Month: November 2024

Posted in Food For Soul

Sorry, Forgiven, Thank You & Love You.

Posted on by veeskitchen

A Pranic healer friend told me how to deal with toxic people who want to continuously bring you down or humiliate you or hurt your dignity without provocation. What is the reason for their behaviour. As a follower of the Shaktha school of philosophy I already knew the answer. They owed me one. I was getting paid by the same coin – Karma. But I also know that its quick and easy to disown that Karma. You get attached to things when you invite that sort of bad energy into your life by accepting someone’s bad behaviour by acknowledging it. What if you ignore their violation of your boundaries. You are not responsible for the way they function. You can always refuse to receive their negativity. You don’t have to react. Register but don’t respond. Stop letting their darkness cloud your brilliant light. Well, that is what I shall be trying to do in future. My Shaktha school reasoning dawned on me for the mental trauma : the Karma quotient. I understood right from the start why things happened the way they did.But now I have better clarity.

So having reckoned that I am being paid back for my past Karma, to those who I have harmed/offended in my past janam, I SAY SORRY NOW. I owed them an apology since long.

To them who are now paying me back with interest due for my past Karma with their own misdemeanour, I WANT TO SAY I FORGIVE YOU, FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO ME IS NOT YOUR BIDDING. ITS YOUR KARMA THAT IS CALLING THE SHOTS.

Those who for no reason hurt me, I THANK YOU FOR THE INVALUABLE LESSONS YOU HAVE TAUGHT ME WHICH ARE PART OF MY LIFE EXAM SYLLABUS IN THIS JANAM. Thanks to you I have checked that box. You have helped me complete a chapter of my janam’s assignment.

And to those who have been mean to me, I STILL WANT TO SAY I SHALL LOVE YOU INSPITE OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO ME.

This is because I don’t want their negative energy any more in my life. I want to release them completely from my disappointment, anger, rage and avenging fury. I take back my curses and clear the slate for you. So by releasing them, I am doing myself a favour: my own Karmic cleansing. The ball is now in their court. Whether they accumulate fresh Karma or negativity is entirely upto them. But I won’t be letting their darkness dim my light anymore.

What a profound way to deal with toxicity. Everyday is a day to grow into better human. This is how we evolve into latest and updated version of ourselves. I am not my yesterday. I am my today.

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We are all connected by little Karmic dots. Nothing happens without a reason. My journey is different. I don’t want negative energy to eclipse the shining brightness of my soul. I release the EVIL. I release the NEGATIVITY. I release the TOXICITY. I flush out my own toxins. And here I am as good as new.

Posted in Political, Welcome to my blog!

Russia Vs Ukraine.

Posted on by veeskitchen

Bhagavad Gita is misquoted in Oppenheimer. Well I haven’t yet watched the picture. But in an English fiction (by Ken Follet?) I recall reading about the developments leading to the atom bomb that stopped the World War II.Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan were bombed and until this date, there has been no other parallel act of violence and bloody mass murder to this scale in written history. The award goes to America always and the Caucasians to be specific. No other race in the world is capable of this kind of mindless destruction. In fact this was the reason I stopped reading Ken Follet. He kind of justified whatever Americans did and never elaborated the Japanese point of view. The word ‘terrorism’ wasn’t yet invented, lucky for Americans. Lucky for the Germans too is it not? Lucky for South Africans. For neither the holocaust nor apartheid got labeled as terrorism! Lucky for colonists from Europe as well even if they wiped out to extinction numerous aboriginal races in Australia, Latin America, Northern American and Africa. Look who is preaching.

If you read Arthashastra from 3rd century BCE penned by Chanakya which is a standard textbook across the globe and reference book until now on politics, administration, governance and diplomacy, you will learn that Hindus follow(ed) a four fold method when it came to waging war. First of all wars needed to be avoided at all costs. We followed the ‘Sama, Dhana, Bedha, Dhanda’ the four steps that helped in preventing wars between nations. First method was Sama which meant coming to truce with dialogues and understanding. Negotiations may be made to resolve issues. Trade pacts and treaties may be signed. Even marriage alliances may be forged to have peace at any cost, to bring hostilities between two warring nations to an end. This was a widely adopted practice throughout world history including in India. This was why the very religious and pious Hindu Rajput kings from Rajasthan entered into marriage alliances with the Mugals. Jodha Akbar precisely.

When the first method failed, we went to the next step. This was Dhana – and this meant gifting or giving up something to appease your adversary which meant a sacrifice on your part. You would have to sometimes cough up a big price. You do it anyway to maintain peace. It may mean among other things, giving up territory. The smaller princely states may agree to become vassals paying taxes and excise duties to a larger kingdom with dominant king or emperor. This may they do, unwilling to take on powerful adversaries. Indian princely states of Mysore, Trivandram etc., became vassals to the British raj paying a handsome sums to the British periodically. When first two ways failed, the third one came to rescue. Bedha means to differentiate or give differential or even preferential treatment to different parties and tactfully secure peace. Bedha is therefore NO level playing field. This is nothing but the knack of diplomacy. For instance, the ‘divide and rule’ method practised by the British during the British Raj days by having different sets of rules or laws for the Hindus and Muslims to maintain stability can be said to be the effective ‘Bedha’ diplomacy that helped them deal with two volatile and sensitive communities. In some cases, the Bedha can be stretched to playing up two parties against each other for the benefit and peace of the mediator. This is how traditionally hostile nations or arch rivals/adversaries are created in colonies: by pitting friendly communities living together in harmony for centuries, against each other. Erstwhile neighbours become deadly enemies overnight.

The fourth and the last resort would be Dhanda or the punishment of taking up the wand (or arms) to strike a blow: which meant waging war on your adversary. Only when all other channels of diplomacy failed and the demands of the adversaries were unjust, the fourth method was resorted to. So that is how ancient India treated adversaries and waged wars. Which was why Hindu kings lost to the Islamists and the British who were never bred on the kind of ethics or codes of conduct when it came to war, like our far advanced,literate, civilized and progressive societies of those times.

India never annexed foreign territory. Hindu kings were also pioneer ship builders and seafarers. The Hindu Chola Kings reached upto Indonesia (Bali is still Hindu) and even China, with the world’s largest Hindu temple being Angkorwat in Cambodia (which was later converted to Buddhist) but spread Hindu Dharam by peaceful means not by bribe (as Christians do) or by sword (as Islamists do). King Vikramaditya reached upto today’s Saudi. Merchants from south (Tamil Nadu) sailed upto Rome even before the birth of Christ trading goods and merchandise.

In Mahabharatha war that cannot be dated (anywhere from 6000 to 10000 years ago BCE), the Kauravs refuse to give Pandavs even five houses, leave alone five villages or provinces. When all means of negotiations fail, the Mahabharatha war, the greatest war of all times, ensues. Interestingly, an array of supersonic missiles find a mention in the Mahabharatha. Very casual reference to surface to surface, surface to air, air to air missiles with descriptions on speed and distance and accuracy! They are called Astras in Sanskrit. Astrology and Astronomy could have had sanskrit root words for names.

The Pandavs are unable to overcome hesitation because, who they are taking on war for territory, were their own blood, their first cousins. It is at that time Lord Krishna who is the charioteer for Arjuna explains that sometimes, ADHARMA HAS TO BE TAKEN DOWN WITH EQUAL ADHARMA. :Like how a thorn must be pulled out with a thorn. Dharma is the way forward but sometimes, Adharma also must be practised for the sake of establishing Dharma. It is in this context Krishna says that, He himself is death. After Krishna’s ‘upadesh’ Arjun is ready to fight the Mahabharat war and takes up arms to wage war against his cousins. The Pandavs go on to win the Mahabharat war killing all their cousins. But in the process none of the children of the Pandav survive either. So this is the bitter end of a war.

By deliberate misinterpretation of our sacred texts and by out of context quoting, some forces and especially world media want to create a wrong impression on Bhagavad Gita, which is much older than the Bible or Koran. Its exact date of writing is unknown. We believe it to be over 6000 years old – as ancient HINDU DHARMA THAT HAS NO FOUNDER, NO VATICAN OR MECCA, NO BIBLE OR KORAN AND NO FOUNDING DATE but that which continues to be the one and only continuous and unbroken civilization on planet Earth until now.

Are we staring at a third world war? Irresponsible on part of any nation that abets wars. The costs are too high and the collateral damage will have to be borne by the rest of the whole world. Russia has a moral highground in the matter no doubt. Its none of the business either for America or Europe. War mongering is no more small mischief. It can be a big, big irreversible mistake.

Swastika is Hindu symbol. The set of inverted triangles too is a Hindu symbol. All that is now associated with wrong parties.

Posted in Political

A little too late, still better late than never…

Posted on by veeskitchen

Watching Amaran, felt my blood boil as Indian armed forces were denied the basics such as bulletproof vests and bulletproof vehicles even as they guarded the Line of Control securing our borders. Something as fundamental as a bulletproof jacket could have saved the life of Major Mukund Varadarajan. Our armed forces faced the worst and most hostile adversaries: the Pakistanis and the Chinese armed to their teeth. Our services are poorest paymasters. Only in recent times, ever since PM Shri Narendra Modi ji took over as our prime minister, our armed forces are getting their due.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/after-9-year-wait-indian-soldiers-to-finally-get-bulletproof-jackets-1834945

Better late than never:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/auto/news/deadly-indian-army-vehicles-made-by-mahindra-tata-motors-armoured-safari-to-marksman/articleshow/104746694.cms

For decades, the Indian jawan fought our enemies without proper security backup such as bulletproof vests or bulletproof vehicles. Its only since 2018, they have access to these lifesaving basics. PM Modi also implemented the long pending OROP, the One rank one pension scheme irrespective of the cadre a defence personnel serves as and his retirement date from services. This is a massive reform aimed at benefiting the veterans.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2071572

Posted in Pictures Desi

Two back to back great flicks: Meyyazhagan and Amaran (Tamil)

Posted on by veeskitchen

Got to watch Meyyazhagan (or is it Meiazhagan) in Netflix and Amaran in cinemas today in Doha. After a long time, watching meaningful films without an iota of violence or sex felt good.

Meyyazhagan: Hero Arvind Swamy once our heart throb omg can’t believe! Now he looks like our neighbourhood mama but I have to agree that we all too have become typical middle aged mamis! Finally seeing Arvind Swamy like this was kind of satisfying! Loved the flow of this picture which some found to be dragging and pointless. Exactly for me this was very much appealing. Such a ‘yadaartham.’ Kudos to Karthi who practically lived his role. Such a happy-go-lucky character. Is it a coincidence that he lands this kind of roles. After PS 1 & 2 and Meyyazhagan, one feels compelled to think so. He is too good and comes off as a natural. In PS I did find him to be a bit overacting. The overenthusiastic character play just fit him perfectly in Meyyazhagan.

Amaran was simply great. How many young men lay down their lives for Mother India so readily. And we are here squabbling about petty things living materialistic lives not even aware of the men who guard our borders so that we can go to sleep in peace every night. A moving picture throughout and a heavy subject, it brought instant tears to my eyes in some scenes. Wonderful or rather realistic picturization even if it may be make-believe sets erected for the purpose (for the climax scene for instance). How the director mobilized those frenzied crowds for some shots is unbelievable. Logistics simply beats the logic! Looks like a group of Kashmiris were brought to Chennai and were actually trained to act in the film! Kashmir has been Hindu for 10000 years. The change is there only in last 400 years. 9600 years of peace and 400 years of bloody violence. Tell me what went wrong there and why.

Adi Shankara established one of the (Shankara) Mutts in Sri Nagar in the 7th century CE. The dating is by the British historians. Poorna river was mentioned a a hundred kilometers away from its current location as per original Shankaracharya life history. The river probably changed its course after a few centuries. It means, the original lifetime of Adi Shankara as per most ancient scriptures, could have been around 1st or 2nd century CE or even earlier in the BCE but the British put it at &th century CE. Anything older than Christ they cannot admit! For them world functioned only since Jesus came to earth! So the Shankara Mutt in Sri Nagar is that historic. For whatever reasons, Adi Shankara got the vigrahas (idols) back to Sringeri. It is said that he had visions of Islamic invasions and feared the destruction of shrines, so after establishing the mutt, he got back the original moola vigrahas back with him. You cannot disconnect history completely from the land. Even today Hindus continue to live in Kashmir. In last few years, Kashmir is thankfully returning to normalcy shedding violence. This is mostly growth driven. Economics is the base reason for trouble in any part of the world.

So many young lives wasted out there. Its deplorable that young men in productive age take to stone pelting and arms training and terror there completely misled by the militants. Generations of Kashmiris have lost their way and their lives for this reason. If you cannot co-exist with fellow Indians, you cannot live with anyone else in the world. But the picture is amazingly neutral. We have to give credit to the producer-director and for the screenplay-dialogue writer for carefully steering away and staying clear of politics, especially international politics. Not once Pakistan is mentioned or even hardcore terror is mentioned. No reference to religion. Maintaining that neutrality is very tough given the scene of action. I liked the way they treated this subject lightly yet profoundly. It shows that you can treat sensitive subjects so thoughtfully without having to affect anyone badly. Its important for those in media and in entertainment industry to stay unbiased and neutral. Its understandable why there is this representation angle even in Hollywood pictures giving token representation to every single minority group. That inclusiveness is what will sustain peace in the world.

Having said that, proud to be born in this punya bhoomi Bharat (INdia), the one and only country in the world with 10000 year unbroken Hindu civilization. Richest culture, rich in every way. I don’t want my nation to chase plastic prosperity. May humanity and culture prevail which are the best gifts we can leave for our future generations. Its okay when you are lived-in for millennia and millennia, you tend to be overcrowded and poor. My heart swelled in pride seeing how the sons of Bharat, Mother India, are defending her, laying down their lives in her defence. Not everybody is after money. Armed forces are one of India’s poorest paymasters. Services are not exactly lucrative. Yet when young men and women want to choose serving in our armed forces, it means they put nation first. If India can get aggressive at all, if Hindus can get aggressive, then it means its for a very good reason. I don’t want to talk more on Kashmir than this. But not a square inch anyone can wrench from India: our brothers and sisters in armed forces will see to that our territorial integrity is protected whatsoever and howsoever.

Finally, Major Mukund Varadarajan will be remembered as one of the bravest and selfless sons of India. You feel guilty and sad that such a young and brave life is snuffed out so early. Fate is cruel. My heart goes out to Indhu and and their little daughter.Theirs is a beautiful and inspiring love story.

Sai Pallavi slayed it literally! Siva Karthikeyan was good too. The one who played his mother was a pro. Was it Rahul Bose. He is probably curated for this kind of motivating roles. That the picture could be shot in Kashmir locales involving hundreds of Kashmiris by a Tamil director-producer from down south with a dusky hero, is testimonial to the fact that Kashmiris are changing for the better and are with India. I can’t believe the Kashmiris turned up in droves to partake in the filming of such a courageous story. It means they belong with rest of India without a second thought.

Sai Pallavi – the natural beauty with no make up, no glossy costumes, simply down to earth and such a natural all the way with no faking: she is my kinda heroine! After seeing the loud brashy types jingling with no stuff, she comes across as someone with grace and substance and of course, understated elegance.

Life can be short; only it has to be meaningful.

Posted in food as therapy...

Its the Methi-Dhaniya-Pudina Season!

Posted on by veeskitchen

May be not a gourmet chef but I love my simple sumptuous cooking with basic desi ingredients including aromatic native spices, and array of vegetables that are the natural bounty of this vast and varied Indian subcontinent. Any woman busy in her kitchen with pots and pans can swear by this October to March season dedicated to pursuers of culinary skills and interests ! This is the time when the fenugreek leaves (methi), coriander leaves ( dhania) and the mint leaves (pudhina) look lushest and greeny green without drooping or drying up! Nothing like coriander to garnish your dishes. That is one super Indian touch to curry. Methi is India’s magic food. Or one of India’s magic foods. Methi leaves are the evergreen crush of India! – we use methi in everything from parathas to dal and rice and curry. Even dried methi or fenugreek leaves (called Kasuri methi) are used in summer or off season for flavouring our dishes. Slightly bitter, with proper mixing, the methi can lend exceptional taste to our dishes. Methi leaves are my favourite, as my signature dishes include the methi-daal a top family favourite. Enjoying this season which is also the peak time for fresh green peas harvest. Also are there the double beans, the soya beans, the rajma, the butter beans – the entire beans family none of which you need to soak. Everything comes in pods that you can peel and stock up in freezer for the months to come. So that is what I do. Never buy frozen peas. For that matter I am that housewife who can afford fresh vegetables and need not have to live by the frozen groceries. The veggies are freshie fresh in India in these 5-6 months. In fact our roadside makeshift shops over pavement don’t even have refrigeration facilities. Our street vendors with push carts and some carrying the greens etc., on their heads on woven basket have it all the freshest. In Chennai I get the day’s plucking from that very morning brought door to door by street vendors in handle carts or baskets from surrounding villages in the range of 100-200 km. We get fresh desi A2 cow milk now patented by the US (with no native cows producing A2 milk) that even on refrigeration will spoil within a few hours. Many of us opt for this milk . Fruits in this climate are inviting as they never shrink or dry up! The cherries are here in purple and blood red. Best of it all is that, all are refrigeration free even in our warmer tropical country with mildest winters. The whole of India and why, even the entire world, may be blossoming so vibrantly with a variety of yields from trees, plants, creepers and climbers in this second half of the year. Of course the except may be the icy cold snow filled regions of earth. Fragrant flowers are in full bloom in monsoon countries. India is one super flower country. We have a stunning range of scented flowers from paneer rose to jasmine and hibiscus and oleander for pujas. May be Gods descend in these six months from October to March to Earth. Which is why the entire plant is resplendent with fusion of colours. The evening walks in parks will be pleasant. Here in middle east, the weather is just right crisp chill with sun kissing our skin warmly. Beautifully outdoorsy weather, just too perfect. Restaurants have outdoor seating in this part of the world unlike the colder Europe or America when summers see the patios filling up with guests for dinner.

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METHI IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE HAHAHA! Methi roti, Methi Aloo curry, Methi pulav, any Methi subji for me any day any time!

Decided to add Vendhaya Keerai (fenugreek dal) Paruppu recipe which is our family favourite. In my in-laws home when I was newly married, I was taken in by surprise by the curious kind of taste they had in veggies. Their recipes were different. I picked up my love for Vendhaya keerai from them that I didn’t capitalize on earlier during my Mylapore days where the markets used to have them in loads.

This following blog post of mine is originally dated Sep 27, 2012. Here we go.

Vendhaya Keerai Masiyal (fenugreek leaves-lentil mash) (methi-dal in hindi)

September 27, 2012

This is one of my tastiest dishes and most cooling and nutritious dish i must say.   Most healing one too.   Because if anyone has stomach ache or cramps due to body heat, we normally gulp a spoon of fenugreek seeds here with water that instantly reduces the body heat.   Fenugreek leaves with lentils (methi-dal in hindi and vendhaya keerai masiyal in tamil) is a yummy way to keep cool always!

Ingredients:   6-8 small bunches of cut Methi leaves (small size) (see picture)  (we can also sow the fenugreek seeds in a pot and water it daily and keep in the sun.   In days we will have small sprouts of methi leaves at home that also can be made use of.  i normally buy off store shelves or from a street spinach seller).

1/2 a measuring cup of tuar dal (lentils)

1 mid size onion

1 mid size tomato

1 green chili

4-5 garlic cloves

For garnishing:   1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp cumin seeds, 1 dried red chili torn and de-seeded

a tsp of oil for sauteing.

a pinch of turmeric powder

salt to taste

water

baby fenugreek leaf bunches (can also use regular fenugreek leaves available as one big bunch)
tuar dal or red gram/lentils

onion, tomato, garlic, green chili
adding the chopped onions, tomatoes, green chili and garlics to the dal/lentils in the pressure cooker
rinsing the methi/fenugreek leaves thoroughly in water
thorough rinsing of over 4-5 times…
adding the fenugreek/methi leaves on top of dal and onion, etc in pressure cooker..
pressure cooking until the dal is done…
pouring the contents into an earthern pot,,
mashed ! Fenugreek greens with Thoor dal
mash while the dal-methi is still hot…
mashing to a smooth consistency…
mashing the natural way…

Vendhaya Keerai Masiyal/Fenugreek leaves-lentil mash/methi-dal is almost ready for garnishing..
seasoning with a torn and de-seeded red chili, mustard and cumin seeds in 1 tsp of oil- so this is the maximum oil we use in this dish.
adding the seasoning and salt to the dal-methi

Vendhaya Keerai Masiyal/Fenugreek leaves-lentil mash/methi-dal

Vendhaya Keerai Masiyal/Fenugreek leaves-lentil mash/methi-dal is ready to serve…

Method:

Wash and immerse 1/2 a cup tuar dal (lentils) in adequate water in a small pressure cooker.   Chop the onion and tomato and add it to the tuar dal.   Add the garlic flakes and the green chili.  Sprinkle 1/2 tsp turmeric powder.

Cut the small bunches of fenugreek leaves (methi leaves) in a fine manner leaving out the soft stalks and taking out the leaves alone (with a bit of stalk otherwise).   Methi leaves or fenugreek leaves carry lots of soil dust which need thorough rinsing.   Rinse in 2 large bowls alternately and cleanse by hands atleast 4-5 times draining the soil-water everytime.   Repeat the process for more number of times until you are satisfied that the leaves are maximum free of soil particles.  (refer to the pictures)

Now add the washed fenugreek leaves to the dal and onion-tomato in the pressure cooker.    Give 4-6 whistles to ensure that the dal and the leaves are cooked smooth.   Wait for pressure release and open the cooker lid after ensuring its safe to open.

Take the cooked contents out.   Pour the same into an earthen pot.  Mash with a wooden masher to a fine thick consistency.

Transfer the mashed fenugreek leaves-lentil (methi-dal) (vendhaya keerai) into a bowl.

Garnishing:   Heat a tsp of oil in a shallow pan.   Add 1/2 tsps of mustard seeds, cumin seeds and a torn and de-seeded dried red chili.  When the seeds splutter, take out and pour this into the mashed dal.  Salt finally.

Now we have most nutritious and yummy Fenugreek leaves-lentil mash (Vendhaya Keerai masiyal in tamil and Methi-dal in hindi) to go with both rotis as subzi and with rice.

ABOUT FENUGREEK LEAVES:

This is readily available in small bunches (baby leaf bunches) in Chennai and in most parts of south India.  In rest of India, methi leaves are available rarely as small baby bunches but like any regular greens.

Homegrowing fenugreek leaves is best option.   Sow the fenugreek seeds in a pot and water it daily keeping it in direct sun. Within a week or two, you can see small fenugreek leaves/methi leaves sprouting up.   Take care to pluck the small leaves delicately.  This is the easiest way to get small baby fenugreek leaves.

(PS:  Can also do the same dish using regular fenugreek leaves or bigger vendhaya keerai leaves/greens.  the bitter taste associated with baby fenugreek leaves is totally absent with mature vendhaya keerai leaves/regular fenugreek leaves, but that does change the taste significantly.) 

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About Fenugreek seeds and Fenugreek leaves I want to add this now: Native to India, Methi or fenugreek holds an important place in Indian native medicine the Ayurveda. Food as therapy – this is the ancient Hindu wisdom.

I just googled and have this as copy-paste job on Methi leaves: #IndianCurry #methisuperfood

  • Keeps Your Heart Fit.
  • Controls Diabetes.
  • Relief from Menstrual Cramps.
  • A Good Brain Food.
  • Prevention from Cancer.
  • Good Gut Health.
  • Helps in Weight Control.
  • Methi Benefits for Hair.
Posted in Economic

Sheer harassment awaits you on Arrival at Chennai Airport.

Posted on by veeskitchen

ATTENTION PRIME MINSTER SHRI NARENDRA MODI JI PMO

When I flew in the first week of September, things were as usual at Chennai International. I got picked up comfortably at the terminal arrival T2. When I returned to Chennai Domestic after a local trip by the last week, already dead tired, I had no awareness what a nightmare awaited me.

I was asked to take a buggy to the multistory parking lot a km away. Sounded simple. Now this is the new pickup point for Ola, Uber, pre-paid airport taxis or even private cars. Those who want to transfer to Chennai Metro Rail can always do so from within the airport without having to step out – whether domestic or international. Both have direct connectivity to Metro.

But the problem is, you reach your destination after a tiring travel. There is not a regulated queue for the buggy. I was a lone traveler. I have health issues, I am middle aged, and I can never haul weights. Maximum I can pull up my bags from the conveyor belt and shift them to the low level trolleys. Mostly at this, I am helped at by fellow passengers. The buggy line is long, if at all there is one. People rush to get into the buggy not wanting to wait their turns. Absolute chaos with no discipline or order. Those with light cases manage easily to board the buggy flinging their bags to the holdall in the back. I had a great difficulty hauling my bags on to the back of the buggy that cannot hold big suitcases. Mine had to be put on top jutting out and shaking all the way. Moreover mixed luggages of passengers are piled up precariously one on top of another. I saw ladies struggle to haul their bags to the buggy and get in at the same time. By the time some women successfully placed their trolley bags over the buggy, their seat in the buggy was taken. With the buggy full and leaving without them but with their bags, the women were perplexed. After over 20 minutes of trying to get into one, I summoned someone probably in-charge there to help me. Finally a kind man hauled my luggages to the back of the buggy and I could take a seat in the buggy at the same time. But not after a terrible argument with the driver of the buggy. That by itself was a feat. It took me over 30 minutes just to get from outside the terminal to the parking lot. Here you have multistorey parking and the cars are parked at various levels. You have to take an elevator to reach whatever floor, in case of prepaid taxis. God knows where to wait for Uber. I was told the waiting place was the same as the uber/ola drivers only could drive through. Such a confusion and MESS. Totally harassed.

I thought the international terminal would be different. My husband who traveled last month went through the same nightmare on landing at T2. Early morning, no buggy was available. Trolleys cannot be wheeled beyond a point. He called his cabbie who thankfully walked upto the terminal from the parking. Both of them wheeled the suitcases for over a good half to one km to the parking lot at morning 3 am. It totally drained his energy. Is this what to expect on landing in our hometown after a tired journey. In my case, even if the buggy may be available, I just can’t haul the bags to that height of the buggy holdall. My international flight bags weigh over 18 to 20 kg each. What am I going to do. What brainless people have put such a harrowing system into place? Its not only impractical, it is sheer harassment, nightmare. This is now going on for over 2 months and I wonder whoever has registered an official complaint.

If for security reasons the government wants to keep the taxies and cars at bay at the parking lot, then something like a shuttle bus must be arranged where there must be conductors to handle luggages. I have seen such a system in place in the US. One can board the shuttle to reach parking lots as far as few kilometers without hassles.

Hopefully by the time I return the old way of exiting airport is back. I give up, I just can’t. Wonder how the wheelchair passengers cope up. Its not a straight level ride with their carts to the parking at all. A lot of work needs to be done on warfooting basis. Airport authority need not have to turn our airport into 5 star hotel. At least the basics they must take care of. What is the use of building a swanky new airport and putting passengers through sheer harassment on arrival. Basic amenities must be covered first. You see the airports in the US. They keep the artefacts there in museums not in airports. Airport can be plain but functional and user-friendly. Arrival in Chennai is now a big headache be it international or domestic.

Posted in Economic, Socio-Cultural, Socio-Political

No more IT exemption to Catholic clergy in India

Posted on by veeskitchen

In a landmark decision the Supreme court of India upheld the waiving of exemption from income taxes to nuns and priests of the Catholic church serving in educational institutions, thus bringing the practice from the British era to an end. The catholic clergy in all filed over 93 appeals seeking reversal.

https://www.ucanews.com/news/indian-court-ends-tax-exemption-for-catholic-priests-nuns/106944

Posted in Women & Family

Two Brave Stories From Middle East.

Posted on by veeskitchen

Bravo! The Iranian woman did not strip in the university to amble around in semi nudity. The purpose or intent was to defy hijab that keeps women veiled. This is more of a symbolic act as we know. Why should women be struggling for something as basic and mundane as the fundamental right to personal preferences such as one’s attire?

I don’t believe in faith that subscribes the means and methods of living ways. If I am a vegetarian from birth, its not because it is enforced by any law or code in Hindu scriptures. My family made the voluntary choice generations back and I am okay with it. Freewill must prevail and individual’s freedom of expression is the hallmark of civilization.

Even bikinis can be carried over with dignity and need not have to be vulgar at all. The sense of honour and respect is in the eye of the beholder. Even the Arabs must be aware of the long arm of modern technology that can reach into their bedrooms and bathrooms exposing their women to all and sundry. No burqa can come to their rescue. The peeping Tom could be your next door neighbour, who knows. May the modesty be in your mind.

Anyway the Iranian girl practically wrote her own death sentence. But someone has to bell the cat right. And she did just that.

Kudos to the Chess player and three times rapid chess world champ Anna Muzychuk for refusing to play the tournament in Saudi Arabia because of the burqa dress code. Anna says she does not want to be chaperoned to the venue from her hotel by a male escort as per local laws as it may measure to her not being an equal to a man. A disgrace! Its time to pull out events from Saudi in that case where women sportspeople wouldn’t be treated with equal respect as the men.