RAINDROPS ON THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE ROSE

 

When raindrops fall 
And settle on
The beautiful
White Rose

"At dawn the garden softly wakes,  

A silver hush the morning makes.  

Dewdrops glisten on tender leaves,  

Like crystal prayers the earth receives.  

Raindrops linger where roses bloom,  

Pearls of light in fragrant gloom.  

Each trembling jewel, a fleeting grace,  

Heaven’s tears on nature’s face.  

The lilies bow, the branches sigh,  

As droplets sparkle, then drift and die.  

Yet in their fall, a truth is shown—  

Beauty lives in moments alone.

     - Anonymous

KUTS - THE KERALA UNITED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

 KUTS

The Kerala United Theological Seminary
Kannammoola 
Thiruvananthapuram 

It's not just Theological Education

It's transformation of lives for more than eight decades

It's not only pastoral care

It's formation of character

It's touching people

It's connecting with the world around

It's equipping people to have an intense relationship with the unprecedented

It's teaching people to live as true Christians 

It's unveiling to  the world  Jesus Christ the redeemer

Deeply entrenched in the Indian ethos

KUTS

BEN SHELTON - YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE UNLIMITED TIME ON THE SECOND SERVE

 Prajwal Hegde reports from New York City for The Times of India (15.09.2026)- U S Open 2026 - Final

When Alexander Zverev prepares to serve, he bounces the ball and bounces it.. Sometimes 20 or 25 times.

At the other end of the court, his opponent waits and waits.

Ben Shelton wanted to stay loose, while Zverev went through his routine, rather than settling into his return position. He said,"There is not an athlete in the world who would like to watch them do their thing and sit in a ready position-30 seconds before play starts."

"So for me it's the same. I'm not going to sit there with my knees bent,. tension in my body for thirty seconds while I'm waiting."

"I'm going to try to stay loose."

When Shelton took it up with the umpire, he was advised that he had to be at the base line early.

He commented,"That is a stupid rule that you got to be sitting there when the guy goes through his routine."

"I shouldn't have to sit at the line."

"He can start his routine whenever he wants."

"I promise you there will never be a time when he serves and I'm not ready."

"I definitely think, for a first serve, you should be able to do whatever you want. You can use the full 25 seconds every time."

As regards the second serve, he suggested that the time allowed should be curtailed, "There should be some sort of a rule. I'm not sure exactly how you would do it, limiting time on the second serve."

Shelton reiterated, "You shouldn't have unlimited time on the second serve."

Alexander Zverev won the match in four sets.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV WINS US OPEN 2026 - DEDICATES THE VICTORY TO HIS MOTHER

Prajwal Hegde at the US Open - New York City - reports for The Times of India (15.09.2026). 

Alexander Zverev (Sascha),29,  the 6 ft 6' tall temperamental German, out served and out returned the 23 year old power house Ben Shelton, the American finalist, to win the US Open title 2026.

It is a powerful redemption story. 

He had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a child.

The talented younger child in a tennis family, diagnosed with a condition that could have limited his sporting ambitions, survives a career threatening injury, endures three Grand Slam final defeats, at last wins the French Open in June 2026. 

It was only the beginning.

He won the second Grand Slam in 2026 itself on 13th September battling the crowd favourite Ben Shelton at the US Open in four sets.

His victory speech resonates far beyond the tennis world. 

It is a mother and son story on  adversity, belief and the refusal to let a medical diagnosis dictate a child's future. It is the kind of a story sport is built for, capable of lifting millions of hearts, young and old. 

"I want to thank one more person who never actually watches my matches, but is the most important person in my tennis life and in my life in general."

"When your four year old son gets diagnosed with diabetes and doctors tell you that life and sports will be very, very limited for that child, it takes a very very strong mother to walk out and say, 'My son will be wherever he wants to be.'

"If he wants to be a tennis player he'll be a tennis player .. this illness will not define us."

"It takes an unbelievably strong woman to do what she did."

In one corner of the Arthur Ashe stadium, 66 year old Alexander Zverev(Sr), father and coach, bit back tears.

When I read the heart warming speech, I thought of the mother who quietly brought up our two children She had been with them  throughout  the thick and  thin of their lives. Whenever they needed guidance, she was there. She supported them when they failed. She lifted them up. She carried them through illnesses.  All along, she had a demanding job, to which she had always been true. She encountered everything with a smile. 

She never forced the children into an identity foreclosure.

She encouraged them to evolve. 

They have now grown up into fine gentlemen. Not worldbeaters. But they are street smart.  She has instilled in them survival instincts. They look at her for inspiration. They shower their love and  affection upon her.

I watched her all the time from sidelines. I have often wondered where our children would have been,  had she not sustained them.

September 16, 1975 - TOTTERING STEPS INTO THE UNKNOWN

 

September 16, 1975. My first day in the bank. Executive Trainee. The fulfilment of an ambition. I wanted to begin as a Manager. 

It was the culmination of a search that lasted more than three years after I finished my PG. Of course there was an interlude of an year soon after the PG. I taught English in a Junior College at Honavar, Karnataka.

The only hitch when I longed to become a Manager was, I had no idea what the job entailed. On the job, I learned that it meant you had  to undertake  the lowliest or the meanest tasks out there  more than anything else with gusto to be a Manager.  I learned delegation would get me nowhere. I learned the man on the job had to be a situational Manager. 

The sum total was the Manager had to be a jack of all trades - That the Manager had no power to inject his own desires - That he had to learn to conform. His Will had no priority at all.

Here am I, exactly 51 years after that eventful day and 16 years and 4 and a half months from the date of superannuation.

The journey had taken me far. It was exciting. It was excruciating. I could never predict what the next moment was going to be. The feeling remains the same, even today.

KERALAM - KSEB POWER CUT

 KSEB POWER CUT

The following is the email message I have sent just now to the CM Keralam

Power cut damages the image of CM and UDF

The Chief Minister of Keralam

Govt Secretariat

Thiruvananthapuram

Respected Sir,

I am a 200% supporter of yours.

Please do something to stop this power cut by KSEB. It is damaging your and UDF's image a thousand times.

What the man on the street says is for 10 years there had been no power cut. Now UDF has brought it. They say the honeymoon days are over. It is time these people performed.

Perhaps the people at KSEB who are mostly left oriented are doing their mite to tarnish you. It could be due to instructions from their masters.

What I would say is management expertise is required to tide over the crisis.

On the personal front, for two consecutive days the power went off when I was on my treadmill. It was providence that saved me from critical injury.

My shoulder hurts due to the strong grip on the handle that prevented a throwing off

Cutting power off without prior notice, to me, is a criminal offence. I am no lawyer

For God's sake do something to keep the left out of their scheming for power.

Yours faithfully

sd/=

IT'S I'M POSSIBLE - NOT IMPOSSIBLE - KAZIA LIZ MEJO

The Malayala Manorama Sunday Supplement on 6th Septembr 2026 carries a feature on Miss.Kazia Liz Mejo, the winner of Miss Universe India 2026 Crown, brilliantly articulated by T.S.Divya.

(making an attempt here for it's translation from Malayalam to English for  those who do not know Malayalam as the message conveyed is highly motivational)

Kazia opens her mind.

You may think fortune has favoured me. But, to be precise, there are times I have lost  confidence again and again. Though I was born and brought up at Abu Dhabi, I was scared of posing before a camera for my picture. I had preferred to hide my dark face behind the filters.

But I stand before you now as Miss.Universe India 2026. 

Here is the journey that took me towards  partial realisation of the long cherished dream.

When Harnaaz Sandhu was crowned at the Miss Universe 2021 pageant, I began dreaming  of emulating her. It has brought me where I am now.

While I had been in the 9th Standard in school I dreamt that I would become a pop star.  I believed the spotlight would be on me as I stood on the stage with a glowing aura.  I thought I would become a lawyer when I watched the Web Series 'Suits.' Today I am treading on the Ramp.  I am  studying law. 

The society at times places barriers on our dreams. "This is not good for decent girls." " Never put your feet on multiple trajectories." "If you concentrate too much on the extracurricular, your studies will be disrupted."

However, never cease dreaming. 'Impossible' has a negative connotation. Yet,  in 'impossible' you  discover the positive, "I'm possible."

The past 12 years' journey had been quite taxing - training in classical dance, music, violin, attending classes for law, modelling assignments at distant locations, preparations for the beauty contests. I used to wake up at 3 am - early in the morning - and had practiced ramp walk on the corridors of the hostel. While I did that in my high heeled footwear, I had tumbled several times injuring myself in the bargain.

Miss Teen International India's 'Miss Teen Diva' 2024 was my initial triumph on the charge towards  my dream . But I could only become the first Runner up in  Miss Teen International pageant.  It was a great disappointment. It depressed me. I was down as I had lost out despite striving very hard.  To make it worse, I had been brimming with the desire to win. 

But realisation dawned on me, "It is never a failure if you have given it your everything."

Almost everyone would have experienced failure at least once in life. It's very important that one ought to view  failure as failure.  It is a great lesson. We need to rise up from that to go forth in life. 

You may find to your consternation  you are unable to realise your dreams. The fall, down  the precipice,  would prompt you to recalibrate. It would fire your aspirations. To your surprise, what you accomplish would be far  beyond expectations.  

I know for certain, had I won  Miss Teen International Crown in 2024, I would not have been able to stand before you at this juncture as the nineteen year old Miss Universe India 2026.

In the  limelight upon the stage, I am very calm.  My response had reflected that tranquility in the Miss Universe India finale at Jaipur.

I wish to convey to all girls, who read me, a single advice, "Fake it till you make it. Believe it before you become it."

Quite a long while back, before I won the Miss India Universe Crown, I began addressing myself as the Queen. I visualised myself winning the crown. I would see me  crying at the announcement. I had lived that moment many times in advance. 

Because I had cried a lot earlier, I couldn't cry much  on the stage at Jaipur when I was declared  Miss India Universe 2026.

At present I am preparing for that walk on the ramp at Puerto Rico in November 2026 for the Miss Universe Crown. I know you are in that ride with me. I am indeed grateful for your blessings.

There have been queries on the inspiration that drives me.

Even if it is cliche, I affirm, I do  not wish to replicate anyone else. I intend to build a legacy of my own. I wish to be unique.  I long to be the best.

I wish to tell every one, especially  girls, in the world, "Never let barriers  curtail your dreams. Opportunities will never come knocking.  Build that door yourself. Extend the invitation to  opportunities.  Stay close to that door when opportunities arrive."

 "Be the reason for your own motivation.'