TOP TEN TAMIZH FILMS

Hai guys, as usual nothing great is happening. Too much of books would make a human go mad. So let me share something with you. I am not a great fan of cinema as I believe present day cinemas have no culture, but there are few films which have impressed me with their storyline and message.

So here comes my all-time favourite list.
1. Michael Madan Kamarajan
2. Anbe-Sivam
3. Ramana
4. Anniyan
5. Mudhalvan
6. Gentleman
7. Jai Hind
8. Kadhanayagan
9. Nethi Adi
10. Inru Poi Naal Vaa

-Krishna Kumar.S

Eve Teasing in Chennai

TO WHOMSOEVER IT MAY CONCERN

I had been waiting to publish this article for some time. Let me share with you about what I have observed. I have observed two sets of people. A conservative, worried, always tensed generation belonging to the age group of above 30 (born before 1980 era) and another is a hopeless stupid breed of so called cool dudes (born in 1985-86 along with me). I regard the present day younger generation of India in the age of 14-24 as hopeless souls, hooligans with wrong attitude, lack of character and originality. Well, of course not all, but majority of them have no intelligence.

Now let me narrate a real life incident. I was traveling to NIIT Nungambakkam to get some of my documents verified. It was a hotday in September. I was traveling in 29C and I boarded the bus at Adyar signal. I took my seat near the window. My bus stopped at Stella Mary’s bus stop. I could observe a lot of girls. I looked at their dressing style. I felt a bit shy on behalf of them. I could only pray to God to give them more dress. There was no secret! Read the line twice! There was no secret. The present day generation is so infatuated by the money thrown by IT/BPO industries the younger generation has failed to realize the harm in following Western culture especially in a repressed culture like India where men are desperately hungry to taste the forbidden fruit. I know they were only inviting trouble by dressing like this but I won't advice them because in their opinion I am a villager. And nowadays the present day girls love the attention they get from men. And this encourages men a lot, ultimately ending in eve-teasing. And moreover, the present day generation is a bit kiddish. They require people only those who can be cheap. Definitely, I won't be a part of it. Maybe I would get along with them, but I won't follow their footsteps. But I would be laughing inside.


Save the girl child!

Now let me narrate the bus journey. There were a bunch of useless college students in the back. These guys think that they become professionals if they join a B.E or B.Com course. No one is a professional. Even a guy in the I.T industry or a Project Leader is not a professional. People become true professionals when they know how to treat another human being in a humane manner. I doubt whether these guys of present era come anyway near it. People might ask then what I am? Well, it's your opinion and again everyone is entitled for their own opinion. Let me describe their appearance. Piercing in ears and in the chin, handkerchief over the head, t-shirt without collar with the divine F word written multiple times, shaded jeans. I was laughing inside. The words often used in conversations were "mama", "mamu", "machi", and "gethu". I can also type a few more, but my sisters would be reading this. I would rather stop here.

In that gang of five people, two of them were brothers. But they were addressing each others as "machan". In Tamil, machan means co-brother. One of them should have married the other person’s sister. I wonder how it could be possible when both of them are brothers. I wonder how such a relationship could be possible when both are related by blood. I clearly heard them talking and I was sure that these guys were siblings. LOL! I couldn’t help myself laughing. I was laughing inside. Well, that’s what future India is about.

As the bus stopped at Stella Marys the college girls got in. One of them couldn’t control his excitement and immediately told to his brother-machan(???) "Machi, Super figure da". His brother-machan was too elated and couldn’t help whistling. The girl noticed and you should have watched her reaction. Man! She was happy! I turned my face and looked out of the window and I was laughing inside. I was thinking of former President Abdul Kalam and his statement requesting youngsters to dream. The youngsters were indeed dreaming!

After I got some of my documents verified I started my journey back. I was to board 29C again. I came to the bus stop and was waiting there. 29 C came and I boarded it. As the bus crossed Stella Mary’s a girl boarded the bus. Immediately, the entire gang started shouting raising double meaning slogans. The poor girl got a bit afraid and sat in the front itself and didn’t even come to purchase the tickets. Then these guys were planning to approach her. The girl got a bit fed up and she got down fearing embarrassment.

Maybe after a few years, if China invades India, all these boys should be conscripted and should be posted in the border to defend every inch of Indian soil. If they retreat from the border, they should be shot by Generals. It requires more courage to retreat than advance. At that time, they would realize how tough life could be if one is in the suffering end. Just because there are 10 percent of girls who dress improperly and behave in a sub-standard lifestyle, the entire women population is taken for granted and is being preyed by hungry men. I know I can’t do anything. I won't react to this, but I have the right to portray them here. I am not Anniyan, but I am a human. I could only wish the Soviets were around and they wouldn’t have allowed this to happen.

Too bad the USSR doesn’t exist. Humans have two options in life. Humans can live as Hindus, Christians and Muslims and follow their respective rituals co-exist with other religions and enjoy the variety of human civilization. If cheap acts continue, they may need to live in conditions similar to the USSR where regular life would be monitored. I think that’s a better system for these hooligans.

What exactly is the pay off that these eve teasers get? According to some, it is something they do "just for fun". Accumulation of wealth generates a bossy attitude and generally leads to evil in the long run. People change with money and increase in comfort. Others have said, "Women enjoy the attention and we enjoy watching their reactions". Few believe that the aggressive expressions of love that one sees in the movies are the motivational force. However, according to some psychologists the root cause of eve teasing is the patriarchal mindset of the Indian male. They like to believe that they have power over the women society. They thrive on the fact that even today a large number of women still prefer to ignore rather than to confront.


If the Soviets were around, they wouldn't let this happen.

Men think that women enjoy eve-teasing. Now how does this happen and take shape? As indicated earlier in my article about Tamil cinema, I blame all this on the cine industry. The cine industry has spoiled the younger generation. I am not a great supporter of Communism but seriously, there should be some censorship in the media. Immediately, all the so called "cool modern dudes" of Chennai would consider me as too conservative or too leftists following the footsteps of Lenin or RSS or Shiv Sena. I don’t care, but I am laughing inside whenever I watch the present day generation getting infatuated by small things. I wish Lenin was around, he wouldn’t let this happen.

There is no woman who is spared from molestation or eve-teasing. Right from aunties till 10 year old child women are victimized. I would even go a step-further. Even a child in the womb is killed if it is a girl child. So there is no safety for the girl child. Statistics shows around 65 percent of the evil-doers are students. Even during my school life and colleg life, I have observed students putting kadalai. LOL! The problem is that these students grew up listening to crap songs in Radio and stupid Tamizh films which projects as if heroine is succumbing to hero’s advances. All these bloody films have projected women as a sexual object and hence the cine industry has created a "Frankenstein" in the younger generation. The worst is that even the present day girls would love to get such an attention from their opposite sex and this is where things go out of control and men dare to take that extra step to touch.



During my school life I have observed that girls who are dark in color are bullied a lot and girls having fair skin are portrayed as Goddess. During that age, children in the Soviet Union grew up learning science and literature. I am not embracing communism or socialism or doing any sort of propaganda. But human society fails if crimes can't be prevented. Majority of the films portray heroes passing sarcastic comments on dark skinned women and even passing remarks on women who are fat. There is also a sarcastic portrayal of eunuchs. I wonder how the Government gives permission to publish such scenes. The governement has failed in its purpose to protect its citizens. Such things shouldn’t be portrayed in media.

I seriously wonder what the sensor board is doing. And immediately, critics might argue saying that there is a right to practice freedom of speech. Is that a freedom of speech or freedom to insult a human being? If such things are to be practiced let the Preamble of the Indian Constitution be changed. Why should India be declared as a socialist, secular, democratic republic? Let it be an ordinary democratic republic. There is no bloody socialism over here. I only see that there are ethnic jokes like Sardarji jokes, Anti-Brahmin jokes and ethic violence. There is no secularism. I see more of communal violence and inter-caste violence. And I would like to reserve my comments about democracy in India.

Another reason that keeps women from taking action is fear. They are afraid that this will breed further enmity, which will prove to be dangerous. Now the million-dollar question is will law alone be able to stop eve teasing and protect women? The answer is an absolute no. The only way it can be stopped is by encouraging women to retaliate against eve teasers fearlessly. This will only be possible when she gets wholehearted support from the community.

-Krishna Kumar.S

Maanam Ketta Tamizh Cinema

For sometime, these thoughts have been in my mind. I didn’t want to portray these in any of my blogs as I want to stay secular. Being in this country since my birth, I am quite satisfied with a few things and I am proud of its heritage. But there are few things which have destroyed my nation since its birth in 1947. Communal politics, aggression against women and transgression of human rights. Before going any further with this article, I want to tell a few things/points.

1. Living in India is many times better than any other country in the world.

2. Read history well. Our country hasn’t invaded any other country in human history and the only country in the planet which truly loves peace.

3. India was never meant to be a country as a whole as it is only a Union of erstwhile princely states, but in reality it is nation. It is living every dream! Such countries are tough to administrate and certainly India has developed amidst huge challenges.

4. Every 26th January, India conducts a Republic Day parade. The whole world stuns and watches with amazement. No other country could pull out such amazing variety of lifestyle, culture and uniqueness. Being a union of 28 states and various Union territories, the Indian Union is the most ethnically diverse, multi-linguistic society ever to exist on planet earth. As days go by, my prediction is that culture and values would be respected more than anything else. Critics may say that this is a computer age and people should strip and dance! Even the so called first world countries are returning to our culture and following it religiously. What do you say about that? Maybe not today, but definitely after 20 years Indians would be respected even more and envied of the unity. In other words, we can rather live life for ourselves, not to earn a name from other nations in the world.

The reason why there is no safety of women is because of the Indian Entertainment Industry which is considered great and divine by the present day youths who have succumbed to the luxuries and comforts of life. Generally, there are lots of harsh scenes shown in cinemas. Rape scene, stripping of saree, as the girl yells. This is one thing which should be banned. All these scenes project as if a girl desires for such a pleasure and it pollutes the mind of Indian youth. These entire scenes project that women can be over-powered and that’s what exactly has happened and is happening and with the blessings of the Film industry. So what’s the Union Government of India doing?



The next reason is Pornography. Porn films project women in an offensive manner. It projects as if women are in need of such “pleasures” and as if men are so holy and divine who can do the needful. It projects females as objects. This mindset develops in every human youth and that’s what encourages them to kidnap a college mate, or a colleague to rape her! Almost in my opinion, all Tamil films are pornographic which projects women as a sexual object rather than a human being with emotions. Infact, all films portray them even worse than animals. Too bad that we are all silent criminals and sitting ducks. If Lenin was alive and living, he wouldn’t allow this to be happening. True! Instead of taking birth in Russia, I wish he was born here in India. He would have taken these people for a ride! There would be only one change. I won’t be living as a Brahmin or a Hindu. Infact, there won’t be any religion. But certainly there would be safety for women.

I can’t number the reasons neither can I name all the films as they are replete with superlatives. Another reason is fashion. Nowadays the idea of fashion has got too much into the minds of producers and directors that the popularity and success of films is inversely proportional to the amount of dress in a heroine. The spirit of womanhood is going for a toss! In directly, all these films are nothing but porn films. But the good joke is that the first person to see the film when it is released would be a teenage girl.

The sexual violence is depicted as fun, enjoyable and a normal expression of romantic love. Read the line carefully. Read it again. It is depicted as a normal expression. This is where the problem arises. This is where any viewer takes things for granted. Victims are more likely to be women rather than men and sexual violence committed by heroes/villains is depicted as a normal behaviour. And the next line is even more important. Initially, the hero would harass the heroine. And towards the end heroine would become romantically involved with the hero. Such scenes projects as if women like violent sexual advances but in reality it isn’t and many rape victim fall into severe depression and become a victim of shame. Would it be right to treat a human as an object?

And another reason. Choli kay peeche kya hai? You would find it amusing. I will tell you one real story. When I was six years old, I sang this song without knowing the meaning. I received one slap from my father who was reading a newspaper nearby. I use to whistle a lot as I believe it reduces a lot. My father slapped me again! I forgot that too. Who says strict parental control doesn’t give improvement? What I was taught when I was young has helped me to handle my present day life better thanks to my father and his strict control over me. Such songs have given encouragement to men of all ages to discriminate and take women for granted. So what’s the Union Government doing? I have asked the question for the second time. Don’t worry you will answer this question yourself, as the article goes on.



So let me put it in better words. Generally, what happens in a Tamil film is that the hero would be a 22 year old dropout using words like “machi”, “gethu”, “udaal”, “maapillai”, “machan”,”mamu”. He would come across a heroine and would instantly fall in love with her and start flirting. The cinema would project as if flirtatious relationship has a beginning of courtship, along with usual sequence of dances and song routines with a huge gang of people jumping crazily shouting, “Sarukku vechurukkein, erakki vechirukkein” and towards the end the heroine accepts the hero’s sexual advances. The film would be given a “U” certification by the censor board. In short the people in the censor board are the ones who are “holding the lamps”. New Delhi is the place where most rape cases happen. How will a country improve if its capital has got such a great record? So what’s the Union Government doing?

Most of the cinemas project as if women enjoy getting teased. Eve teasing violates a woman's basic right to live in dignity. Will women forever remain targets and victims of eve teasing? I fear so. The reason is whenever there is a release of Tamil Cinema or any other movie there are huge amount of girls visiting the theater first and indirectly funding injustice. I am not against that industry, but why not drama instead of cinema? Or why not a good cinema instead of the usual masala cinema? Women are often criticized for 'inviting' molesters by way of their 'seductive' way of dress and make-up. For the last line, half of my own friends who are girls would shout at me. I know that. And as they read this article too, they would wonder why I am so harsh at modernization and against modern culture. But as I end up this article they would understand why. So what’s the Union Government doing?

Certainly anyone who lives in the fantasy world of Bollywood or Kollywoord or Tollywood or Hollywood will lose all sense of reality and rational intelligence. He will fail to see that his favorite heroes on celluloid behave differently in real life. Film starts generally don’t understand the ramifications of a film. As for the directors, they are the ones who actually believe that a little bit of eve-teasing is harmless and hence add poison to the milk.

Much of the country’s problem is primarily due to the present day 18-24 year old youth which gets infatuated by cinema and travels on roads in faded jeans, round neck T-shirts, travel in bikes. Whenever I see such people, I use to laugh inside. I use to wonder what their parents have taught them.

Much of the cinemas portray as if dominating women, forcing them to have sex and being aggressive and powerful is the test of a ‘real man’ and one who takes controls and overpowers a women is considered a real man. Don’t be shocked! This is the truth. This is what future India is about and it is only to these types of people the former Indian President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was asking to dream and they were indeed dreaming!

A group of people decided to counsel such youths. It was done through various activities and games. One very significant ‘game’ that was played was one where half the men became ‘Objects’ and the other half became ‘People’. The men who became ‘Objects’ were ordered around and made to do humiliating things. In another game, some men had labels stuck on them and the other boys were to treat them exactly as per the labels. This was quite humiliating for those who were labeled ‘prostitutes’. We really feel bad when we are treated like objects. Isn’t it? That’s what I am writing in my blog for the Soviet Union to treat humans as humans.

The result of this whole program was that the participants realized what it felt like to be treated the way they treated women. Interviews revealed that their attitudes altered to some degree. The men in the study became more sensitive, started helping more at home, and overall became more respectful of women. Even the eve-teasing complaints against these boys decreased. Many of the young men also reported that they became ‘quieter’ and less aggressive after the program. They said that they had become ‘changed from within’. Their self-esteem increased and their relationships with women improved.

So what’s the Union Government doing?

And of course, the last thing I would like to talk about. Communal violence and communal politics in cinema! Offensive portrayal of Brahmins in cinemas. I have nothing against anyone, but I am just asking one question. Do you have the guts to pass comments against any other sect or caste or other religion? Take for example, Islam. Then why are Brahmins targeted? It’s because they don’t retaliate and they are weak and they don’t have the courage to speak. Kitttu Mama or Susi Mami some bullshit which comes in some damn radio. Isn’t that a sarcastic portrayal of Brahmins? What sin have we done that you are showing us hatred? I am not talking just because I am a Brahmin, but I am talking as a human. There are also some sections in Dinakaran or Dinamalar-which talks about “Peter Mama”. In this column, politics are generated in Brahmin language and style between two characters. I am amazed at the Government’s control over its people. This is something similar to sarcastic portrayals of Sardarji in the name of Santa and Banta.

Tamilnadu being the cradle for Anti-Brahmin movements is a place where its esteemed politicians always blame the Iyer and Iyengars for almost all problems in the society. A popular revolutionary and a Hero of Dravidians made abusive remarks and repeatedly called for Brahmin killings and burning down Brahmin homes and the rape of their women. I have got a question over here. In the above statement, Brahmins are considered inferior and outcast. So why do Anti-Brahmins rape our women? What do you find so divine and enticing that you wish to insert and advance into something inferior, if we are inferior breeds in your opinion? Answer this question and do whatever you want.

In majority of the films by many great directors, there is always an Anti Brahmin sentiment criticizing Brahmin rituals and practices and stating as if Brahmins are responsible for spreading superstitions. There are even people asking about Engineering Degree of Lord Ram. Come on buddy. Do you know that Muslims have the practice of doing ‘sunnath’? Try remarking about Muslims and their culture? Just make a comment and your entire generation would regret for it! Just like how US is getting screwed in Iraq and Afghanistan at the moment. Brahmins are so helpless and weak; people always take a dig at them.

My thoughts might sound stupid for some people. But I don’t care. I am ready to stand in what I believe and my beliefs don’t involve any Anti-X sentiments and I am not having any destructive thoughts either. It’s high time that the present day youths of India realize their responsibilities rather than infatuating to cinema, entertainment and partying. If you visit theaters often, go for good films like Anniyan, Ramana, Citizen rather than Masala films. Don’t fund for injustice.

So what’s the Union Government doing? You would have found the answer by now.

-Krishna Kumar.S

How to make an another human being happy?

Let's be happy. Let's do not hurt others. Let's make the world a better place to live in.

There are many reasons why people lose happiness in life. Let's discuss some of them and find a suitable remedy for it.

I thought of penning this article only after getting an email forward from one of my friends Srirang. Srirang rocks!

So let's start! Let's make others happy.

Methods to make others happy:-

1. Advice! This should be avoided at all costs. Remember, this is not the time to boast about our superiority and forecast our abilities to someone who is at depression. Remember anything will happen to anyone at anytime. I would get fired tomorrow from my job! Or I might get a better job. Who knows? Remember, even the great USSR crumbled like a pack of cards. The so called super power US is getting screwed in Afghanistan and Iraq simultaneously. Life hasn't spared anyone. Let's not advice anyone by saying," Buddy these things happen in life and you have got lots to face tomorrow". The popular jargon especially amongst the present day younger generation of Indian youth is "Life la edhullam oru kashtam illai". Instead let's put in this way,"I had this problem, but I learnt a lot, likewise you will learn more, even more than me and I will be with you to help you out".

2. If a person is too negative, let's not blast at him and say that, "You are pessimistic, mentally weak, you won't survive at your workplace". We are all humans-an imperfect lot-including me. Seriously, we don't know what the other person is facing in life. We might not even fight half of what he is doing. Just because we are in good position we shouldn't take a dig at others.

3. My birthday was on July 27th. I sent an email to my friend Sudhakar(who is in UK doing masters) asking me to wish at 00:00hrs IST on 27th July. I sent that mail 14 days back, around July 13th. But I didn't remind him again and neither he is in Orkut to find out my birthday. I told him in an email, "If you wish me, this year would be good for me". At 00:01hrs IST, I received a call from UK. I saw the number 44-xxxxxxxxxx. I knew instantly it was from the UK. It's been one month now. Life is good if not the best. But I am thankful to God. Not one or two, I have got many humans as my friends. Even amidst busy schedule, let's devote sometime for other humans than spending time with dumb machines. So let's take pride in wishing others.

4. I had a colleague in the name of Reshmi. She was a Punjabi. Her father died years ago and she is the only breadwinner. She has got a sister too and lives with her mother. She is doing her UG in college! She worked at night shifts along with me and then she went to college during the day. Trust me! There are people who are living life. They are fighting in life. They never gave up. At work place, she is given encouragement by all her mates. Tomorrow, she is certainly going to achieve big things. Let's encourage another human being than discouraging or passing comments.

5. Loose talks, gossips. Why should we do that? Why should we ridicule other person's life. If .. If.. we could all get along... and live...Let's start living rather than simply existing. Humans are best creations of God and they have six senses. Blessed! Let's make an effort to use some of them to serve Him the best by rising as high as possible in character. People might wonder how simple bullying, teasing a human being would destroy the peace in world.

Let's assume that we are teasing a person. Tomorrow, he might feel so hurt that he might have a discontent towards a particular human community. This would gradually encourage us to tease him as we have now developed a feeling that we are dominant and gradually this would be done on women. Slowly, this would lead to women abuse. The affected lot will certainly revolt again with revenge. This would lead to communal violence gradually leading to events like September 11th, November 26th Mumbai attacks etc. We need not blame them. We should blame ourselves. If Nicholas II had been a good Tsar, why the need for a Soviet Union through a blood revolution?

6. Let's share fun and enjoy! What are SMS, emails used for? Let's tweet! Let's update each other. Let's share our fun and enjoyment. It is hard for people to be negative when they are having fun.

7. Let's don't dwell on negative conversations. Why should we be sarcastic about other humans? Why should we make ourselves superior to others unless if it regarding academics?

8. A complete change of environment is required. One of my friends got depressed badly. I called him up and took him away from city limits in a train. I didn't advice. I recollected those days when he was important to me and how I owe him a lot. Well, that's the truth. Let's be thankful to an another human being. He is normal now.

9. Superiority complex. Let's not discriminate people based on caste, sex, color, religion. No one is superior. I am a brahmin. Tomorrow, I would marry a brahmin girl. Thali katra naanum, adha kazhuthula vaangara avalum thaan brahmin. The people who made that thali are not brahmins!! If... we could all.. get along... to create that Universal brotherhood in the planet.

10. Barriers don't exist, if we speak to each other. Let's speak and be good to each other. We all should drop the aggressive stance. No one becomes violent in a day or changes soon. Seriously, do we really need a USSR versus USA cold war?

11. Let's nurture the younger generation in the right way. During my childhood, there was a lady who took care of me and assisted my parents. Unforunately, her husband died suddenly. At that time, there were some superstitious people around me and they said that the lady shouldn't be allowed inside the house for the next 6 months. The lady entered the house and I didn't allow her inside thinking that her ill fate hit my family. I even openly insulted her saying," That her ill fated luck would haunt my family".

I feel ashamed for this act even today. It doesn't matter where I work or how much I earn or how many engines I have travelled but I have failed to treat a human as an human. Let's advice the younger generation in the right way! All those doing Namas towards Mecca aren't terrorists. All Hindus aren't like the one who broke the Babur Masjid. Let there be a Mosque, temple, church and fire-temple in every town.

12. If ever a human soul is poisoned, a part of the autopsy would read "jealousy". Why should we be jealous of others? If someone is happily married, why should we be jealous of them? If someone earns better, why should we be jealous of them? The world is so big and there are lots to taste and enjoy than being within a circle. If something never works out we shall try something new.. let's learn new languages, learn about other countries, people and lifestyle...seriously, I am not suggesting or advising.. I just want to know whether you are interested in these as I am much into it.

13.

14.

15.

Well, you have to tell. So tell me how you would make an another human being happy?

-Krishna Kumar.S

I am laughing inside...

Right from my childhood till even today, I make every attempts to respect another human being. I value human value and it's precious to me. I would certainly think thousand times before making a harsh move. I may not confront anyone, but I would be laughing inside.

So when do I laugh within myself? The points below doesn't applies to all. It is for few excited fellows.

So guys let me share my moments during which I actually laugh inside.

1. When you boast too much about yourself infront of me, I am certainly laughing inside.

2. When you return from United Kingdom or United States and talk about life over there and always start your first line,"When I was in the US .. in the UK...". I am not only laughing inside, but I am rolling on the floor and laughing because I am thinking about your life in India 5 years back. You ate thayir sadham, sambhar sadham ,vatha kuzhambu appalama, rasam sadham. Eppo enna kasakkudha? Stood in queues to pay bills, read Hindu/Dinamalar, visited Pillaiyar Koil to pray for your exams.

3. Whenever you say "bucks" instead of "Rupees", I am laughing inside.

4. Whenever I visit Madurantakam or Parthasarathy Temple, you advice me to go to Spencer Plaza or City Center, I am laughing inside.

5. Whenever you say "babes" instead of ladies, I am laughing inside. Yedhukku endha vetti bandha?

6. When you try to insult others for fun, I am wondering what your parents taught you when they brought you up.

7. When you are bloated with egoism, I am laughing inside. You are coming down in my ratings!

8. Whenever you advice me to show how superior you are than me, I am laughing inside at your immaturity that you coudln't control your mental excitement to display your achievements.

9. When you gossip about other's personal life, I am laughing inside and at your character.

10. When you boast too much about your own salary, achievements, number of girlfriends, I am laughing inside.

11. Whenever you boast too much about your IT/BPO achievements, I am laughing inside.

12. Whenever you criticize a person who got divorced and speaking/boasting as if you are in good terms with you other half and as if others in the world are fools. I am laughing inside.

13. When you buy a car and criticize those who board MTC buses or travel in unreserved train compartments, I am laughing inside at your superiority complex.

14. When you invite me to your house and show the most expensive music systems, electronic equipments,computers, air conditions, expensive curtains, beds and keep boasting too much about it instead of introducing me to your elders or taking me to your prayer room! I am laughing inside.

15. When you completely disrespect the policies and principles of the elder generation, I am laughing inside.

16. When you use the F word multiple times and get infatuated by its so called glory, I am laughing inside.

17. When you pass on comments about others and their personal life if they are unfortunate, I am laughing inside wondering why you are like that.

18. After reading this post, if you are laughing at me sarcastically, I am laughing at you implicitly because I am eccentric in your opinion, but I am laughing at you because you are just like others.

-Krishna Kumar.S
(01/09/2009)

Questions I would like to ask God

There are a few questions which I would like to ask God. These have been in my minds for sometime.

1. Why is that people change when they become rich? The behaviour when they get Rs.5000/- is normal. When they get above Rs.25,000/- they start advicing others about career and speak as if they are great and other Indians are fools. When they get Rs.50,000/- and get a car and marry and if they are happy why do they laugh at people who got divorced and speak as if they are successful and others are a failure? Why do they pass comments on others life? Why do they lose their mental maturity and feel as if on top of the world? Only these people have taken birth in this world. All other living beings, animals have come without purpose? Why do they forget their own past and humble beginnings?

2. Why is that people who are succesful always insult people who are not succesful? Why don't they have the maturity to stay humble and quiet?

3. Why is that people who are succesful advice people sarcastically? I have observed that during my childhood. The worst is that as far as I know the person affected or humiliated would be a true devotee.

4. Why do You punish good people and give everything to the wicked? As far as I know when wealth gets accumulated people behave like evil. In my opinion, Hitler is a good person than these people. At least he did evil things only for the sake of Germany. He did everything for his motherland as Germany was humiliated a lot and he wanted to take revenge for that.

5. Why doesn't the younger generation obey the elder generation?

6. Why are parents skeptical about income about the boy and always wants their daughter to get married to an US return mapillai than a good person in India? They are willing to give their daughter to a Software Engineer in United States but not to a guy in normal job. That Software Engineer's hobby be watching strip tease in San Francisco, f****** random girls in hotels and returns to India to boast about so called culture and insult my country. Seriously God, I wanna ask you onething. Are such acts so great? I find that only such people are gifted a lot in life by You.

If I had a sister and if she wants me to choose a bridegroom for her, I would rather give her to a poor boy than to a rich guy who f**** random girls.

7. Why are cinema people portrayed as Heroes than the soldier who really fights for his country in the border?

Lots more to ask.....

-Krishna Kumar.S

6 ways to irritate Vimalakar

Vimal is one of my friends. Read the line carefully. For me all are equal!! But Vimal gave me the permission to write this article and it is published only after Vimal said,"YES" to the content.

So Ladies and Gentlemen! Let's start pulling Vimal's leg!

Few ways to irritate or surprise Vimalakar:-

6. Send an SMS at 12'o clock and ask Vimal,"Gandhi did Uppu Satyagraha for kal uppu or podi uppu?". LOL. At midnight he replied,"Iodised salt". I was amazed at Vimal's prescence of mind.

5. If you are working in night shifts and you return home only at 3 in the morning, send a good morning SMS at that time. Vimal doesn't puts the mobile in silent mode. Once I called him at that time too!

4. Praise MTC bus services a lot! And send those MTC updates when he has his lunch at 1330hrs.

3. Disappear without notice for two weeks without any notice!!!! This happens a lot of time when I am in job, NIIT classes or even in some thicksoup.

2. Ultimate: Do a railfan/travel trip with him and travel as far as 400km+ away from Chennai somewhere near Dindigul and Madurai. No return journey tickets should be booked in advance. The only option now is to return by bus or by a sluggard passenger. This would severely irritate Vimal as he hates slow journeys on hot days. And also he hates buses! Once Vimal and myself were returning from Madurai to Tiruchi by bus. It turned out to be a hot day. That was way back in May 2008. That was the last bus trip with Vimal. Since then Vimal is quite afraid to do any bus trips with me and makes sure that there is a train involved in any journey.

1. My future plan is to go on a roadtrip to Villupuram, Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Salem, Virudhachalam by normal bus(red color bus) with Vimal. Right now, I am busy with NIIT classes, but once things are settled I am planning for this trip!

-Krishna Kumar.S

28 things about ME !

Seven things I wish I could say to the people whom I like:-

1. I have always cared for you irrespective of what I do. I am depressed if you are unhappy.
2. Without you, I wouldn’t have achieved progress in anything.
3. Thanks for being a part of my life.
4. Love you a lot. I respect you a lot. I might not say it explicitly.
5. You care for me a lot, than I care for you. I am a bit selfish in any relationship. I reap more benefits generally than others. You need not do anything for me. Just be with me! I will make a meal of anything.
6. If you really care for me and if I am not realizing it please do tell me openly during a personal conversation. Sometimes I am dumb.
7. You are precious to me.



Six things the world doesn’t knows about me:-

However things might turn drastically if my sentiments/feelings are hurt for a long period of time. This would lead to a mild withdrawal. If I don't find any changes in character, I would withdraw permanently. Generally, I don't wish to confront or hit back at anyone as I believe that if I do so I am sinning. I would love to treat everyone equally and give them respect but it may not work always.

1. How much ever the relationship is whether higher or lower, I have great respect for all humans. So I would still continue to love every human.
2. Even if anyone backstabs, betrays, I won't take revenge but I know it almost immediately. Neenga Vaazga valamudan. Thanks for being a part of my life.
3. Not all people are granted rights and permission to comment about my personal life, procedures, failures, thoughts. Hurting my personal sentiments and core feelings would result in my permanent withdrawal from your personal life without any second option. You will be losing my friendship if you are my friend, you would be losing me entirely irrespective of how you are related to me! The above holds good for any relationship. I am also a human being. I might be successful, I might be unsuccessful too. Try to respect my feelings. If you are successful without any problems in life, I appreciate you. Congratulations!

Just remember two rules if anyone needs to be my friend.

Rule 1: Don’t hurt anyone and boast before them as if you could have done it better.
Rule 2: Don’t forget Rule 1 if you want to be my friend.

4. I have diverse interests in life ranging from technical information, information collection, statistics, cultures and traditions, lifestyle, geography, demographics, photograph, civics, history, travel, computer games, music.
5. I would love to treat everyone equally with care and affection.
6. Irrespective of caste, faith all of my school friends, college mates, colleagues, neighbors are important to me(whether GIRL or BOY) and it is my duty to protect them as they have been a part of my life. Please don't comment about their personal lives infront of me or don't try to defame them in their abscence or in my prescence. I care for them. They may not be having a good life. They may not be rich or may not earn as much as you do. So please...Don't suppress the unfortunate. Life evens out in the long run and nothing is permanent. I don't approve anyone adding girls from my Orkut list or scrapping them or asking me to give their mobile numbers or asking to give an intro for kadalai. I may not get angry, but certainly I won't approve such actions.



Five turn ons/interests:

1. Reading about my God Vishnu and His virtues, the USSR, Socialism, gathering information, submarines, airplanes, cutlure, traditions, lifestyles, dances, playing with animals, World War 2 computer games.
2. Professional behaviour, dedication, seriousness.
3. 6713 Sethu Express in full speed! 2656 Navjeevan Express in full throttle! 103 Pondicherry passenger train blasting between Guindy and Tambaram.
4. Some Western music like Backstreet Boys, Michael Jackson and some Indian music.
5. Chat items! Tandoori items! Chilly Parota.



Four turn-offs:-

1. Passing on comments, loose talks, gossips, talking about my future life and predicting my life on how I would be when I am 30 or 40, gossiping about what I would do if my future wife doesn't likes travel like me, where I would be going for honey-moon, asking my salary, commenting about my life. Don’t say,” After marriage you would be like this, you would be like that”… Come on... Even my parents aren’t granted this permission. Not all are granted permission to pass comments about me.
2. Advise…. If you really want to advice me, advice me with true care not to simply boast that I am absolutely wrong and as if you are absolutely right. I don't get irritated, but I am laughing within myself.
3. Don’t boast too much about yourself before me! I would be laughing inside.
4. Don’t insult my country before me. If you do, you are insulting my origin.



Three things that I wouldn’t change even if I am busy or stressed:-

1. I am living life in my own way and I am quite content with it.

2. I believe in saving money. I would prefer a public transport to commute even if I have a private vehicle. I would like to sleep on the floor in a mat without A/C. My father served the Government for 40 years and he commuted all time in bus even during the days he was rich with his own private car. He has helped a lot of people come up in life and it's because of him many are successful in life and earning in lakhs. Even when I was need, I wasn't given, but others were helped. That's the spirit of this soil of India. Proud of it!

When I was young, I lived a conservative lifestyle and my father managed to bring me up and at the same time made other children to study and many are living a successful rich life only because of his timely help. My father could have spent more money on me too! But he believed that it was necessary to help others and many people are rich today thanks to him. I would like to stay where I am and be like him. I know the pains he took to earn money.

3. Watching Tom-Jerry, reading articles in wikipedia, travel-writing, writing about my Lord, spending quiet moments in Indian villages, interacting with animals, interacting with children, playing computer games. I do find time to play games even now.



Two things I am afraid of:-
1. Syringes!
2. Common cold and viral infection. Sore throat!



One thing that I would like to tell you:-

1. I like dealing with professionals. Maybe when it comes to corporate life or club activities I would accustom with people as every human being is important to me as after all Humans are God's best creations. When it comes to personal life and personal relationships, I have my options and I would try my best to do good. I like dealing with people who don't boast, who remember their past and those who are humane towards other fellowmen. It doesn't matter whether it's Wipro or Cisco or whether you own a Ford Ikon car with a fat package every month.. To establish a personal relationship, people need to be humble. Your appearance, finance background, wealth, your job, your brand names aren't important to me.


-Krishna Kumar.S
(10/08/2009)

Religious principles simplified

It was some time ago during one of my visits to temples I discovered something which could be an answer to queries regarding multiple Gods and multiple Religions. An answer that could even bring peace to the world. The answer is quite simple and basic. During the days of 2008 when I started working, I got my first salary. I bought some sweets for my parents. I wanted so save money and use it later on. I wanted to gift some dress to beloved ones. Since I had no brothers or sisters, I had no ways to celebrate. I did have foster brothers and sisters but they were either far or busy with career preparations. I am supportive towards women empowerment so I thought I should buy a saree as a gift and present it to a girl. But do you think that if I present a saree to any girl at college or at workplace, will she accept it? She would either think that I had wrong intentions or she would be afraid to accept fearing what the society would think of her? I need to celebrate at any cost!

Generally, I like doing things rather than keeping them pending. I browsed my mobile's directory to find out if any of my friend’s sisters would be able to help me. I remembered my friends who had sisters. I browsed college and school friends. The name list went on… Sriram.K, Rajesh.R, John.P, Karthick.S, Niranjan.M, Vincent.R…. I tried calling them the line was either engaged or they were out of station or they were on the other line. I lack patience in life generally! I felt that I would dedicate to Goddess Parvati- female form of Goddess in Hinduism. Parvati is the consort Lord Shiva and theoretically she represents the power of shakthi meaning power, which is possessed by men proving Men and Women are inseparables. In short, it means that a woman represents a man’s power.

I went to Nalli, a big shop in Adyar. Purchased a Chinnalum pattu. Went straight to the temple and handed over the saree to the Gurukkal. Now what am I trying to say here? Though, I have a socialist secular view, I do believe in God. God is one and the same. But He has come in different forms to convey joy to humanity. On that day at the temple, I was able to give the saree to the Goddess. She accepted it like a sister. I can’t offer a saree to Lord Shiva idol nor to Jesus. There arises a need for multiple figures. And also whenever a human being is happy he needs to share it with others as that’s the general tendency. I was happy at that time and I was able to share it with someone. This incident did teach a lesson in my life. I am also happy that on that particular day none of my friends picked up their phones or were out of reach from their towers. It’s a miracle! Otherwise, this article wouldn’t have been written now. I just can’t believe that even my friends Rajesh and John didn’t pick up the phone that day-these guys take up in the first ring usually!

Remember, variety is the spice of life. Enjoy it! Jesus came to the world took all the pains and died on the cross for the sins committed by humans. Here it proves that God would never quit on humans and He is willing to take any amount of pains for the mankind. He would never give a challenge which cannot be faced and handled by His creations. Allah hasn’t got a physical figure-here God proves that he is omnipresent and everywhere! There might be some questions in your brain now.

What are the communists here in this world for? My view is that they are also good people trying to do goodness to society by bringing everything under Government control to offer food, security, education to every citizen. And how come there are many Religions? The answer is simple. If you are reading my blogs for sometime you can understand my diverse interests. Ages go there lived people who were fascinated by many things and they wanted to propagate their views, theories, and culture. Each one wrote their own version which was indeed just and true. The subsequent generations got fascinated by each theory and adopted the one which interests them. Like if I like reading about history and heritage definitely, I would suggest reading and writing as an hobby and not partying! The basic outline is not to hurt another human being and to walk in the righteous way.

You might ask why in every religious complex like temple or dargah it is written that people of other faith shouldn’t enter. Answers are simple. This is a typical human behaviour. Even in my life, I had a lot of views. My friends agreed and appreciate it. Not one or two. Everyone! The whole bunch. If people agree with you, you generally have the tendency to treat them well. I had some other views too which may be right or wrong. My friends disagreed. I would get angry and I would try to show my discontent in some way. It projects I am hurt or upset by the disagreement. Likewise, the same applies to Religions and that’s what is happening in the human society. Human psychology!

Its high time and people stop hitting each other. Before that, I should change myself as I am also a short tempered imperfect person. Each and every event in life is interconnected and leads to another event and it’s an endless process ultimately ending in truth. Every story, every proverb has got a meaning and a moral! For example, there’s a story in which Lord Vinayaga quarrels with Muruga for a fruit and Lord Muruga separates from God’s family due to dispute. Lord Vinayaga circled around parents and claimed that going around His parents was equivalent to that of circling the earth. This could be mean that respecting parents is bound to bring goodness to man. It also indicates that a quarrel or a dispute has always got a disastrous consequence. Seriously, even I need to think about this! I need to follow a few things which I am not currently doing at present. I have been in this country since my birth and there are numerous people whom I have met in these 23 years starting from my school, college and at work place. People of different faiths, different walk of life. There have been quarrels and fights, but majority of them have contributed to my happiness in my life one way or another. At school, I was educated by Anglo Indian teachers, brought up by Hindu parents and some of my friends are Muslims. If either of these people hasn’t entered into my life, my life would have gone for a toss or a big six! I wouldn’t have even graduated.

Critics might argue inquiring from which Engineering college did Lord Ram graduate? Or else inquire about how a Virgin gave birth to Jesus? My only answer to them is that there are few things in life which cannot be unraveled and would still remain a mystery and it lies above human sense perception clearly indicating the presence of Supreme Power, the omnipotent reality. One needs to be humble and attain self realization, maybe he could unravel more mysteries of life..... more than what I have written over here.

One last thing anyone might like to ask. Can God be seen? I haven’t seen him either, but I can explain why God doesn’t show his physical form or responds to human queries regarding this presence? The answer is simple. Take me for an example. I love chat items, watching trains, sometimes writing articles, taking photographs. I have dreams of how my future wife would be and what I should do for her. I have got lots of expectations. Just imagine if God shows himself to me? Do you think that I would have any desire/wish in life after that? Do you think that I would marry any girl? If all men start thinking like that way, the world would come to a standstill and would cease to exist in 100 years. Skeptics might ask then why God created the world. Didn’t I say earlier that there are certain things which lie above human perception? Perhaps the best way I can serve him is by rising as high as much I can in a desire to reach him.


Best wishes to every citizen in the Republic of India and also to the world,

-Krishna Kumar.S

Identify the famous personalities

There are around 100 personalities in this image. How many can you find out? If you find more than 25 it means that you have a very good knowledge.

Steam Loco Ride-Royapuram to Tambaram

Madhan, Sridhar Joshi and Nishant.

January 26th, 2009.

It was a different day. It started off in a dull manner. My original plan was to see the Republic Day Parade in TV. But I decided to join other members on a visit to Royapuram to see the steam engine. Frankly speaking I am not much of a steam fan. It must be due to the fact that steams were stopped during my early days of childhood. But I admit that I got interest in train only after getting impressed with chug-chug sounds and the steam whistle.

I purchased a ticket to Royapuram and walked to the MRTS platform at Kasturibai Nagar. Satya Narayanan was coming in the EMU and I was to join him in the same EMU. At Mylapore, Sriram Karthik joined us. My EMU negotiated the curve before MSB. I saw the corpse of a dog lying on the sides. It must be at least a week! Poor thing. Reminded me of my present adopted dog Damien. Then we boarded a Gummidipondi bound EMU at Beach station and got down at Royapuram.


Pic taken at Royapuram.

The platforms were empty in my opinion. We decided to walk along the tracks. In the far distance, I could see the steam locomotive. The engine was majestic and that changed my mood slightly. I also became interested in steam engines. Immediately, I called up my house and commanded my father to quit all house-hold works at once and come to Saidapet Lonely Express platform. Please note that “lonely express platform” in my house means the platform in SP where Fast EMU’s, expresses pass without stopping. I immediately called up a friend of mine who drives Auto Rickshaw and asked him to pick my father at my house. Then I called up my father and convinced him to board the auto to come to SP. My father being loyal to the Government was interested only in moving with the Government transport buses. I didn’t want my father to strain so asked him to come by auto.


WP#7200 Steam Locomotive.

Sridhar, Chechu, Madhan, Suresh Babu, Dilip and Nishant were waiting near the locomotive. This was the first time I was meeting Madhan. Sridhar led us into a coach and asked us not to move here and there. The coach was nicely decorated with balloons, color papers. It had speakers, music systems and some nice music. Chechu sir wasn’t much interested in music as he believed that it destroyed the natural ambience. He was right; the entire mood went for a toss as silly songs were played almost throughout the run. It didn’t look like a Heritage Run, but some other thing which I don’t want to mention. We whistled and moved out of Royapuram. We did only 20kph. I never believed that I was behind a steam locomotive. Credits to Perambur Loco Works for the overhauling and repair works. In my opinion, the loco performed well more than I expected.


The Hero got resurrected.

As we crossed Chennai Beach Jn, people stood in platforms to wave out to us. The entire crowd was amazed. The young ones were excited. It seems they already knew that we were coming. Few people had the national flag with them and waved out to us. We need to appreciate one thing in our country. Our country values Heritage more than anything else. Over these years, it is only the heritage and culture which has bonded us towards progress. During testing times, it’s only the heritage, culture, moral values, traditions which would save us and nuclear arms, weapons won’t really save us. Many thanks to the Government for the Heritage Run.


My steam train negotiates a curve.

As we crossed Fort, I could see Poochi taking snaps from the road. People were standing in the roads and taking snaps through camera mobile. Even the couples stopped and took photos. The MTC bus drivers also waved to us. Meanwhile, VSP was also coming parallel to us in an EMU.


A child gets interviewed.

We were greeted with warmth in all stations. As we crossed Chetpet, people from houses, flats waved to us. Chechu sir also waved to the kids, crowd standing outside. I guess Chechu sir went highly nostalgic. I noticed that a person was having his shave. After hearing the whistle, he came and stood with his family in the balcony. We had a halt at Mambalam. It was a long halt and it took nearly 40 minutes to start from there. Out of nowhere, suddenly AJJ WAP-4 entered into Mambalam with Pallavan Express in high speed. I wondered whether he would stop at Mambalam. Chechu sir got down at MBM itself.




I informed my father that we are nearing SP. Lots and lots of people were standing in the platform. I couldn’t spot VSP or my father. The train was nearing the Saidapet South Cabin. Almost the entire coach waved out to Aravind’s family. I could see Vimal with handkerchief tied to the head and Aravind with his new camera. I had the plan of getting down at Guindy if the train had stopped but it didn’t. I was in touch with Harish Kumar and Poochi Venkat through mobile and updating them. The sad thing was due to some problem, I couldn’t send any messages. I didn’t even have time to troubleshoot. So all updates to concerned person was done through calls! I spent nearly Rs.50 in a span of 4 hours/Re. 1 per each call. As my train crossed Tirusoolam, I could see Poochi standing near the tracks taking snaps. As usual, I yelled out, “POOCHI!”. This is not the first time I am doing this. Later after going home, I realized that my memory card has failed and got corrupted. Some of my images taken were destroyed!



Sweet boxes, juice, water bottles were distributed to us. Sadly, I forgot to take it home and I left the box in the coach itself. We had a long halt at Pallavaram. I wondered why? It was more than half an hour. I got down from the coach and got ready to take a snap of Vaigai. I could see a lot of crowd standing on the tracks watching the steam engine. As the signal turned yellow, the station master and the support staff requested the crowd to move away from the tracks. I knew 2635 Vaigai was on its way. The train was doing only 45kph in my opinion. As the WAP-4 came into view, I waved out to the LP. The headlights were switched ON.


My train crosses Saidapet.

After Vaigai had passed, I informed Sriram Karthik and Dilip that I would be leaving. I went to the platform and saw a books stall. I purchased 5 Rajesh Kumar and Pattukottai Prabhakar Crime Novels. I boarded an EMU back home. Since the solar eclipse was about to start I didn’t want to have anything. I had some food during the early morning hours. It’s a trivial issue. I don’t know whether to follow these rituals or not, but since my parents have requested me I have decided to follow the rules. I boarded an EMU back home and got down at Saidapet. I then boarded 5E to reach home. Once the solar eclipse was over, I had a bath and immediately had food!


Vaigai Express walking through Pallavaram. Pic taken by Krishna Kumar.S

My Lord will guide me!

All my blogs are dedicated to my Lord. I am confident and sure that You will stand by me during my tougher times/hardships/confusions.

What India needs now?

Dear fellow blog readers,


As a republic we need to focus on a certain key issues. Human Rights, Forest Lands and Tribal rights, Child Rights, Women Empowerment, Food, Health, Labour rights, Peace and Animal welfare.



Generally, India is regarded as a third world country. Let it be considered so! We need not bother. Our way of life, traditions are different. We have 18 different local languages with more than 100 other languages, variety of cultures. Our way of life is receiving to share and not to compete on unimportant things. Our land belongs to us and we need to always remember that we share it with the tribes. We shouldn't forget the fact that they belong to our land and they have a right for living space. Simply by building IT parks, pubs, food courts we don't achieve progress. That type of progress isn't needed for our Republic. Let's retain our culture. Dhotis, Kurtas, Pants(Formals), Salwars, Sarees etc. Women and the present day younger girl generations should give a thought regarding their dressing style. They should take care of their own personal safety to avoid unnecessary problems.



We should take care of each other. Never mind whether we are a rich nation or not, but let's be a content nation. Let's be kind to animals. Afterall, animals are best friends to mankind. At one point of time, we all face family problems, breakup, at that time we would hate humans. During those times, animals are our best friends! They are also de-facto citizens of India. Let's share our food with fellow citizens. Let's share our clothes with them. Let's share our love with fellow Indians. Most of all Our Government would give us living space. Our Republic would protect us!

-Krishna Kumar.S

Lord Vishnu idols/photos gallery

Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa was an Albanian Catholic Nun who devoted her life for the service of the poor. She was born on August 27, 1910 in Albania. Her real name was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. She was the founder of Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta. She was honored by the Republic of India in 1980 which she got the Bharat Ratna title. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. At the time of her death, her Charity Home was operating 610 missions in 123 different countries. According to a biography by Joan Graff Clucas, in her early years Agnes was fascinated by stories of the lives of missionaries and their service, and by age 12 was convinced that she should commit herself to a religious life. She left home at age 18 to join the Sisters of Loreto as a missionary. She never again saw her mother or sister. We should be proud that lived a person in our country who lived her entire life for the betterment of our lives and died for the purity of cross.

She took her first religious vows as a nun on May 24, 1931. At that time she chose the name Teresa after Therese de Lisieux, the patron saint of missionaries. She took her solemn vows on May 14, 1937, while serving as a teacher at the Loreto convent school in Eastern Calcutta. Although Teresa enjoyed teaching at the school, she was increasingly disturbed by the poverty surrounding her in Calcutta. She began her missionary work with the poor in 1948, replacing her traditional Loreto habit with a simple white cotton sari decorated with a blue border, adopted Indian citizenship, and ventured out into the slums. Teresa wrote in her diary that her first year was fraught with difficulties. She had no income and had to resort to begging for food and supplies.

Mother Teresa wrote in her diary:-

"Our Lord wants me to be a free nun covered with the poverty of the cross. Today I learned a good lesson. The poverty of the poor must be so hard for them. While looking for a home I walked and walked till my arms and legs ached. I thought how much they must ache in body and soul, looking for a home, food and health. Then the comfort of Loreto [her former order] came to tempt me. 'You have only to say the word and all that will be yours again,' the Tempter kept on saying ... Of free choice, my God, and out of love for you, I desire to remain and does whatever be your Holy will in my regard. I did not let a single tear come."


Teresa received Vatican permission on October 7, 1950 to start the diocesan congregation that would become the Missionaries of Charity. In her own words she wrote that she cares for all, "the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone". It began as a small order with 13 members in Calcutta. Today it has more than 4,000 nuns running orphanages, charity centers worldwide and cares for refugees, the blind, disabled, aged, alcoholics, the poor, the homeless and victims of floods, epidemics and famine. As the Missionaries of Charity took in increasing numbers of lost children, Mother Teresa felt the need to create a home for them. In 1955 she opened the Nirmala Shishu Bhavan, the Children's Home of the Immaculate Heart, and a haven for orphans and homeless youth.

In 1982, at the height of the Siege of Beirut, Mother Teresa rescued 37 children trapped in a front line hospital by brokering a temporary cease-fire between the Israeli army and Palestinian guerrillas. Accompanied by Red Cross workers, she traveled through the war zone to the devastated hospital to evacuate the young patients. As the USSR during its last days had a lot of openness, she expanded her efforts to Communist countries that had previously rejected the Missionaries of Charity, embarking on dozens of projects. She was undeterred by criticism about her firm stand against abortion and divorce stating, "No matter who says what, you should accept it with a smile and do your own work".

Mother Teresa suffered a heart attack in Rome in 1983, while visiting Pope John Paul II. After a second attack in 1989, she received an artificial pacemaker. In 1991, after a battle with pneumonia while in Mexico, she suffered further heart problems. She offered to resign her position as head of the Missionaries of Charity. But the nuns of the order, in a secret ballot, voted for her to stay. Mother Teresa agreed to continue her work as head of the order.

In April 1996, Mother Teresa fell and broke her collar bone. In August she suffered from malaria and failure of the left heart ventricle. She had heart surgery, but it was clear that her health was declining. On March 13, 1997, she stepped down from the head of Missionaries of Charity and died on September 5, 1997. She was given a state funeral by the Indian Government.

Following Mother Teresa's death in 1997, the Holy See began the process of beatification, the second step towards possible canonization. This process requires the documentation of a miracle performed from the intercession of Mother Teresa. In 2002, the Vatican recognized as a miracle the healing of a tumor in the abdomen of an Indian woman, Monica Besra, following the application of a locket containing Mother Teresa's picture. Monica Besra said that a beam of light emanated from the picture, curing the cancerous tumor. Since then there is a title of "Blessed" given to Mother Teresa.

There are many true life incidents. One such was Jim's experience while meeting Mother Teresa in an airplane. Jim Castle was tired when he boarded his plane in Ohio. The 45-year-old management consultant had put on a week long series of business meetings and seminars and now he sank gratefully into his seat ready for the flight home to Kansas City, Missouri.

As more passengers entered, the place hummed with conversation, mixed with the sound of bags being stowed. Then, suddenly, people fell silent. Jim craned his head to see what was happening and his mouth dropped open.

Walking up the aisle were two nuns clad in simple white habits bordered in blue. He recognized the familiar face of one at once, the wrinkled skin and the eyes warmly intent. This was a face he has often seen in newscasts and on the cover of TIME Magazine.

The two nuns halted, and Jim realized that his seat companion was going to be Mother Teresa! As the last few passengers settled in, Mother Teresa and her companion pulled out rosaries. Each decade of the beads was a different color, Jim noticed.

The decades represented various areas of the world, Mother Teresa told him later, and added, “I pray for the poor and dying on each continent.”

The airplane taxied to the runway and the two women began to pray, their voices a low murmur. Though Jim considered himself not a very religious Catholic who went to church mostly out of habit, inexplicably he found himself joining in. By the time they murmured the final prayer, the plane had reached cruising altitude. Mother Teresa turned toward him. For the first time in his life, Jim understood what people meant when they spoke of a person possessing an “aura”.

As she gazed at him, a sense of peace filled him; he could no more see it than he could see the wind but he felt it, just as surely as he felt a warm summer breeze.

“Young man,” she inquired, “do you say the rosary often?”

“No, not really,” he admitted. She took his hand, while her eyes probed his. Then she smiled. “Well, you will now.” And she dropped her rosary into his palm.
An hour later Jim entered the Kansas City airport where he was met by his wife, Ruth. “What in the world?” Ruth asked when she noticed the rosary in his hand. They kissed and Jim described his encounter. Driving home, he said. “I feel as if I met a true sister of God.”

Nine months later Jim and Ruth visited Connie, a friend of theirs for several years.

Connie confessed that she’d been told she had ovarian cancer. “The doctor says it’s a tough case,” said Connie, “but I’m going to fight it. I won’t give up.” Jim clasped her hand. Then, after reaching into his pocket, he gently twined Mother Teresa’s rosary around her fingers. He told her the story and said, “Keep it with you Connie. It may help.”

Although Connie wasn’t Catholic, her hand closed willingly around the small plastic beads. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I hope I can return it.”

More than a year passed before Jim saw Connie again. This time her face was glowing, she hurried toward him and handed him the rosary. “I carried it with me all year,” she said. “I’ve had surgery and have been on chemotherapy, too. Last month, the doctors did second-look surgery, and the tumor’s gone. Completely!” Her eyes met Jim’s. “I knew it was time to give the rosary back.”

In the fall of 1987, Ruth’s sister, Liz, fell into a deep depression after her divorce. She asked Jim if she could borrow the rosary, and when he sent it, she hung it over her bedpost in a small velvet bag. “At night I held on to it, just physically held on. I was so lonely and afraid,” she says,”yet when I gripped that rosary, I felt as if I held a loving hand.”

Gradually, Liz pulled her life together, and she mailed the rosary back. “Someone else may need it,” she said.

Then one night in 1988, a stranger telephoned Ruth. She’d heard about the rosary from a neighbor and asked if she could borrow it to take to the hospital where her mother lay in a coma. The family hoped the rosary might help their mother die peacefully.

A few days later, the woman returned the beads. “The nurses told me a coma patient can still hear,” she said, “so I explained to my mother that I had Mother Teresa’s rosary and that when I gave it to her she could let go; it would be all rosary in her hand.

Right away, we saw her face relax. The lines smoothed out until she looked so peaceful, so young.” The woman’s voice caught. “A few minutes later she was gone.”

Fervently, she gripped Ruth’s hands. “Thank you.”

Is there special power in those humble beads? Or is the power of the human spirit simply renewed in each person who borrows the rosary? Jim only knows that requests continue to come, often unexpectedly. He always responds though, whenever he lends the rosary, “When you’re through needing it, send it back. Someone else may need it.”

Jim’s own life has changed, too, since his unexpected meeting on the airplane. When he realized Mother Teresa carries everything she owns in a small bag, he made an effort to simplify his own life. “I try to remember what really counts - not money or titles or possessions, but the way we love others,” he says.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY, MAY MOTHER MARY ASK HER SON JESUS TO SHOWER YOU WITH GRACES.

MAY GOD BLESS OUR REPUBLIC OF INDIA.

Every sacrifice has a fruitful reward. Every failure has a second chance. We only have to be strong through God’s grace and persevere in life’s many tests!

May GOD bless you always.

Always your friend,

-Krishna Kumar.S