tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107787902024-02-03T23:45:05.789+05:30thoughts of a laymanWriting has been my passion for several years. But my profession kept me from choosing media. Blogging is godsend opportunity to indulge in my favourite hobby.Ramalingamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935222119613517113noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10778790.post-41362490045519218392009-05-30T04:28:00.002+05:302009-05-30T05:02:03.393+05:30Statues adorning streets of India<span style="font-size:100%;">Indian Politicians have a penchant for erecting statues and constructing memorials </span><span style="font-size:100%;">for departed leaders</span><span style="font-size:100%;">. There are statues of selfless patriots who fought for independence, leaders of some dominant or underprevileged castes and some leaders who just were in power at the time of erection of their own statues.<br /><br />We take pride about "Unity in diversity" when we talk about the co-existence of people of diverse backgrounds in one India.<br /><br />But at the same time our leaders do not hesitate to divide the people on the basis of language, caste, creed etc.. There are leaders who started their political career as leader by mobilizing one caste or a basket of castes. Such consolidation of one or more castes always depended on spreading hatred against another class of people. Indian citizens are now clearly divided on the basis of their language, religion, caste etc.. Virtual battles have taken place in the past between such divided communities.<br /><br />The availability of statues at street corners help people who want to create trouble. If one wants to ignite a war between two communities or even political parties, he just has to cause some damage or throw mud on a statue. Emotionally charged mob will take to the streets to block traffic, damage public properties and spread</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> further </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> hatred between one another.<br /><br />So to ensure peace, the rulers have to protect citizens as also the statues getting added to the public places. Do we have the resources to ensure security of all the statues? <br /><br />In the interest of social harmony, we should ban erection of any more statues at public places. It would be ideal to move all the statues, many of them hindering traffic, to a safe place preferably in front of the local Police Station so that no miscreant would attempt to desecrate them. <br /><br />Will the rulers listen to this sane suggestion?<br /></span>Ramalingamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935222119613517113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10778790.post-30801202683894039722007-03-31T06:13:00.001+05:302008-10-19T05:44:53.949+05:30காரைக்குடியின் சிறப்பு – அந்த ஊர் மக்கள்<b><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:10pt;" lang="TA">1991 முதல் 1992 வரை ஏறத்தாழ ஒரு வருடம் காரைக்குடியில் குடும்பத்துடன் வசித்தேன்.<span style=""> </span>என் மகள் 3-வது வகுப்பிலும், மகன் யூ.கே.ஜி.யிலும் படித்துக் கொண்டிருந்த்தனர்.<span style=""> </span>நான் இருந்த வாடகை வீட்டின் சொந்தக் காரர் என் இனிய நண்பர், அமரர் திரு. விஆர். அருணாசலம் அவர்கள்.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:10pt;" lang="TA">கடுமையான சர்க்கரை வியாதியினால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு காலில ஆறாத காயத்துடன் (தினசரி புதுப்பிக்கப்பட்ட பாண்டேஜுடன்) நான் பணியாற்றிய வங்கி அலுவலகத்தில் பணி புரிந்த திரு அருணாசலம். சிறந்த மனித நேயம் கொண்டவர்.<span style=""> </span>வெகு சீக்கிரமே எங்களுக்கு என்று தனியான பிரச்சினைகள் என்று ஒன்று இல்லாத நிலை உருவானது.<span style=""> </span>எங்கள் எந்தத் தேவைகளையும் தானே அறிந்து கொண்டு மனமுவந்து உதவும் மனப்பான்மை கொண்ட அந்தக் குடும்பத்தை நாங்கள் என்றும் மறக்க முடியாது.<span style=""> </span>எங்கள் குழந்தைகளைப் பள்ளியிலிருந்து அழைத்து வரும் ஆட்டோ வரத் தாமதமானால், திரு அருணாசலத்தின் மகனோ அல்ல்து திரு அருணாசலமோ தாங்களே சென்று அழைத்து வந்து விடுவது, அங்கு வசிக்கும் போது வாயிலும் குடலிலும் புண ஏற்பட்டு நான் அவதிப்பட்ட போது தங்கள் வீட்டில் அதைக் குணப்படுத்த கஞ்சி தயாரித்து அளித்தது என்று நான் பெற்ற உதவிகள் ப்ற்பல.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:10pt;" lang="TA">காரைக்குடி நகரத்தார்கள் மற்ற்வர்களின் தேவை அறிந்து அவர்கள் கேட்காமல் கூட உதவி செய்யும் தங்கள் மனப்பான்மை பற்றி நியாயமான பெருமை அடைபவர்கள் என்பதற்கு உதாரணமாக ஒரு சம்பவம்:</span><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:10pt;" lang="TA">அங்கிருந்து மாறுதல் பெற்று நான் பீஹார் மாநிலம் ராஞ்சி என்ற நகரத்துக்கு செல்ல வேண்டிய நிலையில் இருந்த வீட்டைப் பூட்டி சாவியை திரு அருணாசலம் வீட்டில் கொடுத்ததுச் சென்றேன்.<span style=""> </span>ஒரு மாதம் கழித்து குடும்பத்தையும் சாமான்களையும் புதிய ஊருக்கு மாற்ற அங்கிருந்து காரைக்குடியை நோக்கி சென்னையிலிருந்து ரயிலேறும் சமயம், காரைக்குடியை நோக்கிக் குடும்பத்துடன் பயணம் செய்யும் ஒருவர் என்னிடம் வந்து அவருக்குத் தெரிந்த ஒருவராக என்னைத் தவறாகப் புரிந்து கொண்டு என்னிடம் பேசத்தொடங்கினார்.<span style=""> </span>பின்னர் ஒருவருக்கொருவர் அறிமுகம் செய்து கொண்டு சிறிது நேரம் பேசிக்கொண்டிருந்து விட்டு அவரவர் பெட்டிகளை நோக்கிப் பிரிந்தோம்.<span style=""> </span>காரைக்குடி ரயில் நிலையத்தில் இறங்கி வெளியே வந்து கொண்டிருந்த போது</span><span lang="TA" style="font-size:10pt;"> </span><span style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:10pt;" lang="TA">அந்த நண்பர் தனது ஸ்கூட்டரை என் பக்கம் கொண்டு வந்து நிறுத்தி அதில் ஏறிக்கொள்ளுமாறு கூறினார்.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span><br /><span style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:10pt;" lang="TA">நான் ராஞ்சி சென்று திரும்புவதற்குள், திரு அருணாசலம் அவர்கள் தங்கள் வீட்டை வேறொருவருக்கு விற்று விட்டுத் தன் குடும்பத்துடன் புதிய வீட்டுக்குக் குடிபெயர்ந்து விட்டார்.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:10pt;" lang="TA">அவருடைய தற்போதைய் முகவரியை வீட்டின் புதிய சொந்தக்காரரிடம் பெற்று அதன் பின் அவர் வீட்டைத் தேடிச் செல்ல வேண்டும் என்ற நிலையில் நான் கிடைக்கும் உதவியை ஏற்கத் தயங்கினேன்.<span style=""> </span>ஆனால் அவர் வற்புறுத்தித் தன் வண்டியில் ஏறும்படி வேண்டினார். வேறு வழியின்றி அவருடன் புறப்பட்டேன்.<span style=""> </span>திரு அருணாசலம் அவர்களின் வீடு புதிதாக விரிவாக்கப் பட்டு வரும் ஒரு காலனியில் இருந்ததால் முழுமையான முகவரியின்றி ஒரு சில அடையாளங்கள் மட்டும் தெரிந்து கொண்டு என்னுடன் ஒரு மணி நேரத்துக்கு மேல் சுற்றி நான் சேர வேண்டிய இடத்தில் என்னைச் சேர்த்தார்.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:10pt;" lang="TA">அந்த நண்பரிடம், நான் என் ஆச்சரியத்தை அடக்க முடியாமல் </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">“</span><span style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:10pt;" lang="TA">ரயில் பயணத்தில் சந்தித்த ஒருவருக்கு ஏன் இந்த அளவுக்கு உதவுகிறீர்கள்</span><span style="font-size:10pt;">”</span><span style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:10pt;" lang="TA"> என்று வினவினேன்.<span style=""> </span>அவரோ பதிலாக </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">“</span><span style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:10pt;" lang="TA">காரைக்குடியில் ஓர் ஆண்டுக்கு மேல் இருந்ததாகச் சொன்னீர்களே.<span style=""> </span>இது போன்ற உதவி காரைக்குடியில் கிடைப்பது இது தான் முதல் தடவையா?</span><span style="font-size:10pt;">”</span><span style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:10pt;" lang="TA"> என்ற கேள்வியை எழுப்பினார்.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-size:10pt;">“</span><span style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:10pt;" lang="TA">இது எங்கள் இயல்பு</span><span style="font-size:10pt;">”</span><span style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:10pt;" lang="TA"> என்று கூறி என்னிடம் விடை பெற்றுச் சென்றார்.<span style=""> </span>உண்மை தான்.<span style=""> </span>பெருமைப் பட வேண்டிய குணாதிசய்ம் கொண்ட காரைக்குடி நகரத்தார் ஒருவர் இருவர் அல்ல.<span style=""></span></span><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:10pt;" lang="TA">இவ்வளவு உதவியும் பெற்றுக்கொண்ட நானோ </span><span style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:10pt;" lang="TA">அந்த நண்பரின் பெயரைக் கேட்டேன், நட்பு பாராட்டினேன், நன்றி கூறினேன் என்பதைத் தவிர, அவர் முகவரியையோ பெயரையோ குறித்து வைத்துக் கொள்ளத் தவறியதால், இன்று அந்த உதவியின் நினைவுகள் மட்டுமே என்னிடம் எஞ்சியுள்ளன. <span style=""> </span>அந்த நல்ல மனிதர் இதைப் படிப்பார் என்று எனக்கு ஒரு நம்பிக்கை என்னுள் இழையோடுகிறது.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:10pt;" lang="TA">அந்த நண்பர் மிகச் சரியாகக் கூறியது போல், தானாக முன் வந்து உதவுகின்ற சீறிய மனப்பான்மை கொண்ட காரைக்குடியின் நகரத்தார் அனைவருக்கும் இந்தக் கட்டுரையை சமர்ப்பணம் செய்கிறேன். <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Latha;font-size:48px;"><br /></span></p><br /><br /><script language="javascript" src="http://api.ulagam.net/randomkural.php?format=js"></script>Ramalingamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935222119613517113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10778790.post-1149293133182771242006-06-03T05:22:00.000+05:302006-07-21T05:36:46.873+05:30India's Reservations<p class="MsoNormal">Reservations</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The dearth of seats in Institutions of Excellence, is causing a peculiar situation in which </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Our young bright citizens full of potential, have to fight each other to grab the limited opportunities and</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Our rulers are in a position to dole out seats for admissions to a section of people in the name of caste or creed while denying the same to other deserving youth with narrow object of gaining votes.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is really unfortunate that after several decades of independence, we still have not invested enough resources for providing our masses with right opportunities for quality education.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In Mahabharatha, when Drona was teaching heirs of Pandava and Gaurava dynasty, Ekalaiva, son of a hunter could hear, practice, learn and achieve excellence.<span style=""> </span>There are as many princes among beneficiaries of reservation as there are poor bright youngsters who are not entitled to a reserved seat.<span style=""> </span>Forget about reservation, there are bright young students(whatever the category) who narrowly miss an admission because of the intense competition to grab the limited seats.<span style=""> </span><br /><o:p></o:p><br />I believe, the available Institutions of Excellence can propagate high quality education without having to establish too many campuses by utilizing the modern Information Technology.<span style=""> </span>The Institutions do not have to dilute on quality but maintain rigorous standards for students who pass out.<span style=""> </span>Will not our youth(reserved or unreserved) learn like Ekalaiva, if quality education is made to reach every nook and corner of the country by "Distance Education" with facilities for labs or seminars periodically at a major centre?<span style=""> </span>Will the academicians find an answer?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Ramalingamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935222119613517113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10778790.post-1138580510668226432006-01-30T05:48:00.003+05:302014-11-20T11:43:33.970+05:30My life in 'Laloo Land'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My life in <st1:place><st1:placename>Laloo</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Land</st1:placetype></st1:place><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
I was working for about 4 years in <st1:city><st1:place>Ranchi</st1:place></st1:city><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="19eb0e4f-3db6-4e78-a850-5d654673efa1" id="b6d24e70-16af-4463-bfeb-fc8c8da0be6a">(</span>now capital of Jharkhand), <st1:place>Bihar</st1:place> till April, 1996. My family loved our life there. We had many good reasons. We had gone straight after a stint in dry and hot old Ramanathapuram District of Tamil Nadu. In contrast, The climate was salubrious to say the least. The city was once the summer capital of <st1:place>Bihar</st1:place>. Cheap Farm fresh vegetables, copious supply of river water, and the relatively low cost of living made the place very attractive. A local elderly gentleman<span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="1445eedc-71f9-447a-b485-dfa5b214a734" id="a50f8e6b-9c3d-44bd-a558-3e4913a0ef74">(</span>a practicing Homeopath) became our Good Samaritan. His daughter taught Hindi to my children. We became family friends visiting each other on all festivals<span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="28e329db-64f3-4a82-8fc1-5e1b40623fe1" id="bba371a0-c40d-40c0-b80b-b0e8adb1f78c">.</span>I could establish a relationship with some Tamil families living in colonies of SAIL, HEC and Army. My work place was also very pleasant with very friendly colleagues and helpful superiors. Some of my colleagues at Office became so intimate that we used to visit each other with family. My colleagues at Office used to <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="2d80c00b-046b-45e2-b198-10332eb0d005" id="5f19b023-a999-4d18-af43-ba91c186b98f">organise</span> picnics to picturesque riverside & <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="2d80c00b-046b-45e2-b198-10332eb0d005" id="231ca94c-0ebf-4931-8834-9d5dc77d908f">Water falls</span> during Winter. <br />
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Power-cuts every alternate hour and the prevailing poor law and order situation <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="3a692fa4-3f4d-4668-93dd-a23318e332f1" id="64b7b376-73c4-456a-872c-c95bc38edff2">was</span> the only dampener of our spirits. Twice during our stay, a Gramin Bank opposite to our residence was robbed in daylight by armed <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ad851427-5171-465c-99b7-2dcdaa1ff019" id="dce5d02e-c2f1-4f0d-980c-274b25065485">dacoits</span>. <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Never the less, we led a peaceful life till that fateful day when my <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="d92a28f5-485d-46e1-99bb-5ad2a4881abc" id="366dbe5e-3d5e-4536-8bf2-6e000e3364d8">neighbour</span> (</span>Principal of a reputed University<span style="font-weight: bold;">) sipping tea in our house, broke the bad news</span>. Animal Husbandry Scam was just exposed at that time. The people involved in the scam fled the scene to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Nepal</st1:place></st1:country-region> with their families.<span style="color: black; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="color: black;">The administration led by an IAS official started raiding the residences of the scam-tainted.</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;">The raiding party consisting of <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="457f02b9-7fb3-4262-8fe1-331e3fc26c98" id="09f9ab87-346a-4467-bf6f-0cc2d6f8ddf1">policemen</span> used to pull all materials like <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="457f02b9-7fb3-4262-8fe1-331e3fc26c98" id="ef485ca8-b76a-4204-bd4b-010a2c5b838d">house-hold</span> items, furniture, windows, doors with door frames, collapsible shutters and whatever could be removed, carry it to the nearest Police Station and store in the open as a heap</span><span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">.</span> I had seen such a heap in the premises of our <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="457f02b9-7fb3-4262-8fe1-331e3fc26c98" id="9710c874-a046-44b3-be78-92c138b58687">neighbouring</span> Police Station. I had also seen a raided <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="bdde90bd-523a-46d3-b5d2-4f42aa2f392c" id="296f2110-2fa6-422e-b243-4d1746821085">house</span> in our locality, which lost everything except the four walls & <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="bdde90bd-523a-46d3-b5d2-4f42aa2f392c" id="e77e7b6e-bd82-4239-a483-b7b3d0ce9c66">roof</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="bdde90bd-523a-46d3-b5d2-4f42aa2f392c" id="94a45f22-588e-421c-ac4c-aea4d4af0f7f">to</span> the raiding party. I had heard from my colleagues that the tenant of an alleged <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6143a0f6-ff20-4a68-8314-ce519408b5db" id="ee820306-f9ac-490a-a83b-00c1a570dc53">scamster</span><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6143a0f6-ff20-4a68-8314-ce519408b5db" id="be78f4d7-06e4-4062-86d6-b093d534dcbe">(</span>in a suburb of Ranchi) suffered humiliation as all his belongings were taken away with his landlord's. My house was in a posh location, leased out to my employer by a <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="71165f24-6433-42fd-81d1-abe02a86af32" id="6f758272-ab0f-4165-8e39-c5fea9b07119">medical</span> Doctor. During my stay, another lady Doctor<span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="9bd36787-6e81-4d8e-94bf-20dc76565283" id="6fcd7d79-0056-412c-a578-87653bc7314f">(</span>colleague of the then landlord) acquired the house. Her <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6cfd9f10-422c-466d-aaba-cf3df155b6e5" id="64bc2a56-5da8-4302-a3b2-680679a5fa71">husband incidentally</span> was a Veterinary Doctor. The gentleman <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6a08b96b-714b-4d44-a4cd-51f191014a79" id="55247e0a-2f46-46df-9cf3-43a1b6963342">neighbour</span> informed me that <span style="font-weight: bold;">a police party was around our <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6a08b96b-714b-4d44-a4cd-51f191014a79" id="a0f88a04-1822-4c69-bf45-4ea369fce422">area making</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6a08b96b-714b-4d44-a4cd-51f191014a79" id="cbe5f63a-b5e8-48c0-93f8-05f59843c9d9">enquiries</span> about our house</span>. He reminded me that <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="7d923c8a-90cb-444b-8e85-3b129db810fe" id="d3f970e3-4bf4-4abe-ae7c-0b1730a7da82">husband</span> of my landlady worked in the Animal Husbandry Department and the <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="7d923c8a-90cb-444b-8e85-3b129db810fe" id="b2bed557-128a-4728-be35-8d4630c16dd5">enquiries</span> might be part of investigations directed against him. He suggested that my wife and children, should be very careful when I was away from Home. ‘Doors should not be opened to any caller, lest they might get into trouble’, he said. I lost my <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="beaa323f-b9d7-4371-8b49-4ad93f08fd17" id="98583686-f291-4508-b1a2-fa1a3787e6d1">peace</span> once I heard the news. I was already under a transfer to <st1:city><st1:place>Calcutta</st1:place></st1:city>, and I wanted to get it changed to <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="b461b610-568f-4a28-996a-1833f62ef87d" id="cdf21dd9-bd91-4498-9609-1259ef6191f9">South</span>. I desperately wanted to travel to Chennai to get some help regarding my transfer. But how dare I leave my family alone when <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="edc17020-e9dc-4d81-b9f4-801330844198" id="f5e4733a-cd68-4eda-9b2b-74003e64dcce">threat</span> of a raid was looming large? My wife could not converse in Hindi though she understood the language. My children were small and helpless. We did not have a residential phone connection at that time. I had good people around who could appreciate the serious situation and <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="c515dcd9-6298-4c13-9a1d-e6b732fdd748" id="594d51cf-2f01-42ba-88da-50377756294a">empathise</span> with me. The risk of a raid was real. <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="7c90df1c-e061-40a6-93d6-34bfb0a806f4" id="cae8ed80-cda2-4116-a30e-b80ccf34f458">However I</span> had no alternative but to continue in the haunted house because my days in <st1:city><st1:place>Ranchi</st1:place></st1:city> were numbered. </div>
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My Good Samaritan Bihari Friend (Homeopath) offered to have my family as his guests as long as we required. I made a phone call to a Senior IAS Officer (a Tamil) of the Bihar Cadre in <st1:city><st1:place>Patna</st1:place></st1:city>, advised him of the piquant situation in which I was <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="4fe9b73c-a7d6-40f3-bb10-49be35cfe340" id="8e6582be-ef7c-4491-aa4d-d0a49ccda9d4">placed</span> and sought help. He made <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="37c08b95-b5df-4cc1-bd31-188926a2ba36" id="6a90e6e7-20a8-40ea-a4ea-388a23affc3a">enquiries</span> through his sources and assured me that there was no serious investigation against my landlady’s family members. He encouraged me to continue in the same house till I left the city. He advised me to call him in case of any problem. <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="c7352e65-b6c4-4d86-85ad-a0c01452fdb4" id="3685e877-7409-47bd-ab74-532e7d6e1261">For further two</span> months, I stayed in the same house and finally moved to <st1:city><st1:place>Calcutta</st1:place></st1:city>. But I suffered sleepless nights and anxiety even when I was in Office. <br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank God, I did not return to a home with no doors or windows; all pulled away by raiders. What a relief it was to finally get out of the place!</div>
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Ramalingamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935222119613517113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10778790.post-1108166633596046722005-02-12T05:12:00.000+05:302006-01-21T00:46:26.766+05:30water resources-Case for Small Irrigation Systemswater resources <br />I am an Indian. Over the last 40 years, I have seen the way water-bodies shrinking, disappearing and giving way to concrete jungles. <br /><br />When Kings ruled small territories of India, they constructed several irrigation tanks, canals, and even small dams to cater adequately to the needs of their subjects. Generally the citizens were self-sufficient in water resources. Though population of India has grown by leaps and bounds, no small irrigation systems were built over the past several years. No village ponds were added. Owing to pressure of human population several tanks have disappeared over time. Forests were mindlessly destroyed contributing to deficient rainfall.<br /><br />Forgetting the native wisdom of our forefathers, our Contemporary rulers built big/mega dams close to the hills. The mega dams displaced animals and human population from their natural habitats. The huge water bodies created pressure on earth. They are known to be the cause of tremors endangering the lives of our people. Further no one appears to have given any thought to the inequities created by such mega dams. They blocked the water from reaching several villages to equitably cater to the needs of a vast population. Many perennial rivers have gone dry and many of them now carry sewage and industrial wastes instead of life-giving water. <br /><br /><br />The mega dams created 'haves' and 'have nots' even with nature's bounty on which every one of us have a share. The land adjoining such dams got copious supply of water. But tanks and ponds over the river's course went dry. The groundwater-table in tail-end of the river's course went down and further down. <br /><br />Within India the states have to fight each other for water. The politicians make political capital of the dispute to meet their own ends. They have kindled the selfishness of the masses to take the fight to the streets. They showed bravery by issuing statements that not even a drop of water would be given to a neighbouring state. <br /><br />I do not think it is just a problem between states. Today it is the turn of the states to fight for water. Tomorrow villages will have to fight for the same resources. Just because a stream from the mountain first passes through my house, I have no right to hoard all the water flowing in the stream. <br /><br />Let us shed our greed. Let us make the community understand its responsibilities. Let us bring about a radical change in our attitude. Let all of us get a legitimate share of the nature's bounty while doing our best to protect the environment and natural resources.<br /><br />We need to save every drop of water and help people get equitable share of natural resources. Rain-water harvesting should be encouraged and even made compulsory. I think all right thinking Indians should unite and put a halt to further construction of big dams across perennial rivers of India. If such dams have to be built, let them be on the shores of the sea to save the last drops of unutilized water which would otherwise go into the sea as waste. The age old systems which helped the masses to share the resources equitably should be revived. <br /><br />RamalingamRamalingamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935222119613517113noreply@blogger.com1