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Saturday, May 31, 2025

SUDDEN SURGE OF COVID 19 ACROSS INDIA - WHAT OUR HEALTH CARE SYTEM LACKS - DR. JACOB JOHN, FORMERLY OF CMC VELLORE

 THE SUDDEN SURGE OF COVID 19 ACROSS INDIA  - WHAT OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM LACKS - DR. JACOB JOHN, FORMERLY OF CMC VELLORE, EXPERT IN VIROLOGY, VACCINES, PUBLIC HEALTH

Dr. Jacob John talks to Mini Thomas, Times of India of 28 May 2025, on what our healthcare system still lacks.

"Had there been a systematic approach of diagnosis before  treatment, this outbreak could have been detected a month earlier. In India, healthcare providers often prescribe antibiotics without proper testing for diseases, including viral infections where antibiotics are ineffective. It ultimately leads to increased health care expenses.  Poor coordination between public and private healthcare sectors remains a significant challenge. Both central and state governments should have periodic bulletins published with authentic data.

To the question, "Will Covid ever be eradicated? Do we need better vaccines?" he responds:-

"Covid - 19, even in its Omicron version, is not eradicable, just like influenza. But Omicron did eradicate the Delta variant. Better vaccines are always a good idea, but once the pandemic is over, vaccines will not be widely used.'

NDA NATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY KHADAKWASLA PUNE


NDA - National Defence Academy , Khadakwasla, Poone specializes in the highest standards.  Catching them young, it accepts candidates after class 12 while  at OTA-Officers' Training Academy,  Chennai,  the entry is restricted to graduates alone.

An Army Officer's physical standards are non-negotiable, regardless of the training background. 

NDA demands three years for one of the Indian Military's most intense and grueling training programmes.

This is the place where the cadets are put through a written test after a 14 km run.  Here women are treated on par with men..  Men or women, the rigors of the training regimen remain unchanged.  They rise before dawn, run kilometer after kilometer, write the same tests and perform the same drill. They learn how to push their limits to the next level. 

They serve as equals.

NDA is not an easy place to be in. People come out different once they enter it. Transcending all mental barriers the Academy transforms introverts into extroverts. The cadets are prepared for the demands of war. They walk around with an assault riffle all day. It shows us what physical stress is. They stay up all night in pitch darkness, with an ear out for the slightest sound. It reveals what mental stress is. The endurance NDA develops in one is unique. The cadets will benefit from this edge in all their future courses, military postings and in their life ahead, be it military or civilian.

The graduates of NDA carve a name for themselves as exemplary leaders of both men and women. 

Friday, May 30, 2025

THANKAM IS GOLD/ THANKAMMA IS PURE GOLD/ OUR MUMMY


Our cousin Roy from Goregaon, Mumbai wrote today.

 Remembering Thankammamma on her death anniversary 

It inspired my cousin  Shanti at Secunderabad/ Hyderabad scribble:

Thanking God for the blessed life of Munnattile Mummy her love and care was exemplary, my father's love for her was boundless. Pappa was away at Secunderabad while we were at Hubli. For the first time I witnessed a sobbing Pappa over the phone as he conveyed the news to us. 

But we had the privilege of being with her when hospitalised at Vellore, Pappa sent my mummy to Vellore to help care for mummy, she was there for a month assisting Munnattile Pappa. Great examples of sacrificial love  

"Blest be the tie that binds, 

Our hearts in Christian love  " 

Thank you Lord, that we were a part of their lives.

And I reflected::

It's 4.45pm 30thMay2025

Mummy left us in sorrow and deep agony at around this time

 47 years ago. 

Papa and Leela were with her. 

I was at Kozhencherry, Laji at College.

When we both reached home she lay there lifeless. She was alive when we left in the morning.

50 was not the time to go. But she did. 

Why? It still haunts me.

She was affectionate. Mild mannered. Happy in giving.

 Her world was her family, her own people and the world around her.

She laughed always.

She prayed.

She never prayed for herself. Nor for riches.

God was with her.

Like Koshy Thalakal Sir said at the funeral of his dear wife on 27th May2025, we all had thought Mummy was ours. Now we understand, from 30thMay1978 she belonged to God.

Putting together the shattered pieces was the most difficult call. 

Last week we spent two days at home at Thalavady. Cholakathu Deepthi. 

We could feel her presence everywhere.

Life is inexplicable.

Ruby, my cousin at Ernakulam joined:

I can understand how her sudden departure must have shattered your lives at that time. I too felt really saddened when I heard the news. She was a loving soul with an  open laughter and a jovial nature. I was really fond of her . Do miss all these loving dear ones whose departure left a void in our hearts.

(The reference to Munnattile Mummy and Munnattile Pappa is because we had been in Munnar till 1975. Vellore is CMC Vellore where Mummy was treated for Glioblastoma)


NATIONAL HIGHWAY / NH 66 / KERALA CAVES IN - WHY ? JOHN KURIEN, Ex CGM, NABARD & Senior Consultant Earth Scientist



 John Kurien, former CGM,NABARD and Senior Consultant Earth Scientist writes on  the latest hazard in NH 66 in Kerala where roads disintegrate as fast as they are built.


Geomorphic and Geological safe guards for Capital Intensive  Geometric Highway Constructions in Coastal ecosystems.

 

Recent reports of large-scale earth subsidence along near-vertical highway abutments in the high-level laterite regions of northern Kerala—especially prior to the onset of the southwest monsoon—highlight the urgent need for geotechnical scrutiny in highway construction practices. These failures point to inadequately engineered cut-and-fill embankments, often rising 5 to 12 meters above the surrounding terrain. The ongoing construction of NH66, a 45-meter wide six-lane expressway, demands adherence to stringent Indian Road Congress (IRC) and Indian Standard (IS) protocols regarding earthworks, pavement design, drainage, and structural integrity. Given the ecological sensitivity and complex terrain of Kerala’s coastal belt, construction must be managed with meticulous attention to geomorphic and hydrological contexts to prevent anthropogenic disasters.

              Some critical issues and safe guards to be followed in construction management of major Geometric Highway projects which are highly sensitive to physiographic, geological , ecological and drainage in the coastal undulatory terrains warrants meticulous adherance to technical boundary conditions that will have to be followed to ward off such manmade catastrophes.

1. Physiographic Safeguards

The alignment of NH66 traverses a north-south corridor from Kasaragod to Parassala, intersecting numerous intermontane hills, valleys, and west-flowing rivers. The affected stretch—especially between Nileshwar (Kasaragod) and Kuttipuram (Malappuram)—features rolling topography and experiences over 2500 mm of annual rainfall. This high precipitation induces significant surface runoff, exacerbating risks associated with embankments as high as 12 meters, often constructed across valleys and former paddy fields.

The region's dendritic drainage pattern, characterized by steep gradients and high-capacity rivulets, demands engineered solutions to counteract the hydrostatic pressures accumulating on earthen embankments, especially under monsoon-saturated conditions. Ensuring long-term stability requires design practices that respect the natural topography and drainage behavior of the terrain.

2. Geological Safeguards

The geological profile of northern Kerala consists largely of tertiary sedimentary formations in Kasaragod and lateritic mantles in Kannur, Kozhikode, and Malappuram, underlain by crystalline bedrock. These overburdens contain various swelling clays, such as illite and montmorillonite, which present high risk of volumetric expansion upon saturation.

Use of these soils for highway embankments necessitates rigorous compaction protocols. Earth fill layers must be limited to 0.5-meter thickness, compacted with rollers and vibratory equipment, and tested in laboratories to understand mineral behavior under hydrodynamic stress. For embankments exceeding 3 meters in height, construction must comply with advanced IRC compaction and consolidation standards, ensuring stability under fluctuating moisture conditions.

3. Ecological Safeguards

The construction of NH66 through the ecologically fragile western coastal strip mandates comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) conducted by accredited agencies. The coastal terrain, marked by unique agro-climatic zones, endemic flora and fauna, and tectonic activity, requires cautious intervention.

Thick embankments over natural valleys—many of which are former wetlands or paddy fields—disrupt surface runoff and groundwater flow, leading to ecological imbalance and potential disaster. Fragmentation of ecosystems, soil degradation, and altered hydrology may result from poorly planned fill operations. Infrastructure must be planned with an eye toward maintaining ecological continuity and minimizing impact on natural drainage patterns.

4. Drainage and Hydrological Safeguards

Sustainable infrastructure in Kerala must consider its unique tripartite physiographic structure: highlands, midlands, and coastal plains. The region's complex weathering patterns, influenced by alternating monsoon and dry seasons, significantly affect sediment transport and deposition.

The high silt load and diverse composition—ranging from sand and clay to breccia and pegmatites—require careful engineering of drainage structures like culverts and bridges. These must provide sufficient venting capacity to allow free passage of sediment-laden water and prevent waterlogging in low-lying areas.

Where highway alignments cross valleys or seasonal water channels, elevated viaducts anchored to bedrock are preferable to solid embankments. This design approach preserves natural water flow and prevents buildup of hydrostatic pressures that could compromise structural integrity during peak monsoon periods.

Conclusion

Construction of high-speed highways in Kerala’s coastal belt must go beyond mere compliance with generic engineering standards. The unique interplay of geomorphology, geology, hydrology, and ecology necessitates tailored, site-specific safeguards. The recent failures observed along NH66 serve as stark reminders of the consequences of neglecting these factors. By embedding scientific insight and environmental stewardship into every phase of infrastructure planning and execution, we can ensure that such capital-intensive projects remain both safe and sustainable in the long term.


John Kurien
(1970 batch Geologist of GSI and later Sr.Hydrogeologist of CGWB 
CGM NABARD.
Retired in 2007 )
Affirms
Reading the newspaper reports, I have casually scribbled the article with my experience in Infrastructure Projects without any research
 





 






 

Thursday, May 29, 2025

SCALING OF MOUNT EVEREST INHALING XENON

 Hugh Montgomery, Professor at University College, London raises a few questions.

Is it really a good idea that we can have all we want, when we want, as quick as we want?

Are we missing out on the sacrifice you sometimes have to make to get the achievement?

Maybe just bagging every hill at speed means you miss out on the joy you could have had?


Montgomery is a mountaneer who led an expedition to study how humans respond to low oxygen.

He was refering to the scaling of Mount Everest in less a than week by four British men after inhaling Xenon,  skipping the adjustment period that takes weeks for acclimating to thin air.

Xenon, an odourless gas, has been known to activate a molecule called the hypoxia inducible factor, which is turned on when people acclimate to low oxygen.


Excerpts from Times of India 28 May 2025


FREE SPEECH

 Times of India

29 May 2025


Editorial 

Editorial page


Free speech is the whole thing, the whole ball game. Free speech is life itself 

Salman Rushdie


But it is not. It  no longer holds true.


Take care when you post. You must.


Ravi Srinivasan had only 16 followers when he posted against a senior politician's son 13 years ago. That police took note and felt compelled to arrest him over other pressing matters, was surprising at that time, but no more.

The editorial harps on recent events and the  intervention by SC and Bombay HC.

In far away America, Trump's admin is also bent on silencing foreign students through social media vetting and scrutinising their social media profile.

Social media is today's public square. It's  concentrated and easy to monitor. There is a chilling effect on free speech when you know the govt. is watching you.

"Curbing free speech can't be good for democracies, in the West or the East," the editorial signs off.

IGNORE THE NOISE

 Ignore the noise that doesn't contribute to your growth. 

Focus on constructive feedback. 

Set goals for yourself and stay committed to them till you achieve them. 

When you know your goals, it is easier to stay away from the distractions.

MISSION CSI

 Something I wrote to a close friend


Adapting in part from football 


CSI needs one with charisma, talent, posture, compromise and sacrifice to recapture its past glory and lead it forth.


Just be you, the person you always were and you will succeed in mission CSI

ACHAMMA KOSHY w/o Prof. KOSHY THALAKAL

 Praise God.


We sat through the funeral of Achamma Koshy. 4 hours 28 minutes 37 seconds. 27 May 2025


We knew her and her husband well. The sons and their wives too. 


But we sat through it just to see Sandeep. We were happy to observe, Rev.Sandeep had superbly  conducted it. 


Koshy Thalakal Sir's speech was touching, touching our hearts. His sister's too, though not as great as the former. 


 A  person well versed in  Malayalam alone can bring out the way he brought it out.


"5th of April we three were singing together at the Church. I, Mol and Chase in a meet. 5th night she had the stroke."

"I looked after her for 45 days." "When she left me at 2.57 am on 21st May, it was curtains to our married life of 56 years 5 months  ... days"

" I had till then thought Mol was mine. But at

2.57am that day I understood she belonged to God."

"When I was a fire brand political activist she never listened to even a single speech of mine. But when I became spiritual, she never missed even a single speech of mine. She was with me."

" She was everything to me. She did everything for me. She had the will to do what she wanted to do. And learn what she wanted to Iearn herself. I knew three things alone. Read, write and speak. Now I will have to learn how to do things and manage my life."


Terrific explosive exposition.


The truth

Monday, May 26, 2025

TREASURER RESPONDS/ FELICITATIONS AT KUT SEMINARY / KANNAMMOOLA

The Principal and the Staff of the KUT Seminary, Kannammmoola, Thiruvananthapuram joined together to  felicitate their Treasurer on his birthday. When it was time for him to respond, he spoke.

Respected Principal, Members of the Faculty and my dear friends in the Office and the Library,

The Holy Bible says, “ Yahova has done this.”

Yahova in Malayalam is God almighty in English

Yes, we -  me and Lila, know we are nothing but just ordinary human beings.  We are indeed grateful for the love and affection you have all showered upon us and we have to admit we are short of words to express our gratitude.

You are all very dear to us.

I am not an orator. Nor is Lila. We are scared of standing up on a podium and making a speech. We used to run away from the task if we had any prior idea. Yet we both were forced into making specches since our jobs demanded it. There was no way out. I still remember what happened on 22nd december 1977. It was the inauguration of the branch of the Bank of Cochin at Kozhencherry.  When they asked me to go there and open the branch, they directed me to ensure that Alexander MarThoma of the MarThoma Church would inaugurate it. At the bank when you are tasked you just have to go and accomplish it. ‘How’ is a question they don’t entertain at all. The long and short of it is Alexander MarThoma did inaugurate the branch. But I made a mess of the Vote of Thanks.

When David Joy Achen told me he had requested Giji to speak today I smelt danger. The next day we were at the Shop my son runs. I sat down there and wrote out a speech.

 I am coming out with that now.

Though I had been in Trivandrum from the fag end of 1977, I had stepped into  the KUT Seminary only three times before 2016. Twice, to meet Jacob Verghis Achen who was my Papa’s cousin and once, to drop KKKoshy Achen who was gracious  enough to participate in  a Prayer meeting at our house.

When Joseph Samuel Achen, whom I respected very much, in line with the guidance from PTGeorge Achen, the Principal, KUT Seminary, had invited me to join the KUT Seminary as the Treasurer, I did not hesitate long to accept the invitation, of course after subjecting myself to a careful thought process.

As it had happened a couple of months after my stint, as the Treasurer of the CSI Christ Church, Palayam, Trivandrum, of three years was over,  Lila asked me why I was going in again for another assignment at the Church.  Our experience over the past three years had already taught us that assignments at the Church could always be a tough call.  God was asking me to take it up, I quietly replied,.

Still, there was another hitch. This was a domain I had no prior exposure..

However, the recognition and the respect I had received from everyone here at the Seminary was unlimited.

Well, Lila confided after six months, I had taken the right decision.

I am filled with a host of memories of the time here.

Nine years in one place is pretty long a time.

When I compare it with my career in the Bank it was indeed a blessing as the maximum one could expect to stay undisturbed at one place there, was four years. But it never occurs like that. Exigencies shuttle you. The priorities of the organization gain precedence.  The finis was, the thirty five years of my service had been interspersed with placements in sixteen offices. The advantage was I gained much with the exposure, though the cost was heavy in terms of the disruption in the family life as well as in the bringing up of the children.

 The Annual Seminary Magazines, except for the issues in the past two years, had carried contributions from me at the behest of the Principals who helmed the Seminary. Composing them had been a big challenge.

Life is to live. But we must live our life for God as well as for our fellow beings.

I know that all of us  here have been toiling hard for the welfare of the Seminary.

Seminary is an institution. It is God’s own. But people who converge here are the real force behind it. They have built it up. They have contributed to its phenomenal growth. That exactly is God’s resolve.

I believe it has been a God given opportunity to work along with David Joy Achen, a brilliant scholar, an efficient administrator, a writer par excellence and a superb personality. It is a great blessing.

I have often been astounded by his skill level.

When the Seminary is our own Bread and Butter, we have to steer it to greater glory.

I know that God alone can make it come. true.  I pray for that.

Let me conclude expressing our gratitude for the love and affection you have displayed for our sake.

Thank you. And thank you again and again.

 

Sunday, May 25, 2025

HISTORIC MOMENT FOR INDIAN ARMED FORCES 17 WOMEN CADETS GRADUATING FROM NDA ON 30 MAY 2025

 

HISTORIC MOMENT FOR INDIAN ARMED FORCES

17 WOMEN CADETS GRADUATING FROM NDA ON 30 MAY 2025

 

Women were not allowed to enter NDA till June 2022.

We have  the pathfinders here..

 The maiden graduating cadets share the common experience of stringent physical training, military routines, and strong bonds formed over three years at the academy. They echoed a key aspect of their journey has been personal development, reflecting NDA’s reputation for transforming young individuals into accomplished military personnel.

 All cadets did face challenges during military training in the initial stages. The most challenging aspect for them was balancing it with academics. They worked hard on both physical fitness and in overcoming mental barriers. The women emphasized they never had to compete with their male counterparts for opportunities during their training.

 They received equal chances to excel.

 Cadet Ishita who had earned the honorary appointment of ‘Division Cadet Captain’ (DCC) for her outstanding performance in all areas of training, elaborates.

 “I come from a non-military background. My parents work in the corporate sector and my brother is an IT professional. I was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in economics when the NDA announced its entry for women. I didn’t think twice before applying. Before joining the academy I was an introvert. Here, I made several friends for life. In fact, my course mates feel like family now. I would not have imagined it. You form unbreakable bonds that last forever. Equal opportunity naturally empowers each individual. That is what makes the academy unique in all respects."

  “After spending three years here, I can confidently say that my personality underwent a complete transformation. This is how one gets the opportunity to become a leader right from the academy. It develops your leadership character naturally. Once you break the mental barrier, you push your limits to the next level each time. That is what truly matters and not how many push-ups one can do at a time.”

Source: Sunday Times of India of 25 May 2025


 

 

 

LOVE

 

Love is a fundamental human experience, and adolescents have the right to form emotional connections. The law should evolve to acknowledge and respect these relationships, as long as they are consensual and free from coercion. The focus of the law should be on preventing exploitation and abuse rather than punishing love. (Delhi HC February 2025).

An adolescent boy and girl who are in the grips of their hormones and biological changes and whose decision making ability is yet to fully develop, should essentially receive the support and guidance of their parents and the society at large. (Madras HC 2001).

The Hon’ble Court further said,” The legislature has to keep pace with changing societal needs (when adolescents are involved in relationships) and bring about necessary changes in law.”

Sourced from Sunday Times of India of 25 May 2025

TEMPERAMENT

 

TEMPERAMENT

To win you need to display the right temperament.  You need to bring out the best in you. You need to read well the capabilities of each member of your team. You need to encourage them to pool their resources. You need to steer them draw from their wealth of experience. You need to impress upon them it is just the beginning and there is a lot more in the story to add to.

When you lead from the front in the holistic charge, the team gracefully tastes success.

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

GLORIFICATION

 

 

 GLORIFICATION

 GLORIFICATION is a beautiful word. The Dictionary says GLORIFICATION is the action of describing or representing some thing as admirable, especially unjustifiably.

Glory, we are familiar with from our childhood. Glorification, we don’t come up with normally or if we do, we think it’s something good. But the connotation, ‘Especially unjustifiably’, reveals in real terms what the connoisseur tries to convey.

CSI – Church of South India – had been befuddled by suits in the Courts of law in India, from the lower level to the top most Court for the past couple of years. Very recently, the Supreme Court of India had delivered its judgment after evaluation of all the arguments. It had declared that the Moderator who headed the CSI was ineligible to remain in Office. The Honorable Court had emphasized in the judgment that the proceedings in a contentious meeting of the Synod – where the amendments to the constitution had been hastily pushed through by the Moderator - were to further his own interests. The Supreme Court of India had finally concluded that  the amendments were null and void.

The Synod is the key policy making body of CSI. It meets periodically.

One of the amendments that had been rubbished was that when a Pastor seeks to be elected as a Bishop, he should have 15 years of Pastoral Service – the candidate should have served in the Parishes for that many years. The Parish is the area of operation of a Church. The Moderator had introduced the amendment to block the eligibility of a brilliant Pastor who had been in the academic turf during the major part of his career. The academician had the unique distinction that several Bishops in service in diverse Christian denominations in India had been his students. He had published quite a number of books. Some of them were text books in Theological Universities across the world. He had been efficiently managing a Theological College as its Principal at that juncture.

Well, there was a young pastor. He was in charge of a Church in a remote village. Like all village Churches, the membership at his Church abounded with the poor, not the rich. He had been posted there soon after his ordination. Being City bred, the struggle over the past three years had been quite hard. He disliked the academician very much. However the origin of the enmity was quite amusing.

In a retreat for the Pastors – a refresher course for the Pastors held from time to time for their spiritual rejuvenation - of his diocese, the keynote address was transmitted by the learned Pastor. Diocese is a Cluster of Churches presided by a Bishop. The Bishop of the Diocese who had invited him to speak had himself stepped down from the dais and was seated on the front row with a letter pad and pen in hand.  He had no qualm in jotting down the superlatives that were transponded. There, the assemblage was advised that when they conducted a Worship they should stick to the Book of Worship they held in their hands. They should not digress or invent additional litanies of their own to prolong the Worship to their hearts’ content. The speaker dwelt on the aspect because such a flurry of expressions was defeating the very purpose of the Worship and the participants disfavored such deviations. As they couldn’t do anything, the congregations – members of the Churches - had been enduring the suffering in silence.  It was the voice of the voiceless. It was a clarion call.

The young Pastor revealed to one of his acquaintances that the host of Pastors at the retreat had vehemently rejected the idea propagated by the speaker and they had showered him with their displeasure before packing him off to where he came from.

It was after a couple of months, someone else had mentioned in a discussion with the young Pastor that the Principal of the Theological College in the neighboring district was doing a good job. Well, it infuriated the young man. He exploded. “I hate the glorification of the Principal.” ”I know what he is. Let him go to three or four Parishes, serve the people there first and prove his mettle. Pastors should never be elevated to hold the position of Bishops if they had solely been in the academic pasture.”

“I am with the Moderator and his officials who had introduced the amendment that made it a pre-requisition that the candidates to the post of Bishops in the CSI should have fifteen years of Pastoral service and I would happily vote for them,” he thundered.

Stunned, the acquaintance, did not respond. He was wondering at the gap in age between the fuming young Pastor and the Principal who was double his age with a gigantic wealth of experience.

Fortunately, the apex Court blew the whistle and threw the controversial amendment by the Moderator to the dust bin. The Honorable court had commented ‘enough was enough’ and had dislodged the Moderator from the powerful post he held.

The take away on the outburst of the young Pastor was that his acquaintance had been administered a worthwhile lesson on GLORIFICATION. It was a revelation to him that his awareness of the universal language, English, was purely cosmetic.

Truth at times bursts hard on the vainglorious.

Then only they learn.

 

 

 

MANAGING MY BABY WAS NEW TO ME

 

MANAGING MY BABY WAS NEW TO ME

Maestro Shujaat Hussain Khan, born on 19 May 1960, to Vilayat Khan, declared widely to be a magician with Sitar, and Monisha, became a legendary musician all over the world at a very young age. His performance, on stage with the Sitar in his hands, mesmerised the audience.

Shujaat married Parveen after courting her for a couple of months. They were very young. Soon after the marriage they settled in Delhi as Shujaat was committed to concerts abroad. Parveen was contented she was in Delhi, which was not far from Parveen’s family at Dehradun.

Parveen had Fiza, their child to look after while Shujaat was away. Parveen was happy because she could be in touch with her mother, her pillar, for her needs.

Praveen said, “ I knew I could send her an SOS. It was all new to me. I did not know whether bananas were bought in dozens or kilos. I had no clue. Nor of Delhi and its roads -  what was where, its shops, its facilities. And don’t forget managing my baby was new to me.”

Source
LIKE FINE WINE
Nine Real, Rare love stories
The Genius Of A Choice
Syeda Imam 

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

INSPIRATION

Inspired by an advertisement that  featured  the two pictures an avid reader had composed the follwing lines.


INSPIRATION

This is what I saw in you.

When we met


In your Photographs

I was mesmerised

Beauty at its best.


While young

I was proud 

To have you 

As 

My companion

Friend 

And

Guide

I could 

See

People were

Enamoured

With 

Your looks

I could 

See many 

Staring at

You

In

Admiration

But I 

Understood

Behind the looks

There was 

Sheer brilliance.

Epics state

"This was the face

That launched

A thousand 

Ships"


But for me

This was 

The face 

That

Launched

Me

And

Our children


Love and affection

Had 

Filled you.

Your

Intelligence

Took us 

Far ahead


Yet you

Remained subdued

You were 

Happy to ride 

The second fiddle

Always


One had

Once told 

Me

"You don't 

Realise

You have a 

Gem 

With you."


Yes

Gem you are

The perfect

Combination 

Of

Beauty

And

Brain.


Grateful to you

For choosing

Me


Grateful for 

Remaining 

With me


Grateful 

For the seamless

And endless

Love 

and 

Affection

Showered upon me


Without

You

I would

Never

Have been

What I am


Thank you 

For

Everything


 

MarThoma Church/ Rev.P.M.Mathew/VALUES NOT GLITTER MATTERED

 A grateful daughter IVY writes on her loving father Rev.P.M.Mathew, Plamkoottathil, Kadammanitta, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India,  of the MarThoma Church. 

Rev P.M. Mathew was a great man who had been a contemporary of Bishop Chrisostum. He was never enchanted by the glitter of the United States of America. He preferred to serve in India though he could have made it big in the USA.

Ivy Mathew was a teacher married to P.G. Joshua who too had been a teacher. He is a prime agriculturist as well.



AARON AMMACHI EVANA

 


 DR ANNAMMA GEORGE 

WITH HER GREAT GRANDCHILDREN 

AARON & EVANA

Look at the happiness of the great grandmother in holding her great granddaughter for the first time.

EVANA  was brought home from the Hospital after her birth on 23 April 2018

Sunday, May 4, 2025

MANOJ’S UNABATING TALE OF WOES

 

MANOJ’S UNABATING TALE OF WOES

 

MANOJ’s TALE OF WOES did not cease with his brush with the law during Covid times. Just like the Tess of the D’ubervilles, misfortunes relentlessly followed him. It was cyclic. In between good things too happened in his life.

In the aftermath of Covid he recouped his losses, the rampaging epidemic had inflicted upon him. His workers returned to the Workshop. He had a minimum of ten vehicles to attend to per day. Life was a race. In the evening he had to shell out a total of Rs. 7000.00 as wages to the six workers. Yet he had enough to sustain the family. He could send his daughter to a far off College for her B.Sc. As she did well in her studies, she managed to secure admission for M.Sc. in another College still far away. Since Manoj was not well educated he knew very well what quality education did to people.

Manoj was happy to meet the cost of education of his daughter. He considered it his duty and a privilege. It was, apart from the College Fees and the University Fees that itself were hefty, quite a large sum much beyond his means. Hostel took off Rs.4000.00 per month from his earnings. It was not the end. He had a son too. Fortunately the boy was still in the School and he was staying with the parents.

The struggle was not isolated. It was what all the parents of the era were going through.

Manoj at times would be called to the spots the vehicles had broken down. One day the call was from Poonthura. It was a regular client. He reached there on his motor bike. The work took some time, but he fixed the issue and the vehicle was good for the road.

As he was riding back, it was somewhere around 8.30 pm, all he remembered was that a four wheeler had hit his bike at the back and he was thrown off from the bike. The four wheeler did not stop. He had Rs.13000.00 and his mobile phone in his pocket. He never saw them again. He fell unconscious.

When he came to his senses it was 3.00 pm the next day. He was totally blank. The Doctor told him there were stitches at three points at the back of his head.  There were facial aberrations. There was a deep wound adjacent to his right ankle. There were dressings on his hands and body. The pain was excruciating. There was partial memory loss. He could not identify his bike at all from the pictures shown to him. His daughter had to come from her college to identify his bike.

He recounted the stay at the Hospital was expensive as the treatment had necessitated a number of tests, scans and medicines. Fortunately for him some good soul had taken care of all that, though he didn’t know who the anonymous benefactor had been.

He said the Station House Officer (SHO) from the local Police Station had visited him at the hospital and had promised to help him in whichever way possible.

He was discharged after a week. The Doctor told him to take complete rest for three months. A day later he was back at his workshop because nothing would work if he were not there. After all he had to ensure the survival of his own family.

 He was incapacitated, yet his presence alone was enough to egg his workers on.

 

When we saw him at 9.30 pm on a Thursday, he said when he had tried to kick start his bike, blood started oozing out from wound at the ankle. When we suggested an immediate visit to the Hospital he said he couldn’t go like that as he presented a shabby sight as he was coming from the workshop. He said he would go home, clean himself up and visit the Hospital assisted by his son that night itself.

Manoj fights the adversity unfazed. He knows it is an uneven contest. But he was sanguine he would cross all the hurdles life throws at him.

We could only admire him.

Thursday, May 1, 2025

SCENARIO


Prologue

It's almost 25 years since I read 'The Third Wave' by Alvin Toffler. 
It is a graphic narration of the evolution of human beings from the early stages to what we observe today. 

I regularly attend Worships in my Church. 
At times I have the feeling Alvin Toffler has hit the nail on the head.
I composed this poem after a Worship I partook.


SCENARIO

 English or Malayalam 

Matins or HE

We'd ensure 

You'll be held

For two to

Two and a half 

Hours


We have 

The machinery 

For that.


Faith is 

The time 

You are

Made to

Sit 

Through.


No questions 

Please


If you dare

You'd be

Branded


An

Unbeliever.


Epilogue
English or Malayalam  - The two languages in which Worships are conducted in the Church
Matins      -  Worship where Holy Eucharist  or Holy Communion or Qurbana is not celebrated
HE            -  Worship where Holy Eucharist is celebrated