go through the course in fashion designing. There was so much to learn.  Moreover it was a very expensive course. Her advice was that the girl should go for an ordinary degree programme and then choose her line.

We didn't comment, but posted our views to the mother and the girl.

"Aim high. Set your goals.  Fight to achieve them.

There is no substitute to hardwork.

You must compress 48 hours and more to 24 hours.

Then success is yours."

(This was to  both the girl and the mother)

"My contention. 

You can differ. 

You can discard.

Never say she's incapable of achievement. Especially in her presence. For the children sky is the limit. They need to be motivated. Not stifled. 

Encourage them. 

Never say you don't have money. Again in their presence. When you set out doors will be opened.

 Money will be there for everything. 

Of course you'll be through tough difficult situations. But you have already overcome so much hardships nothing can ever put you down.

Fight. Never begin as the loser.

Trust their ability. Have faith in them."

(This was to the mother)

JAMES ALLEN // INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS

James Allen, born in 1864, died on 1912.

He was 47.

He had published numerous works,  among which 9 are well known.

He is considered as one of the founding fathers of inspirational thought.

"As a Man Thinketh" his third book was  published in 1903.

It is a literary essay. The title is inspired from the Biblical verse 

from the Book of Proverbs 23:7  -  "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

Allen described it as a book that would help you to help yourself.

It describes the way our thoughts impact our lives. 

We tend to become what we think.

Ropes

Ropes are convenient to segregate man from man. In the Holocaust, people on the other side went on to embrace death.

Ropes enable those in power to keep the weeds out. Weeds are the unwanted.

When a VVIP or a VIP breezes through the roads Ropes are in place to keep the traffic off so that they could have the city to themselves. 

The people wait and wait. They suffer without respite. 

The rulers have to rule.

Ropes are in meetings to restrain those who take the trouble to attend them.

Ropes are an integral componet of Christ Church

Saturday, 12th April 2025

 I don't know if it's true. 

I heard yesterday that the Christ Church Committee that met on Wednesday last had decided to do away with the ropes for good.

What I learn is, when there were strong arguments for and against the ropes, the Senior Pastor was vociferous the ropes had to go.

Sunday, 13th April 2025

Rope is still there. We managed to squeeze in as it was open when we came. A moment later it was in place routing people away, even away from Church.

 This is not my domain. Nor am I the right person to express an opinion.

Just a narration.

The English Worship began at 7.15 am sharp. The church was overflowing.

The Asst. Vicar began the sermon at 7.45am. It was quite good. Well researched. He concluded at 8am. 

The Vicar was conducting the worship from that point. He went on and on with intercessory prayer. Not from the book of worship. Finally the worship concluded at 9.15am. 

By then the attendees for Malayalam  Worship started arriving. There was confusion. However we managed the exit from the Campus with little difficulty.

What I learn is that in the last committee meeting the members had suggested  that English Worship had to be concluded invariably at 9am. 

However the Vicar had opined that the worship needed 2hours.

Well it took two hours. 

It doesn't matter even if it takes three hours. But there is a schedule to keep for Malayalam Worship  as well.

Thuglakian innovation and the aftermath

TIDINGS is the monthly newsletter  of  Christ Church

The newsletter had been eulogising the Thuglakian innovation of traffic management in the Campus. It went on  in several issues. The issue for April 2025 was no different. Meanwhile the congregation suffered at the enforced solution. As it is in Malayalam, I am not quoting it here.

But it made me put up a poser.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Does it remind you of Joseph Goebbels 

or

a philosophy that has lost its relevance today, 

a philosophy people all over the world have rejected

or

all autocratic regimes that have withered away over time

or 

Adolf Hitler himself who went on clamouring the Germans were winning even as the Russians were on his door steps

STANFORD UNIVERSITY /WHAT HARVARD LOST

This is forward I received. But I have read this earlier

 A lady in a faded grey dress and her husband dressed in a home made suit walked in timidly without an appointment into the Harvard University President's outer office.

The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods individuals had no business at Harvard and probably did not even deserve to be in Harvard.

"We want to see the President" the man said softly. "He will be busy all day" the lady secretary snapped. "We will wait" the lady replied.

For hours the secretary ignored them hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away. They did not and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the president.

"Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they will leave" she said to him. The president. stern faced and with dignity strutted towards the couple.

The lady told him "We had a son who attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago he was accidentally killed. My husband & I would like to erect a memorial for him, somewhere on the campus".

The president was not touched, in fact he was shocked. "Madam" he said gruffly "We cannot put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery".

"Oh No..No.." the lady explained quickly. "We do not want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to your Harvard in his fond memory".

The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the lady's dress and man's suit and then exclaimed: "A Building?" 

Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical buildings here at Harvard. For a moment the lady was silent. The president was pleased. Maybe he could get rid of them now.

The lady turned to her husband and said quietly "Is that all it costs to start a University? Why don't we just start our own?" Her husband nodded. The president's face wilted in confusion and bewilderment.

Mr. & Mrs. Leland & Jane Stanford got up and walked away, travelling to Paolo Alto, California where they established the University that bears their name: Stanford University - a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about.

Most of the time we judge people by their outer appearance which can be misleading. And in the impression, we tend to treat people badly by thinking they can do nothing for us. Thus we tend to lose out potential good friends, employees or customers.

Though, it may not be convenient for you, but still do your best to always be supportive. Especially to those  even if you think they can't offer you anything. 

Arrogance is a killer .... a soft word turns away wrath!   Humility is a virtue, so, please continue with it. 

 *By the way, 

83 NOBEL prize winners are from Stanford University till now !!!*

CONCERN

 Facts are facts.

Nobody learns from History.

Concern is a bygone word.

Yes. Concern is there. For the self

GARDENER ROY

 

GARDENER ROY

 

When we were inviting friends and relatives to our grandson Elvin's baptism on 12thOctober2024, I phoned up the gardener of our church, Roy. As it had been a long time since I conversed with him over phone, I introduced myself - something I religiously do whenever I ring up someone - and enquired whether he remembered me.

 The reply was quite surprising. He said how he could ever forget me.

He continued, "It was the day of Koshy Achen's funeral. After it was over you took me in your car and drove me home. When you found out the sad plight of my dwelling you reported what you observed to the church committee where you were the Treasurer. The church committee took the observations seriously and had built a house for me where I reside now".

"We as a family will  forever be grateful to you."

I had forwarded this to the Church Warden at that time. 

Here is the  message I received from the Church Warden of that period after going through GARDENER ROY

  "I can never forget your description in our Church Committee regarding our Roy's plight and how he lived in that dwelling place

That only made us to immediately act and give him what was  due to him

Good deeds are never forgotten"

Suddenly it dawned on me.

When Koshy Achen's funeral was over we were about to leave. Then I saw Roy sitting on the sidewall that separated the tombs and the parking ground. I called out to him to enquire how he was doing. Lila knew he couldn't walk much as he had fallen off the roof of the family vault in the compound.  He had climbed on to the roof to clear the accumulated dry leaves there. It was a fall from ten feet. His legs were swollen.He couldnot walk. 

We went up to him.

We offered to drop him off at his residence. He was adamant he would return himself. We forced him into our Car. He couldn't sit properly. As we neared his residence he didn't want us to see his dwelling place. We persisted. We stepped into his house. 

We were struck aghast. It was a single room shack. There was no kitchen. There was no bathroom. There was an apology of a toilet adjacent.They drew water from a well. He had with him his mother, wife and daughter. We asked him how the women bathed. He pointed at the well. He said they took their bath in the open at the well when it was pitch dark.

We just couldn't stomach it all.

We left after handing over to him the money we had with us.

Later I had reported what we had seen to the Church committee.

SENTIENT

 Sentient comes from the Latin sentient-, "feeling," and it describes things that are alive, able to feel and perceive, and show awareness or responsiveness. Having senses makes something sentient, or able to smell, communicate, touch, see, or hear.

Able to perceive or feel things 

He had been instructed from birth in the equality of all sentient life forms"

Pronounced  sen-shent

PASSION

 Passion exists inside you. It does not exist in  the  job. You create your ideal job by igniting the passion within you.

Pusillanimous

 adjective: pusillanimous

showing a lack of courage or determination; timid.

Similar:

cowardly

timorous

timid

When I brought up the word at home the response was classical. 

They said such words are for Mr.Sashi Tharoor.

Please confine to words like 'TIMID'

REPORT TO THE BRANCH MANAGER

 Very sorry to disturb you with the mundane.

Someone from your branch calls me. Tells me there is not enough fund in my account to debit dues. I had seen enough there in the morning. 

I am busy elsewhere.

Still I checked the ac.

The balance in the morning is still there. 

I rang back.

She wants to know my name. Obvious. Gave it. She disconnected.

Left a lousy disgusting feeling. 

Courtesy blissfully withers.

Parking and Christ Church The Great Rope Trick To Drive Off The Faithful

 Parking and Christ Church

The Great Rope Trick To Drive Off The Faithful

This is a matter that should never come to you.

On a Sunday English Worship, Rev Viswasraj was leading the Worship. For him what could be done in one minute always takes three minutes. Rev Kuruvilla Chandy was the speaker. Though the Church gives 20 mins for the message he took more than 35mins.

English Worship that begins at 7.15 am has to be completed by 9am. Then only the participants would vacate the premises and parking ground so that people who come to attend Malayalam Worship at 9.45am could park their vehicles. 

On that Sunday when the two respected Pastors conspired to extend the worship there was a parking mayhem. It invited the intervention of the Police as the roads were clogged.

The Church has found a solution. Parking in the ground adjacent to the Centenary Hall is prohibited or prevented with ropes and three or four security personnel until the parking place adjacent to the entrance of the stadium is filled.

Here is the hitch.

 Most of the people who drive to the church are not professional drivers. They are aged. Many of them are women.The behaviour of the security personnel is unpleasant. They explain they are helpless as they are following  the  orders of the committee which is sacrosanct. 

Last Sunday I met a lady who I presume had been an additional secretary. She was lamenting the ropes led her up where she did not have the expertise to park. Finally she had to take the vehicle out of the compound and park on the road even as there was sufficient space within the compound that had been cordoned off.

The questions are, why should the congregation be punished for the inefficiency of the Church to complete the worship in time.

Why is it that the Church is alienating the people who take great pains to attend the worship. 

At this rate when people are cordoned off for no fault of theirs, the question again arises.

Are we in a totalitarian regime?

Many I understand have objected to the present arrangement but to no avail.

It happened to me too once. As I was directed up there was a little space to squeeze my vehicle in. I managed it with the guidance of three people. It was fortunate they were there. Deeply assailed by the travail both of us made a decision to return without attending the Church if we had to go through such an experience again. This is not blasphemy. This is not faithlessness. 

However we are helpless.

WORSHIP IN ENGLISH ON GOOD FRIDAY

It was Sunday. 23March2025. The Pastor at Christ Church made a suggestion that the Church may do away with the Worship in English on the ensuing Good Friday. He encouraged the congregation to air their opinion.

I responded. It's here.

"Your exhortation to speak out on Sunday 23March2025

Let sleeping dogs lie.

It's an old adage.

Christ Church has a tradition. Why do you wish to demolish it?

I can write about myself and may be my family.

The Good Friday worship had three streams so far. English, Malayalam, Tamil. It worked well.

Those who wanted a short form attended the English Worship. Those who were willing to sit through the Malayalam went for that. The Tamils went for Tamil. Three worships meant three offertories. Revenue.Cut down to two. Loss of Revenue. 

There was an Pastor here long while back. He told us proudly he had extended the Good Friday worship till 2.30 pm or 3pm. We were fortunately not here that time. Probably at Thalavady with Papa.

Well it is not the time that you sit through the worship that determines your faith. 

To me the Church is distancing itself from the worshipping community.

Birthday Wedding Anniversary lists that used to be read out are discontinued. Other MKD Churches - CSI Madhya Kerala Churches - do that. Hearing that people from Thalavady greet us.

The presiding Pastor used to ring up and wish members on the two occasions. It no longer occur. Once the No.2 rang up. He said he had been assigned the duty by the Achen. 

He no longer bothers now.

The Church is interested in the collections. The organisations are interested in tours that is part subsidised by church.

The CC TV functions off and on with reluctance.

A former  Secretary of the  Womens Fellowship  had a torrid time. The male chauvinists in the Church Committe won't provide them any financial assistance. They were blandly told to fend for themselves.

They forgot 50% of the revenue was the  contribution of the neglected women.

Finally please don't do away with the English worship on Good Friday for God's sake."

The good Pastor replied highlighting his constraints. 

I clarified my view. 

It,s here.

"Very happy you spoke out.

I wrote because you invited the views of the congregation. 

It was long. But it came from the heart. 

Right after the English worship we went to Ashwin's shop. It was at least two months since we had been there. 

We were overwhelmed by his struggle. He usually opens at 9am and closes at 10pm. There is no respite. Once we spend some time there we can understand what he goes through. He doesn't make much profit either as it is a retail margin free business. 

For our elder son Anoop the day begins at 8am and he is on at 10pm as well. There is no respite for him.

The homemaker at home gets no pay. She works the whole day. But she unselfishly toils.

Life is struggles all over. It's how we tackle it that matters.

Now, I'd invite you to listen to Rev Mothy Varkey  speak at CSI East Kerala convention. It could be Rev.PCSaji  either.

The speaker speaks on an Upadeshi - Church Worker - who was willingly giving away everything he had.. His sole refrain was Daivam nadathum.- God will take care.

Now, your son walked off from a ghastly accident unharmed. Why? How? 

Because you followed Jesus.

Follow Jesus. You'll never be in want."

ANY ONE CAN

 Dream is not that which you see while sleeping, it is some thing that does not let you sleep

APJAbdul Kalam

Please look at Dr M Ajit, age 30

He has won the second rank in the Agricultural Research Service exam conducted by ASRB.

Ajit came to Kottayam from Tamil Nadu while he was 13. He was the son of M. Murukesh and M. Saraswathy.

The parents were at once labourers, plastic sellers and Aakri collectors.

Ajith did his studies at Vidaydhiraja Vidyabahavan School and MDSeminary School.

He passed ICAR entrance and secured admission at Dr Punjab Rao Desmukh Krishi Vidyapeedh, Akola, Maharashtra with a Scholarship of Rs. 1000.00.

That was not enough for his sustenance. His younger brother M Arjun from his earnings as a daily labourer had remitted to him the money Ajit needed to survive. 

Dr Ajit, now, has attained what had appeared as the virtually insurmountable.

It tells, 'ANY ONE CAN'

Quite a disgusting way we treat visitors at christ church

Quite a disgusting way we treat visitors at christ church

My granddaughter has the sunday school exam. I left her at the Centenary Hall. Came up to church's porch. Sat down reading.

Two British ladies came to me. They had a picture of Emperor Hailie Selassie with them. One lady said she was working in the Hailie Selassiie museum in England. She wanted to see the Hall the emperor helped to build. She said the museum she worked was earlier the british residence of the emperor. The other lady said she was working in a university in England.

The church was locked. They said they wished to see the interior of the church. No way. There was an official of the church here. I enquired who had the key. He rang up some one. Then he told me to ask the ladies to speak to another official. 

Then I found the sexton. When quizzed if he had the key he asked me to speak to another official.

When I talked to him he I felt was furious about the foreign visitors. He came up and interrogated them. Finally he said he was satisfied about their credentials. He asked them to go around the tombs and take photos of the exterior of the church. He said further he would get the church opened, but they do not encourage photography inside. The dichotomy surprised me. There had never been any bar on photography inside the church when events took place.

As I found the treatment not to my liking I quietly slipped away. 

Suddenly I find the church open and I think they are inside the church along with the official.

Fine hospitality

 They just came out. They said this was a cute church.  

As they came out they enquired again with the Church's official where  the building  built with the contribution from the Emperor Hailie Selassie stood.  The Official pointed at the Centenary Hall in the campus. They expressed the desire to visit the place. Pat was the reply, "No. You cannot enter the place as the Sunday school Examination is going on there." 

Well, I wondered how the visit by the  two ladies from England could disturb the children who were writing the examination.

The ladies approached me.  They thanked me and left.

For my part I invited them to KUTS and gave my contact in case they wished to visit KUTS

Gukesh Dommaraju's parents

 Gukesh Dommaraju's parents are both doctors: 

Dr. Rajinikanth

An ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon who gave up his practice to support his son's chess career. He traveled with Gukesh to tournaments around the world. 

Dr. Padma Kumari

A microbiologist who managed the household while her husband was away. She provided emotional support for Gukesh, sharing motivational stories and quotes from famous people. 

Gukesh's parents' decision to support his chess career was unconventional and challenging. Padma says that her husband's sacrifice was the biggest a father could make, and that he helped Gukesh reach his level.

The Marwari Psyche

 The Marwari Psyche

Marwaris have business in their blood. 

Failure in business is not perceived as a stigma.

It is seen as a rite of passage for future success!

AB de Villiers, former SA Captain on Virat Kohli

 AB de Villiers, former SA Captain on Virat Kohli.

I think the thing is to reset your mind every time. Virat loves the fight, but when you are not in the form of your life, it's best to get rid of those things. As a batter it is to reset every single and understand every ball is an event and just forget about the bowler.

Yes, you have to take things in life one at a time as they burst upon you

PAT CUMMINS // CRICKET

 This is an adaptation from cricket with the credit going to Pat Cummins, the Australian Skipper.

When you are behind, a lot of things get questioned, fairly or unfairly. It shows the strength of the group to stay strong, know that we weren't at our best but can get better, know we won't get caught up in the external noise and clutter, and just focus on what makes us good players and a good team.

It's about what you don't change more than what you change.

THE TRUE LEADER

 He must be a guide through the challenging times.

He must possess the wisdom passed down through ages. 

He must have the ability to think clearly, counsel sagely and work tirelessly.

He must be the rock of Gibralter for his followers.

He should never settle for less.

His dedication and sense of duty should permeate to his people.

He should have expertise in negotiation and strategic planning.

He must approach everything with an unwavering conviction

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.

FAMILY TIME

 To be successful you need to be organised and disciplined. 

You need to have perfect work - life balance.

You need to prioritise family time.

If you have important assignments work around those commitments and never let them intrude into the space set apart for the family.

A home is a reflection of the people that inhabit it. Your dream home would represent what one can achieve with hardwork, determination and drive. 

Your home must be more than a house to you. It will be a place filled with memories, love and the essence of your journey as a family.

It must have serene spaces where you'll discover inspiration and clarity

LALITHA ACT

 LALITHA ACT

Geography lesson was in progress in the ninth grade class room of a Chennai School

The teacher was asking questions on National Capitals 

He first asked Ramaswamy, "What is the capital of Denmark?

Ramaswamy didn't know the answer. He was suitably admonished.

Then he asked Govindan who was also clueless and was promptly rebuked.

Next it was poor Rajamani's turn. He looked totally blank. By then the teacher lost his cool and shouted, "Stupid idiot, you do not know anything. You are a disgrace to this School. Stand up on the bench!"

Rajamani complied and stood up on the bench. (Standard punishment those days)

Next tbe teacher turned to Lalitha, the class beauty.

He asked Laltha gently, "Lalitha, do you know what is the Capital of Denmark?"

Lalitha looked innocent and kept quiet.

He continued, "My dear, I am sure you know, it is Cop, Cop...."

Lalitha replied "Cop, Cop.." and stopped.

The teacher gently continued, "I know it is in the tip of your tongue - Copen, Copen"

Lalitha answered parrot like "Copen, Copen..." and stopped.

The teacher then said Copenhagen!" and Lalitha responded triumphantly with " It is Copenhagen, Sir!"

The teacher beamed and said "See, see, I knew that you always had the answe."

He then turned towards Rajamani and warned him that it was time that he got his act together and improved his knowledge!

The writer continues. He says in almost all organisations, some people who silently toil hard are treated badly and are ignored as the lowliest.

There are equivalents of  hounded Rajamanis and pampered Lalthas in all organisations.

He concludes, "It is time we spare a thought to the backroom boys who keep our systems going and give them the respect they deserve.

From

A Captain In Corporate Wonderland 

by

Captain N S Mohan Ram

Santha Bakery

 It is said, every good thing comes to an end some day.

Yet, it is sad after 84 years, it is curtains down for the iconic Santha Bakery of Trivandrum.

The products of Santha Bakery had set an elevated benchmak for bakeries in Trivandrum. They were much in demand. There were no left overs for the next day. Whatever was on the shelves were gobbled up by the clientale as soon as they went on display.

It was a Bread, Bun, Biscuits, Cakes, Puffs show all the way. They were all created at Santha Bakery. The irresistible quality was its showpiece. 

We have not seen the kind of bread anywhere else except at the Queens Bakery that withered away many decades ago. They were worthy competitors. But Santha Bakery was inches ahead.

Time does not stand still for anyone. 

We hope the quality of Santha Bakery's products is replicated in the large number of Bakeries Trivandrum abounds in.

MANU BHAKER // BRONZE MEDALLIST IN SHOOTING //PARIS OLYMPICS

 Sumedha Bhaker, mother of Manu Bhaker, winner of two Paris  Olymipics 2024 Bronze medals in shooting.

"I want to tell all parents to leave their kids alone and give them freedom. Let them pursue what they want. Just support them. You should not push them too much.

Manu had it inside her. That crazy obsession to do well. That quality helped her to do well in her game. 

Mothers should be there for their daughters and should help them flourish. They have a lot of potential but should be left free."

Sumedha had left her passion, teaching, to be with her daughter and accompany her. She had relocated to Faridabad, Haryana to be close to the shooting range and be with Manu.

She concludes, " I believe if a mother accompanies her daughter it gives her a lot of confidence."

TVS SCOOTY

 When TVS launched the SCOOTY in 1994, it had captured a respectable share of the market.

The company discovered a potential problem with the exhaust system after thousands of vehicles were sold. 

The design was modified to eliminate the flaw.

The company honchos pondered over what was to be done with the vehicles in the hands of the customers.

The consensus was to attend to the complaints  on the exhaust system  quickly and do nothing if there were no complaints.

The MD Venu Sreenivasan was furious and put his foot down.

He said that the person who did not complain might be cursing TVS and telling others that the Scooty was a disaster. On the other hand the man who complained was really TVS's friend. The man who did not complain might be quietly fuming and was a potential enemy. He instructed that the company should contact every customer who had bought a vehicle with the defective exhaust system and  ensure that the defect was addressed at once.

He had further directed that the company should give the customers temporary vehicles for use during the exercise to spare inconvenience.

The replacement was quiet expensive for the company at a time when its profits were down.

However the care the company exercised for the customers made the Scooty a resounding success. It placed TVS firmly as the leaders of the small scooter segment

The Harsh Boss

 You may feel bad when your boss is harsh and demanding and is correcting you anywhere and  everywhere. However please remember you can do very well and climb higher and higher only when you become a glutton for absorbing punishment and in turn  nurture an eagerness to improve yourself  day by day

Why IAS is a hot pick for IITians

 Why IAS is a hot pick for IITians

1.The best way to pursue important public sector projects is through working within the Government.

2.It gives you tangible satisfaction. 

3.There is diversity in roles.

4.It commands respect.

5.While it takes 20 years to become the CEO of a company, as an IAS officer, you are holding a leadership position at a very young age.

6.There is a domino effect at play. When the seniors clear the exam, the culture trickles down to the junior batches.

 As we bring up our children, we must deglamourise certain professions and broaden the narrative around the vast opportunities available. They should be oriented on the immense opportunities in entrepreneurship, innovation and emerging technologies. They must be made aware that every sector has enough opportunities and that  diversity in expertise would lead them to greater achievements.

JALAJ SAXENA // CRICKET

 JALAJ SAXENA

Jalaj Saxena, 38,  is a Spinner - all rounder in Cricket. He plays for Kerala. Though the most consistent performer in domestic cricket an India call up has eluded him.

He says, " I still have a dream to play for India, so it's a big motivation. 

I don't have any expectation I will get a call tomorrow. Nothing like that. It's a part of my process that in the off season I think what better I can do. I need to do my hard work and I need to play for India, that's what keeps me going..."

Though unrealistic he believes as a professional he has to keep turning out for the country as the ultimate aim.

He believes he cannot survive if he doesn't have it in him.

Darkness cannot be removed by another form of darkness. It must be dispelled with light.

Bad Nauheim Marketing lesson

 Bad Nauheim

Marketing lesson

Elvis Presley was the king of rock'n'roll in the 1950's and '60s. Even today, 50 years after his passing he has a cult following across the world.

Bad Nauheim is a small spa town with a population of 33000 in Germany.  It is the only place Elvis had ever lived in outside America. 

He arrived at the place in1958 to do his mandatory military service. Afterwards he lived there for two years at Goethestrasse 14 from 1959 to 1960. This is the home where he met Priscilla and fell in love with her.

Bad Nauheim has converted this brief historical sojourn into a tourist gold mine showcasing meticulously every spot in the town Elvis touched. He is unmissable in the whole place. Every August around the death anniversary of the singer the town organises the European Elvis festival.

Elvis Presley may have stayed in Bad Nauheim only for two years. But because of the brilliant marketing programne the town has created he continues to live on here forever, attracting a continuous stream of tourists, that hugely benefits the local economy

THE LAW OF INCREASE

 

 THE LAW OF INCREASE

The law of increase states that that which we truly appreciate and are grateful for will increase in our life.

When we can focus on something and appreciate it with all our heart and the gratitude for having it in our life wells out and overflows, we will find that more and more of it will automatically appear in our life.

Stay completely in the moment as you speak with another person. Look them in the eye. Observe their facial expressions.

Do things unhurriedly. Unhurriedly, not slowly.

Defeats teach a lot of lessons

 Defeats teach a lot of lessons

Failures help you discover 

Where you go wrong

Where you need refinement

Failures are not 

The end of the road

They make you 

Fight on

Learn from your failures

Do not harp on

Your successes

That are there anyway

The True CEO

The CEO has to bat for the company. But if things are not working he must get rid of the baggage. 

He must ensure that the company breaks out of the formal, hierarchical mode. Then he has to  transform the brand strategy. Let people choose.Make what sells rather than letting  people buy what you make. 

Do something you are really interested in. Have the courage to make bold decisions and go all in on it. There will be moments in your life where you will have to make super big decisions. Never hesitate.

Innovation has multiple roles. Serve unmet needs. Expand the universe. Look for salience around big ideas. But when you have more ideas than work you can be certain you are reaching nowhere. You have to decisively act and discard the flab.

EDUCATION VERITABLE QUOTES

  Rabindranath Tagore

"Don't limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time."

 The idea that stress in education is inevitable needs to give way to the understanding that real learning thrives in nurturing environments.

 Swami Vivekananda

Education is the manifestation of perfection already present in man

 Each child blossoms as per his/her talent.

 The role of educators is to nurture the unique talent of a child leading to his/her excellence in chosen field

Life's path may not always be linear but zigzag.

 Make learning a joyful undertaking rather than a burdensome obligation

Create spaces where diverse talents can find their spark and flourish

Benchmark against the finest

 

The Hindu 11February2025

See the title. Relevant anywhere and  everywhere.

This was  my advice to  Anoop when he was in school. It was to benchmark himself against the finest in the class.

Anoop is my son.

Yes one can benchmark against anyone of choice who may be equal to you or slightly lower than you and be happy you are better off. 

But you wiil then be  nowhere in the world, you have to bear in mind.

A HUNDRED YEARS AGO

 

It was the time  when our family was in dire straits. Papa had retired on 31stJanuary1975. Laji and Leela were students at Thumba Trivandrum and Kottayam. They were in the Hostel. I was scouting for a job and was in the wilderness. The family income was zero. 

I never thought I would join a bank. 

16thSeptember1975, The Bank of Cochin Ltd took me on as an Executive Trainee at a princely stipend of Rs.400.00 per month.

The family survived on that.

I am here now.

But what is described in the archived news is absolutely true. 

Man mangement was the toughest job while I was in the Bank.

It holds true even today.

Rich History of Hyderabad Secunderabad StAndrews Marthoma Church

 Rich History of Hyderabad Secunderabad StAndrews Marthoma Church

This was the Church where my cousin's son's wedding took place on 21December2024 that necessitated our trip to Hyderabad.

My cousin was telling me when Scots left India they had handed it over to the CSI, MarThoma and Orthodox groups. The CSI membership was low at that time. There was a stage when the Churches had to contribute together for probably the 99 year lease, the CSI people didnot contribute and had exited from the united  group, leaving the Church to the Orthodox and MarThoma. 

They worshipped at the same church at different hours for sometime. Later the Orthodox built their own Church in the compound. The property  is in a prime location. 

MarThoma after this had rebuilt the Church. 

Both the Churches look majestic leaving the CSI to rue the opportunity it had squandered.

Saji, my cousin, MarThoma, posts from Hyderabad

Since the CSI squandered their golden opportunity then, it took them almost 74 years to build their own church. The lapse of time and inflation only permitted construction in a relatively remote part of Hyderabad.

KARUN NAIR //CRICKET

 KARUN NAIR

Karun Nair has experienced the glorious uncertainties of cricket, and life, more than most players.

He scored a triple hundred in his third test. He was promptly dropped for the next test as he had stepped in for an injured Ajinkya Rahane.

Karun was disacrded in 2017 after participating in three more tests.

He represented Karnataka though he was from Kerala.

He was dropped from all Karnataka teams in 2022.

A heartbroken Karun tweeted, "Dear cricket, give me one more chance."

Cricket did. 

Karun has made the best out of it.

He moved to Vidarbha where he commands respect with his prolific scoring.

 Work doesn't feel like work when you have the right tools

Versatility

 The best companies reinvent themselves multiple times. 

They make fundamental changes across all aspects of business.

Risk is not external. It is self  generated.

The ultimate test of leadership is for teams to harness the opposing forces of humility and relentless drive.

Harness market intelligence.

Versatility is most essential in managemen

DREAMS and SUCCESS

 To be successful you don't have to be Ivy League educated. 

Normal people with normal backgrounds and difficult childhoods can achieve their dreams.

t